Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is regarded to be potentially useful to diagnose lung injury in older adults living in nursing homes with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia. We aimed at evaluating presence lung injury among senior nursing home residents by LUS performed with portable wireless scanner echography. The study population consisted of 150 residents with a mean age of 88 years (85% female) residing in 12 nursing homes in Northern Italy. Subjects had to have a history of recent onset of symptoms compatible with COVID-19 pneumonia or have been exposed to the contagion of patients carrying the disease. COVID-19 testing was performed with SARS-CoV-2 nasal-pharyngeal (NP) swabs. Positive subjects to LUS scanning were considered those with non-coascelent B-lines in >3 zones, coalescent B-lines in >3 zones and with iperdensed patchy non-consolidated lungs. Sixty-three percent had positive NP testing and 65% had LUS signs of pulmonary injury. LUS had a sensitivity of 79% in predicting positive NP testing. Sixteen percent of residents tested negative for SARSCoV-2 carried the signs of COVID-19 lung injury at LUS. There were 92 patients (61%) with current or recent symptoms.Positivity to LUS scanning was reported in 73% of residents with symptoms, while it was 53% in those without (P=0.016). A positive NP testing was observed in 66% of residents with symptoms and in 57% of those without (P=0.27). We conclude that assessment of LUS by portable wireless scanner echography can be profitability utilized to diagnose lung injury among senior nursing home residents with or without symptoms compatible with COVID-19 pneumonia.
The presence of Gc (vitamin D binding protein) has been consistently demonstrated on the membrane of B lymphocytes. This protein appears to be spatially associated with surface immunoglobulins. The origin of this surface protein has not yet been determined and the purpose of the present paper was to investigate if Gc may bind to human lymphocytes after immunoglobulin (Ig) capping. For this purpose the presence of Gc on B lymphocytes was examined by three different approaches. First, when cells were examined by immunofluorescence and quantified by flow cytometry, membrane Ig capping was followed by a dramatic decrease in positivity for Gc when compared to native cells. In addition, incubation of capped cells with purified Gc was followed by a significant increase in fluorescence, indicating that this protein had been able to bind again. Second, analysis of solubilized lymphocytes by Western blotting showed that native lymphocytes and capped cells incubated with purified Gc contained a large quantity of a 56kDa protein which was immunoreactive with anti Gc antibodies. This protein band was much weaker on blots from capped cells not treated with Gc. Third, radiobinding assays indicated that, following capping, cells were able to bind Gc in saturable fashion. These results suggest that membrane Gc could play a role in the entry of vitamin D metabolites into lymphocytes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.