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  • 1
    In: Vaccines, MDPI AG, Vol. 9, No. 10 ( 2021-09-29), p. 1107-
    Abstract: Background: Tdap and flu immunization in pregnancy has been proven to be both effective and safe. Despite this, the vaccination rate in pregnant women is low in Italy. The COVID-19 pandemic has focused the attention of public opinion on communicable diseases, underlining the importance of primary prevention measures such as vaccination. We conducted a survey to investigate the behavior of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding maternal immunization to identify the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in order to overcome them. The new challenge is COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, and preliminary data show hesitancy towards it. Our analysis may be useful to improve immunization in the pregnant population, including through the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: A targeted survey was performed in Italy including 520 women who experienced in the first trimester of pregnancy, prior to the novel coronavirus spread, the 2019–2020 influenza vaccination campaign and the Tdap vaccine recommendation in the third trimester during the COVID pandemic. They represent a unique model to investigate if the new coronavirus outbreak might have changed attitudes towards vaccination in pregnancy in the same patients. Data were collected from a self-completed paper questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were calculated and percentages were compared using the chi-2 test or Fisher’s exact test. Results: We obtained data from 195 of the 520 women who gave birth during the inclusion period; 325 cases declined to participate in the survey. A total of 8.7% (17 cases) performed flu vaccination in the first trimester of pregnancy (pre-COVID era), 50.8% (99 cases) accepted Tdap immunization during their third trimester of gestation (COVID-19 pandemic) and 6.7% (13 cases) received both vaccines during pregnancy. For both the flu and Tdap shots, pregnant patients were more likely to accept the vaccines if they were recommended by a healthcare provider, whereas the main reason not to be vaccinated was the lack of such a recommendation. Conclusions: Our survey shows that the COVID-19 experience, which has raised awareness as to the role of vaccines in preventable diseases, may positively change attitudes toward immunization in pregnancy. Vaccination must be recommended to all pregnant women and organized during routine prenatal care as an important element for the prevention of communicable diseases. Vaccination hesitancy can be minimized through consistent recommendation to all pregnant women offered by obstetric staff during routine prenatal care. This approach is likely to be effective in terms of building trust in flu and Tdpa immunization among pregnant women, as well as to avoid unjustified hesitancy towards the more recent COVID-19 vaccines.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2076-393X
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2021
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2703319-3
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  • 2
    In: Healthcare, MDPI AG, Vol. 9, No. 8 ( 2021-07-30), p. 965-
    Abstract: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent female cancer associated with excellent prognosis if diagnosed at an early stage. The risk factors on which clinical staging is based are constantly updated and genetic and epigenetic characteristics have recently been emerging as prognostic markers. The evidence shows that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a fundamental role in various biological processes associated with the pathogenesis of EC and many of them also have a prognosis prediction function, of remarkable importance in defining the therapeutic and surveillance path of EC patients. Personalized medicine focuses on the continuous updating of risk factors that are identifiable early during the EC staging to tailor treatments to patients. This review aims to show a summary of the current classification systems and to encourage the integration of various risk factors, introducing the prognostic role of non-coding RNAs, to avoid aggressive therapies where not necessary and to treat and strictly monitor subjects at greater risk of relapse.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2227-9032
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2021
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2721009-1
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  • 3
    In: Cells, MDPI AG, Vol. 12, No. 3 ( 2023-01-27), p. 424-
    Abstract: Mercury is a toxic heavy metal widely dispersed in the natural environment. Mercury exposure induces an increase in oxidative stress in red blood cells (RBCs) through the production of reactive species and alteration of the endogenous antioxidant defense system. Recently, among various natural antioxidants, the polyphenols from extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), an important element of the Mediterranean diet, have generated growing interest. Here, we examined the potential protective effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT) and/or homovanillyl alcohol (HVA) on an oxidative stress model represented by human RBCs treated with HgCl2 (10 µM, 4 h of incubation). Morphological changes as well as markers of oxidative stress, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels, the oxidation of protein sulfhydryl (-SH) groups, methemoglobin formation (% MetHb), apoptotic cells, a reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio, Band 3 protein (B3p) content, and anion exchange capability through B3p were analyzed in RBCs treated with HgCl2 with or without 10 μM HT and/or HVA pre-treatment for 15 min. Our data show that 10 µM HT and/or HVA pre-incubation impaired both acanthocytes formation, due to 10 µM HgCl2, and mercury-induced oxidative stress injury and, moreover, restored the endogenous antioxidant system. Interestingly, HgCl2 treatment was associated with a decrease in the rate constant for SO42− uptake through B3p as well as MetHb formation. Both alterations were attenuated by pre-treatment with HT and/or HVA. These findings provide mechanistic insights into benefits deriving from the use of naturally occurring polyphenols against oxidative stress induced by HgCl2 on RBCs. Thus, dietary supplementation with polyphenols might be useful in populations exposed to HgCl2 poisoning.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2073-4409
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2023
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2661518-6
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  • 4
    In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI AG, Vol. 19, No. 24 ( 2022-12-12), p. 16699-
    Abstract: Many clinical conditions require radiological diagnostic exams based on the emission of different kinds of energy and the use of contrast agents, such as computerized tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance (MR), ultrasound (US), and X-ray imaging. Pregnant patients who should be submitted for diagnostic examinations with contrast agents represent a group of patients with whom it is necessary to consider both maternal and fetal effects. Radiological examinations use different types of contrast media, the most used and studied are represented by iodinate contrast agents, gadolinium, fluorodeoxyglucose, gastrographin, bariumsulfate, and nanobubbles used in contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The present paper reports the available data about each contrast agent and its effect related to the mother and fetus. This review aims to clarify the clinical practices to follow in cases where a radiodiagnostic examination with a contrast medium is indicated to be performed on a pregnant patient.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1660-4601
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2022
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2175195-X
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