Publications by authors named "Berardis S"

Unlabelled: Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF-NBS) using an IRT-DNA algorithm with a 12 CFTR-variant panel and an IRT/IRT failsafe was officially implemented in the French-speaking Community of Belgium in January 2020. This screening protocol was evaluated after 4 years according to the criteria defined by the European Cystic Fibrosis Society's working group on neonatal screening. Immunoreactive trypsinogen concentration (IRT) was measured on dried blood spots collected between the second and the fourth day of life.

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Background: The 1-min sit-to-stand test (1STST) is a practical tool to evaluate physical capacity. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of tezacaftor and ivacaftor on functional exercise capacity, muscle strength and symptoms in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF).

Methods: The assessments were performed during the first year of tezacaftor and ivacaftor using the 1STST, 6-min walk test (6MWT), MicroFET2 dynamometer®, CF Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ).

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Background: Quadriceps muscle weakness and reduced exercise tolerance are prevalent and associated with a worse prognosis in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The one-minute sit-to-stand test (1STST) has been proposed to evaluate functional exercise capacity and quadriceps strength.

Research Question: The aim of the study was to verify the relationship between the 1STST and the maximal isometric voluntary contraction of the quadriceps (MVCQ) evaluated by the dynamometer in stable patients with CF and to evaluate the impact of intravenous (IV) antibiotherapy.

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Congenital exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a rare condition. In a vast majority of patients, exocrine dysfunction occurs as part of a multisystemic disease, the most prevalent being cystic fibrosis and Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome. Recent fundamental studies have increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of these diseases.

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Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth pulmonary tumor is a rare condition that mostly affects immunosuppressed patients. This case describes a young boy with a history of kidney transplantation who presented recurrent pneumonia. Multiple endobronchial soft tissue tumors affecting both right and left bronchial tree were found and partially removed by bronchoscopy.

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Vitamin D toxicity is associated with accidental overdoses due to manufacturing or intake errors and its secondary hypercalcemia can result in severe morbidity. Although patients with cystic fibrosis are potentially at increased risk for this intoxication as prescription of vitamin D preparations is a common practice in this population, the frequency of such events is currently unknown. We performed a retrospective analysis of all the files of cystic fibrosis patients followed at the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc over a 10-year period, recording 25(OH)- and 1,25(OH)vitamin D levels as well as demographic data, lung function tests, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and results from pharmacological analysis of magistral liposoluble vitamins preparations.

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Background: In Belgium, COVID-19 epidemy began on February 4, 2020 with a peak on April 10, 2020. Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) followed in the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc were rapidly isolated before the government lockdown.

Methods: After the peak of the epidemy, we measured anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies in 149 patients and collected clinical data.

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Article Synopsis
  • - A new method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed to detect four Alternaria toxins in tomato and fruit products, employing a QuEChERs extraction technique.
  • - The optimization of the extraction involved testing various factors like pouch types, sample weights, water amounts, and purifications steps, resulting in high linearity and precision for all toxins tested.
  • - The method analyzed 57 samples from the Italian market, revealing noticeable levels of tenuazonic acid, with the highest concentration of 814 μg/kg found in a tomato sauce sample.
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Background: Progressive liver fibrosis leads to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. This disease is a consequence of strong interactions between matrix-producing hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and resident and infiltrating immune cell populations. Accumulated experimental evidence supports the involvement of adult-derived human liver mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (ADHLSCs) in liver regeneration.

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Progressive liver fibrosis is a major health issue for which no effective treatment is available, leading to cirrhosis and orthotopic liver transplantation. However, organ shortage is a reality. Hence, there is an urgent need to find alternative therapeutic strategies.

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Aim: To test the ability of adult-derived human liver stem/progenitor cells (ADHLSC) from large scale cultures to conjugate bilirubin in vitro and in bilirubin conjugation deficient rat.

Methods: ADHLSC from large scale cultures were tested for their phenotype and for their capacity to conjugate bilirubin in vitro after hepatogenic differentiation. In vivo, Gunn rats [uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) deficient animal] were injected with ADHLSC and cryopreserved hepatocytes (positive control).

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Adult-derived human liver stem/progenitor cells (ADHLSC) are obtained after primary culture of the liver parenchymal fraction. The cells are of fibroblastic morphology and exhibit a hepato-mesenchymal phenotype. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) derived from the liver non-parenchymal fraction, present a comparable morphology as ADHLSC.

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Unlabelled: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifactorial condition that encompasses a wide spectrum of liver abnormalities ranging from simple liver steatosis to steatohepatitis (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), which may be associated with fibrosis and progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. NAFLD has recently become the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents. NAFLD prevalence, alongside obesity, continues to increase among pediatric patients.

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