Publications by authors named "Silvia Turroni"

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a metabolic disorder managed through a strict, lifelong low-phenylalanine diet, which may influence gut microbiome dynamics. While gut bacterial alterations in PKU are increasingly investigated, the fungal community (mycobiome) remains largely unexplored. This study compared gut mycobiome composition and dietary profiles of paediatric PKU patients and healthy controls, stratified by age (<10 and 10-18 years).

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Protein-based therapeutics have garnered increasing attention across various medical fields for their substantial benefits to human health. Existing strategies for intracellular protein delivery, such as cell-penetrating peptide (CPP)-based approaches, including the transactivator of transcription (TAT) peptide, have shown promising results but also present limitations, particularly due to the need for recombinant protein manufacturing and daily invasive administration. To overcome such hindrances and develop delivery tools that are able to foster the production of the protein directly inside the body of patients, we engineered the lactic acid bacterium, Lactococcus lactis, to express and secrete TATκ-GFP protein.

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The gut microbiome (GM) is implicated in human health and varies among lifestyles. So-called "traditional" diets have been suggested to promote health-associated taxa. However, most studies focused only on diets including domesticated foods.

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Objectives: A growing body of evidence supports the potential role of the oral microbiota in influencing cognitive function. Centenarians, at the extreme end of the lifespan, are the ideal cohort to study the long-term effects of inflammaging.

Study Design: Twenty-three centenarians were examined by a neurologist, neuropsychologist and dentist to assess cognitive status and oral health.

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The role of gut microbiota (GM) in the pathogenesis of Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease (SUDD) remains controversial. Here, we assessed the efficacy of a butyrate formulation in modulating GM and abdominal pain in patients with SUDD. A retrospective study was conducted in patients with SUDD who were treated with a delayed- and colonic-release formulation of butyrate (two capsules bid, for a total dose of 400 mg butyrate) for 3 months.

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The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a complex bidirectional communication system that involves multiple interactions between intestinal functions and the emotional and cognitive centers of the brain. These interactions are mediated by molecules (metabolites) produced in both areas, which are considered mediators. To shed light on this complex mechanism, which is still largely unknown, a reliable characterization of the mediators is essential.

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Background: The prophylactic use of quinolones in the setting of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is controversial and solid evidence is missing, particularly in children.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, we compared outcomes in patients receiving (n = 74) or not receiving (n = 70) levofloxacin (LVX) prophylaxis, assessing overall survival, event-free survival, acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) and bloodstream infection incidence, and infection-related mortality. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed in a subgroup using 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples collected pre-HCT and at engraftment.

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Background: The management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is hindered by treatment-related toxicities and complications, particularly cytopenia, which remains a leading cause of mortality. Given the pivotal role of the gut microbiota (GM) in hemopoiesis and immune regulation, we investigated its impact on hematologic recovery during AML induction therapy.

Methods: We profiled the GM of 27 newly diagnosed adult AML patients using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and correlated it with key clinical parameters before and after induction therapy.

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Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis and affects over 528 million people worldwide. Degenerative joint disease involves cartilage degradation, subchondral bone remodeling, and synovial inflammation, leading to chronic pain, stiffness, and impaired joint function. Initially regarded as a "wear and tear" condition associated with aging and mechanical stress, OA is now recognized as a multifaceted disease influenced by systemic factors such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, and chronic low-grade inflammation.

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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous tumor associated with several risk factors, with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) emerging as an important cause of liver tumorigenesis. Due to the obesity epidemics, the occurrence of NAFLD has significantly increased with nearly 30% prevalence worldwide. HCC often arises in the background of chronic liver disease (CLD), such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis.

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Why patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) may develop acute diverticulitis (AD) is still unknown. We analyzed the gut microbiota (GM) in two SUDD patients, one who did experience SUDD recurrence but not AD occurrence (case 1) and one who did experience AD occurrence during follow-up (case 2). The GM of these patients showed differences in terms of phyla (Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in case 1; Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria in case 2) and subgenera ( and in case 1 and , , , , group, and in case 2).

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Background: Early gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis can affect a child's health and has been linked to the onset of pathologies later in life. Breast milk is recognized as a major driver of the structure and dynamics of an infant's GM. In addition to nutritious and prebiotic compounds, milk contains a microbiota that is shaped by several maternal factors, including gut microorganisms and medications.

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The microbial dimension of the terroir is crucial for wine quality, as microbiomes contribute to plant biofertilization, stress tolerance and pathogen suppression. While microbial terroir can act as a biological signature at large scale, data for local contexts is lacking, hindering the characterization of regional microbial diversity in vineyards. Here, we define the microbial terroir of vineyards across the 12 sub-areas (Additional Geographic Units -AGUs) of the "Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG" PDO area (Italy), a world-renowned wine-producing region.

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Background: Vitamin B12 is essential for neurological function, red blood cell formation, and DNA synthesis. Deficiency can lead to diverse health conditions, including megaloblastic anemia and neurological issues. Oral supplementation is a standard treatment for B12 deficiency.

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Objective: Patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) may have a disrupted gut microbiota. However, current data are from small sample studies, and reported associations vary widely across studies. We aimed to profile the fecal microbiota in SUDD patients enrolled in primary care.

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Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic pain and a complex array of symptoms, with neuroinflammation implicated in its pathophysiology.

Methods: This study aimed to explore the association between neuroinflammation, measured through interleukin levels (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8), and clinical outcomes in FM patients. Using a cross-sectional study design, blood levels of these interleukins were correlated with pain severity and disability, assessed via the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and pain measures.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Results showed increased diversity in the children's GM, higher butyrate production, and growth of beneficial probiotic species without introducing harmful traits.
  • * This pilot study suggests the possibility of enhancing human health through microbiome exchange with natural ecosystems, supporting a broader initiative to explore GM rewilding in line with the One Health approach.
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Several studies reported alterations of the human gut microbiota (GM) during COVID-19. To evaluate the potential role of the GM as an early predictor of COVID-19 at disease onset, we analyzed gut microbial samples of 315 COVID-19 patients that differed in disease severity. We observed significant variations in microbial diversity and composition associated with increasing disease severity, as the reduction of short-chain fatty acid producers such as and , and the growth of pathobionts as and .

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Background: Insomnia persists as a prevalent sleep disorder among middle-aged and older adults, significantly impacting quality of life and increasing susceptibility to age-related diseases. It is classified into objective insomnia (O-IN) and paradoxical insomnia (P-IN), where subjective and objective sleep assessments diverge. Current treatment regimens for both patient groups yield unsatisfactory outcomes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Scientists studied rats that are prone to strokes to understand how high salt diets affect their gut bacteria and stroke risk.
  • They compared two types of rats: one that is more likely to get strokes (SHRSPs) and one that is less likely (SHRSRs) while they ate a special high-salt diet for a few weeks.
  • The gut bacteria in the stroke-prone rats changed in a way that might increase their chances of having a stroke, showing that a bad diet could harm gut health and lead to serious problems.
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Biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) response and resistance include PD-L1 expression and other environmental factors, among which the gut microbiome (GM) is gaining increasing interest especially in lymphomas. To explore the potential role of GM in this clinical issue, feces of 30 relapsed/refractory lymphoma (Hodgkin and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma) patients undergoing ICIs were collected from start to end of treatment (EoT). GM was profiled through Illumina, that is, 16S rRNA sequencing, and subsequently processed through a bioinformatics pipeline.

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The complex interactions between intestinal microbiota and metabolic disorders are well-documented, with implications for glucose metabolism, energy expenditure, and intestinal permeability. Prebiotics induce beneficial changes in gut microbiota composition in prediabetes, while postbiotics can enhance gut barrier function, complementing each other to improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. This study investigated the effects of a 12-week dietary fibre (DF) supplement on gut health, metabolic function, and diet.

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