Adverse Events Associated with BNT162b2 and AZD1222 Vaccines in the Real World: Surveillance Report in a Single Italian Vaccine Center

Aim: Despite huge efforts in developing specific drugs, vaccination represents the only effective strategy against COVID-19. Efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines were established during clinical trials. Nonetheless, it is very important to perform continuous surveillance. This observational study aimed to report potential Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) following the first dose of two different COVID-19 vaccines, BNT162b2 and AZD1222. Methods and Results: Subjects who underwent vaccination at the vaccine center of the University Hospital of Salerno, Italy, were interviewed using an ad hoc questionnaire. AZD-vac group (n = 175) who received AZD1222 had a higher number of AEFI than the BNT-vac group (n = 1613) who received BNT162b2 (83% vs. 42%). The most frequent AEFI associated with AZD1222 and BNT162b2 were fever and pain at the injection site, respectively. The AZD-vac group used drugs to contrast AEFI more frequently than the BNT-vac group. In the BNT-vac group, there was a higher incidence of AEFI in women than in men (26.2% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.01), while no gender-related difference was observed in the AZD-vac group. Conclusions: AZD1222 and BNT162b2 vaccines show a good safety profile. Based on our results and literature data, there are no reasons to justify the reluctance that persists towards immunization

The eEF1γ Subunit Contacts RNA Polymerase II and Binds Vimentin Promoter Region

Here, we show that the eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 gamma (eEF1γ) physically interacts with the RNA polymerase II (pol II) core subunit 3 (RPB3), both in isolation and in the context of the holo-enzyme. Importantly, eEF1γ has been recently shown to bind Vimentin mRNA. By chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, we demonstrate, for the first time, that eEF1γ is also physically present on the genomic locus corresponding to the promoter region of human Vimentin gene. The eEF1γ depletion causes the Vimentin protein to be incorrectly compartmentalised and to severely compromise cellular shape and mitochondria localisation. We demonstrate that eEF1γ partially colocalises with the mitochondrial marker Tom20 and that eEF1γ depletion increases mitochondrial superoxide generation as well as the total levels of carbonylated proteins. Finally, we hypothesise that eEF1γ, in addition to its role in translation elongation complex, is involved in regulating Vimentin gene by contacting both pol II and the Vimentin promoter region and then shuttling/nursing the Vimentin mRNA from its gene locus to its appropriate cellular compartment for translation

Knowledge and health care resource allocation: CME/CPD course guidelines-based efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Most health care systems consider continuing medical education a potential tool to improve quality of care and reduce disease management costs. Its efficacy in general practitioners needs to be further explored. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the effectiveness of a one-year continuing medical education/continuing professional development course for general practitioners, regarding the improvement in knowledge of ARIA and GINA guidelines and compliance with them in asthma management. METHODS: Sixty general practitioners, covering 68,146 inhabitants, were randomly allocated to continuing medical education/continuing professional development (five residential events +four short distance-learning refresher courses over one year) or no training. Participants completed a questionnaire after each continuing medical education event; key questions were repeated at least twice. The Local Health Unit prescription database was used to verify prescription habits (diagnostic investigations and pharmacological therapy) and hospitalizations over one year before and after training. RESULTS: Fourteen general practitioners (46.7%) reached the cut-off of 50% attendance of the training courses. Knowledge improved significantly after training (p < 0.001, correct answers to key questions +13%). Training resulted in pharmaceutical cost containment (trained general practitioners +0.5% vs. controls +18.8%) and greater attention to diagnosis and monitoring (increase in spirometry +63.4%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study revealed an encouraging impact of educational events on improvement in general practitioner knowledge of guidelines and daily practice behavioral changes. Long-term studies of large populations are required to assess the effectiveness of education on the behavior of physicians in asthma management, and to establish the best format for educational events

L'ABUSO SUGLI ANZIANI IN NURSING HOME: REVISIONE DALLA LETTERATURA

Titolo Abstract L'ABUSO SUGLI ANZIANI IN NURSING HOME: REVISIONE DALLA LETTERATURA Premessa: L'Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità (OMS) ha riferito che il numero delle persone di età superiore ai 60 triplicherà tra il 2000 e il 2050. Il progressivo invecchiamento provoca, e ancora di più si tradurrà in un aumento della domanda di servizi sanitari e le spese da parte dello Stato e le famiglie. In tal senso, l'abuso sugli anziani è ancora un problema misconosciuto e spesso sottovalutato, sebbene sia molto più comune di quanto i dati ad oggi disponibili suggeriscano. L'aumento della popolazione anziana da un lato e l'incremento del ricorso alle cure sia di tipo istituzionale sia non (vedi badantaggio), purtroppo fa prevedere che tale fenomeno sia destinato a crescere in futuro. La dimensione del problema è stato percepito solo negli ultimi decenni e non ci sono studi approfonditi e analisi che descrivano bene la situazione, soprattutto nelle nursing home. Obiettivo: Scopo del presente studio è stato quello di esaminare la letteratura disponibile negli ultimi cinque anni per definire lo stato dell'arte su questo fenomeno, con particolare riguardo al ruolo infermieristico nel'abuso sugli anziani, concentrandosi sui possibili tipi di maltrattamenti, le motivazioni e gli interventi di prevenzione. Risultati: Gli articoli pubblicati negli ultimi 5 anni per quanto riguarda il maltrattamento degli anziani sono stati selezionati, utilizzando banche dati scientificamente riconosciutei come PubMed, Cochrane Library Medline, Scopus e Web of Knowledge. Diverse parole chiave sono state utilizzate per la ricerca, tra le quali "elderly abuse", "elderly abuse and neglect", "elderly mistreatment", e "elderly abuse in nursing home". Inoltre, per capire meglio l'entità del fenomeno, abbiamo cercato anche le parole chiave corrispondenti per abuso sui minori. Considerando la banca dati Scopus, solo 78 di 1342 articoli pubblicati negli ultimi cinque anni riguardano l'abuso di anziani in relazione alla cura, che rappresenta una parte molto piccola (5,81%) del campione considerato. Confrontando il numero di articoli, il rapporto tra articoli su abuso su bambini/abuso su anziani è pari a 1/0.04, sottolineando il poco interesse della ricerca per questo fenomeno. Inoltre, è stato osservato che l'abuso sugli anziani in casa di cura è ancora sottoriportato sia per quanto riguarda gli articoli originali sia nelle review. Conclusione: Nonostante l'invecchiamento della popolazione, l'abuso sugli anziani rimane ancora un problema nascosto, trascurato e sottovalutato anche nella letteratura. Spesso l'attenzione è rivolta a questo fenomeno solo quando si verificano casi di malasanità, che danno luogo solo una parte del problema e spesso portano a osservazioni e conclusioni a volte sbagliate sulle attività degli operatori sanitari e la natura dell'evento. Una maggiore formazione culturale degli operatori sanitari, una maggiore conoscenza del problema ma anche un maggior numero di ricerche in proposito sarebbero necessario per poter prevenire e combattere tale fenomeno. Presentazione Abstrac

Fractal behaviour of pathological heart rate variability dynamics

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ELDERLY ABUSE: RISK FACTORS AND NURSING ROLE

Background. Elderly abuse is still an hidden problem, often underestimated. It is much more common than the data available suggest. Unfortunately it is expected to grow with the progressive increase of elderly population in the future. Aim. To examine the available literature in the last five years to define the state of art on this phenomenon, with particular regard to the nursing role in the elderly abuse, focusing on the possible types of mistreatment, the motivations and preventive interventions. Method. Articles published in the last 5 years regarding the mistreatment of the elderly were selected, by using scientifically recognized databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge. Several keywords were used for the query among which "elderly abuse" and "elderly abuse in nursing home". Moreover, to better understand the entity of the phenomenon, we also searched the corresponding keywords for child abuse. Results. Considering the Scopus database, only 78 out of 1342 published articles in the last 5 years are dealing with the abuse of elderly in relation to the nursing, representing a very small part (5.81%) of the considered sample. Comparing the number of articles, the ratio child/elderly was equal to 1/0.04, underlying the poor interest of the research on this phenomenon. Moreover, it was observed that the elderly abuse in nursing home is still underreported in both original articles and reviews. Conclusions. Despite the aging of population, the elderly abuse and neglect still remains a hidden problem, overlooked and underestimated also in literature