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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common diagnosis for children and adolescents, although the reported estimates for prevalence are extremely variable worldwide. In the present work we investigate the prevalence of ADHD in a sample of Italian students in a study divided in two phases. In Phase I, a total of 6183 schoolchildren (3178 males and 3005 females, aged range 5-15 years) were screened using the SDAI rating scale for teachers. In Phase II, the parents of children and adolescents who met high screen criteria according to SDAI (cut-off>14; n=471, 7.3%) were invited to complete a specific clinical-diagnostic assessment for ADHD with the help of an experienced clinician. Within the entire sample, 107 children dropped out and 12 had mental retardation, whereas 332 subjects (278 males and 54 females, age range 5-14 years) completed the Phase II of the study. One hundred ninety subjects (163 males and 27 females, male: female ratio 6:1, mean age 8 years) were diagnosed with ADHD, indicating a prevalence of 3%. ADHD subtypes included the following: combined (n=108; 56.8%), inattentive (n=48; 25.2%) and hyperactive/impulsive (n=33; 17.3%). Our findings are in line with other reports of ADHD prevalence in the European Countries, and may contribute to underline the impact of this phenomenon in the population, and the need of achieving an improvement in the quality of the public health mental service for the prevention and treatment of ADHD., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

EPR spectroscopy was applied to obtain qualitative and quantitative information on the radicals produced in disinfection processes of wastewater for agricultural reuse. The DEPMPO spin trap was employed to detect hydroxyl and carbon-centered short living radicals in two different peracetic acid solutions and a hydrogen peroxide solution used for water disinfection either in the absence or in the presence of UV-C irradiation. Moreover, three different kinds of water (wastewater, demineralized water, distilled water) were analysed in order to assess the contribution of Fenton reactions to the radical production. The spectroscopic results were discussed in relation to the efficiency of the different oxidizing agents and UV irradiation in wastewater disinfection evaluated as Escherichia Coli, Faecal and Total Coliforms inactivation.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the quality of life after mitral valve replacement through the analysis of behavioural, psychological, functional, economic and working changes, as well as alterations in social and sexual life after surgery., Setting: The study was performed before and after surgery in a cardiological ward., Population: The population studied included 206 patients undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery. Results were compared with a control population of patients suffering from mitral valve disease and receiving medical therapy., Method: All patients were asked by medical staff to compile a series of five self-evaluation questionnaires: General Well-Being Schedule, Physical Symptoms Distress Index B, Social Participation, Sexual Satisfaction Unified Test and Work Performance and Satisfaction., Results: Our results showed a significant improvement in the perception of quality of life after mitral valve replacement. In particular, the state of general well-being improved significantly with a clear reduction in symptoms. This was accompanied by a reduction in sexual activity and no change in social life or working capacity. Data obtained in the group of patients operated showed a significant improvement in the perception of the quality of life and psycho-physical well-being compared to patients receiving medical treatment alone., Conclusions: From this study it can be seen that patients undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery experience a marked improvement in the quality of life compared to pre-operative conditions and to the group of patients receiving medical therapy for mitral valve diseases. The use of specific working and social rehabilitation programmes can certainly optimise the results also with regard to affective relations.