Self-efficacy and medicine use for headache among adolescents in Italy: results from the Italian HBSC 2010 study

This article aims first to investigate gender patterns in medicine use, and corresponding headache complaints, in Italian adolescents; second, to examine the association between self-efficacy and medicine use for headache. This study used data from 23,941 15-year-old students participating in the 2009/2010 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey. Self-complete questionnaires devised by the HBSC international group were administered in classrooms. Logistic regression models (controlling demographics: age, gender, and FAS) were used to investigate the association between medicine use for the associated health complaint, and perceived self-efficacy. Overall, prevalence of students reporting medicine use for headache (at least once a month) was 40.1%. Medicine use was significantly more common among girls than among boys for that somatic symptom. The use of medicines was significantly associated with the frequency of the corresponding health complaint. Selfefficacy was associated with a lower use of medicine for headache just for the group with low frequency of headache. In conclusion, self-efficacy may reduce the tendency to use medicines when adolescents report infrequent headaches

A survey on pairwise comparison matrices over abelian linearly ordered groups

In this paper, we provide a survey of our results about the pairwise comparison matrices defined over abelian linearly ordered groups

Prove di confronto varietale di piccoli frutti in coltivazione biologica

Mirtillo, lampone, ribes rosso e fragolina di bosco sono in Italia delle coltivazioni di nicchia, spesso presenti in aree marginali in aziende di piccole e medie dimensioni, in contrasto con quanto accade in Canada e Polonia dove i piccoli frutti sono coltivati in aree di alcune centinaia di ettari. La caratterizzazione di cultivar adatte alla coltivazione biologica è lo scopo di questa prova iniziata nel 2003 con l'organizzazione di una rete di campi in alcune aree di montagna e di collina della provincia di Torino

Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein B Genotype Distribution in Italian Transplant Patients.

Background: The cytomegalovirus (CMV) UL55 gene encodes for a glycoprotein implicated in virus pathogenesis. Based on UL55 polymorphism, CMV has been divided into 4 genotypes. Previous studies investigated the possible role of genotypes in the clinical outcome of infection in different categories of patients; however, few data are available, particularly in the transplant setting and Italian case records. Methods: Phylogenetic analysis through a maximum likelihood tree was used to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of CMV genotypes in whole blood specimens from 47 transplant patients and investigate the relation with demographic and clinical features. Results: Overall, 40.4% of patients were classified as single genotype (12.8% gB1, 23.4% gB2, 4.2% gB3); mixed genotypes were detected in 59.6%. Genotype 4 was detected only in mixed cases. In comparison to single genotypes, mixed genotypes were more frequently associated with a higher duration of DNA viremia and higher peak viral load. Conclusions: Mixed infections seem to be prevalent in Italian transplant patients; it is likely that mixed infections are more difficult to control by immunological response in comparison to single genotype infections. In this context, the genetic profile of infecting viruses and relation to clinical outcome should be investigated, also taking into account the CMV-specific cellular immune response

Identification of human joint impedance using a wearable powered knee exoskeleton

Joint impedance is the mechanical property that describes the dynamical relationship between joint angle and torque. It provides a description of the neuromechanical behavior of a joint and it is regulated according to the surrounding environment to promote a stable interaction with it. Joint impedance has been shown to be successfully estimated using system identification techniques on humans experimentally1 . Estimation of joint impedance is critical in post-stroke individuals particularly when they are in the chronic state of the pathology (after six months from onset). After this time, the affected limbs commonly show signs of increased resistance to movements. This condition of altered joint impedance is clinically described as joint hyper-resistance2 . The presence of hyper-resistance provokes pain, restricts the range of motion of the affected joints, limits the achievement of functional tasks, and might lead to health complications, not including worsening of the quality of life.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Pelletization of composted swine manure solid fraction with different organic co-formulates: effect of pellet physical properties on rotating spreader distribution patterns

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A 5-Year Randomized Controlled Study of Learning, Problem Solving Ability, and Quality of Life Modifications in People With Type 2 Diabetes Managed by Group Care

OBJECTIVE—To study time course changes in knowledge, problem solving ability, and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes managed by group compared with individual care and education. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We conducted a 5-year randomized controlled clinical trial of continuing systemic education delivered by group versus individual diabetes care in a hospital-based secondary care diabetes unit. There were 120 patients with non–insulin-treated type 2 diabetes enrolled and randomly allocated to group or individual care. Eight did not start and 28 did not complete the study. The main outcome measures were knowledge of diabetes, problem solving ability, quality of life, HbA1c, BMI, and HDL cholesterol. RESULTS—Knowledge of diabetes and problem solving ability improved from year 1 with group care and worsened among control subjects (P < 0.001 for both). Quality of life improved from year 2 with group care but worsened with individual care (P < 0.001). HbA1c level progressively increased over 5 years among control subjects (+1.7%, 95% CI 1.1–2.2) but not group care patients (+0.1%, −0.5 to 0.4), in whom BMI decreased (−1.4, −2.0 to −0.7) and HDL cholesterol increased (+0.14 mmol/l, 0.07–0.22). CONCLUSIONS—Adults with type 2 diabetes can acquire specific knowledge and conscious behaviors if exposed to educational procedures and settings tailored to their needs. Traditional one-to-one care, although delivered according to optimized criteria, is associated with progressive deterioration of knowledge, problem solving ability, and quality of life. Better cognitive and psychosocial results are associated with more favorable clinical outcomes