Publications

The Italian smoking ban substantially decreased SHS exposure. However, specific subpopulations, including the young, are still frequently exposed both in public and private places. We observed a relatively high SHS exposure in private vehicles. Thus, further control to improve compliance with the smoking ban and an extension of the smoke-free legislation to motor vehicles are needed.

Diets with high inflammatory potential are suspected to increase risk for pancreatic cancer (PC). Using pooled analyses, we examined whether this association applies to populations from different geographic regions and population subgroups with varying risks for PC, including variation in ABO blood type. Data from six case-control studies (cases, n = 2414; controls, n = 4528) in the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium (PanC4) were analyzed, followed by replication in five nested case-control studies (cases, n = 1268; controls, n = 4215) from the Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Consortium (PanScan). Two polymorphisms in the ABO locus (rs505922 and rs8176746) were used to infer participants' blood types. Dietary questionnaire-derived nutrient/food intake was used to compute energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII®) scores to assess inflammatory potential of diet. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. Higher E-DII scores, reflecting greater inflammatory potential of diet, were associated with increased PC risk in PanC4 [ORQ5 versus Q1=2.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.85-2.61, Ptrend < 0.0001; ORcontinuous = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.17-1.24], and PanScan (ORQ5 versus Q1 = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.92-1.66, Ptrend = 0.008; ORcontinuous = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.02-1.15). As expected, genotype-derived non-O blood type was associated with increased PC risk in both the PanC4 and PanScan studies. Stratified analyses of associations between E-DII quintiles and PC by genotype-derived ABO blood type did not show interaction by blood type (Pinteraction = 0.10 in PanC4 and Pinteraction=0.13 in PanScan). The results show that consuming a pro-inflammatory diet and carrying non-O blood type are each individually, but not interactively, associated with increased PC risk.

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) mortality shows great disparity between endemic high risk areas, where non-keratinizing carcinoma (NKC) histology is prevalent, and non-endemic low risk regions, where the keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (KSCC) type is more frequent. We used the World Health Organization database to calculate NPC mortality trends from 1970 to 2014 in several countries worldwide. For the European Union (EU), the United States (US) and Japan, we also predicted trends to 2020. In 2012, the highest age-standardized (world standard) rates were in Hong Kong (4.51/100,000 men and 1.15/100,000 women), followed by selected Eastern European countries. The lowest rates were in Northern Europe and Latin America. EU rates were 0.27/100,000 men and 0.09/100,000 women, US rates were 0.20/100,000 men and 0.08/100,000 women and Japanese rates were 0.16/100,000 men and 0.04/100,000 women. NPC mortality trends were favourable for several countries. The decline was 215% in men and 25% in women between 2002 and 2012 in the EU, 212% in men and 29% in women in the US and about 230% in both sexes in Hong Kong and Japan. The favourable patterns in Europe and the United States are predicted to continue. Changes in salted fish and preserved food consumption account for the fall in NKC. Smoking and alcohol prevalence disparities between sexes and geographic areas may explain the different rates and trends observed for KSCC and partially for NKC. Dietary patterns, as well as improvement in management of the disease, may partly account for the observed trends, too.

For the first time since the 1950s the overall smoking prevalence in Italian adults fell below 30%, but the figure is now higher than in most Western countries. Also for females the smoking prevalence in Italy is now higher than in the USA. This reflects the absence of any comprehensive policy and legislation against smoking in Italy.

&lt;p&gt;Genomic co-ordinates of lung specific enhancers (hg19)&lt;/p&gt;

In a survey about euthanasia, 1,600 critical care nurses were randomly assigned to receive either three complete, anonymous mailings of the questionnaire or, with each mailing, a coded postcard to be returned separately from the questionnaire to reduce subsequent mailings to previous responders. The response rate in these two groups was 76.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 73.6-79.4%] and 69% (95% CI = 65.7-72.4%), respectively. The two strategies yielded similar responses, and costs were much lower for the postcard group. Using coded postcards to be returned separately from completed instruments appears to lower the response rate to anonymous mail surveys, but it also lowers cost and may not introduce additional bias.

Scanty information is available on the relation between nevus count on specific anatomic areas and the total body surface, particularly in children. The authors analyzed this issue by using data from a uniquely large study conducted in 1997 on 3,406 schoolchildren (1,746 boys and 1,660 girls) aged 13-14 years in 13 cities from northern, central, and southern Italy. Children were examined by trained dermatologists who counted melanocytic nevi (>or=2 mm in diameter) on 19 different anatomic sites. Overall, the mean number of nevi was 17.3 (18.6 in boys and 15.8 in girls). The adjusted correlation coefficients (r) with number of nevi on the whole body were 0.74 for head and neck, 0.83 for anterior and 0.84 for posterior trunk, and 0.88 for upper and 0.80 for lower limbs. With reference to single anatomic sites, the best predictor of total nevus count was the lateral arms (r=0.80), overall and in strata of sex and pigmentary characteristics. This large study provides definite evidence that examining the upper limbs only, particularly the lateral arms, is a practical and suitable tool for predicting total nevus count in children.

We provided cancer mortality rate estimates for the year 2025 in six Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico), focusing on prostate cancer. We extracted mortality data for all cancers combined and the most common sites from the WHO and population data since 1970 from the United Nations. Estimates for 2025 were computed applying a linear regression to the most recent segment identified through Poisson join-point regression. Avoided deaths number from 1991 to 2025 was estimated by applying the 1990 peak rate to population data. Mortality from all cancers is predicted to be favorable for both sexes in all countries. The lowest total cancer mortality rates are expected in Mexico (67.7/100 000 males; 61.4/100 000 females), while the highest ones in Cuba (136.6/100 000 males; 91.6/100 000 females). Prostate cancer mortality is declining in all countries, although rates remain high in Cuba (25.2/100 000 in 2025). Downward patterns are observed for all age groups in all countries, except the elderly in Cuba and Mexico. Declines in mortality are predicted for colorectal (except for males in Brazil and Cuba, and females in Chile), stomach (except Cuban males), pancreatic (except Argentinian and Cuban males), lung, bladder (except Argentinian females), breast, and ovarian (except Cuba) cancers. Uterine cancer mortality, particularly from cervical cancer, remains highin Argentina (10.2/100 000) and Cuba (10.4/100 000). Except for uterine, stomach, and prostate cancers, cancer mortality rates are still relatively low in Latin America, except Cuba. Controlling tobacco particularly in Cuba, implementing organized cervical cancer screening, and advancing cancer treatment also for prostate cancer remain crucial in all countries considered.

Franceschi, S; Amadori, D; Nanni, O; Bruzzi, P; Filiberti, R; Giacosa, A; Merlo, F; Ď Avanzo, B; Vecchia, C La; Negri, E; Parazzini, F; Decarli, A; Ferraroni, M; Levi, F; Montella, M; Salvini, S Author Information