Martina Barchitta

Dr. Martina Barchitta

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

27Years (2000-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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RLRoberta Magnano San Lio
Roberta Magnano San Lio
GFGiuliana Favara
Giuliana Favara
AMAndrea Maugeri
Andrea Maugeri
Martina BarchittaMartina Barchitta
Martina Barchitta
Antonella AgodiAntonella Agodi
Antonella Agodi
Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate change (CC) are two of the top health emergencies, and can be considered as two interlinked public health priorities. The complex commonalities between AMR and CC should be deeply investigated in a One Health perspective. Here, we provided an overview of the current knowledge about the relationship between AMR and CC. Overall, the studies included pointed out the need for applying a systemic approach to planetary health. Firstly, CC increasingly brings humans and animals into contact, leading to outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases with pandemic potential. Although it is well-established that antimicrobial use in human, animal and environmental sectors is one of the main drivers of AMR, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the current scenario, by influencing the use of antibiotics, personal protective equipment, and biocides. This also results in higher concentrations of contaminants (e.g., microplastics) in natural water bodies, which cannot be completely removed from wastewater treatment plants, and which could sustain the AMR spread. Our overview underlined the lack of studies on the direct relationship between AMR and CC, and encouraged further research to investigate the multiple aspects involved, and its effect on human health.

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Martina BarchittaMartina Barchitta
Martina Barchitta
AMAndrea Maugeri
Andrea Maugeri
GFGiuliana Favara
Giuliana Favara
RLRoberta Magnano San Lio
Roberta Magnano San Lio
GEGiuseppe Evola
Giuseppe Evola
GBGuido Basile
Guido Basile
Wound healing implicates several biological and molecular events, such as coagulation, inflammation, migration-proliferation, and remodeling. Here, we provide an overview of the effects of malnutrition and specific nutrients on this process, focusing on the beneficial effects of curcumin. We have summarized that protein loss may negatively affect the whole immune process, while adequate intake of carbohydrates is necessary for fibroblast migration during the proliferative phase. Beyond micronutrients, arginine and glutamine, vitamin A, B, C, and D, zinc, and iron are essential for inflammatory process and synthesis of collagen. Notably, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin might reduce the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) and restore the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant activity. Since curcumin induces apoptosis of inflammatory cells during the early phase of wound healing, it could also accelerate the healing process by shortening the inflammatory phase. Moreover, curcumin might facilitate collagen synthesis, fibroblasts migration, and differentiation. Although curcumin could be considered as a wound healing agent, especially if topically administered, further research in wound patients is recommended to achieve appropriate nutritional approaches for wound management.

10 January 2020 in PLOS ONE
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MSMiquel Serra-Burriel
Miquel Serra-Burriel
MKMatthew Keys
Matthew Keys
CCCarlos Campillo-Artero
Carlos Campillo-Artero
Antonella AgodiAntonella Agodi
Antonella Agodi
Martina BarchittaMartina Barchitta
Martina Barchitta
GLGuillem López-Casasnovas
Guillem López-Casasnovas
Infections with multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria in hospital settings have substantial implications in terms of clinical and economic outcomes. However, due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, estimates about the attributable economic and clinical effects of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) due to MDR microorganisms (MDR HAI) remain unclear. The objective was to review and synthesize the evidence on the impact of MDR HAI in adults on hospital costs, length of stay, and mortality at discharge. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases to select studies that evaluated the impact of MDR HAI on economic and clinical outcomes. Eligible studies were conducted in adults, in order to ensure homogeneity of populations, used propensity score matched cohorts or included explicit confounding control, and had confirmed antibiotic susceptibility testing. Risk of bias was evaluated, and effects were measured with ratios of means (ROM) for cost and length of stay, and risk ratios (RR) for mortality. A systematic search was performed on 14th March 2019, re-run on the 10th of June 2019 and extended the 3rd of September 2019. Small effect sizes were assessed by examination of funnel plots. Sixteen articles (6,122 patients with MDR HAI and 8,326 patients with non-MDR HAI) were included in the systematic review of which 12 articles assessed cost, 19 articles length of stay, and 14 mortality. Compared to susceptible infections, MDR HAI were associated with increased cost (ROM 1.33, 95%CI [1.15; 1.54]), prolonged length of stay (ROM 1.27, 95%CI [1.18; 1.37]), and excess in-hospital mortality (RR 1.61, 95%CI [1.36; 1.90]) in the random effects models. Risk of publication bias was only found to be significant for mortality, and overall study quality good. MDR HAI appears to be strongly associated with increases in direct cost, prolonged length of stay and increased mortality. However, further comprehensive studies in this setting are warranted. PROSPERO (CRD42019126288).

26 January 2025 in Antibiotics
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MRMaria Clara La Rosa
Maria Clara La Rosa
AMAndrea Maugeri
Andrea Maugeri
GFGiuliana Favara
Giuliana Favara
CMClaudia La Mastra
Claudia La Mastra
RLRoberta Magnano San Lio
Roberta Magnano San Lio
Antonella AgodiAntonella Agodi
Antonella Agodi
Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global issue driven by the overuse of antibiotics in healthcare, agriculture, and veterinary settings. Wastewater and treatment plants (WWTPs) act as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The One Health approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in addressing AMR. This scoping review analyzes wastewater’s role in the AMR spread, identifies influencing factors, and highlights research gaps to guide interventions. Methods: This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across the PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles published up to June 2024, supplemented by manual reference checks. The review focused on wastewater as a source of AMR, including hospital effluents, industrial and urban sewage, and agricultural runoff. Screening and selection were independently performed by two reviewers, with conflicts resolved by a third. Results: Of 3367 studies identified, 70 met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicated that antibiotic residues, heavy metals, and microbial interactions in wastewater are key drivers of AMR development. Although WWTPs aim to reduce contaminants, they often create conditions conducive to horizontal gene transfer, amplifying resistance. Promising interventions, such as advanced treatment methods and regulatory measures, exist but require further research and implementation. Conclusions: Wastewater plays a pivotal role in AMR dissemination. Targeted interventions in wastewater management are essential to mitigate AMR risks. Future studies should prioritize understanding AMR dynamics in wastewater ecosystems and evaluating scalable mitigation strategies to support global health efforts.

23 September 2010 in Journal of Neurology
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CEC. M. Eddy
C. M. Eddy
RRRenata Rizzo
Renata Rizzo
MGMariangela Gulisano
Mariangela Gulisano
Antonella AgodiAntonella Agodi
Antonella Agodi
Martina BarchittaMartina Barchitta
Martina Barchitta
ACAndrea Cavanna
Andrea Cavanna

2 October 2014 in PLOS ONE
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Martina BarchittaMartina Barchitta
Martina Barchitta
AQAnnalisa Quattrocchi
Annalisa Quattrocchi
AMAndrea Maugeri
Andrea Maugeri
Manlio VinciguerraManlio Vinciguerra
Manlio Vinciguerra
Antonella AgodiAntonella Agodi
Antonella Agodi
A systematic review and a meta-analysis were carried out in order to summarize the current published studies and to evaluate LINE-1 hypomethylation in blood and other tissues as an epigenetic marker for cancer risk. A systematic literature search in the Medline database, using PubMed, was conducted for epidemiological studies, published before March 2014. The random-effects model was used to estimate weighted mean differences (MDs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). Furthermore, subgroup analyses were conducted by sample type (tissue or blood samples), cancer types, and by assays used to measure global DNA methylation levels. The Cochrane software package Review Manager 5.2 was used. A total of 19 unique articles on 6107 samples (2554 from cancer patients and 3553 control samples) were included in the meta-analysis. LINE-1 methylation levels were significantly lower in cancer patients than in controls (MD: −6.40, 95% CI: −7.71, −5.09; p<0.001). The significant difference in methylation levels was confirmed in tissue samples (MD −7.55; 95% CI: −9.14, −65.95; p<0.001), but not in blood samples (MD: −0.26, 95% CI: −0.69, 0.17; p = 0.23). LINE-1 methylation levels were significantly lower in colorectal and gastric cancer patients than in controls (MD: −8.33; 95% CI: −10.56, −6.10; p<0.001 and MD: −5.75; 95% CI: −7.75, −3.74; p<0.001) whereas, no significant difference was observed for hepatocellular cancer. The present meta-analysis adds new evidence to the growing literature on the role of LINE-1 hypomethylation in human cancer and demonstrates that LINE-1 methylation levels were significantly lower in cancer patients than in control samples, especially in certain cancer types. This result was confirmed in tissue samples, both fresh/frozen or FFPE specimens, but not in blood. Further studies are needed to better clarify the role of LINE-1 methylation in specific subgroups, considering both cancer and sample type, and the methods of measurement.