Variation in care and outcome for fragile hip fracture patients: a European multicentre study benchmarking fulfilment of established quality indicators.

PURPOSE: Despite the availability of clinical guidelines for hip fracture patients, adherence to these guidelines is challenging, potentially resulting in suboptimal patient care. The goal of this study was (1) to evaluate and benchmark the adherence to recently established quality indicators (QIs), and (2) to study clinical outcomes, in fragile hip fracture patients from different European countries. METHODS: This observational, cross-sectional multicenter study was performed in 10 hospitals from 9 European countries including data of 298 consecutive patients. RESULTS: A large variation both within and between hospitals were seen regarding adherence to the individual QIs. QIs with the lowest overall adherence rates were the administration of systemic steroids (5.4%) and tranexamic acid (20.1%). Indicators with the highest adherence rates (above 95%) were pre-operative (99.3%) and post-operative haemoglobin level assessment (100%). The overall median time to surgery was 22.6 h (range 15.7-42.5 h). The median LOS was 9.0 days (range 5.0-19.0 days). The most common complications were delirium (23.2%) and postsurgical constipation (25.2%). CONCLUSION: The present study shows large variation in the care for fragile patients with hip fractures indicating room for improvement. Therefore, hospitals should invest in benchmarking and knowledge-sharing. Large quality improvement initiatives with longitudinal follow up of both process and outcome indicators should be initiated.

A mixed methods multiple case study to evaluate the implementation of a care pathway for colorectal cancer surgery using extended normalization process theory.

BACKGROUND: Specific factors that facilitate or prevent the implementation of enhanced recovery protocols for colorectal cancer surgery have been described in previous qualitative studies. This study aims to perform a concurrent qualitative and quantitative evaluation of factors associated with successful implementation of a care pathway (CP) for patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: This comparative mixed methods multiple case study was based on a sample of 10 hospitals in 4 European countries that implemented a specific CP and performed pre- and post-implementation measurements. In-depth post-implementation interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals who were directly involved. Primary outcomes included protocol adherence and improvement rate. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS) and self-rated protocol adherence. The hospitals were ranked based on these quantitative findings, and those with the highest and lowest scores were included in this study. Qualitative data were summarized on a per-case basis using extended Normalization Process Theory (eNPT) as theoretical framework. The data were then combined and analyzed using joint display methodology. RESULTS: Data from 381 patients and 30 healthcare professionals were included. Mean protocol adherence rate increased from 56 to 62% and mean LOS decreased by 2.1 days. Both measures varied greatly between hospitals. The two highest-ranking hospitals and the three lowest-ranking hospitals were included as cases. Factors which could explain the differences in pre- and post-implementation performance included the degree to which the CP was integrated into daily practice, the level of experience and support for CP methodology provided to the improvement team, the intrinsic motivation of the team, shared goals and the degree of management support, alignment of CP development and hospital strategy, and participation of relevant disciplines, most notably, physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Overall improvement was achieved but was highly variable among the 5 hospitals evaluated. Specific factors involved in the implementation process that may be contributing to these differences were conceptualized using eNPT. Multidisciplinary teams intending to implement a CP should invest in shared goals and teamwork and focus on integration of the CP into daily processes. Support from hospital management directed specifically at quality improvement including audit may likewise facilitate the implementation process. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02965794 . US National Library of Medicine, ClinicalTrials.gov . Registered 4 August 2014.

The impact of social determinants and lifestyles on dietary patterns during pregnancy: evidence from the "Mamma & Bambino" study.

BACKGROUND: During pregnancy, maternal dietary patterns play a critical role in determining maternal and new-born health. Recent evidence highlighted the influence of either social determinants and lifestyles on the adherence to different dietary patterns. STUDY DESIGN: In this cross-sectional analysis, we evaluated the association of social determinants and lifestyles with maternal dietary patterns in the "Mother & Child" cohort, a prospective study that enrols mother-child pairs from Catania, Italy. METHODS: Dietary patterns were derived using Food Frequency Questionnaire and Principal Component Analysis. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between socio-demographic factors (i.e., age, educational level and employment status), lifestyles (i.e., smoking status, body mass index, use of folic acid, multivitamin and multi-mineral supplements) and dietary patterns. RESULTS: Overall, 332 women were enrolled and the following dietary patterns were derived: the "western" dietary pattern, characterized by high intake of red meat, fries, dipping sauces, salty snacks and alcoholic drinks; the second one, named "prudent", characterized by high intake of potatoes, raw and cooked vegetables, legumes, rice and soup. Multivariable analysis showed that young age, low educational level and smoking were positively associated with the adherence to the western dietary pattern. In contrast, pre-gestational body mass index was negatively associated with the adherence to the prudent dietary pattern. CONCLUSION: Our results raise the need of strategies for promoting healthy dietary habits among women in their reproductive age, which might also help control their body weight before and during pregnancy. These strategies should be prioritized to young women of low educational level, who generally share other unhealthy behaviours.

Defensive practices among non-medical health professionals: An overview of the scientific literature.

INTRODUCTION: Defensive medicine (DM) is used when a doctor deviates from good practices to prevent complaints from patients or caregivers. This is a structured phenomenon that may not only affect the physician, but all healthcare personnel. The aim of this review was to determine whether DM is also performed by Non-Medical Health Professionals (NMHP), and the reasons, features, and effects of NMHP-DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, and specific inclusion criteria were used to search for relevant documents published up to 12 April 2018 in the main biomedical databases. RESULTS: A total of 91 potentially relevant studies were identified. After the removal of duplicates, 72 studies were screened for eligibility, separately by two of the authors. Finally, 14 qualitative and quantitative studies were considered relevant for the purpose of the present review. These last studies were assessed for their methodological quality. CONCLUSIONS: NMHP-DM is quite similar to DM practiced by doctors, and is mainly caused by fear of litigation. Midwives and nursing personnel practiced both active and passive DM, such as over-investigation, over-treatment, and avoidance of high-risk patients. NMHP-DM could increase risks for patient health, costs, risk of burnout for healthcare employees. Further studies are needed to better understand prevalence and features of NMHP-DM in all health professional fields, in order to apply appropriate preventive strategies to contrast DM among health care personnel.

Achieving quadruple aim goals through clinical networks: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical Networks are complex interventions that enable healthcare professionals from various disciplines to work in a coordinated manner in the context of multiple care settings, to provide a high quality response to a specific disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate if clinical networks are able to improve effectiveness, efficiency, patients' satisfaction and professionals' behavior in the health care settings, namely the "quadruple aim" quality goals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of documents published until February 28, 2018, in Medline, Embase and CINAHL was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses approach. A specific research strategy was created to identify studies evaluating effectiveness, efficiency, patient satisfaction and professionals well-being obtained through clinical networks implementation. RESULTS: 14249 studies were identified; 12 of these were eligible to the evaluation of "Quadruple Aim" outcomes. 9 studies focused on patients' outcomes improvement and 4 on network efficiency. Professionals' and patients' experience were not considered in any study. CONCLUSIONS: There are some evidences that clinical network can improve patients' outcomes and health funds allocation in a small number of moderate-low quality studies. Further rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate patients' and professionals' experience, taking into account also networks' structural features that could influence outcomes achievement.

A prospective study of women with ASCUS or LSIL pap smears at baseline and HPV E6/E7 mRNA positive: a 3-year follow-up.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is used in the triage of women with a borderline smear result. The efficiency of testing women with a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) is less clear. For this reason we used a new HPV test that detects E6/E7 messenger RNA (mRNA), which might have a higher specificity. The objective of this prospective study was to assess whether HPV E6/E7 mRNA positivity in women with ASCUS and LSIL at baseline, is able to predict those women who have a high risk of developing a histological cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2) or worse lesion. We took into consideration the women's age and HPV DNA genotype and followed them up for 3 years. Cervical samples from women with high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) DNA-positive ASCUS (n = 90) or LSIL (n = 222) were tested for the presence of HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA and the women were monitored for the development of histopathologically verified CIN2+. Thirteen patients with ASCUS and 17 with LSIL did not complete follow-up. All patients with LSIL and ASCUS, enrolled in this study, had confirmed lesions at the colposcopic examination. Follow-up was available for 312 women, 193 were positive in the HR-HPV DNA test and 93 had a HPV E6/E7 mRNA positive test. Finally, 22 women positive in the HPV DNA test for high-risk genotypes and with positive E6/E7 mRNA had a histologically confirmed CIN2+. Only two cases with negative HPV E6/E7 mRNA had CIN2+. The study shows that women positive in the HPV E6/E7 mRNA test have a greater risk of malignant progression of cervical lesions and therefore deserve greater attention and earlier check-ups.

Prospective Single-Center Observational Study of the Allergenic Potential of Mercromina Film and Other Common Antiseptics in Patients With Contact Dermatitis. / Estudio observacional de seguridad, prospectivo y unicéntrico para determinar la capacidad alergogénica de Mercromina Film® y otros antisépticos de uso común en pacientes con dermatitis de contacto.

INTRODUCTION: Although Mercromina Film and other topical antiseptics are widely used, they are not included in the standard series recommended by the Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group for testing suspected allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Furthermore, no recent studies have investigated the allergenic potential of merbromin. OBJECTIVE: To determine the allergenic potential of merbromin and compare it with that of other topical antiseptics widely used in clinical practice, including povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine, and eosin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective single-center observational safety study of 105 patients with suspected ACD seen at the dermatology department of our hospital. RESULTS: Of the 105 patients studied, 1.9% had a positive patch test to merbromin and 12.4% were sensitized to povidone-iodine. The differences in the proportion of patients with ACD to Betadine Solución Dérmica (povidone-iodine) compared with the rest of the antiseptics was statistically significant (McNemar test, P<.05). No adverse reactions were observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the patch tests conducted, Mercromina Film has very low allergenic potential. The highest allergenic potential was observed for povidone-iodine.

CT Angiography ASPECTS Predicts Outcome Much Better Than Noncontrast CT in Patients with Stroke Treated Endovascularly.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Noncontrast CT ASPECTS has been investigated as a predictor of outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Our purpose was to investigate whether CTA source images are a better predictor of clinical and radiologic outcomes than NCCT ASPECTS in candidates for endovascular stroke therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans of patients (n = 124) were independently evaluated by 2 readers for baseline NCCT and CTA source image ASPECTS and for follow-up ASPECTS. An mRS of ≤2 at 3 months was considered a favorable outcome. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the ability of NCCT and CTA source image ASPECTS to identify patients with favorable outcomes. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to find independent predictors of outcome. RESULTS: Baseline CTA source image ASPECTS correlated better than NCCT ASPECTS with follow-up ASPECTS (r = 0.76 versus r = 0.51; P for comparison of the 2 coefficients < .001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that baseline CTA source image ASPECTS compared with NCCT ASPECTS can better identify patients with favorable outcome (CTA source image area under the curve = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76-0.91; NCCT area under the curve = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.58-0.77; P < .001). Finally, the stepwise regression analysis showed that lower age, good recanalization, lower time to recanalization, and good baseline CTA source image ASPECTS, not NCCT ASPECTS, were independent predictors of favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: CTA source image ASPECTS predicts outcome better than NCCT ASPECTS; this finding suggests CTA rather than NCCT as a main step in the decision-making process for patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Becoming a "second victim" in health care: Pathway of recovery after adverse event.

INTRODUCTION: The healthcare worker involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event can become second victim. These workers suffer physically and psycho-socially and try to overcome the post-event emotional stress by obtaining emotional support in a variety of ways. The goal of this research was to study second victims among health care providers in Italy. METHODS: This contribution contains the results of 33 interviews of nurses, physicians and other healthcare workers. After institutional approval, the semi-structured interview, composed of 25 questions, was translated from English into Italian. The audio-interviews were transcribed on paper verbatim by the interviewer. It was then verified if the interviewees experienced the six post-event stages of second victim recovery previously described within the literature. RESULTS: The interviewees described the post-event recovery stages described by literature but stages were not detailed in the exact succession order as the American study. All participants clearly remembered the adverse event and referred the physical and psycho-social symptoms. The psychological support obtained by second victims was described as poor and inefficient. DISCUSSION: The post-event recovery pathway is predictable but not always clearly respected as defined within this Italian sample. Future study of the second-victim phenomenon and desired supportive interventions is necessary to understand the experience and interventions to mitigate harm of future clinicians. Every day healthcare workers become second victims and, considering that human resources are the most important heritage of healthcare infrastructures, after an adverse event it is very important to execute valid interventional programs to support and train these workers.

The determinants of defensive medicine in Italian hospitals: The impact of being a second victim.

BACKGROUND: Defensive medicine affects healthcare systems worldwide. The concerns and perception about medical liability could lead practitioners to practise defensive medicine. Second victim is a healthcare worker involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event. The role of being second victim and the other possible determinants for defensive medicine is mostly unclear. OBJECTIVE: To study the condition of being second victim as a possible determinants of defensive medicine among Italian hospital physicians. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A secondary analysis of the database of the national survey study on the prevalence and the costs of defensive medicine in Italy that was carried out between April 2014 and June 2014 in 55 Italian hospitals was performed for this study. The demographic section of the questionnaire was selected including the physician's age, gender, specialty, activity volume, grade and the variable being a second victim after an adverse event. RESULTS: A total sample of 1313 physicians (87.5% response rate) was used in the data analyses. Characteristics of the participants included a mean age 49.2 of years and 19.4 average years of experience. The most prominent predictor for practising defensive medicine was the physicians' experience of being a second victim after an adverse event (OR=1.88; 95%CI, 1.38-2.57). Other determinants included age, years of experience, activity volume and risk of specialty. CONCLUSIONS: Malpractice reform, effective support to second victims in hospitals together with a systematic use of evidence-based clinical guidelines, emerged as possible recommendations for reducing defensive medicine.

Serious reportable events within the inpatient mental health care: Impact on physicians and nurses.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of physicians and nurses involved in an adverse event within mental health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was performed. Six Flemish psychiatric hospitals (Belgium) participated in this exploratory cross-sectional study. All psychiatrists and nurses working in these hospitals were invited to complete an online questionnaire in March 2013. RESULTS: 28 psychiatrists and 252 nurses completed the survey. 205 (73%) of the 280 respondents were personally involved at least once in an adverse event within their entire career. Respondents reported that the adverse event with the greatest impact was related to suicide in almost 64% of the cases. About one in eight respondents considered quitting their job because of it. Almost 18% declared that due to the impact of the event, they believed that the quality of the administered care was affected for longer than one month. Respondents stated that they received much support of colleagues (95%), the chief nurse (86%) and the partner (71%). Colleagues seemed to be most supportive in the recovery process. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians and nurses working in inpatient mental health care may be at high risk to being confronted with an adverse event at some point in their career. The influence on health professionals involved in an adverse event on their work is particularly important in the first 4-24h. Professionals at those moments had higher likelihood to be involved in another adverse event. Institutions should seriously consider giving support almost at that time.

Incidence of oncological pathologies 2002-2010 in the southwestern Piedmont area, province of Vercelli, neighbouring municipalities of former nuclear sites.

The Vercelli Province counts two former nuclear installations: a radioactive waste disposal area in Saluggia and a former nuclear power plant in Trino. This study takes also into account four other neighbouring municipalities, counting 20,000 total inhabitants. We studied the incidence of neoplastic pathologies in the 2002-2010 period. The data sources were Hospital Discharge Form (SDO), histological reports from the Registry of Hospital Charts (RHC) and Italy's National Statistics Institute (ISTAT) reports, and the Cancer Register of Turin. The research highlights the excesses for all type of cancers (SIR=1,11; IC 1,04-1,18), including the ones of nervous system (SIR=2,23 IC 1,47-2,98), leukaemia (SIR=1,94 IC 1,35-2,52), and bones (SIR=12,0 IC 9,22-14,7), according to different aggregation levels by age, sex and housing area. Considering such results, previous studies, and the environmental and occupational risk factors in the area, we believe that further epidemiological and environmental studies should be conducted in this area.

Personal, situational and organizational aspects that influence the impact of patient safety incidents: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: When a patient safety incident (PSI) occurs, not only the patient, but also the involved health professional can suffer. This study focused on this so-called "second victim" of a patient safety incident and aimed to examine: (1) experienced symptoms in the aftermath of a patient safety incident; (2) applied coping strategies; (3) the received versus needed support and (4) the aspects that influenced whether one becomes a second victim. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one in-depth interviews were performed with physicians, nurses and midwives who have been involved in a patient safety incident. RESULTS: The symptoms were categorized under personal and professional impact. Both problem focused and emotion focused coping strategies were used in the aftermath of a PSI. Problem focused strategies such as performing a root cause analysis and the opportunity to learn from what happened were the most appreciated, but negative emotional responses such as repression and flight were common. Support from colleagues and supervisors who were involved in the same event, peer supporters or professional experts were the most needed. A few individuals described emotional support from the healthcare institution as unwanted. Rendered support was largely dependent on the organizational culture, a stigma remained among healthcare professionals to openly discuss patient safety incidents. Three aspects influenced the extent to which a healthcare professional became a second victim: personal, situational and organizational aspects. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that a multifactorial approach including individual and emotional support to second victims is crucial.

Exploration study on mortality trends in the territory surrounding an incineration plant of urban solid waste in the municipality of Vercelli (Piedmont, Italy) 1988-2009.

BACKGROUND: The places, where the incinerators are located, often present problems of heterogeneous people having different environmental factors. It becomes important to evaluate the possible etiologic role of various environmental risk factors and try to quantify as they affect in the excess epidemiological. METHODS: This study considers the ISTAT index mortality due to all causes occurred from 1988 to 2009 referred to ten municipalities at south of Vercelli (Piedmont, North Western Italy) placed nearby the active incinerator from 1977 (10 latent years). The risks were calculated considering this area at risk versus the municipalities placed at North of Vercelli and versus the Vercelli. RESULTS: Some significant statically excesses emerged in the South area such as neoplasia of nervous system, liver and total of tumours. CONCLUSIONS: The study presents some drawbacks, but it is a work creditable of widening by specific research ad hoc such as cohort and/or control where it is possible to verify various environmental, occupational and occasional factors.

Cancer risk among farmers in the Province of Vercelli (Italy) from 2002 to 2005: an ecological study.

BACKGROUND: As the link between agricultural pesticides and numerous types of human cancers is wellknown. Farmers living in the Province of Vercelli (Italy) were observed to verify if they have a higher cancer risk than the rest of the local employed population. Literature showed a well-known excess of cancer morbidity and mortality in the Province of Vercelli, but only few studies focused on cancer incidence in local farmers. Studying farmers could allow to assess the causal importance respectively of environmental pressure and professional exposure factors in explaining cancer excesses in the above-mentioned area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present ecological study considered all cancer new cases recorded among the mean employed population with a range of age from 25 to 84 years and resident in the Province of Vercelli during the four-year period 2002-2005. Cancer odds ratios, by gender and type of cancer, between farmers and non-farmers were calculated. RESULTS: Farmers showed a higher risk for the following tumors: colorectal (OR 2.38, IC95%: 1,76-2,87), leaukaemia (OR 2.65, IC95%:2,12-2,89), digestive system (OR 2.16, IC95% 1,92-2,33), lymphoma OR 2.08, IC95%:1,99-2,23), melanoma (OR 2.90, IC95%:2,54-3,15), myeloma OR 3.55, IC95%:3,23-3,70), pancreas OR 3.38, IC95%:3,14-3,61), lung (1.59, IC95%:1,12-2,38) and kidney (2.70, IC95%:2,41-2,99). Males showed a higher risk for lung cancer, females for liver neoplasm, melanoma and lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS: Farmers showed a higher risk for several cancers. Further studies are needed, in order to examine in detail the issue, to encourage the use of personal protective equipment and to promote a more responsible pesticides use.

Geographical and epidemiological analysis of oncological mortality in a Municipality of North-Western Italy Vercelli years 2000-2009.

BACKGROUND: We performed a geographic analysis study on mortality in the town of Vercelli, in order to respond to the concerns of the population and some local administrators. Main reason to carry out a detailed and sophisticated study for a city of medium-small size was represented by the presence of various sources of environmental and industrial pressure (i.e. old-generation incinerator for solid urban waste, industrial site for chemicals production, intense agricultural activity of rice production…). METHODS: The study analyzed census, ISTAT death cards, both from the epidemiological point of view with admirers that SMR standardized spatial analysis using Bayesian models. RESULTS: Overall, both approaches highlighted major risks for the area south of the capital for major cancers such as colorectal and lung and increases worthy of investigation for the young-adult age groups in both genders. And being processed a similar study that considers the incidence oncology. CONCLUSIONS: The imminent elaboration of the cartography by oncological incidence will allow us to confirm, or less, the areas in excess for the death data, and in the meanwhile observe any excesses for low mortality pathologies (e.g., thyroid) or neoplasies whose present therapies allowed complete recovery and/or very long survivals (e.g. leukaemia, lymphomas and testicle).

[Indications and controindications of hormone replacement therapy in menopause]. / Indicazioni e controindicazioni della terapia ormonale sostitutiva in menopausa

Menopause is a physiological event of women's life that is the end of menstrual cycles and the end of the fertile period. Normally the age at which women reach menopause is between 50 and 52 years, as the world average. Menopause occurs when the functional ovarian reserve is exhausted or can be induced by surgical removal of the ovaries. What follows, however, is the establishment of a state of hypoestrogenism, which potentially affects various organs and systems (genito-urinary system, cardiovascular system, skeleton, skin, brain) and quality of life of women (varying degrees of vasomotor symptoms, vaginal atrophy, osteoporosis). Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it is based on estrogen or estrogen and progesterone, can be used to compensate for estrogen deficiency and to prevent or limit the damages that may result. During the years, there have been several observational studies designed to identify the risks and benefits arising from the use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, in spontaneous and surgical menopause. In fact, although several studies have shown that women treated with estrogen enjoyed a better overall level of health, over the last decade have raised doubts about the safety of hormone replacement therapy long term. In our study we try to discuss, based on a review of the literature and evidence available to date, what are the present indications and controindications to the use of hormone replacement therapy.

[Assessment of the impact of cancer in the Vercelli Local Health Authority from 2002 to 2009]. / Incidenza oncologica nell'ASL VC di Vercelli dal 2002 al 2009.

The object of the study is to provide an epidemiological overview of the impact of neoplasms in an area that has no cancer registry. A descriptive study was conducted within the Local Health Authority of Vercelli. To estimate the number of cases, hospital discharge documents (including passive mobility) were used and integrated with the archives of pathology. The number of cases was calculated on the basis of SIR (specific rates of the Vercelli Local Health Authority divided by age in the years 2002-2009 in comparison with new cases of cancer in the city of Turin from 2005 to 2007, used as standard population). All readings were expressed including intervals of confidence at 95%. For tumors of low lethality for males, extending the period of observation confirms the excess for bladder cancer (SIR = 1.1, 1.07 to 1.21) and lymphoma aggregate (SIR = 1.4, 1.2 to 1.6). for females: thyroid (SIR = 1.5, 1.3 to 1.65) and lymphomas (SIR = 1.25, 1.1 to 1.4). In addition to these tumors in both sexes is observed to decrease colorectal cancer but excess for leukemias and brain. The extension of the study is intended as the base for the creation of a cancer register that will be established, naturally integrating further sources of information. In all cases, data observed indicated several epidemiological peculiarities in the region, probably linked to specific characteristics of local exposure, which should be addressed in terms of Public Health.

[Comparison of the leukaemia incidence in two cohorts of farmers and traders in the Vercelli province of Italy, 2002-2009]. / Confronto delle incidenze di leucemia di due coorti d'agri- coltori e di commercianti della provincia di Vercelli dal 2002 al 2009.

This study aims to investigate the incidence of leukaemia between 2002 and 2009 (ICDIX 204-208) among farmers active in the Vercelli province (North West Italy), during the period: 1962-1991. The farmer cohort (14397 subjects, 78 cases) was compared with a retail trader cohort (4565 subjects, 11 cases) who were Vercelli province residents as well, but not exposed to the risk factors associated with professional farming. A proportional hazard Cox model shows among the farmers, an approximately double leukaemia incidence with respect to traders (Hazard Ratio = 1,90 P-value 0,043 IC95% 1,00-3,60). Moreover men's incidence appears approximately to double that of women (Hazard Ratio = 1,92 P-value 0,003 IC95% 1,25-2,95).

[State of health of the population of Trino (Vercelli): cancer mortalities 2000-2007 and historical analysis of all causes of death from 1980 to 2000]. / Stato di salute della popolazione del comune di Trino Ver- cellese: mortalità oncologica 2000-2007 e analisi storica per tutte le cause di morte dal 1980 al 2000.

The survey takes an in-depth look at the state of health of the inhabitants of Trino, in the province of Vercelli. The presence of various industries like cement factories, foundries and the placing of a nuclear plant (E.FERMI) in past decades, led to the carrying out of several surveys in order to reveal possible epidemiological excesses. In the survey in question, a detailed analysis of cancer mortalities occurring from 2000 to 2007 was carried out, examining the results in comparison with the Local Health Authorities of Vercelli and data from the Rencam Registry of the city of Turin from 2004 to 2006. The results highlight and confirm significant excesses for cancers like the nervous system, leukaemia, mesothelioma and peritoneum. Subsequent historical analysis (1980 - 2000) with data from the BDM Piedmont with regards to cancer mortalities confirms part of our data, while for all other causes we highlight the anomaly of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in both sexes after the age of 65. The combination of these related results and our previous study of cases in Trino certainly require an in-depth epidemiological analysis through etiological studies.