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M Vercelli

Publications and source records attributed to M Vercelli.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The mortality rate of the province of birth as a risk indicator for lung and stomach cancer mortality among Genoa residents born in other Italian provinces.

This study analyses the relationship between migration and mortality for lung and stomach cancer, these diseases being those considered susceptible to changes in environmental conditions and individual habits that usually follow migration. Mortality rate of the province of birth was used as the index of risk related to migration. Data were analysed using the Poisson regression model for grouped data. Results indicate that migration determines modifications in the mortality rates of the migrant populations for the diseases under study. For lung cancer, the analysis showed a greater risk for migrants originating from areas with high rates and that migrants had a reduced risk in comparison with natives of Genoa. With regard to stomach cancer, the study revealed that migrants originating from high risk areas had higher relative risks than the Genoa natives, even if these were lower than expected when compared to the risks of the populations in the regions from which the migrants originated.

Emigration and Immigration↗
PubMed1995

Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Elderly: Profile of the Italian Problem.

In Italy, 28% of all deaths are due to cancer. Of the 15% of the population that is 65 years or older, 65% of cancer deaths occur in men and 69.5% in women. The proportional mortality and incidence of cancer in Italy varies with increasing age. All patients over 65 years are found to be at increased risk for intestinal cancers. In older men, the proportion of lung and urinary tract cancers decreases, while prostate, intestinal and gastric cancers increases. Prostate cancer predominates in men over 85 years and intestinal and gastric cancers are relatively more common than lung cancer. In women over age 74, intestinal cancer is most common. Breast, genital and lung cancers decrease rapidly with age, while stomach, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic cancers increase with age. The ratio of incidence to mortality for all cancers studied is shown to equalize with increased age, the probable result of lower hospitalization rates and less adequate cancer therapy for the elderly.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

A cohort study of workers employed in a refractory brick plant.

A mortality study was carried out on a cohort of workers who were exposed to silica dust in a refractory brick plant. The cohort was divided into two groups: workers with and without silicosis, and their mortality was contrasted with the death rate of Genova from 1960 to 1979. Results show an increased risk for laryngeal tumors (3 obs., 0.44 exp., SMR = 682), nonmalignant respiratory disease (16 obs., 3.2 exp., SMR = 500), and cardiovascular diseases (19 obs., 11 exp., SMR = 173) among silicotics. The mortality rate for lung cancer showed an increase for the cohort of workers as a whole (11 obs., 6 exp., SMR = 183). The almost double overall mortality observed in silicotic subjects raises some doubts about the validity of other proportional mortality studies that showed no excesses for workers in these industries.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Mortality studies of dockyard workers (longshoremen) in Italy.

A polycentric mortality study was performed in five Italian harbours: Savona, Marina di Carrara, Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Ravenna. The cohort included active and retired workers (longshoremen), who had been employed between 1960 and 1981. Causes of death were ascertained from death certificates; expected numbers of deaths were generated from age, sex, calendar year, and cause-specific national mortality rates. A low overall mortality was found, which is in agreement with procedures of health selection, typical of physically demanding jobs; an excess of lung cancer was, however, found in four out of five harbours.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Evaluation of the cancerogenic risk in oil tankers during refitting.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentrations were measured in particles collected in oil tankers during refitting operations in which oxyacetylene flames were used. High levels of benzopyrene (8.3 +/- 7.2 mg/1000 m3) and nitrogen oxides (from 2 to 20 ppm) were detected. The fraction of collected smoke, soluble in cycloesane, was injected into the peritoneum of Balb/C mice. The frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induced in bone marrow cells was evaluated. A significant and dose-related increase of SCE was seen, which was comparable to that induced by pure PAH. Based on these results, the presence of other mutagenic substances in addition to benzopyrene was suspected. Chemical and biochemical results confirmed epidemiological evidence of an increased risk of lung and bladder cancer in workers operating inside oil tankers. The authors propose the use of this coordinated approach for an effective primary cancer prevention program in the work place.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1980

Large-bowel cancer in married couples in Sweden. A follow-up study.

The cause of death in 1951-1977 and cancer morbidity in 1959-73 were determined in 1094 (99.6%) eligible spouses of 1716 persons in Sweden who died from colon and rectum cancer in 1961. The risk of colorectal cancer and other possibly aetiologically related diseases was no higher in the spouses than in a matched population.

Colonic Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

Blood colony-forming cells (CFU-C) and leucocyte colony-stimulating activity (CSA) in patients with neutrophilic leucocytosis.

The incidence of circulating colony-forming cells (CFU-C) and the ability of peripheral leucocytes to stimulate the colony formation (CSA) have been studied through a double layer agar culture system in 26 patients with neutrophilic leucocytosis and compared to the values obtained in 26 normal subjects. Both mean CFU-C incidence and mean leucocyte CSA of the whole group of patients were found significantly higher than normal, but considerable variation was observed among singular patients. The different patterns of blood CFU-C and leucocyte CSA are discussed. The combined evaluation of blood CFU-C and leucocyte CSA is found a useful tool to investigate the pathogenetic mechanisms of neutrophilic leucocytosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Normal range of blood colony-forming cells (CFU-C) in humans: influence of experimental conditions, age, sex, and diurnal variations.

Blood colony-forming cells (CFU-C) and colony-stimulating activity obtained from feeder layers of peripheral blood leucocytes (leucocyte CSA) have been studies in 69 normal subjects by means of semisolid agar culture system. Groups of normal volunteers were selected according to sex and age (20 to 45 and older than 60 years) and the results compared. The mean number of circulating CFU-C was significantly lower in young women (20-45 years old) than in males over 60 years of age, but no differences were found among the other age and sex groups. Leucocyte CSA did not significantly differ among these groups. In 5 young males the blood CFU-C did not show significant variations at 8 AM and at 4 PM of the same day. When the study was repeated in 18 subjects at longer time intervals, the number of colonies showed a maximum fivefold variation. The amount of plasma and polymorphonuclear granulocytes present in our culture system did not inhibit the colony growth. In most cases, double layer cultures grow a higher number of colonies than single layer, but feeder layers of some normal subject seem to inhibit the colony growth.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Mortality among shipyard workers in Genoa, Italy.

The dockyards of Genoa are exposed to many known or suspect carcinogenic agents, namely, asbestos, silica, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and halogenated hydrocarbons; other possibly harmful substances are trace amounts of aromatic amines, welding smokes, paints, and lipid-removing solvents. A cohort study of causes of death of 2190 dockyard workers in Genoa was conducted between January 1, 1960 and December 31, 1975. Mortality rates were calculated for 20 different occupational categories, for which there exist different levels of exposure to noxious substances. Two control groups were selected: the general male population of Genoa and all male employees (462) of San Martino Hospital, Genoa for the same period of time. Causes of death that demonstrated significant excesses for both control groups were: cancer of the colon, excluding the rectum; cancer of the larynx; cancer of the lung, bronchus, and trachea; cancer of the kidney, urinary bladder, and other urinary organs; respiratory diseases; and cirrhosis of the liver. The data obtained from these 20 job categories revealed different types and levels of risk for various carcinogenic agents.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mortality among dock-yard workers in Genoa, Italy.

The causes of death among the dock-yard workers of Genoa from December 31, 1959 to January 1, 1970, have been investigated. These workers, mainly assigned to ship repair, refitting and construction, are exposed to several noxious substances, such as: asbestos, silica, paint solvents, welding smoke and volatile products of petroleum. Two different control groups were selected: the male population of Genoa and the staff of the San Martino Hospital in Genoa. Causes of death showing a significant increase were: gastric cancer (only in comparison with the hospital staff), cancer of colon excluding rectum, lung cancer, cancer of kidney, urinary bladder and other urinary organs, respiratory diseases, cirrhosis of the liver, cardiovascular diseases (only in comparison with the hospital staff).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cancer patient survival in the elderly in Italy. ITACARE Working Group.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Italy, like most western populations, is sharply aging and changing its age structure with a striking increase in the oldest segment of the elderly. Since age is related to an exponential growth of cancer incidence rates and to a worsening of prognosis, the progressive aging of the population will constitute, in the future, an issue increasingly more important for public health. The present study is the first effort to present and analyze survival rates in italian elderly cancer patients in order to provide a starting point for the development of better clinical strategies addressed to the aged. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The presented data come from a large data set consisting of survival data relating to 25,798 men and 20,479 women, aged 65-84 years at diagnosis, collected by Italian cancer registries participating in the ITACARE project. Relative survival rates of patients have been calculated by sex, quinquennial age classes and the considered entire age class for overall malignant neoplasms and the 10 most frequent cancer sites in the elderly. RESULTS: When all Italian data for all cancers in the 65-84 year age group were pooled, survival rates at 5 years from the diagnosis was 27% and 39% in men and women, respectively. As regards specific sites, survival rates below 50% were observed for lung, stomach and ovary cancer at 1 year from diagnosis. At 5 years from diagnosis, the rates were less than 50% for colon, prostate, cervix, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and melanoma (only in men). The best survival at 5 years from diagnosis (above 50%) was in women for melanoma and corpus uteri and breast cancer. For all cancers, the prognosis for women was better in each considered age group even though a dramatic decrease in survival with age was observed in both sexes. In general, a similar decline in survival with increasing age characterized all considered specific sites. However, at closer observation, the patterns of a decrease revealed some differences. The ratio between the survival rates of 55-64 vs 65-84 year age class indicated that the sites with the greatest advantage of survival for younger patients (ratio > 1.5) were ovary, lung and melanoma (only in men), whereas the least advantage was observed for colon, corpus uteri, breast and prostate. By calendar periods, excluding non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for women, an increase in survival was observed for all considered sites, improving an encouraging successful trend in diagnostic and therapeutic progresses.

Age Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variations in the survival of adult cancer patients in Italy.

AIMS: As part of the ITACARE project, the present study analyzed and compared population-based data on the survival of adult cancer patients in Italy, according to sex, age, period of diagnosis and geographical area. METHODS: Nine Italian population-based cancer registries provided data on all their cancer patients (total 90,431 cases) followed for at least 5 years and diagnosed during the period 1978-1989. About 10% of the Italian population is covered by these registries. The data was analyzed by means of a multivariate model. RESULTS: The major findings were that there was a general improvement in 5-year relative survival over the study period (from 33% to 39%) and that there were significant differences in survival between different areas of the country, particularly for cancer sites which respond well to treatment. In general, the area covered by the Ragusa (Sicily) registry was characterized by significantly worse survival than other registry populations. Other important findings were that for all malignant cancer sites 5-year relative survival decreased with age from 50% for the youngest age class (15-44 years) to 27% for the oldest age class (75+ years) and that women have a better prognosis for most cancer sites (overall 5-year relative survival in women 48% vs 32% in men). CONCLUSIONS: The significant regional differences in survival may reflect unequal provision of care, particularly between northern-central Italy and the south. The reasons for the general survival improvement with time are not completely understood, whereas the marked overall sex difference is related to the fact that the commonest cancer in women (breast cancer) is eminently more treatable than the commonest malignancy in men (lung cancer). The unfavorable trend with increasing age may be due to increasing difficulty in applying complete therapy protocols as general health declines, sometimes in relation to an advanced cancer stage at diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cancer prevalence in the elderly. ITAPREVAL Working Group.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To describe the cancer prevalence in elderly Italian people and analyze the differences, if any, with the prevalence among younger subjects. METHODS & STUDY DESIGN: The cancer prevalence among elderly patients (65 years and over), the three age classes encompassing elderly age (65-74 years, 75-84 years, 85 years and over) and younger patients (0-64 years) was computed using the PREVAL method on the basis of the incident cases over the period 1976-1992 followed up to 31 December 1992 (prevalence reference date). Data were collected by 11 Italian cancer registries. RESULTS: The observed prevalence figures for all cancers (except skin epitheliomas), both sexes combined and considering the whole elderly group, were 1,090 and 3,601 cases per 100,000 one and five years since diagnosis, respectively; the prevalence increased up to the 75-84 age group and showed a slight decrease after age 85. With regard to specific cancer sites, in men bladder and prostate had the highest prevalence 5 years from diagnosis (more than 800 cases per 100,000), followed by colon and lung (about 500 cases per 100,000) stomach and rectum (about 300 cases per 100,000); in women breast cancer ranked first (more than 1,000 cases per 100,000), followed by colon (about 350 cases per 100,000), corpus uteri, stomach and rectum cancers (between 150 and 200 cases per 100,000). For all malignancies and the two sexes combined the prevalence figures were about six times higher in the older than in the younger age group. CONCLUSIONS: These figures confirm the important role of aging in determining the increase in cancer prevalence. The resulting prevalence figures clearly indicate the cancer burden placed on health care services; moreover, the figures will probably increase in the next decades due to a possible improvement in survival and to the dramatic aging of the population, assuming a stable trend for incidence rates. This picture will represent a major challenge for politicians and those dealing with health care planning and social policies in general, especially in the light of the reduction of the available financial resources and the specific features of medical and social needs in the elderly.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Herbicides and neoplasms of the hemolymphopoietic system].

The study is a population-based case-control study on hematolymphopoietic tumors, conducted in west Liguria with high prevalence of exposure to chemicals suspected (about 10%) of increasing the risk of leukaemias or lymphomas and multiple myeloma (pesticides). Cases and control were identified and confirmed during the period 1/1/1990 through 31/12/1993. Cases are identified through periodic contacts with the Pathology, or Hematology or other relevant Department of the Hospitals of west Liguria and Genoa town or University of Genoa where patients living in these area are referred for hematolymphopoietic malignancies. Controls are a random sample of the general population living in each area (using the demographic health archives). The range of the age is 20-74. After identification each case or control is contacted to have his consent to the interview near the home. Informations collected using a most completed questionnaire regard drinking and smoking habit, the addresses and the conditions of the homes where spending the life, particularly hobbies about exposure of pesticides and/or solvents, more important pathological events on the life and the occupational exposure. Actually we are in the phase of identification of cases and controls.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Case-control study of hemo-lymphopoietic neoplasms and exposure to pesticides in western Liguria].

The association between hematolymphopoietic cancers and occupational exposures to pesticides is being examined in a population based case-control study. 228 cases diagnose aged 20-74 years and 140 controls between 1/1/1990-31/12/1993 were eligible for the study in the west Liguria area. 163 cases and 109 controls were interviewed regarding use of pesticides and other possible risk factors and confounding variables. Expert agronomists assessed the job exposure to pesticides using the informations from questionnaires and the job-matrices.

Adult↗