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Treatment of metastatic melanoma has rapidly changed during the last years, and patients often require a multidisciplinary approach to achieve effective results. We aimed to assess the survival benefit achieved through surgical approach to patients with small bowel (SB) metastases from cutaneous melanoma, to emphasize the potential role of surgery in association with novel therapies. Ninety consecutive patients with cutaneous melanoma diagnosed as having resectable SB metastases from 1995 to 2015 were retrospectively investigated. Median age at surgery of melanoma metastases was 53.4 years. Among 30 patients who had a curative-intent resection, the 5- and 10-year survival rates were 61% and 54%, respectively, while among 60 patients treated with a palliative surgery the corresponding rates were both 4%. Among 29 patients, for whom the interval time between the occurrence of SB metastases and the previous surgical event on GI tract was ≥36 months, the 5-year overall survival rate was 42%; for 56 patients who had an interval time <36 months the corresponding survival rate was 14%. Within the whole series, an absence of any residual disease after surgery (R0) was a factor affecting better survival, regardless of the evidence of metastases in other organs. Our observational data showed that surgical treatment for patients with SB metastases from melanoma might increase survival, but further studies are needed to confirm this finding. In the age of novel available therapies, the increase in survival time given by surgery may offer important chances for patients to benefit from systemic therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Incidence and prevalence of Crohn’s disease (CD) have increased during the last decades in several world areas. Italian data on CD are scattered between various administrative, educational and scientific sources, and findings are poorly summarized. Aims We conducted a review focusing not only on prevalence and incidence of CD in Italy, but also on mortality, treatments, delayed diagnosis and hospitalization. Methods In October 2015, we searched for quantitative epidemiological data of CD using PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. We also conducted searches on selected web resources for databases and educational publications. Results Sixteen studies reporting data on incidence of CD from Italy were found. Incidence rates of CD in the early 2010’s in Italy were 3.5–4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Ten investigations provided data on CD prevalence, with large variability between Italian areas. Most studies considering data at two or more time points or across consecutive time periods reported increasing incidence or prevalence of CD. Conclusion This review of Italian epidemiological data indicates that CD incidence and prevalence are continuing to (moderately) increase. Diagnostic delay, treatments, hospitalization and surgery for CD in Italy were also reviewed and quantified, though information is somewhat limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite considerable research, the issue of hair dyes and bladder cancer is still open to discussion. In January 2013, we searched in PubMed/EMBASE to identify observational studies investigating the association between personal use of hair dyes and bladder cancer incidence/mortality. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Fifteen case-control and two cohort studies were available for meta-analysis (8504 cases/deaths, 14,102 controls, and 617,937 persons at risk). Compared with no use, the pooled RR of bladder cancer for personal use of any type of hair dyes was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.82–1.05), with moderate heterogeneity among studies (I 2 = 34.1%, P = .07). Similar RRs were found for females (RR = 0.95) and males (RR = 0.81). Based on seven studies, the pooled RR for personal use of permanent hair dyes was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.77–1.09). Compared with no use, no association was observed for the highest categories of duration of use and lifetime frequency of use of both any type of dyes and permanent dyes. The pooled RR from four studies reporting results for use of dark-colored dyes was 1.29 (95% CI, 0.98–1.71). This meta-analysis allows to definitively exclude any appreciable excess risk of bladder cancer among personal hair dye users. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To provide information on the role of the metabolic syndrome on prostate cancer risk. Methods: We examined data from a multicentric Italian case-control study. Cases were 1294 patients with incident, histologically confirmed prostate cancer. Controls were 1451 men hospitalized with acute, non-neoplastic conditions. All subjects were younger than 75 years. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to selected indicators of abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes. We computed multivariate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using unconditional logistic regression. Results: Considering separate components of the metabolic syndrome, the ORs were 0.98 (95% CI, 0.72–1.34) for diabetes, 1.14 (95% CI, 0.96–1.36) for hypertension, 1.54 (95% CI, 1.26–1.89) for hypercholesterolemia, and 1.02 (95% CI, 0.86–1.21) for abdominal obesity. The OR of prostate cancer was 1.66 (95% CI, 1.22–2.28) in men with metabolic syndrome compared with those without. We found ORs of 1.02 (95% CI, 0.83–1.26) for men with one component of the metabolic syndrome, 1.12 (95% CI, 0.89–1.42) for two, 1.65 (95% CI, 1.15–2.36) for three, and 3.99 (95% CI, 1.03–15.4) for four compared with no components. Conclusions: The metabolic syndrome was associated with the risk of prostate cancer in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objectives: To make a direct comparison between the total burden of pandemic influenza and that of other seasonal influenza A viral subtypes in otherwise healthy children. Methods: The total clinical and socioeconomic burden of pandemic A/H1N1/2009 influenza was compared with that of seasonal influenza A viral subtypes in 389 otherwise healthy children with A/H1N1/2009, 126 with seasonal A/H1N1 and 486 with seasonal A/H3N2 infection referred to the Emergency Room and hospitalised in the in-patient units of a large, university-based paediatric hospital. Influenza diagnosis was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Regardless of age or gender, the variables significantly associated with pandemic A/H1N1/2009 and seasonal A/H3N2 infection were a diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection upon clinical presentation, the need for hospitalisation, hospitalisation for ≥7 days, school absences of ≥7 days, the need for aerosol therapy, the household development of a disease similar to that of the infected child, and the need for additional household medical visits and antibiotic prescriptions (p < 0.001). A longer period of hospitalisation and lost school days seemed to be associated with pandemic A/H1N1/2009 infection (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Perceived symptom severity and the risk of serious outcomes are similar in children with influenza due to pandemic A/H1N1/2009 or seasonal A/H3N2 influenza, but both of these viruses seem to have a greater clinical and socioeconomic impact than seasonal A/H1N1 virus, regardless of the patients’ age or gender. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We assessed the relation between metabolic syndrome (MetS), its components, and pancreatic cancer risk in an Italian case-control study and performed a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies published up to February 2011. The case-control study included 326 patients with incident pancreatic cancer and 652 controls admitted to the same hospitals for acute, non-neoplastic conditions. MetS was defined as having at least 3 conditions among diabetes, drug-treated hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and body mass index at least 25 kg/m2 at age 30 years. We computed multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from logistic regression models adjusted for tobacco smoking, education, and other sociodemographic variables. For the meta-analysis, we calculated summary relative risks (RRs) using random-effects models. The OR of pancreatic cancer in the case-control study was 2.36 (95% CI, 1.43-3.90) for diabetes, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.55-1.08) for hypertension, 1.38 (95% CI, 0.94-2.01) for hypercholesterolemia, and 1.27 (95% CI, 0.91-1.78) for being overweight at age 30 years. The risk was significantly increased for subjects with 3 or more MetS components (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.01-4.49) compared with subjects with no component, the estimates being consistent among strata of sex, age, and alcohol consumption. The meta-analysis included 3 cohort studies and our case-control study, and found a summary RR of 1.55 (95% CI, 1.19-2.01) for subjects with MetS. Metabolic syndrome is related to pancreatic cancer risk. Diabetes is the key component related to risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Objectives: To evaluate the total burden of influenza among healthy children in the community in order to analyse the cost of influenza in paediatric age. Methods: This prospective study involved a total community population of 21,986 children, 6988 of whom experienced an influenza-like illness (ILI) between 1 November 2008 and 30 April 2009. An electronic chart was completed, a nasopharyngeal swab was obtained, and information was recorded concerning the clinical outcomes and household impact of the ILI episodes. Influenza A and B viruses were detected in all the swabs by means of polymerase chain reaction, and costs of the disease were calculated. Results: Influenza viruses were detected in 2143 cases (30.7%), an incidence of 96.4 per 1000 children. Influenza A and B viruses were found in respectively 1751 (81.7%) and 392 cases (18.3%). The mean cost of influenza was no less than €130, 32% higher than the cost of influenza-negative ILIs (p < 0.001). The influenza A cases were significantly more expensive than the influenza B cases (p < 0.001), and influenza in children aged <2 and 2–5 years was significantly more expensive than in children aged >5 years (p < 0.05). The differences were mainly related to the indirect costs of the parents’ lost working days. Conclusions: The findings of this study confirm that influenza among healthy children is important because of its frequency and its indirect consequences on the households of infected children, and support the use of influenza vaccination in healthy children aged between 6 months and 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: We assessed the relation between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components and colorectal cancer. Methods: We analysed data from a multicentre case–control study conducted in Italy and Switzerland, including 1378 cases of colon cancer, 878 cases of rectal cancer and 4661 controls. All cases were incident and histologically confirmed. Controls were subjects admitted to the same hospitals as cases with acute non-malignant conditions. MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by multiple logistic regression models, including terms for major identified confounding factors for colorectal cancer. Results: With reference to each component of the MetS, the ORs of colorectal cancer in men were 1.27 (95% CI, 0.95–1.69) for diabetes, 1.24 (95% CI, 1.03–1.48) for hypertension, 1.14 (95% CI, 0.93–1.40) for hypercholesterolaemia and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.08–1.48) for overweight at age 30. The corresponding ORs in women were 1.20 (95% CI, 0.82–1.75), 0.87 (95% CI, 0.71–1.06), 0.83 (95% CI, 0.66–1.03) and 1.06 (95% CI, 0.86–1.30). Colorectal cancer risk was increased in men (OR=1.86; 95% CI, 1.21–2.86), but not in women (OR=1.13; 95% CI, 0.66–1.93), with MetS. The ORs were 2.09 (95% CI, 1.38–3.18) in men and 1.15 (95% CI, 0.68–1.94) in women with ⩾3 components of the MetS, as compared to no component. Results were similar for colon and rectal cancers. Conclusion: This study supports a direct association between MetS and both colon and rectal cancers in men, but not in women. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Studies conducted in different areas of North America and Europe showed a 5–10% decline in the incidence of breast cancer following reductions up to 70% in menopause hormone therapy (HT) use after 2002. The observation that the decline was larger in (or limited to) women aged ≥50 years weighs in favour of an effect of reduced HT use on breast cancer incidence. However, changes in screening are also likely to play a role in the decreasing incidence of breast cancer observed in several countries. In particular, the technical improvements and the increased effectiveness of breast cancer screening and detection during the 1990s led to a decreased number of pre-clinical cases found by screening in subsequent years. Further, disentangling the effects of HT use and screening is difficult, as women who stop using HT may also undergo mammography screening less frequently. Thus, the reasons of the falls in incidence remain open to discussion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Mortality and incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) parallel the geographical distribution of hepatitis B and C viruses among the general population, however genetic factors modulate individual cancer risk. Aims ABO blood type, as a genetic marker, has previously been associated with the risk of several malignancies; we aimed to evaluate whether an association exists with HCC. Methods This is a retrospective case-control study based on ABO distribution in 194 patients with HCC, compared with 215 decompensated cirrhotics without HCC listed for liver transplantation, and 90,322 healthy blood donors. Results In patients with HCC, prevalence of blood type O was 35%, vs. 44% in cirrhotics (OR: 0.67, 95% CI 0.45–0.99; p = 0.046) and 45% in blood donors (OR: 0.65, 95% CI 0.48–0.88; p = 0.004). Conclusions ABO blood type non-O is associated with higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, compared to cirrhotics without HCC and healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the relationship between onion and garlic intake and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), using data from a multicenter case–control study conducted in Italy. Methods: A multicenter case–control study of 1369 patients with BPH and 1451 controls, admitted to the same hospitals for a wide spectrum of acute, non-neoplastic conditions, was conducted in Italy between 1991 and 2002. Information was collected by trained interviewers using a validated and reproducible food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained after allowance for recognized confounding factors and energy intake. Results: Compared with nonusers, the multivariate ORs for the highest category of onion and garlic intake were 0.41 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.72) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.91), respectively. The combined OR for frequent users versus nonusers of both onion and garlic was 0.65 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.86). The inverse relationships were consistent across age strata. Conclusions: This uniquely large data set from European populations showed an inverse association between allium vegetable consumption and BPH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Different clinico-pathologic subtypes and anatomic sites of basal-cell carcinoma (BCC) may display distinct characteristics and mechanisms of development. However, scanty information exists on potential differences in etiological factors for BCC according to histotype and anatomic location. Thus, we analyzed data from an Italian case–control study, including 528 subjects with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed BCC and 512 controls admitted to the same hospitals with acute conditions. The multivariate odds ratio (OR) of nodular (OR=1.53) but not superficial (OR=0.71) BCC was increased for occupational exposure to sunlight. Considering the anatomic site of BCC, the corresponding values were 1.46 for head/neck and 0.74 for truncal location. Direct associations were observed with recreational sunlight exposure, eye color, red hair, and number and early age of severe sunburn episodes, along with some differences in risk between histotypes and anatomic sites. This study confirmed the role of (intermittent) sun exposure and phenotypic characteristics as risk factors for BCC, and suggested etiological differences between nodular and superficial histotypes and between head/neck and truncal locations.Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2007) 127, 935–944. doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5700598; published online 19 October 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interest in the potential benefits of allium vegetables, in particular, onion (Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum), has its origin in antiquity, but the details of these benefits are still open to discussion. Objective: We investigated the role of allium vegetables in the etiology of various neoplasms. Previous data are scanty and are based mainly on Chinese studies. Design: Using data from an integrated network of Italian and Swiss case-control studies, we analyzed the relation between frequency of onion and garlic use and cancer at several sites. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) by using multivariate logistic regression models that were adjusted for energy intake and other major covariates. Results: Consumption of onions varied between 0-14 and 0-22 portions/wk among cases and controls, respectively. The multivariate ORs for the highest category of onion and garlic intake were, respectively, 0.16 and 0.61 for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, 0.12 and 0.43 for esophageal cancer, 0.44 and 0.74 for colorectal cancer, 0.17 and 0.56 for laryngeal cancer, 0.75 and 0.90 for breast cancer, 0.27 and 0.78 for ovarian cancer, 0.29 and 0.81 for prostate cancer, and 0.62 and 0.69 for renal cell cancer. Conclusions: This uniquely large data set from southern European populations shows an inverse association between the frequency of use of allium vegetables and the risk of several common cancers. Allium vegetables are a favorable correlate of cancer risk in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relation between alcoholic beverage consumption and bladder cancer risk was investigated using data from a case–control study conducted between 1985 and 1992 in two areas of northern Italy. Cases were 727 patients with incident, histologically confirmed bladder cancer, and controls 1,067 patients admitted to the same network of hospitals for acute, non-neoplastic, nonurologic, or genital tract diseases. Compared to nondrinkers, the odds ratio (OR) was 0.79 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.58–1.08) for drinkers, and 0.84 (95%CI, 0.58–1.22) for &ges;6 drinks/day. The OR was 0.86 (95%CI, 0.60–1.23) for &ges;5 wine drinks/day, 0.69 for beer, and 0.85 for spirits. No trend was observed with duration (OR =1.00 for &ges;40 years). ORs were consistent across various strata of covariates including age, sex, and smoking habits. Our study, based on a population with high alcohol (mainly wine) intake, found no association between bladder cancer risk and alcohol intake, even at high levels of consumption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to verify whether a telephone recall system directly managed by pediatricians who usually follow up children for their asthma is more effective than an anonymous recall system, we randomly assigned 285 asthmatic children (177 males; mean age 10.3±3.4 years) to one of three groups: those whose mothers were to be called by a pediatrician not previously involved in caring for their asthmatic children and who received the vaccine in our immunisation clinic (group 1); those whose mothers were to be called by a pediatrician from our asthma clinic and who received the vaccine in the immunisation clinic (group 2); and those whose mothers were to be called by a pediatrician from our asthma clinic and who received the vaccine in the same clinic (group 3). Our findings highlight that the use of a reminder/recall system increases vaccination rates in asthmatic children, and show that the best results are obtained when the mothers are contacted and the vaccine administered by the pediatricians who usually follow up the child for asthma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We analyzed the relation between life- time ovulatory cycles, anovulatory factors, and ovarian cancer risk, using data from 2 Italian studies, including 1822 histologically confirmed cases and 4631 controls. Lifetime ovulatory cycles were inversely related to ovarian cancer risk. Pregnancy and oral contraceptive use had a stronger protective effect than other anovulatory factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Findings on pet exposure and the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children are inconsistent. Objective: With the aim to summarize the results of exposure to different pets on AD, we undertook a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies on this issue. Methods: In August 2012, we conducted a systematic literature search in Medline and Embase. We included analytic studies considering exposure to dogs, cats, other pets, or pets overall during pregnancy, infancy, and/or childhood, with AD assessment performed during infancy or childhood. We calculated summary relative risks and 95% CIs using both fixed- and random-effects models. We computed summary estimates across selected subgroups. Results: Twenty-six publications from 21 birth cohort studies were used in the meta-analyses. The pooled relative risks of AD for exposure versus no exposure were 0.72 (95% CI, 0.61-0.85; I 2 = 46%; results based on 15 studies) for exposure to dogs, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.76-1.16; I 2 = 54%; results based on 13 studies) for exposure to cats, and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.67-0.85; I 2 = 54%; results based on 11 studies) for exposure to pets overall. No heterogeneity emerged across the subgroups examined, except for geographic area. Conclusion: This meta-analysis reported a favorable effect of exposure to dogs and pets on the risk of AD in infants or children, whereas no association emerged with exposure to cats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To offer a general figure of the available data on the relation between alcohol intake and risk of endometriosis, we conducted a systematic review and a metaanalysis of studies published up to May 2012. Study Design: We carried out a literature search of all case-control and cohort studies published as original articles in English up to May 2012. Only those papers that were published as full-length articles were considered. Pooled estimates of the relative risks (RRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed or, when significant heterogeneity among estimates emerged, random effects models. A total of 15 studies were identified for the review. Results: The summary estimate was 1.24 (95% CI, 1.12–1.36) for any alcohol intake vs no alcohol intake. Considering the results of the analyses of infrequent, moderate/regular, and heavy alcohol intake vs no alcohol intake, the summary RR estimates were, respectively, 1.14 (95% CI, 0.86–1.52), 1.23 (95% CI, 1.08–1.40), and 1.19 (95% CI, 0.99–1.43). Three studies reported separate results for current and former drinkers, and the summary RR were 1.42 (95% CI, 1.14–1.76) and 1.09 (95% CI, 0.83–1.43), respectively. Conclusion: The present metaanalysis provides evidence for an association between alcohol consumption and endometriosis risk. Further studies are needed to clarify whether alcohol consumption may exacerbate an existing disease or could be related to the severity of the disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To provide an evidence-based, comprehensive assessment of the current burden of infection-related cancers in Italy. We calculated the proportion of cancers attributable to infectious agents (Helicobacter pylori [Hp]; hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV]; human papillomavirus [HPV]; human herpesvirus-8 [HHV8]; Epstein–Barr virus [EBV]; and human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]) to estimate the burden of infection-related cancer incidence (2020) and mortality (2017). Data on the prevalence of infections were derived from cross-sectional surveys of the Italian population, and relative risks from meta-analyses and large-scale studies. Attributable fractions were calculated based on the counterfactual scenario of a lack of infection. We estimated that 7.6% of total cancer deaths in 2017 were attributable to infections, with a higher proportion in men (8.1%) than in women (6.9%). The corresponding figures for incident cases were 6.5%, 6.9% and 6.1%. Hp was the first cause of infection-related cancer deaths (3.3% of the total), followed by HCV (1.8%), HIV (1.1%), HBV (0.9%), HPV, EBV and HHV8 (each ≤0.7%). Regarding incidence, 2.4% of the new cancer cases were due to Hp, 1.3% due to HCV, 1.2% due to HIV, 1.0% due to HPV, 0.6% due to HBV and <0.5% due to EBV and HHV8. Our estimate of 7.6% of cancer deaths and 6.9% of incident cases that were attributable to infections in Italy is higher than those estimated in other developed countries. Hp is the major cause of infection-related cancer in Italy. Prevention, screening and treatment policies are needed to control these cancers, which are largely avoidable. [Display omitted] • Infectious agents are responsible for a high proportion of cancer in Italy. • Helicobacter pylori is the main cancer-related infectious agent. • Most infectious-related cancers are preventable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although several studies have been conducted on the relation between dietary habits and endometrial cancer risk, the evidence for specific food groups is still controversial. Study Design: We analyzed data from an Italian case-control study including 454 women with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer and 908 controls admitted to the same hospitals for acute, nonneoplastic conditions. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) were obtained after allowance for major potential confounding factors. Results: A significant increase in risk was observed for red meat, with an OR of 2.07 for an increment of 1 serving per day. Inverse associations were observed for coffee (OR, 0.83), cereals (OR, 0.92), and vegetables (OR, 0.83). Conclusion: Our results support the existence of a relation between dietary habits and endometrial cancer risk and in particular suggest that a diet rich in red meat and poor in vegetables may have an unfavorable effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: We sought to explore the relationship between age-related cataract extraction and the metabolic syndrome or its various components separately and in various combinations in an Italian case-control study. Methods: A total of 761 cases and 1,522 controls in hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-ophthalmologic, non-metabolic diseases were interviewed between 1991 and 2003. Odds ratios (ORs), and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were computed from multiple logistic regression models, conditioned on sex, age, and study center and adjusted for education and smoking. Results: The ORs were 1.41 for a history of central obesity, 1.42 for hypertension, 1.25 for hyperlipidemia, and 1.16 for diabetes. Patients with the metabolic syndrome (defined as the simultaneous presence of central obesity and at least two other factors among hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes) had an increased risk of cataract, with an OR of 2.01 (95% CI: 1.43–2.83). The ORs were 1.75 for the presence of any of two components and 2.50 for three to four components, with a linear trend in risk. Conclusions: This study indicates that the metabolic syndrome, its components, and their combination are associated with an increased risk of cataract extraction in this Italian population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Between 1 September and 8 October 2006, we used a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire in order to evaluate knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV disease and its prevention in a nationally representative sample of Italian pediatricians. Three hundred and eleven of the 400 enrolled physicians (175 primary care pediatricians, 160 hospital pediatricians and 65 residents in pediatrics) returned completed surveys (227 females; mean age±standard deviation, 45.3±11.61 years). The results showed a lack of knowledge concerning HPV disease and its prevention, with marginal differences between the subgroups, even though the majority would recommend HPV vaccination. These findings highlight an urgent need to improve pediatrician information in order to ensure the optimal implementation of HPV vaccination, and the adequate acceptability of HPV vaccines to adolescents and their parents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Although the incidence of human rhinovirus (HRV) infection is highest in young, no study has yet been published concerning the types of HRV circulating in this population, the incidence of symptomatic infections due to the different types, or duration of shedding Objectives This prospective study evaluated the circulation of HRV species and types, and established the incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic infections in young children. Study design The study enrolled 93 healthy children aged <2 years, 88 of whom completed the follow-up of weekly household visits from November 2013 to February 2014. At each visit, a record was made of any signs and symptoms of acute infection, and a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab was taken in order to identify the HRVs by means of RT-polymerase chain reaction and to construct the phylogenetic tree of the HRV-positive cases. Results A total of 1408 NP samples were obtained and 326HRV infections were diagnosed (23.1%), leading to a mean number of 3.7 ± 2.3 infections per child: HRV-A in 72 cases (22.1%), HRV-B in 29 (8.9%), HRV-C in 122 (37.4%), and non-typeable HRV in 103 (31.6%). Shedding was significantly longer for HRV-A (14 days) and HRV-B (14 days) than HRV-C (7 days; p = 0.002 and p = 0.012). Most of the HRV infections (209/326, 64.1%) remained asymptomatic and, when symptomatic, were of marginal clinical relevance. Conclusions In healthy young children, HRV infection is extremely frequent, generally asymptomatic or with a mild clinical presentation, and viral shedding is limited in time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to evaluate the impact of influenza-like illness and the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in children with oncohematological disease who have completed cancer therapy, 182 children with a diagnosis of oncohematological disease were divided into two subgroups on the basis of the length of time off therapy (<6 months or 6–24 months) and randomised 1:1 to receive influenza vaccination or not. The controls were 91 otherwise healthy children unvaccinated against influenza. The results show that the clinical and socioeconomic impact of influenza-like illnesses and the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in oncohematological children who have completed cancer therapy are related to the length of the off therapy period, and seem to be significantly greater in those who have been off therapy for less than 6 months in comparison with healthy controls. This suggests that the administration of influenza vaccination should be strongly recommended only among oncohematological children who have been off therapy for less than 6 months. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]