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Biomedical subjects

F Lucchini

Publications and source records attributed to F Lucchini.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Worldwide patterns and trends in mortality from liver cirrhosis, 1955 to 1990.

Trends in mortality rates for liver cirrhosis between 1955 and 1990 have been analyzed for 38 countries (two from North America, six from Latin America, five from Asia, 23 from Europe, and Australia and New Zealand) on the basis of official death certification data derived from the World Health Organization database. Chile and Mexico had exceedingly high rates (around 60/100,000 males and 15/100,000 females in the late 1980s), while in Canada, the United States, and Latin American countries that provided data, cirrhosis death rates were between 5 and 17/100,000 males and 3 and 5/100,000 females over the same calendar period. The pattern of trends was, however, similar in all American countries, with some increase between the 1950s and the 1970s, and declines thereafter. A similar trend was observed in Japanese males, whose rate was 13.6 in 1990. Conversely, cirrhosis mortality declined steadily from 8.0 to 4.6 in Japanese females. Appreciable downward trends were observed in Hong Kong and Singapore, whereas mortality increased in Thailand. In Europe, in the late 1950s, the highest rates were registered in Portugal (33.6/100,000 males and 14.6/100,000 females), followed by France (31.8/100,000 males and 14.1/100,000 females), Austria, Italy, Spain, and Germany. Most of these countries, however, after some further rise up to the 1970s, showed reversal of the trends over most recent years. Thus, in the late 1980s or early 1990s, only Austria, Italy, and Portugal had cirrhosis mortality around 30/100,000 males and 10/100,000 females. Britain, Ireland, and Nordic countries started from much lower values (2 to 4/100,000 males), but showed some, although discontinuous, upward trend.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Female↗

Worldwide patterns of cancer mortality, 1985-89.

Histograms of all age-standardized death certification rates from 26 cancers or groups of cancers and total cancer mortality for the most recent calendar quinquennium (generally 1985-89) were produced for 55 countries: 26 in Europe, the former Soviet Union (USSR), three in North America, 13 in Latin America and the Caribbean, two in Africa, eight in Asia and two in Oceania, providing interpretable data to the World Health Organization database. Major differences were observed for all common cancer sites, including stomach (49/100,000 males in Costa Rica, 38 in the USSR and Japan vs 5/100,000 in the United States), intestines (over 25/100,000 males in Czechoslovakia, Hungary and New Zealand vs 10-15/100,000 in Japan and Southern Europe and less than 5/100,000 in most Latin American and Asian countries), lung (over 70/100,000 in Belgium, Scotland, The Netherlands, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, and less than 20/100,000 in most Latin American and Asian countries; over 20/100,000 females in Britain, Hong Kong, the United States and Denmark vs less than 5/100,000 in France, Spain and again most areas of Asia and Africa providing data; breast (over 25/100,000 females in Great Britain, New Zealand, Belgium, The Netherlands and Uruguay, vs less than 10/100,000 in Japan, Hong Kong and most Latin American countries). Thus, there was over a fivefold variation in total cancer mortality for both sexes, the highest rates being in Hungary (237/100,000) and Czechoslovakia (229/100,000) for males, and in Denmark (142/100,000) and Scotland (138/100,000) for females. Although problems of validity and reliability of cancer death certification, mostly in developing countries, may in part explain this variation, these substantial differences are at least in part real and essentially reflect, besides the impact of breast cancer in females and of stomach and colorectal cancer in both sexes, the different spectrum of the tobacco-related lung cancer epidemic in the two sexes and in various areas of the world.

Africa↗

Comparison of cancer mortality trends in major European areas, 1960-89.

In the prospect of a political and economic 'harmonization' of the European Economic Community (EEC) and, possibly, all Europe, the identification of differences in cancer frequencies and trends in major European areas (ie EEC, non-EEC western countries, and eastern European countries) can help to set health priorities. From 1960-64 to 1985-89 all-age mortality rates of some common cancers (mouth or pharynx, pancreas, lung, kidney, prostate and skin) increased substantially especially in East Europe. Conversely, mortality rates from cancer of the stomach, uterus, testis and from Hodgkin's disease declined, but, again, trends in East Europe were less favourable. Some elevations in rare malignancies (non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, multiple myeloma and connective and soft-tissue sarcomas) emerged rather uniformly in Europe, especially in elderly people. Most favourable trends in total cancer mortality were apparent among females in the EEC (minus 7%) and non-EEC western countries (minus 14%). The picture becomes gradually less favourable with respect to non-EEC western European males and eastern European females (virtually no change) and EEC males (plus 13%). With a 25% increase in total cancer mortality rates in the past 30 years, males in East Europe emerge as the 'problem' group. The even wider gap between West and East Europe in cancer rates in young males leaves no hope for future improvements in the absence of effective interventions. Raising public awareness (especially with respect to smoking and alcohol consumption), and increasing motivation and quality controls among health professionals are badly needed in disadvantaged European areas.

Adult↗

Worldwide trends in suicide mortality, 1955-1989.

Patterns and trends in suicide mortality for the period 1955-89 for 57 countries (28 from Europe, the former Soviet Union, Canada, the United States, 14 Latin American countries, 8 from Asia and 2 from Africa, Australia and Oceania) were analyzed on the basis of official death certification data included in the World Health Organization mortality database. Over the most recent calendar quinquennium (1985-1989), Hungary had the highest rate for men (52.1 per 100,000, all ages, world standard), followed by Sri Lanka (49.6), Finland (37.2) and a number of central European countries. North American, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and several European countries had intermediate suicide rates (between 15 and 25 per 100,000), whereas overall mortality from suicide was low in the United Kingdom, southern Europe, Latin America and reporting countries and areas from Africa and Asia, except Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. The pattern for women was similar, although the absolute values were considerably lower. The highest values were in Sri Lanka (19.0 per 100,000), followed by Hungary (17.6) and several other central European countries, with rates between 9 and 15 per 100,000. Female suicide rates were comparatively elevated in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Cuba. With respect to trends over time, the figures were relatively favourable in less developed areas of the world, including Latin America and several countries from Asia, with the major exception of Sri Lanka. Of concern are, in contrast, the upward trends, particularly for elderly men in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand and, mostly, the substantial rises over most recent decades of suicide rates in young cohorts of males in Japan and several European countries, Australia and New Zealand. These trends were often in contrast with more favourable patterns in women, and can be discussed in terms of ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic factors, aspects of psychiatric care or availability of instruments and methods of suicide.

Adult↗

International Variations and Trends in the Incidence of Breast Cancer in Older Women.

This article explores age-related variations in breast cancer mortality in the western world and analyzes potential risk factors for older women. The highest breast cancer mortality rates are observed in England, Wales, and Denmark; the United States, Canada, Sweden, central and southern Europe have intermediate mortality rates; and Latin America and Russia have the lowest rates. Three case-control studies involving over 4000 Italian women demonstrate that age at menarche is a risk factor only for premenopausal women; multiparity (>5 births) increases the risk of breast cancer for women under age 35 years but reduces the risk of breast cancer for older women. Obesity is a risk factor only for postmenopausal women, and the influence of other risk factors, such as age at first birth, family history and late menopause, does not show age-related variations. The influence of diet and steroidal contraceptives on the breast cancer rate in older women is not established.

Journal Article↗

ZNF75: isolation of a cDNA clone of the KRAB zinc finger gene subfamily mapped in YACs 1 Mb telomeric of HPRT.

We have previously mapped a zinc finger genomic motif (ZNF75) to the Xq26 cytogenetic band by using a hybrid panel. Here, we report the isolation of the transcribed counterpart in a cDNA clone and its further localization. The cDNA clone, from a lung fibroblast library, is assembled from three exons, including a 289 amino acid (AA) long open reading frame containing a recently described motif, the Kruppel-associated box, 42 AA long, in exon 2. By comparison with other reported members of the subfamily, the exon-intron boundaries also appear to be very well conserved. Further analysis allowed us to map this gene 1 Mb downstream from the HPRT gene in the published YAC contig that extends across Xq26. Two other motifs, 87 and 78% homologous to ZNF75 at the amino acid level, were identified by PCR on total human DNA, but map outside Xq24-qter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Trends in uterine cancer mortality in the Americas, 1955-1988.

Trends in uterine cancer mortality over the period 1955-1988 were analyzed for 14 selected Latin American countries and for the United States and Canada on the basis of the official death certification data from the World Health Organization database. In the late 1960s uterine cancer mortality in Latin America ranged from 7.8/100,000 in the Dominican Republic to 26.4/100,000 in Venezuela and was around 10/100,000 in the United States and Canada. Over the last two decades most Latin American countries (with the exception of the Dominican Republic and Ecuador) showed declines in mortality rates ranging from about 10% in Argentina and Mexico to 25-35% in Cuba, Chile, Uruguay, and Venezuela. These declines were however appreciably smaller than those in the United States and Canada, where falls in uterine cancer mortality approached 50%. In comparison with recent rates in the United States and Canada (around 5/100,000), mortality from uterine cancer was still high in all Central and South American countries (between 11 and 20/100,000), with the sole exception of Puerto Rico (6.3/100,000). The highest rates were in Paraguay and Ecuador (over 20/100,000). The overall variation in all age-standardized uterine cancer mortality in Latin America remained around threefold during the period 1965-1988 (i.e., between 22/100,000 in Paraguay and 6.3/100,000 in Puerto Rico). However, if the United States and Canada were also considered, the ratio between the highest and lowest mortality rate at all ages increased from about threefold during the period 1965-1969 to over fourfold in the late 1980s. This diverging pattern between North and Latin America was even clearer in young women (20-44 years), when most uterine cancer originates from the cervix, and less evident in the elderly. In the young, recent upward trends were observed in Argentina, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. These mortality patterns are discussed with reference to risk factor exposure, cytologic screening programs, changes in hysterectomy rates, treatment, and case ascertainment and certification.

Adult↗

Descriptive epidemiology of gall-bladder cancer in Europe.

Trends in mortality from cancer of the gall-bladder and bile ducts over the period 1965-1989 were analysed for 25 European countries on the basis of official death certifications from the World Health Organization databank. A high-mortality area--i.e. with overall death certification rates, world standard, around or over 2/100,000 men and 4/100,000 women in 1985-1989--was identified in Germany and the surrounding central European countries (Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland). The highest rates were in Hungary (3.9/100,000 men and 7.4/100,000 women). During the two decades considered, rates increased in Czechoslovakia and Hungary, remained stable in Poland and declined in Austria and Germany. Intermediate-mortality areas included Scandinavian countries (except Norway) and Switzerland: their rates in the late 1980s were between 1.5 and 2.5/100,000 men and between 2.2 and 4.2/100,000 women. Mortality increased in Finland and Sweden, declined in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and did not change consistently in Denmark. Low-mortality countries (i.e. with rates in 1985-1989 below 2.0/100,000 men and 2.5/100,000 women) included Belgium, France, Britain, Ireland, Norway, Bulgaria and Mediterranean countries. Over the last two decades, certification rates declined in Bulgaria and Great Britain, but increased in all other countries. The ratio between the countries with the highest and lowest gall-bladder cancer mortality rates declined from 21 to 12 in women, although they remained stable around 10 for men. The pattern was similar when analysis was restricted to truncated rates from patients aged between 35 and 64 years. These trends, and particularly the exceedingly high rates in central Europe, the low rates in Mediterranean countries and the low and declining rates in Britain and Ireland are discussed in terms of known (cholelithiasis) or potential (dietary) factors in gall-bladder cancer aetiology, and of trends in cholecystectomy rates.

Adult↗

Diet and human oral carcinoma in Europe.

There are substantial variations in incidence and mortality from oral and pharyngeal cancer in Europe, with systematic tendencies towards increasing rates in most European countries, particularly in younger males. Most of the geographical differences are due to tobacco and alcohol consumption, which explain over three quarters of approximately 20,000 deaths from oral cancer registered every year in Europe, excluding the former Soviet Union. Nonetheless, dietary factors have an established and quantifiable role in oral carcinogenesis in Europe. Two studies showed a significant protective effect by vegetables and fresh fruit, which appeared particularly strong and consistent for fruit, but were not explained by measures of intake of beta-carotene or other micro-nutrients. Although it is not clear whether the observed associations simply reflected a generally poorer nutritional status of oral cancer cases, they open interesting perspectives for aetiological research and prevention, since about one in six oral cancers in European populations can be attributed to dietary deficiencies or imbalances.

Adult↗

The impact of therapeutic improvements in reducing peptic ulcer mortality in Europe.

Trends in death certification rates from peptic ulcer between 1955 and 1989 have been analysed for 24 European countries on the basis of age-specific and age-standardized rates, and a log-linear model to estimate the effects of age, cohort of birth and period of death. For males, in all Western countries there were substantial declines in mortality. In the late 1950s, the range of variation of the world standardized rates was between 4/100,000 in France and 17.8 in Portugal. In the late 1980s, only Ireland had a rate over 5/100,000, and values for most Western countries ranged between 2 and 4/100,000. The average fall in rates over the last three decades was 56%. Of this, a high proportion (45%) was registered between 1975 and 1984. In Eastern Europe, no systematic change was observed until the early 1970s, but over the last 15 years peptic ulcer mortality declined by an average of 20%. In 1985-1989 the lowest rate was 4.5/100,000 in Bulgaria, and for all other countries peptic ulcer mortality ranged between 5 and 7.2/100,000. Peptic ulcer mortality was substantially lower in females, and showed no appreciable modification in Western Europe, and several increases in Eastern Europe until the mid 1970s. Thereafter, mortality declined by an overall 25% in the West and 15% in the East. Earlier declines for males in Western Europe were chiefly related to a cohort effect, reflecting more favourable risk factor exposure (such as diet, Helicobacter pylori or smoking) of subsequent generations. The recent falls, in contrast, were mainly on a period of death basis indicating therapeutic advancements (including the introduction of H2-receptor-antagonists in the mid-1970s) as the major determinant. These falls correspond to about 20,000 deaths from peptic ulcer avoided every year in the whole of Europe.

Cause of Death↗

Mortality patterns and trends for lung cancer and other tobacco-related cancers in the Americas, 1955-1989.

Mortality from cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, oesphagus, larynx and lung between 1955 and 1989 has been analysed for USA, Canada and 14 countries in Latin America. Among males, Uruguay, Cuba, Argentina and Puerto Rico have the highest rates for all sites, and Peru, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Colombia have the lowest rates. Among females, Cuba, Colombia and Puerto Rico rank high for all sites, and Mexico, Paraguay, Ecuador and Peru rank low. For both sexes, lung cancer mortality rates from the US and Canada are high, whereas rates from other sites are intermediate. An increasing trend in lung cancer mortality over time is shown in all countries except Cuba (no changes), Argentina, Paraguay and Peru (decreasing trend). In Latin America, the tobacco-related lung cancer epidemic is in its early phase among males, and very early phase among females.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗

Changes in diet and mortality from selected cancers in southern Mediterranean countries, 1960-1989.

Mortality trends of breast, colorectal, ovarian and prostate cancer in Spain, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, and England and Wales are presented. Figures are discussed with regard to patterns of consumption of fat-containing foods in these countries. An increase of all cancer site mortality is shown in southern European countries, whereas in England and Wales a decrease in ovarian and colorectal cancer among women is observed. Consumption of milk, meat and animal fat products increased in all Mediterranean countries but decreased in England and Wales. Some differences regarding cancer mortality and food consumption patterns among southern European countries are pointed out. This markedly divergent fat consumption pattern between northern and southern Europe appears to antedate and be associated with their substantial differences in ovarian and colorectal cancer mortality trends, and to a lesser extent with breast cancer.

Adult↗

X-ray fluorescence determination of bromine traces in pharmaceutical formulations containing sodium diclofenac.

The X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) on solid samples is applied to the organic bromine impurities assay on pharmaceutical formulations of sodium diclofenac (DCF). A wide range of Br contents (7-1564 ppm) in the tablets is obtained, depending on manufacturer source and batch preparation. As the impurities concern only the sodium diclofenac employed, and the presence of Br might be a toxicity index arising from the synthetic procedure, the assay of each DCF batch is suggested.

Bromine↗