102 results on '"Picconi O"'
Search Results
2. High HIV-1 diversity in immigrants resident in Italy (2008–2017)
- Author
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Maggiorella M. T., Sanarico N., Brindicci G., Monno L., Santoro C. R., Coppola N., Cuomo N., Azzurri A., Cesario F., Luciani F., El-Hamad I., D'Ettorre G., Turriziani O., Mazzuti L., Poggi A., Vichi F., Mariabelli E., Surace L., Berardelli G., Picconi O., Cenci A., Sernicola L., Rovetto C., Fulgenzi D., Belli R., Salvi E., Zeo P. D., Borsetti A., Ridolfi B., Losappio R., Zoboli F., Schietroma I., Cella E., Angeletti S., Ciccozzi M., D'Amato S., Ensoli B., Butto S., Angarano G., Babudieri S., Scheri G. C., Lichtner M., Martini S., Mazzella A., Romano N., Pansera A., Pontali E., Raddi A., Starnini G., Dell'Isola S., Maggiorella, M. T., Sanarico, N., Brindicci, G., Monno, L., Santoro, C. R., Coppola, N., Cuomo, N., Azzurri, A., Cesario, F., Luciani, F., El-Hamad, I., D'Ettorre, G., Turriziani, O., Mazzuti, L., Poggi, A., Vichi, F., Mariabelli, E., Surace, L., Berardelli, G., Picconi, O., Cenci, A., Sernicola, L., Rovetto, C., Fulgenzi, D., Belli, R., Salvi, E., Zeo, P. D., Borsetti, A., Ridolfi, B., Losappio, R., Zoboli, F., Schietroma, I., Cella, E., Angeletti, S., Ciccozzi, M., D'Amato, S., Ensoli, B., Butto, S., Angarano, G., Babudieri, S., Scheri, G. C., Lichtner, M., Martini, S., Mazzella, A., Romano, N., Pansera, A., Pontali, E., Raddi, A., Starnini, G., and Dell'Isola, S.
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0301 basic medicine ,Male ,Latin Americans ,Immigration ,Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ,lcsh:Medicine ,HIV Infections ,Drug resistance ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ,Cluster Analysis ,HIV Infection ,lcsh:Science ,Phylogeny ,media_common ,Recombination, Genetic ,Multidisciplinary ,Geography ,virus diseases ,High HIV-1 diversity in immigrants ,Middle Aged ,Italy ,Medicine ,Infectious diseases ,Female ,Human ,Adult ,Tuberculosis ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Science ,030106 microbiology ,Emigrants and Immigrants ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,Population screening ,Drug Resistance, Viral ,medicine ,Humans ,Hepatitis ,Cluster Analysi ,lcsh:R ,Genetic Variation ,Emigrants and Immigrant ,medicine.disease ,Antiretroviral therapy ,030104 developmental biology ,Mutation ,HIV-1 ,lcsh:Q ,Demography ,Diversity (politics) - Abstract
The proportion of new diagnoses of HIV infection in immigrants residing in Italy raised from 11% in 1992 to 29.7% in 2018. To investigate the HIV clades circulating in this community a retrospective study was performed in 557 HIV-infected immigrants living in 12 Italian cities. Immigrants originated from East-Europe and Central-Asia (11.7%), North Africa and Middle East (7.3%), South and South-East Asia (7.2%), Latin America and the Caribbean (14.4%), and sub-Saharan Africa (59.4%). More than 87% of immigrants were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), although 26.6% of them were viremic. A 22.0% of immigrants had hepatitis (HBV and/or HCV) and/or tuberculosis. HIV phylogenetic analysis on sequences from 192 immigrants showed the presence of clades B (23.4%), G (16.1%), C (10.4%), A1 (9.4%), F1 (5.2%), D (1.6%) and Circulating Recombinant Forms (CRFs) (33.9%). CRF02_AG represented 72.3% of the total CRFs. Clusters between immigrants and Italian natives were also present. Drug resistance mutations to NRTI, NNRTI, and PI drug classes occurred in 29.1% of ART-treated and in 12.9% of ART-naïve individuals. These data highlight the need for tailored public health interventions in immigrants to avoid spreading in Italy of HIV genetic forms and ART-resistant variants, as well as HIV co-morbidities.
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- 2020
3. Clinical and Functional Comparison between Anatomical and Non-Anatomical Acute Repair of Tears of the Distal Tendon of Biceps Brachii
- Author
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De Carli, A., primary, Gaj, E., additional, Pagnotta, S.M., additional, Picconi, O., additional, and Ferretti, A., additional
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- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and brain volumes in multiple sclerosis
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Dinacci, D., Tessitore, A., Russo, A., De Bonis, M. L., Lavorgna, L., Picconi, O., Sacco, R., Bonavita, S., Gallo, A., Servillo, G., Marcuccio, L., Comerci, M., Galletti, P., Alfano, B., and Tedeschi, G.
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- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Characterization of variable regions of the Gp120 protein from HIV-1 subtype C virus variants obtained from individuals at different disease stages in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Cenci, A., Tavoschi, L., D'Avenio, G., Narino, P., Becattini, S., Bernasconi, D., Chiappi, M., La Torre, L., Sukati, H., Vardas, E., Lo Presti, A., Cella, E., Ciccozzi, M., Picconi, O., Monini, P., Ensoli, B., and Buttò, S.
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virus diseases - Abstract
Background: The development of a vaccine against HIV/AIDS capable of preventing virus infection has been hampered by the HIV envelope (Env) heterogeneity that makes it difficult to induce neutralizing antibodies against Env proteins from different HIV clades. Several studies have indicated that gp120 Env protein sequence tends to change considerably during the course of HIV disease which allows the virus to escape the immune responses. In order to define gp120 sequence changes, we have characterized the V1, V2, V4 and V5 variable regions of gp120 variants from 72 HIV-1-clade-C-infected subjects from South Africa and Swaziland, which were naïve to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and at different disease stages. Sequence characteristics, such as aminoacid sequence length, presence of Putative N- Glycosylation Sites (PNGSs) and electric charge were investigated. Methods: According to the Avidity Index value and CD4+ T cell count, patients were classified for disease stage in three groups: recent, chronic and late stage, each one comprised of 24 patients. The V1 to V5 Env variable regions were directly PCR amplified from plasma virus RNA and sequenced. Results: A significant increase in the amino acid sequence length of V1 and V4 domains, and a corresponding increase of the “shifting” PNGSs were observed in the HIV variants obtained from individuals at chronic stage of disease, as compared to the recent infection group. Finally, a significant increase of the net electric positive charge of the V5 loop was found in the HIV variants from the group of subjects with late disease, as compared to the chronic disease group. Conclusion: We conclude that changes in sequence length, glycosylation pattern and net electrical charge in the variable V1, V4 and V5 regions of gp120 occur in the course of HIV infection, possibly in response to the pressure of the host immune response.
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- 2019
6. Parallel Session 14 – Cardiovascular Diseases II: Clinical versus administrative databases for stroke: preliminary data of a regional surveillance system for stroke
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Tancioni, V., De Luca, A., Picconi, O., Pezzella, F. R., Fiorelli, and Guasticchi, G.
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- 2003
7. A multicenter clinical study with myo-inositol and alpha-lactalbumin in Mexican and Italian PCOS patients.
- Author
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HERNANDEZ MARIN, I., PICCONI, O., LAGANÀ, A. S., COSTABILE, L., and UNFER, V.
- Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This open-label non-randomized clinical study aimed at evaluating the effects of myo-inositol plus alpha-lactalbumin in two groups of PCOS women, treated in Mexico and Italy. Alpha-lactalbumin was used being effective in increasing myo-inositol intestinal absorption. This effect is very useful in greatly reducing the therapeutic failure of myo-inositol in some patients (inositol resistant subjects). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 34 normal weight or overweight patients (14 in Mexico and 20 in Italy), aged 18 to 40 years, with anovulation and infertility > 1 year and insulin resistance diagnosed by HOMA-Index. Patients were administered orally with 2 g myo-inositol, 50 mg alpha-lactalbumin, and 200 μg of folic acid twice a day for 6 months. Controls were the same patients at t0 (baseline). The primary outcome was HOMA-index decrease after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Other parameters monitored were BMI, progesterone, LH, FSH, total testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides. RESULTS: Recovery was general, and its relevance was higher when the starting point was further away from the normal range. The most important results were obtained with insulin, HOMA-index, LH, and androstenedione. No significant adverse effects were detected in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical trial demonstrated for the first time that myo-inositol and alpha- lactalbumin improve important parameters in PCOS patients characterized by different metabolic profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
8. Effects of immunomodulatory treatment with subcutaneous interferon beta-1a oncognitive decline in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiplesclerosis
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Patti F, Amato MP, Bastianello S, Caniatti L, Di Monte E, Ferrazza P, Goretti B, Gallo P, BRESCIA MORRA, VINCENZO, Lo Fermo S, Picconi O, Tola MR, Trojano M, COGIMUS S.t.u.d.y.G.r.o.u.p., Patti, F, Amato, Mp, Bastianello, S, Caniatti, L, Di Monte, E, Ferrazza, P, Goretti, B, Gallo, P, BRESCIA MORRA, Vincenzo, Lo Fermo, S, Picconi, O, Tola, Mr, Trojano, M, and Cogimus, S. t. u. d. y. G. r. o. u. p.
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- 2010
9. Cognitive impairment and its relation with disease measures in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: baseline results from the Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (COGIMUS) study
- Author
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Patti, F, Amato, Mp, Trojano, M, Bastianello, S, Tola, Mr, Goretti, B, Caniatti, L, DI MONTE, E, Ferrazza, P, BRESCIA MORRA, V, LO FERMO, S, Picconi, O, Luccichenti, G, Vecchio, R, Maimone, D, Messina, S, Gasperini, C, Orefice, V, Florio, C, Portaccio, E, Zipoli, V, Bertolotto, A, Bramant, P, Sessa, E, Centonze, D, Cottone, S, Salemi, G, Falcini, M, Gallo, P, Perini, P, Gigli, Gian Luigi, Giuliani, G, Grimald, Lm, Murri, L, Lugaresi, A, Monaco, F, Montanari, E, Motti, L, Neri, S, Paciello, M, Provinciali, L, Ragno, M, Rosati, G, Ruggieri, S, Tonali, P, Batocchi, Ap, DE CARO MF, Ghezzi, A, Zaffaroni, M, Zolo, P, Zorzon, M, Signorino, M, Scarpini, E, Durelli, L, Carolei, A, Todaro, M, Spitaleri, D, Tartaglione, A., Patti, F, Amato, Mp, Trojano, M, Bastianello, S, Tola, Mr, Goretti, B, Caniatti, L, Di Monte, E, Ferrazza, P, BRESCIA MORRA, Vincenzo, Lo Fermo, S, Picconi, O, Luccichenti, G, COGIMUS Study, Group, Vecchio, R, Maimone, D, Messina, S, Gasperini, C, Orefice, V, Brescia Morra, V, Florio, C, Amato, MP, Portaccio, E, Zipoli, V, Bertolotto, A, Bramanti, P, Sessa, E, Centonze, D, Cottone, S, Salemi, G, Falcini, M, Gallo, P, Perini, P, Gigli, GL, Giuliani, G, Grimaldi, LM, Murri, L, Lugaresi, A, Monaco, F, Montanari, E, Motti, L, Neri, S, Paciello, M, Provinciali, L, Ragno, M, Rosati, G, Ruggieri, S, Tola, MR, Tonali, P, Batocchi, AP, De Caro, MF, Ghezzi, A, Zaffaroni, M, Zolo, P, Zorzon, M, Signorino, M, Scarpini, E, Durelli, L, Carolei, A, Todaro, M, Spitaleri, D, Tartaglione, A, DI MONTE, E, BRESCIA MORRA, V, LO FERMO, S, and Zorzon, Marino
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Male ,Pediatrics ,Intelligence ,Relapsing-Remitting ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Severity of Illness Index ,Disability Evaluation ,Cognition ,Risk Factors ,Odds Ratio ,Prevalence ,Neuropsychological assessment ,Prospective Studies ,Neurologic Examination ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Cognitive impairmet. Cognitive function. Multiple Sclerosis. Neuropsychological assessment ,Cognitive disorder ,Neuropsychology ,Age Factors ,Middle Aged ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Cognitive test ,Treatment Outcome ,Neurology ,Italy ,Female ,Settore MED/26 - Neurologia ,Psychology ,Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Multiple Sclerosis ,Adolescent ,Neurological examination ,Risk Assessment ,Young Adult ,Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting ,Predictive Value of Tests ,Immunologic Factors ,Humans ,Interferon-beta ,Cognition Disorders ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,medicine ,Expanded Disability Status Scale ,Multiple sclerosis ,McDonald criteria ,medicine.disease ,Physical therapy ,Neurology (clinical) - Abstract
Background Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the association between cognitive impairment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease measures in patients with relapsing–remitting (RR) MS is unclear. Objectives To study the prevalence of cognitive impairment and its relation with MRI disease measures in mildly disabled patients with RRMS. Methods Patients aged 18–50 years with RRMS (McDonald criteria) and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤4.0, who were enrolled in the Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (COGIMUS) study, underwent baseline standardized MRI complete neurological examination and neuropsychological testing. Results A total of 550 patients were enrolled, 327 of whom underwent MRI assessments. Cognitive impairment (impaired performance in ≥3 cognitive tests) was present in approximately 20% of all patients and in the subgroup who underwent MRI. T2 hyperintense and T1 hypointense lesion volumes were significantly higher in patients with cognitive impairment (defined as impaired performance on at least three tests of the Rao’s battery) than those without. EDSS score was also significantly higher in cognitively impaired than in cognitively preserved patients. Disease duration, depression, and years in formal education did not differ significantly between cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved patients. T2 lesion volume, performance intelligence quotient, and age were significant predictors of cognitive impairment in this population. Weak correlations were found between performance on individual cognitive tests and specific MRI measures, with T1 and T2 lesion volumes correlating with performance on most cognitive tests. Conclusions Cognitive impairment occurs in approximately one-fifth of mildly disabled patients with MS and is associated with specific MRI disease measures. Assessment of cognitive function at diagnosis could facilitate the identification of patients who may benefit from therapeutic intervention with disease-modifying therapies to prevent further lesion development.
- Published
- 2009
10. Subcutaneous interferon β-1a may protect against cognitive impairment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: 5-year follow-up of the COGIMUS study
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Patti, F, Morra, Vb, Amato, Maria Pia, Trojano, M, Bastianello, S, Tola, Mr, Cottone, S, Plant, A, and Picconi, O.
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Adolescent, Adult, Cognition Disorders ,complications/drug therapy/prevention /&/ control, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Injections ,Subcutaneous, Interferon-beta ,administration /&/ dosage/adverse effects/pharmacology/therapeutic use, Male, Multiple Sclerosis ,complications/drug therapy/physiopathology, Recurrence, Safety, Sex Characteristics, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult - Published
- 2013
11. Characterization of variable regions of the Gp120 protein from HIV-1 subtype c virus variants obtained from individuals at different disease stages in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Author
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Cenci, A., Tavoschi, L., D'Avenio, G., Narino, P., Becattini, S., Bernasconi, D., Chiappi, M., La Torre, L., Sukati, H., Vardas, E., LO PRESTI, Alessia, Cella, E., Ciccozzi, M., Picconi, O., Monini, P., Ensoli, B., and Buttò, Stefano
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Sub saharan ,business.industry ,Disease stages ,Envelope ,HIV-1 subtype C ,Immunology ,2708 ,Infectious Diseases ,Virology ,Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ,Dermatology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Virus ,medicine ,business - Published
- 2012
12. Therapeutic immunization with hiv-1 tat reduces immune activation and loss of regulatory t-cells and improves immune function in subjects on HAART
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Ensoli, B., Bellino, S., Tripiciano, A., Longo, O., Francavilla, V., Marcotullio, S., Cafaro, A., Picconi, O., Paniccia, G., Scoglio, A., Arancio, A., Ariola, C., Ruiz Alvarez, M. J., Campagna, M., Scaramuzzi, D., Iori, C., Esposito, R., Mussini, C., Ghinelli, F., Sighinolfi, L., Palamara, G., Latini, A., Angarano, G., Ladisa, N., Soscia, F., Mercurio, V. S., Lazzarin, A., Tambussi, G., Visintini, R., Mazzotta, F., Di Pietro, M., Galli, M., Rusconi, S., Carosi, G., Torti, C., Di Perri, G., Bonora, S., Ensoli, F., Garaci, E., and Segala, D.
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,Male ,T-Lymphocytes ,HIV Infections ,CD38 ,CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,Lymphocyte Activation ,T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ,Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ,vaccine ,Cytotoxic T cell ,Homeostasis ,Killer Cells ,Prospective Studies ,tat ,Virology/Vaccines ,AIDS Vaccines ,B-Lymphocytes ,Multidisciplinary ,HIV ,AIDS ,Nausea ,Infectious Diseases/HIV Infection and AIDS ,Middle Aged ,Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica ,Combined Modality Therapy ,Regulatory ,Killer Cells, Natural ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Treatment Outcome ,Virology/Immunodeficiency Viruses ,Natural ,Medicine ,tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,Female ,Adult ,Aged ,Asthenia ,HIV-1 ,Humans ,Immunization ,Cell activation ,tat Gene Products ,Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,Research Article ,Science ,T cell ,Antiretroviral Therapy ,Pathology/Immunology ,Biology ,NO ,Immune system ,Antigen ,Immunology/Immunity to Infections ,medicine ,Highly Active ,Virology ,Immunology ,CD8 - Abstract
UnlabelledAlthough HAART suppresses HIV replication, it is often unable to restore immune homeostasis. Consequently, non-AIDS-defining diseases are increasingly seen in treated individuals. This is attributed to persistent virus expression in reservoirs and to cell activation. Of note, in CD4(+) T cells and monocyte-macrophages of virologically-suppressed individuals, there is continued expression of multi-spliced transcripts encoding HIV regulatory proteins. Among them, Tat is essential for virus gene expression and replication, either in primary infection or for virus reactivation during HAART, when Tat is expressed, released extracellularly and exerts, on both the virus and the immune system, effects that contribute to disease maintenance. Here we report results of an ad hoc exploratory interim analysis (up to 48 weeks) on 87 virologically-suppressed HAART-treated individuals enrolled in a phase II randomized open-label multicentric clinical trial of therapeutic immunization with Tat (ISS T-002). Eighty-eight virologically-suppressed HAART-treated individuals, enrolled in a parallel prospective observational study at the same sites (ISS OBS T-002), served for intergroup comparison. Immunization with Tat was safe, induced durable immune responses, and modified the pattern of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cellular activation (CD38 and HLA-DR) together with reduction of biochemical activation markers and persistent increases of regulatory T cells. This was accompanied by a progressive increment of CD4(+) T cells and B cells with reduction of CD8(+) T cells and NK cells, which were independent from the type of antiretroviral regimen. Increase in central and effector memory and reduction in terminally-differentiated effector memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were accompanied by increases of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses against Env and recall antigens. Of note, more immune-compromised individuals experienced greater therapeutic effects. In contrast, these changes were opposite, absent or partial in the OBS population. These findings support the use of Tat immunization to intensify HAART efficacy and to restore immune homeostasis.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00751595.
- Published
- 2010
13. Subcutaneous interferon beta-1a has a positive effect on cognitive performance in mildly disabled patients with relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis: 2-year results from the COGIMUS study
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Patti, F., Amato, Mp, Bastianello, S., Caniatti, L., E Di Monte, Lijoi, F., Goretti, B., Messina, S., Picconi, O., Tola, MR, Trojano, M., COGIMUS Study Group, Alessandra Lugaresi, F. Patti, MP Amato, S Bastianello, L Caniatti, E Di Monte, F Lijoi, B Goretti, S Messina, O Picconi, MR Tola, M Trojano, COGIMUS Study Group, and A. Lugaresi
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multiple sclerosis, interferon beta, cognition - Abstract
The effect of interferon (IFN) beta-1a (44 and 22 mg subcutaneously [sc] three times weekly [tiw]) on cognition in mildly disabled patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (McDonald criteria; Expanded Disability Status Scale 4.0) was assessed by validated neuropsychological testing at baseline and at regular intervals for up to 2 years in this ongoing open-label, 3-year study. Year-2 data were available for 356 patients (22 mg, n¼175; 44 mg, n¼181). The proportion of patients with impaired cognitive function was stable during the study: 21.4% at baseline and 21.6% at 2 years. At 2 years, the proportion of patients with 3 impaired cognitive tests was significantly lower in the 44 mg treatment group (17.0%) compared with the 22 mg group (26.5%; p¼0.034), although there was already a trend towards a higher proportion of patients with cognitive impairment in the 22 mg group at baseline. Factors associated with impairment in three cognitive tests after 2 years were age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.09), verbal intelligence quotient (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92–0.98), and having three impaired cognitive tests at baseline (OR: 11.60; 95% CI: 5.94–22.64). These interim results show that IFN beta-1a sc tiw may have beneficial effects on cognitive function as early as 2 years after treatment initiation, but the final 3-year data of the study are required to confirm these results.
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- 2009
14. Effects of two different doses of INFB-1A treatment on cognitive domains of early relapsing-remitting MS patients
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Patti, Francesco, Amato, Mp, Tola, R, Trojano, M, Lo Fermo, S, Goretti, B, Di MOnte, E, Caniatti, L, Ferrazza, P, and Picconi, O.
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- 2007
15. Influence of depression on cognitive impariment in patients with early-onset relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: results of an Italian multicenter study (COGIMUS)
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Patti, Francesco, Amato, Mp, Tola, Mr, Trojano, M, Ferrazza, P, Picconi, O, Bastianello, S, and Cogimus Study Group
- Published
- 2006
16. Safety of oral alpha-lipoic acid treatment in pregnant women: a retrospective observational study.
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PARENTE, E., COLANNINO, G., PICCONI, O., and MONASTRA, G.
- Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Alpha-lipoic acid is a natural molecule, which directly or by means of its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid, exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, very helpful also in preventing miscarriage and preterm delivery. Used as dietary supplement alpha-lipoic acid was demonstrated to be safe for living organisms even when administered at high doses. However, no study was made so far to verify the safety of its continuous administration on a substantial number of pregnant women. The present investigation was performed to answer this issue. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational retrospective study was carried out analyzing 610 expectant mothers. They had been treated daily by oral route with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid, for at least 7 weeks during gestation. The primary outcome was to verify alpha-lipoic acid safety in the mother and infant. Maternal safety was assessed by monitoring for adverse reactions, physical and clinical examination, including a morbidity assessment. Laboratory and clinical examinations were performed monthly. Neonatal safety was assessed by the evaluation of birth weight, gestational age, Apgar scores, neonatal death with the related cause of death. Data collected from the Birth Registry of Campania Region were used as control. RESULTS: This study provided a very clear and reassuring picture about the safety of alpha-lipoic acid oral treatment during pregnancy. No adverse effect was noticed in mothers or newborns. The two sets of monitored data, from treated and controls, were completely superimposable or, in some cases, better in alpha-lipoic acid group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results open a reassuring scenario regarding the administration of alpha-lipoic acid during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
17. [Factors related to in-hospital mortality after stroke in Lazio region, Italy]
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Agabiti N, De Luca A, Tancioni V, Agabiti B, Cardo S, Picconi O, Giovanni Baglio, Jf, Osborn, and Guasticchi G
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Adult ,Male ,Stroke ,Adolescent ,Italy ,Humans ,Female ,Hospital Mortality ,Middle Aged ,Aged ,Retrospective Studies - Abstract
The use of hospital discharge abstracts in estimating the outcome of hospital care represents an ongoing interest in public health. However standardized methodologies are still not available. We carried out a retrospective study to estimate the association between demographic and clinical characteristics and in-hospital mortality after stroke by using administrative data from the Hospital Information System in Lazio Region. We also assessed the relationship between the presence of neurology services and the outcome. We found 12,781 incident episodes of stroke (main diagnosis ICD-9: 430-431-434-436) (49.3% male, mean age = 74 years) admitted in 126 hospitals in the Lazio region for the period 1999-2000. From the hospital discharge abstracts we collected patient demographic and clinical data. The hospitals were classified in centres with and without neurology services. Admissions to hospitals with neurology services were evaluated as predictors of in-hospital mortality after adjustment for gender, age, residence, education, source of admission, type of stroke, heart disease, kidney disease and history of atrial fibrillation. In-hospital mortality (within 30 day) was 25.1%. Female gender, advanced age, residence in Rome, urgent transport, kidney disease and history of atrial fibrillation were associated with an increased risk. Hemorrhagic stroke (ICD-9 = 430-431) had a worse outcome than ischemic stroke (ICD-9 = 434) and acute undefined cerebrovascular disease (ICD-9 = 436). Patients admitted to hospitals with neurology services showed a significantly decreased risk (OR = 0.88, IC95% = 0.79-0.98), particularly in occlusion of cerebral artery (ICD-9 = 434) and in undefined cerebrovascular disease (ICD-9 = 436). Demographic and clinical variables are associated with the outcome of hospitalised stroke patients. Admissions of acute stroke patients in specialized hospitals seem to play a role in reducing the risk of in-hospital mortality.
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- 2004
18. Hospital arrival by ambulance after acute stroke: Preliminary results of the Lazio (Italy) stroke surveillance system
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Luca, A., Guasticchi, G., Nera Agabiti, Picconi, O., Di Angelantonio, E., Pezzella, F. R., and Fiorelli, M.
- Published
- 2004
19. Sistema di Sorveglianza sull’Ictus del Lazio:aspetti metodologici e risultati preliminari dello studio pilota
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DE LUCA, A, Agabiti, N, Picconi, O, Tancioni, V, Fiorelli, Marco, Sacchetti, Maria Luisa, Suppa, Marianna, Cannistrà, A, and Guasticchi, G.
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- 2002
20. Surveillance System for Stroke in Lazio Region: a pilot study
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DE LUCA, A, Fiorelli, Marco, Sacchetti, Maria Luisa, Agabiti, N, Picconi, O, Tancioni, V, Suppa, Marianna, Cannistrà, A, Guasticchi, G, and Splendori, F.
- Published
- 2002
21. HIV-1 Tat Promotes Integrin-Mediated HIV Transmission to Dendritic Cells by Binding Env Spikes and Competes Neutralization by Anti-HIV Antibodies
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Sommer, P., Monini, P., Cafaro, A., Srivastava, I. K., Moretti, S., Sharma, V. A., Andreini, Claudia, Chiozzini, C., Ferrantelli, F., Pavone Cossut, M. R., Tripiciano, A., Nappi, F., Longo, O., Bellino, S., Picconi, O., Fanales Belasio, E., Borsetti, A., Toschi, E., Schiavoni, I., Bacigalupo, I., Kan, E., Sernicola, L., Maggiorella, M. T., Montin, K., Porcu, M., Leone, P., Collacchi, B., Palladino, C., Ridolfi, B., Falchi, M., Macchia, I., Ulmer, J. B., Buttò, S., Sgadari, C., Magnani, M., Federico, M. P. M., Titti, F., Banci, Lucia, Dallocchio, F., Rappuoli, R., Ensoli, F., Barnett, S. W., Garaci, E., and Ensoli, B.
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Male ,Integrins ,T-Lymphocytes ,viruses ,lcsh:Medicine ,HIV Infections ,HIV Antibodies ,HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ,V3 loop ,Virus Replication ,Biochemistry ,Neutralization ,Epitope ,Molecular Cell Biology ,HIV vaccine ,lcsh:Science ,IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 ,FIBROBLAST-GROWTH-FACTOR ,PROTEIN-PROTEIN DOCKING ,CYNOMOLGUS MONKEYS ,ENVELOPE PROTEIN ,KAPOSIS-SARCOMA ,STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION ,THERAPEUTIC VACCINES ,PARTIAL DELETION ,GP120 CORE ,AIDS Vaccines ,Multidisciplinary ,Vaccination ,env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,virus diseases ,Recombinant Proteins ,Extracellular Matrix ,Molecular Docking Simulation ,AIDS ,Cytochemistry ,Medicine ,Infectious diseases ,tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,Antibody ,Oligopeptides ,Protein Binding ,Research Article ,Receptors, CXCR4 ,Viral Entry ,Receptors, CCR5 ,Clinical Research Design ,Preclinical Models ,HIV prevention ,Sexually Transmitted Diseases ,Retrovirology and HIV immunopathogenesis ,Viral diseases ,Biology ,Microbiology ,Viral Attachment ,Virus ,Immune Deficiency ,Neutralization Tests ,Viral entry ,Virology ,Vaccine Development ,Cell Adhesion ,Animals ,Humans ,Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ,Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle ,Immunity to Infections ,Binding Sites ,lcsh:R ,Immunity ,HIV ,Viral Vaccines ,TAT ,Dendritic Cells ,Virus Internalization ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,Macaca fascicularis ,Viral replication ,HIV-1 ,biology.protein ,lcsh:Q ,Clinical Immunology ,Viral Transmission and Infection - Abstract
Use of Env in HIV vaccine development has been disappointing. Here we show that, in the presence of a biologically active Tat subunit vaccine, a trimeric Env protein prevents in monkeys virus spread from the portal of entry to regional lymph nodes. This appears to be due to specific interactions between Tat and Env spikes that form a novel virus entry complex favoring R5 or X4 virus entry and productive infection of dendritic cells (DCs) via an integrin-mediated pathway. These Tat effects do not require Tat-transactivation activity and are blocked by anti-integrin antibodies (Abs). Productive DC infection promoted by Tat is associated with a highly efficient virus transmission to T cells. In the Tat/Env complex the cysteine-rich region of Tat engages the Env V3 loop, whereas the Tat RGD sequence remains free and directs the virus to integrins present on DCs. V2 loop deletion, which unshields the CCR5 binding region of Env, increases Tat/Env complex stability. Of note, binding of Tat to Env abolishes neutralization of Env entry or infection of DCs by anti-HIV sera lacking anti-Tat Abs, which are seldom present in natural infection. This is reversed, and neutralization further enhanced, by HIV sera containing anti-Tat Abs such as those from asymptomatic or Tat-vaccinated patients, or by sera from the Tat/Env vaccinated monkeys. Thus, both anti-Tat and anti-Env Abs are required for efficient HIV neutralization. These data suggest that the Tat/Env interaction increases HIV acquisition and spreading, as a mechanism evolved by the virus to escape anti-Env neutralizing Abs. This may explain the low effectiveness of Env-based vaccines, which are also unlikely to elicit Abs against new Env epitopes exposed by the Tat/Env interaction. As Tat also binds Envs from different clades, new vaccine strategies should exploit the Tat/Env interaction for both preventative and therapeutic interventions.
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- 2012
22. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and brain volumes in multiple sclerosis
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Dinacci, D., primary, Tessitore, A., additional, Russo, A., additional, De Bonis, M. L., additional, Lavorgna, L., additional, Picconi, O., additional, Sacco, R., additional, Bonavita, S., additional, Gallo, A., additional, Servillo, G., additional, Marcuccio, L., additional, Comerci, M., additional, Galletti, P., additional, Alfano, B., additional, and Tedeschi, G., additional
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- 2010
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23. Longitudinal changes in social functioning in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis receiving subcutaneous interferon β-1a: results from the COGIMUS (COGnitive Impairment in MUltiple Sclerosis) study (II).
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Patti F, Amato MP, Trojano M, Bastianello S, Tola MR, Picconi O, Cilia S, Cottone S, Grimaldi LM, Patti, Francesco, Amato, Maria Pia, Trojano, Maria, Bastianello, Stefano, Tola, Maria Rosalia, Picconi, Orietta, Cilia, Sabina, Cottone, Salvatore, Grimaldi, Luigi M E, and COGIMUS study group
- Abstract
Purpose: To report longitudinal changes in and explore the influence of cognition on social functioning in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).Methods: Italian patients (18-50 years) with RRMS and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤4.0 were assigned to interferon β-1a, 44 or 22 μg subcutaneously three times weekly, and underwent annual assessments for social functioning (Environmental Status Scale [ESS]) over 3 years.Results: Baseline total ESS score did not differ between patients with and without cognitive impairment (P = 0.505). Total ESS score remained low (<2.0) and stable over 3 years in the whole study population, but worsened slightly when assessed by assigned treatment or treatment and baseline cognitive status (both P = 0.004), driven mostly by changes in the 'transportation' and 'financial/economic status' subscales. The strongest independent predictor of worsening ESS score was baseline EDSS score. Test-retest analyses confirmed that total ESS score and most subscales changed little over 3 years.Conclusion: ESS scores remained low and changed minimally over 3 years, reflecting the mild physical disability and good cognitive performance in this patient population. Determining the influence of cognitive function and treatment on longitudinal changes in social functioning requires further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2012
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24. Quality of life, depression and fatigue in mildly disabled patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis receiving subcutaneous interferon beta-1a: 3-year results from the COGIMUS (COGnitive Impairment in MUltiple Sclerosis) study.
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Patti, F., Amato, M. P., Trojano, M., Bastianello, S., Tola, M. R., Picconi, O., Cilia, S., Cottone, S., Centonze, D., and Gasperini, C.
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QUALITY of life ,MENTAL depression ,FATIGUE (Physiology) ,MULTIPLE sclerosis ,COGNITION disorders ,INTERFERONS - Abstract
Background: The precise relationships among quality of life, depression, fatigue and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) are complex and poorly understood.Objective: To assess the effects of subcutaneous interferon beta-1a on quality of life, depression and fatigue over 3 years in the COGIMUS study, and to examine the relationship between these outcomes and baseline cognitive status.Methods: COGIMUS was an observational 3-year trial assessing cognitive function in 459 patients with relapsing–remitting MS treated with subcutaneous interferon beta-1a.Results: In total, 331 patients completed the study (168 received interferon beta-1a, 44 µg subcutaneously three times weekly, and 163 received interferon beta-1a, 22 µg subcutaneously three times weekly). Mean MS Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54) composite scores did not change over time. There were no significant differences between groups in MSQoL-54 composite scores when patients were grouped by treatment dose and baseline cognitive status. Mean (standard deviation) Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score decreased from 6.8 (4.9) at baseline to 5.8 (5.9) at year 3. Mean total Fatigue Impact Scale scores were low (<30) at all time points.Conclusion: Quality of life, depression and fatigue remained largely stable over 3 years; no effects of treatment dose or baseline cognitive status were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2011
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25. Effects of immunomodulatory treatment with subcutaneous interferon beta-1a oncognitive decline in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
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Patti, F., Amato, M. P., Bastianello, S., Caniatti, L., Di Monte, E., Ferrazza, P., Goretti, B., Gallo, P., Morra, V. Brescia, Lo Fermo, S., Picconi, O., Tola, M. R., and Trojano, M.
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IMMUNOLOGICAL adjuvants ,MAGNETIC resonance imaging ,INTERFERONS ,PHYSICIANS ,MULTIVARIATE analysis ,MULTIPLE sclerosis ,PATIENTS - Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of subcutaneous (sc) interferon beta-1a (IFNβ-1a) on cognition in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patients aged 18-50 years with RRMS (McDonald criteria; Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤4.0) were assigned IFNβ therapy at the physician's discretion and underwent standardized magnetic resonance imaging, neurological examination and neuropsychological testing at the baseline and regular intervals for up to three years. This analysis included 459 patients who received sc IFNβ-1a (44 mcg: n=236; 22 mcg: n=223; three-year follow up was available for 318 patients). The hazard ratio for cognitive impairment over three years (44 mcg versus 22 mcg) was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.480-0.972), suggesting a 32% lower risk with the higher dose treatment. At year 3, the proportion of patients who were cognitively impaired increased slightly from 23.5% at the baseline to 24.8% in the IFNβ-1a 22 mcg treatment group, but remained stable at 15.2% in the IFNβ-1a 44 mcg treatment group. The proportion of patients with cognitive impairment at year 3 was significantly higher in the 22 mcg group than in the 44 mcg group (P=0.03), although a trend was also seen at the baseline (P=0.058). Multivariate logistic regression (corrected for baseline cognitive deficits) indicated that treatment with the higher dose of IFNβ-1a was predictive of lower cognitive impairment at three years (odds ratio: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.26-0.99) compared with the lower dose of IFNβ-1a. These findings suggest that sc IFNβ-1a may have dose-dependent cognitive benefits in mildly disabled patients with RRMS, and may support early initiation of high-dose IFNβ-1a treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2010
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26. Cognitive impairment and its relation with disease measures in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: baseline results from the Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (COGIMUS) study.
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Patti, F., Amato, M.P, Trojano, M., Bastianello, S., Tola, M.R., Goretti, B., Caniatti, L., Monte, E. Di, Ferrazza, P., Morra, V. Brescia, Lo Fermo, S., Picconi, O., and Luccichenti, G.
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COGNITION disorders ,MULTIPLE sclerosis ,MEDICAL imaging systems ,VIRUS diseases ,MAGNETIC resonance imaging ,INTELLIGENCE levels - Abstract
Background Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the association between cognitive impairment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease measures in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS is unclear. Objectives To study the prevalence of cognitive impairment and its relation with MRI disease measures in mildly disabled patients with RRMS. Methods Patients aged 18-50 years with RRMS (McDonald criteria) and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ⩽4.0, who were enrolled in the Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (COGIMUS) study, underwent baseline standardized MRI complete neurological examination and neuropsychological testing. Results A total of 550 patients were enrolled, 327 of whom underwent MRI assessments. Cognitive impairment (impaired performance in =3 cognitive tests) was present in approximately 20% of all patients and in the subgroup who underwent MRI. T2 hyperintense and T1 hypointense lesion volumes were significantly higher in patients with cognitive impairment (defined as impaired performance on at least three tests of the Rao's battery) than those without. EDSS score was also significantly higher in cognitively impaired than in cognitively preserved patients. Disease duration, depression, and years in formal education did not differ significantly between cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved patients. T2 lesion volume, performance intelligence quotient, and age were significant predictors of cognitive impairment in this population.Weak correlations were found between performance on individual cognitive tests and specific MRI measures, with T1 and T2 lesion volumes correlating with performance on most cognitive tests. Conclusions Cognitive impairment occurs in approximately one-fifth of mildly disabled patients with MS and is associated with specific MRI disease measures. Assessment of cognitive function at diagnosis could facilitate the identification of patients who may benefit from therapeutic intervention with disease-modifying therapies to prevent further lesion development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
27. Development of the Italian version of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale: It-NIHSS.
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Pezzella FR, Picconi O, De Luca A, Lyden PD, Fiorelli M, Pezzella, Francesca Romana, Picconi, Orietta, De Luca, Assunta, Lyden, Patrick D, and Fiorelli, Marco
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- 2009
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28. Factors related to in-hospital mortality after stroke in Lazio region, Italy | Determinanti della mortalità intra-ospedaliera in seguito a ictus cerebrale nel Lazio
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Nera Agabiti, Luca, A., Tancioni, V., Agabiti, B., Cardo, S., Picconi, O., Baglio, G., Osborn, J. F., and Guasticchi, G.
29. Implementation of a surveillance system for stroke based on administrative and clinical data in the Lazio region (Italy): methodological aspects
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De Luca A, Agabiti N, Fiorelli M, Maria Sacchetti, Tancioni V, Picconi O, Cardo S, and Guasticchi G
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Male ,Stroke ,Catchment Area, Health ,Italy ,Population Surveillance ,Humans ,Female ,Aged - Abstract
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the most important cause of long-term disability in Italy and other developed countries, heavily influencing quality of life and costs of health care. In spite of the widespread occurrence of the disease and its relevant impact in Italy, there is neither a national nor a regional surveillance system of cerebrovascular diseases. A regional surveillance system for stroke has two important aims: to help to interpret the geographical and temporal trends of the disease for health care planning and resource allocation and to allow close monitoring of the quality of stroke services. Age-standardized mortality rates for cerebrovascular diseases in the Lazio region (5,242,709 inhabitants) in the period 1998-99 were 69.4 for males and 59.4 for females per 100,000 inhabitants. In the year 2000, about 3% of all hospital discharges were for cerebrovascular diseases with a hospitalisation rate of 4.36 per 1000 inhabitants. The mean length of stay is 12 days (median of 9 days) and in-hospital death is 15.4%. The admission rate for cerebrovascular diseases to emergency departments is 3.40 per 1000 inhabitants. The goal of the Lazio Regional Health Authority is to implement a surveillance system for stroke based both on current data (mortality and discharge data) and on information collected in a registry for quality assessment of stroke care. The first step of the study is to develop a regional register of acute stroke using an 'ad hoc' data sheet integrated in the computer-based patient record system of clinical and administrative data (GIPSE) operating in all emergency departments in the region.
30. [The quality of medical records: a retrospective study in Lazio Region, Italy]
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Cardo S, Agabiti N, Picconi O, Scarinci M, Papini P, Guasticchi G, Gentile D, Francesco Forastiere, Arcà M, Volpe M, and Ca, Perucci
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Italy ,Quality Assurance, Health Care ,Hospitals ,Medical Records ,Retrospective Studies - Abstract
Medical records have an important role in the communication among different care providers and in forensic medicine. In Italy, information on completeness and correctness of medical records is scanty, whereas future hospital accreditation could take into account their quality as a proxy of good medical practice.We performed a retrospective study in order to assess the quality of medical records in the Lazio region.From all 37009 hospital discharges for five different diseases in 123 hospitals (acute myocardial infarction (AMI), coronary artery bypass surgery, pneumonia, cerebrovascular disorders, breast surgery), registered in the Regional Hospital Information System, we selected a random sample of 2022 (5.5% of the total). Ten physicians, previously trained, reviewed the relative medical charts and filled in "ad hoc" questionnaires.A total of 1960 (97% of the target) charts were reviewed. Organization and structure of data recording strongly varied. Important differences were found across the diseases for various items: presence of anamnesis 98.1% (range: from 95.6% for breast surgery to 100% for AMI); presence of physical examination 92.7% (range: from 88.1% for breast surgery to 98.5% for AMI), completeness of the daily medical records was good in 70.8% (range: from 34.2% for pneumonia to 93.9% for cerebrovascular disorders). Variability among different type of hospitals was also observed, being teaching hospitals and some private hospitals more accurate.Quality of medical records tended to vary across different type of hospitals and different diseases. Actions for improving the quality should be undertaken as a priority. Efforts have to be done in restructuring charts, creating guidelines and training caregivers. The development and application of computer based health information systems should help solving these problems.
31. The quality of medical records: a retrospective study in Lazio Region, Italy,La qualità della cartella clinica negli ospedali del Lazio
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Cardo, S., Nera Agabiti, Picconi, O., Scarinci, M., Papini, P., Guasticchi, G., Gentile, D., Forastiere, F., Arcà, M., Volpe, M., and Perucci, C. A.
32. Changes in magnetic resonance imaging disease measures over 3 years in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis receiving interferon β-1a in the COGnitive Impairment in MUltiple Sclerosis (COGIMUS) study
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Quarantelli Mario, Galletti Stefano, Luccichenti Giacomo, Trojano Maria, Tola Maria-Rosalia, Amato Maria, Giugni Elisabetta, Bastianello Stefano, Picconi Orietta, and Patti Francesco
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Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,RC346-429 - Abstract
Abstract Background Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has improved the diagnosis and monitoring of multiple sclerosis (MS). In clinical trials, MRI has been found to detect treatment effects with greater sensitivity than clinical measures; however, clinical and MRI outcomes tend to correlate poorly. Methods In this observational study, patients (n = 550; 18-50 years; relapsing-remitting MS [Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤4.0]) receiving interferon (IFN) β-1a therapy (44 or 22 µg subcutaneously [sc] three times weekly [tiw]) underwent standardized MRI, neuropsychological and quality-of-life (QoL) assessments over 3 years. In this post hoc analysis, MRI outcomes and correlations between MRI parameters and clinical and functional outcomes were analysed. Results MRI data over 3 years were available for 164 patients. T2 lesion and T1 gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesion volumes, but not black hole (BH) volumes, decreased significantly from baseline to Year 3 (P < 0.0001). Percentage decreases (baseline to Year 3) were greater with the 44 μg dose than with the 22 μg dose for T2 lesion volume (-10.2% vs -4.5%, P = 0.025) and T1 BH volumes (-7.8% vs +10.3%, P = 0.002). A decrease in T2 lesion volume over 3 years predicted stable QoL over the same time period. Treatment with IFN β-1a, 44 μg sc tiw, predicted an absence of cognitive impairment at Year 3. Conclusion Subcutaneous IFN β-1a significantly decreased MRI measures of disease, with a significant benefit shown for the 44 µg over the 22 µg dose; higher-dose treatment also predicted better cognitive outcomes over 3 years.
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- 2011
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33. Neopterin production and tryptophan degradation during 24-months therapy with interferon beta-1a in multiple sclerosis patients
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Sessa Edoardo, Solda' Annalisa, Locatelli Laura, Fantozzi Roberta, Picconi Orietta, De Luca Giovanna, Bellantonio Paolo, Amato Mariapia, Bramanti Placido, Lugaresi Alessandra, Durastanti Valentina, Totaro Rocco, Marino Silvia, Zipoli Valentina, Zorzon Marino, and Millefiorini Enrico
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Medicine - Abstract
Background Increased synthesis of neopterin and degradation of tryptophan to kynurenine, measured as kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (kyn/trp ratio), are considered in vitro markers of interferon beta-1a (IFNβ-1a) activity. The aim of the study was to investigate the dynamic profile of neopterin and kyn/trp ratio in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) treated with two different doses of IFNβ-1a over a period of 24 months. Methods RRMS patients (n = 101) received open-label IFNβ-1a 22 mcg (low dose, LD) or 44 mcg (high dose, HD) subcutaneously (sc), three times weekly for 24 months. Serum measurements of neopterin, kyn/trp ratio and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) were obtained before treatment (i.e., at baseline) and 48 hours post-injection every 3 months thereafter. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline and every 6 months. Changes in biomarkers over time were compared between LD- and HD-group as well as between patients with/without relapses and with/without NAbs using Analysis of Variance and Mann-Whitney tests. Results Neopterin (p < 0.001) and kyn/trp ratio (p = 0.0013) values increased over time vs baseline in both treatment groups. Neopterin values were higher (p = 0.046) in the HD-compared to the LD-group at every time point with the exclusion of months 21 and 24 of therapy. Conversely, there were no differences between the two doses groups in the kyn/trp ratio with the exclusion of month 6 of therapy (p < 0.05). Neopterin levels were significantly reduced in NAb-positive patients starting from month 9 of therapy (p < 0.05); the same result was observed for kyn/trp ratio but only at month 9 (p = 0.02). Clinical status did not significantly affect neopterin production and tryptophan degradation. Conclusions Although differences in serum markers concentration were found following IFNβ administration the clinical relevance of these findings needs to be confirmed with more detailed studies.
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- 2011
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34. Cognition impairment in multiple sclerosis study: 2- and 3-year results.
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Patti F, Amato MP, Tola MR, Trojano M, Ferrazza P, Picconi O, and Bastianello S
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- 2008
35. Phosphoproteomic Landscaping Identifies Non-canonical cKIT Signaling in Polycythemia Vera Erythroid Progenitors
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Orietta Picconi, Anna Rita Migliaccio, Gabriella Girelli, Emanuel F. Petricoin, Agostino Tafuri, Federica Francescangeli, Mario Falchi, Maria Mazzarini, Lilian Varricchio, Paola Contavalli, Fabrizio Martelli, Giulia Federici, Ann Zeuner, Federici G., Varricchio L., Martelli F., Falchi M., Picconi O., Francescangeli F., Contavalli P., Girelli G., Tafuri A., Petricoin E.F., Mazzarini M., Zeuner A., and Franco Migliaccio Anna Rita
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0301 basic medicine ,Cancer Research ,Stem cell factor ,Stimulation ,erythroid progenitors ,ckit ,erythropoiesis ,polycythemia vera ,stem cell factor ,Biology ,DEPTOR ,lcsh:RC254-282 ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Polycythemia vera ,Tetraspanin ,erythroid progenitor ,medicine ,erythropoiesi ,PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway ,Original Research ,medicine.disease ,lcsh:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,Cell biology ,030104 developmental biology ,Oncology ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Cord blood ,Erythropoiesis ,cKIT - Abstract
Although stem cell factor (SCF)/cKIT interaction plays key functions in erythropoiesis, cKIT signaling in human erythroid cells is still poorly defined. To provide new insights into cKIT-mediated erythroid expansion in development and disease, we performed phosphoproteomic profiling of primary erythroid progenitors from adult blood (AB), cord blood (CB), and Polycythemia Vera (PV) at steady-state and upon SCF stimulation. While AB and CB, respectively, activated transient or sustained canonical cKIT-signaling, PV showed a non-canonical signaling including increased mTOR and ERK1 and decreased DEPTOR. Accordingly, screening of FDA-approved compounds showed increased PV sensitivity to JAK, cKIT, and MEK inhibitors. Moreover, differently from AB and CB, in PV the mature 145kDa-cKIT constitutively associated with the tetraspanin CD63 and was not endocytosed upon SCF stimulation, contributing to unrestrained cKIT signaling. These results identify a clinically exploitable variegation of cKIT signaling/metabolism that may contribute to the great erythroid output occurring during development and in PV.
- Published
- 2019
36. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and brain volumes in multiple sclerosis
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Laura Marcuccio, Antonio Russo, Marco Comerci, M. L. De Bonis, Alessandro Tessitore, G. Tedeschi, D. Dinacci, Simona Bonavita, Bruno Alfano, G. Servillo, Luigi Lavorgna, O. Picconi, Rosaria Sacco, Antonio Gallo, Patrizia Galletti, Dinacci, D, Tessitore, Alessandro, Russo, Antonio, DE BONIS, Ml, Lavorgna, L, Picconi, O, Sacco, R, Bonavita, Simona, Gallo, Antonio, Servillo, G, Marcuccio, L, Comerci, M, Galletti, P, Alfano, B, and Tedeschi, Gioacchino
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Adult ,Male ,Brain atrophy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Multiple Sclerosis ,Neurology ,Adolescent ,Genotype ,DNA Mutational Analysis ,Dermatology ,Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ,White matter ,Disability Evaluation ,Young Adult ,Methionine ,Atrophy ,Gene Frequency ,Internal medicine ,Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ,medicine ,Humans ,Allele ,Pathological ,Brain-derived neurotrophic factor ,Analysis of Variance ,BDNF polymorphism ,Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ,Multiple sclerosis ,Brain ,Valine ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Endocrinology ,Case-Control Studies ,Regression Analysis ,Female ,Neurology (clinical) ,Psychology ,Neuroscience ,MRI - Abstract
Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates several CNS physiological and pathological processes. To investigate in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the relationship between the Val66Met polymorphism of BDNF and clinical markers of disease activity and MRI markers of focal and diffuse brain pathologies. 45 MS patients and 34 healthy controls (HCs) were genotyped and subjected to clinical-MRI examination. Global white matter fraction (gWM-f), gray matter-f (GM-f), cerebrospinal fluid-f (CSF-f), and abnormal WM-f were measured. We studied 26 Val/Val and 19 Val/Met patients and 23 Val/Val and 11 Val/Met HCs. We found that Val/Val patients had lower GM-f and higher CSF-f than Val/Val HCs; such differences were not statistically significant comparing Val/Met patients to HCs. The regression analysis showed that both Val/Met genotype and relapse number were associated with lower CSF-f. Our data suggest that Met allele might be a protective factor against MS as it is associated to a lower brain atrophy.
- Published
- 2010
37. HIV-1 Tat immunization restores immune homeostasis and attacks the HAART-resistant blood HIV DNA: results of a randomized phase II exploratory clinical trial
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Laura Sighinolfi, Guido Palamara, Massimo Di Pietro, Barbara Ensoli, Angela Arancio, Sonia Moretti, Mauro Magnani, Stefania Bellino, Fabrizio Ensoli, Vito S. Mercurio, Francesco Castelli, Leonardo Sernicola, Enrico Garaci, Maria Teresa Maggiorella, Andrea Gori, Giovanni Di Perri, Cecilia Sgadari, Massimo Galli, Vittorio Francavilla, Orietta Picconi, Anna Casabianca, Olimpia Longo, Chiara Orlandi, Aurelio Cafaro, Adriano Lazzarin, Antonella Tripiciano, Cristina Mussini, Maria Rosaria Pavone Cossut, Giovanni Paniccia, Gioacchino Angarano, Paolo Monini, Ensoli, F, Cafaro, A, Casabianca, A, Tripiciano, A, Bellino, S, Longo, O, Francavilla, V, Picconi, O, Sgadari, C, Moretti, S, Cossut, M, Arancio, A, Orlandi, C, Sernicola, L, Maggiorella, M, Paniccia, G, Mussini, C, Lazzarin, A, Sighinolfi, L, Palamara, G, Gori, A, Angarano, G, Di Pietro, M, Galli, M, Mercurio, V, Castelli, F, Di Perri, G, Monini, P, Magnani, M, Garaci, E, and Ensoli, B
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Male ,HAART ,Antibodie ,HIV Antibodies ,CD38 ,Antibodies ,CD38+HLA-DR+/CD8+ T cells ,HIV-1 ,Neutralization ,Proviral DNA ,Tat protein ,Vaccine ,AIDS Vaccines ,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ,Adult ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ,CD4 Lymphocyte Count ,Female ,Follow-Up Studies ,Humans ,Immunoglobulin G ,Immunoglobulin M ,Italy ,Leukocytes ,Middle Aged ,Treatment Outcome ,Young Adult ,tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,Viral Load ,Virology ,Infectious Diseases ,Medicine ,+ ,HLA-DR ,CD8 ,T cells ,Neutralizing ,biology ,Immunogenicity ,Vaccination ,CD38+HLA-DR+/CD8+ T cell ,Antibody ,tat Gene Products ,Viral load ,Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,Antiretroviral Therapy ,Viremia ,Immune system ,Highly Active ,business.industry ,Research ,medicine.disease ,Immunization ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,business - Abstract
Background The phase II multicenter, randomized, open label, therapeutic trial (ISS T-002, Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00751595) was aimed at evaluating the immunogenicity and the safety of the biologically active HIV-1 Tat protein administered at 7.5 or 30 μg, given 3 or 5 times monthly, and at exploring immunological and virological disease biomarkers. The study duration was 48 weeks, however, vaccinees were followed until the last enrolled subject reached the 48 weeks. Reported are final data up to 144 weeks of follow-up. The ISS T-002 trial was conducted in 11 clinical centers in Italy on 168 HIV positive subjects under Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), anti-Tat Antibody (Ab) negative at baseline, with plasma viremia
- Published
- 2015
38. The presence of anti-Tat antibodies in HIV-infected individuals is associated with containment of CD4+T-cell decay and viral load, and with delay of disease progression: results of a 3-year cohort study
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Giuseppe Tambussi, Paolo Monini, Giovanni Paniccia, Guido Palamara, Angela Arancio, Emanuele Focà, Alessandra Latini, Massimo Di Pietro, Vito S. Mercurio, Fabrizio Ensoli, Laura Sighinolfi, Giovanni Di Perri, Antonella Tripiciano, Stefania Bellino, Orietta Picconi, Cecilia Sgadari, Andrea Gori, Cristina Mussini, Olimpia Longo, Stefano Bonora, Gioacchino Angarano, Nicoletta Ladisa, Vittorio Francavilla, Massimo Galli, Silvia Nozza, Francesco Mazzotta, Barbara Ensoli, Aurelio Cafaro, Adriano Lazzarin, Carlo Torti, Bellino, S, Tripiciano, A, Picconi, O, Francavilla, V, Longo, O, Sgadari, C, Paniccia, G, Arancio, A, Angarano, G, Ladisa, N, Lazzarin, A, Tambussi, G, Nozza, S, Torti, C, Focà, E, Palamara, G, Latini, A, Sighinolfi, L, Mazzotta, F, Di Pietro, M, Di Perri, G, Bonora, S, Mercurio, V, Mussini, C, Gori, A, Galli, M, Monini, P, Cafaro, A, Ensoli, F, and Ensoli, B
- Subjects
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,Male ,Antibodie ,viruses ,HIV Infections ,Antibodies, Viral ,AIDS Vaccine ,Virulence factor ,Cohort Studies ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,HIV Infection ,Viral load ,Viral ,Neutralizing ,AIDS Vaccines ,tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Viru ,Medicine (all) ,Infectious Diseases ,CD4-Positive T-Lymphocyte ,Disease Progression ,tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,Female ,Antibody ,tat Gene Products ,Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,Human ,Adult ,CD4 antigen ,Antibodies ,HIV progression ,Tat ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,Gene Products, env ,Genes, env ,HIV-1 ,Humans ,Viral Load ,Virology ,Short Report ,Infectious Disease ,Biology ,Virus ,Immune system ,Viral entry ,Gene Products ,env ,CD4+ T cells ,Genes ,chemistry ,Immunization ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,Cohort Studie - Abstract
Background: Tat is a key HIV-1 virulence factor, which plays pivotal roles in virus gene expression, replication, transmission and disease progression. After release, extracellular Tat accumulates in tissues and exerts effects on both the virus and the immune system, promoting immune activation and virus spreading while disabling the host immune defense. In particular, Tat binds Env spikes on virus particles forming a virus entry complex, which favors infection of dendritic cells and efficient transmission to T cells via RGD-binding integrins. Tat also shields the CCR5-binding sites of Env rendering ineffective virus neutralization by anti-Env antibodies (Abs). This is reversed by the anti-Tat Abs present in natural infection or induced by vaccination.Findings: Here we present the results of a cohort study, showing that the presence of anti-Tat Abs in asymptomatic and treatment-naïve HIV-infected subjects is associated with containment of CD4+ T-cell loss and viral load and with a delay of disease progression. In fact, no subjects with high anti-Tat Ab titers initiated antiretroviral therapy during the three years of follow-up. In contrast, no significant effects were seen for anti-Env and anti-Gag Abs. The increase of anti-Env Ab titers was associated with a reduced risk of starting therapy only in the presence of anti-Tat Abs, suggesting an effect of combined anti-Tat and anti-Env Abs on the Tat/Env virus entry complex and on virus neutralization.Conclusions: Anti-Tat immunity may help delay HIV disease progression, thus, targeting Tat may offer a novel therapeutic intervention to postpone antiretroviral treatment or to increase its efficacy. © 2014 Bellino et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
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- 2014
39. Effects of immunomodulatory treatment with subcutaneous interferon beta-1a on cognitive decline in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
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Patti, F., Lo Fermo, S., Vecchio, R., Maimone, D., Messina, S., Gasperini, C., Orefice, V., Morra, V., Florio, C., Amato, M., Goretti, B., Portaccio, E., Zipoli, V., Bertolotto, A., Bramanti, P., Sessa, E., Centonze, D., Cottone, S., Salemi, G., Falcini, M., Gallo, P., Perini, P., Gigli, G., Giuliani, G., Grimaldi, L., Murri, L., Lugaresi, A., Monaco, F., Montanari, E., Motti, L., Neri, S., Paciello, M., Provinciali, L., Ragno, M., Rosati, G., Ruggieri, S., Tola, M., Caniatti, L., Tonali, P., Batocchi, A., Trojano, M., Di Monte, E., De Caro MF, Ghezzi, A., Zaffaroni, M., Zolo, P., Zorzon, M., Signorino, M., Scarpini, E., Durelli, L., Carolei, A., Todaro, M., Spitaleri, D., Tartaglione, A., Patti F, Amato MP, Bastianello S, Caniatti L, Di Monte E, Ferrazza P, Goretti B, Gallo P, Morra VB, Lo Fermo S, Picconi O, Tola MR, Trojano M, COGIMUS Study Group, Lugaresi A, Vecchio R, Maimone D, Messina S, Gasperini C, Orefice V, Florio C, Portaccio E, Zipoli V, Bertolotto A, Bramanti P, Sessa E, Centonze D, Cottone S, Salemi G, Falcini M, Perini P, Gigli GL, Giuliani G, Grimaldi LM, Murri L, Monaco F, Montanari E, Motti L, Neri S, Paciello M, Provinciali L, Ragno M, Rosati G, Ruggieri S, Tonali P, Batocchi AP, De Caro MF, Ghezzi A, Zaffaroni M, Zolo P, Zorzon M, Signorino M, Scarpini E, Durelli L, Carolei A, Todaro M, Spitaleri D, and Tartaglione A
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Male ,interferon beta-1a ,Kaplan-Meier Estimate ,Relapsing-Remitting ,Neuropsychological Tests ,Cohort Studies ,Disability Evaluation ,Medicine ,Adolescent ,Young Adult ,Middle Aged ,Cognition Disorders ,Survival Analysis ,Female ,Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ,Humans ,Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting ,Prospective Studies ,Disease Progression ,Interferon-beta ,Injections, Subcutaneous ,Adult ,Immunologic Factors ,Endpoint Determination ,Prospective cohort study ,interferon beta, multiple sclerosis, cognitive impairment ,Subcutaneous ,Cognitive disorder ,Hazard ratio ,Settore MED/26 - NEUROLOGIA ,Neurology ,Settore MED/26 - Neurologia ,Drug ,medicine.drug ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Multiple Sclerosis ,Lower risk ,Injections ,Dose-Response Relationship ,Internal medicine ,cognitive function ,cognitive impairment ,Expanded Disability Status Scale ,business.industry ,Interferon beta-1a ,McDonald criteria ,Odds ratio ,medicine.disease ,Surgery ,disability ,Neurology (clinical) ,business ,disease progression ,multiple sclerosis - Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of subcutaneous (sc) interferon beta-1a (IFNβ-1a) on cognition in mildly disabled patients with relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patients aged 18—50 years with RRMS (McDonald criteria; Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤4.0) were assigned IFNβ therapy at the physician’s discretion and underwent standardized magnetic resonance imaging, neurological examination and neuropsychological testing at the baseline and regular intervals for up to three years. This analysis included 459 patients who received sc IFNβ-1a (44 mcg: n = 236; 22 mcg: n = 223; three-year follow up was available for 318 patients). The hazard ratio for cognitive impairment over three years (44 mcg versus 22 mcg) was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.480—0.972), suggesting a 32% lower risk with the higher dose treatment. At year 3, the proportion of patients who were cognitively impaired increased slightly from 23.5% at the baseline to 24.8% in the IFNβ-1a 22 mcg treatment group, but remained stable at 15.2% in the IFNβ-1a 44 mcg treatment group. The proportion of patients with cognitive impairment at year 3 was significantly higher in the 22 mcg group than in the 44 mcg group (P = 0.03), although a trend was also seen at the baseline (P = 0.058). Multivariate logistic regression (corrected for baseline cognitive deficits) indicated that treatment with the higher dose of IFNβ-1a was predictive of lower cognitive impairment at three years (odds ratio: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.26—0.99) compared with the lower dose of IFNβ-1a. These findings suggest that sc IFNβ-1a may have dose-dependent cognitive benefits in mildly disabled patients with RRMS, and may support early initiation of high-dose IFNβ-1a treatment.
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- 2010
40. Clinical Efficacy of the HIV Protease Inhibitor Indinavir in Combination with Chemotherapy for Advanced Classic Kaposi Sarcoma Treatment: A Single-Arm, Phase II Trial in the Elderly.
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Sgadari C, Scoppio B, Picconi O, Tripiciano A, Gaiani FM, Francavilla V, Arancio A, Campagna M, Palladino C, Moretti S, Monini P, Brambilla L, and Ensoli B
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- Humans, Male, Female, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Treatment Outcome, Herpesvirus 8, Human, Sarcoma, Kaposi drug therapy, Indinavir therapeutic use, Indinavir administration & dosage, Indinavir adverse effects, HIV Protease Inhibitors therapeutic use, HIV Protease Inhibitors administration & dosage, HIV Protease Inhibitors adverse effects, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols therapeutic use
- Abstract
Kaposi sarcoma is a rare angioproliferative disease associated with human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) infection. Kaposi sarcoma is frequent and aggressive in HIV-infected people, whereas the classic form (CKS) generally has an indolent course. Notably, all conventional therapies against Kaposi sarcoma have only temporary efficacy. We have previously shown that indinavir, a HIV protease-inhibitor with direct antiangiogenic and antitumor activity, is safe and effective in patients with early CKS, whereas effects are less prominent in advanced disease, probably due to the larger tumor mass. Therefore, the clinical response to indinavir was assessed in patients with advanced CKS after debulking chemotherapy. This was a monocentric phase 2 trial in elderly with progressive/advanced CKS treated with debulking chemotherapy and indinavir combined, followed by a maintenance phase with indinavir alone. Secondary endpoints included safety and Kaposi sarcoma biomarker evaluation.All evaluable patients (22) responded to debulking therapy. Out of these, 16 entered the indinavir maintenance phase. The overall response rate at end of maintenance was 75% (estimated median response-duration 43 months). Moreover, most responders showed further clinical improvements (lesion number/nodularity) during maintenance and post-treatment follow-up. Notably, after relapse, progressors did not require systemic Kaposi sarcoma therapy and showed clinical improvements (including disease stabilization) remaining on study. Responders also showed immune status amelioration with a consistent B-cell increase and positive changes of other biomarkers, including anti-HHV-8 natural killer activity. In advanced CKS a strategy combining indinavir and chemotherapy is safe and associated with high and durable response rates and it could be rapidly adopted for the clinical management of these patients., Significance: This phase-2 trial showed that the HIV protease inhibitor indinavir may boost and extend the duration of the effects of chemotherapy in elderly with advanced progressive classic Kaposi sarcoma, without additional toxicity. Further, the amelioration of the immune status seen in responders suggests a better control of HHV-8 infection and tumor-cell killing. Thus, indinavir combined with chemotherapy may represent an important tool for the clinical management of classic Kaposi sarcoma in elderly patients., (©2024 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)
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- 2024
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41. Association between serum levels of GDF-15, suPAR, PIVKA-II, sdLDL and clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
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Molfino A, Anastasi E, Assanto E, Toccini L, Imbimbo G, Gigante A, Viggiani V, Farina A, Picconi O, Angeloni A, and Muscaritoli M
- Abstract
To quantify the circulating levels of novel serum biomarkers including GDF-15, PIVKA-II, sdLDL, suPAR, and of CRP in hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared with healthy subjects, and to evaluate their association(s) with outcomes in COVID-19. We considered patients with confirmed COVID-19, hospitalized in an Internal Medicine ward. The clinical characteristics were collected, including the number and type of comorbidities. Serum levels of GDF-15, PIVKA-II, suPAR, sdLDL, as well as CRP were measured. As outcomes, we considered Intensive Care Unit (ICU) transfer or death, as well as the length of stay (days) and in-hospital complications. Data were statistically analyzed, as appropriate, and a p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Ninety-three patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. COVID-19 patients vs. controls showed higher median levels of GDF-15 (p < 0.0001), PIVKA-II (p < 0.0001) and sdLDL (p = 0.0002), whereas no difference was observed for suPAR. In COVID-19 patients, the most frequent comorbidities were arterial hypertension (62.4%) and cardiovascular disease (30.1%). GDF-15 levels positively correlated with age (r = 0.433, p < 0.0001), and this correlation was confirmed for suPAR (r = 0.308, p = 0.003) and CRP (Rho = 0.40 p < 0.0001), but not for PIVKA-II and sdLDL. Higher GDF-15 levels were associated with a higher number of comorbidities (p = 0.021). The median length of stay was 22 (15; 30) days. During hospitalization, 15 patients (16%) were ICU transferred, and 6 (6.45%) died. GDF-15 serum levels correlated with the length of stay (rho = 0.27 p = 0.010), and were associated with ICU transfer or death (p = 0.003), as well as PIVKA-II (p = 0.038) and CRP (p < 0.001). Moreover, higher GDF-15 and PIVKA-II serum levels were associated with infectious complications (p = 0.008 and p = 0.017, respectively). In this cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, novel inflammatory biomarkers, including GDF-15, suPAR and PIVKA II were associated with some patient's clinical characteristics, complications, and poor outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
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- 2024
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42. Muscularity and adiposity are differently associated with inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers among patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
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Molfino A, Imbimbo G, Picconi O, Tartaglione L, Amabile MI, and Lai S
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- Humans, Renal Dialysis, Obesity, Body Composition, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Water, Adiposity, Peritoneal Dialysis
- Abstract
Purpose: Nutritional alterations are prevalent in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). We aimed at evaluating whether body composition parameters in HD vs PD are differently associated with nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers., Methods: Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance analysis. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), serum albumin and C-reactive protein were used as nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to determine association(s) of body composition parameters with biomarkers., Results: We enrolled a total of 108 patients, 58 on HD and 50 on PD. Fat free mass percent was higher in HD patients than PD (p = 0.006) and higher extracellular water (ECW)/intracellular water (ICW) in HD compared to PD patients (p = 0.023), as well as fat mass index was greater in PD than HD (p = 0.004). In HD patients, albumin positively correlated with fat free mass (r = 0.42; p = 0.001) and ICW/h
2 (r = 0.31; p = 0.02). In PD, NLR positively correlated with fat mass (r = 0.36; p = 0.01), fat mass index (r = 0.37; p = 0.01) and ECW (r = 0.41; p = 0.005), and negatively correlated with fat free mass percent (r = -0.30; p = 0.04) and ICW percent (r = -0.34; p = 0.02). By linear regression analysis, in HD fat free mass index was associated with albumin and the absence of diabetes. In PD, the association of fat free mass index was present with NLR. Regarding adiposity, in HD we found no association of ECW/ICW with NLR and CRP, whereas in PD the ECW/ICW was associated with NLR., Conclusion: Inflammation drives body composition changes with differences according to the type of dialysis, as expressed by the modulation of some circulating biomarkers., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they do not have relevant financial or non- financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2024
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43. Intraoperative navigation system use increases accuracy of glenoid component inclination but not functional outcomes in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective comparative study.
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Gaj E, Pagnotta SM, Berlinberg EJ, Patel HH, Picconi O, Redler A, and De Carli A
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- Humans, Male, Female, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Prospective Studies, Treatment Outcome, Scapula surgery, Retrospective Studies, Range of Motion, Articular, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder methods, Shoulder Joint surgery
- Abstract
Background: While the use of computer-assisted navigation systems in prosthetic implantation is steadily increasing, its utility in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of an intraoperative navigation system in patients undergoing RSA., Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing navigated or standard RSA at a single institution between September 2020 and December 2021 were prospectively enrolled. Exclusion criteria included noncompliance with study procedures or humeral fracture. Outcome measures included postoperative version and inclination, range of motion (ROM), complications, and patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs: American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score [ASES], Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score [DASH], Simple Shoulder Test [SST], and Visual Analog Scale [VAS]) at final follow-up., Results: The final cohort contained 16 patients with navigation and 17 with standard RSA at a mean follow-up of 16 months (range 12-18 months). Average age was 72 years (range 66-80 years), 8 male (24%) and 25 female (76%). There were no differences in demographics between groups (p > 0.05). At baseline, the navigated group had a greater proportion of Walch B1 and B2 glenoids (p = 0.04). There were no differences between groups regarding baseplate type and native/planned/postoperative glenoid version and inclination. In both groups, planned and postoperative versions were not significantly different (p = 0.76). Patients who did not have navigation demonstrated significant differences between planned and postoperative inclination (p = 0.04), while those with navigation did not (p = 0.09). PROM scores did not differ between groups at final follow-up for SST (p = 0.64), DASH (p = 0.38), ASES (p = 0.77), or VAS (p = 0.1). No difference in final ROM was found between groups (p > 0.05). Over 50% of all screws in both groups were positioned outside the second cortex (p = 0.37), albeit with no complications., Conclusions: There were no statistically significant differences in ROM, PROMs, and satisfaction between patients receiving computer-navigated and standard RSA at a short-term follow-up. Despite more severe preoperative glenoid erosion in the navigated group, all patients were able to achieve an appropriate neutral axis postoperatively. The cost effectiveness and appropriate use of computer-navigated RSA warrant specific investigation in future studies., Level of Evidence: II, prospective cohort study., Trial Registration: 9/1/2020 to 12/31/2021., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
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- 2024
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44. Single cell analysis of the localization of the hematopoietic stem cells within the bone marrow architecture identifies niche-specific proliferation dynamics.
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Mazzarini M, Arciprete F, Picconi O, Valeri M, Verachi P, Martelli F, Migliaccio AR, Falchi M, and Zingariello M
- Abstract
Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) reside in the bone marrow (BM) in specialized niches which provide support for their self-replication and differentiation into the blood cells. Recently, numerous studies using sophisticated molecular and microscopic technology have provided snap-shots information on the identity of the BM niches in mice. In adults, HSC are localized around arterioles and sinusoids/venules whereas in juvenile mice they are in close to the osteoblasts. However, although it is well recognized that in mice the nature of the hematopoietic niche change with age or after exposure to inflammatory insults, much work remains to be done to identify changes occurring under these conditions. The dynamic changes occurring in niche/HSC interactions as HSC enter into cycle are also poorly defined., Methods: We exploit mice harboring the hCD34tTA/Tet-O-H2BGFP transgene to establish the feasibility to assess interactions of the HSC with their niche as they cycle. In this model, H2BGFP expression is driven by the TET trans-activator under the control of the human CD34 promoter which in mice is active only in the HSC. Since Doxycycline inhibits TET, HSC exposed to this drug no longer express H2BGFP and loose half of their label every division allowing establishing the dynamics of their first 1-3 divisions. To this aim, we first validated user-friendly confocal microscopy methods to determine HSC divisions by hemi-decrement changes in levels of GFP expression. We then tracked the interaction occurring in old mice between the HSC and their niche during the first HSC divisions., Results: We determined that in old mice, most of the HSC are located around vessels, both arterioles which sustain quiescence and self-replication, and venules/sinusoids, which sustain differentiation. After just 1 week of exposure to Doxycycline, great numbers of the HSC around the venules lost most of their GFP label, indicating that they had cycled. By contrast, the few HSC surrounding the arterioles retained maximal levels of GFP expression, indicating that they are either dormant or cycle at very low rates., Conclusion: These results reveal that in old mice, HSC cycle very dynamically and are biased toward interactions with the niche that instructs them to differentiate., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Mazzarini, Arciprete, Picconi, Valeri, Verachi, Martelli, Migliaccio, Falchi and Zingariello.)
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- 2023
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45. The challenge of complexity in the Big Data era: how to ride the wave of high-dimensional data revolution. Editorial.
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Bossa C, Branchi I, Caccia B, Cisbani E, Daniele C, D'Avenio G, Esposito G, Facchiano F, Frustagli G, Gagliardi RV, Galluzzi A, Giansanti D, Gigante G, Giuliani A, Le Pera L, Mattia M, Morelli S, Moro O, Palma A, Pazienti A, Picconi O, Pizzi E, Poli C, Ruspantini I, Tait S, and Tcheremenskaia O
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- 2022
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46. Kaposi's Sarcoma Lesion Progression in BKV-Tat Transgenic Mice Is Increased by Inflammatory Cytokines and Blocked by Treatment with Anti-Tat Antibodies.
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Brocca-Cofano E, Sgadari C, Picconi O, Palladino C, Caputo A, and Ensoli B
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- Angiogenesis Inducing Agents metabolism, Animals, Anti-Retroviral Agents pharmacology, Disease Models, Animal, HIV-1 drug effects, Male, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Sarcoma, Kaposi metabolism, Antibodies pharmacology, Cytokines metabolism, Sarcoma, Kaposi drug therapy, Sarcoma, Kaposi pathology, tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus metabolism
- Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative tumor showing an increased frequency and aggressiveness in HIV-infected subjects (AIDS-KS), due to the combined effects of inflammatory cytokines (IC), angiogenic factors, and the HIV-1 Tat protein. While the introduction of effective combined antiretroviral regimens greatly improved AIDS-KS incidence and course, it continues to be an incurable disease and the development of new rational targeted therapies is warranted. We used the BKV/Tat transgenic mouse model to evaluate the effects of IC and anti-Tat antibodies (Abs) treatment on KS-like lesions arising in BKV/Tat mice. We demonstrated here that IC-treatment increases the severity and delays the regression of KS-like lesions. Further, anti-Tat Abs reduced KS-like lesion severity developing in IC-treated mice when anti-Tat Abs were administered at an early-stage of lesion development as compared to more advanced lesions. Early anti-Tat Abs treatment also accelerated KS-like lesion regression and reduced the rate of severe-grade lesions. This effect was more evident in the first weeks after Ab treatment, suggesting that a longer treatment with anti-Tat Abs might be even more effective, particularly if administered just after lesion development. Although preliminary, these results are encouraging, and the approach deserves further studies for the development of anti-Tat Ab-based therapies for AIDS-KS. Clinical studies specifically addressing the effect of anti-Tat antibodies in treating AIDS-KS are not yet available. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of anti-Tat antibodies in controlling HIV/AIDS progression, likely due to the neutralization of extracellular Tat activities, is suggested by several cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical studies, indicating that anti-Tat Ab treatment or Tat-based vaccines may be effective to treat AIDS-KS patients or prevent the tumor in individuals at risk.
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- 2022
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47. Short- and Long-Term Immunological Responses in Chronic HCV/HIV Co-Infected Compared to HCV Mono-Infected Patients after DAA Therapy.
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Farcomeni S, Moretti S, Fimiani C, Sulekova LF, Vescio F, Sernicola L, Maggiorella MT, Remoli AL, Picconi O, Mosca L, Esvan R, Biliotti E, Ciccozzi M, Sgarbanti M, Taliani G, and Borsetti A
- Abstract
Background: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment, although highly efficacious for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, may not completely reconstitute the HCV-mediated dysregulated immune system, especially in patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV., Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the impact of HCV eradication following DAA therapy on the immune system and liver disease improvement through comparative monitoring of 10 HCV mono-infected and 10 HCV/HIV co-infected patients under combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Early and late longitudinal phenotypic changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subsets, T-cell activation, differentiation and exhaustion, as well as inflammatory biomarkers, indoleamine 2-3 dioxygenase (IDO) activity, and liver stiffness, APRI and FIB-4 scores were assessed., Materials and Methods: Samples were obtained at baseline (T0), week 1 (T1), week 2 (T2), week 12 (T3, end of treatment, EOT), and month 9 (T4, end of follow-up, 36 weeks post EOT)., Results: All patients achieved a sustained virological response (SVR 12) after DAA treatment. Overall, changes of the T-cell immune phenotypes were greater in HCV/HIV co-infected than in HCV mono-infected, due to an increase in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell percentages and of CD8+ T-cell activation and memory markers, in particular at the end of follow-up. On the other end, HCV mono-infected showed changes in the activation profile and in the memory CD4+ T-cell compartment. In HCV/HIV co-infected, a decrease in the IDO activity by DAA treatment was observed; conversely, in HCV mono-infected, it resulted unmodified. Regarding inflammatory mediators, viral suppression was associated with a reduction in IP-10 levels, while interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7, interferon (IFN)-β, and interferon (IFN)-γ levels were downregulated during therapy and increased post therapy. A decrease in liver stiffness, APRI, and FIB-4 scores was also observed., Conclusions: Our study suggests that, although patients achieved HCV eradication, the immune activation state in both HCV mono-infected and HCV/HIV co-infected patients remains elevated for a long time after the end of DAA therapy, despite an improvement of liver-specific outcomes, meanwhile highlighting the distinct immunophenotypic and inflammatory biomarker profile between the groups of patients.
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- 2021
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48. New insights into pathogenesis point to HIV-1 Tat as a key vaccine target.
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Ensoli B, Moretti S, Borsetti A, Maggiorella MT, Buttò S, Picconi O, Tripiciano A, Sgadari C, Monini P, and Cafaro A
- Subjects
- AIDS Vaccines immunology, Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic, Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic, Comorbidity, HIV Infections epidemiology, HIV Infections virology, HIV-1 physiology, Humans, tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus immunology, AIDS Vaccines pharmacology, HIV Infections transmission, HIV-1 pathogenicity, tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus physiology
- Abstract
Despite over 30 years of enormous effort and progress in the field, no preventative and/or therapeutic vaccines against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are available. Here, we briefly summarize the vaccine strategies and vaccine candidates that in recent years advanced to efficacy trials with mostly unsatisfactory results. Next, we discuss a novel and somewhat contrarian approach based on biological and epidemiological evidence, which led us to choose the HIV protein Tat for the development of preventive and therapeutic HIV vaccines. Toward this goal, we review here the role of Tat in the virus life cycle as well as experimental and epidemiological evidence supporting its key role in the natural history of HIV infection and comorbidities. We then discuss the preclinical and clinical development of a Tat therapeutic vaccine, which, by improving the functionality and homeostasis of the immune system and by reducing the viral reservoir in virologically suppressed vaccinees, helps to establish key determinants for intensification of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and a functional cure. Future developments and potential applications of the Tat therapeutic vaccine are also discussed, as well as the rationale for its use in preventative strategies. We hope this contribution will lead to a reconsideration of the current paradigms for the development of HIV/AIDS vaccines, with a focus on targeting of viral proteins with key roles in HIV pathogenesis., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)
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- 2021
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49. Effects of Inositol Hexaphosphate and Myo-Inositol Administration in Breast Cancer Patients during Adjuvant Chemotherapy.
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Amabile MI, De Luca A, Tripodi D, D'Alberti E, Melcarne R, Imbimbo G, Picconi O, D'Andrea V, Vergine M, Sorrenti S, and Molfino A
- Abstract
Background: Treatment of breast cancer (BC) includes locoregional and systemic therapies depending on tumor and patient's characteristics. Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is known as a strong antioxidant agent, able to improve local (i.e., breast region) side effects, functional status and quality-of-life. We investigated some potential beneficial effects, including hematological and local, of the combined therapy with oral myo-inositol administration and topical IP6 application in patients undergoing surgery for BC and eligible to adjuvant chemotherapy., Methods: We considered BC patients randomly assigned to the Inositol Group (oral myo-inositol + IP6 local application for the entire neoadjuvant treatment period) and to the Control Group (standard of care). The EORTC QLQ-BR23 and QLQ-C30 questionnaires were administered to both groups and blood parameters were assessed as per clinical routine practice at baseline (before starting adjuvant chemotherapy), T1 (after the first two doses of epirubicin-cyclophosphamide regimen), T2 (at the end of epirubicin-cyclophosphamide regimen), T3 (after the first six doses of paclitaxel regimen), and T4 (at the end of the paclitaxel treatment)., Results: A total of 36 BC patients were considered, 18 in the Inositol Group and 18 in the Control Group. The Inositol Group showed a lower decrease in red blood cells, hemoglobin levels and white blood cells with respect to controls ( p ≤ 0.02), as well as amelioration in scores related to breast and arm local symptoms ( p ≤ 0.02), body image ( p = 0.04) and quality-of-life related symptoms ( p ≤ 0.04)., Conclusions: In our cohort of BC patients, a combined treatment with oral myo-inositol + IP6 local application was able to improve local symptoms and quality-of-life related symptoms which represent clinically relevant aspects associated with patient's prognosis.
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- 2021
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50. Anti-Tat immunity defines CD4 + T-cell dynamics in people living with HIV on long-term cART.
- Author
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Tripiciano A, Picconi O, Moretti S, Sgadari C, Cafaro A, Francavilla V, Arancio A, Paniccia G, Campagna M, Pavone-Cossut MR, Sighinolfi L, Latini A, Mercurio VS, Pietro MD, Castelli F, Saracino A, Mussini C, Perri GD, Galli M, Nozza S, Ensoli F, Monini P, and Ensoli B
- Subjects
- Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, B-Lymphocytes immunology, B-Lymphocytes metabolism, Biomarkers, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes metabolism, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes immunology, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes metabolism, HIV Antibodies immunology, HIV Infections drug therapy, Humans, Immunophenotyping, Lymphocyte Activation, Viral Load, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes immunology, HIV Infections immunology, HIV Infections virology, HIV-1 immunology, Host-Pathogen Interactions immunology, tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus immunology
- Abstract
Background: Low-level HIV viremia originating from virus reactivation in HIV reservoirs is often present in cART treated individuals and represents a persisting source of immune stimulation associated with sub-optimal recovery of CD4
+ T cells. The HIV-1 Tat protein is released in the extracellular milieu and activates immune cells and latent HIV, leading to virus production and release. However, the relation of anti-Tat immunity with residual viremia, persistent immune activation and CD4+ T-cell dynamics has not yet been defined., Methods: Volunteers enrolled in a 3-year longitudinal observational study were stratified by residual viremia, Tat serostatus and frequency of anti-Tat cellular immune responses. The impact of anti-Tat immunity on low-level viremia, persistent immune activation and CD4+ T-cell recovery was investigated by test for partitions, longitudinal regression analysis for repeated measures and generalized estimating equations., Findings: Anti-Tat immunity is significantly associated with higher nadir CD4+ T-cell numbers, control of low-level viremia and long-lasting CD4+ T-cell recovery, but not with decreased immune activation. In adjusted analysis, the extent of CD4+ T-cell restoration reflects the interplay among Tat immunity, residual viremia and immunological determinants including CD8+ T cells and B cells. Anti-Env immunity was not related to CD4+ T-cell recovery., Interpretation: Therapeutic approaches aiming at reinforcing anti-Tat immunity should be investigated to improve immune reconstitution in people living with HIV on long-term cART., Trial Registration: ISS OBS T-002 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01024556 FUNDING: Italian Ministry of Health, special project on the Development of a vaccine against HIV based on the Tat protein and Ricerca Corrente 2019/2020., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest M. Di Pietro reports grants received from the Azienda Sanitaria of Florence during the conduct of the study. The other authors declares no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2021
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