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A number of studies have suggested that influenza vaccination can provide protection against COVID-19, but the underlying mechanisms that could explain this association are still unclear. In this study, the effect of the 2021/2022 seasonal influenza vaccination on the immune response to the booster dose of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was evaluated in a cohort of healthy individuals. A total of 113 participants were enrolled, 74 of whom had no prior COVID-19 diagnosis or significant comorbidities were considered for the analysis. Participants received the anti-influenza tetravalent vaccine and the booster dose of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine or the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine alone. Blood was collected before and 4 weeks after each vaccination and 12 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and analyzed for anti-flu and anti-spike-specific antibody titers and for in vitro influenza and SARS-CoV-2 neutralization capacity. Results indicated an increased reactivity in subjects who received both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations compared to those who received only the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, with sustained anti-spike antibody titers up to 12 weeks post-vaccination. Immune response to the influenza vaccine was evaluated, and individuals were stratified as high or low responders. High responders showed increased antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine both after 4 and 12 weeks post-vaccination. Conversely, individuals classified as low responders were less responsive to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. These data indicate that both external stimuli, such as influenza vaccination, and the host's intrinsic ability to respond to stimuli play a role in the response to the vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether third-generation hydroxyethyl starch solutions provoke kidney injury or haemostatic abnormalities in patients having cardiac surgery remains unclear. We tested the hypotheses that intra-operative administration of a third-generation starch does not worsen postoperative kidney function or haemostasis in cardiac surgical patients compared with human albumin 5%. This triple-blind, non-inferiority, clinical trial randomly allocated patients aged 40-85 who underwent elective aortic valve replacement, with or without coronary artery bypass grafting, to plasma volume replacement with 6% starch 130/0.4 vs. 5% human albumin. Our primary outcome was postoperative urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin concentrations, a sensitive and early marker of postoperative kidney injury. Secondarily, we evaluated urinary interleukin-18; acute kidney injury using creatinine RIFLE criteria, coagulation measures, platelet count and function. Non-inferiority (delta 15%) was assessed with correction for multiple comparisons. We enrolled 141 patients (69 starch, 72 albumin) as planned. Results of the primary analysis demonstrated that postoperative urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (median (IQR [range])) was slightly lower with hydroxyethyl starch (5 (1-68 [0-996]) ng.ml-1 ) vs. albumin (5 (2-74 [0-1604]) ng.ml-1 ), although not non-inferior [ratio of geometric means (95%CI) 0.91 (0.57, 1.44); p = 0.15] due to higher than expected variability. Urine interleukin-18 concentrations were reduced, but interleukin-18 and kidney injury were again not non-inferior. Of 11 individual coagulation measures, platelet count and function, nine were non-inferior to albumin. Two remaining measures, thromboelastographic R value and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation, were clinically similar but with wide confidence intervals. Starch administration during cardiac surgery produced similar observed effects on postoperative kidney function, coagulation, platelet count and platelet function compared with albumin, though greater than expected variability and wide confidence intervals precluded the conclusion of non-inferiority. Long-term mortality and kidney function appeared similar between starch and albumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis E is an emerging viral disease in developed countries, with sporadic cases occasionally linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked pork, wild boar or deer meat. Cases due to transfusion or transplantation have also been reported. In developed countries, hepatitis E is considered a zoonosis and pig is the main reservoir. In the last few years, several studies conducted in Europe reported variable seroprevalence rates among the general population, ranging between 0.26% and 52.5%. A higher seroprevalence was described among workers who come in contact with pigs. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti- HEV IgG and IgM antibodies in blood donors (170) and in pig veterinarians (83). Archival sera were collected in Italy in 2004. The observed seroprevalence was 9.64% and 8.82% in veterinarians and blood donors, respectively. Overall, only three sera from blood donors were positive for IgM, but no HEV- RNA was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the present study was to verify the feasibility of cryopreserving testicular tissue during the first diagnostic biopsy and then using thawed sperm to inseminate the partner’s oocytes. The expected advantages are: (i) minimal risk of not having spermatozoa available at the time of intracytoplasmic sperm injection; (ii) no repeated surgical interventions, and (iii) programming the treatment cycle at the couple’s convenience. Materials and Methods: Between May 1996 and May 1998, 64 azoospermic patients underwent investigative testicular biopsy combined with cryopreservation of spermatozoa which were retrieved in a simultaneously examined fresh sample. Testicular tissue cryopreservation was carried out in 43 cases (67%) for later intracytoplasmic sperm injection attempts. Results: In all, 23 couples underwent 26 assisted conception cycles; the fertilization rate was 64% with spermatozoa (139/218, 24 cycles), 40% with round spermatids (2/5, 1 cycle), and 69% with elongated spermatids (9/13, 1 cycle). The embryo cleavage rate was 84%. The mean number of embryos replaced in 24 patients was 2.7 ± 0.7. In 2 cases, embryo quality was very poor, and they were not transferred to the patients. Eight clinical pregnancies resulted (35%/patient and 33%/transferred cycle) with an implantation rate of 14.1%; 2 patients have already delivered and 6 pregnancies are ongoing normally. Conclusions: Testicular tissue cryopreservation during the first diagnostic biopsy is an alternative to repeated surgical interventions. Patients can initiate an ovarian stimulation cycle, confident of having spermatozoa available. Moreover, since only one straw is routinely used for each intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle, the frozen tissue remains as a sperm source for multiple attempts.Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between May 1996 and May 1998, 64 azoospermic patients underwent an investigative testicular biopsy combined with the cryopreservation of spermatozoa which were retrieved from a simultaneously examined fresh sample. Testicular tissue cryopreservation was carried out in 43 cases (67%) for late intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) attempts. In all, 23 couples underwent 26 assisted conception cycles; the fertilization rate was 64% with spermatozoa (139/218, 24 cycles), 40% with round spermatids (2/5, one cycle), and 69% with elongated spermatids (9/13, one cycle). The embryo cleavage rate was 84%. A mean number of 2.7 ± 0.7 embryos were replaced in 24 patients. In two cases, embryo quality was very poor and they were not transferred. Eight clinical pregnancies resulted (35% per patient and 33% per transferred cycle) with an implantation rate of 14.1%: two patients have already delivered and six are ongoing. In conclusion, the cryopreservation of testicular tissue during the first diagnostic biopsy is an alternative to repeated surgical openings and permits patients to initiate an ovarian stimulation cycle with the certitude of having spermatozoa available. Moreover, since only one straw is routinely used for each ICSI cycle, the frozen tissue remains as a sperm source for multiple attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine the distribution of cells containing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in normal and pathological human specimens, including 22 globes (13 of which contained epiretinal membranes 'in situ'), 16 surgically excised epiretinal membranes, and monolayers of cells obtained from five epiretinal membranes placed in tissue culture. The astrocytic cells of normal and pathological retinae stained with the glial-cell marker, but Müller cells were GFAP-negative in normal retinae at the antisera dilutions used. Müller cells did, however, stain in retinae from glaucomatous eyes and in eyes with prolonged retinal detachment. Electron microscopy did not reveal any obvious morphological difference between the intermediate filaments of normal (GFAP-negative) and GFAP-positive Müller cells. Ten of the 13 epiretinal membranes 'in situ', all 16 excised membranes, and three of the five monolayers contained glial cells. Purely glial membranes were not associated with retinal puckering or detachment, while all membranes causing tractional complications had a prominent fibrous, non-glial component. Our findings suggest that glial cells do not contribute significantly to the contractile forces generated by epiretinal membranes. They may, however, provide a scaffold on which other cells proliferate and contract and an anchorage by means of which tangential forces are transmitted into and through the retina. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

PurposeThe arteriole-to-venule ratio (AVR) is widely used for investigating subclinical cerebral microangiopathy. The possible occurrence of retinal vascular caliber changes was investigated in a population of hyperhomocysteinaemic (plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) >13 μmol/l) adult epileptic patients.MethodsRetinal photographs of cases and controls were evaluated for generalized narrowing of the retinal arterioles, measured as AVR, by graders masked to case–control status using standardized protocols. Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels were assayed by HPLC.ResultsSixty-seven patients (36M/31F, 36.4±7.5 years of age; mean level of tHcy 22.8±11.4 μmol/l), and 75 control subjects (42M/33F, 35.4±8.5 years of age; mean level of tHcy 7.8±2.3 μmol/l) were enroled. No retinal caliber changes were detected in any patient and healthy subject. The analysis of retinal photographs failed to identify any difference in the venular diameters, arteriolar diameters, and AVR measurements between the two groups (P=0.98).Conclusionswe showed that adult hyperhomocysteinaemic epileptic patients do not show any changes in retinal vascular caliber assessed by the measurement of AVR.Eye (2009) 23, 1532–1534; doi:10.1038/eye.2008.326; published online 31 October 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the urodynamic and clinical outcome of a laparoscopic auto-augmentated bladder.METHODS: :Laparoscopic bladder autoaugmentation in a 27-year-old woman with an incomplete spinal cord injury at T12 level with urge incontinence caused by a hyperreflexic bladder. RESULTS: :Six months later the patient voids by Valsalva's manoeuvre every 3 h and remains dry day and night. The radio-urodynamic study, performed 2 months later, revealed an intact bladder with a diverticulum of anterior wall and a capacity of 510 ml with filling rate of 100 ml/min without evidence of leakage of infusion water. CONCLUSION: :Laparoscopic retropubic auto-augmentation allows a brief hospital stay and minor postoperative discomfort. Moreover the laparoscopic approach should not complicate or preclude subsequent enterocystoplasty if necessary.Spinal Cord (2000) 38, 59–61. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Male-to-female transsexual surgical techniques are well defined and give good cosmetic and functional results. Material and Methods: All patients had been cross-dressing and living as women. Patients were at least 23 years old. Procedure includes bilateral orchidectomy, amputation of the penis, creation of the neovaginal cavity, lining of this cavity and reconstruction of a urethral meatus and, finally, construction of the labia and clitoris. Results: Mean follow-up is 32 months (range 4-150). 11 patients showed partial necrosis of the scrotal flap; in 7 patients there was an important postoperative bleeding that was treated surgically in 3 case. In the long term, neomeatus stricture occurred in 6 patients and was treated with meatotomy. 11 patient developed stenosis of the neovagina. Hematoma of the labia majora of the neovagina occurred in 24 case and resolved spontaneously in all caes. Prolapse of the neovagina occurred in 12 patients. 3 patients developed a right leg muscular contusion (due to the prolonged lithotomic position during operation), which required fasciotomy of the peronaeorum communis fascia. 69 patients have been evaluated by a questionnaire after 12 months: physical and functional results of surgery were judged to be excellent and patients were satisfied with the quality of the functional genitalia as well as cosmetic result. Conclusions: Although the surgical techniques for vaginoplasty have evolved significantly, it must be stressed that both medical and surgical treatment are rarely perfect. Major complications are possible, and revisional surgery is sometimes required to optimize aesthetic results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]