Alcohol versus combined alcohol and energy drinks consumption: Risk behaviors and consumption patterns among European students.

Introduction: Recent research found that drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED) could be riskier than drinking alcohol alone. Our aim was to compare rates of risk behaviors in consumers of AmED versus exclusive alcohol drinkers, matching them based on their drinking frequency.

Methods: Data about 16-year-old students who reported the number of occasions on which they had drunk AmED or alcohol only in the preceding 12 months (n = 32,848) were drawn from the 2019 ESPAD study.

Long-term effects of a combination of isoflavones, agnus castus and magnolia extracts on climacteric symptoms and cardiometabolic risk profile in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of a combination of isoflavones, agnus castus and magnolia extracts (combined isoflavone compound [CIC]) on climacteric symptoms and cardiometabolic risk in symptomatic postmenopausal women.

Methods: This interventional, prospective study evaluated climacteric symptoms, mood and sleep disorders using the 21-item Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) and 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaires; and cardiovascular, metabolic and thrombotic risk markers at baseline (T0) and after 12 months of CIC treatment (T1).

Results: In healthy postmenopausal women ( = 71), 12-month CIC treatment significantly reduced patient-reported vasomotor symptoms (100% 17%), mood disorders (67% .

Fear of COVID-19 for Individuals and Family Members: Indications from the National Cross-Sectional Study of the EPICOVID19 Web-Based Survey.

The study analyzed the association of the fear of contagion for oneself and for family members (FMs) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with demographic and socioeconomic status (SES) and health factors. The study was performed within the EPICOVID19 web-based Italian survey, involving adults from April-June 2020. Out of 207,341 respondents, 95.

Rapid COVID-19 Screening Based on Self-Reported Symptoms: Psychometric Assessment and Validation of the EPICOVID19 Short Diagnostic Scale.

Background: Confirmed COVID-19 cases have been registered in more than 200 countries, and as of July 28, 2020, over 16 million cases have been reported to the World Health Organization. This study was conducted during the epidemic peak of COVID-19 in Italy. The early identification of individuals with suspected COVID-19 is critical in immediately quarantining such individuals.

Paper-and-pencil versus computerized administration mode: Comparison of data quality and risk behavior prevalence estimates in the European school Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD).

Purpose: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate whether paper-and-pencil and computerized surveys administered in the school setting yield equivalent data quality indicators and risk behavior prevalence estimates.

Methods: Data were drawn from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD®) carried out in Italy to monitor drug, alcohol, tobacco use and other risk-behaviors among Italian high school students aged 15-19 years. A sub-sample of schools was recruited for the study (1673 pupils).

Prevalence of youth gambling and potential influence of substance use and other risk factors throughout 33 European countries: first results from the 2015 ESPAD study.

Background And Aims: Although generally prohibited by national regulations, underage gambling has become popular in Europe, with relevant cross-country prevalence variability. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of underage gambling in Europe stratified by type of game and on-/off-line mode and to examine the association with individual and family characteristics and substance use.

Design: Our study used data from the 2015 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) cross-sectional study, a survey using self-administered anonymous questionnaires.

Integrated information for integrated care in the general practice setting in Italy: using social network analysis to go beyond the diagnosis of frailty in the elderly.

Background: Frailty has been defined in different ways and several diagnostic tools exist, but most of them are not applicable in routine primary care. Nonetheless, general practitioners (GPs) have a natural advantage in identifying frailty, due to their continued access to patients, patient-centered approach and training. GPs have also an advantage in conducting population-based evaluation as consequence of their role of gatekeepers of the health care system.

Poly-pharmacy among the elderly: analyzing the co-morbidity of hypertension and diabetes.

Clinical medicine faces many challenges, e.g. applying personalized medicine and genomics in daily practice; utilizing highly specialized diagnostic technologies; prescribing costly therapeutics.

The application of observational data in translational medicine: analyzing tobacco-use behaviors of adolescents.

Background: Translational Medicine focuses on "bench to bedside", converting experimental results into clinical use. The "bedside to bench" transition remains challenging, requiring clinicians to define true clinical need for laboratory study. In this study, we show how observational data (an eleven-year data survey program on adolescent smoking behaviours), can identify knowledge gaps and research questions leading directly to clinical implementation and improved health care.

Characteristics of alcoholics attending 'clubs of alcoholics in treatment' in Italy: a national survey.

Aims: To provide an overview of alcoholics attending a socio-ecological treatment programme [Clubs of Alcoholics in Treatment (CATs)] and to identify factors associated with abstinence and self-perceived improvement in lifestyle.

Methods: A national sample of 7522 subjects (76% males and 24% females, mean age 53.2 ± 11.

The association between overweight and illegal drug consumption in adolescents: is there an underlying influence of the sociocultural environment?

Background: The aims of the study were to: a) Examine the distribution of gender-stratified body mass index (BMI), eating attitudes and use of addictive substances, under the hypothesis of a confluent prevalence of weight abnormalities, eating disorders and substance abuse. b) Demonstrate the extent to which family, peer-related and psychosocial factors are common elements in categories of compulsive behaviour.

Methodology/principal Findings: In the present cross-sectional study, data were collected through self reported questionnaires administered to a large sample of 33,185 15-19 years old adolescents (ESPAD®Italia), divided into weight categories based on the BMI percentile distribution.

High doses of intravenous calcitriol in the treatment of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: In hemodialysis (HD) patients, secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPTH) is a severe common disease. Calcitriol administration has been demonstrated as an effective therapy. In this prospective study, our aim was to determine the necessary calcitriol dose required to control severe HPTH preventing hypercalcemia or hyperphosphatemia and avoiding parathyroidectomy.