Publications by authors named "Sotgiu G"

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.

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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.

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Background: 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.*
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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).

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Borderline ovarian tumor is a type of tumor with generally low malignant potential. However, these tumors pose diagnostic challenges with benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors because the clinical symptoms are similar and investigation procedures for specific diagnosis are still debated. In addition, a small number of borderlines transform into high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma with a poor prognosis.

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The design of iron-based coated conductors (IBS-CC) with a simplified architecture is possible thanks to the material properties that allow for milder requirements on the template crystalline quality. With respect to the state-of-the-art multilayered layout, it is possible to use a single buffer layer that remains necessary for protection and to promote the oriented growth of the superconducting film. In this work, Fe(Se,Te) films are grown via pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on commercial tapes using a single, chemically deposited, CeO-based buffer layer, and interesting properties are obtained.

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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.
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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.

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Background: 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.

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The valorization of discarded wool from dairy sheep breeding is a challenging issue. The most proposed strategies lie in the processing of keratin extracted from wool without reducing the molecular weight of the protein chains (the high molecular weight-HMW keratin). Here, the HMW keratin has been spun for the first time by solution blow spinning.

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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • * 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.
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  • 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.
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Combinations of synthetic polymers, such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), with natural biomolecules, such as keratin, show potential in the field of biomedicine, since these hybrids merge the thermoresponsive properties of PNIPAM with the bioactive characteristics of keratin. This synergy aims to produce hybrids that can respond to environmental stimuli while maintaining biocompatibility and functionality, making them suitable for various medical and biotechnological uses. In this study, we exploit keratin derived from wool waste in the textile industry, extracted via sulfitolysis, to synthesize hybrids with PNIPAM microgel.

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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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Introduction: Patients with central neoplasms and haemoptysis show low survival rates. Symptom control without recurrence 48 h after bronchoscopic interventions may improve the prognosis of these patients. Bronchoscopic argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a useful technique for endobronchial management of haemoptysis in patients with central malignancies.

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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.
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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.

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