Publications by authors named "Francesca Bernardi"

Real-world data on biological drug use in pediatric patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are scarce. This retrospective, population-based, cohort study aimed to provide an overview of biological drug use among children and adolescents with IMIDs from 2010 to 2023 using the Italian VALORE distributed database network. As secondary aim, potential of such a network for evaluating the risk of serious infections related to biological drugs in pediatrics was investigated.

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Janus kinase inhibitors, including tofacitinib, filgotinib, and upadacitinib, have emerged as effective therapeutic options for the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). By targeting the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, these agents modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation. However, concerns regarding the potential risk of malignancy associated with their use have gained significant attention.

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Objective: This review explores preventive strategies for pediatric rhinosinusitis and examines their potential impact on children's mental well-being, advocating for a comprehensive holistic approach that includes medical disciplines and government policies to support EU and global prevention strategies.

Sources: A comprehensive search encompassed Medline, Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library for English-language articles from January 2010 to December 2023. Inclusion criteria involved papers on pediatric rhinosinusitis prevention in the pediatric population, published in peer-reviewed journals.

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Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare disease, the pathogenesis of which remains a subject of debate, with considerations of either a neoplastic origin or an inflammatory nature. It arises from the uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid dendritic cells, leading to their accumulation in various sites. Recent studies indicate that Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a clonal neoplastic disorder driven by mutations in the MAP kinase pathway.

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The introduction of biologic therapies and small molecule drugs has revolutionized the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), providing targeted control of inflammation. However, concerns remain regarding their long-term safety profiles, particularly in relation to cancer risk. Chronic inflammation and immunosuppressive therapies contribute to malignancy risk, including skin cancers, such as melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

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Objectives: Adenoidectomy performed as day surgery is a safe and cost-effective procedure, but patients may be occasionally admitted overnight due to the need for extended care. This study investigates the unplanned admission rate following day surgery adenoidectomy in children.

Methods: Data from 3,396 children who underwent adenoidectomy from 2010 to 2023 were retrospectively collected in a tertiary centre.

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The COVID-19 pandemic generated large amounts of data on the disease pathogenesis leading to a need for organizing the vast knowledge in a succinct manner. Between April 2020 and February 2023, the CIAO consortium exploited the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework to comprehensively gather and systematically organize published scientific literature on COVID-19 pathology. The project considered 24 pathways relevant for COVID-19 by identifying essential key events (KEs) leading to 19 adverse outcomes observed in patients.

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Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) often requires surgical intervention, such as proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). While IPAA improves patient outcomes, it can be associated with pouchitis, a common and debilitating complication characterized by inflammation of the pouch. The development of pouchitis is closely linked to dysbiosis-an imbalance in the gut microbiota.

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Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a chronic syndrome, affecting about 1%-5% of children. OSAS is characterized by increased resistance and collapse of the upper airways, with different degrees of severity requiring interventions ranging from lifestyle modifications to surgery. Sympathetic activity is increased in OSAS, and the reduction of disease symptoms, occurring after adenotonsillectomy, correlates with biomarkers indicating a reduced sympathetic response.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a major cause of viral hepatitis globally, and in Italy, the anti-HAV vaccine is currently only given to specific high-risk groups, not through a universal program.
  • A study analyzed HAV immunity levels in patients aged 0-95 at a hospital in Salerno, Italy, over 9 years, finding high seroprevalence overall but a significant decrease during the pandemic years compared to the pre-pandemic period.
  • Male patients had a higher seroprevalence than females, especially in the 61-70 age group, suggesting that ongoing monitoring and possibly a universal vaccination program is needed to improve immunity and reduce HAV incidence.
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: Despite achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), an unexpected increase in the occurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been observed among HCV-treated patients. This study aims to assess the long-term follow-up of HCV patients treated with DAAs who achieved an SVR to investigate the potential for late-onset HCC. : In this prospective multicenter study, we enrolled consecutive HCV patients treated with DAAs following Italian ministerial guidelines between 2015 and 2018.

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Background/objectives: ESKAPE pathogens (, , , , , and spp.) pose a serious public health threat as they are resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by ESKAPE bacteria have high mortality rates due to the limited availability of effective antimicrobials.

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Purpose: In the last decade trastuzumab biosimilars became more and more frequent. Among their uses, from several years, they have been available in Europe for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, as an alternative to Herceptin®.

Methods/patients: This meta-analysis aimed to analyze the available literature with particular focus on phase 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing adverse events between trastuzumab biosimilar and originator.

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The association between sepsis and thrombotic complications is still not well known. Different mechanisms have been shown to be involved in the sepsis-induced prothrombotic state, but clinical scenarios may differ. In this review, we have summarized the role that bacterial products such as porins and toxins can have in the induction of the prothrombotic state during sepsis and the interaction that they can have with each other.

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Immune-mediated gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including achalasia, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel diseases, pose significant challenges in diagnosis and management due to their complex etiology and diverse clinical manifestations. While genetic predispositions and environmental factors have been extensively studied in the context of these conditions, the role of viral infections and virome dysbiosis remains a subject of growing interest. This review aims to elucidate the involvement of viral infections in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated GI diseases, focusing on achalasia and celiac disease, as well as the virome dysbiosis in IBD.

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Article Synopsis
  • In 2021, ofatumumab received approval for treating relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), distinguishing itself as the first subcutaneously administered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, unlike ocrelizumab, which is given intravenously.
  • A study analyzed Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) related to injection reactions (IRRs) for both drugs from the Eudravigilance database between 2021-2023, collecting data on 860 cases, split nearly evenly between ofatumumab (51%) and ocrelizumab (49%).
  • The findings indicated that IRRs were more common with ocrelizumab, characterized by infusion-related reactions, whereas ofatumumab was primarily linked
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Introduction: Janus kinases (JAK) are enzymes involved in signaling pathways that activate the immune system. Upadacitinib, an oral small molecule, is the first JAK inhibitor approved by FDA and EMA for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD), following successful phase II and III trials. Compared to other JAK inhibitors, upadacitinib has a high selectivity toward JAK1.

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Introduction: This study aims to define the distribution of direct healthcare costs for people with diabetes treated in two healthcare regions in Italy, based on number of comorbidities and treatment regimen.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis using data from two local health authority administrative databases (Campania and Umbria) in Italy for the years 2014-2018. Data on hospital care, pharmaceutical and specialist outpatient and laboratory assistance were collected.

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In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota and host health, specifically in the context of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The gut microbiota produces a diverse array of metabolites, influencing the host's immune response and tissue homeostasis. Noteworthy metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and indoles, exert significant effects on intestinal inflammation and fibrosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs) are short episodes in children showing changes in breathing, consciousness, and skin color, and they've been linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthy kids.
  • A study compared BRUE cases before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing an increase in cases during the pandemic, with higher birth infection risks but less ongoing symptomatic infections and fever during the episodes.
  • The results may impact how healthcare providers manage children with BRUEs in the context of the ongoing pandemic.
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Low-molecular-weight heparins are a class of drugs derived from the enzymatic depolymerization of unfractionated heparin that includes enoxaparin. Several studies have been performed on enoxaparin in recent years, in particular for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome. Furthermore, the use of enoxaparin has been extended to other clinical situations that require antithrombotic pharmacological prevention, such as hemodialysis and recurrent abortion.

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Article Synopsis
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) affects 1-5% of children and is associated with various health issues, potentially linked to inflammatory processes and heightened adrenaline production.* -
  • This pilot study examined the levels of β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) expression and inflammatory markers IL-6 and IL-8 in the white blood cells of pediatric OSAS patients both before and after adenotonsillectomy.* -
  • Results showed that the surgery significantly lowered ADRB2, IL-6, and IL-8 expression levels, suggesting new insights into OSAS treatment and its inflammatory mechanisms.*
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