Analysis of tourism in Campania as a tool for the development of high-quality cultural services for sightseers: The “Reale Osservatorio Vesuviano” case history

The purpose of this work is to identify the guidelines for the development and diversification of the cultural touristic offer achievable at the Reale Osservatorio Vesuviano (ROV). Founded in 1841, it is the oldest volcano observatory in the world and it has always had the vocation for scientific-naturalistic and formative tourism. The present study investigates the connections between the sociology of tourism and the ROV’s sustainability and competitiveness as a tourist destination. Here it is performed a study of the tourist flow, based on the sociology of tourism and on the correct processing of data sets, distinguishing the ''statistical information on tourism" from "tourism statistics", as such a study is the basis of a proper market strategy in different sectors. Tourism remains, in fact, an important phenomenon in world economy: despite the economic crisis of recent years, international tourist arrivals show a positive development of the trend in all the major sub-areas into which the large international areas are traditionally divided. The principles for a future marketing plan were outlined after collecting all the relevant information. The plan was designed to enhance the overall touristic offer of the ROV, never ceasing to consider the integration of natural- scientific aspects and cultural events to be offered within the observatory itself.Published64-872TM. Divulgazione Scientifica6TM. Poli Museali1VV. AltroN/A or not JC

Systematic investigation of gastrointestinal diseases in China (SILC): validation of survey methodology

Background: Symptom-based surveys suggest that the prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases is lower in China than in Western countries. The aim of this study was to validate a methodology for the epidemiological investigation of gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings in China. Methods: A randomized, stratified, multi-stage sampling methodology was used to select 18 000 adults aged 18-80 years from Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, Wuhan and Guangzhou. Participants from Shanghai were invited to provide blood samples and undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. All participants completed Chinese versions of the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) and the modified Rome II questionnaire; 20% were also invited to complete the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The psychometric properties of the questionnaires were evaluated statistically. Results: The study was completed by 16 091 individuals (response rate: 89.4%), with 3219 (89.4% of those invited) completing the SF-36 and ESS. All 3153 participants in Shanghai provided blood samples and 1030 (32.7%) underwent endoscopy. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.89, 0.89, 0.80 and 0.91, respectively, for the RDQ, modified Rome II questionnaire, ESS and SF-36, supporting internal consistency. Factor analysis supported construct validity of all questionnaire dimensions except SF-36 psychosocial dimensions. Conclusion: This population-based study has great potential to characterize the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings in China.Xiaoyan Yan, Rui Wang, Yanfang Zhao, Xiuqiang Ma, Jiqian Fang, Hong Yan, Xiaoping Kang, Ping Yin, Yuantao Hao, Qiang Li, John Dent, Joseph Sung, Duowu Zou, Saga Johansson, Katarina Halling, Wenbin Liu and Jia H

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial premalignant and malignant epithelial neoplasms of the digestive tract: A real-life experience in Italy

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a technique for en bloc resection of neoplastic lesions of the digestive tract. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was developed in Asia. and data from Western countries are scarce. Our study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of ESD for resection of superficial premalignant and malignant epithelial neoplasms in a tertiary center in Italy.PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with gastrointestinal lesions who underwent ESD between January 2013 and December 2018 in our center were retrospectively evaluated. Technical success, en bloc, R0, curative resection, and complication rates were assessed.RESULTS: A total of 107 lesions (stomach, no.=41: rectum, no.=32; colon. no.=28: esophagus, no.=5; duodenum, no.=1) were resected by ESD in 93 patients. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was technically successful in 99.1% (106/107) of lesions. Among the 90 superficial premalignant and malignant epithelial neoplasms, en bloc, and R0 resection rates were 97.8% (no.=88) and 75.6% (no.=68), respectively. Major complications occurred in 9.3% (10/107) of cases: 4 (3.7%) were perforations and 6 (5.6%) were major bleedings. All complications, but two which needed surgery, were managed endoscopically.CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that ESD is a feasible, effective, and safe technique in a Western country

Meta-analysis: duration of first-line proton-pump inhibitor based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection. A consensus on treatment duration is lacking. PURPOSE: To summarize the benefits and harms of different durations of PPI-based triple therapy. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and proceedings of major meetings through May 2007. STUDY SELECTION: English-language reports of randomized, controlled trials that compared duration (7, 10, or 14 days) of triple therapy and in which adequate testing confirmed the initial H. pylori infection and its eradication. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently extracted data on study design, treatment, number of patients enrolled and number of patients with successful eradication, disease at enrollment, testing, adverse effects, year of publication, publication format, and country. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of 21 included studies, 11 compared 7-day therapy with 10-day therapy, and 13 compared 7-day therapy with 14-day therapy. Meta-analysis yielded relative risks (RRs) for eradication of 1.05 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.10) for 7-day compared with 10-day amoxicillin-containing triple therapy (10 studies) and 1.07 (CI, 1.02 to 1.12) for 7-day compared with 14-day therapy (11 studies). Meta-analysis of the 3 studies that compared 7-day with 14-day metronidazole-containing therapy yielded an RR of 1.08 (CI, 0.96 to 1.22). The 7-day versus 10-day comparisons yielded RRs of 1.03 (CI, 0.97 to 1.10) for peptic ulcer disease and 1.10 (CI, 1.02 to 1.20) for nonulcer dyspepsia. For the 7-day versus 14-day comparisons, the RRs were 1.04 (CI, 0.99 to 1.09) and 1.03 (CI, 0.88 to 1.20), respectively. The RRs for frequency of adverse events were 0.98 (CI, 0.85 to 1.14) and 1.08 (CI, 0.84 to 1.40) for 7-day therapy compared with 10- and 14-day therapy, respectively. Diarrhea and taste disturbance were the most frequently reported adverse events (5%). LIMITATIONS: Subgroup analyses were limited by the few studies evaluating different drug regimens and disease at enrollment. Seventeen of the included studies had poor methodological quality or inadequate reporting. CONCLUSION: Available data suggest that extending triple therapy beyond 7 days is unlikely to be a clinically useful strategy