An Analysis of the Neutralizing Antibodies against the Main SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Healthcare Workers (HCWs) Vaccinated against or Infected by SARS-CoV-2.

Although the anti-COVID-19 vaccination has proved to be an effective preventive tool, "breakthrough infections" have been documented in patients with complete primary vaccination courses. Most of the SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies produced after SARS-CoV-2 infection target the spike protein receptor-binding domain which has an important role in facilitating viral entry and the infection of the host cells. SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated the ability to evolve by accumulating mutations in the spike protein to escape the humoral response of a host.

Association Between Pollution and Frailty in Older People: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the UK Biobank.

Objectives: Frailty is a relevant issue in older people, being associated with several negative outcomes. Increasing literature is reporting that pollution (particularly air pollution) can increase the risk of frailty, but the research is still limited. We aimed to investigate the potential association of pollution (air, noise) with frailty and prefrailty among participants 60 years and older of the UK Biobank study.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Professionals and General Population During "First Wave" of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Sicily, Italy.

On December 31, 2019, an outbreak of lower respiratory infections was documented in Wuhan caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the beginning, SARS-CoV-2 has caused many infections among healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide. Aims of this study were: a.

Analysis of appeals against the ruling of occupational physicians lodged with the Prevention and Occupational Epidemiology Operative Unit, ASP Palermo (Palermo Health Authority), from 2008-2010.

Introduction: The responsibility of the Department for Prevention and Safety at the workplace of the Palermo Health Authority (ASP) is to monitor and coordinate the activity of occupational physicians operating in Palermo and its province. One of its obligations is to examine appeals "against the judgment of occupational physicians", "..

[An analysis of appeals against the ruling of the occupational physician's lodged to the Department of Prevention and Safety in the Working Environment--Health Prevention and Occupational Epidemiology Operative Unit within the A.S.P. Palermo (Palermo Health Authority), years 2008-2010].

The purpose of this study is to analyze the appeals against a "suitability judgment for work" lodged to the U.O.S.

Prevalence of sensitization to Anisakis simplex among professionally exposed populations in Sicily.

Anisakis simplex (AS) is a cause of allergic sensitization and potential occupational risk is suggested in fishermen and workers assigned to fish processing and sale. A cross-sectional study was conducted in order to assess possible health effects of occupational exposure to AS in workers recruited from western Sicily fisheries sector. Social, demographic, and occupation-related data were collected.

[Professional exposure to hardwood dusts in a group of Sicilian joiners].

Wood is a system of vegetable tissues chemically formed by biopolymers (90-99%) and phenolic substances, alkaloids, glucosides and saponins (1-10%). There are two botanical groups of wood: hardwood and softwood. Aim of present study was the research of possible work related diseases with professional exposure to hardwood about 25 joiners of Palermo in 2006; in fact wood dust inhalation is very dangerous for workers health because it is cancerogenous for nasal and paranasal sinus (1 IARC).

[Occupational exposure to environmental pollution: observational study about a newspaper-agents group].

Unlabelled: Environmental pollution constantly menaces urban people's health. This public-health question has a remarkable interest in occupational medicine, because some professions require operations outdoor for most of the day. Therefore airborne pollutants could be considered occupational risk factors.

[Observational study on a group of health care workers assigned to antiblastic drugs manipulation in three Sicilian hospitals].

Unlabelled: Neoplastic disease therapy problems, e.g. antiblastic drugs manipulation, is developing.

[The epidemiological trend of brucellosis in the provinces of Sicily].

The epidemiological trend of brucellosis in Italy has been uneven over the last few years since there was a decrease in incidence in some regions and an increase in others, including Sicily. The peak was reached in 1997 when 59% of the cases were reported in Sicily alone. Appropriate intervention strategies are therefore needed both as regards the general population and exposed workers in order to reduce the spread of this disease.

[Considerations on correct diagnosis of atypical electrocardiographic T-wave findings in young subjects].

An analysis is made of the significance of the occasional observation of asymptomatic T-wave changes (inversion). The authors maintain that only an overall evaluation of the anamnestic, clinical and laboratory findings will enable the physician to make a correct diagnosis and exclude from the start, via coordinated protocols, any silent ischaemic disease, and also a series of clinical conditions that the ECG can reveal as this disease. In this connection the authors report a clinical case that is deemed interesting due to the finding of ECG anomalies in an asymptomatic young, athletic subject observed during a periodical medical examination for the purpose of certifying fitness for a specific type of work.