[The key role of public health medical resident education for future public health challenges]. / La formazione del giovane igienista per le nuove sfide della sanità pubblica.

INTRODUCTION: The Italian Committee of medical residents in Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health is a member of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health with the aim of developing a network among Italian resident in public health and promoting the educational path improvement through comparisons and debates between postgraduate medical schools. In this perspective, during last years account has been taken of some essential topics concerning education of public health medical residents, which represent future health-care and public health experts. METHODS: Cross-sectional researches were conducted among Italian public health medical residents (PHMRs) through self-administered and web-based questionnaires. Each questionnaire was previously validated by pilot studies conducted during the 46th National Conference of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. RESULTS: Seventy percent of Italian PHMRs considered the actual length of Public Health postgraduate medical school excessively long, with regard to predetermined educational goals. Confirming this statement, 90% of respondents were inclined to a reduction from 5 to 4 years of postgraduate medical school length, established by Law Decree 104/2013. Seventy seven percent of surveyed PHMRs stand up for a rearrangement on a national setting of the access contest to postgraduate medical schools. Moreover 1/3 of Italian schools performed less than 75%of learning and qualifying activities specified in Ministerial Decree of August 2005. In particular, data analysis showed considerable differences among Italian postgraduate schools. Finally, in 2015 only four Italian Universities (Napoli Federico II, Palermo, Pavia, Roma Tor Vergata) provide for the Second Level Master qualify for the functions of occupational doctor. This offer makes available 60 positions against a request of over 200 future Public Health medical doctors who have shown interest in the Master. CONCLUSIONS: In Italy, after the introduction of Ministerial Decree 285/2005, the educational course of PHMRs was significantly improved. The standardization of learning and qualifying activities allowed for the first time the attendance at medical directions or Local Health Units. Nevertheless, the excessive lenght of postgradute schools and the differences about training among Italian Universities are critical and actual issue. Moreover, the remarkable interest shown by PHMRs in the Master could suggest a poor job replacement prospect for young medical specialist in Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health.

Lopinavir pharmacokinetic profiles in HIV-infected patients during rifabutin-based anti-mycobacterial therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of ritonavir-boosted lopinavir in HIV-infected patients during rifabutin-based anti-mycobacterial therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A longitudinal, cross-over pharmacokinetic evaluation of lopinavir with and without rifabutin in HIV-infected subjects with mycobacterial disease was done. All received lopinavir/ritonavir (400/100 mg twice a day) + an adjusted rifabutin dose of 150 mg every other day. Twelve-hour lopinavir pharmacokinetic sampling occurred at 2 weeks (T1) and 6 weeks (T2) after starting combined therapy and 10 weeks after completion of adjusted rifabutin (T3). Plasma was assayed using an HPLC method; lopinavir plasma concentration-time data were analysed using non-compartmental methods. RESULTS: In 10 patients with complete lopinavir curves at T1, T2 and T3 pharmacokinetic values were, respectively: AUC(0-12), 187.5, 161.8 and 121.1 µg ·â€Šh/mL; C(trough), 13.2, 10.0 and 7.7 µg/mL; C(max), 18.7, 15.9 and 13.3 µg/mL; and apparent oral clearance (CL/F), 0.035, 0.037 and 0.045 L/h/kg. Lopinavir C(trough) and AUC(0-12) were significantly higher at T1 compared with T3 while CL/F remained unchanged throughout. Combined treatment was well tolerated and none of the patients experienced moderate to severe lopinavir-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Lopinavir serum concentrations are not reduced when the drug is administered together with an adjusted dose of 150 mg of rifabutin every other day.

[When health "sells": presence and characteristics of health-related advertising in the Italian press]. / Quando la salute "vende": presenza e caratteristiche di pubblicità a contenuto sanitario sulla stampa italiana.

The authors evaluated the amount of health-related advertising that appeared in major Italian newspapers and magazines during the months of July 2009 and November 2009. Advertisements related to health (as defined by the World Health Organization) were found to be widely present in the Italian press. Health promotion messages given by health institutions must therefore compete with the above advertisements that deal with health issues usually for purely commercial purposes.

[Tubercular disease: clinical aspects and drug resistance]. / Malattia tubercolare: aspetti clinici e di farmacoresistenza.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), and, more recently of extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a real threat to achieve TB control and elimination. Over 500.000 new cases of MDR TB occurred in 2008 worldwide, of whom 50.000 are XDR-TB. A very small fraction of estimated MDR cases are actually diagnosed and notified: hence, the long-term vision for full control of MDR-TB requires, essentially, the scaling-up of culture and DST capacity and the expanded use of high-technology assays for rapid determination of resistance. MDR cases are treatable and well designed regimens, largely based on second-line anti-TB drugs, can considerably improve cure rates. However treatment regimen need to be markedly improved through the introduction of less toxic and more powerful drugs, thus reducing duration of treatment and tolerability. The prevalence of MDR-TB and XDR-TB are inversely correlated with the quality of TB control and the proper use of second line anti-TB drugs. Adherence to proper standards of care and control is imperative and a top priority of all TB control efforts. However, the risk of an un-controllable epidemic of MDR- and XDR-TB is real considering current levels of financing and commitment to care.

Frequency of infectious diseases in immigrants in a Western European country: a population-based study.

The aim of this population-based study was to assess the incidence rates of infectious diseases in native- (Italian) and foreign-born (immigrants) populations in a North Italy area, in 2006-2010. Crude, age-specific incidence rates (IRs) and age-standardised rate ratios (SRRs) between foreign- and native-born subjects and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. A total of 32,554 cases of infectious diseases were found (9.9% in foreign-born subjects). The highest SRRs between foreign- and nativeborn subjects were found for tuberculosis (SRR = 27.1; 95% CI 21.3-34.3), malaria (SRR = 21.1; 14.6-30.4), scabies (SRR = 8.5; 7.6-9.4), AIDS (SRR = 2.5; 1.8-3.4) and viral hepatitis B (SRR = 3.3; 2.1-5.2). The highest IR was found for AIDS in people from the Americas (IR = 4.57; 95% CI 2.2-8.4), for malaria and tuberculosis in people from Africa (IR = 13.89; 11.6-16.5 and IR = 11.87; 9.8-14.3 respectively). Therefore immigrants are at a higher risk of acquiring some common infectious diseases compared to the native population in Western European countries.

Not a good buy: value for money of prescription drugs sold on the internet.

In this note we study the value for money of purchases of fluoxetine made through on-line pharmacies without prescription. We show that this channel is not good value from an economic point of view and that it can be dangerous in medical terms because of the poor quality of the drugs received and the lack of prescribing instructions.