Knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of Italian female undergraduate students towards HIV infection and risky sexual behaviour. Do female medical students make good peer educators?

<p><strong>Background</strong>: The main purpose of this study was to identify and describe knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards HIV infection and risky sexual behaviour in female medical freshmen in order to evaluate the possibility of female medical student-based peer education.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: Researchers surveyed 560 freshmen: 280 medical students and 280 non medical students at two Italian Universities, collecting the data through anonymous, self administered questionnaires. Data were codified and statistical analysis was computed using Statistica and Openstat 4 software.</p><p><strong>Results</strong&gt…

[Molecular methods in the epidemiology of gram-negative bacterial infections]

Identification and typing of bacterial isolates from patients and environment are necessary in order to detect the sources of infections. In recent years different molecular typing methods have been carried out and proved more reliable than methods based on phenotypical characters. We have applied two methods of genotyping, i. e. ribotyping and rrnARDRA (Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis) methods, to the study of different bacterial species. Ribotyping was the first universal method for molecular typing of bacteria. We have succeded both in typing various species of enterobacteria (Salmonella Wien, S. Enteritidis, Shigella sonnei, Proteus spp., Morganella morganii, Providencia sp…

Predictors of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Titers two decades after vaccination in a cohort of students and post-graduates of the Medical School at the University of Palermo, Italy

Introduction and objective. The introduction of a vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) for newborn babies in Italy in 1991, extended to 12-year-old children for the first 12 years of application, has been a major achievement in terms of the prevention of HBV infection. The objective of this study was to analyse the long-term immunogenicity and effectiveness of HBV vaccination among healthcare students with different working seniorities. Materials and method. A cross-sectional observational study of undergraduate and postgraduate students attending the Medical School of the University of Palermo was conducted from January 2014 – July 2016. HBV serum markers were performed with commercial …

[The risk of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Sicily, through imported bovines for slaughter]

The presence of Escherichia coli 0157:117, an emerging pathogen that has been. responsible of serious epidemics of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome in several countries, has been detected in rectal swabs in 13 out of 201 (6,5%) calves imported in Sicily (Italy) from France, 7 out of 154 (4,5%) calves imported from Spain, and only one out of 207 (0,5%) calves from Sicilian farms. The only positive Sicilian calf was from a farm where imported calves had been stalled some days before. All the isolates showed eaeA and hlyA virulence genes. Genes for verocytotoxins were detected in 18 isolates, which showed the following genotypes: stx2c (12 isolates), stxl stx2 (4 isolates), sa…

A pilot study of internet usage patterns in a group of italian university students.

Surveillance of enteric virus infections in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective. To investigate the epidemiology of neonatal viral gastroenteritis compared to the circulation of enteric viruses in children, 109 newborns in the NICU of Mother and Child Department and 214 children with enteritis admitted to the “G. Di Cristina” Children’s Hospital in Palermo were monitored for Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Astrovirus and Norovirus infections. Methods. Stool samples were examined by EIA to detect viral antigens. Rotavirus strains were subjected to P- and G-typing. Results. A Norovirus strain was detected in one neonatal stool specimen whereas an astrovirus strain was dectected in two neonatal specimens. No Rotavirus or Adenovirus infection was identified among the newb…

Prove di Lotta Contro ilPrays citri Mill. a mezzo diBacillus thuringiensis

For the first time the Authors have proved in the laboratory and in the fieldB. thuringiensis against the citrus-flower moth (Prays citriMill.) successfully.

Impact of the environment on the health: From theory to practice

The Erice 56 Charter titled "Impact of the environment on the health: from theory to practice" was unanimously approved at the end of the 56th course of the "International School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine G. D'Alessandro" held from 3th to 7th November 2019 in Erice - Sicily (Italy) and promoted by the Study Group of "Environment and Health" of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. The course, that included lectures, open discussions and guided working groups, was aimed to provide a general training on epidemiological and toxicological aspects of the environmental health impact, to be used by public health professionals for risk assessment, with…