0000000000917795
AUTHOR
Rosalia Maria Valenti
Prevalence of Toscana and Sicilian Phlebovirus Antibodies in Classic Kaposi Sarcoma Case Patients and Control Subjects in Sicily
To assess whether arthropod bites promote Kaposi sarcoma (KS), we determined the seroprevalence of Sicilian (SFSV) and Toscana (TOSV) phlebovirus antibodies in 30 patients with classic KS and 100 controls in Sicily. Nine (6.9%) subjects, all controls, were positive for SFSV, whereas 41 (31.5%) were positive for TOSV. Seroprevalence with immunoglobulin (Ig) M or IgG against either virus was significantly higher in controls (43% vs 13.3% in case patients; P < .01). Adjusted for age, IgG seroprevalence was significantly lower in KS patients compared to controls (adjusted odds ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, .07–.72). Low phlebovirus seroprevalence in patients with KS may reflect incapaci…
Riflessioni sull'efficacia dei corsi di formazione sull'igiene degli alimenti rivolti agli operatori della ristorazione scolastica: risultati di un'indagine condotta a Palermo
Delayed-type hypersensitivity in classic Kaposi sarcoma patients and controls
Background: Immune perturbation likely affects the development of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) among people infected with the KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). We tested whether KSHV-seropositive individuals or cases of classic KS (cKS), which typically originates in the leg, had differing delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in the forearm or leg. Methods: Mantoux DTH with three antigens (Candida, tetanus, PPD) was performed on the forearm and leg of 15 cKS cases, 14 KSHV-positives without KS, and 15 KSHV-negative controls. The diameters of induration responses were compared by group and body site. Results: Leg DTH was greater than forearm DTH among controls (mean difference 5.6 mm, P=0.0004), where…
Immunization status of internationally adopted children in Italy
An increasing number of internationally adopted children is coming to Italy, and their immunization status is unknown. We evaluated the immunization status of such children in Palermo, Italy. We searched for the presence of a BCG scar in 88 children, 49 boys and 39 girls (mean age 76+/-32 months), most of whom (98%) came from Eastern Europe. Presence of BCG scar was observed in 59 (67.1%) of them, included five children without any pre-adoptive medical records. Twenty-three out of 29 children without any evidence of BCG scar were tested by Mantoux. Seven (30.4%) of 23 were tuberculin positive and diagnosed as having latent tuberculosis infection. We also examined immunization status against…
Immunoglobulin M seropositivity for Toscana virus in a random population sample in Sicily.
Summary Objectives High Toscana virus (TOSV) antibody seropositivity rates have been documented in the last decade, especially in the Mediterranean area. It is unclear if these rates are associated with a recent or past exposure to the virus. This is of importance, as primary infection can cause neurologic complications, especially in adults. The aim of the present study was to assess the current active TOSV circulation in western Sicily. Methods A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was conducted on 271 individuals aged 4–92 years, sampled from the general population of a small city. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire and provided serum, which was analyzed for th…
SETIL: Italian multicentric epidemiological case–control study on risk factors for childhood leukaemia, non hodgkin lymphoma and neuroblastoma: study population and prevalence of risk factors in Italy
Background Aetiology of childhood leukaemia and childhood neoplasm is poorly understood. Information on the prevalence of risk factors in the childhood population is limited. SETIL is a population based case–control study on childhood leukaemia, conducted with two companion studies on non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and neuroblastoma. The study relies on questionnaire interviews and 50 Hz magnetic field (ELF-MF) indoor measurements. This paper discusses the SETIL study design and includes descriptive information. Methods The study was carried out in 14 Italian regions (78.3% of Italian population aged 0–10). It included leukaemia, NHL and neuroblastoma cases incident in 0–10 year olds in 1998–20…
Italian multicentricepidemiological case control strudy on risk factors for childhood leukemia,non hodgkin limphoma and neuroblastoma:study population and prevalence of risk factors in Italy
Background Aetiology of childhood leukaemia and childhood neoplasm is poorly understood. Information on the prevalence of risk factors in the childhood population is limited. SETIL is a population based case/control study on childhood leukaemia, conducted with two companion studies on non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and neuroblastoma. The study relies on questionnaire interviews and 50 Hz magnetic field (ELF-MF) indoor measurements. This paper discusses the SETIL study design and includes descriptive information. Methods The study was carried out in 14 Italian regions (78.3% of Italian population aged 0?10). It included leukaemia, NHL and neuroblastoma cases incident in 0?10 year olds in 1998-20…
Conoscenze e pratiche relative ai latti formulati in polvere: indagine sugli operatori degli Asili-nido comunali della città di Palermo
CONOSCENZE, ATTITUDINI E COMPORTAMENTI DEI PEDIATRI SUL RISCHIO DI MALATTIE A TRASMISSIONE ALIMENTARE
SICUREZZA DEI PRODOTTI ALIMENTARI PER LA PRIMA INFANZIA
MALATTIE A TRASMISSIONE ALIMENTARE (MTA) E RISCHIO LEGATO AL CONSUMO DI PRODOTTI IN POLVERE PER L'INFANZIA (PIF). PERCEZIONI, ATTITUDINI E CONOSCENZE IN UN CAMPIONE DI PEDIATRI DI LIBERA SCELTA (PLS) DI PALERMO.
CONOSCENZE, ATTITUDINI E COMPORTAMENTI SUL RISCHIO LEGATO AL CONSUMO DI LATTE IN POLVERE PER L'INFANZIA (PIF) IN UN CAMPIONE DI NEO-MAMME DELLA SICILIA OCCIDENTALE
MALATTIE A TRASMISSIONE ALIMENTARE (MTA) E RISCHIO LEGATO AL CONSUMO DI PRODOTTI IN POLVERE PER L'INFANZIA. CONOSCENZE, ATTITUDINI E COMPORTAMENTI IN UN CAMPIONE DI OPERATORI SANITARI ADDETTI ALL'ASSISTENZA MATERNO INFANTILE DI BASE ED OSPEDALIERA NELLA SICILIA OCCIDENTALE
A survey on knowledge and self-reported formula handling practices of parents and child care workers in Palermo, Italy
AbstractBackgroundPowdered infant formula (PIF) is not a sterile product, but this information appears to be poorly diffused among child caregivers. Parents and child care workers may behave in an unsafe manner when handling PIF.MethodsThis study involved parents and child care workers in the 24 municipal child care centres of Palermo. Knowledge and self-reported practices about PIF handling were investigated by a structured questionnaire. A Likert scale was used to measure the strength of the respondent's feelings. Association of knowledge and self-reported practices with demographic variables was also evaluated.Results42.4% of parents and 71.0% of child care workers filled in the question…
tst1-positive ST22-MRSA-IVa in healthy Italian preschool children
A survey was performed in May 2013 to assess methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization in healthy children attending 26 municipal daycare centres in Palermo, Italy. Of the 500 children, ten (2 %) tested positive. Eight MRSA isolates were tst1-positive ST22-MRSA-IVa, spa t223; the other two isolates were identified as ST1-IVa and ST398-V, respectively. tst1-positive ST22-MRSA, spa t223 has been previously identified only in the Middle Eastern area.
INDAGINI PRELIMINARI SULLA PRESENZA DI CRONOBACTER (ENTEROBACTER SAKAZAKII ) NEL LATTE IN POLVERE
Cronobacter ( Enterobacter sakazakii ) is an emerging foodborne pathogen that causes neonatal meningitis , necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis with case-fatality rates of 20- 50%. Contaminated infant formula has been epidemiologically identifi ed as the source of transmission, although this organism has been isolated from a wide range of foods, food ingredients or food production environments.
Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toscana and Sicilian virus infection in a sample population of Sicily (Italy).
Summary Objective The present study aimed to assess seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toscana (TOSV) and Sicilian (SFSV) virus infections in a sample of Sicilian subjects. Methods A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted on 271 individuals. Each participant completed a self-administrated questionnaire and provided a serum sample which was analyzed for the presence of IgG specific anti-TOSV and anti-SFSV viruses. Results Overall, 90 subjects (33.2%) were positive for TOSV IgG, 25 (9.2%) were positive for SFSV IgG and 11 (4%) were positive for both the viruses. A higher risk for TOSV seropositivity was found in participants who were older (adjOR = 1.02 per year; 95% CI =…