Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care Utilization Among Italian and Immigrant Pregnant Women: A Multicenter Survey

Objectives: To compare the utilization of prenatal services between immigrant and Italian women during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at 3 maternity care centers in Italy.Results: We included 1,312 women, 1,198 (91.3%) were Italian and 114 (8.7%) were immigrants. A significantly higher proportion of Italians underwent 8 or more prenatal care visits (64.4% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.03) and more immigrants than Italians attended their appointments at hospital settings (45% vs. 18%, p < 0.001). Regarding prenatal course, Italians were more likely than immigrants to attend a non-hospital setting or an online class (49.6% and 30.2% vs. 34.9% and 11.6%, p = 0.008). A higher influenza vaccine uptake among immigrants compared with Italians was observed (39.5% vs. 19.8%, p < 0.001). Among women not receiving certain prenatal services, immigrants were more likely to state COVID-19 pandemic was the main reason for non-compliance.Conclusion: Immigrant pregnant women were more likely to receive prenatal services at a hospital setting than their Italian counterparts. Among women who did not comply with prenatal services, immigrants were more likely to cite the pandemic as their main reason

Human Breast Milk: A Source of Potential Probiotic Candidates

This study focuses on the isolation of lactobacilli/bifidobacteria from human breast milk and their first characterization, in the perspective to find new probiotic candidates to be included in food products. More specifically, breast-milk-isolated strains demonstrated a very good aptitude to adhere to intestinal cells, in comparison with L. rhamnosus GG strain, taken as reference. The same behavior has been found for hydrophobicity/auto-aggregation properties. A remarkable antagonistic activity was detected for these isolates not only against spoilage and pathogenic species of food interest, but also against the principal etiological agents of intestinal infections. Indeed, isolated strains impaired spoilage and pathogenic species growth, as well as biofilm formation by gut pathogens. In addition, breast milk strains were characterized for their antibiotic susceptibility, displaying species-specific and strain-specific susceptibility patterns. Finally, to assess their technological potential, the fermentation kinetics and viability of breast milk strains in pasteurized milk were investigated, also including the study of the volatile molecule profiles. In this regard, all the strains pointed out the release of aroma compounds frequently associated with the sensory quality of several dairy products such as acetic acid, diacetyl, acetoin, acetaldehyde. Data here reported point up the high potential of breast-milk-isolated strains as probiotics

Table1_Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care Utilization Among Italian and Immigrant Pregnant Women: A Multicenter Survey.docx

Objectives: To compare the utilization of prenatal services between immigrant and Italian women during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at 3 maternity care centers in Italy.Results: We included 1,312 women, 1,198 (91.3%) were Italian and 114 (8.7%) were immigrants. A significantly higher proportion of Italians underwent 8 or more prenatal care visits (64.4% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.03) and more immigrants than Italians attended their appointments at hospital settings (45% vs. 18%, p Conclusion: Immigrant pregnant women were more likely to receive prenatal services at a hospital setting than their Italian counterparts. Among women who did not comply with prenatal services, immigrants were more likely to cite the pandemic as their main reason.</p

Table2_Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care Utilization Among Italian and Immigrant Pregnant Women: A Multicenter Survey.docx

Objectives: To compare the utilization of prenatal services between immigrant and Italian women during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at 3 maternity care centers in Italy.Results: We included 1,312 women, 1,198 (91.3%) were Italian and 114 (8.7%) were immigrants. A significantly higher proportion of Italians underwent 8 or more prenatal care visits (64.4% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.03) and more immigrants than Italians attended their appointments at hospital settings (45% vs. 18%, p Conclusion: Immigrant pregnant women were more likely to receive prenatal services at a hospital setting than their Italian counterparts. Among women who did not comply with prenatal services, immigrants were more likely to cite the pandemic as their main reason.</p

Table4_Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care Utilization Among Italian and Immigrant Pregnant Women: A Multicenter Survey.docx

Objectives: To compare the utilization of prenatal services between immigrant and Italian women during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at 3 maternity care centers in Italy.Results: We included 1,312 women, 1,198 (91.3%) were Italian and 114 (8.7%) were immigrants. A significantly higher proportion of Italians underwent 8 or more prenatal care visits (64.4% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.03) and more immigrants than Italians attended their appointments at hospital settings (45% vs. 18%, p Conclusion: Immigrant pregnant women were more likely to receive prenatal services at a hospital setting than their Italian counterparts. Among women who did not comply with prenatal services, immigrants were more likely to cite the pandemic as their main reason.</p

Table3_Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care Utilization Among Italian and Immigrant Pregnant Women: A Multicenter Survey.docx

Objectives: To compare the utilization of prenatal services between immigrant and Italian women during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at 3 maternity care centers in Italy.Results: We included 1,312 women, 1,198 (91.3%) were Italian and 114 (8.7%) were immigrants. A significantly higher proportion of Italians underwent 8 or more prenatal care visits (64.4% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.03) and more immigrants than Italians attended their appointments at hospital settings (45% vs. 18%, p Conclusion: Immigrant pregnant women were more likely to receive prenatal services at a hospital setting than their Italian counterparts. Among women who did not comply with prenatal services, immigrants were more likely to cite the pandemic as their main reason.</p

Pseudo-Mannosylated DC-SIGN Ligands as Potential Adjuvants for HIV Vaccines

The development of new and effective adjuvants may play a fundamental role in improving HIV vaccine efficacy. New classes of vaccine adjuvants activate innate immunity receptors, notably toll like receptors (TLRs). Adjuvants targeting the C-Type lectin receptor DC-SIGN may be alternative or complementary to adjuvants based on TRL activation. Herein we evaluate the ability of the glycomimetic DC-SIGN ligand Polyman 19 (PM 19) to modulate innate immune responses. Results showed that PM 19 alone, or in combination with TLR agonists, induces the expression of cytokines, β chemokines and co-stimulatory molecules that may, in turn, modulate adaptive immunity and exert anti-viral effects. These results indicate that the suitability of this compound as a vaccine adjuvant should be further evaluated