Anti-Phosphatidylserine, Anti-Prothrombin, and Anti-Annexin V Autoantibodies in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Real-Life Study.

The antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) increase the risk of developing thrombotic events and may coexist with a variety of autoimmune diseases. They can be detected chronically or temporarily in patients with infectious diseases, during drug therapy, or in cases of cancer. A thrombotic event with aPL detection is known as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and the diagnostic criteria include the presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin (aCL) and β-glycoprotein-1(aβGPI) antibodies.

Systemic sclerosis and primary biliary cholangitis share an antibody population with identical specificity.

Anti-centromere (ACA) and antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are specific for limited-cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), respectively, and can coexist in up to 25 and 30% of SSc and PBC patients. Here, we evaluated whether anti-centromeric protein A (CENP-A) antibodies cross-react with mitochondrial antigens. To this end, sera from two lcSSc patients (pt1 and pt4), one of them (pt4) also affected by PBC, were used as the source of ACA, previously shown to recognize different groups of amino acids (motifs) in the CENP-A region spanning amino acids 1-17 (Ap1-17).

Investigations on the Efficacy of Ozone as an Environmental Sanitizer in Large Supermarkets.

Awareness of the importance of the microbial contamination of air and surfaces has increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of bacteria and fungi in the air and on surfaces within some critical areas of large supermarkets with and without an ozonation system. Surveys were conducted in four supermarkets belonging to the same commercial chain of an Apulian city in June 2021, of which two (A and B) were equipped with an ozonation system, and two (C and D) did not have any air-diffused remediation treatment.

SARS-CoV-2 and Public Transport in Italy.

Although direct contact is considered the main mode of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, environmental factors play an important role. In this study, we evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on bus and train surfaces. From the buses, we took samples from the following areas: handrails used to enter or exit the bus, stop request buttons and handles next to the seats.

Potential Use of Untreated Wastewater for Assessing COVID-19 Trends in Southern Italy.

As a complement to clinical disease surveillance, the monitoring of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater can be used as an early warning system for impending epidemics. This study investigated the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater with respect to the trend of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence in Southern Italy. A total of 210 wastewater samples were collected between May and November 2020 from 15 Apulian wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).

Study on the Activity of Five Disinfectants against Nosocomial Bacteria.

Nosocomial infections cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the pathogenic organisms responsible for such infections can develop resistance to antimicrobial agents. Understanding the activity of disinfectants against clinical and environmental bacterial isolates is therefore crucial. We analysed the in vitro activity of five antimicrobial products (phenolic compounds, didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), sodium hypochlorite, isopropanol + ammonium compounds (IACs), hydrogen peroxide) against 187 bacterial strains comprising clinical isolates, as well as 30 environmental isolates of from hospital water samples.

Food-borne botulism in Apulia region, Italy: an expert witness testimony.

We report the epidemiology of food-borne botulism in Puglia, Italy, between 1977-2017, using surveillance data and Experts' personal observations. As the disease is rare, the diagnosis is often missed or delayed, and cases are initially misdiagnosed. This was the case of a family outbreak of botulism in the 1970s.

Knowledge, experiences, and attitudes toward Mantoux test among medical and health professional students in Italy: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The World Health Organization's Action Framework for tuberculosis elimination in low-tuberculosis incidence countries includes the screening for active and latent tuberculosis in selected high-risk groups, including health care workers. In this context, medical and health profession students, exposed to nosocomial tuberculosis transmission during training and clinical rotations, are target populations for tuberculosis screening. No updated data are available on tuberculosis screening practice and knowledge of medical and health profession students in Italy.

Candidemia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective, Observational Survey and Analysis of Literature Data.

We evaluated the epidemiology of bloodstream infections in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of an Italian university hospital during a 9-year period as a means of quantifying the burden of infection and identifying emerging trends. Clinical data were searched for in the microbiological laboratory database. For comparative purposes, we performed a review of NICU candidemia.

Enteric Viruses and Fecal Bacteria Indicators to Assess Groundwater Quality and Suitability for Irrigation.

According to Italian Ministerial Decree No. 185 of 12 June 2003, water is considered suitable for irrigation if levels of fecal bacteria (i.e.

Serosurveillance of hepatitis A in a region which adopted the universal mass vaccination.

Hepatitis A is a common infectious disease worldwide that was endemic in many regions of Southern Italy, such as Apulia region. After a large hepatitis A outbreak occurred between 1996 and 1997, in Apulia an active-free immunization program that was targeted to new-borns and adolescents was started. The aim of this study is to investigate the hepatitis A seroprevalence in the adult Apulian population 18 years after the immunization program introduction, in order to evaluate the risk of new epidemics onset.

Microbiological and hydrogeological assessment of groundwater in southern Italy.

This study represents the first investigation of microbiological groundwater pollution as a function of aquifer type and season for the Apulia region of southern Italy. Two hundred and seven wells were randomly selected from those monitored by the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection for emergency use. Both compulsory (Escherichia coli, Total Coliform, and Enterococci) and optional (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp.

Prevalence and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in food industry workers.

Background: Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen spread not only in the hospital environment but also in the community and amongst livestock (LA-MRSA). LA-MRSA can be transmitted to humans that live in close contact with MRSA-colonized animals, and human colonization and/or infection has been reported worldwide, particularly among those involved with livestock farming.

Factors influencing groundwater quality: towards an integrated management approach.

The safety of groundwater resources is a serious issue, particularly when these resources are the main source of water for drinking, irrigation and industrial use in coastal areas. In Italy, 85% of the water used by the public is of underground origin. The aim of this report is to analyze the main factors that make groundwater vulnerable.

What do parents know about dental trauma among school-age children? A pilot study.

Background: The Ministry of Health published in November 2012 the "National guidelines for the prevention and clinical management of dental trauma in individuals during their developmental age". The aim of this study is to verify the knowledge among parents of children of primary schools to plan corrective actions.

Methods: The study was carried out filling in an anonymous questionnaire distributed to parents enrolled in three primary schools.

Pilot study on the antibacterial activity of hydrogen peroxide and silver ions in the hospital environment.

Background: Nosocomial environmental contamination plays an important role in the transmission of several health care-associated pathogens. Control of surfaces contamination can reduce the risk of cross-infection in hospitals. The aim of our study is to evaluate the disinfectant effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide and silver ions, against nosocomial multidrug-resistant strains, when it's used directly on surfaces.

Safety of shellfish and epidemiological pattern of enterically transmitted diseases in Italy.

In recent decades in South-Italy, drastic epidemiological changes in the pattern of the enterically transmitted diseases were recorded. This work aims to support the hypothesis that universal routine vaccination against hepatitis A started in Puglia in 1998 could be also effective in reducing contamination in seafood. Three studies on different samples of Mitylus edulis lamellibranch were conducted over 20 years.

The role of procalcitonin in neonatal intensive care unit patients with candidemia.

Candidemia is a major infectious complication in neonatal patients. The isolation of yeasts from blood is still the "gold standard" for its diagnosis, but other laboratory markers (i.e.

Increase in interleukin-8 production from circulating neutrophils upon antibiotic therapy in cystic fibrosis patients.

Background: It is not known whether antibiotic therapy for lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) has an influence on circulating polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) function and apoptosis.

Patients And Methods: Blood PMNs were obtained from 14 CF patients before and after antibiotic treatment for an acute exacerbation, and from 10 healthy controls. PMNs were evaluated for production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by spectrophotometry, of cytokines in the conditioned medium by ELISA, and apoptotic response by cytofluorimetry.

Retrospective analysis of microorganisms isolated from cystic fibrosis patients in Southern Italy, 2002-2010.

Objective: This study aim was to determine the prevalence of microorganisms in the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) admitted to the CF Reference Centre in Southern Italy between 2002-2010.

Methods: Microbiology assessment of samples (sputum and tracheal aspirates) collected from patients with pulmonary exacerbation admitted to hospital was carried out. All patients were registered in a database and clinical and microbiological data were retrospectively analysed.

[The history of cholera in the Puglia region (Italy), 1836-1994].

Historians and epidemiologists agree that seven pandemics of cholera have occurred from 1817 to the present time. However they do not always agree on the date of onset and extinction of several of the pandemics. Cholera appeared for the first time in Europe and therefore in Italy in the first half of the 19th century.

Legionella spp. and legionellosis in southeastern Italy: disease epidemiology and environmental surveillance in community and health care facilities.

Background: Following the publication of the Italian Guidelines for the control and prevention of legionellosis an environmental and clinical surveillance has been carried out in Southeastern Italy. The aim of the study is to identify the risk factors for the disease, so allowing better programming of the necessary prevention measures.

Methods: During the period January 2000 - December 2009 the environmental surveillance was carried out by water sampling of 129 health care facilities (73 public and 56 private hospitals) and 533 buildings within the community (63 private apartments, 305 hotels, 19 offices, 4 churches, 116 gyms, 3 swimming pools and 23 schools).

Streptococcus pneumoniae modulates the respiratory burst response in human neutrophils.

The gram-positive pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia and is responsible for high morbidity and mortality worldwide. A major feature of pneumococcal pneumonia is an abundant neutrophil infiltration. In this work we observed that the R6 nonencapsulated S.