Publications by authors named "Sandro Giannini"

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) provokes biochemical and systemic alterations, causing bone fragility with an increase in bone fracture risk, extraskeletal calcifications, increased morbidity, and cardiovascular mortality. The complex pathophysiological mechanism causes a syndrome called CKD-MBD (Chronic Kidney Disease - Mineral and Bone Disorders), which includes mineral and bone alterations leading to renal osteodystrophy (ROD). An early diagnosis is therefore essential to prevent the onset of more severe complications.

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Unlabelled: A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the frequency of vitamin D blood testing in individuals from the Padua province, Veneto, Italy from 2005 to 2016. A significant increase in the frequency of vitamin D blood tests, particularly in females was observed and in individuals with severe vitamin D deficiency (Class I).

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to negative health outcomes that extend beyond bone-related conditions.

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Article Synopsis
  • Chronic kidney disease and related mineral bone disorders increase the risk of vascular calcifications and bone fractures due to factors like calcium overload and hormonal imbalances.
  • Vitamin K-dependent proteins, such as matrix Gla protein (MGP) and bone Gla protein (BGP), play crucial roles in these risks, with studies suggesting calcimimetics may have protective effects.
  • The ETERNITY-ITA study will compare the effects of Etelcalcetide versus traditional vitamin D on VKDP levels and the health of blood vessels and bones in hemodialysis patients over 18 months.
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Over the last decades, in addition to the improvement of pathophysiological knowledge regarding the role and mechanisms of action of vitamin D, there has been a progressive advancement in analytical technologies for its measurement, as well as in methodological standardization. A significant number of scientific works, meta-analyses, and guidelines have been published on the importance of vitamin D and the need for supplementation in deficient individuals. However, it appears necessary to clarify the fundamental elements related to the measurement of vitamin D (both at the strictly analytical and post-analytical levels) and the scientific evidence related to the efficacy/safety of supplementation.

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Background: A score to predict the association between unexplained osteoporosis and an underlying systemic Mastocytosis (SM) is lacking.

Objective: This study aimed at identifying criteria able to predict the diagnosis of SM without skin involvement and provide an indication for bone marrow (BM) assessment.

Methods: We included 139 adult patients with unexplained osteoporosis and suspected SM.

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Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by hypophosphatemia, bone mineralization disorders with increased risk of fragility fractures, muscle pain, and progressive weakness. TIO has been associated with increased production of the phosphaturic hormone Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) usually by mesenchymal tumors of soft tissue or bone (Phosphaturic Mesenchymal Tumors-PMTs). In rare cases TIO may be observed in association with other malignancies.

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Article Synopsis
  • - X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare disorder caused by high levels of FGF23, leading to phosphate loss and decreased vitamin D production, while burosumab is a treatment that helps restore phosphate levels by inhibiting FGF23.
  • - This post-authorization safety study (PASS) monitors the long-term safety of burosumab in children and adolescents aged 1-17 years, with this first interim analysis focusing on the initial safety outcomes based on registry data.
  • - The analysis involved 67 participants, with 37.3% reporting at least one adverse event, primarily musculoskeletal issues; however, there were no serious adverse events or treatment withdrawals, indicating that the safety profile of
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Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term clinical efficacy of first-generation autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) technique for osteochondral lesions of the ankle joint.

Methods: Eleven patients with symptomatic OLTs underwent ACI from December 1997 to October 2002. A total of 9 patients (5 men, 4 women, age 25.

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  • The guideline is designed to help healthcare professionals manage sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in adults, excluding cases during pregnancy.
  • Developed through a systematic review process, the guideline focuses on identifying critical outcomes that impact treatment decisions, emphasizing pharmacological and surgical options.
  • Key recommendations include recommending parathyroidectomy for symptomatic patients or those with specific criteria, while also providing guidance for monitoring other related health issues.
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Objectives: Tubular maximum phosphate reabsorption per glomerular filtration rate (TmP/GFR) is used to evaluate renal phosphate reabsorption and it is a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of hypophosphatemic syndromes. TmP/GFR is typically calculated from fasting plasma and second morning void urine samples, obtained 2 h after the first void (TmP/GFR 2 h). The purpose of this study was to evaluate if TmP/GFR calculated from 24 h urine collection (TmP/GFR 24 h) can be used as an alternative for TmP/GFR 2 h in patients with urine phosphate wasting.

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Article Synopsis
  • X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare genetic disorder that causes phosphate wasting in the kidneys and is linked to increased levels of the hormone FGF23; its rarity can lead to delayed diagnosis, worsening patient outcomes.
  • The International XLH Registry was launched in 2017 to gather data on XLH patients of all ages, with an interim analysis reporting on 579 participants as of March 2021, highlighting a longer diagnosis time for older adults compared to children.
  • Data collected included family histories and genetic testing, revealing that a significant proportion of patients had biological relatives also affected by XLH, while most had a confirmed genetic mutation related to the disorder.
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Hepatitis C-associated osteosclerosis (HCAO) is a very rare condition that can be observed in a small number of patients with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. HCAO is usually characterized by widespread bone sclerosis, associated with severe bone pain, and increased levels of bone turnover markers, especially alkaline phosphatase (ALP). In this report, we present the case of a 55-year-old woman who was affected by HCV and came to our attention for severe and diffuse bone pain.

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: The correction of iron deficiency (ID) with ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is a recommended intervention in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. Our aim is to evaluate, in a real-life setting, the clinical significance of ID screening and FCM treatment in acute decompensated HF (ADHF). : In a cohort of ADHF patients, the prevalence of ID and FCM administration were investigated.

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Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical results of the transplantation of a hyaluronic acid membrane augmented with bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) in an one-step technique for the treatment of patients affected by osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT).

Methods: A total of 101 patients (64 men, 37 women, age 32.9 ± 10.

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This Special Issue of , titled "Benefits of Vitamin D in health and diseases", includes a total of twenty-five publications that consider different aspects of vitamin D, both at the cellular/preclinical and clinical levels, in neonates or children, in pregnant women, in adults and in elderly subjects [...

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This real-world analysis evaluated the clinical and economic burden of non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients with and without secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) in Italy. An observational retrospective study was conducted using administrative databases containing a pool of healthcare entities covering 2.45 million health-assisted individuals.

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In the recent years, both the prescriptions of serum 25(OH)D levels assay, and vitamin D supplementation are constantly increasing, as well as the costs to be incurred relating to these specific aspects. As in many other countries, the risk of vitamin D deficiency is particularly high in Italy, as recently confirmed by cohort studies in the general population as well as in patients with metabolic bone disorder. Results confirmed the North-South gradient of vitamin D levels described among European countries, despite the wide use of supplements.

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Article Synopsis
  • X-linked hypophosphataemia (XLH) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by elevated FGF23 levels, leading to phosphate-wasting and various bone-related issues.
  • Traditional treatments like oral phosphate and vitamin D supplements don't fully address the root causes or all symptoms of the disease.
  • A new study (PASS) is assessing the long-term safety of burosumab, a monoclonal antibody treatment for XLH, using data from a global registry over the next decade.
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Background And Aims: The most recent guidelines suggest treating patients whose FRAX 10-year fracture risk scores are ≥ 20%. However, this method of evaluation does not take into account parameters that are nonetheless relevant to the therapeutic choice. Our aim was to compare the therapeutic choices for treatment based on a wider assessment (real-world practice) with those based on FRAX scores, taking 20% as the cut-off score.

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In October 2019, the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) restricted reimbursement criteria for vitamin D (VD) use outside the osteoporosis setting (Note 96). However, whether this restriction could also have involved patients at risk for or with osteoporotic fractures has not yet been investigated. We retrospectively analyzed databases from five Italian Local Health Units.

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  • Bone biopsy (BB) with histomorphometric analysis is the gold standard for diagnosing and classifying renal osteodystrophy, offering detailed insights into various bone parameters that other methods can't accurately capture.
  • Despite its importance in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, the number of bone biopsies performed has declined due to factors like the perceived invasiveness of the procedure, pain, and issues with reimbursement.
  • A multidisciplinary Italian position paper emphasizes the need to reintegrate bone biopsies into CKD management by standardizing procedures, creating support networks, and advocating for better reimbursement policies.
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Purpose: Tumor induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare disease of mineral metabolism, whose clinical picture is dominated by hypophosphatemia usually due to an excess of circulating FGF23 produced by small mesenchymal tumors. Data on the real prevalence of the disease are lacking, with the knowledge of the disease mainly relying on case reports and small case series. No estimate is available on the prevalence of uncured TIO.

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