Francesco Ursini

Education

• 2016 – 2017 - II level University Master Degree in “Clinical Problem Solving in Rheumatology”, Università di Roma UNICUSANO, Rome, Italy
• 2012 – 2016 - PhD in Experimental Immunology, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
• 2008 – 2014 – Specialist in Internal Medicine (cum laude), University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
• 2001 – 2008 – Medical Degree (cum laude), University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy

Work experience

• 24/04/2023 – 14/03/2024: Member of the Academic Board of the PhD Program in “Health, Safety, and Green Systems” - 39th Cycle 2023/2024 – Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
• 01/11/2021 – ongoing: Head of the Rheumatology BioBank / Rheumalab - IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
• 25/11/2019 – ongoing: Consultant Rheumatologist - IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
• 12/06/2021 – ongoing: Associate Professor of Rheumatology - Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
• 25/11/2019 – 11/06/2021: Senior Researcher in Rheumatology - Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
• 01/12/2018 – 24/11/2019: Senior Researcher in Internal Medicine – University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
• 01/01/2017 – 26/01/2018: European Commission Marie Curie Post-Doctoral Research Fellow - Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology (WHRI), Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
• 01/10/2014 – 31/11/2018: Post-Doctoral Clinical Research Fellow in Rheumatology and Pharmacology, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
  

Teaching activity

• Responsible for all the teaching activities of the discipline “Rheumatology” for the Medicine and Surgery Degree Program at the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
• Speaker or scientific coordinator in over 70 national conferences in the field of rheumatology
  

Scientific activity

• Principal investigator for several observational investigator-initiated studies, primarily focused on inflammatory or degenerative arthropathies
  

• Principal investigator in industry-sponsored clinical trials in inflammatory arthritis
  
• 2022 – ongoing: Associate Editor, Frontiers in Immunology (ISSN: 1664-3224), section Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders
• 2023 – 2024: Topic Editor “Dissecting the Autoimmune and Inflammatory Effects of Post Acute Covid-19 Syndrome”, Frontiers in Immunology (ISSN 1664-3224)
• 2017-2019: Member of the Editorial Board, Scientific Reports (ISSN 2045-2322), section Immunology

Other achievements

• 17/12/2023: Awarded with the national scientific qualification (ASN) as Full Professor of Rheumatology
  

Publications
1 Neri S, Guidotti S, Panichi V, et al. IKKα affects the susceptibility of primary human osteoarthritis chondrocytes to oxidative stress-induced DNA damage by tuning autophagy. Free Radic Biol Med. 2024;225:726–40. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.10.299
2 Ciaffi J, Papalexis N, Vanni E, et al. Minimally invasive interventional procedures for osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024;68:152525. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152525
3 Ciaffi J, Mancarella L, Pederzani G, et al. Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of a Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet in Women with Obesity and Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Interventional Study. Nutrients. 2024;16:3236. doi: 10.3390/nu16193236
4 Ciaffi J, Bianchi L, Di Martino A, et al. Is Total Joint Arthroplasty an Effective and Safe Option for Psoriatic Arthritis Patients? A Scoping Review. J Clin Med. 2024;13:5552. doi: 10.3390/jcm13185552
5 D’Amuri A, Greco S, Pagani M, et al. Common Non-Rheumatic Medical Conditions Mimicking Fibromyalgia: A Simple Framework for Differential Diagnosis. Diagnostics (Basel). 2024;14:1758. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics14161758
6 D’Onghia M, Ciaffi J, Calabrese L, et al. Fibromyalgia and Skin Disorders: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2024;13:4404. doi: 10.3390/jcm13154404
7 Ciaffi J, Liem SIE, Cannegieter S, et al. Untangling the relationship between smoking and systemic sclerosis: an analysis of the EUSTAR cohort. RMD Open. 2024;10:e004101. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004101
8 Neri S, Assirelli E, Manzetti M, et al. Identification of Epigenetic Biomarkers of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Progression: A Workflow to Assess Local Gene Expression. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25:5329. doi: 10.3390/ijms25105329
9 Neri S, Assirelli E, Manzetti M, et al. Identification of Epigenetic Biomarkers of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Progression: A Workflow to Assess Local Gene Expression. IJMS. 2024;25:5329. doi: 10.3390/ijms25105329
10 Ciaffi J, Liem SIE, Cannegieter S, et al. Untangling the relationship between smoking and systemic sclerosis: an analysis of the EUSTAR cohort. RMD Open. 2024;10:e004101. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004101
11 Ruscitti P, Pantano I, Cataldi G, et al. Short-term effectiveness of guselkumab in psoriatic arthritis patients and suggestive features of axial involvement: results from a real-life multicentre cohort. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024;keae220. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae220
12 Ruscitti P, Pantano I, Cataldi G, et al. Short-term effectiveness of guselkumab in psoriatic arthritis patients and suggestive features of axial involvement: results from a real-life multicentre cohort. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024;keae220. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae220
13 Assirelli E, Ciaffi J, Scorcu V, et al. PIM Kinases as Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Arthritides. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25:3123. doi: 10.3390/ijms25063123
14 Assirelli E, Ciaffi J, Scorcu V, et al. PIM Kinases as Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Arthritides. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25:3123. doi: 10.3390/ijms25063123
15 D’Onghia M, Ursini F, Cinotti E, et al. Psoriasis and Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review. JPM. 2024;14:165. doi: 10.3390/jpm14020165
16 D’Onghia M, Ursini F, Cinotti E, et al. Psoriasis and Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review. J Pers Med. 2024;14:165. doi: 10.3390/jpm14020165
17 Di Muzio C, Di Cola I, Shariat Panahi A, et al. The effects of suppressing inflammation by tofacitinib may simultaneously improve glycaemic parameters and inflammatory markers in rheumatoid arthritis patients with comorbid type 2 diabetes: a proof-of-concept, open, prospective, clinical study. Arthritis Research and Therapy. 2024;26. doi: 10.1186/s13075-023-03249-7
18 Ferri C, Giuggioli D, Raimondo V, et al. COVID-19 in Italian patients with rheumatic autoimmune systemic diseases. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82:e211. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-219113
19 Vara G, Spinnato P, Facchini G, et al. Assessment of Bone Mineral Density from Lumbosacral MRI: A Retrospective Study with Texture Analysis Radiomics. Applied Sciences (Switzerland). 2023;13. doi: 10.3390/app13106305
20 Ursini F, Ruscitti P, Addimanda O, et al. Inflammatory rheumatic diseases with onset after SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination: a report of 267 cases from the COVID-19 and ASD group. RMD Open. 2023;9. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003022
21 Ursini F, Gregg E, Canon-Garcia V, et al. Care pathway analysis and evidence gaps in adult-onset Still’s disease: interviews with experts from the UK, France, Italy, and Germany. Frontiers in Medicine. 2023;10. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1257413
22 Ruscitti P, Ursini F, Shoenfeld Y. Ferritin and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in post COVID-19, an unexpected facet of the hyperferritinemic syndrome? Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2023;169. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111231
23 Ruscitti P, Ursini F, Berardicurti O, et al. Cytokine profile, ferritin and multi-visceral involvement characterize macrophage activation syndrome during adult-onset Still’s disease. Rheumatology (United Kingdom). 2023;62:321–9. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac247
24 Ruscitti P, Di Muzio C, Conforti A, et al. Cardiometabolic multimorbidity may identify a more severe subset of rheumatoid arthritis, results from a ‘real-life’ study. Medicine (United States). 2023;102:E33362. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033362
25 Navarini L, Vomero M, Currado D, et al. The specialized pro-resolving lipid mediator Protectin D1 affects macrophages differentiation and activity in Adult-onset Still’s disease and COVID-19, two hyperinflammatory diseases sharing similar transcriptomic profiles. Frontiers in Immunology. 2023;14. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1148268
26 Magnani L, Ariani A, Lo Monaco A, et al. Real life use of prostacyclin analog (Iloprost), a multi-centric survey data from the scleroderma study group Emilia Romagna (Sclero-RER) and review of the literature. Acta Biomedica. 2023;94. doi: 10.23750/abm.v94i4.14317
27 Giovanardi CM, Gonzalez-Lorenzo M, Poini A, et al. Acupuncture as an alternative or in addition to conventional treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Integrative Medicine Research. 2023;12. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2023.100972
28 Giacomelli R, Caporali R, Ciccia F, et al. Expert consensus on the treatment of patients with adult-onset still’s disease with the goal of achieving an early and long-term remission. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2023;22. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103400
29 Di Muzio C, Ursini F, Iagnocco A, et al. Tofacitinib may improve insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, implications for disease management and precision medicine approach. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2023;22. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103373
30 Di Muzio C, Conforti A, Bruno F, et al. The assessment of atlantoaxial joint involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, results from an observational “real-life” study. Scientific Reports. 2023;13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46069-0
31 Di Martino A, Ursini F, Bordini B, et al. Perioperative treatment with TNF inhibitors does not affect survival of total hip arthroplasty in inflammatory arthritis: A registry-based cohort study. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2023;60. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152201
32 Di Cola I, Iacono D, Pantano I, et al. Clinical characteristics of obese patients with adult-onset Still’s disease. Data from a large multicentre cohort. Joint Bone Spine. 2023;90. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2023.105576
33 Ciaffi J, Vanni E, Mancarella L, et al. Post-Acute COVID-19 Joint Pain and New Onset of Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases: A Systematic Review. Diagnostics. 2023;13. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13111850
34 Ciaffi J, Vanni E, Facchini G, et al. Transient osteoporosis of the hip: a novel vascular manifestation of COVID-19? Rheumatology (United Kingdom). 2023;62:E127–8. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac537
35 Ciaffi J, Ruscitti P, Di Cola I, et al. Whole body insulin sensitivity is increased in systemic sclerosis. PLoS ONE. 2023;18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283283
36 Ciaffi J, Lisi L, Mari A, et al. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of very low-calorie ketogenic diet in obese women with fibromyalgia: a pilot interventional study. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2023;10. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1219321
37 Ciaffi J, Facchini G, Bandiera S, et al. Clinical Images: A snapshot from the past: untreated ankylosing spondylitis in the biologic era. ACR Open Rheumatology. 2023;5:15–6. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11492
38 Ciaffi J, Brognara L, Gangemi G, et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Fibromyalgia in Patients with Foot and Ankle Pain: The Experience of an Academic Podiatry Clinic. Medicina (Lithuania). 2023;59. doi: 10.3390/medicina59010058
39 Assirelli E, Naldi S, Brusi V, et al. Building a rheumatology biobank for reliable basic/translational research and precision medicine. Frontiers in Medicine. 2023;10. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1228874
40 Ursini F, Ruscitti P, Raimondo V, et al. Systemic syndromes of rheumatological interest with onset after COVID-19 vaccine administration: a report of 30 cases. Clinical Rheumatology. 2022;41:2261–7. doi: 10.1007/s10067-022-06078-2
41 Ursini F, Ruscitti P, Raimondo V, et al. Spectrum of short-term inflammatory musculoskeletal manifestations after COVID-19 vaccine administration: a report of 66 cases. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2022;81:440–1. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221587
42 Ursini F, Ruscitti P, Giacomelli R. Post-COVID-19 syndrome and fibromyalgia. Autoimmunity, COVID-19, Post-COVID19 Syndrome and COVID-19 Vaccination. 2022:777–82.
43 Ruscitti P, Liakouli V, Panzera N, et al. Tofacitinib May Inhibit Myofibroblast Differentiation from Rheumatoid-Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes Induced by TGF-β and IL-6. Pharmaceuticals. 2022;15. doi: 10.3390/ph15050622
44 Ruscitti P, Di Cola I, Di Muzio C, et al. Expanding the spectrum of the hyperferritinemic syndrome, from pathogenic mechanisms to clinical observations, and therapeutic implications. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2022;21. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103114
45 Ripamonti C, Lisi L, Ciaffi J, et al. Spine Fragility Fracture Prediction Using TBS and BMD in Postmenopausal Women: A Bayesian Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114315
46 Pulsatelli L, Manferdini C, Gabusi E, et al. Mesenchymal stromal cells from a progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia patient show altered osteogenic differentiation. European Journal of Medical Research. 2022;27. doi: 10.1186/s40001-022-00683-2
47 Navarini L, Currado D, Marino A, et al. Persistence of C-reactive protein increased levels and high disease activity are predictors of cardiovascular disease in patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Scientific Reports. 2022;12. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-11640-8
48 Ferri C, Raimondo V, Gragnani L, et al. Prevalence and Death Rate of COVID-19 in Autoimmune Systemic Diseases in the First Three Pandemic Waves. Relationship with Disease Subgroups and Ongoing Therapies. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2022;28:2022–8. doi: 10.2174/1381612828666220614151732
49 Ferri C, Gragnani L, Raimondo V, et al. Absent or suboptimal response to booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with autoimmune systemic diseases. Journal of Autoimmunity. 2022;131. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102866
50 Faldini C, Manzetti M, Neri S, et al. Epigenetic and Genetic Factors Related to Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Current Literature. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022;23. doi: 10.3390/ijms23115914
51 D’Onghia M, Ciaffi J, Ruscitti P, et al. The economic burden of fibromyalgia: A systematic literature review. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2022;56. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152060
52 Ciaffi J, Ursini F. Reply to: Real-world Coronavirus disease-19 vaccine hesitancy in systemic sclerosis. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2022;40:2001. doi: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/czllpx
53 Ciaffi J, Mele G, Mancarella L, et al. Prevalence of Type 2 and Type 1 Diabetes in Psoriatic Arthritis: An Italian Study. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. 2022;28:324–9. doi: 10.1097/RHU.0000000000001706
54 Ciaffi J, Mancarella L, Borlandelli E, et al. Can SARS-CoV-2 induce polyenthesitis? Revue du Rhumatisme (Edition Francaise). 2022;89:101–2. doi: 10.1016/j.rhum.2021.10.004
55 Ciaffi J, Borlandelli E, Visani G, et al. Prevalence and characteristics of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in Italy. Radiologia Medica. 2022;127:1159–69. doi: 10.1007/s11547-022-01545-x
56 Borlandelli E, Ciaffi J, Festuccia G, et al. Osteitis condensans ilii: prevalence and characteristics of a neglected mimic of sacroiliitis. Clinical Rheumatology. 2022;41:483–90. doi: 10.1007/s10067-021-05925-y
57 Assirelli E, Caravaggi P, Mazzotti A, et al. Location-Dependent Human Osteoarthritis Cartilage Response to Realistic Cyclic Loading: Ex-Vivo Analysis on Different Knee Compartments. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 2022;10. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.862254
58 Vanni E, Ciaffi J, Mancarella L, et al. An Unusual Case of “Conjugal” Polymyalgia Rheumatica after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination. Rheumato. 2021;1:17–21. doi: 10.3390/rheumato1010004
59 Ferri C, Giuggioli D, Raimondo V, et al. COVID-19 and systemic sclerosis: clinicopathological implications from Italian nationwide survey study. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2021;3:e166–8. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(21)00007-2
60 Viola P, Ralli M, Pisani D, et al. Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders in COVID-19 patients: preliminary results. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2021;278:3725–30. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-06440-7
61 Ursini F, Ruscitti P, D’Angelo S, et al. Broad clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2-associated inflammatory joint disease in adults: A report of 35 cases from the COVID-19 & Autoimmune Systemic Disease Italian study group. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2021;80:1498–501. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220606
62 Ursini F, De Giorgi A, D’onghia M, et al. Chronobiology and chronotherapy in inflammatory joint diseases. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111832
63 Ursini F, Ciaffi J, Mancarella L, et al. Fibromyalgia: A new facet of the post-COVID-19 syndrome spectrum? Results from a web-based survey. RMD Open. 2021;7. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001735
64 Tripolino C, Ciaffi J, Ruscitti P, et al. Hyperuricemia in Psoriatic Arthritis: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Implications. Frontiers in Medicine. 2021;8. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.737573
65 Tripolino C, Ciaffi J, Pucino V, et al. Insulin Signaling in Arthritis. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021;12. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672519
66 Ruscitti P, Barile A, Berardicurti O, et al. The joint involvement in adult onset Still’s disease is characterised by a peculiar magnetic resonance imaging and a specific transcriptomic profile. Scientific Reports. 2021;11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91613-5
67 Guarino M, Gambuti E, Alfano F, et al. Predicting in-hospital mortality for sepsis: a comparison between qSOFA and modified qSOFA in a 2-year single-centre retrospective analysis. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 2021;40:825–31. doi: 10.1007/s10096-020-04086-1
68 Ferri C, Ursini F, Gragnani L, et al. Impaired immunogenicity to COVID-19 vaccines in autoimmune systemic diseases. High prevalence of non-response in different patients’ subgroups. Journal of Autoimmunity. 2021;125. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102744
69 Ferri C, Giuggioli D, Raimondo V, et al. Covid-19 and rheumatic autoimmune systemic diseases: Role of pre-existing lung involvement and ongoing treatments. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2021;27:4245–52. doi: 10.2174/1381612827666210903103935
70 D’Onghia M, Ciaffi J, McVeigh JG, et al. Fibromyalgia syndrome – a risk factor for poor outcomes following orthopaedic surgery: A systematic review. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2021;51:793–803. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2021.05.016
71 D’Onghia M, Ciaffi J, Lisi L, et al. Fibromyalgia and obesity: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2021;51:409–24. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2021.02.007
72 Conforti A, Di Cola I, Pavlych V, et al. Beyond the joints, the extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2021;20. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102735
73 Ciaffi J, Morabito MF, Ruscitti P, et al. Incidence, prevalence and mortality of systemic sclerosis in Italy: a nationwide population-based study using administrative health data. Rheumatology International. 2021;41:129–37. doi: 10.1007/s00296-020-04720-3
74 Ciaffi J, Mitselman D, Mancarella L, et al. The Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Inflammatory Arthritis and Cardiovascular Health in Rheumatic Conditions: A Mini Review. Frontiers in Medicine. 2021;8. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.792846
75 Ciaffi J, Meliconi R, Ruscitti P, et al. Isolated “puffy hands” following COVID-19: clue to a long-term capillary leakage syndrome? Clinical Rheumatology. 2021;40:3863–4. doi: 10.1007/s10067-021-05835-z
76 Ciaffi J, Meliconi R, Landini MP, et al. Seasonality of back pain in italy: An infodemiology study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18:1–10. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031325
77 Ciaffi J, Meliconi R, Landini MP, et al. Are we on brink of a second COVID-19 wave in Italy? Let’s look at Google Trends. Internal and Emergency Medicine. 2021;16:801–2. doi: 10.1007/s11739-020-02502-0
78 Ciaffi J, Mancarella L, Borlandelli E, et al. May polyenthesitis follow COVID-19? Joint Bone Spine. 2021;88. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2021.105158
79 Ciaffi J, Giuggioli D, Spinella A, et al. Resilience of systemic sclerosis patients following the first COVID-19 wave in Italy. Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. 2021;50:411–2. doi: 10.1080/03009742.2020.1856407
80 Ciaffi J, Giuggioli D, Mari A, et al. Letters to the Editors. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2021;39.
81 Ciaffi J, Giuggioli D, Mari A, et al. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in systemic sclerosis. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2021;39:S165–6. doi: 10.55563/CLINEXPRHEUMATOL/B9J9FD
82 Ciaffi J, Gigliotti PE, Festuccia G, et al. Can chest imaging be used to draw information about body mass index and obesity status? Obesity Research and Clinical Practice. 2021;15:187–90. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2021.01.006
83 Ciaffi J, Facchini G, Miceli M, et al. Progressive Pseudorheumatoid Dysplasia—Radiographic Evolution Over Twenty Years. Arthritis and Rheumatology. 2021;73:2051. doi: 10.1002/art.41815
84 Ciaffi J, Borlandelli E, Tetta C, et al. An elusive mimic of sacroiliitis: diagnostic dilemma for the rheumatologist. Clinical Rheumatology. 2021;40:4357–8. doi: 10.1007/s10067-021-05714-7
85 Chiaravalloti A, Ricci M, Cimini A, et al. 18f-fdopa pet/ct suv-derived indices and volumetric parameters correlation in patients with primary brain tumors. Cancers. 2021;13. doi: 10.3390/cancers13174315
86 Carnevali A, Giannaccare G, Gatti V, et al. Retinal microcirculation abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis: An explorative optical coherence tomography angiography study. Rheumatology (United Kingdom). 2021;60:5827–32. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab258
87 Spampinato MD, Bucci S, Migliano MT, et al. Assessing Pretest Clinical Risk of Pulmonary Thromboembolism in the Emergency Department: Proposal of a Simple Modification to the Wells’ Score. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2020;58:385–90. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.11.039
88 Ursini F, Ciaffi J, Landini MP, et al. COVID-19 and diabetes: Is metformin a friend or foe? Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2020;164. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108167
89 Spinardi L, Muccioli L, Trossello MP, et al. Acute-onset focal neurological deficits in rheumatoid arthritis: Consider rheumatoid meningitis. Rheumatology (United Kingdom). 2020;59:3579. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa235
90 Ruscitti P, Ursini F, Sota J, et al. The reduction of concomitant glucocorticoids dosage following treatment with IL-1 receptor antagonist in adult onset Still’s disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease. 2020;12. doi: 10.1177/1759720X20933133
91 Pucino V, Certo M, Varricchi G, et al. Metabolic Checkpoints in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Frontiers in Physiology. 2020;11. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00347
92 Pata F, Ursini F, Gallo G. Revenge lawsuit is a puzzle piece of the global crisis of Italian healthcare system. International Journal of Surgery. 2020;77:94–5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.03.038
93 Pascarella A, Iannone LF, Di Gennaro G, et al. The efficacy of perampanel as adjunctive therapy in drug-resistant focal epilepsy in a “real world” context: focus on temporal lobe epilepsy. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2020;415. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.116903
94 Lisi L, Ciaffi J, Bruni A, et al. Levels and Factors Associated with Resilience in Italian Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Survey. Behavioral Sciences. 2020;10. doi: 10.3390/bs10120183
95 Liakouli V, Ciaffi J, Ursini F, et al. Efficacy and safety of imatinib mesylate in systemic sclerosis. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. 2020;16:931–42. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2020.1813569
96 Guarino M, Bologna A, Ursini F, et al. Chronobiology of acute pancreatitis in a single Italian centre. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2020;24:1988–94. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202002_20376
97 Ferri C, Giuggioli D, Raimondo V, et al. COVID-19 and rheumatic autoimmune systemic diseases: report of a large Italian patients series. Clinical Rheumatology. 2020;39:3195–204. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05334-7
98 Ciaffi J, Meliconi R, Ruscitti P, et al. Rheumatic manifestations of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Rheumatology. 2020;4. doi: 10.1186/s41927-020-00165-0
99 Ciaffi J, Meliconi R, Landini MP, et al. Google trends and COVID-19 in Italy: could we brace for impact? Internal and Emergency Medicine. 2020;15:1555–9. doi: 10.1007/s11739-020-02371-7
100 Ciaffi J, Brusi V, Lisi L, et al. Living with arthritis: a “training camp” for coping with stressful events? A survey on resilience of arthritis patients following the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Rheumatology. 2020;39:3163–70. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05411-x
101 Ciaffi J, Borlandelli E, Mancarella L, et al. Sclerochoroidal calcifications associated with early-onset calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease. Clinical Rheumatology. 2020;39:2825–6. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05148-7
102 Ciaffi J, Ajasllari N, Mancarella L, et al. Nailfold capillaroscopy in common non-rheumatic conditions: A systematic review and applications for clinical practice. Microvascular Research. 2020;131. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2020.104036
103 Chiaravalloti A, Barbagallo G, Castellano AE, et al. FBB cortical uptake is not related to the age of onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Nuclear Medicine Communications. 2020;41:175–80. doi: 10.1097/MNM.0000000000001131
104 Berardicurti O, Ruscitti P, Ursini F, et al. Mortality in tocilizumab-treated patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical and experimental rheumatology. 2020;38:1247–54.
105 Ursini F, Ruscitti P, Caio GPI, et al. The effect of non-TNF-targeted biologics on vascular dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic literature review. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2019;18:501–9. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2019.03.008
106 Ursini F, Caio G, Volta U, et al. Paraneoplastic Syndrome. Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology, Second Edition. 2019:122–6.
107 Ruscitti P, Ursini F, Cipriani P, et al. IL-1 inhibition improves insulin resistance and adipokines in rheumatoid arthritis patients with comorbid type 2 diabetes: An observational study. Medicine (United States). 2019;98. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000014587
108 Peluso R, Caso F, Tasso M, et al. Biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews. 2019;11:143–56. doi: 10.2147/OARRR.S206931
109 Lyutakov I, Ursini F, Penchev P, et al. Methods for diagnosing bile acid malabsorption: a systematic review. BMC Gastroenterology. 2019;19. doi: 10.1186/s12876-019-1102-1
110 Giacomelli R, Afeltra A, Alunno A, et al. Guidelines for biomarkers in autoimmune rheumatic diseases - evidence based analysis. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2019;18:93–106. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.08.003
111 Flacco ME, Manzoli L, De Giorgio R, et al. Costs of irritable bowel syndrome in European countries with universal healthcare coverage: A meta-analysis. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2019;23:2986–3000. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_201904_17580
112 Chiaravalloti A, Esposito V, Ursini F, et al. Overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with primary brain tumors after treatment: is the outcome of [18F] FDOPA PET a prognostic factor in these patients? Annals of Nuclear Medicine. 2019;33:471–80. doi: 10.1007/s12149-019-01355-8
113 Chiaravalloti A, Barbagallo G, Martorana A, et al. Brain metabolic patterns in patients with suspected non-Alzheimer’s pathophysiology (SNAP) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD): is [18F] FDG a specific biomarker in these patients? European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. 2019;46:1796–805. doi: 10.1007/s00259-019-04379-4
114 Caio G, Volta U, Ursini F, et al. Small bowel adenocarcinoma as a complication of celiac disease: Clinical and diagnostic features. BMC Gastroenterology. 2019;19. doi: 10.1186/s12876-019-0964-6
115 Ursini F, Ruscitti P. Cardiometabolic Comorbidities in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: From Pathogenesis to Treatment. Rev Recent Clin Trials. 2018;13:162–3. doi: 10.2174/157488711303180712162841
116 Ursini F, Russo E, Ruscitti P, et al. The effect of non–TNF-targeted biologics and small molecules on insulin resistance in inflammatory arthritis. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2018;17:399–404. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2017.11.030
117 Ursini F, Russo E, Pellino G, et al. Metformin and autoimmunity: A ‘new deal’ of an old drug. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018;9. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01236
118 Ursini F, Russo E, De Giorgio R, et al. Current treatment options for psoriatic arthritis: Spotlight on abatacept. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2018;14:1053–9. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S148586
119 Ursini F, D’Angelo S, Russo E, et al. Serum complement C3 and type 2 diabetes in rheumatoid arthritis: A case-control study. Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials. 2018;13:215–21. doi: 10.2174/1574887113666180314092757
120 Ursini F, Abenavoli L. The emerging role of complement c3 as a biomarker of insulin resistance and cardiometabolic diseases: Preclinical and clinical evidence. Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials. 2018;13:1–9.
121 Ursini F. Response to the letter to the editor by Shadmani et al. European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2018;48. doi: 10.1111/eci.12878
122 Pullano SA, Bianco MG, Ursini F, et al. Development of a Low-cost Nailfold Capillaroscopy Platform to Enhance Early Detection of Secondary Raynaud’s Phenomenon. 2018.
123 Peluso R, Caso F, Tasso M, et al. Cardiovascular risk markers and major adverse cardiovascular events in psoriatic arthritis patients. Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials. 2018;13:199–209. doi: 10.2174/1574887113666180314105511
124 Palleria C, Iannone L, Leporini C, et al. Implementing a simple pharmacovigilance program to improve reporting of adverse events associated with biologic therapy in rheumatology: Preliminary results from the Calabria Biologics Pharmacovigilance Program (CBPP). PLoS ONE. 2018;13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205134
125 Mauro D, Barbagallo G, D’Angelo S, et al. Role of positron emission tomography for central nervous system involvement in systemic autoimmune diseases: Status and perspectives. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2018;25:3096–104. doi: 10.2174/0929867324666170523144402
126 Leporini C, Russo E, D’Angelo S, et al. Insulin-sensiting effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials. 2018;13:184–91. doi: 10.2174/1574887113666180314100340
127 D’Angelo S, Carriero A, Gilio M, et al. Safety of treatment options for spondyloarthritis: a narrative review. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. 2018;17:475–86. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2018.1448785
128 D’Angelo S, Chiaravalloti A, Ursini F, et al. Brain glucose consumption abnormalities in neuro-Behçet’s disease: A preliminary 18F-FDG PET/CT study. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2018;36:S148–9.
129 Coppolino G, Leporini C, Rivoli L, et al. Exploring the effects of DPP-4 inhibitors on the kidney from the bench to clinical trials. Pharmacological Research. 2018;129:274–94. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.12.001
130 Chiaravalloti A, Castellano AE, Ricci M, et al. Coupled Imaging with [18F]FBB and [18F]FDG in AD Subjects Show a Selective Association Between Amyloid Burden and Cortical Dysfunction in the Brain. Molecular Imaging and Biology. 2018;20:659–66. doi: 10.1007/s11307-018-1167-1
131 Chiaravalloti A, Barbagallo G, Ricci M, et al. Brain metabolic correlates of CSF Tau protein in a large cohort of Alzheimer’s disease patients: A CSF and FDG PET study. Brain Research. 2018;1678:116–22. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.10.016
132 Chiaravalloti A, Barbagallo G, Ricci M, et al. Ageing effect on 18 F-DOPA and 123 I-MIBG uptake: A cross-sectional study. Nuclear Medicine Communications. 2018;39:539–44. doi: 10.1097/MNM.0000000000000835
133 Caio G, De Giorgio R, Ursini F, et al. Prevalence of celiac disease serological markers in a cohort of Italian rheumatological patients. Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench. 2018;11:244–9.
134 Ursini F, Russo E, Mauro D, et al. Complement C3 and fatty liver disease in Rheumatoid arthritis patients: a cross-sectional study. European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2017;47:728–35. doi: 10.1111/eci.12798
135 Ursini F, Naty S, Bruno C, et al. Old but good: Modified-release prednisone in rheumatoid arthritis. Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials. 2017;12:124–8. doi: 10.2174/1574887112666170328124539
136 Ursini F, Leporini C, Bene F, et al. Anti-TNF-alpha agents and endothelial function in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports. 2017;7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05759-2
137 Ursini F, D’Angelo S, Padula A, et al. Vitamin D deficiency in systemic sclerosis: a possible role of subclinical liver fibrosis? Retrospective analysis from an Italian cohort. Clinical Rheumatology. 2017;36:2871–2. doi: 10.1007/s10067-017-3709-3
138 Ursini F, D’Angelo S, Russo E, et al. Serum complement C3 strongly correlates with whole-body insulin sensitivity in rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2017;35:18–23.
139 Ursini F, Arturi F, Nicolosi K, et al. Plantar fascia enthesopathy is highly prevalent in diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathy and correlates with retinopathy and impaired kidney function. PLoS ONE. 2017;12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174529
140 Ursini F, Arturi F, D’Angelo S, et al. High prevalence of achilles tendon enthesopathic changes in patients with type 2 diabetes without peripheral neuropathy. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 2017;107:99–105. doi: 10.7547/16-059
141 Ruscitti P, Ursini F, Cipriani P, et al. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Medicine (United States). 2017;96. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007896
142 Ruscitti P, Ursini F, Cipriani P, et al. Poor clinical response in rheumatoid arthritis is the main risk factor for diabetes development in the short-term: A 1-year, single-centre, longitudinal study. PLoS ONE. 2017;12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181203
143 Ruscitti P, Ursini F, Cipriani P, et al. Biologic drugs in adult onset Still’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. 2017;13:1089–97. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2017.1375853
144 Olivo D, Grembiale RD, Tallarigo F, et al. Kaposi’s sarcoma after T-cell costimulation blockade with abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis: a case report. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 2017;42:367–9. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12510
145 Giacomelli R, Afeltra A, Alunno A, et al. International consensus: What else can we do to improve diagnosis and therapeutic strategies in patients affected by autoimmune rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritides, systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome and Sjogren’s syndrome)?: The unmet needs and the clinical grey zone in autoimmune disease management. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2017;16:911–24. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2017.07.012
146 Chiaravalloti A, Ursini F, Fiorentini A, et al. Functional correlates of TSH, fT3 and fT4 in Alzheimer disease: A F-18 FDG PET/CT study. Scientific Reports. 2017;7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-06138-7
147 Ursini F, Russo E, D’Angelo S, et al. Prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes in rheumatoid arthritis: An OGTT study. Medicine (United States). 2016;95:e2552. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002552
148 Ursini F, Grembiale RD, D’Antona L, et al. Oral Metformin Ameliorates Bleomycin-Induced Skin Fibrosis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2016;136:1892–4. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.05.097
149 Ursini F, D’Angelo S, Russo E, et al. Complement C3 is the strongest predictor of whole-body insulin sensitivity in psoriatic arthritis. PLoS ONE. 2016;11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163464
150 Ursini F, D’Angelo S, Padula A, et al. Retrospective analysis of type 2 diabetes prevalence in a systemic sclerosis cohort from southern Italy: Comment on “Reduced incidence of Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes in systemic sclerosis: A nationwide cohort study” by Tseng et al., Joint Bone Spine 2016;83:307–13. Joint Bone Spine. 2016;83:611–2. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2016.07.006
151 Leporini C, Piro R, Ursini F, et al. Monitoring safety and use of old and new treatment options for type 2 diabetic patients: a two-year (2013–2016) analysis. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. 2016;15:17–34. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2016.1246531
152 Grembiale RD, Bruno C, Tripolino C, et al. Correlation between elastosonography and nailfold microvascular alterations in systemic sclerosis patients. Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation. 2016;62:71–8. doi: 10.3233/CH-151948
153 Chiaravalloti A, Fiorentini A, Ursini F, et al. Is cerebral glucose metabolism related to blood-brain barrier dysfunction and intrathecal IgG synthesis in Alzheimer disease? A 18F-FDG PET/CT study. Medicine (United States). 2016;95. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000004206
154 Ursini F, Russo E, Leporini C, et al. Lymphocutaneous Sporotrichosis during Treatment with Anti-TNF-Alpha Monotherapy. Case Rep Rheumatol. 2015;2015:614504. doi: 10.1155/2015/614504
155 Ursini F, Russo E, Hribal ML, et al. Abatacept Improves Whole-Body Insulin Sensitivity in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Medicine (United States). 2015;94. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000888
156 Ursini F, Grembiale A, Naty S, et al. Serum complement C3 correlates with insulin resistance in never treated psoriatic arthritis patients. Clinical Rheumatology. 2014;33:1759–64. doi: 10.1007/s10067-013-2366-4
157 Ursini F, Naty S, Russo E, et al. Abatacept in psoriatic arthritis: Case report and short review. Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. 2013;4:S29–32. doi: 10.4103/0976-500X.120943
158 Patanè M, Ciriaco M, Chimirri S, et al. Interactions among low dose of methotrexate and drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences. 2013;2013. doi: 10.1155/2013/313858
159 Ursini F, Mauro D, Naty S, et al. Improvement in insulin resistance after short-term treatment with abatacept: Case report and short review. Clinical Rheumatology. 2012;31:1401–2. doi: 10.1007/s10067-012-2034-0
160 Ursini F, Naty S, Grembiale RD. Fibromyalgia and obesity: The hidden link. Rheumatology International. 2011;31:1403–8. doi: 10.1007/s00296-011-1885-z
161 Ursini F, Succurro E, Grembiale A, et al. The HPA Axis in the pathogenesis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Clinica Terapeutica. 2010;161:461–4.
162 Ursini F, Succurro E, Grembiale A, et al. Sudden progression from impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes after discontinuation of administration of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody infliximab. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology. 2010;23:961–3. doi: 10.1177/039463201002300334
163 Ursini F, Succurro E, Grembiale A, et al. Acute rhabdomyolysis during treatment with amisulpride and metformin. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2010;66:321–2. doi: 10.1007/s00228-009-0773-x
164 Ursini F, Pipicelli G, Grembiale RD. Efficacy and safety of duloxetine in fibromyalgia. Clinica Terapeutica. 2010;161:391–5.
165 Ursini F, Naty S, Mazzei V, et al. Kaposi’s sarcoma in a psoriatic arthritis patient treated with infliximab. International Immunopharmacology. 2010;10:827–8. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2010.04.016
166 Ursini F, Naty S, Grembiale RD. Infliximab and insulin resistance. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2010;9:536–9. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2009.12.014
167 Ursini F, Naty S, Bruno C, et al. CD4+ T-cells lymphocytosis and reduction of neutrophils during treatment with adalimumab: Challenge and dechallenge study. Clinical Immunology. 2010;135:499–500. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2010.02.004
168 Grembiale RD, Naty S, Ursini F. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment in the elderly. BMC Geriatrics. 2010;10. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-10-S1-L83
169 Ursini F, Pipicelli G. Nutritional supplementation for osteoarthritis. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 2009;15:173–7. doi: 10.1089/act.2009.15404
170 Ursini F. TNF-alpha and insulin-resistance: Metabolic effects of in vivo therapeutic blockade. Reumatismo. 2009;61:254–9.
171 Lakshmikanth T, Burke S, Ali TH, et al. NCRs and DNAM-1 mediate NK cell recognition and lysis of human and mouse melanoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2009;119:1251–63. doi: 10.1172/JCI36022