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Historical research acknowledges only cursorily the Catholic contribution to eugenics. Yet there is a substantial link between Catholic discourses on morality and the emergence of Italian eugenics. In this essay I argue that sexual normalisation was a key source of consensus. Masculine and patriarchal values strengthened the strategic collaboration between Fascist demographic policies, the Italian interpretation of eugenics, and Catholic doctrine. I draw on archival and printed material to show that the control of public morality and the support for reproduction met both Catholic and Fascist interests. In particular, I focus on the alliance between the State and the Catholic Church working against 'the contraceptive mentality'. Mussolini wanted to stimulate religious sentiment as a basis for the fight against depopulation. The Catholic Church desired a set of laws against immorality, birth control and abortion. In this way, Fascism and the Catholic Church found a solid cultural agreement around restoring traditional mores, patriarchal values, and gender hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Geographical variations in cancer mortality can be explained, in part, by their association with social inequalities. The objective of our study was to analyse the spatial pattern of mortality in relation to the most common causes of cancer in the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and its possible association with social inequalities. Materials and methods: A small area cross-sectional study in Andalusia, with census tracts as units of spatial analysis, for the period 2002–2013. Cases and person-years, sex and age group came from the Longitudinal Population Database of Andalusia. Standardized mortality rates and smoothed risk ratios were calculated using the Besag, York and Mollié model for lung, colorectal, breast, prostate, bladder and stomach cancer. In order to evaluate the association with social inequalities we included the deprivation index of the census tract as a covariate. Results: The results show an East-West mortality pattern with higher risk in the west for lung and bladder cancer among men, and breast cancer among women. For all of Andalusia, the association between deprivation index of the census tract and mortality relative risks is positive and significant for lung, stomach and bladder cancers in men, while in women we observed a negative association for lung cancer and a positive for stomach cancer. Conclusions: Knowledge regarding the spatial distribution of cancer mortality and the socioeconomic inequalities related should contribute to the design of specific health and social policies–aimed at tackling cancer mortality and social inequalities in areas of high mortality and/or levels of deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is intended as a contribution to the debate on the determinants of physical stature in the past and it specifically investigates whether, in Sardinia, height − considered as a proxy of the share of household resources allocated to a child’s growth − was influenced by the number of brothers and sisters amongst whom parents had to distribute available resources. This study is limited to the male population, because military records represent the only source at our disposal providing historical data on height. The community studied is the town of Alghero, located on the north-western coast of Sardinia, at the turn of the twentieth century. We have adopted a longitudinal approach, thanks to the rich dataset reconstructed for Alghero, using different sources including family, socioeconomic and anthropometric indicators. The results, in line with the resource dilution hypothesis, show that competition within the household was of some importance and that the effects on height due to scarcity of resources were particularly evident amongst farmers, the most representative socioeconomic status group in Alghero. A significant contribution to the stature reached in adulthood was also given by the socioeconomic status of the family or else by other individual characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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In recent years, the need for the vascular access surveillance has been growing steadily. In our dialysis department, a dedicated multidisciplinary team is active since 10 years. The Team is composed of 2 nephrologists and 5 nurses who take care of AV related surgery, AV management in the dialysis rooms, infection control, nurses education and audit. Having an AV Team allowed to monitor and efficiently control the infection rate (0.65/1000 CVC days) and contained the AV management related costs while improving patients' quality of life. Furthermore, it has been a reason for continuous professional growth. The article describes the major organization and structural and professional characteristics of our AV Team setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the 1930 papal document "Casti connubii" issued by Pope XI concerning the concept of Christian marriage. Reference is made to the use of modern languages as well as Latin in the document. Topics discussed include background information on the issuing of the document, including the response of the document to pending French divorce law of the 1930s,