bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for intussusception in childhood gastroenteritis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Italy
Authors: Mattei Antonella , Fiasca Fabiana 
Published: April 2023

Background. The aetiology of intussusception is unknown for most of the cases studied, although some associated conditions have been identified. We aimed to clarify the role played by enteric pathogens as potential risk factors for intussusception.

Methods. A retrospective review of the records relating to hospitalizations for gastroenteritis with or without concurrent intussusception in Italian children was conducted among children aged <6 years old during the period 2005-2012. Through a multivariate logistic regression model, the associations, expressed as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, were estimated between the presence of gastroenteritis with intussusception and the explanatory variables, such as sex, age, the aetiology of gastroenteritis and whether the subjects lived in the North, South and Islands or Centre Italy.
Results. A total of 174 records related to admissions due to the concomitant manifestation of gastroenteritis and intussusception were extracted and analyzed. The estimate of the adjusted odds ratio confirmed the significant contribution that sex and geographical location made to hospitalizations both for gastroenteritis with concurrent intussusception, and in the associated secondary diagnosis of gastroenteritis, with the exception of the rotavirus, where a different seasonality and a bucking trend were observed. The probability of intussusception became statistically significant lower from 12 months of age to ≤23 months and for age 48-59 months, respect to the first year of life.
Conclusions. Our observational study highlighted males, affected by enteric infections, other than rotavirus and parasitic, living in North and Centre of Italy have an increased risk of developing intussusceptions. In the second and fifth year of life the probability of intussusceptions becomes lower than in the first year. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings and evaluate the pathogenesis which may link such infections with intussusception.
Toward a better understanding of the relationship between influenza vaccine efficacy against specific and non-specific endpoints and vaccine efficacy against influenza infection
Authors: Nauta Jozef , Beyer Walter EP , Kimp Erna PJA 
Published: April 2023

In influenza vaccination studies assessing vaccine efficacy (VE), both specific and non-specific endpoints (outcomes) are used. We present a formula for the relationship between VE against influenza-related outcomes (VEO), specific and non-specific, and that against influenza infection (VEI). In its simplest form, the formula comprises two additional parameters: the influenza attack rate among unvaccinated subjects, and the relative risk of the outcome for influenza infected subjects versus non-infected subjects. Both parameters may show large between-seasonal variation, which translates to a large between-seasonal variation of VEO estimates. With the full form of the formula it can be shown that, contrary to popular believe, VEO may be greater than VEI. We argue that interpreting VEO estimates in terms of “low” or “high” is not possible without taking the costs of an outcome case into account. We conclude that the decision to use a non-specific endpoint as surrogate for influenza infection should be taken in the awareness of these limitations.
Air pollution: a study of citizen's attitudes and behaviors using different information sources
Authors: Carducci Annalaura , Donzelli Gabriele , Cioni Lorenzo , Palomba Giacomo , Verani Marco , Mascagni Giulia , Anastasi Giuseppe , Pardini Luca , Ceretti Elisabetta , Grassi Tiziana , Carraro Elisabetta , Bonetta Silvia , Villarini Milena , Gelatti Umberto 
Published: April 2023

Background: From November 2015 to January 2016, the routine air monitoring showed a peak of air pollution (in particular of PM10) that caused alarm in many Italian cities and was widely reported by mass media. After some weeks from this alarm, we tried to evaluate the citizen awareness and interest towards air pollution together with their positive behaviors, using different information sources.
Methods: From September 2015 to March 2016, in parallel with the number of exceedances of the PM10 in Italy we evaluated the press coverage, the average monthly searches on Google and the interest on Twitter. Moreover, a qualitative content analysis on daily newspapers was conducted and a self-compiled questionnaire on the attitudes and behaviors about environmental issues and their determinants was administered to 598 parents involved in the project MAPEC_LIFE (LIFE12 ENV/IT/00614).
Results: The media coverage of the theme of air pollution was very high from the end of 2015 to the beginning of 2016, as well as internet searches and twitter messages. Our qualitative analysis highlighted that only a small portion of articles included information about positive behaviors and environmental awareness. Despite the high media coverage and the satisfactory self-perceived knowledge, the majority of respondents judged negatively the received information (as untrue and incomplete) and declared a limited adoption of pro-environmental behaviors.
Conclusion: The parallel study of mass media information and people’s attitudes and behaviors seem to indicate that the high media coverage was not followed by a very high motivation towards pro-environmental behaviors.
Decreasing loneliness and social isolation among the older people: systematic search and narrative review
Authors: Stojanovic Jovana , Collamati Agnese , Mariusz Duplaga , Onder Graziano , La Milia Daniele Ignazio , Ricciardi Walter , Moscato Umberto , Magnavita Nicola , Poscia Andrea 
Published: April 2023

Introduction
The aim of this study is to sum up the current knowledge on the effectiveness of the existing interventions for alleviating loneliness and social isolation among elderly persons.
Methods
We used a systematic approach and performed a literature search of MEDLINE, ISI Web of science, SCOPUS, The Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases. After identifying 13 eligible reviews addressing interventions of our interest, we proceeded with a narrative description of the study findings.
Results
The initiatives largely encompassed one-to-one interventions, group activities or community engagement approaches. In particular, technology interventions were recently given much attention. Overall, the studies showed non-satisfying methodological quality and their results were often inconclusive.
Conclusions
Although there is a growing body of evidence referring to implementation of interventions targeting social isolation and loneliness among the elderly, future well-designed interventions are necessary in order to draw firm conclusions.
Voluntary (NGO) Sector’s Involvement in Health Promotion for Older Population in Europe
Authors: Zabdyr-Jamróz Michał 
Published: April 2023

Background and objective: The NGO’s (non-governmental organisations’) role in health promotion is very much praised and encouraged. The basic features of this sector, namely social participation, voluntary activity and self-help, are by default considered as beneficial for health promotion for older people. New policy approaches stimulate NGOs involvement in it. This makes questions about this involvement – its role, context and success – increasingly relevant.
Method: The research is based on narrative literature review as well as interviews and consultations with informers (practitioners and experts) in selected European countries.
Results: Voluntary/NGO sector increases its role as a complimentary or alternative source of health promotion for older people in Europe. Its involvement, roles and functions as well as actual significance, however, depends on a number of factors. It depends on the sustainability of funding, stability of employment, elderly participation rate and recognized availability of services. Those factors are determined by socio-economic and systemic conditions: a country-specific model of third sector, overall social attitudes towards participation and system of governance in health promotion.
Conclusion: The sector’s significance is widely acknowledged, however, its impact is often only assumed rather that sufficiently assessed and proven. By its voluntary nature, the sector might not be able to address the problem of health inequalities. Also, various political and economic changes across Europe result in the change of the sector’s performance.
Health Promotion for Older People Performed in Health Sector
Authors: Mokrzycka Anna S. 
Published: April 2023

Background
Health sector plays important role in health promotion for older population (HP4OP). The institutions involved constitute a very differentiated sphere: variety of models, structures, financing methods, different forms of providers and payers. HP4OP requires engagement of health sector and medical/public health professionals.
Methods
Literature review was used: systematic reviews for English-language papers on HP4OP and sectorial institutions activities (incl.PubMed and the healthPROelderly database). Questionnaires, individual interviews and templates were provided for collecting information from country experts. Due to the low feedback for template distribution personal interviews and desk research methods were used.
Results
Health sector institutions have been indicated and analysed proving the importance of primary care role, institutional and inter-sectorial cooperation, specifically with local governments and NGOs. The important results showed that the medical professional’s approach has to be changed. Moreover, innovations, new technologies used by professionals and patients may significantly improve activities of health sector oriented on effective and long lasting HP4OP.
Conclusions: The research performed provided a set of information for the description of the sectorial role in HP4OP, including barriers and limitations, the prerequisites for the cooperation, good practices regarding health promotion projects/ programs focused on old population. The paper, based on EU project, presents the overall picture of health sector involvement in HP4OP and the statement that various institutional arrangements in EU do not contravene the idea of good practices applicability and importance for the effective implementation of HP4OP programs.
Predictors of HIV prevention knowledge and sexual behaviors among students at Makerere University Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Nuwasiima Afra , Onyango Nelson Owuor , Navvuga Patricia , Nuwamaya Elly , Nyabigambo Agnes , Lubinga Solomon J. , Babigumira Joseph B. 
Published: April 2023

Background: Prior reviews argue that unsafe sexual behaviors and poor HIV knowledge significantly increase the probability of acquiring HIV infections among adolescents. This study assessed the predictors of HIV prevention knowledge and sexual behaviors among Makerere university students in Uganda.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey. We performed a normality test using Shapiro Wilk test on knowledge score. Results revealed that knowledge score was not normally distributed. The study used two sample Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Kruskal Wallis Rank tests to assess the effect of HIV knowledge on demographic characteristics and sexual behaviors. Post-hoc tests were conducted using Bonferroni correction. Spearman rank correlation test was used for continuous variables while Chi-square and Fisher’s tests were used for categorical variables to assess the relationship between demographic characteristics and sexual behaviors.

Results: We report results for 1337 students. The mean age was 21.2SD (1.6) and more than half 700(52.4%) were male students. The median HIV prevention knowledge score of students was 13 IQR (11-15) in the range of 0 to 18. Males significantly scored higher than females (13.0 IQR (12-15) vs. 12.0 IQR (10-14) p=0.000), an increase in age was associated with higher knowledge scores (Rho = 0.101, p = 0.000). Students in the third year of study significantly scored higher than those in the first year, and government-sponsored students scored higher than the privately sponsored students. HIV knowledge was also significantly associated with sexual experience, and condom use at univariate level but insignificant at multiple level analysis. Males were more likely to have ever had sex (31.7% vs. 12.7%) and ever used a condom (63% vs. 55%) than females respectively

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Makerere University students possessed good knowledge on HIV. There is evidence of an association between student’s knowledge, and demographic characteristics and a few sexual behaviors. Future behavioral and educational programs that target both sexually and non-sexually experienced students should address the gender differences.
Occupational exposures and genetic susceptibility to lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma: a systematic review
Authors: Milovanovic Sonja , Stojanovic Jovana , Pastorino Roberta , Iavicoli Ivo Iavicoli , Boccia Stefania 
Published: April 2023

Background
The risk of occupationally related lung cancer, as well as pleural mesothelioma, in association with genetic polymorphisms, has been investigated with contradictory results.
This systematic review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the relationship between genetic polymorphisms, occupational exposures, and lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma.
Methods
We searched MEDLINE, ISI Web of science, and SCOPUS online databases for all articles published in English language up to September 2016. Studies were considered eligible if they had assessed the association between occupational exposures and lung cancer/pleural mesothelioma in relation to genetic polymorphisms.
Results
Sixteen studies were included, of which eleven on lung cancer and six on mesothelioma, of which one was in common. NAT2 slow acetylator genotype confers an increased risk of pleural mesothelioma in subjects exposed to asbestos (OR=2.10; 95% CI=1.10-4.10), especially in combination with the GSTM1 null genotype (OR=3.60; 95% CI=1.30-9.60). GSTT1 null and CYP1A1 Msp1 T6235C (T/C+C/C) genotype carriers exposed to arsenic, uranium, asbestos and other chemical agents have an increased risk of lung cancer respect to not exposed wild type genotypes (OR=1.33; 95% CI=0.67-2.64, OR=2.20; 95% CI=1.11-4.35, respectively).
Conclusion
Genetic polymorphisms might modulate individual susceptibility to lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma in occupationally exposed subjects.
Joinpoint regression analysis with time-on-study as time-scale. Application to three Italian population-based cohort studies
Authors: Rea Federico , Pagan Eleonora , Monzio Compagnoni Matteo , Cantarutti Anna , Pugni Pietro , Bagnardi Vincenzo , Corrao Giovanni 
Published: April 2023

Background: Joinpoint regression analysis is usually applied to study varying trends over time in order to identify the time point(s) in which the trend significantly changes. We illustrate three epidemiological investigations in which this methodology was applied with time-on-study as time-scale.
Methods: Data were retrieved from the healthcare utilization databases of Lombardy Region (Italy). We investigated the trend of the: (1) mortality rate among centenarians hospitalized for hip fracture (2004-2011); (2) proportion of persistent patients after the initial prescription of antihypertensive drugs during the first year of treatment according to gender (2005); prescription rate of statins in the year before and after the hospital admission among patients hospitalized for a transient ischemic attack (2008-2009).
Results: The following results were obtained: (1) a joinpoint was identified in the fourth month, showing an increased risk of death during the three months after hip fracture hospitalization; (2) the proportion of patients still under antihypertensive treatment falls until the fifth month, remaining stable afterwards; there was evidence that the prevalence of patients who discontinued the treatment was significantly higher among women than men; (3) during the year after the transient ischemic attack episode, monthly rate of available statins was double than the previous year with a significant decrease in the first four months.
Conclusions: The joinpoint regression analysis can be a useful tool in epidemiologic framework when a temporal trend is the objective of the investigation since it allows to make inference by means of a quantitative method rather than a qualitative evaluation.
Methodological issues in the observational studies conducted in older population: a narrative review
Authors: Poscia Andrea , Collamati Agnese , Milovanovic Sonja , Liborio Vetrano Davide , Liotta Giuseppe , Petitti Tommasangelo , Di Pietro Maria Luisa , Magnavita Nicola , Ricciardi Walter , Cherubini Antonio , Onder Graziano 
Published: April 2023

Introduction
Well-conducted observational studies may represent valuable tools for getting insight to disease etiology, detecting the effect of age-related changes, and providing an important perspective on health risk factors and disabilities in an aging population. Nevertheless, this kind of research poses several challenges for researchers. The main aim of this narrative review was to address the potential methodological issues in performing the observational studies in the elderly, the factors that influence their participation, and the possible solutions for overcoming the barriers to research in this population.
Methods
Comprehensive search for the papers published in the period from January 1st 1980 until 31st July 2016 in English or Italian was conducted through MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science electronic databases. Findings from the included papers were finally summarized.
Results
In cohort studies, the following barriers were addressed: sample size calculation, ascertainment of the target population, frequency of data collection, exposure determination, multifactorial loss to follow-up (drop-outs), cognitive impairment, definition of confounders, and ethical aspects. Case-control studies were reported to be prone to the issues like ascertainment of cases and controls, willingness to participate, data accuracy, recall bias, issues related to patients’ multimorbidity, and cognitive impairment.
Conclusions
Important factors to consider in research in elderly people include: precise definition of the study population, well conducted recruitment process, engagement with family and home care staff, cognitive impairment assessment and the consequent relevant ethical and legal issues, relief of participant burden in order to minimize withdrawal, and engagement with the media.
An algorithm to identify patients with type 2 diabetes among undocumented migrants using data on drug dispensation by charities
Authors: Fiorini Gianfrancesco , Cerri Cesare , Rigamonti Antonello E. , Bini Silvia , Marazzi Nicoletta , Sartorio Alessandro , G. Cella Silvano 
Published: April 2023

An algorithm to identify patients with type 2 diabetes among undocumented migrants using data on drug dispensation by charities.

Gianfrancesco Fiorini, Cesare Cerri, Antonello E Rigamonti, Silvia Bini, Nicoletta Marazzi, Alessandro Sartorio, Silvano G. Cella

Abstract

Background. Electronic databases of chronic diseases are available in many countries. Health data of residents, natives and documented migrants, are thus easily accessible. This does not happen for the growing population of undocumented migrants.
Methods. We analysed the databases of two Italian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) containing the records of all drug dispensations to 12,386 undocumented migrants from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2016, with the aim to identify treated for type 2 diabetes (T2D) on the basis of demographic data and dispensed medicines.
Medications were identified according to the Anatomical Chemical Therapeutic (ATC) classification. All the patients with at least one dispensation per year of any A10 (antidiabetic) drug were selected. An algorithm to match this observation with the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), on the basis of demographic data and use or not of insulin, was developed. The algorithm was validated in 400 diabetic and 400 non-diabetic patients randomly selected.
Results. The algorithm correctly identified all patients (N=660) with T2D. When our patients were grouped according to ethnicity, we found that all ethnic groups contributed a comparable percentage of patients with T2D. Also, no difference was seen between the group of EU citizens living in poverty cared for by the NGOs and any of the ethnic groups.
Conclusions. This algorithm can be used to identify patients treated for T2D when no diagnostic codes are available, as is frequently the case with undocumented migrants. Therefore it can be useful for many aspects of public health.
Households' food expenditures in urban areas of Iran: An application of small area estimation
Authors: Soltani-Kermanshahi Mojtaba , Mehrabi Yadollah , Kavousi Amir , Baghestani Ahmad-Reza , Mohammadi-Nasrabadi Fatemeh , Aliakbari-Saba Roshanak 
Published: April 2023

Background: A fundamental factor for human development is food, and inequalities in nutrition have been related to inequalities in health .The purpose of this study was to estimate Household Food Expenditure (HFE) in urban areas of Iran at district-level using small area estimation (SAE) methods.

Design and Methods: We used the Fay-Herriot model, the well-known area-level model of SAE. The main data was urban data of HFE collected by Statistical Centre of Iran at 2013. The environment of our study was urban area of Iran and study unit was household.
Results: Findings showed that average number of room at each household, migration rate, proportion of male headed households(PMH) and Proportion of the active population`s employed at district level had a significant effect on HFE. Comparison between aggregated province estimates and estimates reported by SCI was not significant (P=0.609). The lowest and the highest HFE belong respectively to Pishva district with 27,067 thousand rials(TRs) and to Boyer-Ahmad district with 85,175 TRs.
Conclusions: Small-area estimation is advantageous for surveillance of HFE at the district level. This method allows documentation of geographic disparities and improves our understanding of the spatial distribution of HFE in urban areas of Iran.