Epidemiology of Strongyloides stercoralis in northern Italy: results of a multicentre case-control study, February 2013 to July 2014.

Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted helminth widely diffused in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Autochthonous cases have been also diagnosed sporadically in areas of temperate climate. We aimed at defining the epidemiology of strongyloidiasis in immigrants and Italians living in three northern Italian Regions.

[Haemostatic abnormalities and thyroid disorders: the prospective observational MITH study].

Haemostatic abnormalities are a common phenomenon in patients with thyroid diseases. On one hand the condition of hyperthyroidism is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events, on the other in severe hypothyroidism can be found a haemorrhagic tendency, as opposed to the subclinical hypothyroidism seems to correlate with increased thrombotic risk. The prospective, single center, observational MITH study (Mantua Investigation on Thyroid and Haemostasis), whose results are presented, aims to evaluate coagulation parameters in patients with thyroid disease, to establish the prevalence of haemostatic abnormalities in various conditions, to analyse the implications and clinical response to therapy established.

[Clinical use of virally inactived plasma. The experience of Blood Transfusion Unit in Mantova, Italy].

Background: Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) is a blood component whose clinical use is widespread worldwide. Transfusion safety of this product is ensured by legally obligatory tests. Although these tests are carried out on each plasma donation, safety levels can be further improved by using some technical procedures, such as, among others, methylene blue (MB) and solvent-detergent (SD) viral inactivation methods.