Effectiveness of mRNA Vaccine Booster against SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 in the Adult Population during the First Three Months of the Omicron Wave in Sicily

Background: In Italy, the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose started on 27 September 2021, supported by clinical trials corroborating its efficacy. Given the paucity of real-world effectiveness data, this study aims to estimate the vaccine effectiveness of the booster dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe disease, and death in the adult Sicilian population. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was carried out from 1 January to 31 March 2022 and included all residents in Sicily aged >= 18 years without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and with a complete mRNA vaccine primary cycle. The cohort was split into two groups (booster and primary cycle) matched by age, gender, vaccine type, and month of completion of the primary vaccination cycle. Results: 913,382 subjects were observed in the study: 456,690 (50%) were vaccinated with two doses and 456,692 (50%) with three doses. There were 43,299 cases of SARS-CoV-2 among the two-doses vaccinees (9.5%) and 10,262 (2.2%) among the three-doses counterpart. Vaccine effectiveness in the booster cohort was 76.5% and 74.4% against SARS-CoV-2 infection, 85.7% and 79.7% against severe disease, and 84.1% and 73.1% against intubation or death, for BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, respectively. Conclusions: This study confirmed the remarkable efficacy profile of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster dose against infection, severe disease, and death attributable to the virus. Overall, the results of this study provide important real-world data to support the continued roll-out of the COVID-19 booster dose and have the potential to inform public health policy and guide decisions on vaccination strategies in countries around the world

Knowledge and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in individuals practicing regular amatorial physical activity: a cross-sectional study conducted in the Metropolitan Area of Palermo, Italy

IntroductionMediterranean Diet (MD) is a universal model of nutrition that prevents several metabolic, cardiovascular, and oncological diseases. Main objective of the present study was to analyze adherence and knowledge regarding MD principles in a sample of individuals practicing amatorial sports from the Metropolitan Area of Palermo. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 Sports Centers, between October 2020 and September 2021, through a previously validated anonymous questionnaire structured in five sections including 74 items. ResultsOverall, 337 subjects answered to the questionnaire. Based on the multivariable analysis conducted, a higher knowledge score (KS) on MD principles was observed among individuals daily consuming vegetables (OR: 3.32; CI95%: 1.82-6.02) and in the ones more adherent to MD principles (OR: 10.15; CI95%:5.47-18.85). More in depth, using MEDAS score to analyze the adherence to MD, a significant lower adherence was observed among overweight/obese (OR: 0.57; CI95%:0.33-0.99) and among employed subjects (OR: 0.52; IC95%: 0.28-0.98); while, a higher adherence was highlighted among daily consumers of vegetables (OR: 2.52; CI95%:1.52-4.17), daily consumers of fruit (OR: 1.77; CI95%:1.08-2.90), and in individuals that have daily breakfast (OR: 4.29; CI95%:1.15-15.96). DiscussionIn accordance with the WHO Europe Gaining Health Campaign, Public Health Authorities should simplify accessibility to healthy food among general population, promoting principles and accessibility to MD

Implant replacement and anaplastic large cell lymphoma associated with breast implants: a quantitative analysis

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIAALCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma associated with breast reconstruction post-mastectomy or cosmetic-additive mammoplasty. The increasing use of implants for cosmetic purposes is expected to lead to an increase in BIA-ALCL cases. This study investigated the main characteristics of the disease and the factors predicting BIA-ALCL onset in patients with and without an implant replacement

[The new 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for the prevention of S. pneumoniae infections in pediatric age: a Health Technology Assessment]

Questo capitolo sintetizza gli aspetti più rilevanti emersi dalla valutazione HTA del vaccino coniugato antipneumococcico 15-valente (PCV15) per la prevenzione delle infezioni da S. pneumoniae in età pediatrica

Genere, disabilità e sessualità. Il fascino della normatività

Il volume disvela la natura sociale e culturale della famiglia. Nel testo vengono analizzate alcune rilevanti trasformazioni delle famiglie e vengono sottolineate le conseguenze di tali mutamenti sulla vita delle persone, sulle relazioni sociali e sulla configurazione delle famiglie contemporanee. Il libro è il risultato dello sforzo comune di alcuni docenti dei corsi di studio in Servizio sociale (L-39 e LM-87) dell’Ateneo di Palermo, di assistenti sociali dell’Ufficio di Servizio Sociale per i Minorenni di Palermo, nonché di alcune laureate che si sono distinte per aver condotto ricerche di grande interesse e per aver partecipato alle attività di formazione e di ricerca del Laboratorio di Servizio Sociale

Effectiveness of mRNA Vaccine Booster against SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 in the Adult Population during the First Three Months of the Omicron Wave in Sicily

Background: In Italy, the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose started on 27 September 2021, supported by clinical trials corroborating its efficacy. Given the paucity of real-world effectiveness data, this study aims to estimate the vaccine effectiveness of the booster dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe disease, and death in the adult Sicilian population. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was carried out from 1 January to 31 March 2022 and included all residents in Sicily aged ≥ 18 years without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and with a complete mRNA vaccine primary cycle. The cohort was split into two groups (booster and primary cycle) matched by age, gender, vaccine type, and month of completion of the primary vaccination cycle. Results: 913,382 subjects were observed in the study: 456,690 (50%) were vaccinated with two doses and 456,692 (50%) with three doses. There were 43,299 cases of SARS-CoV-2 among the two-doses vaccinees (9.5%) and 10,262 (2.2%) among the three-doses counterpart. Vaccine effectiveness in the booster cohort was 76.5% and 74.4% against SARS-CoV-2 infection, 85.7% and 79.7% against severe disease, and 84.1% and 73.1% against intubation or death, for BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, respectively. Conclusions: This study confirmed the remarkable efficacy profile of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster dose against infection, severe disease, and death attributable to the virus. Overall, the results of this study provide important real-world data to support the continued roll-out of the COVID-19 booster dose and have the potential to inform public health policy and guide decisions on vaccination strategies in countries around the world

Epidemiology of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Associated with Breast Implants: a quantitative analysis

Background and Objective: Breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma arising in patients with breast reconstruction post-mastectomy or undergoing cosmetic-additive mammoplasty. Due to widespread use of implantations for cosmetic purposes, BIA-ALCL cases are expected to increase. We aimed at investigating main characteristics of the disease and factors predicting BIA-ALCL onset in patients with and without implant replacement. Method: A quantitative analysis was performed on cases extracted from primary studies published until April 2022 and searched in PubMed, Scopus and Google- Scholar databases, using “Breast-Implant” AND/OR “Associated” AND/OR “Anaplastic-Large-Cell-Lymphoma”. Statistical significance was verified by Student-T test for continuous variables, while Fisher’s exact test was applied for qualitative variables. Cox model with time-dependent covariates was applied to estimate BIA-ALCL’s onset time. Results: 232 patients with BIA-ALCL (mean age at diagnosis: 55 years-old; mean time to disease onset from first implant: 10.3 years) were extracted from 52 selected studies. Patients with cosmetic implants were younger than patients with post-mastectomy implants but no difference was showed for median time to onset. Patients with implant replacement were significantly older than patients without previous replacement at the diagnosis, having a median time to diagnosis since first implant of 13 years (7 years in patients without replacement). Hazard of developing BIA-ALCL resulted significantly lower inpatients having a previous implant replacement as compared to patients who did not (HR= 0.03; 95%CI: 0.005-0.19; p-value= <0.01). Conclusion: Exposure time to prosthesis, regardless of the age at implant and any possible condition associated with the disease, may play a role in BIA-ALCL induction. We provided evidence to be suggested for a proper information on breast implant use and for updating follow-up guidelines. Linkage between prosthetic implants registries and population-based cancer registries will help to better estimate the epidemiological impact over time of both BIA-ALCL and other lymphomas

Decade-long insights: tracking asbestos-related health impacts among formerly exposed workers in Palermo, Italy

Background: Asbestos is a foremost occupational carcinogen globally. Despite the prohibition under Law 257/1992, Italy persists as one of the European nations most burdened by asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). This research assessed ARD cases in asbestosexposed workers from the Province of Palermo, Italy, spanning 2010-2021. Methods: Data acquisition utilized the epidemiological dataset from the 'Service of Prevention and Safety on Work Environment' under the Prevention Department of Palermo's Local Health Authority (LHA). Results: Between 2010 and 2021, we identified 245 ARD instances, comprising 163 Asbestosis/Pleural plaques, 41 Lung Cancers, 38 Mesotheliomas, and 3 unspecified cases. Multivariate analysis indicated a notable decline in temporal exposure for mesothelioma (HR=0.933; 95% CI=0.902-0.965) and lung cancer (HR=0.93; 95% CI=0.90-0.978) relative to pleural plaques/asbestosis. Tobacco use displayed a pronounced correlation with lung cancer (smoker HR=64.520 95% CI=13,075-318.390; former smoker HR=20.917 95% CI=4,913-89.048). A significant link was observed between mesothelioma and pleural plaques/asbestosis in those employed in shipbuilding and repair (HR=0.371 95% CI=0.155-0.892). Conclusions: ARDs persist in clinical observations, even following the 1992 cessation of asbestos-related activities, emphasizing an enduring public health challenge. Enhancing prevention strategies is paramount, focusing on amplifying anamnestic and occupational data collection, thereby facilitating superior early diagnosis strategies for these maladies in the occupationally exposed cohort