Systematic Tuberculosis Screening in Asylum Seekers in Italy.

The preliminary findings of a tuberculosis (TB) screening of asylum seekers performed in a reception center located in northern Italy reveal a post-entry screening prevalence rate of 535 per 100000 individuals screened. This result shows that systematic use of chest radiography is a useful tool for active TB screening among asylum seekers in Italy.

Extension of the target age range of mammography screening programme and governance of mammography practice in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy). / Estensione dell'età-bersaglio del programma di screening mammografico e governo della pratica mammografica in Emilia-Romagna.

"OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the effectiveness of the regional law No.1035 enacted in 2009 by the local government of the Emilia- Romagna Region (Northern Italy) with the purpose of revising the rules of access to breast-care services. The law dictated the extension of the organised mammography screening programme to women aged 45-49 and 70-74 years in order to decrease their spontaneous screening rates and, thus, the waiting times for the access to diagnostic mammography by women of all ages. DESIGN: study of time trends (joinpoint regression analysis and before/ after analysis) in annual percent mammography rates and in waiting times for access to clinical radiology facilities (2006-2014) among resident women. The information was taken from the regional Department of Health. SETTING: public and accredited private radiology facilities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: age-specific and waiting-time-specific (months) percent rates of organised screening mammography, spontaneous screening mammography, and diagnostic mammography. RESULTS: following the regional law No.1035, screening rates among women aged 45-49 and 70-74 years reached levels comparable to those attained by women aged 50-69 years. Spontaneous screening rates dropped and waiting times for spontaneous screening mammography (women aged 40-44 years) were cut. For diagnostic mammography, the rates remained stable, except for a decrease among women aged 35-39 and 45-49 years, and waiting times decreased in a constant manner over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: the above-mentioned law met most of its goals. Comprehensive programmes regulating mammography practice at the population level can be effective."

Promotion of Pre- and Post-Transplant Physical Exercise in the Emilia-Romagna Region: The Network of the Program "Transplantation, Physical Activity, and Sport".

BACKGROUND: Following the positive experience of the national project "A transplant...and now it's time for sport," the Transplant Reference Center of the Emilia-Romagna Region has pursued the promotion of pre- and post-transplant physical exercise by developing a network. METHODS: The path involved the transplant centers and operative units (UU.OO) who wanted to target transplant and waiting list patients, who are clinically stable, to perform personalized exercise through a program (supervised or not) prescribed by a specialist in sports medicine. With the collaboration of the Collective Prevention and Public Health Service, the network was established, consisting of the sports medicine centers and the gyms that promote health for adapted physical activity (PS-AMA). To implement the network, training courses for all the professionals involved (doctors, nurses, exercise specialists) and operational meetings in the transplant centers-nephrology units with patients' associations have been organized. RESULTS: To date, there are 14 transplant centers and UU.OO, 9 sports medicine centers, and 45 PS-AMA involved in this network. Seven training courses were organized with the participation of 193 health professionals. Since January 2016, there have been 65 transplanted patients and 5 patients on the waiting list who practice the prescribed exercise. Of these, 45 carry out supervised exercise in PS-AMA; 25 perform autonomous exercise. Each patient is monitored every 6 months. No problems related to the exercise performance were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a network of professionals and associations is the key element to raise awareness of physical activity among transplanted and waiting-for-transplant patients, reducing the pathologies associated with a sedentary lifestyle.