Epidemiology of Covid-19 in Italy

Professor Rezza will reconstruct the epidemiological evolution of Covid-19 in Italy. Having guided data collection and analysis of the virus’s circulation and of the impact of measures adopted by the Italian government to reduce infections and limit the epidemic’s spread, the perspective he offers is uniquely complete. 

Infectiology and clinical analysis of Covid-19

After months of uncertainty, we are now able to trace out the spectrum of disease caused by SARS-CoV-2: mild or moderate illness in about 80% of patients, severe illness in 15%, and critical illness in 5%, with an estimated global mortality rate of about 3%. We have furthermore ascertained ...

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea Meeting with Emilia-Romagna regional representatives about the OSAS Diagnostic-Therapeutic-Care Procedure (PDTA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS) is the obstruction of the upper airways during sleep, characterised by repeated episodes of apnoea (in the most severe cases, dozens per hour of sleep). The syndrome is caused by an anatomical and/or functional change in the upper airways; adipose tissue deposits in overweight ...

The age of insight: the quest to understand the unconscious in art, mind, and brain from Vienna 1900 to the present

The central challenge of XXI century science is to understand the human mind in biological terms. The possibility to achieve this goal began at the end of the 20th century when cognitive psychology, the science of the mind, merged with neuroscience, the science of the brain.

Switches and latches: control and growth of normal and pathological cells

The cell cycle defines the correct proliferation of cells, that is how these remain “good” and not cancerous. Many genes involved into the cell cycle progression were identified at the beginning of the 1970’s thanks to studies conducted on yeast (yes, the one we use when cooking!).

The Unique Role of Nitric Oxide as a Widespread Signaling Molecule

The field of nitric oxide (NO) research has developed in explosive proportions since the discovery of endogenous NO in 1986. The first biologically important actions of NO were that nitroglycerin and related nitrovasodilators elicit vascular smooth muscle relaxation by liberating NO in the smooth muscle.

Seven Transmembrane Receptors (7TMRs)

Seven transmembrane receptors (7TMRs), also known as G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent by far the largest, most versatile, and most ubiquitous of the several families of plasma membrane receptors.

Covid-19 in the History of Pandemics

The infective agents that have caused epidemics and pandemics throughout history manifest biological traits strictly linked to their origins. For example, parasitic protozoans and chronic infection agents accompanied mankind along its evolutionary journey, when human communities were small and nomadic.

Rianimation and Covid-19

The main purpose of intensive care is to ensure bodily functions harmed by disease until the patient’s recovery via medical assistance and the natural progression of the disease. COVID-19 most frequently impacts breathing, generating the need to “buy time” for recovery by assisting respiration (helmets delivering high-flow oxygen) or ...

What we have learned about Covid-19 from the Vò Euganeo experiment

In this conference, Professor Crisanti will discuss the Vò experiment, in which the Veneto city’s population underwent isolation and periodic checks to trace the virus’s circulation. The Vò experiment has become a model for the updating of mathematical algorithms and development of recommendations to contain and eliminate infections. 

Feeding the future: nutrition in the time of Covid-19

During the lockdown, Italians changed their eating habits: the way in which they consume and manage food. A poll run by Waste Watcher Observatory- a Spreco Zero (Zero Waste) Campaign initiative- highlights this trend, with special attention to produce consumption.

Covid-19 economic policy

Covid and the resulting mobility containment and social distancing measures have generated a significant contraction in the supply side of the economy, accompanied by a simultaneous reduction in demand for goods and services. Which rights and needs have been judged worthy of priority safeguards?

The debate and the wealth of literature on the use of cardio-vascular drugs during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out doubts and insecurities around the solidity of our medical knowledge and the ability of world health systems to cope with such pandemics. One of the primary unresolved doubts, is the real efficacy of the therapeutic strategies employed in the light of the information ...

Academic research to combat Covid-19: 4 experiences compared

LIVE STREAMING EVENT Chairperson: Nicola Maria Fioravanti Staged by Intesa Sanpaolo Four important Italian Universities share their progress on research projects to combat Covid-19: University of Milan: evaluation of comorbidities correlated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients. University of Padova: study of clinical-pathological correlates of lesions in deceased patients with Covid-19. ...

The Importance of Cultural Tightness-Looseness and Government Efficiency for Understanding COVID-19 Growth and Death Rates

The spread of COVID-19 represents a global public health crisis, yet some nations were more effective than others at limiting the spread of the virus during the early stages of the pandemic. We show that cultural variation in the strength of social norms—or tightness-looseness—along with the efficiency of governments—are ...

Covid-19 during pregnancy

At the moment of writing, SARS-CoV 2 infection would not appear to constitute a serious risk for pregnant women. The risk is similar to that for non-pregnant women of a fertile age and infection is asymptomatic in the majority of cases. There have been few serious cases and in ...

Beyond the virus: society, behaviours, pandemics and infodemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact across the globe, challenging healthcare, social, and economic systems. While the threat has fuelled an enormous number of biological, clinical, and welfare studies, psychosocial difficulties correlated with these aspects have received little attention.

Universal healthcare: still an achievable goal?

A universalistic healthcare system is often considered as an ideal goal, a utopian and basically impossible dream. But the experiences of some countries, such as Rwanda, Thailand and Bangladesh, suggest a possible prospect and a less fatalistic outlook.

The Revolution of personalized Medicine: are we going to cure all diseases and at what price?

Life expectancy increased by at least thirty years in the twentieth century. Will it continue to increase? How long will we live? Much will depend on new technological devices, the ability to substitute degenerated tissues with functional tissues and on new drugs.

Discovering the genes of immunity: genetics in the service of health

Our immune system is composed of two lines of defence. The first one is constituted by innate immunity, and when microorganisms overcome this line, adaptive immunity intervenes through T and B lymphocytes, that produce antibodies and killer cells able to destroy microorganisms and infected cells.

Circadian Rhythms, Fruit Flies and the Public Support of Basic Research

The last 35 years has seen a sea change in the field of circadian rhythms.  This molecular era began with work in Drosophila (fruit flies), which has been a leading genetic system for more than 100 years.

Past, present and future of nuclear reprogramming

Experiments involving transferring the nucleus of a somatic cell into an egg cell whose nucleus has been removed (cloning) dates to the end of the 19th century and the first success dates to 1952.

Zoonoses and the emergence of Covid-19

Zoonotic diseases have long been a burden on human societies and will likely increase in frequency. Fortunately, new genomic technologies provide a powerful way to rapidly reveal the origins of epidemics.

The physician and Covid-19: opportunities and risks for mental health

The Covid-19 pandemic presents a challenge to and stress upon healthcare systems and professionals with few precedents in modern history.

Health communication on social media: what Covid-19 has taught us

The Covid-19 pandemic has turned mass communications upside-down. Social media have played a role in the crisis and transformation, becoming an echo chamber for disinformation and fake news.

Vaccines against Covid 19: challenges, strategies and opportunities

The conference will discuss the state of the art of vaccinology and other immunological approaches to containing the virus. Roughly 200 vaccines against COVID-19, utilising different technologies, are in various phases of experimentation.

The immune system and therapies, from cancer to COVID-19

Together with the central nervous system, the immune system is one of our bodies’ foremost systems. A less approximate understanding of the immunological mechanisms has blazed the way for a new frontier in the struggle against cancer.

Thermal spas in a time of pandemic

The pandemic has sparked many fears that risk alienating the public from beneficial health services. Thermal spas have long been used to treat chronic degenerative, cardiorespiratory, and metabolic diseases which share a series of common risk factors that can be counteracted through a combination of medicine, diet, exercise, mineral ...

Immunity and parasites: innate defences

Immunity in mammals is mediated largely, though not entirely, by cells of hematopoietic origin.  Lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and other cells derived from the blood forming organs operate in conjuction with one another to fight infectious diseases:  sometimes successfully and sometimes not. 

“Unmet needs” in narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic autoimmune disorder that frequently appears in childhood. It is caused by the destruction of neurons that produce orexin, a peptide secreted by the hypothalamus. Narcolepsy is a rare condition; though characterised by easily recognised symptoms, it is unexplainably difficult to diagnose.

Personal and professional ethical issues raised by the pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic is in constant evolution, relatively unpredictable and of uncertain length, relative to the relatively scarce resources available when measured against need, imposes choices in the health field relating to hospital access, intensive care, the use of drugs and vaccines in a professional and health framework loaded ...