Self-reported genital warts among sexually-active university students: A cross-sectional study

Background: Genital warts are one of the most common forms of sexually-transmitted disease, but their epidemiology has yet to be thoroughly elucidated. The present study was designed to shed light on the prevalence of clinically-confirmed, self-reported genital warts (GWs) in a representative sample of the university population. Methods: In 2015, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 11,096 individuals approached at the Students Information Bureau where they came to enroll for a university degree course. Participants completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire providing information on their sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behavior, and any history of clinically-diagnosed genital warts. Multivariate logistic regression was then used to identify any factors associated with the disease. Results: Our analysis was conducted on 9259 questionnaires (83.4%). Participants were a mean 21.8 +/- 4.8 years of age, and 59.6% were female. Overall, 124 individuals (1.3%, 95%CI: 1.0-1.6) reported having been diagnosed with genital warts: 48 men (1.3%, 95%CI: 0.9-1.6), and 76 women (1.4% 95%CI: 1.1-1.7). Overall, 22.5% of the sample were vaccinated (1.3% of the males and 36.8% of the females). The group of respondents aged 30 years or more had the highest incidence of genital warts (males: 5.6%, 95%CI: 2.5-8.6; females: 6.9%, 95%CI: 3.4-10.4). The independent risk factors associated with a history of disease were (for both genders) a history of other sexually-transmitted diseases, and >= 2 sex partners in the previous 24 months. A protective role emerged for routine condom use. Additional risk factors associated with genital warts in males concerned men who have sex with men, bisexuality vis-a-vis heterosexuality, and smoking. Conclusions: The findings emerging from our study help to further clarify the epidemiology of genital warts in young people, and may be useful to public health decision-makers. This study showed that genital warts occur in men as well as women, and suggests that both genders should be monitored for this disease to ascertain the effects of the free HPV vaccination offered to all girls in the Veneto in their 12th year of life since 2008, and to all boys of the same age since 2015

Prevalence of alcohol and drugs in urine of patients involved in road accidents

Objective. Road injuries are the leading injury-related cause of death among people aged 15-44. A clear dose-effect relationship has been demonstrated for drug and alcohol use and road traffic accidents. The objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of drug and/or alcohol use in subjects admitted for road traffic accidents to an Emergency Department. Methods. In this study, conducted between January and April 2006, 100 patients of both sexes (age 18-65) examined after road traffic accidents were consecutively enrolled. A commercial rapid urine test was used to detect drugs by the Emergency Department staff. The alcohol concentration was determined from a blood sample at the central laboratory. Results. Most of the patients were drivers under 35 years of age. 67/100 road traffic accidents occurred at the weekend (Friday- Sunday), nearly 60% between 24:00-09:00 hrs; on non-weekend days about 80% of road traffic accidents were recorded between 14:00-24:00 hrs (p inf. 0.0001). With the alcoholemia test and urine test for drugs detection 43/100 patients showed a single or multiple positivity. Alcohol and drug presence is relevant during the weekend (37/43 cases), in contrast with non weekend (6/43 cases) [OR 3.04 (95% CI 1.43; 6.46)]. Alcohol was the most frequently detected abuse substance (72%), followed by benzodiazepines (42%), tetrahydrocannabinol (21%) and cocaine (14%). Discussion. 43% of patients examined were under the influence of psychotropic substances (alcohol, drugs or both). The greater part of road traffic accidents in positive test patients occurred during the week-end, in particular during the late night/early morning hours, probably after recreational time. The high incidence of alcohol and/or drug abuse may have caused physical and/or psychological problems, therefore the high number of road traffic accidents, especially if taken in combination. Conclusion. The rapid urine test used cannot represent a diagnosis, and requires a confirmation test. It can be used for medical purposes as an easy and fast preliminary response which enables a faster diagnostic and therapeutic guideline, but it cannot be used for sanctions. Further studies are advisable with an increase of number of patients, in a wider temporal range, including control subjects, and using confirmation tests

Piercing and tatooing in high school students of Veneto region: prevalence and perception of infectious releated risk

Introduction. Body piercing (P) and tattoo (T) is a growing social phenomenon over recent years. Nowadays in Italy little is known about the prevalence, the attitude, the medical and social conse- quences of these activities. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence distribution and the attitude towards P and T and the perception of the risk for infections, in a sample of high school students living in the four Provinces of the Veneto Region (Italy). Methods. An anonymous, self administrate multiple-choice questionnaire about piercing and tattoo practices was dis- tributed during the 2009-2010 academic year to a sample of randomly extracted grades to obtain information about socio- demographic characteristics, family educational level, personal attitude, prevalence and perception of the importance of the sanitary, technical and artistic competence of the operator. Results. The correctly compiled questionnaires were 2712 (95.4%). Males and females were respectively 46.2% and 53.8% (mean age 17 ± 1.7 years). The 20.2% and the 6.4% of all the students had already experienced respectively P and T and resulted ?very interested? the 46.7% to P and the 57.4% to T. Esthetical motivations are the main ones referred to use body art. The most part of interviewed subjects (81.6%) think that it is possible to have an infection, but only about 50% of stu- dents reported to know specific information about transmission of HIV, Viral Hepatitis and skin infections. The parents? educa- tional levels do not influence the perception of the risk of infec- tion. The majority of interviewed subjects (88.0%) prefers to undergo body art practices in a qualified center. Only the 30% of students recur to a medical help to solve problem of infection. Discussion. The piercing and tattoo prevalence rate in our study (P: 20.2% and T:6.4%) resulted similar to other Italian ones (range reported: P: 20.3-35.1%, T: 4.8-8.6%), showing an increasing trend with age. Since a high rate of interviewed students referred a substan- tial ignorance about the risk of transmission of body art related infectious diseases, it is suitable to promote as soon as possible among the youth educational interventions and counseling

The impact of acute intoxications in a toxicological unit care in North East Italy

Retrospective study in a Toxicological Unit Care (TUC) performed to know the epidemiology of acute intoxication (AI) in Verona (Italy) during years 2008-2009. All data regarding patients with a diagnosis of certain/suspected AI were collected and evaluated: some demographic information, the characteristics of the agent involved, the pattern of exposure, the triage at the admission to TUC and the outcome. 244 cases were analyzed: 45.9% males and 54.9% females, mean age respectively 45.1 and 43.9 years. The monthly distribution of admitted patients resulted fairly constant, except from a light rising prevalence in autumn, with a majority of yellow (45.9%) and green (43.4%) triage code. The pattern of exposure resulted: ingestion (82.7% of cases; age peaks: 18-34 and 35-51 years old; mostly due to food (as mushrooms), drinks, detergents, soap, pharmaceutical, drugs of abuse, caustics substances), contact (10.2% of cases; age peak 18-51) and inhalation (6.9% of cases). In 17.2% of cases the poisoning exposure was intentional. In 63.5% the patients were sent to their general practitioners (45.5% of the yellow and 81.1% of the green coded patients) and in 22.1% of cases they were admitted to clinical rooms (44.6% of the yellow coded patients). In most cases the triage code assigned to the studied patients resulted yellow and green. Considering that the seriousness of the symptoms can appear after several hours from the exposure to toxic substances, a quick and specific intervention to obtain the best therapeutical effectiveness is suitable, in order to save lives or to avoid irremediable health damages

Prevalence of acute alcohol intoxication in Borgo Trento Hospital Emergency Department (Verona).

Introduction: Alcohol is an important factor weighting towards global disease burden, premature death and Disability-Adjusted Life Years. This study examines the burden imposed on the Borgo Trento Verona Hospital Emergency Department (ED) by patients with acute alcohol intoxication (AAI).Methods: A 6-year retrospective study was performed by reviewing medical records in all patients (≥16 years old) diagnosed with AAI. Clinical criteria for inclusion in the sample followed those defined in the Alcohol Intoxication Symptomsâ section of DSM-IV-TR. Ambiguous cases presenting traumas potentially related to AAI were confirmed positive using a Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) test before inclusion in the sample. Socio-demographic data, case history, timing of admission/discharge and outcome were collected for each patient.Results: One thousand five hundred forty-seven patients (males:females = 6.6:1) were included in the study. With regard to marital status, the crude rate within the sample shows that single and married subjects have a significantly higher prevalence (p<0.01). When demographic data of residents was taken into consideration, divorced/separated and single categories were significantly more represented (p<0.05).The admissions appeared fairly constant throughout the week with a higher prevalence of patients aged between 25-55 years, and a significant peak of the youngest age class on weekends. Higher rates of admission were recorded during the late afternoon and night.The triage code of admission appeared uniformly distributed along the week, with the highest prevalence of green code (67.7%), followed by yellow one (25.8%). The analysis of clinical symptoms and BAL highlights that moderate clinical severity concerns almost 50%, and clinically critical severity the 6.6% of cases of access.Admissions rates of foreign patients resulted to be 3 times higher compared to those of natives when adjusted to demographic data.Discussion: Social disadvantages such as foreign provenance and social difficulties as unemployment, low money intake, perception of loneliness, and dysfunction in family life were frequently identified in the sample. An exception was found within the youngest age group, where the AAI are mostly related to alcohol abuse during social outings over the weekend.EDs play a crucial role in helping patients with AAI, but prevention of alcohol abuse though implementation of social and sanitary health policies on all ages (but especially among the youngest) is essential

Knowledge, attitudes and practices about vaccination in Trentino, Italy in 2019

Vaccination is among the most important areas of progress in the worldwide history of public health. However, a crescent wave of anti-vaccine groups has grown in Western countries, especially in Italy, in the last two decades. Our aim was to evaluate adult's hesitancy and knowledge about vaccines and related diseases in Trentino-Alto Adige -the Italian region with the lowest vaccination coverages

Immunogenicity of Three Different Influenza Vaccines against Homologous and Heterologous Strains in Nursing Home Elderly Residents

We studied whether MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine improves immunity against drifted influenza strains in institutionalised elderly with underling chronic health conditions. Sera from a randomized study, comparing MF59-adjuvanted (Sub/MF59, n = 72), virosomal (SVV, n = 39), and split (n = 88) vaccines, were retested using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay against homologous (Northern Hemisphere [NH] 1998/99) and drifted (NH 2006/07) strains. Corrected postvaccination HI antibody titres were significantly higher with Sub/MF59 than SVV for all strains; GMTs against homologous A/H3N2 and B and both drifted A strains were significantly higher for Sub/MF59 than split. Seroprotection rates and mean-fold titer increases were generally higher with Sub/MF59 for all A influenza strains. MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine induced greater and broader immune responses in elderly people with chronic conditions, than conventional virosomal and split vaccines, particularly for A/H1 and A/H3 strains, potentially giving clinical benefit in seasons where antigenic mismatch occurs

Epidemiology of domestic injuries. A survey in an emergency department in North-East Italy

Introduction. Home injuries (HI) represent a social and pub- lic health problem worldwide. In Italy, there are 1,300,000- 1,700,000 admissions to Emergency Department (ED) for HI and 130,000 hospitalizations every year, but the data are incomplete and fragmentary. A study of the phenomenon was carried out in Emergency Department (ED) of Civil Hospital of Verona to evaluate prevalence, characteristics and possible preventive actions. Methods. In 2007, 3120 admission for HI have been registered at the ED of the Civil Hospital of Verona. The distribution was calculated in relation to sex, age, month, code of urgency, out- comes, type and location of trauma. Results. Children in pre-school age, men between 30 and 40 years and women over 60 years are the population groups most at risk, with a fairly homogeneous incidence distribution. Both sexes have similar distributions up to 41-50 years followed by an increase in females and a decrease in males at higher age. The traumas are generally slight (49.8% white code and 42.1% green code) and the hospitalizations represent 5.7% of all recorded HI. The most frequent injuries are wounds/abrasions (28.7%), contusions/crushing (27.7%) and fractures/distortions/ dislocations. The most affected body parts are hands and wrists (25.9%). Head trauma is significantly more frequent in children and elderly people, fracture in elderly people, and burn in adult women and male children. Every year about 30% of the admissions to emergency depart- ments are caused by HI. Even though 92% of the times the events aren?t serious, the sanitary cost is consistent due to the elevate number of admissions. It is therefore important to do prevention through sanitary education and adequate building legislation

Immunity to poliovirus among children and the elderly in north-east Italy

Introduction. Italy and Europe were declared polio-free in June 2002, but increasing migration, even from undeveloped countries where polio still exists, may lead to a come-back of circulating poliovirus (PV) and infection in previously polio-free areas. It is consequently advisable to continue to monitor the immunity of the population in polio-free areas. The aim of this study was to assess the current prevalence of neutralizing antibodies in recently-immunized children and in elderly people who were never vaccinated. Methods. Sera from 511 healthy subjects resident in the Veneto Region were examined to assay their antibody titer for PV 1, 2 and 3, using the microneutralization test. Data were analyzed by chi-squared test, Student?s t-test and linear regression analysis, using EPI-Info 2000 supplied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA, USA). Results. Neutralizing antibodies in group A (231 subjects aged 1-17 years) showed significantly higher geometric mean titers (GMTs) than in group B (280 subjects aged 65-100 years) for all three PV serotypes (P : 0.001). Nobody simultaneously lacked neutralizing antibodies for all three serotypes. There were no difference between the two groups in terms of male/female GMTs for the three PV. Antibodies decreased with time since vaccination, but the difference was only significant for PV 3. GMTs were lower in the elderly, with no significant difference among the three PV. Discussion. The population examined showed a good level of protection against the three PV strains: both groups A (vaccinated) and B (naturally immunized) revealed a valid immunity to poliovirus. Conclusion. Immunization programs and immunity status population screening are still advisable until polio has been worldwide eradicated

Brain doping: stimulants use and misuse among a sample of Italian college students

Introduction. The non-medical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) has become of great interest for its diffusion among university students, engaged in NUMPS to cope with the increasing load of academic stress. This consumption has been more throughoutly investigated in the U.S. due to its increasing trend. However, NMUPS has been reported also in Europe. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine stimulants misuse in an Italian area, identifying possible developments of the phenomenon in Italy.Methods.To evaluate academic and extra-academic NMUPS (Methylphenidate and Amphetamines), an anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire was administrated to a representative sample of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees students attending a University of North of Italy.Data elaboration and Confidence Interval 95% were performed with Excel software 2013, while Fisher's exact tests with GraphPad INSTAT software.Results. Data from 899 correctly compiled questionnaires were analyzed in this study.11.3% of students reported NMUPS with an apparent greater use by students aged 18-22 years (73.5%) and without any gender predominance (p: n.s.). 57,8% of students used stimulants at most five times in six months, while the most frequent academic and extra-academic motives for use were respectively to improve concentration while studying (51.0%) and sports performance (25.5%). NMUPS was higher among working students than non-working ones (p <0.05), suggesting a stimulants use to cope with stress by the first ones.Conclusion. These data suggest that NMUPS is quite relevant in the North of Italy, requiring preventive and monitoring measures, besides future analysis with a longitudinal multicenter study