Determinants of career structure and advancement among Italian cardiologists. An example of segregation and discrimination against women? SCIC Group. Studio Condizione Italiana Cardiologi.
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AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyse the processes through which job, career and research-related choices are determined in Italian cardiology, focusing on characteristics such as productivity, gender and family. METHODS AND RESULTS: In June 1996, a questionnaire surveying individual and career-related data was mailed to all members (8000) of the Italian societies of cardiology. Returned questionnaires numbered 1715 (21.4% of the total mailed), 83% were completed by men and 17% by women. For both hospital and academic careers, advancement in rank was influenced by variables denoting productivity, family and individual characteristics. However, men and women showed slightly different patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Promotion to the upper ranks of the hierarchy was highly dependent upon time (once the effects of the covariates were eliminated). This situation is typical of the internal labour market, that is, in institutions in which staff members are ranked on a hierarchical scale according to formal criteria that are 'rigid' and institutionalized, partially sheltered from competition. Therefore, once a member has gained access to the bottom of the hierarchy, the professional career is 'pre-determined' and seniority has an appreciable influence on promotion decisions; in this context, women appear to be at a disadvantage. (+info)
Classical swine fever in Sardinia: epidemiology of recent outbreaks.
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A variable region of the gene encoding the major glycoprotein (E2) of Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) was sequenced from 12 Sardinian isolates which had been obtained from three geographically distinct regions of the Island. Phylogenetic analysis of these viruses and others characterized in previous studies [1, 2] indicated that (a) the Sardinian viruses were all members of the common European subgroup 2.3 and were clearly distinct from live vaccines recently used in this area; (b) they could be resolved into four distinct groups in accordance with the region or date of isolation; (c) in at least two regions wild boar/domestic swine contact was implicated in virus spread; (d) the oldest isolate (1983) and some of the recent isolates were possibly introduced from mainland Italy. In addition, this study has wider implications for the interpretation of CSFV variation. We have been able to demonstrate that small variations within this region of the virus genome (possibly less than 2.7% or five nucleotide substitutions) can be used to separate isolates into groups that precisely fit their geographical distribution. This finding is especially important for deducing the epidemiological relationships between multiple outbreaks caused by similar viruses that occur in close proximity. (+info)
Familial clustering of Helicobacter pylori infection: population based study.
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OBJECTIVES: To assess the rate of intrafamilial transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection in the general population and the role of a family's social background. DESIGN: Population survey. SETTING: Campogalliano, a town in northern Italy with about 5000 residents. PARTICIPANTS: 3289 residents, accounting for 416 families. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of H pylori infection assessed by presence of IgG antibodies to H pylori. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H pylori infection was 58%. Children belonging to families with both parents infected had a significantly higher prevalence of H pylori infection (44%) than children from families with only one (30%) or no parents (21%) infected (P<0.001). Multivariate analyses confirmed that children with both parents positive had double the risk of being infected by H pylori than those from families in which both parents were negative. Family social status was independently related to infection in children, with those from blue collar or farming families showing an increased risk of infection compared with children of white collars workers (odds ratio 2.02, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 3.49). CONCLUSIONS: H pylori infection clusters within families belonging to the same population. Social status may also be a risk factor. This suggests either a person to person transmission or a common source of exposure for H pylori infection. (+info)
Mitochondrial DNA inherited variants are associated with successful aging and longevity in humans.
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Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is characterized by high variability, maternal inheritance, and absence of recombination. Studies of human populations have revealed ancestral associated polymorphisms whose combination defines groups of mtDNA types (haplogroups) that are currently used to reconstruct human evolution lineages. We used such inherited mtDNA markers to compare mtDNA population pools between a sample of individuals selected for successful aging and longevity (212 subjects older than 100 years and in good clinical condition) and a sample of 275 younger individuals (median age 38 years) carefully matched as to sex and geographic origin (northern and southern Italy). All nine haplogroups that are typical of Europeans were found in both samples, but male centenarians emerged in northern Italy as a particular sample: 1) mtDNA haplogroup frequency distribution was different between centenarians and younger individuals (P=0.017 by permutation tests); and 2) the frequency of the J haplogroup was notably higher in centenarians than in younger individuals (P=0.0052 by Fisher exact test). Since haplogroups are defined on the basis of inherited variants, these data show that mtDNA inherited variability could play a role in successful aging and longevity. (+info)
Intensity of myocardial expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase influences the clinical course of human immunodeficiency virus-associated cardiomyopathy. Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio Cardiologico dei pazienti affetti da AIDS (GISCA).
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BACKGROUND: Increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) have been reported in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. We investigated the myocardial expression of TNF-alpha and iNOS in patients with HIV-associated cardiomyopathy (HIV-DCM) compared with patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). METHODS AND RESULTS: Endomyocardial biopsy specimens from 82 HIV-DCM and 80 IDCM patients were processed for determination of the immunostaining intensity of TNF-alpha and iNOS and for virological examination. Negative controls were derived from autopsy myocardium specimens from 32 HIV-negative patients without known heart disease. The mortality rate for congestive heart failure between groups according to the intensity of iNOS staining was also evaluated. The mean intensity of both TNF-alpha and iNOS staining was greater in patients with HIV-DCM (0.81 and 1.007, respectively) than in patients with IDCM (0.44 and 0.49, respectively) and controls (0.025 and 0.027, respectively). The staining intensity of both TNF-alpha and iNOS was inversely correlated with CD4 count. The staining intensity of iNOS was greater in HIV-DCM patients with HIV/coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) or with HIV/cytomegalovirus coinfection than in IDCM patients showing infection with CVB3 and adenovirus alone. The staining intensity of iNOS correlated to mortality rate, because it was higher in HIV-DCM patients and, in particular, in those with an optical density unit >1. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokine activation seems to play a significant pathogenetic role in both HIV-DCM and IDCM. In HIV-DCM patients, the state of immunodeficiency may favor the selection of viral variants of increased pathogenicity, influencing the clinical course of cardiomyopathy by enhancement of the inflammatory process. (+info)
Human herpesvirus 8 seropositivity and risk of Kaposi's sarcoma and other acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related diseases.
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BACKGROUND: The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is increased severalfold in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV). Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) has also been implicated in KS. We investigated several factors that may determine the onset of KS, particularly HHV8 infection in individuals after becoming seropositive for HIV. METHODS: We studied 366 individuals belonging to different HIV-exposure categories (i.e., homosexual activity, intravenous drug use, and heterosexual contact) for whom a negative HIV serologic test and then a positive HIV serologic test were available within a 2-year period. HHV8 antibody testing was performed by use of an immunofluorescence assay on the first serum sample available after the first positive HIV test. Actuarial rates of progression of KS and of other acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining diseases were estimated by use of time-to-event statistical methods. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Twenty-one of the 366 study participants developed AIDS-related KS, and 83 developed AIDS without KS. One hundred forty (38.3%) participants had detectable anti-HHV8 antibodies. The actuarial progression rate to KS among persons co-infected with HIV/HHV8 was nearly 30% by 10 years after HIV seroconversion. Increasing HHV8 antibody titers increased the risk of developing KS (for seronegative versus highest titer [1:125 serum dilution], adjusted relative hazard [RH] = 51.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.08-441.33) but not of other AIDS-defining diseases (adjusted RH = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.72-1.80). HHV8-seropositive homosexual men compared with HHV8-seropositive participants from other HIV-exposure categories showed an increased risk of KS that approached statistical significance (adjusted RH = 6.93; 95% CI = 0.88-54.84). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one third of individuals co-infected with HIV/HHV8 developed KS within 10 years after HIV seroconversion. Progression to KS increased with time after HIV seroconversion. Higher antibody titers to HHV8 appear to be related to faster progression to KS but not to other AIDS-defining diseases. (+info)
A comprehensive assessment of satisfaction with care: preliminary psychometric analysis in an oncology institute in Italy.
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BACKGROUND: Little is known about patients' perception of the quality of the care they receive in oncology hospitals. We developed a 61-item comprehensive assessment of satisfaction with care (CASC) to evaluate the competence of hospital physicians and nurses, as well as aspects of care organisation and hospital environment. The aims of this study were to define the structure of the CASC and assess the internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity of its scales. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred ninety-five consecutive cancer patients discharged from an oncology institute in Italy were asked to complete the CASC at home and return it in a self-addressed envelope. RESULTS: Two percent of the patients refused to participate and 25% failed to return the questionnaire. Separate factor analyses of the CASC sub-scales disclosed the perceived extent of doctors' and nurses' availability, coordination, human quality, technical competence, provision of psychosocial care and information, as well as the patients' general satisfaction, perception of the organisation of their care, access and comfort. Multi-trait scaling analysis was carried out on item-grouping resulting from factor analyses. High levels of internal consistency and convergent validity were obtained but discriminant validity could be improved. CONCLUSIONS: Results of present psychometric testing of the CASC forecast adequate properties. This will be confirmed by repeating these analyses in a cross-cultural setting. (+info)
Hereditary hemochromatosis in adults without pathogenic mutations in the hemochromatosis gene.
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BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Hereditary hemochromatosis in adults is usually characterized by mutations in the HFE gene on the short arm of chromosome 6. Most patients have a substitution of tyrosine for cysteine at position 282 (C282Y). We studied a large family from Italy that includes persons who have a hereditary iron-overload condition indistinguishable from hemochromatosis but without apparent pathogenic mutations in the HFE gene. We performed biochemical, histologic, and genetic studies of 53 living members of the family, including microsatellite analysis of chromosome 6 and direct sequencing of the HFE gene. RESULTS: Of the 53 family members, 15 had abnormal serum ferritin levels, values for transferrin saturation that were higher than 50 percent, or both. Thirteen of the 15 had elevated body iron levels, diagnosed on the basis of the clinical evaluation and liver biopsy, and underwent iron-removal therapy. The other two, both children, did not undergo liver biopsy or iron-removal therapy. None of the 15 members had the C282Y mutation of the HFE gene; 5 of the 15 (as well as 5 healthy relatives) had another mutation of this gene, a substitution of aspartate for histidine at position 63, but none were homozygous for it. No other mutations were found after sequencing of the entire HFE gene for all family members. Microsatellite analysis showed no linkage of the hemochromatosis phenotype with the short arm of chromosome 6, the site of the HFE gene. CONCLUSIONS: Hereditary hemochromatosis can occur in adults who do not have pathogenic mutations in the hemochromatosis gene. (+info)