BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Research was carried out in the years 2002-2003 into food, flavouring and feed folk traditions of plants in the Tyrrhenian part of the Basilicata region (southern Italy). This area was colonized in ancient times by Greeks. Data was collected through field interviews, especially of farmers. METHODS:Field data were collected through structured interviews. The informants, numbered 49, belonged to families which had strong links with the traditional activities of the area. RESULTS:61 taxa are cited, belonging to 26 botanical families, amongst which 44 used as food or flavouring and 22 for animal alimentation. Besides 7 taxa are involved in rituals especially connected with agriculture and plant growth. CONCLUSION:The preservation of some rituals especially concerning agricultural plants is noteworthy in the area, together with a certain degree of continuity in food uses. Knowledge and rediscovery of recipes in human and animal diet could represent an economic potential for the area.

背景与目标： 背景：在2002年至2003年间，对巴西利卡塔地区（意大利南部）第勒尼安地区的食物，调味料和饲料民间习俗进行了研究。该地区在古代被希腊人殖民。通过田间访谈，尤其是农民的访谈收集了数据。
方法：通过结构化访谈收集现场数据。线人49名属于与该地区的传统活动有密切联系的家庭。
结果：共有61个分类单元，属于26个植物科，其中44个用作食物或调味剂，22个用作动物营养。此外，还有7个分类单元参与了与农业和植物生长特别相关的仪式。
结论：在该地区值得注意的是保存某些仪式，特别是有关农业植物的仪式，并且在食品使用方面具有一定程度的连续性。在人类和动物饮食中的知识和食谱的重新发现可能代表该地区的经济潜力。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries, the study of biology was intimately intertwined with progress in medicine. So how, when and where did research into the life sciences begin?

背景与目标： 在十六和二十世纪之间，生物学的研究与医学的发展息息相关。那么，如何开始，何时何地开始对生命科学的研究呢？

BACKGROUND & AIMS: STUDY QUESTION:Was the delivery rate of ART cycles negatively affected by the enactment of the Law 40/2004 by the Italian Parliament which imposed a long list of restrictions for ART procedures? SUMMARY ANSWER:This large and extensive comparative analysis of ART outcomes prior to and after the introduction of the Law 40 revealed a significant reduction in pregnancy and delivery rates per cycle, independent of age or other clinical variables, once the law went into effect. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY:Several studies have been published on the effect of Law 40/2004 on ART outcomes, some authors demonstrating a negative impact of the Law in relation to specific etiologies of infertility, other authors showing opposite conclusions. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION:Retrospective clinical study of 3808 patients treated prior to the enactment of the Law, September 1996-March 2004 (Group I) and 6898 treated during the Law, March 2004-May 2009 (Group II). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS:A total of 10 706 ART cycles were analysed, 3808 performed before and 6898 after the application of the Law. An intention-to-treat statistical analysis was performed to detect pregnancy and delivery rates (pregnancies ≥ 24 weeks) per started cycle. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. We analysed different outcomes: differences in fertilization, pregnancy and delivery rate, multiple pregnancies and miscarriage rates between the two time periods. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE:The delivery rate for started cycle was 20% before and 16.0% after the introduction of the Law representing a 25% reduction (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis, corrected by female age of >38 years, duration of infertility, basal FSH level and number of retrieved oocytes, showed a 16% lower delivery rate (odds ratio: 0.84; confidence interval: 0.75-0.94). This statistical approach removed the risk that the observed effects were due to chance and confirmed unequivocally that the Law was an independent factor responsible for the reduced likelihood of a successful outcome. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION:This is a retrospective study. A prospective randomized study, with patients treated in the same time period and randomized to restrictions or not, would have minimized potential limitations due to differences in years of treatments. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS:Our findings based on the analysis of such a large number of cycles proved clearly and unequivocally that imposing restrictions on the practice of ART penalized patients. These data represent a relevant clinical contribution for countries still debating the enactment of restrictive limitations of ART.

背景与目标： 研究问题：意大利议会颁布的第40/2004号法律对ART程序的限制有很长的清单吗，ART周期的交付率是否受到负面影响？
总结：这项对法律出台之前和之后的ART结果的大型且广泛的比较分析[40]显示，一旦该法律生效，每个周期的怀孕和分娩率将显着降低，而不受年龄或其他临床变量的影响。
已经知道的内容：关于40/2004号法律对抗逆转录病毒疗法疗效的影响已经发表了几项研究，一些作者证明了该法律对不育症的具体病因产生了负面影响，另一些作者则提出了相反的结论。
研究设计，大小，时间：1996年9月至2004年3月（第一组）实施该法之前接受治疗的3808例患者的回顾性临床研究，以及2004年3月至2009年5月（第二组）在该法实施期间接受治疗的6898例患者的回顾性临床研究。
参与者/材料，设置，方法：共分析了10706个ART周期，在实施该法律之前进行了3808次，在实施该法律后进行了6898次。进行意向性治疗统计分析，以检测每个开始周期的妊娠和分娩率（≥24周的怀孕）。 P值<0.05被认为具有统计学意义。我们分析了不同的结局：两个时间段之间受精，妊娠和分娩率，多次妊娠和流产率的差异。
主要结果和机会作用：该法实施之前，开始生产周期的交付率为20％，而实施后为16.0％，降低了25％（P <0.001）。多元分析经女性年龄> 38岁，不育时间，基础FSH水平和取回的卵母细胞数量校正，显示分娩率降低了16％（比值比：0.84；置信区间：0.75-0.94）。这种统计方法消除了观察到的结果归因于偶然性的风险，并明确确认该法律是导致成功结局可能性降低的独立因素。
局限性，警告原因：这是一项回顾性研究。一项前瞻性随机研究将患者在相同时间段内接受治疗并随机分配至限制条件，由于治疗年限的不同，其潜在的限制条件已降至最低。
结果的更广泛含义：基于对如此大量周期的分析，我们的发现清楚而明确地证明了对接受ART处罚的患者的行为施加了限制。这些数据代表了仍在争论抗逆转录病毒疗法的限制性限制颁布的国家的相关临床贡献。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to establish a national Early Awareness and Alert (EAA) system for the identification and assessment of new and emerging health technologies in Italy. METHODS:In 2008, Agenas, a public body supporting Regions and the Ministry of Health (MoH) in health services research, started a project named COTE (Observatory of New and Emerging Health Technologies) with the ultimate aim of implementing a national EAA system. The COTE project involved all stakeholders (MoH, Regions, Industry, Universities, technical government bodies, and Scientific Societies), in defining the key characteristics and methods of the EAA system. Agreement with stakeholders was reached using three separate workshops. RESULTS:During the workshops, participants shared and agreed methods for identification of new and emerging health technologies, prioritization, and assessment. The structure of the Horizon Scanning (HS) reports was discussed and defined. The main channels for dissemination of outputs were identified as the EuroScan database, and the stakeholders' Web portals. During the final workshop, Agenas presented the first three HS reports produced at national level and proposed the establishment of a permanent national EAA system. CONCLUSIONS:The COTE Project created the basis for a permanent national EAA system in Italy. An infrastructure to enable the stakeholders network to grow was created, methods to submit new and emerging health technologies for possible evaluation were established, methods for assessment of the technologies selected were defined, and the stakeholders involvement was delineated (in the identification, assessment, and dissemination stages).

背景与目标： 目的：本研究的目的是建立一个意大利的早期意识和警报（EAA）系统，用于识别和评估意大利的新兴健康技术。
方法：2008年，支持地区和卫生部（MoH）进行公共卫生服务研究的公共机构Agenas，启动了一个名为COTE（新的和新兴卫生技术观察站）的项目，其最终目的是实施国家EAA系统。 COTE项目涉及所有利益相关者（卫生部，地区，工业，大学，技术政府机构和科学协会），以定义EAA系统的关键特征和方法。通过三个单独的讲习班与利益相关者达成了协议。
结果：在研讨会期间，与会人员共享并商定了用于识别新的和新兴的卫生技术，确定优先次序和进行评估的方法。讨论并定义了“地平线扫描（HS）”报告的结构。确定了传播输出的主要渠道，即EuroScan数据库和利益相关者的Web门户。在最后的研讨会上，Agenas介绍了在国家层面上生成的前三份HS报告，并建议建立永久性的国家EAA系统。
结论：COTE项目为意大利的永久性国家EAA系统奠定了基础。建立了使利益相关者网络发展的基础设施，建立了提交新的和新兴的卫生技术以进行可能评估的方法，定义了评估所选技术的方法，并确定了利益相关者的参与（在识别，评估和评估中）。传播阶段）。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:An inverse relationship between hospital volume and death following pancreatico duodenectomy (PD) has been reported from several countries. The aim of this study was to assess the volume-outcome effect of PD in Italy. METHODS:The study group comprised 1576 patients who underwent PD in 2003. Hospitals were allocated to four volume groups: low volume, five PDs or fewer; medium volume, six to 13 PDs; high volume, 14 to 51 PDs; and very high volume, two hospitals that performed 89 and 104 PDs. RESULTS:Some 221 hospitals performed at least one PD in 2003; hospital volume was low in 74.7 per cent, medium in 17.6 per cent, high in 6.8 per cent and very high in 0.9 per cent. The overall mortality rate was 8.1 per cent. Increasing hospital volume was associated with a significantly reduced mortality rate: 12.4 per cent (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.000) for low-volume, 7.8 per cent (OR 0.611) for medium-volume, 5.9 per cent (OR 0.466) for high-volume and 2.6 per cent (OR 0.208) for very high-volume hospitals. Length of postoperative stay was reduced in very high-volume hospitals (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION:The outcome of PD in Italy is dependent on hospital volume and a policy of centralization may therefore be appropriate.

背景与目标： 背景：胰岛十二指肠切除术（PD）术后的医院数量与死亡之间存在负相关关系。这项研究的目的是评估意大利的PD的结局结果。
方法：该研究组包括2003年接受PD的1576例患者。医院分为四个容量组：低容量，五个PD或更少，五个PD。中等容量，6到13个PD；大容量14到51个PD；并且数量非常庞大，两家医院分别执行了89次和104次PD​​。
结果：2003年，有221所医院至少进行了一次PD检查；医院住院率较低，为74.7％，中度为17.6％，高为6.8％，极高为0.9％。总死亡率为8.1％。医院数量的增加与死亡率的显着降低有关：小批量患者为12.4％（调整后的优势比（OR）1.000），中型患者为7.8％（OR 0.611），高水平为5.9％（OR 0.466）量的医院，则为2.6％（OR 0.208）。在大型医院中，术后住院时间缩短了（P <0.001）。
结论：意大利PD的结局取决于医院规模，因此采取集中化政策可能是适当的。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The cases are described of two infants who developed clinical and laboratory signs of congenital syphilis in Northern Italy, a region where the disease had not been documented for several years. The report urges greater vigilance and screening for syphilis among pregnant women and newborns, and contributes to the evidence that the incidence of syphilis is rising among women in Italy.

背景与目标： ：这些病例描述了在意大利北部地区出现先天性梅毒的临床和实验室体征的两名婴儿，该地区多年未发现该病。该报告敦促提高孕妇和新生儿梅毒的警惕性和筛查，并提供证据证明意大利女性梅毒的发病率正在上升。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :In the light of using biomaterial as pollutants sorbents for the environmental biomonitoring, we report here the results of the absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by pine bark. Quantitative analysis of 19 different polycyclic aromatic compounds was performed, after Soxhlet extraction in dichloromethane, by means GC-MS technique. Pinus was chosen due to its wide distribution in the Mediterranean area. The passive absorption of PAH by pine bark in the metropolitan areas allowed us to evaluate the air quality of Palermo. The obtained results showed a very high range of PAHs concentrations, from 33 microg/kg (bark dry weight), as SigmaPAHs, at the control site to 1015 microg/kg along a road with high traffic flow.

背景与目标： ：鉴于使用生物材料作为环境生物监测的污染物吸附剂，我们在此报告松树皮吸收多环芳烃（PAHs）的结果。用GC-MS技术在二氯甲烷中索氏提取后，对19种不同的多环芳族化合物进行了定量分析。选择松属植物是由于其在地中海地区的广泛分布。大城市地区的松树皮对PAH的被动吸收使我们能够评估巴勒莫的空气质量。所获得的结果表明，PAHs的浓度范围非常高，从SigmaPAHs的33微克/千克（树皮干重）到对照地点，到交通流量大的道路上的PAHs浓度为1015微克/千克。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVE:To determine the accuracy of drug-susceptibility testing (DST) for isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and streptomycin in a provisional network of 22 regional laboratories in Italy. METHODS:Methods, definitions and reference Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were derived from the WHO/IUATLD Global Project on Anti-tuberculosis Drug Resistance Surveillance. The laboratories were selected based on technical skills required by the project, the number of DST performed annually and geographic localisation. The results (sensitive/resistant strain) were compared with the gold standard (global project results). Sensitivity (ability to detect true resistance), specificity (ability to detect true susceptibility), positive predictive values for resistance and susceptibility, efficiency and reproducibility were calculated in two rounds. RESULTS:Eighteen of 22 laboratories completed the first round of proficiency testing for the four drugs. Sensitivity was 76.6%, specificity 97.2%, predictive value of a resistant test 89.8% and of a susceptible test 86.8%, efficiency 87.8% and reproducibility 92.8%. A second round was performed by all those laboratories that did not achieve > or = 90% agreement with the results of the Global Project. Overall, after the second round, all the parameters except specificity improved, exceeding 90%. CONCLUSIONS:A network of 15 regional laboratories that fulfil the quality criteria for determining the susceptibility of M. tuberculosis to the four primary antituberculosis drugs was established in Italy.

背景与目标： 目的：在意大利由22个地区实验室组成的临时网络中，测定异烟肼，利福平，乙胺丁醇和链霉素的药敏试验（DST）的准确性。
方法：方法，定义和参考结核分枝杆菌菌株均来自WHO / IUATLD全球抗结核药物耐药性监测项目。根据项目所需的技术技能，每年执行的DST数量和地理定位来选择实验室。将结果（敏感/耐药菌株）与金标准（全球项目结果）进行比较。分两轮计算敏感性（检测真正耐药性的能力），特异性（检测真正耐药性的能力），耐药性和敏感性，效率和可重复性的阳性预测值。
结果：22个实验室中的18个完成了对这四种药物的第一轮能力验证。敏感性为76.6％，特异性为97.2％，耐药性测试的预测值为89.8％，易感性测试的预测值为86.8％，效率为87.8％，再现性为92.8％。所有未与全球项目结果达成或超过90％协议的实验室都进行了第二轮。总体而言，在第二轮之后，除特异性以外的所有参数均得到改善，超过90％。
结论：在意大利建立了一个由15个地区实验室组成的网络，这些网络符合确定结核分枝杆菌对四种主要抗结核药物的敏感性的质量标准。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Neurologists are interested in understanding whether patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) undergoing immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive therapy are more susceptible to developing COVID-19 or have worse outcomes. Currently, there are no conclusive data in this regard. We report the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 (confirmed and possible) in pwMS followed at the Veneto Regional MS Center in Verona (Italy), an area most stricken by COVID-19. In our sample size, the prevalence of COVID-19 seems to be much higher than that officially reported at the regional level on the general population, but it also characterized by a favourable course.

背景与目标： 神经学家对了解正在接受免疫调节/免疫抑制治疗的多发性硬化症（pwMS）患者更容易发展为COVID-19还是预后更差感兴趣。当前，在这方面没有确切的数据。我们报告了pwMS中COVID-19的患病率和严重程度（已确认并可能），随后在意大利维罗纳的威尼托地区MS中心（该地区受COVID-19打击最严重）。在我们的样本量中，COVID-19的患病率似乎比一般人群在区域级别上正式报告的要高得多，但是它的特点是发展过程良好。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Emergency Department (ED) crowding reduces staff satisfaction and healthcare quality and safety, which in turn increase costs. Despite a number of proposed solutions, ED length of stay (LOS) - a main cause of overcrowding - remains a major issue worldwide. This retrospective cohort study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness on ED LOS of a procedure called "Diagnostic Anticipation" (DA), which consisted in anticipating the ordering of blood tests by nurses, at triage, following a diagnostic algorithm approved by physicians. METHODS:In the second half of 2019, the ED of the University Hospital of Ferrara, Italy, adopted the DA protocol on alternate weeks for all patients with chest pain, abdominal pain, and non-traumatic bleeding. A retrospective cohort study on DA impact was conducted. Using ED electronic data, LOS independent predictors (age, sex, NEDOCS and Priority Color Code, imaging tests, specialistic consultations, hospital admission) were evaluated through multiple regression. RESULTS:During the weeks when DA was adopted, as compared to control weeks, the mean LOS was shorter by 18.2 min for chest pain, but longer by 15.7 min for abdominal pain, and 33.3 for non-traumatic bleeding. At multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, gender, triage priority, specialist consultations, imaging test, hospitalization and ED crowding, the difference in visit time was significant for chest pain only (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:The impact of DA varied by patients' condition, being significant for chest pain only. Further research is needed before the implementation, estimating the potential proportion of inappropriate blood tests and ED crowding status.

背景与目标： 背景：紧急部门（ED）的拥挤降低了员工满意度以及医疗质量和安全性，从而增加了成本。尽管有许多建议的解决方案，但ED停留时间（LOS）是人满为患的主要原因，仍然是全世界的主要问题。这项回顾性队列研究旨在评估一种称为“诊断预期”（DA）的程序对ED LOS的有效性，该程序包括按照医生批准的诊断算法，预测分诊时护士对血液检查的顺序。
方法：2019年下半年，意大利费拉拉大学医院的ED在每隔几周对所有患有胸痛，腹痛和非创伤性出血的患者采用DA方案。进行了一项关于DA影响的回顾性队列研究。使用ED电子数据，通过多元回归评估了LOS独立的预测因素（年龄，性别，NEDOCS和优先颜色代码，影像学检查，专业咨询，入院）。
结果：在采用DA的几周内，与对照组相比，胸痛的平均LOS缩短了18.2 min，腹痛的平均LOS缩短了15.7 min，非创伤性出血的平均LOS缩短了33.3min。在多变量分析中，对年龄，性别，分流优先级，专科医生咨询，影像学检查，住院和ED拥挤进行调整后，就诊时间的差异仅对胸痛有意义（p significant <（0.001）。
结论：DA的影响因患者的病情而异，仅对胸痛有意义。在实施之前，需要进行进一步的研究，以估计不适当的血液检查和ED拥挤状况的潜在比例。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:COVID-19 has rapidly spread worldwide, with severe complications affecting particularly elderly and compromised subjects. Less information about COVID-19 in pregnancy has been reported so far in the literature. METHODS:Case series on pregnancies complicated by COVID-19. All cases were diagnosed at Bolognini Hospital, Seriate, Italy. These cases are presented to clarify the features of COVID-19 occurring in pregnancy. RESULTS:Four women had symptoms of COVID-19 during pregnancy or immediately after delivery. All cases were confirmed by oropharyngeal swab. All patients presented with fever and low saturation levels at the diagnosis. One case was transferred after diagnosis to a tertiary referral center and delivered the day after for worsening clinical conditions. In the other three cases, bilateral pneumonia was documented at the admission. Antithrombotic therapy was used in most cases. No cases of the infected neonate was reported. At 2 month follow-up, all patients were alive, three were asymptomatic while one presented neurological complication. One more case was described because suspicious for COVID-19, however, it was not confirmed by oropharyngeal swab. CONCLUSIONS:In pregnant women, the peripheral nervous system could be affected. No case of trans-placental passage was reported. The swab could be helpful in diagnosis. The antithrombotic therapy could play a role in the positive course of COVID-19 also in pregnant women.

背景与目标： 背景：COVID-19已在世界范围内迅速传播，严重并发症严重影响了老年人和弱势人群。迄今为止，文献中报道的妊娠COVID-19信息较少。
方法：病例并发妊娠合并COVID-19的病例。所有病例均在意大利塞里特的博洛尼尼医院诊断。提出这些病例是为了阐明孕妇中发生的COVID-19的特征。
结果：四名妇女在怀孕期间或分娩后立即出现COVID-19症状。所有病例均经口咽拭子确诊。所有患者在诊断时均出现发烧和低饱和度水平。一例确诊后被转移到三级转诊中心，并于次日因临床情况恶化而分娩。在其他三例中，入院时记录有双侧肺炎。大多数情况下使用抗血栓治疗。没有报道感染新生儿的病例。随访2个月，所有患者均存活，其中3例无症状，其中1例出现神经系统并发症。由于对COVID-19可疑，还描述了另外一例，但尚未通过口咽拭子确认。
结论：在孕妇中，外周神经系统可能受到影响。没有报道经胎盘通过的病例。拭子可能有助于诊断。抗血栓治疗也可能在孕妇的COVID-19阳性过程中发挥作用。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB) organized an international meeting in Milan in November 2011 on the question of whether completing a course of hepatitis B vaccination confers lifelong protection against hepatitis B virus infection and its complications. Presentations covered vaccine efficacy including factors influencing long-term protection; breakthrough infections; the immunological effect of natural boosting; the effectiveness of universal hepatitis B vaccination in different countries, and issues relating to national, regional and global policies on booster vaccination. Findings from four continents were presented at the meeting, with data now extending to follow-up for nearly 30 years after full primary vaccination. The results reported add to the extensive and growing body of knowledge, demonstrating that in spite of subsequent decline and ultimate loss of detectable serum anti-HBs, a full primary course of hepatitis B vaccine confers complete protection against acute clinical disease and chronic hepatitis B infection for long periods of time. Our understanding of the role and functions of T and B cells in protective immunity deepens, although the picture is still complex. A framework for future work in several areas emerged from the meeting, including monitoring and surveillance of vaccination programmes, breakthrough infections, hepatitis B in immigrant populations, and vaccine-escape viral mutants. One further concrete recommendation is the setting up of a working group to standardize definitions on terms such as "immunity", "protection", "immune memory", "non-responders", "long-term", "anamnestic response", "breakthrough" and "vaccine failure".

背景与目标： ：病毒性肝炎预防委员会（VHPB）于2011年11月在米兰组织了一次国际会议，讨论是否完成乙肝疫苗接种过程可以终身保护乙肝病毒感染及其并发症。介绍包括疫苗效力，包括影响长期保护的因素；突破性感染；自然加强免疫的作用；在不同国家/地区普遍接种乙肝疫苗的有效性，以及与加强疫苗接种的国家，地区和全球政策有关的问题。在会议上介绍了来自四大洲的发现，现在的数据已经扩展到在完全初次接种疫苗后近30年的随访情况。报告的结果增加了广泛且不断增长的知识，表明尽管随后可检测的血清抗HBs下降并最终消失，但完整的乙肝疫苗原发疗程仍可为急性临床疾病和慢性乙肝感染提供全面的保护很长一段时间。尽管情况还很复杂，但我们对T和B细胞在保护性免疫中的作用和功能的了解加深了。会议提出了一个在未来几个领域开展工作的框架，包括监测和监督疫苗接种计划，突破性感染，移民人群中的乙型肝炎以及疫苗逃逸型病毒突变体。另一个具体建议是成立一个工作组，以标准化诸如“免疫”，“保护”，“免疫记忆”，“无反应者”，“长期”，“记忆消除”，“突破”和“疫苗失败”。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The role of trace elements in the lithogenesis of urinary stones is still debated. However, it is generally appreciated that urinary stones are one of the most common health problems in the world and are strongly associated with environmental factors. It is important to highlight that urinary stones containing trace elements could be considered a marker of environmental pollution. A large set of urinary stones (48), collected among the Basilicata (southern Italy) inhabitants, was analysed by AAS and ICP for the content of specific chemical elements that were either involved in the crystallisation process of kidney stones (Ca, Mg, K, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn) or which were potentially toxic (Pb, Cr). Three main findings emerge from the results: Furthermore, the results showed that the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cr were greater than that of ingested from a standard diet. Consequently, varying amounts of these elements may have been attributed to their enrichment in the diet of the inhabitants of polluted areas.

背景与目标： ：微量元素在尿结石结石形成中的作用仍存在争议。然而，人们普遍认识到，尿结石是世界上最常见的健康问题之一，并且与环境因素密切相关。重要的是要强调指出，含有微量元素的尿结石可被视为环境污染的标志。通过AAS和ICP对在巴西南部的巴斯利卡塔居民中收集的一大批泌尿系结石（48）进行了分析，以分析肾脏结石（Ca，Mg，K ，锌，铁，铜和锰）或有潜在毒性（铅，铬）。从结果中得出三个主要发现：此外，结果表明，锌，铜，铁，铅和铬的浓度高于标准饮食中的摄入量。因此，这些元素数量的变化可能归因于它们在污染区居民饮食中的丰富。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A retrospective cohort mortality study was carried out in 20 industrial factories in the Local Health Unit Bologna Sud (Emilia Romagna, Italy), where different rubber and plastics products were manufactured. The cohort consisted of 925 subjects (578 males and 347 females) employed for at least six months continuously; follow-up was between the beginning of operation of each factory, ranging between mid fifties and mid seventies, and 31 December 1989. For those exposed more than one year cause specific Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) were computed using regional rates for comparison, 90% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated assuming the Poisson distribution. Among the 748 subjects employed for more than one year (457 males and 291 females) there were no lost to follow-up, 54 individuals were dead (41 males and 13 females) and for three subjects the cause of death was unknown. The results showed that all causes mortality was above expectancy in the total cohort (SMR = 123; 54 Obs; 90% CI = 97-154), among males (SMR = 117; 41 Obs; 90% CI = 89-152) and females (SMR = 143; 13 Obs; 90% CI = 85-228). Increased mortality for all malignant tumours was observed in the total cohort (SMR = 150; 25 Obs; 90% CI = 104-209) and for both genders. All nine lung cancer cases were observed among males, the SMR was equal to 218 and was statistically significant; seven cases occurred at duration of exposure less than 10 years and six at latency up to 20 years. The interpretation in terms of causality of the present investigation is limited by the small number of observations and by exposure definition solely in terms of employment in the study factories; nonetheless the results are indicating the existence, in this group of rubber and plastics product makers, of an adverse health effect which deserve further investigation.

背景与目标： 一项回顾性队列死亡率研究是在Bologna Sud当地卫生部门（意大利Emilia Romagna，意大利）的20家工厂中进行的，这些工厂生产了各种橡胶和塑料产品。该队列由925名受试者（578名男性和347名女性）组成，这些受试者连续工作了至少六个月。随访是在每个工厂开始运营之间（从五十年代中期到七十年代中期）至1989年12月31日。对于暴露时间超过一年的企业，使用区域比率作为比较标准，计算出特定的标准死亡率90，假设泊松分布，则计算％置信区间（CI）。在一年以上受雇的748名受试者（男性457名，女性291名）中，没有失访的危险，有54人死亡（41名男性和13名女性），而三名受试者的死因未知。结果显示，在男性（SMR = 117; 41 Obs; 90％CI = 89-152）中，所有人群的所有原因死亡率均高于预期（SMR = 123; 54 Obs; 90％CI = 97-154）。女性（SMR = 143； 13 Obs； 90％CI = 85-228）。在总队列中（SMR = 150； 25 Obs； 90％CI = 104-209）和男女均观察到所有恶性肿瘤的死亡率增加。在男性中观察到所有9例肺癌病例，SMR等于218，具有统计学意义；有7例发生在暴露时间少于10年的病例中，有6例发生在潜伏期长达20年的病例中。关于本次调查因果关系的解释受到少数观察结果的限制，并且仅受研究工厂雇用情况的暴露定义所限制；但是，结果表明，在这组橡胶和塑料制品制造商中，存在着不利的健康影响，值得进一步研究。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The aim of this paper was to define, for the first time in Italy, normal levels of total serum IgE in a general population sample of North Italy. Total serum IgE in 1905 subjects, living in Po Delta area (near Venice), were measured by PRIST method. Normal values were derived from 558 subjects without asthma and/or asthmatic/rhinitic symptoms, noncurrent smokers, skin prick-test negatives ('normals'). Cut-off values to differentiate 'normals' from the remaining part of the sample ('others'), from asthmatic, and from rhinitic subjects, were established with the IgE value midway between the upper limit of the 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the geometric mean for 'normals' and the lower limit for 'others', asthmatics, and rhinitics, respectively. Geometric mean of normal children-adolescents was 45 kU/L (SD: 2.6; 95% CI: 38-63). In normal adults geometric mean was 29 kU/L (SD: 3.3; 95% CI: 25-40) in males and 19 kU/L (SD: 3.8; 95% CI: 16-22) in females. The diagnostic sensitivity of IgE test was low, while the specificity was very high. A good positive predictive value in discriminating 'normals' from 'others' was found, on the contrary, we found a good negative predictive value in discriminating 'normals' from asthmatics or from rhinitics. In conclusion, our results confirm that it is necessary to provide separate total serum IgE reference values for what concerns age in children-adolescents and in adults, and gender, in adults. Low serum IgE are helpful to exclude allergic asthma or rhinitis level of total.

背景与目标： ：本文的目的是首次确定意大利北部普通人群中总血清IgE的正常水平。通过PRIST方法测量了居住在Po Delta地区（威尼斯附近）的1905名受试者的总血清IgE。正常值来自558名无哮喘和/或哮喘/鼻炎症状，无烟民，皮肤点刺试验阴性的受试者（“正常”）。在IgE值介于95％置信区间（CI）上限之间的中间位置时，建立了区分“正常”值与样本其余部分（“其他”值），哮喘对象和鼻炎对象的临界值。 “常态”的几何平均值的平均值和“其他”，哮喘和鼻炎的下限的平均值。正常儿童-青少年的几何平均值为45 kU / L（标准差：2.6； 95％CI：38-63）。在正常成年人中，男性的几何平均值为29 kU / L（SD：3.3； 95％CI：25-40），女性为19 kU / L（SD：3.8； 95％CI：16-22）。 IgE测试的诊断敏感性较低，而特异性却很高。相反，我们发现在区分“正常人”与“其他人”方面具有良好的阳性预测价值，相反，我们发现在区分“正常人”与哮喘或鼻炎方面具有良好的阴性预测价值。总之，我们的结果证实，有必要针对儿童，青少年和成人的年龄以及成人的性别提供单独的总血清IgE参考值。较低的血清IgE有助于排除总的过敏性哮喘或鼻炎水平。