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Oral Lichen planus (LP) is an immune-mediated disease of unknown etiology that affects the oral mucous membranes. Six clinical forms of OLP lesions can be detected individually or associated: papular, reticular, plaque-like, atrophic, erosive, and bullous. The antigen that triggers the inflammatory immune reaction in OLP lesions is yet unclear. The correlation between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections and Oral Lichen Planus has been reported in the literature. The present work summarized the evidence to establish if EBV can play a role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) has been repeatedly reported to occur following exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study analyzes the molecular mimicry between the 180 kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen 2 (BP180) and the SARS-CoV-2 proteome to further our understanding of the molecular link between the BP and the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results indicate a high degree of molecular mimicry between BP180, SARS-CoV-2, hCoV-229E and hCoV-NL63.

Although onset/exacerbation of bullous Pemphigoid (BP) has been reported to occur frequently following exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the link, if any, between BP dermatoses and the viral infection remains obscure. Therefore, searching for possible molecular mechanisms, we hypothesise that molecular mimicry between BP antigens and the SARS-CoV-2 proteins might lead to autoimmune responses cross-reacting with the BP proteins, thus triggering the dermatosis pathologies. Using this research paradigm, we analyzed the Bullous Pemphigoid antigen 1 (BP230) and the SARS-CoV-2 proteome to share minimal immune determinants, i.e., pentapeptides. Results indicate a high level of molecular mimicry between BP230 and SARS-CoV-2, thus supporting the hypothesis of cross-reactivity as a possible major mechanism in the SARS-CoV-2-associated BP etiopathogenesis.

The blistering disease Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is a genetic/autoimmune disorder deriving from alterations of the human protein Collagen alpha-1(VII) chain (CO7A1). Exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) promotes a wide variety of autoimmune diseases and might be a risk factor for Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita; in order to further our understanding of the link between this blistering disease and SARS-CoV-2, this study analyzes the peptide-sharing between CO7A1 and SARS-CoV-2 proteome. Results indicate a high level of molecular mimicry between CO7A1 and SARS-CoV-2 and hCoV-229E, and hCoV-NL63, thus suggesting a potential role of COVID-19 as a risk factor for Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.

OBJECTIVE: Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) is a mucocutaneous autoimmune disease mediated by autoantibodies that often affects oral mucosa. However, little is known about the connection between oral infections and PV. The present study addresses the hypothesis that immune responses following bacterial infections may cross-react with PV autoantigens, thus providing the pathogenic stimulus, eventually leading to clinical manifestations.METHODS: Available proteomic resources and immunologic data were explored. Searching for common peptides that underlie immune cross-reactions, the analyses focused on pathogenic oral bacteria and PV autoantigens, i.e., Desmoglein-3 (Dsg3).RESULTS: It was found that the analysed bacteria share numerous immunoreactive heptapeptide sequences with Dsg3.CONCLUSION: These data seem to support the hypothesis that the oral microbiome may also contribute to the pathogenesis of PV, with important implications for the treatment of this disease.

Objectives: The U.L.I.S.S.E. study is aimed at describing older patients who are cared for in hospitals, home care or nursing homes in Italy. Design: The U.L.I.S.S.E. study is an observational multicenter prospective 1-year study. Setting: Overall, 23 acute geriatric or internal medicine hospital units, 11 home care services and 31 nursing homes participated in the study. Measurements: The patient’s evaluation was performed using comprehensive geriatric assessment instruments, i.e. the interRAI Minimum Data Set, while data on service characteristics were recorded using ad-hoc designed questionnaires. Results: The older subjects who are in need of acute and long term care in Italy have similar characteristics: their mean age is higher than 80 years, they have a high level of disability in ADL, an important multimorbidity, and are treated with several drugs. The prevalence of cognitive impairment is particularly high in nursing homes, where almost 70% of residents suffer from it and 40% have severe cognitive impairment. On the other hand, there is a shortage of health care services, which are heterogeneous and fragmented. Conclusions: Health care services for older people in Italy are currently inadequate to manage the complexity of the older patients. An important effort should be undertaken to create a more integrated health care system.

Leucopenia is a disease caused by a reduction of circulating leukocytes. Leucopenia may be caused by alterations of extrinsic factors of myeloid line cell or by intrinsic alterations of cell growth line. Systemic symptoms are directly related to PMNs blood level. Clinical manifestations are related to bacterial infections. The dentist's role in diagnosis is important, since oral signs and symptoms may be the first to appear. Oral signs of neutropenia include ulcers, periodontal disease and opportunistic infection. Therapy should aim to prevent and control opportunistic infections.

In acute and chronic rostral cerveau isolee cats (section at frontal plane 3 or 4) high-frequency stimulation of basal forebrain regions induced "tonic" ECoG desynchronization with abrupt abolition of spindles, which always outlasted the period of stimulation. Exploration of the preoptic area showed that the maximal effect followed stimulation of regions immediately above the chiasma. High-frequency stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus induced ECoG activation similar in all respects to that after basal forebrain stimulation in both acute and chronic preparations. The most effective area was found to be situated ventro-medially. Parallel to neocortical desynchronization theta waves were induced in the dorsal hippocampus by both preoptic and hypothalamic activation. This effect disappeared after acute coagulation of septal nuclei. In acute cerveau isole preparations high-frequency stimulation of the ventral amygdala led to no significant change in the background synchronization. Stimulation of the dorsal amygdala induced "phasic" ECoG activation which did not outlast the stimulation period. Occasionally a "tonic" cortical arousal limited to the ipsilateral hemisphere could be seen following stimulation of dorsal nuclei. In no case did olfactory stimulation modify the ECoG synchronization. An absence of cortical activation was also found during high-frequency stimulation of intralaminar thalamic nuclei. Intravenous injection of barbiturate (from 2 to 20 mg/kg) increased the spontaneous synchronization while it progressively shortened and eventually abolished the electrocortical activation induced by stimulation of the basal forebrain and the posterior hypothalamus. It is suggested that in preparations with transection of the brain-stem at a rostral level both the anterior (preoptic) and posterior hypothalamus have a "tonic" desynchronizing influence on the cortex, which requires no support from the reticular activating system of the brain-stem. The control exerted by dorsal amygdala on the electrical activity of the cortex appears instead to be mediated by the brain-stem.