Search results for "Italy"
showing 10 items of 2893 documents
Effect of weight loss on mortality in overweight and obese nursing home residents during a 5-year follow-up.
2015
Background/Objectives:The objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of weight loss over the course of 1 year on 5-year mortality in old nursing home (NH) residents in different classes of body mass index (BMI).Subjects/Methods:A longitudinal study was conducted on 161 NH residents aged ≥70 years at the Istituto di Riposo per Anziani, Padova, Italy. Data were collected using a comprehensive geriatric assessment at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up visit. Mortality was recorded over a 5-year follow-up. We divided our sample into four groups using as cutoffs a BMI of 25 and a weight gain or loss of 5% at 1 year (BMI ≥25 and weight stable/gain, BMI ≥25 and weight loss, BMI<25 and …
The effect of obesity combined with low muscle strength on decline in mobility in older persons: results from the InCHIANTI study.
2009
Both obesity and muscle impairment are increasingly prevalent among older persons and negatively affect health and physical functioning. However, the combined effect of coexisting obesity and muscle impairment on physical function decline has been little studied. We examined whether obese persons with low muscle strength experience significantly greater declines in walking speed and mobility than persons with only obesity or low muscle strength.Community-dwelling adults agedor = 65 years (n = 930) living in the Chianti geographic area (Tuscany, Italy) were followed for 6 years in the population-based InCHIANTI study.On the basis of baseline measurements (1998-2000), obesity was defined as b…
Prognostic role of aldosterone in patients with acute coronary syndrome: short and medium term follow-up.
2013
AIMS: Different studies have shown a correlation between aldosterone, atherosclerosis and ischemia in the past decade. Evidence exists for the relationship between high levels of aldosterone and augmented risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, cardiac failure, coronary artery disease and stroke. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic role of aldosterone in patients with myocardial infarction. METHODS: The study population included 96 consecutive patients admitted to our department for ST-elevated and non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction from June 2009 to March 2012. Plasma aldosterone levels were measured at admission to hospital in all patients. A 2-ye…
CLINICAL AND LABORATORY FINDINGS OF BOUTONNEUSE FEVER IN SICILIAN CHILDREN
1998
The spectrum of signs and symptoms of 645 consecutive children diagnosed from 1984 to 1996 with boutonneuse fever (BF), a mild rickettsial disease caused by Rickettsia conorii endemic in the Mediterranean basin, are reported. The major clinical features were fever (97.2%), exanthema (96.1%) and “tache noire” (71.8%). The large series examined permitted the authors to observe some rare or disregarded clinical features of the disease: cases with papulovesicular exanthema, reported previously only in adults who had been infected by R. conorii in Africa; and cases in which the only symptom was an isolated lymphadenopathy. Conclusion R. conorii infection should be considered in patients with lym…
Upper and Lower Limb Strength and Body Posture in Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism: An Observational Case-Control Study
2020
Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is an endocrine disease with a precocious significant impairment of growth and neuromotor development. Thyroid hormones are essential for central nervous system development, maturation, and myelination. Furthermore, thyroid hormone deficiency affects the function of several systems, including the musculoskeletal system. The disease has a significant incidence in the general population (1:3000–1:2000 newborns in Italy). The aim of the present study was to evaluate any differences in upper and lower limb strength, body sway, and plantar loading distribution in children with CH compared to healthy children. Methods: In this study, the case group was c…
Empirical validation of the "Pediatric asthma Hospitalization rate" indicator
2014
Background: Quality assessment in pediatric care has recently gained momentum. Although many of the approaches to indicator development are similar regardless of the population of interest, few nationwide sets of indicators specifically designed for assessment of primary care of children exist. We performed an empirical analysis of the validity of "Pediatric Asthma Hospitalization Rate" indicator under the assumption that lower admission rates are associated with better performance of primary health care. Methods: The validity of "Pediatric Asthma Hospitalization Rate" indicator proposed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in the Italian context was investigated with a focus o…
Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Among Italian Adolescents: Gender Similarities and Differences
2013
Only a few studies have analyzed the health impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on male and female adolescents, taking into account other kinds of violence that can affect their health. In this study, 43.7% of female adolescents and 34.8% of males reported IPV; females reported more psychological and sexual IPV, with no differences for physical IPV. Controlling for family and sexual violence and other confounding factors, female adolescents exposed to IPV had significantly higher adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for depression, panic attacks, eating problems, and suicidal ideation. For male adolescents, only the OR of eating problems almost reached statistical significance.
European Sero-Epidemiology Network: standardisation of the assay results for pertussis
2003
A standardisation process was developed in order to compare and harmonize serological results of pertussis toxin (PT) antibody measurements performed by laboratories using different technical procedures for detection. This involved the development of a common panel, of sera by a designed reference centre, the distribution of the panel to each participating laboratory for testing with their routine methods, the comparison of the obtained results to those of the reference centre, and the calculation of standardisation equations by regressing the quantitative results against those of the reference centre. As a cut-off indicative of protection against pertussis has not yet been defined, a parti…
Smartphone use and addiction during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: cohort study on 184 Italian children and adolescents
2021
Abstract Background The lives of many children and adolescents are today increasingly influenced by new technological devices, including smartphones. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic occurred in a time of outstanding scientific progress and global digitalization. Young people had relevant adverse psychological and behavioral effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly related to infection control measures, which led them to spend more time at home and with major use of technological tools. The goal this study proposes is to evaluate health and social outcomes of smartphone overuse among Italian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing patterns and ai…
EARLY EFFICACY OF LIPOSOMAL AMPHOTERICIN B IN THE TREATMENT OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS
1996
The rapidity and efficacy of a short course of liposomal amphotericin B was evaluated in 29 children affected by visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum). Their overall health status was assessed using the prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index (PINI), and their haematological status by the reticulocyte count and haemoglobin blood levels. All these quantities were measured on day 0, and 3 and 10 d after starting therapy. A significant decrease of inflammatory signs, associated with an improved reticulocyte count, was recorded after 3 d of therapy. A significant increase of haemoglobin levels was also observed 10 d after the start of treatment. The early reduction of inflammatory …