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Silvano Gallus

Publications and source records attributed to Silvano Gallus.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Family history of cancer and the risk of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

We analysed the relation between family history of cancer in first-degree relatives and risk of prostate cancer (PC) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using data from a multicentric case-control study conducted in Italy from 1991 to 2002 on 1,294 cases of incident, histologically confirmed PC, 1,369 cases of BPH and 1,451 men admitted to the same network of hospitals for acute, nonneoplastic conditions. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) of PC and BPH, adjusted for age and other confounders. Men with a family history of PC had an OR of PC of 4.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5-6.5), and the risk was higher when the proband was younger, when 2 or more relatives were affected or when the affected relative was a brother. The risk of PC was also increased in men with a family history of cancer of the ovary (OR = 6.2, 95% CI 1.2-32), bladder (OR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.6-7.4) and kidney (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-8.5). An involvement of breast/ovarian cancer predisposition genes in a small proportion of PCs was suggested by the cluster of these cancers in female relatives of a few PC cases. The risk of BPH was increased in men with a family history of bladder cancer (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-5.0) but not PC (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.7-2.2). Our study adds further information on the association of family history of cancer and risk of PC and is, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive epidemiologic information on family history of cancer and risk of BPH.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Hormone replacement therapy and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies, but not clinical trials, found lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users. We analyzed the relation between HRT use and the risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Italy. METHODS: We used a combined dataset from three hospital-based case-control studies including a total of 479 women aged > or =45 years with a first episode of nonfatal AMI and 822 hospital controls. RESULTS: Compared to never-HRT users, the multivariate odds ratio in ever users was 1.4 (95% confidence interval, 0.9-2.2); no consistent pattern of risk was observed according to duration or time since last use. CONCLUSIONS: HRT use was not associated with nonfatal AMI in Italian women according to the findings of clinical trials.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2005

Sun exposure, phenotypic characteristics, and cutaneous malignant melanoma. An analysis according to different clinico-pathological variants and anatomic locations (Italy).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the relation between sun exposure and other selected risk factors and the development of different clinico-pathological variants of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) at different body locations. METHODS: We analysed data from a case-control study conducted in Italy between 1992 and 1994 on 542 cases of CMM and 538 hospital controls. Clinico-pathological variants included 391 superficial spreading (SSM), 72 nodular (NM) and 39 lentigo maligna (LMM) melanomas. RESULTS: The risk of SSM increased for a high education level (odds ratio, OR = 1.5, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.0-2.2), sunburn episodes before age 15 (OR = 1.8, 95% CI, 1.1-2.8), light eye colour (OR = 1.6, 95% CI, 1.1-2.4) and solar lentigines (OR = 1.4, 95% CI, 1.0-1.8). The ORs for total number of nevi >30 were 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9-6.7) for SSM, 5.7 (95% CI, 2.6-12.5) for NM and 2.2 (95% CI, 0.5-9.4) for LMM. The risk of CMM located on the trunk seemed to be higher for a high education level (OR = 1.6, 95% CI, 1.0-2.6) and propensity to sunburn (OR = 1.6, 95% CI, 0.8-3.2). The ORs for sunburn episodes, eye and skin colour, and solar lentigines tended to be higher for CMM located on the face/neck and on the upper limbs than the trunk. Total number of nevi was strongly associated with all anatomic locations. CONCLUSIONS: Total number of nevi was the major risk factor associated with all melanoma variants and locations. A higher level of education and sunburn episodes in early childhood appeared to be more strongly related to SSM than to other variants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Cutaneous malignant melanoma in women. Phenotypic characteristics, sun exposure, and hormonal factors: a case-control study from Italy.

PURPOSE: We examined the role of personal host characteristics in relation to cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) among women, with a particular focus on hormonal and reproductive factors. METHODS: A case-control study conducted in Italy between 1992 and 1994, including 316 women with incident, histologically confirmed CMM and 308 controls, admitted to the same network of hospitals as cases for acute, non-dermatological, and non-neoplastic conditions. RESULTS: CMM was significantly associated with body mass index (kg/m(2)) (odds ratio [OR]=1.96 for > or =27 compared with < 23) and body surface area (m(2)) (OR=1.68 for > or =1.71 compared with < 1.59), eye color (OR=1.74 for green/hazel compared with brown), solar lentigines (OR=1.47), and number of melanocytic nevi (OR=3.39 for total number of nevi > or =16 compared with < 5). Age at first (OR=2.69 for > or =27 compared with < 23 years) and last birth (OR=2.13 for > or =31 compared with < 27 years) were associated with the risk of CMM, whereas other reproductive, menstrual, and hormonal factors, including menopause, number of live-births and abortions, use of oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy were not significantly associated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm findings from previous studies on the role of major recognized risk factors for CMM, and add further evidence of an absence of a consistent association between hormonal and reproductive factors and CMM risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Hormone replacement therapy and colorectal cancer: an update.

Observational studies and randomized clinical trials that have looked at the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the risk of colorectal cancer are reviewed. Nine cohort studies in this area have included a total of over 2700 cases of colorectal cancer. Most of these studies found a relative risk (RR) of around or below unity. Of 15 case-control studies, with a total of over 7300 cases, six reported a 20-40% risk reduction among women who had ever used HRT. With reference to randomized clinical trials, in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, after seven years of follow-up, 45 cases of colorectal cancer were observed in the combined HRT group versus 67 in the placebo group, corresponding to a RR of 0.63. A combined reanalysis of data from both the WHI and the Heart and Estrogen Progestin Replacement Study (HERS) included 56 cases in the combined HRT group and 83 cases in the placebo group (pooled RR = 0.64). However, in the WHI study cancers diagnosed in the HRT group were more advanced and there were more positive lymph nodes. Furthermore, among women in the WHI who had had a hysterectomy, there was no difference at the eight-year follow-up in the incidence of colorectal cancer between those in the estrogen-only arm of the trial (n = 61) and those in the control group (n = 68).

Carcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Occupational and leisure time physical activity and the risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Italy.

PURPOSE: Physical activity has long been related to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the quantitative estimates of the possible protective role of physical activity appear to vary across studies and populations. METHODS: A case-control study conducted in Italy between 1995 and 1999, including 507 incident cases below 79 years (378 men, 129 women) with a first episode of AMI, and 478 controls (297 men, 181 women) admitted to hospitals for acute conditions. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest level of occupational physical activity, the multivariate odds ratios (OR) of AMI for the highest level were 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-0.97) at age 15 to 19 years, 0.57 (95% CI, 0.34-0.95) at age 30 to 39 years, and 0.51 (95% CI, 0.29-0.90) at age 50 to 59 years. The corresponding values for leisure time activity were 0.54 (95% CI, 0.38-0.77), 0.86 (95% CI, 0.57-1.30), and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.57-1.74), respectively. The association was consistent across strata of age, sex, education, smoking, and other selected covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The attributable risk for low occupational exercise at age 30 to 39 years was over 10%, indicating the scope for further intervention on this modifiable risk factor in this Italian population, particularly in consideration of the public health importance of CHD.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Risk factors for oral and pharyngeal cancer in young adults.

Mortality from oral cancer has been rising in the young in several areas of the world until the early 1990s. We analysed data from two case-control studies from Italy and Switzerland including 137 cases of oral and pharyngeal cancer below age 46 and 298 hospital controls. The multivariate odds ratios (OR) were 20.7 for heavy smokers and 4.9 for heavy drinkers. The combination of high tobacco and alcohol consumption led to an OR of over 48. Body mass index (OR=0.28, for the highest tertile), high consumption of coffee (OR=0.25), fresh vegetables (OR=0.39), fruit (OR=0.73) and beta-carotene (OR=0.48) were inversely related to risk. Tobacco accounted for 77% of all cancer cases in this population, alcohol for 52%, low vegetable consumption for 52%, and the combination of the three factors for 85%.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Wine, beer and spirits and risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer: a case-control study from Italy and Switzerland.

We examined the relation between consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages and the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer, using data from a case-control study conducted in Italy and Switzerland between 1992 and 1997. This included a total of 749 cases of oral and pharyngeal cancer and 1,772 hospital controls, admitted for acute, non-neoplastic conditions, unrelated to alcohol and smoking consumption. Significant trends in risk were found with increasing total alcohol intake, with multivariate odds ratios (OR) of 2.1 for drinkers of 3-4 drinks/day, as compared to abstainers or light drinkers (< or = 2 drinks/day), 5.0 for 5-7, 12.2 for 8-11 and 21.1 for > or = 12 drinks/day. Similar increased risks for subsequent levels of consumption were found for wine drinkers. After allowance for wine intake, the ORs for beer drinkers were 1.2 for 1-2 drinks/day, and 2.3 for > or = 3 drinks/day. Corresponding values for spirit drinkers were 1.0 and 1.9. Patterns of risk for wine drinkers were similar for wine only drinkers and drinkers of wine, plus beer and spirits. Our study indicates that in populations with frequent wine consumption, wine per se can strongly increase the risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, and confirms that the most prevalent alcoholic beverage in each population tends to be the one with the highest risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Alcohol and the risk of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between alcohol and the risk of prostate cancer/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a population with a wide range of alcohol consumption, using a hospital-based, case-control study. Data from several epidemiologic studies have allowed us to exclude a strong association between alcohol drinking and prostate cancer risk. However, limited information is available for BPH. Also, it is unclear whether various types of alcoholic beverages may have a different impact on risk. METHODS: We conducted this hospital-based case-control study in Italy between 1991 and 2002. A total of 2663 men younger than 75 years had incident, histologically confirmed prostate carcinoma (1294 cases) or symptomatic obstructive BPH (1369 cases) (maximal flow rate less than 15 mL/s) refractory to medical treatment. A total of 1451 patients younger than 75 years were used as controls. Odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated using unconditional multiple logistic regression models including terms for age, center, education, body mass index, physical activity, and family history of prostate cancer. RESULTS: Alcohol consumption showed no consistent association with prostate cancer risk, but a statistically significant inverse trend in risk for BPH. Compared with abstainers, the odds ratio was 0.88 for fewer than three drinks, 0.71 for three to four drinks, 0.79 for five to six drinks, and 0.65 for seven or more drinks per day. The patterns of risk were similar with reference to different alcoholic beverages. The inverse relation between elevated alcohol consumption and BPH was apparently stronger in subjects with a lower body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol drinking is unrelated to prostate cancer risk. The inverse relationship with BPH may be related to the hormonal correlates (ie, lower androgen levels) of heavy alcohol drinkers.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Influence of selected lifestyle factors on risk of acute myocardial infarction in subjects with familial predisposition for the disease.

BACKGROUND: The joint effect of family history of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and selected adult life risk factors on the risk of the disease is not clear. METHODS: We used the combined data set from three Italian case-control studies including 1737 cases of incident, nonfatal AMI and 2317 hospital controls, aged less than 75 years. An adult lifestyle risk score (ALRS) was computed, including tobacco, body mass index, physical activity, and consumption of coffee, alcohol, fish, and vegetables. RESULTS: Compared to the reference category (subjects with no family history of AMI and low ALRS), the risk of AMI was 4.97 (95% confidence intervals, CI: 4.00-6.18) in subjects without family history and high ALRS, 2.19 (95% CI: 1.65-2.90) in subjects with family history and low ALRS, and 11.90 (95% CI: 8.94-15.84) in subjects with family history and high ALRS. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of AMI in subjects with a familial predisposition to ischaemic heart disease might be substantially reduced by intervention on selected lifestyle risk factors for AMI. In absolute terms, any such intervention would be more effective than a comparable one on subjects without a familial predisposition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Marital status and cancer risk in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Marital status has long been related to cancer incidence and mortality rates. However, only few analytical studies have been conducted on this issue considering known or potential confounding factors. METHODS: We systematically examined the relation between marital status and cancer risk using data from a network of case-control studies conducted between 1983 and 2001, including a total of 17,976 incident cases with the following cancer sites: oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, larynx, breast, endometrium, ovary, prostate, bladder, kidney, thyroid, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, multiple myelomas, and sarcomas. Controls were 15,345 patients admitted to the hospital for non-neoplastic conditions. RESULTS: As compared to married subjects, never married ones were at significantly increased risk of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers and at reduced risk of cancer of the colon, liver, bladder, kidney, and thyroid. However, for other cancer sites considered, most odds ratios were close to unity. Likewise, there was no consistent excess risk for divorced or widowed subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some significant associations, our study suggests that marital status is not materially associated with cancer risk. Thus, the evidence that married subjects are at lower risk of several other major diseases may not be applicable to cancer.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2004

Risk factors for non-fatal acute myocardial infarction in Italian women.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed the relation between selected lifestyles and diseases and the risk of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in women in Northern Italy. METHODS: We used a combined data set from three case-control studies, including 558 cases and 1,044 hospital controls. RESULTS: The strongest risk factor for AMI was smoking, the odds ratio (OR) being 4.0 in current smokers (11.6 for > or = 5 cigarettes/day). Other risk factors were diabetes (OR 4.4), hypertension (OR 3.3), hyperlipidemia (OR 1.6), and family history of AMI (OR 2.1). Moderate alcohol drinking was protective (OR 0.8 for < 2 drinks/day) compared to non-drinkers, and heavy coffee drinking non-significantly increased the risk (OR 1.4 for >3 cups/day). Inverse association was found with fish (OR 0.7 for >1 portion/week), vegetables (0.7 for > or = 10 portions/week), and fruit (OR 0.6 for > or = 14 portions/week), while meat, whole-grain, and diary products were unrelated. Smoking effect was stronger in combination with diabetes (OR 27.7), hypertension (OR 15.7), hyperlipidemia (OR 6.3), family history of AMI (OR 8.7), and heavy coffee drinking (OR 5.7). CONCLUSIONS: The strongest risk factor for AMI was smoking, responsible of about 37% of cases, followed by diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, family history of AMI. Avoidance of smoking and increasing fish, vegetables, and fruit would reduce AMI risk of about 50%.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Factors predicting discharge of patients from community residential facilities: a longitudinal study from Italy.

OBJECTIVE: Community residential facilities for psychiatric patients have increased in Italy in the last years, but little information is available on their use, the patients they host, the interventions they deliver and the rate at which they discharge patients. To investigate these issues, we conducted a longitudinal study in 2000-2001 on all the community residential facilities in Lombardy, a large region in North Italy. METHOD: The study base comprised all the patients residing in the community residential facilities identified in Lombardy in 2000. Out of the 196 community residential facilities identified, 91% agreed to participate. The study sample consisted of all the patients living in the residential facilities on 15 November, 2000. A total of 1792 patients were recruited and described. RESULTS: In the study period, a total of 316 patients were discharged. Among these, 191 (11%) went to lower-protection settings or home and 49 (3%) to higher-protection settings. The probability of discharge to lower-protection settings and home was higher for people in residential care centres, not coming from a psychiatric hospital, having shorter duration of the current admission, having work at the time of admission and with a low HoNOS score. Associations were found between discharge to higher-protection settings and old age, inadequate accommodation in staff opinion, and the public sector managing the facility. CONCLUSIONS: Turn-over of patients in the community residential facilities was limited. Discharges to higher-protection settings were related to need for specific care for older patients. Type of facility and duration of stay predicted discharge to lower-protection facilities and home independently from other patient characteristics. If a higher turn-over and a more extensive use of this resource must be achieved, roles of other psychiatric and social community-based services should be taken into account.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Alcohol consumption and acute myocardial infarction: a benefit of alcohol consumed with meals?

BACKGROUND: The apparent favorable effect of alcohol on the risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI) may be related to its hypoinsulinemic effect when consumed with meals. We studied how the timing of alcohol consumption in relation to meals might affect the risk of MI in a population with relatively high regular alcohol consumption. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study between 1995 and 1999 in Milan, Italy. Cases were 507 subjects with a first episode of nonfatal acute MI, and controls were 478 patients admitted to hospitals for other acute diseases. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Compared with nondrinkers, an inverse trend in risk was observed when alcohol was consumed during meals only (for > or =3 drinks per day: OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.30-0.82). In contrast, no consistent trend in risk was found for subjects drinking outside of meals (for > or =3 drinks per day: 0.98; 0.49-1.96). The pattern of risk was similar when we considered people who drank only wine. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol drinking during meals was inversely related with risk of acute MI, whereas alcohol drinking outside meals only was unrelated to risk.

Age Factors↗