Publications by authors named "V A Restivo"

Background/objectives: Tetanus is a serious, non-contagious infection caused by , which remains a global health threat despite the availability of an effective vaccine. The current state of immunization for agricultural workers in Italy reveals significant disparities, reflecting a non-homogeneous distribution of vaccination coverage across regions and subgroups. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of tetanus antibodies in a cohort of agricultural workers in Eastern Sicily in order to evaluate possible public health strategies for improving vaccination coverage.

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Article Synopsis
  • The rapid growth of medical apps has changed how health care is delivered, allowing easy access to personalized health data for patients and providers, but effectiveness and safety concerns have emerged, challenging the reliance on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for evaluation and regulation.
  • This study explores alternative evaluation methods beyond RCTs for medical apps by analyzing insights from a focus group of public health experts and assessing current regulations in Italy, Germany, Canada, and Australia.
  • Findings highlight the limitations of RCTs in evaluating digital health interventions and suggest that there are potentially more effective approaches for ensuring the quality and safety of medical apps.
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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the most important issues related to sexual and reproductive health, as it is estimated that more than 1 million new infections are acquired every day worldwide and data on the prevalence and incidence of these infections, especially among young people, are increasing. Nevertheless, there are some knowledge and behavioral gaps, and young people need more support from their school and family network to protect themselves and their peers. Therefore, we have designed a multicenter prospective intervention study involving public lower and upper secondary school students, their parents and teachers (ESPRIT).

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Background: To address the global challenge of vaccine hesitancy, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization strongly promotes vaccination reminder and recall interventions. Coupled with the new opportunities presented by scientific advancements, these measures are crucial for successfully immunizing target population groups.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of various interventions in increasing vaccination coverage compared with standard or usual care.

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Respiratory tract diseases caused by influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 can represent a serious threat to the health of pregnant women. Immunological remodulation for fetus tolerance and physiological changes in the gestational chamber expose both mother and child to fearful complications and a high risk of hospitalization. Vaccines to protect pregnant women from influenza and COVID-19 are strongly recommended and vaccine co-administration could be advantageous to increase coverage of both vaccines.

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