Do the socioeconomic context and the European geographical area modify parental influences on smoking experimentation among adolescents?

Adolescent smoking is a major public health problem. While the socioeconomic status (SES) of the neighbourhood and that of the family are known to play a role in smoking onset and progression, it is not clear whether it modifies the association between parental influences and adolescent behaviour. The purpose of this study is to investigate family correlates of adolescent smoking experimentation and to explore the modifying role of socioeconomic context and European geographical area in a sample of European adolescents. This is a secondary analysis of the baseline survey of the European Drug Addiction Prevention (EU-Dap) trial which took place in seven European countries and involved 7079 students. School SES was used as indicator of socioeconomic context. European countries were aggregated in two geographical areas: North-Central and South. The associations between parental, family factors, and adolescents smoking experimentation were analysed through multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression models, stratified by school SES and European geographical area. Parental smoking, permissiveness towards tobacco, family conflicts, problematic relationships, low connectedness, and low parental control were significantly associated with adolescent smoking experimentation. Paternal smoking was a stronger correlate of adolescent smoking in low SES schools, while maternal smoking in high SES schools. Parental permissiveness was a stronger correlate in low SES schools. Family conflicts and low parental control were correlates only in low SES schools. The associations did not substantially differ between European geographical areas, with the exception of parental smoking that was a stronger correlate in the North, and parental control that was a correlate only in the South of Europe. To reduce inequalities in tobacco-related outcomes, prevention efforts in low socioeconomic contexts appear to be a public health priority. Parental smoking, permissiveness, family relationships, and connectedness should be addressed in preventive programs.

     

Cerebral involvement in COVID-19 is associated with metabolic and coagulation derangements: an EEG study

Journal of Neurology -     

Is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome a risk factor for auditory pathway?

Purpose  

The transduction mechanism of the inner ear and the transmission of nerve impulses along the auditory way are highly dependent upon the cochlear oxygen supply. Several studies have considered the possibility that obstructive sleep apnea–hypopneas during sleep can interfere with these processes, and the results are not uniform. The aim of the study is to evaluate the auditory function in adult patients affected by severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).     

Evolution of emphysema in relation to smoking

Purpose  

We have little knowledge about the evolution of emphysema, and relatively little is understood about its evolution in relation to smoking habits. This study aims to assess the evolution of emphysema in asymptomatic current and former smokers over 2 years and to investigate the association with subjects’ characteristics. The study was approved by our Ethics Committee and all participants provided written informed consent.     

Treatment of psoriasis with topical agents: Recommendations from a Tuscany Consensus

Psoriasis is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease, clinically characterized by erythematous and scaly plaques. Treatment approach is mainly driven by disease severity, though several factors should be considered in order to identify the optimal therapeutic choice. Mild psoriasis may be treated with a wide array of topical agents including corticosteroids, vitamin D analogs, keratolytics, and calcipotriol/betamethasone propionate compound. Because guidelines may not provide practical indications regarding the therapeutic approach, the use of topical agents in psoriasis is more individually tailored. In order to homogenize the standard of care, at least in a local setting, we collected the real‐life‐based recommendations for the use of topical therapies from an expert panel, the Tuscany Consensus Group on Psoriasis, representing all leading centers for psoriasis established in Tuscany. With this document, this consensus group sought to define principles guiding the selection of therapeutic agents with straightforward recommendations derived from a real‐life setting.