1,720,983 research outputs found
[Environmental risk factors and epidemiologic study]
No full textThe problems regarding communication of risks in the environmental sector and the analysis of certain causes of pollution, together with their effects on human health are the subjects of this article. In an illustrative and concise manner results of the most important epidemiological studies concerning the effects of non-ionizing radiations, of radon and of air pollution have been analyzed. Throughout this analysis emphasis has been placed on the difficulty of obtaining clear and scientifically based results. Such results are needed in order to provide the population with satisfying information and thus meet the increasing demand for unambiguous answers. Among the risk factors for human health are the high frequency electromagnetic fields used for mobile phones (radiofrequency--RF) nd extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) of power-lines. Even though these risk factors may be minimal the high number of persons exposed could make them an important impact on public health. Regarding the topic of air pollution, effects on particular segments of the population (children, elderly people and subjects with chronic diseases) have been found in various studies; for example, for an increase of PM(10) of 10 microg/m(3) an increase in daily mortality of 0.69% (CI 0.40-0.98) due to cardiovascular and respiratory causes has been estimated as well as an increase in general daily mortality of 0.54% (CI 0.33-0.76). Due to the populations' low risk perception (caused by unawareness of the problem) radon is undoubtedly the environmental pollutant which has the most impact on public health. This is true even in Italy where 4,000 cases of lung cancer attributable to radon (about 11% of total lung cancer) have been estimated per year; this risk is heightened by the combined effect with smoking. When dealing with health risks the tools of communication must be simple and correct; the mass-media are the most important mediators between the scientific community and the public. It is therefore vital for the public health operators to maintain a continuous relationship with the mass media which should be based on reciprocal trust and full collaboration
Southern Europe as an example of interaction between various environmental factors: a systematic review of the epidemiologic evidence
No full textHepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and
alcohol consumption are major causes of hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. We performed a systematic
review of epidemiologic studies carried out on HCC aetiology
in Southern Europe, an area with an intermediate–
high prevalence of these agents as well as of putative
risk factors such as tobacco smoking, diabetes and
obesity. To retrieve the articles, we performed a Medline
search for titles and abstracts of articles. After the
Medline search, we reviewed the papers and reference lists
to identify additional articles. A synergism between HCV
infection and HBV infection, overt (hepatitis B virus
antigen (HbsAg) positivity) or occult (HBsAg negativity
with presence of HBV DNA in liver or serum), is
suggested by the results of some studies. The pattern of
the risk for HCC due to alcohol intake shows a continuous
dose–effect curve without a definite threshold, although
most studies found that HCC risk increased only for
alcohol consumption above 40–60 g of ethanol per day.
Some evidence supports a positive interaction of alcohol
intake probably with HCV infection and possibly with
HBV infection. A few studies found that coffee has a
protective effect on HCC risk due to various risk factors.
Some data also support a role of tobacco smoking,
diabetes and obesity as single agents or preferably cofactors
in causing HCC. In countries with a relatively high
alcohol consumption and intermediate levels of HCV and
HBV infections (1–3% of population infected by each
virus), such as Mediterranean countries, the three main
risk factors together account for about 85% of the total
HCC cases, leaving little space to other known risk
factors, such as haemochromatosis, and to new, still
unrecognised, factors as independent causes of HCC
Valutazione dei rischi genotossici derivanti dalla produzione di biogas e percolati in tre discariche controllate mediante test su vegetali.
No full textEsecuzione del test per HIV/AIDS in un campione tra i 18 e i 49 anni in quattro province italiane
No full textLa sorveglianza attiva delle paralisi flaccide acute in Emilia Romagna negli anni 1998-2001
No full text
Third italian national survey on knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviour in relation to hiv/aids risk and the role of health education campaigns
No full textAim: The survey, supported by the National Health Institute (ISS), investigates on sources of information for HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviour of the Italian general population. Methods: The survey was carried out in four different Italian provinces with different geographical, social, and epidemiological patterns of HIV/AIDS: Bari, Milan, Parma, and Perugia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to interview a sample of 2000 people, aged 18-49 years, chosen using a quota-sampling, considering age, sex, and level of education. Results: A total of 1985 persons filled in the questionnaire. Among them, 73.2% reported Ministry of Health as their main source of information and 76.7% TV/radio advertising as their main means of information. Sexually active subjects, experiencing occasional sexual intercourse, were 22.4%; of them 34.6% did not refer a systematic use of condom. Among sexually active people, half (45.7%) reported as irrelevant their risk of infection, 6.9% as high. Being male (OR = 6.175) and having the first sexual intercourse before 18 years (OR = 2.076) were significantly associated with sexual behaviour at risk (males having unsafe sexual intercourses with prostitutes or during partners' menstrual period; both sexes having unsafe occasional sexual intercourses or anal sex), while living in Northern Italy (OR = 0.672) was significantly protective. Subjects with sexual behaviour at risk were about 40%. Conclusions: The need for further education campaigns, and their consequent evaluations, is relevant. Monitoring sexual behaviour of general population, focusing on risk behaviour rather than risk groups, is fundamental nowadays in preventing HIV
Role of aetiology, diabetes, tobacco smoking and hypertension in hepatocellular carcinoma survival.
No full textBACKGROUND:
Aim of this study was to investigate the role of aetiology, diabetes, tobacco smoking and hypertension in the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
METHODS:
A prospective cohort of 552 patients (81.5% males, mean age 64.4 years) first diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma in 1995-2001 in Brescia, Italy, was retrospectively analyzed. Data on the presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heavy alcohol intake and tobacco smoking were obtained from patients' clinical charts or interviews. Survival analysis was performed using univariate and multivariate methods (Cox proportional hazards model).
RESULTS:
33% had a history of heavy alcohol intake, 24.3% had viral hepatitis and 33.5% had both aetiologies. Diabetes, hypertension and tobacco smoking were found in 29.9%, 37.9% and 35.9%, respectively. During follow-up (median 19.9 months), the median survival was 19.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.7-22.8) months. Using multivariate Cox regression models, alcohol-related liver disease and diabetes were found to be associated with mortality, with hazard ratios of 1.32 (95% CI 0.99-1.75) and 1.25 (95% CI 1.02-1.54), respectively. Hypertension and smoking habit did not influence survival.
CONCLUSIONS:
Alcohol aetiology and the presence of diabetes were positively associated with patient mortality with hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas tobacco smoking and hypertension were not
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