Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Ciccone

Publications and source records attributed to G Ciccone.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Diagnostic delay, clinical stage, and social class: a hospital based study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To measure delay in admission to a large hospital and to study the role of social class and other potential determinants of delay. DESIGN: Interview of a 10% sample of newly diagnosed patients admitted to medical or surgical wards, and all those admitted for external hernia or colon cancer between June 1989 and May 1990. SETTING: The largest hospital in an Italian region of five million inhabitants. SUBJECTS: The study population consisted of 330 patients with a range of different medical and surgical conditions, 83 patients with external hernias, and 97 patients with colon cancers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After patient interview and discharge from hospital, the clinical record was consulted for information on the length of stay and the diagnosis, and in particular for the staging of hernia or colon cancer (according to the protocol of the Jefferson Medical College). Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. There was an association between advanced disease at hospital admission and the patient's educational level. In each of the three groups of patients, those with the highest educational level had a 30% or lower probability of being admitted to hospital with advanced disease compared with those with the lowest education level (after allowance for sex, age, area of residence, and marital status). CONCLUSION: Lower social class was associated with a more advanced clinical stage of hernia or colon cancer, and with a higher probability of urgent admission to the hospital for a newly diagnosed disease. Delay in seeking care, did not however, seem to explain the social class differentials for disease stage.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Cytogenetics and occupational exposures in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Working Group on the Epidemiology of Hematolymphopoietic Malignancies in Italy.

Studies on the association between cytogenetic aberrations and environmental or occupational exposures of patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome were selected from the literature and reviewed. Chromosome abnormalities as a whole and specific aberrations involving chromosomes 5, 7, 8, and 21 were considered. Occupational exposures were also considered as a whole or, whenever possible, as specific substances. An association between all occupations and any chromosome aberration has been observed in earlier studies but was not confirmed in later studies. Similar results have been observed when specific aberrations, or specific substances (ie, solvents) have been considered. Methodological issues and the comparability of the reviewed studies are discussed, and suggestions are made for refining epidemiologic investigations.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed1992

Inter-observer and intra-observer variability of mammogram interpretation: a field study.

To evaluate the performance of radiologists in mammographic mass screening, seven radiologists read blindly the mammograms of 45 women (two views for each breast). The films included 12 normal, 24 benign disease and 9 cancers. The readings were repeated after 2 years. As expected, variability was higher among radiologists than between the two readings of the same radiologist, but general reproducibility was moderate. Kappa values for a positive/negative classification were 0.45 at the first and 0.44 at the second reading (inter-observer comparisons). For the intra-observer comparisons, Kappa values ranged from 0.35 to 0.67 (mean 0.56). Generally, accuracy was low partly due to the difficulty of the cases. A slight increase in sensitivity was observed at the second reading. The level of agreement is a good indicator of accuracy. Proper training and standardization of criteria are essential before mass breast screening is implemented.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Socioeconomic status and survival from soft-tissue sarcomas: a population-based study in northern Italy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Differential prognosis among cancer patients according to socioeconomic status (SES) has been reported. We analyzed survival from soft tissue sarcomas (STS) according to different SES indicators. METHODS: We followed up all the adult patients with a new diagnosis of STS occurring between 1.1.1981 and 31.12.1983 in an area of Northern Italy (N = 86). RESULTS: The overall three-year survival rate was 57 percent. After adjustment for confounders, both low education and blue collar jobs were negatively associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that patients of low SES have a poorer prognosis for STS.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Cytogenetics and occupational exposure to solvents: a pilot study on leukemias and myelodysplastic disorders.

In a pilot study, 57 patients affected by leukemias or myelodysplastic syndromes were interviewed to identify potential exposure to organic solvents. Cytogenetic analyses were performed in 40 of the 57 patients. Unlike previous investigations, no association was found between the occurrence of chromosomal abnormalities and exposure to organic solvents. An original finding was a strong association between solvent exposure and myelodysplastic disorders (4 certainly exposed and 1 possibly exposed out of 11 patients). Such an observation warrants confirmation from case-control studies.

Anemia, Refractory↗
PubMed1990

Immunophenotype of thymoma-associated lymphoid cell component of T-cell type. A new analytic procedure in keeping with structural heterogeneities.

The phenotype of the lymphoid cell component of 35 thymomas was investigated by analyzing cryostat sections and lymphocyte suspensions. The morphology in each case was determined by examining multiple tissue samples from different parts of the tumor. Structural heterogeneity was shown in 14 thymomas, and a homogeneous morphology of cortical or medullary or mixed types in the others. To assess whether this heterogeneity was correlated with differences in the lymphoid phenotype, we analyzed both lymphocyte suspensions and frozen sections from the same samples. Phenotypical differences in the suspensions of each thymoma in the heterogeneous group were noted and similar differences were also observed in the cryostat sections. Phenotypical abnormalities were found in some thymomas. They consisted of the simultaneous expression of cortical and medullary markers, which was most marked in the heterogenous mixed-type thymomas invading the lung. Furthermore, the global phenotype was tested on a pool of lymphocyte suspensions in all thymomas. This procedure distinguished cortical, medullary and intermediate cortico-medullary immunophenotype models which closely correlated with the tumor histology. It was concluded that, due to the frequent structural and immunological heterogeneity of thymomas, correct assessment of their lymphoid component requires a two-step analysis. This comprises: 1) individual suspensions from samples taken from different areas of the same thymoma, and 2) a pool of these suspensions. The first step will reveal the different immunological characteristics. In the second, the lymphocyte phenotype, which may vary widely throughout the tumor, will be represented in its totality. These findings may be of great help in predicting clinical patterns, especially possible malignant evolution.

Cryopreservation↗
PubMed1989

Role of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in the etiology of cancer of the oral cavity/oropharynx in Torino, Italy.

A population-based case-control study of cancer of oral cavity-oropharynx was conducted in the city of Torino, Italy, between 1982 and 1984. One hundred twenty-two cases (86 males and 36 females) and 606 controls (385 males and 221 females) were compared with respect to lifelong alcohol and tobacco consumption. A 4- to 6-fold increase in risk among subjects with medium or high tobacco consumption was observed, as well as a trend in increasing risk with duration and with earlier age at the start of smoking. Other findings included a sharp reduction in risk with cessation of smoking, no clear protective effect of usage of filter, no differences in risk according to color of tobacco, and a higher risk for cigar versus pipe/cigarette smokers. An effect of alcoholic beverages was found in subjects with an average daily consumption of 120 or more grams of alcohol, with a higher risk in beer drinkers. Among heavy consumers of alcohol and tobacco, risks of both oral and oropharyngeal cancer were very high. A positive association between oral cancer and low educational level, after adjustment for alcohol and tobacco, was found. Attributable risks for alcohol and tobacco in the population were 23% and 72% in men and 34% and 54% in women.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

[Mortality in relation to the type of economic activity and occupation in the Turinese longitudinal study].

Occupational surveillance systems, which examine mortality patterns by occupation or industry, may contribute to hypothesis generation and priority setting for occupational cancer research and control. In the City of Torino the Local Population and Family Register records and the Census records are matchable through a computerized record linkage procedure. Since the early 1980's we have incorporated demographic events, occurring among residents, into the Census data source, covering birth, death and migration. This paper deals with the occupational mortality, from 1981 to 1985, of 262, 314 men and 146, 125 women, aged 15-64, who held a job at the 1981 Census. Mortality from 31 selected causes of death, including 22 cancer sites, among individuals employed in specific occupations (64 categories) and economic activities (80 categories) was compared with the mortality experienced by the whole cohort of active people. The surveillance design does not take into account potential confounders such as cigarette smoking, alcohol and previous work history. Despite the short duration of follow-up, some occupation-cancer associations, consistently documented in others surveillance studies, have been detected in our study: lung cancer among motor vehicle drivers (SMR 143, 27 obs), metal molders (SMR 178, 8 obs), welders (SMR 241, 7 obs) and wood workers (SMR 218, 12 obs), leukemias and electrical workers (SMR 367, 6 obs).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Experimentation on a mail questionnaire for a case-control study].

A mail questionnaire, collecting information mainly on occupational history, was sent to 50 subjects who had been interviewed at home with a longer questionnaire three years before, and to 26 subjects who refused at that time to be interviewed. The 50 subjects were sampled among controls enrolled in a population based case-control study on soft tissue sarcomas; the 26 were all non-respondent controls in the same study. The questionnaire was returned by 83% and 14% respectively. A comparison between home and mail interviews suggests that the quality of information is strictly comparable for 78% of the items. For discordant items, about 50% showed a better quality of information from home interviews; in the other 50% a better information was provided by the mail interview.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Inter-observer variability in the interpretation of mammograms.

Inter-observer agreement was tested in the interpretation by 8 radiologists of mammograms from 45 women (for a total of 180 films per radiologist). The radiologists were representative of the whole range of those involved in mammography in the town of Torino, with a number of films read per year ranging from 100 to 4000. Out of the 45, 9 women were affected by breast cancer (histologically proved), 25 had benign disease (diagnosed with fine-needle aspiration) and 11 had normal breasts. Weighted kappa values were in the range 0.27-0.82 (median 0.60) for parenchymal patterns; 0.33-0.67 (0.48) for diagnosis in five categories; and 0.22-0.57 (0.38) for indications for further diagnostic tests. These values are comparable with those reported from other investigations.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Occupation and lung cancer in two industrialized areas of northern Italy.

A population-based case-control study on lung cancer was conducted in 2 industrialized areas of northern Italy. Cases (126) were all males who died from lung cancer between 1976 and 1980. Controls (384) were a random sample of males dying from other causes during the same period. Jobs held during working life have been analyzed according to a list of occupations already known to be causally associated with lung cancer (list A) and a list of occupations suspected of being so (list B). Attributable risk percentages in the population for occupations included in either list A or B were about 36% and 12% in the 2 areas. Welders or workers in industries in which welding is common showed elevated odds ratios: 2.9 for welders (95% CI 0.9-9.8); 4.9 (1.1-22.9) for structural metal workers; 11.4 (2.6-49.9) for workers in structural metal production. Other job categories associated with lung cancer included: electricians and workers in electrical machine production, woodworkers (in furniture or cabinet making, but not in carpentry or joinery) and cleaning services. Smoking did not seem to exert a substantial confounding effect. Attributable risk percentages for tobacco smoking were about 78% and 76% in the population of the 2 areas.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Coffee drinking and bladder cancer.

A case-control study was conducted in the Main Hospital of Torino on 512 men and 55 women with bladder cancer, and 596 male and 202 female controls. The association with coffee drinking was investigated. In males, the odds ratios for current consumption were 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 and 0.8 for 1, 2, 3 and 4+ cups of coffee per day, respectively (adjusted for age, smoking and occupations at risk). The odds ratios for a daily consumption of 1, 2, 3 and 4+ cups 10 years before interview were 1.2, 1.5, 1.1 and 1.1, respectively. None of the estimates were statistically significant. These results are consistent with most of the previous findings. In males increased odds ratios were observed in non-smokers, with a dose-response relationship both for current and past coffee drinking habits. The association between bladder cancer and coffee consumption is unclear but it seems that smoking could play a role as an effect modifier.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Phenoxy herbicides and soft-tissue sarcomas in female rice weeders. A population-based case-referent study.

A population-based case-referent study was conducted in an area of northern Italy where rice growing is the predominant agricultural activity and phenoxy herbicides have been used since 1950. Manual rice weeding was formerly performed by a seasonal female working population; in the early 1950s these women were concurrently exposed to chemical herbicides. Sixty-eight persons representing incident and histologically revised cases (31 women) and 158 population referents (73 women) were interviewed. The cases were histologically confirmed independently by two blinded pathologists, and exposure to phenoxy herbicides was assessed by two blinded pesticide researchers. An age-adjusted odds ratio of 0.91 was found for the living men (with suspect exposures; no man diagnosed as a case had been exposed with certainty to phenoxy herbicides). Among the living women the relative risk was 2.7 (90% confidence interval 0.59-12.37), and it further increased when attention was restricted to women exposed in the whole 1950-1955 period and to younger age groups.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗