0000000000787553
AUTHOR
Antonino Trizzino
Novel Munc13-4 mutations in children and young adult patients with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder characterised by constitutive defects in cellular cytotoxicity resulting in fever, hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenia, and the outcome is fatal unless treated by chemoimmunotherapy followed by haematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation. Since 1999, mutations in the perforin gene giving rise to this disease have been identified; however, these account only for 40% of cases. Lack of a genetic marker hampers the diagnosis, suitability for transplantation, selection of familial donors, identification of carriers, genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis. Mutations in the Munc13–4 gene have recently been des…
A rapid and simple multiparameter assay to quantify spike-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: A preliminary report
mRNA and Adenovirus vaccines for COVID-19 are used to induce humoral and cell-mediated immunity, with the aim to generate both SARS-CoV-2 B and T memory cells. In present study, we described a simple assay to detect and quantify Spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses induced by vaccination in healthy donors and in subjects with B cell compart impairment, in which antibody response is absent due to primary immunodeficiencies or CD20 depleting therapy. We detect and quantified memory T cell immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 evocated by vaccination in both groups, irrespective to the humoral response. Furthermore, we identified TNF-α as the main cytokine produced by T memory cells, af…
Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis
The disease presentation of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (OMIM #263200, ARPKD) is highly variable and includes polycystic kidneys, pulmonary hypoplasia, and congenital hepatic fibrosis. The authors report an unusual case of ARPKD presenting with hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenia mimicking acute leukemia.
Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: an unusual association with diabetes mellitus in a child and review of literature
Abstract Hepatic hemangioma, adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia are the most frequent benign lesions of the liver, but they are all infrequent among pediatric population. The reports of focal nodular hyperplasia in children have recently increased in number, with many cases associated to drug intake, particularly to chemotherapy. We here describe, to our knowledge, the first case of focal nodular hyperplasia in association with diabetes mellitus in childhood.