Acceptability of HPV Vaccination in Young Students by Exploring Health Belief Model and Health Literacy

Evidence on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine shows that it is effective in reducing the burden of HPV-related diseases. For more than 15 years the HPV vaccine has been offered free of charge in Italy to girls from the age of 12. Over time, the free offer of the HPV vaccine has also been extended to boys and to young adults at risk of developing HPV lesions. Despite the HPV vaccine's effectiveness and availability, vaccination coverage is low in Italy, with a reported value of 46.5% in 2020. Furthermore, in the southern administrative regions, vaccination coverage is even lower than national values, with 25.9% coverage in Sicily. A cross-sectional study was conducted among university and high school students in the Palermo area (Sicily, Italy) in order to identify the determinants of HPV vaccination adherence by using a questionnaire that investigated factors of HPV vaccine practice. The study explored the behavioral attitude by using the Health Belief Model (HBM), and also used the SILS test and the METER test to investigate the level of health literacy (HL). Overall, 3,073 students were enrolled, and less than a third reported they had completed the vaccination schedule (n = 925, 30.1%). Multivariable analysis showed that the factors directly associated with the adherence to HPV vaccination were female sex (OR = 4.43, p < 0.001), high HBM total score (OR = 4.23, p < 0.001), good HL level (OR = 1.26, p = 0.047), parents (OR = 1.78, p = 0.004), general practitioner (OR = 1.88, p = 0.001), and educational material provided by public vaccination services (OR = 1.97, p = 0.001) as HPV vaccine information sources. Further health-promotion programs focused on improving HL and perception of the HPV vaccine's benefits should be implemented in order to achieve the desirable 95% vaccination coverage

Ma-Pi 2 macrobiotic diet and type 2 diabetes mellitus: pooled analysis of short-term intervention studies

SummaryThe macrobiotic, Ma‐Pi 2 diet (12% protein, 18% fat and 70% carbohydrate), has shown benefit in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This pooled analysis aims to confirm results from four, 21‐day intervention studies with the Ma‐Pi 2 diet, carried out in Cuba, China, Ghana and Italy. Baseline and end of study biochemical, body composition and blood pressure data, were compared using multivariate statistical methods and assessment of the Cohen effect size (d). Results showed that all measured indicators demonstrated significant changes (p  0.05). Similarly, glycemia and glycemic profiles in all four studies were independent of the sample size (p = 0.237). The Ma‐Pi diet 2 significantly reduced glycemia, serum lipids, uremia and cardiovascular risk in adults with T2DM. These results suggest that the Ma‐Pi 2 diet could be a valid alternative treatment for patients with T2DM and point to the need for further clinical studies. Mechanisms related to its benefits as a functional diet are discussed. © 2013 The Authors. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Modulation of gut microbiota dysbioses in type 2 diabetic patients by macrobiotic Ma-Pi 2 diet

The study was carried out with internal funding

Use of repaglinide during the first weeks of pregnancy in two type 2 diabetic women

Impact Factor 7,8

Physical activity/exercise training in type 2 diabetes. The role of the Italian Diabetes and Exercise Study

Cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely related to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Trials in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance have highlighted the role of physical activity/exercise in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, physical activity and exercise training have been recognized as treatment options for patients with type 2 diabetes. Both aerobic and resistance training were shown to produce beneficial effects by reducing HbA1c, inducing weight loss and improving fat distribution, lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. Mixed aerobic and resistance training was recently shown to be more effective than either one alone in ameliorating HbA1c. However, further research is needed to establish the volume, intensity and type of exercise that are required to reduce cardiovascular burden and particularly to define the best strategy for promoting long-term compliance and durable lifestyle changes in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The Italian Diabetes Exercise Study (IDES) is a prospective Italian multicentre randomized controlled trial, of larger size and longer duration than previously published trials. It has been designed to assess the combined effect of structured counselling and supervisedmixed (aerobic plus resistance) exercise training, as compared with counselling alone, on HbA1c and other cardiovascular risk factors as well as fitness parameters in individuals with type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. This study was also aimed at testing a sustainable strategy for promoting and maintaining a sufficient level of physical activity among individuals with type 2 diabetes to be implemented at the population level. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Effects of maternal diabetes on visual evoked potentials and early psychomotor development of the offspring.

Il diabete materno in gravidanza predispone il neonato a un maggior rischio di problemi cognitivi, soprattutto se è stato più difficoltoso il controllo metabolico. Un campione di 40 nati di madre diabetica è stato studiato all’ età di 2 mesi attraverso la somministrazione della Scala di Sviluppo Psicomotorio (Test di Brunet- Lezine) e sottoponendoli a registrazione dei Potenziali Evocati Visivi. E’ stato riscontrato un significativo aumento di latenza dei PEV rispetto ai controlli mentre il Quoziente di Sviluppo risultava mediamente nella norma. I PEV si dimostrano uno strumento utile e sensibile per il monitoraggio precoce del livello di maturazione cerebrale e possono costituire un marker per la valutazione del rischio di problemi di sviluppo cognitivo in età successive