Impact of anti-rheumatic drugs and steroids on clinical course and prognosis of COVID-19

Clinical Rheumatology -     

Silica vesicles as nanocarriers and adjuvants for generating both antibody and T-cell mediated immune resposes to Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus E2 protein

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) is widely distributed in cattle industries and causes significant economic losses worldwide annually. A limiting factor in the development of subunit vaccines for BVDV is the need to elicit both antibody and T-cell-mediated immunity as well as addressing the toxicity of adjuvants. In this study, we have prepared novel silica vesicles (SV) as the new generation antigen carriers and adjuvants. With small particle size of 50 nm, thin wall (∼6 nm), large cavity (∼40 nm) and large entrance size (5.9 nm for SV-100 and 16 nm for SV-140), the SV showed high loading capacity (∼ 250 μg/mg) and controlled release of codon-optimised E2 (oE2) protein, a major immunogenic determinant of BVDV. The in vivo functionality of the system was validated in mice immunisation trials comparing oE2 plus Quil A (50 μg of oE2 plus 10 μg of Quil A, a conventional adjuvant) to the oE2/SV-140 (50 μg of oE2 adsorbed to 250 μg of SV-140) or oE2/SV-140 together with 10 μg of Quil A. Compared to the oE2 plus Quil A, which generated BVDV specific antibody responses at a titre of 10⁴, the oE2/SV-140 group induced a 10 times higher antibody response. In addition, the cell-mediated response, which is essential to recognise and eliminate the invading pathogens, was also found to be higher [1954-2628 spot forming units (SFU)/million cells] in mice immunised with oE2/SV-140 in comparison to oE2 plus Quil A (512–1369 SFU/million cells). Our study has demonstrated that SV can be used as the next-generation nanocarriers and adjuvants for enhanced veterinary vaccine delivery.     

“Spiral intestinal lenghtening and tailoring (SILT)” for a child with severely short bowel

We report a child with post-surgical short bowel state who underwent bowel expansion followed by spiral intestinal lengthening and tailoring (SILT) at 10 months of age. Growth at 1-year follow-up is along the 15–25th centile on 82 % oral calories as normal diet and 18 % as parenteral nutrition, and he is passing 2–3 semisolid motions daily. SILT is a versatile technique for reconstructing dilated bowel towards improved propulsion and absorption, and has a role in the management of the short bowel state.     

Potential Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Pediatric Food Allergy

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are involved both in immune system regulation and inflammation. In particular, within the PUFAs category, omega-3 (ω-3) may reduce inflammation, whereas omega-6 (ω-6) PUFAs are generally considered to have a proinflammatory effect. Recent evidence highlights an imbalance in the ω-3:ω-6 ratio with an increased intake of ω-6, as a consequence of the shift towards a westernized diet. In critical age groups such as infants, toddlers and young children, as well as pregnant and lactating women or fish allergic patients, ω-3 intake may be inadequate. This review aims to discuss the potential beneficial effects of PUFAs on pediatric food allergy prevention and treatment, both at prenatal and postnatal ages. Data from preclinical studies with PUFAs supplementation show encouraging effects in suppressing allergic response. Clinical studies results are still conflicting about the best timing and dosages of supplementation and which individuals are most likely to benefit; therefore, it is still not possible to draw firm conclusions. With regard to food-allergic children, it is still debated whether PUFAs could slow disease progression or not, since consistent data are lacking. In conclusion, more data on the effects of ω-3 PUFAs supplementation alone or in combination with other nutrients are warranted, both in the general and food allergic population.     

Cytologic and histologic samples from patients infected by the novel coronavirus 2019 SARS-CoV-2: An Italian institutional experience focusing on biosafety procedures

The 2019 coronavirus pandemic, which started in Wuhan, China, spread around the globe with dramatic and lethal effects. From the initial Chinese epicenter, the European diaspora taxed the resources of several countries and especially those of Italy, which was forced into a complete social and economic shutdown. Infection by droplets contaminating hands and surfaces represents the main vehicle of diffusion of the virus. The common and strong efforts to contain the pandemic have relevant effects on the management of samples from histopathology laboratories. The current commentary reports and focuses on the protocols and guidelines in use at a large tertiary Italian hospital that accordingly are proposed for adoption in Italian laboratories as a potential model for national guidelines for the coronavirus emergency.     

The homopolymerization of 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene and the copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene/2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene using the catalyst system AlEt2Cl-Co(acac)2. A structural investigation of the products

The homopolymerization of 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene with the catalyst system AlEt₂Cl-Co(acac)₂ affords polymers consisting of about 81% cis-1,4-units and 19% 1,2-units. The copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene/2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene using the same system is of the ideal type and the composition of the copolymers is practically identical with that of the monomer mixture. The structure of the copolymers depends on their composition. The butadiene units, which are more than 95% cis-1,4 in the homopolymer, become partially 1,2 in the copolymers; their amount increases with increasing dimethylbutadiene content. Conversely, the fraction of dimethylbutadiene units with 1,2-structure decreases in the copolymers with increasing butadiene content. In the copolymers containing more than 50% of butadiene, the dimethylbutadiene units are practically all cis-1,4. The analysis of sequence distribution shows that the 1,2-butadiene units in the copolymers are not randomly distributed but are mostly adjacent to dimethylbutadiene units. The results obtained with dimethylbutadiene are compared with those reported for the homopolymerization of isoprene and the copolymerization of isoprene/butadiene using the same catalyst system.