How strong is the evidence supporting the WHO guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in early childhood?

BACKGROUND: The WHO issued recommendations about the ideal amount of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in infants, toddlers and preschool children. To facilitate their interpretation and translation into public health policies, we analysed the quantity and quality of the evidence that supported the development of each WHO recommendation. METHODS: All data for each exposure-outcome pair analysed in the studies informing WHO guidelines were extracted, and predefined criteria, based upon GRADE methodology, were used to classify each outcome and study result. RESULTS: Among the 237 studies that could be included, 37 were experimental and 200 were observational, yielding 920 analyses of exposure-outcome associations. Sixty-two analyses used a relevant outcome, with or without significant results. Five of the 10 WHO recommendations were based upon zero analyses with significant results on relevant health outcomes. The remaining recommendations were mostly based upon analyses evaluating obesity-related outcomes. Eight of the 10 GLs thresholds were not supported by any significant analysis on clinically relevant outcomes. CONCLUSION: While these findings should not be interpreted as an attempt to disprove the benefits of healthy lifestyle habits in early childhood, neither to minimize the work of the experts in this complex research field, very limited evidence currently supports the adoption of recommended thresholds as behavioural surveillance and public health interventions targets. Therefore, until further data are available, public health interventions should be developed balancing whether to focus on the achievement of specific targets that are still not supported by high-quality evidence or on the general promotion of healthy behaviours.

Immunogenicity, Safety and Efficacy of the Dengue Vaccine TAK-003: A Meta-Analysis.

The TAK-003 dengue vaccine was licensed in Europe in December 2022, and the official recommendations from most EU countries are still under formulation. To support policymakers, we performed a meta-analysis to quantify TAK-003's immunogenicity, efficacy and safety among seronegative and seropositive populations after the administration of one or two vaccine doses. We included trials retrieved from MEDLINE, Scopus and ClinicalTrials.gov. The outcomes were the rates of seroconversion, virologically confirmed dengue fever and serious adverse events after each vaccine dose. Data were combined using random-effect proportion or head-to-head meta-analyses. We retrieved a total of 19 datasets, including >20,000 participants. TAK-003 showed an excellent safety profile, and the immunogenicity after two doses against the four DENV serotypes was ≥90% among both adults and children/adolescents who were either seronegative or seropositive at baseline. A single dose was able to elicit a high immunogenic response among adults (≥70%) and children/adolescents (≥90%). The primary two-dose immunization course halved the risk of all types of virologically confirmed dengue fever among seropositive children/adolescents, but seronegative minors were only protected against the diseases caused by DENV-1 and DENV-2. Overall, the results support the use of TAK-003 for the prevention of dengue fever in the pediatric population of endemic countries. Uncertainties remain on the use of a single vaccine dose in non-endemic countries.

Peptide-Based Hydrogel for Nanosystems Encapsulation: the Next Generation of Localized Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Intestinal Inflammations.

Conventional therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases are mainly based on systemic treatments which cause side effects and toxicity over long-term administration. Nanoparticles appear as a valid alternative to allow a preferential accumulation in inflamed tissues following oral administration while reducing systemic drug exposure. To increase their residence time in the inflamed intestine, the nanoparticles are here associated with a hydrogel matrix. A bioadhesive peptide-based hydrogel is mixed with nanoemulsions, creating a hybrid lipid-polymer nanocomposite. Mucopenetrating nanoemulsions of 100 nm are embedded in a scaffold constituted of the self-assembling peptide hydrogel product PuraStat. The nanocomposite is fully characterized to study the impact of lipid particles in the hydrogel structure. Rheological measurements and circular dichroism analyses are performed to investigate the system's microstructure and physical properties. Biodistribution studies demonstrate that the nanocomposite acts as a depot in the stomach and facilitates the slow release of the nanoemulsions in the intestine. Efficacy studies upon oral administration of the drug-loaded system show the improvement of the disease score in a mouse model of intestinal inflammation.

Impact of the Italian Healthcare Outcomes Program (PNE) on the Care Quality of the Poorest Performing Hospitals.

One of the main aims of the Italian National Healthcare Outcomes Program (Programma Nazionale Esiti, PNE) is the identification of the hospitals with the lowest performance, leading them to improve their quality. In order to evaluate PNE impact for a subset of outcome indicators, we evaluated whether the performance of the hospitals with the lowest scores in 2016 had significantly improved after five years. The eight indicators measured the risk-adjusted likelihood of the death of each patient (adjusted relative risk-RR) 30 days after the admission for acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, femur fracture or lung and colon cancer. In 2016, the PNE identified 288 hospitals with a very low performance in at least one of the selected indicators. Overall, 51.0% (n = 147) of these hospitals showed some degree of improvement in 2021, and 27.4% of them improved so much that the death risk of their patients fell below the national mean value. In 34.7% of the hospitals, however, the patients still carried a mean risk of death >30% higher than the average Italian patient with the same disease. Only 38.5% of the hospitals in Southern Italy improved the scores of the selected indicators, versus 68.0% in Northern and Central Italy. Multivariate analyses, adjusting for the baseline performance in 2016, confirmed univariate results and showed a significantly lower likelihood of improvement with increasing hospital volume. Despite the overall methodological validity of the PNE system, current Italian policies and actions aimed at translating hospital quality scores into effective organizational changes need to be reinforced with a special focus on larger southern regions.

Developing a Strategy for COVID-19 Control Among Hard-to-Reach Migrant Communities: The Experience of Roma 2 Local Health Authority.

Roma 2 Local Health Authority (ASL) developed a strategy to control the COVID-19 epidemic in Hard-to-reach (HTR) migrant communities, addressing both the containment of clusters in informal settlements and access to COVID-19 vaccination. The strategy was based on a strong collaboration of different services across the ASL and with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). NGOs were involved in the active surveillance, reporting of COVID-19 suspected cases to the ASL and information to the communities. Health interventions (e.g., COVID-19 tests, contact tracing, vaccination) were offered in outreach in HTR communities' life places. From April 2020 to February 2021, 15 outbreaks were controlled, for a total of over 4,500 persons reached, and 265 COVID-19 cases identified. From July to November 2021, vaccinations were offered in outreach or with dedicated sessions, reaching 1,398 people. This intervention model may lay the foundations for the design of public health strategies, not only aimed at HTR populations.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection 3 Years after the Start of the Pandemic: A Population-Level Observational Study.

The risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections changes as new variants emerge, but the follow-up time for most of the available evidence is shorter than two years. This study evaluated SARS-CoV-2 reinfection rates in the total population of an Italian province up to three years since the pandemic's start. This retrospective cohort study used official National Healthcare System data on SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccinations, demographics, and hospitalizations in the Province of Pescara, Italy, from 2 March 2020 to 31 December 2022. A total of 6541 (5.4%) reinfections and 33 severe and 18 lethal COVID-19 cases were recorded among the 121,412 subjects who recovered from a primary infection. There were no severe events following reinfection in the young population, whereas 1.1% of reinfected elderly died. A significantly higher reinfection risk was observed among females; unvaccinated individuals; adults (30-59 y); and subjects with hypertension, COPD, and kidney disease. Up to three years after a primary SARS-CoV-2 infection, the majority of the population did not experience a reinfection. The risk of severe COVID-19 following a reinfection was very low for young and adult individuals but still high for the elderly. The subjects with hybrid immunity showed a lower reinfection risk than the unvaccinated.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment: A Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis of observational studies aimed at estimating the overall prevalence of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in subjects with a clinical diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). MedLine, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched, and random-effect meta-analyses of proportions were stratified by spirometry criteria (Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) or Lower Limit of Normal (LLN)), and setting (hospital or primary care). Forty-two studies were included. Combining the data from 39 datasets, including a total of 23,765 subjects, the pooled prevalence of COPD overdiagnosis, according to the GOLD definition, was 42.0% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 37.3-46.8%). The pooled prevalence according to the LLN definition was 48.2% (40.6-55.9%). The overdiagnosis rate was higher in primary care than in hospital settings. Fourteen studies, including a total of 8183 individuals, were included in the meta-analysis estimating the prevalence of COPD overtreatment. The pooled rates of overtreatment according to GOLD and LLN definitions were 57.1% (40.9-72.6%) and 36.3% (17.8-57.2%), respectively. When spirometry is not used, a large proportion of patients are erroneously diagnosed with COPD. Approximately half of them are also incorrectly treated, with potential adverse effects and a massive inefficiency of resources allocation. Strategies to increase the compliance to current guidelines on COPD diagnosis are urgently needed.

Predictors of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severe and Lethal COVID-19 after Three Years of Follow-Up: A Population-Wide Study.

In this cohort study, the general population of an Italian Province was followed for three years after the start of the pandemic, in order to identify the predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe or lethal COVID-19. All the National Healthcare System information on biographical records, vaccinations, SARS-CoV-2 swabs, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and co-pay exemptions were extracted from 25 February 2020 to 15 February 2023. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to compute the relative hazards of infection and severe or lethal COVID-19, adjusting for age, gender, vaccine status, hypertension, diabetes, major cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease or cancer. Among the 300,079 residents or domiciled citizens, 41.5% had ≥1 positive swabs during the follow-up (which lasted a mean of 932 days). A total of 3.67% of the infected individuals experienced severe COVID-19 (n = 4574) and 1.76% died (n = 2190). Females, the elderly and subjects with diabetes, CVD, COPD, kidney disease and cancer showed a significantly higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The likelihood of severe or lethal COVID-19 was >90% lower among the youngest, and all comorbidities were independently associated with a higher risk (ranging from +28% to +214%) of both outcomes. Two years after the start of the immunization campaign, the individuals who received ≥2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines still showed a significantly lower likelihood of severe or lethal disease, with the lowest risk observed among subjects who received at least one booster dose.

State of the Art on Family and Community Health Nursing International Theories, Models and Frameworks: A Scoping Review.

A Family and Community Health Nursing (FCHN) model was first conceptualized by the WHO approximately 25 years ago in response to the epidemiological transition leading to major changes in the population health needs. To date, no study has comprehensively explored the adherence of current applications of FCHN to the WHO original framework. We carried out a scoping review on PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL with the aim to compare the main features of FCHN models developed at the international level with the WHO's framework. We identified 23 studies: 12 models, six service/program descriptions, four statements and one theoretical model. The FCHN models appear to focus primarily on sick individuals and their family, mainly providing direct care and relying on Interaction, Developmental and Systems Theories. While these features fit the WHO framework, others elements of the original model are poorly represented: the involvement of FCHN in prevention activities is scarce, especially in primary and secondary prevention, and little attention is paid to the health needs of the whole population. In conclusion, current applications of FCHN show a partial adherence to the WHO framework: population approaches should be strengthened in current FCHN models, with a stronger involvement of nurses in primary and secondary prevention.

COVID-19 Vaccination Effectiveness in the General Population of an Italian Province: Two Years of Follow-Up.

We carried out a cohort study on the overall population of the province of Pescara, Italy, to assess the real-world effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination against infection, severe, or lethal COVID-19, two years after the start of the vaccination campaign. We included all the resident or domiciled subjects, and extracted the official demographic, vaccination, COVID-19, hospital and co-pay exemption datasets from 1 January 2021, up to 15 February 2023. Cox proportional hazards analyses were adjusted for gender, age, diabetes, hypertension, COPD, major cardio- and cerebrovascular events, cancer, and kidney diseases. Throughout the follow-up (466 days on average), 186,676 subjects received greater than or equal to three vaccine doses (of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, NVX-CoV2373, or JNJ-78436735), 47,610 two doses, 11,452 one dose, and 44,989 none. Overall, 40.4% of subjects were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Of them, 2.74% had severe or lethal (1.30%) COVID-19. As compared to the unvaccinated, the individuals who received greater than or equal to one booster dose showed a ≥85% lower risk of severe or lethal COVID-19. A massive impact of vaccination was found among the elderly: 22.0% of the unvaccinated, infected individuals died, as opposed to less than 3% of those who received greater than or equal to three vaccine doses. No protection against infection was observed, although this finding was certainly influenced by the Italian restriction policies to control the pandemic. Importantly, during the Omicron predominance period, only the group who received at least a booster dose showed a reduced risk of COVID-19-related death.

COVID-19 Contact Tracing Strategies During the First Wave of the Pandemic: Systematic Review of Published Studies.

BACKGROUND: Contact tracing (CT) represented one of the core activities for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in the early phase of the pandemic. Several guidance documents were developed by international public health agencies and national authorities on the organization of COVID-19 CT activities. While most research on CT focused on the use digital tools or relied on modelling techniques to estimate the efficacy of interventions, poor evidence is available on the real-world implementation of CT strategies and on the organizational models adopted during the initial phase of the emergency to set up CT activities. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide a comprehensive picture of the organizational aspects of CT activities during the first wave of the pandemic through the systematic identification and description of CT strategies used in different settings during the period from March to June 2020. METHODS: A systematic review of published studies describing organizational models of COVID-19 CT strategies developed in real-world settings was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched. Studies not providing a description of the organizational aspects of CT strategies and studies reporting or modelling theoretical strategies or focusing on the description of digital technologies' properties were excluded. Quality of reporting was assessed by using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication Checklist for Population Health and Policy. We developed a narrative synthesis, using a conceptual framework to map the extracted studies broken down by target population. RESULTS: We retrieved a total of 1638 studies, of which 17 were included in the narrative synthesis; 7 studies targeted the general population and 10 studies described CT activities carried out in specific population subgroups. Our review identified some common elements across studies used to develop CT activities, including decentralization of CT activities, involvement of trained nonpublic health resources (eg, university students or civil servants), use of informatics tools for CT management, interagency collaboration, and community engagement. CT strategies implemented in the workplace envisaged a strong collaboration with occupational health services. Outreach activities were shown to increase CT efficiency in susceptible groups, such as people experiencing homelessness. Data on the effectiveness of CT strategies are scarce, with only few studies reporting on key performance indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of systematically collected data on CT effectiveness, our findings can provide some indication for the future planning and development of CT strategies for infectious disease control, mainly in terms of coordination mechanisms and the use of human and technical resources needed for the rapid development of CT activities. Further research on the organizational models of CT strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic would be required to contribute to a more robust evidence-making process.

Alginate-pectin microparticles loaded with nanoemulsions as nanocomposites for wound healing.

This work combines natural polymers with nanoemulsions (NEs) to formulate nanocomposites as an innovative wound dressing. Spray-drying has been used to produce alginate-pectin in situ gelling powders as carriers for NEs loaded with curcumin (CCM), a model antimicrobial drug. The influence of NEs encapsulation in polymer-based microparticles was studied in terms of particle size distribution, morphology, and stability after spray-drying. NEs loading did not affect the size of microparticles which was around 3.5 µm, while the shape and surface morphology analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) changed from irregular to spherical. Nanocomposites as dried powders were able to form a gel in less than 5 min when in contact with simulated wound fluid (SWF), while the value of moisture transmission of the in situ formed hydrogels allowed to promote good wound transpiration. Moreover, rheologic analyses showed that in situ formed gels loaded with NEs appeared more elastic than blank formulations. The in situ formed gel allowed the prolonged release of CCM-loaded NEs in the wound bed, reaching 100% in 24 h. Finally, powders cytocompatibility was confirmed by incubation with keratinocyte cells (HaCaT), proving that such nanocomposites can be considered a potential candidate for wound dressings.

The association between adherence to cancer screening programs and health literacy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effectiveness of a cancer screening program relies on its adherence rate. Health literacy (HL) has been investigated among the factors that could influence such participation, but the findings are not always consistent. The aim of this meta-analysis was to summarize the evidence between having an adequate level of HL (AHL) and adherence to cancer screening programs. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Cross-sectional studies, conducted in any country, that provided raw data, unadjusted or adjusted odds ratio (OR) on the associations of interest were included. The quality of the studies was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Inverse-variance random effects methods were used to produce pooled ORs and their associated confidence interval (CI) stratified by time interval (e.g., undergoing screening in the last period, or at least once during lifetime) for each cancer type, considering unadjusted and adjusted estimates separately. A sensitivity analysis was performed for those studies providing more estimates. Overall, 15 articles of average-to-good quality were pooled. We found a significant association between AHL and higher screening participation for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer, independently of other factors, both overall (N = 7, aOR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.27-2.36; N = 3, aOR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.30-2.09; and N = 5, aOR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.12-1.39, respectively) and in most time-stratified analyses. The sensitivity analyses confirmed these results. Health literacy seems to be critical for an effective cancer prevention. Given the high prevalence of illiterate people across the world, a long-term action plan is needed.

How Public Health Professionals View Mandatory Vaccination in Italy-A Cross-Sectional Survey.

In response to the decline in child vaccination coverage and the subsequent occurrence of large vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, in 2017 Italy introduced a new law that made ten vaccines mandatory for children aged 0-16 years. The policy change initiated an ongoing debate among the general public, as well as in the political arena and the scientific community, over this major public health concern. Hence, we conducted a survey aimed at assessing Italian public health professionals' attitudes towards and opinions on mandatory vaccination. A validated online questionnaire was administered to 1350 members of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Among the 1044 responders (response rate 77%), a large majority were in favour of the Italian mandatory vaccination law (91%) and against its repeal (74%). Nevertheless, according to our sample, maintaining a high level of vaccination coverage without the need to mandate would be preferable, and thus efforts to promote vaccine confidence and proactive vaccine uptake are still needed.

Nanocomposite sponges for enhancing intestinal residence time following oral administration.

In this work, nanocomposites that combine mucopenetrating and mucoadhesive properties in a single system are proposed as innovative strategy to increase drug residence time in the intestine following oral administration. To this aim, novel mucoadhesive chitosan (CH) sponges loaded with mucopenetrating nanoemulsions (NE) were developed via freeze-casting technique. The NE mucopenetration ability was determined studying the surface affinity and thermodynamic binding of the nanosystem with mucins. The ability of nanoparticles to penetrate across a preformed mucins layer was validated by 3D-time laps Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy imaging. Microscopy observations (Scanning Electron Microscopy and Optical Microscopy) showed that NE participated in the structure of the sponge affecting its stability and in vitro release kinetics. When incubated with HCT 116 and Caco-2 cell lines, the NE proved to be cytocompatible over a wide concentration range. Finally, the in vivo biodistribution of the nanocomposite was evaluated after oral gavage in healthy mice. The intestinal retention of NE was highly enhanced when loaded in the sponge compared to the NE suspension. Overall, our results demonstrated that the developed nanocomposite sponge is a promising system for sustained drug intestinal delivery.

Supersaturable self-microemulsifying delivery systems: an approach to enhance oral bioavailability of benzimidazole anticancer drugs.

This study explored the design of supersaturable self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (S-SMEDDS) to address poor solubility and oral bioavailability of a novel benzimidazole derivative anticancer drug (BI). Firstly, self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems SMEDDS made of Miglyol® 812, Kolliphor® RH40, Transcutol® HP, and ethanol were prepared and loaded with the BI drug. Upon dispersion, the systems formed neutrally charged droplets of around 20 nm. However, drug precipitation was observed following incubation with simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2). Aiming at reducing this precipitation and enhancing drug payload, supersaturable systems were then prepared by adding 1% hydroxypropyl cellulose as precipitation inhibitor. Supersaturable systems maintained a higher amount of drug in a supersaturated state in gastric medium compared with conventional formulations and were stable in simulated intestinal medium (pH 6.8). In vitro cell studies using Caco-2 cell line showed that these formulations reduced in a transient manner the transepithelial electrical resistance of the monolayers without toxicity. Accordingly, confocal images revealed that the systems accumulated at tight junctions after a 2 h exposure. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies carried out following oral administration of BI-loaded S-SMEDDS, SMEDDS, and free drug to healthy mice showed that supersaturable systems promoted drug absorption compared with the other formulations. Overall, these data highlight the potential of using the supersaturable approach as an alternative to conventional SMEDDS for improving oral systemic absorption of lipophilic drugs.

Nanocomposite systems for precise oral delivery of drugs and biologics.

Oral delivery is considered the favoured route of administration for both local and systemic delivery of active molecules. Formulation of drugs in conventional systems and nanoparticles has provided opportunities for targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, increasing drug solubility and bioavailability. Despite the achievements of these delivery approaches, the development of a product with the ability of delivering drug molecules at a specific site and according to patients' needs remains a challenging endeavour. The complexity of the physicochemical properties of colloidal systems, their stability in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract, and interaction with the restrictive biological barriers hampered their success for oral precise medicine. To overcome these issues, nanoparticles have been combined with polymers to create hybrid nanosystems, namely nanocomposites. They offer enormous possibilities of structural and mechanical modifications to both nanoparticles and polymeric matrixes to generate systems with new properties, functions, and applications for oral delivery. In this review, nanocomposites' physicochemical and functional properties intended to target specific regions of the GI tract-oral cavity, stomach, small bowel, and colon-are analysed. In parallel, it is provided an insight in the nanocomposite solutions for oral delivery intended for systemic and local absorption, together with a focus on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Additional difficulties in managing IBD related to the alteration in the physiology of the intestine are described. Finally, future perspectives and opportunities for advancement in this field are discussed.

Health assessment for migrants and asylum seekers upon arrival and while hosted in reception centres: Italian guidelines.

BACKGROUND: During 2016-17, national guidelines were developed in order to provide evidence-based recommendations on health assessments for migrants and asylum seekers upon their arrival in Italy. METHODS: Scientific literature published between 2005 and 2016 was searched in different databases. A free search was also performed on international organizations' websites in order to identify additional relevant documents. A multidisciplinary panel discussed the resulting evidence and formulated recommendations. RESULTS: Evidence-based recommendations were formulated: signs and symptoms of specific diseases should to be actively searched for active TB, malaria, STI, intestinal parasites, diabetes, anaemia. In case of other health conditions (latent TB, HIV, HBV, HCV, STI, strongyloides, schistosoma, diabetes), testing should be offered to asymptomatic subjects coming from endemic areas or exposed to risk factors. Mass screening is recommended for anaemia and hypertension; a pregnancy test should be considered, while inclusion in cervical cancer screening and vaccination programs is recommended. A modulated, progressive approach was developed, covering an initial evaluation during rescue operations, a full medical examination at first line reception stage and the referral to national health services during second line reception. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to produce and periodically update guidelines on these issues and local peculiarities should be taken into account in their design and implementation. Guidelines can not only support economic sustainability, but also counteract stigmatization dynamics.

Membrane Fluidity as a New Means to Selectively Target Cancer Cells with Fusogenic Lipid Carriers.

Lipid-based carriers such as liposomes represent one of the most advanced classes of drug delivery systems. Their clinical success relies on their composition, similar to that of the cell membrane. Their cellular specificity often relies on a ligand-receptor interaction. Although differences in the physicochemical properties of the cell membrane between tumor and nontumor cells have been reported, they are not systematically used for drug delivery purposes. In this report, a new approach was developed to ensure selective targeting based on physical compatibility between the target and the carrier membranes. By modulating the liposome composition and thus its membrane fluidity, we achieved selective targeting on four cancer cell lines of varying aggressiveness. Furthermore, using membrane-embedded and inner core-encapsulated fluorophores, we assessed the mechanism of this interaction to be based on the fusion of the liposome with the cell membranes. Membrane fluidity is therefore a major parameter to be considered when designing lipid drug carriers as a promising, lower cost alternative to current targeting strategies based on covalent grafting.

Genomics knowledge and attitudes among European public health professionals: Results of a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The international public health (PH) community is debating the opportunity to incorporate genomic technologies into PH practice. A survey was conducted to assess attitudes of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) members towards their role in the implementation of public health genomics (PHG), and their knowledge and attitudes towards genetic testing and the delivery of genetic services. METHODS: EUPHA members were invited via monthly newsletter and e-mail to take part in an online survey from February 2017 to January 2018. A descriptive analysis of knowledge and attitudes was conducted, along with a univariate and multivariate analysis of their determinants. RESULTS: Five hundred and two people completed the questionnaire, 17.9% were involved in PHG activities. Only 28.9% correctly identified all medical conditions for which there is (or not) evidence for implementing genetic testing; over 60% thought that investing in genomics may divert economic resources from social and environmental determinants of health. The majority agreed that PH professionals may play different roles in incorporating genomics into their activities. Better knowledge was associated with positive attitudes towards the use of genetic testing and the delivery of genetic services in PH (OR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.01-2.18). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed quite positive attitudes, but also a need to increase awareness on genomics among European PH professionals. Those directly involved in PHG activities tend to have a more positive attitude and better knowledge; however, gaps are also evident in this group, suggesting the need to harmonize practice and encourage greater exchange of knowledge among professionals.