Synthesis and chemical characterization of several perfluorinated sialic acid glycals and evaluation of their in vitro antiviral activity against Newcastle disease virus

Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family, causes a serious infectious disease in birds, resulting in severe losses in the poultry industry every year. Haemagglutinin neuraminidase glycoprotein (HN) has been recognized as a key protein in the viral infection mechanism, and its inhibition represents an attractive target for the development of new drugs based on sialic acid glycals, with the 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-d-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac2en) as their backbone. Herein we report the synthesis of several Neu5Ac2en glycals and of their perfluorinated C-5 modified derivatives, including their respective stereoisomers at C-4, together with evaluation of their in vitro antiviral activity. While all synthesized compounds were found to be active HN inhibitors in the micromolar range, we found that their potency was influenced by the chain-length of the C-5 perfluorinated acetamido functionality. Thus, the binding modes of the inhibitors were also investigated by performing a docking study. Moreover, the perfluorinated glycals were found to be more active than the corresponding normal C-5 acylic derivatives. Finally, cell-cell fusion assays on NDV infected cells revealed that the addition of a newly synthesized C-4α heptafluorobutyryl derivative almost completely inhibited NDV-induced syncytium formation.

Quality of life in an Italian cohort of people living with HIV in the era of combined antiretroviral therapy (Evidence from I.A.N.U.A. study-investigation on antiretroviral therapy)

The aims of this study were to assess the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who attend outpatient services in Genoa, Italy, and to evaluate the relationship between HRQoL and clinical factors, primarily: CD4+ cell count, viral load and HIV-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) coinfection. A cross-sectional study was performed involving a sample of 943 consecutive patients. Firstly the EuroQol-Five Dimensions-Three Level (EQ-5D-3L) self-reported questionnaire was used to evaluate HRQoL, while socio-demographic information was collected using a separate self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis was then used to show the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the sample. Having characterized the sample, Pearson's correlation technique was used to assess the relationship between HRQoL and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Finally, multivariable linear regression was used to determine factors associated with HRQOL. The median EQ-Visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) score was 75.4 (SD 18.4). We found statistically significant associations between the EQ-VAS score and age, coinfection with HCV+, education, other drugs taken over cART, hospitalization due to HIV and a CD4+ cell count <200 mm³ compared with CD4+ cell count >500 mm³. Factors independently associated with lower HRQoL were: older age, coinfection with HCV+, other drugs used in addition to cART, hospitalization due to HIV and CD4+ cell count <200 mm³ compared with CD4+ cell count >500 mm³.

Cost analysis of emergency department

This paper is intended to examine both clinical and economic data concerning the activity of an emergency department of an Italian primary Hospital. Real data referring to arrivals, waiting times, service times, severity (according to triage classification) of patients' condition collected along the whole 2009 are matched up with the relevant accounting and economic information concerning the costs faced. A new methodological approach is implemented in order to identify a "standard production cost" and its variability. We believe that this kind of analysis well fits the federalizing process that Italy is experiencing. In fact the federal reform is driving our Country toward a decentralized provision and funding of local public services. The health care services are "fundamental" under the provisions of the law that in turn implies that a standard cost has to be defined for its funding. The standard cost (as it is defined by the law) relies on the concepts of appropriateness and efficiency in the production of the health care service, assuming a standard quality level as target. The identification and measurement of health care costs is therefore a crucial task propaedeutic to health services economic evaluation. Various guidelines with different amount of details have been set up for costing methods which, however, are defined in simplified frameworks and using fictious data. This study is a first attempt to proceed in the direction of a precise definition of the costs inherent to the emergency department activity.