R. Squeri

Prevalence of serum anti-rubella virus antibodies among pregnant women in southern Italy.

To determine the prevalence of anti‐rubella virus antibodies and the level of knowledge about congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) among pregnant women living in southern Italy.

Clinical Pharmacology of Citrus bergamia: A Systematic Review.

Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau (“Bergamot”) originated from the Mediterranean ecoregion (southern Italy, Calabria). Bergamot essential oil (BEO) is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and for stress reduction. Juice from C. bergamia has been used for hyperlipidemia. We evaluated literature published on C. bergamia clinical applications. Clinical trials on C. bergamia not combined with other substances, published in English, were searched. We selected ten articles, six describing BEO effects on stress, three reporting effects of polyphenolic fraction of C. bergamia juice in hyperlipidemia and the last describing BEO effects in chronic psoriasis. Clinical studies were analyzed following Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials for herbal therapy. Studies were conducted on small sample sizes and not have high quality level. Analysis indicates that BEO aromatherapy could be safe and useful to reduce stress symptoms. One study suggests its potential supportive role in ultraviolet B therapy against psoriasis. Supplementation with polyphenols from bergamot juice reduces plasma lipids and improves lipoprotein profile in moderate hyperlipidemia. Effectiveness and safety of C. bergamia cannot be definitively drawn because of publication bias and low quality level of the majority of studies. Further large‐scale trials with rigorous design are required to define the role of C. bergamia in clinical practice. Copyright

Congenital rubella syndrome and immunity status of immigrant women living in southern Italy: a cross-sectional, seroepidemiological investigation.

OBJECTIVES A National Programme to eliminate Measles and Congenital Rubella was implemented in Italy in 2003. It aimed to achieve elimination by 2010 in line with the targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rubella antibodies in samples of immigrant women living in southern Italy. METHOD A seroepidemiologic study was conducted from 1 January 2008 to June 30 2009. 489 immigrant women resident in Messina were enrolled in the study. The detection of rubella antibodies was performed using a microparticle enzyme immunoassay. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data including age, country of origin, educational level and knowledge about rubella. RESULTS The results of the seroepidemiological survey to detect rubella antibodies showed an overall seropositivity rate of 82.2%. Generally, knowledge about rubella and congenital rubella syndrome was lacking. CONCLUSION Many immigrants are susceptible to rubella and may benefit from vaccination programmes. Additional catch-up vaccination strategies are urgently needed to eliminate the risk of congenital rubella syndrome for future generations.

An Innovative Approach to Hospital Sanitization Using Probiotics: In Vitro and Field Trials

Background: The nosocomial infections continue to be a problem, even in hospitals where meticulous sanitization procedures are in place. The most commonly used methods employ chemical disinfectants which carry some disadvantages. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of an innovative sanitization procedure using probiotic bacteria based on the principle of biological competition: Probiotic Cleaning Hygiene System (PCHS). Methods: The study included survival tests and in vitro and field trials. The in vitro trials tested three surfaces (washbasin, floor and desk) in the absence of recontamination. Field trials were carried out in order to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in the presence of contaminants and to study whether probiotics are able to contain pathogens over time. Samples were taken from the floor in a corridor and an inpatient room and the dispensary washbasin twice daily (pre-sanitization and post-sanitization). Results: The in vitro tests on three surfaces, not subject to recontamination, resulted in an average reduction ranging from 92.2% to 99.9% after 24 h. From field trials it emerged that the bacterial count was totally eliminated for Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans and almost 100% elimination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii e Klebsiella pneumoniae on all three surfaces after only six hours even when recontaminated. However, less satisfactory results were attained for Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: PCHS acts constantly and is durable over time due to the stabilization of a biofilm which is able to reduce and contain the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. Probiotics are therefore effective innovative products to sanitize the hospital environment.

The Possible Role of Mobile Phones in Spreading Microorganisms inHospitals

Mobile phones belonging to healthcare workers and inpatients represent a potential source of microorganisms, some being well-known sources of hospital infections. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of contamination of the hands and mobile phones of healthcare workers and inpatients. The study comprised 200 healthcare workers and 100 inpatients of the University Hospital in Messina (Italy) between April 1 and June 31, 2013. Bacterial contamination was detected on 230 mobile phones (76.6%) and on 250 hands (83.3%). The most frequently isolated bacteria belonged to the Staphylococcus genus. For hospital staff, 78% of mobile phones and 86% of hands were found to be contaminated. Similar results were obtained for inpatients whose mobile phones tested positive in 74% of cases, while for hands the rate was 78%. These findings are in line with international literature and demonstrate that routine everyday use of mobile phones by healthcare workers and inpatients represents an important vehicle of contamination since potentially pathogenic agents, capable of causing nosocomial infections, can pass from the telephone to the hands and vice versa.

In vitro assessment of neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation of homemade MWCNTs

Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) activate pathways involved in cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and inflammation. Inhaled MWCNTs are translocated to extra pulmonary organs and their hydrophobicity allows them to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Further exposure of central nervous system (CNS) occurs via olfactory neurons. Using differentiated SH-SY5Y, we studied the neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation of pristine and functionalised MWCNTs. ROS overproduction was dose- and time-dependent (P<0.01) and was related to mitochondrial impairment, DNA damage and decreased viability (P<0.05). Transcript levels of TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 increased, as confirmed by an ELISA test. Raman spectra were acquired to assess MWCNT-cells interactions. The almost superimposable pro-oxidant activity of both CNTs could be imputable to excessive lengths with regard to the pristine MWCNTs and to the eroded surface, causing increased reactivity, with regard to functionalised MWCNTs. Considering the ease with which lightweight MWCNTs aerosolize and the increased production, the results underlined the potential onset of neurodegenerative diseases, due to unintentional MWCNT exposure.

Steam Sterilization of Equine Bone Block: Morphological and Collagen Analysis

Introduction The use of equine bone blocks is widely reported for bone augmentation techniques. The block must be shaped according to the form of the defect that should be regenerated. The shaping could be performed by hand before or during the surgery, in a sterile ambient, or using a CNC milling machine that could not be sterile. The aim of our study was to evaluate if a steam sterilization could provide a medical grade sterilization of the blocks and to evaluate if bone microstructure and collagen structures change after different steam sterilization protocols provided by mainstream autoclave. Materials and Method Two blocks of equine bone were divided into 16 samples. 1 sample was used as control and not submitted to any treatment. 15 samples were infected with a Streptococcus faecalis bacterial culture. The samples were singularly packed, randomly divided into 3 groups, and submitted to autoclave sterilization on the same device. The groups were submitted to a sterilization cycle (Gr. A: 121°C, 1,16 bar for 20′; Gr. B:134°C, 2,16 bar for 4′; Gr. C: 134°C, 2,16 bar for 3.30 min.). 2 samples for each group were evaluated for the sterility. 3 samples for each group were observed at SEM to notice the macro- and microstructure modification and to confocal microscope to observe the collagen. Results All samples were sterile. The SEM evaluation showed, in all groups, a preserved morphological structure. Confocal microscope evaluation shows that the collagen structure appears to be more uniform and preserved in group C. Conclusion Data show that autoclave steam sterilization could be reliable to obtain sterilization of equine bone blocks.

Inchiesta sulle condizioni di vita e sanitarie degli immigrati presenti nella cittá di Messina

A Messina e nella sua provincia vivono circa 7328 stranieri con regolare permesso di soggiorno (dati aggiornati al 31/12/02 Questura di Messina Ufficio Immigrati) ai quali si deve aggiungere una quota di soggetti, irregolari e clandestini, stimata intorno al 25% dei regolari (fonte dati Caritas, Kirone). Le Comunita maggiormente presenti sono quelle provenienti dalle Filippine, Marocco, Sri Lanka. Al fine di valutare il livello di assistenza sanitaria fornita agli immigrati, nel periodo compreso tra Dicembre 2002 e Maggio 2003, abbiamo intervistato un campione di immigrati relativamente alle loro abitudini di vita, sul tipo di lavoro svolto, sullo stato di salute attuale e pregresso, sull’eventuale ricorso alle strutture del Servizio Sanitario Locale e sulle vaccinazioni praticate nel Paese di origine e in Italia. Sono stati intervistati 1204 soggetti (42,19% Sri Lanka, 24,75% Marocco, 25,91% Filippine, 3,15% Tunisia, 1,82% Senegal, 0,16% Algeria). La comunita cinese, anch’essa significativamente presente nella citta, si e dimostrata diffidente e non interessata alla nostra indagine. Sono state evidenziate notevoli carenze del Servizio Sanitario locale, per mancanza di un sistema di monitoraggio e prevenzione rivolto agli immigrati. Il 99% degli intervistati pur essendo iscritto al S.S.N.ed avendo nell’84% il medico di famiglia, non possiede il libretto sanitario, e stato sottoposto alle vaccinazioni obbligatorie del Paese di origine, ma non le ha integrate con quelle Italiane, ad eccezione del 2,3% di soggetti che ha praticato quella antiinfluenzale e dell’ 1,2% che si e sottoposto a quella antitifica ed antiepatite A per motivi occupazionali. Malgrado l’intervista mirasse a sondare il livello di assistenza sanitaria, ha svelato altri dettagli: il 79,2% dei soggetti cerca di mantenere le abitudini alimentari originarie; solo lo 0,5% ha dichiarato di aver subito un infortunio, mentre riguardo al tipo di attivita svolta si rilevano differenze in relazione ai paesi di origine.

Indagine sullo stato sierologico per epatite B e C negli operatori ecologici della cittá di Messina

La resistenza del virus dell’epatite B nell’ambiente esterno, rende alcune categorie di lavoratori, fra cui gli operatori ecologici, particolarmente a rischio di venire a contatto con il virus, da qui l’importanza della prevenzione, soprattutto tramite la vaccinazione, in ambienti non sanitari nei quali la cultura rischio biologico e spesso poco valida. Nel periodo compreso tra marzo e maggio 2003, abbiamo condotto un’indagine volta a valutare il profilo sierologico riguardo i virus dell’epatite B e C in questa categoria di lavoratori. In seguito abbiamo consultato gli archivi cartacei dell’Ufficio Vaccinazioni dell’AUSL 5, prendendo in considerazione la percentuale di soggetti che si sono sottoposti alla vaccinazione contro l’epatite B, il numero di dosi di vaccino praticate e l’anno della vaccinazione. L’indagine ha coinvolto un campione di 327 operatori ecologici (OE) di eta compresa tra 24 e 65 anni di cui 288 addetti alle mansioni di spazzamento e raccolta, 26 ad inceneritori, e 13 alle discariche. I dati sierologici hanno evidenziato che degli OE, 190 (58,81%) sono risultati negativi per tutti i markers dell’epatite B e C, 58 (18,12%) positivi per HbsAb, 31 (9,48%) per HbsAb e HbcAb, 13 (3,97%) per HbsAg HbcAb e HBeAb, 24 (7,5%) per HbsAb, HbcAb e HbeAb, 7 (2,18%) per HbcAb e HbeAb, 4 (0,94%) per HbcAb ed infine 8 (2,44%) per HCV Ab. La consultazione dei registri vaccinazione ha evidenziato che solo il 40,97% degli operatori aveva effettuato, negli anni 1994 - 2002, la vaccinazione contro l’epatite B di questi, l’11,94% ha ricevuto solo una dose, il 14,93% 2 dosi, mentre il 73,13% 3 dosi di vaccino. In quest’ultimi il 52,04% non ha evidenziato la sieroconversione per l’avvenuta vaccinazione. Sulla base dei risultati ottenuti sono stati organizzati incontri per sensibilizzare gli operatori ecologici alla pratica vaccinale contro l’epatite B estendendo l’iniziativa ai datori di lavoro.