Activity of sotrovimab in early clearance of SARS CoV-2 infection in severe immunocompromised patients: results of a prospective, monocentric study.

Background: The combination of antivirals and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the first phase of COVID-19 has demonstrated to reduce time to viral clearance, but the superiority of combination compared to antiviral monotherapy is still debated.

Research Design And Methods: In an observational, prospective study, we enrolled immunocompromised outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 treated with one antiviral monotherapy within 7 days from symptoms onset, with or without sotrovimab from January 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024, and we compared them to an identical cohort of patients treated with a combination of one antiviral and sotrovimab, from May 1, 2023 to December 30, 2023. 1st of May 2023 and 31st of October 2024.

Urinary tract infections in kidney transplant patients admitted to hospital: A real-life experience.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in kidney transplant patients are a challenge.

Aim: To evaluate epidemiology, clinical status, therapeutic management, and clinical outcome of kidney transplant patients in a university hospital for UTI.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study, enrolling all kidney transplant patients hospitalized for UTI, with the objective to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical status, therapeutic management, and clinical outcome of kidney transplant patients.

Update on the management of HDV infection: current events and perspectives.

HDV infection has long been, and continues to be, a significant challenge. Chronic liver disease related to HDV is one of the most aggressive forms of liver disease, carrying a high risk of progression to cirrhosis and decompensated liver disease. Although an estimated 12 to 72 million people worldwide have been exposed to HDV, the prevalence of HDV-related conditions is believed to be underreported, and further epidemiological studies are needed to better understand its scope.

Two Cases of Maribavir Treatment of Refractory/Resistant Cytomegalovirus Infection in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients: Time for a New Paradigm?

Refractory and resistant cytomegalovirus infections remain significant challenges in solid-organ transplant recipients. In this context, maribavir is a valuable therapeutic option for management of cytomegalovirus infection. Although the clinical efficacy and safety of maribavir are well established, the optimal approach for assessment of viremic response, which is defined as the clearance of viremia, still requires further clarification.

Urinary Tract Infections in Kidney Transplant Patients: An Open Challenge-Update on Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Management.

Urinary tract infections are one of the main complications in kidney transplant patients, with a significant impact on graft function and survival. In fact, it is estimated that up to 74% of kidney transplant patients experience at least one episode of UTIs in the first year after transplantation, with an increased risk of graft loss and an increased risk of mortality. Several risk factors have been identified, such as female gender, old age, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, pre-transplant UTIs, urinary tract abnormalities, and prolonged dialysis.

Nutraceutical Content and Biological Properties of Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Fractions of the Phytocomplex from Desf. Buds, Roots, and Fruits.

The aim of the present investigation was to obtain 12 aqueous extracts and 1 oil from Desf. subsp. specimens.

Microparticles from dental calculus disclose paleoenvironmental and palaeoecological records.

Plants have always represented a key element in landscape delineation. Indeed, plant diversity, whose distribution is influenced by geographic/climatic variability, has affected both environmental and human ecology. The present contribution represents a multi-proxy study focused on the detection of starch, pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs in ancient dental calculus collected from pre-historical individuals buried at La Sassa and Pila archaeological sites (Central Italy).

Pollen variability in Quercus L. species and relative systematic implications.

This study aims to address one of the challenges related to the complexity of the Quercus L. genus, that is the identification of structural elements favouring the systematic identification of the oak pollen. Thus, in this contribution, we explored the variation of morphometric and chemical parameters in pollen samples collected from 47 different Quercus species and hybrids.

Antioxidant Phytocomplexes Extracted from Pomegranate ( L.) Using Hydrodynamic Cavitation Show Potential Anticancer Activity In Vitro.

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC), as an effective, efficient, and scalable extraction technique for natural products, could enable the affordable production of valuable antioxidant extracts from plant resources. For the first time, whole pomegranate ( L.) fruits, rich in bioactive phytochemicals endowed with anti-cancer properties, were extracted in water using HC.

Risk Factors for Pneumonia in Non-HIV Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Very few cases of pneumonia (PJP) have been reported in COVID-19 so far, and mostly in patients with concomitant HIV infection or in solid-organ transplant recipients. Despite COVID-19 being associated with lymphopenia and the use of steroids, there are no studies specifically aimed at investigating the risk factors for PJP in COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed.

Influence of environmental conditions on the production of nutraceuticals in Italian edible plant landraces.

Autochthonous plant varieties, also referred to as landraces, represent an important genetic resource, being well-adapted to the environment in which they have been selected. Landraces usually show profiles rich in nutraceuticals, making them an effective and valuable alternative to commercial agri-products, as well as potential candidates for crop improvement programs. Basilicata region is recognized as an Italian hotspot for agrobiodiversity, due to its complex orography.

Neolithic dental calculi provide evidence for environmental proxies and consumption of wild edible fruits and herbs in central Apennines.

Looking for a biological fingerprint relative to new aspects of the relationship between humans and natural environment during prehistoric times is challenging. Although many issues still need to be addressed in terms of authentication and identification, microparticles hidden in ancient dental calculus can provide interesting information for bridging this gap of knowledge. Here, we show evidence about the role of edible plants for the early Neolithic individuals in the central Apennines of the Italian peninsula and relative cultural landscape.

Pollen record of the Late Pleistocene-Holocene stratigraphic sequence and current plant biodiversity from (Simbruini Mountains, Central Italy).

(Jenne, Latium), a complex karstic system in Central Italy, has returned one of the most precious Prehistoric palaeontological and anthropological heritage. Through the analysis of pollen spectra and charcoals from cave stratigraphic levels (Late Pleistocene final phases-Holocene), the overall vegetation trend of the site was pointed out. Although taphonomy and palynology of cave deposits are complex, pollen assemblage represents a reliable source for inferring past vegetation; indeed, climatic, environmental, and cultural interactions determine fossil pollen record.

Wild cereal grain consumption among Early Holocene foragers of the Balkans predates the arrival of agriculture.

Forager focus on wild cereal plants has been documented in the core zone of domestication in southwestern Asia, while evidence for forager use of wild grass grains remains sporadic elsewhere. In this paper, we present starch grain and phytolith analyses of dental calculus from 60 Mesolithic and Early Neolithic individuals from five sites in the Danube Gorges of the central Balkans. This zone was inhabited by likely complex Holocene foragers for several millennia before the appearance of the first farmers ~6200 cal BC.

Phytochemicals and quality level of food plants grown in an aquaponics system.

Background: Beyond nutrition, fruits and vegetables can be considered as natural sources of bioactive molecules, for which beneficial effects on human health are widely recognised. To improve food quality, soilless growing systems could represent a good strategy for promoting a sustainable food production chain, although the nutritional and nutraceutical properties of their products should be investigated in depth. The main quality traits and the volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites of Solanum lycopersicum L.

Environmental implications and evidence of natural products from dental calculi of a Neolithic-Chalcolithic community (central Italy).

In this contribution, we investigated the role of plants in the prehistoric community of Casale del Dolce (Anagni, FR, central Italy), through microparticles recovered from dental calculus. The finding of a great amount of pollen types, even in form of compact lumps, could indicate use of natural substances, such as honeybee products and/or conifer resins. This plant-microremain record also suggested environmental implications relative to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic period.

Investigating Plant Micro-Remains Embedded in Dental Calculus of the Phoenician Inhabitants of Motya (Sicily, Italy).

Plant records reveal remarkable evidence about past environments and human cultures. Exploiting dental calculus analysis and using a combined approach of microscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry, our research outlines dietary ecology and phytomedicinal practices of the ancient community of Motya (Sicily, eight to sixth century BC), one of the most important Phoenician settlements in the Mediterranean basin. Micro-remains suggest use or consumption of Triticeae cereals, and animal-derived sources (e.

Chemical signatures of femoral pore secretions in two syntopic but reproductively isolated species of Galápagos land iguanas (Conolophus marthae and C. subcristatus).

The only known population of Conolophus marthae (Reptilia, Iguanidae) and a population of C. subcristatus are syntopic on Wolf Volcano (Isabela Island, Galápagos). No gene flow occurs suggesting that effective reproductive isolating mechanisms exist between these two species.

A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy).

A multidisciplinary approach, combining stable isotope analysis from bone proteins and investigations on dental calculus using DNA analysis, light microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, was applied to reconstruct dietary and medicinal habits of the individuals recovered in the cemetery of the Castle of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). Stable isotope analysis was performed on 120 humans, 41 faunal specimens and 8 charred seeds. Dental calculus analyses were carried out on 94 samples.

Lifestyle of a Roman Imperial community: ethnobotanical evidence from dental calculus of the Ager Curensis inhabitants.

Background: The analysis of ancient calcified dental plaque is a powerful archaeobotanical method to elucidate the key role of the plants in human history.

Methods: In this research, by applying both optic microscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry on this matrix, a detailed qualitative investigation for reconstructing the lifestyle of a Roman imperial community of the Ager Curensis (Sabina Tiberina, Central Italy) was performed.

Results: The detection of animal micro-remains and molecules (e.

Who were the miners of Allumiere? A multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct the osteobiography of an Italian worker community.

This research presents an in-depth study of the skeletal remains collected from the archaeological site of Allumiere (15th-16th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). A multidisciplinary approach was used, combining skeletal biology, molecular anthropology and archaeobotany with the aim of reconstructing the osteobiography of the alum miners buried at the site. Since 1460, the area of the Tolfa Mountains was significant for the exploitation of alum which was used for a wide range of purposes in the Middle Ages, ranging from woven production to medical practice.

Tele-monitoring in paediatric and young home-ventilated neuromuscular patients: A multicentre case-control trial.

Introduction: Tele-monitoring (TM) has proved effective in the home management of adult ventilator-dependent neuromuscular disease (NMD) patients. We aimed to evaluate a 2-year longitudinal multicentre TM trial designed for young ventilated NMD patients in terms of feasibility, home management of exacerbations and caregivers' burden.

Methods: The TM trial protocol included patients' weekly scheduled overnight home-recording of SpO, heart rate and ventilation and their transmission to each TM centre the following morning.