Ricerc@Sapienza

Sex-disaggregated data confirm serum ferritin as an independent predictor of disease severity both in male and female COVID-19 patients.

Summarizing, the results of this study suggest that vitamin K deficiency is frequently observed in COVID-19 patients and that the deficit is greater in males than in females. In addition, in male patients, vitamin K deficiency is associated with a greater IL-6 level in the general circulation. In conclusion, we propose that vitamin K deficiency could support both cytokine storm Th2 by increasing proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, which is involved in the building up of the inflammatory response recruiting both cellular and humoral components.

Aims: To evaluate the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on blood glucose control in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to explore determinants of glucose variability. Methods: Fifty T1D patients undergoing continuous/flash glucose monitoring were recruited. The study's primary outcome was the change of time in range (TIR) from before to lockdown period. Three time-point comparisons of TIR, mean glucose levels (MG), estimated (e)HbA1c, time above (TAR) and below range (TBR), moderate/severe hypoglycemic events between pre-lockdown, lockdown and post-lockdown period were also performed.

Background: Pasta is a refined carbohydrate with a low glycemic index. Whether pasta shares the metabolic advantages of other low glycemic index foods has not really been investigated. The aim of this study is to document, in people with type-2 diabetes, the consumption of pasta, the connected dietary habits, and the association with glucose control, measures of adiposity, and major cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: We studied 2562 participants. The dietary habits were assessed with the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) questionnaire.

The evidence emerged from the TOURANDOT trial encourages evaluating the role of anthropometric determinants on treatment outcomes in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients treated with bevacizumab-including regimens. We thus analyzed data from a subgroup of these patients from a larger cohort previously assessed for treatment outcomes. Patients were included in the present analysis if body mass index values had been recorded at baseline.

Rationale:Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is an uncommon gastrointestinal cancer, thus limited data about treatment for advanced disease are available. The lack of specific guidelines has justified the use of therapeutic protocols usually applied in advanced colorectal cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is a complex disease with primary or acquired incurability characteristics in a significant part of patients. Immunotherapeutical agents represent an emerging option for breast cancer treatment, including the human epidermal growth factor 2 positive (HER2+) subtype. The immune system holds the ability to spontaneously implement a defensive response against HER2+ BC cells through complex mechanisms which can be exploited to modulate this response for obtaining a clinical benefit.

Background: In Italy medical cannabis is a prescription drug since 1998. Even though it could not be considered a therapy as such, it is indicated as a symptomatic treatment also in cancer patients, to cure iatrogenic nausea/vomiting and chronic pain. Patients and methods: We conducted a knowledge survey about medical cannabis among cancer patients referred to two outpatient cancer care centers and a home care service. Results: From February to April 2018, 232 patient were enrolled; 210 patients were on active disease-oriented treatment (90.5%), while 22 (9.5%) not.

Aims and methods: This multicenter retrospective study aims to evaluate the correlations between Body Weight Loss (BWL), Body Mass Index (BMI) and clinical outcomes (ORR, PFS, and OS) of advanced gastric cancer (aGC) patients treated with second-line ramucirumab-based therapy in a “real-life” setting. Results: From December 2014 to October 2018, 101 consecutive aGC patients progressed to a first-line chemotherapy were treated with ramucirumab alone (10.9%) or in combination with paclitaxel (89.1%). Median BMI was 21.2 kg/m2 and mBWL since first-line treatment commencement was 4.5%.

Background: Single-agent pembrolizumab represents the standard first-line option for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) expression of ≥ 50%. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study aimed at evaluating the clinicopathologic correlates of pembrolizumab effectiveness in patients with treatment-naïve NSCLC and a PD-L1 expression of ≥ 50%. Results: One thousand and twenty-six consecutive patients were included.