Antiretroviral drugs used for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have proven to be effective even against cancer. Drawing from this background, the aim of our research project was to evaluate the effects of anti-HIV drugs that belong to the nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NRTI; abacavir (ABC) and tenofovir (TDF)], nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NNRTI; efavirenz (EFV) and etravirine (ETR)], and protease inhibitor [PI; darunavir (DRV)] categories on ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SKOV-3. Using FACS analysis, we observed that treatment with NRTIs and NNRTIs showed a block in the G0/G1 phase. In particular, ETR displayed a relevant block in the progression of the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle compared with the other examined drugs, and it also induced differentiation of SKOV-3 cells. In contrast, FACS analysis demonstrated that ABC and the PI inhibitor DRV showed no effect on the proliferation of cancer cells. DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining demonstrated that cells treated with NNRTIs (EFV and ETR) presented more DNA damage compared with other treatments. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that TDF, EFV, and ETR were able to obtain a reduction in the expression of cyclin D1 and Rb hypophosphorylation, and an increase in p21 concentration. Finally, we observed that ETR also induced differentiation, as demonstrated by Western blot, with high levels of E-cadherin expression. Therefore, our study provides additional evidence supporting the in vitro cytotoxic effects of ETR and EFV. Furthermore, it promotes the hypothesis for their potential use as therapeutic agents in ovarian cancer.

Acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease are considered conditions that can increase the mortality and severity of COVID-19. However, few studies have investigated the impact of creatinine levels on COVID-19 progression in patients without a history of chronic kidney disease. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of creatinine levels at hospital admission on COVID-19 progression and mortality.

Since the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic an important tool for patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been the computed tomography (CT) scan, but not always available in some settings The aim was to find a cut-off that can predict worsening in patients with COVID-19 assessed with a computed tomography (CT) scan and to find laboratory, clinical or demographic parameters that may correlate with a higher CT score.

The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in treating SARS-CoV-2 infection is harshly debated, with observational and experimental studies reporting contrasting results. To clarify the role of HCQ in Covid-19 patients, we carried out a retrospective observational study of 4,396 unselected patients hospitalized for Covid-19 in Italy (February-May 2020). Patients' characteristics were collected at entry, including age, sex, obesity, smoking status, blood parameters, history of diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and chronic pulmonary diseases, and medications in use. These were used to identify subtypes of patients with similar characteristics through hierarchical clustering based on Gower distance. Using multivariable Cox regressions, these clusters were then tested for association with mortality and modification of effect by treatment with HCQ. We identified two clusters, one of 3,913 younger patients with lower circulating inflammation levels and better renal function, and one of 483 generally older and more comorbid subjects, more prevalently men and smokers. The latter group was at increased death risk adjusted by HCQ (HR[CI95%] = 3.80[3.08-4.67]), while HCQ showed an independent inverse association (0.51[0.43-0.61]), as well as a significant influence of cluster∗HCQ interaction (p < 0.001). This was driven by a differential association of HCQ with mortality between the high (0.89[0.65-1.22]) and the low risk cluster (0.46[0.39-0.54]). These effects survived adjustments for additional medications in use and were concordant with associations with disease severity and outcome. These findings suggest a particularly beneficial effect of HCQ within low risk Covid-19 patients and may contribute to clarifying the current controversy on HCQ efficacy in Covid-19 treatment.