Health literacy in Mediterranean general population

INTRODUCTION Health literacy refers to "the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and access health services in order to make informed choices." In essence, being able to acquire, understand, and use information for one's own health. METHODS Observational study through the administration of a face-to-face questionnaire conducted between July and September 2020 on 260 individuals residing between Calabria and Sicily, aged between 18 and 89 years. Questions related to education, lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, and physical activity). Multiple-choice questions to assess health literacy and conceptual skills, ability to find information on health topics and services, use of preventive medicine especially vaccinations, and ability to make decisions about one's own health. RESULTS Of 260, 43% were male and 57% female. The most represented age group is between 50 and 59 years. Forty-eight percent of respondents had a high school diploma. 39% smoke and 32% habitually consume alcoholic beverages; only 40% engage in physical activity. Ten percent had a low level of health literacy, average 55%, adequate 35%. CONCLUSIONS Given the importance of adequate HL on health choices and on individual and public wellbeing, it is essential to expand the knowledge of the individual, through public and private information campaigns and with an increasing involvement of family physicians, who are fundamental in training and informing their patients

Correlates of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound parameters in patients with diabetes: the study on the assessment of determinants of muscle and bone strength abnormalities in diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) provides an estimate of bone mineral density (BMD) and also evaluates bone quality, which has been related to increased fracture risk in people with diabetes. This study aimed at assessing the correlates of calcaneal QUS parameters in diabetic subjects encompassing various degrees of micro and macrovascular complications and a wide-range of peripheral nerve function. METHODS: Four hundred consecutive diabetic patients were examined by QUS to obtain values of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), the speed of sound (SOS), quantitative ultrasound index (QUI), and BMD. RESULTS: Among surrogate measures of complications, sensory and motor nerve amplitude and heart rate response to cough test and standing correlated with QUS parameters at univariate analysis, together with age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipid profile, and renal function. Multivariate analysis revealed that BUA, SOS, QUI, and BMD were independently associated with age, male gender, hemoglobin A1c, BMI (or fat, but not fat-free mass), and somatic and autonomic nerve function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that peripheral nerve dysfunction is associated with worse QUS parameters, possibly contributing to increased fracture risk in diabetes. The positive relation of QUS measures with adiposity needs further investigation. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01600924)

Young people, young adults and Binge Drinking

Introduction and Purpose The consumption of alcohol among young people and young adults has undergone, in recent decades, a sharp upsurge with the increasingly frequent intake of large quantities of alcohol. The aim of our study was to investigate socio-demographic, economic and behavioural factors that have a major impact on the voluntary alcohol habit in young people. Methods The survey was conducted via administration of an anonymous questionnaire based on “the WHO Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test”, disseminated on-line , to young people and young adults (aged 18 to 35) Results We examined a sample of 365 subjects. Consumption of wine and beer were predominant  followed by super-alcohol mixes. We found correlations between alcohol use and the following variables: marital status (p<0.001), parental education(mother p<0.05; father p<0.001), income level(p<0.05), physical activity (p<0.05) and voluptuous habits(smoke and coffee: p<0.001.The  5% of men and 1% of women had car accidents during the previous year due to alcohol use and 15% said they did not remember what happened in an alcoholic evening once or twice a month. Conclusions The phenomenon of alcohol consummation is deeply ingrained in our reality, with dangerous episodes of binge drinking in young adults with a higher prevalence  in the female sex

Psychopathological Burden and Quality of Life in Substance Users During the COVID-19 Lockdown Period in Italy

Background Following the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, a rigid public health strategy of reduced social contact and shelter-in-place has been adopted by the Italian Government to reduce the spread of the virus. In this paper, we aim at evaluating the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relative containment measures, have had on a real-life sample of patients suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or behavioral addictions. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was filled out by 153 addicted patients, both outpatients and residential inpatients, recruited across Italy and highly representative of the current Italian population suffering from addictions. Psychopathological burden (anxiety and depressive symptomatology, somatization, irritability, and post-traumatic symptoms), quality of life, and craving changes in daily habits were assessed. Results In our sample, we found moderate rates of depression (22.9%), anxiety (30.1%), irritability (31.6%), and post-traumatic stress (5.4%) symptoms. Psychopathological burden was globally higher among residential patients. Reported levels of craving were generally low. Discussion This study is the first attempt to collect Italian data regarding the effects of the rigid quarantine period, during the COVID-19 pandemic, on patients suffering from a SUD and/or behavioral addictions. The presence of a moderate psychopathological burden correlated to poor quality of life and low craving scores represented the main outcomes. Long-term studies, with follow-up after the end of the restrictive measures, should be considered to implement our findings

Beyond the end of the sentence: reintroduction to society

openIl presente studio si propone di analizzare uno degli ambiti meno studiati in Italia: pone infatti il suo focus sul fine pena, cioè il momento dell’uscita dai circuiti penali e sulle aspettative future di coloro che sono detenuti. Sono stati intervistati tramite questionario anonimo persone recluse in procinto di finire di scontare la detenzione e alcune persone detenute con la pena dell’ergastolo. Nel corso dell’elaborato saranno riportate anche delle interviste che la candidata ha potuto effettuare lavorando presso la comunità terapeutica Oasi della Fondazione San Gaetano. È evidente che purtroppo la società, almeno per ora, fatica ad ascoltare chi ha sbagliato e ad accettare che il cambiamento possa esserci e che se si è commesso un errore una volta, questo non deve divenire un tratto identificativo dell’individuo

Feasibility Study of a Table Prototype Made of High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

The challenging and innovative idea of realizing a table totally made of fiber-reinforced concrete is explored through an interdisciplinary research activity, where contributions coming from different fields (design, material science, experimental testing, numerical modeling) are combined. The paper describes the different phases of the study, starting from the design of the table, moving through the development of a purpose-made high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete and the mechanical characterization via experimental testing, and concluding with numerical modeling. Numerical results are determined by implementing a damage plasticity constitutive model in a finite element code. The mechanical response of the table has been analyzed for different loading and boundary conditions, and an exhaustive and complete picture of the possible failure mechanisms has been drawn. Simulations have clearly described the different stress-softening processes of damage evolution and plastic strains localization, pointing out the vulnerable parts of the table. Finally, strategies for improving the table mechanical performances are discussed

The ‘Dangerous Cocktail’: an epidemiological survey on the attitude of a population of pregnant women towards some pregnancy risk factors

Many investigations have shown the important role played by risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol and infectious agents (especially Rubella) in the development of congenital anomalies (CAs). Through the administration of a questionnaire, we evaluated the attitude of a population of pregnant women towards some risk factors in pregnancy (smoking and alcohol habit and risk of contracting one of TORCH agents). 14% of the women continued to smoke despite pregnancy; the majority of these were 34–35 years old, divorced, workers and with a high educational level. The 4.3% who identified as moderate drinkers; were mainly younger and married. Concerning the TORCH agents, it a high percentage were negative to the Rubella antibodies (62.8%). In order to improve the awareness of pregnant women on these risk factors, health education campaigns represent a public health cornerstone. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Several investigations have shown an association between congenital anomalies (CAs) and various exogenous factors such as air pollutants, pesticides, metals, radiations and others present in the environmental matrices. Moreover, an important role is played by some risk factors linked to the lifestyles (i.e. tobacco and alcohol). What do the results of this study add? Our study shows that the awareness of the women about the importance of these risk factors is still rather poor, especially concerning the avoidable risks associated with smoke and alcohol and the preventable risk associated with rubella infection. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our results highlight the importance of continuous health education both about the risk to smoke and drink during pregnancy and about the risk not to have had contract the rubella infection before the pregnancy. Particularly, about the latter issue, it appears necessary to increase the pre-conceptional diagnosis and, eventually, to vaccinate the women resulted negative in order to eliminate congenital rubella

The role of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 in activating AGC kinases defined in embryonic stem cells

AbstractBackground: Protein kinase B (PKB), and the p70 and p90 ribosomal S6 kinases (p70 S6 kinase and p90 Rsk, respectively), are activated by phosphorylation of two residues, one in the ‘T-loop’ of the kinase domain and, the other, in the hydrophobic motif carboxy terminal to the kinase domain. The 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) activates many AGC kinases in vitro by phosphorylating the T-loop residue, but whether PDK1 also phosphorylates the hydrophobic motif and whether all other AGC kinases are substrates for PDK1 is unknown.Results: Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells in which both copies of the PDK1 gene were disrupted were viable. In PDK1−/− ES cells, PKB, p70 S6 kinase and p90 Rsk were not activated by stimuli that induced strong activation in PDK1+/+ cells. Other AGC kinases — namely, protein kinase A (PKA), the mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1) and the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) — had normal activity or were activated normally in PDK1−/− cells. The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) induced PKB phosphorylation at its hydrophobic motif, but not at its T-loop residue, in PDK1−/− cells. IGF1 did not induce phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase at its hydrophobic motif in PDK1−/− cells.Conclusions: PDK1 mediates activation of PKB, p70 S6 kinase and p90 Rsk in vivo, but is not rate-limiting for activation of PKA, MSK1 and AMPK. Another kinase phosphorylates PKB at its hydrophobic motif in PDK1−/− cells. PDK1 phosphorylates the hydrophobic motif of p70 S6 kinase either directly or by activation of another kinase

Exploring the links between bacterial communities and magnetic susceptibility in bulk soil and rhizosphere of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Soil magnetic properties are sensitive indicators of pedogenetic processes. Although many of the processes that increase soil magnetism are well documented, the role of microbial communities and the metabolic characteristics of Fe-reducing bacteria are still largely unknown. For this work, two soils with contrasting magnetic properties were identified in a beech forest on Monte Zuccarello (central Italy). Samples of bulk soil and rhizosphere were obtained from A (0–7 cm), AB (7–16 cm), Bw1 (16–22 cm) and Bw2 (22–29 cm) horizons of both soils, and were analysed for their physicochemical characteristics, the amount of magnetic minerals, and the composition of total and culturable bacterial communities, focusing on siderophore-producing bacteria (SPB). Analyses confirmed that the magnetic soil (MS) have a higher content of maghemite and magnetite association, compared to non-magnetic soil (NMS). Since the formation of maghemite can occur through different processes, we investigated on the possible role of soil bacteria in the formation of this magnetic mineral. As soil maghemite generally contains small amounts of Fe 2+ , the formation of which has been attributed to the combustion of organic matter, SPB have been isolated and identified. MS samples showed the highest number of SPB (mainly Micrococcaceae, Bacillaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae), suggesting a significant increase in Fe-reducing bacteria. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed a separation in terms of the total composition of the bacterial community between bulk and rhizosphere of both MS and NMS, dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia phyla. Interestingly, Gamma and Delta Proteobacteria, as well as Nitrospirae, were usually more abundant in MS than in NMS, confirming that the MS was predominantly characterized by groups of magnetotactic bacteria and SPB, and potentially contributing to enhance the soil magnetic properties