Consumption of energy drinks, alcohol, and alcohol-mixed energy drinks among Italian adolescents.

Background: It has been argued that the excessive consumption of energy drinks (EDs) may have serious health consequences, and that may serve as an indicator for substance use and other risky behaviors. The present paper offers a perspective on this topic that remains underexplored on the population of adolescents.

Methods: Data were collected via self-administered anonymous questionnaires from 870 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years who were recruited from a random sample of public secondary schools in the geographic area of the Calabria Region, in the South of Italy.

Is HPV DNA testing specificity comparable to that of cytological testing in primary cervical cancer screening? Results of a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Human-papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing has been proposed as an alternative to primary cervical cancer screening using cytological testing. Review of the evidence shows that available data are conflicting for some aspects. The overall goal of the study is to update the performance of HPV DNA as stand-alone testing in primary cervical cancer screening, focusing particularly on the aspects related to the specificity profile of the HPV DNA testing in respect to cytology.

Validity and reliability of a tool for determining appropriateness of days of stay: an observational study in the orthopedic intensive rehabilitation facilities in Italy.

Objectives: To test the validity and reliability of a tool specifically developed for the evaluation of appropriateness in rehabilitation facilities and to assess the prevalence of appropriateness of the days of stay.

Methods: The tool underwent a process of cross-cultural translation, content validity, and test-retest validity. Two hospital-based rehabilitation wards providing intensive rehabilitation care located in the Region of Calabria, Southern Italy, were randomly selected.

Appraising hospital performance by using the JCHAO/CMS quality measures in Southern Italy.

Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to estimate the uptake to quality indicators that reflect the current evidence-based recommendations and guidelines.

Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of patients admitted to two hospitals in the South of Italy was conducted. For the purposes of the analysis, a sets of quality indicators has been used from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Patient safety and medical errors: knowledge, attitudes and behavior among Italian hospital physicians.

Objective: To investigate physicians' knowledge about evidence-based patient safety practices, their attitudes on preventing and managing medical errors and to explore physicians' behavior when facing medical errors.

Design: A nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Setting: We first stratified our population by the 20 Italian regions.

Role of systemic chemotherapy in the management of resected or resectable colorectal liver metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Liver metastases are a common event in patients with colorectal cancer. Surgical resection, if feasible, produces a survival benefit. We performed a systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCT) and meta-analysis to address the question if current available studies support the use of systemic chemotherapy as an adjunct to surgery in resected/resectable patients.

[Healthcare associated infections in cardiac surgery patients: results of a study conducted in a university hospital in Catanzaro (Italy)].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of healthcare-associated infections in patients admitted to the Cardiac Surgery Division of the University Hospital in Catanzaro (Italy) from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009. The methodology developed by the National Healthcare Safety Network was used. In total 887 patients were evaluated, 5.

Self-reported health status and access to health services in a sample of prisoners in Italy.

Background: Self-reported health status in underserved population of prisoners has not been extensively explored. The purposes of this cross-sectional study were to assess self-reported health, quality of life, and access to health services in a sample of male prisoners of Italy.

Methods: A total of 908 prisoners received a self-administered anonymous questionnaire pertaining on demographic and detention characteristics, self-reported health status and quality of life, access to health services, lifestyles, and participation to preventive, social, and rehabilitation programs.

Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia, mortality and all intensive care unit acquired infections by topically applied antimicrobial or antiseptic agents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in intensive care units.

Introduction: Given the high morbidity and mortality attributable to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, prevention plays a key role in the management of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. One of the candidate preventive interventions is the selective decontamination of the digestive or respiratory tract (SDRD) by topical antiseptic or antimicrobial agents. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the effect of topical digestive or respiratory tract decontamination with antiseptics or antibiotics in the prevention of VAP, of mortality and of all ICU-acquired infections in mechanically ventilated ICU patients.