Publications by authors named "Luigi Celani"

Higher risk of cerebrospinal fluid escape (CVE) has been associated with the use of specific antiretroviral (ARV) classes, such as protease inhibitors. We assessed whether archived resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) can mediate this relationship by identifying patients treated with incompletely active antiretroviral regimens. A retrospective multicentric study on 282 adult people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and available historical plasma genotype resistance testing (HGRT) for reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease genes between 2001 and 2021.

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Despite the wide use of single-tablet regimens (STRs), few real-life data are available regarding the impact of pre-existent drug resistance on virological failure (VF). We aimed to fill this gap by analysing a large cohort of individuals selected from the ARCA database. The impact on VF of pre-existent resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) and cumulative genotypic susceptibility score (cGSS) before STR start was evaluated through survival analysis.

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Alteration of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) expression, including miRNA-122a, -146a and -205 family members, can have profound effects on inflammatory and IFN pathways (miRNA-146a), known as hallmarks of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-infected patients were recruited at Policlinico Umberto I Hospital of Sapienza University of Rome (Italy). MiRNA-122a, -146a, -205 and IFI27 (Interferon Alpha Inducible Protein 27) levels were screened in SARS-CoV-2 patients (n = 14) and healthy controls (n = 10) by real-time RT-PCR assays.

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Article Synopsis
  • Long COVID involves persistent symptoms like fatigue and brain fog, indicating potential long-term effects on the central nervous system after COVID-19 infection.
  • Probiotic supplementation during hospitalization was given to 24 out of 58 COVID-19 patients, revealing that those who received it (OB+) reported significantly lower levels of fatigue six months post-discharge compared to those who did not (OB-).
  • Metabolomic profiling indicated that the OB+ group had higher levels of certain beneficial metabolites, suggesting probiotics may help prevent chronic fatigue by influencing energy and glucose utilization pathways.
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Despite the "migrants and COVID-19" topic has been neglected since felt marginal concerning other aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it represents a relevant public health issue in the European countries. This report describes COVID-19 containment strategies adopted in a large Italian reception center hosting recently arrived asylum-seeker migrants. Risk assessment and prevention measures adopted were described.

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Objective: Given the aging of people living with HIV (PLWH) and the high prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, we aimed at describing the clinical, instrumental, and CSF features of PLWH diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia (AD).

Methods: The databases of 3 large Italian outpatient clinics taking care of more than 9,000 PLWH were searched for the diagnosis of AD. After obtaining patients' or their next of kin's consent for publication, anonymous data were collected in an excel spreadsheet and described.

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Background: We previously reported that severe COVID-19 patients had higher chances of survival and a reduced risk of developing respiratory failure when administered with the probiotic formulation SLAB51. This study aimed to investigate further bacteriotherapy mechanisms and how early they are activated.

Methods: We performed an analysis on the blood oxygenation parameters collected in sixty-nine severe COVID-19 patients requiring non-invasive oxygen therapy and presenting a CT lung involvement ≥50%.

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Objectives: COVID-19 may show no peculiar signs and symptoms that may differentiate it from other infective or non-infective etiologies; thus, early recognition and prompt management are crucial to improve survival. The aim of this study was to describe clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to those with other infective or non-infective etiologies.

Methods: We performed a prospective study from March 2020 to February 2021.

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Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and durability of treatment switch to two-drug (2DR) vs. three-drug (3DR) integrase inhibitor (InSTI)-based regimens in a real-life setting.

Methods: Within the ODOACRE cohort, we selected adult patients with HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL switching to an InSTI-based 2DR or 3DR.

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Transplanted patients are particularly exposed to a major risk of infectious diseases due to prolonged immunosuppressive treatment. Over the last decade, the growing migration flows and the transplant tourism have led to increasing infections caused by geographically restricted organisms. Malaria is an unusual event in organ transplant recipients than can be acquired primarily or reactivation following immunosuppression, by transfusion of blood products or through the transplanted organ.

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Mounting evidence suggests SARS-CoV-2 may impact on host microbiota and gut inflammation, infecting intestinal epithelial cells. This possible link and its implications can be investigated by observing the effects of modulation of the microbial flora in patients with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to compare the rate of mortality, the need of ICU hospitalization and the length of hospitalization in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who received the best available therapy (BAT) vs.

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To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of switching to a dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen in a cohort of virological suppressed HIV-infected patients who have previously been treated with different antiretroviral combination. The dynamics of total HIV-DNA and levels of high-sensitivity c-reactive protein, interleukin-6, soluble-CD14, and D-Dimer were also analyzed. Ninety-six individuals who switched to a DTG-containing regimen were followed up for 48 weeks.

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Background: Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score is a bedside prognostic tool for patients with suspected infection outside the intensive care unit (ICU), which is particularly useful when laboratory analyses are not readily available. However, its performance in potentially septic patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) needs to be examined further, especially in relation to early outcomes affecting acute management.

Objective: First, to compare the performance of qSOFA and CURB-65 in the prediction of mortality in the emergency department in patients presenting with CAP.

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Article Synopsis
  • Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is increasingly being observed in patients without typical immunocompromised conditions, prompting a need for better risk assessment.
  • The study aimed to create a predictive model for IPA in influenza patients using machine learning techniques, specifically decision trees.
  • Among 77 hospitalized influenza patients, five cases of IPA were identified, indicating that those with lymphocytopenia or who received corticosteroid therapy are notably more at risk.
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Gastrointestinal disorders are frequent in COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 has been hypothesized to impact on host microbial flora and gut inflammation, infecting intestinal epithelial cells. Since there are currently no coded therapies or guidelines for treatment of COVID-19, this study aimed to evaluate the possible role of a specific oral bacteriotherapy as complementary therapeutic strategy to avoid the progression of COVID-19. We provide a report of 70 patients positive for COVID-19, hospitalized between March 9th and April 4th, 2020.

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To investigate the effects of oral bacteriotherapy on intestinal phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, in this longitudinal, double-arm trial, 15 virally suppressed HIV+ individuals underwent blood and fecal sample collection at baseline and after 6 months of oral bacteriotherapy. A baseline fecal sample was collected from 15 healthy individuals and served as control group for the baseline levels of fecal phenylalanine and tyrosine. CD4 and CD8 immune activation (CD38) was evaluated by flow cytometry.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study highlights the need for gender-specific research in HIV treatment, revealing that sex-related biological factors may influence immune activation levels during HIV-1 infection.
  • Thirty individuals on long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) were studied, showing that immune activation was significantly higher in the gut compared to peripheral blood, with women exhibiting greater levels of immune activation than men.
  • The findings suggest that recognizing these sex-related differences could lead to better, tailored clinical management for individuals living with HIV.
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: In people living with HIV (PLWH), antiretroviral treatments have increased the median life expectancy. Raltegravir (RAL) represents a long-term safe regimen used both in the first-line antiretroviral treatments and in the optimization strategies. Aim of the study was to evaluate the real-life efficacy, tolerability, and safety of the long-term RAL use in a multicenter cohort of elderly PLWH.

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We investigated the effectiveness and safety of a dual therapy (DT) with lamivudine plus dolutegravir versus a single tablet regimen (STR) with abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir. We performed a retrospective analysis in a cohort of virologically suppressed HIV+ patients switching to lamivudine-dolutegravir or abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir. We evaluated the incidence of virological failure and treatment discontinuation, as well as their predictors.

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Purpose: The Observational cohort for the study of DOlutegravir in Antiretroviral Combination REgimens (ODOACRE) cohort was established in Italy in 2016 to evaluate the overall efficacy and tolerability of dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral (ARV) regimens in clinical practice.

Participants: The ODOACRE cohort enrols all adult HIV-1-infected patients, both treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced, starting a DTG-based ARV regimen, in 11 clinical centres in Italy from 2014.

Findings To Date: In recent years, various works by the ODOACRE cohort have been produced, demonstrating the high efficacy and tolerability of DTG-based ARV regimens in clinical practice, both in ART-naïve (in the setting of acute HIV-1 infection and late presenters patient) and experienced patients.

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: Asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) is a disease that is difficult to diagnose in people living with HIV (PLWH). The European Guidelines on the management of syphilis suggest that ANS should be suspected and thus the lumbar puncture (LP) should be performed in cases of (1) late syphilis (acquired >2 years previously), (2) CD4 cells ≤ 350/mm and/or a serum Venereal Disease Research Laboratory/Rapid Plasma Reagin (VDRL/RPR) title > 1:32, (3) "serological failure" after syphilis therapy, and (4) the use of alternative treatment for syphilis. In the present study, we aimed to verify the accuracy of the guideline's criteria for the indication of LP in the suspicion of ANS in a cohort of PLWH.

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The aims were to describe efficacy and tolerability of regimens containing dolutegravir (DTG) in advanced ART-naïve people living with HIV (PLHIV) from the clinical practice. The frequency of Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS), the estimated time of discontinuation of the first ART regimen and the time to reach virological suppression in a multicenter cohort of AIDS-presenters or late-presenters with CD4 <350/μL were assessed. We included 272 PLHIV: 120 (44%) AIDS-presenters and 152 (56%) late-presenters.

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Background: ' ability to evade host immune responses represents a serious threat for vulnerable patients.

Objectives: To investigate if (1) feces from healthy subjects exert anti- activity; (2) fecal anti- activity is modified by probiotic administration and (3) different probiotic differently modulate anti- activity.

Patients And Methods: Feces from healthy donors were analyzed before and after seven days of dietary supplementation with two different probiotic formulations (VSL#3; Vivomixx).

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: No consensus has been reached on how to define cerebrospinal fluid HIV-1 escape (CSF-E). We describe its prevalence in 1095 paired CSF-plasma HIV-RNA measurements from antiretroviral-treated patients according to several definitions and neurological affections. CSF-E prevalence varied substantially (9.

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