AIM: Rotavirus is recognized as the main cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old, representing a considerable public health problem with a great impact on social and public health costs in developed countries. This study aims to assess the frequency and the epidemiological aspect of the hospitalization associated with Rotavirus-gastroenteritis in Lombardy, Northern Italy, from 2005 to 2011. METHODS: The Lombardy Hospital Discharge Database was inquired from the official data of the Italian Ministry of Health and investigated for acute gastroenteritis (ICD9CM code for bacteria, parasitic, viral and undetermined etiologic diarrhea) in primary and secondary diagnosis in children < 5 years, between 2005 and 2011. RESULTS: Out of the 32 944 acute-gastroenteritis hospitalizations reported in Lombardy, the 50.8% was caused by Rotavirus infection; of these, the 65.5% were reported in primary diagnosis. The peak of Rotavirus-gastroenteritis hospitalization was observed in February-March in children < 2 years old, with a cumulative prevalence of 64.5%. Patients admitted to hospital with diarrhea of undetermined etiology (about 14% of overall acute-gastroenteritis) showed epidemiological characteristics similar to the Rotavirus-gastroenteritis, suggesting that the virus infection could also be involved in at least some of these. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm that Rotavirus are the most important agents involving in acute gastroenteritis hospitalizations. The use of Hospital Discharge Database had proved to be a simple tool to estimate the burden and to describe the epidemiological characteristics of Rotavirus gastroenteritis and could be used as a surveillance activity before and after the introduction of mass vaccination at national and regional level in Italy.

In Italy, foodborne botulism is a rare disease mainly due to home-preserved food. In the case reported here, clinical diagnosis was performed on the basis of clinical signs and referred consumption of home-preserved turnip tops in oil. Definitive diagnosis was performed by detection of botulinum toxin in sera and neuro-toxigenic organisms in stools and leftover food. This case report highlights the need of a high medical awareness, prompt clinical diagnosis, and synergic collaboration among the health authorities for a correct management of botulism as well as disease containment.

Rotavirus and poliovirus are paradigmatic viruses for causing major diseases affecting the human population. The impact of poliovirus is remarkably diminished because of vaccination during the last half century. Poliomyelitis due to wild polio currently affects a limited number of countries, and since 2000 sporadic outbreaks have been associated to neurovirulent vaccine-derived polioviruses. Conversely, rotavirus is presently very diffuse, accounting for the largest fraction of severe gastroenteritis among children <5 years-old. Vaccination towards rotavirus is still in its dawn, and zoonotic strains contribute to the emergence and evolution of novel strains pathogenic to man. The environment, particularly surface water, is a possible vehicle for large transmission of both viruses, but environmental surveillance of circulating strains can help promptly monitor entry of new virulent strains into a country, their shedding and spread.

Rotavirus e poliovirus sono virus paradigmatici nel causare malattie importanti della popolazione umana. L'impatto dei poliovirus è diminuito marcatamente durante mezzo secolo di vaccinazione. La poliomielite dovuta a polio selvaggio affligge solo un limitato numero di paesi, e dal 2000 epidemie sporadiche sono state associate a poliovirus nerurovirulenti vaccino-derivati. Al contrario, rotavirus è oggi molto diffuso, essendo implicato nella maggiore parte dei casi di gastroenterite grave nei bambini di meno di 5 anni. La vaccinazione contro i rotavirus è ancora agli albori, e ceppi zoonotici contribuiscono all'emergenza ed evoluzione di nuovi ceppi patogeni per l'uomo. L'ambiente, in particolare le acque superficiali, è un possibile veicolo per la trasmissione di entrambi i virus, ma la sorveglianza ambientale dei ceppi circolanti può aiutare a monitorare prontamente l'ingresso di nuovi ceppi virulenti in un paese, il loro rilascio e diffusione.

O estudo teve por objetivo identificar quais aspectos da personalidade são modificados após um e dois anos de psicoterapia psicanalítica em adultos atendidos em um serviço público de saúde mental de uma universidade em São Paulo, no Brasil. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Rorschach e a Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para adultos (WAIS-III), os quais foram administrados antes e após um e dois anos de tratamento. Os participantes foram 34 indivíduos adultos, de ambos os sexos. No Rorschach, após um ano de psicoterapia, ocorreu melhora da relação interpessoal adaptada e efetiva, melhora na sensibilidade relacionada à capacidade de modular afeto e da necessidade de contato mais próximo, e surgimento de sentimentos de desconforto associados à intensificação de auto-observação e diminuição de tendências narcisistas. No WAIS-III houve aumento de motivação, melhora atencional e de velocidade de processamento.

This study aimed at identifying what aspects of personality are modified after one and two years of psychoanalytic psychotherapy in adults attending a free university healthcare service in São Paulo, Brazil. The instruments were the Rorschach and the WAIS-III tests which were administered before and after one and two years of treatment. The participants were 34 adult individuals, both genders. After one year of psychotherapy in the Rorschach method there was an increase in effective and adaptive interpersonal relationship, an enhancement in sensitiveness related to the capacity of modulating affect, the need for close contact as well as the arousal of feelings of discomfort associated with intensification of self-regard, and a decrease in narcissistic tendencies. As well as in WAIS-III, there was an increase in motivation, attention and speed processing.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the circumstances in which poliomyelitis occurred among three children in Bulgaria during 2001 and to describe the public health response. METHODS: Bulgarian authorities investigated the three cases of polio and their contacts, conducted faecal and serological screening of children from high-risk groups, implemented enhanced surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis, and conducted supplemental immunization activities. FINDINGS: The three cases of polio studied had not been vaccinated and lived in socioeconomically deprived areas of two cities. Four Roma children from the Bourgas district had antibody titres to serotype 1 poliovirus only, and wild type 1 virus was isolated from the faeces of two asymptomatic Roma children in the Bourgas and Sofia districts. Poliovirus isolates were related genetically and represented a single evolutionary lineage; genomic sequences were less than 90% identical to poliovirus strains isolated previously in Europe, but 98.3% similar to a strain isolated in India in 2000. No cases or wild virus isolates were found after supplemental immunization activities were launched in May 2001. CONCLUSIONS: In Bulgaria, an imported poliovirus was able to circulate for two to five months among minority populations. Surveillance data strongly suggest that wild poliovirus circulation ceased shortly after supplemental immunization activities with oral poliovirus vaccine were conducted.

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar las circunstancias que rodearon la infección por poliomielitis de tres niños en Bulgaria durante 2001, y describir la respuesta del sistema de salud pública. MÉTODOS: Las autoridades búlgaras investigaron los tres casos de poliomielitis y sus contactos, sometieron a análisis fecales y serológicos a los niños de los grupos de alto riesgo, introdujeron mejoras en la vigilancia de la parálisis fláccida aguda y emprendieron actividades de inmunización suplementaria. RESULTADOS: Los tres casos de poliomielitis estudiados no habían sido vacunados y vivían en áreas socioeconómicamente desfavorecidas de dos ciudades. Cuatro niños romaníes del distrito de Bourgas presentaban títulos de anticuerpos para el serotipo 1 del poliovirus únicamente, y en las heces de dos niños romaníes asintomáticos de los distritos de Bourgas y de Sofía se aisló el virus salvaje de tipo 1. Los aislados de poliovirus estaban relacionados genéticamente y representaban una única línea evolutiva; las secuencias genómicas eran idénticas en menos del 90% a las de las cepas de poliovirus aisladas anteriormente en Europa, pero se asemejaban en un 98,3% a las de una cepa aislada en la India en 2000. No se detectó ningún caso, así como tampoco ningún aislado del virus salvaje, después del comienzo de las actividades de inmunización suplementaria en mayo de 2001. CONCLUSIÓN: En Bulgaria, un poliovirus importado pudo circular por espacio de dos a cinco meses entre poblaciones minoritarias. Los datos de vigilancia autorizan a pensar que la circulación del poliovirus salvaje se interrumpió poco después de emprender las actividades de inmunización suplementaria con la vacuna oral contra el poliovirus.

OBJECTIF: Préciser les circonstances dans lesquelles des cas de poliomyélite sont survenus chez trois enfants en Bulgarie au cours de l'année 2001 et décrire la riposte de santé publique. MÉTHODES: Les autorités bulgares ont étudié les trois cas de poliomyélite et leurs contacts, effectué un dépistage par prélèvement d'échantillons fécaux et sérologiques chez des enfants appartenant à des groupes à haut risque, mis en place une surveillance renforcée de la paralysie flasque aiguë et organisé des activités de vaccination supplémentaires. RÉSULTATS: Les trois cas de poliomyélite étudiés n'avaient pas été vaccinés et vivaient dans des zones socialement et économiquement défavorisées de deux villes. Chez quatre enfants Rom du district de Bourgas, on a retrouvé uniquement des anticorps dirigés contre le poliovirus de sérotype 1, et le virus sauvage de type 1 a été isolé dans les prélèvements fécaux de deux enfants Rom asymptomatiques des districts de Bourgas et Sofia. Ces isolements de poliovirus étaient génétiquement apparentés et appartenaient à une seule et même lignée évolutive; les séquences génomiques montraient une similitude inférieure à 90 % à celle des souches de poliovirus isolées précédemment en Europe, mais étaient similaires à 98,3 % à une souche isolée en Inde en 2000. Aucun cas ou isolement de virus sauvage n'a été retrouvé après les activités de vaccination supplémentaires organisées en mai 2001. CONCLUSION: En Bulgarie, un poliovirus importé a pu circuler pendant deux à cinq mois parmi des populations minoritaires. Les données de la surveillance semblent indiquer que la circulation du poliovirus sauvage a cessé peu après l'organisation des activités de vaccination supplémentaires par le vaccin antipoliomyélitique oral.