Laboratory markers included in the Corona Score can identify false negative results on COVID-19 RT-PCR in the emergency room

After December 2019 outbreak in China, the novel Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has very quickly overflowed worldwide. Infection causes a clinical syndrome encompassing a wide range of clinical features, from asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic course to acute respiratory distress and death. In a very recent work we preliminarily observed that several laboratory tests have been shown as characteristically altered in COVID-19. We aimed to use the Corona score, a validated point-based algorithm to predict the likelihood of COVID-19 infection in patients presenting at the Emergency rooms. This approach combines chest images-relative score and several laboratory parameters to classify emergency room patients. Corona score accuracy was satisfactory, increasing the detection of positive patients’ rate

Long pentraxin 3 as a marker of COVID-19 severity: evidences and perspectives

Several laboratory tests are characteristically altered in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but are not totally accurate in predicting the disease outcome. The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is quickly released directly at inflammation sites by many immune cell types. Previous studies have shown that PTX3 correlated with disease severity in various inflammatory conditions. Our study investigated the use of PTX3 as a potential marker of COVID-19 severity and compared its performance in detecting a more severe form of the disease with that of routine laboratory parameters. Stored serum samples of RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 cases that had been obtained at hospital admission were retrospectively analysed. Intensive care unit (ICU) stay was considered a surrogate endpoint of severe COVID-19. Pentraxin 3 was measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 96 patients were recruited from May 1st, 2020 to June 30th, 2020; 75/96 were transferred to ICU. Pentraxin 3 was higher in ICU vs non-ICU patients (35.86 vs 10.61 ng/mL, P 18 ng/mL yielded a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 100% in identifying patients requiring ICU. High values of PTX3 predict a more severe COVID-19

Pentraxin 3 Plasma Levels and Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

SLE is an autoimmune disorder that involves polyclonal autoimmunity against multiple autoantigens. PTX3, a marker of the acute-phase inflammatory response, plays an important role in innate immunity and in modulation of the adaptive immune response. Our study tried to resolve some rather controversial aspects of the use of PTX3 as a biomarker of disease activity in SLE patients. We demonstrated that plasma PTX3 concentration of the SLE patients was significantly higher than the healthy control groups and reflected disease activity. ROC curve analysis was used to determine best cut-off point (2.8 ng/mL) with a good sensitivity and specificity. In patients with SLE, PTX3 concentrations were correlated with SLEDAI. Trend to remission (TTR) curve was created by plotting PTX3 levels and SLEDAI and we applied the curve as a model for the analysis of two patients with different follow-up. PTX3 plasma levels declined significantly and this decline occurred parallel to the clinical improvement with a complete remission of disease. In patients who experienced a clinical relapse, an increase in PTX3 levels followed the lupus flare. The proposal of PTX3 cut-off associated with TTR and monitoring of PTX3 plasma levels could be an innovative approach to follow-up of SLE patients

Elevations of inflammatory markers PTX3 and sST2 after resuscitation from cardiac arrest are associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and early death

BACKGROUND: A systemic inflammatory response is observed after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We investigated two novel inflammatory markers, pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), in comparison with the classic high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), for prediction of early multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), early death, and long-term outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. METHODS: PTX3, sST2, and hsCRP were assayed at ICU admission and 48 h later in 278 patients. MODS was defined as the 24 h non-neurological Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score 6512. Intensive care unit (ICU) death and 12-month Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 82% of patients survived to ICU discharge and 48% had favorable neurological outcome at 1 year (CPC 1 or 2). At ICU admission, median plasma levels of hsCRP (2.8 mg/L) were normal, while levels of PTX3 (19.1 ng/mL) and sST2 (117 ng/mL) were markedly elevated. PTX3 and sST2 were higher in patients who developed MODS (p<0.0001). Admission levels of PTX3 and sST2 were also higher in patients who died in ICU and in those with an unfavorable 12-month neurological outcome (p<0.01). Admission levels of PTX3 and sST2 were independently associated with subsequent MODS [OR: 1.717 (1.221-2.414) and 1.340, (1.001-1.792), respectively] and with ICU death [OR: 1.536 (1.078-2.187) and 1.452 (1.064-1.981), respectively]. At 48 h, only sST2 and hsCRP were independently associated with ICU death. CONCLUSIONS: Higher plasma levels of PTX3 and sST2, but not of hsCRP, at ICU admission were associated with higher risk of MODS and early death

Diagnostic accuracy of a new commercially available HCV-antigen test

Nowadays the diagnosis of HCV infection is based on the detection of anti-HCV antibodies (HCV-Ab) subsequently confirmed by a RIBA test and HCV-RNA test.A new chemiluminescence assay is now available allowing the detection of HCV antigen (HCV-Ag) (HCV-Ag,Abbott, USA®).The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic performances of this new test.We performed on 63 selected serum samples the following analyses: HCV-Ab , HCV-Ag, RIBA test and HCV-RNA . For HCV-Ag vs HCV-RNA we found specificity of 95% and sensitivity of 100%. Our study has highlighted the diagnostic accuracy of HCV-Ag test. This test does not require special equipments to be performed, so its strong specificity suggests its possible role in a rapid and low-cost new diagnostic protocol, particularly in a population with low incidence of HCV infection

HIV 1-2 Ag/Ab selective and combined detection by a new rapid point-of-care test

In order to reduce the window phase between time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposure and source’s results of laboratory investigations, we evaluated the analytical performance of a new point of care test for simultaneous detection of HIV Abs and HIV Ag.We tested 48 serum samples by HIV Combo Ag/Ab Abbott Diagnostic®, USA; by Western Blot Matrix HIV 1/2 Abbott®, USA and by the new POCT test HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab Combo Inverness Medical®, UK. Good concordance of results was recordered with analytical performance (sensitivity and specificity) and diagnostic accuracy of 100%.Thus this new test is ideal for rapid laboratory investigation when the time for appropriate prophylactic therapy is very important, such as found in exposure in the workplace

Antigen Reactivity and Clinical Significance of Autoantibodies Directed Against the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Antigen Complex in Patients With Connective Tissue Disease

Introduction: Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) are the hallmark of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) but can be identified also in patients with connective tissue disease, namely, systemic sclerosis (SSc). Protein immunoprecipitation (IP) and IP-Western blot (WB) can be used to confirm AMA positivity directed at the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) subunits E1α, E1β, E2/E3, and E3BP in patients showing a cytoplasmic reticular pattern at indirect immunofluorescence when performed in a screening setting before the onset of overt cholestasis in rheumatic patients. Patients and Methods: We studied sera from 285 patients affected by connective tissue disease [SSc, n = 144; dermato/polymyositis (DM/PM), n = 56; and undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD), n = 85] by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), protein-IP, and IP-WB to identify specific PDC subunits recognized by AMA. Results: Twenty percent (57/285) of sera from patients with connective tissue disease had a cytoplasmic reticular pattern at IIF, and in 77% (44/57, including 20 SSc, 12 PM/DM, and 12 UCTD) of these, we detected different titers of autoantibodies against the PDC subunits, specifically against PDC-E2. Among these sera, 4 (9%) tested positive for anti-E1α, 15 (34%) for anti-E1β, and 16 (36%) for anti-E3BP. Four of the 20 AMA-positive SSc cases (20%) had been already diagnosed with PBC, and all were positive for autoantibodies against the subunits PDC-E2, E3, and E3BP. Conclusions: Using IIF and IP, we confirm that autoantibodies against the PDC components are detected in rheumatic patients with PBC or without liver dysfunction. In view of the strong predictive value of AMA for PBC, a strict follow-up of these latter patients is warranted for an early diagnosis of the disease.Fil: Ceribelli, Angela. Humanitas University; ItaliaFil: Isailovic, Natasa. No especifíca;Fil: Gorlino, Carolina Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Assandri, Roberto. No especifíca;Fil: Vecellio, Matteo. No especifíca;Fil: De Santis, Maria. Humanitas University; ItaliaFil: Satoh, Minoru. University of Occupational and Environmental Health; JapónFil: Selmi, Carlo. Humanitas University; Itali

Orthetrum coerulescens

&lt;p&gt;Orthetrum coerulescens (Fabricius, 1798)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Native status&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;R&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conservation status&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;erl: LC; irl: LC&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Notes&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Flight period: III May - II October&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Rather widespread in the study area, the species is found in small to medium lakes, ponds, marshlands, fens (where it generally selects slow-flowing water microhabitats) and along rivers, small streams and ditches. It occurs up to ca. 1160 m a.s.l. (Camaggiore fen), though it is more frequent at low elevations.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Bazzi, Gaia, Galimberti, Andrea, Foglini, Claudio, Bani, Luciano, Bazzi, Lionello, Bonvicini, Piero, Brembilla, Roberto, Brigo, Massimo, Cavenaghi, Alberto, Colombo, Giuseppe, Della Pieta, Cesare, Galliani, Carlo, Guarnaroli, Ettore, Larroux, Nicola, Monti, Alessandro, Orioli, Valerio, Ornaghi, Francesco, Pilon, Nicola, Pirotta, Giuliana, Radaelli, Giovanni, Tessa, Giulia &amp; Assandri, Giacomo, 2023, Odonate diversity of a highly urbanised region: An annotated checklist of the damselflies and dragonflies (Insecta, Odonata) of Lario and Brianza (Lombardy, N Italy), pp. 111358 in Biodiversity Data Journal 11&lt;/i&gt; on page 111358, DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e11135

Trithemis annulata

&lt;p&gt;Trithemis annulata (Palisot de Beauvais, 1807)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Native status&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;R&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conservation status&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;erl: LC; irl: LC&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Notes&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Flight period: III June - III October&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;This species colonised the study area in 2019, following a general tendency to expand northwards, which led to the colonisation of Lombardy the year before (Gheza et al. 2019). All the reported records are localised south of Lake Como and below 380 m a.s.l., except for an individual record at Lake Piano (Fig. 3 h). Repeated observations at some localities (Lakes Sartirana, Annone and Alserio) suggest that the species have started to breed in the study area.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Bazzi, Gaia, Galimberti, Andrea, Foglini, Claudio, Bani, Luciano, Bazzi, Lionello, Bonvicini, Piero, Brembilla, Roberto, Brigo, Massimo, Cavenaghi, Alberto, Colombo, Giuseppe, Della Pieta, Cesare, Galliani, Carlo, Guarnaroli, Ettore, Larroux, Nicola, Monti, Alessandro, Orioli, Valerio, Ornaghi, Francesco, Pilon, Nicola, Pirotta, Giuliana, Radaelli, Giovanni, Tessa, Giulia &amp; Assandri, Giacomo, 2023, Odonate diversity of a highly urbanised region: An annotated checklist of the damselflies and dragonflies (Insecta, Odonata) of Lario and Brianza (Lombardy, N Italy), pp. 111358 in Biodiversity Data Journal 11&lt;/i&gt; on page 111358, DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e11135