[Prevalence and determinants of HIV infection in 581 drug addicts in the Northeastern Italy, from 1984 to 1988].

Prevalence and determinants for human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus infection was assessed in 581 heterosexual intravenous drug users, recruited from public drug assistance centers in the northeast of Italy between 1984 and 1988. The overall seroprevalence rate for HIV antibody was 39% (95% confidence interval-CI-35-43%). HIV prevalence had risen from 32% in 1984-85 to 47% in 1986-88.

Smoking and drinking in relation to cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus in northern Italy.

A hospital-based case-control study of upper aerodigestive tract tumors was conducted between June 1986 and June 1989 in Northern Italy. One hundred fifty-seven male cases of oral cavity cancer, 134 of pharyngeal cancer, 162 of laryngeal cancer, and 288 of esophageal cancer, and 1272 male inpatients with acute conditions unrelated to tobacco and alcohol were interviewed. Odds ratios for current smokers of cigarettes were 11.

A case-control study of risk factor for renal cell cancer in northern Italy.

A hospital-based case-control study of renal cell cancer was conducted in northern Italy between 1986 and 1989, with 240 cases of renal cell cancer (150 males and 90 females), and 665 controls (445 males and 220 females) chosen on the basis of age, sex, and area of residence. No associations were found between renal cell cancer and: body mass index (BMI); number of cigarettes smoked; age at starting to smoke; years of smoking; consumption of wine, beer, spirits, coffee, decaffeinated coffee; tea; intake of animal protein, fruits, and vegetables; various reproductive factors; hormonal use; sexual habits; sexually transmitted diseases; or selected occupational exposures. The odds ratio (OR) was above unity in smokers (OR = 1.

Head and neck cancer and ageing: a retrospective study in 438 patients.

To evaluate whether age over 70 years represents a prognostic factor in head and neck cancer, we reviewed all cases observed between 1981 and 1984. Four hundred and thirty-eight (438) patients were considered in relation to three age groups (less than or equal to 59, 60-69, and greater than or equal to 70 years, defined as non-elderly, mid-elderly and elderly respectively). The main parameters analyzed included histological diagnosis (no difference emerged among the three age groups); anatomical site (hypopharyngeal carcinoma was most frequent in non-elderly patients); TNM stage (an higher incidence of early stages was seen in the elderly); performance status (better in the non-elderly); previous illnesses (life-style related diseases were more frequent in the non-elderly); contraindications to surgery (more frequent in the elderly); surgical treatment ('en bloc' resections were more often employed in the non-elderly); post-operative complications and local control (no difference between the three groups); multiple primary malignancies (head and neck, oesophagus and lung were more frequent in non-elderly patients) and survival (no difference).

[Environmental risk factors in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer. The role of cigarette smoke].

Smoking habit has been evaluated in 108 patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer diagnosed by endoscopy and in a control group of 147 endoscopically normal subjects. We found a positive association for both the gastric and duodenal ulcer (relative risk of 3.5).

Risk factors for thyroid cancer in northern Italy.

We conducted a hospital based case-control study of 245 cases of thyroid cancer (62 males and 183 females) and 411 controls in three areas of Northern Italy. Subjects with thyroid cancer more often had a history of benign thyroid nodules (18 cases versus 0 controls, lower 95% confidence limit = 7.84), goitre (RR = 5.

Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy syndrome vs "AIDS"--unrelated malignant lymphoma: comparison of presenting clinical and laboratory findings in 88 patients. AIDS and Related Syndromes Study Group.

The purpose of this report is to document and compare the presenting clinical and laboratory findings of 38 patients, all intravenous drug abusers, with pathologically documented persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL), and of 50 patients with AIDS-unrelated malignant lymphoma (30 with Hodgkin's disease and 20 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). All patients, aged 40 years or less, consecutively seen since May 1984 in a single institution in Italy, have prospectively undergone a similar clinico-pathologic approach. In addition to a history of intravenous drug abuse and HIV serology, the results indicate that a history of infection in the previous year, night sweats, weight loss, generalized lymphadenopathy, beta 2 microglobuline, transaminase, T4/T8 ratio less than 1, and polyclonal hypergamma-globulinemia significantly increased among PGL patients compared with patients with AIDS-unrelated malignant lymphoma.

[Results of diet treatment in 100 adult obese patients after 1-year follow-up].

One hundred overweight adult patients were subjected to a hypocaloric diet with periodic controls during a one year observation period. During the first 4 months, 98% of the patients adhered to the dietary regimen, with an initial mean percentage loss of body weight of 9.3% for the females and 8.

[Habits and opinions about cigarette smoking among medical, nursing and technico-administrative staff at the Magenta Hospital (Local Health Unit no. 72)].

Smoking habits of 882 employees of Magenta general hospital (province of Milan) (135 doctors, 594 nurses and 153 technicians and clerical staff) were investigated in May 1986, by means of a self-administered questionnaire (response rate 84%). Forty-five percent of men and 34% of women reported to be current smokers, respectively 13% fewer and 41% more, after age-standardization, than the general population of the same province. Smoking habits of the three professional groups considered did not differ substantially, but a higher number of doctors as compared to nurses admitted to smoke occasionally in front of patients.

Risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among homosexual and bisexual men in a region at low risk for AIDS: the northeastern part of Italy. AIDS and Related Syndromes Study Group.

Prevalence and determinants of HIV infection were assessed in 127 homosexual and bisexual men in the northeastern part of Italy. The overall prevalence of HIV seropositivity was still rather low: 20% (95% confidence interval -CI- 13-27%). The most important risk factor for acquiring HIV infection turned out to be having has sexual intercourses in high-risk areas.

The epidemiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the north-east of Italy: a hospital-based case-control study.

We concluded a study on 208 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 401 controls in the North-East of Italy in order to investigate the role of indicators of socio-economic status, personal habits, past history of various disorders and medical treatments potentially affecting the immune system, and occupational exposures in the aetiology of such neoplasia. None of the several investigated characteristics appeared to be a strong determinant, i.e.

Dietary factors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case-control study in the northeastern part of Italy.

The role of various life style factors, including dietary habits, in the etiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was investigated using data from a case-control study conducted in the northeastern part of Italy. This study was done on 208 histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and 401 control subjects who were in the hospital for acute, nonimmunologic, or neoplastic conditions. Dietary histories concerned the frequency of consumption per week of alcohol, beverages that contain methylxanthine, and 14 select food items or groups of foods (including major sources of proteins, fat, fibers, and vitamin A in the Italian diet).

Sport activity and cigarette smoking among young and adult athletes from the northeastern part of Italy.

Between November 1985 and October 1986, attitudes and habits towards smoking were investigated among young and adult amateur athletes of the province of Pordenone, in the northeastern part of Italy. Seventy-five percent of the athletes had never smoked and 21% were current smokers. Compared with the general population, smokers were 1/3 fewer among males and 1/5 more among females; a higher number of ex-smokers was found in both sexes.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in 137 patients aged 70 years or older: a retrospective European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lymphoma Group Study.

The results of a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) retrospective study on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in elderly patients (greater than or equal to 70 years of age) seen in Europe in 1984 are reported. A precodified form was sent to 55 European institutes in order to evaluate the incidence of NHL in the elderly with regard to natural history, treatment-related toxicity, response, and survival. Thirteen institutes participated in the study.

Risk factors for HIV infection in drug addicts from the northeast of Italy.

Prevalence and determinants of HIV infection were assessed in 313 parenteral drug addicts admitted to five Centers for Drug-Addict Assistance and two prisons located in the northeast of Italy (Friuli Venezia-Giulia), an area some distance from the major Italian cities first reached by the AIDS epidemic. The overall prevalence of HIV positivity was also rather high in this area, ie 30% with 24-36% confidence interval. The most important risk factors (besides syringe sharing applicable to all drug addicts), turned out to be of a geographical nature, ie living in Pordenone province (where a US military base is located) or coming from other endemic areas and having travelled long distances in the past three years.

Squamous cell papilloma of the esophagus. Report on 35 endoscopic cases.

We herein report our experience of 35 cases of esophageal squamous cell papilloma (ESP), diagnosed among 8,095 consecutive upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, and histologically confirmed. The incidence (0.45%) was higher than previously reported.