Publications by authors named "Palermo M"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study reviews the incidence and prevalence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting that RSV is a significant cause of lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations in the region, especially among young children and high-risk older adults.
  • - A systematic review method was used, analyzing 156 studies conducted from January 2012 to January 2023, primarily from Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, with most studies being cross-sectional and low-risk for bias.
  • - Findings indicated a high prevalence of RSV in patients under 1 year old (58%), with notable ICU admission rates (42%) and mortality rates varying by age, suggesting a need for better methodological standards in clinical guidelines regarding RSV treatment
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In up to 18% of patients, recurrence is observed after curative radical cystectomy. Tumour recurrence occurs in most cases in the locoregional lymph node, as well as in the remaining urinary tract, but very rarely in the orthotopic neobladder. We report a case of multiple recurrence of urothelial carcinoma solely in the orthotopic neobladder of a male patient, 10 years after surgery, without involvement of the urethra or upper urinary tract.

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Vaccination, particularly against pneumococcus and influenza, is a low-cost primary prevention, useful to avoid hard complications, particularly among frail older people. In this pilot study, we aimed to assess the effect of a strategy for influenza and pneumococcal vaccination for outpatients mainly affected by cognitive or endocrinological conditions, evaluating what could stimulate or demotivate vaccination among older people. This study was conducted during the 2023-2024 influenza season at the outpatient clinics in Palermo, Italy.

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This Systematic Review assesses the economic impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in relation to healthcare resource utilization and associated costs. We searched online databases from January 2012 to November 2022 to identify eligible publications. We identified 12 publications that reported direct costs, indirect costs, and resources associated with RSV and its complications.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study highlights the increasing importance of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) in addressing global obesity, emphasizing the need for rigorous academic and fellowship training for surgeons.
  • A Modified Delphi method involving 89 surgeons from 42 countries was used to establish expert consensus on the necessary criteria for surgeons to obtain privileges for performing MBS, reaching agreement on 29 out of 30 statements.
  • Key consensus points include the requirement for surgeons to hold a general surgery degree, complete a dedicated fellowship, and adhere to defined learning curves for various MBS procedures, alongside maintaining patient data and collaborating in a multidisciplinary team.
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Article Synopsis
  • Influenza poses a significant public health risk, particularly for severe cases, prompting the need for effective vaccination strategies among pediatric populations in Palermo.
  • A study was conducted in two phases, starting with an educational intervention for family pediatricians (FPs), followed by monitoring the safety and acceptance of the qLAIV vaccine among children.
  • Results showed a vaccination coverage rate of 13.2%, much higher than the average rates in the Palermo LHA and throughout Sicily, with only mild adverse reactions reported, indicating that educational efforts can enhance vaccination rates effectively.
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  • Left renal vein variants are rare but important to recognize due to their potential clinical impacts, particularly during surgeries.
  • Standard anatomy involves the renal vein running in front of the aorta to the inferior vena cava, whereas common variants include circumaortic or retroaortic veins.
  • A unique case is presented in which the left renal vein is compressed by the left iliac artery and vertebral bodies, also linked to superior mesenteric artery syndrome, where the duodenum gets compressed between major blood vessels.
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Background: Invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and health costs worldwide, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Surveillance about the distribution of serotypes causing IPD and the impact of pneumococcal vaccination is an important epidemiological tool to monitor disease activity trends, inform public health decision-making, and implement relevant prevention and control measures.

Objectives: To estimate the serotype distribution for IPD and the related disease burden in LAC before, during, and after implementing the pneumococcal vaccine immunization program in LAC.

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is a freshwater opportunistic pathogen and the leading cause of severe pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease. It can be found in all water systems and survives in biofilms, free-living amoebae, and a wide variety of facilities, such as air conditioning and showers in hospitals, hotels and spas. The reference cultural method allows for the isolation and identification in many days, and in addition, it does not detect viable but rather non-culturable bacteria, increasing the risk of infection.

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Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, causing bacteremic pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, and other invasive pneumococcal diseases. Evidence supports nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage as a reservoir for transmission and precursor of pneumococcal disease.

Objectives: To estimate the pneumococcal nasopharyngeal burden in all age groups in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) before, during, and after the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine conjugate (PVC).

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Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a rare but severe neurological syndrome characterized, in its classic form, by the acute onset of ocular disturbances, ataxia, and cognitive impairment. It is caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) and mainly affects chronic alcoholics, although it can also affect patients with pathologies that lead to malnutrition. We present a case of a 58-year-old woman, who presented with significant weight loss over the past 6 months and who came to the emergency department for episodes of repetitive vomiting and a sleepy state.

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Background: Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in frail individuals, including children, the elderly and immunocompromised people, with mild to severe symptoms. World Health Organization claims hRSV causes most elderly influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). In this study, different case definitions for hRSV surveillance were examined for accuracy.

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Article Synopsis
  • A 12-year-old child presented with unilateral parotitis and sialadenitis, alongside a positive SARS-CoV-2 test after a brief fever.
  • The ultrasound showed swelling in the parotid and sublingual glands, indicating parotitis.
  • This case emphasizes the need to consider SARS-CoV-2 in the diagnosis of parotitis, alongside other viral infections like mumps and influenza, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Objective: Research suggests that both compulsive exercise and eating disordered behaviors increase during college. Despite strong cross-sectional associations between compulsive exercise and eating disorders, it is unknown if compulsive exercise is a variable risk factor for eating disorders or simply a correlate. It was hypothesized that increases in compulsive exercise would significantly and prospectively predict increases in overall number of eating disorder symptoms over the study period.

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Background: Upper-tract-urothelial-carcinoma (UTUC) represents 5-10% of all urothelial-neoplasms with increasing incidence in the last decades. Current standard tools for diagnosis of UTUC include cytology, computed tomography (CT) urography and ureterorenoscopy (URS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Bladder Epicheck Test as diagnostic tool for UTUC diagnosis and recurrence.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study using a consensus method involved 78 bariatric surgeons globally, who agreed on 54 statements regarding when to use MBS for Class I and II obesity, determining a 70% agreement threshold.
  • * The experts concluded that MBS is cost-effective for Class II obesity and Class I obesity with inadequate weight loss from non-surgical methods, and identified specific surgical options including intra-gastric balloon, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and one
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Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease has declined since pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). However, serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns have changed.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the frequency of antimicrobial resistance of from invasive disease in LAC.

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Clinical Scenario: Hamstring extensibility plays a significant role in maintaining postural alignment essential for a functional musculoskeletal system. When hamstring extensibility is lacking, individuals are placed at a higher risk for developing various lumbar spine, pelvis, knee, and foot dysfunctions. Limited hamstring extensibility is common, occurring in as much as 40% of college students and 86% of the adult population.

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  • The study analyzed 23 strains of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) responsible for severe human listeriosis cases in Palermo, Italy from 2018-2020, focusing on their antibiotic susceptibility and genetic diversity.
  • Patients were predominantly male, with many cases involving individuals over 65 years old, and the main illnesses linked to the infection were meningitis and bacteremia.
  • The research highlighted the prevalence of serogroup IVb and identified a common strain (ST2/VT21) possibly related to food contamination, emphasizing the need for ongoing molecular epidemiological monitoring.
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Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in the adult eye. Despite the aggressive local management of primary UM, the development of metastases is common with no effective treatment options for metastatic disease. Genetic analysis of UM samples reveals the presence of mutually exclusive activating mutations in the Gq alpha subunits GNAQ and GNA11.

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Introduction: Alcohol is a harmful, toxic and addictive substance that causes many diseases and injuries. Alcohol use also incurs a financial cost to the health care system and wider economy. This project aimed to undertake a cost impact analysis of alcohol-related harms at the local level in New South Wales (NSW).

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Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections can cause from bloody diarrhea to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. The STEC intestinal infection triggers an inflammatory response that can facilitate the development of a systemic disease. We report here that neutrophils might contribute to this inflammatory response by secreting Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β).

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Background: In Australia, midlife women are experiencing increasing levels of risky drinking behaviours and alcohol-related harms. This is despite the general population trend of decreasing alcohol consumption overall. In light of these diverging trends, this research explores the role of alcohol in the lives of midlife women from their own perspective.

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