41 research outputs found
Hesitancy toward Childhood Vaccinations: Preliminary Results from an Albanian Nursing Staff's Investigation
No full textHealthcare professionals are important models for their patients since their individual knowledge and attitudes toward vaccination can influence the patient's willingness to adhere to vaccination campaigns. After developing a structured questionnaire, it was administered to a sample of nursing staff working in public vaccination centers in Albania (December 2020-January 2021), in order to conduct a preliminary investigation aimed at describing knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and hesitancy toward childhood vaccinations. Among the sample of nurses involved in the administration of vaccines (n.64, 92% females), most of them were confident about vaccines and favorable to childhood vaccinations (90%). However, when specifically investigating beliefs, nearly a quarter of the sample showed to be hesitant; 22% were unsure or partially agreed that vaccines might cause conditions such as autism and multiple sclerosis. A high risk of hesitancy was identified in the youngest staff especially when their work experience was below 10 years or when they graduated less than 10 years before (OR: 5.3, CI: 1.4–19.5; and OR: 4.2 CI: 1.2–14.6). Similarly, a low acceptance rate (54%) was detected for future childhood SARS-CoV-2 vaccines among the nurses, which is a sign of high levels of vaccine hesitancy. With regard to knowledge about childhood vaccine contraindications, none of the nurses identified all the ten correct answers, while only 13% answered at least six questions correctly. These preliminary results highlight the need of investigating more Albanian nursing staff's knowledge and attitudes toward child vaccinations, therefore investing in tailored training. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the roll-out of mass vaccination, the role of healthcare workers remains crucial and needs more support to manage the changing public opinion as well as quickly evolving vaccine technologies
Polarimetry of the transient relativistic jet of GRB 110328/Swift J164449.3+573451
No full textWe present deep infrared (Ks-band) imaging polarimetry and radio (1.4- and 4.8-GHz) polarimetry of the enigmatic transient Swift J164449.3+573451. This source appears to be a short-lived jet phenomenon in a galaxy at redshift z= 0.354, activated by a sudden mass accretion on to the central massive black hole, possibly caused by the tidal disruption of a star. We aim to find evidence for this scenario through linear polarimetry, as linear polarization is a sensitive probe of jet physics, source geometry and the various mechanisms giving rise to the observed radiation. We find a formal Ks-band polarization measurement of Plin= 7.4 ± 3.5 per cent (including systematic errors). Our radio observations show continuing brightening of the source, which allows sensitive searches for linear polarization as a function of time. We find no evidence of linear polarization at radio wavelengths of 1.4 and 4.8 GHz at any epoch, with the most sensitive 3σ limits as deep as 2.1 per cent. These upper limits are in agreement with expectations from scenarios in which the radio emission is produced by the interaction of a relativistic jet with a dense circumsource medium. We further demonstrate how polarization properties can be used to derive properties of the jet in Swift J164449.3+573451, exploiting the similarities between this source and the afterglows of gamma-ray bursts
Low Rates of Immunity among Medical Students and Residents in the Era of the Resurgence of Measles
No full textMeasles is a highly contagious viral disease spread through respiratory droplets. The number of reported cases increased worldwide in 2023, particularly in the European Region. Italy reported 213 cases in the first quarter of 2024, with most of them in unvaccinated adults aged 15–64. Maintaining high vaccination coverage is essential to prevent outbreaks, especially in healthcare settings where measles transmission is a significant risk. In our study, we collected serological and demographic information from all Italian and foreign medical students and residents (850) who underwent a pre-training assessment at the Tor Vergata Occupational Medicine Service, Rome, between 3 April 2023 and 31 January 2024. Of the 850 students and residents analyzed, we found only 546 (64.2%) with a protective level of IgG antibodies against measles, with a median IgG level of 2.00 AI. A significant proportion of students and residents were serologically non-immune, raising concerns about the potential risk of hospital transmission. To manage this risk, it is important to assess serological levels, vaccinate those with inadequate levels, and promote vaccination in the general population
Vaccine Hesitancy, Knowledge, and COVID-19 Vaccination in a Sample of Italian and Albanian Healthcare Students Attending an University in Albania
No full textBackground: Vaccine hesitancy (VH) has increased over the past decade with large geographical variations between countries, posing a threat to global public health. This phenomenon is growing in the general population as well as among healthcare workers (HCWs), who are the most reliable source of vaccine-related information for patients. Special attention must therefore be paid to medical students, who are the future HCWs. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study (November 2022–January 2023) on all the Albanian and Italian students attending medical science courses at the Catholic University “Our Lady of Good Counsel” (Tirane, Albania) to investigate VH and the factors contributing to it (using the Vaccination Attitude Examination Scale-VAX), including COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine knowledge was assessed using the Zingg and Siegrist Scale. Students were asked to voluntarily answer an anonymous questionnaire. Results: 689 questionnaires were collected (58.8% Albanians, 72.3% female; 70.4% aged 20–25 years; 70.4% attending the Medicine and Surgery course). Generally, students showed low VH, especially Italians (p p 2 = 90.058; df = 40; p = 2 = 89.932; df = 40; p = p < 0.001), highlighting possible differences in vaccine coverage and policy between the two countries. Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy should be addressed at early stages during medical sciences courses, in order to protect future healthcare workers, to preserve essential health services, and reduce the risk of further pandemics
Analysis of Bone Density in a Group of Patients with Dental Inclusion
No full textBackground/Aim: Genetic and environmental etiologic factors have been described for maxillary canine impaction, except for the trabecular bone characteristics in the impacted area. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface area and bone density using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients with maxillary impacted canines
Sleep Disordered Breathing: An Epidemiological Study among Albanian Children and Adolescents
No full textSleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) comprises a group of diseases characterized by alterations in the frequency and/or depth of breathing during sleep. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of SDB in a group of Albanian children and adolescents and to describe its social, physiological, psychological, sleep-related, and anthropometric risk factors, in relation to the sociodemographic situation. A total of 6087 participants (mean age: 10.42 years, range: 6 to 15 years, 52.3% females and 47.7% males) attending public schools all over Albania took part in the cross-sectional study. On a sample of 6087 questionnaires distributed, 4702 (77.25% of the original sample) were returned and included in the study. High risk status for SDB was assessed using the Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ). The prevalence of SDB was 7.9%. No statistically significant difference was found for gender at high risk for SBD. Compared to participants living in urban aeras (7.3%), participants living in rural areas (10.4%) reported significantly higher SDB prevalence rates. No other significant correlations were detected between the high-risk subjects and the age. The prevalence of the subjects at high risk of SBD obese participants (20.8%) was statistically higher than among nonobese ones (6.3%). SDB is highly prevalent in Albanian growing population and further prevalence studies are recommended
Review Essay: Weaving Sociocultural Change and Cognitive Development Together
No full textIn her book Weaving Generations Together, Patricia Greenfield presents an account of the nature and course of human development that suggests a tight relationship with sociocultural change. During two extensive stays in the Zinacantec Mayan hamlet of Nabenchauk, Mexico, in 1969–70 and 1991, Greenfield studied weaving, the typical activity of Mayan women, and developed a long-term project spanning two generations of Zinacantec mothers teaching their daughters how to weave.
The results of this project are documented in the book, initially developed as a catalog for a museum exhibition; as well as in multiple scientific reports by the author and her collaborators (e.g., Childs &
Greenfield, 1980; Greenfield, 2000; Greenfield, Maynard, & Childs, 2000; Maynard & Greenfield, 2003; Maynard, Greenfield, & Childs, 1999). Relying on empirical data accompanied by beautiful photographic
work by Lauren Greenfield, the book selects the following foci for study: the ontogenesis of weaving as a product of biology and culture; the transformations in weaving apprenticeship and in the cognitive
and creative processes involved in it between 1969–70 and 1991; and the role of sociocultural change in these transformations.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas (IIP
Gender differences in case fatality rates of acute myocardial infarction in Serbia
No full textWe sought to investigate sex differences in clinical characteristics, treatment and in in-hospital mortality in patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Serbia. From October 2010 to September 2013, a total of 2348 patients have been hospitalized and received medical treatment for STEMI in 19 hospitals, referring data to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry. There were 773 women and 1575 men. Women were older than man, with a higher prevalence of family history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes. They were less likely to be smokers and more likely to have a prior angina and history of heart failure. Fewer women than men presented within 2 h from symptom onset (P = 0.005). They presented more with Killip class ≥2 than men (P = 0.004). A significantly lower proportion of women was treated with aspirin (91.3% vs 94.3%, P = 0.007), clopidogrel (88% vs. 91%, P = 0.02), heparins (61.6% vs. 66.5%, P = 0.01) and primary percutaneous coronary interventions (62.1% vs. 69.7%, P < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher for women than for men (13.2% vs. 6.4%, P < 0.001). After adjustment for any confounders, women showed an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.97, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-3.01, P = 0.002). Several factors contribute to the excess in-hospital case fatality rates in Serbian women. Most notably disparities in medical treatment appear to play a crucial role. © 2013 Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2013
