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Biomedical subjects

D Serraino

Publications and source records attributed to D Serraino.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

The epidemiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the north-east of Italy: a hospital-based case-control study.

We concluded a study on 208 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 401 controls in the North-East of Italy in order to investigate the role of indicators of socio-economic status, personal habits, past history of various disorders and medical treatments potentially affecting the immune system, and occupational exposures in the aetiology of such neoplasia. None of the several investigated characteristics appeared to be a strong determinant, i.e. relative risk, RR greater than 2.0, of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cases and controls appeared to be very similar as regards education, main life-time occupation and alcohol consumption. Positive associations, however, emerged with chronic infectious diseases, mainly tuberculosis and malaria (RR = 1.8, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.1-2.9). Non significantly increased risks were also found for smoking habit (RR ever vs never smokers = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.3), episodes of herpes zoster infection (RR = 1.4; 95% CI: 0.7-2.6) and occupation in chemical and petrochemical industries (RR = 1.6; 95% CI: 0.9-3.1, and 1.8; 95% CI: 0.9-3.8, respectively). Conversely, farming as well as specific exposure to herbicides and pesticides did not seem to affect the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the present investigation.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1989

Dietary factors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case-control study in the northeastern part of Italy.

The role of various life style factors, including dietary habits, in the etiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was investigated using data from a case-control study conducted in the northeastern part of Italy. This study was done on 208 histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and 401 control subjects who were in the hospital for acute, nonimmunologic, or neoplastic conditions. Dietary histories concerned the frequency of consumption per week of alcohol, beverages that contain methylxanthine, and 14 select food items or groups of foods (including major sources of proteins, fat, fibers, and vitamin A in the Italian diet). The consumption of milk, liver, butter, oil (chiefly polyunsaturated oils), coffee, tea, and cola was positively related with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma risk. the consumption of whole-grain bread and pasta showed a protective effect. When a logistic model was fitted that included the aforementioned food items in addition to major nondietary covariates, all of the foods, except liver and beverages that contain methylxanthine, remained significant. Interestingly, these associations are in agreement with the positive correlation that is emerging internationally between the consumption of fat and proteins and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Risk factors for thyroid cancer in northern Italy.

We conducted a hospital based case-control study of 245 cases of thyroid cancer (62 males and 183 females) and 411 controls in three areas of Northern Italy. Subjects with thyroid cancer more often had a history of benign thyroid nodules (18 cases versus 0 controls, lower 95% confidence limit = 7.84), goitre (RR = 5.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.13-14.77) and residence in endemic goitre areas (RR for residence longer than 20 years = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.23-4.29). Heavy (greater than 1000 rads) irradiation of the neck was reported only by seven cases (lower 95% confidence limit: 2.45). Among 31 food items considered, a few showed direct association, including starchy foods and various sources of animal fats or proteins, whereas frequent consumption of other foods, including major sources of dietary iodine (such as fish, green vegetables and fruit) gave significant protection. When analysis was restricted to various subgroups of patients (ie, different histological types, sexes and major groups of hospital controls), it yielded similar results.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Habits and opinions about cigarette smoking among medical, nursing and technico-administrative staff at the Magenta Hospital (Local Health Unit no. 72)].

Smoking habits of 882 employees of Magenta general hospital (province of Milan) (135 doctors, 594 nurses and 153 technicians and clerical staff) were investigated in May 1986, by means of a self-administered questionnaire (response rate 84%). Forty-five percent of men and 34% of women reported to be current smokers, respectively 13% fewer and 41% more, after age-standardization, than the general population of the same province. Smoking habits of the three professional groups considered did not differ substantially, but a higher number of doctors as compared to nurses admitted to smoke occasionally in front of patients. The vast majority (80%) agreed with a total ban of smoking inside the hospital but the underestimation of smoking-related health hazards, especially outside the cancer field, turned out to be also very common. Only 34% of doctors, 13% of nurses and 16% of technical and clerical staff identified smoking as the leading preventable cause of death in Italy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Results of diet treatment in 100 adult obese patients after 1-year follow-up].

One hundred overweight adult patients were subjected to a hypocaloric diet with periodic controls during a one year observation period. During the first 4 months, 98% of the patients adhered to the dietary regimen, with an initial mean percentage loss of body weight of 9.3% for the females and 8.9% for the males. The weight loss was more conspicuous during the first two months of the diet therapy and in patients with an initially higher BMI. With time, the rate of drop-out from the diet therapy increased, which resulted in a follow-up of 49% and 87% of cases at 6 and 12 months respectively, with no significant differences between the two sexes. The drop-out phenomenon resulted to be more frequent in patients with an initially lower BMI.

Energy Intake↗
PubMed1989

Risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among homosexual and bisexual men in a region at low risk for AIDS: the northeastern part of Italy. AIDS and Related Syndromes Study Group.

Prevalence and determinants of HIV infection were assessed in 127 homosexual and bisexual men in the northeastern part of Italy. The overall prevalence of HIV seropositivity was still rather low: 20% (95% confidence interval -CI- 13-27%). The most important risk factor for acquiring HIV infection turned out to be having has sexual intercourses in high-risk areas. Relative risks (RRs) for those who have travelled and had sex in North Europe and in the U.S., were, respectively, 2.7 (95% CI: 1.0-7.3) and 5.6 (95% CI: 1.2-25.9). A significantly increased risk was also seen for having a steady sexual partner (RR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.3-7.5). Use of nitrite inhalants, high number of occasional sexual partners and habitual receptive anal intercourses were also associated with elevation of risk, whereas prostitution was not. The present study confirms the patterns of HIV spread among homosexual and bisexual men from high-risk areas to low-risk areas and prompts urgent educational intervention, in order to prevent the epidemics of AIDS among Italian homosexuals from reaching the size documented in other countries.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Sport activity and cigarette smoking among young and adult athletes from the northeastern part of Italy.

Between November 1985 and October 1986, attitudes and habits towards smoking were investigated among young and adult amateur athletes of the province of Pordenone, in the northeastern part of Italy. Seventy-five percent of the athletes had never smoked and 21% were current smokers. Compared with the general population, smokers were 1/3 fewer among males and 1/5 more among females; a higher number of ex-smokers was found in both sexes. The major determinants of smoking were the kind of sport in which the athletes were engaged (percentages of current smokers among athletes of endurance sports, football and other, less exhaustive, sports were respectively 3%, 23% and 20%) and having both parents who were themselves smokers. The detrimental effects of smoking on health were underestimated by the great majority of interviewed subjects. The present study supports the view that regular physical activity not only prevents youths from starting to smoke but also provides an incentive for stopping.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Squamous cell papilloma of the esophagus. Report on 35 endoscopic cases.

We herein report our experience of 35 cases of esophageal squamous cell papilloma (ESP), diagnosed among 8,095 consecutive upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, and histologically confirmed. The incidence (0.45%) was higher than previously reported. Macroscopically, ESP presented with several distinctive features, thus endoscopy permitted great diagnostic accuracy. Most of the papillomas were located in the middle-third of the esophagus, and no significant association with hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis was seen. The lesion did not recur after removal either by forceps or by diathermic snare.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Risk factors for HIV infection in drug addicts from the northeast of Italy.

Prevalence and determinants of HIV infection were assessed in 313 parenteral drug addicts admitted to five Centers for Drug-Addict Assistance and two prisons located in the northeast of Italy (Friuli Venezia-Giulia), an area some distance from the major Italian cities first reached by the AIDS epidemic. The overall prevalence of HIV positivity was also rather high in this area, ie 30% with 24-36% confidence interval. The most important risk factors (besides syringe sharing applicable to all drug addicts), turned out to be of a geographical nature, ie living in Pordenone province (where a US military base is located) or coming from other endemic areas and having travelled long distances in the past three years. Prostitution also seemed to increase the risk of infection, but duration of drug addiction had little effect. In addition to persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (closely linked to HIV infection), reversal of helper:suppressor T-cell ratio was found in 67% of HIV positive individuals, but also in 31% of HIV negative ones. Clinical signs and symptoms strongly linked with HIV positivity were fatigue, weight loss, splenomegaly, fever and nocturnal sweats.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in 137 patients aged 70 years or older: a retrospective European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lymphoma Group Study.

The results of a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) retrospective study on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in elderly patients (greater than or equal to 70 years of age) seen in Europe in 1984 are reported. A precodified form was sent to 55 European institutes in order to evaluate the incidence of NHL in the elderly with regard to natural history, treatment-related toxicity, response, and survival. Thirteen institutes participated in the study. One hundred thirty-seven cases of NHL were observed in the elderly during 1984, making up 28% of the total number of NHL seen in those institutes. The median age was 77 years; 21% of the patients had favorable (low-grade) and 73% unfavorable (intermediate- and high-grade) histology, according to the Working Formulation. Stage at presentation was localized (I and II) in 60% and advanced in 37% of the patients. Most of the physicians used standard therapy regimens at reduced doses, from the beginning of the treatment. Sixty patients (44%) underwent a "conservative" treatment (one or two antineoplastic drugs or local field radiotherapy) and 77 (56%) an "aggressive" treatment (polychemotherapy regimens or extended field radiotherapy). Response was similar between the two treatment groups, but severe and lethal toxicity was significantly higher among patients treated with aggressive therapy. Prospective randomized studies are clearly needed to define the optimal treatment in elderly patients with advanced unfavorable NHL.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Clinical and laboratory findings at presentation in persistent generalized lymphadenopathy vs malignant lymphoma.

The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical and laboratory findings at presentation of 38 intravenous drug abusers with pathologically documented persistent generalized lymphadenopathy and 50 patients with biopsy proven malignant lymphoma (30 Hodgkin diseases, 20 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas) not related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, all aged 40 years or less and consecutively seen and evaluated with a similar clinicopathological approach since May 1984 in a single institution, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy. Our results document that, although pathology is the decisive diagnostic tool, selected clinical and laboratory findings may contribute to a better differentiation of persistent generalized lymphadenopathy from malignant lymphoma not related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Therefore, young patients presenting with generalized lymphadenopathy, apparently not related to known groups at risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, should be evaluated also according to a protocol which includes the detection of symptoms, signs, and laboratory data that are known to be significantly increased among patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Determinants of smoking cessation among physicians and teachers from northeastern Italy.

Determinants of smoking cessation among 909 physicians and teachers from the Northeast of Italy were investigated between March and November 1985. Men were heavier smokers than women and showed a larger cessation rate (46% of men and 32% of women who had ever smoked were ex-smokers). The stronger determinants of smoking cessation turned out to be a high number of cigarettes smoked per day, and (especially for men) a relatively old age. From the study, it appears that smoking cessation in Italy is not motivated by disease prevention considerations but is the result of disease-linked symptoms. Antismoking campaigns should, therefore, more strongly emphasize the advantages (especially short-term ones) of quitting smoking while one is still well. For their exemplar role, physicians and teachers are on the front line of antismoking action: convincing them to stop smoking is, thus, an obvious priority.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Characteristics of women under 20 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

The relationship between risk of cervical neoplasia and various sociodemographic, reproductive and sexual characteristics was studied in 126 women (cases) with an abnormal Papanicolaou test finding and 1914 controls seen at the same clinic in which cases were detected but showing no evidence of cervical neoplasia. All the subjects of this study were under the age of 20. Number of sexual partners and clinical occurrence of genital warts emerged as the most important determinants of the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in these very young women (Relative Risk (RR) for three or more sexual partners = 2.45, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.63-3.70, RR for occurrence of genital warts, adjusted for number of sexual partners = 9.15, 95% CI: 5.06-16.26). Also having grown up in a 'problem' family seemed to increase the probability of developing CIN (RR adjusted for number of partners = 1.64, 95% CI 1.06-2.52). For all other investigated characteristics, cases and controls were remarkably similar. These include socioeconomic status, parity, smoking habits, use of various contraceptive methods and also indicators of sexual activity such as age of first having sexual intercourse, and duration and frequency of intercourse. Although this group of women under 20 only allows the study of less severe precursors of cervical cancer, it helps to highlight the earliest effect of purported risk factors for cervical neoplasia, chiefly sexual habits, at a time very close to their being established.

Adolescent↗