Nunzia Balzano

Dr. Nunzia Balzano

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
21 September 2022 in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AMAnnamaria Mascolo
Annamaria Mascolo
RNRaffaella Di Napoli
Raffaella Di Napoli
NBNunzia Balzano
Nunzia Balzano
DCDonato Cappetta
Donato Cappetta
KUKonrad Urbanek
Konrad Urbanek
LSLiberata Sportiello
Liberata Sportiello
A new therapeutic class of oral agents firstly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is represented by gliflozines or sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. SGLT2 inhibitors might be effective alone or in combination with any other drugs. This therapeutic class currently includes five agents: canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, ertugliflozin, and sotagliflozin. SGLT2 inhibitors prevent the renal reabsorption of filtered glucose and sodium by blocking the SGLT2 co-transporters in the proximal convoluted renal tubule, facilitating glucose excretion in the urine (glycosuria) and lowering blood glucose levels. SGLT2 inhibitors have also shown to have pleiotropic effects and determine cardiovascular and renal prevention, thus leading to an extension of their therapeutic indication to include the heart failure. Despite their clinical benefits, warnings about adverse events have been implemented by Regulatory Agencies in the product's information since their introduction to the market. In particular, SGLT2 inhibitors have shown a strong impact on a high number of risk factors. They can cause hypoglycaemia, hypotension, lower limb amputation, fractures, genito-urinary infections, and diabetic ketoacidosis with different frequencies of onset. Despite some of these events are rare, they can lead to serious and dangerous complications, highlighting the importance of a strict monitoring of patients. Overall, SLGT-2 inhibitors are effective antidiabetic drugs with favorable advantages in renal and cardiovascular protection, and with a generally well-tolerated safety profile. This review aims to summarize the safety profile of SGLT2 inhibitors available in the market.

19 March 2024 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RRRosanna Ruggiero
Rosanna Ruggiero
NBNunzia Balzano
Nunzia Balzano
MNMaria Maddalena Nicoletti
Maria Maddalena Nicoletti
GMGabriella di Mauro
Gabriella di Mauro
FFFederica Fraenza
Federica Fraenza
ACAnnalisa Capuano
Annalisa Capuano
The recent introduction of the innovative therapy, onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma®), has revolutionized the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) therapeutic landscape. Although Zolgensma® therapy has proven to lead to functional improvements in SMA children, some gaps in its safety profile still need to be investigated. To better characterize the Zolgensma® safety profile, we conducted a retrospective observational study, analyzing all the Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) referred to it and collected in the European pharmacovigilance database between 1 January 2019 and 22 September 2023. We found 661 ICSRs related to Zolgensma®, with a growing trend in the annual reporting. The majority of the reports were sent by healthcare professionals and referred to infant females. In more than 90% of the cases, Zolgensma® was the only reported suspected drug. Out of a total of 2744 reported ADRs, increased hepatic enzymes, pyrexia, vomiting, and thrombocytopenia were the most commonly reported adverse reactions. Of these adverse reactions (ADRs), 56.9% were serious, causing or prolonging the patient’s hospitalization. A total of 39 ICSRs related to cases with a fatal outcome. Alterations in the heart rhythm, acute hepatic failure, and hepatic cytolysis emerged among the cardiac and hepatic disorders, respectively.

22 July 2023 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RNRaffaella Di Napoli
Raffaella Di Napoli
NBNunzia Balzano
Nunzia Balzano
AMAnnamaria Mascolo
Annamaria Mascolo
CCCarla Cimmino
Carla Cimmino
Antonio VitielloAntonio Vitiello
Antonio Vitiello
Mariarosaria BoccellinoMariarosaria Boccellino
Mariarosaria Boccellino
Chemotherapy represents the main pharmacological cancer treatment. Recently, positive effects emerged with the combination of anticancer therapy and nutraceutical products. The aim of this systematic review is to collect and synthesize the available scientific evidence regarding the potential effects of nutraceuticals on cancer cells. A systematic literature search of randomized clinical trials of nutraceutical products in patients with cancer published up to 15 December 2022 was conducted using three data sources: Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science. The effect of high-dose isoflavone supplements on prostate cancer resulted in stabilization or reduction of PSA concentrations in 50% of isoflavone group patients six months after treatment. High doses of vitamin D supplementation plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer showed a median PFS of 13.0 months (95% CI, 10.1–14.7 months) for 49 patients. The effect of vitamin D supplementation on markers of inflammatory level and antioxidant capacity in women with breast cancer showed a significant increase in serum vitamin D concentration (28 ± 2.6 to 39 ± 3.5; p = 0.004) after 8 weeks of treatment. In conclusion, nutraceutical supplements represent a potentially growing sector and can be utilized in medical treatment or nutrition to provide integrated medical care.

6 November 2023 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LSLiberata Sportiello
Liberata Sportiello
RNRaffaella Di Napoli
Raffaella Di Napoli
NBNunzia Balzano
Nunzia Balzano
AMAnnamaria Mascolo
Annamaria Mascolo
RRRosanna Ruggiero
Rosanna Ruggiero
ACAnnalisa Capuano
Annalisa Capuano
(1) Background: The purpose of study was to compare the safety profile of glatiramer with natalizumab, alemtuzumab and ocrelizumab in pregnant and lactating women affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). (2) Methods: Individual case safety reports (ICSRs) were retrieved from the European spontaneous reporting system database (EudraVigilance). The reporting odds ratios (RORs) were computed to compare the reporting probability of events between natalizumab, alemtuzumab and ocrelizumab vs. glatiramer. (3) Results: A total of 1236 ICSRs reporting at least one DMT as a suspected drug were selected. More adverse drug reactions (ADRs) unrelated to pregnancy and breastfeeding (n = 1171; 32.6%) were reported than ADRs specific to pregnancy and breastfeeding (n = 1093; 30.4%). The most frequently reported unrelated ADR was MS relapse. Alemtuzumab and natalizumab seem to have a lower reporting probability of MS relapse compared to glatiramer (ROR 0.17, 95% CI 0.07–0.45 and ROR 0.34, 95% CI 0.20–0.57). Among pregnancy- and breastfeeding-related ADRs, the first most reported event was spontaneous abortion (n = 321; 8.9%). Natalizumab and ocrelizumab were associated with a higher reporting probability of spontaneous abortion compared to glatiramer (ROR 2.22, 95% CI 1.58–3.12; ROR 2.18, 95% CI 1.34–3.54, respectively), while alemtuzumab had a lower reporting frequency (ROR 0.32, 95% CI 0.17–0.60). (4) Conclusions: This study did not suggest any strong or new insights for DMTs in this special subpopulation. However, further studies need to be performed.

3 October 2022 in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
RRRosanna Ruggiero
Rosanna Ruggiero
NBNunzia Balzano
Nunzia Balzano
RNRaffaella Di Napoli
Raffaella Di Napoli
MSMaria Giuseppa Sullo
Maria Giuseppa Sullo
FRFrancesco Rossi
Francesco Rossi
CRConcetta Rafaniello
Concetta Rafaniello
Drug repurposing represented an important contribution in the management of COVID-19, becoming the first line of defense to mitigate the effects of the new coronavirus. In a brief time, drug repurposing (DR) provided potentially effective and already available drugs for COVID-19, while specific therapies against SARS-CoV-2 and/or vaccines were developing. Identifying repurposed drugs requires a multidisciplinary approach, where clinical pharmacology represents the missing piece of the puzzle. Nowadays, clinical pharmacology is recognized as a discipline at the core of translational science, whose activities lead to the identification of the right drug for the right patient. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, its role in drug development and therapy choice has been decisive and itself repositioned. In this review, we tried to highlight the important role of clinical pharmacology in the identification and evaluation of possible repurposed drugs for COVID-19. We believe that clinical pharmacology had an important role in identifying patient-oriented therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, DR was just one of the challenges for clinical pharmacology, which proved that this discipline is ready to respond to future threats.