Bodybuilding, dietary supplements and hormones use: behaviour and determinant analysis in young bodybuilders

Background Among athletes, bodybuilders are more predisposed to the use of dietary supplements (DS) and hormones (H) to increase in adaptations to physical training and performance. The purpose of the study was to identify social, psychological, and organisational factors that are associated with the use of food supplements and hormones in young bodybuilders of the metropolitan area of Naples. Methods 107 athletes, practicing bodybuilding, were consecutively recruited in 30 gyms, randomly selected in the metropolitan area of Naples. Athletes were administered an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 5 sections (socio-demographic, frequency and reasons for bodybuilding, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours). Descriptive statistics were performed using T-test and Chi-square statistics. A score was created for knowledge, attitudes, behaviours. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to assess association between each score and the use of DS and H. Statistical analyses were carried out using STATA 15. Results 81.31% of the subjects reported to use DS while 35.51% H. Females are less likely to practise bodybuilding frequently than males (OR 0.18 (95% CI 0.05–0.69), p = 0.01). Subjects who have attended high school or university have a lower probability of taking DS (OR 0.17 (95% CI 0.04–0.65), p = 0.01). H users also use supplements more frequently (OR 61.21 (95% CI 3.99–939.31), p < 0.001). Those who scored higher on knowledge scores are more likely to take DS (OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.11–2.12), p < 0.001). Attitudes are correlated with the use of DS; those who scored higher were less likely to use DS (OR 0.77 (95% CI 0.30–0.98), p = 0.03). People who use DS are 30 times more likely to use H at the same time (OR 30.25 (95% CI 2.51–365.24), p < 0.001). Subjects who have a higher score for knowledge and attitudes are less likely to use H (OR 0.68 (95% CI 0.54–0.87), p < 0.001, OR 0.75 (95% CI 0.62–0.90), p < 0.001). Conclusions Prevalence of H and DS’ use, although lower than reported in the literature, is a worrying public health problem. Better knowledge can lead to an informed use. Gym instructors should be trained to provide accurate and scientifically sound information. Health professionals should combine their expertise to provide more comprehensive guidance to the exercisers

Knowledge and beliefs on vaccines among a sample of Italian pregnant women: results from the NAVIDAD study

BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy is an emerging phenomenon in European countries and leads to decreasing trends in infant vaccine coverage. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of confidence and correct awareness about immunizations, which are crucial for the success of vaccination programmes. METHODS: As part of the NAVIDAD multicentre study, we examined vaccination confidence and complacency among a sample of 1820 pregnant women from 14 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee's knowledge, beliefs and misconceptions, as well as their socioeconomic status, information sources about vaccines and confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service. RESULTS: Only 9% of women completely believed to the efficacy, necessity and safety of vaccinations. Almost 20% of them had misconceptions on most of the themes. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge considering educational level: women with a high educational level have less probability of obtaining a low knowledge score (odds ratio (OR) 0.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.54]). The level of knowledge was also influenced by the sources of information: women who received information from their general practitioner (GP) and from institutional websites had a significantly lower chance of having misconceptions (OR 0.74 [95% CI 0.58-0.96]; OR 0.59 [95% CI 0.46-0.74]). Finally, the results underlined the influence of trust in healthcare professional information on the likelihood of having misconceptions (OR 0.49 [95% CI 0.27-0.89]). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest the efficacy of GPs and institutional websites as a source of information to contrast misconceptions and underline the importance of confidence in the healthcare system to increase complacency and confidence in vaccines

Attitudes towards compulsory vaccination in Italy: Results from the NAVIDAD multicentre study

ABSTRACT: Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a considerable issue in European countries and leads to low coverage rates. After a long debate, Italy has made vaccination mandatory for admission to its schools. Methods: In the NAVIDAD study (a cross-sectional multicentre study), a 63-item questionnaire was administered to 1820 pregnant women from 15 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee's opinion on mandatory vaccines, as well as their socioeconomic status, sources of information about vaccines, confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service (NHS), and intention to vaccinate their newborn. Results: Information sources play a key role in determining the opinion on restoration of mandatory vaccines; in particular, women who obtained information from anti-vaccination movements are less likely to accept the vaccines (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.21\u20130.58, p < 0.001). Women who had confidence in healthcare professional information agreed more on mandatory vaccination than did the other women (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.62\u20134.36, p < 0.001); those who perceived that healthcare professionals have economic interest in child immunization and who declared that healthcare providers inform only on vaccinations benefits not on risks were less likely to agree on compulsory vaccination (OR: 0.66, CI 95%: 0.46\u20130.96, p = 0.03; OR: 0.66, CI 95%: 0.46\u20130.95, p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Information sources and confidence towards health professionals are the main determinants of acceptance of mandatory vaccine restoration. To increase the acceptability of the restoration and reduce vaccine hesitancy, these aspects need to be strengthened

The Impact of CoViD-19 on hospital activities: The case of the C.O.U. Otorhinolaryngology

The CoViD-19 pandemic imposed severe social containment measures in all sectors on countries around the world. This led to a general reorganization of the health sector involving all medical specialties. In addition, the growing influx of CoViD-19 patients in serious or critical conditions has led to a reallocation of healthcare personnel and a block of elective procedures deemed deferrable. Therefore, the surgical departments are those that have most undergone a modification of the activity normally provided. In fact, various protocols have been adopted to help doctors identify those cases in which a delay in surgery could cause serious damage to patients and on which it is necessary to intervene, thus also improving the appropriateness of admission. This study was conducted in the Complex Operative Unit (C.O.U.) of Otorhinolaryngology of the University Hospital of Salerno (Italy) "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona". Data were collected on patients who entered hospital in 2019 and 2020. Statistical analysis and logistic regression were used to quantify the effect of CoViD-19 on C.O.U.. To do this, the year 2019 was used as a reference of the normal activity of the department and compared with what was achieved in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. Logistic regression performed on these data showed an increase in length of hospital stay (LOS) and diagnostic related group (DRG) weight in 2020 thus showing increased appropriateness of care offered

Bodybuilding, dietary supplements and hormones use: behaviour and determinant analysis in young bodybuilders

Background: Among athletes, bodybuilders are more predisposed to the use of dietary supplements (DS) and hormones (H) to increase in adaptations to physical training and performance. The purpose of the study was to identify social, psychological, and organisational factors that are associated with the use of food supplements and hormones in young bodybuilders of the metropolitan area of Naples. Methods: 107 athletes, practicing bodybuilding, were consecutively recruited in 30 gyms, randomly selected in the metropolitan area of Naples. Athletes were administered an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 5 sections (socio-demographic, frequency and reasons for bodybuilding, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours). Descriptive statistics were performed using T-test and Chi-square statistics. A score was created for knowledge, attitudes, behaviours. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to assess association between each score and the use of DS and H. Statistical analyses were carried out using STATA 15. Results: 81.31% of the subjects reported to use DS while 35.51% H. Females are less likely to practise bodybuilding frequently than males (OR 0.18 (95% CI 0.05–0.69), p = 0.01). Subjects who have attended high school or university have a lower probability of taking DS (OR 0.17 (95% CI 0.04–0.65), p = 0.01). H users also use supplements more frequently (OR 61.21 (95% CI 3.99–939.31), p < 0.001). Those who scored higher on knowledge scores are more likely to take DS (OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.11–2.12), p < 0.001). Attitudes are correlated with the use of DS; those who scored higher were less likely to use DS (OR 0.77 (95% CI 0.30–0.98), p = 0.03). People who use DS are 30 times more likely to use H at the same time (OR 30.25 (95% CI 2.51–365.24), p < 0.001). Subjects who have a higher score for knowledge and attitudes are less likely to use H (OR 0.68 (95% CI 0.54–0.87), p < 0.001, OR 0.75 (95% CI 0.62–0.90), p < 0.001). Conclusions: Prevalence of H and DS’ use, although lower than reported in the literature, is a worrying public health problem. Better knowledge can lead to an informed use. Gym instructors should be trained to provide accurate and scientifically sound information. Health professionals should combine their expertise to provide more comprehensive guidance to the exercisers

Online analysis of breath by Proton Transfer Reaction Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in cirrhotic patients

Background & Aim: Being rapid and non-invasive, breath analysis is a promising diagnostic tool although difficulties related to data interpretation, reproducibility and sensibility have limited its application. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether a recently realized direct injection mass spectrometric technique (Proton Transfer Reaction Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry, PTR-ToF-MS) allows the direct and noninvasive diagnosis of cirrhosis as well as the assessment of the disease severity by direct analysis of exhaled breath. Methods: Twelve patients (M/F 8/4, mean age 70.5, range 42-80 years) with liver cirrhosis of different etiologies and status and 14 healthy subjects (M/F 5/9, mean age 52.3, range 35-77 years) were enrolled in the study. The etiology of cirrhosis was viral in 9 (8 HCV and 1 HBV) and metabolic in 3. The Child-Pugh class was A in 6 patients, B in 3, and C in the remaining 3 patients. Real time breath analysis was performed using a buffered end-tidal (BET) on-line sampler coupled to a PTR-ToF-MS. Spectra were acquired using the data acquisition software TOF-DAQ (Tofwerk AG, Switzerland) with a mass/charge range of 10–400 Th. The data were analyzed by non-parametric ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis test) using the Statistica 9.1 (StatSoft, USA) software. Results: Eight peaks resulted significantly different in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls: two related to ketones, (2-pentanone, C8-ketone), two to terpenes and four to sulfur compounds. Three peaks resulted significantly different between Child-Pugh A cirrhotic patients and Child-Pugh B+C cirrhotic patients and precisely: C8-ketone, a monoterpene and a NS-compound. Conclusion: In conclusion, real time analysis of breath allows to distinguish cirrhotic from healthy subjects and well compensated liver disease from more advanced liver stage. The proposed method can be used to identify the stage and severity of liver disease in real time with a safe and non-invasive procedur

Liquid biopsy as indication of tumour progression in lung cancer: A potential intervention in tertiary prevention

In the era of personalised therapies, liquid biopsy is considered an important diagnostic tool in the clinical management of cancer patients. Tissue specimen represents the gold standard for molecular evaluation of specific gene targets alterations that lead cancer patients to benefit of a “tailed therapy” based on molecular features of the tumour. This innovative source of nucleic acids was introduced in clinical set-ting only for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to test epidermal grow factor receptor (EGFR) mutations when tissue is not available for a number of reasons (difficult ac-cess to the lesion, the presence of other disabling pathologies, especially in elderly patients, rejection by the patient, etcetera) or to monitor acquired resistance mutation after a first line of treatment. The present study aimed at assessing the diagnostic potential of liquid biopsy in balanced tertiary screening modelling. The cases relating to 5 years of activity regarding to molecular diagnostics performed on liquid biopsy specimens in the Predictive diagnostic laboratory of the University hospital “Federico II” of Naples (Campania Region, Southern Italy) were reviewed. Laboratory data were collected through the software SPSS. Non-parametric analysis was performed in order to test the differences between “wild type” patients or not. A multivariate logistic model was performed in order to assess the effect of mutation, age, and gender on the tumour progression. The results of the revision concern 515 total cases (almost of all plasma or peripheral blood), which allowed to evaluate the liquid biopsies for women and men. The average age of the patients is 66.3 years, and the 25° percentile is 59 years. The cases are: 221 basal and 294 by progression. The cases with mutation, as expected, have an odds ratio of 4,15, compared to the basal, to have a tumour progression (95%IC 2,7-6,3), regardless of gender and age. The detected mutations were 131 from different types of pulmonary carcinomas. Working on case data, specifying the characteristics of the patients with mutations will drive a further estimate in tertiary prevention screening designs

Knowledge and beliefs on vaccines among a sample of Italian pregnant women. Results from the NAVIDAD study

BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy is an emerging phenomenon in European countries and leads to decreasing trends in infant vaccine coverage. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of confidence and correct awareness about immunizations, which are crucial for the success of vaccination programmes. METHODS: As part of the NAVIDAD multicentre study, we examined vaccination confidence and complacency among a sample of 1820 pregnant women from 14 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee's knowledge, beliefs and misconceptions, as well as their socioeconomic status, information sources about vaccines and confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service. RESULTS: Only 9% of women completely believed to the efficacy, necessity and safety of vaccinations. Almost 20% of them had misconceptions on most of the themes. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge considering educational level: women with a high educational level have less probability of obtaining a low knowledge score (odds ratio (OR) 0.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.54]). The level of knowledge was also influenced by the sources of information: women who received information from their general practitioner (GP) and from institutional websites had a significantly lower chance of having misconceptions (OR 0.74 [95% CI 0.58-0.96]; OR 0.59 [95% CI 0.46-0.74]). Finally, the results underlined the influence of trust in healthcare professional information on the likelihood of having misconceptions (OR 0.49 [95% CI 0.27-0.89]). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest the efficacy of GPs and institutional websites as a source of information to contrast misconceptions and underline the importance of confidence in the healthcare system to increase complacency and confidence in vaccines

Knowledge and beliefs on vaccines among a sample of Italian pregnant women: Results from the NAVIDAD study

none35noBackground: Vaccine hesitancy is an emerging phenomenon in European countries and leads to decreasing trends in infant vaccine coverage. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of confidence and correct awareness about immunizations, which are crucial for the success of vaccination programmes. Methods: As part of the NAVIDAD multicentre study, we examined vaccination confidence and complacency among a sample of 1820 pregnant women from 14 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee’s knowledge, beliefs and misconceptions, as well as their socioeconomic status, information sources about vaccines and confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service. Results: Only 9% of women completely believed to the efficacy, necessity and safety of vaccinations. Almost 20% of them had misconceptions on most of the themes. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge considering educational level: women with a high educational level have less probability of obtaining a low knowledge score (odds ratio (OR) 0.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34–0.54]). The level of knowledge was also influenced by the sources of information: women who received information from their general practitioner (GP) and from institutional websites had a significantly lower chance of having misconceptions (OR 0.74 [95% CI 0.58–0.96]; OR 0.59 [95% CI 0.46–0.74]). Finally, the results underlined the influence of trust in healthcare professional information on the likelihood of having misconceptions (OR 0.49 [95% CI 0.27–0.89]). Conclusions: The data suggest the efficacy of GPs and institutional websites as a source of information to contrast misconceptions and underline the importance of confidence in the healthcare system to increase complacency and confidence in vaccines.noneBert F.; Olivero E.; Rossello P.; Gualano M.R.; Castaldi S.; Damiani G.; D'Errico M.M.; Di Giovanni P.; Fantini M.P.; Fabiani L.; Gabutti G.; Loperto I.; Marranzano M.; Masanotti G.; Nante N.; Rosso A.; Squeri R.; Signorelli C.; Siliquini R.; Alfano R.; Buttinelli E.; Cappadona R.; D'Agati P.; Genovese C.; Giubbini G.; Giuliani A.R.; Golfera M.; Gori D.; Di Martino G.; Massimi A.; Odone A.; Quattrocolo F.; Stracci F.; Voglino G.; Zocco G.Bert, F.; Olivero, E.; Rossello, P.; Gualano, M. R.; Castaldi, S.; Damiani, G.; D'Errico, M. M.; Di Giovanni, P.; Fantini, M. P.; Fabiani, L.; Gabutti, G.; Loperto, I.; Marranzano, M.; Masanotti, G.; Nante, N.; Rosso, A.; Squeri, R.; Signorelli, C.; Siliquini, R.; Alfano, R.; Buttinelli, E.; Cappadona, R.; D'Agati, P.; Genovese, C.; Giubbini, G.; Giuliani, A. R.; Golfera, M.; Gori, D.; Di Martino, G.; Massimi, A.; Odone, A.; Quattrocolo, F.; Stracci, F.; Voglino, G.; Zocco, G