Giuseppe La Torre

Overweight and Obesity among secondary school children in Central Italy.

Childhood and adolescent obesity prevalence rates have steadily increased in industrialised countries in the last 20 years. Current rates of obesity range between 6 and 30%. Several studies showed that risk factors for weight gain in school age are strongly linked to low physical activity and family environmental factors (parents education and job, number of family members, number of hours spent on watching television, etc.). In order to plan a nutritional and health educational programme, a study was conducted on the nutritional status of the school age population of the Province of Frosinone, Central Italy, and family factors that can influence it. Three percentage of the school age population of the Province of Frosinone (2053 students) and their families were randomly sampled from the Province school district database. In each of the 12 recruited schools, a meeting with teachers and students was arranged to discuss aims and methods of research and to collect informed consent by students. Each student was interviewed about physical activity, and underwent the following measurements: height, weight, bicipital, tricipital, sub-scapular and over-iliacal skinfolds, sexual development. Students parents were asked to answer a questionnaire about family structure, parents educational level and job, parents height and weight, presence in the family of pathologies as hypertension or diabetes. One thousand three hundred fifty-seven students (66% of the target population) and 1802 parents (66.5% of the responders population) agreed to enter the study. Students age range was 8 years (11–19 years; mean age was 14.9, SD, 2.55). Among them 8.4% were considered obese, with a higher prevalence in male population (9.8%) as compared to female population (6.5%). Of these responders, 21.4 % were considered at risk of overweight with no statistical difference due to gender. Statistically significant correlations of teenagers risk of overweight and obesity with nutritional conditions of parents, mothers educational level and amount of weekly physical activity were observed. Number of children in the family, parents age and job do not appear to be correlated to obesity or risk of overweight. Our results show that, although the prevalence of obesity in the students population in the Province of Frosinone is comparable to other Italian Provinces and lower than other industrialised countries such as USA, the percentage of students at risk of overweight is particularly high. Main risk factors for developing obesity seem to be linked to parents nutritional conditions, mothers educational level and childrens physical inactivity and this should lead to intensify efforts for preventive interventions both at family level (focused on parents) and at school.

Tension-free Laparoscopic and Open Hernia Repair: Randomized Controlled Trial of Early Results

Abstract. The aim of the study was prospectively to compare the early results and outcome in 105 patients randomly allocated to undergo tension-free laparoscopic hernia repair (LHR) with transabdominal preperitoneal technique (53 patients) or open hernia repair (OHR) with mesh apposition (52 patients). The mean (SD) operation time was longer in the LHR group than in the OHR group: 49.6 (5.4) versus 33.9 (6.2) minutes; p < 0.001. One laparoscopic case was converted to open repair to deal with a hemorrhage from an aberrant obturatory artery at the level of Coopers ligament. Groin discomfort or pain was the most common complication after both procedures. The patients requiring none, one, two, or more than two doses of intramuscular diclofenac were, respectively, 40.4%, 40.4%, 15.4%, and 3.8% after LHR and 50.0%, 30.8%, 17.3%, and 1.9% after OHR (p= 0.69; NS). The mean ± SEM (range) postoperative visual analog scale score, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable), was 3.1 ± 0.2 (1–7) in the LHR subset and 2.7 ± 0.2 (1–5) in the OHR group (p= 0.14; NS); on the second postoperative day the score was 2.3 ± 0.2 (1–6) and 1.8 ± 0.1 (1–4), respectively (p < 0.03). The time ± SEM (range) of resumption of pain-free normal activities and work was faster in OHR group: 6.1 ± 0.2 (4–8) weeks versus 6.5 ± 0.1 (4–8) weeks; p < 0.03. Our results showed that tension-free open hernia repair is superior to LHR in terms of postoperative pain with no important differences in recovery.

Knowledge, opinions and attitudes of Italian mothers towards HPV vaccination and Pap test.

Aim This study evaluated the knowledge and attitudes of Italian mothers – whose daughters had been vaccinated in 2012 – towards primary (anti-HPV vaccination) and secondary (Pap test screening) cervical cancer prevention, as well as sources of information and mother-daughter communication on health issues. Methods The survey – part of a multicenter study carried out in 4 Italian cities (Ferrara, Rome, Cassino and Palermo) – was conducted through self-administered questionnaires. The first univariate analysis evaluated differences between mothers of under-18s and over-18s relative to knowledge and attitudes on HPV vaccination and Pap test. The second univariate analysis evaluated differences between the 2 groups of mothers and possible geographical variations regarding the sources of information on HPV and Pap test. Results The sample proved knowledgeable about the correlation between HPV and cervical cancer (>85%) but less aware of other HPV-related diseases. HPV vaccination should be administered before first sexual intercourse according to mothers of over-18s, and to 14- to 17-year-olds according to mothers of under-18s. Up to 88% of mothers of under-18s and 80% of mothers of over-18s declared that the vaccine should be given free of charge. More mothers of under-18s consulted a general practitioner (GP) or gynecologist before deciding to vaccinate their daughters. Mothers of under-18s received information on HPV vaccination mainly from GPs and gynecologists, while mothers of over-18s were informed through TV and books/journals. Over 80% of the sample declared satisfaction with the information received from their gynecologist during the Pap test. Conclusions The findings provide useful information for the development of effective public health interventions that may help improve acceptance of HPV vaccination among mothers.