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The objective of this study is to describe the impact of AIDS on the mortality of young adult (aged 25 to 44 years) in Italy, at both the national and regional level. We analyzed the official mortality data for Italy: the most recent data available being from 1990. General mortality trends show that while mortality among young women is still decreasing (i.e. from a standardized rate of 83.8 per 100,000 in 1980 to 68.4 in 1990), mortality among young men began to rise in the mid-1980s, after a steady decrease over many years. Among the 25-34 year olds, however, this reversal in trend is more marked, notwithstanding a decrease or stabilization in most major causes of death. In fact it coincides with the appearance and spread of AIDS in Italy, which has affected young men in particular. (The peak age group for AIDS deaths is the 25-34 year olds). Mortality data from 1990 reveal that AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death in Italy among men between the ages of 25 and 44 years. Among 25-34 year-old men, however, AIDS is the second leading cause of death, after road accidents. AIDS also contributes greatly to the general mortality in individual regions, both among 25-44 year-old men (Lombardy, Liguria, Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany), and especially among 25-34 year-old men (Lombardy, Liguria, Lazio, Sardinia, where it is the number one cause of death, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Veneto, where it is the number two cause of death).

Objective: To analyze the gender differential in life expectancy in Italy from 1970 to 1997, to determine which ages and causes of death mostly influenced its trend. Methods: Pollard method was used to explain which ages and which pathologies give the highest contribution to the gender differential. Results: A slight reduction of the gender differential has been observed since 1980. The olds and very olds became the most relevant contributors to the differential. Cardiovascular diseases were the principal contributing causes of death until 1980 and Cancer replaced them afterwards. Conclusion: Relatively recent adoption of unhealthy life styles by women together with an opposite process run by young men towards healthier behaviour, seem to be at the basis of the slight reduction of the gender differential in life expectancy observed since 1980.

Hepatitis B serological markers (HBsAG, anti-HBc and anti-HBs) were determined in 432 (60%) hospital employees by the Hepanostika microenzyme linked immunoassay method. The overall prevalence rate was 9.02% for HBsAg, 46.25% for anti-HBs, 73.6% for anti-HBc and 76.38% for "at least one marker positive". Marker positivity as well as HBsAg carrier rate is higher for males than for females. (82.0 Vs 69.9%; 11.4 Vs 6.75% respectively). The majority of the infections occur early in life, 75% being positive for "at least one marker" by age twenty. The distribution of markers is somewhat different from previous observations with non-hospital personnel. Departments most exposed to blood and certain job categories seem to be an increased risk of acquiring the infection. We conclude that hospital exposure is associated with an additional risk of hepatitis B infection.

In a sample of inhabitants of the Arsi region of Ethiopia prevalence of hepatitis B is around 80% in the age group 20-24. In addition to age, sex and size of family, exposure to tribal practices is a determinant of seropositivity in this group accounting for as much as 20% of the total burden of the infection. Waiting for a mass vaccination campaign, presently unrealistic in this area of the world, health education, as part of a comprehensive primary health care program, has to be considered as a potentially effective preventive tool.

The results of Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) antibody determinations carried on 566 HBsAg positive serum samples from a population of 5270 Ethiopian military recruits are reported. The prevalence of anti-HDV among apparently healthy HBsAg carriers was 5.8%. The prevalence increases with age within the available range (18-30 years). Differences might exist by area of origin and ethnic groups. The distributions of HBV markers was similar in anti HDV positive and anti HDV negative individuals, possibly due to the relatively young age of the population and/or the hyperendemic condition of the area.

Systematic mandatory immunization of children against tetanus begun in Italy in 1968. Preceding birth cohorts, accounting for almost 80% of present Italian population, were poorly immune or totally non-immune; around 90% of cases of tetanus occurring in Italy in recent years are observed among them. In a national sample of 4770 young males born between 1956 and 1963, about one third was not protected. Prevalence of non-immune subjects was greater in the Southern Regions and the Islands, in rural areas, among the unemployed, among the older birth cohorts.

Prevalence of Herpes Simplex, type 2, specific antibodies was estimated in sexually transmitted disease outpatients: 783 heterosexuals and 158 homosexual-bisexuals. The anti-HSV-2 prevalence rates were 69% in the homosexual-bisexuals and 35% in the heterosexuals. In both groups positive association with age of anti-HSV-2 prevalence was found: only in the homosexual-bisexuals negative as sociation with education level was detected. No difference exists between the two groups regarding the symptomatic/asymptomatic ratio of HSV-2 infection.

Two cohorts of men aged 49-59 at entry, representing cluster samples of two rural areas in Northern and Central Italy, for a total of 1712 subjects have been followed-up for 20 years within an epidemiological study originally designed for cardiovascular disease. After 20 years, only 41 men have been judged to have remained substancially healthy throughout the observation period, i.e. free from a number of major diseases. Univariate and multivariate analyses trying to predict the maintenance of health status showed that among 21 selected characteristics only the following one had a significant power: age, cigarette smoking (adverse effect) and vital capacity (favourable effect). A minor role was also played by the body mass index (adverse effect) and forced expiratory volume (favourable effect). Those who did not remain healthy exibited a greater increase in blood pressure and body mass index.