Background/Objectives: Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions, preventing millions of deaths globally each year. However, vaccine hesitancy, driven by misinformation and reduced disease risk perception, has led to declining vaccination rates and the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in Europe. In response to this, countries have implemented various strategies, including mandatory and recommended vaccination programs. The objective of this study is to map the current European landscape of pediatric vaccination policies, and the variations that have occurred in the last decade. Methods: This rapid review was conducted on PubMed, Google, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website, to collect all vaccination schedules in EU/EEA countries in 2024 and all documents focusing on the introduction of mandatory vaccines during the last decade. Results: As of 2024, 13 countries had at least one mandatory pediatric vaccination, with France, Hungary, and Latvia requiring all but one vaccine. In contrast, 17 countries had no mandatory vaccinations, relying only on recommendations. Between 2014 and 2024, six countries (Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Poland) introduced or extended mandatory vaccinations. Conclusions: European vaccination policies show significant variation. Effective programs depend on robust healthcare systems, public trust, and adaptable strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and the resurgence of VPDs.

Introduction: Personalised prevention offers a promising tool to reduce the impact of non-communicable diseases, which represent a growing health burden worldwide. However, to support the adoption of this innovation it is needed to clarify the current state of available evidence in this area. This work aims to provide an overview of recent publications on personalised prevention for chronic conditions. Materials and methods: A scoping review of scientific literature from Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and grey literature was conducted. Eligible articles included prospective primary studies and clinical practice directives on personalised preventive approaches for chronic diseases published between January 2017 to December 2023. The review followed Arksey-O’Malley guidelines and PRISMA-ScR checklist. Results: We identified 121 publications including 60 primary cohort studies and 61 clinical practice directives. We extracted 249 personalised preventive approaches, 27% in primary prevention, 27% in secondary prevention, and 46% in tertiary prevention. In primary prevention, 50% of the 67 approaches were from cohort studies, mainly targeting cardiovascular diseases, and 50% from directives primarily focused on cancer. Secondary prevention included 66 approaches, 73% from directives mainly concerning breast cancer. Tertiary prevention included 116 approaches, evenly distributed among the two publication types and focusing mostly on cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Lastly, tertiary prevention is the most represented level of prevention both in primary research studies and directives (54% and 41% respectively). Conclusions: Our study highlights a significant focus on personalised prevention in oncology in the past few years, with numerous recently issued clinical practice directives. We identified substantial original research in personalised primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, indicating growing interest in the field. However, the distribution of primary studies and directives across the three preventive levels anticipate challenges in generating evidence of clinical utility in primary and secondary prevention, with most approaches falling under tertiary prevention.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a severe public health threat, with educational interventions recognized as pivotal in mitigating its impact. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan on AMR emphasizes awareness and education as fundamental strategies. Given the complex interplay between human, animal, and environmental health in the development and spread of AMR, educational initiatives are increasingly being framed within a One Health approach. This study aims to examine the scientific production on AMR education of healthcare professionals and the general population. A bibliometric analysis was performed on AMR education literature on the Web of Science Core Collection database up to December 2023. Using the Biblioshiny tool within the Bibliometrix R package, the analysis covered productivity metrics, citation impact, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic mapping. The study analyzed 1124 documents published on AMR education between 1995 and 2023, with a 20.5 % annual growth in publications. Key journals included Antibiotics-Basel and PLOS ONE, while highly cited sources were Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and Clinical Infectious Diseases. The University of London and the US led in institutional and country contributions. Keywords like “knowledge”, “attitudes”, and “stewardship” were central, reflecting the focus on educational initiatives. Thematic evolution revealed significant growth, with the number of themes increasing from four in 1995–2008 to 20 by 2021–2023, demonstrating the dynamic and expanding nature of research in this field. The expansion of AMR education research reflects growing global commitment to combating AMR through targeted educational strategies. Framing AMR education within the One Health approach may enhance its effectiveness, by addressing the interconnected drivers of resistance across sectors. Our findings highlight the importance of sustaining international collaboration and aligning AMR educational efforts with national policies. Future research should emphasize interdisciplinary approaches and innovative methods to address the complex challenges of AMR across diverse populations.

Background: The study of women exposures and child outcomes occurring in the first 1,000 days of life since conception enhances understanding of the relationships between environmental factors, epigenetic changes, and disease development, extending beyond childhood and spanning the entire lifespan. Generation Gemelli is a recently launched case-control study that enrolls mother-newborns pairs in one of the largest university hospitals in Italy, in order to examine the association between maternal environmental exposures and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the risk of premature birth. The study will also evaluate the association of maternal exposures and the health and growth of infants and children up to 24 months of age. Methods: The study entails the set-up of a case-control study within a birth cohort. With approximately 4,000 annual deliveries, we aim to enroll 140 cases (newborns with IUGR and premature birth) and 280 controls per year, from September 2022. A comprehensive questionnaire will be used to gather information about various types of maternal environmental exposures before and during pregnancy. We will collect biological samples from both mothers and newborns (including vaginal swab, placenta sample, blood, saliva, meconium, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) at birth and within the early hours of the newborn’s life. We will perform laboratory examinations including dosage of heavy metals and essential elements, investigation of placental distress and fetal brain damage of biomarkers, analysis of microbiota and of DNA methylation profile. We will conduct clinical follow-up assessments in both cases and controls at months 12 and 24 and we will collect anthropometric data, feeding types with particular reference to breastfeeding and its duration, pediatric emergency room visits, hospitalizations, medication usage, known allergies, and neuropsychological development. Discussion: The Generation Gemelli case-control study holds the promise of significantly enhancing our comprehension of how maternal environmental exposures relate to the health of children and the broader population. The study of the exposome will provide insights into the relationships between environmental exposures, epigenetic changes and health outcomes during the first 1000 days of life and onward.

Background: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a nonthermal locoregional treatment that enhances cytotoxic drug uptake through reversible electroporation and is increasingly used across different malignancies. Despite consistent evidence of clinical efficacy, uncertainties remain regarding its safety profile in heterogeneous clinical settings. This umbrella review synthesizes and critically appraises the available evidence on the efficacy and safety of ECT in oncological patients to inform clinical practice and future research. Methods: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses was conducted in accordance with PRISMA and Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and registered in PROSPERO. Methodological quality and overlap were assessed using AMSTAR‐2 and the corrected covered area. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were performed to estimate pooled response and adverse event proportions, with subgroup and robustness analyses. Results: A total of 11 secondary studies were included. The pooled overall response rate to ECT was 78.6% (95% CI: 71.9%–84.0%) under a random‐effects model, with substantial heterogeneity across studies ( I ² = 88.2%). Subgroup analyses showed variability in overall response according to tumor type and treatment intent; however, no statistically significant between‐group differences were observed. The pooled proportion of adverse effects was 10% (95% CI: 0.0%–43.1%), with extreme between‐study heterogeneity ( I ² = 99.5%). Most reported adverse events were local and mild, whereas severe or systemic toxicities were uncommon. Conclusions: ECT is an effective locoregional treatment with high antitumor activity across multiple oncological indications. While safety outcomes were predominantly local and mild, interpretation of pooled toxicity estimates should account for variability in adverse event reporting. Overall consistent response patterns underscore its clinical relevance; however, further high‐quality prospective studies and standardized reporting are needed to guide broader implementation.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is a main gastroenteritis cause in children ≤ 5 years old. In 2017, when few Italian regions had rotavirus vaccination programmes, rotavirus vaccines were included in the National Plan for Preventive Vaccination (PNPV). Although all Italian regions follow the PNPV, they each decide how to implement it, contributing to rotavirus vaccination coverage differences across the country. AIM: The objective was to assess rotavirus vaccination national/regional policies in Italy and, between 2016 and 2023, vaccination coverage trends at national and regional level. METHODS: Scientific and grey literature was systematically reviewed for reports on Italian national/regional policies or programmes concerning rotavirus vaccination. Their key features and strategies to increase vaccination coverage were recorded. Vaccination coverage data originating from the Ministry of Health, were analysed descriptively, or with linear regression, for national and regional trends. RESULTS: Among 418 policy/programme reports identified, 25 were included. Between 2013 and 2015, Sicilia, Calabria and Puglia had already initiated universal vaccination programmes. The PNPV 2017–19 standardised regions’ offer of rotavirus vaccination. Between 2016 and 2023, vaccination coverage in Italy significantly increased (p = 0.0005) from 10.5% to 70.76%, with a 140% rise in 2019−20. Regional coverage disparities existed. Throughout 2016–23, most central Italian regions had annual coverages below national values. Bolzano annual coverage was consistently < 50%, while in Veneto, coverage reached 85.10% in 2021. In 2023, five regions had > 80% coverage. CONCLUSIONS: While rotavirus vaccination coverage improved in Italy in 2016−23, regional disparities persist. Addressing these requires overcoming logistical and societal challenges, as well as harmonised policies.