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Valentina Dini

Bio: Valentina Dini is an academic researcher from University of Pisa. The author has contributed to research in topics: Medicine & Hidradenitis suppurativa. The author has an hindex of 22, co-authored 124 publications receiving 1527 citations.


Papers
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TL;DR: Detailed and objective evaluations of infant skin maturation are necessary to improve infant skin care and should be formed into general protocols that will allow doctors and caregivers to give more personalized care to full-term newborns, preterm newbornS, and infants.
Abstract: Significance: The skin is a complex and dynamic organ that performs several vital functions. The maturation process of the skin starts at birth with the adaption of the skin to the comparatively dry environment compared to the in utero milieu. This adaptive flexibility results in the unique properties of infant skin. To deliver appropriate care to infant skin, it is necessary to understand that it is evolving with unique characteristics. Recent Advances: The role of biophysical noninvasive techniques in the assessment of skin development underlines the importance of an objective evaluation of skin physiology parameters. Skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, and pH values are measurable with specific instruments that give us an accurate and reproducible assessment during infant skin maturation. The recording of these values, following standard measurement procedures, allows us to evaluate the integrity of the skin barrier and to monitor the functionality of the maturing skin over time. Critical Issues: During the barrier development, impaired skin function makes the skin vulnerable to chemical damage, microbial infections, and skin diseases, possibly compromising the general health of the infant. Preterm newborns, during the first weeks of life, have an even less developed skin barrier and, therefore, are even more at risk. Thus, it is extremely important to evaluate the risk of infection, skin breakdown, topical agent absorption, and the risk of thermoregulation failure. Future Directions: Detailed and objective evaluations of infant skin maturation are necessary to improve infant skin care. The results of these evaluations should be formed into general protocols that will allow doctors and caregivers to give more personalized care to full-term newborns, preterm newborns, and infants.

119 citations

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TL;DR: Evidence clearly indicates that preventive measures are essential to reduce the prevalence rates of pressure ulcers; therefore healthcare professionals must be able to identify the appropriate strategies to adopt, in order to meet the individual patient's requirements.
Abstract: Pressure ulcers represent a major health problem causing a considerable amount of suffering for patients and a high financial burden for healthcare systems. The geriatric population with an increased risk of pressure ulcer development is rising constantly as a result of chronic degenerative diseases that can lead to prolonged immobilization and poor nutrition. Evidence clearly indicates that preventive measures are essential to reduce the prevalence rates of pressure ulcers; therefore healthcare professionals must be able to identify the appropriate strategies to adopt, in order to meet the individual patient's requirements. Important advances have taken place in the world of pressure ulcer treatment during the past decade. These advances are reflected in the high rate of cures being obtained. This, together with the implementation of prevention guidelines, the excellent cost/effectiveness relationship of the techniques described, and other factors, means that the field of pressure ulcers management is no more an isolated and self-administered issue in medical practice. The areas discussed here are those in which there will be linear or, in some cases, exponential growth in the decades to come.

93 citations

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TL;DR: The fabrication and performances of a temperature and a pH sensor on a biocompatible and wearable board for healthcare applications and in vitro cytotoxicity with human fibroblast cells over 24h are described.

84 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
19 Dec 2017-Sensors
TL;DR: The advances in sensors and biosensors for monitoring the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), temperature and pH in wounds, which can be used as qualitative biomarkers to assess the wound status and the effectiveness of therapy are described.
Abstract: Wound assessment is usually performed in hospitals or specialized labs. However, since patients spend most of their time at home, a remote real time wound monitoring would help providing a better care and improving the healing rate. This review describes the advances in sensors and biosensors for monitoring the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), temperature and pH in wounds. These three parameters can be used as qualitative biomarkers to assess the wound status and the effectiveness of therapy. CRP biosensors can be classified in: (a) field effect transistors, (b) optical immunosensors based on surface plasmon resonance, total internal reflection, fluorescence and chemiluminescence, (c) electrochemical sensors based on potentiometry, amperometry, and electrochemical impedance, and (d) piezoresistive sensors, such as quartz crystal microbalances and microcantilevers. The last section reports the most recent developments for wearable non-invasive temperature and pH sensors suitable for wound monitoring.

81 citations

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TL;DR: The anti‐tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α adalimumab is the only licenced biologic for moderate‐to‐severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).
Abstract: BACKGROUND The anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α adalimumab is the only licenced biologic for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). No predictors of response have been identified so far. OBJECTIVES To identify clinical parameters predicting response to adalimumab and confirm its efficacy/safety. METHODS The data of 389 patients with HS treated with adalimumab in 21 Italian centres were reviewed. Sex, age at onset/diagnosis/baseline, body mass index, smoking, phenotype, previous treatments, concomitant antibiotics and 'therapeutic delay', defined as the time from HS onset to adalimumab initiation, were assessed. Response to adalimumab and its impact on quality of life (QoL) were evaluated using the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) or the Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS pain), respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS The therapeutic delay correlated to lack of response to adalimumab at week 16 [odds ratio (OR) 1·92 for therapeutic delay > 10 years; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·28-2·89; P = 0·0016). HiSCR was achieved in 43·7% and 53·9% patients at week 16 and 52, respectively. Significant reductions in both DLQI and VAS pain were found between week 16 vs. baseline (P < 0·0001 for both) and week 52 vs. baseline (P < 0·0001 for both). Previous immunosuppressants inversely correlated to HiSCR at week 52 (OR = 1·74, 95% CI 1·04-2·91, P = 0·0342). CONCLUSIONS Inverse correlation between therapeutic delay and clinical response was found, supporting early adalimumab use and providing evidence for a 'window of opportunity' in HS treatment. Adalimumab efficacy and safety were confirmed, along with patients' QoL improvement. Immunosuppressants could negatively influence the response to adalimumab inducing a switch to non-TNF-α-driven pathways.

73 citations


Cited by
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TL;DR: It is shown that changes in the microenvironment including alterations in mechanical forces, oxygen levels, chemokines, extracellular matrix and growth factor synthesis directly impact cellular recruitment and activation, leading to impaired states of wound healing.
Abstract: Wound healing is one of the most complex processes in the human body. It involves the spatial and temporal synchronization of a variety of cell types with distinct roles in the phases of hemostasis...

1,018 citations

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TL;DR: In this article, the current state of wound healing and wound management products, with emphasis on the demand for more advanced forms of wound therapy and some of the current challenges and driving forces behind this demand, are reviewed.

580 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, recent advances in wound care technology and current management guidelines for the treatment of wounds and ulcers are discussed.
Abstract: In the United States, chronic ulcers—including decubitus, vascular, inflammatory, and rheumatologic subtypes—affect >6 million people, with increasing numbers anticipated in our growing elderly and diabetic populations. These wounds cause significant morbidity and mortality and lead to significant medical costs. Preventative and treatment measures include disease-specific approaches and the use of moisture retentive dressings and adjunctive topical therapies to promote healing. In this article, we discuss recent advances in wound care technology and current management guidelines for the treatment of wounds and ulcers.

377 citations

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TL;DR: A review of the state-of-the-art in detection of markers associated with wound healing and infection, utilizing devices imbedded within dressings or as point of care techniques to allow for continual or rapid wound assessment and monitoring is presented in this article.

366 citations