A systematic review and meta-analysis on anthelmintic control programs for Echinococcus multilocularis in wild and domestic carnivores.

Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is one of the most dangerous zoonoses in the Northern hemisphere. In Europe, the parasite's life cycle is sylvatic, involving small rodents as intermediate hosts and red foxes as the major definitive hosts. Given the severity of this disease in humans and the high levels of environmental contamination with E. multilocularis in endemic areas, it seems crucial to implement control measures in order to prevent human AE. This systematic review identifies previous anthelmintic control programs targeting E. multilocularis in wild and domestic carnivores and evaluates the effectiveness of the different strategies implemented. A search through six databases identified 302 scientific papers for the period 1950-2015, of which only 17 were retained according to the inclusion criteria set. These 17 papers focused on control of E. multilocularis by baiting foxes in highly endemic areas of Europe or Japan, with the exception of one study focused on dogs in Alaska. The papers highlighted differences in baiting types, baiting frequency, choice of control areas and length of treatment period. Overall, these studies resulted in a sharp and statistically significant decrease in parasite prevalence, confirmed by the absence of overlap between confidence intervals for the pooled risk differences of control and treated areas. A monthly baiting frequency was proven to be highly effective at decreasing E. multilocularis prevalence in foxes, even in highly endemic areas and in a short period of time. Nevertheless, when foxes were not fully dewormed, the parasite showed a strong capacity to rapidly recover its initial prevalence. The fox baiting approach appears to be the most useful method for controlling the sylvatic life cycle of E. multilocularis, but it require a cost/benefit analysis before it is likely to be accepted by stakeholders.

Do the smoking intensity and duration, the years since quitting, the methodological quality and the year of publication of the studies affect the results of the meta-analysis on cigarette smoking and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in adults?

BACKGROUND: The aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship between tobacco smoking and the onset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults. METHODS: PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched. In the meta-analysis, random or fixed effects models were used according to the presence of heterogeneity. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles were included. Case-control and cohort meta-analyses show that current, ever and former smokers have a significant increased risk to develop AML compared to never smokers [current: OR=1.36 (1.11-1.66) and RR=1.52 (1.10-2.14); ever: OR=1.25 (1.14-1.38) and RR=1.45 (1.10-1.90); former: OR=1.21 (1.03-1.41) and RR=1.45 (1.08-1.94)]. Moreover, increasing smoking intensity and duration is associated with an increase of the risk, OR shift from 1.14 (1-20 pack/years) to 2.36 (>40 pack/years). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Smoking may have a significant role in AML onset in a multistep pathogenesis.

What is the impact of reporting guidelines on Public Health journals in Europe? The case of STROBE, CONSORT and PRISMA.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to evaluate the use of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses), CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) and STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) methods in reviews, clinical trials and observational studies, respectively, which were published in European journals within the field of Public Health (PH). METHODS: Papers published between 2010 and 2013 in seven PH journals were evaluated. The presence of the words PRISMA, STROBE and CONSORT was considered in the search criteria. RESULTS: In total, 2355 of 3456 retrieved articles were included: 1.5% appeared to follow the guidelines. The boundaries within which the criteria were applied are 0-100% for CONSORT, 0-0.6% for STROBE and 0-37% for PRISMA. CONCLUSIONS: A strong heterogeneity in the application of guideline statements was observed. A common agreement among journals regarding research-reporting methodologies could improve the quality of PH research publishing.

[Latent tuberculosis infection: prevalence amongst healthcare students at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)]. / Infezione tubercolare latente: analisi su una popolazione di studenti della Sapienza Università di Roma.

Healthcare workers, including medical, dentistry and nursing students, have an increased risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In this study the prevalence of tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity (defined as induration ≥ 5 mm) among healthcare students enrolled at the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) in the years 2011-2012 was evaluated. Overall, 2,519 students with a mean age of 20.6 years were tested, of whom 62.4% were female, 0.4% were vaccinated with BCG and 4.6% were foreign-born. Eighty-two students (3.3%) were found to have a positive TST. Prevalence varied by age and geographical place of birth. A baseline evaluation of medical and other healthcare students' TST status at the beginning of their training is essential to better implement infection and control measures for tuberculosis infection.