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Biomedical subjects

A Saba

Publications and source records attributed to A Saba.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Comparison of elicitation methods for moral and affective beliefs in the theory of planned behaviour.

Although the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) has been applied successfully in the area of food choice, it has been criticized for its pure utilitarian approach to the factors determining behaviour. Despite the increase in predictive power of the model with added components such as affective attitude and moral and ethical concerns, in most studies the elicitation process still only addresses people's utilitarian beliefs about the behaviour with little attention paid to other aspects. This study compares the traditional method of elicitation of advantages and disadvantages with two other methods (word association and open-ended) in the elicitations of beliefs, attitudes and moral concerns in relation to the consumption of organic foods. Results show the traditional method to be best for eliciting cognitive beliefs, open-ended emotion task for eliciting emotional beliefs and open-ended beliefs task best for moral concerns. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2004

Beliefs and attitudes towards the consumption of sugar-free products in a sample of Italian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate beliefs and attitudes towards sugar-free products in a sample of Italian teenagers. DESIGN: A total of 10 secondary public schools in the county of Rome were randomly selected. The probability of being extracted was set proportional to the number of students. A random sample of teenagers was selected from the schools for participating in a food consumption survey. SUBJECTS: The sample included 233 adolescents, aged 15-21 y. A total of 224 adolescents agreed to participate in the study aimed at assessing beliefs and attitudes. INTERVENTIONS: Two questionnaires were completed at the first day of the last period of the 4-day food survey. The first questionnaire contained questions on attitudes and beliefs toward a healthy diet. The second questionnaire, aimed at assessing adolescents' attitudes towards the consumption of sugar-free products, was based in part on the social-psychological model of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. RESULTS: In general, the adolescents of this sample seemed to be quite uncertain in their responses. On average, they did not express an emphatic point of view with regard to the act of eating sugar-free products. The results of the assessment of relationships between the variables of the theoretical model revealed the lack of causal links among beliefs, attitudes, intention and consumption of sugar-free products. Perceived behavioural control was not a significant predictor of intention. CONCLUSIONS: The target of further studies aimed at investigating attitudes towards sugar-free products should be tailored according to the quantity of consumption of such products in order to represent a sample of frequent and high consumers of sugar-free products. SPONSORSHIP: European Commission Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Fifth framework Programme. QLRT-1999-00155.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Determination of benzene at trace levels in air by a novel method based on solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A new method for the determination of benzene at trace levels in air is presented. The method consists of the collection of air samples on adsorbent cartridges with simultaneous adsorption of pre-established amounts of D6-labeled internal standard. Desorption from the cartridge is performed by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using an ion trap mass spectrometer. The influence of several parameters (type of SPME fiber, temperature, time, for example) was investigated, and good linearity in the range 10-400 ng of C6D6, with a coefficient of variance (CV) around 3-5%, was obtained. The method was tested by sampling air in a town center in Italy, and a benzene concentration of approximately 50 microg/m(3) was determined. The maximum limit recommended by the European Community is 10 microg/m(3).

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2001

Food consumption patterns in Italy: the INN-CA Study 1994-1996.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed at surveying the Italian food consumption patterns in the 90s. It represented the second nationwide food intake survey that was carried out by the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione (INRAN). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Free-living households. SUBJECTS: Sampled subjects: 1147 households randomly selected to be representative of the four main geographical areas (North-West, North-East, Centre, South). Analysed subjects: 1978 individuals out of 2734 initially collected in 15 Collaborative Centres strategically scattered through the national territory. METHODS: A mixed 7-day based survey technique was applied in order to survey both individual and household consumption. At individual level, food intake was recorded by a self-compiled diary. At household level food data collection was by compilation of a food inventory by the dietician, a purchased/wasted foods diary and a recipes form both compiled by the person responsible for food related activities (decision of purchase, purchase, preparation of meals) in the household. All recorded data were monitored by the dieticians who visited the households participating in the study, at least three times. Household members were interviewed in order to collect socio-demographic, lifestyle and motivational information. Furthermore, field-workers performed the food coding and the input of data by an ad hoc developed software. The survey design allowed an internal quantitative check of food data. Several check steps were centrally performed RESULTS: The complex methodology caused the 46.8% response rate and afterwards a reduction of the analysed units (72% of the surveyed individuals). However, the analysed sample provided sufficiently reliable data for outlining the most relevant aspects of dietary patterns in Italy. In order to better interpret the results, controversial aspects are also illustrated and discussed in the text. The disparity analysis found that traditional diversities among Italian regions are still alive. In general, males eat more than females. Analysis according to the age class (children: 1-9 years old; adolescents: 10-17; adults: 18-64; elderly: >64) showed differences especially between the group of children vs all the others, but also in the two groups of young individuals vs adults and the elderly, that could represent clues of an incorrect way of eating. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account the different methodology, the comparison with previous results showed changes in the Italian average diet complying with an increasing attention to healthy aspects by large sectors of the population, but also opposite tendencies that should be carefully monitored. SPONSORSHIP: Minister delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali (Mi.P.A.F.).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Identification and characterization of fenton oxidation products of surfactants by electrospray mass spectrometry and by solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry. 2. Fatty alcohol polyethoxy sulphates

The Fenton reaction for the degradation of surfactants has been investigated and partial degradation products have been identified and characterized by mass spectrometry for the case of fatty alcohol polyethoxy sulphates. The polar water-soluble products were investigated by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI), and the volatile products leaving the mixture during the reaction were trapped by means of solid phase microextraction (SPME) and investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with electron and chemical ionization. The oxidation leads to the formation of products with hydroxyl and epoxide groups due to insertion of oxygen atoms or with terminal ethoxylic moieties deriving from the loss of the hydrophilic sulphate group. The formation of volatile aldehydes is also observed, corresponding to the fragmentation between hydrocarbon and ethoxylic chains. The extent of mineralization is dependent on peroxide and iron(II) concentrations. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

The role of attitudes, intentions and habit in predicting actual consumption of fat containing foods in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore which were the most important predictors of the actual consumption of foods containing fat and to test if there were different profiles of beliefs and attitudes. DESIGN: A total of 1200 households participated in a food consumption survey for 7 days. A questionnaire, containing questions on belief, attitude and intention items based on Ajzen and Fishbein's model, was completed on the first day of the survey. SETTING: The study was conducted at the beginning of 1994 in Italy. SUBJECTS: In all, 860 subjects, randomly selected for each household participating in the food consumption survey, were included in this study. RESULTS: A cluster analysis based on average daily intake per capita of nine types of food containing fats was carried out on 860 subjects. The three clusters represented people with different criteria of preference for milk. The relationship between the variables was tested using the forward selection method in multiple regression. The attitude entered sequentially into the model assessing the intention of consuming, after the habit component. Habit was found to be the most the most important predictor of the actual consumption of each type of food. The intention entered into the equation as predictor of the consumption only for butter and olive oil. Habit has been found more important than intention in influencing the consumption of all types of food, whereas the intention did not enter into the model as determinant of the consumption with exception of butter and olive oil in which it remains as a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the cluster analysis suggested that subjects of cluster 1 might be more concerned about fat intake. The findings of the regressions showed that the subjective measure of habit entered in the model as the most important predictor of the actual consumption of each type of food. The low prediction of the actual consumption indicated that there could be other important variables influencing the consumption not included in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

A simple method for the extraction of volatile organic compounds contained in air samples from adsorbent materials by solid phase microextraction and their analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

The monitoring of air pollution requires simple, rapid and sensitive sampling and analytical techniques with minimal sample manipulation that are usable for routine analyses. In our laboratories we have developed a method for the analysis of air samples collected by adsorbent cartridges based on solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We investigated the influence of some variables (time and temperature) using toluene as analyte (one of the most common air pollutants) and toluene-d(8) on the SPME extraction, and the sensitivity (LOQ) of the method. We then tested the method on an air sample collected in an industrial area and carried out characterisation of the volatile organic compounds present.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1999

Identification and characterization of fenton oxidation products of surfactants by ionspray mass spectrometry and solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry 1. Lauryl sulphate

The Fenton reaction for the degradation of surfactants has been investigated and partial degradation products have been identified and characterized by mass spectrometry for the case of lauryl sulphate. The polar soluble products were investigated by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI), and the volatile products leaving the mixture during the reaction were trapped by means of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with electron and chemical ionization. The oxidation leads to the formation of products with hydroxyl and epoxide groups due to insertion of oxygen atoms or to aldehydes derived from the loss of the hydrophilic sulphate group. The extent of mineralization is dependent on peroxide and iron concentrations. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Attitudes towards food containing fats in subjects of different body size.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at verifying the hypothesis that individuals belonging to different classes of BMI could show diversities in attitudes and beliefs toward the consumption of food containing fat within the Fishbein and Ajzen framework. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Nine hundred and seventy-five families out of 1200 participated in a study aimed at assessing attitudes towards the consumption of foods containing fats. Only subjects over 17 years of age with BMI values over 18.5 kg/m2 were included in the present study. The recruited families were asked to record their food consumption for 7 days according to a mixed technique including the weighed inventory method and the individual daily record of food consumption. Each individual also completed a questionnaire containing questions on belief, attitude and intention items based on Ajzen and Fishbein's model. All questions were related to the consumption of eight foods containing fats. RESULTS: The main finding was an absence of differences in attitudes and beliefs towards foods containing fats between the two groups of normal weight and overweight subjects, obtained by the regression analysis. The subjective measure of habit outweighed attitude in the impact on intention of consuming. Evidence of something to be further investigated comes from the first Principal Component that showed the cognitive 'Beliefs on gaining weight and getting fat' was the best summary of information in relation to the choice of red meat for the group of normal weight subjects, whereas the same belief was the best summary of information in relation to the choice of butter and cheese for the group of overweight subjects. CONCLUSION: Attitudes and beliefs play a similar role in the choice of foods containing fats in the two groups of people considered. Habit was found to be an important predictor of behaviour for both the two groups of subjects. With attempts to modify diet, habit may serve as a barrier to change. Thus, elucidating the roles played by these variables is crucial to developing effective future intervention strategies. However, the slight difference found in the cognitive belief on gaining weight and getting fat for red meat, butter and cheese suggests that further investigations on opinions about the role of certain foods will be useful.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Cyclic guanine monophosphate (cGMP) an intracellular mediator of cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation following penile vascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: We describe a new surgical method for treatment of male impotence. This procedure allows preservation of erectile tissues and avoids the need for implantable devices. It was demonstrated, that after this procedure sustained and reproducible erections were feasible. The role of cyclic guanine monophosphate (cGMP) in generation of erection following this procedure was studied. METHODS: Concentration of cGMP in erectile tissues was studied in the chronic canine experimental model. cGMP measurements were obtained using enzymeimmunoassay method. RESULTS: It was detected that the process of erection was accompanied with increased concentration of cGMP in the involved erectile structures (from 39.59 +/- 8.95 and 39.39 +/- 8.54 pm/g to 78.67 +/- 24.05 and 81.62 +/- 18.80 pm/g respectively with p = 0.0001). Concentration of cGMP did not change in the control (from 41.14 +/- 5.38 to 39.26 +/- 7.59 pm/g with p = 0.4568). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded, that proposed new surgical procedure causes erection not by simple distention of erectile tissue sinuses by arterial blood. Arterial blood inflow is accompanied by activation of intracellular mechanisms responsible for smooth muscle relaxation in erectile tissues. Normal values of cGMP concentration in canine erectile tissues are also reported.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Proposals and solutions for autonomy of the disabled and elderly.

The aim of this paper is to present DEFIE (Disabled and Elderly people Flexible Integrated Environment) a project of the CEC to develop a multimedia integrated system that allows the elderly and motor and/or sensory impaired to command and control domestic and working environments with a high degree of self-sufficiency and safety. The goal of this study has been to implement a precompetitive prototype of a modular system capable of satisfying the needs of a heterogeneous group of disabled and elderly users.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Laparoscopic appendectomy: a viable alternative approach.

Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is relatively a new technique and requires comparison to open appendectomy (OA) to determine the more favorable approach in the surgical management of acute appendicitis. We designed this study to compare the course and postoperative complications between LA and OA. We reviewed the charts of both groups of patients and followed their course in the hospital. Seventy-seven patients who underwent LA with one conversion to the open technique (1.3%) were compared to 84 patients who underwent OA. There was no difference in age and sex distribution. The mean hospital stay was shorter in the LA (32.5+/-10 vs 74.2+/-24 h, p < 0.0001). Parenteral analgesia requirement was higher in the OA group (4.7+/-1.4 vs 2.6+/-2, p < 0.0001). The total cost was higher in the OA group ($11,260+/-4000 vs 7,090+/-3500, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the OR time, duration of the procedure, and surgery costs between both groups. Normal appendices removed were similar in both OA and LA groups (23.8 vs 28.9%). There was no difference in the rates of postoperative complications between both groups. We conclude that LA is a viable alternative to OA. It is safe, cost effective, and less invasive than the OA with less pain and shorter hospital stay.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Definitions of 'healthy' eating: a pan-EU survey of consumer attitudes to food, nutrition and health.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the perceptions of a healthy diet across Europe and to explore the socio-cultural factors that influence these perceptions. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study in which quota-controlled, nationally-representative samples of approximately 1000 adults from each country completed a face-to-face interview-assisted questionnaire. SETTING: The survey was conducted between October 1995 and February 1996 in the 15 member states of the European Union. SUBJECTS: 14331 subjects (aged 15 y upwards) completed the questionnaire. Data were weighted by population size for each country and by sex, age and regional distribution within each member state. RESULTS: Responses were grouped into broad categories; overall 80% (specific country rates varied from 67-91%) of respondents mentioned either more fruit and vegetables or less fat, fatty foods, or a low fat diet, or balance and variety. The effects of age, gender and level of education were also explored: educational level appeared to have the strongest influence on perceptions of a healthy diet. Respondents who mentioned the family as a key influence on food choice, were more likely to mention eating more fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy diet. Respondents who stated that they did not have any source of information about diet were less likely to mention balance and variety or less fat or more vegetables. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that many people defined healthy eating in a way which would suggest that the healthy dietary guidelines are having some impact. The results also show, however, that there may be specific groups who are missed by current national campaigns, and that any European wide campaigns to change attitudes about healthy eating need to consider the baseline perception of healthy eating reported here.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Difficulties in trying to eat healthier: descriptive analysis of perceived barriers for healthy eating.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors which are perceived to be important barriers to healthy eating among European adults. DESIGN: A cross sectional study in which quota-controlled, nationally-representative samples of approximately 1000 adults from each country completed a face-to-face interview-assisted questionnaire. SETTING: The survey was conducted between October 1995 and February 1996 in the 15 member states of the European Union. SUBJECTS: 14,331 subjects (aged 15 y upwards) completed the questionnaire. Data were weighted by population size for each country and by sex, age and regional distribution within each member state. RESULTS: The study demonstrates a great variability in the perceived barriers to healthy eating between different EU countries. Lack of time was the most frequently mentioned difficulty among EU subjects for not following nutritional advice (24% of total EU sample). This barrier was frequently reported by the younger and the higher education people. Other frequently reported barriers were giving up favourite foods (23%) and willpower (18%). Thus healthy diets do not appear to be viewed as an easy or attractive alternative to current diets. There was wide geographical variation in the number of subjects mentioning price as an important barrier to healthy eating (15% in overall EU sample) ranging from less than 10% in Germany and Italy to 23% in the UK and 24% in Luxembourg.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Arteriovenous fistula combined with basal external penile compression: a new cure for male impotence.

We describe here a new procedure designed to enable reproducible sustained erection in a canine model. In 10 dogs, an end-to-side arteriovenous fistula was created between the inferior epigastric artery and deep dorsal vein. A chronic skin tunnel was created at the penile base. Blood flow, intracavernosal pressure and intraspongiosal pressure and blood gases were measured initially and 3 months later. Cuff application for 30 minutes was used daily. At 3 months, animals were sacrificed and biopsies obtained. Physiologic and histological parameters of erectile structures remained unchanged. Intracavernosal and intraspongiosal pressures increased to 33.7 +/- 6.7 mm Hg and 25.3 +/- 12.2 mm Hg (from 8.0 +/- 2.9 and 6.0 +/- 3.6 mm Hg) after cuff application. We conclude that sustained erections are feasible. This procedure appears safe for human trials.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1996

An ecological study of the correlation between diet and tumour mortality rates in Italy.

Cancer is said to be due to nutrition in 35 cases out of 100, ranging from 10 to 70% by sites. Saturated fats show a positive relationship with cancer, while vitamins, vegetables and cereals show a negative relation with it. This work was aimed at studying the relationship between nutrition and cancer in different Italian areas. Cancer mortality rates collected in 94 National Health units over the period 1980-82 have been correlated with the average food consumption of individuals registered in the same units. All the nutrient groups have shown evidence of a correlation between nutrient intake and mortality rates. Fats, animal proteins and saturated fatty acids showed the strongest positive correlations; vegetable proteins, fibre, carbohydrates, oleic acid, vitamins C and B1 gave negative correlations. Thus, it can be concluded that (a) this ecological analysis has confirmed previous hypotheses concerning the role of vegetables in cancer prevention and (b) the relation between nutrition and cancer mortality could be even stronger if applied to the whole population, since a 1-g increase in vegetable protein consumption would result in a reduction of 2.5 cases out of 100, a 1-g increase in fibre would result in a reduction of four cases out of 100 and a 1-g increase in animal fat would result in an increase of one case out of 100.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Increases in intra-abdominal pressure affect pulmonary compliance.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on pulmonary compliance and to determine an effective means to measure IAP. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: An urban tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-six adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Intra-operative management of laparoscopic cholecystectomy requiring endotracheal intubation with general anesthesia, nasogastric and urinary bladder catheters, and position changes. Additional interventions included use of a rectal manometer and a respiratory pressure module inserted within the ventilator circuit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation of changes in IAP with changes in dynamic pulmonary compliance, measured as tidal volume/(end inspiratory pressure--end expiratory pressure) and comparison of three different measurement techniques (bladder, rectal, and gastric) with a standard technique (insufflation pressure) in three different positions (supine, Trendelenburg's, and reverse Trendelenburg's). RESULTS: Compliance was significantly related to insufflation pressure (P < .001) by analysis of variance. In the gas insufflation model, the mean increment in bladder pressure reflected most closely the IAP increment in the supine position (5.7 vs 6 mm Hg) but not in the Trendelenburg (2.1 vs 6 mm Hg) and reverse Trendelenburg positions (3.4 vs 6 mm Hg). Rectal and gastric pressures were also position dependent and technically less reliable. CONCLUSIONS: Increased IAP has a major influence on pulmonary compliance (50% decrease at 16 mm Hg). Measurements of IAP by intraorgan manometry are position dependent and may not accurately reflect the intraperitoneal pressure.

Abdomen↗