In Italy, four minors have died in the last year as a result of male circumcision (MC) procedures performed for cultural and religious reasons by unqualified persons in unhygienic conditions.
 
  After illustrating the historical and ethical outlines of the moral admissibility of MC within a comparative perspective, we examine the features of the Italian healthcare system with particular regard both to the heterogeneity of services available in the various Regions and to the risks engendered by excluding MC from the public health setting.
 
  In order to adequately safeguard public health, particularly that of minors, there is a pressing need for thorough discussion of whether the National Health Service should perform MC on minors free of charge or, at least, for a reduced fee. The implementation of targeted campaigns may raise awareness of the importance of proper safety measures in MC.
 In order to adequately safeguard public health, particularly that of minors, there is a pressing need for thorough discussion of whether the National Health Service should perform MC on minors free of charge or, at least, for a reduced fee. The implementation of targeted campaigns may raise awareness of the importance of proper safety measures in MC.In normal dividing tissues, cell homeostasis is maintained by rare cellular elements, the stem cells, that have the unique property of self-renewal and differentiation to generate a population of functionally mature tissue elements. Recent studies carried out in the last three decades support the existence of stem cells also in tumors, the so-called cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells have the property of initiating and maintaining tumor growth, are able to self-renew and to differentiate, are the main drivers of intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity and the main cellular mediators of drug resistance, leading to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Cancer stem cells can be identified in many tumors according to specific immunophenotypic features, but cancer stemness cannot be defined as a fixed property, due to cancer plasticity. For these properties, cancer stem cells represent attractive targets for developing new anti-cancer therapies and there is supporting evidence that the combination of conventional anticancer therapies with drugs targeting cancer stem cells could lead to cancer eradication. Ongoing studies in some tumors strongly support the clinical utility of developing efficient strategies of cancer stem cell targeting.
  Nurse's job involves staying close to the patient for an extended time period and a high risk of transmission for airborne pathogens, including measles. Previous studies found high rate of operators unprotected for measles.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ugt8-in-1.html  We evaluated the immunization status for measles in nurses of a large hospital in Rome.
 
  We retrospectively evaluated the clinical records of nurses working in Tor Vergata hospital who underwent the occupational health screening program. Gender, age, work area and levels measles-specific IgG were evaluated.
 
  This study included 358 nurses. 77.7% (217) had a protective measles-specific IgG antibodies level. Protection rate was higher among workers aging 40 years (82.6% vs 68.7%; p < 0.01). The mean value of the anti-measles IgG was 217.2±91.1 AU/ml. Males showed higher values than females (253.3 vs 214.6; p < 0.01).
 
  Our study revealed a non-protective anti measles IgG level in a high percentage of nurses, even among those working in high risk areas.
 Our study revealed a non-protective anti measles IgG level in a high percentage of nurses, even among those working in high risk areas.
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination for Italy is an ambitious, but achievable goal. In Italy, there is political will, which aims to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) elimination goals recognizing the need to identify undiagnosed individuals in key high-risk groups and in the general population, however there is concern regarding HCV treatment implementation in Italian Regions.
 
  A modelling analysis was conducted, using the "Italy Polaris" model, to forecast the impact of different HCV treatment rates in achieving the HCV elimination goals in Italy. The model assessed two treatment scenarios 2018 Scenario and 2019 Scenario, using the annually HCV treatment rate in Italy.
 
  Considering a high treatment rate, as assumed by the 2018 Scenario, all HCV elimination targets would be achieved. Considering the 2019 Scenario, in which a decreasing number of newly diagnosed individuals and as consequence, a decline in the number of treated patients, were assumed, only the 65% HCV mortality reduction would be an achievable goal in Italy. The other elimination targets could be achievable over 7 years later than the year 2030.
 
  Establishing an ad hoc fund for DAAs for each Italian Region, binding resources both for case finding, through active screening and activities for rapid linkage to care and treatment, is of paramount importance, in order to keep Italy on track to achieve the WHO elimination targets by 2030.
 Establishing an ad hoc fund for DAAs for each Italian Region, binding resources both for case finding, through active screening and activities for rapid linkage to care and treatment, is of paramount importance, in order to keep Italy on track to achieve the WHO elimination targets by 2030.
  Although family-centered communication about end-of-life care has been recognized to promote palliative-oriented care in nursing home (NH), how this communication may work is still unknown. Therefore, we explored the mechanisms by which end-of-life communication may contribute to palliative-oriented care in NH from the perspective of bereaved family carers.
 
  A descriptive qualitative design was performed. Interviews were conducted with 32 bereaved family carers whose relative had died between 45 days to 9 months prior from 13 different NHs. A two-steps analysis process firstly with deductive and then with inductive content analysis was adopted.
 
  Four mechanisms by which end-of-life communication contributed to palliative-oriented care were identified a) promoting family carers understanding about their relative's health conditions, prognosis, and treatments available; b) fostering shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and residents/family carers; c) improving knowledge of residents' preferences; and d) improving knowledge of family carers' preferences.