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Simona BIGI

Personale tecnico amministrativo
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche - Sede Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche

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Pubblicazioni

2023 - Perceptions of Death Among Patients with Advanced Cancer Receiving Early Palliative Care and Their Caregivers: Results from a Mixed-Method Analysis [Articolo su rivista]
Bigi, S.; Ganfi, V.; Borelli, E.; Potenza, L.; Artioli, F.; Eliardo, S.; Mucciarini, C.; Cottafavi, L.; Ferrari, U.; Lombardo, L.; Cagossi, K.; Pietramaggiori, A.; Fantuzzi, V.; Bernardini, I.; Cruciani, M.; Cacciari, C.; Odejide, O.; Adolfo Porro, C.; Zimmermann, C.; Efficace, F.; Bruera, E.; Luppi, M.; Bandieri, E.
abstract

BACKGROUND: Oncologists are often concerned that talking about death with patients may hinder their relationship. However, the views of death held by patients have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to describe the perception of death among patients with advanced cancer receiving early palliative care (EPC) and their caregivers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed on 2 databases: (a) transcripts of open-ended questionnaires administered to 130 cancer patients receiving EPC with a mean age of 68.4 years and to 115 primary caregivers of patients on EPC with a mean age of 56.8; (b) texts collected from an Italian forum, containing instances of web-mediated interactions between patients and their caregivers. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis shows that: (a) patients and caregivers are not afraid of speaking about death; (b) patients and caregivers on EPC use the word "death" significantly more than patients on standard oncology care (SOC) and their caregivers (P < .0001). For both participants on EPC and SOC, the adjectives and verbs associated with the word "death" have positive connotations; however, these associations are significantly more frequent for participants on EPC (verbs, Ps < .0001; adjectives, Ps < .003). Qualitative analysis reveals that these positive connotations refer to an actual, positive experience of the end of life in the EPC group and a wish or a negated event in the SOC group. CONCLUSIONS: EPC interventions, along with proper physician-patient communication, may be associated with an increased acceptance of death in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers.

2022 - Edmonton symptom assessment system Global Distress Score and overall survival in acute leukaemia [Articolo su rivista]
Morselli, M.; Banchelli, F.; Borelli, E.; Cordella, S.; Forghieri, F.; Bettelli, F.; Bigi, S.; Longo, G.; D'Amico, R.; Porro, C. A.; Efficace, F.; Bruera, E.; Luppi, M.; Bandieri, E.; Potenza, L.
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2022 - Gratitude among advanced cancer patients and their caregivers: The role of early palliative care [Articolo su rivista]
Borelli, E.; Bigi, S.; Potenza, L.; Gilioli, F.; Artioli, F.; Porzio, G.; Porro, C. A.; Efficace, F.; Bruera, E.; Luppi, M.; Bandieri, E.
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Objective: A cancer diagnosis represents a unique trauma, given its life-threatening, multidimensional, and uncertain nature. Gratitude is a construct representing the emotional state that arises when individuals recognize that a benefit has been received as a result of someone else’s action or a spiritual entity’s intervention. Based on the positive psychological wellbeing, gratitude has been associated with improved health outcomes even in the disease setting. Thus, the models of care that foster gratitude should be adopted in the clinical context. This study aims to explore whether and how gratitude may originate in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers undergoing early palliative care (EPC). Methods: We analyzed 251 reports from 133 patients and 118 caregivers describing their clinical experience in two EPC units. The sources of gratitude were identified and ranked based on their frequencies. Words expressing gratitude and words referring to communication and spirituality were collected by means of the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software and correlated. Results: In total, 123 (92.5%) of 133 patients’ and 97 (82.2%) of 118 caregivers’ reports, respectively, included explicit or implicit expressions of gratitude. Gratitude was associated specifically with successful physical symptom management, emotional support, improved attitude toward death, better information, humanity, and the familiar environment. The use of words of gratitude in patients’ reports was positively correlated with the use of words referring to communication (r =.215, p =.026) and spirituality (r =.612, p <.001). Conclusion: Our results suggest that interventions within the EPC model based on doctor–patient–caregiver communication may allow patients and caregivers to experience a feeling of gratitude, and this may represent a resource to be exploited to improve their physical and psychosocial wellbeing.

2022 - Need for integrating early palliative care with standard hematology care long before the allogeneic hemopoietic stem cells transplantation [Articolo su rivista]
Potenza, L.; Borelli, E.; Bigi, S.; Ganfi, V.; Luppi, M.; Bandieri, E.
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2021 - Early palliative/supportive care in acute myeloid leukaemia allows low aggression end-of-life interventions: Observational outpatient study [Articolo su rivista]
Potenza, L.; Scaravaglio, M.; Fortuna, D.; Giusti, D.; Colaci, E.; Pioli, V.; Morselli, M.; Forghieri, F.; Bettelli, F.; Messerotti, A.; Catellani, H.; Gilioli, A.; Marasca, R.; Borelli, E.; Bigi, S.; Longo, G.; Banchelli, F.; D'Amico, R.; L Back, A.; Efficace, F.; Bruera, E.; Luppi, M.; Bandieri, E.
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Objectives: Early palliative supportive care has been associated with many advantages in patients with advanced cancer. However, this model is underutilised in patients with haematological malignancies. We investigated the presence and described the frequency of quality indicators for palliative care and end-of-life care in a cohort of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia receiving early palliative supportive care. Methods: This is an observational, retrospective study based on 215 patients consecutively enrolled at a haematology early palliative supportive care clinic in Modena, Italy. Comprehensive hospital chart reviews were performed to abstract the presence of well-established quality indicators for palliative care and for aggressiveness of care near the end of life. Results: 131 patients received a full early palliative supportive care intervention. All patients had at least one and 67 (51%) patients had four or more quality indicators for palliative care. Only 2.7% of them received chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life. None underwent intubation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation and was admitted to intensive care unit during the last month of life. Only 4% had either multiple hospitalisations or two or more emergency department access. Approximately half of them died at home or in a hospice. More than 40% did not receive transfusions within 7 days of death. The remaining 84 patients, considered late referrals to palliative care, demonstrated sensibly lower frequencies of the same indicators. Conclusions: Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia receiving early palliative supportive care demonstrated high frequency of quality indicators for palliative care and low rates of treatment aggressiveness at the end of life.

2016 - Progress in mineralogical quantitative analysis of rock samples: Application to quartzites from Denali National Park, Alaska Range (USA) [Articolo su rivista]
Nistor, M. M.; Har, N.; Marchetti Dori, S.; Bigi, S.; Gualtieri, A. F.
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This work deals with the determination of the mineralogical composition of three quartzite samples, selected as case study to verify the viability and accuracy of various experimental techniques commonly used in geometallurgy and petrography for the determination of the mineralogical composition of rock samples. The investigated samples are from the North-Eastern side of the Denali National Park (Alaska Range, USA). The mineralogical phase abundance of the samples was determined by digitally assisted optical modal point counting, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) + energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) modal and digital image analysis, normative calculation from bulk chemistry calculation, and modal Rietveld X-ray powder diffraction. The results of our study indicate that the results provided by modal optical and SEM digitalized counting seem less accurate than the others. The determination with EDS mapping was found to be inaccurate only for one sample. Agreement was found between the X-ray diffraction estimates and bulk chemistry calculation. For both modal optical and SEM digitalized counting, the statistics was probably insufficient to provide accurate results. The estimates obtained from the various methods are compared with each other in the attempt to attain general indications on the precision, accuracy, advantages/disadvantages of each method.

2010 - CHABAZITE-MG: A NEW NATURAL ZEOLITE OF THE CHABAZITE SERIES. [Articolo su rivista]
Montagna, Gabriele; Bigi, Simona; P., Kónya; S., Szakáll; Vezzalini, Maria Giovanna
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Chabazite-Mg, (Mg0.67K0.52Ca0.48Na0.08Sr0.03)Σ1.78[(Al3.16Si8.89)Σ12.05O24]·9.68H2O, is a new zeolite species of the chabazite series, occurring in basalts of the Karikás-tető area of Prága Hill, Veszprém County, Balaton Highland, Transdanubia, West Hungary. It crystallizes as single, colorless rhombohedra up to 0.4 mm in size. The streak is white and the luster is strong vitreous. Mohs’ hardness is about 4. The observed density is 1.98(1) g/cm3 and the calculated density is 1.964(7) g/cm3. Chabazite-Mg is anisotropic, uniaxial (+), ω = 1.465(5), ε = 1.469(5) (546 nm). In its chemical composition, a predominanceof Mg is observed among the extraframework cations. However, K and Ca are also very abundant, while Na and Sr levels are very low. The ratio Si/(Si+Al) is among the highest found in chabazite of hydrothermal genesis. Chabazite-Mg is rhombohedral, R3m space group, a = 9.3433(5) Å, α = 94.894(4)°. The six strongest X-ray lines measured in the powder pattern [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 9.306 (60) (100), 5.537 (37) (11 1), 4.958 (25) (111), 4.315 (100) (201), 2.924 (78) (31 1), 2.869 (41) (310). Single-crystal structure refinement of chabazite-Mg indicated that the extraframework occupation is distinct from other chabazite-series minerals. In particular, the Mg site (C3a) and one water site (W6a) are displaced from the threefold axis parallel to [111].

1999 - Crystal structure and chemistry of yuanfuliite and its relationships with warwickite [Articolo su rivista]
P. W. U., Appel; Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca
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Yuanfuliite crystals, ideally MgFe3+O(BO3), i.e. the Fe3+ analogue of warwickite Mg1.5Ti0.5O(BO3), have been found in ultramafic rocks of Precambrian age in Inglefield Land (North-West Greenland). Structure refinements (space group Pnma) of two crystals with slightly different composition (agreement factors R = 0.023 and 0.025, respectively), have shown, in both cases, that the two octahedral M1 and M2 sites are geometrically quite similar but compositionally different, being Fe3+ strongly ordered at M1 and Al partially ordered at M2. The yuanfuliite cation ordering scheme has been compared with that of warwickite. Selected area electron diffraction patterns and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images of yuanfuliite show a generally well-ordered structure. Some defects, confined to small crystal areas, are related to regularly distributed dislocations.

1997 - Crystal chemistry and microstructures of Al-rich warwickite [Abstract in Rivista]
P. W. U., Appel; Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca
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1994 - CRYSTAL-CHEMISTRY AND MICROSTRUCTURES OF PLUTONIC BIOTITE [Articolo su rivista]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca
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Transmission electron microscope and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies were carried out on biotite from the Valle del Cervo plutonic body (northwestern Italy) with the aim of characterizing their structures and microstructures and also of establishing possible relationships between polytypism and crystal chemistry. The crystals, from the same lithologic complex, do not present significant chemical variations. On the other hand, they contain many different polytypic sequences, such as 1M and 2M1, which represent the most common polytypes, 3T and disordered and long-period stacking sequences, which often coexist in the same crystal. Four-, five-, six-, seven-, eight-, nine-, 13-, 14-, and 21-layer polytypes, often interrupted by stacking faults, were also observed. No relationship was found between polytypic sequences and chemistry, whereas the observed microstructures seem to be related to the petrological environment. The microstructural study facilitated the interpretation of difference-Fourier maps obtained from structure refinements of biotite from the same rock samples. The crystal-chemical study of two biotite samples, 1M (space group C2/m) and 2M1 (space group C2/c), from the same rock sample and with very similar chemical composition did not reveal any substantial differences in the mean bond lengths, whereas the octahedral and tetrahedral distortion parameters are higher in 2M1 than in 1M. Both polytypes exhibit M1 mean bond lengths greater than M2 mean bond lengths, suggesting partial cation ordering, whereas no tetrahedral cation ordering can be detected in the 2M1 polytype.

1993 - Cristallochimica e microstrutture di flogopiti e clintoniti geneticamente associate. [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
E., Alietti; Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca; Poppi, Luciano
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1993 - Crystal chemical variations in Ba-rich biotites from gabbroic rocks of lower crust (Ivrea Zone, NW Italy) [Articolo su rivista]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca; Mazzucchelli, Maurizio; Rivalenti, Giorgio
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Biotites from mafic rocks occurring at different stratigraphic levels of the Ivrea-Verbano Mafic Complex are studied. The rocks are gabbros and diorites. All the biotites are intermediate between phlogopite and annite [0.28<Fe/(Mg+Fe)<0.66]. Biotites from gabbros are enriched in BaO and TiO2 (up to 7.14 and 9.32 wt%, respectively) with respect to those of the diorites (up to 1.26 and 6.26 wt%, respectively). Systematic compositional variations support the substitution model 2(IV)Si + ((VI)R2+) half arrow left over half arrow right 2(IV)Al + (VI)Ti (R2+ = Fe + Mg + Mn) in gabbros and (IV)Si + (VI)Al half arrow right over half arrow left (IV)Al + (VI)Ti in diorites. A predominance of disordered stacking sequences, coexisting with 1M, 2M1 and 3T polytypes was observed in all biotites. It was possible to carry out structural refinements only on three biotites-2M1 from diorites (R-values between 2.68 and 3.77) 'and one biotite-1M from gabbros (R-value=3.09). It was shown that: (1) the reduced thickness of the tetrahedral sheet in Ba-rich biotites supports the coupled substitution (IV)Si + (XII)K half arrow left over half arrow right (IV)Al + (XII)Ba; (2) the interlayer site geometry is affected by the whole layer chemistry and does not reflect only local chemical variations; (3) in two samples of the 2M1 polytype, the M(1) octahedral site is larger and more distorted than the M(2) sites because of the preferential ordering of Fe2+ in the M(1) site, whereas one sample shows complete cation disorder in the octahedral sites. Biotite-1M shows that Fe2+ can also be located in the M(2) site. Some of the differences between the biotites of gabbros and diorites (e.g. Ba concentration and exchange vectors) may be linked to the host rock composition and to its crystallization process. Biotite occurs in trace amounts in gabbros and its crystallization is related to the interstitial melt which contributed to the adcumulus growth of the main rock forming phases and became highly enriched in K, Ba and Ti. Diorites are the result of equilibrium crystallization of a residual melt rich in incompatible elements, where biotite is a major constituent.

1992 - Biotiti plutoniche e struttura di politipi 1M e 2M1 coesistenti. [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca
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1992 - Biotiti ricche in bario nelle rocce basiche della zona Ivrea-Verbano [Articolo su rivista]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca
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1991 - Biotites from Ivrea-Verbano basic complex [Abstract in Rivista]
Brigatti, Maria Franca; Bigi, Simona; Mazzucchelli, Maurizio; Rivalenti, Giorgio
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1991 - Crystal chemical variations in biotites from lower crust gabbroic rocks (Ivrea zone, NW Italy) [Abstract in Rivista]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca; Mazzucchelli, Maurizio; Rivalenti, Giorgio
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1991 - Crystal chemistry of Fe- and Cr-rich warwichite. [Articolo su rivista]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca; Capedri, Silvio
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Warwickite is an orthorhombic oxyborate mineral with the general formula t6lM2Ot3lBOj (M : Mg2+, Mn2+, Fe3+, Ti4+, Al3+). The studied warwickite samples are from lamproitic rocks (umillites) and associated carbonatite-like veins (Jumilla, Murcia province, southeast Spain). Their chemical compositions are quite variable and different from those of warwickite described in the literature: in particular, CrrO, varies between 0.0 and 13.5 wto/0,t otal wto/oF e as FerO, is as high as 50.6 Mo/oa nd total wto/oT iO, as high as 10.2 wto/0T. wo main substitutions occur in Jumilla warwickite: Mg'* + Tia+ = 2Fe3+a nd Fe3* + Cr3+. The structures of seven crystals of different compositions were refined in space group Pnma, giving R : 0.018-0.038. The structural results show that: (l) The Ml octahedron is smaller and more distorted than the M2 octahedron. (2) Distortion of the octahedral layer is greater in Fe-rich warwickite. (3) Fe preferentially enters the Ml site. (4) The M2- 04 distance decreasesw ith increasingT i, suggestingp referential ordering at the M2 site. TEM studies show planar (100) defects. These defects cause variations in the octahedral chain length.

1990 - Warwickites: crystal chemistry and TEM study [Abstract in Rivista]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca; Capedri, Silvio
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1989 - Crystal chemical characterization of biotites and amphiboles from metabasites (Ivrea-Verbano Zone, Italian Western Alps). [Articolo su rivista]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca
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Biotites and amphiboles in metabasites from Ivrea-Verbano Zone were studied to illustrate possible correlations between their chem. compn. and the metamorphic grade (from lower to upper amphibolite- and granulite-facies) and paragenesis. The biotites examd. are intermediate in compn. between phlogopite and annite; with increasing metamorphic grade, the phlogopite end member and Ti content increase, where AlVI decreases. The crystal chem. variations of biotites in metabasites are compared with those in metapelites: Ti-tschermak type substitution mechanism prevails in upper amphibolite facies (esp. in metabasites) and in granulite-facies; the Al-tschermak substitution mechanism prevails (esp. in metapelites) in the lower amphibolite facies. Statistical anal. (multivariate anal. of variance) indicated that all variables, except those relative to interlayer cations, are highly significant in terms of metamorphic grade; however, interlayer cations other than AlIV and AlVI were the most significant variables in distinguishing between biotites of metabasites and those of metapelites. Amphiboles, in the amphibolite-facies rocks, are mainly magnesiohornblendes; those in granulite facies are pargasitic hornblendes. The A-site alkali metals and the octahedral Ti and Al are generally compensated by AlIV-Si substitution in tetrahedral position. Significant variations in metabasite amphiboles from amphibolite to granulite facies were found: Ti and alkali metals increase and Mn decreases, which is the same general pattern seen in biotites from the same area. In the case of lower and upper amphibolite facies, statistical anal. shows less marked distinction than for biotites.

1988 - Biotiti ed anfiboli nella serie Kinzigitica (Zona Ivrea-Verbano). La Microsonda Ionica nelle Scienze della Terra [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Bigi, Simona; Brigatti, Maria Franca; Poppi, Luciano
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