Women’s Special Issue Series: Life

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2022) | Viewed by 35301

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 E Coliseum Blvd, SB 344, Fort Wayne, IN 46805, USA
Interests: cyanobacteria; ultraviolet radiation; sunscreen; scytonemin; soil; microbiome

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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Roma, Italy
Interests: gene expression regulation in mouse Sertoli cells; endocannabinoid system; spermatogenesis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to celebrate with us the achievements of women in science by contributing an original life science research article to this Special Issue of Life. We are living in a time of great awareness and interest in such initiatives, and we recognize that highlighting the success of women in science is critical to recruiting the next generation of women scientists. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, only 28% of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce in the United States was made up of women. Thus, our challenge is to encourage more young women to explore careers in the sciences, leading towards a more inclusive environment with equal representation.

Through this Special Issue of Life, we aim to provide greater visibility of current female role models in the life sciences to address some of the challenges faced by young women considering a STEM career. Studies show that women are less likely than men to have role models or mentors in science, which can then affect their academic success and professional development. Furthermore, girls may not choose a career in science due to implicit biases and negative stereotypes in their own beliefs or from those around them. Exposing young girls to women making an impact in the sciences can have powerful outcomes.

It is our goal to highlight and celebrate the achievements of women in science by cultivating an environment that is friendly to young women aspiring to have a career in the life sciences. While the purpose of our Special Issue is to promote and celebrate the achievements of women in science, we do so without imposing gender-specific restrictions and welcome submissions from all authors, irrespective of gender identity.

Dr. Tanya Soule
Dr. Paola Grimaldi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • women in science
  • medical research
  • biology
  • gene
  • physiology and pathology
  • protein

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 4228 KiB  
Article
Colchicine versus Physical Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis
by George Ovidiu Cioroianu, Alesandra Florescu, Anca Emanuela Mușetescu, Teodor Nicușor Sas and Otilia Constantina Rogoveanu
Life 2022, 12(9), 1297; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12091297 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2440
Abstract
Background: The treatment of osteoarthritis remains a major challenge due to the unavailability of a disease-modifying medication and the limitations of current therapeutic perspectives, which mainly target the symptoms, not the disease itself. The purpose of our study is to compare the efficacy [...] Read more.
Background: The treatment of osteoarthritis remains a major challenge due to the unavailability of a disease-modifying medication and the limitations of current therapeutic perspectives, which mainly target the symptoms, not the disease itself. The purpose of our study is to compare the efficacy of colchicine treatment versus physical therapy. Methods: The study included 62 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, hospitalized within the time frame of October 2020–March 2022 in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Craiova. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. The observation period was 16 weeks long. The first group (31 patients) received colchicine at a dosage of 1 mg/day together with analgesics (acetaminophen < 2 g/day), while the second group (31 patients) received analgesics (acetaminophen < 2 g/day) together with a 16-week plan of physiotherapy. Results: Group II, in which patients underwent physical therapy, demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in both left (p < 0.001) and right (p = 0.012) knee VAS and WOMAC (p = 0.038) scores at 16 weeks, compared to the group treated with colchicine. Regarding the MSUS examination at 16 weeks, there were no significant changes in the structural abnormalities and no improvement in cartilage aspect or thickness. Higher BMI was associated with higher WOMAC score (p = 0.012), but not with higher VAS score (p = 0.062). Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were associated with high WOMAC (p < 0.001; p = 0.021) and high VAS (p = 0.023; p < 0.001) scores. Conclusions: Our study monitored VAS and WOMAC scores in two groups of patients with KOA, showing that physical therapy is more effective than colchicine in reducing symptoms. We found no statistically significant difference in musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) feature improvement during the 16-week study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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13 pages, 5780 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Response during the Kinetics of Anhydrobiosis in Two Eutardigrade Species
by Ilaria Giovannini, Paola Antonia Corsetto, Tiziana Altiero, Gigliola Montorfano, Roberto Guidetti, Angela Maria Rizzo and Lorena Rebecchi
Life 2022, 12(6), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12060817 - 30 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2216
Abstract
Anhydrobiosis, a peculiar adaptive strategy existing in nature, is a reversible capability of organisms to tolerate a severe loss of their body water when their surrounding habitat is drying out. In the anhydrobiotic state, an organism lacks all dynamic features of living beings [...] Read more.
Anhydrobiosis, a peculiar adaptive strategy existing in nature, is a reversible capability of organisms to tolerate a severe loss of their body water when their surrounding habitat is drying out. In the anhydrobiotic state, an organism lacks all dynamic features of living beings since an ongoing metabolism is absent. The depletion of water in the anhydrobiotic state increases the ionic concentration and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). An imbalance between the increased production of ROS and the limited action of antioxidant defences is a source of biomolecular damage and can lead to oxidative stress. The deleterious effects of oxidative stress were demonstrated in anhydrobiotic unicellular and multicellular organisms, which counteract the effects using efficient antioxidant machinery, mainly represented by ROS scavenger enzymes. To gain insights into the dynamics of antioxidant patterns during the kinetics of the anhydrobiosis of two tardigrade species, Paramacrobiotus spatialis and Acutuncus antarcticus, we investigated the activity of enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and the amount of non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione) in the course of rehydration. In P. spatialis, the activity of catalase increases during dehydration and decreases during rehydration, whereas in A. antarcticus, the activity of superoxide dismutase decreases during desiccation and increases during rehydration. Genomic varieties, different habitats and geographical regions, different diets, and diverse evolutionary lineages may have led to the specialization of antioxidant strategies in the two species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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14 pages, 1001 KiB  
Article
Females with Diabetes Mellitus Increased the Incidence of Premenstrual Syndrome
by Yao-Ming Huang, Wu-Chien Chien, Chun-Gu Cheng, Yin-Han Chang, Chi-Hsiang Chung and Chun-An Cheng
Life 2022, 12(6), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12060777 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2248
Abstract
Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a multifactorial disorder caused by hormone and autonomic imbalance. In our study, hyperglycemia-induced insulin secretion increased progesterone secretion and progressive autonomic imbalance. The young patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) revealed hypo-parasympathetic function and hypersympathetic function compared with nondiabetic [...] Read more.
Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a multifactorial disorder caused by hormone and autonomic imbalance. In our study, hyperglycemia-induced insulin secretion increased progesterone secretion and progressive autonomic imbalance. The young patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) revealed hypo-parasympathetic function and hypersympathetic function compared with nondiabetic controls. Young female patients with DM with higher blood sugar and autonomic malfunction may be associated with PMS. However, there is a lack of evidence about DM in females related to PMS. We evaluated female patients with DM who subsequently followed PMS in a retrospective cohort study. Methods: We retrieved data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Female patients with DM between 20 and 50 years old were assessed by the International Classification of Disease, 9 Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) disease code of 250. Patients who were DM-free females were fourfold matched to the control group by age and disease index date. The ICD-9-CM disease code of 625.4 identified the incidence of PMS followed by the index date as events. The possible risk factors associated with PMS were detected with a Cox proportional regression. Results: DM was a significant risk factor for PMS incidence with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.683 (95% confidence interval: 1.104–2.124, p < 0.001) in females after adjusting for age, other comorbidities, season, urbanization status of patients and the hospital status of visiting. Conclusions: This study noted an association between DM and PMS in female patients. Healthcare providers and female patients with DM must be aware of possible complications of PMS, aggressive glycemic control, decreased hyperglycemia and autonomic dysfunction to prevent this bothersome disorder. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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19 pages, 6185 KiB  
Article
Morphological Characters and Molecular Phylogeny Reveal Three New Species of Subgenus Russula from China
by Bin Chen, Junfeng Liang, Xumeng Jiang and Jie Song
Life 2022, 12(4), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12040480 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2473
Abstract
Three new species are described and illustrated here based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic analysis from China. Russula leucomarginata is recognized by a yellowish red to reddish brown pileus center, a yellowish white to reddish white and sometimes cracked margin, and a reddish [...] Read more.
Three new species are described and illustrated here based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic analysis from China. Russula leucomarginata is recognized by a yellowish red to reddish brown pileus center, a yellowish white to reddish white and sometimes cracked margin, and a reddish white to pastel pink stipe. Russula roseola is characterized by its reddish white to ruby red pileus center, pink to rose margin, adnate to slightly decurrent lamellae with unequal-length lamellulae, reddish white to pink stipe, and occasionally three-celled pileocystidia. Russula subsanguinaria is morphologically characterized by a reddish brown to dark brown pileus center, a reddish orange to brownish red margin with striation, a reddish white to pink stipe with an expanded base, basidiospores with moderately distant to dense amyloid warts, and hymenial cystidia turning to reddish black in SV. In this study, we performed phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequence and 28S-RPB1-RPB2-mtSSU datasets. Detailed morphological features and phylogenetic analysis indicate that these three new species belong to Russula subg. Russula. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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10 pages, 3269 KiB  
Article
Interobserver Reliability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Sacroiliac Joints in Axial Spondyloarthritis
by Anca Emanuela Mușetescu, Anca Bobircă, Florin Liviu Gherghina, Alesandra Florescu, Florin Bobircă, Paulina Lucia Ciurea, Cristina Criveanu, Alice Muscă, Lucian Mihai Florescu and Ioana Andreea Gheonea
Life 2022, 12(4), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12040470 - 23 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2301
Abstract
Introduction: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is characterized by damage to the axial skeleton and entheses, and is often associated with extra-articular manifestations, in the presence of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27. The aim of our study is to assess the performance of rheumatologists [...] Read more.
Introduction: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is characterized by damage to the axial skeleton and entheses, and is often associated with extra-articular manifestations, in the presence of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27. The aim of our study is to assess the performance of rheumatologists in interpreting the inflammatory and structural damage to sacroiliac joints, in comparison to radiologists. Material and Methods: The present study included a total of 34 patients diagnosed with axSpA, according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for axSpA, examined from January 2021 to November 2021 in the Departments of Rheumatology and Radiology and Medical Imaging of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova. All patients underwent physical examination, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac joints. The images were interpreted by a senior radiologist (SR), a junior radiologist (JR), a senior rheumatologist (SRh), and a junior rheumatologist (JRh), who were blinded to the clinical and paraclinical data. Results: The overall κ was 0.7 for the JR (substantial agreement), 0.707 for the SRh (substantial agreement), and 0.601 for the JRh (moderate agreement), in comparison with the SR. Regarding the overall inflammatory changes, the SRh and JR were proven to have substantial agreement (κ = 0.708 and 0.742, respectively) with the SR, while the JRh was proven to have moderate agreement (κ = 0.607). The structural damage observed by the JR showed substantial agreement (κ = 0.676) with the SR, while the SRh and JRh had substantial and moderate agreement (κ = 0.705 and 0.596, respectively) with the SR. Conclusions: Our study showed substantial agreement between the senior radiologist, senior rheumatologist, and junior radiologist, and moderate agreement with the junior rheumatologist. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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15 pages, 2623 KiB  
Article
Proteomic Alterations in Follicular Fluid of Human Small Antral Follicles Collected from Polycystic Ovaries—A Pilot Study
by Indira Pla, Aniel Sanchez, Susanne Elisabeth Pors, Stine Gry Kristensen, Roger Appelqvist, K. Barbara Sahlin, György Marko-Varga, Claus Yding Andersen and Johan Malm
Life 2022, 12(3), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12030391 - 8 Mar 2022
Viewed by 5280
Abstract
Polycystic ovaries (PCO) contain antral follicles that arrest growing around 3–11 mm in diameter, perturbing the dominant follicle’s selection and the subsequent ovulatory process. Proteomic alterations of PCO follicular fluid (FF) (i.e., microenvironment in which the oocyte develops until ovulation) have been studied [...] Read more.
Polycystic ovaries (PCO) contain antral follicles that arrest growing around 3–11 mm in diameter, perturbing the dominant follicle’s selection and the subsequent ovulatory process. Proteomic alterations of PCO follicular fluid (FF) (i.e., microenvironment in which the oocyte develops until ovulation) have been studied from large follicles in connection with oocyte pickup during ovarian stimulation. The present study aimed to detect proteomic alterations in FF from unstimulated human small antral follicles (hSAF) obtained from PCO. After performing deep-sequencing label-free proteomics on 10 PCO and 10 non-PCO FF samples from unstimulated hSAF (4.6–9.8 mm), 1436 proteins were identified, of which 115 were dysregulated in PCO FF samples. Pathways and processes related to the immune system, inflammation, and oxidative stress appeared to be upregulated in PCO, while extracellular matrix receptors interactions, the collagens-containing extracellular matrix, and the regulation of signaling were downregulated. The secreted proteins SFRP1, THBS4, and C1QC significantly decreased their expression in PCO FF, and this downregulation was suggested to affect future oocyte competence. In conclusion, our study revealed, for the first time, evidence of proteomic alterations occurring in the FF of PCO hSAF that may be related to the dysfunction of follicular growth and subsequent oocyte competence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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Review

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12 pages, 1520 KiB  
Review
Antibacterial Effects of Phytocannabinoids
by Cassidy Scott, Daniel Neira Agonh and Christian Lehmann
Life 2022, 12(9), 1394; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12091394 - 7 Sep 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3860
Abstract
Antibiotics are used as the first line of treatment for bacterial infections. However, antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to the future of antibiotics, resulting in increased medical costs, hospital stays, and mortality. New resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading globally, impeding the [...] Read more.
Antibiotics are used as the first line of treatment for bacterial infections. However, antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to the future of antibiotics, resulting in increased medical costs, hospital stays, and mortality. New resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading globally, impeding the success of antibiotics in treating common infectious diseases. Recently, phytocannabinoids have been shown to possess antimicrobial activity on both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The therapeutic use of phytocannabinoids presents a unique mechanism of action to overcome existing antibiotic resistance. Future research must be carried out on phytocannabinoids as potential therapeutic agents used as novel treatments against resistant strains of microbes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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Other

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13 pages, 3352 KiB  
Case Report
Anti-MDA5 Amyopathic Dermatomyositis—A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge
by Anca Bobirca, Cristina Alexandru, Anca Emanuela Musetescu, Florin Bobirca, Anca Teodora Florescu, Magdalena Constantin, Tiberiu Tebeica, Alesandra Florescu, Sebastian Isac, Mihai Bojinca and Ioan Ancuta
Life 2022, 12(8), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12081108 - 23 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4554
Abstract
Clinically amyopathic Dermatomyositis (CADM) is a rare subtype of idiopathic inflammatory myositis, associated with no muscular manifestations, which is more frequent in Asian women. Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibodies are a recently discovered type of specific autoantibodies associated with myositis. The anti-MDA5 [...] Read more.
Clinically amyopathic Dermatomyositis (CADM) is a rare subtype of idiopathic inflammatory myositis, associated with no muscular manifestations, which is more frequent in Asian women. Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibodies are a recently discovered type of specific autoantibodies associated with myositis. The anti-MDA5 DM was initially described in Japan and later it was discovered that the target antigen was a protein implicated in the innate immune response against viruses, that is encoded by the melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5. Anti-MDA5 DM is characteristically associated with distinguished mucocutaneus and systemic manifestations, including skin ulcerations, palmar papules, arthritis, and interstitial-lung disease. Patients with anti-MDA5 positivity have a high risk of developing rapid progressive interstitial-lung disease (RP-ILD), with a poor outcome. As a result, despite high mortality, diagnosis is often delayed, necessitating increased awareness of this possible condition. Despite a severe course of lung disease and an increased mortality rate, there is currently no standard treatment. Recent insights based on observational studies and case reports support combined therapy with immunosuppressive drugs and corticotherapy, as soon as the symptoms appear. The aim of this paper is to describe anti-MDA5 DM, focusing on the recent literature about the unique clinical manifestations and therapeutic options, starting from a severe clinical case diagnosed in our Rheumatology Department. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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11 pages, 1281 KiB  
Systematic Review
Local Corticosteroid Injections versus Surgical Carpal Tunnel Release for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Luise Schäfer, Nicola Maffulli, Alice Baroncini, Jörg Eschweiler, Frank Hildebrand and Filippo Migliorini
Life 2022, 12(4), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12040533 - 4 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6210
Abstract
Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. This meta-analysis compared local steroid injections (LSIs) versus carpal tunnel release (CTR) for the management of CTS. Neurophysiological parameters, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and the complication rate were investigated. We hypothesized that [...] Read more.
Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. This meta-analysis compared local steroid injections (LSIs) versus carpal tunnel release (CTR) for the management of CTS. Neurophysiological parameters, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and the complication rate were investigated. We hypothesized that LSIs may represent an effective and safe alternative to surgical management. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA statement. All the clinical investigations comparing LSIs versus CTR for carpal tunnel syndrome were accessed. In March 2022, the following databases were accessed: Pubmed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase. No time constrains were used for the search. The risk of bias and statistical analyses were conducted using the Review Manager Software 5.3 (The Nordic Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen). Results: Data from 1096 procedures were retrieved. The mean follow-up was 12.3 (1 to 58) months. The mean age of the patients was 51.1 ± 4.6. Nocturnal paraesthesia (p < 0.0001) and visual analogue scale (p < 0.0001) were greater in the LSIs cohort. No difference was found in the functional (p = 0.2) and symptom (p = 0.4) subscales of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), median nerve distal motor latency (p = 0.9), median nerve motor amplitude (p = 0.7), median nerve sensory conduction velocity (p = 0.4), or median nerve sensory amplitude (p = 0.3). No difference was found in terms of minor complications (p = 0.9). No major complications were observed within the duration of follow-up. Conclusion: Both CTR and LSIs were effective and feasible in reducing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Though LSIs led to greater pain relief, this superiority was not permanent. Irrespective of the severity of the symptoms, current evidence suggests that a cycle of LSIs may be considered in patients with CTS. However, patients must be aware that LSIs may not be the definitive therapy, and CTR should be recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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7 pages, 922 KiB  
Case Report
Visceral Leishmaniasis Associated with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature
by Magda Zanelli, Alessandro Tafuni, Francesca Sanguedolce, Maurizio Zizzo, Andrea Palicelli, Edoardo Simonetti, Nando Scarpelli, Martina Quintini, Daniele Rosignoli, Sara Grasselli, Alberto Cavazza, Giovanni Martino and Stefano Ascani
Life 2022, 12(2), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020185 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2223
Abstract
Infections often complicate the course of hematological diseases and may represent a diagnostic challenge. In particular, visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis may be missed in lymphoma patients, as lymphoma-related immunosuppression can lead to a misleadingly negative Leishmania serology and to atypical clinical manifestations, including the [...] Read more.
Infections often complicate the course of hematological diseases and may represent a diagnostic challenge. In particular, visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis may be missed in lymphoma patients, as lymphoma-related immunosuppression can lead to a misleadingly negative Leishmania serology and to atypical clinical manifestations, including the lack of fever, considered a common symptom in leishmaniasis. Herein, we report a case of visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with a long history of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia presenting with increasing fatigue and diarrhea, in the absence of fever. Leishmania serology was negative. Bone marrow biopsy performed with the clinical suspicion of transformation to high-grade lymphoma disclosed intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies resembling Leishmania amastigotes within the cytoplasm of macrophages, and CD1a immunohistochemical expression helped to confirm the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Liposomal amphotericin B was administered with complete symptom resolution. The correct identification of Leishmania is critical as visceral leishmaniasis represents a severe disease with an often fatal outcome, particularly in frail patients, unless promptly recognized and adequately treated. A review of the literature of visceral leishmaniasis cases occurring in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients is performed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Life)
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