Introduction: Several recent case reports have described common early chest imaging findings of lung pathology caused by 2019 novel Coronavirus (SARS-COV2) which appear to be similar to those seen previously in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infected patients. Objective: We present some remarkable imaging findings of the first two patients identified in Italy with COVID-19 infection travelling from Wuhan, China. The follow-up with chest X-Rays and CT scans was also included, showing a progressive adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Results: Moderate to severe progression of the lung infiltrates, with increasing percentage of high-density infiltrates sustained by a bilateral and multi-segmental extension of lung opacities, were seen. During the follow-up, apart from pleural effusions, a tubular and enlarged appearance of pulmonary vessels with a sudden caliber reduction was seen, mainly found in the dichotomic tracts, where the center of a new insurgent pulmonary lesion was seen. It could be an early alert radiological sign to predict initial lung deterioration. Another uncommon element was the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy with short-axis oval nodes. Conclusions: Although only two patients have been studied, these findings are consistent with the radiological pattern described in literature. Finally, the pulmonary vessels enlargement in areas where new lung infiltrates develop in the follow-up CT scan, could describe an early predictor radiological sign of lung impairment.
Our results demonstrate that general population-based studies combined with analyses of patient cohorts provide good opportunities for gene discovery in IBS. The 7p22.1 and other risk signals detected in this study constitute a good starting platform for hypothesis testing in future functional investigations.
Significance: Cytochromes b561 (CYB561s) constitute a family of trans-membrane (TM), di-heme proteins, occurring in a variety of organs and cell types, in plants and animals, and using ascorbate (ASC) as an electron donor. CYB561s function as monodehydroascorbate reductase, regenerating ASC, and as Fe 3+ -reductases, providing reduced iron for TM transport. A CYB561-core domain is also associated with dopamine bmonooxygenase redox domains (DOMON) in ubiquitous CYBDOM proteins. In plants, CYBDOMs form large protein families. Physiological functions supported by CYB561s and CYBDOMs include stress defense, cell wall modifications, iron metabolism, tumor suppression, and various neurological processes, including memory retention. CYB561s, therefore, significantly broaden our view on the physiological roles of ASC. Recent Advances: The ubiquitous nature of CYB561s is only recently being recognized. Significant advances have been made through the study of recombinant CYB561s, revealing structural and functional properties of a unique ''two-heme four-helix'' protein configuration. In addition, the DOMON domains of CYBDOMs are suggested to contain another heme b. Critical Issues: New CYB561 proteins are still being identified, and there is a need to provide an insight and overview on the various roles of these proteins and their structural properties. Future Directions: Mutant studies will reveal in greater detail the mechanisms by which CYB561s and CYBDOMs participate in cell metabolism in plants and animals. Moreover, the availability of efficient heterologous expression systems should allow protein crystallization, more detailed (atomic-level) structural information, and insights into the intramolecular mechanism of electron transport.
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