Cocirculation of Hajj and non-Hajj strains among serogroup W meningococci in Italy, 2000 to 2016

In Italy, B and C are the predominant serogroups among meningococci causing invasive diseases. Nevertheless, in the period from 2013 to 2016, an increase in serogroup W Neisseria meningitidis (MenW) was observed. This study intends to define the main characteristics of 63 MenW isolates responsible of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Italy from 2000 to 2016. We performed whole genome sequencing on bacterial isolates or single gene sequencing on culturenegative samples to evaluate molecular heterogeneity. Our main finding was the cocirculation of the Hajj and the South American sublineages belonging to MenW/ clonal complex (cc)11, which gradually surpassed the MenW/cc22 in Italy. All MenW/cc11 isolates were fully susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, penicillin G and rifampicin. We identified the fulllength NadA protein variant 2/3, present in all the MenW/cc11. We also identified the fHbp variant 1, which we found exclusively in the MenW/cc11/Hajj sublineage. Concern about the epidemic potential of MenW/cc11 has increased worldwide since the year 2000. Continued surveillance, supported by genomic characterisation, allows high-resolution tracking of pathogen dissemination and the detection of epidemicassociated strains

Imported and Indigenous cases of Invasive Meningocococcal Disease W:P1.5,2:F1-1: ST-11 in migrants' reception centers. Italy, June-November 2014.

We report about three unliked cases of meningococcal meningitis caused by the ST-11/ET-37 strain of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W. Two of the three cases, detected in Sicily on June and July 2014, were migrants from Mali and Eritrea. The third case was a fatal meningitis occurred on November 2014 in a 37 years old man, working in an immigrant center in Calabria. This report suggests that tetravalent conjugate vaccines (ACYW) should be actively offered to the staff of migrants\u2019 reception centers

Oral deflazacort decreases bronchial reactivity to ultrasonically nebulized water in mild asthmatics.

Oral deflazacort, a corticosteroid drug with less adverse effects, is effective in reducing bronchial obstruction and reactivity to inhaled methacholine in mild asthmatics

Sensisibility and specificity of two radiographic indexes for the screening of bronchial obstruction in workers exposed to travertine dust

Two simple radiographic indexes are described which are significantly correlated with an obstructive pattern at spirometry in workers exposed to travertine dus

Lo studio della reattivit\ue0 bronchiale aspecifica nella rinite cronica non infettiva: correlazione tra dati clinici ed allergologi 127 pazienti

la rinite cronica non infettiva \ue8 una condizione spesso associata a iperreattivit\ue0 bronchiale aspecifica anche in soggetti non atopic

Aspetti metodologici dei test basati sull'inalazione di nebbia ultrasonica di acqua distillata

The methodology, significance and clinical importance of the bronchial challenge based on the inhalation of an ultrasonic mist of distilled water is discussed in detai

Gli antistaminici nella terapia dell' allergia nasale

The role of the antihistaminic agents n allergic rhinitis with or without bronchial asthma is discusse

Determinants of increase of the bronchial reactivity to methacoline during the pollen season in atopics

The paper describes the determinants of the increase of bronchial reactivity linked to the allergic inflammation which occurs during spring in asthmatic allergic to pollens

End-on parailar bronchi and chronic bronchitis in workers of travertine quarries

End-on bronchi are circular rings that appear in the posteroanterior chest X-ray. When they are thickened, they predict the presence of anamnestic chronic bronchitis in workers exposed to travertine (a variety of calcium carbonate) dust