Vittoria Colamesta

Seasonality of food groups and total energy intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background/Objectives:The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effect of season on food intake from selected food groups and on energy intake in adults.Subjects/Methods:The search process was based on selecting publications listed in the following: Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Agris. Food frequency questionnaires, 24-h dietary recalls and food records as methods for assessment of dietary intake were used to assess changes in the consumption of 11 food groups and of energy intake across seasons. A meta-analysis was performed.Results:Twenty-six studies were included. Articles were divided into those reporting data on four seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn) or on two seasons (pre-and post-harvest). Four of the studies could be utilized for meta-analysis describing changes in food consumption across four season scheme: from winter to spring fruits decreased, whereas vegetables, eggs and alcoholic beverages increased; from spring to summer vegetable consumption further increased and cereals decreased; from summer to autumn fruits and cereals increased and vegetables, meat, eggs and alcoholic beverages decreased; from autumn to winter cereals decreased. A significant association was also found between energy intake and season, for 13 studies reporting energy intake across four seasons (favors winter) and for eight studies across pre- and post-harvest seasons (favors post-harvest).Conclusions:The winter or the post-harvest season is associated with increased energy intake. The intake of fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, cereals and alcoholic beverages is following a seasonal consumption pattern and at least for these foods season is determinant of intake.

Is the adjuvanted influenza vaccine more effective than the trivalent inactivated vaccine in the elderly population? Results of a case–control study

INTRODUCTION Influenza illness is an important public health problem and annual vaccination is globally recommended for high risk populations. OBJECTIVE The aim was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of influenza vaccines in reducing hospitalizations for influenza or pneumonia during two influenza seasons in the elderly. METHODS A case-control study was performed, using administrative database of the Local Health Unit Roma-A (LHU RM-A). The included subjects were at least 65 years old and residing in one of the four districts of the LHU. The cases were hospitalized for influenza or pneumonia during influenza season in the years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. The controls were hospitalized in the same period, but not for influenza or pneumonia. The subjects were immunized with the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) in the first influenza season (2010-2011) and with the adjuvanted influenza vaccine MF59 (ATIV) in the second season (2011-2012). RESULTS A total of 269 cases and 1247 controls were included for the 2010-2011 influenza season, and 365 cases and 1227 controls were selected for the 2011-2012 season. Up to 63.6% cases and 53.5% controls in the 2010-2011 season and 78.6% of cases and 64.1% of controls in the 2011-2012 season have not been vaccinated. Female gender and high educational level were protective factors for hospitalization. Subjects over 75 years were at high risk of hospitalization compared to 65-74 years olds. Influenza vaccination reduced significantly hospitalization in both seasons. In subjects with 65-74 years TIV was more effective than ATIV; vice versa for those over 75 years old. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION TIV and ATIV reduce hospitalization for influenza or pneumonia with a variable degree of protection in different age groups. In particular, ATIV is more effective in individuals over 75 years old.

Demographic Characteristics, Nicotine Dependence, and Motivation to Quit as Possible Determinants of Smoking Behaviors and Acceptability of Shocking Warnings in Italy

Introduction. This paper presents the final results of a cross-sectional study started in 2010. It compares the perceived efficacy of different types of tobacco health warning (texts versus shocking pictures) to quit or reduce tobacco use. Methods. The study conducted between 2010 and 2012 in Italy enrolled adults smokers. Administering a questionnaire demographic data, smokers behaviors were collected. Showing text and graphic warnings (the corpse of a smoker, diseased lungs, etc.) the most perceived efficacy to reduce tobacco consumption or to encourage was quit. Results. 666 subjects were interviewed; 6% of responders referred that they stopped smoking at least one month due to the textual warnings. The 81% of the smokers perceived that the warnings with shocking pictures are more effective in reducing/quitting tobacco consumption than text-only warnings. The younger group (<45 years), who are more motivated to quit (Mondors score ≥ 12), and females showed a higher effectiveness of shocking warnings to reduce tobacco consumption of, 76%, 78%, and 43%, respectively with P < 0.05. Conclusions. This study suggests that pictorial warnings on cigarette packages are more likely to be noticed and rated as effective by Italian smokers. Female and younger smokers appear to be more involved by shock images. The jarring warnings also appear to be supporting those who want to quit smoking. This type of supportive information in Italy may become increasingly important for helping smokers to change their behavior.

Economic evaluation of HBV vaccination: A systematic review of recent publications (2000-2013).

ABSTRACT Aim: To conduct a systematic review of the economic evaluations (EE) of HBV vaccination, taking also into account the studies published in the new millennium.Methods: An extensive scientific literature review was conducted using two electronic medical journal databases: Scopus and PubMed engines for published studies on EE of HBV vaccination.Results: 22 articles were reviewed, 9, 5 and 8 cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit and cost-utility analysis, respectively. Studies were mainly concerning EE of universal vaccination (UV), mostly with regards to low or low-medium income countries. For high income countries, EE were focused on the possible implementation of HBV vaccination in particular settings, such as diabetic, renal and other chronic conditions care, as well as infectious diseasesUV has usually a very good cost-effectiveness ratio (80%), ranging from cost-saving (China) or few Euro per LY/QALY gained (in Thailand, and Vietnam) to 630.00

From directive to practice: are pictorial warnings and plain packaging effective to reduce the tobacco addiction?

/QALY in USA (Asian and Pacific Islands) Moreover, EE of HBV vaccination are favorable in the infectious diseases field as well as for chronic conditions. In relation to diabetes the studies gave controversial results.Conclusion: This systematic review highlighted the importance of introducing HBV vaccination not only for infant UV program but also for other settings in which patients are people affected by communicable and non-communicable diseases.

What is the impact of reporting guidelines on Public Health journals in Europe? The case of STROBE, CONSORT and PRISMA

OBJECTIVES Tobacco packaging represents an important form of promotion of tobacco products and for this reason plain packaging (PP) can be considered an additional tobacco control measure. In Italy the current tobacco packaging is branded with textual warnings. The study investigated the perception of PP with textual warnings (PPTWs) and pictorial warnings (PPPWs) in Italy. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. METHODS The study was conducted on adults who were current, never and former smokers. The participants watched out three types of packages (current packaging, PPTWs and PPPWs) and eight pictorial warnings, and indicated which they considered the most effective ones to motivate smoking cessation or reduction and to prevent the onset. RESULTS 1065 subjects were recruited. The PPPWs were considered the most effective in motivating to quit, reduce and prevent the smoking habits (ranged 83.4%-96.1%) in all tobacco users and age groups (≤40/>40 years) (P < 0.005). In general PP does not seem to be very effective in quitting for three-quarters of the smokers and 60% declared that they would have still started smoking with PP. The younger group believed less than the older one that PP gives a motivation to quit (29.4% vs 39.1%, P = 0.002). The pictures perceived as most effective in communicating the smoking effects were lung cancer and gangrene (about one-third of the sample). CONCLUSIONS The textual warnings on tobacco products are a measure of control now outdated. Countries still using them should consider the idea of replace them with pictorial warnings that seem to be more effective. It is also desirable in the near future that these countries introduce the PPPWs.

Do the smoking intensity and duration, the years since quitting, the methodological quality and the year of publication of the studies affect the results of the meta-analysis on cigarette smoking and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in adults?

BACKGROUND The aim was to evaluate the use of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses), CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) and STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) methods in reviews, clinical trials and observational studies, respectively, which were published in European journals within the field of Public Health (PH). METHODS Papers published between 2010 and 2013 in seven PH journals were evaluated. The presence of the words PRISMA, STROBE and CONSORT was considered in the search criteria. RESULTS In total, 2355 of 3456 retrieved articles were included: 1.5% appeared to follow the guidelines. The boundaries within which the criteria were applied are 0-100% for CONSORT, 0-0.6% for STROBE and 0-37% for PRISMA. CONCLUSIONS A strong heterogeneity in the application of guideline statements was observed. A common agreement among journals regarding research-reporting methodologies could improve the quality of PH research publishing.

How are the temporary workers? Quality of life and burn-out in a call center temporary employment in Italy: a pilot observational study

BACKGROUND The aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship between tobacco smoking and the onset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults. METHODS PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched. In the meta-analysis, random or fixed effects models were used according to the presence of heterogeneity. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS Twenty-seven articles were included. Case-control and cohort meta-analyses show that current, ever and former smokers have a significant increased risk to develop AML compared to never smokers [current: OR=1.36 (1.11-1.66) and RR=1.52 (1.10-2.14); ever: OR=1.25 (1.14-1.38) and RR=1.45 (1.10-1.90); former: OR=1.21 (1.03-1.41) and RR=1.45 (1.08-1.94)]. Moreover, increasing smoking intensity and duration is associated with an increase of the risk, OR shift from 1.14 (1-20 pack/years) to 2.36 (>40 pack/years). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Smoking may have a significant role in AML onset in a multistep pathogenesis.

Reliability of the telephone-administered International Physical Activity Questionnaire in an Italian pilot sample

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to quantify the level of health related quality of life and burnout in a call centers sample of precarious workers. METHODS An observational study was carried out in Italy. A self-reported anonymous questionnaire was administered to temporary workers in order to estimate burn-out and quality of life levels. RESULTS 227 questionnaires were collected. 78% of the sample was female and the mean age was 35.48 years (SD=9.91). Among the participants, 40% were smokers, 42% regularly drinkers, 65% changed the body weight (more than 5 kg, in 1 year). The mental component score (MCS) was significantly better in subject that have a regularly life style, for example in those no change their body weight (p=0.001), sleep more than 7 hours (p=0.018) and followed a diet (p=0.035). The DP (depersonalization) is significant higher in former smokers (p=0.031), in underweight subjects (p=0.025) and in the group that have a precarious employment of over 2 years (p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS This investigation shows that in this particular category of atypical workers depressive symptoms and quality of life were lower than the general population. It is important to underline that the interpretation of the results is limited partly by the observational character of the study.

Gender differences in reaching top roles in banking: a cross-sectional study performed by bankers work in province of Pisa

Background: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is an instrument for crossnational monitoring of physical activity and inactivity. The aim of the study was the reliability evaluation of the Italian telephone-administered IPAQ version in Rome. Methods: the IPAQ short form (IPAQ-SF), consisting of 7 items, was administered. The responses, used to compute Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET in minutes per week), were processed to analyze the internal consistency. Standardized Cronbach’s alpha was used for reliability estimation. Results: a total of 133 adults (51 males and 82 females) participated in the study, with a mean age of 51 years (SD=19). The mean MET was 4 130, corresponding to good physical activity levels. The standardized Cronbach’s alpha on 6 items, concerning time spent on vigorous and moderate activity and walking, was 0.614. Conclusions: according to the findings from other countries, the Italian IPAQ-SF has acceptable measurement properties, as good as other established self-reports. The IPAQ-SF has a questionable reliability as previously reported, but the results of the present pilot study are promising and suggest that these instruments can be used to compare population estimates of physical activity.