Search results for "Virology"
showing 10 items of 2354 documents
Trends of influenza B during the 2010–2016 seasons in 2 regions of north and south Italy: The impact of the vaccine mismatch on influenza immunisatio…
2017
Influenza A and B viruses are responsible for respiratory infections, representing globally seasonal threats to human health. The 2 viral types often co-circulate and influenza B plays an important role in the spread of infection. A 6-year retrospective surveillance study was conducted between 2010 and 2016 in 2 large administrative regions of Italy, located in the north (Liguria) and in the south (Sicily) of the country, to describe the burden and epidemiology of both B/Victoria and B/Yamagata lineages in different healthcare settings. Influenza B viruses were detected in 5 of 6 seasonal outbreaks, exceeding influenza A during the season 2012–2013. Most of influenza B infections were found…
The analysis of the oral DNA virome reveals which viruses are widespread and rare among healthy young adults in Valencia (Spain).
2017
We have analysed oral wash samples from 72 healthy young adults in Valencia (Spain) for a metagenomic analysis through the construction of shotgun libraries and high-throughput-sequencing. The oral viral communities have been taxonomically characterised as well as and the gene content from the latter. The majority of viruses are found in few individuals, with single occurrences being the most widespread ones, whereas universally distributed viruses, while present, are relatively rare, with bacteriophages from families Siphoviridae and Myoviridae, and Streptococcus phages, as well as the eukaryotic viral family Herpesviridae amongst the most widespread viruses. No significant differences wer…
Real-life use of elbasvir/grazoprevir in adults and elderly patients: a prospective evaluation of comedications used in the PITER cohort.
2021
Background In patients treated for HCV infection, potential drug–drug interactions (DDIs) can occur among direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) and comedications used. The real-life effectiveness and safety of elbasvir/grazoprevir (ELB/GZR) among co-medicated HCV patients was evaluated. Methods We prospectively evaluated consecutive patients from 15 clinical centres participating in PITER who were treated with ELB/GZR and had been followed for at least 12 weeks after treatment. Data were prospectively collected on the use of comedications (including discontinuation, dose modification and addition of drugs) and potential DDIs with DAAs. Results Of the 356 patients with at least 12-week post-t…
Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients dying from COVID-19 in Italy vs China.
2020
Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), an infectious outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2),1 has now progressed to global pandemic.2 Besides the compelling need to understand the novel biological pathways underlying the virulence and pathogenicity of SARS‐CoV‐2 in humans to enable the development of appropriate interventions and therapies,3,4 the noticeable difference in mortality rates between Asian and European populations is one of the most significant issues demanding the attention of biologists, epidemiologists and clinicians around the world. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Treatment of COVID-19 with MSCs: how does it work?
2021
The infusion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) potentially improves clinical symptoms, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We conducted a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled (29 patients/group) phase II clinical trial to validate previous findings and explore the potential mechanisms. Patients treated with umbilical cord-derived MSCs exhibited a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.0198) and less time required for symptoms remission (P = 0.0194) than those who received placebo. Based on chest images, both severe and critical patients treated with MSCs showed improvement by day 7 (P = 0.0099) and day 21 (P = 0.0084). MSC-treated pat…
Assessing the potential association between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in the respiratory tract and COVID-19 mortality.
2020
Special Issue on New coronavirus (2019‐nCoV or SARS‐CoV‐2) and the outbreak of the respiratory illness (COVID‐19): Part‐XI
Occult hepatitis B virus infection
2000
Many studies have shown that hepatitis B virus infection may also occur in hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients. This occult infection has been identified both in patients with cryptogenic liver disease and in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic hepatitis, and much evidence suggests that it may be a risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma development. However several aspects of this occult infection remain unclear such as its prevalence and the factor(s) involved in the lack of circulating hepatitis B surface antigen. Moreover, it is uncertain whether the occult hepatitis B virus infection may contribute to chronic liver damage, considering that it is usually associated…
Detection and characterization of Human caliciviruses associated with sporadic acute diarrhea in adults in Djibouti (horn of Africa).
2008
International audience; Recent advances in molecular diagnostics have allowed us to recognize Human caliciviruses (HuCVs) as important agents of acute diarrhea in industrialized countries. Their prevalence and genetic diversity in developing countries remains unknown. We report on the characterization of HuCVs among adults presenting acute diarrheas in Djibouti; 108 stool samples collected were screened by EIA, RTPCR, or cell cultures for the group A Rotaviruses, Adenoviruses, Astroviruses, and HuCVs, which were further characterized by genotyping. Among stool samples screened for HuCVs, 25.3% were positive. The other enteric viruses were less prevalent. The 11 HuCV strains sequenced reveal…
Immunogenicity of a single dose of reduced-antigen acellular pertussis vaccine in a non-vaccinated adolescent population.
2005
Abstract German adolescents ( n = 123) without previous pertussis vaccination, no history of pertussis and low IgG-anti-pertussis-toxin (PT) levels received one dose of the Tdap vaccine Boostrix™. Blood samples were taken before, and 5–12 days and 29–49 days after vaccination. IgG- and IgA-anti-PT, IgG- and IgA-anti filamentous hemagglutinin, IgG-anti-pertactin, IgG-anti-tetanus-toxin, and IgG-anti-diphtheria-toxin were measured by ELISA. 88.6% of subjects had an immune response to PT, and all vaccinees had an immune response to at least one pertussis antigen 29–49 days after vaccination. IgA-anti-PT and IgA-anti-FHA responses were found in 43 and 81% of subjects, respectively. This study …
Vascular Leakage in Severe Dengue Virus Infections: A Potential Role for the Nonstructural Viral Protein NS1 and Complement
2006
Background Vascular leakage and shock are the major causes of death in patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Thirty years ago, complement activation was proposed to be a key underlying event, but the cause of complement activation has remained unknown. Methods The major nonstructural dengue virus (DV) protein NS1 was tested for its capacity to activate human complement in its membrane-associated and soluble forms. Plasma samples from 163 patients with DV infection and from 19 patients with other febrile illnesses were prospectively analyzed for viral load and for levels of NS1 and complement-activation products. Blood and pleural fluids from 9 patient…