13 research outputs found
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Alcohol and the young: How does the press face the problem?

Background: alcohol is an important component of the Mediterranean diet and its moderate use is protective against cardiovascular risk. Binge drinking, i.e. the heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time, is the main consumption pattern of young people in Western countries and may lead to severe toxic effects in many organs. Mass media often address the issue by suggesting prevention measures; however, they may also have the unintended effect of encouraging alcohol misuse. This study aims to assess how the Italian press faces excessive alcohol consumption in young people, comparing the messages given by the press with scientific recommendations.
Methods: articles published by the 6 best-selling Italian newspapers and the 4 best-selling Italian magazines were collected from October 15th to November 14th 2009. Medline database, governmental and non-governmental sources were searched for scientific recommendations regarding primary prevention of alcohol misuse. Press articles were described and analysed by filling out a predefined form.
Results: fourteen newspaper articles regarding alcohol were found, 79% belonging to the news section. Six quotations of scientific recommendations were found: two about drink-driving, two about raising public awareness, one about Monitoring and Evaluation, and one about community and workplace action.
Conclusions: scientific recommendations were often inadequately reported by the Italian press. The most covered recommendations, designed driver and public educational intervention, are also the least effective according to international literature. Therefore, a further effort is needed to tackle this issue in a more scientifically sound way.
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Multi-port versus single-port cholecystectomy : results of a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial (MUSIC trial)
Background: Single-port laparoscopic surgery as an alternative to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy for benign disease has not yet been accepted as a standard procedure. The aim of the multi-port versus single-port cholecystectomy trial was to compare morbidity rates after single-access (SPC) and standard laparoscopy (MPC). Methods: This non-inferiority phase 3 trial was conducted at 20 hospital surgical departments in six countries. At each centre, patients were randomly assigned to undergo either SPC or MPC. The primary outcome was overall morbidity within 60\ua0days after surgery. Analysis was by intention to treat. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01104727). Results: The study was conducted between April 2011 and May 2015. A total of 600 patients were randomly assigned to receive either SPC (n\ua0=\ua0297) or MPC (n\ua0=\ua0303) and were eligible for data analysis. Postsurgical complications within 60\ua0days were recorded in 13 patients (4.7\ua0%) in the SPC group and in 16 (6.1\ua0%) in the MPC group (P\ua0=\ua00.468); however, single-access procedures took longer [70\ua0min (range 25\u2013265) vs. 55\ua0min (range 22\u2013185); P\ua0<\ua00.001]. There were no significant differences in hospital length of stay or pain VAS scores between the two groups. An incisional hernia developed within 1\ua0year in six patients in the SPC group and in three in the MPC group (P\ua0=\ua00.331). Patients were more satisfied with aesthetic results after SPC, whereas surgeons rated the aesthetic results higher after MPC. No difference in quality of life scores, as measured by the gastrointestinal quality of life index at 60\ua0days after surgery, was observed between the two groups. Conclusions: In selected patients undergoing cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease, SPC is non-inferior to MPC in terms of safety but it entails a longer operative time. Possible concerns about a higher risk of incisional hernia following SPC do not appear to be justified. Patient satisfaction with aesthetic results was greater after SPC than after MPC