Health surveillance for SARS-CoV-2: infection spread and vaccination coverage in the schools of Modena province, Italy.

Introduction: In Italy, over 4.8 million individuals aged 0-19 years have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to evaluate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within schools in Modena province and the influence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination coverage.

Use of a mHealth System to Improve Antenatal Care in Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries: Report on Patients and Healthcare Workers' Acceptability in Tanzania.

Antenatal care (ANC) is considered a cornerstone of reproductive health programmes, but many women face difficulties in accessing these services, particularly in some sub-Saharan African countries, such as Tanzania. This study aimed to test ANC visit acceptability using mHealth system PANDA (Pregnancy And Newborn Diagnostic Assessment) in the Mufindi district (Tanzania). We investigated the ANC visit acceptability of pregnant women and healthcare workers (HCWs) in an intervention area using the PANDA system compared with a control area.

Characteristics and risk factors of isolated and quarantined children and adolescents during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Modena, Northern Italy.

Background And Aim: In early 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic by the WHO and Italy was one of the first and most severely affected country in Europe. Despite the global interest about COVID-19 pandemic, several aspects of this infection are still unclear, especially in pediatric population. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of the isolated or quarantined children and adolescents followed by the Public Health Department of the Italian province of Modena during the first wave of COVID-19.

Physical and Sedentary Activities and Childhood Overweight/Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study among First-Year Children of Primary Schools in Modena, Italy.

Children obesity is a serious public health issue. This study aimed to investigate physical/sedentary activities of first-year primary schools children in Modena, and their association with overweight/obesity and dietary habits of children and family characteristics to identify the risk factors for unhealthy lifestyles. Child physical/sedentary activities were gathered through an anonymous questionnaire administered to parents, as well as family characteristics and weight/height of child and parents.

A systematic review on biomonitoring of individuals living near or working at solid waste incinerator plants.

Solid waste incinerators (SWI) emit several pollutants among which polychlorodibenzodioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorobiphenyls, metals, monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To present a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature on human biological monitoring of exposure and effect following potential exposure to SWI pollutants to bring together evidences and to highlight strengths and deficiencies of the studies conducted so far. Relevant studies on biomonitoring of individuals living near or working at SWIs were selected through three steps: (1) a literature search in the Medline, CAplus, and Embase database; (2) the retrieved abstracts were screened by four independent reviewers; (3) the full text of the relevant papers was read, papers were pooled in studies, and then analyzed to highlight strengths and weaknesses.

Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity in Children Attending the First Year of Primary Schools in Modena, Italy.

Over the last four decades, childhood overweight/obesity has dramatically increased, becoming a significant public health concern. The main aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of overweight/obesity among first-year primary schools children in Modena and to identify the associated risk factors. Data were collected on the socio-demographic characteristics of family and weight, height, dietary habits and sedentary behaviours of the children, and on the parents' perception of their child's weight status, through an anonymous questionnaire administered to parents.

Evaluation of Occupational Exposure to Perchlorethylene in a Group of Italian Dry Cleaners Using Noninvasive Exposure Indices.

Recent data suggest a general trend in decreased occupational exposure to perchlorethylene (PCE) in the dry-cleaning sector. The aims of this study were to confirm this trend to lower exposure levels in a group of Italian dry cleaners and to evaluate the current occupational PCE exposure in these works using noninvasive biological indices. Environmental exposure was assessed by personal sampling in 60 operators working in 21 dry cleaning shops in North Italy.

Maternal pregestational diabetes and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the offspring: A population-based study in Northern Italy.

Introduction: This population-based study aims to evaluate the association between maternal pregestational diabetes and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the offspring.

Methods: All 241,958 children born in three Northern Italy provinces 1998-2010 were followed from birth until first cancer diagnosis (National Childhood Cancer Register), age 15 years, or 31 December 2017. We computed hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI of ALL in relation to the presence of maternal diabetes through Cox proportional regression models.

Joint Effect of Maternal Tobacco Smoking and Pregestational Diabetes on Preterm Births and Congenital Anomalies: A Population-Based Study in Northern Italy.

Smoking and pregestational diabetes (PGD) are recognized risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes, but to date, no population-based study has investigated their joint effects. Using hospital discharges, we identified all women with PGD delivering in Emilia-Romagna region during 2007-2010 matched 1 : 5 with parturients without diabetes. Our study endpoints were preterm births and congenital anomalies.

Impact of Referral Sources and Waiting Times on the Failure to Quit Smoking: One-Year Follow-Up of an Italian Cohort Admitted to a Smoking Cessation Service.

In Italy, the National Health Service offers specialized evidence-based support to smokers who would like to quit through smoking cessation (SC) services. We conducted a two-year prospective study, involving all 288 subjects treated for smoking cessation at the SC service of Reggio Emilia, to assess the association of referral sources and waiting times with the risk of treatment failure, by following participants up to one year after the quit date. We performed Cox-regression analysis, including demographic and smoking-related characteristics as confounding variables.

An Innovative Mobile Health System to Improve and Standardize Antenatal Care Among Underserved Communities: A Feasibility Study in an Italian Hosting Center for Asylum Seekers.

Innovative migrant-friendly tools are needed to assist health personnel manage the high number of pregnancies within reception centers. This study tests functionality and acceptability of a new mHealth system in providing antenatal care amongst migrants. The study, carried out between 2014 and 2016, involved 150 pregnant women residing in the largest European migrant reception center in Sicily.

Impact of Pre-Analytical Time on the Recovery of Pathogens from Blood Cultures: Results from a Large Retrospective Survey.

Background: Prompt identification of bloodstream pathogens is essential for optimal management of patients. Significant changes in analytical methods have improved the turnaround time for laboratory diagnosis. Less attention has been paid to the time elapsing from blood collection to incubation and to its potential effect on recovery of pathogens.

Validity of hospital discharge records to identify pregestational diabetes in an Italian population.

Aims: In recent years, the prevalence of pregestational diabetes (PGDM) and the concern about the possibility of adverse pregnancy outcomes in affected women have been increasing. Routinely collected health data represent a timely and cost-efficient approach in PGDM epidemiological research. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of hospital discharge (HD) coding to identify a population-based cohort of pregnant women with PGDM and to assess trends in prevalence in two provinces of Northern Italy.

[Early effects of PCE exposure on visual function among dry cleaning workers].

Background: A number of studies have shown a possible correlation between exposure to perchlorethylene (PCE) in dry cleaning workers and impairment of colour perception.

Objectives: to ascertain the possible presence of alterations in visual function in a group of workers exposed to current limit value levels of PCE.

Methods: The study was conducted on 38 workers exposed to PCE in 21 dry cleaning establishments in the district of Modena and 60 controls selected according to criteria of comparability.

Influenza vaccination coverage among medical residents: an Italian multicenter survey.

Although influenza vaccination is recognized to be safe and effective, recent studies have confirmed that immunization coverage among health care workers remain generally low, especially among medical residents (MRs). Aim of the present multicenter study was to investigate attitudes and determinants associated with acceptance of influenza vaccination among Italian MRs. A survey was performed in 2012 on MRs attending post-graduate schools of 18 Italian Universities.

Cu(ii) complexation with an acridine-containing macrocycle. Assembly of water cluster chains within the cavity of tetranuclear metallomacrocycles.

The synthesis and characterisation of a new macrocyclic compound (L), composed of a pentamine chain linking the 2,7 positions of an acridine moiety, is reported. Cu(ii) complexation was studied by means of potentiometric, UV-vis and EPR measurements in aqueous solutions. This study reveals that the ligand forms a stable tetranuclear complex with an overall [Cu(4)L(2)(OH)(4)](4+) stoichiometry in aqueous solution.

Coordination features of a terpyridine-containing polyamine receptor. Effect of protonation on the photophysical properties of the complexes.

The synthesis of the new terpyridine-containing macrocycle 2,6,10,14-tetraaza[15](6,6'')cyclo(2,2':6',2'')terpyridinophane (L) is reported. The ligand contains a tetraamine chain linking the 6,6'' positions of a terpyridine unit. A potentiometric, (1)H NMR, UV-vis spectrophotometric and fluorescence emission study on the basicity properties of in aqueous solutions shows that the first four protonation steps occur on the polyamine chain, while the terpyridine nitrogens are involved in proton binding only in the last protonation step at strongly acidic pH values.

Basicity and coordination properties of a new phenanthroline-based bis-macrocyclic receptor.

The synthesis and characterisation of the new macrocyclic ligand 6-methyl-2,6,10-triaza-[11]-12,25-phenathrolinophane (L1), which contains a triamine aliphatic chain linking the 2,9 positions of 1,10-phenanthroline and of its derivative L2, composed by two L1 moieties connected by an ethylenic bridge, are reported. Their basicity and coordination properties toward Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II) have been studied by means of potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV-Vis, fluorescence emission) measurements in aqueous solutions. L1 forms 1:1 metal complexes in aqueous solutions, while L2 can give both mono- and dinuclear complexes.

Tren-based tris-macrocycles as anion hosts. Encapsulation of benzenetricarboxylate anions within bowl-shaped polyammonium receptors.

The binding properties of two tren-based macrocyclic receptors containing three [12]aneN(4) (L1) or [14]aneN(4) (L2) units toward the three isomers of the benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) have been analyzed by means of potentiometric, (1)H NMR, and microcalorimetric measurements in aqueous solutions. Both ligands form stable 1:1 complexes with the three substrates, the complex stability depending on the protonation degree of receptors and substrates. Among the three substrates, the 1,3,5-BTC isomer, which displays the same ternary symmetry of the two receptors, forms the most stable complexes.

Protonation and coordination properties towards Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) of a phenanthroline-containing macrocycle with an ethylamino pendant arm.

Protonation and Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) coordination with the ligand 5-aminoethyl-2,5,8-triaza-[9]-10,23-phenanthrolinophane (L2), which contains an aminoethyl pendant attached to a phenanthroline-containing macrocycle, have been investigated by means of potentiometric, 1H NMR and spectrofluorimetric titrations in aqueous solutions. The coordination properties of L2 are compared with those of the ligand 2,5,8-triaza-[9]-10,23-phenanthrolinophane (L1). Ligand protonation occurs on the aliphatic amine groups and does not involve directly the heteroaromatic nitrogens.