Reactivity MAP, ZnT8 and PI antigens in relation to IA-2A titers.

<p>Reactivity MAP, ZnT8 and PI antigens in relation to IA-2A titers.</p

Unadjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection among patients with and without G6PD deficiency undergoing upper endoscopy.

<p>Unadjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection among patients with and without G6PD deficiency undergoing upper endoscopy.</p

Seroreactivity to MAP, ZnT8 and PI epitopes in different age groups and during insulin independence period.

<p>Percentages of patients positive to the analyzed epitopes are reported along with the relative numbers of seroreactive subjects given in brackets. Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test was employed to calculate statistical significance.</p

Demographic features of study population according to D-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase status.

<p>Demographic features of study population according to D-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase status.</p

Multiple logistic regression analysis for G6PD status and age and gender associated with <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection.

<p>Multiple logistic regression analysis for G6PD status and age and gender associated with <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection.</p

Prevalence of <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection according to age decade and D-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase status.

<p>Prevalence of <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection according to age decade and D-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase status.</p

The association of adult height with the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer in the population of Sardinia

<div><p>The relationship between body height and the risk of non‒communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer has been the subject of much debate in the epidemiological literature. Concerns have recently arisen over spurious associations due to confounding factors like birth cohort, especially in the context of epidemiological transition. The population of Sardinia represents an interesting case study, as the average physical stature of inhabitants was the lowest recorded in Europe until a few decades ago. In this population we tested whether height is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cancer. We analysed the stature of 10,427 patients undergoing endoscopy for any reason, for whom a detailed clinical history of cardiovascular disease and/or malignancies had been documented. Poisson regression modelling was used to test the association between stature and disease risk. When patients were subdivided according to sex and height tertiles, the risk of cardiovascular disease proved significantly greater for subjects in the lowest tertile irrespective of sex (men: 1.87; 95%CI 1.41‒2.47; women: 1.23; 95%CI 0.92‒1.66) and smaller for those in the highest tertile (men: 0.51; 95%CI 0.35‒0.75; women: 0.41; 95%CI 0.27‒0.61). However, after adjusting the risk for birth cohort and established risk factors, it mostly resulted in non-significant values, although the overall trend persisted. Similar results were obtained for all-cancer risk (relative risk for men and women in the lowest tertile: 1.44; 95%CI 1.09–1.90 and 1.17; 95%CI 0.93–1.48, in the highest tertile: 0.51; 95%CI 0.36–0.72 and 0.62; 95%CI 0.47–0.81, respectively) as well as for some of the most common types of cancer. We concluded that the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and malignancies does not vary significantly with stature in the Sardinian population, after adjusting for birth cohort and more obvious risk factors.</p></div

Poisson regression analysis including variables potentially associated with the occurrence of CV disease and cancer.

<p>Poisson regression analysis including variables potentially associated with the occurrence of CV disease and cancer.</p

Characteristics of 10427 patients according to height categories.

<p>Characteristics of 10427 patients according to height categories.</p

Risk factors for erosive and non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus in Nothern Sardinia

<p><b>Objective:</b> Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal adenocarcinoma have been increasing. We studied the relationship of conventional risk factors and <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection in patients with erosive and non-erosive GERD and Barrett’s esophagus.</p> <p><b>Materials and methods:</b> This was a retrospective study of dyspeptic patients undergoing upper endoscopy between 2002 and 2013. Following endoscopy, those with previously undiagnosed GERD were sub-grouped into non-erosive GERD (NERD), erosive GERD (eGERD), or Barrett's esophagus. <i>H. pylori</i> status was confirmed by 2 positive tests.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> About 5156 patients were included, GERD was present in 65.6% including 1992 with NERD and 1392 with eGERD. About 1772 dyspeptic patients without symptoms of reflux and/or esophagitis served as controls. A hiatal hernia increased the risk of both eGERD and NERD. eGERD was more prevalent among the obese (OR =1.72, <i>p</i> < 0.001), men (OR =1.38, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and current smokers. <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection was significantly more common among those with NERD (OR =1.17 versus 1.01, <i>p</i> = 0.046). Logistic regression analysis for eGERD and NERD using age, gender, body mass index, <i>H. pylori</i> infection, hiatal hernia, and smoking showed that overweight and hiatal hernia were significant risk factors for eGERD, and female gender for NERD. Male gender, eGERD and age >50 years were the major risk factors for Barrett’s esophagus.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> The epidemiology of eGERD and NERD suggests differences in pathogenesis, and prevention and treatment strategies should be separately examined in men and women.</p