[Changes in alcohol consumption from youth to adulthood in Italy].

Background: alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for health at all ages. Consumption patterns and associated risks vary across countries and cultures and are affected by socio-demographic characteristics. The objective of the study was to assess changes in alcoholic beverage consumption patterns from youth to adulthood in Italy, and specifically in the North, Central and South-Islands geographic areas.

Trends in consumption of alcoholic beverages and policy interventions in Europe: an uncertainty "associated" perspective.

Having qualitatively investigated, both the temporal curves of alcoholic beverage consumption trends and the introduction of preventive alcohol policy measures in six European countries during the 1960s-2000s, drinking control policy measures often appeared to operate as co-factors of change, while during some periods of time they were not even present even if effective consumption changes were occurring. Study limitations are noted.

Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis and Mini Nutritional Assessment in elderly nursing home residents.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the presence of malnutrition in elderly institutionalized people through Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scores and to observe the changes of nutritional status through the Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA).

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Nursing home located in the territory of Florence (Italy).

[A systematic review of the effectiveness of workplace safety interventions].

Introduction: The authors carried out a systematic review of the effectiveness of workplace safety interventions, as a part of a wider project funded by CCM, Centre for Disease Control.

Methods: Several electronic bibliographic databases were checked, using a standardized string selection. The string contained the following four items: the intervention; job features; type of injury; efficacy/effectiveness.

Body composition assessment in a sample of eight-year-old children.

Objective: We assessed the body composition of 8-y-old children living in Livorno through the integration of bioelectrical and anthropometric evaluations.

Methods: The study, conducted during December 2005, involved 8-y-old third graders of Livorno, Italy. We collected for each subject (449 children, 210 female and 239 male) anthropometric parameters and carried out bioelectrical impedance test with a STA/BIA Soft Tissue Analyzer.