Publications by authors named "Giovanni Sotgiu"
Background: Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). Few studies investigated its role in airway inflammation and its correlation with lung function.
Objectives: The aim of the present study is to assess its effect after 1 year of treatment, focusing on airway inflammation.
Background: ( ) is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause multiple life-threatening infections. Recently, there has been an upward trend in carbapenem-resistant infections in China. This epidemiological trend needs to be examined to enable better disease control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite a reduction of both incidence and mortality from CRC, recent studies have shown an increase in the incidence of early-onset CRC (EO-CRC). Data on this setting are limited. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and molecular profiles of metastatic EO-CRC patients in order to identify differences compared to a late-onset CRC (LO-CRC) control group.
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- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with unknown causes, linked to vascular abnormalities and complications like pulmonary hypertension (PH).*
- A literature review reveals crucial molecular mechanisms involved in vascular changes related to IPF, emphasizing their potential as prognostic markers and highlighting the impact of antifibrotic therapies.*
- The findings suggest that the vasculature is integral to IPF's progression and that emerging treatments with a vascular focus may improve outcomes for patients.*
A large number of people worldwide grapple with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and a significant portion of them confront resistance to conventional antidepressant treatments. Esketamine, an innovative intervention, has garnered attention due to its rapid-acting antidepressant effects. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of esketamine in individuals with MDD and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAggressiveness evaluation of borderline serous ovarian tumors by analysis of Psammoma bodies present in cancer tissues using micro-FTIR spectroscopy.
Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc
February 2025
Article Synopsis
Introduction: DNA methylation-based biomarkers have been investigated as useful tools in the carcinogenesis process, including the triage of HPV-associated cancers. In this context, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis focused on evaluating the changes in the level of DNA methylation in cases of pre-cancerous (i.e.
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- Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) is a fixed-dose combination therapy found to be effective for people living with HIV who switched from other treatments.
- A study involving 127 patients showed that virological suppression improved from 66.4% to 74.8% over 96 weeks, along with significant increases in CD4 and CD8 T cell counts and the CD4/CD8 ratio.
- The treatment was associated with lower levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol, indicating a better metabolic profile, although there was a notable increase in serum creatinine levels.
Objective: Many biologic agents cause some degree of immunosuppression, which can increase the risk of reactivation of tuberculosis infection (TBI). This risk is variable between individual biologics. We aimed to assess current (and recommended) clinical practice of TBI screening and treatment among patients initiating treatment with biologic agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by airway and systemic inflammation with prevalence increasing with age. Given the median age of the patients, it is common to observe the presence of comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular diseases, which have been linked to adverse clinical outcomes. To investigate the pooled estimates of the association between bronchiectasis and coronary heart disease or stroke within this population, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available scientific evidence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA scientific manifesto for a new 5-year period: a new horizon for Pneumonia.
Pneumonia (Nathan)
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- Osteoporosis is a major health issue for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), increasing fracture risks and complicating treatments, especially in advanced CKD stages 4 and 5.
- A review of 12 randomized controlled trials with over 31,000 participants found that certain anti-osteoporotic medications (like teriparatide and denosumab) significantly reduce vertebral fracture risk, although their effectiveness is less pronounced in stages 4 and 5 of CKD.
- The study shows romosozumab resulted in better improvements in bone mineral density (BMD) across all CKD stages, with no serious side effects reported for any of the treatments.
Article Synopsis
- Asthma and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are common in children and can negatively impact their quality of life and asthma management.
- A study of 78 asthmatic children revealed that 37.2% had SDB, which was more prevalent among those with uncontrolled asthma (60.1% vs. 27.3%).
- Children with SDB scored lower on asthma control and quality of life assessments, indicating that SDB exacerbates asthma issues and affects daily living, suggesting a need for further sleep studies in those with uncontrolled asthma.
Article Synopsis
- * A study involving 352 patients found that microcalcifications were present in 83% of calcified ILNs, and 93.6% of these ILNs were associated with malignancy, compared to only 44.9% in ILNs without calcifications.
- * Patients with lung cancer who had calcified ILNs also showed a higher occurrence of ALK rearrangement, indicating a potential genomic link related to the presence of microcalcifications.
Treatment of Aggressive Behavior and Agitation in an 11-Year-Old Boy with Co-Occurring Autism and ADHD: A Case Report and Literature Review on the Use of Intravenous Valproate in Emergency Psychiatry.
J Clin Med
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder often seen alongside ADHD, where behavioral therapy is the primary treatment, but medication may also be necessary for severe symptoms like agitation.
- Intravenous valproate (IV-VPA) has shown promise in treating agitation in patients with ASD, potentially offering a safer alternative to conventional medications, although it is not yet widely approved for this use.
- A case study of an 11-year-old boy demonstrated successful treatment with IV-VPA after first-line approaches failed, reinforcing the potential benefits and reduced adverse effects associated with this medication based on existing literature.
Background: Epigenetic biomarkers in cancer have emerged as promising tools for early detection, prognosis, and treatment response prediction. In cervical cells, hypermethylation of the host and viral HPV-genome increases with the severity of lesions, providing a useful biomarker in the triage of hr-HPV-positive women and during treatment. The present study focuses on evaluating the clinical performance of the FAM19A4/miR124-2 methylation test in a population-based cervical screening program.
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- High blood eosinophils in COPD patients may indicate how well they respond to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment, but this study focused on those treated only with bronchodilators for two years.
- The study monitored 63 COPD patients' lung function, blood and sputum eosinophils, and exacerbations every six months, finding that after two years, 29% of patients needed to add ICS due to worsening symptoms.
- Despite some patients receiving ICS, blood and sputum eosinophil levels remained stable and did not correlate with exacerbations, though a history of ischemic heart disease was linked to increased blood eosinophils over time.
Background: Hemoptysis is a challenging and potentially life-threatening medical condition. The most appropriate diagnostic work-up is debated and several diagnostic approaches are implemented worldwide.
Methods: An international, online survey was carried out to investigate the current practice of the diagnostic work-up of patients with hemoptysis of unknown etiology.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how modifying the surface of titanium substrates influences the growth of copper, which is used for reducing nitrates in water.
- It explores different surface treatment methods, including etching with hydrogen fluoride and anodizing to create nanotube structures, along with assessing the effects of a calcination step before copper deposition.
- Results indicate that surface treatments significantly affect the morphology and nucleation of copper particles, resulting in enhanced conductivity and superior nitrate reduction performance, particularly with the etched titanium substrate achieving 30% nitrate removal after 2 hours.
Article Synopsis
- Preliminary studies indicate that extracorporeal CO removal (ECCOR) combined with Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) may help patients with moderate ARDS and acute renal failure, especially in the context of COVID-19, but more research is needed.
- This study compared moderate ARDS patients with COVID-19 who received the ECCOR+CRRT treatment to a historical control group without COVID-19, using metrics like driving pressure to evaluate effectiveness.
- Results showed a significant reduction in driving pressure in COVID-19 patients after treatment, but no differences in 28-day mortality or mechanical ventilation duration when compared to the control group, suggesting ECCOR+CRRT could be beneficial for managing respiratory pressures in these patients.
Article Synopsis
- Improving patient activation may lead to shorter hospital stays and better post-surgery outcomes for patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
- In a study of over 4,500 patients, those with lower preoperative activation levels were more likely to experience delayed discharge, higher symptom burden, and increased need for unplanned healthcare after surgery.
- The study, conducted across 90 Italian surgical centers, found no significant difference in postoperative complications between patients with low and high activation levels.
Article Synopsis
- * Involved 127 children (average age of 2 years), showing no arrhythmias or significant heart abnormalities during their hospital stay despite some elevated lab markers in younger kids.
- * Findings suggest that serious cardiac involvement is rare in non-MIS-C COVID-19 pediatric cases, indicating that standard heart evaluations may not be necessary unless there are specific symptoms.
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a non-malignant disease, characterized by the production of wart-like growths in the respiratory tract, affecting both young people and adults (juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, JORRP, and adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, AORRP, respectively). Infection caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) is known as the main factor involved in RRP development. Complications of RRP may rarely occur, including lung involvement and malignant transformation.
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