7,709 research outputs found
Measles among healthcare workers in Italy. Is it time to act?
Vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) against measles is strongly recommended in Europe. In this study, we examined the impact of measles on Italian HCWs by systematically and quantitatively analyzing measles cases involving HCWs over time and by identifying the epidemiological characteristics of the respective measles outbreaks. We retrieved data on measles cases from the Italian national integrated measles and rubella surveillance system from January 2013 to May 2019. Additionally, we performed a systematic review of the literature and an analysis of the measles and rubella aggregate outbreaks reporting forms from 2014 to 2018. Our review suggests that preventing measles infection among HCWs in disease outbreaks may be crucial for the elimination of measles in Italy. National policies aiming to increase HCW immunization rates are fundamental to the protection of HCWs and patients, will limit the economic impact of outbreaks on the institutions affected and will help achieve the elimination goal
Letter to the editor: Measles outbreak linked to an international dog show in Slovenia - primary cases and chains of transmission identified in Italy, November to December 2014
In the letter epidemiological and virological investigations on Italian measles cases associated to a measles outbreak in Slovenia, linked to an international dog show from 8 to 9 November 2014, are described
Bright expression of CD91 identifies highly activated human dendritic cells that can be expanded by defensins
CD91 is a scavenger receptor expressed by different immune cells and its ligands defensins have been demonstrated to contribute to immune responses against infections and tumors. We previously demonstrated that CD91 is expressed on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) and that human defensins stimulate in vitro the activation of these cells. In this study, we observed that CD91 is expressed at different levels on two distinct moDC subsets: CD91dim and CD91bright moDCs. Although CD91bright moDCs represented a small proportion of total moDCs, this subset showed higher levels of activation and maturation markers compared to CD91dim moDCs. The frequency of CD91bright moDCs increased by ~50% after in vitro stimulation with recombinant Human Neutrophil Peptide-1 (rHNP-1) and recombinant Human Beta Defensin-1 (rHBD-1), while lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation decreased it by ~35%. Both defensins up-regulated moDC expression of CD80, CD40, CD83 and HLA-DR, although to a lower extent compared with LPS. Notably, upon culture with rHNP-1 and rHBD-1, CD91bright moDCs maintained their higher activation/maturation status, while this was lost upon culture with LPS. Our findings suggest that defensins promote the differentiation into activated CD91bright DCs and may encourage the exploitation of the CD91/defensins axis as a novel therapeutic strategy to potentiate antimicrobial and antitumor immune response
Proceedings of the EYCN Symposium – 1st Edition
The 1st edition of the EYCN Symposium is the scientific event organized by the Italian Chemical Society and the European Young Chemists’ Network within the XIII EYCN Delegate Assembly. This symposium is fully devoted to young researchers, such as MSc and PhD students, post-doc fellows and young researchers in companies. All the disciplines of Chemistry are covered: analytical, physical, industrial, organic, inorganic, theoretical, pharmaceutical, biological, environmental, macromolecular and electrochemistry
Canine Mesenchymal Stem Cells from visceral and subcutaneuous adipose tissue for cell-based therapy
This study compared some characteristics of canine Adipose tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (cAD-MSCs) from subcutaneous and visceral fat. These findings were directed to obtain high quantity and quality cAD-MSCs for clinical cell-based therapy
Il PON Reti e MobilitĂ e gli obiettivi di SostenibilitĂ : il ruolo del Piano di Monitoraggio Ambientale
The National Operative Program (PON) “Reti e mobilità ” has been
approved by European Commission on the 7th of December 2007.
The strategic approach of the PON, exclusively devoted to the socalled
“convergence regions” of Italy (Campania, Calabria, Sicilia, Puglia),
aims to:
1. improve the modal balance by an economic, social and environmental
perspective;
2. develop the inter-modality in order to move towards the integration
of convergence area into the network of the European transport
system;
3. improve the mobility and the accessibility, also to reduce the traffic
congestion;
4. increase the efficiency related to security standards, to management
techniques and to the quality of transportation services in the sector
of freight;
5. guarantee the reduction of environmental impacts through a global
improvement of the efficiency of the transport systems.
In such a way it is clear that the PON “Reti e mobilità ” takes greatly into
account the Sustainability principles recognized at European scale as
attested by the budget, namely over the 70% of the entire fund,
associated with low-impacts infrastructures (railways and harbors).
The PON has been submitted to the SEA procedure, following what the
2001/42/CE Directive establishes.
The Environmental Report of PON devotes great attention to the
monitoring activity as shown by the reported recommendation about
the need for adequate measures for the environmental monitoring, also
in order to apply corrective measures during the implementation of the
program. By this point of view, a first and important step has been the
elaboration of the “Environmental Monitoring Plan” (EMP) that represents
the main methodological document for the following implementation
of the monitoring activity.
This paper, after a brief presentation of the program and of the objectives
of Sustainability that the Programs aims to pursue through the realization
of specific projects, is devoted to introduce the Environmental
Monitoring Plan of the PON that has been approved by the Ministry of
the Infrastructures and Transport -in charge as Management Authority
of the PON- in February 2011. In detail, the PMA represents the tool
through which, the Management Authority, that has specific
responsibilities and functions in terms of monitoring and environmental
assessment of the program, controls the significant impacts on the
environment caused by the implementation of the PON and verify the
level of achievement of the established objectives of environmental
sustainability. The structure of EMP is based on three main aspects:
1) the adoption of the results of other interesting experiences carried
out by experts institutions on the topic;
2) an approach favoring the creation of an “integrated” monitoring system
with the others Operative Programs activated at regional scale;
3) the implementation of a cooperation and shared process with all the
directly-involved actors
Towards elimination of measles and rubella in Italy. Progress and challenges
Introduction In the WHO European Region, endemic transmission of measles and rubella had been interrupted by 37 and 42 of the 53 member states (MSs), respectively, by 2018. Sixteen MSs are still endemic for measles, 11 for rubella and nine for both diseases, the latter including Italy. Elimination is documented by each country’s National Verification Committee (NVC) through an annual status update (ASU). Objective By analysing data used to produce the ASUs, we aimed to describe the advances made by Italy towards elimination of measles and rubella. Moreover, we propose a set of major interventions that could facilitate the elimination process. Methods A total of 28 indicators were identified within the six core sections of the ASU form and these were evaluated for the period 2013–2018. These indicators relate to the incidence of measles/rubella; epidemiological investigation of cases; investigation of outbreaks; performance of the surveillance system; population immunity levels; and implementation of supplemental immunization activities (SIAs). Results From 2013 to 2018, epidemiological and laboratory analyses of measles cases in Italy improved substantially, allowing timely investigation in 2017 and 2018 of most outbreak and sporadic cases and identification of the majority of genotypic variants. Moreover, since 2017, vaccination coverage has increased significantly. Despite these improvements, several areas of concern emerged, prompting the following recommendations: i) improve outbreak monitoring; ii) strengthen the MoRoNet network; iii) increase the number of SIAs; iv) reinforce vaccination services; v) maintain regional monitoring; vi) design effective communication strategies; vii) foster the role of general practitioners and family paediatricians. Conclusions The review of national ASUs is a crucial step to provide the NVC with useful insights into the elimination process and to guide the development of targeted interventions. Against this background, the seven recommendations proposed by the NVC have been shared with the Italian Ministry of Health and the Technical Advisory Group on measles and rubella elimination and have been incorporated into the new Italian Elimination Plan 2019–2023 as a technical aid to facilitate the achievement of disease elimination goals
Lamb meat colour stability as affected by dietary tannins
Twenty-one male Comisana lambs were divided into three groups at 45 days of age and were individually penned for 60 days. Seven lambs were fed a concentrate-based diet (C), seven lambs received the same concentrate with the addiction of tannins from quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii; T), whereas the remaining animals were fed exclusively fresh vetch (Vicia sativa; H). Colour descriptors (a*, b* and H*) and metmyoglobin (MMb) percentages were measured on minced semimembranosus muscle over 14 days of refrigerated storage in a high oxygen atmosphere. Regardless of dietary treatment, meat redness decreased, while yellowness and hue angle increased (P < 0.001) over storage duration. However, higher a* values, lower b* values and lower H* values were observed in meat from both H- and T-fed animals as compared to meat from C-fed lambs (P = 0.012; P = 0.02; P = 0.003, respectively). Metmyoglobin formation increased over time (P < 0.001), but H diet resulted in lower metmyoglobin percentages than C diet (P = 0.007). We conclude that the inclusion of tannins into the concentrate improved meat colour stability compared to a tannin-free concentrate. Moreover, the protective effect of tannins against meat discolouration was comparable to that obtained by feeding lambs fresh herbage
Immune activation, immune senescence and levels of Epstein Barr Virus in kidney transplant patients: Impact of mTOR inhibitors
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) represent a severe complication in transplanted patients and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is the main driver. Besides immunodepression, immune activation/chronic inflammation play an important role in both virus reactivation and expansion of EBV-positive B cells. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of immunosuppressive strategies on factors involved in the PTLD's pathogenesis. 124 kidney transplanted patients were enrolled in this study: 71 were treated with mycophenolic acid (MPA) and 53 treated with mTOR inhibitor (mTORi), both in combination with different doses of calcineurin inhibitor. At the time of the transplant (T0), profile of inflammation/immune activation and immune senescence didn't differ between the two groups, but after one year of treatment (T1) markers were significantly higher in MPA-treated patients; their immunosenescence process was supported by the greater erosion of telomeres despite their younger age. Percentages of activated B cells and levels of EBV-DNA significantly increased in MPA-treated patients, and at T1 were significantly higher in MPA- than in mTORi-treated patients. Overall, these findings indicate that mTOR inhibitors constrain the inflammation/immune activation and senescence status, thus reducing the expansion of EBV-infected B cells and the risk of virus-associated PTLD in kidney transplant recipients. \ua9 2019 The Author
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