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Palmisano A, Gnasso C, Cereda A, Vignale D, Leone R, Nicoletti V, Barbieri S, Toselli M, Giannini F, Loffi M, Patelli G, Monello A, Iannopollo G, Ippolito D, Mancini EM, Pontone G, Vignali L, Scarnecchia E, Iannaccone M, Baffoni L, Spernadio M, de Carlini CC, Sironi S, Rapezzi C, Esposito A. Chest CT opportunistic biomarkers for phenotyping high-risk COVID-19 patients: a retrospective multicentre study. Eur Radiol 2023; 33:7756-7768. [PMID: 37166497 PMCID: PMC10173240 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-023-09702-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the value of opportunistic biomarkers derived from chest CT performed at hospital admission of COVID-19 patients for the phenotypization of high-risk patients. METHODS In this multicentre retrospective study, 1845 consecutive COVID-19 patients with chest CT performed within 72 h from hospital admission were analysed. Clinical and outcome data were collected by each center 30 and 80 days after hospital admission. Patients with unknown outcomes were excluded. Chest CT was analysed in a single core lab and behind pneumonia CT scores were extracted opportunistic data about atherosclerotic profile (calcium score according to Agatston method), liver steatosis (≤ 40 HU), myosteatosis (paraspinal muscle F < 31.3 HU, M < 37.5 HU), and osteoporosis (D12 bone attenuation < 134 HU). Differences according to treatment and outcome were assessed with ANOVA. Prediction models were obtained using multivariate binary logistic regression and their AUCs were compared with the DeLong test. RESULTS The final cohort included 1669 patients (age 67.5 [58.5-77.4] yo) mainly men 1105/1669, 66.2%) and with reduced oxygen saturation (92% [88-95%]). Pneumonia severity, high Agatston score, myosteatosis, liver steatosis, and osteoporosis derived from CT were more prevalent in patients with more aggressive treatment, access to ICU, and in-hospital death (always p < 0.05). A multivariable model including clinical and CT variables improved the capability to predict non-critical pneumonia compared to a model including only clinical variables (AUC 0.801 vs 0.789; p = 0.0198) to predict patient death (AUC 0.815 vs 0.800; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Opportunistic biomarkers derived from chest CT can improve the characterization of COVID-19 high-risk patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT In COVID-19 patients, opportunistic biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk extracted from chest CT improve patient risk stratification. KEY POINTS • In COVID-19 patients, several information about patient comorbidities can be quantitatively extracted from chest CT, resulting associated with the severity of oxygen treatment, access to ICU, and death. • A prediction model based on multiparametric opportunistic biomarkers derived from chest CT resulted superior to a model including only clinical variables in a large cohort of 1669 patients suffering from SARS- CoV2 infection. • Opportunistic biomarkers of cardiometabolic comorbidities derived from chest CT may improve COVID-19 patients' risk stratification also in absence of detailed clinical data and laboratory tests identifying subclinical and previously unknown conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Palmisano
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Gnasso
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Cereda
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Davide Vignale
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Leone
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Nicoletti
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Barbieri
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Toselli
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elisa Scarnecchia
- ASST Valtellina and Alto Lario, Eugenio Morelli Hospital, Sondalo, Italy
| | | | - Lucio Baffoni
- Casa Di Cura Villa Dei Pini, Civitanova Marche, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Claudio Rapezzi
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Ferrara, Cona, FE, Italy
| | - Antonio Esposito
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy.
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy.
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Palmisano A, Vignale D, Boccia E, Nonis A, Gnasso C, Leone R, Montagna M, Nicoletti V, Bianchi AG, Brusamolino S, Dorizza A, Moraschini M, Veettil R, Cereda A, Toselli M, Giannini F, Loffi M, Patelli G, Monello A, Iannopollo G, Ippolito D, Mancini EM, Pontone G, Vignali L, Scarnecchia E, Iannacone M, Baffoni L, Sperandio M, de Carlini CC, Sironi S, Rapezzi C, Antiga L, Jagher V, Di Serio C, Furlanello C, Tacchetti C, Esposito A. AI-SCoRE (artificial intelligence-SARS CoV2 risk evaluation): a fast, objective and fully automated platform to predict the outcome in COVID-19 patients. Radiol Med 2022; 127:960-972. [PMID: 36038790 PMCID: PMC9423702 DOI: 10.1007/s11547-022-01518-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose To develop and validate an effective and user-friendly AI platform based on a few unbiased clinical variables integrated with advanced CT automatic analysis for COVID-19 patients’ risk stratification. Material and Methods In total, 1575 consecutive COVID-19 adults admitted to 16 hospitals during wave 1 (February 16-April 29, 2020), submitted to chest CT within 72 h from admission, were retrospectively enrolled. In total, 107 variables were initially collected; 64 extracted from CT. The outcome was survival. A rigorous AI model selection framework was adopted for models selection and automatic CT data extraction. Model performances were compared in terms of AUC. A web–mobile interface was developed using Microsoft PowerApps environment. The platform was externally validated on 213 COVID-19 adults prospectively enrolled during wave 2 (October 14-December 31, 2020). Results The final cohort included 1125 patients (292 non-survivors, 26%) and 24 variables. Logistic showed the best performance on the complete set of variables (AUC = 0.839 ± 0.009) as in models including a limited set of 13 and 5 variables (AUC = 0.840 ± 0.0093 and AUC = 0.834 ± 0.007). For non-inferior performance, the 5 variables model (age, sex, saturation, well-aerated lung parenchyma and cardiothoracic vascular calcium) was selected as the final model and the extraction of CT-derived parameters was fully automatized. The fully automatic model showed AUC = 0.842 (95% CI: 0.816–0.867) on wave 1 and was used to build a 0–100 scale risk score (AI-SCoRE). The predictive performance was confirmed on wave 2 (AUC 0.808; 95% CI: 0.7402–0.8766). Conclusions AI-SCoRE is an effective and reliable platform for automatic risk stratification of COVID-19 patients based on a few unbiased clinical data and CT automatic analysis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11547-022-01518-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Palmisano
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Vignale
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy
| | - Edda Boccia
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Nonis
- Centro Universitario Di Statistica Per Le Scienze Biomediche, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Gnasso
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Leone
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Montagna
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Nicoletti
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alberto Cereda
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Marco Toselli
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elisa Scarnecchia
- ASST Valtellina and Alto Lario, Eugenio Morelli Hospital, Sondalo, Italy
| | - Mario Iannacone
- San Giovanni Bosco Hospital, ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Lucio Baffoni
- Casa di Cura Villa dei Pini, Civitanova Marche, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Claudio Rapezzi
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
- Cardiologic Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | | | - Clelia Di Serio
- Centro Universitario Di Statistica Per Le Scienze Biomediche, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Tacchetti
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy.
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy.
| | - Antonio Esposito
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy.
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy.
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Giannini F, Toselli M, Palmisano A, Cereda A, Vignale D, Leone R, Nicoletti V, Gnasso C, Monello A, Manfrini M, Khokhar A, Sticchi A, Biagi A, Turchio P, Tacchetti C, Landoni G, Boccia E, Campo G, Scoccia A, Ponticelli F, Danzi GB, Loffi M, Muri M, Pontone G, Andreini D, Mancini EM, Casella G, Iannopollo G, Nannini T, Ippolito D, Bellani G, Franzesi CT, Patelli G, Besana F, Costa C, Vignali L, Benatti G, Sverzellati N, Scarnecchia E, Lombardo FP, Anastasio F, Iannaccone M, Vaudano PG, Pacielli A, Baffoni L, Gardi I, Cesini E, Sperandio M, Micossi C, De Carlini CC, Spreafico C, Maggiolini S, Bonaffini PA, Iacovoni A, Sironi S, Senni M, Fominskiy E, De Cobelli F, Maggioni AP, Rapezzi C, Ferrari R, Colombo A, Esposito A. Coronary and total thoracic calcium scores predict mortality and provides pathophysiologic insights in COVID-19 patients. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2021; 15:421-430. [PMID: 33744175 PMCID: PMC7946543 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcct.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide determining dramatic impacts on healthcare systems. Early identification of high-risk parameters is required in order to provide the best therapeutic approach. Coronary, thoracic aorta and aortic valve calcium can be measured from a non-gated chest computer tomography (CT) and are validated predictors of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. However, their prognostic role in acute systemic inflammatory diseases, such as COVID-19, has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES The aim was to evaluate the association of coronary artery calcium and total thoracic calcium on in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. METHODS 1093 consecutive patients from 16 Italian hospitals with a positive swab for COVID-19 and an admission chest CT for pneumonia severity assessment were included. At CT, coronary, aortic valve and thoracic aorta calcium were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated separately and combined together (total thoracic calcium) by a central Core-lab blinded to patients' outcomes. RESULTS Non-survivors compared to survivors had higher coronary artery [Agatston (467.76 ± 570.92 vs 206.80 ± 424.13 mm2, p < 0.001); Volume (487.79 ± 565.34 vs 207.77 ± 406.81, p < 0.001)], aortic valve [Volume (322.45 ± 390.90 vs 98.27 ± 250.74 mm2, p < 0.001; Agatston 337.38 ± 414.97 vs 111.70 ± 282.15, p < 0.001)] and thoracic aorta [Volume (3786.71 ± 4225.57 vs 1487.63 ± 2973.19 mm2, p < 0.001); Agatston (4688.82 ± 5363.72 vs 1834.90 ± 3761.25, p < 0.001)] calcium values. Coronary artery calcium (HR 1.308; 95% CI, 1.046-1.637, p = 0.019) and total thoracic calcium (HR 1.975; 95% CI, 1.200-3.251, p = 0.007) resulted to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION Coronary, aortic valve and thoracic aortic calcium assessment on admission non-gated CT permits to stratify the COVID-19 patients in-hospital mortality risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Toselli
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Anna Palmisano
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
| | - Alberto Cereda
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Davide Vignale
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
| | - Riccardo Leone
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
| | - Valeria Nicoletti
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
| | - Chiara Gnasso
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
| | | | - Marco Manfrini
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Arif Khokhar
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Carlo Tacchetti
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
| | - Giovanni Landoni
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
| | - Edda Boccia
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy
| | - Gianluca Campo
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona, FE, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elisa Scarnecchia
- ASST Valtellina and Alto Lario, "Eugenio Morelli Hospital", Sondalo, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Anastasio
- ASST Valtellina and Alto Lario, "Eugenio Morelli Hospital", Sondalo, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Lucio Baffoni
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy; Casa di Cura Villa dei Pini, Civitanova Marche, Italy
| | - Iljia Gardi
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Francesco De Cobelli
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Rapezzi
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona, FE, Italy
| | - Roberto Ferrari
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Antonio Colombo
- GVM Care & Research Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Antonio Esposito
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy
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Alberoni D, Favaro R, Baffoni L, Angeli S, Di Gioia D. Neonicotinoids in the agroecosystem: In-field long-term assessment on honeybee colony strength and microbiome. Sci Total Environ 2021; 762:144116. [PMID: 33383302 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Bees can be severely affected by various plant protection products (PPP). Among these, neonicotinoid insecticides are of concern as they have been shown to be responsible for extensive honeybee colonies death when released into the environment. Also, sublethal neonicotinoid doses contaminating single honeybees and their colonies (e.g. through contaminated pollen) are responsible for honeybees physiological alterations with probable implication also on microbiome functionality. Honeybees show symbiotic interactions with specific gut bacteria that can enhance the adult host performances. Among the known mechanisms, the modulation of the immune system, the degradation of recalcitrant secondary plant metabolites, pollen digestion, and hormonal signaling, are the most important functional benefits for the host honeybee. To date, few research efforts have aimed at revealing the impact of PPP on the gut microbial community of managed and wild honeybees. The majority of the existing literature relays on cage or semifield tests of short duration for research investigating neonicotinoids-gut microbiome interactions. This research wanted to unravel the impact of two neonicotinoids (i.e. imidacloprid and thiacloprid) in natural field conditions up to 5 weeks of exposure. A long-term impact of neonicotinoids on gut microbial community of honeybees was observed. The alterations affected several microbial genera and species such as Frischella spp., lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, whose shifting is implicated in intestinal dysbiosis. Long-term impact leading to dysbiosis was detected in case of exposure to imidacloprid, whereas thiacloprid exposure stimulated temporary dysbiosis. Moreover, the microbial diversity was significantly reduced in neonicotinoid-treated groups. Overall, the reported results support a compromised functionality of the gut microbial community, that might reflect a lower efficiency in the ecosystemic functionality of honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alberoni
- Department of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - R Favaro
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - L Baffoni
- Department of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
| | - S Angeli
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - D Di Gioia
- Department of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
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Alberoni D, Baffoni L, Gaggìa F, Ryan PM, Murphy K, Ross PR, Stanton C, Di Gioia D. Impact of beneficial bacteria supplementation on the gut microbiota, colony development and productivity of Apis mellifera L. Benef Microbes 2018; 9:269-278. [PMID: 29380644 DOI: 10.3920/bm2017.0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Honey bees are important pollinators of several crops and ecosystems, having a great ecological and economic value. In Europe, the restricted use of chemicals and therapeutic agents in the beekeeping sector has stimulated the search for natural alternatives with a special focus on gut symbionts. The modulation of the gut microbiota has been recognised as a practical and successful approach in the entomological field for the management of insect-related problems. To date, only a few studies have investigated the effect of bacterial supplementation on the health status of colonies, colony productivity and gut symbionts. To this purpose, a preparation of sugar syrup containing bifidobacteria and lactobacilli isolated from bee gut was sprayed on the frames of an apiary located in open field once a week for four weeks. Treated and control hives were monitored for two months for brood extension, honey and pollen harvest. The presence of beneficial gut microorganisms within bee gut was investigated with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and next generation sequencing. The administered bacteria led to a significant increase of brood population (46.2%), pollen (53.4%) and harvestable honey in honey supers (59.21%). Analysis of the gut microbiota on the new generation of bees in treated hives showed an increase in relative abundance of Acetobacteraceae and Bifidobacterium spp., which are known to be involved in bee nutrition and protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alberoni
- 1 Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - L Baffoni
- 1 Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - F Gaggìa
- 1 Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - P M Ryan
- 2 Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.,3 APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland
| | - K Murphy
- 2 Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.,3 APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland
| | - P R Ross
- 2 Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.,3 APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland
| | - C Stanton
- 2 Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.,3 APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland
| | - D Di Gioia
- 1 Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
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Baffoni L, Gaggìa F, Alberoni D, Cabbri R, Nanetti A, Biavati B, Di Gioia D. Effect of dietary supplementation of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains in Apis mellifera L. against Nosema ceranae. Benef Microbes 2016; 7:45-51. [DOI: 10.3920/bm2015.0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is a widespread microsporidium of European honeybee Apis mellifera L. affecting bee health. The ban of Fumagillin-B (dicyclohexylammonium salt) in the European Union has driven the search for sustainable strategies to prevent and control the infection. The gut microbial symbionts, associated to the intestinal system of vertebrates and invertebrates and its impact on host health, are receiving increasing attention. In particular, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, which are normal inhabitants of the digestive system of bees, are known to protect their hosts via antimicrobial metabolites, immunomodulation and competition. In this work, the dietary supplementation of gut bacteria was evaluated under laboratory conditions in bees artificially infected with the parasite and bees not artificially infected but evidencing a low natural infection. Supplemented bacteria were selected among bifidobacteria, previously isolated, and lactobacilli, isolated in this work from healthy honeybee gut. Four treatments were compared: bees fed with sugar syrup (CTR); bees fed with sugar syrup containing bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (PRO); bees infected with N. ceranae spores and fed with sugar syrup (NOS); bees infected with N. ceranae and fed with sugar syrup containing bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (NP). The sugar syrup, with or without microorganisms, was administered to bees from the first day of life for 13 days. N. ceranae infection was carried out individually on anesthetised 5-day-old bees. Eight days after infection, a significant (P<0.05) lower level of N. ceranae was detected by real-time PCR in both NP and PRO group, showing a positive effect of supplemented microorganisms in controlling the infection. These results represent a first attempt of application of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli against N. ceranae in honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Baffoni
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - F. Gaggìa
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - D. Alberoni
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - R. Cabbri
- Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricultura, Unità di ricerca di apicoltura e bachicoltura, CRA-API, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - A. Nanetti
- Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricultura, Unità di ricerca di apicoltura e bachicoltura, CRA-API, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - B. Biavati
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - D. Di Gioia
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
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Carbone S, Vittori Antisari L, Gaggia F, Baffoni L, Di Gioia D, Vianello G, Nannipieri P. Bioavailability and biological effect of engineered silver nanoparticles in a forest soil. J Hazard Mater 2014; 280:89-96. [PMID: 25133850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.07.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The extensive use of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) as antimicrobial in food, clothing and medicine, leads inevitably to a loss of such nanomaterial in soil and water. Little is known about the effects of soil contamination, in particular, on microbial cells, which play a fundamental ecological role. In this work, the impact of SNPs on forest soil has been studied, investigating eco-physiological indicators of microbial biomass and microbial diversity with culture-dependent and independent techniques. Moreover, SNPs bioavailability and uptake were assessed. Soil samples were spiked with SNPs at two different concentrations (10 and 100 μg g(-1)dw) and incubated with the relative controls for 30, 60 and 90 days. The overall parameters showed a significant influence of the SNPs on the soil microbial community, revealing a marked shift after 60 days of incubation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Carbone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
| | - L Vittori Antisari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - F Gaggia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - L Baffoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - D Di Gioia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - G Vianello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - P Nannipieri
- Dipartimento di Scienza del Suolo e Nutrizione della Pianta, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
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Baffoni L, Barone D, Benea G, Borasi G, Capotondi C, Caramella D, Giovagnoni A, Golfieri R, Laghi A, Maggi S, Moser E, Neri E, Nitrosi A, Padovani L, Panebianco V, Pedroli G, Ramelli A, Rollandi GA, Saccavini C, Sacco P, Silverio R, Tamburrini O, Torresin A, Vanzulli A. [PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems). General principles and guidelines for its use]. Radiol Med 2004; 107:1-72. [PMID: 15323325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
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9
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Baffoni L, Frisoni M, Maccaferri M, Ferri S. Systemic lupus erythematosus and eosinophilic fasciitis: an unusual association. Clin Rheumatol 1995; 14:591-2. [PMID: 8549105 DOI: 10.1007/bf02208164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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10
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Frisoni M, Baffoni L, Miniero R, Boni P, Falasconi C, Ferri S. [Hepatitis C virus and Sjögren's syndrome: is there any link?]. Presse Med 1994; 23:1272. [PMID: 7526374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
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11
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Macchini M, Baffoni L, Natale S, Totò AM, Zaccarelli A, Scartozzi P. [Stereotaxic breast microhistology]. Radiol Med 1993; 85:753-5. [PMID: 8337432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Mammography is currently the most reliable imaging technique to detect clinically occult breast cancer. Stereotaxic-guided aspiration biopsy during mammography allows lesion nature to be diagnosed in many cases. Our experience with 72 microhistologic breast samplings with fine-needle aspiration cytology is reported; 50% of inadequate cytologic samplings were avoided. Adequate cytologic samples were obtained in 88.9% of cases, while microhistologic samples were adequate in 94.4% of cases. Inadequate samples were 11.1% and 5.6%, respectively. Microhistologic biopsies yielded fewer questionable results than fine-needle aspiration cytology, which helped reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies. This method, which is reliable and well tolerated by the patients, can be considered as a valuable alternative procedure to fine-needle aspiration cytology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Macchini
- Servizio di Diagnostica per Immagini, USL 21 Fermo (AP)
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12
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Baffoni L, Frisoni M, Miniero R, Righetti F, Sprovieri G, Ferri S. True positive anti-HCV tests in rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 1993; 32:349-50. [PMID: 8384912 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/32.4.349-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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13
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Cassani F, Costigliola P, Zoli M, Baffoni L, Dentale N, Ricchi E, Chiodo F, Pilati G, Bianchi FB, Pisi E. Abdominal lymphadenopathy detected by ultrasonography in HIV-1 infection: prevalence and significance. Scand J Infect Dis 1993; 25:221-5. [PMID: 8031333 DOI: 10.3109/00365549309008488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
By using abdominal ultrasonography (UlS), deep nodes were detected in 41 of 85 (48%) HIV-1 positive subjects, most of them heroin addicts, but in none of 85 healthy HIV-negative controls. Computerized tomography, performed in 10 cases of lymphadenopathy, invariably confirmed the UlS findings. Prevalence [asymptomatic carriers: 8/15 (53%); PGL patients: 8/18 (44%); ARC: 13/27 (48%); AIDS: 12/25 (48%)], number, size, and site of deep nodes were comparable among the different CDC groups. No correlation was found between abdominal and superficial lymphadenopathy. Median serum concentrations of gammaglobulins (g/dl) and IgG (mg/dl) were higher in patients with than without deep nodes (2.25 vs 1.87 and 2540 vs 1900, respectively) (p < 0.01) as well as in cases with than without superficial nodes (2.15 vs 1.80 and 2340 vs 1941, respectively) (p < 0.05). Abdominal lymphadenopathy occurred during all stages of HIV infection even in asymptomatic carriers: this should be considered in the differential diagnosis of UlS-detected deep nodes. Enlargement of either deep or superficial nodes seems to reflect a state of polyclonal B cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cassani
- Department of General Clinical Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Bologna, Italy
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Zauli D, Baffoni L, Cassani F, Fusconi M, Lenzi M, Ballardini G, Luigi M, Bianchi FB, Schrumpf E. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in primary sclerosing cholangitis, ulcerative colitis, and autoimmune diseases. Gastroenterology 1992; 102:1088-90. [PMID: 1537507 DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(92)90213-i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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15
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Cassani F, Baffoni L, Raise E, Selleri L, Monti M, Bonazzi L, Gritti FM, Bianchi FB. Serum non-organ specific autoantibodies in human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection. J Clin Pathol 1991; 44:64-8. [PMID: 1671787 PMCID: PMC497018 DOI: 10.1136/jcp.44.1.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Serum samples from 66 seropositive subjects (56 with a history of intravenous drug abuse), including asymptomatic carriers and patients with persistent generalised lymphadenopathy (PGL), AIDS related complex (ARC), and AIDS, were tested by indirect immunofluorescence on rat tissue sections and HEp-2 cells for the presence of antibodies to nuclei, smooth muscle, intermediate filaments (anti-IMF) and microfilaments (anti-MF). Counterimmunoelectrophoresis was also used to detect antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens. Smooth muscle antibodies with the V pattern or antinuclear antibodies, mainly of the speckled type, or anti-IMF, occurred in 35 cases, being widely distributed in all groups. Such an autoantibody response resembles the "viral" autoimmunity described in various infectious diseases and in particular that of non-A, non-B post-transfusion hepatitis. Autoantibodies may be of some prognostic relevance, as the prevalence of smooth muscle antibodies V increased as the disease progressed (asymptomatic carriers 20%, those with PGL 29%, those with ARC 47%, and those with AIDS 63%. In the PGL group autoantibody positivity correlated with the presence of skin anergy. The fact that autoantibodies were more frequently detected in patients with circulating immune complexes suggests that these can contain autoantibodies and the corresponding autoantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cassani
- Cattedra di Semeiotica Medica, Università di Bologna, Italy
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Cassani F, Tremolada F, Bianchi FB, Baffoni L, Selleri L, Benvegnu L, Craxi A, Realdi G, Zauli D, Pisi E. Serum antibodies to thymus epithelial cells in non-A, non-B and cryptogenic chronic liver disease. Liver 1989; 9:279-87. [PMID: 2479804 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0676.1989.tb00412.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies against thymus epithelial cells (anti-TEC) and the basal cell layer (BCLA) of squamous epithelia have been described in association with HDV-related chronic liver disease (CLD). Data are lacking on their presence during nAnB virus infection. Sera from 51 patients with nAnB post-transfusion hepatitis, including acute and chronic cases diagnosed during a prospective study on candidates for cardiac surgery, and 167 with various forms of CLD were tested for the presence of anti-TEC and BCLA using indirect immunofluorescence on human thymus and rat forestomach sections. Both antibodies mainly occurred in nAnB, HDV and cryptogenic CLD (anti-TEC: 51%, 47% and 42%; BCLA: 29%, 38% and 31%, respectively). The prevalence of anti-TEC in nAnB CLD turned out to be higher than that recorded in alcoholic, HBV-related, autoimmune, liver and kidney microsomal antibody positive CLD and primary biliary cirrhosis (p ranging from less than 0.03 to less than 0.0004). Two monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to cytokeratins gave a pattern superimposable on that of spontaneous anti-TEC (both Mabs) and BCLA (only one). Antibodies against epithelial constituents, presumably targeting cytokeratin-associated antigens, occur not only in HDV CLD, as previously reported, but also in nAnB CLD, where they might represent a diagnostic aid, due to the unavailability of reliable serological markers of nAnB infection. The close similarity of anti-TEC and BCLA status between nAnB and cryptogenic CLD suggests a nAnB etiology of at least a proportion of chronic liver patients at present scored as cryptogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cassani
- Istituto di Clinical Medica Generale e Terapia Medica, Universitá di Bologna, Italy
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Cassani F, Fusconi M, Bianchi FB, Selleri L, Baffoni L, Lenzi M, Pisi E. Precipitating antibodies to rabbit thymus extractable antigens in chronic liver disease: relationship with anti-actin antibodies. Clin Exp Immunol 1987; 68:588-95. [PMID: 3308218 PMCID: PMC1542757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Using counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), serum antibodies to rabbit thymus extractable antigens were detected in 15% (38/259) of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) of various aetiologies and 33% (41/124) of patients with miscellaneous connective tissue diseases (CTD). A remarkable diversity of precipitating systems was apparent among cases with the two classes of disorders. All the five systems found in CLD (XR, XR2, SS-B, XR3, XR4) were associated mostly with immunological hepatic disorders. In the 52 autoimmune hepatitis cases, XR was mainly detected (29%), whereas in the 82 primary biliary cirrhosis patients the whole spectrum of reactivities was represented (XR: 11%, XR2: 10%, SS-B and XR3: 2% each, XR4: 1%). XR proved to be closely associated with smooth muscle antibodies (SMA, detected by indirect immunofluorescence on rat kidney sections) both qualitatively and quantitatively. Since all SMA positive sera with anti-actin specificity (SMAT, SMAG) were XR positive and purified actin could absorb out XR CIE reactivity, the hypothesis is made that a cross-reaction occurs between XR antigen and actin epitope(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cassani
- Istituto di Patologia Medica, Cattedra di Clinica Medica II, University of Bologna, Italy
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Cassani F, Tosti A, Bianchi FB, Fusconi M, Selleri L, Baffoni L, Veronesi S, Volta U, Lenzi M, Pisi E. Clinical subsets of scleroderma: relevance of fluorescent and precipitating antinuclear antibodies. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1987; 5:23-8. [PMID: 3109797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Sera from 7 patients with localized and 35 with systemic scleroderma were studied for the presence of fluorescent antinuclear antibodies (FANA) (by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells) and antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENA) (by immunodiffusion - ID - and counterimmunoelectrophoresis - CIE). In localized disease, antinuclear autoimmunity was limited to 1 FANA positive serum (14%); in systemic disease, the prevalence of FANA was 94% and that of anti-ENA ranged from 29% to 49% (by ID and CIE, respectively). The commonest ENA system, Scl-70, could be easily detected by CIE, in spite of the reported basic nature of the antigen. The anticentromere antibody occurred only in patients with acrosclerosis (7/26-27%), whereas the association of nucleolar + homogeneous FANA, as well as the anti-Scl-70, were found more frequently in diffuse scleroderma (9/9-100% and 6/9-67%, respectively). The presence of the anticentromere antibody excluded that of any anti-ENA, while a close association was found between nucleolar + homogeneous FANA and the anti-Scl-70. Pulmonary involvement was significantly more frequent in nucleolar + homogeneous FANA positive patients; moreover, in two cases the same pattern proved to predict the development of diffuse scleroderma.
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Cassani F, Fusconi M, Baffoni L, Volta U, Lenzi M, Bianchi FB, Pisi E. Diagnostic criteria of autoimmune chronic liver disease. Dig Dis Sci 1986; 31:893-4. [PMID: 3731982 DOI: 10.1007/bf01296061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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