Paolo Ricci

Bio: Paolo Ricci is an academic researcher from Sapienza University of Rome. The author has contributed to research in topics: Orthogonal polynomials & Classical orthogonal polynomials. The author has an hindex of 35, co-authored 224 publications receiving 6423 citations. Previous affiliations of Paolo Ricci include Harvard University & Policlinico Umberto I.

Guidelines and good clinical practice recommendations for contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) - Update 2008

Abstract: EFSUMB study group M. Claudon1, D. Cosgrove2, T. Albrecht3, L. Bolondi4, M. Bosio5, F. Calliada6, J.-M. Correas7, K. Darge8, C. Dietrich9, M. D'On ofrio10, D. H. Evans11, C. Filice12, L. Greiner13, K. Jäger14, N. de. Jong15, E. Leen16, R. Lencioni17, D. Lindsell18, A. Martegani19, S. Meairs20, C. Nolsøe21, F. Piscaglia22, P. Ricci23, G. Seidel24, B. Skjoldbye25, L. Solbiati26, L. Thorelius27, F. Tranquart28, H. P. Weskott29, T. Whittingham30

Chest CT score in COVID-19 patients: correlation with disease severity and short-term prognosis.

Abstract: To correlate a CT-based semi-quantitative score of pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 pneumonia with clinical staging of disease and laboratory findings. We also aimed to investigate whether CT findings may be predictive of patients’ outcome. From March 6 to March 22, 2020, 130 symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 patients were enrolled for this single-center analysis and chest CT examinations were retrospectively evaluated. A semi-quantitative CT score was calculated based on the extent of lobar involvement (0:0%; 1, 75%; range 0–5; global score 0–25). Data were matched with clinical stages and laboratory findings. Survival curves and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the role of CT score as a predictor of patients’ outcome. Ground glass opacities were predominant in early-phase (≤ 7 days since symptoms’ onset), while crazy-paving pattern, consolidation, and fibrosis characterized late-phase disease (> 7 days). CT score was significantly higher in critical and severe than in mild stage (p < 0.0001), and among late-phase than early-phase patients (p < 0.0001). CT score was significantly correlated with CRP (p < 0.0001, r = 0.6204) and D-dimer (p < 0.0001, r = 0.6625) levels. A CT score of ≥ 18 was associated with an increased mortality risk and was found to be predictive of death both in univariate (HR, 8.33; 95% CI, 3.19–21.73; p < 0.0001) and multivariate analysis (HR, 3.74; 95% CI, 1.10–12.77; p = 0.0348). Our preliminary data suggest the potential role of CT score for predicting the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 patients. CT score is highly correlated with laboratory findings and disease severity and might be beneficial to speed-up diagnostic workflow in symptomatic cases. • CT score is positively correlated with age, inflammatory biomarkers, severity of clinical categories, and disease phases. • A CT score ≥ 18 has shown to be highly predictive of patient’s mortality in short-term follow-up. • Our multivariate analysis demonstrated that CT parenchymal assessment may more accurately reflect short-term outcome, providing a direct visualization of anatomic injury compared with non-specific inflammatory biomarkers.

MR imaging features of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas in adult and pediatric patients.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE. This study was conducted to describe the MR imaging features of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.CONCLUSION. Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas, a tumor typically seen in young women, is a large, well-defined, encapsulated lesion with heterogeneous high or low signal intensity on T1-weighted, heterogeneous high signal intensity on T2-weighted, and early peripheral heterogeneous enhancement with progressive fill-in on gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MR imaging. These features help differentiate this rare tumor from other pancreatic neoplasms.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid atherosclerosis in children.

Abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with several metabolic syndrome features, including obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and increased cardiovascular risk. The present study was undertaken to assess whether NAFLD in children is associated with increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of early-generalized atherosclerosis. We analyzed carotid IMT along with serum triglycerides, total, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance index (as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), aminotransferases, leptin, and adiponectin in 29 obese children with NAFLD, 33 obese children without liver involvement, and 30 control children. The diagnosis and severity of NAFLD was based on ultrasound scan, after exclusion of infectious and metabolic disorders. Obese children with NAFLD had significantly increased carotid IMT [mean 0.58 (95% confidence intervals 0.54-0.62 mm)] than obese children without liver involvement [0.49 (0.46-0.52) mm; p = 0.001] and control children [0.40 (0.36-0.43) mm; p < 0.0005]. In a stepwise multiple regression model, after adjusting for age, gender, Tanner stage, and cardiovascular risk factors, the severity of fatty liver was significantly associated with maximum IMT (b = 0.08; p < 0.0005). Our results suggest that NAFLD is strongly associated with carotid atherosclerosis even in childhood.

Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries.

Abstract: This article provides an update on the global cancer burden using the GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates of cancer incidence and mortality produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Worldwide, an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases (18.1 million excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) and almost 10.0 million cancer deaths (9.9 million excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) occurred in 2020. Female breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases (11.7%), followed by lung (11.4%), colorectal (10.0 %), prostate (7.3%), and stomach (5.6%) cancers. Lung cancer remained the leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths (18%), followed by colorectal (9.4%), liver (8.3%), stomach (7.7%), and female breast (6.9%) cancers. Overall incidence was from 2-fold to 3-fold higher in transitioned versus transitioning countries for both sexes, whereas mortality varied <2-fold for men and little for women. Death rates for female breast and cervical cancers, however, were considerably higher in transitioning versus transitioned countries (15.0 vs 12.8 per 100,000 and 12.4 vs 5.2 per 100,000, respectively). The global cancer burden is expected to be 28.4 million cases in 2040, a 47% rise from 2020, with a larger increase in transitioning (64% to 95%) versus transitioned (32% to 56%) countries due to demographic changes, although this may be further exacerbated by increasing risk factors associated with globalization and a growing economy. Efforts to build a sustainable infrastructure for the dissemination of cancer prevention measures and provision of cancer care in transitioning countries is critical for global cancer control.

Estimation of ten-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease in Europe: the SCORE project

Abstract: Aims The SCORE project was initiated to develop a risk scoring system for use in the clinical management of cardiovascular risk in European clinical practice. Methods and results The project assembled a pool of datasets from 12 European cohort studies, mainly carried out in general population settings. There were 205 178 persons (88 080 women and 117 098 men) representing 2.7 million person years of follow-up. There were 7934 cardiovascular deaths, of which 5652 were deaths from coronary heart disease. Ten-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease was calculated using a Weibull model in which age was used as a measure of exposure time to risk rather than as a risk factor. Separate estimation equations were calculated for coronary heart disease and for non-coronary cardiovascular disease. These were calculated for high-risk and low-risk regions of Europe. Two parallel estimation models were developed, one based on total cholesterol and the other on total

Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract: Summary Background Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 have been reported but risk factors for mortality and a detailed clinical course of illness, including viral shedding, have not been well described. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included all adult inpatients (≥18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) who had been discharged or had died by Jan 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including serial samples for viral RNA detection, were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods to explore the risk factors associated with in-hospital death. Findings 191 patients (135 from Jinyintan Hospital and 56 from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital) were included in this study, of whom 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital. 91 (48%) patients had a comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (58 [30%] patients), followed by diabetes (36 [19%] patients) and coronary heart disease (15 [8%] patients). Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with older age (odds ratio 1·10, 95% CI 1·03–1·17, per year increase; p=0·0043), higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (5·65, 2·61–12·23; p Interpretation The potential risk factors of older age, high SOFA score, and d-dimer greater than 1 μg/mL could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. Prolonged viral shedding provides the rationale for a strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future. Funding Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences; National Science Grant for Distinguished Young Scholars; National Key Research and Development Program of China; The Beijing Science and Technology Project; and Major Projects of National Science and Technology on New Drug Creation and Development.