Biomedical subjects

Paolo Colombo

Publications and source records attributed to Paolo Colombo.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking in Italy, 2002.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To update estimates of smoking prevalence in Italy to the year 2002. METHODS: Population-based, face-to-face survey conducted by the DOXA (the Italian Branch of the Gallup International Association) in March-April 2002 on 3,238 individuals aged 15 or over, representative of the whole Italian population. RESULTS: Overall, 26.6% of Italian adults were current cigarette smokers (31.1% of men, 22.3% of women); 19.9% of men and 10.4% of women smoked 15 or more cigarettes per day. Ex-smokers were 15.2% (21.9% of men, 9.0% of women). There was no appreciable difference with reference to geographic area or education in men, but more educated women were more frequently smokers (28%). Compared to 2001, reported smoking prevalence declined by 3.7% in men and 1.3% in women, and the fall was evident in various age groups, including the youngest one (15-24 years). However, part of the fall is likely due to increased underreporting, since these survey figures are appreciably underestimated as compared to sale data. Among ex-smokers, 84% had stopped without support. Among smokers, 37% had tried at least once to stop. Using the Fagerström questionnaire, 69.5% of smokers were classified as low or very low dependent, whereas only 20.0% of smokers were classified as high or very high dependent. Women, younger and elderly, as well as more educated smokers of both sexes tended to be less dependent. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported smoking prevalence tends to decline in Italy, although the overall figure (26.6% of Italian adults) remains considerably higher than the USA and several Western European countries.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking in Italy 2003, with a focus on the young.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To update trends in smoking prevalence in Italy to 2003, with specific focus on the young. METHODS: A population-based, face-to-face survey conducted in February-April 2003 on 3,535 individuals aged 15 or over, representative of the whole Italian adult population, plus an over sampling of 426 subjects aged 15 to 24 years. RESULTS: Overall, 27.6% of Italians described themselves as current cigarette smokers (33.2% men, 22.5% women); 20.1% of men and 8.0% of women smoked 15 or more cigarettes per day. Ex-smokers were 16.6% (22.5% men, 11.2% women). No appreciable difference with reference to geographic area was observed. Less educated men, but more educated women, were more frequently smokers. As compared to previous years, no noticeable change was observed in overall smoking prevalence. However, an appreciable decline was observed in the young (15 to 24 years), from 37.6% in 2001 to 32.6% in 2003 for men, and from 30.4% to 20.7% for women. Among current smokers, 40.6% had tried at least once to stop. Of these, only 6.8% had used some pharmacological and 1.8% some psychological support. CONCLUSIONS: Overall self-reported smoking prevalence had not appreciably changed over the last few years. However, prevalence of smoking appears to have declined in the young. Compared to legal sale data, tobacco consumption is substantially under reported.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cross-reactivity between Parietaria species using the major rParj1 and rParj2 allergens.

Parietaria pollen is one of the most important outdoor allergenic sources in all the Mediterranean countries, with a large number of subjects showing a positive skin prick test to both P. judaica and P. officinalis pollen extracts. A cross-reactivity between the two species has been already reported although few data are known at the molecular level. Twenty-five consecutive patients with Parietaria pollen allergy were selected on the basis of their clinical history. Skin prick test to P. judaica and officinalis extracts was performed. In vitro IgE measurement to both allergenic sources was performed by using a quantitative assay. ELISA inhibition experiments were made by using the rParj1 and rParj2 allergens. All the patients showed a positive skin prick test to both Parietaria species. Quantitative IgE measurement showed similar antibody concentration for P. judaica and P. officinalis extracts. ELISA inhibition experiments demonstrated that the cross-reactivity between the two species was due to the presence of the Parj1 and Parj2 allergens in the extracts with a high conserved IgE epitopes content. We conclude that P. judaica and P. officinalis pollens contain highly cross-reactive species-specific major allergens useful for the diagnosis and therapy of both allergenic sources.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking in Italian women and men, 2001.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To analyze and update smoking prevalence and trends in Italy to 2001. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Population-based household survey conducted by the DOXA (The Italian Branch of the Gallup International Association) in 2001 on a total of 3,296 individuals aged 15 or over, representative of the whole Italian population. RESULTS: Overall, 28.9% of the Italian population (34.8% of males, 23.6% of females) were current cigarette smokers, and a further 0.2% (0.4% of males) were cigar or pipe smokers; 14.6% (19.9% of males, 8.7% of females) smoked 15 or more cigarettes per day. Ex-smokers were 16.6% (25.5% of males, 8.4% of females). In males the smoking prevalence steadily declined, from 65.0% in 1957 to 34.8% in 2001, but the fall was comparatively limited during the last decade. In females, the smoking prevalence was below 10% in the 1950s and 1960s, peaked at 25.9% in 1990, and declined to 23.6% in 2001. The mean number of cigarettes smoked per day, however, tended to increase, reaching 16.4 in 2001 (18.8 for males, 12.2 for females). Moreover, compared with legal sales data these figures appear underestimated by 25% to 35%. The difference in smoking prevalence between males and females tended to increase with age. Among males the smoking prevalence was lower in the North, while it was similar among females in various areas of the country. CONCLUSION: For the first time since the 1950s the overall smoking prevalence in Italian adults fell below 30%, but the figure is now higher than in most Western countries. Also for females the smoking prevalence in Italy is now higher than in the USA. This reflects the absence of any comprehensive policy and legislation against smoking in Italy.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Useful and limits of the biochemical markers for the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma].

A series of biochemical parameters are useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinomas. The measurement of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is considered for the post-surgical/radioiodine follow-up of papillary/follicular carcinomas. Other than in basal conditions, the importance of Tg levels during TSH stimulation is underlined, either by discontinuation of L-T4 therapy or by recombinant human TSH test. The finding of undetectable Tg levels during TSH stimulation is highly correlated with clinical remission; otherwise, peak Tg levels > 1-2 ng/ml can be suggestive of recurrence/persistence of the disease. The accuracy of Tg measurements for the detection of metastases seems to be higher when compared to 131-1 whole-body scan. The evaluation of basal serum calcitonin levels is recommended for the screening of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). High basal levels suggest the presence of a tumor but a calcitonin increase can be observed also in parafollicular C cell hyperplasia (CCH) and other extra-thyroidal conditions. The pentagastrin test can by pass this obstacle as the calcitonin response seems to be typical of pathological thyroid C cells. The cut-off value of calcitonin response between patients with MTC and CCH remains to be established; the latter condition, however, being considered by some authors as pre-cancerous. After thyroid surgery the measurement of calcitonin constitutes a valid tool for the detection of cure and/or recurrence of the disease. The screening by means of RET oncogene analysis is also described for patients with MTC with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) type 2 syndrome.

Calcitonin↗