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Biomedical subjects

Francesco Forastiere

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Forastiere.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Plasma, salivary and urinary cotinine in non-smoker Italian women exposed and unexposed to environmental tobacco smoking (SEASD study).

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare cotinine determinations in three biological fluids for assessing environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in female non-smokers (n=1605) in Italy. METHODS: Information about ETS exposure at home, in the workplace, and in other places within the previous week was collected via questionnaire. Plasma, salivary and urinary cotinine levels were measured. Cotinine levels of > or =0.1 ng/mL for plasma, > or =0.2 ng/mL for saliva, and > or =0.5 ng/mL for urine were used to determine biochemical exposure. RESULTS: Median cotinine levels were significantly higher in exposed than in unexposed women (0.21 vs. 0.05 ng/mL in plasma, 0.80 vs. 0.41 ng/mL in saliva, and 9.74 vs. 5.30 ng/mL in urine). Self-reported ETS exposure was significantly related to biochemical exposure [odds ratio 2.99, (95% CI 2.40-3.72) for plasma; 1.90 (1.51-2.39) for saliva; and 2.67 (2.14-3.34) for urine]. Cotinine significantly increased with increasing exposure level, regardless of the exposure source. Among self-reported exposed subjects, higher percentages of cotinine level above the cut-off, i.e., indicating exposure, were found in saliva (76%) and urine (75%) than in plasma (52%). CONCLUSIONS: In general, women correctly reported their ETS exposure status. Both non-invasive salivary and urinary cotinine determinations seem preferable in epidemiological studies, in view of their higher sensitivity, when compared to plasma cotinine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Changes in prevalence of asthma and allergies among children and adolescents in Italy: 1994-2002.

BACKGROUND: Several studies conducted during the 1990s indicated an increase in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma; more recent investigations suggest that the trend is stabilizing or may even be reversing. OBJECTIVE: We compared 2 cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1994 and 2002 in 8 areas in northern and central Italy, to evaluate prevalence changes for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. METHODS: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood methods and questionnaires were used to investigate 6- to 7-year-old children (16,115 and 11,287 questionnaires completed by parents in 1994-1995 and 2002, respectively) and 13- to 14-year-old adolescents (19,723 and 10,267 questionnaires completed by adolescents in 1994-1995 and 2002, respectively). In each phase, the overall response rate was >90%. Prevalence changes were calculated as the absolute difference between the prevalence recorded on the 2 occasions. RESULTS: The prevalence of wheeze (past 12 months) increased slightly among children (change: 0.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0% to 1.6%) and was rather stable among adolescents. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis (children: change: 5.2%; 95% CI: 4.0% to 6.4%; adolescents: change: 4.1%; 95% CI: 1.9% to 6.3%) and symptoms of atopic eczema (children: change: 4.4%; 95% CI: 3.6% to 5.2%; adolescents: change: 2.1%; 95% CI: 1.2% to 3.0%) increased clearly in both age groups. There was some heterogeneity across the centers among adolescents, especially for allergic rhinitis, with larger increases seen in the 3 metropolitan areas. The changes observed paralleled profound family changes, ie, better parental education, higher rates of maternal employment, and lower rates of exposure to parental smoke. These factors, however, do not explain all of the observed changes in prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the epidemiologic features of asthma and allergies in Italy are changing rapidly, although the causes are still uncertain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Mortality study of employees in a factory of recovery and refining of catalytic converters in Rome, Italy.

The study objective is to describe cause specific mortality of employees in a plant engaged in production, recovery and refining of catalytic converters located in Rome. Previous epidemiological studies conducted in similar plants are not available. A total of 828 workers (642 males and 186 females) were followed up between 1956 and 31-12-2003. Cause specific standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and 90% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using regional rates for comparison. Among males hired between 1956 and 1993, followed up until 31/12/2003, mortality for all causes (SMR 0,8; 90% CI 0,7-1,0; 85 observed) and all neoplasms (SMR 0,6; 90% CI 0,42-0,87; 20 observed) is below expected; an increase is present for liver cirrhosis (SMR 2,74; 90% CI 1,47-5,1; 7 observed) and brain cancer (SMR 5,24; 90% CI 2,3-11,90; 4 observed). The present investigation complies with the proposed scientific standards for occupational cohort studies. The study was not prompted by well defined a priori hypotheses but it is included in a process intended to typify a potentially polluted site; the absence of a priori hypotheses and of previous epidemiological evidence, prevent from a causal interpretation of the increased mortality from liver cirrhosis and brain cancer. The implementation of cohort studies in industrial sites where industrial activities similar to the one here examined are present, are highly recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Ambient air pollution is associated with increased risk of hospital cardiac readmissions of myocardial infarction survivors in five European cities.

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution has been associated with increases in acute morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of urban air pollution on cardiac hospital readmissions in survivors of myocardial infarction, a potentially susceptible subpopulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this European multicenter cohort study, 22,006 survivors of a first myocardial infarction were recruited in Augsburg, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; Helsinki, Finland; Rome, Italy; and Stockholm, Sweden, from 1992 to 2000. Hospital readmissions were recorded in 1992 to 2001. Ambient nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and mass of particles <10 microm (PM10) were measured. Particle number concentrations were estimated as a proxy for ultrafine particles. Short-term effects of air pollution on hospital readmissions for myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and cardiac causes (myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, dysrhythmia, or heart failure) were studied in city-specific Poisson regression analyses with subsequent pooling. During follow-up, 6655 cardiac readmissions were observed. Cardiac readmissions increased in association with same-day concentrations of PM10 (rate ratio [RR] 1.021, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.039) per 10 microg/m3) and estimated particle number concentrations (RR 1.026 [95% CI 1.005 to 1.048] per 10,000 particles/cm3). Effects of similar strength were observed for carbon monoxide (RR 1.014 [95% CI 1.001 to 1.026] per 200 microg/m3 [0.172 ppm]), nitrogen dioxide (RR 1.032 [95% CI 1.013 to 1.051] per 8 microg/m3 [4.16 ppb]), and ozone (RR 1.026 [95% CI 1.001 to 1.051] per 15 microg/m3 [7.5 ppb]). Pooled effect estimates for angina pectoris and myocardial infarction readmissions were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ambient air pollution is associated with increased risk of hospital cardiac readmissions of myocardial infarction survivors in 5 European cities.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Adult myeloid leukaemia and radon exposure: a Bayesian model for a case-control study with error in covariates.

The possible association between radon exposure in dwellings and adult myeloid leukaemia had been explored in an Italian province by a case-control study. A total of 44 cases and 211 controls were selected from death certificates file. No association had been found in the original study (OR = 0.58 for > 185 vs 80 < or = Bq/cm). Here we reanalyse the data taking into account the measurement error of radon concentration and the presence of missing data. A Bayesian hierarchical model with error in covariates is proposed which allows appropriate imputation of missing values. The general conclusion of no evidence of association with radon does not change, but a negative association is not observed anymore (OR = 0.99 for > 185 vs 80 < or = Bq/cm). After adjusting for residential house radon and gamma radiation, and for the multilevel data structure, geological features of the soil is associated with adult myeloid leukaemia risk (OR = 2.14, 95 per cent Cr.I. 1.0-5.5).

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A case-crossover analysis of out-of-hospital coronary deaths and air pollution in Rome, Italy.

RATIONALE: Out-of-hospital coronary heart disease death is a major public health problem, but the association with air pollution is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the association between daily ambient air pollution levels (particle number concentration [PNC]--a proxy for ultrafine particles [diameter < 0.1 microm], mass of particles with diameter less than 10 microm [PM10]; CO, NO2, and O3) and the occurrence of fatal, nonhospitalized coronary events. METHODS: Subjects were 5,144 out-of-hospital fatalities (410-414, International Classification of Diseases-9; 1998-2000) who had been residents of Rome. Hospitalizations during the 3 yr before death were considered to identify comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, dysrhythmia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Statistical analyses were performed using a case-crossover design. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The association with out-of-hospital coronary deaths was statistically significant for PNC, PM10, and CO. Air pollution on the day of death had the strongest effect (e.g., 7.6% increase [95% confidence interval, 2.0-13.6%]) for an interquartile range of PNC, 27,790 particles/cm3. The 65-74- and 75+-yr age groups were at higher risk than the 35-64-yr age group, and there was a suggestion of effect modification for people with hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. CONCLUSIONS: Air pollutants originating from combustion processes, including ultrafine particles, are related to fatal, nonhospitalized coronary events. The effect is stronger among people over 65 years of age, but is not limited to a group with a specific comorbidity.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Residential radon exposure, diet and lung cancer: a case-control study in a Mediterranean region.

We performed a case-control study in Lazio, a region in central Italy characterized by high levels of indoor radon, Mediterranean climate and diet. Cases (384) and controls (404) aged 35-90 years were recruited in the hospital. Detailed information regarding smoking, diet and other risk factors were collected by direct interview. Residential history during the 30-year period ending 5 years before enrollment was ascertained. In each dwelling, radon detectors were placed in both the main bedroom and the living room for 2 consecutive 6-month periods. We computed odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for time-weighted radon concentrations using both categorical and continuous unconditional logistic regression analysis and adjusting for smoking, diet and other variables. Radon measurements were available from 89% and 91% of the time period for cases and controls, respectively. The adjusted ORs were 1.30 (1.03-1.64), 1.48 (1.08-2.02), 1.49 (0.82-2.71) and 2.89 (0.45-18.6) for 50-99, 100-199, 200-399 and 400+ Bq/m(3), respectively, compared with 0-49 Bq/m(3) (OR = 1; 0.56-1.79). The excess odds ratio (EOR) per 100 Bq/m(3) was 0.14 (-0.11, 0.46) for all subjects, 0.24 (-0.09, 0.70) for subjects with complete radon measurements and 0.30 (-0.08, 0.82) for subjects who had lived in 1 or 2 dwellings. There was a tendency of higher risk estimates among subjects with low-medium consumption of dietary antioxidants (EOR = 0.32; -0.19, 1.16) and for adenocarcinoma, small cell and epidermoid cancers. This study indicates an association, although generally not statistically significant, between residential radon and lung cancer with both categorical and continuous analyses. Subjects with presumably lower uncertainty in the exposure assessment showed a higher risk. Dietary antioxidants may act as an effect modifier.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Aerosol particle number concentration measurements in five European cities using TSI-3022 condensation particle counter over a three-year period during health effects of air pollution on susceptible subpopulations.

In this study, long-term aerosol particle total number concentration measurements in five metropolitan areas across Europe are presented. The measurements have been carried out in Augsburg, Barcelona, Helsinki, Rome, and Stockholm using the same instrument, a condensation particle counter (TSI model 3022). The results show that in all of the studied cities, the winter concentrations are higher than the summer concentrations. In Helsinki and in Stockholm, winter concentrations are higher by a factor of two and in Augsburg almost by a factor of three compared with summer months. The winter maximum of the monthly average concentrations in these cities is between 10,000 cm(-3) and 20,000 cm(-3), whereas the summer min is approximately 5000-6000 cm(-3). In Rome and in Barcelona, the winters are more polluted compared with summers by as much as a factor of 4-10. The winter maximum in both Rome and Barcelona is close to 100,000 cm(-3), whereas the summer minimum is > 10,000 cm(-3). During the weekdays the maximum of the hourly average concentrations in all of the cities is detected during the morning hours between 7 and 10 a.m. The evening maxima were present in Barcelona, Rome, and Augsburg, but these were not as pronounced as the morning ones. The daily maxima in Helsinki and Stockholm are close or even lower than the daily minima in the more polluted cities. The concentrations between these two groups of cities are different with a factor of about five during the whole day. The study pointed out the influence of the selection of the measurement site and the configuration of the sampling line on the observed concentrations.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2004

Secondhand smoke exposure in adulthood and risk of lung cancer among never smokers: a pooled analysis of two large studies.

The interpretation of the evidence linking exposure to secondhand smoke with lung cancer is constrained by the imprecision of risk estimates. The objective of the study was to obtain precise and valid estimates of the risk of lung cancer in never smokers following exposure to secondhand smoke, including adjustment for potential confounders and exposure misclassification. Pooled analysis of data from 2 previously reported large case-control studies was used. Subjects included 1263 never smoking lung cancer patients and 2740 population and hospital controls recruited during 1985-1994 from 5 metropolitan areas in the United States, 11 areas in Germany, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal. Odds ratios (ORs) of lung cancer were calculated for ever exposure and duration of exposure to secondhand smoke from spouse, workplace and social sources. The OR for ever exposure to spousal smoking was 1.18 (95% CI = 1.01-1.37) and for long-term exposure was 1.23 (95% CI = 1.01-1.51). After exclusion of proxy interviews, the OR for ever exposure from the workplace was 1.16 (95% CI = 0.99-1.36) and for long-term exposure was 1.27 (95% CI = 1.03-1.57). Similar results were obtained for exposure from social settings and for exposure from combined sources. A dose-response relationship was present with increasing duration of exposure to secondhand smoke for all 3 sources, with an OR of 1.32 (95% CI = 1.10-1.79) for the long-term exposure from all sources. There was no evidence of confounding by employment in high-risk occupations, education or low vegetable intake. Sensitivity analysis for the effects of misclassification (both positive and negative) indicated that the observed risks are likely to underestimate the true risk. Clear dose-response relationships consistent with a causal association were observed between exposure to secondhand smoke from spousal, workplace and social sources and the development of lung cancer among never smokers.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Occupational risk factors for lung cancer in men and women: a population-based case-control study in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of occupation in lung cancerogenesis in two Northern Italian areas. METHODS: During 1990-1992, occupational histories were obtained for 1171 incident lung cancer cases (956 men, 176 women) and 1553 population controls (1253 men, 300 women) and were evaluated for having been employed in jobs entailing exposure to known or suspected lung carcinogens. A further exploratory analysis on other job titles and branches of industry was conducted. RESULTS: Among men, we found a smoking-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.1 (95% confidence interval: 1.6-2.8) for exposure to known carcinogens, corresponding to a population attributable risk of 9.5% (6.0-13.0). Non-ferrous metal workers and painters had a significantly increased risk. No association was found for exposure to suspected carcinogens. In the exploratory analysis, the OR was increased for cleaners (OR: 2.7; 1.0-7.4), bakers (5.7; 1.4-24), tailors (6.9; 1.2-39), plumbers and pipe fitters (2.6; 1.0-6.4), welders and flame-cutters (5.6; 2.1-15), dockers and freight handlers (1.7; 1.0-2.7) and construction workers (1.4; 1.1-1.9). Female glass workers, laundry/dry cleaners and workers in rubber industry had an increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that a sizable proportion of lung cancers among men may be due to occupational exposures and suggests that exposure to lung carcinogens occurs in different jobs in women compared to men.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Temporal trend of HIV infection: an update of the HIV surveillance system in Lazio, Italy, 1985-2000.

BACKGROUND: After the introduction of the highly active antiretroviral therapies, data from AIDS surveillance systems are less useful to describe the HIV epidemic, while HIV surveillance could give more detailed information to provide data for HIV prevention and care programmes. We report the results of the HIV surveillance system update in Lazio, Italy, from 1985 through 2000. METHODS: New diagnoses of HIV infection were identified through a linkage procedure on the total reports, and underreporting was estimated through a link between the HIV surveillance system and the Hospital Information System of Lazio. RESULTS: As of December 2000, 20,912 new diagnoses of HIV occurred in Lazio. New diagnoses have decreased steadily since 1992. The male/female ratio decreased during the study period, while the number of foreign-born cases increased. Sexual transmission became the main modality of exposure for men in 1996 and for women in 1992. In 2000 the proportion of men infected by sexual transmission reached 54.0% versus 15.2% of those infected by intravenous drug use, whereas the proportion of women was 58.9% and 8.6% respectively. The sensitivity of the system has slightly decreased. CONCLUSION: HIV infection is increasing in women and immigrants; people are being infected more frequently by sexual transmission than intravenous drug use.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

HDL and clinical and biochemical correlates in Italian non-smoker women.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels, inversely related to the risk of myocardial infarction, are determined by genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of low and high HDL plasma levels and the influence of environmental factors and lipid profile in an Italian non-smoker female population. HDL, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoproteins, lipids and estrogen plasma levels were measured in a population of 1471 women with a mean age of 45 +/- 14 years. HDL values < or = 35 mg/dl were noted in 11.2% of the subjects, showing 2.4% coronary heart disease (CHD) prevalence. The 90th percentile was characterized by HDL levels > or = 66 mg/dl and the absence of coronary atherosclerosis. Total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and triglycerides (r = -0.31, p < 0.0001) were the main determinants of HDL levels; apolipoprotein E, estrogen use, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption and age showed a weaker correlation. Apolipoprotein A-I concentration was influenced more notably by estrogen use, total cholesterol and apolipoprotein E; levels of triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, BMI, age and alcohol consumption are less important. The parameters considered here, taken together, explain HDL and apolipoprotein A-I variability of approximately 31% and 24%, respectively. A surprisingly high prevalence of very low (< or = 35 mg/dl) and high (> or = 66 mg/dl) HDL levels in Italian women further confirms the importance of studies on the HDL distribution in different population groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

The association of daily sulfur dioxide air pollution levels with hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases in Europe (The Aphea-II study).

The objective of this study is to assess the short-term effect of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) air pollution levels on hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases. Daily mean hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases, ischemic heart diseases (IHDs), and stroke in seven European areas (the cities of Birmingham, London, Milan, Paris, Rome, and Stockholm, and in The Netherlands) participating in the multicenter European study of air pollution (Aphea-II), were measured. Time series analysis of daily hospital admission counts was performed using poison autoregressive models. A summary regression coefficient for all cities was provided. Daily numbers of all cardiovascular admissions except stroke, and particularly IHDs, rose significantly with an increase of daily SO(2)levels of the same day and day before. After adjusting for PM(10)(i.e. particles with size <10 microm), the association of SO(2)with IHD admissions remained significant (i.e. an increase of 0.7%; 95% confidence interval=0.1-1.3, per each 10 microg/m(3)increase of SO(2)) among subjects younger than 65 years, but not among subjects older than 65. In the older group the increase was only significant for particles (1.3%; CI 0.7-1.8, per each increase in 10 microg/m(3)of PM(10)). This study provides new evidence for the effects of urban air pollution on cardiac diseases in Europe, and suggests that SO(2)pollution may play an independent role in triggering ischemic cardiac events. From a Public Health perspective these results suggest that reduction in SO(2)levels in European cities could imply a reduction of admissions for IHDs.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evaluating outcomes of hospital care following coronary artery bypass surgery in Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: Monitoring health outcomes across hospitals has become a growing interest as a potential means to promote quality of care, but in Italy it is at the beginning stage. We aimed at comparing the performance of different cardiac surgery units and testing the utility of routinely collected data in this respect. METHODS: From the Lazio region hospital information system (HIS), we selected a cohort of 1603 individuals (84% males; mean age 63 years, SD 8) residing in Rome (2,685,890 inhabitants), who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG, ICD-9-CM code: 36.1) in the period 1996-97 in seven major cardiac surgery units in the city. They were identified as A, B, C (teaching), D and E (non-teaching) units. Information on vital status at 30 days after the CABG surgery was obtained through an automatic record linkage with the Municipal Registry of Rome. The association between cardiac surgery units and outcome was evaluated through logistic regression taking into account the following a priori risk factors in different models: gender, age, socio-economic status, type of ischaemic heart disease and comorbidities. RESULTS: The overall mortality was 5.4% (range 2.1-11.4%). Statistically significant predictors of outcome included: age (OR=7.5 for age> or =70 vs. 35-49 years), acute myocardial infarction (OR=32.7 vs. acute-subacute forms/angina), chronic myocardial ischaemia (OR=4.2 vs. acute-subacute forms/angina), other heart diseases (OR=4.8), chronic renal disease (OR=16.0) and peripheral arterial disease (OR=2.9). Statistically significant variability in mortality was observed across hospitals; taking hospital A as reference, hospital D showed the highest risk (OR=5.7, 95% CI=1.9-17.3, in the fully adjusted model). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that a true variation in quality of care play a role in the observed differences across hospitals, although chance and inaccurately measured risk factors cannot be excluded. Despite some limitations, the HIS is a valid tool for screening cardiac surgery units with poor performance.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Air pollution and myocardial infarction in Rome: a case-crossover analysis.

BACKGROUND: Daily air pollution is associated with increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases, but there are few observations on the link with acute myocardial infarction. To evaluate the relation between various urban air pollutants (total suspended particulate, SO2, CO, NO2) and hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction in Rome, Italy, we performed a case-crossover analysis and studied whether individual characteristics act as effect modifiers. METHODS: We studied 6531 subjects residing in Rome and hospitalized for a first episode of acute myocardial infarction (International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition: 410) from January 1995 to June 1997. The following individual information was available: sex, age, date of hospitalization, coexisting illnesses (hypertension, 25%; diabetes, 15%), and cardiac severity (conduction disorders, 6%; cardiac dysrhythmias, 20%; heart failure, 11%). Daily air pollution data were taken from 5 city monitors. We used a time-stratified case-crossover design; control days were the same day of the week as the myocardial infarction occurred, in other weeks of the month. RESULTS: Positive associations were found for total suspended particulate, NO2 and CO. The strongest and most consistent effect was found for total suspended particulate. The odds ratio (OR) associated with 10 micro g/m3 of total suspended particulate over the 0- to 2-day lag was 1.028 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.005-1.052). The association with total suspended particulate tended to be stronger among people older than 74 years of age (OR = 1.046; CI = 1.005-1.089), in the warm period of the year (OR = 1.046; CI = 1.008-1.087), and among subjects who had heart conduction disorders (OR = 1.080; CI = 0.987-1.181). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that air pollution increases the risk of myocardial infarction, especially during the warm season. There was a tendency for a stronger effect among the elderly and people with heart conduction disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The protective effect of the Mediterranean diet on lung cancer.

There has been growing interest over recent years in the potential preventive role of the Mediterranean diet in the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the components of the Mediterranean diet and lung cancer. A hospital-based, case-control study of lung cancer was conducted on subjects aged 35+ yr living in the Lazio region and admitted to one of the main hospitals in Rome in the period from 1993 to 1996. Cases (n = 342) were patients with newly diagnosed primary lung cancer. Controls (n = 292) were recruited from departments of general surgery, orthopedics, ENT, and general medicine and were frequency matched by sex and age (+/-5 yr) to the cases. Exposure characteristics were obtained by interviewing study subjects. A self-administered food-frequency questionnaire was used. After careful control for several smoking variables, we found a protective effect for high consumption of carrots (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.42-1.05), tomatoes (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.34-1.03), white meat (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.42-1.02), exclusive use of olive oil (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.45-0.99), and regular consumption of sage (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.29-0.65). In a multivariate model, considering all food items simultaneously, the protective effect of exclusive olive oil use and sage remained statistically significant. Our results indicate that some food items typical of the Mediterranean diet are associated with decreased lung cancer risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Air pollution and cardiac and respiratory function in three groups of patients].

The association between exposure to urban air pollution and cardiac or respiratory impairments in susceptible subjects was evaluated in a panel study including 11 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 7 with ischemic heart disease (IHD), and 11 asthmatics resident in Rome (Italy). Patients underwent repeated 24 h Holter EKG monitoring, 12 h pulse oximetry at night and spirometry examinations during 1999 summer and winter. Multiple linear regression models for repeated individual measures (fixed-effect) were used to analyse the relationship between average daily concentrations of pollutants (PM10-2.5, PM2.5 NO2 and O3) and outcome variables, controlling for meteorological conditions, survey period, and week-ends. In the BPCO panel, increasing ambient PM2.5 levels were associated with increased heart rate and decreased respiratory function. In the asthmatic panel, inverse associations between pulmonary function and both NO2 and PM10-2.5 concentrations were observed, as well as direct association between ambient NO2 concentrations and NO in exhaled breath. In the IHD panel an increase of hearth rate variability associated with increasing concentration of PM2.5 was observed.

Adolescent↗