Università degli Studi di Salerno, Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria "Scuola Medica Salernitana" Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria
Body Mass Index Status in Italian Children with Celiac Disease at Diagnosis and After 12–18 Months on a Gluten-Free Diet: A Multicenter Retrospective Study Alice Monzani, Elena Pozzi, Luisa Abbattista, Marco Crocco, Federica Malerba, et al. Nutrients, 2026 Background/Objectives: The distribution of body mass index (BMI) categories at celiac disease (CD) diagnosis in children is changing, and the impact of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on BMI status remains incompletely understood. We aimed to evaluate the distribution of BMI categories at CD diagnosis and their changes after 12–18 months on a GFD in Italian children. Methods: Children and adolescents aged 0–18 years who received a new diagnosis of CD at 23 Pediatric Gastroenterology referral centers in Italy were retrospectively enrolled. We analyzed their BMI status at diagnosis, classifying them as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. BMI changes were assessed after 12–18 months on a GFD. Results: Among the 4967 children (mean age 7.1 ± 4.1 years, M:F = 1827:3140), 4.4% were underweight, 77.5% normal weight, 12.7% overweight, and 5.4% obese at diagnosis. Overweight/obese children were more likely to have a family history of CD, associated conditions, and an asymptomatic presentation. After 12–18 months of GFD, 55.7% of underweight children achieved normal weight, and 23% of overweight/obese reverted to normal weight. Conversely, 10.9% of normal-weight children and 3.2% of underweight children became overweight/obese. Conclusions: At diagnosis, most children were normal weight, but 18.1% presented with overweight/obesity. After 12–18 months on a GFD, BMI normalized in over half of underweight but in fewer than one-quarter of overweight/obese subjects.
Perceptions and Expectations of Youth Regarding the Respect for Their Rights in the Hospital Roberta De Rosa, Maria Anna Siano, Angelo Colucci, Anna Giulia Elena De Anseris, Paolo Siani, et al. Children, 2024 Information obtained from children themselves regarding the characteristics of the ideal hospital that ensure well-being during a hospital stay is scarce. Here, we report the opinions, perceptions, and expectations of 700 children and adolescents about their experiences, assessed through a mixed-method research approach with age-appropriate questionnaires, three open-ended questions, and an analysis of optional pictorial and textual narratives. Most children indicated that, while they acknowledged the expertise of hospital staff, they also noted several shortcomings, e.g., insufficiently understandable medical information as well as emotional and cognitive support. The continuity of schooling and the right to suffer as little as possible were also critical issues. Adolescents valued in particular the quality of care and services provided, the hospital’s adherence to equality and non-discrimination rights, and protection systems but negatively perceived several aspects related to play and participation. Significant differences in the co-occurrences of the most frequently used text terms with the keywords “hospital” and “child/adolescent” between age groups highlight variations in the way patients perceive and articulate their experiences within the hospital setting depending on the cognitive processes linked to age. In drawings, prevailing attention was placed on the physical context of the hospital room, with figures expressing mostly negative emotions. Specifically, in this regard, the main emotion in children was sadness, and, in adolescents, it was fear. Overall, these insights are pivotal in the context of our research objectives as they shed light on the nuanced preferences, needs, and perspectives of children and adolescents during their hospital stays. Recognizing the identified shortcomings, we propose recommendations emphasizing the improvement of medical communication clarity, enhancement of emotional and cognitive support, and the improvement of programs to avoid instructional gaps during hospital stays. Addressing these specific needs is critical for a more comprehensive approach to pediatric healthcare provision.
Multiple Sclerosis—Related Dietary and Nutritional Issues: An Updated Scoping Review with a Focus on Pediatrics Claudia Mandato, Angelo Colucci, Roberta Lanzillo, Annamaria Staiano, Elena Scarpato, et al. Children, 2023 Purpose. Lifestyle/dietetic habits play an important role in the development and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease. Here, we examine the basic pathomechanisms underlying intestinal and brain barrier modifications in MS and consider diets and dietary supplementations proposed over time to complement pharmacological therapies for improving disease outcome both in adults and in children. Methods. Scoping literature search about evidence-based findings in MS-related gut-brain axis (GBA) pathophysiology and nutritional issues at all ages. Findings. Data show that (1) no universal best diet exists, (2) healthy/balanced diets are, however, necessary to safeguard the adequate intake of all essential nutrients, (3) diets with high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins that limit processed foods, sugar, and saturated fat appear beneficial for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and their ability to shape a gut microbiota that respects the gut and brain barriers, (4) obesity may trigger MS onset and/or its less favorable course, especially in pediatric-onset MS. Vitamin D and polyunsaturated fatty acids are the most studied supplements for reducing MS-associated inflammation. Conclusions. Pending results from other and/or newer approaches targeting the GBA (e.g., pre- and probiotics, engineered probiotics, fecal-microbiota transplantation), accurate counseling in choosing adequate diet and maintaining physical activity remains recommended for MS prevention and management both in adults and children.
Vitamin D Levels in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Periods and Related Confinement at Pediatric Age Caterina Mosca, Angelo Colucci, Fabio Savoia, Camilla Calì, Margherita Del Bene, et al. Nutrients, 2023 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions have been correlated with vitamin D deficiency in children, but some uncertainties remain. We retrospectively studied vitamin 25-(OH) D blood levels in 2182 Italian children/adolescents hospitalized for various chronic diseases in the year before (n = 1052) and after (n = 1130) the nationwide lockdown. The type of underlying disease, gender, and mean age (91 ± 55 and 91 ± 61 months, respectively) of patients included in the two periods were comparable. Although mean levels were the same (p = 0.24), deficiency status affected a significantly higher number of subjects during the lockdown period than in the pre-COVID period (p = 0.03), particularly in summer (p = 0.02), and there was also a smoothing of seasonal variations in vitamin D levels. Particularly at risk were males (OR = 1.22; p = 0.03), the 1–5 year age group (OR = 1.57; p < 0.01) and the 6–12 year age group (OR = 1.30; p = 0.04). Infants appeared not to be affected (p = 1.00). In the post-COVID period, the risk of vitamin D deficiency was unchanged in disease-specific groups. However, the proportion of deficiency or severe deficiency differed significantly in the subgroup with endocrinopathy (higher; Chi-square p = 0.04), and with respiratory problems and obesity (lower; Chi-square p = 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). Conflicting/opposite literature results advocate for further studies to clearly indicate the need for supplementation during possible future periods of confinement.
Case Report: Add-on treatment with odevixibat in a new subtype of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis broadens the therapeutic horizon of genetic cholestasis Angela Pepe, Angelo Colucci, Martina Carucci, Lucia Nazzaro, Cristina Bucci, et al. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2023 Odevixibat, an ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor, is effective for the treatment of pruritus in children diagnosed with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) type 1 and 2. There are no studies showing the efficacy of Odevixibat in children with different subtypes of PFIC. We describe the case of a 6-year-old girl with chronic cholestatic jaundice. In the last 12 months laboratory data showed high serum levels of bilirubin (total bilirubin x 2.5 ULN; direct bilirubin x 1.7 ULN) and bile acids (sBA x 70 ULN), elevated transaminases (x 3–4 ULN), and preserved synthetic liver function. Genetic testing showed homozygous mutation in ZFYVE19 gene, which is not included among the classic causative genes of PFIC and determined a new non-syndromic phenotype recently classified as PFIC9 (OMIM # 619849). Due to the persistent intensity of itching [score of 5 (very severe) at the Caregiver Global Impression of Severity (CaGIS)] and sleep disturbances not responsive to rifampicin and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), Odevixibat treatment was started. After treatment with odevixibat we observed: (i) reduction in sBA from 458 to 71 μmol/L (absolute change from baseline: −387 μmol/L), (ii) reduction in CaGIS from 5 to 1, and (iii) resolution of sleep disturbances. The BMI z-score progressively increased from −0.98 to +0.56 after 3 months of treatment. No adverse drug events were recorded. Treatment with IBAT inhibitor was effective and safe in our patient suggesting that Odevixibat may be potentially considered for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus also in children with rare subtypes of PFIC. Further studies on a larger scale could lead to the increasing of patients eligible for this treatment.
Placental Metabolomics of Fetal Growth Restriction Jacopo Troisi, Steven J. K. Symes, Martina Lombardi, Pierpaolo Cavallo, Angelo Colucci, et al. Metabolites, 2023 Fetal growth restriction is an obstetrical pathological condition that causes high neonatal mortality and morbidity. The mechanisms of its onset are not completely understood. Metabolites were extracted from 493 placentas from non-complicated pregnancies in Hamilton Country, TN (USA), and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Newborns were classified according to raw fetal weight (low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g) and non-low birth weight (Non-LBW; >2500 g)), and according to the calculated birth weight centile as it relates to gestational age (small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), and adequate for gestational age (AGA)). Mothers of LBW infants had a lower pre-pregnancy weight (66.2 ± 17.9 kg vs. 73.4 ± 21.3 kg, p < 0.0001), a lower body mass index (BMI) (25.27 ± 6.58 vs. 27.73 ± 7.83, p < 0.001), and a shorter gestation age (246.4 ± 24.0 days vs. 267.2 ± 19.4 days p < 0.001) compared with non-LBW. Marital status, tobacco use, and fetus sex affected birth weight centile classification according to gestational age. Multivariate statistical comparisons of the extracted metabolomes revealed that asparagine, aspartic acid, deoxyribose, erythritol, glycerophosphocholine, tyrosine, isoleucine, serine, and lactic acid were higher in both SGA and LBW placentas, while taurine, ethanolamine, β-hydroxybutyrate, and glycine were lower in both SGA and LBW. Several metabolic pathways are implicated in fetal growth restriction, including those related to the hypoxia response and amino-acid uptake and metabolism. Inflammatory pathways are also involved, suggesting that fetal growth restriction might share some mechanisms with preeclampsia.
Exploring the Mediterranean Diet Among Medical Students: a multicenter PREDIMED Survey A Pietro, A Giordano, A Colucci, M Giovengo, R Colantuono, CP Senatore, ... Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 103317 , 2026 2026
A longitudinal comparative analysis of serum metabolomic signatures in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection and MIS-C A Lo Vecchio, V Discepolo, L Pierri, A Catzola, M Lombardi, A Colucci, ... Communications Medicine , 2026 2026
Body Mass Index Status in Italian Children with Celiac Disease at Diagnosis and After 12–18 Months on a Gluten-Free Diet: A Multicenter Retrospective Study A Monzani, E Pozzi, L Abbattista, M Crocco, F Malerba, S Marcolin, ... Nutrients 18 (3), 501 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Reasons why treatment of metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease may benefit from targeting the gut–liver axis as well C Mandato, A Colucci, P Vajro United European Gastroenterology Journal 12 (4), 528 , 2024 2024
Letter to the editor in response to distinguishing autoimmune hepatitis from steatohepatitis in adolescents with obesity and positive screening alanine aminotransferase C Mandato, A Colucci, P Vajro JPGN reports 5 (2), 238 , 2024 2024
Perceptions and expectations of youth regarding the respect for their rights in the hospital R De Rosa, MA Siano, A Colucci, AGE De Anseris, P Siani, P Vajro, ... Children 11 (2), 222 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
Multiple sclerosis—Related dietary and nutritional issues: An updated scoping review with a focus on pediatrics C Mandato, A Colucci, R Lanzillo, A Staiano, E Scarpato, L Schiavo, ... Children 10 (6), 1022 , 2023 2023 Citations: 20
Emerging, re‐emerging and/or atypically behaving infectious diseases. C Mandato, A Colucci, P Vajro Acta Paediatrica 112 (6) , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Vitamin D levels in the pre-and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods and related confinement at pediatric age C Mosca, A Colucci, F Savoia, C Calì, M Del Bene, G Ranucci, ... Nutrients 15 (9), 2089 , 2023 2023 Citations: 15
Case Report: Add-on treatment with odevixibat in a new subtype of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis broadens the therapeutic horizon of genetic cholestasis A Pepe, A Colucci, M Carucci, L Nazzaro, C Bucci, G Ranucci, ... Frontiers in Pediatrics 11, 1061535 , 2023 2023 Citations: 21
Placental metabolomics of fetal growth restriction J Troisi, SJK Symes, M Lombardi, P Cavallo, A Colucci, G Scala, DC Adair, ... Metabolites 13 (2), 235 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
The complexity of diagnosing a drug reaction syndrome in the child| La complessità della diagnosi di una sindrome da reazione a farmaco nel bambino A Pepe, A Colucci, L Nazzaro, O Ametrano, F Barbato, E Sammarco, ... QUADERNI ACP 29, 170-173 , 2022 2022
La complessità della diagnosi di una sindrome da reazione a farmaco nel bambino A Pepe, A Colucci, L Nazzaro, O Ametrano, F Barbato, E Sammarco, ... QUADERNI ACP 4, 170 , 2022 2022
Pediatric vs. adult NAFLD to MAFLD transition: a welcome but tangled path A Colucci, MC Rocco, AGE De Anseris, L Nazzaro, P Vajro, C Mandato Exploration of Medicine 2 (4), 333-342 , 2021 2021 Citations: 9
Malnutrition in pediatric chronic cholestatic disease: an up-to-date overview M Tessitore, E Sorrentino, G Schiano Di Cola, A Colucci, P Vajro, ... Nutrients 13 (8), 2785 , 2021 2021 Citations: 59
Microbiome signatures of progression toward celiac disease onset in at-risk children in a longitudinal prospective cohort study MM Leonard, F Valitutti, H Karathia, M Pujolassos, V Kenyon, B Fanelli, ... Proceedings of the national academy of sciences 118 (29), e2020322118 , 2021 2021 Citations: 187
Noninvasive screening for congenital heart defects using a serum metabolomics approach J Troisi, P Cavallo, S Richards, S Symes, A Colucci, L Sarno, A Landolfi, ... Prenatal diagnosis 41 (6), 743-753 , 2021 2021 Citations: 40
A serum metabolomic signature for the detection and grading of bladder cancer J Troisi, A Colucci, P Cavallo, S Richards, S Symes, A Landolfi, G Scala, ... Applied Sciences 11 (6), 2835 , 2021 2021 Citations: 21
Untargeted metabolomics as a diagnostic tool in NAFLD: discrimination of steatosis, steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. M Masarone, J Troisi, A Aglitti, P Torre, A Colucci, M Dallio, A Federico, ... Metabolomics 17 (2), 1 , 2021 2021 Citations: 95
nutrients MDPI J Troisi, F Belmonte, A Bisogno, L Pierri, A Colucci Metabolic Syndrome: From Etiology to Prevention and Clinical Management, 23 , 2021 2021
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Therapeutic faecal microbiota transplantation controls intestinal inflammation through IL10 secretion by immune cells C Burrello, F Garavaglia, FM Cribiù, G Ercoli, G Lopez, J Troisi, A Colucci, ... Nature communications 9 (1), 5184 , 2018 2018.0 Citations: 329
Microbiome signatures of progression toward celiac disease onset in at-risk children in a longitudinal prospective cohort study MM Leonard, F Valitutti, H Karathia, M Pujolassos, V Kenyon, B Fanelli, ... Proceedings of the national academy of sciences 118 (29), e2020322118 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 187
Multi-omics analysis reveals the influence of genetic and environmental risk factors on developing gut microbiota in infants at risk of celiac disease MM Leonard, H Karathia, M Pujolassos, J Troisi, F Valitutti, ... Microbiome , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 114
Untargeted metabolomics as a diagnostic tool in NAFLD: discrimination of steatosis, steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. M Masarone, J Troisi, A Aglitti, P Torre, A Colucci, M Dallio, A Federico, ... Metabolomics 17 (2), 1 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 95
Malnutrition in pediatric chronic cholestatic disease: an up-to-date overview M Tessitore, E Sorrentino, G Schiano Di Cola, A Colucci, P Vajro, ... Nutrients 13 (8), 2785 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 59
Metabolomic salivary signature of pediatric obesity related liver disease and metabolic syndrome J Troisi, F Belmonte, A Bisogno, L Pierri, A Colucci, G Scala, P Cavallo, ... Nutrients 11 (2), 274 , 2019 2019.0 Citations: 53
Cardiac Rehabilitation Increases SIRT1 Activity and β ‐Hydroxybutyrate Levels and Decreases Oxidative Stress in Patients with HF with Preserved Ejection Fraction G Corbi, V Conti, J Troisi, A Colucci, V Manzo, P Di Pietro, MC Calabrese, ... Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity 2019 (1), 7049237 , 2019 2019.0 Citations: 53
Metabolomics in genetic testing J Troisi, P Cavallo, A Colucci, L Pierri, G Scala, S Symes, C Jones, ... Elsevier , 2019 2019.0 Citations: 43
Noninvasive screening for congenital heart defects using a serum metabolomics approach J Troisi, P Cavallo, S Richards, S Symes, A Colucci, L Sarno, A Landolfi, ... Prenatal diagnosis 41 (6), 743-753 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 40
Case Report: Add-on treatment with odevixibat in a new subtype of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis broadens the therapeutic horizon of genetic cholestasis A Pepe, A Colucci, M Carucci, L Nazzaro, C Bucci, G Ranucci, ... Frontiers in Pediatrics 11, 1061535 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 21
A serum metabolomic signature for the detection and grading of bladder cancer J Troisi, A Colucci, P Cavallo, S Richards, S Symes, A Landolfi, G Scala, ... Applied Sciences 11 (6), 2835 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 21
Multiple sclerosis—Related dietary and nutritional issues: An updated scoping review with a focus on pediatrics C Mandato, A Colucci, R Lanzillo, A Staiano, E Scarpato, L Schiavo, ... Children 10 (6), 1022 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 20
Placental metabolomics of fetal growth restriction J Troisi, SJK Symes, M Lombardi, P Cavallo, A Colucci, G Scala, DC Adair, ... Metabolites 13 (2), 235 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 16
Serum metallome in pregnant women and the relationship with congenital malformations of the central nervous system: a case-control study J Troisi, L Giugliano, L Sarno, A Landolfi, S Richards, S Symes, A Colucci, ... BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 19 (1), 471 , 2019 2019.0 Citations: 16
Multi-omics analysis reveals the influence of genetic and environmental risk factors on developing gut microbiota in infants at risk of celiac disease. Microbiome. 2020; 8: 130 MM Leonard, H Karathia, M Pujolassos, J Troisi, F Valitutti, ... DOI: https://doi. org/10.1186/s40168-020-00906-w, 130 , 0 Citations: 16
Vitamin D levels in the pre-and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods and related confinement at pediatric age C Mosca, A Colucci, F Savoia, C Calì, M Del Bene, G Ranucci, ... Nutrients 15 (9), 2089 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 15
Malignant mesothelioma of spermatic cord in an elderly man with a history of asbestos exposure A D'Antonio, F Mastella, A Colucci, G Silvestre Urology 87, e1-e3 , 2016 2016.0 Citations: 10
Pediatric vs. adult NAFLD to MAFLD transition: a welcome but tangled path A Colucci, MC Rocco, AGE De Anseris, L Nazzaro, P Vajro, C Mandato Exploration of Medicine 2 (4), 333-342 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 9
Perceptions and expectations of youth regarding the respect for their rights in the hospital R De Rosa, MA Siano, A Colucci, AGE De Anseris, P Siani, P Vajro, ... Children 11 (2), 222 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 5
Emerging, re‐emerging and/or atypically behaving infectious diseases. C Mandato, A Colucci, P Vajro Acta Paediatrica 112 (6) , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 5