Lucia Pacifico - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Lucia Pacifico

Research paper thumbnail of Helicobacter Pylori Therapy in Children: Overview and Challenges

International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2010

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common infections found in humans. It was first identified... more Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common infections found in humans. It was first identified in 1982 and by 1989 had been associated with gastric inflammation and ulcers in adults and children. During the 1990's evidence emerged of its etiologic role in stomach cancers in adults. That the infection is common and may have serious consequences, has led to an avalanche of research during the last twenty years. During this time, there have been many studies on children which have sought an effective and safe treatment to eradicate the infection, but as yet, no therapy regimen has been found which is always effective and safe. This article provides information, from a pediatric point of view, on the major developments in the therapeutics and therapy of H. pylori infection. It examines first-line treatment regimens, evaluates the efficacy of the main drugs used in the management of (primary) H. pylori infection in children, assesses the potential for the use of probiotics and seq...

Research paper thumbnail of Elevated Serum Concentrations of Remnant Cholesterol Associate with Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Children and Adolescents

The Journal of Pediatrics

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between remnant cholesterol and carotid intima-media thick... more OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between remnant cholesterol and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis, in children and adolescents. STUDY DESIGN Anthropometric, laboratory, liver and carotid ultrasonographic data were obtained from 767 youths (594, overweight/obese; 173, normal weight). Fasting RC was calculated from the standard lipid profile. cIMT ≥ 0.56 mm (corresponding to the 90th percentile of values observed in normal-weight children) was chosen to define elevated cIMT. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the risk of elevated cIMT according to tertiles of RC levels. RESULTS In the entire cohort, the mean concentration of RC was 17.9±10.3 mg/dl and mean cIMT value was 0.51±0.8 mm. Remnant cholesterol significantly correlated with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, lipids, liver enzymes, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). cIMT value increased progressively with rising RC tertiles (Pfor trend<0.001). Compared with subjects in the lowest RC tertile, those in the middle and highest RC tertiles had a 2.3- and 2.4-fold increased risk of elevated cIMT, independently of age, sex, pubertal stage, BMI and apolipoprotein B (all Padj≤0.003). When the effects of overweight/obesity on the association between RC and cIMT were determined, normal-weight as well as overweight/obese subjects in the highest RC tertile had a 3.8- and 2.3-fold increased risk to have elevated cIMT compared with the respective study groups in the lowest tertile, after adjustment for conventional risk factors (Padj=0.038 and Padj=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION In youths elevated levels of remnant cholesterol might represent a marker of early atherosclerotic damage.

Research paper thumbnail of Increased serum procalcitonin levels are not specific to sepsis in neonates - Reply

Research paper thumbnail of Determinants of insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Uric acid, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance in youth with overweight and obesity

Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Relative value of selective group A streptococcal agar incubated under different atmospheres

Journal of clinical microbiology, 1995

A commercially available selective group A streptococcal agar (ssA) was evaluated for the recover... more A commercially available selective group A streptococcal agar (ssA) was evaluated for the recovery of group A streptococci (GAS) in comparison with recovery from simultaneous cultures on conventional sheep blood agar (SBA). Both sets of plates were incubated in air, 5% CO2, and anaerobically for 48 h, with a first reading taken at 24 h. A total of 402 (67.0%) GAS were isolated from the 600 specimens that were submitted. Recovery of GAS was significantly greater after 48 h of incubation than after 24 h of incubation for each medium-atmosphere combination. After 48 h of incubation, the sensitivities of GAS detection obtained by each culture technique were as follows: ssA-anaerobic atmosphere, 98.5%; SBA-anaerobic atmosphere, 89.5%; ssA-CO2 atmosphere, 88.0%; SBA-air, 86.5%; SBA-CO2 atmosphere, 82.0%; and ssA-air, 74.6%. There were no cultures positive in air or CO2 which were not positive anaerobically on either medium. The increased sensitivity of detecting positive GAS cultures when...

Research paper thumbnail of Isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica serogroup O:8, biogroup 1B

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1991

Research paper thumbnail of Clostridium difficile Isolation in Leukemic Children on Maintenance Cancer Chemotherapy: A Preliminary Study

Clinical Pediatrics, 1985

Between December 1982 and November 1983, stool specimens from 15 children with acute lymphoblasti... more Between December 1982 and November 1983, stool specimens from 15 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who were on maintenance cancer chemotherapy, were examined weekly for the presence of Clostridium difficile and its toxin. Four out of 15 patients were positive for C. difficile: three patients had stool specimens that did not contain toxin, but cultures yielded growth of toxigenic C. difficile on only one occasion. The fourth patient, who had a recent history of hospitalization, particularly aggressive cancer chemotherapy, neutropenia, and antibiotic therapy, excreted both C. difficile and its toxin for at least 1 month. All children were asymptomatic at the time of positive cultures. This preliminary study reveals a low rate of C. difficile colonization in leukemic children on maintenance cancer chemotherapy.

Research paper thumbnail of Elevated White Blood Cell Counts Associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum Colonization in Preterm Neonates

Clinical Infectious Diseases, 1994

1. Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Nov;19(5):980-1. Elevated white blood cell counts associated with Ureapl... more 1. Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Nov;19(5):980-1. Elevated white blood cell counts associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization in preterm neonates. Panero A, Pacifico L, Rossi N, Bucci G, Chiesa C. Comment on: Clin Infect Dis. 1993 Aug;17 Suppl 1:S144-7. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of healthy plant-based diet on abdominal visceral and liver fat contents

Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Association of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Subclinical Cardiovascular Changes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BioMed Research International, 2015

In the last 20 years, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of ch... more In the last 20 years, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, primarily as a result of the epidemic of obesity. NAFLD is strongly associated with insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia and is currently regarded as the liver manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, a highly atherogenic condition even at a very early age. Patients with NAFLD including pediatric subjects have a higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis, as shown by impaired flow-mediated vasodilation, increased carotid artery intima-media thickness, and arterial stiffness, which are independent of obesity and other established risk factors. More recent work has identified NAFLD as a risk factor not only for premature coronary heart disease and cardiovascular events, but also for early subclinical abnormalities in myocardial structure and function. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to test the hypothesis th...

Research paper thumbnail of Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI) to assess liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Endothelial Function and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight/Obese Youths: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial

Nutrients, 2019

Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as an early sign of systemic atherosclerosis, and it repres... more Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as an early sign of systemic atherosclerosis, and it represents a therapeutic target to prevent long-term cardiovascular (CV) consequences. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a commonly used dietary supplement exerting anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated whether a three-month treatment with ALA improves endothelial function, as assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, and clinical and metabolic risk factors in overweight/obese youths. We enrolled 67 overweight/obese children, and 22 normal-weight metabolically healthy controls. Overweight/obese youths were randomly allocated in a double-blinded manner to receive ALA (n = 34) or placebo (n = 33). Of these, 64 (32 ALA, 32 placebo) completed the follow-up. At baseline, in ALA and placebo groups, FMD was similar, but lower as compared with that in controls (p = 0.045). At three months, within the ALA and placebo groups, FMD did not change significantly. Howeve...

Research paper thumbnail of Celiac Disease and HBV Vaccination

Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, Jun 7, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Serum Procalcitonin Concentrations in Term Delivering Mothers and Their Healthy Offspring: A Longitudinal Study

Clinical Chemistry

Background: The reported sensitivities and specificities of procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations fo... more Background: The reported sensitivities and specificities of procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations for the diagnosis of neonatal infection vary widely. A postnatal increase of PCT has been observed in healthy term newborns with a peak at ≈24 h of age, and many questions remain regarding maternal and perinatal factors that may influence the normal PCT kinetics during the immediate postnatal period. Methods: We prospectively investigated the association between the serum PCT values obtained from 121 mothers at delivery and serum PCT in their healthy, term offspring at birth as well as at 24 and 48 h of age. We also analyzed whether obstetric and perinatal factors would alter maternal and neonatal PCT response. Results: PCT concentrations in the babies at birth were significantly higher than in the mothers (P <0.0001), with even larger differences at 24 and 48 h of age. None of the variables identified from maternal and perinatal histories had a significant effect on maternal PCT respon...

Research paper thumbnail of Serial Measurements of C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 in the Immediate Postnatal Period: Reference Intervals and Analysis of Maternal and Perinatal Confounders

Clinical Chemistry

Background: There is a wide range of reported sensitivities and specificities for C-reactive prot... more Background: There is a wide range of reported sensitivities and specificities for C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the detection of early-onset neonatal infection. This prompted us to assess reference intervals for CRP and IL-6 during the 48-h period immediately after birth and to identify maternal and perinatal factors that may affect them. Methods: CRP and IL-6 values were prospectively obtained for 148 healthy babies (113 term, 35 near-term) at birth and at 24 and 48 h of life, and from their mothers at delivery. Results: Upper reference limits for CRP at each neonatal age were established. At birth, CRP was significantly lower than at 24 and 48 h of life. Rupture of membranes ≥18 h, perinatal distress, and gestational hypertension significantly affected the neonatal CRP dynamics, but at specific ages. There was no correlation between CRP concentrations in mothers and their offspring at birth. The IL-6 values observed in the delivering mothers and in their bab...

Research paper thumbnail of A Systematic Review of NAFLD-Associated Extrahepatic Disorders in Youths

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: There is growing evidence that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease... more Background: There is growing evidence that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease affecting not only the liver but also extrahepatic organs. Aim: To investigate whether in youths NAFLD is associated with extrahepatic complications such as subclinical atherosclerosis, cardiac abnormalities, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, decreased bone mineral density, renal dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed; Scopus; Embase; and the Cochrane Library databases up to 28 February 2019 and assessed the quality of studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Thirty-five articles were selected for this systematic review: fifteen (4627 participants) evaluated the association of NAFLD with subclinical atherosclerosis; four (969 participants) with cardiac abnormalities; two (550 participants) with hypertension; four (1328 participants) with diabetes; six (523 participants) with low bone mineral density; two (86...

Research paper thumbnail of Probiotics in Childhood Celiac Disease

Probiotics and Prebiotics in Human Nutrition and Health, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis: Still Room for Improvement in Procalcitonin Diagnostic Accuracy Studies

Medicine, 2015

To perform a systematic review assessing accuracy and completeness of diagnostic studies of proca... more To perform a systematic review assessing accuracy and completeness of diagnostic studies of procalcitonin (PCT) for early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) using the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) initiative.EONS, diagnosed during the first 3 days of life, remains a common and serious problem. Increased PCT is a potentially useful diagnostic marker of EONS, but reports in the literature are contradictory. There are several possible explanations for the divergent results including the quality of studies reporting the clinical usefulness of PCT in ruling in or ruling out EONS.We systematically reviewed PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases up to October 1, 2014. Studies were eligible for inclusion in our review if they provided measures of PCT accuracy for diagnosing EONS. A data extraction form based on the STARD checklist and adapted for neonates with EONS was used to appraise the quality of the reporting of included studies.We found 18 articles (1998...

Research paper thumbnail of Circulating Leptin, Ghrelin, Glucose, Insulin, C-Peptide, GH, IGF-1, Cortisol, and Interleukin-6 Concentrations, and the Systemic Stress Response to Uncomplicated Surgical Injury

The Open Clinical Chemistry Journal, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Helicobacter Pylori Therapy in Children: Overview and Challenges

International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2010

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common infections found in humans. It was first identified... more Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common infections found in humans. It was first identified in 1982 and by 1989 had been associated with gastric inflammation and ulcers in adults and children. During the 1990's evidence emerged of its etiologic role in stomach cancers in adults. That the infection is common and may have serious consequences, has led to an avalanche of research during the last twenty years. During this time, there have been many studies on children which have sought an effective and safe treatment to eradicate the infection, but as yet, no therapy regimen has been found which is always effective and safe. This article provides information, from a pediatric point of view, on the major developments in the therapeutics and therapy of H. pylori infection. It examines first-line treatment regimens, evaluates the efficacy of the main drugs used in the management of (primary) H. pylori infection in children, assesses the potential for the use of probiotics and seq...

Research paper thumbnail of Elevated Serum Concentrations of Remnant Cholesterol Associate with Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Children and Adolescents

The Journal of Pediatrics

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between remnant cholesterol and carotid intima-media thick... more OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between remnant cholesterol and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis, in children and adolescents. STUDY DESIGN Anthropometric, laboratory, liver and carotid ultrasonographic data were obtained from 767 youths (594, overweight/obese; 173, normal weight). Fasting RC was calculated from the standard lipid profile. cIMT ≥ 0.56 mm (corresponding to the 90th percentile of values observed in normal-weight children) was chosen to define elevated cIMT. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the risk of elevated cIMT according to tertiles of RC levels. RESULTS In the entire cohort, the mean concentration of RC was 17.9±10.3 mg/dl and mean cIMT value was 0.51±0.8 mm. Remnant cholesterol significantly correlated with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, lipids, liver enzymes, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). cIMT value increased progressively with rising RC tertiles (Pfor trend<0.001). Compared with subjects in the lowest RC tertile, those in the middle and highest RC tertiles had a 2.3- and 2.4-fold increased risk of elevated cIMT, independently of age, sex, pubertal stage, BMI and apolipoprotein B (all Padj≤0.003). When the effects of overweight/obesity on the association between RC and cIMT were determined, normal-weight as well as overweight/obese subjects in the highest RC tertile had a 3.8- and 2.3-fold increased risk to have elevated cIMT compared with the respective study groups in the lowest tertile, after adjustment for conventional risk factors (Padj=0.038 and Padj=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION In youths elevated levels of remnant cholesterol might represent a marker of early atherosclerotic damage.

Research paper thumbnail of Increased serum procalcitonin levels are not specific to sepsis in neonates - Reply

Research paper thumbnail of Determinants of insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Uric acid, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance in youth with overweight and obesity

Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Relative value of selective group A streptococcal agar incubated under different atmospheres

Journal of clinical microbiology, 1995

A commercially available selective group A streptococcal agar (ssA) was evaluated for the recover... more A commercially available selective group A streptococcal agar (ssA) was evaluated for the recovery of group A streptococci (GAS) in comparison with recovery from simultaneous cultures on conventional sheep blood agar (SBA). Both sets of plates were incubated in air, 5% CO2, and anaerobically for 48 h, with a first reading taken at 24 h. A total of 402 (67.0%) GAS were isolated from the 600 specimens that were submitted. Recovery of GAS was significantly greater after 48 h of incubation than after 24 h of incubation for each medium-atmosphere combination. After 48 h of incubation, the sensitivities of GAS detection obtained by each culture technique were as follows: ssA-anaerobic atmosphere, 98.5%; SBA-anaerobic atmosphere, 89.5%; ssA-CO2 atmosphere, 88.0%; SBA-air, 86.5%; SBA-CO2 atmosphere, 82.0%; and ssA-air, 74.6%. There were no cultures positive in air or CO2 which were not positive anaerobically on either medium. The increased sensitivity of detecting positive GAS cultures when...

Research paper thumbnail of Isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica serogroup O:8, biogroup 1B

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1991

Research paper thumbnail of Clostridium difficile Isolation in Leukemic Children on Maintenance Cancer Chemotherapy: A Preliminary Study

Clinical Pediatrics, 1985

Between December 1982 and November 1983, stool specimens from 15 children with acute lymphoblasti... more Between December 1982 and November 1983, stool specimens from 15 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who were on maintenance cancer chemotherapy, were examined weekly for the presence of Clostridium difficile and its toxin. Four out of 15 patients were positive for C. difficile: three patients had stool specimens that did not contain toxin, but cultures yielded growth of toxigenic C. difficile on only one occasion. The fourth patient, who had a recent history of hospitalization, particularly aggressive cancer chemotherapy, neutropenia, and antibiotic therapy, excreted both C. difficile and its toxin for at least 1 month. All children were asymptomatic at the time of positive cultures. This preliminary study reveals a low rate of C. difficile colonization in leukemic children on maintenance cancer chemotherapy.

Research paper thumbnail of Elevated White Blood Cell Counts Associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum Colonization in Preterm Neonates

Clinical Infectious Diseases, 1994

1. Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Nov;19(5):980-1. Elevated white blood cell counts associated with Ureapl... more 1. Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Nov;19(5):980-1. Elevated white blood cell counts associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization in preterm neonates. Panero A, Pacifico L, Rossi N, Bucci G, Chiesa C. Comment on: Clin Infect Dis. 1993 Aug;17 Suppl 1:S144-7. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of healthy plant-based diet on abdominal visceral and liver fat contents

Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Association of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Subclinical Cardiovascular Changes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BioMed Research International, 2015

In the last 20 years, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of ch... more In the last 20 years, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, primarily as a result of the epidemic of obesity. NAFLD is strongly associated with insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia and is currently regarded as the liver manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, a highly atherogenic condition even at a very early age. Patients with NAFLD including pediatric subjects have a higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis, as shown by impaired flow-mediated vasodilation, increased carotid artery intima-media thickness, and arterial stiffness, which are independent of obesity and other established risk factors. More recent work has identified NAFLD as a risk factor not only for premature coronary heart disease and cardiovascular events, but also for early subclinical abnormalities in myocardial structure and function. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to test the hypothesis th...

Research paper thumbnail of Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI) to assess liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Endothelial Function and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight/Obese Youths: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial

Nutrients, 2019

Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as an early sign of systemic atherosclerosis, and it repres... more Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as an early sign of systemic atherosclerosis, and it represents a therapeutic target to prevent long-term cardiovascular (CV) consequences. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a commonly used dietary supplement exerting anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated whether a three-month treatment with ALA improves endothelial function, as assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, and clinical and metabolic risk factors in overweight/obese youths. We enrolled 67 overweight/obese children, and 22 normal-weight metabolically healthy controls. Overweight/obese youths were randomly allocated in a double-blinded manner to receive ALA (n = 34) or placebo (n = 33). Of these, 64 (32 ALA, 32 placebo) completed the follow-up. At baseline, in ALA and placebo groups, FMD was similar, but lower as compared with that in controls (p = 0.045). At three months, within the ALA and placebo groups, FMD did not change significantly. Howeve...

Research paper thumbnail of Celiac Disease and HBV Vaccination

Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, Jun 7, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Serum Procalcitonin Concentrations in Term Delivering Mothers and Their Healthy Offspring: A Longitudinal Study

Clinical Chemistry

Background: The reported sensitivities and specificities of procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations fo... more Background: The reported sensitivities and specificities of procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations for the diagnosis of neonatal infection vary widely. A postnatal increase of PCT has been observed in healthy term newborns with a peak at ≈24 h of age, and many questions remain regarding maternal and perinatal factors that may influence the normal PCT kinetics during the immediate postnatal period. Methods: We prospectively investigated the association between the serum PCT values obtained from 121 mothers at delivery and serum PCT in their healthy, term offspring at birth as well as at 24 and 48 h of age. We also analyzed whether obstetric and perinatal factors would alter maternal and neonatal PCT response. Results: PCT concentrations in the babies at birth were significantly higher than in the mothers (P <0.0001), with even larger differences at 24 and 48 h of age. None of the variables identified from maternal and perinatal histories had a significant effect on maternal PCT respon...

Research paper thumbnail of Serial Measurements of C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 in the Immediate Postnatal Period: Reference Intervals and Analysis of Maternal and Perinatal Confounders

Clinical Chemistry

Background: There is a wide range of reported sensitivities and specificities for C-reactive prot... more Background: There is a wide range of reported sensitivities and specificities for C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the detection of early-onset neonatal infection. This prompted us to assess reference intervals for CRP and IL-6 during the 48-h period immediately after birth and to identify maternal and perinatal factors that may affect them. Methods: CRP and IL-6 values were prospectively obtained for 148 healthy babies (113 term, 35 near-term) at birth and at 24 and 48 h of life, and from their mothers at delivery. Results: Upper reference limits for CRP at each neonatal age were established. At birth, CRP was significantly lower than at 24 and 48 h of life. Rupture of membranes ≥18 h, perinatal distress, and gestational hypertension significantly affected the neonatal CRP dynamics, but at specific ages. There was no correlation between CRP concentrations in mothers and their offspring at birth. The IL-6 values observed in the delivering mothers and in their bab...

Research paper thumbnail of A Systematic Review of NAFLD-Associated Extrahepatic Disorders in Youths

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: There is growing evidence that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease... more Background: There is growing evidence that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease affecting not only the liver but also extrahepatic organs. Aim: To investigate whether in youths NAFLD is associated with extrahepatic complications such as subclinical atherosclerosis, cardiac abnormalities, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, decreased bone mineral density, renal dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed; Scopus; Embase; and the Cochrane Library databases up to 28 February 2019 and assessed the quality of studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Thirty-five articles were selected for this systematic review: fifteen (4627 participants) evaluated the association of NAFLD with subclinical atherosclerosis; four (969 participants) with cardiac abnormalities; two (550 participants) with hypertension; four (1328 participants) with diabetes; six (523 participants) with low bone mineral density; two (86...

Research paper thumbnail of Probiotics in Childhood Celiac Disease

Probiotics and Prebiotics in Human Nutrition and Health, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis: Still Room for Improvement in Procalcitonin Diagnostic Accuracy Studies

Medicine, 2015

To perform a systematic review assessing accuracy and completeness of diagnostic studies of proca... more To perform a systematic review assessing accuracy and completeness of diagnostic studies of procalcitonin (PCT) for early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) using the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) initiative.EONS, diagnosed during the first 3 days of life, remains a common and serious problem. Increased PCT is a potentially useful diagnostic marker of EONS, but reports in the literature are contradictory. There are several possible explanations for the divergent results including the quality of studies reporting the clinical usefulness of PCT in ruling in or ruling out EONS.We systematically reviewed PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases up to October 1, 2014. Studies were eligible for inclusion in our review if they provided measures of PCT accuracy for diagnosing EONS. A data extraction form based on the STARD checklist and adapted for neonates with EONS was used to appraise the quality of the reporting of included studies.We found 18 articles (1998...

Research paper thumbnail of Circulating Leptin, Ghrelin, Glucose, Insulin, C-Peptide, GH, IGF-1, Cortisol, and Interleukin-6 Concentrations, and the Systemic Stress Response to Uncomplicated Surgical Injury

The Open Clinical Chemistry Journal, 2009