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2. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in COVID-19 patients: a case-control study

Author

LA TORRE, Giuseppe, Marte, M., Massetti, A. P., Carli, S. M., Romano, F., Mastroianni, C. M., Minorenti, M., Alessandri, F., Ajassa, C., Fusconi, M., DE VINCENTIIS, M., DE MEO, D., Villani, C., Cardi, M., Pugliese, F., Aronica, Raissa, Mauro, Vera, Casali, Elena, Di Bari Silvia, Gavaruzzi, Francesca, Romani, FRANCESCO EUGENIO, Fassari, Alessia, Filippi, Valeria, Ambrogio, Curtolo, Piero Giuseppe Meliante, and Roger, Altomari

Subjects
Male, Neutrophils, Critical Illness, COVID-19, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Severity of Illness Index, Intensive Care Units, Leukocyte Count, Logistic Models, Italy, ROC Curve, Risk Factors, Case-Control Studies, Humans, Female, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, case-control, Lymphocytes, Biomarkers, Aged, Retrospective Studies
Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has been identified in China as responsible for viral pneumonia, now called COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). Patients infected can develop common symptoms like cough and sore throat, and, in severe cases, acute respiratory syndrome and even death. To optimize the available resources, it is necessary to identify in advance the subjects that will develop a more serious illness, therefore requiring intensive care.The neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR) parameter, resulting from the blood count, could be a significant marker for the diagnosis and management of risk stratification.A retrospective, single-center case-control observational study was conducted. The differential cell count of leukocytes, the NLR and the clinical course of patients hospitalized in intensive care with COVID-19 were analyzed, comparing them with other patients (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) and healthy individuals selected among workers of the Teaching Hospital Policlinico Umberto I in Rome.370 patients (145 cases and 225 controls) were included in the case-control study, 211 males (57%) and 159 females (43%). The average age of the population was 63 years (SD 16.35). In the group of cases, out of 145 patients, 57 deaths and 88 survivors were recorded, with a lethality rate of 39.3%. The group of cases has an NLR of 7.83 (SD = 8.07), a much higher value than the control group where an NLR of 2.58 was recorded (SD = 1.93) (p0.001). The Neutrophils / Lymphocytes ratio may prove to be a diagnostic factor for COVID-19, an NLR3.68 revealed an OR 10.84 (95% CI = 6.47 - 18.13) (p0.005).The value of NLR considered together with the age variable allows a risk stratification and allows the development of diagnostic and treatment protocols for patients affected by COVID-19. A high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio suggests worse survival. Risk stratification and management help alleviate the shortage of medical resources and reduce the mortality of critically ill patients.

Published
2022

3. Arterial and venous thrombosis in coronavirus 2019 disease (Covid-19):relationship with mortality

Author

Violi, F., Ceccarelli, G., Cangemi, R., Cipollone, F., D'Ardes, D., Oliva, A., Pirro, M., Rocco, M., Alessandri, F., D'Ettorre, G., Lichtner, M., Pignatelli, P., Ferro, D., Ruberto, F., Lip, G. Y. H., Pugliese, F., Mastroianni, C. M., Albante, A., Auricchio, D., De Lazzaro, F., M. De Lauri D., Di Santo, C., Ianni, S., Magnanimi, E., Ratini, F., Sabani, A., Titi, L., Vaccaro, P., Giordano, G., Manganelli, C., Mancone, M., Bruno, K., Celli, P., Consolo, S., Croce, C., Giannetti, L., Martelli, S., Messina, T., Pattelli, E., Perrella, S., Portieri, M., Ricci, C., Almenrader, N., Arzilla, R., Delia, E., Di Giovanni, C., Laderchi, A., Macri, C., Marandola, M., Nardecchia, G., Pacilli, M., Pacini, F., Araimo Morselli, F., Imperiale, C., Tordiglione, P., Ciardi, M. R., Ajassa, C., D'Agostino, C., Russo, G., Trinchieri, V., Guariglia, P., Antonelli, L., Cuomo, R. M., Carnevalini, M., Mastropietro, C., Iaiani, G., Mezzaroma, I., Falciano, M., Brogi, A., Celani, L., Cavallari, N. E., Rivano Capparuccia, M., Massetti, A. P., Fimiani, C., Santori, M., Bianchi, A., Franchi, C., De Angelis, M., Sereno, S., Furlan, C., De Sanctis, G., Paoletti, F., Pasculli, P., Cogliati Dezza, F., Vassalini, P., Cancelli, F., De Girolamo, G., Savelloni, G., Valeri, S., Siccardi, G., Alessi, F., Recchia, G., Ridolfi, M., Romani, F. E., Aronica, R., Filippi, V., Vera, M., Volpicelli, L., Candy, M., Alban, R., Di Bari, S., Gavaruzzi, F., Casali, E., Carli, M. S., Zingaropoli, A. M., Perri, V., Santinelli, L., Pinacchio, C., Nijhawan, P., Miele, C. M., Innocenti, P. G., and Mengoni, F.

Subjects
Male, covid-19, mortality, sars-cov-2, thrombosis, Coronary Artery Disease, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, 030204 cardiovascular system & hematology, law.invention, Coronary artery disease, 0302 clinical medicine, law, 80 and over, Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology, Odds Ratio, SARS-cov-2, 030212 general & internal medicine, Prospective Studies, Aged, 80 and over, Thromboembolism/epidemiology, biology, Hazard ratio, Middle Aged, Mortality/trends, Intensive care unit, Thrombosis, Venous thrombosis, Intensive Care Units, C-Reactive Protein, Emergency Medicine, Cardiology, COVID-19/complications, Female, medicine.medical_specialty, Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products/analysis, Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products, 03 medical and health sciences, C-Reactive Protein/analysis, Internal medicine, Thromboembolism, Internal Medicine, medicine, Humans, Mortality, Aged, Proportional Hazards Models, Intensive Care Units/organization & administration, business.industry, C-reactive protein, COVID-19, Odds ratio, medicine.disease, Im - Original, Logistic Models, Heart failure, biology.protein, business
Abstract

Background Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) may experience venous thrombosis while data regarding arterial thrombosis are sparse. Methods Prospective multicenter study in 5 hospitals including 373 patients with Covid-19-related pneumonia. Demographic data, laboratory findings including coagulation tests and comorbidities were reported. During the follow-up any arterial or venous thrombotic events and death were registered. Results Among 373 patients, 75 (20%) had a thrombotic event and 75 (20%) died. Thrombotic events included 41 venous thromboembolism and 34 arterial thrombosis. Age, cardiovascular disease, intensive care unit treatment, white blood cells, D-dimer, albumin and troponin blood levels were associated with thrombotic events. In a multivariable regression logistic model, intensive care unit treatment (Odds Ratio [OR]: 6.0; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.8–12.6; p p = 0.022); and albumin levels (OR: 0.49; 95% CI 0.28–0.87; p = 0.014) were associated with ischemic events. Age, sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, heart failure, coronary heart disease, intensive care unit treatment, in-hospital thrombotic events, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, troponin, and albumin levels were associated with mortality. A multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that in-hospital thrombotic events (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.72; 95% CI 1.59–4.65; p p = 0.001), and albumin (HR: 0.447; 95% CI 0.277–0.723; p = 0.001) predicted morality. Conclusions Covid-19 patients experience an equipollent rate of venous and arterial thrombotic events, that are associated with poor survival. Early identification and appropriate treatment of Covid-19 patients at risk of thrombosis may improve prognosis.

Published
2021
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4. Ceftolozane/Tazobactam for Treatment of Severe ESBL-Producing

Author

Bassetti, M., Vena, A., Giacobbe, D. R., Falcone, M., Tiseo, G., Giannella, M., Pascale, R., Meschiari, M., Digaetano, M., Oliva, A., Rovelli, C., Carannante, N., Losito, A. R., Carbonara, S., Mariani, M. F., Mastroianni, A., Angarano, G., Tumbarello, M., Tascini, C., Grossi, P., Mastroianni, C. M., Mussini, C., Viale, P., Menichetti, F., Viscoli, C., Russo, A., Verdenelli, S., Fabiani, S., Castaldo, N., Pecori, D., Carnellutti, A., Givone, F., Graziano, E., Merelli, M., Cadeo, B., Peghin, M., Cattelan, A., Cipriani, L., Coletto, D., Gianluca, R., Ciardi, M. R., Ajassa, C., Tieghi, T., Pontino, P., Raffaelli, F., Artioli, S., Caruana, G., Luzzati, R., Bontempo, G., Petrosillo, N., Capone, A., Rizzardini, G., Coen, M., Passerini, M., Guadagnino, G., Urso, F., Borgia, G., Gentile, I., Maraolo, A. E., Crapis, M., Venturini, S., Parruti, G., Trave, F., Girardis, M., Cascio, A., Gioe, C., Anselmo, M., Malfatto, E., Bassetti, Matteo, Vena, Antonio, Giacobbe, Daniele Roberto, Falcone, Marco, Tiseo, Giusy, Giannella, Maddalena, Pascale, Renato, Meschiari, Marianna, Digaetano, Margherita, Oliva, Alessandra, Rovelli, Cristina, Carannante, Novella, Losito, Angela Raffaella, Carbonara, Sergio, Mariani, Michele Fabiano, Mastroianni, Antonio, Angarano, Gioacchino, Tumbarello, Mario, Tascini, Carlo, Grossi, Paolo, Mastroianni, Claudio Maria, Mussini, Cristina, Viale, Pierluigi, Menichetti, Francesco, Viscoli, Claudio, Russo, Alessandro, Bassetti M., Vena A., Giacobbe D.R., Falcone M., Tiseo G., Giannella M., Pascale R., Meschiari M., Digaetano M., Oliva A., Rovelli C., Carannante N., Losito A.R., Carbonara S., Mariani M.F., Mastroianni A., Angarano G., Tumbarello M., Tascini C., Grossi P., Mastroianni C.M., Mussini C., Viale P., Menichetti F., Viscoli C., Russo A., Verdenelli S., Fabiani S., Castaldo N., Pecori D., Carnellutti A., Givone F., Graziano E., Merelli M., Cadeo B., Peghin M., Cattelan A., Cipriani L., Coletto D., Gianluca R., Ciardi M.R., Ajassa C., Tieghi T., Pontino P., Raffaelli F., Artioli S., Caruana G., Luzzati R., Bontempo G., Petrosillo N., Capone A., Rizzardini G., Coen M., Passerini M., Guadagnino G., Urso F., Borgia G., Gentile I., Maraolo A.E., Crapis M., Venturini S., Parruti G., Trave F., Girardis M., Cascio A., Gioe C., Anselmo M., Malfatto E., Russo, Alessandro &amp, and Luzzati, R.

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, ceftolozane/tazobactam, medicine.medical_treatment, CRRT, Tazobactam, Enterobacterales, Enterobacterale, Internal medicine, ESBL, septic shock, Major Article, medicine, Clinical endpoint, Renal replacement therapy, business.industry, Septic shock, Retrospective cohort study, Odds ratio, medicine.disease, Ceftolozane/tazobactam, AcademicSubjects/MED00290, Infectious Diseases, Oncology, Ceftolozane, business, Empiric therapy, medicine.drug
Abstract

Background Few data are reported in the literature about the outcome of patients with severe extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) infections treated with ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T), in empiric or definitive therapy. Methods A multicenter retrospective study was performed in Italy (June 2016–June 2019). Successful clinical outcome was defined as complete resolution of clinical signs/symptoms related to ESBL-E infection and lack of microbiological evidence of infection. The primary end point was to identify predictors of clinical failure of C/T therapy. Results C/T treatment was documented in 153 patients: pneumonia was the most common diagnosis (n = 46, 30%), followed by 34 cases of complicated urinary tract infections (22.2%). Septic shock was observed in 42 (27.5%) patients. C/T was used as empiric therapy in 46 (30%) patients and as monotherapy in 127 (83%) patients. Favorable clinical outcome was observed in 128 (83.7%) patients; 25 patients were considered to have failed C/T therapy. Overall, 30-day mortality was reported for 15 (9.8%) patients. At multivariate analysis, Charlson comorbidity index >4 (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9–3.5; P = .02), septic shock (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 3.8–7.9; P < .001), and continuous renal replacement therapy (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.9–5.3; P = .001) were independently associated with clinical failure, whereas empiric therapy displaying in vitro activity (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.01–0.34; P < .001) and adequate source control of infection (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.14–0.55; P < .001) were associated with clinical success. Conclusions Data show that C/T could be a valid option in empiric and/or targeted therapy in patients with severe infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacterales. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of clinical failure with standard-dose C/T therapy in septic patients receiving CRRT.

Published
2020

5. Cardiometabolic multimorbidity is associated with a worse Covid-19 prognosis than individual cardiometabolic risk factors: a multicentre retrospective study (CoViDiab II)

Author

Maddaloni, E., D'Onofrio, L., Alessandri, F., Mignogna, C., Leto, G., Pascarella, G., Mezzaroma, I., Lichtner, M., Pozzilli, P., Agro, F. E., Rocco, M., Pugliese, F., Lenzi, A., Holman, R. R., Mastroianni, C. M., Buzzetti, R., Ajassa, C., Alban, R., Alessi, F., Aronica, R., Belvisi, V., Candy, M., Caputi, A., Carrara, A., Casali, E., Cavallari, E. N., Ceccarelli, G., Celani, L., Ciardi, M. R., Coraggio, L., Curtolo, A., D'Agostino, C., D'Ettorre, G., De Giorgi, F., De Girolamo, G., Filippi, V., Gnessi, L., Luordi, C., Moretti, C., Recchia, G., Ridolfi, M., Romani, F. E., Russo, G., Ruberto, F., Savelloni, G., Siccardi, G., Siena, A., Sterpetti, S., Valeri, S., Vera, M., Volpicelli, L., Watanabe, M., Aiuti, M., Campagna, G., Del Borgo, C., Fondaco, L., Kertusha, B., Leonetti, F., Marocco, R., Masala, R., Zuccala, P., Nonnis, G., Rigoli, A., Strumia, A., and Alampi, D.

Subjects
lcsh:Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system, medicine.medical_specialty, multimorbidity, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, medicine.medical_treatment, Pneumonia, Viral, pandemics, Logistic regression, metabolic diseases, law.invention, coronavirus infections, male, law, Diabetes mellitus, Internal medicine, middle aged, medicine, 80 and over, copd, covid-19, diabetes, hypertension, sars-cov-2, aged, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, female, follow-up studies, humans, pneumonia, viral, prognosis, retrospective studies, risk factors, betacoronavirus, COPD, Original Investigation, Aged, 80 and over, Mechanical ventilation, business.industry, SARS-CoV-2, Confounding, Diabetes, Retrospective cohort study, Odds ratio, medicine.disease, Intensive care unit, lcsh:RC666-701, Hypertension, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, business, Covid-19
Abstract

Background Cardiometabolic disorders may worsen Covid-19 outcomes. We investigated features and Covid-19 outcomes for patients with or without diabetes, and with or without cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Methods We collected and compared data retrospectively from patients hospitalized for Covid-19 with and without diabetes, and with and without cardiometabolic multimorbidity (defined as ≥ two of three risk factors of diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidaemia). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk of the primary composite outcome (any of mechanical ventilation, admission to an intensive care unit [ICU] or death) in patients with diabetes and in those with cardiometabolic multimorbidity, adjusting for confounders. Results Of 354 patients enrolled, those with diabetes (n = 81), compared with those without diabetes (n = 273), had characteristics associated with the primary composite outcome that included older age, higher prevalence of hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), higher levels of inflammatory markers and a lower PaO2/FIO2 ratio. The risk of the primary composite outcome in the 277 patients who completed the study as of May 15th, 2020, was higher in those with diabetes (Adjusted Odds Ratio (adjOR) 2.04, 95%CI 1.12–3.73, p = 0.020), hypertension (adjOR 2.31, 95%CI: 1.37–3.92, p = 0.002) and COPD (adjOR 2.67, 95%CI 1.23–5.80, p = 0.013). Patients with cardiometabolic multimorbidity were at higher risk compared to patients with no cardiometabolic conditions (adjOR 3.19 95%CI 1.61–6.34, p = 0.001). The risk for patients with a single cardiometabolic risk factor did not differ with that for patients with no cardiometabolic risk factors (adjOR 1.66, 0.90–3.06, adjp = 0.10). Conclusions Patients with diabetes hospitalized for Covid-19 present with high-risk features. They are at increased risk of adverse outcomes, likely because diabetes clusters with other cardiometabolic conditions.

Published
2020

6. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in COVID-19 patients: a case-control study.

Author

LA TORRE, G., MARTE, M., MASSETTI, A. P., CARLI, S. M., ROMANO, F., MASTROIANNI, C. M., MINORENTI, M., ALESSANDRI, F., AJASSA, C., FUSCONI, M., DE VINCENTIIS, M., DE MEO, D., VILLANI, C., CARDI, M., and PUGLIESE, F.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has been identified in China as responsible for viral pneumonia, now called COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). Patients infected can develop common symptoms like cough and sore throat, and, in severe cases, acute respiratory syndrome and even death. To optimize the available resources, it is necessary to identify in advance the subjects that will develop a more serious illness, therefore requiring intensive care. The neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR) parameter, resulting from the blood count, could be a significant marker for the diagnosis and management of risk stratification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, single-center case-control observational study was conducted. The differential cell count of leukocytes, the NLR and the clinical course of patients hospitalized in intensive care with COVID-19 were analyzed, comparing them with other patients (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) and healthy individuals selected among workers of the Teaching Hospital Policlinico Umberto I in Rome. RESULTS: 370 patients (145 cases and 225 controls) were included in the case-control study, 211 males (57%) and 159 females (43%). The average age of the population was 63 years (SD 16.35). In the group of cases, out of 145 patients, 57 deaths and 88 survivors were recorded, with a lethality rate of 39.3%. The group of cases has an NLR of 7.83 (SD = 8.07), a much higher value than the control group where an NLR of 2.58 was recorded (SD = 1.93) (p <0.001). The Neutrophils / Lymphocytes ratio may prove to be a diagnostic factor for COVID-19, an NLR> 3.68 revealed an OR 10.84 (95% CI = 6.47 - 18.13) (p <0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The value of NLR considered together with the age variable allows a risk stratification and allows the development of diagnostic and treatment protocols for patients affected by COVID-19. A high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio suggests worse survival. Risk stratification and management help alleviate the shortage of medical resources and reduce the mortality of critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2022

7. Combined antiretroviral therapy reduces hyperimmunoglobulinemia in HIV-1 infected children

Author

Chiappini, E, Galli, L, Tovo, PA, Gabiano, C, de Martino, M, Osimani, P, Cordiali, R, De Mattia, D, Manzioma, M, DI BARI, DANIELA COLOMBA, Ruggeri, M, Masi, M, Miniaci, A, Specchia, F, Ciccia, M, Lanari, M, Baldi, F, Battisti, L, Schumacher, R, Duse, M, Fiorino, C, Dessi, C, Pintor, C, Dedoni, M, Fenu, ML, CAVALLINI, RAFFAELLA, D'ANASTASIO, ELISABETTA, Merolla, F, Sticca, M, Pomero, G, Bezzi, T, Fiumana, E, Paganelli, S, Vierucci, A, Vitucci, P, CECCHI, MARIA TERESA, Cosso, D, Timitilli, A, Stronati, M, Plebani, A, PINZANI, ROBERTO, VIGANO', ALDO, Giacomet, V, Bianchi, R, SALVINI, FRANCESCO, Zuccotti, GV, Giovannini, M, Ferraris, G, Lipreri, R, Moretti, C, Cellini, M, Cano, MC, Palazzi, G, Guarino, A, Bruzzese, E, DE MARCO, GIUSEPPINA, Tarallo, L, TANCREDI, FERNANDO ANTONIO, Giaquinto, C, D'Elia, R, Rampon, O, Nogare, EDR, SANFILIPPO, ALESSIA, Romano, A, Saitta, M, Dodi, I, Barone, A, Maccabruni, A, Consolini, R, Legitimo, A, Magnani, C, Falconieri, P, Fundaro, C, Genovese, O, Salvucci, S, Casadei, AM, Gattinara, GC, Bernardi, S, PALMA, PASQUALE, Anzidei, G, Anzidei, M, Cerilli, S, Catania, S, Ajassa, C, Ganau, A, Cristiano, L, Mazza, A, Di Palma, A, Garetto, S, Riva, C, Scolfaro, C, Portelli, V, Rabusin, M, Pellegatta, A, Molesini, M, Chiappini, E, Galli, L, Tovo, PA, Gabiano, C, de Martino, M, Osimani, P, Cordiali, R, De Mattia, D, Manzioma, M, Di Bari, C, Ruggeri, M, Masi, M, Miniaci, A, Specchia, F, Ciccia, M, Lanari, M, Baldi, F, Battisti, L, Schumacher, R, Duse, M, Fiorino, C, Dessi, C, Pintor, C, Dedoni, M, Fenu, ML, Cavallini, R, Anastasio, E, Merolla, F, Sticca, M, Pomero, G, Bezzi, T, Fiumana, E, Paganelli, S, Vierucci, A, Vitucci, P, Cecchi, MT, Cosso, D, Timitilli, A, Stronati, M, Plebani, A, Pinzani, R, Vigano, A, Giacomet, V, Bianchi, R, Salvini, F, Zuccotti, GV, Giovannini, M, Ferraris, G, Lipreri, R, Moretti, C, Cellini, M, Cano, MC, Palazzi, G, Guarino, A, Bruzzese, E, De Marco, G, Tarallo, L, Tancredi, F, Giaquinto, C, D'Elia, R, Rampon, O, Nogare, EDR, Sanfilippo, A, Romano, A, Saitta, M, Dodi, I, Barone, A, Maccabruni, A, Consolini, R, Legitimo, A, Magnani, C, Falconieri, P, Fundaro, C, Genovese, O, Salvucci, S, Casadei, AM, Gattinara, GC, Bernardi, S, Palma, P, Anzidei, G, Anzidei, M, Cerilli, S, Catania, S, Ajassa, C, Ganau, A, Cristiano, L, Mazza, A, Di Palma, A, Garetto, S, Riva, C, Scolfaro, C, Portelli, V, Rabusin, M, Pellegatta, A, and Molesini, M

Subjects
Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Adolescent, immunogiobulins, Immunology, immunoglobulins, combined antiretroviral therapy, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HIV Infections, medicine.disease_cause, Gastroenterology, children, Hypergammaglobulinemia, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Immunology and Allergy, Child, Therapeutic regimen, biology, business.industry, Immunoglobulins, Intravenous, Infant, Normal population, hiv-1 infection, Settore MED/38, Antiretroviral therapy, HIV Reverse Transcriptase, Infectious Diseases, Child, Preschool, Intravenous IG, HIV-1, biology.protein, HIV-1 infection, Drug Evaluation, Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, Drug Therapy, Combination, Antibody, business, Viral load
Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of combined antiretroviral therapy on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in HIV-1 perinatally infected children.Methods: Data from 1250 children recorded by the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children from 1985 to 2002 were analysed. Since Ig levels physiologically vary with age, differences at different age periods were evaluated as differences in z-scores calculated using means and standard deviations of normal population for each age period. Combined antiretroviral therapy has become widespread in Italy since 1996, thus differences in Ig z-scores between the periods 1985-1995 and 1996-2002 were analysed. Data according to type of therapeutic regimen were also analysed.Results: Between the two periods 1985-1995 and 1996-2002, significant (P < 0.0001) decreases in IgG (6.29 +/- 4.72 versus 4.44 +/- 4.33), IgM (9.25 +/- 13.32 versus 5.61 +/- 7.93), and IgA (10.25 +/- 15.68 versus 6.48 +/- 11.56) z-scores, together with a parallel significant (P < 0.0001) increase in CD4 T-lymphocyte percentages, were found. These decreases were confirmed regardless of whether the children were receiving intravenous Ig or not. Ig z-scores were significantly higher in children receiving mono-therapy than in those receiving double-combined therapy (IgG, P < 0.0001; IgM, P = 0.003; IgA, P = 0.031) and in the latter children than in those receiving three or more drugs (P < 0.0001 for all z-scores). Ig z-scores correlated inversely with CD4 T lymphocyte percentages and, directly, with viral loads.Conclusions: Our data show that in HIV-1 infected children combined antiretroviral therapy leads to reduction of hyperimmunoglobulinemia which parallels restoration of CD4 T-lymphocyte percentage and viral load decrease, which it turn probably reflects improved B-lymphocyte functions.(C) 2004 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.

Published
2004
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8. Extravirologic modulation of immune response by an NRTI-sparing antiretroviral regimen including darunavir and maraviroc

Author

Ermocida, A., Mengoni, F., Sauzullo, I., Rossi, R., Ajassa, C., Lichtner, M., Claudio Maria MASTROIANNI, and Vullo, V.

Subjects
Sulfonamides, cell migration, Anti-HIV Agents, Neutrophils, hiv, apoptosis, maraviroc, darunavir, Apoptosis, HIV Infections, Triazoles, Maraviroc, Cyclohexanes, HIV-1, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Humans, Drug Therapy, Combination, Cells, Cultured, Darunavir
Abstract

Dual therapies, including protease inhibitor + maraviroc (MVC), may represent an alternative to traditional regimens for management of HIV infection. The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the effects of darunavir (DRV) alone or in combination with MVC on cell apoptosis and chemotaxis. A significant decrease of cell apoptosis was found after DRV treatment. The addition of MVC to DRV also had an in vitro down-regulating effect on cell migration. The combination of an NRTI-sparing regimen including DRV+ MVC may have a potential role in immune system modulation by the direct down regulation of apoptosis and chemotaxis.

Published
2013

9. Reduction in mortality with availability of antiretroviral therapy for children with perinatal HIV-1 infection. Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children and the Italian National AIDS Registry

Author

de Martino M, Tovo PA, Balducci M, Galli L, Gabiano C, Rezza G, Pezzotti P, Osimani P, Di Bari C, Larovere D, Ruggeri m, Masi M, SpecchiaM, Battisti L, Duse M, Crispino P, Carrara P, Pintor C, Dedoni M, Dessì C, Loriano D, Anastasio E, Bezzi T, De Luca M, Farina S, Vierucci A, Bassetti D, Pontali E, Boni S, Marazzi M. G, Tasso L, Giovanettoni C, Salvini F, Pinzani R, Marchisio P, Viganò A, Tornaghi R, Zuccotti G. V, Riva E, Giovannini M, Lipreri R, Conio S, Ferraris G, Cellini M, Baraldi C, Tarallo L, Giaquinto C, Ruga E, Rampon O, Dalle Nogare E. R, Sanfilippo A, Romano A, Benaglia G, Dodi I, Caselli D, maccabruni A, Pacati I, Consolini R, Palla G, Cecchi M. T, Vecchi C, Anzidei G, Cerilli S, Chiodi R, Castelli Gattianra G, Krzysztofiak A, Bernardi S, Fundarò C, Genovese O, Colafati G. S, Catania A, Ajassa C, Mazza A, Garetto S, Riva C, Scolfaro C., GUARINO, ALFREDO, BERNI CANANI, ROBERTO, de Martino, M, Tovo, Pa, Balducci, M, Galli, L, Gabiano, C, Rezza, G, Pezzotti, P, Osimani, P, Di Bari, C, Larovere, D, Ruggeri, M, Masi, M, Specchiam, Battisti, L, Duse, M, Crispino, P, Carrara, P, Pintor, C, Dedoni, M, Dessì, C, Loriano, D, Anastasio, E, Bezzi, T, De Luca, M, Farina, S, Vierucci, A, Bassetti, D, Pontali, E, Boni, S, Marazzi, M. G., Tasso, L, Giovanettoni, C, Salvini, F, Pinzani, R, Marchisio, P, Viganò, A, Tornaghi, R, Zuccotti, G. V., Riva, E, Giovannini, M, Lipreri, R, Conio, S, Ferraris, G, Cellini, M, Baraldi, C, Guarino, Alfredo, BERNI CANANI, Roberto, Tarallo, L, Giaquinto, C, Ruga, E, Rampon, O, Dalle Nogare, E. R., Sanfilippo, A, Romano, A, Benaglia, G, Dodi, I, Caselli, D, Maccabruni, A, Pacati, I, Consolini, R, Palla, G, Cecchi, M. T., Vecchi, C, Anzidei, G, Cerilli, S, Chiodi, R, Castelli Gattianra, G, Krzysztofiak, A, Bernardi, S, Fundarò, C, Genovese, O, Colafati, G. S., Catania, A, Ajassa, C, Mazza, A, Garetto, S, Riva, C, and Scolfaro, C.

Abstract

CONTEXT: Since the introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy, mortality rates in adults with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection have decreased. However, little information is available outside the setting of controlled trials on survival of perinatally HIV-infected children treated with antiretroviral therapy. OBJECTIVE: To assess effect of availability of antiretroviral therapy on decreasing mortality in perinatally HIV-infected children. DESIGN: Population-based, multicenter longitudinal study involving data collected by the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children. SETTING: A network of 106 pediatric clinical centers. SUBJECTS: A total of 1142 children born between November 1980 and December 1997 with perinatally acquired HIV infection with a median follow-up of 5.9 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Time to HIV-related death calculated for birth cohort and calendar period and grouped by distribution of predominant type of antiretroviral therapy administered over time. RESULTS: Survival was longer in the 1996-1997 birth cohort (crude relative hazard [RH] of death, 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.96) and 1996-1998 calendar period (crude RH of death, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45-0.95) than in birth cohort and calendar period 1980-1995, but not when adjusted for maternal antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy and clinical condition at time of delivery, gestational age, and birth weight (adjusted RH of death, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.20-1.50, for birth cohort; and adjusted RH of death, 0.71, 95% CI, 0.43-1.16, for calendar period). In a multivariate model with 1980-1995 as comparison, the 1996-1997 birth cohort had an RH of 0.57 (95% CI, 0.22-1.47; P=.27) but RH for calendar period 1996-1998 was 0.63 (95% CI, 0.47-0.85; P

Published
2000

11. Estimating minimum adult HIV prevalence: A cross-sectional study to assess the characteristics of people living with HIV in Italy

Author

Camoni, L, Raimondo, M, Dorrucci, M, Regine, V, Salfa, M, Suligoi, B, Di Giammartino, D, Parruti, G, Di Stefano, P, Paoloni, M, D'Alessandro, M, Grimaldi, A, Sciotti, M, Pizzigallo, E, Vecchiett, J, De Stefano, C, La Gala, A, De Stefano, G, Linzalone, A, Cesario, F, Cosco, L, Caroleo, B, Foti, G, Serrao, N, Lucchino, D, Chirianni, A, Abrescia, N, Pempinello, R, Izzo, C, Borgia, G, Filippini, P, Sagnelli, E, Iodice, A, Megna, A, D'Alessio, G, Acone, N, Mazzeo, M, Sacchini, D, Ferrari, C, Degli Antoni, A, Magnani, G, Mussini, C, Borghi, V, Viale, P, Colangeli, V, Sighinolfi, L, Libanore, M, Govoni, A, Cancellieri, C, Bassi, P, Arlotti, M, Luzzati, R, Bassetti, M, Tirelli, U, Vaccher, E, Moise, G, Palamara, G, Bernardi, S, Falciano, M, Vullo, V, D'Ettore, G, Renda, V, Guariglia, C, Taliani, G, Mezzaroma, I, Paoletti, F, Ajassa, C, Gastaldi, R, Andreoni, M, Sarmati, L, Montella, F, Antinori, A, Giannetti, A, Pietrosillo, N, Girardi, E, Pennica, A, Cauda, R, Colafigli, M, Di Gianbenedetto, S, Caterini, A, Monarca, R, Barbacci, S, Ramponi, G, Marchili, M, Anzalone, E, Lichtner, M, Ferrea, G, Cassola, G, Viscoli, C, Mazzarello, G, Setti, M, Artioli, S, Riccio, G, Finocchio, G, Anselmo, M, Rizzi, M, Scalzini, A, Castelli, F, Quirino, T, Santoro, D, Pan, A, Zoncada, A, Bonfanti, P, Viganò, P, Villa, M, Tinelli, M, Perboni, G, Palvarini, L, Costa, P, Puoti, M, Galli, M, Rizzardini, G, Monforte, A, Lazzarin, A, Castagna, A, Gori, A, Minoli, L, Filice, G, Grossi, P, Giacometti, A, Tavio, M, Montroni, M, Butini, L, Osimani, P, Petrelli, E, Chiodera, A, Vittucci, P, Sabbatini, P, Pasqualini, C, Valle, M, Zoppi, M, Mantia, E, Schettino, G, Deseraca, M, Vitullo, D, Bargiacchi, O, Orofino, G, Bramato, C, Busso, M, Salassa, B, Farenga, M, Bonora, S, Leo, G, Poletti, F, Gobber, M, Cristina, G, Gabiano, C, Mian, P, Moling, O, Paternoster, C, Dorigoni, N, Fontana, T, Angarano, G, Ladisa, N, La Rovere, D, Fico, C, Bulla, F, Santantonio, T, Grisorio, B, Chiriacò, P, Congedo, P, Tundo, P, Resta, F, Cristiano, L, Mura, M, Madeddu, G, Mesina, P, Piga, S, Campus, M, Manconi, P, Ortu, F, Salvo, A, Baretti, C, La Sala, R, Bellissima, P, Bonfante, S, Galvagna, S, Celesia, B, La Rosa, R, Maiuzzo, S, Guarnieri, L, Bruno, S, Picerno, I, Tripodi, N, Farinella, E, Occhino, C, Titone, L, Colomba, C, Prestileo, T, Saitta, M, Dones, P, Boncoraglio, R, Davi, A, Franco, A, Portelli, V, Savalli, F, Geraci, C, Chimenti, M, Luchi, S, Catalani, C, Trezzi, M, Aquilini, D, Sani, S, Nencioni, C, Carli, T, Mazzotta, F, Lo Caputo, S, Zuccati, G, Iapoce, R, Consolini, R, Bartolozzi, D, Bartoloni, A, Bartalesi, F, DE LUCA, A, De Martino, M, Tacconi, D, Tini, S, Baldelli, F, Francisci, D, Frongillo, R, Traverso, A, Francavilla, E, Ferretto, R, Marranconi, F, Manfrin, V, Cortese, P, Rossi, C, Cattelan, F, Petrucci, A, Brugnaro, P, Sgarabotto, D, Scaggiante, R, Cattelan, A, Bosco, O, Concia, E, Rovere, P, FOTI, GIUSEPPE, GORI, ANDREA, DE LUCA, ANDREA, Rovere, P., Camoni, L, Raimondo, M, Dorrucci, M, Regine, V, Salfa, M, Suligoi, B, Di Giammartino, D, Parruti, G, Di Stefano, P, Paoloni, M, D'Alessandro, M, Grimaldi, A, Sciotti, M, Pizzigallo, E, Vecchiett, J, De Stefano, C, La Gala, A, De Stefano, G, Linzalone, A, Cesario, F, Cosco, L, Caroleo, B, Foti, G, Serrao, N, Lucchino, D, Chirianni, A, Abrescia, N, Pempinello, R, Izzo, C, Borgia, G, Filippini, P, Sagnelli, E, Iodice, A, Megna, A, D'Alessio, G, Acone, N, Mazzeo, M, Sacchini, D, Ferrari, C, Degli Antoni, A, Magnani, G, Mussini, C, Borghi, V, Viale, P, Colangeli, V, Sighinolfi, L, Libanore, M, Govoni, A, Cancellieri, C, Bassi, P, Arlotti, M, Luzzati, R, Bassetti, M, Tirelli, U, Vaccher, E, Moise, G, Palamara, G, Bernardi, S, Falciano, M, Vullo, V, D'Ettore, G, Renda, V, Guariglia, C, Taliani, G, Mezzaroma, I, Paoletti, F, Ajassa, C, Gastaldi, R, Andreoni, M, Sarmati, L, Montella, F, Antinori, A, Giannetti, A, Pietrosillo, N, Girardi, E, Pennica, A, Cauda, R, Colafigli, M, Di Gianbenedetto, S, Caterini, A, Monarca, R, Barbacci, S, Ramponi, G, Marchili, M, Anzalone, E, Lichtner, M, Ferrea, G, Cassola, G, Viscoli, C, Mazzarello, G, Setti, M, Artioli, S, Riccio, G, Finocchio, G, Anselmo, M, Rizzi, M, Scalzini, A, Castelli, F, Quirino, T, Santoro, D, Pan, A, Zoncada, A, Bonfanti, P, Viganò, P, Villa, M, Tinelli, M, Perboni, G, Palvarini, L, Costa, P, Puoti, M, Galli, M, Rizzardini, G, Monforte, A, Lazzarin, A, Castagna, A, Gori, A, Minoli, L, Filice, G, Grossi, P, Giacometti, A, Tavio, M, Montroni, M, Butini, L, Osimani, P, Petrelli, E, Chiodera, A, Vittucci, P, Sabbatini, P, Pasqualini, C, Valle, M, Zoppi, M, Mantia, E, Schettino, G, Deseraca, M, Vitullo, D, Bargiacchi, O, Orofino, G, Bramato, C, Busso, M, Salassa, B, Farenga, M, Bonora, S, Leo, G, Poletti, F, Gobber, M, Cristina, G, Gabiano, C, Mian, P, Moling, O, Paternoster, C, Dorigoni, N, Fontana, T, Angarano, G, Ladisa, N, La Rovere, D, Fico, C, Bulla, F, Santantonio, T, Grisorio, B, Chiriacò, P, Congedo, P, Tundo, P, Resta, F, Cristiano, L, Mura, M, Madeddu, G, Mesina, P, Piga, S, Campus, M, Manconi, P, Ortu, F, Salvo, A, Baretti, C, La Sala, R, Bellissima, P, Bonfante, S, Galvagna, S, Celesia, B, La Rosa, R, Maiuzzo, S, Guarnieri, L, Bruno, S, Picerno, I, Tripodi, N, Farinella, E, Occhino, C, Titone, L, Colomba, C, Prestileo, T, Saitta, M, Dones, P, Boncoraglio, R, Davi, A, Franco, A, Portelli, V, Savalli, F, Geraci, C, Chimenti, M, Luchi, S, Catalani, C, Trezzi, M, Aquilini, D, Sani, S, Nencioni, C, Carli, T, Mazzotta, F, Lo Caputo, S, Zuccati, G, Iapoce, R, Consolini, R, Bartolozzi, D, Bartoloni, A, Bartalesi, F, DE LUCA, A, De Martino, M, Tacconi, D, Tini, S, Baldelli, F, Francisci, D, Frongillo, R, Traverso, A, Francavilla, E, Ferretto, R, Marranconi, F, Manfrin, V, Cortese, P, Rossi, C, Cattelan, F, Petrucci, A, Brugnaro, P, Sgarabotto, D, Scaggiante, R, Cattelan, A, Bosco, O, Concia, E, Rovere, P, FOTI, GIUSEPPE, GORI, ANDREA, DE LUCA, ANDREA, and Rovere, P.

Published
2015

12. Changing patterns of clinical events in perinatally HIV-1-infected children during the era of HAART. The Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children

Author

WRITING COMMITTEE CHIAPPINI, E, Galli, L, Tovo, Pa, Gabiano, C, Lisi, C, Gattinara, Gc, Esposito, S, Viganò, A, Giaquinto, C, Rosso, R, Guarino, A, Osimani, DE MARTINO M. MEMBERS OF THE ITALIAN REGISTER FOR HIV INFECTION IN CHILDREN P., Cordiali, R., DE MATTIA, D., Manzionna, M., DI BARI, C., Ruggeri, M., Masi, M., Miniaci, A., Specchia, F., Ciccia, M., Lanari, M., Baldi, F., Battisti, L., Schumacher, R., Duse, M., Sinelli, M., Bennato, V., Dessì, C., Dedoni, M., Fenu, M. L., Cavallini, R., Anastasio, E., Zicchinella, D., Sticca, M., Pomero, G., Contiero, R., Fiumana, E., Gervaso, P., Gabrielli, G., Braccesi, G., Becherucci, S., DE GAUDIO, M., Innocenti, L., Cecchi, M. T., Ginocchio, F., Nicolini, L. A., Ciravegna, B. W., Cosso, D., Timitilli, A., Stronati, M., Plebani, A., Bojanin, J., Porta, A., Principi, N., Giacomet, V., Bianchi, R., Zuccotti, G. V., Giovannini, M., Ferraris, G., Lipreri, R., MORETTI MILANO, C., Cellini, M., Cano, M. C., Palazzi, G., Bruzzese, E., Giannattazio, A., Tarallo, L., Tancredi, F., D'Elia, R., Rampon, O., DALLE NOGARE, E. R., Sanfilippo, A., Romano, A., Saitta, M., Dodi, I., Barone, A., Consolini, Rita, Legitimo, Annalisa, Magnani, C., Falconieri, P., Fundarò, C., Salvucci, P. VALENTINI S., Casadei, A. M., Bernardi, S., Palma, P., Anzidei, M., Cerilli, S., Ajassa, C., Ganau, A., Cristiano, L., Mazza, A., Gentilini, L., Mignone, F., Versace, A., Antonielli, E., Sovatzis, S., Scolfaro, C., Palomba, E., Portelli, V., Rabusin, M., Pellegatta, A., and Fortunati, P.

Published
2007

13. Cancer rates after year 2000 significantly decrease in children with perinatal HIV infection: A study by the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children

Author

Chiappini, E, Galli, L, Tovo, Pa, Gabiano, C, Lisi, C, Giaquinto, C, Rampon, O, Gattinara, Gc, De Marco, G, Osimani, P, Manzionna, M, Miniaci, A, Pintor, C, Rosso, R, Esposito, S, Viganò, A, Dodi, I, Maccabruni, A, Fundarò, C, de Martino, M, Osimani, P., Cordiali, R., De Mattia, D., Manzionna, M., Di Bari, C., Ruggeri, M., Masi, M., Miniaci, A., Specchia, F., Ciccia, M., Lanari, M., Baldi, F., Battisti, L., Fiorino, C., Dessı`, C., Pintor, C., Dedoni, M., Fenu, M. L., Cavallini, R., Anastasio, E., Merolla, F., Sticca, M., Pomero, G., Bezzi, Teresa Maria, Fiumana, Elisa, Bonsignori, F., Gervaso, P., Seini, E., Cecchi, M. T., Cosso, D., Timitilli, A., Stronati, M., Plebani, A., Pinzani, R., Bongianin, I., Vigano`, A., Giacomet, V., Erba, P., Salvini, F., Zuccotti, G. V., Giovannini, M., Ferraris, G., Lipreri, R., Moretti, C., Cellini, M., Cano, M. C., Paolucci, P., Bruzzese, E., De Marco, G., Tarallo, L., Tancredi, F., Pennazzato, M., Rampon, O., Dalle Nogare, E. R., Sanfilippo, A., Romano, A., Saitta, M., Dodi, I., Barone, A., Maccabruni, A., Consolini, R., Legitimo, A., Magnani, C., Falconieri, P., Fundaro`, C., Genovese, O., Panzanella, A., Casadei, A. M., Martino, A., Concato, C., Anzidei, G., Bove, G., Cerilli, S., Catania, S., Ajassa, C., Ganau, A., Cristiano, L., Mazza, A., Di Palma, A., Mignone, F., Riva, C., Scorfaro, C., Portelli, V., Rabusin, M., Pellegatta, A., Molesini, M., Chiappini, Elena, Galli, Luisa, Tovo, Pier-Angelo, Gabiano, Clara, Lisi, Catiuscia, Giaquinto, Carlo, Rampon, Osvalda, Gattinara, Guido Castelli, De Marco, Giulio, Osimani, Patrizia, Manzionna, Mariano, Miniaci, Angela, Pintor, Carlo, Rosso, Raffaella, Esposito, Susanna, Viganò, Alessandra, Dodi, Icilio, Maccabruni, Anna, Fundarò, Carlo, De Martino, Maurizio, Italian Register for HIV Infection in, Children, and Lanari, M.

Subjects
Registrie, Pediatrics, Cancer Research, Time Factors, HIV Infections, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, Neoplasms, HIV Infection, Registries, Sida, Child, biology, Incidence (epidemiology), Medicine (all), Incidence, Child, Preschool, Disease Progression, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Italy, Treatment Outcome, Oncology, symbols, Population study, Viral disease, Human, medicine.medical_specialty, cancer rates, HIV infection, children, Time Factor, Antiretroviral Therapy, symbols.namesake, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), medicine, cancer, Highly Active, Poisson regression, Preschool, Settore MED/38 - Pediatria Generale e Specialistica, Perinatal HIV infection, business.industry, Cancer, Newborn, medicine.disease, biology.organism_classification, Italian Register for HIV infection in children, El Niño, Neoplasm, business
Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on cancer incidence in HIV-infected children throughout a 20-year period. Patients and Methods An observational population study was conducted on 1,190 perinatally HIV-infected children enrolled onto the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children from 1985 to 2004 and never lost to follow-up (total observation time, 10,037.66 years). Cancer rates were calculated in the pre-HAART (1985 to 1995), early HAART (1996 to 1999), and late HAART (2000 to 2004) periods and compared using Poisson regression adjusted for age. The proportion of HAART-treated children increased from 4.1% in 1996 to 60.4% in 1999 and to 81.5% in 2004. In the same time frame, the proportion of children receiving HAART for at least 2 years increased from 3.1% to 77.0%. Results Overall, 35 cancers occurred. Cancer rates were 4.49 (95% CI, 2.37 to 6.64), 4.09 (95% CI, 1.68 to 6.50), and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.00 to 1.80) per 1,000 children per year in 1985 to 1995, 1996 to 1999, and 2000 to 2004, respectively. Notably, there was no significant difference comparing the periods from 1985 to 1995 and 1996 to 1999 (P = .081). By contrast, cancer rates were significantly lower in the period from 2000 to 2004 than in 1996 to 1999 (P < .0001). Results were confirmed by separately analyzing data from children observed from birth (P = .418 for 1985 to 1995 v 1996 to 1999; P = .001 for 1996 to 1999 v 2000 to 2004). Conclusion Dramatically reduced cancer rates were observed only in the late HAART period in parallel to the increasing proportion of children receiving HAART therapy.

Published
2007

14. Virologic, immunologic, and clinical benefits from early combined antiretroviral therapy in infants with perinatal HIV-1 infection

Author

Chiappini, E., Galli, L., Atovo, P. i. e. r., Gabiano, C., Castelli Gattinara, G., Guarino, A., Baddato, R., Giaquinto, C., Lisi, C., de Martino, M., Osimani, P., Cordiali, R., De Mattia, D., Manzionna, M., Di Bari, C., Ruggeri, M., Masi, M., Miniaci, A., Specchia, F., Ciccia, M., Lanari, M., Baldi, F., Battisti, L., Fiorino, C., Dessı`, C., Pintor, C., Dedoni, M., Fenu, M. L., Cavallini, R., Anastasio, E., Merolla, F., Sticca, M., Pomero, G., Bezzi, Teresa Maria, Fiumana, Elisa, Bonsignori, F., Gervaso, P., Seini, E., Cecchi, M. T., Cosso, D., Timitilli, A., Stronati, M., Plebani, A., Pinzani, R., Bongianin, I., Vigano`, A., Giacomet, V., Erba, P., Salvini, F., Zuccotti, G. V., Giovannini, M., Ferraris, G., Lipreri, R., Moretti, C., Cellini, M., Cano, M. C., Paolucci, P., Bruzzese, E., De Marco, G., Tarallo, L., Tancredi, F., Pennazzato, M., Rampon, O., Dalle Nogare, E. R., Sanfilippo, A., Romano, A., Saitta, M., Dodi, I., Barone, A., Maccabruni, A., Consolini, R., Legitimo, A., Magnani, C., Falconieri, P., Fundaro`, C., Genovese, O., Panzanella, A., Casadei, A. M., Martino, A., Concato, C., Anzidei, G., Bove, G., Cerilli, S., Catania, S., Ajassa, C., Ganau, A., Cristiano, L., Mazza, A., Di Palma, A., Mignone, F., Riva, C., Scorfaro, C., Portelli, V., Rabusin, M., Pellegatta, A., Molesini, M., Chiappini, E, Galli, L, Tovo, Pa, Gabiano, C, Gattinara, Gc, Guarino, Alfredo, Baddato, R, Giaquinto, C, Lisi, C, and DE MARTINO, M.

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Pediatrics, Anti-HIV Agents, medicine.medical_treatment, Immunology, combined antiretroviral therapy, CD4-CD8 Ratio, HIV Infections, HIV-1 infection, Asymptomatic, Drug Administration Schedule, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Immunopathology, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, Medicine, Immunology and Allergy, Humans, Sida, ART, infants, Chemotherapy, biology, business.industry, Age Factors, Infant, Viral Load, biology.organism_classification, medicine.disease, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Surgery, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Infectious Diseases, Treatment Outcome, Child, Preschool, Lentivirus, Disease Progression, HIV-1, Viral disease, medicine.symptom, business, Epidemiologic Methods, Viral load
Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of early versus deferred combined antiretroviral treatment (ART) in asymptomatic or moderately symptomatic [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) category N, A or B] infants with perinatal HIV-1 infection. Methods: A multi-centre nationwide case-control study was conducted. Data from 30 infants treated with combined ART with three or more drugs before 6 months of age were compared with data from 103 infants starting ART with three or more drugs after 6 months of age. The median follow-up time was 4.1 years (range, 1.0-6.5 years). Results: No difference was evident in the first available viral load and CD4 T-lymphocyte percentage between the two groups of children. Early-treated infants showed significantly lower viral loads than infants receiving deferred treatment at all the follow-up periods. A higher proportion of early-treated infants than infants receiving deferred treatment (73.3% versus 30.1%; P < 0.0001) reached an undetectable viral load. Higher CD4 T-lymphocyte percentages were found in early-treated infants at 13-24 (P < 0.0001), 25-36 (P < 0.0001), and 37-48 (P = 0.003) months of age. No early-treated infant versus 20 of 103 (19.4%) infants receiving deferred ART (P=0.02) showed a CD4 T-lymphocyte percentage of less than 15% at one time point during follow-up. No CDC category A, B or C clinical event occurred in early-treated infants over the follow-up period while 44 of 103 (42.7%) infants receiving deferred treatment presented a decline in the CDC category. Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed significant differences in CDC category A (P = 0.0002), B (P = 0.0003), and C (P = 0.0018) event-free survivals. Conclusion: The data suggest virologic, immunologic, and clinical benefits from early administration of ART.

Published
2006

16. Early triple therapy vs mono or dual therapy for children with perinatal HIV infection

Author

Chiappini, E, Galli, L, Gabiano, C, Tovo, Pa, de Martino, M, Osimani, P., Cordiali, R., De Mattia, D., Manzionna, M., Di Bari, C., Ruggeri, M., Masi, M., Miniaci, A., Specchia, F., Ciccia, M., Lanari, M., Baldi, F., Battisti, L., Fiorino, C., Dessı`, C., Pintor, C., Dedoni, M., Fenu, M. L., Cavallini, R., Anastasio, E., Merolla, F., Sticca, M., Pomero, G., Bezzi, Teresa Maria, Fiumana, Elisa, Bonsignori, F., Gervaso, P., Seini, E., Cecchi, M. T., Cosso, D., Timitilli, A., Stronati, M., Plebani, A., Pinzani, R., Bongianin, I., Vigano`, A., Giacomet, V., Erba, P., Salvini, F., Zuccotti, G. V., Giovannini, M., Ferraris, G., Lipreri, R., Moretti, C., Cellini, M., Cano, M. C., Paolucci, P., Bruzzese, E., De Marco, G., Tarallo, L., Tancredi, F., Pennazzato, M., Rampon, O., Dalle Nogare, E. R., Sanfilippo, A., Romano, A., Saitta, M., Dodi, I., Barone, A., Maccabruni, A., Consolini, R., Legitimo, A., Magnani, C., Falconieri, P., Fundaro`, C., Genovese, O., Panzanella, A., Casadei, A. M., Martino, A., Concato, C., Anzidei, G., Bove, G., Cerilli, S., Catania, S., Ajassa, C., Ganau, A., Cristiano, L., Mazza, A., Di Palma, A., Mignone, F., Riva, C., Scorfaro, C., Portelli, V., Rabusin, M., Pellegatta, A., Molesini, M., Chiappini E., Galli L., Gabiano C., Tovo P A., De Martino M., for the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children: [.., Osimani P., Specchia F., Molesini M., and ]

Subjects
Perinatal HIV infection, Pediatrics, medicine.medical_specialty, HIV INFECTIONS, business.industry, Therapy, General Medicine, Virology, Perinatal hiv, medicine, INFANT, Dual therapy, business, MATERNAL-FETAL RELATIONS, DISEASE TRANSMISSION, ANTIHIV AGENTS
Abstract

The time at which antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be initiated in children with perinatal human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV) infection remains controversial. In a cohort study, Berk et al1 reported clinical benefit from mono/dual ART started before 60 days of life in 10 children compared with treatment administered at 61 to 120 days of life in 16 children. The 23 children who received early triple ART were not investigated because none of them progressed to category C diagnosis by 3 years of age. We performed a similar analysis in a cohort study of a larger data set of children with a longer follow-up to evaluate the outcomes of early and very early triple ART.

Published
2006

18. Lower mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission in boys is independent of type of delivery and antiretroviral prophylaxis. The Italian register for HIV intection in children

Author

Galli, L., Puliti, D., Chiappini, E., Gabiano, C., Tovo, P. A., Pezzotti, P., de Martino, M., Osimani, P., Cordiali, R., De Mattia, D., Manzionna, M., Di Bari, C., Ruggeri, M., Masi, M., Miniaci, A., Specchia, F., Ciccia, M., Lanari, M., Baldi, F., Battisti, L., Fiorino, C., Dessı`, C., Pintor, C., Dedoni, M., Fenu, M. L., Cavallini, R., Anastasio, E., Merolla, F., Sticca, M., Pomero, G., Bezzi, Teresa Maria, Fiumana, Elisa, Bonsignori, F., Gervaso, P., Seini, E., Cecchi, M. T., Cosso, D., Timitilli, A., Stronati, M., Plebani, A., Pinzani, R., Bongianin, I., Vigano`, A., Giacomet, V., Erba, P., Salvini, F., Zuccotti, G. V., Giovannini, M., Ferraris, G., Lipreri, R., Moretti, C., Cellini, M., Cano, M. C., Paolucci, P., Bruzzese, E., De Marco, G., Tarallo, L., Tancredi, F., Pennazzato, M., Rampon, O., Dalle Nogare, E. R., Sanfilippo, A., Romano, A., Saitta, M., Dodi, I., Barone, A., Maccabruni, A., Consolini, R., Legitimo, A., Magnani, C., Falconieri, P., Fundaro`, C., Genovese, O., Panzanella, A., Casadei, A. M., Martino, A., Concato, C., Anzidei, G., Bove, G., Cerilli, S., Catania, S., Ajassa, C., Ganau, A., Cristiano, L., Mazza, A., Di Palma, A., Mignone, F., Riva, C., Scorfaro, C., Portelli, V., Rabusin, M., Pellegatta, A., and Molesini, M.

Subjects
infant's gender, vertical transmission, antiretroviral prophylaxis
Published
2005

19. Persistently high IgA serum levels are a marker of immunological or virological failure of combined antiretroviral therapy in children with perinatal HIV-1 infection

Author

Chiappini, E., Galli, L., Tovo, P. A., Gabiano, C., de Martino, M., Osimani, P., Cordiali, R., De Mattia, D., Manzionna, M., Di Bari, C., Ruggeri, M., Masi, M., Miniaci, A., Specchia, F., Ciccia, M., Lanari, M., Baldi, F., Battisti, L., Fiorino, C., Dessı`, C., Pintor, C., Dedoni, M., Fenu, M. L., Cavallini, R., Anastasio, E., Merolla, F., Sticca, M., Pomero, G., Bezzi, Teresa Maria, Fiumana, Elisa, Bonsignori, F., Gervaso, P., Seini, E., Cecchi, M. T., Cosso, D., Timitilli, A., Stronati, M., Plebani, A., Pinzani, R., Bongianin, I., Vigano`, A., Giacomet, V., Erba, P., Salvini, F., Zuccotti, G. V., Giovannini, M., Ferraris, G., Lipreri, R., Moretti, C., Cellini, M., Cano, M. C., Paolucci, P., Bruzzese, E., De Marco, G., Tarallo, L., Tancredi, F., Pennazzato, M., Rampon, O., Dalle Nogare, E. R., Sanfilippo, A., Romano, A., Saitta, M., Dodi, I., Barone, A., Maccabruni, A., Consolini, R., Legitimo, A., Magnani, C., Falconieri, P., Fundaro`, C., Genovese, O., Panzanella, A., Casadei, A. M., Martino, A., Concato, C., Anzidei, G., Bove, G., Cerilli, S., Catania, S., Ajassa, C., Ganau, A., Cristiano, L., Mazza, A., Di Palma, A., Mignone, F., Riva, C., Scorfaro, C., Portelli, V., Rabusin, M., Pellegatta, A., Molesini, M., Chiappini E., Galli L., Tovo PA., Gabiano C., de Martino M., Osimani P, Masi M., Specchia F., Molesini M., and The Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children

Subjects
Adolescent, Anti-HIV Agents, Immunology, HIV Infections, HIV-1 infection, Perinatal hiv, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, Clinical Studies, Immunology and Allergy, Medicine, Humans, Treatment Failure, Child, viremia, business.industry, combinedantiretroviral therapy, hyper-IgA, Infant, Newborn, Normal population, Infant, Viral Load, Antiretroviral therapy, Virological failure, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Immunoglobulin A, Child, Preschool, HIV-1, Drug Monitoring, business, Viral load, Biomarkers, Follow-Up Studies
Abstract

Summary Non-expensive and low-complexity surrogate markers for monitoring the response to combined antiretroviral therapy (combined-ART) are needed in poor-resource settings where routine assessment of CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and viral load can not be afforded. We longitudinally evaluated Ig serum levels in 234 HIV-1 infected children receiving combined-ART with ≥ 3 drugs. Since Ig levels physiologically vary with age, differences at different age periods were evaluated as differences in z-scores calculated using the mean and standard deviation of the normal population for each age period. Data from 17 (7·3%) children with immunological failure and from 54 (23·1%) children with virological failure of combined-ART were compared with data from not-failed children. At baseline children with immunological failure showed higher IgM z-scores (P = 0·042) than children without. After 3–12 months of therapy immunologically failed children displayed higher viral loads (P < 0·0001) and IgA (P = 0·043) z-scores than not-failed children. Similarly, at the same follow-up time, children with virological failure showed lower CD4+ T-lymphocyte percentages (P = 0·005) and higher IgA z-scores (P < 0·0001) than not-failed children. No difference in IgG or IgM z-scores was evidenced between failed and not-failed children after 3–12 months of therapy. In conclusion, IgA serum level is a cheap and low-complexity marker of immunological or virological failure of combined-ART which might be adopted in poor-resource settings.

Published
2005

20. [Role of sonography in the evaluation of parotid gland in HIV+ children undergone highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)]

Author

Di Nardo R, Marziale P, Ajassa C, Tzantzoglou S, Mg, Nuzzo, FRANCESCO MARIA DRUDI, and David V

Subjects
Male, Adolescent, Age Factors, Sensitivity and Specificity, Sex Factors, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, Child, Preschool, HIV Seropositivity, Humans, Parotid Gland, Female, Child, Follow-Up Studies, Ultrasonography
Abstract

To evaluate the role of sonography (US) in the evaluation of parotid gland alterations in HIV+ children, in order to show their presence, severity, specificity, relationship with clinical and laboratory data and sensitivity to new drugs.From June 2000 to December 2000 twenty-two consecutive HIV+ children (12 males and 10 females, mean age 9.7) undergoing HAART were prospectively examined with US. A multi-frequency linear probe (7.5-10 MHz) was used for the examination. The glands were assessed for alterations in gland volume and vasculature, hypoechoic foci, hyperechoic striae, lympho-epithelial cysts and solid nodules and the enlargement of intraparotid and adjacent lympho nodes. The US findings on HIV+ patients were compared with the patients'clinical and laboratory data and with US exams performed on HIV- children. Finally, we made a comparison with US exams performed on the same patients before HAART:In HIV+ children the most frequent US findings were hypoechoic foci (68.2% of patients), hyperechoic striae (68.2%) and the enlargement of intraparotid and adjacent lympho nodes (86.3% and 95.4%, respectively). No relationship between US outline and clinical and laboratory data was found. In the control group (HIV-negative children) hypoechoic foci and hyperechoic striae were rare (4.7% and 14.3%, respectively), while the enlargement of intraparotid and adjacent lympho nodes was very common (76.2% and 100%, respectively). The comparison with US exams performed on the same patients before HAART showed an improvement in 59.1% of patients, no improvement in 13.6% and a worsening in 13.6% (3 patients were lost to follow-up).US is useful in the study of parotid gland alterations in HIV+ children. The most frequent specific US findings were hypoechoic foci and hyperechoic striae, whereas the enlargement of intraparotid and adjacent lympho nodes was frequent but completely aspecific. The analysis of results did not show any relationship between the US findings and clinical and laboratory data. HAART can be correlated to an improvement and/or a stabilization of the US pattern in most patients.

Published
2001

22. Role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in children with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections

Author

Principi, N., Esposito, S., Blasi, F., Allegra, L., Longhi, R., Grasso, R. M., Vaccaro, R., Troiani, S., Tancredi, F., Tarallo, L., Gargantini, L., Cazzaniga, P., Titone, L., Cascio, A., Zannino, L., Navone, C., Debbia, C., Nespoli, L., Ossola, E., Schettini, F., Rigillo, N., Amendola, F., Mappa, L., Bona, G., Ronchi, B., Bernasconi, S., Iughetti, Lorenzo, Cocuzza, S., Raggi, M., Barberi, I., Lombardo, G., Gitto, S., Sirchia, T., Volpato, S., Voghenzi, A., Caramia, G., Ruffini, E., Cordelli, F., Brutti, R., Santovito, S., Catania, S., and Ajassa, C.

Subjects
Male, Microbiology (medical), Acute Disease, Pneumonia, Mycoplasma, Humans, Child, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Preschool, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Prospective Studies, Respiratory Tract Infections, Chlamydia Infections, Treatment Outcome, Community-Acquired Infections, Adolescent, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Time Factors, Female, Mycoplasmataceae, medicine.disease_cause, Lower respiratory tract infection, Pneumonia, Mycoplasma, medicine, Chlamydiaceae, Chlamydia, Respiratory tract infections, biology, business.industry, Chlamiydia pneumoniae, medicine.disease, biology.organism_classification, respiratory tract diseases, Infectious Diseases, Child, Preschool, Immunology, business
Abstract

In order to evaluate the role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae, we studied 613 children aged 2-14 years who were hospitalized for community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). The patients were enrolled in the study by 21 centers in different regions of Italy from May 1998 through April 1999. Paired serum samples were obtained on admission and after 4-6 weeks to assay the titers of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae antibodies. Nasopharyngeal aspirates for the detection of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae were obtained on admission. Acute M. pneumoniae infections in 210 patients (34.3%) and acute C. pneumoniae infections in 87 (14.1%) were diagnosed. Fifteen of the 18 children with M. pneumoniae and/or C. pneumoniae infections whose treatments were considered clinical failures 4-6 weeks after enrollment had not been treated with macrolides. Our study confirms that M. pneumoniae and/or C. pneumoniae plays a significant role in community-acquired LRTIs in children of all ages and that such infections have a more complicated course when not treated with adequate antimicrobial agents.

Published
2001

23. Incidence of bacterial colonization in the throat and in urines at paediatric age with evaluation of sensitivity to common antibiotics

Author

Catania S, Maria Teresa Mascellino, Ajassa C, Berardelli G, Bellagamba R, Tzanzoglou S, Iegri F, Mp, Ronchetti, and Catania N

Subjects
Male, Bacteria, Bacteriuria, bacterial colonization, microbiology, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, preschool, sensitivity to antibiotics, Anti-Bacterial Agents, anti-bacterial agents, bacteria, bacteriuria, child, drug effects, female, humans, male, microbial sensitivity tests, paediatric patients, pharmacology, pharynx, Child, Preschool, Humans, Pharynx, Female, Child
Abstract

To evaluate the incidence of bacterial colonization in the throat and in urines of children admitted to a paediatric ward in the year 1994. To test the sensitivity of isolates on the most common antibiotics used in therapy.The investigation was carried out on a group of 270 children (125 male and 145 female), aged between 3 months and 12 years, hospitalized with feverish infectious pathology in the department of infectious and Tropical Diseases of the University "La Sapienza" of Rome. The cultures of the throat swabs and on urines were performed on the admission of the children before the beginning of the therapy.The throat-swab cultures showed pathogenous microrganisms in 232 samples (85.9%) with a slight prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria (122) with respect to Gram-positive (110) and saprophytic microbial flora (38). The urine cultures proved to be positive in 81 cases (30%) with a prevalence of Gram-negative (56) above Gram-positive isolates (25).The two/thirds of paediatric patients hospitalized in an Infectious Diseases Department appeared to be colonized in the upper respiratory tract, whereas in about 10% of them a marked bacteriuria was clearly evident, often in the absence of specific symptoms. A few isolates either from the throat or from urines, showed resistance to the common antibacterial agents.

Published
1996

24. [Clinical-therapeutic considerations in a case of miliary tuberculosis in an indonesian girl]

Author

Ajassa C, Am, Angelici, Rendina E, Trinchieri V, Berardelli G, Bellagamba R, Catania N, Falciano M, Maria Teresa Mascellino, and Causo T

Subjects
drug therapy/microbiology/pathology, ethnology, Italy, Indonesia, Tuberculosis, Miliary, Child, Female, Humans, Tuberculosis, Miliary
Abstract

The authors describe the case of widespread miliary tuberculosis, that arose in a ten year-old Indonesian girl of middle-class, who has been living in Italy from about three years. The girl was probably contaminated by a subject belonging to the same ethnic-social community, who was affected with tubercular disease. The diagnosis was effected on the ground of: clinical picture including continued-remitting fever, a loose cough, asthenia, anorexia, weight reduction, aching tumefaction on the left side of the neck; isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the expectoration, blood, urine, and a lymph node located on the left side of the neck; radiological picture that revealed a widespread miliary tuberculosis. In spite of polychemotherapy with isoniazid , rifampicin, pirazinamide, and streptomycin that was subsequently replaced by ethambutol, the course of the illness worsened and it was characterized with fever, cachexia, respiratory insufficiency and repeated episodes of pneumothorax. For such reasons on the ground of susceptibility to the antibiogram amikacin and ciprofloxacin, as well as glucocorticoids to limit the fibrousness, were added to the specific therapy that was already being out. For persisting of relapsing pneumothoraxes, the patient underwent a thoracoscopy and plerodesis with talcum powder. After four months of antitubercular therapy, the research of M. tuberculosis resulted negative in the expectoration, urine, bronchus-alveolar washing liquid and blood, in addition to improvement in general state of health with remission of fever was noticed.

Published
1993

29. Reduction in mortality with availability of antiretroviral therapy for children with perinatal HIV-1 infection

Author

Martino, M., Tovo, P. -A, Balducci, M., Galli, L., Gabiano, C., Rezza, G., Pezzotti, P., Osimani, P., Di Bari, C., Larovere, D., Ruggeri, M., Masi, M., Specchia, F., Battisti, L., Duse, M., Crispino, P., Carrara, P., Pintor, C., Dedoni, M., Dessì, C., Loriano, D., Anastasio, E., Bezzi, T., Luca, M., Farina, S., Vierucci, A., Bassetti, D., Pontali, E., Boni, S., Marazzi, M. G., Tasso, L., Giovanettoni, C., Salvini, F., Pinzani, R., Marchisio, P., Viganò, A., Tornaghi, R., Gianvincenzo Zuccotti, Riva, E., Giovannini, M., Lipreri, R., Conio, S., Ferraris, G., Cellini, M., Baraldi, C., Guarino, A., Canani, R. B., Tarallo, L., Giaquinto, C., Ruga, E., Rampon, O., Nogare, E. R. D., Sanfilippo, A., Romano, A., Benaglia, G., Dodi, I., Caselli, D., Maccabruni, A., Pacati, I., Consolini, R., Palla, G., Cecchi, M. T., Vecchi, V., Anzidei, G., Cerilli, S., Chiodi, R., Gattinara, G. C., Krzysztofiak, A., Bernardi, S., Fundarò, C., Genovese, O., Colafati, G. S., Catania, S., Ajassa, C., Mazza, A., Garetto, S., Riva, C., and Scolfaro, C.

30. Rate and determinants of treatment response to different antiretroviral combination strategies in subjects presenting at HIV-1 diagnosis with advanced disease

Author

Esposito Antonella, Floridia Marco, d'Ettorre Gabriella, Pastori Daniele, Fantauzzi Alessandra, Massetti Paola, Ceccarelli Giancarlo, Ajassa Camilla, Vullo Vincenzo, and Mezzaroma Ivano

Subjects
Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216
Abstract

Abstract Background The optimal therapeutic strategies for patients presenting with advanced disease at HIV-1 diagnosis are as yet incompletely defined. Methods All patients presenting at two outpatient clinics in 2000-2009 with an AIDS-defining clinical condition or a CD4+ T cell count < 200/μL at HIV-1 diagnosis were analyzed for the presence of combined immunovirological response, defined by the concomitant presence of an absolute number of CD4+ T cells > 200 cells/μL and a plasma HIV-1 RNA copy number < 50/mL after 12 months of HAART. Results Among 102 evaluable patients, first-line regimens were protease inhibitors [PI]-based in 78 cases (77%) and efavirenz-based in 24 cases (23%). The overall response rate was 65% (95% CI: 55-74), with no differences by gender, age, nationality, route of transmission, hepatitis virus coinfections, presence of AIDS-defining clinical events, baseline HIV-1 viral load, or type of regimen (response rates with PI-based and efavirenz-based therapy: 63% and 71%, respectively, p = 0.474). Response rate was significantly better with higher baseline CD4+ T cell counts (78% with CD4+ ≥ 100/μL, compared to 50% with CD4+ < 100/μL; odds ratio: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.49-8.23, p = 0.003). Median time on first-line antiretroviral therapy was 24 months (interquartile range: 12-48). Switch to a second line treatment occurred in 57% of patients, mainly for simplification (57%), and was significantly more common with PI-based regimens [adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) with respect to efavirenz-based regimens: 3.88 for unboosted PIs (95% CI: 1.40-10.7, p = 0.009) and 4.21 for ritonavir-boosted PI (95%CI 1.7-10.4, p = 0.002)] and in older subjects (≥ 50 years) (AHR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.02-3.31, p = 0.044). Overall mortality was low (3% after a median follow up of 48 months). Conclusions Our data indicate that a favorable immunovirological response is possible in the majority of naive patients presenting at HIV-1 diagnosis with AIDS or low CD4+ T cell counts, and confirm that starting HAART with a more compromised immune system may be associated with a delayed and sometimes partial immune recovery. Simpler regimens may be preferable in this particular population.

Published
2011
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31. Estimating minimum adult HIV prevalence: A cross-sectional study to assess the characteristics of people living with HIV in Italy

Author

Margherita Busso, Tullio Prestileo, Ermenegildo Francavilla, Marco Anselmo, Francesco Montella, Evangelista Sagnelli, Teresa Santantonio, Massimo Galli, Marcello Saitta, Giuseppe Foti, Cecilia Guariglia, Franco Baldelli, Simona Di Gianbenedetto, Pierluigi Viale, Francesco Castelli, Antonella d'Arminio Monforte, Angelo Pan, Gabriella D’Ettore, Maria Dorrucci, Salvatore Bruno, Tiziana Quirino, Mariangela Raimondo, Alessandro Bartoloni, Vinicio Manfrin, Giovanni Mazzarello, Eugenio Mantia, Raffaele Pempinello, Antonio Traverso, Barbara Suligoi, Fabio Bulla, Pietro Mesina, Alessia Zoncada, Gianfranco Orofino, Oliviero Bosco, Gianmichele Moise, Angelo Salomone Megna, Roberto Ferretto, Mauro Valle, Manuela Colafigli, Claudio Paternoster, S. Artioli, Giovanni Riccio, Stefania Bernardi, Paolo Grossi, Milena Zoppi, Sebastiano Maiuzzo, Giorgio Perboni, Sauro Tini, Giuseppe Ferrea, Nicoletta Ladisa, Enzo M. Farinella, Daniela Francisci, Dino Sgarabotto, Roberto Monarca, Enzo Petrelli, A. Franco, Izzo Cm, Pietro Bellissima, Francesco Ortu, Laura Sighinolfi, Antonio Chirianni, Filippo Bartalesi, Giulio De Stefano, Claudia Colomba, Laura Camoni, Salvatore Galvagna, Benedetto Maurizio Celesia, Andrea Petrucci, Camillo Baretti, Pierluigi Brugnaro, Federica Poletti, Maurilio Chimenti, Camilla Ajassa, Mario Falciano, Rosaria La Sala, Sauro Luchi, V. Portelli, Annamaria Degli Antoni, Francesco Mazzotta, Giuliano Zuccati, Vincenzo Colangeli, Ercole Concia, Giordano Madeddu, Maria Cristina Salfa, Francesca Cattelan, Nicola Acone, Vincenza Regine, Olivia Bargiacchi, Maurizio de Martino, F. Paoletti, Giovanni Cassola, Giuliano Schettino, Carlo De Stefano, Enza Anzalone, D. Aquilini, Giacomo Magnani, Vanni Borghi, Roberta Gastaldi, Alessandra Govoni, Cristina Rossi, Rita Consolini, Gioacchino Angarano, Gloria Taliani, Tommaso Fontana, Sergio Lo Caputo, Davide Vitullo, Pierpaolo Congedo, Emanuela Vaccher, Paolo Viganò, Maria Stella Mura, Claudio Cancellieri, Enrico Girardi, Francesca Savalli, Cecilia Fico, Anna Maria Cattelan, Alessandro Chiodera, Renzo Scaggiante, P. Osimani, Caterina Bramato, Nicola Pietrosillo, Giovanna D'Alessio, Salvatore Bonfante, Vincenzo Vullo, Andrea Gori, Margherita Dalessandro, Domenico Lucchino, Massimo Deseraca, Paolo Tundo, Alfredo Pennica, M. Paoloni, Antonella Castagna, Nicola Serrao, Paolo Costa, Franco Marranconi, Massimo Villa, Pietro Filippini, Maurizio Setti, Eligio Pizzigallo, Marco Tinelli, Mauro Marchili, Domenico Santoro, Cesira Nencioni, Piera Dones, Vincenzo Renda, Alberto Giannetti, Domenico La Rovere, Nicoletta Dorigoni, Guido Palamara, Angelo Iodice, Clara Gabiano, Peter Mian, Luigi Guarnieri, Andrea De Luca, Nicola Tripodi, Giovanni Cristina, Giustino Parruti, Maria Montroni, Loredana Palvarini, Marco Rizzi, Benvenuto Grisorio, Corrado Catalani, Paolo Emilio Manconi, Jacopo Vecchiett, Tiziana Carli, Riccardo Iapoce, Massimo Andreoni, Adriano Lazzarin, Giorgetta Casalino Finocchio, D Sacchini, Mario Gobber, Spartaco Sani, Marco Campus, Rosario La Rosa, Maurizio Mazzeo, Stefano Bonora, Michele Trezzi, Paolo Bassi, Angela La Gala, Alessandro Grimaldi, Dante Di Giammartino, Guido Leo, Gaetano Filice, Antonio Salvo, Paolo Bonfanti, Chiara Pasqualini, Marcello Tavio, Luca Butini, N. Abrescia, Angela Linzalone, Gianpaolo Natalini Ramponi, Pierangelo Rovere, Piero Cortese, Dario Bartolozzi, F. Resta, Miriam Lichtner, Loredana Sarmati, Francesco Cesario, Renato F. Frongillo, Ivano Mezzaroma, Carlo Ferrari, Lorenzo Minoli, Paola Di Stefano, Lucina Titone, Rosa Boncoraglio, Mariana Farenga, Giuliano Rizzardini, Stefano Aviani Barbacci, Andrea Giacometti, Andrea Antinori, Antonio Caterini, Consuelo Geraci, Piergiorgio Chiriacò, Lucio Cosco, Claudio Viscoli, Alfredo Scalzini, Sandro Piga, Massimo Arlotti, Cecilia Occhino, Roberto Luzzati, Paola Sabbatini, Guglielmo Borgia, Umberto Tirelli, Antonio Davi, Letizia Cristiano, Cristina Mussini, Roberto Cauda, Patrizio Vittucci, B. Salassa, Marco Libanore, Maria Pina Sciotti, Isa Picerno, Matteo Bassetti, Benedetto Caroleo, Oswald Moling, Danilo Tacconi, Massimo Puoti, Camoni, Laura, Raimondo, Mariangela, Dorrucci, Maria, Regine V, Salfa MC, CARPHA Study, Group, Lazzarin, Adriano, Castagna, Antonella, Camoni, L, Raimondo, M, Dorrucci, M, Regine, V, Salfa, M, Suligoi, B, Di Giammartino, D, Parruti, G, Di Stefano, P, Paoloni, M, D'Alessandro, M, Grimaldi, A, Sciotti, M, Pizzigallo, E, Vecchiett, J, De Stefano, C, La Gala, A, De Stefano, G, Linzalone, A, Cesario, F, Cosco, L, Caroleo, B, Foti, G, Serrao, N, Lucchino, D, Chirianni, A, Abrescia, N, Pempinello, R, Izzo, C, Borgia, G, Filippini, P, Sagnelli, E, Iodice, A, Megna, A, D'Alessio, G, Acone, N, Mazzeo, M, Sacchini, D, Ferrari, C, Degli Antoni, A, Magnani, G, Mussini, C, Borghi, V, Viale, P, Colangeli, V, Sighinolfi, L, Libanore, M, Govoni, A, Cancellieri, C, Bassi, P, Arlotti, M, Luzzati, R, Bassetti, M, Tirelli, U, Vaccher, E, Moise, G, Palamara, G, Bernardi, S, Falciano, M, Vullo, V, D'Ettore, G, Renda, V, Guariglia, C, Taliani, G, Mezzaroma, I, Paoletti, F, Ajassa, C, Gastaldi, R, Andreoni, M, Sarmati, L, Montella, F, Antinori, A, Giannetti, A, Pietrosillo, N, Girardi, E, Pennica, A, Cauda, R, Colafigli, M, Di Gianbenedetto, S, Caterini, A, Monarca, R, Barbacci, S, Ramponi, G, Marchili, M, Anzalone, E, Lichtner, M, Ferrea, G, Cassola, G, Viscoli, C, Mazzarello, G, Setti, M, Artioli, S, Riccio, G, Finocchio, G, Anselmo, M, Rizzi, M, Scalzini, A, Castelli, F, Quirino, T, Santoro, D, Pan, A, Zoncada, A, Bonfanti, P, Viganò, P, Villa, M, Tinelli, M, Perboni, G, Palvarini, L, Costa, P, Puoti, M, Galli, M, Rizzardini, G, Monforte, A, Lazzarin, A, Castagna, A, Gori, A, Minoli, L, Filice, G, Grossi, P, Giacometti, A, Tavio, M, Montroni, M, Butini, L, Osimani, P, Petrelli, E, Chiodera, A, Vittucci, P, Sabbatini, P, Pasqualini, C, Valle, M, Zoppi, M, Mantia, E, Schettino, G, Deseraca, M, Vitullo, D, Bargiacchi, O, Orofino, G, Bramato, C, Busso, M, Salassa, B, Farenga, M, Bonora, S, Leo, G, Poletti, F, Gobber, M, Cristina, G, Gabiano, C, Mian, P, Moling, O, Paternoster, C, Dorigoni, N, Fontana, T, Angarano, G, Ladisa, N, La Rovere, D, Fico, C, Bulla, F, Santantonio, T, Grisorio, B, Chiriacò, P, Congedo, P, Tundo, P, Resta, F, Cristiano, L, Mura, M, Madeddu, G, Mesina, P, Piga, S, Campus, M, Manconi, P, Ortu, F, Salvo, A, Baretti, C, La Sala, R, Bellissima, P, Bonfante, S, Galvagna, S, Celesia, B, La Rosa, R, Maiuzzo, S, Guarnieri, L, Bruno, S, Picerno, I, Tripodi, N, Farinella, E, Occhino, C, Titone, L, Colomba, C, Prestileo, T, Saitta, M, Dones, P, Boncoraglio, R, Davi, A, Franco, A, Portelli, V, Savalli, F, Geraci, C, Chimenti, M, Luchi, S, Catalani, C, Trezzi, M, Aquilini, D, Sani, S, Nencioni, C, Carli, T, Mazzotta, F, Lo Caputo, S, Zuccati, G, Iapoce, R, Consolini, R, Bartolozzi, D, Bartoloni, A, Bartalesi, F, DE LUCA, A, De Martino, M, Tacconi, D, Tini, S, Baldelli, F, Francisci, D, Frongillo, R, Traverso, A, Francavilla, E, Ferretto, R, Marranconi, F, Manfrin, V, Cortese, P, Rossi, C, Cattelan, F, Petrucci, A, Brugnaro, P, Sgarabotto, D, Scaggiante, R, Cattelan, A, Bosco, O, Concia, E, Rovere, P, Regine, Vincenza, Salfa, Maria Cristina, Suligoi, Barbara, and Luzzati, Roberto

Subjects
Adult, Male, Pediatrics, medicine.medical_specialty, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Virology, Settore MED/17 - Malattie Infettive, Epidemiology, Cross-sectional study, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), MEDLINE, HIV Infections, medicine.disease_cause, Anti-Retroviral Agents, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Italy, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Retrospective Studies, medicine, HIV Infection, HIV, prevalence, Italy, Cross-Sectional Studie, business.industry, Transmission (medicine), HIV, Retrospective cohort study, Hiv prevalence, Northern italy, Anti-Retroviral Agent, business, Viral load, Human, Demography
Abstract

In 2012, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to assess the number of people living with HIV linked to care and, among these, the number of people on antiretroviral therapy. The health authority in each of the 20 Italian Regions provided the list of Public Infectious Diseases Clinics providing antiretroviral therapy and monitoring people with HIV infection. We asked every Public Infectious Diseases Clinic to report the number of HIV-positive people diagnosed and linked to care and the number of those on antiretroviral therapy during 2012. In 2012, 94,146 people diagnosed with HIV and linked to care were reported. The majority were males (70.1%), Italians (84.4%), and aged between 25 and 49 years (63.4%); the probable route of transmission was heterosexual contact in 37.5% of cases, injecting drug use in 28.1%, and male-to-male contact in 27.9%. Among people in care, 20.1% had less than 350 CD4 cells/μl, 87.6% received antiretroviral therapy, and among these, 62.4% had a CD4 cell count higher than 350 cells/μl. The overall estimated prevalence of individuals diagnosed and linked to care in 2012 in Italy was 0.16 per 100 residents (all ages). Adding the estimated proportion of undiagnosed people, the estimated HIV prevalence would range between 0.19 and 0.26 per 100 residents. In Italy, the majority of people diagnosed and linked to care receive antiretroviral therapy. A higher prevalence of individuals diagnosed and linked to care was observed in Northern Italy and among males. More information for developing the HIV care continuum is necessary to improve the entire engagement in care, focusing on test-and-treat strategies to substantially reduce the proportion of people still undiagnosed or with a detectable viral load.

Published
2015

32. Long-term nonprogressors among children with perinatal HIV-1 infection

Author

P. A. Tovo, M. de Martino, C. Gabiano, L. Galli, G. Ferraris, P. Marchisio, C. Giaquinto, S. Tulisso, G. V. Zuccotti, A. Loy, A. Vierucci, G. Castelli Gattinara, D. Caselli, A. Plebani, C. fundarò, P. Dallacasa, M. Belloni, P. L. Mazzoni, C. Timpano, M. Ruggeri, R. Consolini, G. L. Forni, G. Benaglia, M. G. Marazzi, M. Cellini, A. Mazza, C. Pignata, V. Portelli, D. De Mattia, A. Corrias, C. Gotta, T. Bezzi, G. Caramia, A. Antonellini, E. Anastasio, G. gambaretto, C. Salvatore, L. Battisti, M. Sticca, M. Masi, P. Ibba, S. Bionda, U. De Sarntis, F. Baldi, C. Magnani, A. Pellegatta, R. Berrino, C. Dessì, L. Tasso, L. A. Magni, L. Tarallo, C. Ajassa, U. Tondo, P. G. Chiriacò, I. Contardi, A. Meo, F. Di Gregorio, P. Paolucci, L. Esposito, E. Boeri, D. Tommasi, GUARINO, ALFREDO, Tovo, P. A., de Martino, M., Gabiano, C., Galli, L., Ferraris, G., Marchisio, P., Giaquinto, C., Tulisso, S., Zuccotti, G. V., Loy, A., Vierucci, A., Castelli Gattinara, G., Caselli, D., Plebani, A., Fundarò, C., Dallacasa, P., Belloni, M., Mazzoni, P. L., Timpano, C., Ruggeri, M., Consolini, R., Forni, G. L., Benaglia, G., Marazzi, M. G., Cellini, M., Mazza, A., Pignata, C., Portelli, V., De Mattia, D., Corrias, A., Guarino, Alfredo, Gotta, C., Bezzi, T., Caramia, G., Antonellini, A., Anastasio, E., Gambaretto, G., Salvatore, C., Battisti, L., Sticca, M., Masi, M., Ibba, P., Bionda, S., De Sarntis, U., Baldi, F., Magnani, C., Pellegatta, A., Berrino, R., Dessì, C., Tasso, L., Magni, L. A., Tarallo, L., Ajassa, C., Tondo, U., Chiriacò, P. G., Contardi, I., Meo, A., Di Gregorio, F., Paolucci, P., Esposito, L., Boeri, E., and Tommasi, D.

Published
1997

33. Impact analysis of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients treated with monoclonal antibodies: A monocentric experience.

Author

Perrotta N, Angelo Fiorito L, Leanza C, Di Bari S, Casini G, Gentile R, Vescovo R, Piciocchi A, Ajassa C, Iaiani G, Maria Proli E, and Russo G

Subjects
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, COVID-19 Vaccines administration & dosage, Hospitalization statistics & numerical data, Retrospective Studies, Vaccination, Antibodies, Monoclonal therapeutic use, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized therapeutic use, COVID-19 immunology, COVID-19 prevention & control, COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Abstract

Background: Since the discovery of SARS-CoV-2, no treatment has been able to completely eradicate the virus. The study aimed to evaluate the virological and clinical impact of the vaccination in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients treated with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)., Methods: This single-centre, observational, retrospective, real-life study was performed on SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic outpatients and inpatients treated with mAbs from March 2021 to November 2022 includes 726 patients. Each patient received available mAbs (bamlanivimab-etesevimab or casirivimab-indevimab or sotrovimab or tixagevimab-cilgavimab) according to the circulating virus strains. Age, comorbidities, vaccination status, death rates, duration of virological clearance, average length of stay, risk factors, and hospitalization or ICU admission were recorded., Results: Of 726 patients with complete data analyzed (median age 64), 516 outpatients and 210 inpatients were included. Vaccination status was known for all participants: 74.4 % and 51.7 % were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 among inpatients and outpatients, respectively. A shorter duration of virological clearance was observed in the vaccinated group, with a median of 16 days (IQR 15-17), compared to 19 days (IQR 18-21) in the unvaccinated group [HR 1.21; p < 0.032]. Multivariate analysis of virological clearance also showed statistical significance with tixagevimab cilgavimab 300 mg/300 mg (HR 2.73, p value < 0.001). No significant difference was found in worsening [OR 1,29; p = 0.57] and mortality [OR 0.65; p = 0.81] rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients treated with mAbs., Conclusions: Key findings include a shorter duration of virological clearance in vaccinated outpatients but no significant differences in worsening or mortality rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients treated with mAbs. The study suggests a potential synergistic role of mAbs in accelerating virological clearance in vaccinated patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, with differing effects in hospitalized patients. Therefore, it is essential to implement health surveillance in high-risk patients with comorbidities in order to identify early any variants that might otherwise escape neutralizing antibodies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Published
2024
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34. Molecular Genotyping of Circulating Enterovirus in the Lazio Region from 2012 to 2023.

Author

Rueca M, Vairo F, Spaziante M, Fabeni L, Forbici F, Berno G, Gruber CEM, Picone S, Ajassa C, Girardi E, Maggi F, and Valli MB

Subjects
Humans, Seasons, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 virology, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, SARS-CoV-2 classification, Child, Phylogeny, Enterovirus Infections virology, Enterovirus Infections epidemiology, Enterovirus genetics, Enterovirus classification, Enterovirus isolation & purification, Genotype, Molecular Epidemiology
Abstract

Enteroviruses (EVs) are ubiquitous viruses that circulate worldwide, causing sporadic or epidemic infections, typically during the summer and fall. They cause a broad spectrum of illnesses, ranging from an unspecified febrile clinical presentation to a severe illness. EVs are recognized to be the most frequent etiological agents of aseptic meningitis in children. However, as the infection is usually mild and self-limiting, it remains underestimated, and the epidemiology of EVs is poorly understood. To date, no vaccine or effective therapy for all types of enteroviruses is available, and EVs constitute a public health concern. Here, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of EV strains circulating in the Lazio region over a 10-year time span (2012-2023) by using a sequence-typing approach and phylogenetic analysis. The epidemiological trend of EV infection has undergone changes during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (2020-2021), which resulted in a modification in terms of the number of diagnosed cases and seasonality. From 2022, the circulation of EVs showed a behavior typical of the pre-pandemic period, although changes in predominantly circulating strains have been noted. Both epidemic and sporadic circulation events have been characterized in the Lazio region. Further analyses are needed to better characterize any strain with higher potential pathogenic power and to identify possible recombinant strains.

Published
2024
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35. Steroid use in measles: A retrospective cohort study during the 2017 outbreak in tertiary referral center, Rome and Latina, Italy.

Author

Caraffa E, Mascia C, Ciardi MR, Lichtner M, Ajassa C, Del Borgo C, Tieghi T, Vita S, Savinelli S, Iannetta M, Russo G, Mastroianni CM, and Vullo V

Subjects
Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Disease Outbreaks prevention & control, Italy epidemiology, Measles Vaccine, Retrospective Studies, Rome epidemiology, Steroids adverse effects, Tertiary Care Centers, Vaccination, Adolescent, Keratoconjunctivitis epidemiology, Measles epidemiology, Measles prevention & control
Abstract

Introduction: Since early January 2017, a new measles outbreak in Italy has been observed. The aim of the study was to compare features between adults and children measles cases and evaluate the effect of steroid treatment on the above parameters., Methods: A retrospective multicenter, descriptive study was performed. We analyzed all patients admitted to the Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome and Latina, from January 2017 to December 2017 and discharged with diagnosis of measles., Results: We identified 113 patients discharged with the diagnosis of measles infection cases of which 59 adults and 54 children (≤16 years). In adult population 32 patients (54 %) were males, with a median age of 30.5 years old and all unvaccinated (100 %). Keratoconjunctivitis 30 (50 %) was the most frequent complication. In pediatric population 27 (50 %) patients were males, with a median age of 3 years old. Information on measles vaccination status was available for only 21 (38.8 %) of cases. Keratoconjunctivitis 40 (74 %) was the most frequent complication. Analyzing the differences between adult and pediatric patients we found that children were significantly more likely to have keratoconjunctivitis and diarrhea as complications than adults in which the rate of thrombocytopenia and hepatitis was highest. Thirty-nine adult subjects (66 %) have been treated with systemic corticosteroids., Conclusions: Pediatric patients differ from adults in complications and liver involvement. Regarding steroids use, although there is no clear indication of steroid use during measles, there is no evidence of a worse outcome in our cases series., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Published
2024
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37. Differential expression of Type I interferon and inflammatory genes in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients treated with monoclonal antibodies.

Author

Maddaloni L, Santinelli L, Bugani G, Cacciola EG, Lazzaro A, Lofaro CM, Caiazzo S, Frasca F, Fracella M, Ajassa C, Leanza C, Napoli A, Cinti L, Gaeta A, Antonelli G, Ceccarelli G, Mastroianni CM, Scagnolari C, and d'Ettorre G

Subjects
Humans, Antibodies, Monoclonal therapeutic use, SARS-CoV-2, Interleukin-10, Interferon-alpha, Cytokines genetics, RNA, Messenger genetics, Interferon Type I genetics, COVID-19 genetics
Abstract

Introduction: Considering the reported efficacy of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the Spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in reducing disease severity, the aim of this study was to investigate the innate immune response before and after mAbs treatment in 72 vaccinated and 31 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 patients., Methods: The mRNA levels of IFN-I, IFN-related genes and cytokines were evaluated using RT/real-time quantitative PCR., Results: Vaccinated patients showed increased rate of negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests on nasopharyngeal swab compared with unvaccinated ones after mAbs treatment (p = .002). Unvaccinated patients had lower IFN-α/ω and higher IFN-related genes (IFNAR1, IFNAR2, IRF9, ISG15, ISG56 and IFI27) and cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β) mRNA levels compared to vaccinated individuals before mAbs (p < .05 for all genes). Increased IFN-α/ω, IFNAR1, IFNAR2 and IRF9 levels were observed in unvaccinated patients after mAbs treatment, while the mRNA expression ISGs and IL-10 were reduced in all patients., Conclusion: These data suggest that anti-S vaccinated patients have increased levels of innate immune genes compared to unvaccinated ones. Also, gene expression changes in IFN genes after mAbs administration are different according to the vaccination status of patients., (© 2023 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Published
2023
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38. Hyperinflammatory syndrome in a paediatric patient with a recent diagnosis of HIV/AIDS infection: hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis or immune reconstitution syndrome?

Author

Leone F, Cotugno N, Casamento Tumeo C, Zangari P, Palomba P, Adorisio R, De Benedetti F, Bracaglia C, Papoff P, Ajassa C, Palma P, and Bernardi S

Subjects
Humans, Female, Child, Preschool, Inflammation complications, Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic etiology, Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic complications, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome complications, Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome diagnosis, Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome complications, HIV Infections complications
Abstract

Introduction: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare and life-threatening condition caused by uncontrolled immune activation leading to excessive inflammation and tissue destruction. It could either be due to a primary genetic defect or be triggered by secondary causes such as infections, autoimmune diseases, rheumatological diseases or post-transplant immunosuppression. We here report the case of a 4-year-old child with a recent AIDS diagnosis who developed a severe systemic inflammation., Case Report: We here report the case of a 4-year-old child with a recent AIDS diagnosis who was admitted to the ER with acute respiratory failure due to Pneumocystis jiroveci infection and Aspergillosis; the following microbiological assessment also showed a CMV, HSV, EBV and HHV-7 coinfection. On the 51st day after she'd started antiretroviral therapy, 39th after she'd followed a course of Bactrim and Caspofungin for PJI and Ambisome for pulmonary Aspergillosis, she started presenting fever, unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. She also presented worsening of her clinical conditions, with evidence at the laboratory assessments of progressive raise in inflammatory indexes, coagulopathy, trilinear cytopenia and hyperferritinemia. To perform the differential diagnosis between IRIS and HLH, HLA-DR on T cells was studied, turning out negative for IRIS. Therefore, in the suspicion of HLH, a bone marrow aspirate and biopsy were performed with evidence of trilinear cytopenia, prevalence of T-cells and macrophages with signs of phagocytosis. She was started on high-dose steroids and Anakinra for a total of 29 days, resulting in prompt apyrexia and progressive improvement of her clinical conditions and laboratory results., Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge there is poor literature available about the differential diagnosis of HLH and IRIS, therefore medical management in the concurrence of these two conditions needs to be further investigated, especially in a setting where immunological testing is not quickly available. The clinical differences between these pathologies are blurred and the bone marrow biopsy within marker for IRIS helped us to distinguish these two entities., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Published
2023
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39. Clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality in COVID-19 patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Rome, Italy: a single-center retrospective study.

Author

Rando E, Oliva A, Cancelli F, D'Agostino C, Savelloni G, Ciardi MR, Ajassa C, Siccardi G, Galardo G, and Mastroianni CM

Abstract

Background: Since the beginning of 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has become a serious public health problem. Numerous studies have highlighted the main clinical features of COVID-19, mainly the huge heterogeneity of the clinical manifestations that can vary from asymptomatic infection to serious viral pneumonia with a high mortality rate. The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively the clinical characteristics and assess the risk factors for mortality in an Italian cohort of patients with COVID-19., Methods: Retrospective analysis including patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Infectious Diseases wards of Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico "Umberto 1", Rome, from March 2020 to May 2020. The data were part of an electronic anonymous web-based database processed by SIMIT (Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases)., Results: 258 patients were included in the analysis, and 34 (13.2%) died. The median age was 62 (IQR, 52-74), 106 (40%) were women, and 152 (60%) were males, 172 (66.7%) had at least one co-morbidity. The most common signs and symptoms were: fever [221 (85.6%)], cough [135 (52.3%)], and dyspnea [133 (51.5%)]. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio was often altered [352 (IQR, 308-424)]. Lymphopenia [lymphocyte counts, 875/μL (IQR, 640-1250)] and high levels of D-dimer [mg/dL, 874 (IQR, 484-1518)] were found. Non-survivors were older than survivors [median age, 74 (IQR, 67-85)] vs. 61 (QR, 51-72)], mostly men [25 (73.5%)] and more frequently with more than 2 comorbidities [21 (61.8%) vs. 94 (42.1%)]. In the multiple logistic regression model, the variables associated with in-hospital mortality were age [OR, 3.65 (95% CI, 1.22-10.89)], male gender [OR, 2.99 (95% CI, 1.18-7.54)], blood urea [OR, 2.76 (95% CI, 1.20-6.35)] and a low PaO2/FiO2 ratio [OR, 0.28 (95% CI, 0.12-0.62)]., Conclusion: The mortality rate in COVID-19 was 13,2%. The risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality were advanced age, male sex, increased blood urea, and the PaO2/FiO2 ratio reduction.

Published
2023
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41. Assessment of Anxiety, Depression, Work-Related Stress, and Burnout in Health Care Workers (HCWs) Affected by COVID-19: Results of a Case-Control Study in Italy.

Author

La Torre G, Barletta VI, Marte M, Paludetti F, Faticoni A, Barone LC, Rocchi I, Picchioni F, Previte CM, Serruto P, Deriu G, Ajassa C, Campagna R, Antonelli G, and Matroianni CM

Abstract

This study aims to investigate whether HCWs infected with COVID-19 may experience potential psychological consequences and a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, work-related stress, and burnout compared to non-infected HCWs. A case-control study with 774 participants was conducted comparing COVID-19-infected HCWs (cases) and non-infected HCWs (controls) from the Occupational Medicine Unit at the Teaching Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, who were administered the same questionnaire including Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire. No differences in the levels of burnout and decision latitude were found between the two groups. Cases showed higher level of anxiety and job demand compared to controls. In contrast, levels of depression in the case group were significantly lower compared to the control group. The results are indicating the need for workplace health promotion activities based on stress and burnout management and prevention. Multiple organizational and work-related interventions can lower the impact of mental health-related issues in the COVID-19 pandemics, including the improvement of workplace infrastructures, as well as the adoption of correct and shared anti-contagion measures, which must include regular personal protective equipment supply, and the adoption of training programs that deal with mental health-related issues.

Published
2022
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42. Liver Involvement in SARS-CoV-2 Vertically Infected Newborn: A Case Report.

Author

Stolfi I, Conti MG, Marciano A, Dito L, Natale F, Bartolucci M, Cellitti R, Regoli D, Ticchiarelli A, Pangallo I, Pagano F, Ajassa C, Brunelli R, and Terrin G

Abstract

Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection can occur antenatally, peripartum, or postnatally. In the newborn, clinical manifestations may vary including fever and respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. Most commonly, they are subclinical. We herein present a case of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 presenting with liver injury, characterized by an increase in serum transaminases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Stolfi, Conti, Marciano, Dito, Natale, Bartolucci, Cellitti, Regoli, Ticchiarelli, Pangallo, Pagano, Ajassa, Brunelli and Terrin.)

Published
2021
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43. Consequences of Early Separation of Maternal-Newborn Dyad in Neonates Born to SARS-CoV-2 Positive Mothers: An Observational Study.

Author

Conti MG, Natale F, Stolfi I, Pedicino R, Boscarino G, Ajassa C, Cardilli V, Ciambra GL, Guadalupi L, Favata P, Repole P, De Luca F, Zacco G, Brunelli R, and Terrin G

Subjects
Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Mothers, Pregnancy, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
Abstract

As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection continues its spread all over the world, data on perinatal management of the maternal-infant dyad are urgent. We performed an observational study to describe the effects of the early separation of the maternal-infant dyad, in case of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. We reported the medical records for 37 neonates born to 37 SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers in a setting of separation of the dyad after birth. Data on neonatal infection, clinical condition, and breastfeeding rate were recorded until the first month of life. No maternal deaths were recorded; 37.8% of women had at least one pregnancy-related complication. We reported a high adherence to recommended safety measures after discharged with 84.8% of the mothers using at least one personal protective device and 51.5% using all the protective devices. We reported one case of vertical transmission and no cases of horizontal transmission. However, the separation of the dyad had a negative impact on breastfeeding because only 23.5% of the newborns received exclusively human milk during the first month of life. Despite early separation of the dyad protecting the newborns from possible horizontal transmission of SARS-CoV-2, it negatively affects breastfeeding during the first months of life.

Published
2021
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44. Increased sCD163 and sCD14 Plasmatic Levels and Depletion of Peripheral Blood Pro-Inflammatory Monocytes, Myeloid and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Patients With Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Author

Zingaropoli MA, Nijhawan P, Carraro A, Pasculli P, Zuccalà P, Perri V, Marocco R, Kertusha B, Siccardi G, Del Borgo C, Curtolo A, Ajassa C, Iannetta M, Ciardi MR, Mastroianni CM, and Lichtner M

Subjects
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers blood, COVID-19 blood, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 virology, Case-Control Studies, Dendritic Cells metabolism, Dendritic Cells virology, Disease Progression, Female, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Male, Middle Aged, Monocytes metabolism, Monocytes virology, Myeloid Cells metabolism, Myeloid Cells virology, Patient Admission, Phenotype, Severity of Illness Index, Up-Regulation, CD163 Antigen, Antigens, CD blood, Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic blood, COVID-19 immunology, Dendritic Cells immunology, Lipopolysaccharide Receptors blood, Monocytes immunology, Myeloid Cells immunology, Receptors, Cell Surface blood, SARS-CoV-2 immunology
Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence argues that monocytes, circulating innate immune cells, are principal players in COVID-19 pneumonia. The study aimed to investigate the role of soluble (s)CD163 and sCD14 plasmatic levels in predicting disease severity and characterize peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs), in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (COVID-19 subjects)., Methods: On admission, in COVID-19 subjects sCD163 and sCD14 plasmatic levels, and peripheral blood monocyte and DC subsets were compared to healthy donors (HDs). According to clinical outcome, COVID-19 subjects were divided into ARDS and non-ARDS groups., Results: Compared to HDs, COVID-19 subjects showed higher sCD163 (p<0.0001) and sCD14 (p<0.0001) plasmatic levels. We observed higher sCD163 plasmatic levels in the ARDS group compared to the non-ARDS one (p=0.002). The cut-off for sCD163 plasmatic level greater than 2032 ng/ml was predictive of disease severity (AUC: 0.6786, p=0.0022; sensitivity 56.7% [CI: 44.1-68.4] specificity 73.8% [CI: 58.9-84.7]). Positive correlation between plasmatic levels of sCD163, LDH and IL-6 and between plasmatic levels of sCD14, D-dimer and ferritin were found. Compared to HDs, COVID-19 subjects showed lower percentages of non-classical (p=0.0012) and intermediate monocytes (p=0.0447), slanDCs (p<0.0001), myeloid DCs (mDCs, p<0.0001), and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs, p=0.0014). Compared to the non-ARDS group, the ARDS group showed lower percentages of non-classical monocytes (p=0.0006), mDCs (p=0.0346), and pDCs (p=0.0492)., Conclusions: The increase in sCD163 and sCD14 plasmatic levels, observed on hospital admission in COVID-19 subjects, especially in those who developed ARDS, and the correlations of these monocyte/macrophage activation markers with typical inflammatory markers of COVID-19 pneumonia, underline their potential use to assess the risk of progression of the disease. In an early stage of the disease, the assessment of sCD163 plasmatic levels could have clinical utility in predicting the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Zingaropoli, Nijhawan, Carraro, Pasculli, Zuccalà, Perri, Marocco, Kertusha, Siccardi, Del Borgo, Curtolo, Ajassa, Iannetta, Ciardi, Mastroianni and Lichtner.)

Published
2021
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45. Aseptic meningitis induced by intravenous immunoglobulins in a child with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection and thrombocytopenia.

Author

Vassalini P, Ajassa C, Di Ruscio V, Morace A, Vergari J, Tosato C, Savelloni G, and Mastroianni CM

Subjects
Acute Disease, Child, Preschool, Humans, Immunoglobulins, Intravenous administration & dosage, Male, Meningitis, Aseptic diagnosis, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections complications, Immunoglobulins, Intravenous adverse effects, Meningitis, Aseptic etiology, Thrombocytopenia etiology
Abstract

Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM) represents a diagnostic challenge since clinical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings may be indistinguishable from a bacterial meningitis. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) are commonly used in a variety of diseases, including inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Although usually well-tolerated, various adverse effects have been reported. DIAM is a serious neurological side effect of IVIg therapy: albeit rare (0.067% of all IVIg infusions), the condition represents an important diagnostic challenge and should be considered by physicians. Here we report a case of an aseptic meningitis induced by IVIg therapy in a child with acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and thrombocytopenia.

Published
2019

46. Assessment of Biventricular Function by Three-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Adolescents and Young Adults with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Pilot Study.

Author

Capotosto L, D'Ettorre G, Ajassa C, Cavallari N, Ciardi MR, Placanica G, Ricci S, Lucchetti P, Tanzilli G, Mangieri E, Gaudio C, Vullo V, and Vitarelli A

Subjects
Adolescent, Adult, Cardiomyopathy, Dilated physiopathology, Case-Control Studies, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Pilot Projects, Young Adult, Echocardiography methods, HIV Infections physiopathology, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Ventricular Function, Left, Ventricular Function, Right
Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess biventricular parameters of wall deformation with three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) in adolescents and young adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on antiretroviral therapy in order to detect a possible subclinical myocardial dysfunction., Methods: Twenty-one patients aged 12-39 years with HIV, 21 normal controls of the same age and sex, and 21 patients with idiopathic nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were studied with 3DSTE. All HIV patients were stable in terms of HIV infection, with no history of heart disease or other chronic systemic disease except HIV infection, and were on highly active antiretroviral therapy with good immunological control. Standard echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV)-right ventricular (RV) function were assessed. 3D LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), circumferential strain, radial strain, and LV twist were calculated. Global area strain (GAS) was calculated by 3DSTE as percentage variation in surface area defined by the longitudinal and circumferential strain vectors. 3D RV global and free-wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) were obtained., Results: LV GLS and GAS were lower in HIV patients compared to normal controls (p = 0.002, and p = 0.01, respectively). There were no significant differences in LV ejection fractions between the groups. There was a weak positive correlation between LV GLS and age (r = 0.215, p = 0.034) and a weak negative correlation between LV GLS and nadir-CD4 T-cells count (r = 0.198, p = 0.043). DCM patients had more marked and widespread reduction in LV GLS and GAS compared to controls (p < 0.001), whereas in HIV patients LV strain impairment (p < 0.05) was more localized in basal and apical regions. RV FWLS was significantly reduced in HIV patients when compared with the control group (p = 0.03). No patient had pulmonary systolic pressure higher than 35 mm Hg., Conclusions: 3DSTE may help to identify HIV patients at high cardiovascular risk allowing early detection of biventricular dysfunction in the presence of normal LV ejection fraction and in the absence of pulmonary hypertension. LV strain impairment in HIV patients is less prominent and widespread compared to DCM patients., (© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Published
2019
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47. Intracranial tuberculous mass lesions treated with thalidomide in an immunocompetent child from a low tuberculosis endemic country: A case report.

Author

Caraffa E, Russo G, Vita S, Lichtner M, Massetti AP, Mastroianni CM, Vullo V, Ciardi MR, and Ajassa C

Subjects
Brain pathology, Cerebrospinal Fluid microbiology, Child, Female, Glucocorticoids therapeutic use, Humans, Hydrocephalus etiology, Immunocompetence, Italy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolation & purification, Stroke etiology, Treatment Outcome, Tuberculosis, Meningeal complications, Antitubercular Agents therapeutic use, Immunosuppressive Agents therapeutic use, Thalidomide therapeutic use, Tuberculosis, Meningeal drug therapy
Abstract

Rationale: Tuberculous meningitis is a highly morbid, often fatal disease., Patient Concern: We describe a case of an Italian child. DIAGNOSES:: we diagnosed early a Tuberculous meningitis complicated by the occurrence of hydrocephalus, stroke, and paradoxical reaction with brain pseudo-abscesses., Interventions: The child started readily a specific therapy associated with steroids and thalidomide was introduced few month later., Outcomes: the patient had a favorable outcome without neurologic sequelae., Lessons: Despite the prompt specific anti-tubercular and adjuvant corticosteroid therapies, only the addition of thalidomide to the treatment allow to a favorable clinical outcome.

Published
2018
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48. Immunological diagnosis as an adjunctive tool for an early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis of an immune competent child in a low tuberculosis endemic country: a case report.

Author

Vita S, Ajassa C, Caraffa E, Lichtner M, Mascia C, Mengoni F, Paglia MG, Mancarella C, Colistra D, Di Biasi C, Ciardi RM, Mastroianni CM, and Vullo V

Subjects
Child, Female, Flow Cytometry, Humans, Italy epidemiology, Leukocytosis, Tuberculosis, Meningeal epidemiology, Tuberculosis, Meningeal immunology, Tuberculosis, Meningeal diagnosis
Abstract

Background: Pediatric tuberculous meningitis is a highly morbid, often fatal disease. Its prompt diagnosis and treatment saves lives, in fact delays in the initiation of therapy have been associated with high mortality rates., Case Presentation: This is a case of an Italian child who was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis after a history of a month of headache, fatigue and weight loss. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a lymphocytic pleocytosis with predominance and decreased glucose concentration. Microscopy and conventional diagnostic tests to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis were negative, while a non classical method based on intracellular cytokine flow cytometry response of CD4 cells in cerebral spinal fluid helped us to address the diagnosis, that was subsequently confirmed by a nested polymerase chain reaction amplifying a 123 base pair fragment of the M. tuberculosis DNA., Conclusions: We diagnosed tuberculous meningitis at an early stage through an innovative immunological approach, supported by a nested polymerase chain reaction for detection of M. tuberculosis DNA. An early diagnosis is required in order to promptly initiate a therapy and to increase the patient's survival.

Published
2017
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49. Blood Myeloid Dendritic Cells and slanDC in Antiretroviral Therapy- Suppressed HIV-Infected Patients.

Author

Lichtner M, Rossi R, Vita S, Savinelli S, Iannetta M, Mascia C, Marocco R, Ajassa C, Mengoni F, Scorzolini L, Maria Mastroianni C, and Vullo V

Subjects
Adult, Aged, Antigens, CD blood, Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic blood, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Cohort Studies, Female, HIV Infections virology, Humans, Lipopolysaccharide Receptors blood, Male, Middle Aged, Receptors, Cell Surface blood, Young Adult, CD163 Antigen, Anti-Retroviral Agents therapeutic use, Blood Cells immunology, Dendritic Cells immunology, HIV Infections drug therapy, HIV Infections immunology, Sustained Virologic Response
Abstract

Myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) play a complex role in HIV infection regardless of viral replication. The aim of our study was to analyse mDCs in long term antiretroviral therapy (ART)- suppressed HIV-infected patients. We evaluated the numbers of mDCs and slanDC in the context of different degree of CD4+ T cell recovery, persistent T cell activation (as HLA-DR+/CD3+ expression) and monocyte-macrophage activation assessed in terms of circulating levels of both sCD14 and sCD163. We enrolled 72 aviremic patients under effective ART and 34 healthy donors (HD). Patients were divided into two groups on the bases of ΔCD4, indicating the difference between the value of CD4 at the time of sampling and CD4 nadir. Higher levels of mDCs and slanDC were found in patients with ΔCD4>200/mmc in comparison to HD. In those patients also an increased level of sCD14 was found, whereas sCD163 seemed to be at normal levels. An augmentation of activated CD4 T lymphocytes was found, although less pronounced in patients with ΔCD4<200/mmc. In conclusion, our findings showed an expansion of mDCs with a shift to inflammatory slanDC that could sustain both microbial translocation and HIV latency in CD4 T cells.

Published
2016
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50. Extravirologic modulation of immune response by an NRTI-sparing antiretroviral regimen including darunavir and maraviroc.

Author

Ermocida A, Mengoni F, Sauzullo I, Rossi R, Ajassa C, Lichtner M, Mastroianni CM, and Vullo V

Subjects
Apoptosis drug effects, Cells, Cultured, Darunavir, Drug Therapy, Combination, HIV Infections drug therapy, HIV Infections physiopathology, HIV-1 drug effects, HIV-1 physiology, Humans, Leukocytes, Mononuclear cytology, Leukocytes, Mononuclear drug effects, Maraviroc, Neutrophils cytology, Neutrophils drug effects, Anti-HIV Agents pharmacology, Cyclohexanes pharmacology, HIV Infections immunology, HIV Infections virology, Leukocytes, Mononuclear immunology, Neutrophils immunology, Sulfonamides pharmacology, Triazoles pharmacology
Abstract

Dual therapies, including protease inhibitor + maraviroc (MVC), may represent an alternative to traditional regimens for management of HIV infection. The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the effects of darunavir (DRV) alone or in combination with MVC on cell apoptosis and chemotaxis. A significant decrease of cell apoptosis was found after DRV treatment. The addition of MVC to DRV also had an in vitro down-regulating effect on cell migration. The combination of an NRTI-sparing regimen including DRV+ MVC may have a potential role in immune system modulation by the direct down regulation of apoptosis and chemotaxis.

Published
2014

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