Publications by authors named "Maria de Angelis"

Aims: This study explores the link between body mass index (BMI), intestinal permeability, and associated changes in anthropometric and impedance parameters, lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, fecal metabolites, and gut microbiota taxa composition in participants having excessive body mass.

Methods: A cohort of 58 obese individuals with comparable diet, age, and height was divided into three groups based on a priori clustering analyses that fit with BMI class ranges: Group I (25-29.9), Group II (30-39.

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Background: Sex may impact clinical outcomes in patients with stroke treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). We aimed to investigate the sex differences in the short-term outcomes of DAPT within a real-world population of patients with noncardioembolic mild-to-moderate ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack.

Methods: We performed a propensity score-matched analysis from a prospective multicentric cohort study (READAPT [Real-Life Study on Short-Term Dual Antiplatelet Treatment in Patients With Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack]) by including patients with noncardioembolic mild-to-moderate stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 0-10) or high-risk transient ischemic attack (age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration of transient ischemic attack, presence of diabetes [ABCD] ≥4) who initiated DAPT within 48 hours of symptom onset.

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The differentiation/maturation trajectories of different blood cell types stemming from a CD34 common ancestor takes place in different biologically relevant multidimensional spaces. Here, we generated microRNA and cytokine profiles from highly purified populations of hematopoietic progenitors/precursors derived from cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. MicroRNA and cytokine landscapes were then analyzed to find their mutual relationships under the hypothesis that the highly variable miRNome corresponds to the 'force field' driving the goal of a stable phenotype (here corresponding to the cytokine abundance pattern) typical of each cell kind.

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  • The study examined the impact of adding spinach flour (SF) to pasta, evaluating its chemical, nutritional, sensory properties, cooking performance, and microbiological stability.
  • Adding 12.5% and 25% SF improved the pasta's fiber, B vitamins, and minerals while affecting cooking time and water absorption, with the 25% version showing significant benefits for blood sugar management.
  • Sensory analysis revealed that while the pasta with 12.5% SF was more accepted, the 25% version had a stronger flavor, indicating that consumer preferences could be influenced by taste and texture, despite the pasta remaining microbiologically stable for 110 days.
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Background: According to the literature, about one third of patients with brain ischemic symptoms lasting <24 h, which are classified as Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) according to the traditional "time-based" definition, show the presence of acute ischemic lesions at neuroimaging. Recent evidence has shown that the presence of acute ischemic lesions at neuroimaging may impact on the outcome of patients with transient ischemic symptoms treated with dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT). This uncertainty is even more compelling in recent years as short-term DAPT has become the standard treatment for any non-cardioembolic TIA or minor ischemic stroke.

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  • - Short-term dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) shows better effectiveness compared to single antiplatelet treatment (SAPT) for preventing secondary strokes in patients with mild to moderate strokes and high-risk TIAs, according to a study of 2016 patients.
  • - Patients treated with DAPT had a higher likelihood of regaining pre-stroke neurological function within 90 days and showed more early neurological improvement compared to those on SAPT.
  • - The study suggests that DAPT might be a safer and more effective option than SAPT in real-world settings, even for patients not fitting the criteria of major clinical trials.
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Objective: To describe the technique of embryofetoscopy performed with 5Fr instruments with targeted evacuation of the gestational sac followed by a visual dilatation and curettage (D&C) using the hysteroscopic tissue removal system for the management of first trimester missed abortion in a patient with uterine septum.

Design: Video case-report.

Setting: University tertiary-care hospital.

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Background: Prevention and treatment of metastatic breast cancer (BC) is an unmet clinical need. The retinoic acid derivative fenretinide (FeR) was previously evaluated in Phase I-III clinical trials but, despite its excellent tolerability and antitumor activity in preclinical models, showed limited therapeutic efficacy due to poor bioavailability. We recently generated a new micellar formulation of FeR, Bionanofenretinide (Bio-nFeR) showing enhanced bioavailability, low toxicity, and strong antitumor efficacy on human lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and melanoma xenografts.

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Background/objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is currently the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Systemic inflammatory status and peripheral metabolic symptoms in the clinical picture have an impact on gut commensal bacteria.

Methods: Our designed clinical trial was based on a cohort of patients with MAFLD whose diet included the daily consumption of 400 g of "Navelina" oranges for 28 days, compared with a control group of patients with the same pathologic conditions whose diet did not include the consumption of oranges and other foods containing similar nutrients/micronutrients.

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COVID-19 remains a significant threat, particularly to vulnerable populations. The emergence of new variants necessitates the development of treatments and vaccines that induce both humoral and cellular immunity. This study aimed to identify potentially immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 peptides and to explore the intricate host-pathogen interactions involving peripheral immune responses, memory profiles, and various demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors.

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Introduction: The diagnostic workflow for endometrial carcinoma in postmenopausal asymptomatic women remains an ongoing dilemma. Whereas an ultrasonographic endometrial thickness greater than 4.0 or 5.

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Continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) is frequently performed in critically ill patients using diluted citrate for regional anticoagulation. The impact of this renal replacement strategy on plasma sodium has not been evaluated yet. Our aim was therefore to assess the period prevalence of hyponatremia (sodium <135 mmol/L) during CVVH and discuss possible underlying mechanisms.

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The majority of materials used for membrane-based separation of gas mixtures are non-renewable and non-biodegradable, and the assessment of alternative bio-based polymers requires expensive and time-consuming experimental campaigns. This effort can be reduced by adopting suitable modelling approaches. In this series of works, we propose various modelling approaches to assess the CO/CH separation performance of eight different copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) using a limited amount of experimental data for model calibration.

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  • - Hysteroscopy is an important gynecological procedure, but traditional training methods face ethical and safety concerns, increasing the need for simulation training to improve skills among medical students and residents.
  • - A systematic review analyzed studies from January 2000 to December 2023, finding that simulation training, especially with virtual reality, significantly enhances hysteroscopic skills, although the long-term retention of these skills and the development of related non-technical skills need further investigation.
  • - The findings suggest that simulation-based training is effective for skill improvement in hysteroscopy, but more rigorous research, including randomized trials, is crucial for confirming these benefits and exploring broader training outcomes.
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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects social interaction and communication. Emerging evidence links ASD to gut microbiome alterations, suggesting that microbial composition may play a role in the disorder. This study employs explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to examine the contributions of individual microbial species to ASD.

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  • - The study analyzes the short-term outcomes of patients with minor ischemic stroke from small artery occlusion (SAO-MIS) treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and compares them to patients with other causes of minor strokes.
  • - In a sample of 678 minor ischemic stroke patients, SAO-MIS showed low rates of primary outcomes (1.2% had major cardiovascular events) and a high proportion achieving excellent functional outcomes (75.5%) within 90 days.
  • - Results indicate that SAO-MIS patients have a significantly lower risk of recurrent vascular events compared to non-SAO-MIS patients, while showing similar safety outcomes, suggesting that DAPT is beneficial for SAO-M
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Most of the biogenic amines are naturally found in fermented foods as a consequence of amino acid decarboxylation. Their formation is ascribable to microorganisms (starters, contaminants and autochthonous) present in the food matrix. The concentration of these molecules is important for food security reasons, as they are involved in food poisoning illnesses.

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Background: The optimal treatment for acute minor ischemic stroke is still undefined. and options include dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT), intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), or their combination. We aimed to investigate benefits and risks of combining IVT and DAPT versus DAPT alone in patients with MIS.

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Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are normally moisture-sensitive and unstable in aqueous environments, which has considerably limited their practical applications because water/moisture is ubiquitous in many industrial processes. New materials with superior water stability are, therefore, in great demand and vital to their practical applications. Here, a novel oil/water interfacial assembly strategy is demonstrated for the synthesis of a new class of metal-organic monoacid framework (MOmAF) with exceptional water stability and chemical stability.

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Celiac disease - a prevalent food intolerance - requires strict adherence to a lifelong gluten-free (GF) diet as the only effective treatment. However, GF products often lack soluble fibre and have a high glycaemic index. Consequently, there is a pressing need in the food industry to develop GF products with improved nutritional profiles.

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A very low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) impacts host metabolism in people marked by an excess of visceral adiposity, and it affects the microbiota composition in terms of taxa presence and relative abundances. As a matter of fact, there is little available literature dealing with microbiota differences in obese patients marked by altered intestinal permeability. With the aim of inspecting consortium members and their related metabolic pathways, we inspected the microbial community profile, together with the set of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from untargeted fecal and urine metabolomics, in a cohort made of obese patients, stratified based on both normal and altered intestinal permeability, before and after VLCKD administration.

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There is increasing evidence indicating that changes in both the composition and functionality of the intestinal microbiome are closely associated with the development of several chronic inflammatory diseases, with celiac disease (CeD) being particularly noteworthy. Thanks to the advent of culture-independent methodologies, the ability to identify and quantify the diverse microbial communities residing within the human body has been significantly improved. However, in the context of CeD, a notable challenge lies in characterizing the specific microbiota present on the mucosal surfaces of the intestine, rather than relying solely on fecal samples, which may not fully represent the relevant microbial populations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has been shown to be effective in preventing recurrent strokes after minor ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) in controlled trials, prompting a need to evaluate its real-world efficacy and safety.
  • The READAPT study observed 1,920 patients in a real-world setting, finding that only a small percentage followed strict research protocols; however, the overall rates of stroke or death due to vascular causes were low (3.9%) and serious bleeding events were rare (0.6%).
  • Most patients did not meet the strict criteria of randomized controlled trials, yet DAPT proved to be both effective and safe, especially in patients with lower NIHSS scores and delayed treatment
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Unlabelled: Gluten possesses unique properties that render it only partially digestible. Consequently, it exerts detrimental effects on a part of the worldwide population who are afflicted with celiac disease (1%) or related disorders (5%), particularly due to the potential for cross-contamination even when adhering to a gluten-free diet (GFD). Finding solutions to break down gluten during digestion has a high nutritional and social impact.

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Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is considered the optimal treatment for children with end-stage organ failure; however, increased efforts are needed to understand the gap surrounding equitable access to and health outcomes of SOT for Indigenous children. This scoping review summarizes the literature on the characteristics of access to and health outcomes of pediatric SOT among Indigenous children in the settler-colonial states of Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. A search was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL for studies matching preestablished eligibility criteria from inception to November 2021.

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