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We investigated the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 spread in Calabria, Southern Italy, in 2022. A total of 272 RNA isolates from nasopharyngeal swabs of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 were sequenced by whole genome sequencing (N = 172) and/or Sanger sequencing (N = 100). Analysis of diffusion of Omicron variants in Calabria revealed the prevalence of 10 different sub-lineages (recombinant BA.1/BA.2, BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.2.9, BA.2.10, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, BA.5, BE.1). We observed that Omicron spread in Calabria presented a similar trend as in Italy, with some notable exceptions: BA.1 disappeared in April in Calabria but not in the rest of Italy; recombinant BA.1/BA.2 showed higher frequency in Calabria (13%) than in the rest of Italy (0.02%); BA.2.9, BA.4 and BA.5 emerged in Calabria later than in other Italian regions. In addition, Calabria Omicron presented 16 non-canonical mutations in the S protein and 151 non-canonical mutations in non-structural proteins. Most non-canonical mutations in the S protein occurred mainly in BA.5 whereas non-canonical mutations in non-structural or accessory proteins (ORF1ab, ORF3a, ORF8 and N) were identified in BA.2 and BA.5 sub-lineages. In conclusion, the data reported here underscore the importance of monitoring the entire SARS-CoV-2 genome.

Apples are one of the most commonly consumed fruits and their high polyphenol content is considered one of the most important determinants of their health-promoting activities. Here we studied the nutrikinetics of apple polyphenols by UHPLC-HRMS metabolite fingerprinting, comparing bioavailability when consumed in a natural or a polyphenol-enriched cloudy apple juice. Twelve men and women participated in an acute single blind controlled crossover study in which they consumed 250 mL of cloudy apple juice (CAJ), Crispy Pink apple variety, or 250 mL of the same juice enriched with 750 mg of an apple polyphenol extract (PAJ). Plasma and whole blood were collected at time 0, 1, 2, 3 and 5 h. Urine was collected at time 0 and 0-2, 2-5, 5-8, and 8-24 h after juice consumption. Faecal samples were collected from each individual during the study for 16S rRNA gene profiling. As many as 110 metabolites were significantly elevated following intake of polyphenol enriched cloudy apple juice, with large inter-individual variations. The comparison of the average area under the curve of circulating metabolites in plasma and in urine of volunteers consuming either the CAJ or the PAJ demonstrated a stable metabotype, suggesting that an increase in polyphenol concentration in fruit does not limit their bioavailability upon ingestion. Faecal bacteria were correlated with specific microbial catabolites derived from apple polyphenols. Human metabolism of apple polyphenols is a co-metabolic process between human encoded activities and those of our resident microbiota. Here we have identified specific blood and urine metabolic biomarkers of apple polyphenol intake and identified putative associations with specific genera of faecal bacteria, associations which now need confirmation in specifically designed mechanistic studies., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Recommendations on eligibility criteria for donation of haematopoietic stem cells, management of collection of the cells and follow-up mainly concern unrelated donors. The aim of this study was to analyse the screening of related donors and collection practices at different Italian apheresis centres., Materials and Methods: A questionnaire regarding eligibility criteria for related haematopoietic stem cell donors, their peripheral blood collections and early follow-up was sent to several apheresis units. Data from the full charts of 500 candidates, screened between May 2005 and December 2009, were retrospectively evaluated., Results: The donors' records, eligibility criteria, collections and follow-up are managed differently in each centre. Of the 500 evaluable candidates (51.2% male, 49.8% female; median age 47 years, range 13-77), 26.4% underwent thorough screening according to Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry standards, while local protocols were applied to 73.6%; 91 candidates (18.2%) proved ineligible for donation. In the end, 352 donors (53.4% male, 46.6% female; median age 45 years, range 16-76) underwent 508 leukaphereses. Central venous catheters were used in 8.0% of donors, mainly in one centre. Unsuitable pre-apheresis peripheral blood parameters were reported in 38.7% of the aphereses. Leukapheresis-related adverse events were recorded in 23.0% of the procedures, with a drop-out rate of 0.2% for severe events. No donation-related fatalities occurred. The CD34+ cell yield was <2×10(6)/kg of recipient's body weight from 1.1% of donors ≥70 years old., Discussion: More uniformity in donor screening procedures, management of peripheral blood collection and follow-up should be planned at a national level to maximise the safety of related donors.

For this study we consulted the Bone Marrow Donors' Registry of Lombardy (Italy) and analyzed 43937 HLA-A,B phenotypes and 13922 HLA-A,B,DR phenotypes. We estimated the HLA-A,B and HLA-A,B,DR haplotype frequencies via the maximum-likelihood method. We analyzed the genetic structure of the 11 provinces of Lombardy by means of Principal Component Analysis and Correspondence Analysis, and estimated the variety of the different haplotypes at provincial level and the percentage of unique phenotypes at village level. We found 11189 different HLA-A,B phenotypes, 661 different HLA-A,B haplotypes and more than 4000 different HLA-A,B,DR haplotypes. We identified 20 villages, in Western Lombardy, very rich in unique/rare phenotypes. Here we report a formula which allows the identification of a putative donor matched for two haplotypes with a recipient. This result may be of great importance for the genetic study of the population of Lombardy and, even more, for bone marrow transplantation programs.

All possible forms of inferior alveolar nerve injury are examined with a report on several personal cases and their medicolegal implications.