Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection represents an excellent paradigm of precision medicine in modern paediatrics and several clinical trials are currently performed in the prevention and management of RSV infection. A new taxonomic terminology for RSV was recently adopted, while the diagnostic and omics techniques have revealed new modalities in the early identification of RSV infections and for better understanding of the disease pathogenesis. coordinated clinical and research efforts constitute an important step in limiting RSV global predominance, improving epidemiological surveillance, and advancing neonatal and paediatric care. This review article presents the key messages of the plenary lectures, oral presentations and posters of the '5th workshop on paediatric virology' (Sparta, Greece, 12th October 2019) organized by the Paediatric Virology Study Group, focusing on recent advances in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, clinical management and prevention of RSV infection in childhood.

These findings suggest that polymorphisms in MBL2 gene exon-1 region are related to low serum MBL levels and progression of HCV infection to liver inflammation and fibrosis.

Nitric oxide (NO), a short-lived gaseous free radical, synthesized from L-arginine by NO synthases (NOS), is a potent mediator of biologic responses involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Most biological necessary NO is produced by the family of three NOS. To date, several functionally relevant genetic polymorphisms in the eNOS gene have been associated with various vascular, infectious and autoimmune diseases. To our knowledge, no study has explored these polymorphisms for both SLE and RA in the same population. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the eNOS gene intron 4 a/b VNTR polymorphism (a 27-base-pair tandem repeat-based polymorphism) on susceptibility to SLE and RA in patients living in the island of Crete, a genetically homogeneous population. A group of 145 healthy subjects and 190 SLE patients were included in this study. Similarly, a second group of 235 healthy controls and 202 RA patients were analysed. In both cases, patients and controls were sex- and age-matched. Herein we report that the presence of a/b genotype of the eNOS gene may act as a risk factor not for the presence of SLE but for the development of glomerulonephritis (OR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.4-5.2), while it may be a susceptibility gene for RA (OR: 2.005, 95% CI: 1.31-3.07). Thus, in our population, the a/b genotype of the eNOS gene represents a severity rather than a susceptibility genotype for SLE.

Background. Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in cancer patients represent a diagnostic challenge, as etiologic diagnosis is often missing, and clinical assessment of severity is difficult. Few studies have described (SSTIs) in patients with solid tumours (STs). Patients and Methods. Records of patients with ST and SSTI, cared for at the University Hospital of Heraklion, from 2002 to 2006 were retrospectively studied. Results. A total of 81 episodes of SSTIs, occurring in 71 patients with ST, have been evaluated. Their median age was 65 years (34–82). The most common underlying malignancy was breast cancer in 17 patients (24%). Most episodes (89%) occurred in nonneutropenics. Cellulitis/erysipelas was the most common clinical presentation (56; 69%). Bacterial cultures were possible in 29 (36%) patients. All patients received antimicrobial therapy, while in 17 episodes (21%) an incision and drainage was required. Treatment failure occurred in 20 episodes (25%). Five patients (7%) died due to sepsis. None was neutropenic. Severe sepsis on admission (P = 0.002) and prior blood transfusion (P = 0.043) were independent predictors of treatment failure. Conclusion. SSTIs can be life threatening among patients with ST. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are of the utmost importance, since sepsis was proven a significant factor of unfavourable outcome.

MVID is classically included in the differential diagnosis of congenital diarrhea of secretory type. Recent advances in our knowledge regarding the role of myosin Vb in the pathophysiology of MVID is expected to clarify the clinical spectrum of the disease and the possible primary involvement of organs other than intestine.