In September 2011 the European Medical Agency authorized the use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in adults aged ≥50 years. The same occurred in the US in December 2011 when the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of PCV13 in the same target age-group with indication for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal diseases and community acquired pneumonia sustained by the serotypes contained in the vaccine. The Liguria Region, in Italy, implemented in 2013 an active and free of charge immunization strategy with PCV13 among adults affected by specific risk conditions and the elderly aged ≥70 years.An observational study was performed in order to assess the safety and tolerability of PCV13 among elderly dwelling in the metropolitan area of Genoa, the capital city of Liguria Region. Eligible subjects, who received PCV13 following the public health immunization campaign at the Local Health Unit 3 of Genoa, provided a written informed consent to take part in the study. Eight-hundred-seventy-one subjects were enrolled between October 2013 and May 2014: all were monitored by qualified healthcare personnel for at least 30 min after vaccination at the outpatient clinics, in order to assess any possible sudden reaction. The occurrence of a series of local and systemic solicited reactions and of any unsolicited Adverse Events (AEs) was monitored using a self-administered clinical diary and by regular phone contacts up to 14 and 21 d following immunization, respectively. Moreover, a 6-months follow-up following vaccination was planned in order to monitor Severe Adverse Events (SAEs).No sudden reaction occurred in vaccinees at the outpatient clinics. Pain (27.4%) was the most frequent reaction reported by subjects at the injection site, while new muscle pain (13.6%), fatigue (10.7%), and headache (9.9%) resulted the most common systemic reactions. Rates of the main reactions reported in this on-field study resulted generally lower than those registered in clinical trials performed in the elderly. The incidence of fever (2.2%) following vaccination was low at values superimposable to that reported in previous studies.This observational study showed a good safety and tolerability of PCV13 among the elderly in routine clinical practice further confirming the evidence coming from clinical trials in the same age-group.
Authors examine prophylaxis in fighting diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis over last fifty years and the results recently obtained in this field. They foresee improving sanitary conditions in the future of our country.
To evaluate, through active call, lifestyles of an asymptomatic population in order to identify hyperglycaemic subjects and/or high-blood pressure sufferers to dispatch to their GP to perform suitable checking, and subjects to invite to a cardiovascular disease prevention programme because of their lifestyles.Between April 2011 and March 2013, all healthy residents in 6 Local Health Authorities of Regione Veneto aged 45-59 years were invited to join a cardiovascular disease prevention programme.All participants were evaluated through an administered lifestyle questionnaire. Parameters such as blood pressure (BP), glycemia, waist circumference and body mass index were collected and recorded. Participants also received counseling, informational materials on lifestyle and were invited to individual or group health promotion initiatives in relation to personal risk factors.Among the invited, 60.84%(10,346/17,004) adhered. Subjects without risks factors were 23.95%. Subjects with lifestyle risk factors but normal BP and glycemia were 56.59%, while those with altered values for BP and glycemia were 13.9%. The 5.55% of the respondents was not eligible for the study.The results confirmthat a preventive programme based on the citizens active call by the Department of prevention could be an effective tool to identify asymptomatic individuals with unknown hypertension and/or hyperglycaemia and to offer lifestyle interventions to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Since the results were positive, the the Regional Veneto Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CCMR - Veneto) presented a similar project to the Ministry of Health, involving 12 Italian Regions.
There appears to be a lack of data regarding the effects on human health of Ostreopsis ovata, a marine dinoflagellate species usually living in tropical and subtropical areas but recently found with more and more frequency in the Mediterranean Sea.
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