Smoking behaviors and perceived risk of injuries in Italy, 2007

OBJECTIVE: Apart from cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, smoking is associated with an increased risk of accidents and injuries. Many of these can be accounted for by dangerous smoking behaviors such as smoking in bed or while driving. We estimated therefore the prevalence of these hazardous smoking behaviors and the perceived risk of accidents associated with them in Italy. METHODS: Data were derived by a survey on smoking on 3057 subjects, representative of the Italian population aged > or =15 years. Specific questions were included on prevalence and risk perception of smoking while driving or in bed. RESULTS: Of all current smokers (23.5% of the Italian population), 12% reported smoking while in bed, 69% reported smoking while driving a car, and 17% reported smoking while driving a motorcycle. Predictors of smoking while driving were younger age, male sex, and being a heavy smoker. Of the total population, 81% reported that smoking while driving increased the risk of accident, but public perception was lower in men, the young, current smokers, and among the subjects engaging in these behaviors. About 7% of car injuries in Italy could involve a subject who smokes while driving. CONCLUSION: Efforts should be taken, therefore, to disseminate knowledge about the smoking behaviors associated to high risk of injuries.     

Validation of a questionnaire assessing food frequency and nutritional intake in Greek adolescents

The aim of the study was to develop and validate a specific semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to assess nutritional intake of Greek adolescents. The sample of the study consisted of 250 pupils (15.3 +/- 0.7 years), who completed the Youth Adolescent Food Frequency Questionnaire enriched with 22 Greek foods and recipes to include ethnic and racial diversity. A 3-day weighed food recall was used as the criterion to test the validity of the questionnaire. The analysis of correlation revealed significant correlations between the two methods for almost all variables. The Pearson's coefficients ranged from 0.83 for energy intake to 0.34 for folate intake. Non-significant correlations were found for selenium and vitamin D intakes. The findings of the study provide evidence for the validity of the scale and its utility in assessing nutritional intake of Greek adolescents.     

Parental occupational pesticide exposure and the risk of childhood leukemia in the offspring: Findings from the childhood leukemia international consortium

Maternal occupational pesticide exposure during pregnancy and/or paternal occupational pesticide exposure around conception have been suggested to increase risk of leukemia in the offspring. With a view to providing insight in this area we pooled individual level data from 13 case‐control studies participating in the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC). Occupational data were harmonized to a compatible format. Pooled individual analyses were undertaken using unconditional logistic regression. Using exposure data from mothers of 8,236 cases, and 14,850 controls, and from fathers of 8,169 cases and 14,201 controls the odds ratio (OR) for maternal exposure during pregnancy and the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was 1.01 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78, 1.30] and for paternal exposure around conception 1.20 (95% 1.06, 1.38). For acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the OR for maternal exposure during pregnancy was 1.94 (CI 1.19, 3.18) and for paternal exposure around conception 0.91 (CI 0.66, 1.24.) based on data from 1,329 case and 12,141 control mothers, and 1,231 case and 11,383 control fathers. Our finding of a significantly increased risk of AML in the offspring with maternal exposure to pesticides during pregnancy is consistent with previous reports. We also found a slight increase in risk of ALL with paternal exposure around conception which appeared to be more evident in children diagnosed at the age of 5 years or more and those with T cell ALL which raises interesting questions on possible mechanisms.     

Meal frequency of pre-exercise carbohydrate feedings

This study compared the effect of single and multiple carbohydrate feedings before exercise on biochemical and physiological responses during exercise. Eight males performed 3 runs for 1 h at 70 % VO(2max) after consuming a meal containing 2.5 g carbohydrate per kg body mass in a single dose 3 h before exercise (SF), the same meal in 5 equal doses at 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, and 1 h before exercise (MF), or a liquid placebo 3 h before exercise (P). RER and carbohydrate oxidation rates were higher in SF and MF compared to P trials, but there was no difference between SF and MF trials. Pre-exercise insulin was 2.0- and 3.4- fold higher in SF and MF, respectively, compared to P, and 1.7-fold higher in MF compared to SF. Glycerol and NEFA were higher in P compared to SF and MF trials before and at the end of exercise. In conclusion, a carbohydrate meal containing 2.5 g . kg(-1) ingested in doses over 3 h before running produced higher hyperinsulinemia pre-exercise than that produced when the meal was consumed in a single dose. Nevertheless, estimated carbohydrate utilization and adipose tissue lipolysis during exercise after multiple feedings seemed to be as high as after a single feeding.     

Delayed exposure to infections and childhood lymphomas: a case–control study

Objectives  Delayed exposure to common infections during childhood, have been implied to cause strong immunological response to a single infectious agent that eventually triggers leukemogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether decreased exposure to infections, as reflected in a more seronegative spectrum to several common infectious agents, is associated with increased risk for the development of childhood lymphomas. Methods  All 125 children (up to 14 years old), with Hodgkin (HL, n = 52) and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL, n = 73) diagnosed through the national network of childhood Hematology–Oncology units during an 8-year period were enrolled in the study along with 125 age- and gender-matched controls. Past exposure to nine common infections [respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A and B, parainfluenza type 1, adenovirus, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpes virus 6 (HHV6), Bartonella henselae] was assessed using serological markers. Results  After controlling for possible confounding factors, the overall seronegativity status upon diagnosis was statistically significantly associated with NHL [odds ratio; 95% CI: 1.45 (1.10–1.93), p = 0.01] and less so with HL risk [odds ratio; 95% CI: 1.30 (0.83–2.05), p = 0.25]. A statistically significant association of seronegativity with the development of NHL was evident for RSV [odds ratio; 95% CI: 7.27 (1.59–33.28), p = 0.01], EBV [odds ratio; 95% CI: 6.73 (1.45–31.20), p = 0.01] and suggestive association for influenza B [odds ratio; 95% CI: 2.60 (0.90–7.55), p = 0.08] and influenza A [odds ratio; 95% CI: 2.35 (0.81–6.80), p = 0.11]. In contrast, there was no evidence for association of HL with negative serology for any of the infectious agents tested. Conclusions  The risk of lymphomas, especially NHL, might be higher when, due to lower exposure to several infectious agents, the relatively unmodulated immune system of a child is challenged by environmental stimuli that can trigger development of lymphomas. The results, however, need further confirmation, through more pertinent methodological designs.     

ITO Thin Films for Low-Resistance Gas Sensors

Indium tin oxide thin films were deposited by magnetron sputtering on ceramic aluminum nitride substrates and were annealed at temperatures of 500 °C and 600 °C. The structural, optical, electrically conductive and gas-sensitive properties of indium tin oxide thin films were studied. The possibility of developing sensors with low nominal resistance and relatively high sensitivity to gases was shown. The resistance of indium tin oxide thin films annealed at 500 °C in pure dry air did not exceed 350 Ohms and dropped by about 2 times when increasing the annealing temperature to 100 °C. Indium tin oxide thin films annealed at 500 °C were characterized by high sensitivity to gases. The maximum responses to 2000 ppm hydrogen, 1000 ppm ammonia and 100 ppm nitrogen dioxide for these films were 2.21 arbitrary units, 2.39 arbitrary units and 2.14 arbitrary units at operating temperatures of 400 °C, 350 °C and 350 °C, respectively. These films were characterized by short response and recovery times. The drift of indium tin oxide thin-film gas-sensitive characteristics during cyclic exposure to reducing gases did not exceed 1%. A qualitative model of the sensory effect is proposed.     

Pushing functional MRI spatial and temporal resolution further: High‐density receive arrays combined with shot‐selective 2D CAIPIRINHA for 3D echo‐planar imaging at 7 T

To be able to examine dynamic and detailed brain functions, the spatial and temporal resolution of 7 T MRI needs to improve. In this study, it was investigated whether submillimeter multishot 3D EPI fMRI scans, acquired with high‐density receive arrays, can benefit from a 2D CAIPIRINHA sampling pattern, in terms of noise amplification (g‐factor), temporal SNR and fMRI sensitivity. High‐density receive arrays were combined with a shot‐selective 2D CAIPIRINHA implementation for multishot 3D EPI sequences at 7 T. In this implementation, in contrast to conventional inclusion of extra k_z gradient blips, specific EPI shots are left out to create a CAIPIRINHA shift and reduction of scan time. First, the implementation of the CAIPIRINHA sequence was evaluated with a standard receive setup by acquiring submillimeter whole brain T₂*‐weighted anatomy images. Second, the CAIPIRINHA sequence was combined with high‐density receive arrays to push the temporal resolution of submillimeter 3D EPI fMRI scans of the visual cortex. Results show that the shot‐selective 2D CAIPIRINHA sequence enables a reduction in scan time for 0.5 mm isotropic 3D EPI T₂*‐weighted anatomy scans by a factor of 4 compared with earlier reports. The use of the 2D CAIPIRINHA implementation in combination with high‐density receive arrays, enhances the image quality of submillimeter 3D EPI scans of the visual cortex at high acceleration as compared to conventional SENSE. Both the g‐factor and temporal SNR improved, resulting in a method that is more sensitive to the fMRI signal. Using this method, it is possible to acquire submillimeter single volume 3D EPI scans of the visual cortex in a subsecond timeframe. Overall, high‐density receive arrays in combination with shot‐selective 2D CAIPIRINHA for 3D EPI scans prove to be valuable for reducing the scan time of submillimeter MRI acquisitions.     

Risk factors of peripheral arterial occlusive disease: a case-control study in Greece

A case-control study concerning peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) was conducted in Athens, Greece. The case series consisted of 100 patients with PAOD as principle diagnosis admitted consecutively to a major teaching hospital in Athens during an 18-month period. The controls were patients hospitalized in the same hospital during the same period as the index cases for conditions requiring minor surgical care. All cases and controls were interviewed by the same person about several socioeconomic, demographic and medical variables; blood pressure and blood glucose values were also recorded. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression procedures, controlling for age, sex and years of schooling. Tobacco smoking, systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, heavy alcohol drinking and excessive coffee consumption were all strong independent risk factors with eight-fold or more differences in risk. It appears that PAOD as an atherosclerotic disease with low short-term fatality reveals in more contrasting terms the aetiological importance of factors involved in the atherosclerotic process as compared to atherosclerotic conditions with higher short-term fatality like coronary heart disease (CHD) which may also have stronger thrombotic components.