Publications by authors named "Francesco Corea"

Background: Pneumococcal disease is a significant health burden, particularly among older adults and individuals with chronic conditions. Sequential pneumococcal vaccination (PCV13 followed by PPSV23) has been recommended in Italy since 2017 for its demonstrated efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Nevertheless, limited data are available on the sequential pneumococcal vaccination coverage in Italy.

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Introduction: Under the mandate of supporting European immunisation cooperation and strategies, the specific aim of this work was about focusing on vaccine communication in order to raise awareness, increase confidence and strengthen the practice for vaccination in Italy.

Methods: The four-step Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle applied through a bundle of actions: (Plan) studying national vaccination scenarios and factors underlying vaccine hesitancy by developing a reference grid; (Do) creating a web platform-based toolbox with vaccine communication tools; (Check) engaging within national stakeholders within dedicated roundtables also associated to media trainings; (Act) co-developing, or co-selecting, tools to pilot amongst identified target communities.

Results: In 2021, we analysed evidence on vaccine hesitancy determinants in scientific (86%) and grey (14%) literature by applying contextual, individual, and vaccine-specific categories.

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Background: The use of playful tools to promote children's and adolescents' health in schools is growing. Educational games are proven tools for promoting virtuous behaviours. This systematic review explores the significance of serious games in promoting health education among young audiences, particularly about hand, oral and respiratory hygiene, immunisation, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and sexually transmitted infections.

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Article Synopsis
  • Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular therapy (EVT) are effective treatments for acute stroke, but their safety and efficacy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are debated.
  • A study analyzed data from two multicenter studies to compare outcomes of AF patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with reperfusion therapies versus those who weren't.
  • Results showed that AF patients treated with reperfusion therapies had better functional outcomes and lower mortality rates compared to those who received conservative treatment.
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  • A study was conducted to compare the empathy and satisfaction levels of people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) towards responses from neurologists versus ChatGPT for common questions.
  • The results showed that ChatGPT's responses were perceived as more empathetic than those from neurologists, although no significant difference in overall satisfaction was found.
  • The study suggests that while AI like ChatGPT can enhance patient interactions, physicians need to adapt to digital advancements and guide patients in effectively using AI tools in healthcare.
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I n the context of an adequate health care organization, the figure of the neurologist as an emergency operator (in the emergency room-ER-and/or in a dedicated outpatient clinic) is crucial for an effective functional connection with the territory (and therefore with general practitioners), a reduction in inappropriate ER accesses, specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to neurological emergencies in the ER and a reduction in nonspecific or even unnecessary instrumental investigations. In this position paper of the Italian Association of Emergency Neurology (ANEU: Associazione Neurologia dell'Emergenza Urgenza), these issues are addressed, and two important organizational solutions are proposed: 1) The Neuro Fast Track, as an outpatient organization approach strongly linked to general practitioners and non-neurological specialists and dedicated to cases with deferrable urgency (to be assessed within 72 h) 2) The identification of an emergency neurologist, who is engaged in ER assessments as a consultant and involved in the management of the semi-intensive care unit of the emergency neurology and the stroke unit according to an appropriate rotation, as well as in consultations for patients with neurological emergencies in inpatient wards The possibility of computerizing the screening of patients with deferrable urgency in the Neuro Fast Track is described. A dedicated app represents an important tool that can facilitate the identification of patients for whom deferred assessment is appropriate, the scheduling of neurological examinations and reductions in the booking time through a more rapid approach to specialist assessment and subsequent investigations.

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Background: Pregnant women, especially those with comorbidities, compared to those non-pregnant, have higher risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19. However, COVID-19 vaccine uptake is very low among them.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was administered to randomly selected women 18 years of age that were currently pregnant or had just given birth between September 2021 and May 2022 in the geographic area of Naples.

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Background: This cross-sectional survey aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding vaccinations among schoolteachers in Italy.

Methods: Data were collected through an online questionnaire from September 2020 to May 2021 from a sample of schoolteachers in the Campania region of southern Italy.

Results: Only 27% of the participants had good knowledge about the vaccinations recommended for schoolteachers.

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Objectives: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to investigate why parents decide to vaccinate, as well as the determinants, their children aged 5-11 years against COVID-19 in Italy.

Methods: The survey was conducted from January through May 2022. All parents/guardians who came in randomly selected days to immunization centers for the administration of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to their child were asked to complete a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes toward COVID-19 infection and vaccination, reason(s) regarding their decision to vaccinate their child, and source(s) of information.

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The objectives of the survey were to explore any changes in the adherence to the three main COVID-19 preventive measures (social distancing, washing hands, wearing face-masks) among 795 individuals who received the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose in Italy and to identify the predictors associated. The concern of contracting COVID-19 before the vaccination, after the primary COVID-19 vaccine series, and after the booster dose resulted with a mean value of 7.7, 4.

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COVID-19 vaccination has been extended to include children aged 5-11 years. This cross-sectional survey evaluated parental COVID-19 vaccine willingness and hesitancy, and associated factors, for their children aged 5-11 years with chronic conditions. A telephone survey was conducted from 14 December 2021 to 4 January 2022.

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Background and Purpose-Systemic thrombolysis represents the main proven therapy for acute ischemic stroke, but safe treatment is reported only in well-established stroke units. To extend the use of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment in primary care hospitals on isolated areas through telemedic was the purpose of specific initiatives in southern Umbria, Italy. Methods-The stroke center of Foligno established a telestroke network to provide consultations for three local hospitals in southern Umbria.

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This cross-sectional study, conducted in Naples (Italy) between 16 November and 6 December 2021, explored the willingness to receive the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine among a random sample selected from the list of those who had completed a primary vaccination series at the immunization center of a teaching hospital in Naples and the associated factors. Females had a significantly higher perceived risk of getting the SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas those not-having a cohabitant were less worried. 85.

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Unlabelled: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. It has effects at different levels: physical, emotional, psychological, cognitive and social, with a great variety of signs and symptoms. In particular, spasticity contributes to reducing the motor performance of patients with MS, causing pain, reduction in distance walked and limitations in social life.

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Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has led to serious public health challenges worldwide.
  • The spread of the virus has resulted in drastic changes to healthcare systems and practices globally.
  • Additionally, the pandemic has created a substantial economic burden, affecting various sectors and communities.
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Subcutaneous (SC) interferons beta (IFN-beta) are effective therapies for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Factors such as dosing schedule, needle intolerance/fatigue, and side effects may impact patient satisfaction with treatment. Improvement of patient satisfaction may increase the adherence to treatment and the patient quality of life.

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Unlabelled: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disease which confers an increased risk of malignant tumour development. Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The coexistence of multiple sclerosis and NF1 is rare but has been reported.

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  • The study aimed to evaluate the risks of recurrent ischemic events and severe bleeding in patients with acute posterior ischemic stroke (PS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in relation to oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) and timing of initiation.
  • Researchers compared outcomes in 473 patients with PS to 1997 patients with anterior stroke (AS), focusing on events within 90 days of the initial stroke.
  • Findings indicated that both PS and AS patients had similar risks of ischemic or hemorrhagic events at 90 days, regardless of when OAT was initiated.
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  • Infodemiology studies how information spreads to help with public health and policy.
  • Wikipedia serves as a key resource for these studies, particularly for tracking views on articles about major neurological diseases.
  • The analysis revealed a decline in interest in neurological disease content, especially during the pandemic, highlighting the need for better monitoring to adjust health campaigns.
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Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for a broader implementation of telemedicine for many diseases has become apparent. Televisits are one type of telemedicine in which clinical visits are conducted remotely using an audio-visual connection with the patient at home. The use of televisits is more established in Stroke care but was also recently formally evaluated for Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

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Purpose Of Review: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenges many healthcare systems. This review provides an overview of the advantages of telemedicine during times of pandemic and the changes that have followed the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease.

Recent Findings: Telemedicine has been utilized during infectious outbreaks for many years.

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