Immunogenicity and Safety of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines in a Cohort of Patients with Hereditary Angioedema

Many factors may trigger hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks. This study aims to gain insights into the benefits and potential risks of COVID-19 vaccination in HAE patients, focusing particularly on the possibility of triggering attacks. We enrolled 31 patients with HAE undergoing two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Comirnaty-BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. To evaluate the possible influence of the vaccine on disease control and attack frequency, we administered the angioedema control test (AECT) 4-week version before (T0), 21 days after the first dose (T1), and between 21 and 28 days after the second dose (T2). Despite 5 patients (16.1%) experiencing attacks within 72 h of the first dose administration, no significant variation in attack frequency was observed before and after vaccination [F(2,60) = 0.123; p = 0.799]. In addition, patients reported higher AECT scores at T1 and T2 compared to T0 [F(2,44) = 6.541; p < 0.05; post hoc p < 0.05)], indicating that the disease was rather more controlled after vaccinations than in the previous period. All patients showed a positive serological response to the vaccine without significant differences from healthy controls (U = 162; p = 0.062). These observations suggest that the vaccine administration is safe and effective in HAE patients

Dupilumab in the treatment of severe uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP): A multicentric observational Phase IV real-life study (DUPIREAL)

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with significant morbidity and reduced health-related quality of life. Findings from clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of dupilumab in CRSwNP, although real-world evidence is still limited. Methods This Phase IV real-life, observational, multicenter study assessed the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP (n = 648) over the first year of treatment. We collected data at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up. We focused on nasal polyps score (NPS), symptoms, and olfactory function. We stratified outcomes by comorbidities, previous surgery, and adherence to intranasal corticosteroids, and examined the success rates based on current guidelines, as well as potential predictors of response at each timepoint. Results We observed a significant decrease in NPS from a median value of 6 (IQR 5–6) at baseline to 1.0 (IQR 0.0–2.0) at 12 months (p &lt; .001), and a significant decrease in Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test-22 (SNOT-22) from a median score of 58 (IQR 49–70) at baseline to 11 (IQR 6–21; p &lt; .001) at 12 months. Sniffin' Sticks scores showed a significant increase over 12 months (p &lt; .001) compared to baseline. The results were unaffected by concomitant diseases, number of previous surgeries, and adherence to topical steroids, except for minor differences in rapidity of action. An excellent-moderate response was observed in 96.9% of patients at 12 months based on EPOS 2020 criteria. Conclusions Our findings from this large-scale real-life study support the effectiveness of dupilumab as an add-on therapy in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP in reducing polyp size and improving the quality of life, severity of symptoms, nasal congestion, and smell

Un modello informativo parametrico per il Duomo di Milano - Test e sperimentazioni

Nowadays, with the spread of the BIM technology in the Cultural Heritage field, it is important to find, case by case, a method that permits to manage the archeological and architectural artifacts considering their personal needs. In this case, the project focuses on a portion of the roofs of the Milan Cathedral, chosen for the complexity and richness in shapes of the components, which leads to difficult survey operations. The target was to experience complex methods of multi-sensor and multi-scale data acquisition and to build an infographic three-dimensional reality-based model in order to help and manage the conservation activities of the building. The complexity of the Cathedral’s late gothic style represents a hard challenge for the application of the innovative surveying methods and for modelling with a BIM-oriented software. For this reason, the experiment was made with two different modelling methods (one is object-oriented modelling BIM and the other is based on the use of NURBS surfaces), in order to find the differences between the two, in terms of managing the survey data, modelling, accuracy of the model, time required to create it and typology of data that they are able to visualize and insert. The result of this work is an example of methodological approach that can enhance the widespread application of this innovative technology for restoration or maintenance activities of built heritage

Un modello informativo parametrico per il Duomo di Milano. Test e Sperimentazioni.

Nowadays, with the spread of the BIM technology in the Cultural Heritage field, it is important to find, case by case, a method that permits to manage the archeological and architectural artifacts considering their personal needs. In this case, the project focuses on a portion of the roofs of the Milan Cathedral, chosen for the complexity and richness in shapes of the components, which leads to difficult survey operations. The target was to experience complex methods of multi-sensor and multi-scale data acquisition and to build an infographic three-dimensional reality-based model in order to help and manage the conservation activities of the building. The complexity of the Cathedral’s late gothic style represents a hard challenge for the application of the innovative surveying methods and for modelling with a BIM-oriented software. For this reason, the experiment was made with two different modelling methods (one is object-oriented modelling BIM and the other is based on the use of NURBS surfaces), in order to find the differences between the two, in terms of managing the survey data, modelling, the accuracy of the model, the time required to create it and the typology of data that they are able to visualize and insert. The result of this work is an example of methodological approach that can enhance the widespread application of this innovative technology for restoration or maintenance activities of built heritage

Valutazione della visibilità radiotelemetrica in studi di ecologia animale

Ormai in auge dagli anni ?70, la tecnica di indagine maggiormente utilizzata in studi di ecologia animale è la radio-localizzazione a distanza. Tale tecnica di rilevamento prevede l?applicazione di radio-trasmittenti che emettono onde elettromagnetiche e la loro successiva localizzazione per mezzo di un sistema direzionale di ricezione del segnale. Molto si è scritto sui problemi associati agli errori di localizzazione e alle tecniche per ridurne o almeno determinarne l?entità. L?esigenza principale in questo tipo di studio è infatti l?ottenimento di dati contenenti il minimo errore possibile. L?orografia, le tipologie vegetazionali, ecc. rivestono una certa importanza nella determinazione dell?errore in quanto possono produrre assorbimento e riflessione delle onde elettromagnetiche e quindi influire sulla ?visibilità? di una sorgente di onde radio rispetto ad un sistema di rilevamento. La determinazione del bacino visuale di una porzione di territorio rispetto a uno o più punti di osservazione deve tener conto inoltre di aspetti stocastici come la presenza di costruzioni umane non mappate e di vegetazione, l'altezza dell?osservatore e di tutte le entità casuali che si originano da un?imperfetta conoscenza di qualsiasi ambiente naturale. Tale aspetto viene contemplato dalla logica FUZZY che sta alla base del software FVA (&lt;em&gt;Fuzzy Visibility Analyser&lt;/em&gt;) da noi sviluppato, che prende in considerazione il problema della modellazione della variabilità del territorio e dell?incertezza dei dati, producendo una mappa graduata per cui un punto è visibile (oppure no) con un certo grado di certezza, da almeno due stazioni di rilevamento. La scala adottata va da 0 ad 1: 0 indica massima incertezza, o minima certezza; 1 minima incertezza, o massima certezza; con una scala di valori intermedi che la logica fuzzy è in grado di contemplare e gestire. Affrontando in questo modo il problema della visibilità, è possibile individuare, con un certo grado di incertezza, aree per le quali il segnale radio rischia di essere deviato da elementi orografici o di altra natura. Tale tecnica è stata applicata in due casi di studio: uno studio di ecologia comportamentale sull?istrice nel Parco Naturale della Maremma e il progetto di reintroduzione del cervo nel Parco Nazionale del Pollino. Tramite questo applicativo, è stato possibile generare mappe &lt;em&gt;fuzzy&lt;/em&gt; di visibilità per entrambe le aree di studio e determinare eventuali aree non triangolabili da almeno due stazioni definite sul campo secondo criteri di accettabilità del rilevamento (angolo di intersezione, distanza massima, etc.). Le mappe &lt;em&gt;fuzzy&lt;/em&gt; sono state ottenute da un insieme di punti quotati e di stazioni di rilevamento, e da una PAM (&lt;em&gt;Pseudo Altitude Map&lt;/em&gt;) e una UM (&lt;em&gt;Uncertainty Map&lt;/em&gt;) generate da FVA. Una volta settati i parametri che incidono sul rilevamento e quindi sulla visibilità, è stata ottenuta una mappa di visibilità per le migliori coppie di punti d?osservazione per ogni porzione in cui l?area di studio è stata suddivisa. L?applicativo FVA ha permesso di ottenere mappe informative e realistiche con il valore di visibilità dalla migliore coppia di punti di osservazione, rivelandosi un pratico strumento integrativo per la predisposizione e la validazione di una campagna di rilevamento telemetrico sul territorio

Immunogenicity and Safety of mRNA Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure to control the spread of COVID-19 and reduce associated complications. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 41 adult SLE patients receiving two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Comirnaty-BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine were enrolled. The quantitative determination of anti-trimeric spike protein-specific IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was assessed before (T0), 21 days after the administration of the first dose of the vaccine (T1), and between 21 and 28 days after the second dose (T2). They were compared with the same determinations from a cohort of 29 patients with C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency hereditary angioedema (C1-INH-HAE) as controls. All the SLE patients and controls demonstrated a positive serological response after a single dose of the vaccine (T1), which significantly increased after the second dose (T2). No significant difference was found between SLE patients and controls at T1 [t(52.81) = −0.68; p = 0.49] and at T2 [t(67.74) = −0.22; p = 0.825]. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) analysis showed that the vaccine did not influence SLE activity or caused disease flare in our cohort. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccines produced a satisfactory response in SLE patients without variation in the disease activity

Immunogenicity and Safety of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines in a Cohort of Patients with Hereditary Angioedema

Many factors may trigger hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks. This study aims to gain insights into the benefits and potential risks of COVID-19 vaccination in HAE patients, focusing particularly on the possibility of triggering attacks. We enrolled 31 patients with HAE undergoing two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Comirnaty-BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. To evaluate the possible influence of the vaccine on disease control and attack frequency, we administered the angioedema control test (AECT) 4-week version before (T0), 21 days after the first dose (T1), and between 21 and 28 days after the second dose (T2). Despite 5 patients (16.1%) experiencing attacks within 72 h of the first dose administration, no significant variation in attack frequency was observed before and after vaccination [F(2,60) = 0.123; p = 0.799]. In addition, patients reported higher AECT scores at T1 and T2 compared to T0 [F(2,44) = 6.541; p &lt; 0.05; post hoc p &lt; 0.05)], indicating that the disease was rather more controlled after vaccinations than in the previous period. All patients showed a positive serological response to the vaccine without significant differences from healthy controls (U = 162; p = 0.062). These observations suggest that the vaccine administration is safe and effective in HAE patients

Dependency of Rubber Friction on Normal Force or Load: Theory and Experiment

In rubber friction studies, it is often observed that the kinetic friction coefficient μ depends on the nominal contact pressure p. We discuss several possible origins of the pressure dependency of μ: (1) saturation of the contact area (and friction force) due to high nominal squeezing pressure; (2) nonlinear viscoelasticity; (3) nonrandomness in the surface topography, in particular the influence of the skewness of the surface roughness profile; (4) adhesion; and (5) frictional heating. We show that in most cases the nonlinearity in the μ(p) relation is mainly due to process (5), frictional heating, that softens the rubber, increases the area of contact, and (in most cases) reduces the viscoelastic contribution to the friction. In fact, because the temperature distribution in the rubber at time t depends on the sliding history (i.e., on the earlier time t′ < t), the friction coefficient at time t will also depend on the sliding history, that is, it is, strictly speaking, a time integral operator. The energy dissipation in the contact regions between solids in sliding contact can result in high local temperatures that may strongly affect the area of real contact and the friction force (and the wear-rate). This is the case for rubber sliding on road surfaces at speeds above 1 mm/s. Previously, we derived equations that described the frictional heating for solids with arbitrary thermal properties. Here, the theory is applied to rubber friction on road surfaces. Numerical results are presented and compared to experimental data. We observe good agreement between the calculated and measured temperature increase