Time course of risk factors associated with mortality of 1260 critically ill patients with COVID-19 admitted to 24 Italian intensive care units

94noopenPurpose: To evaluate the daily values and trends over time of relevant clinical, ventilatory and laboratory parameters during the intensive care unit (ICU) stay and their association with outcome in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Methods: In this retrospective–prospective multicentric study, we enrolled COVID-19 patients admitted to Italian ICUs from February 22 to May 31, 2020. Clinical data were daily recorded. The time course of 18 clinical parameters was evaluated by a polynomial maximum likelihood multilevel linear regression model, while a full joint modeling was fit to study the association with ICU outcome. Results: 1260 consecutive critically ill patients with COVID-19 admitted in 24 ICUs were enrolled. 78% were male with a median age of 63 [55–69] years. At ICU admission, the median ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) was 122 [89–175] mmHg. 79% of patients underwent invasive mechanical ventilation. The overall mortality was 34%. Both the daily values and trends of respiratory system compliance, PaO2/FiO2, driving pressure, arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure, creatinine, C-reactive protein, ferritin, neutrophil, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, and platelets were associated with survival, while for lactate, pH, bilirubin, lymphocyte, and urea only the daily values were associated with survival. The trends of PaO2/FiO2, respiratory system compliance, driving pressure, creatinine, ferritin, and C-reactive protein showed a higher association with survival compared to the daily values. Conclusion: Daily values or trends over time of parameters associated with acute organ dysfunction, acid–base derangement, coagulation impairment, or systemic inflammation were associated with patient survival.openZanella A.; Florio G.; Antonelli M.; Bellani G.; Berselli A.; Bove T.; Cabrini L.; Carlesso E.; Castelli G.P.; Cecconi M.; Citerio G.; Coloretti I.; Corti D.; Dalla Corte F.; De Robertis E.; Foti G.; Fumagalli R.; Girardis M.; Giudici R.; Guiotto L.; Langer T.; Mirabella L.; Pasero D.; Protti A.; Ranieri M.V.; Rona R.; Scudeller L.; Severgnini P.; Spadaro S.; Stocchetti N.; Vigano M.; Pesenti A.; Grasselli G.; Aspesi M.; Baccanelli F.; Bassi F.; Bet A.; Biagioni E.; Biondo A.; Bonenti C.; Bottino N.; Brazzi L.; Buquicchio I.; Busani S.; Calini A.; Calligaro P.; Cantatore L.P.; Carelli S.; Carsetti A.; Cavallini S.; Cimicchi G.; Coppadoro A.; Dall'Ara L.; Di Gravio V.; Erba M.; Evasi G.; Facchini A.; Fanelli V.; Feliciotti G.; Fusarini C.F.; Ferraro G.; Gagliardi G.; Garberi R.; Gay H.; Giacche L.; Grieco D.; Guzzardella A.; Longhini F.; Manzan A.; Maraggia D.; Milani A.; Mischi A.; Montalto C.; Mormina S.; Noseda V.; Paleari C.; Pedeferri M.; Pezzi A.; Pizzilli G.; Pozzi M.; Properzi P.; Rauseo M.; Russotto V.; Saccarelli L.; Servillo G.; Spano S.; Tagliabue P.; Tonetti T.; Tullo L.; Vetrugno L.; Vivona L.; Volta C.A.; Zambelli V.; Zanoni A.Zanella, A.; Florio, G.; Antonelli, M.; Bellani, G.; Berselli, A.; Bove, T.; Cabrini, L.; Carlesso, E.; Castelli, G. P.; Cecconi, M.; Citerio, G.; Coloretti, I.; Corti, D.; Dalla Corte, F.; De Robertis, E.; Foti, G.; Fumagalli, R.; Girardis, M.; Giudici, R.; Guiotto, L.; Langer, T.; Mirabella, L.; Pasero, D.; Protti, A.; Ranieri, M. V.; Rona, R.; Scudeller, L.; Severgnini, P.; Spadaro, S.; Stocchetti, N.; Vigano, M.; Pesenti, A.; Grasselli, G.; Aspesi, M.; Baccanelli, F.; Bassi, F.; Bet, A.; Biagioni, E.; Biondo, A.; Bonenti, C.; Bottino, N.; Brazzi, L.; Buquicchio, I.; Busani, S.; Calini, A.; Calligaro, P.; Cantatore, L. P.; Carelli, S.; Carsetti, A.; Cavallini, S.; Cimicchi, G.; Coppadoro, A.; Dall'Ara, L.; Di Gravio, V.; Erba, M.; Evasi, G.; Facchini, A.; Fanelli, V.; Feliciotti, G.; Fusarini, C. F.; Ferraro, G.; Gagliardi, G.; Garberi, R.; Gay, H.; Giacche, L.; Grieco, D.; Guzzardella, A.; Longhini, F.; Manzan, A.; Maraggia, D.; Milani, A.; Mischi, A.; Montalto, C.; Mormina, S.; Noseda, V.; Paleari, C.; Pedeferri, M.; Pezzi, A.; Pizzilli, G.; Pozzi, M.; Properzi, P.; Rauseo, M.; Russotto, V.; Saccarelli, L.; Servillo, G.; Spano, S.; Tagliabue, P.; Tonetti, T.; Tullo, L.; Vetrugno, L.; Vivona, L.; Volta, C. A.; Zambelli, V.; Zanoni, A

Exhumation, from tomb violation to immortality strategy

The exhumation, is the procedure of opening the tomb, unearthing and recovery of the mortal remains from the sepulchre. Despite the reluctance towards the violation of the burials in all cultures and in all historical periods, the exhumation action underlying the study of ancient necropolises and the knowledge that derives from them, took place over time and still occurs in different populations for very sundry reasons. If we exclude accidental causes and the ordinary disinterment practiced today to create space in western cemeteries, it is observed that from an anthropological and historical point of view the exhumation, going against what is an innate principle of human nature, has always been a dense choice of cultural, political, ideological, and religious meanings, charged with serious implications of social and moral order

Unusual case of traumatic carotid artery dissection occurred during a work-related activity. A case report

Carotid artery dissection secondary to cervical blunt trauma is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that can cause a variety of clinical presentations, including stroke, headache, neck pain, tinnitus, Horner syndrome and cranial neuropathies and is associated with long-term sequelae. We report a case of a 49-year-old industrial vehicles mechanic who was projected to the ground by the explosion of the tire of a heavy truck he was inflating. In the following hours he presented various neurological signs and symptoms and was admitted to the Emergency Department. During hospitalization the patient underwent clinical and instrumental investigations with AngioCT and MR finding of left internal carotid artery dissection in correspondence of its cervical segment and three acute ischemic lesions in the left temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. Medical management was successful and the patient was discharged from the hospital three weeks after the admission but he wasn't able to get back to work due to neurological sequelae. This case report illustrates that traumatic carotid artery dissection, although rare, should be considered in patients who present neurological symptoms after an explosion, can meet the criteria for a work-related injury and may lead to a permanent decrease in the ability to work

Screening for active toxoplasmosis in patients by DNA hybridization with the ABGTg7 probe in blood samples.

Fil: Angel, Segio O. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Matrajt, Mariana. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Margarit, Juan. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Nigro, Monica. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Illescas, Edith. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Pszenny, Viviana. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Amendoeira, María Regina R. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz. Departamento de Protozoología; Brazil.Fil: Guarnera, Eduardo. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Garberi, Juan C. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.We report the potential use of a specific Toxoplasma gondii DNA probe (ABGTg7). We applied a dot blot hybridization assay to blood samples for the diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis (CT), acute toxoplasmic lymphadenopathy (ATL), and disseminated toxoplasmosis in transplant recipients (TRs). We studied a total of 84 individuals: 38 patients and 46 controls. We found positive hybridization signals for 12 (66.7%) of 18 patients with confirmed CT, 9 (52.9%) of 17 patients with ATL, and 2 (66.7%) of 3 TRs. PCR assays were performed in parallel for patients with ATL, resulting in T. gondii DNA detection for 10 patients (58.8%). A comparative study between dot blot and PCR assays performed with the blood of mice that had been experimentally infected with tachyzoites gave similar results: 60 and 70% positive results, respectively. Finally, the sum of positive values obtained by both DNA tests (dot blot assay plus PCR) increased the rate of positivity for ATL patients to 76.4%. These results demonstrate that the T. gondii ABGTg7 repetitive DNA element is an additional useful resource for diagnosing Toxoplasma parasitemia in patients with CT and ATL and in TRs. Thus, our ABGTg7-based dot blot test may lead to an improvement in T. gondii detection methods in patients with acute toxoplasmosis

Deposition of kappa and lambda light chain in amyloid filaments of dialysis-related amyloidosis

beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2m) is considered to be the amyloidogenic precursor in dialysis-related amyloidosis, although the implication of other relevant cofactors in the pathogenesis of this disease has also been hypothesized. It is conceivable that substances found in amyloid deposits might represent something more than simple codeposition, possibly playing a pathogenic role in amyloidogenesis. Along these lines, a detailed analysis of the protein composition of amyloid fibrils purified from synovial material surgically obtained from nine patients on long-term dialysis was carried out. By the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, several other protein components, in addition to beta 2m, were found. These were characterized by NH2 amino-terminal sequencing and immunoblotting. In fibrils obtained by water extraction, which fulfill the electron microscopy criteria of highly pure amyloid material, polyclonal kappa and lambda light chains were detected with a concentration of 15 micrograms/mL in the water extraction material; the beta 2m concentration was 200 micrograms/mL. Light microscopy immunohistochemistry was performed on samples from five patients. Amyloid deposits reacted with anti-beta 2m, and anti-light (kappa, lambda), chain antibodies. The immunoreaction of amyloid filaments to anti-beta 2m, anti-lambda, and anti-kappa light chain antibodies was also tested by electron microscopy by use of the immunogold staining procedure. Amyloid filaments were labeled by the three antibodies and showed a different intensity of immunostaining apparently related to their different aggregation pattern. These observations demonstrate that polyclonal immunoglobulin light chains (kappa and lambda) are not contaminants but, together with beta 2m, represent a major constituent of amyloid deposits in dialysis-related osteoarticular amyloidosis, thus indicating their possible role in amyloidogenesis

Screening for active toxoplasmosis in patients by DNA hybridization with the ABGTg7 probe in blood samples.

Fil: Angel, Segio O. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Matrajt, Mariana. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Margarit, Juan. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Nigro, Monica. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Illescas, Edith. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Pszenny, Viviana. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Amendoeira, María Regina R. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz. Departamento de Protozoología; Brazil.Fil: Guarnera, Eduardo. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.Fil: Garberi, Juan C. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Microbiología. Departamento Parasitología. Centro Nacional de Toxoplasmosis; Argentina.We report the potential use of a specific Toxoplasma gondii DNA probe (ABGTg7). We applied a dot blot hybridization assay to blood samples for the diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis (CT), acute toxoplasmic lymphadenopathy (ATL), and disseminated toxoplasmosis in transplant recipients (TRs). We studied a total of 84 individuals: 38 patients and 46 controls. We found positive hybridization signals for 12 (66.7%) of 18 patients with confirmed CT, 9 (52.9%) of 17 patients with ATL, and 2 (66.7%) of 3 TRs. PCR assays were performed in parallel for patients with ATL, resulting in T. gondii DNA detection for 10 patients (58.8%). A comparative study between dot blot and PCR assays performed with the blood of mice that had been experimentally infected with tachyzoites gave similar results: 60 and 70% positive results, respectively. Finally, the sum of positive values obtained by both DNA tests (dot blot assay plus PCR) increased the rate of positivity for ATL patients to 76.4%. These results demonstrate that the T. gondii ABGTg7 repetitive DNA element is an additional useful resource for diagnosing Toxoplasma parasitemia in patients with CT and ATL and in TRs. Thus, our ABGTg7-based dot blot test may lead to an improvement in T. gondii detection methods in patients with acute toxoplasmosis