Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Vibronic structure of picene electronic transitions

In this Letter we reanalyze the absorption and emission spectra of picene in solution, performing a detailed analysis of the singlet electronic transitions and of their vibronic structure. A simple INDO/S semiempirical approach turns out to be very effective for the calculation of the absorption frequencies, the relevant oscillator strengths and Huang–Rhys factors, offering a valid guide for the spectral assignment

Comment on “Dermatitis herpetiformis in an African woman”, the importance of direct immunofluorescence assay

This a reply letter to Machona MS et al.'s work. Authors describe a case of dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) solved after a gluten-free diet, associated to dapsone treatment. According to guidelines, in patients with clinical and/or histopathological findings suggestive for DH, a direct immunofluorescence (DIF) assay on perilesional skin, together with anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody dosage, are mandatory for a correct diagnosis. DIF remains the gold standard for DH diagnosis. This examination was not performed by authors, as well as serological parameters. Since autoimmune blistering skin diseases comprise different entities, a correct diagnosis is needed for accurate treatment and follow-up. In our opinion, the diagnosis in this case could be consistent with linear IgA bullous dermatosis more than DH, and the clinical and histopathological examinations could not be considered criteria sufficient enough to establish a diagnosis of DH

Cutaneous Manifestations of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: Clinical Histological and Immunopathological Features

Background: The dermatological manifestations associated with intestinal diseases are becoming more frequent, especially now when new clinical entities, such as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS), are identified. The existence of this new entity is still debated. However, many patients with diagnosed NCGS that present intestinal manifestations have skin lesions that need appropriate characterization. Methods: We involved 17 patients affected by NCGS with non-specific cutaneous manifestations who got much better after a gluten free diet. For a histopathological and immunopathological evaluation, two skin samples from each patient and their clinical data were collected. Results: The median age of the 17 enrolled patients affected by NCGS was 36 years and 76% of them were females. On the extensor surfaces of upper and lower limbs in particular, they all presented very itchy dermatological manifestations morphologically similar to eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis herpetiformis. This similarity was also confirmed histologically, but the immunopathological analysis showed the prevalence of deposits of C3 along the dermo-epidermal junction with a microgranular/granular pattern (82%). Conclusions: The exact characterization of new clinical entities such as Cutaneous Gluten Sensitivity and NCGS is an important objective both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, since these are patients who actually benefit from a GFD (Gluten Free Diet) and who do not adopt it only for fashion

Physically cross-linked polyethylene via reactive extrusion

Ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) is introduced into various polyethylenes (PEs) bearing hydroxyl groups by solution grafting, affording physically cross-linked PE via multiple H-bonding. Utilizing low melting UPy where the methyl group is substituted with isopropyl (isopropyl UPy, IPR-UPy), a reactive extrusion process is developed that allows significant shortening of the reaction time and elimination of the use of solvents and catalysts. Chemical grafting is confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), rheology and Dynamical Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) are employed to investigate the thermal stability of the obtained polymers and reveal that UPy functionalized PE can be safely processed via reactive extrusion below 150 °C. Introduction of UPy significantly improves the mechanical properties and alters the rheology, showing that quadruple hydrogen bonding interactions are present both in the solid state and in the PE melt

Dermatitis Herpetiformis: From the Genetics to the Development of Skin Lesions

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a rare autoimmune disease linked to gluten sensitivity with a chronic-relapsing course. It is currently considered to be the specific cutaneous manifestation of celiac disease (CD). Both conditions are mediated by the IgA class of autoantibodies, and the diagnosis of DH is dependent on the detection of granular deposits of IgA in the skin. There is an underlying genetic predisposition to the development of DH, but environmental factors are also important. This paper describes these different factors and discusses the known mechanism that lead to the development of skin lesions

Newly Described Clinical and Immunopathological Feature of Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an inflammatory cutaneous disease with typical histopathological and immunopathological findings clinically characterized by intensely pruritic polymorphic lesions with a chronic-relapsing course. In addition to classic clinical manifestations of DH, atypical variants are more and more frequently reported and histological and immunological are added to them, whereas the impact on quality of life of patients with DH is increasingly important to a certain diagnosis. The aim of this paper is to describe all the possible clinical, histological, and immunological variants of DH in order to facilitate the diagnosis of a rare disease and, therefore, little known