CD38 (also known as T10) was identified in the late 1970s in the course of pioneering work carried out at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center (Boston, MA) that focused on the identification of surface molecules involved in antigen recognition. CD38 was initially found on thymocytes and T lymphocytes, but today we know that the molecule is found throughout the immune system, although its expression levels vary. Because of this, CD38 was considered an ''activation marker,'' a term still popular in routine flow cytometry. This review summarizes the findings obtained from different approaches, which led to CD38 being re-defined as a multifunctional molecule. CD38 and its homologue CD157 (BST-1), contiguous gene duplicates on human chromosome 4 (4p15), are part of a gene family encoding products that modulate the social life of cells by means of bidirectional signals. Both CD38 and CD157 play dual roles as receptors and ectoenzymes, endowed with complex activities related to signaling and cell homeostasis. The structure-function analysis presented here is intended to give clinical scientists and flow cytometrists a background knowledge of these molecules. The link between CD38/CD157 and human diseases will be explored here in the context of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myeloma and ovarian carcinoma, although other disease associations are also known. Thus CD38 and CD157 have evolved from simple leukocyte activation markers to multifunctional molecules involved in health and disease. Future tasks will be to explore their potential as targets for in vivo therapeutic interventions and as regulators of the immune response. V C 2013 International Clinical Cytometry Society

Objectives: To detect possible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA contamination of inanimate surfaces in areas at high risk of aerosol formation by patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: Sampling was performed in the emergency unit and the sub-intensive care ward. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was extracted from swabbed surfaces and objects and subjected to real-time RT-PCR targeting RNAdependent RNA polymerase and E genes. Virus isolation from positive samples was attempted in vitro on Vero E6 cells. Results: Twenty-six samples were collected and only two were positive for low-level SARS-CoV-2 RNA, both collected on the external surface of continuous positive airway pressure helmets. All transport media were inoculated onto susceptible cells, but none induced a cytopathic effect on day 7 of culture. Conclusions: Even though daily contact with inanimate surfaces and patient fomites in contaminated areas may be a medium of infection, our data obtained in real-life conditions suggest that it might be less extensive than hitherto recognized.

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Aim To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and potential prescribing omissions (PPO) in hospital‐discharged older patients, according to the recently updated Screening Tool of Older People's Prescriptions and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment version 2 criteria. Methods This was a multicenter prospective observational study of patients aged ≥65 years consecutively discharged from geriatric and internal medicine wards. Each patient underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, and PIM and PPO at discharge were determined according to the Screening Tool of Older People's Prescriptions and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment version 2 criteria. A multivariate logistic regression was carried out to identify variables independently associated with PIM and PPO. Results Among 726 participants (mean age 81.5 years, 47.8% women), the prevalence of PIM and PPO were 54.4% and 44.5%, respectively. Benzodiazepines and proton‐pump inhibitors were the drugs most frequently involved with PIM, whereas PPO were often related to 5‐alpha reductase inhibitors, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, statins and drugs for osteoporosis. The number of medications (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.15–1.28) and discharge from geriatric units (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.40–0.75) were associated with PIM, whereas PPO were independently associated with discharge from geriatric wards (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31–0.62), age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.07), comorbidities (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.04–1.30) and the number of drugs (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05–1.18). Conclusions Inappropriate prescribing is highly prevalent among hospital‐discharged older patients, and is associated with polypharmacy and discharge from internal medicine departments. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 5–11.