Publications by authors named "Floris M"

Cisplatin is a nephrotoxic agent able to damage renal function both in acute and chronic phases. Radiotherapy concomitant with cisplatin 100 mg/m given once every 3 weeks is the curative standard of care for locally advanced head and neck cancer. A prospective evaluation of a wide range of biochemical and anthropometrical parameters, handgrip strength, risk of malnutrition, visual analogue scale of appetite, and body composition was performed before, during, and after concomitant chemoradiotherapy in 60 consecutive patients affected by locally advanced head and neck cancer.

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Background: Antibody-mediated rejection is a significant cause of kidney transplant failure. Recent studies have shown that the MHC class I gene influences the transplantation outcome. However, the role of the primary receptor, NKG2D, has yet to be explored.

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  • * The research analyzed data from 465 kidney cancer patients and 256 living kidney donors, revealing high rates of post-surgery AKI, especially among donors, and varied progression of CKD depending on the type of surgery performed.
  • * Findings indicated that factors such as age and health conditions prior to surgery can predict CKD progression, emphasizing that both kidney cancer patients and living donors face considerable risks related to kidney function after surgery.
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  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease linked to both genetic and environmental factors, involving the immune system and myelin changes associated with RNA, particularly circular RNAs (circRNAs).
  • A study analyzed circRNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from five newly diagnosed MS patients and five healthy controls, using a microarray to identify significant differences.
  • The research found 64 differentially expressed circRNAs, with 53 downregulated in MS patients, validated in a larger cohort, suggesting a specific circRNA as a potential biomarker for MS severity and progression.
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This retrospective analysis investigates the outcomes and complications of 682 kidney biopsies performed at ARNAS G. Brotzu from 2010 to 2021. Our findings indicate a minor complication rate of 9.

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Background: Cancer patients are prone to developing acute kidney disease (AKD), yet this phenomenon remains understudied compared to acute kidney injury (AKI). AKD, which often develops insidiously, can cause treatment interruptions, extended hospital stays, and increased mortality.

Summary: This perspective article explores the intricate relationship between AKD and cancer, focusing on prevalence, risk factors, implications for anticancer therapy, and long-term outcomes, including chronic kidney disease progression.

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Anaemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has a significant impact on quality of life (QoL), work productivity and outcomes. Current management includes oral or intravenous iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), to which hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) have been recently added, increasing the available therapeutic options. In randomised controlled trials, only intravenous iron improved cardiovascular outcome, while some ESAs were associated with increased adverse cardiovascular events.

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Introduction: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have been shown to improve disease outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. They may also impair the immune response to vaccines, including the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. However, available data on both the intrinsic immune effects of DMTs and their influence on cellular response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are still incomplete.

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Pharmacogenetics investigates sequence of genes that affect drug response, enabling personalized medication. This approach reduces drug-induced adverse reactions and improves clinical effectiveness, making it a crucial consideration for personalized medical care. Numerous guidelines, drawn by global consortia and scientific organizations, codify genotype-driven administration for over 120 active substances.

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African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a devastating disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. ASF was first introduced in Sardinia in 1978 and until 2019 only genotype I isolates were identified. A remarkable genetic stability of Sardinian ASFV isolates was described, nevertheless in 2019 two wild boar isolates with a sustained genomic deletion (4342 base pairs) were identified (7303WB/19, 7212WB/19).

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Nutritional therapy (NT) based on a controlled protein intake represents a cornerstone in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, if a CKD patient is at the same time affected by cancer, oncologists and nutritionists tend to suggest a dietary regimen based on high protein intake to avoid catabolism and malnutrition. International guidelines are not clear when we consider onco-nephrological patients and, as a consequence, no clinical shared strategy is currently applied in clinical practice.

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Natural products have many healing effects on the skin with minimal or no adverse effects. In this study, we analyzed the regenerative properties of a waste product (hydrolate) derived from () on scratch-tested skin cell populations seeded on a fluidic culture system. has always been recognized in the traditional medicine of Mediterranean countries for its wide pharmacological activities.

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Background: A major obstacle faced by families with rare diseases is obtaining a genetic diagnosis. The average "diagnostic odyssey" lasts over five years and causal variants are identified in under 50%, even when capturing variants genome-wide. To aid in the interpretation and prioritization of the vast number of variants detected, computational methods are proliferating.

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Background: In the era of precision medicine, determining reliable renal function assessment remains a critical and debatable issue, especially in nephrology and oncology.

Summary: This paper delves into the significance of accurately measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) in clinical practice, highlighting its essential role in guiding medical decisions and managing kidney health, particularly in the context of renal cancer (RC) patients undergoing nephrotoxic anti-cancer drugs. The limitations and advantages of traditional glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation methods, primarily using serum biomarkers like creatinine and cystatin C, are discussed, emphasizing their possible inadequacy in cancer patients.

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Introduction: While the determinants influencing self-perceived health-related quality of life (spHRQoL) in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and severe physical impairment have been well investigated, their impact on pwMS with mild disability is poorly addressed. We aimed to investigate possible drivers of spHRQoL among Sardinian pwMS with an EDSS lower than 2.5.

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  • The study examined how clear communication during the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) affects patient engagement and adherence to treatment.
  • Researchers enrolled 30 patients and found a high engagement level, with 70% actively participating and nearly all patients compliant with treatment, though many experienced misunderstandings during discussions about their diagnosis and treatment.
  • Key findings highlighted the dynamics of doctor-patient conversations, showing that doctors spoke significantly more than patients or caregivers, and that regional background influenced engagement levels, necessitating further research into communication improvements.
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Wound healing is a dynamic process involving different cell types with distinct roles according to the stages of healing. Fibroblasts and stem cells actively participate in tissue regeneration. A proper stimulation could contribute to enhance wound healing process-es.

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Monoclonal Gammopathies of Renal Significance (MGRS) are a complex group of disorders characterized by the production of aberrant monoclonal proteins that interact with kidney structures, causing tissue damage. Unlike neoplastic forms, kidney damage in MGRS does not correlate with clone mass or circulating monoclonal protein levels, conferring unique pre-neoplastic or non-neoplastic properties to the responsible clones. This manuscript explores the heterogeneity of monoclonal proteins involved, varying from full immunoglobulins to free light chains (FLC), and how they result in a spectrum of kidney lesions with differing prognoses.

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Individuals who suffer from end-stage renal disease are at a higher risk of developing certain types of tumors. This risk increases as kidney function deteriorates further. Dialysis patients often witness a surge in the incidence of such malignancies.

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Kidney cancer is one of the most common cancers globally, ranking 9th and 14th among men and women, respectively. Advances in diagnostic techniques have enabled earlier and potentially less invasive interventions, however, this progress poses a challenge in managing low-malignancy tumors that were previously undiagnosed. To navigate treatment pathways, a deep understanding of the bidirectional relationship between Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is essential, influenced by risk factors such as hypertension and obesity.

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Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) is commonly used for treating hyperkalemia because it sequesters gastrointestinal potassium ions, thereby reducing serum potassium levels. However, a less-discussed aspect of SZC is its radiopacity on x-ray-based imaging techniques. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has only vaguely addressed this issue.

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Background: A major obstacle faced by rare disease families is obtaining a genetic diagnosis. The average "diagnostic odyssey" lasts over five years, and causal variants are identified in under 50%. The Rare Genomes Project (RGP) is a direct-to-participant research study on the utility of genome sequencing (GS) for diagnosis and gene discovery.

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  • The study explores how biological age, rather than just chronological age, affects heart health, focusing on different aging rates and their relation to cardiovascular risks.
  • In a sample of 2,614 healthy individuals, researchers identified three heart aging patterns—slow, normal, and accelerated—each associated with varying rates of cardiovascular events.
  • Standard echocardiography techniques can effectively measure these aging patterns, helping to predict health outcomes and potentially improve preventive strategies for heart disease.
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Background: In locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-SCCHN) at least 200mg/m (standard dose 300 mg/m) of cisplatin concomitant with radiotherapy represents the standard of care, both in postoperative and conservative settings. Nevertheless, high dose administration every 3 weeks is often replaced with low dose weekly cisplatin to avoid toxicities like kidney injury, though often failing to reach the therapeutic dose. Our aim was to investigate the incidence of renal impairment in the real-life setting, integrating high dose cisplatin with adequate supportive therapy, and to explore both Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Acute Kidney Disease (AKD), a recently described clinical renal syndrome that encompasses functional alterations of the kidney lasting fewer than 3 months.

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