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Background Torquetenovirus (TTV) viremia is emerging as a promising tool to assess functional immune competence, to predict posttransplant immune-related complications, and eventually to customize immunosuppression. Methods In this study, 327 blood samples were tested using two real-time PCR (rtPCR) assays both targeted to the untranslated region of the TTV genome. The first assay was an in-house rtPCR developed by our group, the second one was the recently marketed TTV R-GENE assay. Results In the validation study, the TTV R-GENE showed good performances in precision and reproducibility, and sensitivity as low as 12 TTV DNA copies/mL, like previously reported for the in-house rtPCR. The Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean difference between the two methods was -0.3 log copies/mL. In the comparison study, 69% and 72% of samples were detected positive by rtPCR and TTV R-GENE, respectively (94% concordance, kappa = 0.88). Performances did not differ between the two rtPCRs by type of TTV group examined. When a newly-developed in-house digital droplet PCR was applied for TTV quantification and used as an alternative method of comparison on 94 samples, the results strongly correlated with those obtained by the two rtPCR methods (99% concordance). Conclusion In summary, all the molecular methods assayed are highly sensitive and accurate in quantitation of TTV DNA in blood samples.

Monitoring the human virome has been recently suggested as a promising and novel area of research for identifying new biomarkers which would help physicians in the management of transplant patients. Imbalance of the immune system in transplant recipients has a significant impact on replication of Torquetenovirus (TTV), the most representative and abundant virus of human virome. TTV kinetic was studied by real-time PCR in 280 liver or kidney transplant recipients who underwent different drug regimens to maintain immunosuppression. During one-year post-transplant follow-up, TTV viremia fluctuated irrespective of transplanted organ type but consistent with the immunosuppression regimen. TTV kinetic in patients who manifested cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation within the first four months post-transplant differed from that observed in patients who did not experience CMV complications. Importantly, plasma TTV load measured between day 0 and 10 post-transplant was significantly higher in CMV DNA positive than in CMV DNA negative patients. TTV viremia above 3.45 log DNA copies/ml within the first 10 days post-transplant correlates with higher propensity to CMV reactivation following transplantation. This study provides further evidence for using early post-transplant TTV viremia to predict CMV reactivation in liver or kidney transplant recipients.

This paper describes the redesign activities of lightweight rail vehicle component using advanced composite materials. The activities have been carried out in the framework of the SCILLA-M National Project funded by Ministry of Research in collaboration with AnsaldoBreda. By exploiting the lightweighting and design integration benefits of composites, an innovative solution has been developed, which provides significant savings in mass, cost and part count compared to conventional designs. Several solutions have been evaluated among those reported in literature and related to the several transport systems. On the basis of the information acquired composite structure seems to be the ideal candidate for the design of lightweighting railway components. The current metallic design has been compared with the new proposed solutions in terms of weight saving, stiffness and strength. An innovative flatwise composite panel solution, which has been selected among those analyzed, seems to be applicable for the structural optimization of the railway vehicle carbody roof. The study underlines that the sandwich structure made of composite materials and polyurethane foam confirms to give good results in terms of weight and flexural stiffness. Consequently, the proposed sandwich structure can be adopted in the design of an innovative railway vehicle carbody roof.

This paper describes the design of composite shock absorber mounting for an innovative rail vehicle end in which structural, crash and aerodynamic functionalities are realized in a single integrated element. An experimental activity has been conducted in order to characterize the basic stiffness and strength parameters of the selected composite material. Results of the material characterization have been used for the laminate composite material card of the FE software. The computational analysis has been performed to optimize the sandwich configuration of the composite component and to assess the structural requirements. The final configuration of the composite sandwich shock absorber mounting exhibits strength and stiffness that are very close to the existing metallic one with a significant weight saving. The activities have been performed in the context of the Italian research project “SCILLA-M” (Structures, Innovative Components, Light Applications for Metro) funded by the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research).

Gemycircularviruses (GemyCV) are a vast array of viruses belonging to the Genomoviridae family. Prevalence and pathogenesis in humans are still poorly understood. Different GemyCV species were investigated in 661 Italian subjects by species-specific PCRs. Only the GemyCV-C1c species was detected, with low prevalence and the highest rate in HIV immunosuppressed patients.