Publications by authors named "Marta Lepore"

Prevention of infections is crucial in solid organ transplant (SOT) candidates and recipients. These patients are exposed to an increased infectious risk due to previous organ insufficiency and to pharmacologic immunosuppression. Besides infectious-related morbidity and mortality, this vulnerable group of patients is also exposed to the risk of acute decompensation and organ rejection or failure in the pre- and post-transplant period, respectively, since antimicrobial treatments are less effective than in the immunocompetent patients.

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Differential diagnosis between Polyoma virus associated-nephropathy (PVAN) and T-cell mediated rejection (TCMR) might be challenging, as respective treatment approaches are totally opposite. Here we report the illustrative case of a kidney transplant recipient with PVAN who developed a persistent acute TCMR after full abrogation of viral infection through immunosuppression modulation. By simultaneous functional immune monitoring of BKV and donor-specific T-cell responses using IFN-γELISPOT assay, we retrospectively demonstrated the predominant effector mechanisms responsible of allograft injury and thus, potential guidance for treatment decision-making.

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This consensus document is aimed at providing an updated, multidisciplinary overview on the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric nephrotic syndrome (NS) at first presentation. It is the first consensus document of its kind to be produced by all the pediatric nephrology centres in Italy, in line with what is already present in other countries such as France, Germany and the USA. It is based on the current knowledge surrounding the symptomatic and steroid treatment of NS, with a view to providing the basis for a separate consensus document on the treatment of relapses.

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Aim: of the study was to analyse the impact of SXR rs3842689 polymorphism on the response to corticosteroids in pediatric idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Patients & Methods: 66 children (56 steroid-sensitive, ten steroid-resistant) were studied for SXR gene polymorphism distribution.

Results: Steroid sensitive patients accounted for 96% of cases with In/In polymorphism, but only for 53% of cases with Del/Del polymorphism At odds ratio analysis, Del/Del represented a clear risk factor of steroid resistance (OR: 20.

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Purpose of this review is to deal with priorities and strategies to significantly tackle inequalities in the management of pediatric diseases in low-middle-income countries. This issue has become a focal point of epidemiological and public health, with special reference to chronic nontransmissible diseases. We will provide our readership with an essential overview of the cultural, institutional, and political events, which have occurred over the last 20 y and which have produced the current general framework for epidemiology and public health.

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Background: The optimal therapeutic regimen for managing childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is still under debate. We have evaluated the choice of steroid regimen and of symptomatic treatment adopted by pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists in a large number of centers as the first step towards establishing a shared protocol

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective study. A total of 231 children (132 admitted to pediatric units) aged 6 months to <15 years who presented with onset of nephrotic syndrome to 54 pediatric units and six pediatric nephrology units in Italy between 2007 and 2009 were eligible for entry into the study.

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We have investigated the potential role of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in enhancing the integration of traumatic memories by measuring EEG coherence, power spectra and autonomic variables before (pre-EMDR) and after (post-EMDR) EMDR sessions during the recall of patient's traumatic memory. Thirteen EMDR sessions of six patients with post-traumatic stress disorder were recorded. EEG analyses were conducted by means of the standardized Low Resolution Electric Tomography (sLORETA) software.

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The aim of the present study was to explore the modifications of EEG power spectra and EEG connectivity of resting state (RS) condition in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Seventeen patients and seventeen healthy subjects matched for age and gender were enrolled. EEG was recorded during 5min of RS.

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Aim: Cyclosporine is characterized by a wide interindividual variability in its pharmacokinetics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ABCB1 and SXR SNPs on cyclosporine exposure in a group of kidney transplant patients followed up from childhood to adulthood.

Patients & Methods: Recipients were genotyped for ABCB1 C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T, and for SXR RS3842689 and A7635G.

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