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Introduction: The gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a public health issue for its prevalence and association with low life quality and substantial costs. Since most of Italian data refer to over a decade ago, the aim was to provide an updated estimate of GERD symptoms prevalence. Knowledge about appropriate nutrition and behaviours in presence of GERD was assessed. Predictors for symptoms presence and knowledge were explored. Methods: This study was an online cross‐sectional survey that investigated socio‐demographics, knowledge about nutrition/behaviours in case of GERD (Knowledge Score KS: percentage of right answers), nutrition/lifestyle attitudes. The questionnaire included the GerdQ to assess symptoms (presence if score ≥8). Adults resident in Italy were enrolled between June and August 2019 through convenience sampling on the major social networks (sample size = 559). Descriptive analyses were run. Multivariable regressions were performed to explore predictors of symptoms presence and KS. Results: The 27.7% had GERD symptoms. Among them, 33.8% never received GERD information by their general practitioner (GP). Body mass index (P =.036), secondary education (P =.040) were associated with higher symptoms risk. Weekly exercise was associated with lower risk (P <.001). Median KS was 92% (IQR = 12). Sleeping on the left side, chocolate, citrus fruit, mint reported the lowest right answers percentages. None/basic education was negatively associated with KS (P <.001), being female (P =.004) and in a relationship (P =.012) positively. Conclusions: A high prevalence was reported, consistently with the worldwide increasing trend. Despite overall knowledge was high, specific gaps were found. GPs should improve communication and awareness campaigns targeted to less known aspects must be planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the present research are to investigate the possible predictors of pancreatic cancer, in particular smoking status, alcohol consumption, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus, in patients with histologically confirmed pancreatic carcinoma and to examine the synergism between risk factors. A case-control study (80 patients and 392 controls) was conducted at the Teaching Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" in Rome. A conditional logistic regression was used for the statistical analysis and results were presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).We also investigated the possible interactions between risk factors and calculated the synergism index (SI). The multivariate analysis revealed that hypercholesterolemia and alcohol consumption resulted in important risk factors for pancreatic cancer even after the adjustment for all variables (OR: 5.05, 95% CI: 2.94-8.66; OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.30-3.89, resp.). Interestingly, important synergistic interactions between risk factors were found, especially between ever smoking status and alcohol consumptions (SI = 17.61) as well as alcohol consumption and diabetes (SI = 17.77). In conclusion, the study confirms that hypercholesterolemia and alcohol consumption represent significant and independent risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Moreover, there is evidence of synergistic interaction between diabetes and lifestyle factors (drinking alcohol and eating fatty foods). 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]