Search results for "Research Papers"
showing 10 items of 59 documents
Information sources and knowledge on vaccination in a population from southern Italy: The ESCULAPIO project
2016
Vaccine knowledge of the general population is shaped by different information sources and strongly influences vaccination attitudes and uptake. The CCM-Italian Ministry of Health ESCULAPIO project attempted to identify the role of such information sources, in order to address adequate strategies to improve information on vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases. In the present study, data on 632 adults from Southern Italy regarding information sources were collected, and their perceived and actual knowledge on vaccinations were compared and analyzed in relation to socio-demographic characteristics and information sources. The main reported reference sources were general practitioners (GPs…
Determinants of influenza vaccination among solid organ transplant recipients attending Sicilian reference center
2016
Among solid organ transplant recipients, influenza infection is commonly associated with higher morbidity and mortality than immunocompetent hosts. Therefore, in these subjects influenza vaccination is of paramount importance. The main objective of the study was to assess compliance to vaccination and analyze factors associated with influenza vaccination of solid organ transplant recipients admitted to the Sicilian solid organ transplant Reference Center IRCCS-ISMETT in Palermo during 2014–2015 influenza season. Thirty one (37.8%) out of 82 solid organ transplant recipients were vaccinated against influenza. The main reason for vaccination refusal was fear of adverse reaction (n = 16, 31.4%…
Socio-economic status and maternal BMI are associated with duration of breast-feeding of Norwegian infants
2018
AbstractObjectiveTo explore whether there is an association between socio-economic status and maternal BMI and duration of any breast-feeding/exclusive breast-feeding among Norwegian infants at 4 and 5 months of age in 2016.DesignCross-sectional design. Baseline data from a randomized controlled trial. Data concerning breast-feeding were collected by FFQ.SettingRecruitment was done at child health-care centres and through Facebook in 2016. In total, 960 infants/parents registered for participating in the study Early Food for Future Health.SubjectsA total of 715 infant/mother dyads completed the questionnaire when the child was between 5 and 6 months old.ResultsAt 5 months of age, 81·0 % of …
Validation of the Spanish version of the 9-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire
2014
Objective To translate and assess the psychometric properties of the 9-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9) for measuring patients' perceptions of how clinicians' performance fits the SDM process. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting and Participants Data were collected in primary care health centres. Patients suffering from chronic diseases and facing a medical decision were included in the study. Measurements The original German SDM-Q-9 was translated to Spanish using the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-reported measures as the methodological model for Spanish translation. Reliability (internal consistency) and construct validity [exploratory (EFA) and confirm…
Iodine deficiency during pregnancy: a national cross-sectional survey in Latvia
2015
AbstractObjectiveLow iodine intake during pregnancy may cause thyroid dysfunction, which results in inadequate fetal brain development. In the absence of a universal salt iodization programme, we conducted a nationwide survey of iodine deficiency in pregnant women in Latvia.DesignA countrywide twenty-cluster survey, with at least twenty women per cluster. Participants completed a questionnaire on dietary habits concerning iodine intake (n 739). Thyroid function (thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and thyroperoxidase antibodies) was measured (n 550). Urinary iodine was measured using the ammonium persulfate method (n 696).SettingThe survey was performed in all regions of Latvia duri…
Changes in beverage consumption from pre-pregnancy to early pregnancy in the Norwegian Fit for Delivery study.
2015
AbstractObjectiveTo describe changes in consumption of different types of beverages from pre-pregnancy to early pregnancy, and to examine associations with maternal age, educational level and BMI.DesignCross-sectional design. Participants answered an FFQ at inclusion into a randomized controlled trial, the Fit for Delivery (FFD) trial, in median gestational week 15 (range: 9–20), reporting current consumption and in retrospect how often they drank the different beverages pre-pregnancy.SettingEight local antenatal clinics in southern Norway from September 2009 to February 2013.SubjectsFive hundred and seventy-five healthy pregnant nulliparous women.ResultsPre-pregnancy, 27 % reported drinkin…
European undergraduate curriculum in geriatric medicine developed using an international modified Delphi technique.
2014
Introduction: the rise in the number of older, frail adults necessitates that future doctors are adequately trained in the skills of geriatric medicine. Few countries have dedicated curricula in geriatric medicine at the undergraduate level. The aim of this project was to develop a consensus among geriatricians on a curriculum with the minimal requirements that a medical student should achieve by the end of medical school. Methods: a modified Delphi process was used. First, educational experts and geriatricians proposed a set of learning objectives based on a literature review. Second, three Delphi rounds involving a panel with 49 experts representing 29 countries affiliated to the European…
Interaction between cannabinoid CB1 receptors and endogenous ATP in the control of spontaneous mechanical activity in mouse ileum
2009
Background and purpose Although it is well accepted that cannabinoids modulate intestinal motility by reducing cholinergic neurotransmission mediated by CB(1) receptors, it is not known whether the endocannabinoids are involved in more complex circuits and if they interact with other systems. The aim of the present study was to examine possible interactions between cannabinoid CB(1) receptors and purines in the control of spontaneous contractility of longitudinal muscle in mouse ileum. Experimental approach The mechanical activity of longitudinally oriented ileal segments from mice was recorded as isometric contractions. Key results The selective CB(1) receptor agonist, N-(2-chloroethyl)5,8…
Generation of CD8+T cells expressing two additional T-cell receptors (TETARs) for personalised melanoma therapy
2015
Adoptive T-cell therapy of cancer often fails due to the tumor cells' immune escape mechanisms, like antigen loss or down-regulation. To anticipate immune escape by loss of a single antigen, it would be advantageous to equip T cells with multiple specificities. To study the possible interference of 2 T-cell receptors (TCRs) in one cell, and to examine how to counteract competing effects, we generated TETARs, CD8(+) T cells expressing two additional T-cell receptors by simultaneous transient transfection with 2 TCRs using RNA electroporation. The TETARs were equipped with one TCR specific for the common melanoma antigen gp100 and one TCR recognizing a patient-specific, individual mutation of…
High anti-JCPyV serum titers coincide with high CSF cell counts in RRMS patients
2020
Background: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) can in rare cases occur in natalizumab-treated patients with high serum anti-JCPyV antibodies, hypothetically due to excessive blockade of immune cell migration. Objective: Immune cell recruitment to the central nervous system (CNS) was assessed in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients stratified by low versus high anti-JCPyV antibody titers as indicator for PML risk. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell counts of 145 RRMS patients were quantified by flow cytometry. Generalized linear models were employed to assess influence of age, sex, disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), clinical/radiol…