Anna Rosa

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection is associated with severe hepatic complications and rapid progression towards liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Accurate measurement of HDV RNA is critical for monitoring therapeutic responses, especially during treatment with novel therapies such as bulevirtide (BLV). This study compared the analytical performance of two HDV RNA quantification assays, Bosphore (Anatolia) and AltoStar® (Altona), focusing on their sensitivity, specificity, and potential implications for clinical management. Sixty-one clinical samples from twenty-four patients, including fifteen HDV-infected patients receiving BLV treatment and nine controls, were tested using each assay. Of 30 samples identified as HDV-negative by the Bosphore assay, 17 (56.7%) were HDV-positive with AltoStar®, demonstrating the superior sensitivity (p < 0.0001) of the latter assay. Quantitative analyses revealed consistently higher viral load measurements with AltoStar® compared to Bosphore, with a difference of 1.23 Log IU/mL and a moderate correlation (r2 = 0.7385) between assays. Each assay demonstrated a high specificity, with no false positives detected among control samples. However, our findings suggest that differences in assay sensitivity could impact the evaluation of virological response, highlighting the risk of false-negative results in chronically HDV-infected patients with low-level viremia. This emphasizes the need for careful assay selection to accurately monitor treatment outcomes.

The global spread of Mpox virus (MPXV) underscores the urgent need for rapid, field-deployable diagnostic tools, especially in low-resource settings. We evaluated a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, termed LAMPOX, developed by Coris BioConcept. The assay was tested in three formats—two liquid versions and a dried, ready-to-use version—targeting only the ORF F3L (Liquid V1) or both the ORF F3L and N4R (Liquid V2 and dried) genomic regions. Analytical sensitivity and specificity were assessed using 60 clinical samples from confirmed MPXV-positive patients. Sensitivity on clinical samples was 81.7% for Liquid V1 and 88.3% for Liquid V2. The dried LAMPOX assay demonstrated a sensitivity of 88.3% and a specificity of 100% in a panel of 112 negative controls, with most positive samples detected in under 7 min. Additionally, a simplified sample lysis protocol was developed to facilitate point-of-care use. While this method showed slightly reduced sensitivity compared to standard DNA extraction, it proved effective for samples with higher viral loads. The dried format offers key advantages, including ambient-temperature stability and minimal equipment needs, making it suitable for point-of-care testing. These findings support LAMPOX as a promising tool for rapid MPXV detection during outbreaks, especially in resource-limited settings where traditional PCR is impractical.

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection results in long-term multiorgan complications, with the kidney being a primary target. This study aimed to characterize the long-term transcriptomic changes in the kidney following coronavirus infection using a murine model of MHV-1-induced SARS-like illness and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of SPIKENET (SPK). Methods: A/J mice were infected with MHV-1. Renal tissues were collected and subjected to immunofluorescence analysis and Next Generation RNA Sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes associated with acute and chronic infection. Bioinformatic analyses, including PCA, volcano plots, and GO/KEGG pathway enrichment, were performed. A separate cohort received SPK treatment, and comparative transcriptomic profiling was conducted. Gene expression profile was further confirmed using real-time PCR. Results: Acute infection showed the upregulation of genes involved in inflammation and fibrosis. Long-term MHV-1 infection led to the sustained upregulation of genes involved in muscle regeneration, cytoskeletal remodeling, and fibrotic responses. Notably, both expression and variability of SLC22 and SLC22A8, key proximal tubule transporters, were reduced, suggesting a loss of segment-specific identity. Further, SLC12A1, a critical regulator of sodium reabsorption and blood pressure, was downregulated and is associated with the onset of polyuria and hydronephrosis. SLC transporters exhibited expression patterns consistent with tubular dysfunction and inflammation. These findings suggest aberrant activation of myogenic pathways and structural proteins in renal tissues, consistent with a pro-fibrotic phenotype. In contrast, SPK treatment reversed the expression of most genes, thereby restoring the gene profiles to those observed in control mice. Conclusions: MHV-1-induced long COVID is associated with persistent transcriptional reprogramming in the kidney, indicative of chronic inflammation, cytoskeletal dysregulation, and fibrogenesis. SPK demonstrates robust therapeutic potential by normalizing these molecular signatures and preventing long-term renal damage. These findings underscore the relevance of the MHV-1 model and support further investigation of SPK as a candidate therapy for COVID-19-associated renal sequelae.

Ageing literature, while growing in huge volume in the past decades, is still largely dominated by frameworks and topics of frailty and decline. A shift in attention to conceptualising ageing more holistically to include psychosocial and emotional aspects as well as subjective experience is much needed, in order to better account for the ageing (well) experience and processes in today’s times. There is a large portion of older adults with relatively good health. As life expectancy increases around the world, many older adults are living longer and healthier overall, often wishing for their lives to continue being active, meaningful, and fulfilling. With this changing demographic in mind, we argue for a framework of positive ageing. We define positive ageing as a subjective, intentional experience, which includes the multi-dimensional construction of ageing well. The notion of positive ageing has the potential to widen the scope of gerontological research and to help guide policy and intervention development. Furthermore, this conceptual framework and a cyclic model of positive ageing presented in the current work can effectively complement current models and practices of care in geriatrics by taking a more person-centred and holistic approach to understanding and managing health and well-being.

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly genotype 16, is the main driver of anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. However, data on HPV16 genetic variability in anal and oral samples from people living with HIV are limited. In this study, we investigated the diversity of HPV16 E6 and E7 genes in anal and oral samples collected from HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) according to different cytological outcomes and anatomical site. Among 53 MSM patients, we obtained 51 E6 and 52 E7 sequences. Lineage A predominated (96.1%), mainly represented by sublineages A1 (84.3%) and A2 (9.8%). The E6 region showed higher variability than E7: 31.4% were identical to the reference (K02718), 51.0% carried the L83V (T350G) mutation, while Q14H, D25N, and D25E were also observed. In E7, only one non-synonymous substitution was detected (N29S). No site-specific variants were detected between anal and oral samples. Overall, these findings confirm the predominance of European A1/A2 variants in Italian MSM and suggest that E6/E7 polymorphisms are not directly linked to lesion grade or anatomical localization.

Abstract Background Among pathogenic Leishmania species, L. major and L. tropica , occur mainly in North African and Middle Eastern

Romantic relationship satisfaction is widely recognized as a foundational contributor to both psychological and physical well-being.

Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a rare inherited neuromuscular disorder within the spectrum of nuclear envelope diseases, classically characterized by early musculo-tendinous contractures, slowly progressive myopathy, and cardiac involvement dominated by conduction disease and arrhythmias, with variable evolution toward cardiomyopathy and heart failure. This narrative review provides a comprehensive and clinically actionable synthesis of cardiovascular manifestations across EDMD genotypes and phenotypes, outlining pragmatic diagnostic and therapeutic pathways for real-world care. A targeted literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, focusing on studies addressing cardiovascular involvement in EDMD. Relevant original studies, case series, registries, guideline documents, and high-quality reviews were selected and synthesized narratively, with particular emphasis on diagnostic strategies, risk stratification, and management approaches. Cardiac involvement in EDMD encompasses a broad and heterogeneous spectrum, including atrial disease and conduction disturbances, ventricular arrhythmias, dilated cardiomyopathy, thromboembolic complications, and sudden cardiac death. Phenotypic expression varies according to the underlying genetic substrate, with distinct atrial- and ventricular-dominant trajectories. Early recognition and structured cardiovascular surveillance are essential to guide timely intervention, including anticoagulation, device therapy, and heart failure management. Despite growing awareness, significant gaps remain in risk prediction and standardized management strategies. EDMD represents a paradigmatic model of cardiomyopathy characterized by prominent electrical instability and systemic involvement. A structured, genotype- and phenotype-informed approach centered on early surveillance, proactive arrhythmia and thromboembolic risk management and timely device therapy may improve clinical decision-making in real-world settings. Future perspectives include the integration of precision medicine and the development of gene- and pathway-targeted therapies, with the potential to shift from symptomatic management toward disease-modifying strategies.