Impact of a major thermoelectric plant on self-perceived health status

BACKGROUND: Measuring self-perceived health status and risk perception according to environmental factors remains a major open issue with important health policy implications. METHODS: To measure self-perceived health status in an area where a major thermoelectric plant has been active since 1994, in October 2001, we conducted a two sample survey using the SF-12 Health Survey. The study sample (2001 individuals) representative of the population living in the plant area (Montalto di Castro, Central Italy) was compared with a random sample of the general Italian population (1928 individuals). Mean values were adjusted for age, sex and education. RESULTS: SF-12 summary scales means are comparable in both samples: 50.2 (SE: 0.3) versus 49.9 (SE: 0.3) for the physical score, and 47.7 (SE: 0.4) versus 48.7 (SE: 0.4) for the mental score for Montalto di Castro area and Italian sample respectively. CONCLUSION: People living near a major thermoelectric plant have a subjective health status comparable to that reported by the general Italian population.     

PAX5/IGH rearrangement is a recurrent finding in a subset of aggressive B-NHL with complex chromosomal rearrangements

We present an extensive characterization of 10 B-cell lymphomas with a t(9;14)(p13;q32). The presence of the PAX5/IGH gene rearrangement was demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a validated probe set, whereas complex karyotypic changes were reassessed by multiplex-FISH (M-FISH). Pathologic and clinical review revealed the presence of this rearrangement in 4 histiocyte-rich, T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas (HRTR-BCLs) and 2 posttransplantation diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (PTLD-DLBCLs). In contrast to initial observations describing this translocation in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) and LPL-derived large B-cell lymphoma, our data showed a wide morphologic and clinical spectrum associated with the PAX5/IGH rearrangement, pointing to an association between this aberration and a subset of de novo DLBCLs presenting with advanced disease and adverse prognosis. In addition, the recurrent incidence of this rearrangement in both HRTR-BCL (4 cases) and PTLD-DLBCL (2 cases) was previously unrecognized and is intriguing.     

Human herpesvirus 8 and Epstein-Barr virus-related monotypic large B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder coexisting with mixed variant of Castleman's disease in a lymph node of a renal transplant recipient

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) has been related to some malignant lymphoproliferations, including post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). We describe a case of a HHV8 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive large B-cell lymphoproliferation coexisting with Castleman's disease in the same lymph node of a long-term renal transplant recipient. Biopsy revealed mixed type of Castleman's disease and anaplastic cells showing IgA restriction, although molecular analysis failed to detect monoclonality. Only large cells were co-infected by both EBV and HHV8. After reduction of immunosuppression, the lesion partially regressed. After 1 yr, local evolution required surgery followed by irradiation. The present case represents a unique form of localized monotypic but polyclonal large cell PTLD associated with Castleman's disease. It can be added to PTLD with HHV8 and EBV co-infection.     

Dietary factors and risk of spontaneous abortion

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between dietary habits and risk of spontaneous abortion. DESIGN: Hospital-based case-control study. SETTING: Obstetric hospitals in Milan, Italy. SUBJECTS: Cases were: 912 women admitted for spontaneous abortion (within the 12th week of gestation). Controls were: women who gave birth at term to healthy infants on randomly selected days at the same hospitals where cases had been identified. RESULTS: The risk of spontaneous abortion was inversely and significantly related to green vegetables, fruit, milk, cheese, eggs and fish consumption. The multivariate odds ratios (OR), for highest versus lowest levels of intake, were 0.3 for fruit, 0.5 for cheese, 0.6 for green vegetables and milk and 0.7 for fish and eggs. The major type of seasoning fats have showed a direct association with risk of miscarriage. Comparing the highest with the lowest intake, the ORs were 2.0 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.1-3.6) and 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.3) for butter and oil, respectively. No consistent association emerged between meat, liver, ham and carrots intake and the risk of spontaneous abortion. CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that a diet poor in several aspects, including vegetables and fruit, milk and dairy products, but rich in fats, may be a determinant or a correlate of increased risk of spontaneous abortion.     

Trends in asthma mortality in Italy and Spain, 1980–1996

Asthma is a major public health problem, with variable trends in several countries. We analysed mortality trends from asthma in Italy and Spain between 1980 and 1996. Overall asthma-related mortality at all ages increased between 1980 and 1987 in both sexes in Italy, from 16.6 in 1980–1981 to 29.0 in 1986–1987 per million males, and from 8.0 in 1980–1981 to 13.8 in 1986–1987 per million females, but decreased thereafter to reach 14.6 per million in males and 8.7 in females in 1996. The downward trends after 1987 were consistent in middle age and elderly population, but asthma mortality tended to rise in children and young adults over the last few years. In Spain, overall age-standardized mortality rates from asthma declined in men from 37.8 in 1980–1981 to 10.1 in 1996, and from 19.5 in 1980–1981 to 13.2 per million females in 1996. In women, the fall in mortality rates was smaller, and overall mortality was higher than in males since early 1990s. Trends of asthma mortality in Italy and Spain were favourable over the last decade.     

Risk factors for ovarian cancer in central Italy

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a case-control study to analyze risk factors for ovarian cancer. METHODS: Cases included 440 women (age range 13-80 years, median 54) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer who were admitted to the Gynecological Oncological Department of Gynecologic Oncology at the Catholic University Hospital in Rome, Italy. Controls were women admitted to the same hospital where cases were identified for acute nongynecological, nonhormonal, and nonneoplastic conditions. A total of 868 control women (age range 19-80 years, median 55) were interviewed. RESULTS: In comparison with ever married women, the multivariate odds ratios (OR) of ovarian cancers was 2.0 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.3-3.2) for never married women. Cases and controls were similar as regards educational status and body mass index. No clear relation emerged between ovarian cancer and age at menarche, menopausal status, and age at menopause. In comparison with nulliparae, the estimated ORs were 0.8, 0.9, and 0.7, respectively, in women reporting one, two, or three births. Women reporting two or more induced abortions were at decreased risk of ovarian cancer (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-1.0). In comparison with women reporting their first birth before 20 years of age, the multivariate ORs were 1.8, 2.0, and 2.8, respectively, for women reporting their first birth at age 20-24, 25-30, and >/=31 (chi(2) trend = 10.1). Breast-feeding for more than 1 year was associated with an OR of 0.5 (95% CI, 0.4-0.8). Forty-two (9.5%) cases and 164 (18.9%) controls reported ever oral contraceptive use: in comparison with never users, the multivariate OR was 0.4 (95% CI 0.3-0.6) for ever users, and the risk decreased with duration of use. The OR for ovarian cancer was 2.9 (95% CI, 1.5-5.8) for women with a family history of the disease. CONCLUSION: This study, conducted on a relatively low-risk population, confirms the role of oral contraceptive on ovarian cancer risk and the direct association with family history of ovarian cancer. It also indicates that a later age at first birth is directly, and induced abortion and breast-feeding are inversely, related to the risk of the disease.     

Diet and brain cancer in adults: a case-control study in northeast China

A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in the Heilongjiang Province of northeast China between May 1993 and May 1995. A total of 129 histologically confirmed brain cancer cases (73 gliomas and 56 meningiomas) and 258 matched controls were interviewed in 6 major hospitals to examine the influence of dietary factors in developing brain cancer. Information was obtained about frequency of consumption of 57 food items. Odds ratios (ORs) were obtained from conditional logistic regression, including allowance for socio-demographic factors, alcohol, tobacco and total energy intake. Consumption of fresh vegetables (OR = 0.29 for the highest quartile compared with the lowest one), and specifically of Chinese cabbage and onion, fruit (OR = 0.15), fresh fish (OR = 0.38) and poultry (OR = 0.16) was inversely related to the risk of developing brain cancer. A protective effect was also seen for vitamin E intake, calcium and, although non-significantly, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Risk of brain cancer increased with consumption of salted vegetables (OR = 2.54) and salted fish.     

Monoclonal antibodies to CD3 as immunosuppressants

Murine monoclonal antibodies specifically directed at the CD3 molecular complex are widely used in clinical transplantation. They are potent inhibitors of immune function and may be administered in association to conventional immunosuppressants. The main purpose of this review is to summarize our present knowledge on the CD3 molecule, to discuss the available data on the clinical use of anti-CD3 MAb (therapeutic effectiveness, mode of action and side effects) and the recent information derived from the use of anti-CD3 MAb in experimental models that are opening new perspective in the applications of anti-CD3 and will hopefully lead to the extension of its clinical use to settings different from transplantation.