Search results for "Vaccination."
showing 10 items of 654 documents
Vaccination Coverage Increase among Adolescent and Young Adults of the Palermo District (Italy) as a Result of a Public Health Strategy to Contrast a…
2018
During summer 2016 in the District of Palermo, Italy, the rapid succession of four cases of invasive meningococcal disease among young adults, with one death, have had an extraordinary emphasis by Local and National mass media. The resultant “epidemic of panic” among general population overloaded vaccination Units of the Palermo District during following months. Strategies implemented by Sicilian and Local Public Health Authorities to counteract “meningitis fear” were: a) extension of active and free of charge anti-meningococcal tetravalent vaccination from age class 12–18 to 12–30 years old; b) implementation of vaccination units …
The relevance for Public Health of the mid-term and interim analyses of seasonal influenza vaccination effectiveness
2019
Worldwide, influenza is commonly recognized as a respiratory virus that causes a high number of deaths every year, especially among elderly adults and people with chronic illnesses. In order to reduce morbidity and mortality, many countries have implemented, in the last decades, universal influenza vaccination programs with special attention on groups at increased risk of developing the disease, such as pregnant women, children aged 6–59 months, elderly adults and individuals with specific chronic medical conditions. In real-world conditions, observational (nonrandomized) studies on vaccine effectiveness (VE) could measure,the risk reduction of contracting a disease and are considered the g…
Vaccinare per HPV: non solo le adolescenti e non solo profilassi. Review e position paper dell'Italian HPV Study Group (IHSG)
2020
HPV vaccination has been introduced in clinical practice in recent years and represents the most effective strategy of primary prevention of cervical carcinoma and of female genital preneoplastic conditions. One of the major issues of the subject is represented by vaccination coverage of the target population. Since its introduction, HPV vaccine efficacy has been progressively demonstrated also towards extragenital HPV-correlated conditions and in males too. Moreover, even subjects of older age groups or subjects who already had HPV infections have been demonstrated to received benefits from vaccination, due to improvements of their immunological response. Recently, vaccine efficacy has als…
Isolated Anti-HBc: Significance and Management.
2019
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is prevalent worldwide and is associated with dramatic levels of morbidity and mortality. Isolated anti-HBc (IAHBc) is a particular serological pattern that is commonly found in immunocompromised patients. There is ongoing debate regarding the management of patients with IAHBc. Herein, we summarize the current guidelines and the newest evidence. The frequency of IAHBc is variable, with a higher prevalence in some populations, such as persons living with HIV and others immunocompromised patients. The risk of HBV reactivation depends on host factors (including immunosuppression) and viral factors. It is now well established that immunocompromised patients can…
The vaccinaTion & Hpv Knowledge (THinK) questionnaire: a reliability and validity study on a sample of women living in Sicily (southern-Italy)
2019
Objective The aim of this study was to introduce the VaccinaTion & Hpv Knowledge (THinK) questionnaire to assess knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV) and attitude to HPV-vaccination. Its reliability and validity was demonstrated in a sample of women living in Sicily (southern Italy). Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 220 women at the “Paolo Giaccone” University Hospital in Palermo (Sicily), aged 18–61. Data were analyzed through Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory factor analysis, followed by a structural equation model with measurement component. The two-level data structure was explicitly considered. Results Three dimensions were found: “knowledge of HP…
Contraceptive methods and knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases in nursing students. Results from a survey conducted at the University of Palermo
2022

 Background: The main purpose of the study was to evaluatesexual habits, sexual relations and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among the students in the nursing science course of University of Palermo, and to evaluate the use of contraceptive methods. 
 Methods: In April 2019, a survey was provided to students who attend daily lessons in the nursing science course of University of Palermo, that investigate primarily about sexual habits, sexual relations and knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases. A multivariable logistic regression was performed. 
 Results: The sample size consists of 405 students. The average age of the sample is 21.65 years, 69.63% o…
Recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C in special population groups (migrants, intravenous drug us…
2011
Abstract The global spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), their high chronicity rates and their progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, are major public health problems. Research and intervention programmes for special population groups are needed in order to assess their infection risk and set up suitable prevention and control strategies. Aim of this paper is to give health care professionals information on HBV and HCV infections amongst migrants, drug users and prison inmates. The manuscript is an official Position Paper on behalf of the following Scientific Societies: Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (A.I.S.F.), Italian Society of In…
Systemic immunosuppression in times of COVID‐19: Do we need to rethink our standards?
2020
Summary The current SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic particularly endangers older people with pre‐existing cardiopulmonary and metabolic conditions. However, it is also currently under discussion whether patients under immunosuppressive therapy also have a higher risk of suffering a severe course of the COVID‐19 disease. In principle though, there is currently no data available for a general reduction or pause of immunosuppression in patients with autoimmune diseases because of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. However, since there is currently neither an effective therapy nor corresponding vaccination protection, the indication for a prolonged immunosuppressive therapy should be made with special care. In parti…
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: New Challenges for Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance and Vaccination Strategy in Patients with ILI/SARI.
2021
Several respiratory pathogens are responsible for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe respiratory infections (SARI), among which human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) represents one of the most common aetiologies. We analysed the hRSV prevalence among subjects with ILI or SARI during the five influenza seasons before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Sicily (Italy). Respiratory specimens from ILI outpatients and SARI inpatients were collected in the framework of the Italian Network for the Influenza Surveillance and molecularly tested for hRSV-A and hRSV-B. Overall, 8.1% of patients resulted positive for hRSV. Prevalence peaked in the age-groups <
Vaccination with ENO1 DNA Prolongs Survival of Genetically Engineered Mice with Pancreatic Cancer
2013
Background & Aims Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is an aggressive tumor, and patients typically present with late-stage disease; rates of 5-year survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy are low. Antibodies against α-enolase (ENO1), a glycolytic enzyme, are detected in more than 60% of patients with PDA, and ENO1-specific T cells inhibit the growth of human pancreatic xenograft tumors in mice. We investigated whether an ENO1 DNA vaccine elicits antitumor immune responses and prolongs survival of mice that spontaneously develop autochthonous, lethal pancreatic carcinomas. Methods We injected and electroporated a plasmid encoding ENO1 (or a control plasmid) into Kras G12D /Cre (KC) mice …