Quality of life in young diabetic patients.

AIM: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in young diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 30 consecutive (16 male, 14 female; mean age 15.8 years) out-patients affected by Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We used validated clinical, metabolic (HbA1c) and patient-oriented (Short Form-36) measurements. RESULTS: Patient-oriented physical scores were significantly related to several clinical and habit features (daily glycaemia and number of insulin administration, dosage of HbA1c, number of snacks). Interestingly, the number of snacks is associated with better social functioning; furthermore, the mother's educational level is related with physical and mental aspects of the patient's quality of life. DISCUSSION: The patient-oriented measure provides an important perspective of the severity of the disease and suggests new interpretations to conventional biological measurements. This multidimensional study shows that HRQoL is influenced by the metabolic picture. During adolescence a "constant attendance" of the disease, through strict self-control and the high number of therapy administrations, can deteriorate the patient's quality of life. Interestingly, this study indicates the mother's crucial role in the management of the disease during adolescence: the higher the mother's educational level the better the patient's HRQoL probably because she is able to help the child to manage and accept the disease.

[Alcohol consumption in a hospital population. Relationship of dose and liver damage]. / Studio sul consumo alcoolico in una popolazione ospedaliera. Rapporto dose-danno epatico.

We have performed a prospective study on 291 male non alcoholic-patients admitted in the General Hospital of Arezzo, drinkers of more than 100 ml of alcohol for day. We have evaluated the toxic effects on the liver and we found a direct correlation between dose and hepatic lesions. The factors body weight, period of drinking, way of drinking (during eating or not) seem to have no value to determinate the hepatic damage. The Authors think that this kind of investigation is important to elaborate preventive program not only for the "psichiatric" alcoholism, but for the danger of the excessive amount of wine normally consumed in the diet from high percentage of Italian people.