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Objectives: The purposes of this study are to describe the epidemiology of pericardial and tunica vaginalis testis mesothelioma and assess the role of asbestos exposure for these rare diseases. Methods: Based on incident pericardial and tunica vaginalis testis mesothelioma cases collected from the Italian national mesothelioma registry (ReNaM) in the period 1993–2015, incidence rates, survival median period and prognostic factors have been evaluated. A case–control study has been performed to analyze the association with asbestos exposure (occupational and non-occupational) for these diseases. Results: Between 1993 and 2015, 58 pericardial (20 women and 38 men) and 80 tunica vaginalis testis mesothelioma cases have been registered with a mean annual standardized (world standard population as reference) incidence rates of 0.049 (per million) in men and 0.023 in women for the pericardial site, and 0.095 for tunica vaginalis testis mesothelioma. Occupational exposure to asbestos was significantly associated with the risk of the diseases [odds ratio (OR) 3.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.85–7.31 and OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.93–6.04 in pericardial and tunica vaginalis testis mesothelioma, respectively]. The median survival was 2.5 months for pericardial and 33.0 months for tunica vaginalis testis mesotheliomas. Age was the main predictive factor for survival for both anatomical sites. Conclusions: For the first time in an analytical study, asbestos exposure was associated with pericardial and tunica vaginalis testis mesothelioma risk, supporting the causal role of asbestos for all anatomical sites. The extreme rarity of the diseases, the poor survival and the prognostic role of age have been confirmed based on population and nationwide mesothelioma registry data.

Italy has been a large user of asbestos and asbestos containing materials until the 1992 ban. We present a pooled cohort study on long-term mortality in exposed workers.Pool of 43 Italian asbestos cohorts (asbestos cement, rolling stock, shipbuilding, glasswork, harbors, insulation and other industries). SMRs were computed by industrial sector for the 1970-2010 period, for the major causes, using reference rates by age, sex, region and calendar period.The study included 51 801 subjects (5741 women): 55.9% alive, 42.6% died (cause known for 95%) and 1.5% lost to follow-up. Asbestos exposure was estimated at the plant and period levels. Asbestos related mortality was significantly increased. All industrial sectors showed increased mortality from pleural malignancies, and most also from peritoneal and lung cancer and asbestosis, with exposure related trend. Increased mortality was also observed for ovarian cancer and for bladder cancer.The study confirmed the increased risk for cancer of the lung, ovary, pleura and peritoneum but not of the larynx and the digestive tract. A large increase in mortality from asbestosis was observed.

Objectives This study was performed with the aim of investigating the temporal patterns and determinants associated with mortality from asbestosis among 21 cohorts of Asbestos-Cement (AC) workers who were heavily exposed to asbestos fibres. Methods Mortality for asbestosis was analysed for a cohort of 13 076 Italian AC workers (18.1% women). Individual cumulative asbestos exposure index was calculated by factory and period of work weighting by the different composition of asbestos used (crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile). Two different approaches to analysis, based on Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) and Age-Period-Cohort (APC) models were applied. Results Among the considered AC facilities, asbestos exposure was extremely high until the end of the 1970s and, due to the long latency, a peak of asbestosis mortality was observed after the 1990s. Mortality for asbestosis reached extremely high SMR values [SMR: males 508, 95% confidence interval (CI): 446–563; females 1027, 95% CI: 771–1336]. SMR increased steeply with the increasing values of cumulative asbestos exposure and with Time Since the First Exposure. APC analysis reported a clear age effect with a mortality peak at 75–80 years; the mortality for asbestosis increased in the last three quintiles of the cumulative exposure; calendar period did not have a significant temporal component while the cohort effect disappeared if we included in the model the cumulative exposure to asbestos. Conclusions Among heaviest exposed workers, mortality risk for asbestosis began to increase before 50 years of age. Mortality for asbestosis was mainly determined by cumulative exposure to asbestos.

Seasonal influenza is a highly contagious infection that might lead to serious clinical complications and incurs a conspicuous socio-economic impact. Influenza vaccination is currently recommended only for specific groups of healthy adults (such as healthcare workers) even though it was demonstrated to be effective in reducing absenteeism and decreased workers' productivity during flu epidemic period. The main purpose of this study is to analyse the extent of absences due to illness following a voluntary flu immunization program among the Komatsu Italia Manufacturing company's personnel during the flu season 2017-2018. Secondly, we aimed at performing a cost-benefit analysis of the vaccination campaign from the company's perspective.This is an observational cohort study conducted during the period between the 14th week of 2017 and the 13th week of 2018 (from 03/04/2017 to 01/04/2018). The study population was the personnel of Komatsu Italia Manufacturing S.p.A. on duty during the study period.For each subject the following data were collected: sex, date of birth, professional profile, seasonal influenza immunization status and sick-leave days. Sick-leave days were compared among the influenza epidemic period and the previous one between vaccinated and unvaccinated and any difference in days of absence was considered to be caused by seasonal influenza.Out of 408 employees, 60 (14.7%) accepted the voluntary influenza vaccination. In multivariate analysis (logistic model) an age ≥ 50 years was the only predictor for vaccination acceptance (ORM 3.11 p0.001). During the flu period, the monthly mean of sick-leave days per employee was significantly lower among the vaccinated than the unvaccinated, respectively of 0.328 days/person vs 0.752 days/person (p = 0.022). Unvaccinated employees reported a higher average of sick-leave days during the flu period compared to the previous non-influenza period (0.752 days/month/person vs 0.337 days/month/person p0.001). The monthly mean cost for sickness absences per employee was significantly higher for an unvaccinated subject compared to one vaccinated, respectively € 129.00 and € 54.00 (p = 0.028). The overall net saving estimated was € 314.00 per person vaccinated.Influenza vaccination proved to be an extraordinary preventive tool and a cost-effective intervention. However, influenza immunization seems to be unappealing among healthy adults and higher flu vaccination coverages could be achieved through educational interventions possibly addressing young employees who showed little interest in vaccination. Finally, among health promotion interventions, companies should point out the importance of flu vaccination both for the individual wellbeing and the company environment.

Background Despite the available information on cancer risk, asbestos is used in large areas in the world, mostly in the production of asbestos cement. Moreover, questions are raised regarding the shape of the dose response relation, the relation with time since exposure and the association with neoplasms in various organs. We conducted a study on the relationship between cumulative asbestos exposure and mortality from asbestos related diseases in a large Italian pool of 21 cohorts of asbestos-cement workers with protracted exposure to both chrysotile and amphibole asbestos. Methods The cohort included 13,076 workers, 81.9% men and 18.1% women, working in 21 Italian asbestos-cement factories, with over 40 years of observation. Exposure was estimated by plant and period, and weighted for the type of asbestos used. Data were analysed with consideration of cause of death, cumulative exposure and time since first exposure (TSFE), and by gender. SMRs were computed using reference rates by region, gender and calendar time. Poisson regression models including cubic splines were used to analyse the effect of cumulative exposure to asbestos and TSFE on mortality for asbestos-related diseases. 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were computed according to the Poisson distribution. Results Mortality was significantly increased for ‘All Causes’ and ‘All Malignant Neoplasm (MN)’, in both genders. Considering asbestos related diseases (ARDs), statistically significant excesses were observed for MN of peritoneum (SMR: men 14.19; women 15.14), pleura (SMR: 22.35 and 48.10), lung (SMR: 1.67 and 1.67), ovary (in the highest exposure class SMR 2.45), and asbestosis (SMR: 507 and 1023). Mortality for ARDs, in particular pleural and peritoneal malignancies, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and asbestosis increased monotonically with cumulative exposure. Pleural MN mortality increased progressively in the first 40 years of TSFE, then reached a plateau, while peritoneal MN showed a continuous increase. The trend of lung cancer SMRs also showed a flattening after 40 years of TSFE. Attributable proportions for pleural, peritoneal, and lung MN were respectively 96, 93 and 40%. Conclusions Mortality for ARDs was associated with cumulative exposure to asbestos. Risk of death from pleural MN did not increase indefinitely with TSFE but eventually reached a plateau, consistently with reports from other recent studies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12940-019-0510-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectivesModels based on the multistage theory of cancer predict that rates of malignant mesothelioma continuously increase with time since first exposure (TSFE) to asbestos, even after the end of external exposure. However, recent epidemiological studies suggest that mesothelioma rates level off many years after first exposure to asbestos. A gradual clearance of asbestos from the lungs has been suggested as a possible explanation for this phenomenon. We analysed long-term trends of pleural and peritoneal cancer mortality in subjects exposed to asbestos to evaluate whether such trends were consistent with the clearance hypothesis.MethodsWe used data from a pool of 43 Italian asbestos cohorts (51 801 subjects). The role of asbestos clearance was explored using the traditional mesothelioma multistage model, generalised to include a term representing elimination of fibres over time.ResultsRates of pleural cancer increased until 40 years of TSFE, but remained stable thereafter. On the other hand, we observed a monotonic increase of peritoneal cancer with TSFE. The model taking into account asbestos clearance fitted the data better than the traditional one for pleural (p=0.004) but not for peritoneal (p=0.09) cancer.ConclusionsRates of pleural cancer do not increase indefinitely after the exposure to asbestos, but eventually reach a plateau. This trend is well described by a model accounting for a gradual elimination of the asbestos fibres. These results are relevant for the prediction of future rates of mesothelioma and in asbestos litigations.

In Italy, the nursing doctoral programs were established in 2006, and after ten years we though it would be important to understand how nursing research in Italy has developed thanks to its four doctoral schools of nursing. Our research question was: How have the Italian doctoral schools of nursing contributed to the development of nursing research in the last ten years?A national descriptive observational was conducted to collect all the publications made by the four nursing doctoral schools in Florence, Genoa, L'Aquila, and Rome between 2006 and 2015. For the enrolment of the participants, an online survey was sent to the e-mail address of each student provided by the reference University. The publications collected through the CVs of the current and former doctoral students were then checked against Web Science. The publication trends were analysed considering the type of journal, the Impact Factor (IF), and the topics.A total of 478 papers published between 2006-2015 were retrieved, of which 226 (47.59%) were published in Italian journals and 250 (52,41%) on international journals. The great majority of the papers (59,21%) were published in 30 journals, of which 15 had an Impact Factor (range 0.236 - 3.755). The main topics were clinical care, research methods, education, management, ethics, and policies.Between 2006 and 2015, Italy has produced nursing knowledge and scientific data that can be used to improve the quality of care and facilitate discussions with health policy decision-makers in order to better address the incumbent heath challenges of the near future.I Dottorati di Ricerca in Scienze Infermieristica sono stati lanciati in Italia nel 2006 e dopo dieci anni si è ritenuto importante analizzare come la ricerca infermieristica si sia sviluppata attraverso le quattro scuole di dottorato in infermieristica in Italia. La domanda di ricerca era: "In che modo le scuole di dottorato infermieristiche hanno contribuito allo sviluppo della ricerca infermieristica negli ultimi dieci anni?"È stato condotto uno studio descrittivo a livello nazionale raccogliendo le pubblicazioni degli studenti delle quattro scuole dottorali in infermieristica di Firenze, Genova, L’Aquila e Roma che hanno frequentato il percorso dottorale tra il 2006 e il 2015. Per l’arruolamento dei partecipanti è stata inviata una survey online all’indirizzo mail di ciascuno studente fornito dall’Ateno di riferimento. Le pubblicazioni raccolte attraverso i curriculum vitae inviati dai partecipanti sono state verificate e integrate con i dati disponibili in Web of Science. È stato analizzato l’andamento delle pubblicazioni, considerando la tipologia delle riviste, l’Impact Factor (IF) e le tematiche.Sono stati identificati 478 articoli scientifici pubblicati tra il 2006-2015, di cui 226 (47,59%) su riviste nazionali italiane e 250 (52,41%) su riviste internazionali. La maggior parte degli articoli scientifici (59,21%) è stata pubblicata in 30 riviste, di cui 15 avevano un Impact Factor (range 0,236 - 3,755). Gli argomenti principali riguardavano l’area clinica, i metodi di ricerca, la formazione, il management, l’etica e le politiche.Tra il 2006 e il 2015, l’Italia ha prodotto conoscenze infermieristiche e dati scientifici che potranno essere utilizzati per migliorare la qualità dell’assistenza e a facilitare discussioni con i responsabili delle politiche sanitarie per affrontare meglio le sfide sanitarie del prossimo futuro.

IntroductionThe epidemiology of gender differences for mesothelioma incidence has been rarely discussed in national case lists. In Italy an epidemiological surveillance system (ReNaM) is working by the means of a national register.MethodsIncident malignant mesothelioma (MM) cases in the period 1993 to 2012 were retrieved from ReNaM. Gender ratio by age class, period of diagnosis, diagnostic certainty, morphology and modalities of asbestos exposure has been analysed using exact tests for proportion. Economic activity sectors, jobs and territorial distribution of mesothelioma cases in women have been described and discussed. To perform international comparative analyses, the gender ratio of mesothelioma deaths was calculated by country from the WHO database and the correlation with the mortality rates estimated.ResultsIn the period of study a case list of 21 463 MMs has been registered and the modalities of asbestos exposure have been investigated for 16 458 (76.7%) of them. The gender ratio (F/M) was 0.38 and 0.70 (0.14 and 0.30 for occupationally exposed subjects only) for pleural and peritoneal cases respectively. Occupational exposures for female MM cases occurred in the chemical and plastic industry, and mainly in the non-asbestos textile sector. Gender ratio proved to be inversely correlated with mortality rate among countries.ConclusionsThe consistent proportion of mesothelioma cases in women in Italy is mainly due to the relevant role of non-occupational asbestos exposures and the historical presence of the female workforce in several industrial settings. Enhancing the awareness of mesothelioma aetiology in women could support the effectiveness of welfare system and prevention policies.

To show how malignant mesothelioma (MM) surveillance not only identifies settings of exposure representing past industrial history, but it may also detect conditions of current exposure relevant for the prevention, if the wide spectrum of asbestos uses is considered.Active search of MM cases and exposure assessment at individual level through a questionnaire; identification of exposure circumstances relevant for prevention.Italy, all the Regions where a Regional Operating Centre (COR) is established to identify all MM cases diagnosed in the population and analyze their occupational, residential, household and environmental histories. Period of diagnosis: 1993-2008.Descriptive analysis of MM cases and of asbestos exposures.ReNaM includes 15,845 cases of MM diagnosed between 1993 and 2008.The male/female ratio is 2.5. Mean age at diagnosis is 69 years. Pleural MMs represent 93% of all cases. Exposures have been investigated in 12,065 cases (76%). The median latency time is 46 years. In addition to clusters of MM cases in activities well known to entail asbestos use, different current exposure circumstances requiring intervention have been evidenced.On the basis of this experience, epidemiological surveillance of all occupational cancers should be implemented to foster synergies with the compensation system and the Local Health Authorities' occupational safety and health services, as required by the Italian Legislative Decree N. 81/2008.

We used alternative specifications of the Almost Ideal Demand System to estimate the aggregate demand for beef, pork, chicken, and other consumption goods and their elasticities in Brazil. We detected the need for using time trend variables in models’ equations so that an upward trend for each meat demand and a downward trend for other consumption goods were found. The dummy variable for the prices stabilization macroeconomic Real Plan indicated it has not affected demands. According to Marshallian own-price elasticities, demands for meats are inelastic and the demand for other consumption goods is elastic. Cross-price Marshallian and Hicksian elasticities confirm beef, pork and chicken are substitutes one to each other. Expenditure elasticities showed all goods are normal, except for pork which is an inferior good. As personal consumption expenditure increases over time, ceteris paribus, meat consumption will lose importance to other consumption goods, beef consumption will lose importance to chicken, and pork consumption will lose importance to the other types of meat.

Due to the large scale use of asbestos (more than 3.5 million tons produced or imported until its definitive banning in 1992), a specific national surveillance system of mesothelioma incident cases is active in Italy, with direct and individual anamnestic etiological investigation. In the period between 1993 and 2004, a case-list of 8,868 pleural MM was recorded by the Italian National Register (ReNaM) and the modalities of exposure to asbestos fibres have been investigated for 6,603 of them. Standardized incidence rates are 3.49 (per 100,000 inhabitants) for men and 1.25 for women, with a wide regional variability. Occupational asbestos exposure was in 69.3% of interviewed subjects (N = 4,577 cases), while 4.4% was due to cohabitation with someone (generally, the husband) occupationally exposed, 4.7% by environmental exposure from living near a contamination source and 1.6% during a leisure activity. In the male group, 81.5% of interviewed subjects exhibit an occupational exposure. In the exposed workers, the median year of first exposure was 1957, and mean latency was 43.7 years. The analysis of exposures by industrial sector focuses on a decreasing trend for those traditionally signaled as "at risk" (asbestos-cement industry, shipbuilding and repair and railway carriages maintenance) and an increasing trend for the building construction sector. The systematic mesothelioma surveillance system is relevant for the prevention of the disease and for supporting an efficient compensation system. The existing experience on all-too-predictable asbestos effects should be transferred to developing countries where asbestos use is spreading.