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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Illicit use of methadone in heroin addicts in Rome.

Although in several countries heroin addicts have been found to engage in illicit use of methadone, no studies have been addressed to this behavior in Italy. The present study gives evidence that methadone dispensed by public health services in Rome is paralleled by a black market in this drug. Of sixty-five heroin addicts hospitalized for medical or surgical problems, the majority (89.2%) referred to the existence of an illicit methadone market in Rome, and 38% used it. When asked why they bought illicit methadone the addicts stated that the daily dose obtainable from public health services was inadequate. However this statement is in contrast with the evidence that the heroin addicts using illicit methadone had highest daily doses similar to those of heroin addicts not referring to the illicit methadone market. We wonder whether illicit use of methadone is influenced by the therapeutic benefit that addicts expect to obtain from methadone. These "expectations" may lead heroin addicts to extend consumption of methadone to alleviate problems altogether unrelated to the withdrawal syndrome. If so, the illicit market in methadone may be sustained not by the drug's addictive properties but by its therapeutic effects.

Adolescent

[Research on intestinal parasitic diseases in dogs of the city of Rome].

A survey on the diffusion of intestinal parasites of dogs in the town of Rome. The results of a survey on the diffusion of cestodes and nematodes in a hundred dogs in Rome are reported. The dogs were subjected to fecal examinations --- using both the flottation method and the McMaster method -- and to the post-mortem examination of the intestine. At post-mortem examination 25 dogs were found parasitized by one or more species of nematodes, 19 by one or more species of cestodes and 12 both by cestodes and nematodes for a total of 56 animals parasitized. The parasites were identifed with the following frequency: Dipylidium caninum 28 per cent, Toxocara canis 17 per cent, Uncinaria stenocephala 15 per cent, Trichuris vulpis 10 per cent, Toxascaris leonina 9 per cent, Taenia pisiformis 4 per cent, Echinococcus granulosus 2 per cent, Ancylostoma caninum, T. hydatigena and Mesocestoides lineatus 1 per cent each. The most frequent parasite found in stray dogs was U. stenocephala (33.3 per cent) while among the dogs with owners the most frequent one was D. caninum (31.8 per cent) which was also identified most frequently in dogs over a year of age (31.1 per cent). The dogs under one year of age were more often affected by T. canis (43.7 per cent). In the paper a review of similar Italian surveys is also given.

Animals

The impact of intravenous drug use on mortality of young adults in Rome, Italy.

To estimate the impact of intravenous drug use (IVDU) on mortality in the general population of young adults in Rome, Italy, the Population Attributable Risk (PAR) was calculated for the overall and cause-specific mortality in the 15-34 years age group. Relative risks were derived from a previous historical cohort study on mortality among 4200 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Rome, in which increased mortality from cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal diseases as well as from violence, overdose and AIDS had been observed. The prevalence of the risk factor (i.e. the proportion of IVDUs) in the general population was estimated using the 'multiplier formula' and 'capture-recapture' methods. The proportion of all deaths attributable to IVDU in the 15-34 age group in the Roman population was 16% and 9% in males and females, respectively. The cause-specific attributable proportions were 66% for endocarditis and 37% for cirrhosis in males, and 36% for endocarditis and pneumonia in females. These findings further document the relevant health consequences of IVDU on the general population of a large metropolitan area.

Adolescent

Behavior-induced auditory exostoses in imperial Roman society: evidence from coeval urban and rural communities near Rome.

Presence and features of auditory exostoses were investigated in two cranial samples of Roman imperial age (1st-3rd century A.D.). The skeletal material comes from the necropolises of Portus (Isola Sacra) and Lucus Feroniae (Via Capenate), two towns along the Tevere River, in close relation with the social and economic life of Rome. Deep-rooted differences between the human communities represented by the skeletal samples (83 and 71 individuals, respectively, in this study) are documented both historically and archaeologically. The results show lack of exostoses in the female sex, a negligible incidence among the males of Lucus Feroniae, but a high frequency in the male sample from Isola Sacra (31.3%). Auditory exostoses are commonly recognised as localized hyperplastic growths of predominantly acquired origin. Features of the exostoses found in the male crania from Isola Sacra (particularly in relation to the age at death of the affected individuals) support this view. Furthermore, several clinical and anthropological studies have pointed out close links between the occurrence of auditory exostoses and prolonged cold water exposure, generally due to the practice of aquatic sports, or to working activities involving water contact or diving. In this perspective, the differences observed between the two Roman populations and between the sexes (in Isola Sacra) appear to result from different social habits: the middle class population of Portus habitually used thermal baths, whereas it is probable that thermae were seldom frequented (if at all) by the Lucus Feroniae population represented in the necropolis (mostly composed by slaves or freedmen farm laborers).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Baths

Prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and condom use among outpatients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Rome.

To assess the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and study selected risk factors among patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases in Rome, 1442 outpatients seen consecutively between 20 February and 12 December 1989 were anonymously tested for anti-HIV-1. An evaluation of the trend of the HIV-1 infection was attempted by comparing the results of the present study with those obtained from a similar sample studied in 1986 in the same clinic. The overall estimated prevalence of anti-HIV-1 was 1.2% among heterosexual non-drug user subjects and 16.1% among homosexual or bisexual men. The anti-HIV-1 seropositivity was significantly higher in heterosexual subjects who reported sexual contact with intravenous drug users, as compared with those who did not report such exposure (12.5% vs 0.8%, p less than 0.005). Comparing the present data with those of a study conducted in 1986 in the same clinic, a lower prevalence of anti-HIV-1 was found among heterosexual subjects (1.2% in 1989 vs 6.0% in 1986, p less than 0.001). The availability after 1986 of several outpatient facilities attracting seropositive subjects and a change in the sexual behaviour of anti-HIV-1 positive subjects could explain this finding. Twenty percent of the heterosexual subjects and 62% of the homosexual or bisexual men reported consistent use of condoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

Total mercury levels in whole blood, hair and fingernails for a population group from Rome and its surroundings.

Whole blood, hair and fingernails of 80 representative subjects from the Province of Rome were analysed for total mercury. The mean value for whole blood was 0.020 mg/kg, for hair 0.51 mg/kg and for nails 1.08 mg/kg. Correlations were found (except for hair) between mercury levels and the number of fish meals, mercury amalgam dental fillings and residence (urban or rural) of the subjects examined. The levels found in hair appear to be influenced by external and individual pollution factors and thus unsuitable for any direct determination of the distribution in other organs of the human body.

Adult

Excess mortality from influenza in a large urban population, Rome, Italy, 1956--76.

Influenza activity was studied in the Rome population from 1956 to 1976 by analysis of mortality from respiratory causes and from all causes. During cold weather months, type A influenza virus was associated, as a rule, with epidemic excess deaths at two year intervals while type B virus was prevalent twice during isolation data were also compared with epidemic excess mortality during four consecutive years. The evidence obtained indicated that influenza virus isolation alone does not represent a reliable index of epidemic influenza activity in this population. The proportion of deaths attributed to respiratory causes consistently increased in every epidemic, the most pronounced increases occurring during large epidemics. The break-down by age of deaths from respiratory causes in the course of two epidemic periods showed that the percentage distribution of deaths was essentially the same as in non-epidemic periods. This evidence indicates that the same factors influencing the age-related distribution of mortality from respiratory causes during non-epidemic periods, probably affect the fatal outcome of influenza during epidemics.

Absenteeism

Behavioural patterns and HIV infection among drug using transvestites practising prostitution in Rome.

Fifty-seven male prostitutes who were also drug users, underwent HIV-1 testing in a drug dependency unit in Rome. The overall prevalence of HIV antibody was 74% (42/57). Of the 57 subjects, 46 completed a standard questionnaire and were interviewed by a trained psychologist about use of drugs, sexual and AIDS-related behaviours. Among the 46 patients responding to the questionnaire, the prevalence of HIV was 67% (31/46). HIV prevalence increased with the duration of drug use, rising from 48% for less than 2 years use, to 64% for 2 to 4 years, and 100% for more than 4 years. It also increased with duration of stay in Italy: from 59% for less than 2 years, 78% for 2-4 years and to 83% for more than 4 years. Prevalence of HIV antibody was higher among those who reported injecting drugs (73% vs 63%), or who reported needle sharing (83% vs 62%). Higher prevalence was also related to the number of partners in the last year (74% for more than 1,500 partners vs 50% for less than 1,500), and to non-use of condoms (70% for 'sometimes/never' vs 50% for 'always'). The results indicate that further educational outreach efforts are required among male transvestite prostitutes since they may constitute a potential source of infection for their clients.

Adult

Epidemiological markers of Salmonella typhimurium isolates in Rome.

The phage type, antimicrobial resistance pattern, colicinogenic activity and DNA plasmid content of 172 strains of Salmonella typhimurium isolated in Rome from 1984 to 1986 were determined; 142 isolates were from patients with enteritis, 30 were from asymptomatic subjects. Most of the phage types identified were isolated during 2 or 3 of the study years; others, e.g., PT141, PT 204c and PT 194 were isolated during 1 year only, and only the last of these was isolated in large numbers. Phage typing proved most valuable in identifying epidemiologically related strains; DNA plasmid analysis was most useful in characterising further cultures of the same phage type, especially those isolated during suspected epidemics.

Bacterial Typing Techniques

[Evaluation of the immunity to A/swine influenza virus in a sample of population of Rome].

Hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibodies in respect of type A/swine influenza virus (strain NIB/3) were titrated on 225 serum specimens taken in Rome during 1976. No HI antibodies to the A/swine virus were found in the serum specimens of the 155 subjects under 50 years of age, while the majority (94%) of the serum specimens of the subjects over 70 years of age showed HI antibody reactivity to the virus, with a mean geometric titre of 21.75. The vaccination of 38 individuals over 50 years of age with live attenuated influenza virus (strain H3N2 - A/Port Chalmers/1/73) failed to cause any elevation of HI antibody titres against A/swine influenza virus, though producing significant seroconversion in respect of the A/Port Chalmers influenza virus in more than 60% of the vaccinees.

Adolescent

Mortality rates among psychiatric patients, during and after the "psychiatric reform", in the area of Rome (Italy).

The issue of supposedly high mortality rates among psychiatric patients discharged from mental hospitals after the implementation in Italy of Law 180 is controversial. We have studied a cohort of 1858 long-term psychiatric inpatients of Public Mental Hospitals in the area of Rome (Italy), followed up for 9 years during and after the implementation of Law 180. As expected, age adjusted mortality rates were higher than those observed in the general population living in the study area, and death rates among patients with "organic mental disorders" were higher than those among patients with "functional disorders". No difference in death rates was observed between the group of discharged patients and that of patients not yet discharged.

Cohort Studies

[The prevalence of rhinopharyngeal staphylococcal carriers among those employed in the communal food services of the province of Rome].

Microbial food contamination is at present less frequent than in the past. Nevertheless, Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning is still among the most frequent ones in Italy. The authors screened nasal swabs of 112 person working in five communal feeding services in Rome province; of these, 53 were found to be positive. This percentage (48.3%) does not differ substantially from those found by other researchers in various Italian cites.

Carrier State

[Gynecology and obstetrics in Ancient Rome].

Gods and Goddesses were invoked by the Romans for the termination of a good delivery. Diana, Juno, Lucina and Cybele were the preferred ones. Sterility was sometimes treated by the whip of the Lupercali of ministers of Pan. The first doctors in Rome were coming from Greece. Celsus, Pliny the Elder were encyclopedists, Rufus an anatomist, Dioscorides a pharmacologist. Archigenes, Aretaeus and Antyllus surgeons. Soranus from Ephesus, was the first to recommend podalic version. His works was a long time buried in a profound oblivion and discovered by scholars during the nineteenth century. Galen was looked as the most famous medical man after Hippocrates. During the Roman Empire of Occident (Byzantine Empire), Oribasius, Aurelianus Caelius, Moschion and above all Aetius and Paul of Aegina wrote many works which were many times plagiarized. Roman laws concerning public health were severe. Midwives took an important action in the care of pregnant women. Roman poets as Plautus, Terence, Lucilius, Catullus, Virgil, Tibullus, Ovid and Martial were many times concerned in their writings with gynecologic or obstetric subjects. Children were easily forsaken. Three Emperors, Trajan, Marcus-Aurelius and Alexander Severius, a writer, Aulu-Gelles, and a rhetor, Quintilian, took protection of them.

Female

[Prevalence of anti-Yersinia enterocolitica antibodies in an open population of the city of Rome].

This work shows the results of a seroepidemiological study of a group of 691 apparently healthy individuals: 246 males and 445 females from a Rome out-patient consulting center. 72 individuals (10.42%) were found positive with an antibody titer from 1:20 to 1:40. The percentages regarding the sexes and also those regarding the age groups did not show significant differences. The results of the research demonstrate a limited diffusion of Yersinia enterocolitica infection in the area under scrutiny. The results are correlated with those of similar researches.

Adolescent

[Plinius and Greek physicians in Rome: the concept of nature and medical critique in Naturalis Historia].

Pliny's historical outline of the development of medicine, in Natural History 29.1-27, is our primary source concerning the reception of scientific medicine at Rome during the later Republic and early Empire. Here, as elsewhere, Pliny handles Greek doctors and their medical practices with vehement disapproval. But this attitude, at first glance anti-Hellene, traditionalistic, and critical of his coevals, arises from more deeply rooted notions: a specific conception of nature which can be shown to be the basis of Pliny's critique of medicine and his own times. Reconstruction of this "Plinean" conception reveals a view of nature marked by Stoic terminology and categories, though in fact derivate from various sources, idiosyncratic and characterized by a genuine love of and respect for nature and her creations. True comprehension of the lessons offered by nature, resulting in concrete mores of behaviour and moral categories, as opposed to theory and speculation, is the proper modus operandi for Pliny. And thus, with regard to the human process of self-discovery in the natural world, medicine plays a decisive role--for providential nature displays herself most clearly in the production of healing substances. Pliny notes among the proponents of scientific medicine, a general disregard for nature and her rules, while he finds just the opposite in traditional medicine. His own accomplishment resides not only in the safeguarding of numberless recipies from the world of folk medicine, but also in the facts that he under-pins these traditional methods of healing, and their basic principles, with a specific conception of nature, and that he marks out an exceptionally important place for traditional methods of healing in the canon of general knowledge.

Greece, Ancient

Prevalence in the Rome healthy population of antibodies to a human Polyoma - virus (BK - strain).

A serological study of determine the prevalence of infections caused by human Polyoma-virus (BK strain) among the healthy population of Rome has been performed. Such virus was originally isolated from a patient undergoing a kidney transplantation, and later found in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Previous serological studies showed high incidences of infections, caused by this virus, in human populations. Other viruses, antigenically related, were found in patients suffering from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Serum samples coming from 482 healthy subjects classified by age and 100 cord blood serum samples were analyzed for antibody titers using haemoagglutination-inhibition and complement fixation tests. High incidence of infection caused by BK virus in the Roman population was found: specifically the haeomagglutination-inhibition test resulted positive in 65.2% of the samples. A remarkable similar trend between the results obtained with both the techniques was observed, although differences in antibody serum levels were present. The infections, which are not transmitted during the intrauterine life, are first noted at about two years of age. The Authors finally briefly discuss the possible epidemiological meaning of the spreading of this infection.

Adolescent

[New measurements of noise from road traffic in Rome carried out during 24 hours (author's transl)].

A new series of noise measurements in 10 points of the central zone in Rome, corresponding to residential areas with commercial activity, to parks, to hospitals, and to a subway, have been carried out. Investigation has been protracted during 24 hours and each measure has lasted 20 minutes. For the survey a mobile acoustic unity of the Environmental Hygiene Laboratory, Department of Sanitary Engineering, of Istituto Superiore di Sanità has been employed. The unity is fitted with instruments for statistical analysis of noise in connection with a minicomputer. The used program has allowed to calculate L1, L10, L50, L90, standard deviation, Leq, LNP, TNI. On the basis of such measurements Leq 24, Ldn, CNEL, have been calculated. Collected data have been compared with limits of stated rules and with noise levels measured in other seven Italian towns.

Automobiles