rome and Virus-Diseases

Acute respiratory tract infections frequently occur in children and represent one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Quick and accurate pathogen detection can lead to a more appropriate use of antimicrobial treatment as well as timely implementation of isolation precautions. In the last decade, several commercial assays have been developed for the simultaneous diagnosis of respiratory pathogens, which substantially vary in formulation and performance characteristics. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the "Allplex

Topics: Automation, Laboratory; Child; Child, Preschool; Hospitals, Pediatric; Humans; Infant; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Nasopharynx; Respiratory Tract Infections; Rome; Sensitivity and Specificity; Virus Diseases

The 28th International Conference on Antiviral Research (ICAR) was held in Rome, Italy from May 11 to 15, 2015. This article summarizes the principal invited lectures. Phillip Furman, the Elion award recipient, described the research leading to sofosbuvir. Dennis Liotta, who received the Holý award, described how an investigation into HIV entry inhibitors led to a new therapy for cancer patients. Erica Ollmann Saphire, winner of the Prusoff Young Investigator award, explored the world of viral proteins and how they remodel to perform different essential roles in viral replication. The keynote addresses, by Raffaele De Francesco and Michael Manns, reported on the remarkable progress made in the therapy of chronic HCV infections. A third keynote address, by Armand Sprecher, related the difficulties and successes of Médicins Sans Frontières in West Africa ravaged by the Ebola outbreak. There were three mini-symposia on RNA Viruses, Antiviral Chemistry and Emerging Viruses. There was a good collection of talks on RNA viruses (norovirus, rabies, dengue, HEV, HCV, and RSV). A highlight of the chemistry was the preparation of prodrugs for nucleotide triphosphates as this opens a door to new options. The third mini-symposium emphasized how research work in the antiviral area is continuing to expand and needs to do so with a sense of urgency. Although this meeting report covers only a few of the presentations, it aims to illustrate the great diversity of topics discussed at ICAR, bringing together knowledge and expertise from the whole spectrum of antiviral research.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Antiviral Agents; Drug Discovery; Drug Repositioning; Humans; Rome; Viral Proteins; Virus Diseases

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of enteric pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis (AGE) among hospitalized children in a large Italian hospital, to measure the incidence of coinfections, and to compare the clinical characteristics of those infected with one versus multiple agents. A prospective study was conducted from March 2010 to April 2011 at the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome, Italy. All patients between 1 month and 16 years of age admitted to the Pediatric Department with a diagnosis of AGE were eligible for enrollment. Two stool samples for each patient were tested for gastrointestinal pathogens. We summarized the clinical severity of episodes, describing the duration of diarrhea, duration and frequency of vomiting, fever, and severity of dehydration. All the patients underwent medical evaluation with estimation of dehydration. One or more etiological agents were detected in 151 out of 232 patients (65.1%), while we did not detect any etiological agent in 81 (34.9%). Rotavirus was detected in 96 (63.6%), adenovirus in 17 (11.2%), norovirus in 7 (4.6%), toxin-producing Clostridium difficile in 23 (15.2%), Salmonella spp. in 15 (9.9%, B group in 12/15 and D group in 3/15), C. perfringens in 12 (7.9%), Campylobacter spp. in 6 (4%), and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in 2 (1.3%). In 27 children out of 151 (17.9%), we found evidence of coinfection. Coinfection with rotavirus and toxin-producing C. difficile was the most common (63%). Children with coinfection had a more severe clinical presentation and had a higher probability to be severely dehydrated, independently of age and living community type.

Topics: Adolescent; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Child; Child, Preschool; Coinfection; Feces; Female; Gastroenteritis; Hospitals, Pediatric; Humans; Infant; Male; Prospective Studies; Rome; Virus Diseases; Viruses

The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in patients transplanted at the Organ Transplant Center of Catholic University in Rome appears to have increased in recent years.. To describe the clinical characteristics of KS in a group of transplant recipients.. Over 8 years, a total of 302 renal-transplant recipients were followed. When KS was suspected, histology and staging procedures were performed.. Ten cases of KS have been diagnosed (8 males, 2 females; age 46.4 +/- 9.4 years); 4 of them were on triple therapy. All the patients were HIV-1 seronegative. The onset of KS occurred 3 months to 4 years after transplantation (21.1 +/- 17.6 months). The disease was limited to the skin in 6 cases and involved internal organs in the remaining 4. Four patients experienced complete remission of the disease following reduction of the immunosuppressive therapy.. The high incidence of KS in this population (2.98%), as compared to that reported in other transplant patient groups, suggests that, besides viral infection, genetic predisposition may play a pathogenetic role. However, immunosuppression is the leading factor in transplant patients.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Azathioprine; Cyclosporine; Female; Follow-Up Studies; HIV Seronegativity; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Incidence; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Methylprednisolone; Middle Aged; Muromonab-CD3; Neoplasm Staging; Prednisone; Remission Induction; Rome; Sarcoma, Kaposi; Skin Neoplasms; Virus Diseases

During the period May 1987-January 1989, faecal samples from 417 paediatric inpatients admitted to the main paediatric hospital in Rome were screened by direct electron microscopy and rotavirus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Rotaviruses were detected in 18.2% of cases and adenoviruses in 7%, whereas astroviruses were found in 1% of cases. Different percentages of rotavirus excretors were revealed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and electron microscopy. This discrepancy seems to be due to false positive results introduced by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Analysis of electron microscopy-positive samples by rotaviral RNA polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed different electropherotypes of rotavirus among which a single, largely predominant long electropherotype (55.4%) was revealed. Short electropherotype subgroup I rotaviruses were demonstrated in about 10.7% of samples.

Topics: Adenovirus Infections, Human; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Diarrhea, Infantile; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Mamastrovirus; Microscopy, Electron; Picornaviridae Infections; RNA, Viral; Rome; Rotavirus Infections; Sensitivity and Specificity; Virus Diseases

Rotavirus infection was demonstrated in 168 (29.3%) of 573 children hospitalized for acute diarrhoea in Rome between January 1982 and December 1984. Laboratory diagnosis of these infections was made by transmission electron microscopy and enzyme immunoassay techniques with an overall agreement of 91.3%. Astroviruses, adenoviruses and small round viruses were detected in the faeces of 36 patients (6.4%). Whereas in 1982 rotavirus positive patients were clustered in the winter and following spring, in the following years cases were recorded all year round. The median age of patients with rotavirus infections was 17, 10 and 11.5 months in 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively. In addition, a smaller number of rotavirus positive cases were admitted in 1983 when compared to those admitted during the previous as well as the subsequent years. It is suggested that a herd immunity was induced in the population by epidemic spread of rotavirus in the first half of 1982.

Topics: Adenovirus Infections, Human; Adenoviruses, Human; Age Factors; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Diarrhea, Infantile; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces; Humans; Infant; Mamastrovirus; Rome; Rotavirus; Rotavirus Infections; Seasons; Virus Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Allergy and Immunology; Antibodies; Child; Coxsackievirus Infections; Enterovirus B, Human; Enterovirus Infections; Epidemiology; Geriatrics; Herpesviridae Infections; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Influenza, Human; Italy; Mumps; Orthomyxoviridae; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Poliomyelitis; Psittacosis; Respiratory Tract Infections; Rome; Virus Diseases

Topics: Coxsackievirus Infections; Enterovirus B, Human; Enterovirus Infections; Epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Influenza, Human; Italy; Orthomyxoviridae; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Paramyxoviridae Infections; Poliomyelitis; Respiratory Tract Infections; Rome; Virus Diseases