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Biomedical subjects

V Leoni

Publications and source records attributed to V Leoni.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Water hardness and cardiovascular mortality rate in Abruzzo, Italy.

For the years 1969-1978, the authors studied the pattern of mortality resulting from cardiovascular diseases (390-438 International Classification of Diseases [ICD]), ischemic heart diseases (410-414 ICD), and cerebrovascular diseases (430-438 ICD), and then correlated mortality rate with water hardness. The study took place in the region of Abruzzo, Italy, which has a population of 594,323. An inverse correlation between drinking water hardness and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, already reported by other authors in many countries, is also confirmed in this research for the disease group 390-438 and for the group of individuals aged 45-64 yr.

Adolescent↗

[Laboratory diagnosis: correlated health and environmental risks].

Method description and initial results of a study to assess risks to health sector workers and environment due to chemical agents used and waste products generated in diagnostic clinical chemical laboratories, and image diagnostic testing. A survey was conducted of the methods and agents used and their toxicological classification, the number of workers exposed and an analytical profile of the waste produced. The assessment of risk to workers was based on cytogenetic tests (chromosome aberrations and micronuclei); the assessment of environmental risk from waste disposal was based on tests on plant systems.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗

[Hospital hygiene and disinfectants: experience in a teaching hospital].

A survey was conducted during March-July 1999 to assess and identify the disinfectants and chemical sterilants employed in a teaching hospital of Roma. The purposes were studying the problems of safety in the use also, and the treatment like waste of disinfectants and chemical sterilants. Were collected the data from 61% of 39 Department/Institutes of the whole hospital. A total of 635 records were examined, and 40 different active ingredients of 110 commercial forms were identified. This study was conducted by a survey chart. Data collected outline that to minimize the risk for nursing staff, workers and the patients a modern hospital staff should prepare a handbook that can explain the concentrations and correct use for various disinfectants and chemical sterilants that was choose and employed.

Disinfectants↗

[Low birth weight, life style of mothers during pregnancy and chlorinated drinking water].

Numerous environmental factors such as smoking habits, alcohol intake, economic and social status, and by-product chlorination present in drinking water can determine adverse pregnancy outcomes like a low weight birth, small for gestational age or preterm delivery. In 1998 the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific Technological Research (MURST) has financed a multicentric study in order to evaluate the association between exposure to by-products chlorination in drinking water during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes at birth such as preterm delivery and low birth weight. We describe the socio demographics characteristics, personal habits and the health status during pregnancy and exposure to the VOX of 171 women recruited from the Research Unit of Rome and L'Aquila. A case control study with incident cases was performed. Exposure to Chlorination By Products (CBP) and confounding factors for studied outcomes, were assessed by a validated questionnaire. At the same time, collection and analysis of 124 tap water samples were carried out directly at women's home. No association was found between CBPs level and low birth weight or preterm delivery. We found an excess risk statistically significantly between preterm delivery and hypertension (OR = 5.06; IC 95% = 1.70-15.44) an excess risk statistically significantly between low birth weight and smokers (OR = 3.43, IC 95% = 1.15-10.26). The CBPs levels were rather low (range cases = 0.09-6.28 microg/L; range controls = 0.01-6.44 microg/L). The results confirm the literature data and the validity of the epidemiological method adopted. The low CBPs levels, under the Law level, are probably imputable to the good quality of sorgive waters. Considering the CBPs level temporal variability in chlorinated waters, is to be hoped a careful and continues surveillance of the CBPs spike levels for better exposure assessment.

Case-Control Studies↗

[Estimate of the dose of chlorinated pesticides consumed daily by the Italian population (1978-1984)].

This work reports an estimate of the doses of chlorinated pesticides taken with a total diet by the Italian population in the period 1978-84. Previous researches, carried out in 1971-72, had regarded both uncooked and cooked diets, ready for the consumption. It was found that the amount of the considered pesticides taken in total (HCB, gamma-BHC and total-BHC, Aldrin/Dieldrin, Heptachlor/Heptachlor-epoxide and DDT total-equivalent) calculated as a sum of the percentage of each acceptable daily intake (A.D.I.), at that time recommended was near the limit of acceptability (98.5% for cooked diets and 107.0% for uncooked diets). In addition it was found that nearly the 40% of the dose assumed in all came from milk and its derivates (butter, cheese). Then considering the contribution of milk and derivates to the amount of pollutants assumed with a total diet, a new evaluation has been done, with regard to the period 1978-84, i.e. after the prohibition of the use of these pesticides in Italy and in other industrialized countries. Then the data have been processed, with regard to 211 samples of foods (90 of milk, 45 of cheese, 76 butter) coming from determinations carried out by the Multizonal Laboratory of Hygiene and Prevention of Ferrara, Milano, Udine, Bolzano, Trento, Pescara and from the Institute of Hygiene of Rome University "La Sapienza" in the period mentioned. Furthermore, alimentary consumptions of milk, butter and cheese in 1978-84 have been evaluated, and amounts of chlorinated pesticides taken with these foods have been calculated. Finally the dose taken with these foods has been extrapolated to a total diet. It has come out that the doses (estimated) taken with the total diet have notably decreased between 1971-72 and 1978-84. An anomaly is yet represented by HCB: while the quantity taken with food has decreased from 1971-72 to 1978-84 (from 3.7 to 1.3 micrograms/man/day), the concentrations in human adipose tissues have increased (from 1.02 to 1.99 mg/Kg). It can reasonably mean that assumption of HCB is not prevalently alimentary, but that it is due to other factors of environmental contamination. The data of the doses of chlorinated pesticides taken have also been compared with the respective ADI indicated in 1971-72 and in 1978-84.

Animals↗