Vaccination coverage in healthcare workers: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Italy.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, a phenomenon known as "vaccine hesitancy" has spread throughout the world, even among health workers, determining a reduction in vaccination coverage (VC).A study aimed at evaluating VC among healthcare workers (HCWs) in 10 Italian cities (L'Aquila, Genoa, Milan, Palermo, Sassari, Catanzaro, Ferrara, Catania, Naples, Messina) was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Annex 3 of the Presidential Decree n. 445 of 28 December 2000 was used to collect information on the vaccination status of HCWs. The mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated with regard to the quantitative variable (age), while absolute and relative frequencies were obtained for categorical data (sex, professional profile, working sector, vaccination status). The connection between VC and the categorical variables was evaluated by chi-square method (statistical significance at p < 0.05). The statistical analyses were performed by SPSS and Stata software. RESULTS: A total of 3,454 HCWs participated in the project: 1,236 males and 2,218 females.The sample comprised: physicians (26.9%), trainee physicians (16.1%), nurses (17.2%) and other professional categories (9.8%). Low VC was generally recorded. Higher VC was found with regard to polio, hepatitis B, tetanus and diphtheria, while coverage was very low for measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, chickenpox and influenza (20-30%). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed low VC rates among HCWs for all the vaccinations. Measures to increase VC are therefore necessary in order to prevent HCWs from becoming a source of transmission of infections with high morbidity and/or mortality both within hospitals and outside.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy in non-operable lung cancer patients

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Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and bladder preservation in locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of bladder preservation as well as the utility of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for invasive bladder cancer are controversial issues. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of neo-adjuvant M-VAC chemotherapy and bladder preservation in patients with locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven consecutive evaluable patients with T2-T4aNxM0 TCC of the bladder were treated with three cycles of neo-adjuvant M-VAC chemotherapy. After three cycles of M-VAC, 42 patients had TURB alone, 13 patients underwent partial cystectomy, and 32 patients were to undergo radical cystectomy. RESULTS: Forty (51%) patients were T0 at the TURB following M-VAC. Thirty (71%) patients who had chemotherapy and TURB alone are alive; at a median follow-up of 54+ months (8(+)-109+). Twenty-four (57%) have maintained an intact bladder. Of 13 responding patients with monofocal lesions who underwent partial cystectomy, 8 patients (62%) are alive with a functioning bladder, at a median follow-up of 80+ months (16-107+ months). At a follow-up of 32 months (7-121+ months), 20 (63%) patients in the radical cystectomy group are alive. In patients who had downstaging to T0 or superficial disease, median follow-up is 55 months (10-121+ months) and five-year survival is 71%. Patients who failed to respond (T2 or greater after chemotherapy), at a median follow-up of 24 months (7-103+ months), had five-year survival of only 29%. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder sparing in selected patients on the basis of response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is a feasible approach which must be confirmed in prospective randomized trials.

[Minor and major work accidents in a Puglia business in the food sector: a 10-year study]. / Infortuni sul lavoro minori e maggiori in una azienda pugliese del settore alimentare: uno studio decennale.

At present no official data are available for those occupational accidents which, according to current law, are not subject to notification to the Italian National Institute for Insurance of Occupational Accidents (INAIL) and which are conventionally called "minor" accidents. They can be divided into accidents with prognosis from 1 to 3 days (franchises) and accidents which do not cause absence from work (medications). The already mentioned lack of data, which is not confined to Italy, is reflected in the small number of articles published in Italian and international journals. Also information regarding the possible relationships between "minor" accidents and the life habits of injured workers, are rare. The aim of this study was to provide detailed data on the characteristics of the different kinds of occupational accidents occurring in a food factory in Apulia, southern Italy, from 1985 to 1994, as well as to verify whether any relationship existed between the different types of occupational accidents and the consumption of cigarettes and alcohol by injured workers. The company's accident register yielded data on injuries which caused absence from work; the nursing service register provided information about accidents which did not determine absence from work; personal health documents gave details of worker life habits; and the company pay roll showed the amount of "worked hours". "Minor" accidents represented 70% of all accidents occurring during the ten year period studied. "Blue collars" had more frequent and serious occupational injuries, in comparison with "technical employees". "Minor" accidents, and especially "medications", occurred more frequently during one-shift work than during three-shift work. As work seniority increased, the number of "major" accidents decreased and number of accidents without absence from work rose. Contusions were the most frequent lesions and were responsible for the majority of the 3 kinds of accidents. "Medications"" together with injuries notified to INAIL ("major" accidents), mostly involved upper limbs; "franchises" were mostly head interested. About 50% of all causes of occupational accidents were mainly associated with unsafe environmental and working situations, whereas the remaining 50% were mainly associated with unsafe behaviour by workers. Heavy smokers showed a higher frequency of "major" accidents. As alcohol consumption rose, she did number of accidents with absence from work. "Minor" accidents, particularly the "medicated" ones, represented the greatest part of occupational injuries. All the considered causes and circumstances contributed to determine the different kinds of accidents. Thereby, it appears necessary for prevention purposes to obtain information about any kind of injury in the different manufacturing sectors. Finally, it seems dutiful to inform workers about the relationships between life habits and occupational accidents.

Antiphospholipid-protein antibodies are not an uncommon feature in retinal venous occlusions.

The Primary Antiphospholipid Protein Syndrome (PAPS) is characterised by venous and/or arterial thromboses and recurrent foetal loss, in the presence of the Lupus Anticoagulant (LA), elevated antibodies to cardiolipin (ACA) or both. This investigation evaluates the relation between the PAPS and Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO). Forty-eight consecutive patients with RVO were screened for ACA and LA. PAPS was present in 16 (33%) of the patients. Our results suggest that testing Antiphospholipid-Protein Antibodies (APA) may be useful in these patients, together with the assessment of other vascular risk factors.

Neoadjuvant M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin) chemotherapy and bladder preservation for muscle-infiltrating transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

A group of 66 patients with locally advanced T2-T4 NOMO TCC of the bladder were treated with three cycles of neo-adjuvant M-VAC chemotherapy. Of 65 evaluable patients, 18 (28%) were T2, 22 (34%) were T3a, 21 (33%) were T3b, and 4 (6%) were T4a. Patients were restaged clinically by repeat CT scan and TURB and were to undergo pathologic staging. Partial cystectomy was to be performed in patients with initial monofocal lesions who responded to therapy. As the study evolved, many patients who responded to M-VAC underwent clinical restaging only. Clinical response incorporated the results of the CT scan, cytology, and TURB. The overall clinical response rate was 82%. A cCr was attained in 28 of the 65 (43%) patients, and 25 of the 65 (38%) patients attained a cPR; 7 patients (11%) had stable disease, and 5 (8%) had progression. The median follow-up is 36(+) months (6(+)-78(+) months). The overall survival for all patients is 82% at 2 years, and 3 year survival is 73%. Of 65 patients, 44 (68%) were managed with conservative therapy (TURB or partial cystectomy). Of 44, 34 (77%) are alive, 28 (64%) with a functional bladder. Patients who had downstaging of their tumors to absence of disease (TO) or superficial disease have 2 and 3 year survival of 86 and 83%. For patients with muscle-infiltrating tumors after M-VAC, 2 and 3 year survival is 89 and 32%. Of 65 patients treated in this study, 28 (43%) have conserved normal bladder function. Response to chemotherapy may be the most important predictor of survival. Although bladder conservation is feasible in selected patients, they remain at risk for recurrence.

Neoadjuvant M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) for infiltrating transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

BACKGROUND: Based on the excellent results with combination chemotherapy such as M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) in patients with advanced disease, neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been advocated to improve survival and in some cases to permit bladder conservation. METHODS: A Phase II study of neoadjuvant M-VAC chemotherapy was performed in patients with T2-T4N0M0 bladder tumors. After clinical staging, three cycles of M-VAC were given. After patients underwent postchemotherapy clinical restaging, pathologic restaging (partial or radical cystectomy) was planned. RESULTS: Forty-six patients are evaluable. A clinical response was attained in 78%. Six patients (13%) had stable disease, and four (9%) had progression. After chemotherapy, 17 patients underwent radical cystectomy, none of whom were pTO. In this group, 10 of the 17 (59%) are alive at a median follow-up of 37+ months (range, 8-62+ months). Eleven patients had a partial cystectomy; 7 of the 11 (64%) are alive, 6 (55%) with a preserved bladder. Eighteen patients had clinical restaging only, and did not have pathologic staging. Median follow-up for this group is 36+ months (11-65+ months). Twenty-one of the 29 (72%) patients managed with conservative surgery or transurethral resection of the bladder alone are alive with a functional bladder. Median survival for all patients has not yet been reached. Two-year survival is 82%, and 3-year survival is 70%. CONCLUSIONS: The current study is of interest in terms of bladder conservation. Assessment of the true success of any bladder-preserving treatment will require longer follow-up.

Vasoactive effects of buflomedil assessed by fluorescein angiography.

The vascular effects of buflomedil were studied by retinal fluorescein angiography carried out before (control) and after the intravenous infusion of buflomedil (250 mg in 15 min) in patients with different pathological conditions of retinal circulation. Sequential photograms, taken every 36 sec from the 10th sec after the start of the fluorescein injection, showed differences in circulation times between the two sequences in 9 (75%) out of 12 patients. Arterial phase and early venous phase differences were evident, with a mean delay after buflomedil of 3.24 +/- 2.35 sec and 3.22 +/- 2.58 sec, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the time to venous filling completion, with a mean delay of 6.99 +/- 5.19 sec after buflomedil. It is considered that the delay in the retinal arterial phase is related to the arm-retina circulation time, and the slowing down in venous filling is related to a lengthened circulation in the capillary bed.

[Crystalluria during prophylactic treatment of urinary lithiasis with allopurinol, hydrochlorothiazide, manganese oxide, diphosphonates and propionohydroxamic acid]. / Etude de la cristallurie lors du traitement prophylactique de la lithiase urinaire par l'allopurinol, l'hydrochlorothiazide, l'oxyde de manganèse, les diphosphonates et l'acide proprionohydroxamique.

The study of cristalluria was used as a method to evaluate the severity of nephrolithiasis and the efficacy of different drug therapies. The number and dimensions of urinary crystals as well as the number of crystal aggregates, were determined in patients with infected calcium or uric acid nephrolithiasis. Crystalluria was studied before therapy and at 6 and 12 months during treatment. Marked reduction of crystalluria in patients with uric acid stones treated with allopurinol and in patients with infected stones treated with antibiotics and propionohydroxamic acid (PHA) was observed. Reduction of crystalluria in the group of patients treated with antibiotics alone was lower. We stress usefulness of the study of crystalluria in stone formers, which is also relatively easy to carry out.