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Biomedical subjects

E Buiatti

Publications and source records attributed to E Buiatti.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Nasopharynx cancer in Italian migrants.

Incidence and mortality for nasopharynx cancer in Italian migrants to Australia, Brazil (Saõ Paulo), Canada, England and Wales, France, Uruguay, and the United States (Connecticut; Los Angeles and San Francisco, California) are analyzed. While the available incidence and mortality rates in the south of Italy--from where a large majority of migrants derive--are comparable to or lower than the other Western countries, the study shows a high risk in Italian migrants compared with the locally-born populations. These results are consistent in both sexes and in all host countries with the exception of the two South American ones. This finding possibly reflects a migration from some Italian sub-areas at higher risk, consistent with the high risk reported for some other Mediterranean populations (Maghreb, Malta).

Demography↗
PubMed1993

Iterative use of a priori exposure matrices to improve the characterization of chemical exposures in agricultural work studies.

To assess pesticide exposures of agricultural workers, a priori exposure matrices based on "circumstantial determinants" of pesticide use were incorporated into the questionnaire of a case-referent study. Circumstantial determinants (crops cultivated, their surface areas and crop infestations) were recalled more frequently than specific chemicals. After the matrices were applied, the proportion of missing values fell from 44 to 9% for specific chemicals, from 97 to 17% for the dose for each treatment, and from 80 to 16% for number of treatments per year in a random sample of 40 questionnaires. The number of workers changed from 19 to 30 for parathion use, from 4 to 10 for mancozeb use, and from 4 to 12 for DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) use when the matrix was applied. The matrix enabled exposure levels to be assigned in each case. Provided that the matrix used is valid, this approach could increase the efficiency of case-referent studies on agricultural exposure to chemicals.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Pleural malignant mesothelioma in Tuscany, Italy (1970-1988): II. Identification of occupational exposure to asbestos.

Following the finding of an unexpected cluster of mesotheliomas in textile workers, a surveillance system of malignant mesotheliomas was implemented in the region of Tuscany, Italy. This article reports on the investigation of 124 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed and reviewed by the Institutes of Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology at the Universities of Florence, Pisa, and Siena between 1970 and 1988. A complete occupational and asbestos exposure history was assessed through a semi-structured questionnaire directly administered to resident cases of Tuscany or, if deceased, to their closest living relatives, for a total of 100 interviews. The hypothesis of past occupational asbestos exposure was verified and documented. Seventy-two cases have been classified as occupationally exposed to asbestos; four were classified in the category of "possible domestic" exposure to asbestos. For two others, the role of other risk factors was stressed, and for 22 cases, either no asbestos exposure was found or the available data were not adequate to define it. The present study allowed identification of some unknown or scarcely known occupational asbestos exposures in the study area.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Diffusion of smoking habit in the commune of Florence in 1989].

The results of a study on smoking habits of Florence inhabitants (14 years of age or more) are reported. A random sample of general population of the town (1744 males and 1977 females) was recruited throughout the registration office and interviewed by mail or telephone. General compliance was approximately 85%. Thirty-seven percent of males and 25% of females were current cigarette smokers, 29% of males and 11% of females were ex smokers. Males were heavier smokers both as concerns duration of the habit and daily amount of cigarettes. In males born after 1930 the smoking prevalence decreased gradually by period of birth, while it increased in females born before 1960. As a result the smoking habits of younger cohorts were similar in males and in females. In each sex age-adjusted smoking prevalence showed important differences by educational groups and in respect to national averages.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A case-control study of gastric cancer and diet in Italy. III. Risk patterns by histologic type.

In a case-control study of gastric cancer (GC) in high-risk and low-risk areas of Italy, 923 GCs were systematically categorized by one pathologist according to the Lauren classification distinguishing 2 main histologic types, intestinal (55%) and diffuse (23%). Intestinal types outnumbered diffuse types by a 3 to 1 margin in high-risk regions in the north-central part of the country, while both types occurred at nearly equal rates in low-risk areas. Intestinal types also occurred relatively more frequently at older ages and among males. Relative risks of each type of GC were evaluated in relation to dietary and other data obtained from interviews with the cancer patients and controls. The risk patterns for intestinal and diffuse types were remarkably similar. Increased risks of both types were associated with high intake of meat, salted/dried fish, seasoned cheeses and traditional soups, while decreased risks of both types were found among heavy consumers of fresh vegetables and fruits. Correspondingly similar patterns were seen with indices of nutrients, with risks of both intestinal and diffuse GC rising with animal protein intake and declining with consumption of vitamins C and E. Both types were inversely related to socio-economic status, and neither was associated with cigarette smoking. A familial history of GC was reported more frequently by patients with each type than by controls, although the highest risk was for unclassified GC, a group of poorly differentiated and medullary carcinomas accounting for 15% of all GCs in this study. The findings suggest that, despite differences in geographic and demographic patterns, the intestinal and diffuse types of GC have etiologic factors in common.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cancer in Italian migrants.

Migration of Italians to other parts of the world has a long history and has involved very large numbers of individuals. The study of the health consequences of this migration is made possible by the availability of statistics on mortality and morbidity, both in Italy and in the host countries, and of social and economic information on the various Italian communities abroad. The results of the major studies are reviewed, comparing the rates in immigrants with those in the host countries and in Italy. The differences in cancer rates between Italian and local-born populations--for stomach cancer in both sexes, and for cancer of the colon, lung, and breast in females, and for prostate cancer--are consistent with the direction of differences between rates in Italy and those in the host countries. For colon and rectum cancer in males, there are unexpected findings in most of the United States' studies. Analysis by duration of residence shows changes in the risk for several sites in males, but not in females, according to length of stay in the host country. This finding possibly reflects greater stability of habits and lifestyle in females compared to males.

Australia↗
PubMed1990

Early indicators of efficacy of breast cancer screening programmes. Results of the Florence District Programme.

A mammographic breast cancer screening programme has been ongoing in the Florence District (Italy) since 1970 and a favourable impact of screening on breast cancer mortality of women aged 50-70 has been shown by means of a case-control study. Two hundred and eleven screen- and 116 interval-detected cancers in the period 1975-1986 have been identified, and detection rates calculated, for first and repeated screening test (2nd to 7th). Overall, 22,980 subjects were screened and 44,988 repeated tests performed. The observed number of interval cancers has been compared with the expected incident cancers and their ratio (O/E) studied at different time intervals since last test. The O/E ratio at the third year since the last test was 0.98 for the age-group 40-49 0.50 (95% CI: 0.23-0.95) and 0.39 (95% CI: 0.26-0.94) for the 50-59 and 60-69 groups, respectively. The prevalence/incidence ratio (P/I) was then calculated as an early indicator of efficacy. For the 40-49 age-group the P/I ratio at first test was 1.09, suggesting poor anticipation of diagnosis. In contrast, for women 50-59 and 60-69 results suggest quite a good diagnosis anticipation (P/I: 3.14; 4.82), confirming the result of the previous case-control study on mortality reduction. The proportion of advanced carcinomas (stage II or worse) and 5-year survival have been analysed and discussed. The study confirms the opportunity of using early indicators of screening efficacy for monitoring of screening services.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

A case-control study of gastric cancer and diet in Italy: II. Association with nutrients.

A case-control study involving interviews with 1,016 gastric cancer (GC) patients and 1,159 population-based controls in high- and low-risk areas was conducted to evaluate dietary factors and their contribution to the marked geographic variation in mortality from this cancer within Italy. Risks of GC were found to vary significantly with estimated nutrient intake. Risk rose with increasing consumption of nitrites and protein, and decreased in proportion to intake of ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and vegetable fat. The associations with nitrite and beta-carotene tended to fade, however, in multivariate analyses adjusting for intake of other nutrients. Ascorbic acid showed the strongest geographic gradient, with highest consumption in low-risk areas. The findings suggest that the protective effects we previously reported for consumption of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and olive oil may be linked to the vitamins C and E contained in these foods. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that N-nitroso compounds are involved in GC risks, since elevated risks were apparent for agents (nitrites, protein) that promote nitrosation, while decreased risks were found for nutrients (ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol) which inhibit the process.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1990

A centralised cytology screening programme for cervical cancer in Florence.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a centralised population based cervical cytology screening programme. DESIGN: The study was a case-control investigation. SETTING: Cases and controls were confined to the province of Florence. PARTICIPANTS: 191 out of 208 cases of cervical cancer in women less than 75 years old at diagnosis in the period 1982-85 were interviewed. For each case three living controls were selected, strictly matched by year of birth and district of residence; in all 573 controls were eventually identified. Of these, 15 had had a hysterectomy (2.6%) and were excluded, and a further 18 (3.2%) did not take part for other reasons, leaving a total of 540 controls. MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS: Screening history was taken from a computerised archive for both cases and controls. A mail questionnaire was used to collect information on several potential confounding variables. For women screened only once in comparison with those never screened, the reduction in risk was about 70% (odds ratio 0.29. 95% confidence limits 0.15-0.55), while the reduction was even greater for those screened twice or more. No trend of increasing risk with increasing interval since last test was shown: considering separately women who had only had one test and those who had had two or more tests, the risk estimates were stable across different time intervals since the last test. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong protective effect against developing invasive cervical cancer through participation in the screening programme.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Mortality in tumors of the cervix and corpus uteri in the Province of Florence in 1985-1987].

In Florence between 1985 and 1987 two hundred twenty eight women deceased for uterine cancer (ICD-9 code 179, 180, 182); for 79.4% of these the diagnosis reported on the death certificate was "unspecified" cancer of the uterus. Death certificates were cross-checked with the Tuscany Cancer Registry files, with clinical records and with other sanitary archives with the aim of identifying the specific cancer site (cervix/corpus). All deaths before the age 45 were attributed to cervical cancer, but these only represented 6.6% of all subjects deceased for this neoplasia. Age adjusted mortality rates for cervical cancer (0-64 and 0-74 years) were then estimated; in Florence these are low compared to other European and Italian areas, while those from corpus uteri are ranked in an intermediate position. These data are consistent with the incidence rates as given by the Cancer Registry, and may be associated with the existence of a population screening for cervical cancer in the area, which exists since 1970, addressed to women aged 18-60 with a compliance of approximately 50%.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Methodological issues in a multicentric study of gastric cancer and diet in Italy: study design, data sources and quality controls.

The authors examine the problems of planning and conducting a multicentric case-control study on diet and gastric cancer in Italy. The solutions chosen for the study design, cases and controls identification, dietary interview, production of a common protocol for the field work are discussed. Results on the evaluation of the quality and comparability of collected data are presented. Further, compliance of cases and controls to the interview and to the blood and urine sampling with reasons of non-response are shown. Finally, the phases of the study and the methods for improving and controlling homogeneity among Centers are summarized.

Aged↗