bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards patients with HIV/AIDS in staff nurses in one university hospital in Sicily
Authors: Marranzano Marina , Ragusa Rosalia , Platania Marco , Faro Giuseppina , Coniglio Maria Anna 
Published: April 2023

Background: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices towards patients with HIV/AIDS are of ongoing interest, especially in developing countries. Nothing or very little is known about Italian nurses.
Methods: HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of the nurses (n=107) from one university hospital inCatania,Sicily, were documented. Comparisons among nurses belonging to different Operative Units (O.U.) were conducted by the chi-square test (P<0.05).
Results: although HIV was nurses’ main concern in regard to contracting infections in the workplace (54%), the vast majority of them (98%) had never refused an HIV/AIDS patient care assignment. Moreover, despite their concern of being more at risk of contracting HIV than the general population (41%), a not negligible percentage of nurses did not use gloves routinely (21%) and only a few treated all patients as potentially HIV-positive (9%). The vast majority of the respondents knew the meaning of AIDS (87%) and of a positive serological test (78%). On the contrary, a relatively low percentage of them knew what is the ‘window period’ (62%) and were acquainted with HIV pathophysiology (65%). No statistically significant differences in terms of risk perception were found between nurses who had previously attended an HIV/AIDS workshop, lecture or specific course (43%) and nurses who did not (57%). Level of knowledge was positively associated to age (P=0.000) and to education (P=0.016), and it was found higher in nurses working in a O.U. of Infectious Diseases.
Conclusions: data from our study show that also in developed countries, such as Italy, nurses could have some misconceptions and concerns about HIV/AIDS. The importance of examining the impact of continuing education on nurses’ preparedness to care for patients with HIV/AIDS and to prevent the risks of occupational HIV transmission is discussed.
The use of fractal dimension methods in clinical epidemiology: an application for postural assessment
Authors: Masedu Francesco , Angelozzi Massimo , Di Giminiani Riccardo , Valenti Marco 
Published: April 2023

Background: this study considers the analysis of postural sway by comparing the use of a fractal dimension outcome (DBOX) with the usual sway ellipse area (SEA), calculated by the least squares method. Both the response variables come from centre of pressure (COP) dynamics detected by means of a force platform.
Methods: recent literature regarding postural stability assessment in subjects with muscularskeletal disorders, or neuromuscular diseases affecting their motor skills, has suggested, both for practical and theoretical reasons, the use of some fractal dimension as a good outcome measurement for overall postural status. A sample group of 24 male subjects was recruited. The postural stabilogram was recorded both with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) while standing upright. A matched-pair comparison of the sway ellipse area with the COP dynamics box counting dimension was performed. A ROC analysis of the outcome variables was performed. Then, a ROC comparison of the tests, using the area under the curve (AUC) index, was conducted.
Results: the comparison of paired groups showed a statistically significant difference between EO and EC status, according to the sway ellipse area and the fractal dimension (p<0.05). The ROC analysis, describing the test performance in terms of AUC difference, was statistically significant (p<0.05). The comparison of the AUCs showed an overall superior performance of the DBOX with respect to SEA (p<0.05).
Conclusions: this study showed a statistically significant better overall performance of DBOX with respect to SEA, suggesting possible improvements of clinical practice, as well as theoretical insights into the response patterns.
A retrospective analysis of 3 156 admissions with fever of unknown origin in a large Italian hospital
Authors: Nicolotti Nicola , Cattel Caterina , Gualano Maria Rosaria , Soriano Alessandra , Manna Raffaele , Boccia Stefania 
Published: April 2023

Background: fever of unknown origin (FUO) is defined as a fever with no etiologic diagnosis after standardized investigations performed during 3 days in hospital or after at least 3 ambulatory visits. Our study aims to describe the epidemiology of classic FUO through the retrospective analysis of 902 861 admissions to a large University Hospital in Italy, to investigate its temporal trend, and to evaluate differences between young and old patients.
Methods: we retrieved data records of all the admissions between the 1st January 1988 and 31st December 2007. Proportional admission rate (PAR ) of FUO was calculated. Time trends of FUO admissions were analysed by joinpoint regression, with time changes expressed as Expected Annual Percent Change (EA PC). The ICD 9-CM code was used to identify the diagnosis on discharge of FUO cases.
Results: in the study period 3 156 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of FUO (PAR=3.50 per 1 000). The time-trend analysis showed two joinpoints, the first in 1995 (EAPC of 307.80, 95% CI: 89.66-776.84, p=0.002), and the second in 1998 (EAPC=-8.57, 95% CI: -10.37-6.73; p<0.001). Around 22% of admissions remained without a definitive diagnosis of FUO, with this percentage being lower in patients ≥65 years compared with subjects aged 21-64.
Conclusions: FUO is a leading cause of admission to hospitals, as well as of morbidity and mortality, thus representing a challenge for diagnostic medicine and hospital care. It is necessary to develop a diagnostic methodology for FUO , so as to reduce costs of preventable hospitalizations.
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health, EBPH: a new vision for two old journals
Authors: Boccia Stefania , La Vecchia Carlo 
Published: April 2023

The launch of this new journal, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health (EBPH), enables us to embrace new challenges, and renew our commitment to our readers, our authors and fellow editors, and ultimately to the public health community worldwide.
EBPH is an open access journal streaming from two previous journals, one focused on public health (The Italian Journal of Public Health, http://ijphjournal.it/) [1-8], ...
Magnitude of the smoking problem, knowledge, attitude and practice, among family members of primary school students
Authors: Nakhostin-Roohi Babak , Sojudi Aghdas , Hosseini Mahdi Khorshidi 
Published: April 2023

Background: smoking is a very important public health problem, urgently requiring immediate and effective measures due to its harmful effect on health. The purpose of this study was to collect baseline information about the magnitude of smoking problem, knowledge, attitude, and practice among family members of primary school students in the northwest region of Iran.
Methods: of 55 680 primary school students (the 3th, 4th and 5th grades), 7.1% (n=3 954) were selected using randomized multi-stage cluster sampling. Data collection was conducted in April, May, and June 2011, by means of a self-administered two-page questionnaire.
Results: a total of 3 954 students (57.6% boys and 42.3% girls) with the mean age of 10.46±1.09 years were evaluated. According to our data, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among fathers was more than other family members (27.1% versus 17.8%) whereas the prevalence of water pipe smoking among fathers and other family members was almost similar (9.2% and 9.7% respectively). None of the smoking type was prevalent among mothers (cigarette: 1% and water pipe: 1.1%). Considerable numbers of all students under study had been exposed to secondhand smoke at home (cigarette: 19.8% and water pipe: 7.7%).
Conclusions: considering our findings, two procedures recommended to prevail the problem are to provide greater education about hazards of tobacco consumption among students and their family; and to legislate new laws by officials to ban tobacco use at home.
Administrative databases as a tool for identifying healthcare demand and costs in an over-one million population
Authors: Madotto Fabiana , Riva Michele A. , Fornari Carla , Scalone Luciana , Ciampichini Roberta , Bonazzi Chiara , Mantovani Lorenzo G. , Cesana Giancarlo 
Published: April 2023

Background: the aim of this study was to assess healthcare demand of specific groups of population and their costs borne by Italian Health System, using healthcare administrative databases.
Methods: demographic, clinical and economic data were obtained from datasets available at the Regional Health System, combined into a data warehouse (DENALI), using a probabilistic record linkage to optimize the data matching process. The study population consisted of more than 1 million people registered in 2005 at one Local Healthcare Unit of Lombardy. Eight different segments were identified. Costs occurring in 2005 for hospital admissions, drug prescriptions, outpatient medical specialist visits were quantified in each segment.
Results: healthy people accounted for 53% of the population and cost € 180 per-capita. Subjects with only one chronic disease made up 16% of the population and cost € 916 per-capita, those affected by several chronic diseases accounted for 13% and cost € 3 457 per-capita. Hospitalizations were the cost driver in five segments, ranging from 42% to 89% of total expenditures. Outpatient visits were the cost driver among healthy subjects (54%) and those with a possible chronic disease (42%), while drug costs ranged between 4% (“acute event”) and 32% (“one chronic disease”). Overall, healthcare cost was € 809 per-capita.
Conclusions: healthcare costs were mainly determined by people affected by chronic conditions, even if “healthy people” ranked third for total expenditure. These costs need an appropriate identification of healthcare demand, that could be efficiently monitored through the use of administrative databases.
Environmental lithium exposure in the north of Chile - Tissue exposure indices
Authors: Figueroa Leonardo T. , Barton Sara Ann , Schull William J. , Young Allan H. , Kamiya Yumi M. , Hoskins John A. , Ilgren Edward B. 
Published: April 2023

Background: northern Chile has the highest levels of lithium in surface waters in the world which is reflected in very high lithium levels in the plants and animals that depend on these water systems and consequently in the indigenous population.
Methods: the lithium tissue burdens in populations from two valleys in the extreme north of Chile have been studied. The bulk of this report is based on analyses of lithium levels in urine, hair, and breast milk in the population of several villages. Data on serum levels, some of which had been previously published, are included for the sake of completeness. Since this paper reports studies by several groups of workers samples were analysed by a variety of methods. These include atomic emission, atomic absorption, other photospectroscopic techniques and mass spectroscopy.
Results: in all samples studied the average lithium level (5.3 ppm) was found to be significantly elevated compared to levels reported in the literature and measured in this study for people not exposed to high levels in water and food (0.009-0.228 ppm).
Conclusions: the people studied represent a unique longitudinal cohort. The work should provide important insights into the potential neuroprotective effects of lithium also help us set guidelines to assess the risks from high dose environmental exposure.
An investigation on prevalence of Anemia in relation to BMI and nutrient intake among adult rural population of West Bengal, India
Authors: Pal Amitava , De Sujaya , Sengupta Piyali , Maity Payel , Dhara Prakash C. 
Published: April 2023

Background: Anemia is now globally recognized major public health problem. The present study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of anemia and interrelationship of anemia with BMI among adult rural population of West Bengal state, India.
Method: Anthropometric measures, nutritional parameters, heart rate and hemoglobin were measured from 310 adult subjects by using standard technique.
Results: The prevalence of anemia was high among both sexes and more than the global prevalence. The anemic individuals consumed nutritionally deficient diet than the non-anemic individuals. The prevalence of anemia was significantly high in underweight and normal groups. The Odds ratios became significantly higher in underweight group than normal and overweight/obese groups of both sexes.
Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia in the adult rural population might be related to dietary deficiency and poor dietary patterns. The present study was hypothesized that the subjects with low BMI would have a higher risk of anemia compared to normal or overweight subjects.
Environmental risk factors in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis in Kayseri: a case control study
Authors: Günal Servin Yeşil , Mirza Meral 
Published: April 2023

Background: our purpose is to evaluate the possible relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and environmental factors in Kayseri.
Methods: this case control study was conducted on 100 patients with MS and 100 sex-aged and residential area matched control. Data was collected by using face to face interviews. Questionnaire consisted of two parts. The first part was comprised of items related with the participants’ sociodemographic features. The second part was related with factors thought to be involved in the occurrence or aggravation of the disease. The Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for analysis.
Results: logistic regression analysis revealed the following as possible risk factors in MS cases: economic status (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.14 adjusted 7.19; Confidence Interval 95% (CI): 0.05-0.43), having a sensitive personality (OR:4.51; 95% CI: 1.10-18.45), familial history of MS (OR:3.28; 95% CI: 1.3-8.27), history of cranial and spinal injury (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.11-8.08), cooking oil consumption (OR:0.07 adjusted 13.5; 95% CI: 0.03-0.20), consumption of legumes and grains (OR: 0.11 adjusted 8.9; 95% CI: 0.03-0.41), and living in dwellings within a distance of 500 meters from transformer basestations (OR: 6.5; 95% CI: 1.54-28.21).
Conclusions: we believe that it is necessary to inform the individuals about the risk of MS and their relatives of the results of large-scale joint studies and to offer suggestions based on the data obtained.
Assessment of seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness in patients from a central Italy reference hospital: pitfalls and intricacies from a pilot case-control study
Authors: De Gaetano Donati Katleen , Costanzo Simona , Campana Lara , Olivieri Marco , Santangelo Rosaria , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Cauda Roberto , Iacoviello Licia 
Published: April 2023

Objectives: Influenza vaccination protects high-risk populations from severe outcomes. We assessed the feasibility of testing influenza vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization with laboratory-confirmed influenza.
Methods: All hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness within 14 days, were swabbed. Cases were positive at RT-PCR for influenza A/B.
Results: AtRome “GemelliHospital” (Season 2011-2012) 104 patients were contacted and 62 recruited. Considering total sample and target group (n= 47, 76%), only 29% and 38% had been vaccinated. Eighteen patients were laboratory-conﬁrmed for influenza.
Conclusions: RecruitedILI patients and prevalence of vaccinated subjects were less than expected. Larger numbers are warranted to study vaccine effectiveness against severe influenza outcomes.
Association of Risk Perception and Information Provided on the Labels of Over-the-Counter Drugs: Role of Race, Education, Age and Income
Authors: Singh Neha , Suda Katie J. , Mathur Sunil 
Published: April 2023

Background: The use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs has increased tremendously, however, information on risk perception regarding the use of OTC drugs and their potential toxicity is scarce. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of OTC drug safety and efficacy based on reading product packaging and the effect of race, education, age and income. Methods: We used the HINTS 2012 data set with total sample size of 2,554.
Results: OTC drug users having some high school education had a lower chance of frequently reading information included in the product labeling with the OTC medication. OTC drug users less than 50 years of age were always likely to read drug information on the OTC drug labeling. Also, Non-Hispanic blacks were more likely to read OTC drug labeling than Non-Hispanic whites. OTC drug users less than 50 years of age consider OTC drugs safer than prescription drugs. Conversely, OTC drug users with a high school, some college or bachelor’s degree consider OTC drugs less safe than prescription drugs. Non-Hispanic blacks, non-Hispanic whites, and subjects of lower income were less likely to consider OTC drugs safer than prescription drugs. OTC drug users with a high school education and some college perceive OTC drugs to be less effective than prescription drugs.
Conclusion: To conclude, age, education, race, and income affect risk perception on OTC drugs. Consumer information programs need to be designed so that meaningful results can be incorporated into public policy. Providing information on the labeling of OTC drugs and likelihood of patients reading this information require further study.
Joint Modeling of Multivariate Longitudinal Depressive Symptoms and Survival with Application to an Aging Study
Authors: Yao Ping , Liu Xiaohong 
Published: April 2023

Objective The primary aim in this study was to use a joint analysis approach to examine the association between longitudinal depressive symptoms and survival in Mexican Americans.
Methods: The separate Cox regression and joint modeling were applied to data from the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (HEPESE). Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The trajectories of CES-D, modeled by random effect, were used as independent variables to fit the mortality curve adjusted by other variables including demographics and physical functioning.
Results: The separate Cox regression couldn’t identify association between depressive symptoms and survival. The joint analysis indicated that the slope of CES-D score was not associated with mortality in older Mexican-Americans, however the intercept had negative effects on mortality.
Conclusion: There was significant association between baseline depression symptoms and mortality, while no association with slope in older Mexican Americans
Out-of-home eating frequency, causal attribution of obesity and support to healthy eating policies from a cross-European survey
Authors: D'Addezio Laura , Turrini Aida , Capacci Sara , Saba Anna 
Published: April 2023

Background: The relation between the increased out-of-home food consumption and the rising of overweight and obesity prevalence rates has been widely assessed, and the a key role played by the catering sector in ensuring healthy food choices has been recognised. Governments’ healthy eating policies have a wide range of action, influencing consumer behavior, and the socioeconomic and food environments, with specific actions for the catering sector. Information on the public support for these policies could help policy makers in planning decisions. This study aims to investigate the relationship of out-of-home eating frequency with beliefs about obesity causes, support to healthy eating policies, and with socio-demographic factors.
Methods: Data on 3003 individuals from Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Poland and United Kingdom, of both sexes, aged ≥16 years, were employed, from the European survey on policy preferences (Eatwell). Data were analysed through Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.
Results: Out-of-home eating varied with gender, age, marital status, education, BMI, and by country. Convenience food consumption was positively associated with obesity attribution to genetics, and inversely associated with attribution to lack of willpower. Attributions of obesity to lack of time, and to lack of self-control were associated with increased likelihood to consume fast-food and ready-prepared food respectively. Out-of-home eating people expressed higher support for information-based prevention, and actions aimed at healthier out-of-home eating, and lower support for restrictions and regulations of the food supply environment.
Conclusion: Future research on out-of-home food consumers and their support towards public interventions for the catering sector, could have important implications for effective strategies to promote healthy eating.
POHON URBAN BLORA: RUANG REHAT UNTUK KOMUTER DI JALAN BLORA
Authors: Lumanauw Juan Valentino , Sutanto Agustinus 
Published: April 2023

Blora Street is a road in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta. This street is famous for its shops which are lined up along Jalan Sudirman. However, due to a change in the configuration of the Jalan Blora area, the movements that occur are also changing, and this causes the area to no longer be as busy as it used to be. For this reason, an architectural approach by means of urban acupuncture is used to try to revive an area that is increasingly losing its hustle and bustle. This project is located on one of the vacant lands in the Blora street shopping strip. This project proposes the construction of a break room to meet the community's need for open space as well as a transit space for the community to take a short break from work and the commuting lifestyle they always do. This project aims to provide a space for people to "breathe" in the middle of Jakarta with a lifestyle that is driven by time. The project was designed using the third place method to consider the mobility and possibilities of the new attractor and its relation to the upcoming TOD master plan project in the area. With the results of the project being a form of solution to provide a new attractor for human movement in the area.
Keywords: commuter; Blora street; stopover; rest
Abstrak
Jalan Blora merupakan jalan yang berada di Kawasan Menteng, Jakarta Pusat. Jalanan ini terkenal dengan pertokoannya yang berjejer di sepanjang Jalan Sudirman. Namun karena adanya perubahan konfigurasi Kawasan Jalan Blora, maka pergerakan yang terjadi pun kian berubah, dan mengakibatkan Kawasan tersebut tidak lagi ramai layaknya waktu dahulu. Untuk itu pendekatan arsitektur dengan cara akupuntur urban digunakan untuk mencoba menghidupkan Kembali Kawasan yang semakin lama semakin hilang keramaiannya. Proyek ini berlokasi di salah satu lahan kosong yang ada di strip pertokoan jalan Blora. Proyek ini mengusulkan pembangunan ruang rehat untuk memenuhi kebutuhan masyarakat akan ruang terbuka serta ruang singgah bagi masyarakat untuk istirahat sejenak dari pekerjaan serta gaya hidup komuter yang selalu mereka lakukan. Proyek ini bertujuan untuk memberikan sebuah ruang bagi masyarakat untuk “bernafas” di tengah kota Jakarta dengan gaya hidup yang terpacu oleh waktu. Proyek di desain menggunakan metode tempat ketiga untuk mempertimbangkan pergerakan dan kemungkinan atraktor yang baru serta keterkaitannya dengan proyek masterplan TOD yang akan datang di daerah tersebut. Dengan hasil proyek menjadi salah satu bentuk solusi untuk memberikan atraktor baru bagi pergerakan manusia di daerah tersebut.