- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Sleep and related disorders
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Human Health and Disease
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Diabetes Management and Research
- Polish Law and Legal System
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Medical and Biological Ozone Research
- Global Health Care Issues
- Frailty in Older Adults
- Amoebic Infections and Treatments
- Parvovirus B19 Infection Studies
University of Virginia
2025
Catholic University Our Lady of Good Counsel
2015-2024
University of Tirana
2013-2019
University of Medicine Tirana
2003-2016
Albanian University
2006
University of Rome Tor Vergata
2001
OPINION article Front. Med., 30 April 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2018.00123
The objectives of the present study were to assess occurrence human adenoviruses (HAdVs) in paediatric patients with gastroenteritis Albania and characterize HAdV strains. Faecal specimens from children admitted acute Paediatric Hospital Tirana screened for HAdV, using broad-range primers targeting hexon gene, combination species-specific fiber gene. Phylogenetic analysis was then performed genetic relationships among different sequences between samples those prototype Adenovirus DNA...
Abstract Background Despite increasing smartphone penetration globally, personalized mobile health (mHealth) care interventions remain largely untapped for people with tuberculosis (TB) in many settings. A platform adopted to support treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) the US was adapted and piloted HIV/TB a distinct urban population, high usage improved clinical outcomes. Systematic evaluation potential contextual influences on mHealth implementation is needed ensure...
Human Bocavirus (HBoV) has been recently identified in association with acute viral gastroenteritis (AGE). The objective of this work was to investigate the prevalence HBoV children AGE Albania. Stool specimens collected from 142 were analyzed by amplification partial NP1 and Vp1/Vp2 genes. detected 13 samples (9.1%), 12 HBoV‐1 one HBoV‐2. All HBoV‐positive patients co‐infected rotavirus and/or adenovirus, a finding which might indicate that there is no clear causal agent diarrhea. Further...
Vaccination has saved millions of lives through the protection individuals and populations from communicable diseases. Vaccine hesitancy, defined as delay in acceptance or refusal vaccines despite availability vaccination services, become a growing global concern. The objective this study was to investigate parents'/caregivers' hesitancy toward childhood its predictors Albania.A cross-sectional survey conducted.The data comes conducted on sample parents/caregivers (89.6% mothers) children...
By the end of December 2000, epidemiological system ‘Alert’ Public Health Institute in Tirane reported an outbreak acute gastroenteritis. The involved children and rural area. In total, 2722 were seen Hospital 982 (56·4%) treated for age group with highest morbidity was 0–5 years (89·7%), followed by 6–9 (6·2%) 10–15 groups (4·1%). distribution gastroenteritis cases, which occurred along same water system, suggests a waterborne origin. nucleic acid amplification confirmed co-circulation...
Three different studies are reported concerning the environmental pollution caused by viruses in Albania. The first study describes an outbreak of gastroenteritis capital city, involving 2,722 children attending Paediatric Unit Tirana Hospital. age group with highest morbidity was 0-5 years, 89.5%; no fatalities were recorded during outbreak. Rotavirus detected 26/28 faecal samples RT-PCR, although astrovirus, adenovirus and calicivirus also present. second hepatitis A virus city Lac. Two...
This repeated cross-sectional study with two independent sample populations compared the antibody response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccines in Albania July-August 2021 and 2022. In 2021, it found higher anti-spike-1 seropositivity levels fully vaccinated individuals, especially BNT162b2 ChAdOx1 a lesser degree CoronaVac. By 2022, all single-dose recipients showed high responses, suggesting natural infection-enhanced immunity. The indicates significant evolution...
Gastroenteritis is one of the most important diseases in developing country and viral infections are well documented. To understand better epidemiological aspect gastroenteritis Albania especially gastroenteritis, one-year study was carried out with cooperation physicians working Paediatric Hospital University Center "Mother Thereza" Tirana. Three hundred thirteen stool samples were collected from children diarrhoea a questionnaire filled by health personnel for each child. Analysis...
Hepatitis A is a common disease in developing countries and Albania has high prevalence of this associated to young age. In spite the occurrence unique serotype there are different genotypes classified from I VII. Genotype characterisation HAV isolates circulating been undertaken, as well study antigenic variants proteins VP3 VP1. To evaluate genetic variability Albanian hepatitis virus (HAV) isolates, samples were collected 12 cities, VP1/2A junction amplified sequenced. These sequences...
Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) comprises a group of diseases characterized by alterations in the frequency and/or depth breathing during sleep. The aim this study was to investigate SDB Albanian children and adolescents describe its social, physiological, psychological, sleep-related, anthropometric risk factors, relation sociodemographic situation. A total 6087 participants (mean age: 10.42 years, range: 6 15 52.3% females 47.7% males) attending public schools all over Albania took part...
Vaccine hesitancy (VH) has increased over the past decade with large geographical variations between countries, posing a threat to global public health. This phenomenon is growing in general population as well among healthcare workers (HCWs), who are most reliable source of vaccine-related information for patients. Special attention must therefore be paid medical students, future HCWs. We conducted cross-sectional study (November 2022-January 2023) on all Albanian and Italian students...
Healthcare professionals are important models for their patients since individual knowledge and attitudes toward vaccination can influence the patient's willingness to adhere campaigns. After developing a structured questionnaire, it was administered sample of nursing staff working in public centers Albania (December 2020-January 2021), order conduct preliminary investigation aimed at describing knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, hesitancy childhood vaccinations. Among nurses involved...
This study aims to assess the changes in COVID-19 seroprevalence among adult urban population of Albania between July and December 2020, when Wuhan strain SARS-CoV-2 virus was still prevalent country.
Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for understanding population immunity and providing insights into public health policies. Limited data exist on this from Albania other Eastern European countries. This study aimed to investigate in Albania, comparing August 2021 2022 two representative samples of general population. The objective was understand temporal antibodies across age groups assess impacts natural infection vaccination immunity.This...
Population based immunity research progressed rapidly in Albania during the early phases of pandemic, a time when Alpha phase was declining and Delta just beginning.
To develop a realistic model of the situation, study was carried out in four different socioeconomic and hygienic areas Tirane, namely modern historical centre as well intermediate peripheral areas. In each area interviewers from city's Public Health Directorate, contacted randomly, door-to-door, residents, submitting questionnaire collecting water samples at same time. Our data show relevant differences regarding distribution quality drinking between One third revealed presence...
Abstract Hepatitis A disease is endemic in Albania even though records from the Medical Authority show outbreaks involving only limited numbers of people. In city Laç, 200 people became ill following an outbreak hepatitis started on November 2002. The age distribution cases shows a peak group 5–9 (43.5%) followed by 10–14 (28%) and 1–4 (18%). No were recorded 0–1. Drinking water sewage samples collected, using electropositive cartridges, during outbreak. Rotavirus was identified RT‐PCR two...
Abstract Introduction While the identification of anti SARS-CoV-2 antibodies has been used to measure hidden circulation COVID-19 in communities, there are few publications on dynamics seroprevalence during both waves 2020. This study provides original data about change proportion individuals showing immune response between beginning July and end December Methods The was conducted two rounds, 27 June −3 July, 21-28 2020, using independently selected samples 20-70 years old. Study...
Background/Aim: Genetic and environmental etiologic factors have been described for maxillary canine impaction, except the trabecular bone characteristics in impacted area. The aim of this study was to evaluate surface area density using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images patients with canines. Material Methods: sample comprised preorthodontic treatment, CBCT 24 participants unilateral canines, side as group non-impacted control group. were acquired portrait mode (17 x 23 cm high...
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the food intake, physical activity, and risk of cardiovascular diseases among young adult Albanians, considering their nutritional status lifestyle. As Albania undergoes a transition from rural more westernized society, changes in lifestyle dietary habits have been observed, leading an increase overweight obesity adults. Materials Methods: The included 120 Albanians (65 males, 55 females) aged 18–27. Body composition, blood pressure, anthropometry,...
Objectives: In Albania, a large number of infant and young child have poor nutritional status. At the same time, population is undergoing nutrition transition, prevalence overweight obesity high among adults. Few data are available on status those aged between 6 18 years in Albanian. The aim this study was to evaluate Albanian children conduct one-year follow-up. Methods: Yilber Elementary School Tirana, body composition (FAT, FFM, TBW) by BIA (RJL device) measured 314 children, 151 boys 163...