No abstract

Rhodiola Rosea (R. Rosea) is a plant used in traditional popular medicine to enhance cognition and physical performance. R. Rosea medicinal properties have been related to its capability to act as an adaptogen, i.e., a substance able to increase the organism's resistance to a variety of chemical, biological, and physical stressors in a non-specific way. These adaptogen properties have been mainly attributed to the glycoside salidroside, one of the bioactive compounds present in the standardized extracts of R. Rosea. Here, we aimed to investigate whether a single dose of salidroside is able to affect memory and emotional behavior in wild type adult mice. We performed fear conditioning to assess cued and contextual memory, elevated plus maze and open field to evaluate anxiety, and tail suspension test to evaluate depression. Our results showed that a single i.p. administration of salidroside was able to enhance fear memory and exerted an anxiolytic and antidepressant effect. These data confirmed the adaptogenic effect of R. Rosea bioactive compounds in animal models and suggest that salidroside might represent an interesting pharmacological tool to ameliorate cognition and counteract mood disorders.

The decentralization of the provision of health services at the subnational level produces variations in healthcare offered to asylum seekers (ASs) across the different Italian regions, even if they are entitled to healthcare through the national health service. The present study aims to map the healthcare path and regional policies for ASs upon arrival and identify challenges and best practices. This is a multicentric, qualitative study of migrant health policies and practices at the regional level within four Italian regions. For the analysis, a dedicated tool for the systematic comparison of policies and practices was developed. The collection and analysis of data demonstrated the presence of many items of international recommendations, even if many gaps exist and differences between regions remain. The analysis of practices permitted the identification of three models of care and access. Some aspects identified are as follows: fragmentation and barriers to access; a weakness in or lack of a governance system, with the presence of many actors involved; variability in the response between territories. The inclusion of ASs in healthcare services requires intersectoral actions, involving healthcare sectors and other actors within local social structures, in order to add value to local resources and practices, reinforce networks and contribute to social integration.

Background Fighting health inequalities have been included in the WHO Sustainable Development Goals as a priority. Migrants are between the most vulnerable individuals and healthcare interventions, also during the post-migration period, should be oriented, context-specific and aimed at identifying reasons underlying inequalities, as suggested by the recent WHO report ’No public health without migrant health’. The “Inequality Working Group” of the Italian network of public health (PH) residents of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (SItI) aims at identifying an interdisciplinary approach suitable to detect barriers to healthcare access for migrants in different Italian regions. Secondly, we aspire to develop some strategies to overcome unequal healthcare access. Methods Focus group methodology was applied to set working group educational needs, priorities of action and working plan. Moreover, we implemented a network between various professionals involved in migrant healthcare, particularly with the Regional Groups of the Italian Society of Migration Medicine (SIMM). Results After a period of peer-to-peer education about social determinants of health and migration, we reviewed Italian policies about migrants’ healthcare and considered potential discrepancies from WHO recommendations. Furthermore, we mapped practices regarding access to care for migrant population and we focused on causes underlying unequal healthcare access. Conclusions Although with regional differences, migrants have limited access to healthcare services and therefore represent a vulnerable subpopulation. Key messages Fighting against the barriers that limit access to care for migrants is a priority for health systems. PH residents have a relevant role in identifying and defining critical issues, designing enforcement measures and implementing advocacy actions.

No abstract