Associations of family and social contact with health among Italian grandparents

Abstract Past research has documented the positive influence of frequent interactions with social networks on several health outcomes in later life, with different patterns by gender. In this study, we explore the association of frequent contact with different members of the social network (namely partner, grandchildren, siblings, friends and neighbours) on self-perceived health status and the limitation of illnesses among older grandparents in Italy, using a large national representative survey. Our results confirm the positive association between good health indicators and frequent contact with members of the "horizontal" network (partner, siblings and friends), while a more ambiguous association has been found with frequent face-to-face contact with children and grandchildren. The results hold for both male and female grandparents. The Mediterranean family-focused culture may possibly explain the distinctly Italian results

Il clima scolastico come struttura che connette. Percezioni e prospettive degli studenti coinvolti.

Negli ultimi tre decenni, i ricercatori e gli educatori hanno infatti riconosciuto l’importanza del clima nella scuola. In tutto il mondo, e in particolare negli Stati Uniti, vi è un crescente interesse per il clima scolastico, come valida strategia di miglioramento della scuola, per promuovere un contesto più sicuro, più solidale, più civile, cognitivamente significativo, dalle scuole dell’infanzia alla secondaria di secondo grado. Il progetto “Il clima scolastico”, coordinato e progettato da Liliana Dozza, con la collaborazione di Giulia Cavrini, Gina Chianese e l’Intendenza scolastica italiana della Provincia di Bolzano, è uno studio di popolazione che ha coinvolto tutta la scuola di lingua italiana dell’Alto Adige, e che si poneva i seguenti obiettivi principali: 1) sviluppare e convalidare una misura del clima scolastico da poter usare con genitori, studenti, insegnanti e personale non docente; 2) fornire un supporto preliminare alla validità per l’utilizzo di questa misura utilizzando sia l’Analisi Fattoriale Esplorativa (EFA) sia l’Analisi Fattoriale Confermativa (CFA); 3) confrontare la percezione del clima scolastico dei diversi attori: genitori, studenti, insegnanti e personale non docente e individuare le variabili relative alla qualità e alle caratteristiche della vita scolastica che influenzano maggiormente la percezione del clima scolastico da parte dei differenti “attori” della vita educativa della scuola; 4) acquisire elementi di conoscenza sul clima scolastico e di classe che rappresentino una prima base di discussione per i collegi dei docenti e i team di classe interessati, al fine di mettere a punto dei piani di miglioramento della qualità e delle caratteristiche della vita di scuola e di classe

Usutu virus growth in human cell lines: induction of and sensitivity to type I and III interferons

The mechanisms of Usutu virus (USUV) pathogenesis are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of USUV to interferon (IFN) and the capacity of USUV to stimulate IFN production. Initial experiments were conducted to characterize the susceptibility of human cell lines to USUV infection and to evaluate the single-growth cycle replication curve of USUV. Results indicate that USUV is able to infect a variety of human cell lines, completing the replication cycle in Hep-2 and Vero cells within 48 h. Pre-treatment of cells with types I and III IFNs significantly inhibited the replication of USUV. However, the inhibitory effects of IFNs were considerably less if IFN was added after viral infection had been initiated. Also, USUV weakly induced types I and III IFNs

Mosquito, Bird and Human Surveillance of West Nile and Usutu Viruses in Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) in 2010

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>In 2008, after the first West Nile virus (WNV) detection in the Emilia-Romagna region, a surveillance system, including mosquito- and bird-based surveillance, was established to evaluate the virus presence. Surveillance was improved in following years by extending the monitoring to larger areas and increasing the numbers of mosquitoes and birds tested.</p> <h3>Methodology/Principal Findings</h3><p>A network of mosquito traps, evenly distributed and regularly activated, was set up within the surveyed area. A total of 438,558 mosquitoes, grouped in 3,111 pools and 1,276 birds (1,130 actively sampled and 146 from passive surveillance), were tested by biomolecular analysis. The survey detected WNV in 3 <em>Culex pipiens</em> pools while Usutu virus (USUV) was found in 89 <em>Cx. pipiens</em> pools and in 2 <em>Aedes albopictus</em> pools. Two birds were WNV-positive and 12 were USUV-positive. Furthermore, 30 human cases of acute meningoencephalitis, possibly caused by WNV or USUV, were evaluated for both viruses and 1,053 blood bags were tested for WNV, without any positive result.</p> <h3>Conclusions/Significance</h3><p>Despite not finding symptomatic human WNV infections during 2010, the persistence of the virus, probably due to overwintering, was confirmed through viral circulation in mosquitoes and birds, as well as for USUV. In 2010, circulation of the two viruses was lower and more delayed than in 2009, but this decrease was not explained by the relative abundance of <em>Cx. pipiens</em> mosquito, which was greater in 2010. The USUV detection in mosquito species confirms the role of <em>Cx. pipiens</em> as the main vector and the possible involvement of <em>Ae. albopictus</em> in the virus cycle. The effects of meteorological conditions on the presence of USUV-positive mosquito pools were considered finding an association with drought conditions and a wide temperature range. The output produced by the surveillance system demonstrated its usefulness and reliability in terms of planning public health policies.</p> </div

Evidence of Simultaneous Circulation of West Nile and Usutu Viruses in Mosquitoes Sampled in Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) in 2009

BACKGROUND: In recent years human diseases due to mosquito-borne viruses were increasingly reported in Emilia-Romagna region (Italy), from the chikungunya virus in 2007 to the West Nile virus (WNV) in 2008. An extensive entomological survey was performed in 2009 to establish the presence and distribution of mosquito arboviruses in this region, with particular reference to flaviviruses. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: From May 6 to October 31, a total of 190,516 mosquitoes were sampled in georeferenced stations, grouped in 1,789 pools according date of collection, location, and species, and analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect the presence of RNA belong to Flavivirus genus. WNV was detected in 27 mosquito pools, producing sequences similar to those of birds and human strains obtained in 2008 outbreak, pointed out the probable virus overwintering. Isolation of WNV was achieved from one of these pools. Moreover 56 pools of mosquitoes tested positive for Usutu virus (USUV). Most PCR positive pools consisted of Culex pipiens, which also was the most analyzed mosquito species (81.4% of specimens); interestingly, USUV RNA was also found in two Aedes albopictus mosquito pools. Simultaneous circulation of WNV and USUV in the survey area was highlighted by occurrence of 8 mosquito WNV- and USUV-positive pools and by the overlaying of the viruses "hot spots", obtained by kernel density estimation (KDE) analysis. Land use of sampled stations pointed out a higher proportion of WNV-positive Cx. pipiens pool in rural environments respect the provenience of total sampled pool, while the USUV-positive pools were uniformly captured in the different environments. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Obtained data highlighting the possible role of Cx. pipiens mosquito as the main vector for WNV and USUV in Northern Italy, and the possible involvement of Ae. albopictus mosquito in USUV cycle. The described mosquito-based surveillance could constitute the foundation for a public health alert system targeting mosquito borne arboviruses

Effetti della privazione di sonno sul recupero della fase rem nel ratto: valutazione statistica e applicazione markoviana

Dottorato di ricerca in metodologia statistica per la ricerca scientifica. 7. ciclo. A.a. 1993-94. Coordinatore Carlo Filippucci; tutore Antonio ParmeggianiConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

A quantile regression approach for modelling a Health-Related Quality of Life Measure

Objective. The aim of this study is to propose a new approach for modeling the EQ-5D index and EQ-5D VAS in order to explain the lifestyle determinants effect using the quantile regression analysis. Methods. Data was collected within a cross-sectional study that involved a probabilistic sample of 1,622 adults randomly selected from the population register of two Health Authorities of Bologna in northern Italy. The perceived health status of people was measured using the EQ-5D questionnaire. The Visual Analogue Scale included in the EQ-5D Questionnaire, the EQ-VAS, and the EQ-5D index were used to obtain the synthetic measures of quality of life. To model EQ-VAS Score and EQ-5D index, a quantile regression analysis was employed. Quantile Regression is a way to estimate the conditional quantiles of the VAS Score distribution in a linear model, in order to have a more complete view of possible associations between a measure of Health Related Quality of Life (dependent variable) and socio-demographic and determinants data. This methodological approach was preferred to an OLS regression because of the EQ-VAS Score and EQ-5D index typical distribution. Main Results. The analysis suggested that age, gender, and comorbidity can explain variability in perceived health status measured by the EQ-5D index and the VAS

A quantile regression approach for modelling a Health-Related Quality of Life Measure

Objective. The aim of this study is to propose a new approach for modeling the EQ-5D index and EQ-5D VAS in order to explain the lifestyle determinants effect using the quantile regression analysis. Methods. Data was collected within a cross-sectional study that involved a probabilistic sample of 1,622 adults randomly selected from the population register of two Health Authorities of Bologna in northern Italy. The perceived health status of people was measured using the EQ-5D questionnaire. The Visual Analogue Scale included in the EQ-5D Questionnaire, the EQ-VAS, and the EQ-5D index were used to obtain the synthetic measures of quality of life. To model EQ-VAS Score and EQ-5D index, a quantile regression analysis was employed. Quantile Regression is a way to estimate the conditional quantiles of the VAS Score distribution in a linear model, in order to have a more complete view of possible associations between a measure of Health Related Quality of Life (dependent variable) and socio-demographic and determinants data. This methodological approach was preferred to an OLS regression because of the EQ-VAS Score and EQ-5D index typical distribution. Main Results. The analysis suggested that age, gender, and comorbidity can explain variability in perceived health status measured by the EQ-5D index and the VAS

Il clima scolastico come indice di benessere nella scuola

Le percesioni indivuali sono talemnte importanti anche in ambito scolastico che spesso le scuole raccolgono informazioni relative a ciò che gli studenti o insegnanti o genitori pensano sulla loro scuola, ma raramente le scuole sono in grado di rilevare contemporaneamente queste informazioni da tutto gli attori in gioco. L'obiettivo principale della presente ricerca è confrontare i risultati ottenuti in uno studio di popolazione che ha coinvolto insegnanti, genitori, studenti e staff non docente e ha correlato la percezione del clima scolastico di tutti. In particolare, in questo contributo presenteremo i risultati del confronto della percezione dei genitori di studenti di diverse tipologie scolastiche