100 results on '"Vocale C"'
Search Results
2. Increased number of cases of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection imported from the Caribbean and Central America to northern Italy, 2014
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ROSSINI, G., GAIBANI, P., VOCALE, C., FINARELLI, A. C., and LANDINI, M. P.
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- 2016
3. Subgingival periodontal pathogens in Down syndrome children without periodontal breakdown. A case-control study on deciduous teeth
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Vocale C, Montevecchi M, D'Alessandro G, Gatto M, Piana G, Nibali L, Re MC, Sambri V, and Vocale C, Montevecchi M, D'Alessandro G, Gatto M, Piana G, Nibali L, Re MC, Sambri V
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stomatognathic diseases ,Case-Control Studies ,Dental Plaque ,Humans ,Deciduou ,Periodontal disease ,Dental Caries ,Down Syndrome ,Tooth, Deciduous ,Child ,Microbiology ,Tooth - Abstract
Aim Down syndrome is the most common form of aneuploidia compatible with a long survival. The affected subjects are more susceptible to severe early-onset periodontal disease and show a lower risk to develop dental caries than the non-affected population. This study investigated the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in the subgingival plaque of deciduous teeth in children with Down syndrome without signs of periodontal breakdown. Methods Thirty children suffering from Down syndrome and 46 matched healthy subjects were studied. A total of 228 subgingival plaque samples from deciduous teeth were separately collected and evaluated by polymerase chain reaction assays. Results The prevalence of Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Tannerella forsythia was investigated. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Tannerella forsythia were significantly more prevalent in Down syndrome children (respectively 8 and 9 times) than in controls. Conclusion In absence of periodontal impairment, Down syndrome children display a clear presence of periodontal pathogens already in the deciduous dentition. The hypothesis of an intrinsic predisposing condition is here supported.
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- 2022
4. A model of laboratory surveillance for neuro-arbovirosis applied during 2012 in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy
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Pierro, A., Landini, M.P., Gaibani, P., Rossini, G., Vocale, C., Finarelli, A.C., Cagarelli, R., Sambri, V., and Varani, S.
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- 2014
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5. West Nile virus in Europe: emergence, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Sambri, V., Capobianchi, M., Charrel, R., Fyodorova, M., Gaibani, P., Gould, E., Niedrig, M., Papa, A., Pierro, A., Rossini, G., Varani, S., Vocale, C., and Landini, M.P.
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- 2013
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6. New evidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in north‐eastern Italy
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Gaspari, V., Ortalli, M., Foschini, M.P., Baldovini, C., Lanzoni, A., Cagarelli, R., Gaibani, P., Rossini, G., Vocale, C., Tigani, R., Gentilomi, G.A., Misciali, C., Pesci, S., Patrizi, A., Landini, M.P., and Varani, S.
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- 2017
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7. Recent Advances in the Evaluation of Serological Assays for the Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19
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Chiereghin A., Zagari R. M., Galli S., Moroni A., Gabrielli L., Venturoli S., Bon I., Rossini G., Saracino I. M., Pavoni M., Lafratta S., Deni A., Felici S., Borghi M., Guerra L., Raumer L., Lodi V., Viale P., Attard L., Lazzarotto T., Borgatti E. C., Leone M., Mancini R., Petrisli E., Turello G., Gaibani P., Vocale C., Roncarati G., Magnani S., Fioro M. A., Fava M., Marzaduri A., Di Felice G., Caveduri F., Chiereghin A., Zagari R.M., Galli S., Moroni A., Gabrielli L., Venturoli S., Bon I., Rossini G., Saracino I.M., Pavoni M., Lafratta S., Deni A., Felici S., Borghi M., Guerra L., Raumer L., Lodi V., Viale P., Attard L., Lazzarotto T., Borgatti E.C., Leone M., Mancini R., Petrisli E., Turello G., Gaibani P., Vocale C., Roncarati G., Magnani S., Fioro M.A., Fava M., Marzaduri A., Di Felice G., and Caveduri F.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,Antibodies, Viral ,COVID-19 Serological Testing ,law.invention ,Serology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,ECLIA and ELISA ,law ,Humans ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Reference standards ,SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR ,Original Research ,Chemiluminescence ,0303 health sciences ,biology ,Plasma samples ,SARS-CoV-2 ,030306 microbiology ,business.industry ,lcsh:Public aspects of medicine ,SARS-CoV-2 infection ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,COVID-19 ,lcsh:RA1-1270 ,LFIA ,SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies ,Immunoglobulin M ,ROC Curve ,Fully automated ,SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodie ,sensitivity and specificity ,Immunoglobulin G ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,Public Health ,Antibody ,CLIA ,business - Abstract
Introduction: Few data on the diagnostic performance of serological tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are currently available. We evaluated sensitivity and specificity of five different widely used commercial serological assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2–specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies using reverse transcriptase-PCR assay in nasopharyngeal swab as reference standard test.Methods: A total of 337 plasma samples collected in the period April–June 2020 from SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive (n = 207) and negative (n = 130) subjects were investigated by one point-of-care lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA IgG and IgM, Technogenetics) and four fully automated assays: two chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA-iFlash IgG and IgM, Shenzhen YHLO Biotech and CLIA-LIAISON® XL IgG, DiaSorin), one electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA-Elecsys® total predominant IgG, Roche), and one enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA IgA, Euroimmune).Results: The overall sensitivity of all IgG serological assays was >80% and the specificity was >97%. The sensitivity of IgG assays was lower within 2 weeks from the onset of symptoms ranging from 70.8 to 80%. The LFIA and CLIA-iFlash IgM showed an overall low sensitivity of 47.6 and 54.6%, while the specificity was 98.5 and 96.2%, respectively. The ELISA IgA yielded a sensitivity of 84.3% and specificity of 81.7%. However, the ELISA IgA result was indeterminate in 11.7% of cases.Conclusions: IgG serological assays seem to be a reliable tool for the retrospective diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. IgM assays seem to have a low sensitivity and IgA assay is limited by a substantial rate of indeterminate results.
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- 2021
8. The Italian arm of the PREPARE study: an international project to evaluate and license a maternal vaccine against group B streptococcus
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Berardi A., Cassetti T., Creti R., Vocale C., Ambretti S., Sarti M., Facchinetti F., Cose S., van Bijlsma M., van De Beek D., Poyart C., French N., Nielsen M., Musoke P., Davies H., Ovale S., Lugli L., Capretti M. G., Lanari M., Dondi A., Ciccia M., Francavilla R., Lanzoni A., Baroni L., Fornaciari S., Carretto E., Alessandrini C., Lucia G., Perrone S., Calderaro A., Bacchini P., Giugno C., Rota C., Pagano R., Guidi B., Biasucci G., Benenati B., Schiavo R., Piccinini G., Pulvirenti R., Rizzo V., Ancora G., China C., Papa I., Viola L., Pedna M. F., Bua J., Travan L., Busetti M., Santori D., Merazzi D., Papa A., Laura L., Auriti C., Bernaschi P., Vento G., Giordano L., Spanu T., Haass C., Margiotta M. C., Nardella G., De Nittis R., Laforgia N., Loprieno S., Giuseppe L., Moramarco A. M., Tzialla C., Fasolato V., Orlandini S., Decembrino L., Del Campo G., Maiocchi A., Cuttano A., Tuoni C., Barnini S., Carnielli V., Perrone B., Orecchioni F., Visintini F., Arzese A., Heath P., Le Doare K., Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience - Neuroinfection & -inflammation, AII - Infectious diseases, Berardi A., Cassetti T., Creti R., Vocale C., Ambretti S., Sarti M., Facchinetti F., Cose S., van Bijlsma M., van De Beek D., Poyart C., French N., Nielsen M., Musoke P., Davies H., Ovale S., Lugli L., Capretti M.G., Lanari M., Dondi A., Ciccia M., Francavilla R., Lanzoni A., Baroni L., Fornaciari S., Carretto E., Alessandrini C., Lucia G., Perrone S., Calderaro A., Bacchini P., Giugno C., Rota C., Pagano R., Guidi B., Biasucci G., Benenati B., Schiavo R., Piccinini G., Pulvirenti R., Rizzo V., Ancora G., China C., Papa I., Viola L., Pedna M.F., Bua J., Travan L., Busetti M., Santori D., Merazzi D., Papa A., Laura L., Auriti C., Bernaschi P., Vento G., Giordano L., Spanu T., Haass C., Margiotta M.C., Nardella G., De Nittis R., Laforgia N., Loprieno S., Giuseppe L., Moramarco A.M., Tzialla C., Fasolato V., Orlandini S., Decembrino L., Del Campo G., Maiocchi A., Cuttano A., Tuoni C., Barnini S., Carnielli V., Perrone B., Orecchioni F., Visintini F., Arzese A., Heath P., and Le Doare K.
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0301 basic medicine ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Group B streptococcus ,Sepsi ,International Cooperation ,030106 microbiology ,Disease ,Abortion ,Group B ,Streptococcus agalactiae ,Sepsis ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Pregnancy ,Streptococcal Infections ,medicine ,Humans ,Meningitis ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Newborn ,Prevention ,Vaccine ,Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ,Antibiotic prophylaxis ,reproductive and urinary physiology ,Group B streptococcu ,business.industry ,Streptococcal Vaccines ,Infant, Newborn ,lcsh:RJ1-570 ,lcsh:Pediatrics ,Antibiotic Prophylaxis ,medicine.disease ,Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ,Meningiti ,Pneumonia ,Italy ,Immunization ,Commentary ,Female ,business - Abstract
Background Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis in infants, with long term neurodevelopmental sequelae. GBS may be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and preterm birth. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is currently the only way to prevent early-onset disease (presenting at 0 to 6 days of life), although it has no impact on the disease presenting over 6 days of life and its implementation is challenging in resource poor countries. A maternal vaccine against GBS could reduce all GBS manifestations as well as improve pregnancy outcomes, even in low-income countries. Main body The term “PREPARE” designates an international project aimed at developing a maternal vaccination platform to test vaccines against neonatal GBS infections by maternal immunization. It is a non-profit, multi-center, interventional and experimental study (promoted by the St George University of London. [UK]) with the aim of developing a maternal vaccination platform, determining pregnancy outcomes, and defining the extent of GBS infections in children and mothers in Africa. PREPARE also aims to estimate the protective serocorrelates against the main GBS serotypes that cause diseases in Europe and Africa and to conduct two trials on candidate GBS vaccines. PREPARE consists of 6 work packages. In four European countries (Italy, UK, Netherlands, France) the recruitment of cases and controls will start in 2020 and will end in 2022. The Italian PREPARE network includes 41 centers. The Italian network aims to collect: GBS isolates from infants with invasive disease, maternal and neonatal sera (cases); cord sera and GBS strains from colonized mothers whose infants do not develop GBS infection (controls). Short conclusion PREPARE will contribute information on protective serocorrelates against the main GBS serotypes that cause diseases in Europe and Africa. The vaccine that will be tested by the PREPARE study could be an effective strategy to prevent GBS disease.
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- 2020
9. P–794 Prevalence of positivity for SARS-CoV–2 RNA in follicular fluid in infertile patients
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Porcu, E, primary, Cipriani, L, additional, Dirodi, M, additional, Calza, N, additional, Ciotti, P M, additional, Tranquillo, M L, additional, Notarangelo, L, additional, Zuffa, S, additional, Labriola, F S, additional, Vocale, C, additional, and Damiano, G, additional
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- 2021
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10. Comparative evaluation of the new xTAG GPP multiplex assay in the laboratory diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis. Clinical assessment and potential application from a multicentre Italian study
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Vocale, C., primary, Rimoldi, S.G., additional, Pagani, C., additional, Grande, R., additional, Pedna, F., additional, Arghittu, M., additional, Lunghi, G., additional, Maraschini, A., additional, Gismondo, M.R., additional, Landini, M.P., additional, Torresani, E., additional, Topin, F., additional, and Sambri, V., additional
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- 2015
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11. Human and entomological surveillance of Toscana virus in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, 2010 to 2012
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Calzolari, M, primary, Angelini, P, additional, Finarelli, A C, additional, Cagarelli, R, additional, Bellini, R, additional, Albieri, A, additional, Bonilauri, P, additional, Cavrini, F, additional, Tamba, M, additional, Dottori, M, additional, Gaibani, P, additional, Natalini, S, additional, Maioli, G, additional, Pinna, M, additional, Mattivi, A, additional, Sambri, V, additional, Pierro, A, additional, Landini, M P, additional, Rossini, G, additional, Squintani, G, additional, Cinotti, S, additional, Varani, S, additional, Vocale, C, additional, and Bedeschi, E, additional
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- 2014
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12. The experience of West Nile virus integrated surveillance system in the Emilia-Romagna region: five years of implementation, Italy, 2009 to 2013
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Bellini, R, primary, Calzolari, M, additional, Mattivi, A, additional, Tamba, M, additional, Angelini, P, additional, Bonilauri, P, additional, Albieri, A, additional, Cagarelli, R, additional, Carrieri, M, additional, Dottori, M, additional, Finarelli, A C, additional, Gaibani, P, additional, Landini, M P, additional, Natalini, S, additional, Pascarelli, N, additional, Rossini, G, additional, Velati, C, additional, Vocale, C, additional, and Bedeschi, E, additional
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- 2014
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13. Persistent occurrence of serogroup Y/sequence type (ST)-23 complex invasive meningococcal disease among patients aged five to 14 years, Italy, 2007 to 2013.
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Fazio, C., Neri, A., Renna, G., Vacca, P., Antonetti, R., Barbui, A. M., Daprai, L., Lanzafame, P., Rossi, L., Santino, I., Tascini, C., Vocale, C., and Stefanelli, P.
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- 2015
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14. Killing of Treponema denticola by Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages
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Gaibani, P., primary, Vocale, C., additional, Ambretti, S., additional, Cavrini, F., additional, Izard, J., additional, Miragliotta, L., additional, Pellegrino, M.T., additional, and Sambri, V., additional
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- 2010
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15. Epidemiology and outcome of Clostridium difficile infections in patients hospitalized in Internal Medicine: findings from the nationwide FADOI-PRACTICE study
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Cioni, Giorgio, Viale, Pierluigi, Frasson, Stefania, Cipollini, Francesco, Menichetti, Francesco, Petrosillo, Nicola, Brunati, Sergio, Spigaglia, Patrizia, Vismara, Chiara, Bielli, Alessandra, Barbanti, Fabrizio, Landini, Giancarlo, Panigada, Grazia, Gussoni, Gualberto, Bonizzoni, Erminio, Gesu, Giovanni Pietro, Costantino, A., Masciari, R., Amato, G., Fontanella, A., Gallucci, F., Improta, L., Poggiano, M. R., Rabitti, P., Uomo, G., Civardi, G., Confalonieri, M., Grandi, M., Sacchetti, C., Baldini, T., Cioni, G., Miglioli, S., Sarti, M., Landini, M. P., Panuccio, D., Romboli, E., Vocale, C., Berti, F., Bonito, L., Gozzo, M. L., Manfellotto, D., Natili, S., Patti, A., Piccolo, P., Pistella, E., Santini, C., Pastorelli, R., Pellegrinotti, M., Quaratino, C. P., Bona, R., Gnerre, P., Lillo, F., Parodi, L., Bovero, A., Santoriello, L., Agnelli, F., Colombo, F., Gesu, G., Lombardi, G., Lanzetti, V., Biagiotti, S., Clerici, P., Mazzone, A., Brusco, G., Magnani, L., Tirella, S., Terulla, C., Manso, E., Nitti, C., Salvi, A., Ciarambino, T., Pepe, C., Politi, C., Frediani, R., Moschella, A., Lodolo, L., Barasolo, G., Bertoncelli, M. C., Milano, F., Campanini, M., Molinari, G. L., Pittau, S., De Bernochi, A., Giusti, M., Montegrosso, G., Errico, M., Mastroianni, F., Tauro, L., Caddori, A., Prasciolu, C. G., Di Naso, C., Romano, M., D'Angelo, A., Genco, L., Mangano, G., Arena, F., Biagioni, C., Cimolato, B., Landini, G., Nozzoli, C., Poli, A., Rossolini, G., Burzigotti, F., Francioni, S., Lenti, S., Galanti, I. A., Belcari, C., Longo, B., Salamone, D., Chiti, I., Lencioni, P., Panigada, G., Teghini, L., Gambacorta, M., Perrotta, U., Battaglia, G., Pizzato, E., Vian, A., De Menis, E., Bordignon, G., Tramontin, P., Doroldi, C., Ravagnan, P., Sartore, P., Leoni, M., Pauletto, P., Rigoli, R., Callegari, C., Sacchetta, A., Vendrame, A., Cioni G, Viale P, Frasson S, Cipollini F, Menichetti F, Petrosillo N, Brunati S, Spigaglia P, Vismara C, Bielli A, Barbanti F, Landini G, Panigada G, Gussoni G, Bonizzoni E, and Gesu G P
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Diarrhea ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,genetic structures ,medicine.drug_class ,Antibiotics ,Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases ,Immunoenzyme Techniques ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Medical microbiology ,Clostridium difficile ,Incidence ,Internal Medicine ,Outcome ,Predictors ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Clostridium Infections ,Female ,Hospital Mortality ,Humans ,Italy ,Length of Stay ,Middle Aged ,Prospective Studies ,Infectious Diseases ,Internal medicine ,Epidemiology ,medicine ,80 and over ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Prospective cohort study ,Clostridioides difficile ,business.industry ,Incidence (epidemiology) ,clostridium difficile ,incidence ,internal medicine ,outcome ,predictors ,aged ,aged, 80 and over ,anti-bacterial agents ,clostridioides difficile ,clostridium infections ,diarrhea ,female ,hospital mortality ,humans ,immunoenzyme techniques ,length of stay ,male ,middle aged ,prospective studies ,real-time polymerase chain reaction ,Tropical medicine ,clostridium difficile GDH EPIDEMIOLOGY ,030211 gastroenterology & hepatology ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Research Article - Abstract
Background Clostridium difficile (CD) is a leading cause of diarrhoea among hospitalized patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate, the optimal diagnostic work-up, and outcome of CD infections (CDI) in Internal Medicine (IM) wards in Italy. Methods PRACTICE is an observational prospective study, involving 40 IM Units and evaluating all consecutive patients hospitalized during a 4-month period. CDI were defined in case of diarrhoea when both enzyme immunoassay for GDH, and test for A/B toxin were positive. Patients with CDI were followed-up for recurrences for 4 weeks after the end of therapy. Results Among the 10,780 patients observed, 103 (0.96 %) showed CDI, at admission or during hospitalization. A positive history for CD, antibiotics in the previous 4 weeks, recent hospitalization, female gender and age were significantly associated with CDI (multivariable analysis). In-hospital mortality was 16.5 % in CD group vs 6.7 % in No-CD group (p
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16. Development and validation of a prediction model for severe respiratory failure in hospitalized patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection: a multicenter cohort study (PREDI-CO study)
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Ciro Fulgaro, Ioannis Tzimas, Luigi Raumer, Marianna Meschiari, Marianna Menozzi, Gabriella Verucchi, Giada Rossini, Filippo Trapani, Giacomo Fornaro, Michela Semprini, Alessandra Cascavilla, Emanuele Campaci, Maddalena Giannella, Luigia Scudeller, Alessandro Zuccotti, Irid Baxhaku, Lucia Angelelli, Eleonora Zamparini, Annalisa Saracino, Alberto Zuppiroli, Cristina Basso, Elisabetta Pierucci, Agostino Rossi, Giulia Santangelo, Paolo Gaibani, Francesco Cristini, Francesca Volpato, Elisa Fronti, Giovanni Guaraldi, Alberto Sarti, Giorgio Legnani, Mattia Neri, Mauro Codeluppi, Adriana Badeanu, Giulio Virgili, Chiara Pironi, Lorenzo Marconi, Sara K. Tedeschi, Vidak Koprivika, Francesco Barchiesi, Luciano Attard, Matteo Rinaldi, Paola Laghetti, Stefano Antonini, Linda Bussini, Caterina Campoli, Giacomo Urbinati, Marco Merli, Nicholas Roncagli, Agnese Pratelli, Elena Rosselli Del Turco, Silvia Rapuano, Luca Guerra, Stefano Ianniruberto, Francesco Dell'Omo, Michele Bartoletti, Livia Pancaldi, Viola Guardigni, Fabio Tumietto, Giuseppe Sasdelli, Vito Marco Ranieri, Flovia Dauti, Giovanni Fasulo, Eugenia Francalanci, Nicola Dentale, Amalia Sanna Passino, Tommaso Zanaboni, Arianna Rubin, Davide Fiore Bavaro, Idina Zavatta, Massimo Puoti, Letizia Pasinelli, Maria Cristina Leoni, Pierluigi Viale, Oana Vatamanu, Elena Piccini, Renato Pascale, Cristina Mussini, Luca Esposito, Simona Coladonato, Alice Gori, Giulia Tesini, Lorenzo Badia, Mara D'Onofrio, Alberto Licci, Enrico Evangelisti, Guido Maria Liuzzi, Giacinto Pizzilli, Nicolò Rossi, Tommaso Tonetti, Marina Tadolini, Zeno Pasquini, Caterina Vocale, Bartoletti M., Giannella M., Scudeller L., Tedeschi S., Rinaldi M., Bussini L., Fornaro G., Pascale R., Pancaldi L., Pasquini Z., Trapani F., Badia L., Campoli C., Tadolini M., Attard L., Puoti M., Merli M., Mussini C., Menozzi M., Meschiari M., Codeluppi M., Barchiesi F., Cristini F., Saracino A., Licci A., Rapuano S., Tonetti T., Gaibani P., Ranieri V.M., Viale P., Raumer L., Guerra L., Tumietto F., Cascavilla A., Zamparini E., Verucchi G., Coladonato S., Rubin A., Ianniruberto S., Francalanci E., Volpato F., Virgili G., Rossi N., Del Turco E.R., Guardigni V., Fasulo G., Dentale N., Fulgaro C., Legnani G., Campaci E., Basso C., Zuppiroli A., Passino A.S., Tesini G., Angelelli L., Badeanu A., Rossi A., Santangelo G., Dauti F., Koprivika V., Roncagli N., Tzimas I., Liuzzi G.M., Baxhaku I., Pasinelli L., Neri M., Zanaboni T., Dell'Omo F., Vatamanu O., Gori A., Zavatta I., Antonini S., Pironi C., Piccini E., Esposito L., Zuccotti A., Urbinati G., Pratelli A., Sarti A., Semprini M., Evangelisti E., D'Onofrio M., Sasdelli G., Pizzilli G., Pierucci E., Rossini G., Vocale C., Marconi L., Leoni M.C., Fronti E., Guaraldi G., Bavaro D., Laghetti P., Bartoletti, M, Giannella, M, Scudeller, L, Tedeschi, S, Rinaldi, M, Bussini, L, Fornaro, G, Pascale, R, Pancaldi, L, Pasquini, Z, Trapani, F, Badia, L, Campoli, C, Tadolini, M, Attard, L, Puoti, M, Merli, M, Mussini, C, Menozzi, M, Meschiari, M, Codeluppi, M, Barchiesi, F, Cristini, F, Saracino, A, Licci, A, Rapuano, S, Tonetti, T, Gaibani, P, Ranieri, V, Viale, P, Raumer, L, Guerra, L, Tumietto, F, Cascavilla, A, Zamparini, E, Verucchi, G, Coladonato, S, Rubin, A, Ianniruberto, S, Francalanci, E, Volpato, F, Virgili, G, Rossi, N, Del Turco, E, Guardigni, V, Fasulo, G, Dentale, N, Fulgaro, C, Legnani, G, Campaci, E, Basso, C, Zuppiroli, A, Passino, A, Tesini, G, Angelelli, L, Badeanu, A, Rossi, A, Santangelo, G, Dauti, F, Koprivika, V, Roncagli, N, Tzimas, I, Liuzzi, G, Baxhaku, I, Pasinelli, L, Neri, M, Zanaboni, T, Dell'Omo, F, Vatamanu, O, Gori, A, Zavatta, I, Antonini, S, Pironi, C, Piccini, E, Esposito, L, Zuccotti, A, Urbinati, G, Pratelli, A, Sarti, A, Semprini, M, Evangelisti, E, D'Onofrio, M, Sasdelli, G, Pizzilli, G, Pierucci, E, Rossini, G, Vocale, C, Marconi, L, Leoni, M, Fronti, E, Guaraldi, G, Bavaro, D, and Laghetti, P
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0301 basic medicine ,Male ,Logistic regression ,prognostic tool ,0302 clinical medicine ,Risk Factors ,Positive predicative value ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Child ,Aged, 80 and over ,Framingham Risk Score ,Coronavirus disease 2019 ,Respiratory distress ,Lactate dehydrogenase ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,Prognosis ,Hospitalization ,Infectious Diseases ,Italy ,Child, Preschool ,Female ,Coronavirus Infections ,Respiratory Insufficiency ,Cohort study ,Microbiology (medical) ,Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Respiratory rate ,Adolescent ,COVID-19 ,SARS-CoV-2 ,severe respiratory failure ,030106 microbiology ,Pneumonia, Viral ,Risk Assessment ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,Betacoronavirus ,Young Adult ,Age ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Obesity ,Pandemics ,Aged ,Retrospective Studies ,business.industry ,Reproducibility of Results ,Retrospective cohort study ,Logistic Models ,Respiratory failure ,Multivariate Analysis ,business ,C-reactive proteine - Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to develop and validate a risk score to predict severe respiratory failure (SRF) among patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods: We performed a multicentre cohort study among hospitalized (>24 hours) patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 22 February to 3 April 2020, at 11 Italian hospitals. Patients were divided into derivation and validation cohorts according to random sorting of hospitals. SRF was assessed from admission to hospital discharge and was defined as: SpO2 30 breaths/min or respiratory distress. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to identify predictors of SRF, β-coefficients were used to develop a risk score. Trial Registration NCT04316949. Results: We analysed 1113 patients (644 derivation, 469 validation cohort). Mean (±SD) age was 65.7 (±15) years, 704 (63.3%) were male. SRF occurred in 189/644 (29%) and 187/469 (40%) patients in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. At multivariate analysis, risk factors for SRF in the derivation cohort assessed at hospitalization were age ≥70 years (OR 2.74; 95% CI 1.66–4.50), obesity (OR 4.62; 95% CI 2.78–7.70), body temperature ≥38°C (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.30–2.29), respiratory rate ≥22 breaths/min (OR 3.75; 95% CI 2.01–7.01), lymphocytes ≤900 cells/mm3 (OR 2.69; 95% CI 1.60–4.51), creatinine ≥1 mg/dL (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.59–3.56), C-reactive protein ≥10 mg/dL (OR 5.91; 95% CI 4.88–7.17) and lactate dehydrogenase ≥350 IU/L (OR 2.39; 95% CI 1.11–5.11). Assigning points to each variable, an individual risk score (PREDI-CO score) was obtained. Area under the receiver-operator curve was 0.89 (0.86–0.92). At a score of >3, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 71.6% (65%–79%), 89.1% (86%–92%), 74% (67%–80%) and 89% (85%–91%), respectively. PREDI-CO score showed similar prognostic ability in the validation cohort: area under the receiver-operator curve 0.85 (0.81–0.88). At a score of >3, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 80% (73%–85%), 76% (70%–81%), 69% (60%–74%) and 85% (80%–89%), respectively. Conclusion: PREDI-CO score can be useful to allocate resources and prioritize treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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- 2020
17. SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 testing: The tower of babel
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Reno, Chiara, Lenzi, Jacopo, Golinelli, Davide, Gori, Davide, Signorelli, Carlo, Kraemer, John, Stoto, Michael A., Avitabile, Elisa, Landini, Maria Paola, Lazzarotto, Tiziana, Re, Maria Carla, Rucci, Paola, Taliani, Gloria, Trerè, Davide, Vocale, Caterina, Fantini, Maria Pia, Reno, C., Lenzi, J., Golinelli, D., Gori, D., Signorelli, C., Kraemer, J., Stoto, M. A., Avitabile, E., Landini, M. P., Lazzarotto, T., Carla Re, M., Rucci, P., Taliani, G., Trerè, D., Vocale, C., Fantini, M. P., Reno C., Lenzi J., Golinelli D., Gori D., Signorelli C., Kraemer J., Stoto M.A., Avitabile E., Landini M.P., Lazzarotto T., Re M.C., Rucci P., Taliani G., Trere' D., Vocale C., and Fantini M.P.
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Pandemic ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Reproducibility of Results ,COVID-19 ,Original Investigations/Commentaries ,Molecular diagnostic technique ,Pooling test ,COVID-19 Testing ,ROC Curve ,Molecular diagnostic techniques ,Predictive value of tests ,Public health surveillance ,Rapid antigen test ,Screening ,Humans ,Predictive value of test - Abstract
Summary. Background and aim: Testing represents one of the main pillars of public health response to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. This paper shows how accuracy and utility of testing programs depend not just on the type of tests, but on the context as well. Methods: We describe the testing methods that have been developed and the possible testing strategies; then, we focus on two possible methods of population-wide testing, i.e., pooled testing and testing with rapid antigen tests. We show the accuracy of split-pooling method and how, in different pre-test probability scenarios, the positive and negative predictive values vary using rapid antigen tests. Results: Split-pooling, followed by retesting of negative results, shows a higher sensitivity than individual testing and requires fewer tests. In case of low pre-test probability, a negative result with antigen test could allow to rule out the infection, while, in case of a positive result, a confirmatory molecular test would be necessary. Conclusions: Test performance alone is not enough to properly choose which test to use; goals and context of the testing program are essential. We advocate the use of pooled strategies when planning population-wide screening, and the weekly use of rapid tests for close periodic monitoring in low-prevalence populations. (www.actabiomedica.it).
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- 2020
18. COVID-19 in patients with HIV-1 infection: a single-centre experience in northern Italy
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Leonardo Calza, Vincenzo Colangeli, Paolo Gaibani, Pierluigi Viale, Isabella Bon, Gabriella Verucchi, Marco Borderi, Luciano Attard, Caterina Vocale, Lorenzo Badia, Marina Tadolini, Giada Rossini, Calza L., Bon I., Tadolini M., Borderi M., Colangeli V., Badia L., Verucchi G., Rossini G., Vocale C., Gaibani P., Viale P., and Attard L.
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Microbiology (medical) ,Adult ,Male ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Coronaviru ,Population ,Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ,HIV Infections ,Case Report ,Comorbidity ,medicine.disease_cause ,law.invention ,law ,medicine ,Humans ,In patient ,education ,Aged ,education.field_of_study ,business.industry ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Outbreak ,COVID-19 ,HIV ,Protease inhibitors ,General Medicine ,Pneumonia ,Middle Aged ,Intensive care unit ,Northern italy ,CD4 Lymphocyte Count ,Coronavirus ,Infectious Diseases ,Italy ,HIV-1 ,Female ,Presentation (obstetrics) ,business - Abstract
Background Since the end of February 2020, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak rapidly spread throughout Italy and other European countries, but limited information has been available about its characteristics in HIV-infected patients. Methods We have described a case series of patients with HIV infection and COVID-19 diagnosed at the S.Orsola Hospital (Bologna, Italy) during March and April, 2020. Results We reported a case series of 26 HIV-infected patients with COVID-19. Nineteen subjects were men, the median age was 54 years, 73% of patients had one or more comorbidities. Only 5 patients with interstitial pneumonia were hospitalized, but there were no admissions to intensive care unit and no deaths. Conclusions In our experience, COVID-19 associated with HIV infection had a clinical presentation comparable to the general population and was frequently associated with chronic comorbidities.
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- 2021
19. Experimental testing of air filter efficiency against the SARS-CoV-2 virus: The role of droplet and airborne transmission
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Cesare Saccani, Alessandro Guzzini, Caterina Vocale, Davide Gori, Marco Pellegrini, Maria Pia Fantini, Alessandra Primavera, Saccani C., Guzzini A., Vocale C., Gori D., Pellegrini M., Fantini M.P., and Primavera A.
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Environmental Engineering ,Coronavirus disease 2019 ,viruses ,fungi ,Geography, Planning and Development ,COVID-19 ,Experimental testing ,Air filters ,Building and Construction ,Article ,SARS Coronavirus ,Heating ventilation and air conditioning systems ,Air filter ,Heating ventilation and air conditioning system ,Civil and Structural Engineering - Abstract
Verifying the capacity of different types of air filters to stop the propagation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has become a strategic element to contain viral spreading in enclosed spaces. This paper shows the results of experimental tests about the capacity of different commercial filter grades to stop SARS-CoV-2 propagation using inactivated virions. In the first test, the obtained results showed that the F8 filter blocks SARS-CoV-2 propagation if it encounters a flow devoid of liquid phase, i.e., a biphasic flow that can wet the filtering material. On the contrary, as shown in the second test, the SARS-CoV-2 virus propagates through the F8 filter if the droplet content in the air flow is enough to wet it. In these operational conditions, i.e., when the filter is wet by a flow with a high droplet content, the absolute H14 filter was also shown to fail to stop the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Lastly, in the third test, the viral load was shown to be stopped when the pathway of the infected droplet is blocked.
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- 2022
20. Respiratory bacterial co-infections in intensive care unit-hospitalized COVID-19 patients: Conventional culture vs BioFire FilmArray pneumonia Plus panel
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Tiziana Lazzarotto, Andrea Liberatore, Anna Zignoli, Caterina Vocale, Gabriele Turello, Simone Ambretti, Silvia Lafratta, Paolo Gaibani, Claudio Foschi, Giada Rossini, Foschi C., Zignoli A., Gaibani P., Vocale C., Rossini G., Lafratta S., Liberatore A., Turello G., Lazzarotto T., and Ambretti S.
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Adult ,Microbiology (medical) ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Microbiological culture ,FilmArray ,medicine.drug_class ,Antibiotics ,Coinfections ,medicine.disease_cause ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Microbiology ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,Respiratory infection ,Internal medicine ,Intensive care ,medicine ,Humans ,Respiratory Tract Infections ,Molecular Biology ,Retrospective Studies ,030304 developmental biology ,0303 health sciences ,Bacteria ,biology ,Respiratory tract infections ,Coinfection ,SARS-CoV-2 ,030306 microbiology ,business.industry ,Respiratory infections ,COVID-19 ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Bacterial Typing Techniques ,Intensive Care Units ,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ,Pneumonia ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Staphylococcus aureus ,business ,Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Respiratory tract - Abstract
The prevalence and microbiology of concomitant respiratory bacterial infections in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are not yet fully understood. In this retrospective study, we assessed respiratory bacterial co-infections in lower respiratory tract samples taken from intensive care unit-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, by comparing the conventional culture approach to an innovative molecular diagnostic technology. A total of 230 lower respiratory tract samples (i.e., bronchial aspirates or bronchoalveolar lavages) were taken from 178 critically ill COVID-19 patients. Each sample was processed by a semi-quantitative culture and by a multiplex PCR panel (FilmArray Pneumonia Plus panel), allowing rapid detection of a wide range of clinically relevant pathogens and a limited number of antimicrobial resistance markers. More than 30% of samples showed a positive bacterial culture, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus the most detected pathogens. FilmArray showed an overall sensitivity and specificity of 89.6% and 98.3%, respectively, with a negative predictive value of 99.7%. The molecular test significantly reduced the turn-around-time (TAT) and increased the rates of microbial detection. Most cases missed by culture were characterized by low bacterial loads (104–105 copies/mL). FilmArray missed a list of pathogens not included in the molecular panel, especially Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (8 cases). FilmArray can be useful to detect bacterial pathogens in lower respiratory tract specimens of COVID-19 patients, with a significant decrease of TAT. The test is particularly useful to rule out bacterial co-infections and avoid the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics.
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- 2021
21. Serodiagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Italy: Evaluation of Seven Serological Tests
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Stefania Varani, Giada Rossini, Maria Carla Re, Daniele Lorrai, Paolo Gaibani, Caterina Vocale, Margherita Ortalli, Ortalli M., Lorrai D., Gaibani P., Rossini G., Vocale C., Re M.C., and Varani S.
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Microbiology (medical) ,Screening test ,030231 tropical medicine ,Microbiology ,rk39 immunochromatographic test ,Serology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Virology ,parasitic diseases ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Leishmania infantum ,Igg elisa ,serodiagnosis ,Visceral leishmaniasis ,biology ,business.industry ,Communication ,Dipstick ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Leishmania ,screening tests ,Serodiagnosi ,biology.protein ,Antibody ,business - Abstract
This study compares the performance of seven assays, including two ELISA (Leishmania ELISA IgG + IgM, Vircell Microbiologists; Leishmania infantum IgG ELISA, NovaTec), three rK39-based immunochromatographic tests (rK39-ICTs) (Leishmania Dipstick Rapydtest, Apacor; On Site Leishmania IgG/IgM Combo Rapid Test, CTK Biotech; LEISHMANIA Strip quick Test, Cypress Diagnostic), one indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (Leishmania-Spot IF, BioMérieux), and one western blot (WB) (Leishmania WESTERN BLOT IgG, LDBio Diagnostics) for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Serum samples from 27 VL patients living in northeastern Italy were analyzed, as well as the serum samples from 50 individuals in whom VL diagnosis was excluded. The WB and the IFAT had 96% sensitivity, followed by the ELISA (63% and 74%, respectively). The rK39-ICT exhibited the worst performance among the serological tests, with sensitivities ranging from 52% to 70%. By combining selected ELISA/ICT, the sensitivity of VL detection reached 89%. IFAT and WB outperformed ELISA and rK39-ICT by possessing optimal sensitivity, but their high cost and complexity of execution would not allow their employment as screening tests. In conclusion, the combination of easy-to-perform tests, such as ICT and ELISA, could improve sensitivity in the serodiagnosis of Mediterranean VL.
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- 2020
22. Characterization of antibody response in neuroinvasive infection caused by Toscana virus
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Giada Rossini, Rémi N. Charrel, Vittorio Sambri, Silvia Morini, P. Cenni, Caterina Vocale, Nazli Ayhan, M. P. Landini, Anna Pierro, Paolo Gaibani, Stefania Varani, Michele Bartoletti, Antonio Mastroianni, F. Prati, Luigi Raumer, S. Schivazappa, Russell E. Lewis, S. Ficarelli, CRREM Laboratory [Bologna, Italy] (Unit of Microbiology), University hospital - Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi [Bologna, Italy], Unit of Microbiology [Pievesestina, Italy] (The Romagna Hub Laboratory), The Romagna Hub Laboratory [Pievesestina, Italy], Emergence des Pathologies Virales (EPV), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Department of Medical and Surgical Science [Bologna, Italy] (Infectious Disease Unit), University of Bologna/Università di Bologna, Infectious Disease Unit [Forlì, Italy], G.B. Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital [Forlì, Italy], Infectious Disease Division [Reggio Emilia, Italy], Reggio Emilia Hospital [Italy], Emergency Department [Imola, Italy], Imola Hospital S. Maria della Scaletta [Imola, Italy], Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine [Bologna, Italy] (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna [Bologna] (UNIBO), This work was supported by the University of Bologna (RFO2013e2015 to SV, MPL) and by the Emilia-Romagna Region (Lab P3 funds). This work was also supported in part by the European Virus Archive goes Global (EVAg) project that has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 653316 (to RNC), the EDENext FP7- n261504 EU project (to RNC) and this paper is catalogued by the EDENext Steering Committee (http://www.edenext.eu) as EDENext467. The work of RNC was done under the frame of EurNegVec COST Action TD1303., European Project: 653316,H2020,H2020-INFRAIA-2014-2015,EVAg(2015), European Project: 261504,EC:FP7:HEALTH,FP7-HEALTH-2010-single-stage,EDENEXT(2011), University of Bologna, BUISINE, Soline, European Virus Archive goes global - EVAg - - H20202015-04-01 - 2019-03-31 - 653316 - VALID, Biology and control of vector-borne infections in Europe - EDENEXT - - EC:FP7:HEALTH2011-01-01 - 2015-06-30 - 261504 - VALID, Pierro, A., Ficarelli, S., Ayhan, N., Morini, S., Raumer, L., Bartoletti, M., Mastroianni, A., Prati, F., Schivazappa, S., Cenni, P., Vocale, C., Rossini, G., Gaibani, P., Sambri, V., Landini, M.P., Lewis, R.E., Charrel, R.N., and Varani, S.
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Adult ,Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Microbiology (medical) ,Patients' follow-up ,IgG avidity test ,030231 tropical medicine ,030106 microbiology ,Antibodies, Viral ,Bunyaviridae Infections ,Antibody production ,Neutralizing antibodies ,Immunoglobulin G ,Neutralization ,Cohort Studies ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Neutralizing antibodie ,medicine ,Humans ,Avidity ,Toscana virus infection ,[SDV.MP.VIR] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology/Virology ,biology ,Toscana virus ,Meningoencephalitis ,Sandfly fever Naples virus ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,Meningitis, Viral ,Virology ,3. Good health ,Infectious Diseases ,Immunoglobulin M ,Immunology ,[SDV.MP.VIR]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology/Virology ,biology.protein ,Female ,Antibody ,Meningitis - Abstract
Among sandfly-borne pathogens, Toscana virus (TOSV) is a prominent cause of summer meningitis in Mediterranean Europe. Here, we assessed the kinetics of anti-TOSV antibodies over time in 41 patients diagnosed with TOSV-meningitis or meningoencephalitis in North-eastern Italy. Objectives: Among sandfly-borne pathogens, Toscana virus (TOSV) is a prominent cause of summer meningitis in Mediterranean Europe. Here, we assessed the kinetics of anti-TOSV antibodies over time in 41 patients diagnosed with TOSV meningitis or meningoencephalitis in northeastern Italy. Methods: Acute and follow-up serum samples were collected up to 20 months after diagnosis of TOSV infection and tested for the presence of specific antibody using immunoenzymatic and indirect immunofluorescence assays. In addition, maturation of anti-TOSV IgG over time was evaluated as well as production of neutralizing antibodies. Results: Specific IgM and IgG response was present at diagnosis in 100% of patients; TOSV-specific IgM and IgG were detected in patients' sera up to 6 and 20 months after diagnosis, respectively. The avidity index (AI) increased over the first month after infection in 100% of patients and most cases exceeded 60% by Day 30 post infection. The AI subsequently plateaued then declined at 20 months after diagnosis. Finally, neutralization assay to TOSV was performed in 217 sera collected from 41 patients; 69.6% of tested samples resulted in reactive and moderate levels of neutralizing antibodies observed during all phases of infection despite high titres of total anti-TOSV IgG. Conclusions: Specific antibody response develops rapidly and is long-lasting for neuroinvasive TOSV infection. Serodiagnosis of neuroinvasive TOSV requires simultaneous detection of specific IgM and IgG. Moderate levels of neutralizing antibodies were maintained over the study period, while the protective role of antibodies lacking neutralizing activity is unclear and requires further evaluation.
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- 2017
23. Comparative evaluation of the new xTAG GPP multiplex assay in the laboratory diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis. Clinical assessment and potential application from a multicentre Italian study
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Sara Giordana Rimoldi, Vittorio Sambri, M. Arghittu, F. Pedna, Erminio Torresani, Anna Maraschini, Romualdo Grande, Maria Rita Gismondo, Giovanna Lunghi, F. Topin, Maria Paola Landini, Caterina Vocale, Cristina Pagani, Vocale, C, Rimoldi, Sg, Pagani, C, Grande, R, Pedna, F, Arghittu, M, Lunghi, G, Maraschini, A, Gismondo, Mr, Landini, Mp, Torresani, E, Topin, F, and Sambri, V.
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Adult ,Diarrhea ,Male ,Microbiology (medical) ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Routine testing ,Gastrointestinal pathogens ,Biology ,Sensitivity and Specificity ,Laboratory diagnosi ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases ,Comparative evaluation ,Immunoenzyme Techniques ,Feces ,Internal medicine ,Multiplex polymerase chain reaction ,Molecular assay ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Parasites ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,Multiplex ,Bacteria ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,Multiplex PCR ,Acute gastroenteritis ,Gastrointestinal pathogen ,Gastroenteritis ,Infectious Diseases ,Italy ,Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ,Laboratory diagnosis ,Immunoassay ,Viruses ,Immunology ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Acute diarrhoea - Abstract
Summary Objective Gastroenteritis caused by a single pathogen or multiple pathogens remains a major diagnostic challenge for the laboratory. The treatment of diarrhoea is based on microbiological results. Diagnosis is achieved using different laboratory techniques that have variable sensitivity and specificity. xTAG GPP is a new multiplex PCR assay that simultaneously detects 15 different pathogens responsible for diarrhoea. The results of the first multicentre study in Italy to evaluate the potential clinical application of the GPP assay in the laboratory diagnosis of diarrhoea are reported here. Methods Faeces specimens ( N =664) from hospitalized patients were tested with the GPP assay using a Luminex 200 instrument. All specimens were run using comparator methods following a routine algorithm: culture for bacteria, enzyme immunoassay and PCR for viruses, and microscopy for parasites. Results Of the samples tested with the GPP, 53.61% (356/664) gave positive results, as compared to 45.33% by routine testing. Of the positive specimens, 34.55% showed the presence of genomic DNA from multiple pathogens. The Luminex method showed an increase in the percentage of positivity of 8.28%. Conclusions The GPP assay can be considered a helpful tool for the detection of gastrointestinal pathogens, with a hands-on time of 5h; it provides accurate data for the clinical management of hospitalized patients and for epidemiological surveillance.
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- 2015
24. Toscana Virus Infections in Northern Italy: Laboratory and Clinical Evaluation
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Caterina Vocale, Giada Rossini, Anna Pierro, Tiziano Lenzi, Maria Grazia Pascucci, Andrea Tampieri, Michele Bartoletti, Pierluigi Viale, P Macini, Maria Paola Landini, Paolo Gaibani, Michele Pavoni, Fernanda Mori, Claudia Giorgi, Vittorio Sambri, Francesca Cavrini, Vocale C., Bartoletti M., Rossini G., Macini P., Pascucci M.G., Mori F., Tampieri A., Lenzi T., Pavoni M., Giorgi C., Gaibani P., Cavrini F., Pierro A.M., Landini M.P., Viale P., and Sambri V.
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Adult ,Male ,Adolescent ,NORTHERN ITALY ,MENINGITIS ,TOSCANA VIRUS ,Bunyaviridae Infections ,Microbiology ,Mediterranean Basin ,Virus ,EPIDEMIOLOGIY ,Virology ,medicine ,Humans ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,biology ,business.industry ,Toscana virus ,Aseptic meningitis ,Sandfly fever Naples virus ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,Meningitis, Viral ,Acute stage ,Northern italy ,Infectious Diseases ,Italy ,Female ,business ,Clinical evaluation ,Meningitis - Abstract
Toscana virus (TOSv) is a neurotropic arthropod-borne virus that causes meningitis in the Mediterranean basin during the summer months. A total of 120 patients suffering from acute aseptic meningitis between July 1 and October 31, 2010 in northern Italy were evaluated. Eighteen of them (15%) were in the acute stage of TOSv disease.
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- 2012
25. Killing of Treponema denticola by Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages
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Luisa Miragliotta, Jacques Izard, Paolo Gaibani, Vittorio Sambri, Caterina Vocale, Maria Teresa Pellegrino, Francesca Cavrini, Simone Ambretti, Gaibani P, Vocale C, Ambretti S, Cavrini F, Izard J, Miragliotta L, Pellegrino MT, and Sambri V.
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Lipopolysaccharides ,Phagocytosis ,Motility ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,PHAGOCYTOSIS ,Microbiology ,Mice ,Immune system ,Bacterial Proteins ,stomatognathic system ,IMMUNE RESPONSE ,Escherichia coli ,medicine ,Animals ,Anaerobiosis ,MACROPHAGES ,Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ,General Dentistry ,Cells, Cultured ,Innate immune system ,TREPONEMA DENTICOLA ,Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ,Membrane Proteins ,Research Reports ,Treponema denticola ,Immunoglobulin E ,biology.organism_classification ,Antibodies, Bacterial ,Aerobiosis ,Antibody opsonization ,Cytoskeletal Proteins ,stomatognathic diseases ,Mutation ,Macrophages, Peritoneal ,Tumor necrosis factor alpha ,PERIODONTITIS - Abstract
Treponema denticola has been identified as an important cause of periodontal disease and hypothesized to be involved in extra-oral infections. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of T. denticola cell length and motility during mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro uptake. Macrophages, incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, produced a similar amount of TNF-α when stimulated with Escherichia coli LPS. The uptake of FlgE- and CfpA-deficient mutants of T. denticola was significantly increased compared with the wild-type strain, due to cell size or lack of motility. Opsonization with specific antibodies considerably improved the treponemes’ uptake. These results suggest that macrophages, in addition to other phagocytes, could play an important role in the control of T. denticola infection, and that the raising of specific antibodies could improve the efficacy of the immune response toward T. denticola, either at an oral site or during dissemination.
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- 2010
26. Peri-Implant Response and Microflora in Organ Transplant Patients 1 Year after Prosthetic Loading: A Prospective Controlled Study
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Lucio, Montebugnoli, Mattia, Venturi, Fabio, Cervellati, Dora, Servidio, Caterina, Vocale, Flavia, Pagan, Maria Paola, Landini, Gaia, Magnani, Vittorio, Sambri, Montebugnoli, L., Venturi, M., Cervellati, F., Servidio, D., Vocale, C., Pagan, F., Landini, M. P., Magnani, G., and Sambri, V.
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Adult ,Dental Implants ,Male ,dental implant ,Bacteria ,multi organ transplant patient ,Dental Implantation, Endosseous ,Alveolar Bone Loss ,Pilot Projects ,Middle Aged ,Liver Transplantation ,Immunocompromised Host ,Italy ,Heart Transplantation ,Humans ,Female ,Prospective Studies ,microflora ,Aged - Abstract
A recent study conducted in humans demonstrated for the first time that bone loss in the immediate period after implant insertion before loading did not significantly differ in organ transplant recipients with respect to normal subjects.The purpose of this study is to evaluate bone and periodontal response and peri-implant microflora in a group of organ-transplanted patients 1 year after prosthetic loading.The study population included 13 consecutive organ-transplanted (11 hearts, two livers) patients and 13 normal (healthy) control subjects who received 29 and 28 submerged dental implants, respectively. Crestal bone level, peri-implant probing depth (PIPD), and bleeding on probing were evaluated at prosthetic loading and after 1 year. Samples for microbiological testing were taken from the subgingival microbiota of each implant 1 year after loading and analyzed with polymerase chain reaction. All samples were examined for the presence of five microorganisms: Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannarella forsythensis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.A mean bone loss of 0.17 ± 0.10 and 0.20 ± 0.10 mm at 1 year was observed in the group of transplant recipients and in controls, respectively (N.S.). Similar results were obtained considering PIPD changes at 1 year (respectively 0.06 ± 0.71 mm in transplants vs 0.11 ± 0.74 mm in controls). Detection frequencies of pathogens were not statistically different between normal and transplanted patients.The present pilot study seems to indicate that bone and periodontal response and microbiological status around submerged dental implants in immunocompromised organ-transplanted patients do not differ 1 year after loading from those observed in control patients and that this particular population of patients may be successfully rehabilitated with dental implants.
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- 2015
27. The experience of West Nile virus integrated surveillance system in the Emilia-Romagna region: five years of implementation, Italy, 2009 to 2013
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A. Mattivi, Michele Dottori, Marco Carrieri, E Bedeschi, Marco Tamba, Caterina Vocale, Paolo Gaibani, C Velati, Roberto Cagarelli, Mattia Calzolari, S. Natalini, Romeo Bellini, M. P. Landini, Paola Angelini, Nadia Pascarelli, Alessandro Albieri, Giada Rossini, A C Finarelli, Paolo Bonilauri, Bellini, R, Calzolari, M, Mattivi, A, Tamba, M, Angelini, P, Bonilauri, P, Albieri, A, Cagarelli, R, Carrieri, M, Dottori, M, Finarelli, A C, Gaibani, P, Landini, M P, Natalini, S, Pascarelli, N, Rossini, G, Velati, C, Vocale, C, and Bedeschi, E
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Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Epidemiology ,West Nile virus ,Early detection ,medicine.disease_cause ,Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Risk Assessment ,Birds ,Bird ,Neuroinvasive disease ,Virology ,Environmental health ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Organ donation ,Aged ,Animal ,Public health ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Middle Aged ,Geography ,Culicidae ,Italy ,Vector (epidemiology) ,Population Surveillance ,Enzootic ,Female ,Risk assessment ,West Nile Fever ,Human - Abstract
Predicting West Nile virus (WNV) circulation and the risk of WNV epidemics is difficult due to complex interactions of multiple factors involved. Surveillance systems that timely detect virus activity in targeted areas, and allow evidence-based risk assessments may therefore be necessary. Since 2009, a system integrating environmental (mosquitoes and birds) and human surveillance has been implemented and progressively improved in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. The objective is to increase knowledge of WNV circulation and to reduce the probability of virus transmission via blood, tissue and organ donation. As of 2013, the system has shown highly satisfactory results in terms of early detection capacity (the environmental surveillance component allowed detection of WNV circulation 3–4 weeks before human cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) occurred), sensitivity (capacity to detect virus circulation even at the enzootic level) and area specificity (capacity to indicate the spatial distribution of the risk for WNND). Strong correlations were observed between the vector index values and the number of human WNND cases registered at the province level. Taking into consideration two scenarios of surveillance, the first with environmental surveillance and the second without, the total costs for the period from 2009 to 2013 were reduced when environmental surveillance was considered (EUR 2.093 million for the first scenario vs EUR 2.560 million for the second). Environmental surveillance helped to reduce costs by enabling a more targeted blood unit testing strategy. The inclusion of environmental surveillance also increased the efficiency of detecting infected blood units and further allowed evidence-based adoption of preventative public health measures.
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- 2014
28. Efficacy of antibacterial-loaded coating in an in vivo model of acutely highly contaminated implant
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Andrea Sambri, Maria Sartori, Enzo Meani, Davide Bellini, Andrea C. Ferrari, Gianluca Giavaresi, Caterina Vocale, Joachim Meraner, Milena Fini, Vittorio Sambri, Carlo Luca Romanò, Anna Cristina Sacchetta, Giavaresi, G., Meani, E., Sartori, M., Ferrari, A., Bellini, D., Sacchetta, A. C., Meraner, J., Sambri, A., Vocale, C., Sambri, V., Fini, M., and Romanò, C. L.
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Male ,Staphylococcus aureus ,Prosthesis-Related Infections ,Dentistry ,Nail ,Prosthesis ,antibiotic loaded hydrogel ,engineering.material ,Coating ,Hydrogel coating ,Bacterial colonization ,Coated Materials, Biocompatible ,Vancomycin ,In vivo ,Absorbable Implants ,Animals ,Medicine ,DAC ,Orthopedics and Sports Medicine ,Femur ,Original Paper ,business.industry ,Implant ,Hydrogels ,Prostheses and Implants ,experimental osteomyelitis ,Staphylococcal Infections ,Contamination ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Staphylococcus aureus, New Zealand rabbit ,Hydrogel ,Disease Models, Animal ,Self-healing hydrogels ,engineering ,Surgery ,Rabbits ,Infection ,business ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to test the ability of DAC®, a fast resorbable, antibacterial-loaded hydrogel coating, to prevent acute bacterial colonization in an in vivo model of an intra-operatively highly contaminated implant. Methods A histocompatibility study was performed in 10 adult New Zealand rabbits. Then, methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus were inoculated in the femur of 30 adult New Zealand rabbits at the time of intra-medullary nailing; vancomycin-loaded DAC® coated nails were compared to controls regarding local and systemic infection development. Results Histocompatibility study showed no detrimental effect of DAC® hydrogel on bone tissue after 12 weeks from implant. After seven days from implant, none of the rabbits receiving vancomycin-loaded DAC® nail showed positive blood cultures, compared to all the controls; vancomycin-loaded DAC® coating was associated with local bacterial load reduction ranging from 72 to 99 %, compared to controls. Conclusions Vancomycin-loaded DAC® coating is able to significantly reduce bacterial colonization in an animal model of an intra-operatively highly contaminated implant, without local or general side effect.
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- 2014
29. Human infection with highly pathogenic a(H7N7) avian influenza virus, Italy, 2013
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Simona, Puzelli, Giada, Rossini, Marzia, Facchini, Gabriele, Vaccari, Livia, Di Trani, Angela, Di Martino, Paolo, Gaibani, Caterina, Vocale, Giovanni, Cattoli, Michael, Bennett, John W, McCauley, Giovanni, Rezza, Maria Luisa, Moro, Roberto, Rangoni, Alba Carola, Finarelli, Maria Paola, Landini, Maria Rita, Castrucci, Isabella, Donatelli, Maria Grazia, Pompa, Puzelli, S., Rossini, G., Facchini, M., Vaccari, G., Di Trani, L., Di Martino, A., Gaibani, P., Vocale, C., Cattoli, G., Bennett, M., Mccauley, J.W., Rezza, G., Moro, M.L., Rangoni, R., Finarelli, A.C., Landini, M.P., Castrucci, M.R., and Donatelli, I.
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Microbiology (medical) ,Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ,Male ,Epidemiology ,viruses ,animal diseases ,Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype ,lcsh:Medicine ,Genome, Viral ,Biology ,Human Infection with Highly Pathogenic A(H7N7) Avian Influenza Virus, Italy, 2013 ,medicine.disease_cause ,H5N1 genetic structure ,Virus ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases ,Microbiology ,Viral Proteins ,Influenza, Human ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,Phylogeny ,Avian influenza virus ,Transmission (medicine) ,Animal ,Influenza in Bird ,lcsh:R ,Dispatch ,transmission ,Outbreak ,virus diseases ,Middle Aged ,Virology ,Chicken ,Influenza ,Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ,zoonoses ,Infectious Diseases ,Italy ,Influenza in Birds ,Human mortality from H5N1 ,Chickens ,avian influenza A(H7N7) virus ,Transmission and infection of H5N1 ,Human - Abstract
During an influenza A(H7N7) virus outbreak among poultry in Italy during August–September 2013, infection with a highly pathogenic A(H7N7) avian influenza virus was diagnosed for 3 poultry workers with conjunctivitis. Genetic analyses revealed that the viruses from the humans were closely related to those from chickens on affected farms.
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- 2014
30. West Nile virus in Europe: emergence, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
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Vittorio Sambri, M Fyodorova, Anna Pierro, Caterina Vocale, Maria Paola Landini, Stefania Varani, Ernest A. Gould, Anna Papa, Rémi N. Charrel, Maria Rosaria Capobianchi, Giada Rossini, Matthias Niedrig, Paolo Gaibani, Sambri V, Capobianchi M, Charrel R, Fyodorova M, Gaibani P, Gould E, Niedrig M, Papa A, Pierro A, Rossini G, Varani S, Vocale C, and Landini MP
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Microbiology (medical) ,mosquito-borne infections ,medicine.medical_specialty ,EUROPE ,West Nile virus ,viruses ,030231 tropical medicine ,medicine.disease_cause ,DIAGNOSIS ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,prevention ,Epidemiology ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,EPIDEMIOLOGY ,Organ donation ,030304 developmental biology ,0303 health sciences ,biology ,emerging infections ,Outbreak ,virus diseases ,Clinical features ,General Medicine ,Japanese encephalitis ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,Virology ,3. Good health ,Human morbidity ,nervous system diseases ,WEST NILE VIRUS ,Flavivirus ,Infectious Diseases ,Diagnosis treatment ,Topography, Medical ,West Nile Fever - Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus in the Japanese encephalitis antigenic group, has caused sporadic outbreaks in humans, horses and birds throughout many of the warmer regions of Europe for at least 20 years. Occasional cases of West Nile encephalitis have also been associated with infected blood transfusions and organ donations. Currently, WNV appears to be expanding its geographical range in Europe and causing increasing numbers of epidemics/outbreaks associated with human morbidity and mortality. This brief review reports on the current epidemic situation regarding WNV in Europe, highlighting the clinical, diagnostic and preventive measures available for controlling this apparently emerging human pathogen.
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- 2013
31. Treponema denticola alters cell vitality and induces HO-1 and Hsp70 expression in porcine aortic endothelial cells
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Gabriela Piana, Caterina Vocale, Vittorio Sambri, Augusta Zannoni, Chiara Bernardini, Monica Forni, Paolo Gaibani, Maria Laura Bacci, Bernardini C, Gaibani P, Zannoni A, Vocale C, Bacci ML, Piana G, Forni M, and Sambri V.
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Lipopolysaccharides ,Lipopolysaccharide ,Endothelium ,Cell Survival ,Swine ,Cell ,Blotting, Western ,HO-1 ,Apoptosis ,Biochemistry ,Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Microbiology ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Heat shock protein ,medicine ,Animals ,HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ,HSP70 ,Aorta ,Original Paper ,biology ,Endothelial Cells ,Treponema denticola ,Cell Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,Molecular biology ,Hsp70 ,Endothelial stem cell ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,chemistry ,Heme Oxygenase-1 - Abstract
Treponema denticola is an oral spirochete that is associated with periodontal disease and detected occasionally in extraoral lesions associated with systemic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases. The effect of specific bacterial products from oral treponemes on endothelium is poorly investigated. This study analyzed the ability of components of the outer membrane of T. denticola (OMT) to induce apoptosis and heat shock proteins (HO-1 and Hsp70) in porcine aortic endothelial cells (pAECs), compared with results obtained with classical pro-inflammatory lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Cellular apoptosis was detected when pAECs were treated with either OMT or LPS, suggesting that OMT can damage endothelium integrity by reducing endothelial cell vitality. Stimulation with OMT, similarly to LPS response, increased HO-1 and Hsp-70 protein expression in a time-dependent manner, correlating with a rise in HO-1 and Hsp-70 mRNA. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that T. denticola alters endothelial cell function. Moreover, our in vitro experiments represent a preliminary investigation to further in vivo study using a pig model to elucidate how T. denticola leaves the initial endodontic site and participates in the development of several systemic diseases.
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- 2009
32. A model of laboratory surveillance for neuro-arbovirosis applied during 2012 in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy
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Vittorio Sambri, Paolo Gaibani, Roberto Cagarelli, Ac Finarelli, Caterina Vocale, Stefania Varani, Maria Paola Landini, Anna Pierro, Giada Rossini, Pierro A, Landini MP, Gaibani P, Rossini G, Vocale C, Finarelli AC, Cagarelli R, Sambri V, and Varani S
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Adult ,Male ,Microbiology (medical) ,Tick borne encephalitis viru ,Adolescent ,tick-borne encephalitis virus ,viruses ,Dengue virus ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Dengue fever ,Young Adult ,neuro-arbovirosis ,Veterinary virology ,medicine ,Humans ,Chikungunya ,Usutu virus ,Child ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Toscana virus ,Clinical Laboratory Techniques ,Diagnostic Tests, Routine ,Encephalitis, Arbovirus ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,West nile virus ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Virology ,Tick-borne encephalitis virus ,Infectious Diseases ,Italy ,Laboratory diagnosis ,Child, Preschool ,Immunology ,Epidemiological Monitoring ,Female ,Chikungunya virus ,Encephalitis ,Arboviruses ,laboratory surveillance - Abstract
Arboviruses with neuroinvasive potential are gaining more attention due to the increased number of cases of autochthonous and imported infections in the human host. Diagnosis of infection caused by these viruses in patients with central nervous system (CNS) diseases is still underestimated and these infections represent an emerging threat to public health. We describe a model suitable for the laboratory surveillance of neuro-arbovirosis that was applied in the Emilia-Romagna region, north-eastern Italy, during the 2012 summer season. One hundred and twenty cases of suspected neuroinvasive infection were tested for arboviral agents on the basis of clinical and laboratory signs and epidemiological data. The most common virus detected was Toscana virus (TOSV): anti-TOSV specific antibodies or viral components were detected in 28.3% of the cases; 79.4% of the TOSV cases were in the acute phase of infection. No cases resulted in acute phase for West Nile (WNV), Usutu (USUV), Chikungunya (CHIKV) or Dengue (DENV) virus infection. Conversely, two patients with a history of staying in a tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) endemic area showed a probable TBEV infection. These results emphasize the importance of a complete and →ready to act‘ laboratory diagnostic system to be implemented within the larger frame of a regional integrated surveillance system.
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33. Infectious meningitis/encephalitis: Evaluation of a rapid and fully automated multiplex PCR in the microbiological diagnostic workup
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Piccirilli, Giulia, Chiereghin, Angela, Gabrielli, Liliana, Giannella, Maddalena, Squarzoni, Diego, Turello, Gabriele, Felici, Silvia, Caterina Vocale, Zuntini, Roberta, Gibertoni, Dino, Maraolo, Alberto Enrico, Ambretti, Simone, Lazzarotto, Tiziana, and Piccirilli G, Chiereghin A, Gabrielli L, Giannella M, Squarzoni D, Turello G, Felici S, Vocale C, Zuntini R, Gibertoni D, Maraolo AE, Ambretti S, Lazzarotto T
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Adult ,Automation, Laboratory ,Male ,Bacteria ,Viruses ,Humans ,Female ,Encephalitis, Viral ,Child ,Central nervous system infections, Meningitis, Encephalitis, Multiplex molecular methods, Cerebrospinal fluid ,Meningitis, Viral ,Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Meningitis, Bacterial - Abstract
Infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as meningitis/encephalitis (ME) require rapid identification of causative pathogens for effective treatment. This study evaluated the analytical performance and clinical utility of a fully automated multiplex PCR test to improve the microbiological diagnostic workup of ME. Seventy-seven cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 77 patients with suspected ME were studied. The samples were tested by FilmArray™ (FA) ME Panel test and the results were compared with those obtained using conventional microbiological procedures (CMP). Furthermore, the assay’s validity was evaluated testing 5 pooled CSF samples positive for different pathogens. The data showed a good concordance (90.9%) between the FA ME panel test and CMP results. Discrepant results were observed in CSF samples with low viral load (5/77) and in samples of patients (2/77) undergoing antimicrobial therapy for fungal infection. The ability of the FA ME panel test to correctly detect the target pathogens was confirmed. Faster microbiological diagnosis was obtained by the FA ME test in comparison to CMP for both bacterial and viral analytes (P
34. Human and entomological surveillance of Toscana virus in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, 2010 to 2012
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Alessandro Albieri, M. P. Landini, Caterina Vocale, Francesca Cavrini, Paola Angelini, A. Mattivi, Vittorio Sambri, Stefania Varani, S. Natalini, S. Cinotti, Anna Pierro, Michele Dottori, Marco Pinna, Paolo Bonilauri, Roberto Cagarelli, Paolo Gaibani, G Squintani, Giulia Maioli, Marco Tamba, Romeo Bellini, Mattia Calzolari, E Bedeschi, Giada Rossini, A C Finarelli, Calzolari M, Angelini P, Finarelli AC, Cagarelli R, Bellini R, Albieri A, Bonilauri P, Cavrini F, Tamba M, Dottori M, Gaibani P, Natalini S, Maioli G, Pinna M, Mattivi A, Sambri V, Pierro A, Landini MP, Rossini G, Squintani G, Cinotti S, Varani S, Vocale C, and Bedeschi E
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Adult ,Male ,Veterinary medicine ,Adolescent ,Genotype ,Epidemiology ,Molecular Sequence Data ,Phlebotomus perfiliewi ,phlebotomine sandflie ,TOSCANA VIRUS ,Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Young Adult ,Health surveillance ,Age Distribution ,Viral genetics ,Virology ,Viral meningitis ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Sex Distribution ,Aged ,entomological surveillance ,Aged, 80 and over ,biology ,Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Toscana virus ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Sandfly fever Naples virus ,Sequence Analysis, DNA ,Middle Aged ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Insect Vectors ,Geography ,Immunoglobulin M ,Italy ,Immunoglobulin G ,Population Surveillance ,Vector (epidemiology) ,RNA, Viral ,Female ,Age distribution ,human surveillance ,Current vector ,Psychodidae - Abstract
Toscana virus (TOSV), transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies, is recognised as one of the most important causes of viral meningitis in summer in Mediterranean countries. A surveillance plan based on both human and entomological surveys was started in 2010 in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. Clinical samples from patients with neurological manifestations were collected during 2010 to 2012. The surveillance protocol was improved during these years, allowing the detection of 65 human infections. Most of these infections were recorded in hilly areas, where sandflies reach the highest density. Entomological sampling around the homes of the patients resulted in a low number of captured sandflies, while later sampling in a hilly area with high number of human cases (n=21) resulted in a larger number of captured sandflies. Using this approach, 25,653 sandflies were sampled, of which there were 21,157 females, which were sorted into 287 pools. TOSV RNA was detected by real-time PCR in 33 of the pools. The results highlighted the role of Phlebotomus perfiliewi as the main vector of TOSV and a potential link between vector density and virus circulation. This integrated system shows that an interdisciplinary approach improves the sensitiveness and effectiveness of health surveillance.
35. Complete genome sequence of a Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1 isolated from a critically ill patient in Italy, 2023.
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Amadesi S, Vocale C, Guariglia D, Lazzarotto T, Ambretti S, and Gaibani P
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Listeria monocytogenes , a concerning foodborne pathogen, causes severe infections in vulnerable subjects such as pregnant women and the elderly. In this article, we present the complete genome sequence of P4_LIS, an L. monocytogenes isolated from a patient with invasive bacteria infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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- 2024
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36. Complete genome sequence of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 11A causing meningitis in an adult patient, Italy 2022.
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Amadesi S, Vocale C, Guariglia D, Cricca M, Lazzarotto T, Sambri V, and Gaibani P
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Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major global health concern, being a common cause of meningitis in both children and adults. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of P10_PNE_LCR, a S. pneumoniae 11A strain isolated in Northern Italy from an adult patient diagnosed with meningitis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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- 2024
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37. Case report of Usutu virus infection in an immunocompromised patient in Italy, 2022.
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Gaibani P, Barp N, Massari M, Negri EA, Rossini G, Vocale C, Trenti C, Gallerani A, Cantergiani S, Romani F, Simion M, Mussini C, and Lazzarotto T
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- Humans, Italy, Immunocompromised Host, Flavivirus genetics, Flavivirus Infections epidemiology
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Usutu virus (USUV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus emerged in Africa in 1950s and in Eruope in 1990s causing a massive number of birds' deaths. The role of USUV as human pathogen has been only recently hypothesized and cases of USUV infection in humans remain limited and often related to immunocompromised subjects. Herein, we report a case of USUV meningoencephalitis infection in an immunocompromised patient with no history of previous flavivirus infection. The infection due to USUV evolved rapidly since hospital admission thus resulting fatal in few days after symptoms onset and, although not proven, a suspected bacteria co-infection has been hypothesized. Based on these findings, we suggested that when USUV meningoencephalitis is suspected in countries endemic, careful attention should be applied to neurological syndromes during summer months especially among immunocompromised patients., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Journal of NeuroVirology, Inc.)
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- 2023
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38. Seven Years of Culture Collection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae : Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Epidemiology.
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Carannante A, Vacca P, Fontana S, Dal Conte I, Ghisetti V, Cusini M, Prignano G, Vocale C, Barbui AM, Stroppiana E, Busetti M, Mencacci A, Rotondi M, De Francesco MA, Bonanno CL, Innocenti P, Latino MA, Riccobono E, Poletti F, Casonato IC, Soldato G, Ambrosio L, Boros S, Ciammaruconi A, Lista F, and Stefanelli P
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- Humans, Male, Female, Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Ceftriaxone pharmacology, Ceftriaxone therapeutic use, Azithromycin pharmacology, Molecular Epidemiology, Retrospective Studies, Homosexuality, Male, Drug Resistance, Bacterial genetics, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Gonorrhea drug therapy, Gonorrhea epidemiology, Sexual and Gender Minorities
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The emergence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates displaying resistance to antimicrobials, in particular to ceftriaxone monotherapy or ceftriaxone plus azithromycin, represents a global public health concern. This study aimed to analyze the trend of antimicrobial resistance in a 7-year isolate collection retrospective analysis in Italy. Molecular typing on a subsample of gonococci was also included. A total of 1,810 culture-positive gonorrhea cases, collected from 2013 to 2019, were investigated by antimicrobial susceptibility, using gradient diffusion method, and by the N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST). The majority of infections occurred among men with urogenital infections and 57.9% of male patients were men who have sex with men. Overall, the cefixime resistance remained stable during the time. An increase of azithromycin resistance was observed until 2018 (26.5%) with a slight decrease in the last year. In 2019, gonococci showing azithromycin minimum inhibitory concentration above the EUCAST epidemiological cutoff value (ECOFF) accounted for 9.9%. Ciprofloxacin resistance and penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) percentages increased reaching 79.1% and 18.7% in 2019, respectively. The most common sequence types identified were 5,441, 1,407, 6,360, and 5,624. The predominant genogroup (G) was the 1,407; moreover, a new genogroup G13070 was also detected. A variation in the antimicrobial resistance rates and high genetic variability were observed in this study. The main phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of N. gonorrhoeae isolates were described to monitor the spread of drug-resistant gonorrhea.
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- 2023
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39. A large series of molecular and serological specimens to evaluate mother-to-child SARS-CoV-2 transmission: a prospective study from the Italian Obstetric Surveillance System.
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Corsi Decenti E, Salvatore MA, Mancon A, Portella G, Rocca A, Vocale C, and Donati S
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- Female, Pregnancy, Infant, Newborn, Humans, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, Prospective Studies, Mothers, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical prevention & control, Placenta, Immunoglobulin G, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 epidemiology, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious diagnosis, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious epidemiology, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious prevention & control
- Abstract
Objectives: To assay the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in vaginal, rectal, and placental swabs among pregnant women and in newborn nasopharyngeal swabs and to investigate the immunological response and maternal antibody transfer through the umbilical cord blood and milk of unvaccinated mothers., Methods: Vaginal, rectal, and placental specimens, maternal and neonatal serum, and milk were collected from a wide cohort of pregnant Italian women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the hospital between February 25, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Samples were tested in selected reference laboratories according to a shared interlaboratory protocol., Results: Among 1086 enrolled women, the SARS-CoV-2 positive rate detected in all specimens ranged from 0.7% to 8.4%. Respectively, 45.2% of maternal sera collected during pregnancy and 39.7% of those collected at birth tested positive for immunoglobulin G, whereas 50.5% tested positive among neonates. Nasopharyngeal swabs were positive in 0.8% of the newborns, and immunoglobulin G was detected in 3.0% of the milk samples. The highest immunological response was recorded within 30 days during pregnancy and within 60 days of birth and in the neonatal population., Conclusion: Vertical transmission should be considered a rare event; although, a good maternal immunological response and antibodies transfer throughout the umbilical cord blood was detected., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
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- 2023
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40. Environmental Contamination by SARS-CoV-2 During Noninvasive Ventilation in COVID-19.
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Dell'Olio A, Vocale C, Primavera A, Pisani L, Altavilla S, Roncarati G, Tumietto F, Viale P, Re MC, Lazzarotto T, Nava S, Ranieri VM, and Tonetti T
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- Humans, Prospective Studies, Ribonuclease P, SARS-CoV-2, Intensive Care Units, COVID-19, Noninvasive Ventilation, Equipment Contamination
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Background: Environmental contamination by SARS-CoV-2 from patients with COVID-19 undergoing noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in the ICU is still under investigation. This study set out to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces near subjects receiving NIV in the ICU under controlled conditions (ie, use of dual-limb circuits, filters, adequate room ventilation)., Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, observational study in the ICU of a tertiary teaching hospital. Four surface sampling areas, at increasing distance from subject's face, were identified; and each one was sampled at fixed intervals: 6, 12, and 24 h. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was detected with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) test on environmental swabs; the RT-PCR assay targeted the SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleocapsid N1 and N2 genes and the human RNase P gene as internal control., Results: In a total of 256 collected samples, none were positive for SARS-CoV-2 genetic material, whereas 21 samples (8.2%) tested positive for RNase P, thus demonstrating the presence of genetic material unrelated to SARS-CoV-2., Conclusions: Our data show that application of NIV in an appropriate environment and with correct precautions leads to no sign of surface environmental contamination. Accordingly, our data support the idea that use of NIV in the ICU is safe both for health care workers and for other patients., Competing Interests: The authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 by Daedalus Enterprises.)
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- 2023
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41. Infants Born Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy.
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Capretti MG, Marsico C, Gabrielli L, Vocale C, Arcuri S, Simonazzi G, Piccinini AR, Brandolini C, Lazzarotto T, and Corvaglia LT
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- Infant, Newborn, Infant, Female, Pregnancy, Humans, SARS-CoV-2, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Cohort Studies, Placenta, Immunoglobulin M, Immunoglobulin G, COVID-19, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious diagnosis
- Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate outcomes of neonates born to mothers with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy, the dynamics of placental transfer of maternal antibodies, and its persistence during infancy., Methods: Cohort study enrolling neonates born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy. All infants were evaluated at birth. Those born to women with infection onset within 2 weeks before delivery were excluded from further analyses. Remaining infants underwent cerebral and abdominal ultrasound, fundoscopy evaluation, and were enrolled in a 12 month follow-up. Qualitative immunoglobulin G (IgG)/immunoglobulin M and quantitative IgG to S1/S2 subunits of spike protein were assessed in mother-neonate dyads within 48 hours postdelivery and during follow-up., Results: Between April 2020 and April 2021, 130 of 2745 (4.7%) neonates were born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy, with 106 of 130 infections diagnosed before 2 weeks before delivery. Rates of preterm and cesarean delivery were comparable between women with and without infection (6% vs 8%, P = .57; 22% vs 32%, P = .06). No clinical or instrumental abnormalities were detected at birth or during follow-up. There was a positive correlation between maternal and neonatal SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels (r = 0.81, P < .001). Transplacental transfer ratio was higher after second-trimester maternal infections as compared with first and third trimester (P = .03). SARS-CoV-2 IgG level progressively decreased in all infants, with 89 of 92 (97%) infants seronegative at 6 months of age., Conclusions: Clinical outcomes were favorable in all infants. Matching peak IgG level after infection and higher IgG transplacental transfer might result in the most durable neonatal passive immunity., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)
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- 2022
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42. Serological differentiation of West Nile virus- and Usutu virus-induced antibodies by envelope proteins with modified cross-reactive epitopes.
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Berneck BS, Rockstroh A, Barzon L, Sinigaglia A, Vocale C, Landini MP, Rabenau HF, Schmidt-Chanasit J, and Ulbert S
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- Animals, Antibodies, Viral, Antigens, Heterophile, Epitopes, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Immunoglobulin M, Flavivirus genetics, Flavivirus Infections diagnosis, Flavivirus Infections epidemiology, Flavivirus Infections veterinary, West Nile Fever diagnosis, West Nile Fever epidemiology, West Nile Fever veterinary, West Nile virus genetics
- Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are mosquito-borne viruses that belong to the Japanese encephalitis virus serocomplex within the genus Flavivirus. Due to climate change and the expansion of mosquito vectors, flaviviruses are becoming endemic in increasing numbers of countries. WNV infections are reported with symptoms ranging from mild fever to severe neuro-invasive disease. Until now, only a few USUV infections have been reported in humans, mostly with mild symptoms. The serological diagnosis and differentiation between flavivirus infections, in general, and between WNV and USUV, in particular, are challenging due to the high degree of cross-reacting antibodies, especially of those directed against the conserved fusion loop (FL) domain of the envelope (E) protein. We have previously shown that E proteins containing four amino-acid mutations in and near the FL strongly reduce the binding of cross-reactive antibodies leading to diagnostic technologies with improved specificities. Here, we expanded the technology to USUV and analyzed the differentiation of USUV- and WNV-induced antibodies in humans. IgG ELISAs modified by an additional competition step with the heterologous antigen resulted in overall specificities of 93.94% for WNV Equad and 92.75% for USUV Equad. IgM antibodies against WNV could be differentiated from USUV IgM in a direct comparison using both antigens. The data indicate the potential of the system to diagnose antigenically closely related flavivirus infections., (© 2021 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)
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- 2022
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43. Evaluation of Meningococcal Serogroup C Bactericidal Antibodies after Primary Vaccination: A Multicentre Study, Italy.
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Neri A, Fabiani M, Barbui AM, Vocale C, Miglietta A, Fazio C, Carannante A, Palmieri A, Vacca P, Ambrosio L, and Stefanelli P
- Abstract
Here, we evaluated over time in different cohorts of children vaccinated against serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis, the presence of antibodies with neutralizing activity. A total of 348 sera samples of enrolled children by year since vaccination (<1 year- up to 5 years), starting from February 2016 to December 2017, were collected in three collaborating centers. Meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) antibody titers were measured with a serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) assay using rabbit complement (rSBA) following standard operating procedures. The cut-off of rSBA titer ≥ 8 is considered the correlate of protection. We observed a significantly declining of bactericidal rSBA titers by 23% every year, for every 1-year from vaccination (Adjusted PR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.71−0.84). The proportions of children with bactericidal antibodies, immunized with the meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccine, declined from 67.7% (95% CI: 48.6−83.3%) one year after vaccination, to 36.7% (95% CI: 19.9−56.1%) five years after vaccination (chi-square for linear trend, p < 0.001). Children vaccinated with the tetravalent meningococcal serogroup ACWY vaccine resulted in a high proportion of bactericidal rSBA MenC titer ≥ 1:8 (90.6%, 95% CI: 79.3−96.9%) after a mean time of seven months. Overall, the results provide some evidences on the evaluation of meningococcal serogroup C bactericidal antibodies after primary vaccination.
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- 2022
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44. Severe neonatal COVID-19: Challenges in management and therapeutic approach.
- Author
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Marsico C, Capretti MG, Aceti A, Vocale C, Carfagnini F, Serra C, Campoli C, Lazzarotto T, and Corvaglia L
- Subjects
- COVID-19 complications, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 pathology, Critical Care, Enterobacter isolation & purification, Enterobacteriaceae Infections complications, Enterobacteriaceae Infections diagnosis, Enterobacteriaceae Infections pathology, Enterobacteriaceae Infections therapy, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Lung diagnostic imaging, Lung pathology, Neonatal Sepsis complications, Neonatal Sepsis diagnosis, Neonatal Sepsis pathology, SARS-CoV-2 isolation & purification, Superinfection complications, Superinfection diagnosis, Superinfection pathology, Superinfection therapy, Treatment Outcome, COVID-19 therapy, Neonatal Sepsis therapy
- Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), may manifest as a life-threatening respiratory infection with systemic complications. Clinical manifestations among children are generally less severe than those seen in adults, but critical cases have increasingly been reported in infants less than 1 year of age. We report a severe case of neonatal COVID-19 requiring intensive care and mechanical ventilation, further complicated by a multidrug-resistant Enterobacter asburiae super-infection. Chest X-rays, lung ultrasound, and chest computed tomography revealed extensive interstitial pneumonia with multiple consolidations, associated with persistent increased work of breathing and feeding difficulties. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in respiratory specimens and stools, but not in other biological samples, with a rapid clearance in stools. Serological tests demonstrated a specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody response mounted by the neonate and sustained over time. The therapeutic approach included the use of enoxaparin and steroids which may have contributed to the bacterial complication, underlying the challenges in managing neonatal COVID-19, where the balance between viral replication and immunomodulation maybe even more challenging than in older ages., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
- Published
- 2022
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45. Experimental testing of air filter efficiency against the SARS-CoV-2 virus: The role of droplet and airborne transmission.
- Author
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Saccani C, Guzzini A, Vocale C, Gori D, Pellegrini M, Fantini MP, and Primavera A
- Abstract
Verifying the capacity of different types of air filters to stop the propagation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has become a strategic element to contain viral spreading in enclosed spaces. This paper shows the results of experimental tests about the capacity of different commercial filter grades to stop SARS-CoV-2 propagation using inactivated virions. In the first test, the obtained results showed that the F8 filter blocks SARS-CoV-2 propagation if it encounters a flow devoid of liquid phase, i.e., a biphasic flow that can wet the filtering material. On the contrary, as shown in the second test, the SARS-CoV-2 virus propagates through the F8 filter if the droplet content in the air flow is enough to wet it. In these operational conditions, i.e., when the filter is wet by a flow with a high droplet content, the absolute H14 filter was also shown to fail to stop the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Lastly, in the third test, the viral load was shown to be stopped when the pathway of the infected droplet is blocked., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
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46. Subgingival periodontal pathogens in Down syndrome children without periodontal breakdown. A case-control study on deciduous teeth.
- Author
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Vocale C, Montevecchi M, D'Alessandro G, Gatto M, Piana G, Nibali L, Re MC, and Sambri V
- Subjects
- Case-Control Studies, Child, Humans, Tooth, Deciduous, Dental Caries, Dental Plaque, Down Syndrome complications
- Abstract
Aim: Down syndrome is the most common form of aneuploidia compatible with a long survival. The affected subjects are more susceptible to severe early-onset periodontal disease and show a lower risk to develop dental caries than the non-affected population. This study investigated the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in the subgingival plaque of deciduous teeth in children with Down syndrome without signs of periodontal breakdown., Methods: Thirty children suffering from Down syndrome and 46 matched healthy subjects were studied. A total of 228 subgingival plaque samples from deciduous teeth were separately collected and evaluated by polymerase chain reaction assays., Conclusion: In absence of periodontal impairment, Down syndrome children display a clear presence of periodontal pathogens already in the deciduous dentition. The hypothesis of an intrinsic predisposing condition is here supported.
- Published
- 2021
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47. Respiratory bacterial co-infections in intensive care unit-hospitalized COVID-19 patients: Conventional culture vs BioFire FilmArray pneumonia Plus panel.
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Foschi C, Zignoli A, Gaibani P, Vocale C, Rossini G, Lafratta S, Liberatore A, Turello G, Lazzarotto T, and Ambretti S
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- Adult, Bacteria classification, Coinfection microbiology, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Respiratory Tract Infections etiology, Retrospective Studies, Sensitivity and Specificity, Bacteria isolation & purification, Bacterial Typing Techniques, COVID-19 complications, COVID-19 microbiology, Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction, Respiratory Tract Infections microbiology
- Abstract
The prevalence and microbiology of concomitant respiratory bacterial infections in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are not yet fully understood. In this retrospective study, we assessed respiratory bacterial co-infections in lower respiratory tract samples taken from intensive care unit-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, by comparing the conventional culture approach to an innovative molecular diagnostic technology. A total of 230 lower respiratory tract samples (i.e., bronchial aspirates or bronchoalveolar lavages) were taken from 178 critically ill COVID-19 patients. Each sample was processed by a semi-quantitative culture and by a multiplex PCR panel (FilmArray Pneumonia Plus panel), allowing rapid detection of a wide range of clinically relevant pathogens and a limited number of antimicrobial resistance markers. More than 30% of samples showed a positive bacterial culture, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus the most detected pathogens. FilmArray showed an overall sensitivity and specificity of 89.6% and 98.3%, respectively, with a negative predictive value of 99.7%. The molecular test significantly reduced the turn-around-time (TAT) and increased the rates of microbial detection. Most cases missed by culture were characterized by low bacterial loads (10
4 -105 copies/mL). FilmArray missed a list of pathogens not included in the molecular panel, especially Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (8 cases). FilmArray can be useful to detect bacterial pathogens in lower respiratory tract specimens of COVID-19 patients, with a significant decrease of TAT. The test is particularly useful to rule out bacterial co-infections and avoid the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2021
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48. COVID-19 in patients with HIV-1 infection: a single-centre experience in northern Italy.
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Calza L, Bon I, Tadolini M, Borderi M, Colangeli V, Badia L, Verucchi G, Rossini G, Vocale C, Gaibani P, Viale P, and Attard L
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 therapy, Comorbidity, Female, HIV-1, Humans, Italy epidemiology, Male, Middle Aged, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 epidemiology, HIV Infections epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: Since the end of February 2020, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak rapidly spread throughout Italy and other European countries, but limited information has been available about its characteristics in HIV-infected patients., Methods: We have described a case series of patients with HIV infection and COVID-19 diagnosed at the S.Orsola Hospital (Bologna, Italy) during March and April, 2020., Results: We reported a case series of 26 HIV-infected patients with COVID-19. Nineteen subjects were men, the median age was 54 years, 73% of patients had one or more comorbidities. Only 5 patients with interstitial pneumonia were hospitalized, but there were no admissions to intensive care unit and no deaths., Conclusions: In our experience, COVID-19 associated with HIV infection had a clinical presentation comparable to the general population and was frequently associated with chronic comorbidities.
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- 2021
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49. Serodiagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Italy: Evaluation of Seven Serological Tests.
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Ortalli M, Lorrai D, Gaibani P, Rossini G, Vocale C, Re MC, and Varani S
- Abstract
This study compares the performance of seven assays, including two ELISA (Leishmania ELISA IgG + IgM, Vircell Microbiologists; Leishmania infantum IgG ELISA, NovaTec), three rK39-based immunochromatographic tests (rK39-ICTs) (Leishmania Dipstick Rapydtest, Apacor; On Site Leishmania IgG/IgM Combo Rapid Test, CTK Biotech; LEISHMANIA Strip quick Test, Cypress Diagnostic), one indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (Leishmania-Spot IF, BioMérieux), and one western blot (WB) (Leishmania WESTERN BLOT IgG, LDBio Diagnostics) for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Serum samples from 27 VL patients living in northeastern Italy were analyzed, as well as the serum samples from 50 individuals in whom VL diagnosis was excluded. The WB and the IFAT had 96% sensitivity, followed by the ELISA (63% and 74%, respectively). The rK39-ICT exhibited the worst performance among the serological tests, with sensitivities ranging from 52% to 70%. By combining selected ELISA/ICT, the sensitivity of VL detection reached 89%. IFAT and WB outperformed ELISA and rK39-ICT by possessing optimal sensitivity, but their high cost and complexity of execution would not allow their employment as screening tests. In conclusion, the combination of easy-to-perform tests, such as ICT and ELISA, could improve sensitivity in the serodiagnosis of Mediterranean VL.
- Published
- 2020
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50. SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Testing: The Tower of Babel.
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Reno C, Lenzi J, Golinelli D, Gori D, Signorelli C, Kraemer J, Stoto MA, Avitabile E, Landini MP, Lazzarotto T, Re MC, Rucci P, Taliani G, Trerè D, Vocale C, and Fantini MP
- Subjects
- Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, ROC Curve, Reproducibility of Results, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 Testing
- Abstract
Background and Aim: Testing represents one of the main pillars of public health response to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. This paper shows how accuracy and utility of testing programs depend not just on the type of tests, but on the context as well., Methods: We describe the testing methods that have been developed and the possible testing strategies; then, we focus on two possible methods of population-wide testing, i.e., pooled testing and testing with rapid antigen tests. We show the accuracy of split-pooling method and how, in different pre-test probability scenarios, the positive and negative predictive values vary using rapid antigen tests., Results: Split-pooling, followed by retesting of negative results, shows a higher sensitivity than individual testing and requires fewer tests. In case of low pre-test probability, a negative result with antigen test could allow to rule out the infection, while, in case of a positive result, a confirmatory molecular test would be necessary., Conclusions: Test performance alone is not enough to properly choose which test to use; goals and context of the testing program are essential. We advocate the use of pooled strategies when planning population-wide screening, and the weekly use of rapid tests for close periodic monitoring in low-prevalence populations.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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