The Dysregulation of the Monocyte-Dendritic Cell Interplay Is Associated with In-Hospital Mortality in COVID-19 Pneumonia.

The monocyte-phagocyte system (MPS), including monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), plays a key role in anti-viral immunity. We aimed to analyze the prognostic value of the MPS components on in-hospital mortality in a cohort of 58 patients (M/F; mean age ± SD years) with COVID-19 pneumonia and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We measured frequencies and absolute numbers of peripheral blood CD169 monocytes, conventional CD1c and CD141 (namely cDC2 and cDC1), and plasmacytoid CD303 DCs by means of multi-parametric flow cytometry.

Disease stage-related survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients treated with nintedanib and pirfenidone: An exploratory study.

Background: GAP (gender-age-physiology) and TORVAN are multi-parametric prognostication scores for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We compared their prognostic value in patients treated with nintedanib or pirfenidone and explored their effect on patient survival in relation to disease staging.

Study Design And Patients: Retrospective evaluation of 235 naïve IPF patients (M = 179; mean age 69.

Machine Learning and BMI Improve the Prognostic Value of GAP Index in Treated IPF Patients.

Patients affected by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have a high mortality rate in the first 2-5 years from diagnosis. It is therefore necessary to identify a prognostic indicator that can guide the care process. The Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) index and staging system is an easy-to-calculate prediction tool, widely validated, and largely used in clinical practice to estimate the risk of mortality of IPF patients at 1-3 years.

Poor Nutritional Status and Dynapenia Are Highly Prevalent in Post-Acute COVID-19.

Poor nutritional status is common (estimated prevalence 5-69%) in acute coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), and has been associated with hospitalization, the need for intensive care, and mortality. Body composition (BC) and muscle function have also been related in such patients to poor disease outcomes. As the evidence in the literature is limited, a cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the frequency of malnutrition in a cohort of post-acute COVID-19 patients referred to a rehabilitation center after hospital discharge.

A Phase II Study on the Effect of Taurisolo Administered via AEROsol in Hospitalized Patients with Mild to Moderate COVID-19 Pneumonia: The TAEROVID-19 Study.

Background: Polyphenols are the largest class of bioactive compounds in plants, which are synthesized as secondary metabolites. In the last few years, interesting studies have demonstrated the efficacy of polyphenols against coronavirus infections.

Methods: we conducted a phase II multicentric clinical trial (TAEROVID-19) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to assess the safety and feasibility of Taurisolo aerosol formulation in hospitalized patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Chest CT-based Assessment of 1-year Outcomes after Moderate COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Background: COVID-19 pneumonia may lead to pulmonary fibrosis in the long term. Chest CT is useful to evaluate changes in the lung parenchyma over time.

Purpose: To illustrate the temporal change of lung abnormalities on chest CT scans associated with COVID-19 pneumonia over 1 year.

Liquid Biopsy Is a Promising Tool for Genetic Testing in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Liquid biopsy, which allows the isolation of circulating cell-free (ccf) DNA from blood, is an emerging noninvasive tool widely used in oncology for diagnostic and prognosis purposes. Previous data have shown that serum cfDNA discriminates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) from other interstitial lung diseases. Our study aimed to measure plasma levels of ccfDNA in 59 consecutive therapy-naive and clinically stable IPF patients.

A bird's eye view on the role of dendritic cells in SARS-CoV-2 infection: Perspectives for immune-based vaccines.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a complex disorder caused by the pandemic diffusion of a novel coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. Clinical manifestations vary from silent infection to severe pneumonia, disseminated thrombosis, multi-organ failure, and death. COVID-19 pathogenesis is still not fully elucidated, while increasing evidence suggests that disease phenotypes are strongly related to the virus-induced immune system's dysregulation.

Dendritic Cells Are the Intriguing Players in the Puzzle of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pathogenesis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most devastating progressive interstitial lung disease that remains refractory to treatment. Pathogenesis of IPF relies on the aberrant cross-talk between injured alveolar cells and myofibroblasts, which ultimately leads to an aberrant fibrous reaction. The contribution of the immune system to IPF remains not fully explored.

Lesson by SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19): whole-body CT angiography detection of "relevant" and "other/incidental" systemic vascular findings.

Objectives: Increasing evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to severe and multi-site vascular involvement. Our study aimed at assessing the frequency of vascular and extravascular events' distribution in a retrospective cohort of 42 COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Patients were evaluated by whole-body CT angiography between March 16 and April 30, 2020.

Circulating dendritic cells are severely decreased in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with a potential value for prognosis prediction.

Dendritic cells (DCs) accumulate in the lung of patients affected by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We measured the frequencies of circulating conventional CD1c + and CD141+ cells (namely, cDC2 and cDC1) and of plasmacytoid CD303+ DCs in a cohort of 60 therapy naive IPF patients by flow cytometry. Peripheral levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and of pro-inflammatory and Th1/Th2 polarizing cytokines were also analyzed.

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency and Bronchiectasis: A Concomitance or a Real Association?

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATd) is a hereditary disease, mainly characterized by early onset and the lower lobes' predominant emphysema. Bronchiectasis is characterized by dilatation of the bronchial wall and a clinical syndrome whose features are a cough, sputum production and frequent respiratory exacerbations. In the literature, there are many papers concerning these two clinical entities, but there is still a lot of debate about a possible association between them, in particular about the frequency of their association and causal links.