Volume 37, no. 10, October 2024. Influenza Vaccination Improves Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Healthy Individuals. Publishing in Open Access: ISS resources and opportunities. A study on products purchased on the Internet for animal care. Technical Side Event and 2nd Health Working Group Meeting. RarISS Insert. Caldani, a contribution to the development of modern anatomy and physiology

Abstracts:
Influenza vaccination improves response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthy individuals
Several studies suggest that influenza vaccination may offer protection against COVID-19, although the mechanisms behind this association are not entirely clear. This study evaluated the effect of the 2021/2022 seasonal influenza vaccine on the response to the anti-SARS-CoV-2 booster dose. Analyses of blood samples collected before and after vaccination showed an enhanced response to the COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who received the flu shot. Anti-spike protein antibody levels remained elevated for up to 12 weeks. Participants were classified as "high" or "low responders" based on their response to the influenza vaccine; high responders maintained a strong response to the COVID-19 vaccine after 4 and 12 weeks, while low responders were less reactive. These data indicate that both external factors, such as influenza vaccination, and each individual's intrinsic capacity to respond to stimuli play a role in vaccine responsiveness.

Publishing in Open Access: ISS resources and opportunities
For many years, the ISS, in accordance with its institutional editorial policy aimed at promoting the dissemination of research results and its commitment to public health, has supported open access (OA) publishing. The seminar "Publishing in Open Access: ISS resources and opportunities" was held to illustrate the OA opportunities offered by the ISS to its employees. We talked about OA in its various declinations, the phenomenon of "predatory journals" and the ISS tools available to support the OA publication.

A study on products purchased on the Internet for animal care
Animal care products, while taking up the presentation and composition of human cosmetics, do not have specific regulations for both composition and labelling. In this study, some animal care products were analysed to highlight similarities and differences in labelling and to check for the possible presence of undeclared preservatives and/or pharmaceutical active ingredients. Products advertised to relieve animal skin itching and inflammation were chosen, and corticosteroids that might have been fraudulently added to achieve the desired effect were searched in the products. The results obtained evidenced the absence of the targeted corticosteroids, but revealed a not homogeneous situation regarding labelling and a lack of clarity about the presence of preservatives.

Technical Side Event and 2nd Health Working Group Meeting
On its 90th anniversary, the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) hosted the Technical Side Event of the G7 Italy Health Track, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. A meeting of international leaders to discuss crucial health issues, such as equitable access to care, emergency preparedness, and innovation. Priorities included promoting healthy aging through traditional diets like the Mediterranean, the One Health approach with a focus on combating antimicrobial resistance and strengthening healthcare workforce training. The event concluded with the second meeting of the G7 Health Working Group.