Mapping and ranking outcomes for the evaluation of seasonal influenza vaccine efficacy and effectiveness: a delphi study.

Background: Protection provided by seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) may be measured against numerous outcomes, and their heterogeneity may hamper decision-making. The aim of this study was to explore outcomes used for estimation of SIV efficacy/effectiveness (VE) and obtain expert consensus on their importance.

Research Design And Methods: An umbrella review was first conducted to collect and map outcomes considered in systematic reviews of SIV VE.

[The mortality cost of carbon dioxide emissions from a steel plant in Southern Italy: a climate change health impact assessment].

Objectives: to quantify the temperature-related global health impacts of the Taranto steel plant CO2e emissions.

Design: using the risk functions available in the literature, a prospective global health impact assessment of the marginal CO2e emissions declared by the steel plant for 2020 was conducted.

Setting And Participants: world population in the period 2020-2100.

PCDD/Fs and PCBs in hen eggs from a contaminated area in Italy: a 9 years spatio-temporal monitoring study.

Eggs can represent a food susceptible to contamination, with bioaccumulation potential for POPs. The Province of Taranto, Southern Italy, is of particular relevance in this context because of the presence of industrial sources of PCDD/Fs and PCBs. The aim of this study was to analyze and report the levels of these contaminants in hen eggs sampled in farms located within a radius of 20 km from the industrial area of Taranto.

Monkeypox Virus Infections in Southern Italy: Is There a Risk for Community Spread?

The ongoing outbreak of the Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is characterized by sustained human-to-human transmission, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of the MPXV infection identified in Southern Italy. Clinical samples for each suspected case identified from 1 June to 1 August 2022 were tested for MPXV, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on two strains.

HPV Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: Opportunity Loss or Incremental Cost.

Objectives: Italy was the first European country to introduce universal vaccination of adolescents, for both males and females, against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) starting in 2017 with the NIP 2017-2019's release. However, vaccine coverage rates (VCRs) among adolescents have shown a precarious take-off since the NIP's release, and this situation worsened due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The aim of this work is to estimate the epidemiological and economic impact of drops in VCRs due to the pandemic on those generations that missed the vaccination appointment and to discuss alternative scenarios in light of the national data.

Experts' Opinion for Improving Pertussis Vaccination Rates in Adolescents and Adults: A Call to Action.

This article highlights the importance of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (with reduced antigen content, dTap) vaccination in preventing pertussis, a respiratory infection that is still widespread and easily transmitted. In particular, it highlights the need to receive a booster vaccination throughout life to maintain high antibody levels, which decrease through time. This document collects the opinions that emerged from the comparison between major Italian experts in the field of vaccination.

PCDD/Fs and PCBs in from a contaminated area in Italy: the role of mussel size, temperature and meteorological factors.

Mussels represent a food at risk of contamination because they are filter-feeding organisms with high bioaccumulation and low biotransformation potential for organic contaminants. Taranto, Southern Italy, is of particular relevance in this context due to the presence of industrial sources of POPs. The aim of this study was to analyse the role of mussel size, temperature and other meteorological factors in determining PCDD/Fs and PCBs concentrations in mussels.

Manifesto on the Value of Adult Immunization: "We Know, We Intend, We Advocate".

Immunization through vaccination is a milestone achievement that has made a tremendous contribution to public health. Historically, immunization programs aimed firstly to protect children, who were disproportionally affected by infectious diseases. However, vaccine-preventable diseases can have significant impacts on adult mortality, health, and quality of life.

Dioxins and PCBs contamination in milk and dairy products from Province of Taranto (Puglia Region, Southern Italy): a six years spatio-temporal monitoring study.

Introduction: Taranto Province (Puglia Region, Southern Italy) is of particular Public Health relevance due to the presence of industrial sources of dioxins and PCBs. The aim of this study was to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution of these pollutants in milk and cheese produced from 2013 to 2018.

Materials And Methods: Raw milk and dairy products were sampled in the farms located within 20 km from the industrial area.

The effects of the exposure to neurotoxic elements on Italian schoolchildren behavior.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are constantly increasing on a global scale. Some elements like heavy metals are known to be neurotoxic. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the neurobehavioral effect of the exposure to trace elements including lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, arsenic and selenium and their interactions among 299 schoolchildren residing in the heavily polluted Taranto area in Italy.

Dioxins and PCBs contamination in mussels from Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy): a seven years spatio-temporal monitoring study.

Introduction: Taranto is of particular Public Health relevance for the presence of industrial sources of dioxins and PCBs. The aim of this study was to monitor these pollutants in mussels produced from 2012 to 2018.

Materials And Methods: Mussels were collected on a monthly basis with random sampling.

Vaccines in older age: moving from current practice to optimal coverage-a multidisciplinary consensus conference.

Vaccines are a key strategy to promote healthy aging, but vaccine coverage remains below target levels in at-risk adults and older individuals. We present here the results of a multidisciplinary consensus conference convened to perform a multidimensional assessment of vaccination in geriatric medicine, with a view to developing a well-defined strategy for the promotion of vaccines in older people. We discuss recommended vaccines in older individuals, and describe the wide regional heterogeneity between regions in the Italian context.

Neurocognitive impact of metal exposure and social stressors among schoolchildren in Taranto, Italy.

Background: Metal exposure is a public health hazard due to neurocognitive effects starting in early life. Poor socio-economic status, adverse home and family environment can enhance the neurodevelopmental toxicity due to chemical exposure. Disadvantaged socio-economic conditions are generally higher in environmentally impacted areas although the combined effect of these two factors has not been sufficiently studied.

Metabolic Outcomes in Southern Italian Preadolescents Residing Near an Industrial Complex: The Role of Residential Location and Socioeconomic Status.

Evidence suggests that environmental exposures and socioeconomic factors may interact to produce metabolic changes in children. We assessed the influence of residential location and socioeconomic status (SES) on pediatric body mass index (BMI) Z-score and fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentration. Participants included 214 children aged 6-11 years who live near a large industrial complex in Taranto, Italy.

Influenza vaccination 2014-2015: Results of a survey conducted among general practitioners in Italy.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate orientation, organizational procedures implemented and difficulties faced by general practitioners (GPs) during the 2014/15 seasonal influenza vaccination programme, as well as GPs' general attitude towards vaccinations.

Methods: An ad hoc online survey was developed and administered to general practitioners members of the Italian Federation of GPs (Federazione Italiana Medici di Medicina Generale - FIMMG). Overall, 10,000 survey invitations were sent.

Safety and immune response to a challenge dose of hepatitis B vaccine in healthy children primed 10years earlier with hexavalent vaccines in a 3, 5, 11-month schedule: An open-label, controlled, multicentre trial in Italy.

Background And Aims: The strategy of vaccinating infants to prevent hepatitis B virus infection in adolescence or adulthood requires durable immunity. This study investigated responses to a challenge dose of monovalent hepatitis B vaccine in children primed with three doses of either Hexavac® or Infanrix hexa® 10years earlier during infancy.

Methods: This open-label, controlled, multicentre study conducted in Italy, enrolled 751 healthy pre-adolescents (aged 11-13years) who were given either Hexavac (n=409) or Infanrix hexa (n=342) at 3, 5 and 11months of life.

Prevention of Herpes Zoster and its complications: From clinical evidence to real life experience.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute viral illness characterized by a vesicular rash with unilateral distribution, which can also result in severe complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), ophthalmic zoster, stroke or other neurological complications. The estimate incidence in Europe ranges between 2.0 and 4.

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorodibenzofurans, and polychlorobiphenyls in women of reproductive age in Italy: A human biomonitoring study.

Background: Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that represent a major concern for women of reproductive age because of the neurodevelopmental effects associated to perinatal exposure.

Objectives: This study was aimed at characterizing exposure of women of reproductive age to PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs as a function of residence in different Italian Regions, in areas at presumable different environmental contamination and human exposure to these pollutants.

Methods: Study participants were enrolled in 2011-2012 in 6 Italian Regions representative of Northern, Central and Southern Italy; in each region, areas at presumed different exposure (rural, urban and industrial) were selected for enrolment.

[Prevention of HPV cancer related through HPV-9: state of the art, potential benefits and open issues].

HPV vaccines currently marketed in Italy (bivalent and quadrivalent against HPV 16-18 and HPV and 6,11,16,18 respectively) are an extraordinary tool for the primary prevention of HPV related diseases, particularly of the cervical cancer. Although the implementation of the organized vaccination programs has already translated (for some endpoint) in confirmation of clinical efficacy, remains excluded a significant proportion of the diseases linked to non-vaccine HPV types. The new nonavalent vaccine (HPV9), of impending commercialization, represents an evolution of the quadrivalent, the composition of which are added five high-risk HPV types (HPV 31,33,45,52,58).

Current exposure of Italian women of reproductive age to PFOS and PFOA: A human biomonitoring study.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations were determined in serum samples collected in 2011-2012 from 549 nulliparous Italian women of reproductive age who resided in six different Italian Regions. Assessment of exposure to perfluorinated compounds was part of a large human biomonitoring study (Project Life Plus "Womenbiopop") that aimed at examining the exposure of women of reproductive age to priority organic pollutants. The median concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were 2.

[Universal vaccination against varicella in Italy: the same opportunity for all children].

Varicella is an infectious disease still frequent in Italy, where 8 out 20 Regions have adopted universal vaccination programs starting from 2003. Accordingly to National Vaccination Plan, all Regions should introduce universal varicella vaccination in 2015. An independent multidisciplinary group of experts met to discuss some debated questions.

Preventing and managing herpes zoster: key actions to foster healthy aging.

Population aging is the demographic phenomenon characterizing all countries in the world, and it is challenging the national infrastructures, in particular health systems. However, aging itself is not associated with increased medical spending, but disability and comorbidity that affect older individuals are the actual drivers for health expenditures. Therefore, if people age in better health, medical spending may be significantly reduced.