Effectiveness of the flash glucose monitoring system in preventing severe hypoglycemic episodes and in improving glucose metrics and quality of life in subjects with type 1 diabetes at high risk of acute diabetes complications.

Aims: To assess the effectiveness of the intermittent-scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) system in preventing severe hypoglycemic episodes and in improving glucose parameters and quality of life.

Methods: Four hundred T1D individuals were enrolled in a prospective real-word study with an intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring device during the 12-months follow-up. The primary endpoint was the incidence of severe hypoglycemic events.

Efficacy of a training programme for the management of diabetes mellitus in the hospital: A randomized study (stage 2 of GOVEPAZ healthcare).

Aims: To assess the efficacy of a structured educational intervention for health professionals on the appropriateness of inpatient diabetes care and on some clinical outcomes in hospitalised subjects.

Methods: A multicentre (6 regional hospitals) cluster-randomized (2:1) two parallel-group pragmatic intervention trials, as a part of the GOVEPAZ study, was conducted in three clinical settings, that is, Internal Medicine, Surgery and Intensive Care. Intervention consisted of a 2-month structured education of clinical staff to inpatient diabetes care.

A performance score of the quality of inpatient diabetes care is a marker of clinical outcomes and suggests a cause-effect relationship between hypoglycaemia and the risk of in-hospital mortality.

Aims: To build a tool to assess the management of inpatients with diabetes mellitus and to investigate its relationship, if any, with clinical outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 678 patients from different settings, Internal Medicine (IMU, n = 255), General Surgery (GSU, n = 230) and Intensive Care (ICU, n = 193) Units, were enrolled. A work-flow of clinical care of diabetes was created according to guidelines.

Handwriting characteristics in patients with overt autoimmune hypothyroidism: a prospective case-control study.

Purpose: Previous studies have demonstrated handwriting changes in patients with overt hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate handwriting features in patients affected by overt autoimmune hypothyroidism.

Methods: Thirty subjects - 24 females and 6 males, mean and median age of 50.

The impact of Graves' disease and its treatment on handwriting characteristics.

Background: Thyroid hormones are crucial for metabolism in all tissues in humans, including the nervous system and muscles, and could thus affect handwriting, which is the synthesis of complex and fine movements. Hyperthyroidism, characterized by symptoms such as tremor and weakness, could affect handwriting, although this has not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate handwriting characteristics before and after therapy for hyperthyroid Graves' disease (GD).

[Effectiveness of the kit Conversation Map in the therapeutic education of diabetic people attending the Diabetes Unit in Carpi, Italy].

We implemented the "Diabetes conversations", programme of the International Diabetes Federation-Europe, characterised by the use of the Conversation Map, an educational interactive kit addressed to groups of diabetic patients on: Living with diabetes, What is diabetes, Healthy diet and physical activity, Initiating insulin therapy. After at least three month from the end of the 4-session course, clinical data of 63 participants from the first 10 groups--age (mean +/- std dev) 61.7 +/- 10.

Joint and distinct risk factors associated with micro- and macrovascular complications in a cohort of type 2 diabetic patients cared through disease management.

We analysed the risk factors associated with diabetic complications in the cohort of patients assisted by a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) shared-care program. We analysed registry data from 16,136 T2DM patients. Of them, 4,781 had microangiopathy, 3,469 CV events.

[Assessment of a nursing protocol for the management of hyperglicaemia in hospitalized patients].

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of a nurse-led protocol for the management of hypo/ hyperglicaemia in a medical ward.

Methods: Protocols for standard therapy, and parenteral intensive insulin therapy for severe hypo/hyperglycaemia in hospitalised patients were implemented.

Period: march-november 2007.

[Prevention of diabetes mellitus complications and improvement of early diagnosis at a population level, through the implementation of integrated disease management in the Modena region].

We evaluated the effectiveness of diabetes mellitus disease management, implemented in Modena province since ten years, on the prevention of complications and early diagnoses at a population level. Time trends show that diabetic patients had significantly decreasing values over time of age, diabetes duration, and glycated haemoglobin; and increasing percentage over time of new-onset diabetes and optimal glycaemic control. That indicates an improved ability of early diagnosis and care of diabetes mellitus.

Evaluation of easy-to-read information material on healthy life-styles written with the help of citizens' collaboration through networking.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if easy-to-read information material on the prevention of chronic-degenerative diseases through healthy lifestyle co-written by communicators, educators, physicians and citizens -using a networking strategy- could be judged comprehensible. Readability scores were computed. The survey involved 100 individuals attending our centralized booking centre for medical appointments during an "index week".

A single-center experience in open and endovascular treatment of hemodynamically unstable and stable patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: To retrospectively compare a single center's immediate and mid-term outcomes of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm open and endovascular repair (EVAR) for two patient groups-hemodynamically stable and unstable patients-in the same time period.

Methods: Patients presenting at our center with confirmed rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm between December 1999 and April 2006 were considered according to an intention-to-treat model with EVAR. Patients with symptomatic or acute (but not ruptured) AAAs were not included in this study.

Assessment of readability and learning of easy-to-read educational health materials designed and written with the help of citizens by means of two non-alternative methods.

Objectives: We compared two non-alternative methods to assess the readability and learning of easy-to-read educational health materials co-written by physicians, educators and citizens.

Methods: Data from seven easy-to-read materials were analyzed. Readability formulae, and ad hoc data on readability and learning were also computed.

[Implementing simple tools for clinical practice in primary care: reports from the Project Diabetes registry addressed to primary care groups in Modena].

We implemented simple tools for Clinical Practice in Primary Care, i.e. reports of Diabetes Project's Registry addressed to Primary Care Groups in Modena in order to promote the clinical practice through a detailed peer-review of program indicators.

Comparing outcomes of carotid endarterectomy with international benchmarks: audit from an Italian vascular surgery department.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in the current practice of our department of vascular surgery with international benchmarks.

Methods: In-patient data from 488 CEA performed in both symptomatic 145 (29.7%) and asymptomatic 343 (70.

Surveillance of dietary habits and lifestyles among 5-6 year-old children and their families living in Central-North Italy.

Objectives: To study dietary habits and behaviours of a representative sample of 5-6-year-old children and their families.

Methods: A stratified population sample of the general population (5508 children out of 5551 residents) born in 1997 and attending a nursery school was analysed. Weight and height were measured.

[GPs' self-perception of their own role compared with hospital, ambulatory, academic, and health organisation physicians].

Aim of the present study was to explore how the 76 general practitioners (GPs) - serving Carpi district (90,000 residents) - value their own role compared with the hospital, ambulatory, academic, and health organisation physicians'. GPs had a positive self-image only in comparison with health organisation doctors (7 vs 7 grades). GPs disappointed with themselves when comparing their role with ambulatory (-1.

Non-HDL cholesterol predicts coronary heart disease in primary prevention: findings from an Italian 40-69 year-old cohort in general practice.

Objects: Non-HDL cholesterol is now recommended as an index of risk associated with combined dyslipidemia, and it has also been found useful in predicting coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in patients with diabetes. We studied the association between known CHD risk factors, enclosed non-HDL cholesterol, and a "high CHD risk condition", i.e.

[Relationship between the assessment of coronary risk using the Italian chart and the assessment with the New Zealand chart].

Objective: To describe the distribution of coronary risk in primary prevention using both the New Zealand and Italian charts, and to assess whether there is a relationship between the two scales built on data from populations at different natural coronary risk.

Design: Descriptive study.

Setting: Carpi's district, Territorial Health Authority in Modena province.

Physical activity in the EPIC-Italy centers.

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition offers the opportunity to explore patterns of physical activity in a large series of healthy adults enrolled in the different local cohorts of the Italian section of the European EPIC project. Physical activity is considered one of the means by which chronic disease could be prevented. Subjects in the EPIC study completed a life-style questionnaire, with a section dedicated to the assessment of physical activity at work and during leisure time.

EPIC-Italy cohorts and multipurpose national surveys. A comparison of some socio-demographic and life-style characteristics.

Background: EPIC-Italy cohort study recruited subjects who voluntarily accepted to participate in the project. From the self-selected bases of the population sample, some bias could derive in the data interpretation when risk estimation for cancer disease related to life-style factors is the principal concern. Knowledge of the bias related to self-selected sampling is important for better directing the interpretation of the EPIC-Italy study results.

Correlates of age at natural menopause in the cohorts of EPIC-Italy.

A large number of studies have investigated the factors correlated to age at natural menopause in several populations. However, information on genetics and life-style factors influencing the age of onset of menopause in different populations is of current scientific interest. Specifically, for Italian women there are no large population-based data.