Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene最新文献

{"title":"The role of specific nutrients in preventing immune system and blood cell disorders: an umbrella review.","authors":"Andrea Vecchietti, Paolo Strano, Giuseppa Minutolo, Vittorio Grieco, Giorgia Cappuccio, Giuseppa Granvillano, Laura Confalonieri, Giovanni Leonardo Briganti, Eleonora Raso, Martina Chimienti, Marzia Pellegrini, Michelangelo Mercogliano, Gloria Spatari, Camilla Lugli, Teresa Urbano, Antonio Lorenzon","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3636","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3636","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Nutritional deficiencies affecting the immune and haematopoietic systems represent a well-known global public health challenge: only the iron deficiency anaemia affects 1.62 billion individuals, especially in vulnerable populations. However, the protective effect that nutrition might give on disorders of these systems is still poorly understood. This umbrella review aims to synthesise the available evidence on the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in the primary prevention of blood and immune disorders, with a focus on the role of essential micronutrients and bioactive compounds.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The protocol for this review was registered on PROSPERO (registration number 535785). A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane until April 2024, using MeSH terms and keywords related to nutritional interventions, preventive effects and immune and haematopoietic system disorders. The search strategy followed the PRISMA guidelines for umbrella reviews. Two independent review teams performed the screening and data extraction, while a third reviewer resolved any disputes. Methodological quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist, risk of bias was analysed using the tools ROBINS-E for non-experimental studies, ROBIS for systematic reviews and RoB 2 for RCTs. The quality of evidence was assessed according to the GRADE approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 1028 articles identified, 13 met the inclusion criteria after systematic screening. Considering specific infection rates, vitamin D supplementation showed a significant protective effect (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81-0.96), with particular efficacy in deficient subjects (< 25 nmol/L). Zinc showed significant preventive efficacy (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.58-0.80), especially in nasal formulations. Multiple micronutrient interventions demonstrated synergistic effects in reducing iron deficiency (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.32-0.60) and vitamin A deficiency (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.28-0.62). The methodological quality of the included studies was high, with JBI scores ranging from 9.5 to 11/11, indicating a solid evidence base.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The evidence supports the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in boosting the immune system, with particular relevance for vitamin D and zinc supplementation. The multiple micronutrient approach emerges as a promising strategy, especially in more-at-risk populations. Both individualised approaches and public health interventions are recommended. Future research should focus on optimising nutrient combinations and identifying predictive biomarkers of response for the primary prevention of blood and immune disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E506-E530"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235397/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital Resources as a Tool for Physical Activity Promotion and Attendance among University Students: a Pilot Study.","authors":"Mauro DE Santi, Giulia Baldelli, Paola Frisina, Paola Italiano, Veronica Gentilini, Giuditta Fiorella Schiavano, Giorgio Brandi, Giulia Amagliani","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3709","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3709","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Various digital resources (DR) to support people in staying physically active have recently been developed and diffused, especially among young people. Our study aimed to evaluate how the epidemiological scenario determined by the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the current methods of carrying out physical activity (PA) among university students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An online survey was conducted to analyze DR usage habits as a tool useful for PA attendance before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO)-5 questionnaire and the Body Mass Index were also collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The survey, conducted on 656 university students (77.0 % female, 22.2 % male, 0.8 % not specified), revealed increased use of DRs during the confinement period, from 21.3% to 74.3%, as expected. Interestingly, DR usage remained 7% higher than before. Moreover, PA levels were related to higher perceived well-being (WHO-5), and DRs were associated with low/moderate PA intensity and lower BMI values. Specifically, DR use was revealed in 32% of those having a BMI under 24.9 and 17% of those with a BMI higher than 25.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This research highlights how DRs can represent a simple and economical way to stay active. Considering the importance of an active lifestyle for general well-being and health status maintenance, DR could be considered a good tool and included in policies to promote PA attendance in university students.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E531-E545"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235404/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Awareness towards Cancer Attributable to Infections (CAI): A Lebanese study with a special focus on young adults, and adults.","authors":"Farah Zeineh, Salim Moussa","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3627","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3627","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Around two million cancer cases per year are caused by infections. Currently, there is a lack of studies assessing awareness of the link between infections and cancer in Lebanon. This knowledge is essential for the effective prevention, early detection, and management of these cancers. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the level of awareness of cancer attributable to infections (CAI) in Lebanon especially among young adults, and adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional, descriptive research study was conducted for two months in Beirut, Beqaa, Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, and North Lebanon. A valid and reliable survey was distributed to participants. The survey was divided into two sections: socio-demographic information and awareness of CAI.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Approximately 43.4% of participants knew that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cause liver cancer. Around 34.9% knew that human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer. About 33.5% knew that stomach cancer is caused by Helicobacter pylori. Around 20% were aware of the association between Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Kaposi sarcoma, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and lymphoma. Around 27.7% of them had received the HBV vaccine. Only 11.8% of them had received the HPV vaccine.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In Lebanon, young adults, and adults did not demonstrate the same level of awareness regarding the various types of CAI. Awareness levels increased among females, Lebanese individuals, healthcare workers, highly educated individuals, and those with a middle family income.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E554-E610"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235391/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Preventing the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 DM: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Aidi Alifia Putri, Augris Shandrianti, Iche Andriyani Liberty","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3461","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3461","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes and is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease globally. Currently, the medications recommended for treatment are not fully effective for treating CKD. Recent findings from the DAPA-CKD and EMPA-KIDNEY clinical trials have revealed that SGLT-2 inhibitors offer significant benefits in improving kidney function and preventing the progression of kidney disease.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in delaying CKD progression and reducing dialysis dependency in patients with type 2 diabetes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This research is a systematic literature study using PRISMA 2020 Protocols. Article searches were carried out in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Sage Journals, and Europe PMC, covering the period from January 2019 to March 2024. The search strategy used the keywords \"SGLT2 Inhibitor\" AND \"Prevention\" AND \"Chronic Kidney Disease\" AND \"Type 2 Diabetes\". Articles that met the criteria were assessed for risk of bias using RoB2.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 7 articles with a total of 15,927 participants included in this systematic review, the overall risk of bias was low. Patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD who received SGLT2 inhibitors had a significantly lower risk of renal composite outcomes compared to placebo (e.g. HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59-0.82). A modest initial decrease in eGFR was observed in the SGLT2i group compared to placebo, followed by stabilization over time.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>SGLT2 inhibitors can be proposed as an effective treatment option for renal protection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, with moderate certainty of evidence from consistent RCT findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E611-E618"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235388/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiovascular risk in seasonal migrant workers in Southern Italy: clinical-epidemiological evaluation.","authors":"Domenico Basta","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3115","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>As part of the GOV.E.R.NI projects (Effective Government in Reports for New Integrations) and Più Su.Pr.Eme, project that is part of the three-year plan to combat labor exploitation in agriculture and the caporalato approved within the specific Caporalato Table promoted by the Directorate General for Immigration of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security with the aim of combating and overcoming all forms of serious labor exploitation and serious marginality and vulnerability of migrant workers in the territories that present the most critical issues in Southern Italy. The research institute FARBAS has carried out health surveillance activities on migrant workers in Basilicata with the aim of assessing the state of health and conditions that may put the health of workers at risk.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The epidemiological study concerns the analysis and study of data obtained from a cohort of 135 migrant workers hosting in two reception centers located in the territory of Basilicata (Italy) who have voluntarily joined the health screening activities by means of electrocardiogram examination, spirometry tests, blood pressure measurement and physiological and pathological history. Enlisted come from 12 Central African countries, with a mean age of 37.08 ± 9.8, of male gender.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of clinical and instrumental data shows that 51.1 % of patients have higher than optimal blood pressure values; 42.2 % have higher than normal systolic blood pressure values, 11.1% have above-normal diastolic blood pressure values. From the analysis of the data obtained from the instrumental examinations it is clear that 20% of the subjects present an electrocardiogram indicating a pathological alteration and 14% of the population present an altered spirometry trace attributable to a pathological state. 64% of the population has a normal BMI, the overweight rate is 30.8 % while 1.5% has grade I obesity and the remaining 3.7 % is underweight.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>The study shows a significant prevalence of arterial hypertension, cardiovascular disease and pathological changes in the respiratory system. In particular, the presence of risk factors such as high blood pressure associated with work factors such as maintaining difficult postures and working in the presence of heat represent a high risk to the health of seasonal workers working in the field of tomato harvesting in Southern Italy [1]. Future public health and preventive medicine actions should be geared towards precision health surveillance that can control, manage and reduce this risk to the health of workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E630-E634"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235399/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148200973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends in Adolescent Mental Wellbeing in an Italian sample from 2004 to 2022 (HBSC Study): Gender, Age, and Socioeconomic Difference.","authors":"Antonella Miserendino, Claudia Maria Trombetta, Dario Lipari, Bianca Maria Bocci, Elena Frongillo, Andrea Pammolli, Rita Simi, Giacomo Lazzeri","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3745","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3745","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>There is an increasing discussion about the decline in adolescent mental well-being over time, but existing literature provides limited data on this trend.The aim of our study is to examine how the mental health of Tuscan adolescents aged 11-13 and 15 years may have changed over the years. Additionally, we seek to investigate the influence of factors such as gender, age, and socioeconomic status on these changes.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We analyzed data representative of the Tuscan region, collected from 18,439 adolescents through six rounds of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys conducted in 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. Hierarchical regression models were used to assess regional trends in adolescents' mental well-being, considering life satisfaction, psychological and somatic symptoms, and to evaluate how age, gender, and socioeconomic status might moderate these trends.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In all survey years (except 2004), girls consistently reported higher levels of psychological and somatic complaints and lower life satisfaction compared to boys. Trend analysis from 2004 to 2022 showed a steady decline in all measured areas: life satisfaction, psychological complaints, and somatic complaints. Generally, older adolescents reported lower life satisfaction and higher levels of psychological and somatic symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings indicate that the gender gap in mental well-being appears to be widening over time, whereas differences related to age and socioeconomic status have remained relatively stable. It is therefore crucial to pay increased attention, especially considering the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E448-E457"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235402/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum: Pneumococcal Vaccination of Adults in Italy: What Strategies?","authors":"Elvira Massaro, Giovanni Gabutti","doi":"10.82082/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.3.3756-EC","DOIUrl":"10.82082/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.3.3756-EC","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This corrects the article on p. E345-E357 in vol. 66, PMID: 41292541.].</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E654-E666"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235389/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing Health System preparedness for dog mediated rabies in South-East Asia Region.","authors":"Isha Garg, Navya Vyas, Srajana Kotekar, Minoshka Teles, Najmin Sultana, Sudheesh N, Basavaraj Kataraki, Anoop Velayudhan","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3663","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3663","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Rabies is one of the major public health challenges in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR), which is home to diverse populations where close human-animal interactions are common, creating a conducive environment for the transmission of dog mediated rabies. The scoping review intended to assess the health system preparedness of WHO South-East Asia Region countries, for dog mediated rabies, focusing on prevention, detection, and control efforts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The published literature was searched using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases, focusing on studies published from January 2013 to November 2023. The inclusion criteria encompass primary studies published in English between January 2013 and November 2023 focusing on health system preparedness for prevention, control, and elimination of dog-mediated rabies in SEAR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 178 studies were reviewed. Over the years, significant improvements were seen among most SEAR countries, but countries like Myanmar and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, have limited published evidence on health system preparedness for dog-mediated rabies. Most of the countries need to focus on various aspects like vaccine availability, inter-sectoral collaboration, robust rabies surveillance and reporting system for both humans and animals, strengthening of laboratory capacity and responsible dog ownership to be in alignment with the global goal of \"Zero by 30\" of ending dog mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Each SEAR country demonstrates distinctive strengths and challenges in the elimination of rabies. However, incorporation of inter-sectoral coordination and strengthening the rabies surveillance system by linking both animal and human contribute to the control efforts in South-East Asia countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E479-E505"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235400/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between blood pressure and waist-to-height ratio in schoolchildren aged 6 to 8 years in the Valparaíso Region, Chile.","authors":"Mirta Crovetto, Katherine Concha","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3644","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3644","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hypertension is a serious obesity-related disease that affects the paediatric population. Objective: To examine the positive association between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist-to-height ratio in schoolchildren Methods: Cross-sectional study. Convenience sample of 300 schoolchildren aged 6 to 8 years from Valparaíso. Blood pressure, waist circumference and height were evaluated. Data were collected in non-consecutive years (2015, 2018, 2019, 2022) due to logistical constraints. Blood pressure was assessed according to the criteria of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2017). Statistical analysis: Results were expressed as mean, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for quantitative variables and qualitative variables were expressed in absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies. Normality was verified with the Shapiro Wilk test (p > 0.05). Associations were made between altered blood pressure and anthropometric variables (BMI, waist circumference, nutritional status) using the Proportion test and Chi Square test. Three different models were developed to determine the association between altered BP with WHR, WC and NS, adjusting for age in all models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A significant positive association was found between systolic blood pressure and waist-to-height ratio (p = 0.0073).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Higher WHR is associated with increased blood pressure, highlighting its potential as a screening tool for metabolic risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E546-E553"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235392/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Black Death of 1348 in Florence and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in the 650^th anniversary of the death of the writer Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375).","authors":"Mariano Martini, Francesco Baldanzi, Donatella Lippi","doi":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3807","DOIUrl":"10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.4.3807","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The 650^th anniversary of the death of the Tuscan writer Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375) provides an opportunity to reread some pages of his masterpiece, the Decameron, from a historical-medical perspective. In this work, Boccaccio gives an account of the \"Black Death\", a devastating pandemic of bubonic plague, which reached Europe, Messina (Sicily), from Asia Minor in September of 1347. The plague travelled along the commercial route taken by Genoese sailors returning from their strategic trading posts at Kaffa on the Crimean Peninsula, which was under siege by the Mongols. The framework, the cage that encloses the 100 short stories that comprise Boccaccio's work, is the starting point for a novelistic reinterpretation. On an unspecified summer day in 1348, the plague broke out in Florence, Italy. In a few years, the terrible \"Black Death\" decimated the population of Europe. The city of Florence was shocked by the aggressiveness of the disease and by the collapse of the most basic norms of respect and civil coexistence. On the 650^th anniversary of Boccaccio's death, the authors of this short article commemorate this great writer, his work and, in particular, the historical, social and public health responses to this massive pandemic. The Black Death shared some similar features with the recent COVID-19 pandemic: from the initial difficulties and misunderstandings to the adoption of public safety and prevention measures, such as quarantine, and the lasting impact on society after the event had passed. The similarities between Boccaccio's description and what we experienced during the COVID-19 era regard also other aspects of public health aspects.</p>","PeriodicalId":94106,"journal":{"name":"Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene","volume":"66 4","pages":"E649-E653"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13235394/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148200944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}