The Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in a Cohort of Family Pediatricians from Southern Italy.

In Italy, from January 2021, the Ministry of Health indicated a vaccination plan against COVID for frail patients and physicians based on a three-dose scheme. However, conflicting results have been reported on which biomarkers permit immunization assessment. We used several laboratory approaches (i.e., antibodies serum levels, flow cytometry analysis, and cytokines release by stimulated cells) to investigate the immune response in a cohort of 53 family pediatricians (FPs) at different times after the vaccine. We observed that the BNT162b2-mRNA vaccine induced a significant increase of specific antibodies after the third (booster) dose; however, the antibody titer was not predictive of the risk of developing the infection in the six months following the booster dose. The antigen stimulation of PBMC cells from subjects vaccinated with the third booster jab induced the increase of the activated T cells (i.e., CD4+ CD154+); the frequency of CD4+ CD154+ TNF-α+ cells, as well as the TNF-α secretion, was not modified, while we observed a trend of increase of IFN-γ secretion. Interestingly, the level of CD8+ IFN-γ+ (independently from antibody titer) was significantly increased after the third dose and predicts the risk of developing the infection in the six months following the booster jab. Such results may impact also other virus vaccinations.

The Effect of Weaning with Adult Food Typical of the Mediterranean Diet on Taste Development and Eating Habits of Children: A Randomized Trial.

Mediterranean Diet (Med Diet) is one of the healthiest dietary patterns. We aimed to verify the effects of weaning (i.e., the introduction of solid foods in infants previously fed only with milk) using adult foods typical of Med Diet on children eating habits, and on the microbiota composition. A randomized controlled clinical trial on 394 healthy infants randomized in a 1:1 ratio in a Med Diet group weaned with fresh; seasonal and tasty foods of Med Diet and control group predominantly weaned with industrial baby foods. The primary end point was the percentage of children showing a good adherence to Med Diet at 36 months. Secondary end points were mother's changes in adherence to Med Diet and differences in children gut microbiota. At 36 months, children showing a good adherence to Med Diet were 59.3% in the Med Diet group and 34.3% in the control group (p < 0.001). An increase in adherence to the Med Diet was observed in the mothers of the Med Diet group children (p < 0.001). At 4 years of age children in the Med Diet group had a higher gut microbial diversity and a higher abundance of beneficial taxa. A Mediterranean weaning with adult food may become a strategy for early nutritional education, to develop a healthy microbiota, to prevent inflammatory chronic diseases and to ameliorate eating habits in children and their families.

Consecutive chorioangiomas in the same pregnancy: A clinical case and review of literature.

Background and Aims: Aetiopathogenesis of chorioangioma is already unknown. Among the risk factors, hypoxia, environmental and genetic factors are believed to induce the overexpression of angiogenic cytokines promoting vascular proliferation. We reported a case of prenatally diagnosed 67 mm-wide placental chorioangioma, which occurred at 32 weeks of gestational age, infarcted, and followed by the onset of a second infarcted chorioangioma at 35 weeks of gestational age. Besides, we discussed the hypothesis of chorioangioma aetiopathogenesis and behavior through a literature summary. Methods: We carried out a literature search of chorioangioma cases without a time interval. Therefore, we carried out a literature summary on chorioangioma risk factors and etiology, by selecting articles within a time interval from 1995 to 2021. Results: This is the first case of two consecutive chorioangiomas in the same pregnancy published in the literature. We found a possible genetic predisposition in women developing chorioangioma while infarction may be related to the abnormal structure of tumor vessels. The onset of a second lesion could reflect hypoxic stimuli following infarction and involves hypoxia-induced factor-1alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 pathways. Chorangiosis can be coexistent and may reflect a mutual etiology in susceptible individuals. Conclusion: In a predisposed placenta, that previously generated a chorioangioma, infarction of the chorioangioma should not represent a sign for pregnancy termination, but a marker for closer monitoring to early detect the possible onset of a second chorioangioma and a higher risk of umbilical cord thrombosis.

Biological performance of a novel biodegradable polyamidoamine hydrogel as guide for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Polyamidoamines (PAAs) are a well-known family of synthetic biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, which can be prepared as soft hydrogels characterized by low interfacial tension and tunable elasticity. For the first time we report here on the in vivo performance of a PAA hydrogel implant as scaffold for tissue engineering. In particular, an amphoteric agmatine-deriving PAA hydrogel shaped as small tubing was obtained by radical polymerization of a soluble functional oligomeric precursor and used as conduit for nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve cut model. The animals were analyzed at 30, 90, and 180 days post-surgery. PAA tubing proved to facilitate nerve regeneration. Good surgical outcomes were achieved with no signs of inflammation or neuroma. Moreover, nerve regeneration was morphologically sound and the quality of functional recovery satisfactory. In conclusion, PAA hydrogel scaffolds may represent a novel and promising material for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Transvaginal bone-anchored sling procedure: 4 years of follow-up on more than 200 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVES: To report intermediate-term results with reference to quality of life (QoL) and complications in 232 consecutive patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treated with a transvaginal pubic bone-anchored sling (BAS). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 232 consecutive patients affected by SUI who underwent BAS using biologic and synthetic materials, with a mean follow-up of 50 months. Stress urinary incontinence was due to a defect of anatomic support and to intrinsic sphincteric deficiency in 220 patients and 12 patients, respectively. In all cases QoL was evaluated by Korman questionnaire. RESULTS: The questionnaire outcomes of 232 patients were evaluated. One hundred seventy-three patients (74.5%) reported being cured, 21 patients (9.0%) were unchanged, and 38 patients (16.5%) failed. One hundred seventy-seven patients (76.2%) were satisfied with the BAS procedure, and 38 (16.3%) would perhaps still choose BAS implantation, whereas 17 patients (7.5%) would not repeat this choice again. Sixty patients (25.8%) reported pelvic pain that was occasional in 47 patients (20.2%) and recurrent in 13 patients (5.6%). Twenty-five patients (14.1%) reported dyspareunia that was occasional in 17 patients (10.7%) and recurrent in 8 patients (3.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The BAS procedure shows an overall acceptable subjective cure rate, even if in the presence of a high percentage of complications. In this setting the BAS procedure cannot be proposed for correction of SUI.