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Three years from the approval of the law safeguarding pregnant workers and the foetus (D.Lgs. 151/01), awareness of these provisions and management of pregnancy in relation to their job were assessed in 160 pregnant workers using a questionnaire. Respondents were 147 subjects, mean age 29.4 +/- 4.6 years, employed as blue-collar workers (n=26); white-collar workers (n =47); health workers (n=16); school workers (n=14); workers in shops (n=6); policewomen (n =3) housewives (n=25). Moreprovisions and most of them took advantage of maternal leave. Pre-term birth (16%) and low birth weight (9%) were the mostfrequent events. There were no neonatal diseases. Blue-collar, white-collar work and work in the home were not associated with pre-term births or low birth weight. Analysis based on the fathers' job characteristics did not yield significant associations either. Although the small size of our sample does not allow to draw firm conclusions, it is interesting to note that more than 10% of respondents were not aware of the provisions protecting workers' pregnancy.

A longitudinal study was carried out to evaluate the effect of psycho-physical and occupational stress on some biochemical and immunological parameters. The study was aimed to the identification of new and reliable method for the identification of subjects at high risk of occupational stress. 101 nurses which were working at several departments were enrolled. A blood sample was collected from all subjects after have filled the questionnaires at the time T0 and at the followed time points of 4 months (T1), 8 months (T2) and 12 months (T3). The self-reported questionnaires were: Rating Scale for Rapid Stress Assessment (VRS), General Health Questionnaire to 12 items (GHQ-12) Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and a questionnaire on the occupational satisfaction (SOD). Haemachrome glycaemia, homocysteine, cortisol, lymphocyte numbers and their subtypes (CD4, CD8, CD19, NK CD56, NK CD57), NK activity and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. A high reliability has been found between the psychometric tests. Correlations between biochemical and immunological variables were performed by Pearson coefficients and multiple regression analysis. Subjects with elevated value of stress evaluated as VRS and GHQ-12 score showed an altered immune response. A reduction of NK CD57 and IL-6 content better characterize the occupational satisfaction.

Improved detection methods for diagnosis of asymptomatic malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are essential for an early and reliable detection and treatment of this disease. Thus, focus has been on finding tumour markers in the blood. 94 asbestos-exposed subjects, 22 patients with MM, and 54 healthy subjects were recruited for evaluation of the significance of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy-guanosine (80HdG) in white blood cells and plasma concentrations of soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRPs), angiogenic factors (PDGFbeta, HGF, bFGF, VEGFbeta), and matrix proteases (MMP2, MMP9, TIMP1, TIMP2) for potential early detection of MM. The area under ROC curves (AUC) indicates that 80HdG levels can discriminate asbestos-exposed subjects from controls but not from MPM patients. Significant AUC values were found for SMRP discriminating asbestos-exposed subjects from MPM patients but not from controls. VEGFbeta can significantly differentiate asbestos-exposed subjects from control and cancer groups. No diagnostic value was observed for MMP2, MMP9, TIMP1, TIMP2. The sensitivity and specificity results of markers were calculated at defined cut-offs. The combination of 80HdG, VEGFbeta and SMRPs best distinguished the individual groups, suggesting a potential indicator of early and advanced MPM cancers. The combination of blood biomarkers and radiographic findings could be used to stratify the risk of mesothelioma in asbestos-exposed populations.

Il contributo dà conto dei primi scavi archeologici a Senigallia dopo molto tempo: le ricerche in via Cavallotti, infatti, condotte da un'equipe del Dipartimento di Archeologia, hanno condotto alla scoperta di una fase preromana databile al V-IV sec. a.C., molto prima dunque dell'arrivo tradizionale dei Roamni agli inizi del III sec. a.C.

Objective To examine the relationship between job satisfaction, psychological distress, psychosocial processes and stress-related biological factors, and to evaluate whether over time changes of work satisfaction could affect the immunological-inflammatory status of workers. Methods One hundred and one nurses were enrolled at the Clinic of Occupational Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. Perceived job satisfaction, psychological distress, and social support were assessed every 4 mo over a 1-yr period using 4 self-reported questionnaires. T lymphocytes CD3, CD4(+), CD8(+), CD8(+)-CD57(+), B lymphocyte CD19(+), NK cells CD56(+), and NK cell activity were determined. Results Job satisfaction was associated with reduced psychological distress and was characterized by low cell numbers of CD8(+) suppressor T cells, CD8(+)-CD57(+) activated T cells, CD56(+) NK cells and low IL-6 levels. Over time changes in psychological parameters were related to changes in the immunological-inflammatory variables. Subjects who increased their job satisfaction showed a reduced psychological stress associated with reduced number of CD8(+)-CD57(+) activated T cells and inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions Job (dis)satisfaction is related with psychological mechanisms in stress affecting cellular immune function.

Ricerche multidisciplinari a Senigallia.