Publications by authors named "Babudieri S"
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluates ChatGPT's potential in providing accurate and inclusive information on HIV prevention through an assessment conducted by a diverse team of medical professionals and community experts.
- Results showed that ChatGPT had high accuracy (median score of 5.5/6) and completeness (median score of 3/3), but inclusivity scores (median of 2/3) revealed some outdated terminology and underrepresentation of certain communities.
- While ChatGPT performs well in delivering scientifically accurate information, it needs improvement in socio-political context and inclusivity to enhance health communication effectiveness.
Background: There is little information regarding the hepatitis B virus (HBV), vaccination status, and hepatitis B exposure in Italian women's jails. We aimed to describe the HBV exposure and HBs antibody (anti-HBs) protection levels in female prisoners.
Material And Methods: A retrospective multicentric study was performed in Italian prisons from 2021 to 2023.
Article Synopsis
- Many people living with HIV (PLHIV) have poor knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV transmission, which can negatively affect their quality of life.
- A study was conducted with 200 PLHIV in Italy using an anonymous questionnaire to assess their understanding of HIV and STIs, with a focus on disclosure and the concept of undetectable = untransmittable (U=U).
- Results showed that only 25% of participants knew how HIV is transmitted, and while a majority disclosed their status to healthcare providers and friends, there are significant gaps in understanding U=U, highlighting the need for better education to reduce stigma and improve life quality.
Investigation of patients with new infection of echinococcal cyst in Sardinia, Italy.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis
May 2024
Article Synopsis
- Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is a serious zoonotic disease caused by a parasitic tapeworm found globally, especially prevalent in Mediterranean regions.
- A study on 83 diagnosed CE patients revealed a demographic breakdown of 43.37% female and 56.63% male, with a mean age of 50.71, most commonly found in individuals aged 61-70.
- The research explored potential connections between treatment methods and the development of new echinococcal cysts, suggesting that surgical intervention and PAIR treatment might reduce recurrence, while high environmental contamination could exacerbate infections in those on medical management or 'watch and wait' strategies.
Article Synopsis
- A new prognostic model for COVID-19 progression was developed to include vaccination status and early treatment, which were missing from previous scores.
- The study analyzed data from 1,145 patients in Sassari, revealing that older age, comorbidities, and lack of vaccination were linked to disease progression, where 29.3% of patients required supplemental oxygen.
- Multivariate analysis identified key risk factors for progression and created an easy-to-use scoring system based on various clinical and demographic variables, enhancing the ability to predict patient outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- * A retrospective study revealed that while HCV seroprevalence was significantly higher among female inmates, there were no major differences in active infections or co-infections with HIV and HBV between genders.
- * Both male and female populations had low fibrosis levels, and nearly all patients received antiviral treatment, achieving high success rates, highlighting the need to tailor HCV care to address gender-specific health issues in prisons.
Introduction: Migration has a direct influence on sexual health. Differences both in sexual networks and the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) between racial or ethnic minorities and the native population have been described in the literature.
Methodology: We collected data on medical history, physical examination, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/STDs tests.
Long COVID, also known as "post-acute sequelae of COVID-19," affects at least 65 million individuals worldwide with a wide spectrum of symptoms that may last weeks, months, or permanently. Its epidemiology and burden in Africa are unclear. This meta-analysis examines long-term COVID-19 effects in the WHO African Region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinical trials demonstrated the role of vaccines and antiviral treatments against SARS-CoV-2 in reducing the likelihood of disease progression and death. However, there are limited data available regarding the time to negativity of people who received these treatments. Further, several comorbidities and risk factors might affect the impact of vaccines and antiviral treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Of Review: The review aims to present an overview of inmate health, focusing on lifestyle-related diseases, physical activity levels, and nutritional status. It also presents the B.A.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Italy has the highest rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver cancer deaths in Europe, but new treatments have expanded access, with over 244,000 people treated.
- While HCV-related deaths are expected to drop by 75% by 2030, Italy is at risk of not eliminating HCV completely by that time.
- To improve HCV elimination efforts, recommendations include expanding screening to more populations, raising awareness, ensuring continued access to direct-acting antivirals, and customizing care for high-risk groups.
HBV/HCV co-infection is common in HIV-1-infected prisoners. To investigate the characteristics of HIV co-infections, and to evaluate the molecular heterogeneity of HIV, HBV and HCV in prisoners, we carried-out a multicenter cross-sectional study, including 65 HIV-1-infected inmates enrolled in 5 Italian detention centers during the period 2017-2019. HIV-1 subtyping showed that 77.
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- This study investigates the real-life efficacy of sotrovimab, a treatment for COVID-19, particularly in light of concerns about its effectiveness against Omicron variants, by analyzing patient records from three hospitals in Italy.
- The research evaluated 689 COVID-19 patients in 2022, finding that those treated with sotrovimab had significantly lower rates of disease progression and mortality compared to those who received no treatment, with notable results showing that vaccination also contributed to reduced risk.
- Key risk factors for disease progression included older age, cardiovascular disease, fever, and dyspnea, while vaccination and sotrovimab treatment were linked to a decreased chance of severe illness, revealing important
Article Synopsis
- * The review analyzed literature on HCV in groups such as incarcerated individuals, those with psychiatric disorders, and migrants, highlighting gaps in data and the need for more focused research.
- * Findings indicate a significant decline in HCV among prisoners, high prevalence in psychiatric patients despite limited infection data, and inconsistent screening outcomes for migrants, urging caution when interpreting prevalence statistics from these diverse groups.
After 40 years of its appearance, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a leading public health challenge worldwide. Since the introduction of antiretroviral treatment (ART), HIV infection has become a chronic condition, and people living with HIV could have life expectancies close to those of the general population. People with HIV often have an increased risk of infection or experience more severe morbidity following exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases.
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- * While 82.7% of diagnosed individuals started therapy, only about 55.7% adhered to follow-up care; concerningly, linkages to treatment for HBV and HIV stood at only 51.5% and 30.8%, respectively.
- * Factors such as having symptoms and previous STIs increase the likelihood of new infections, with transgender females facing higher risks, highlighting the necessity for targeted health interventions to support this vulnerable population.
Background: Incarcerated women are a minority in the Italian prison population. The lack of prevention and awareness of HIV infection and the lack of access to treatment make the treatment path difficult.
Methods: we conducted a multi-center study including incarcerated women living with HIV (WLWH).
Article Synopsis
- In 2014, UNAIDS set ambitious global targets called "the three 95" for HIV control, aiming for widespread diagnosis, treatment, and viral suppression by 2025.
- Although new HIV diagnoses in Italy have declined since 2012, a significant portion of new cases in 2020 presented with low CD4+ cell counts, highlighting the need for early testing and treatment.
- A screening initiative in hospital settings diagnosed 11 new HIV infections among 300 patients, with a high percentage of individuals reporting unprotected sex; prompt treatment led to most patients achieving undetectable HIV levels.
Dalbavancin is a novel long-acting semi-synthetic lipoglycopeptide. It is licensed for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Many studies on dalbavancin alternative use in clinical practice have been published recently, including osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infections (PJIs), and infective endocarditis (IE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several treatments have been proposed to prevent the progression of the disease. Currently, three antiviral (molnupiravir, nirmaltrevir/r, remdesivir) and two monoclonal antibodies (casirivimab/imdevimab and sotrovimab) are available in Italy. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the presence of risk factors associated with disease progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several scores have been proposed to identify infected individuals at a higher risk of progression and death. The most famous is the 4C score. However, it was developed in early 2020.
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- * A retrospective study analyzed 586 patients in psychiatric nursing homes, revealing a 39.4% HCV seroprevalence, with 95.2% of positive cases having active infections, primarily among males with an average age of 43.
- * The study emphasized the importance of rapid testing and pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral treatments, highlighting the need for customized strategies to improve HCV elimination in hard-to-reach populations.
Article Synopsis
- HIV-HCV co-infected patients, once considered difficult to treat, showed high success rates (98.4% SVR12) with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for HCV treatment.
- The study included 201 patients, mostly males with a median age of 54, and reported minimal side effects like pruritus, headache, and fatigue.
- Six months after DAA treatment, there was a notable increase in CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts, particularly in patients who started with low CD4+ levels.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effectiveness of remdesivir, the first antiviral approved for COVID-19, in reducing mortality among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.
- Researchers conducted a case-control study using medical records from patients in two hospitals in Italy, focusing on those admitted between July 2020 and November 2021.
- Results showed that patients receiving remdesivir had significantly lower mortality rates, indicating its potential as an effective treatment for COVID-19, especially when combined with heparin.