Domestic violence detection amid the COVID-19 pandemic: the value of the WHO questionnaire in emergency medicine.

BACKGROUND: Gender-based violence affects 35-45% of women worldwide, mostly coming from domestic violence. A good screening procedure in clinical practice is useful, but WHO does not advise universal screening, recommending further research. AIM: (i) To report the frequency of domestic violence cases among admissions to the Emergency Room of a major Italian Hospital in 2020, including during complete 'Lockdown' period; (ii) to document acute and chronic health effects of domestic violence and (iii) to asses usefulness of the WHO screening as a tool for uncovering cases which would otherwise remain hidden. DESIGN AND METHODS: A database containing all the information recorded for each of 19 160 patients in the Emergency Room was constructed by a keyword search ('violence', 'assault', 'trauma') to filter the data and retrieve cases of violence in the period between 1 January and 2 June 2020. The self-administered questionnaire of the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women was used in women referred to the emergency room for any cause, excluding trauma. RESULTS: A recent history of domestic violence was disclosed by 22.67%, after completing the WHO questionnaire. Of those not participating in the survey, diagnosis of domestic violence was only 0.6% (128/19 160). CONCLUSION: Power of detection of domestic violence by the WHO questionnaire is very high, while the frequency of occurrence of these events in this population was considerable. Seemingly, it elicits the responsiveness to the topic of the volunteer interviewees. Its use should be firmly recommended, reasonably, while Covid-19 pandemic is affecting health, rights and response.

Ultrasound signs of pulmonary fibrosis in systemic sclerosis as timely indicators for chest computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients in the early stages of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) often have few or no symptoms, normal to borderline pulmonary function tests, and negative chest X-ray (CXR); high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the only reliable means of detecting the early signs of PF. However, thoracic ultrasound (TUS) enables detection of pleural thickening, pleural/subpleural nodules, and other subpleural lung abnormalities across 70% of the subpleural surface. We reassessed concordance between TUS abnormalities and HRCT findings in SSc patients, to see whether TUS pleural line thickness (normally <3.0 mm) could be used to earmark those with asymptomatic PF for timely HRCT assessment. METHOD: In total, 175 SSc patients (nine males, 166 females), aged 46.46±15.33 years, were given CXR, TUS, HRCT, echocardiography, and pulmonary function tests. RESULTS: In the 26 patients without HRCT signs of PF, pleural line thickness was ≤3.0 mm. In diffuse SSc, 97/137 patients showed pleural line thickening (between 3.0 and 5 mm) and subpleural nodules in 32/97; and 35/137 showed major pleural line thickening (≥5.0 mm) with nodules, with good concordance with HRCT patterns indicating lung fibrosis severity. HRCT was normal in 5/137, with pleural line thickness≤3.0 mm. CONCLUSIONS: TUS imaging of pleural/subpleural structures can detect ultrasonographic signs of initial PF prior to the onset of respiratory symptoms and function test abnormalities and, together with current criteria, could thereby enable exclusion of PF in SSc patients. Indicating some patients for selective referral to HRCT can thereby delay unwarranted procedures, provided that pulmonary function and TUS images are stable.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and MTHFR 1298A > C gene polymorphism.

INTRODUCTION: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is related to unhealthy habits, mainly to unfavorable dietary profiles. MTHFR gene encodes MethyleneTetraHydroFolate Reductase, a regulatory enzyme whose polymorphisms are associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. Among polymorphisms, C677T, a thermolabile form, but not A1298C, thermostable, was associated with fatty liver and insulin resistance. AIM: to investigate if NAFLD, in subjects referred for nutritional assessment and counselling, has any difference of prevalence and severity when associated with isolated MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and hyperhomocysteinemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 94 subjects, age 55.65 ± 15.43 years, BMI 27.88 ± 5.17 kg/m2, 26 with MTHFR Wild type genotype (1298AA) and 68 with MTHFRA1298C single polymorphism were studied: of them, 35 were homozygous (MTHFR1298CC), 33 were heterozygous (MHTFR 1298AC). Insulin resistance was assessed by HOMA-IR, NAFLD by UltraSound Brigh-Liver-Score (BLS). RESULTS: MTHFR subgroups (wild and A1298C single polymorphism) were not different for age, gender, dietary profile and BMI. In NAFLD, MTHFR 1298AC (heterozygous) vs. homozygous wild genotype (MTHFR 1298AA) patients had more severe NAFLD (BLS: 1.12 ± 1.14 vs. 0.54 ± 0.76, p < 0.029), greater insulin resistance (HOMA 3.20±2.35 vs. 2.12 ± 1.12; p < 0.036), higher AST and gammaGT. CONCLUSIONS: MTHFR1298AC gene heterozygous polymorphisms can be weakly predictive for NAFLD severity. This mutation occurs frequently in populations with low prevalence of overall mortality and of atherosclerosis-associated disease: it could have maintained and maintain its persistence by an heterozygosis advantage mechanism, within significant adherence to healthy nutritional profiles. Interactions of nutrition, genetics and health are a part of the aging process throughout the life span and a greater consideration to the genetic characteristics of populations and individuals is warranted.

Harnessing the beneficial properties of adipogenic microbes for improving human health.

Obesity is associated with numerous metabolic comorbidities. Weight loss is an effective measure for alleviating many of these metabolic abnormalities. However, considering the limited success of most medical weight-management approaches in producing a sustained weight loss, approaches that improve obesity-related metabolic abnormalities independent of weight loss would be extremely attractive and of practical benefit. Metabolically healthy obesity supports the notion that a better metabolic profile is possible despite obesity. Moreover, adequate expansion of adipose tissue appears to confer protection from obesity-induced metabolic comorbidities. To this end, the 10th Stock conference examined new approaches to improve metabolic comorbidities independent of weight loss. In particular, human adenovirus 36 (Ad36) and specific gut microbes were examined for their potential to influence lipid and glucose homeostasis in animals and humans. While these microbes possess some undesirable properties, research has identified attributes of adenovirus Ad36 and gut microbes that may be selectively harnessed to improve metabolic profile without the obligatory weight loss. Furthermore, identifying the host signalling pathways that these microbes recruit to improve the metabolic profile may offer new templates and targets, which may facilitate the development of novel treatment strategies for obesity-related metabolic conditions.

Gender, lifestyles, illness perception and stress in stable atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: The study is aimed at investigating if perceived stress in Stable Atrial Fibrillation (AF) has any gender-associated feature and relationships with lifestyle indicators and education level, and which relationship self efficacy, anxiety and depression and illness perception have, if any. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 88 consecutive patients referred for stable AF are studied by Psychological Stress Measure (PSM) test, Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), Generalized Self-Efficacy scale (GSE) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Mediterranean diet, physical activity increase and smoking withdrawal counseling were provided. RESULTS: AF patients have higher PSM associated with gender (women), older age, anxiety and depression. Higher GSE, greater Adherence to Mediterranean Diet profile and coffee habits (greater coffee users) are associated with a reduced hazard of perceived stress. By multiple linear regression, PSM is explained by Anxiety and IPQr (statistically significant are emotional representation and illness coherence subscales), which account for 92.2% of the variance (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results outline that psychological stress is greater in women in comparison with men. Illness perceptions are important in the context of perceived stress in AF. This effect appears to be modulated by greater self-efficacy and by Adherence to Mediterranean Diet profile, that when higher, are associated with a reduced hazard of perceived stress. We suggest that therapeutic interventions on illness perceptions can be warranted in order to achieve a lower psychological distress in AF patients.

Stress, abdominal obesity and intrarenal resistive index in essential hypertension.

AIM: Although it is commonly believed that a strong causal link exists between psychological stress and hypertension, as well with other factors, such as obesity, just what kind of empirical evidence supports this assumption is still controversial. The aim of the study is to investigate if perceived stress have any interference with intrarenal resistance and hence with mechanisms related to Essential Hypertension (EH) and if Anxiety, Depression, Self efficacy and Illness Perception can account for perceived stress. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Obesity, insulin resistance (HOMA), Doppler Renal Resistive Index (RRI) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are studied along with Psychological Stress Measure (PSM), Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), Generalized Self-Efficacy scale (GSE) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in 119 hypertensive patients referred for stable lasting EH, and 150 normal controls. Lower salt/lower calories Mediterranean diet, physical activity increase and smoking withdrawal counseling were provided. RESULTS: By Odds Ratios, higher risk of EH is associated with greater perceived stress, older age, lower GFR, obesity, greater RRI and insulin resistance. By Multiple Linear Regression the most significant variable that accounts for higher RRI are abdominal obesity and arterial pulse pressure; the only significant independent psychological variable that accounts for abdominal obesity are PSM and identity IPQ subscale. Self-Efficacy anxiety and Illness perception subscales (IPQr), accounts significantly for 62.0% of the variance to PSM, with possible effects on RRI and on the pathophysiological hypertension cascade. CONCLUSION: Worst identity and treatment control perceptions of EH, and a lower self-efficacy are the main psychological factors accounting for a greater stress. Interventions aimed to reduce perceived stress can be warranted in EH.

Pain assessment in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis: influence of physical activity and illness perception.

OBJECTIVE: Pain visual analog scales (VAS) have been validated for clinical use in fibromyalgia (FM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. There are potential limitations, however, not only considering their use as a continuous measurement, but also with regard to the influence of personal illness perceptions, habitual physical activity and other life-style features. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether different illness perception, physical activity and clinical and laboratory characteristics can predict the severity of perceived pain assessed by VAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational comparative study of forty consecutive out-patients, 20 of them with fibromyalgia and 20 with rheumatoid arthritis, treated by medical and physical therapy. Patients were assessed also by Pain VAS, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index, Ritchie index, Baecke questionnaire for physical activity, Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQr) and SF36. RESULTS: Pain VAS is explained differently by some of the studied variables: in the total group HAQ and Ritchie index explain 29.8% of the variance; in the RA patients number of joints with pain and Ritchie index explain 52.7% of the variance; in FM patients total SF36 score and IPQr personal control dimension explains 44.7% of the variance. No definite role of anxiety and/or depression was found as predictor of perceived pain and disability. CONCLUSION: Pain perception and complaint are explained by belief in FM patients: This seems to suggest the need for a more articulated cognitive approach; addressing both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to anxiety/depression issues is not supported by our results.

Development of a colon endoscope robot that adjusts its locomotion through the use of reinforcement learning.

PURPOSE: Fibre optic colonoscopy is usually performed with manual introduction and advancement of the endoscope, but there is potential for a robot capable of locomoting autonomously from the rectum to the caecum. A prototype robot was designed and tested. METHODS: The robot colonic endoscope consists in a front body with clockwise helical fin and a rear body with anticlockwise one, both connected via a DC motor. Input voltage is adjusted automatically by the robot, through the use of reinforcement learning, determining speed and direction (forward or backward). RESULTS: Experiments were performed both in-vitro and in-vivo, showing the feasibility of the robot. The device is capable of moving in a slippery environment, and reinforcement learning algorithms such as Q-learning and SARSA can obtain better results than simply applying full tension to the robot. CONCLUSIONS: This self-propelled robotic endoscope has potential as an alternative to current fibre optic colonoscopy examination methods, especially with the addition of new sensors under development.

Human obesity relationship with Ad36 adenovirus and insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVES: Infection with specific pathogens may lead to increased adiposity: a specific adiposity-promoting effect of Ad36 human adenovirus, without the involvement of neurological mechanisms, was reported. The aim of this study is to investigate whether non-diabetic patients with earlier Ad36 infection show greater degrees of overweight obesity, of Insulin Resistance (IR), assessed by homoeostasis-model assessment (HOMA), and/or of other related factors. Moreover, the relationship, if any, among these factors and an earlier Ad36 infection, and the hypothesis of a mechanism involving IR are investigated. SUBJECTS: Ad36 seropositivity is assessed in 68 obese and 135 non-obese subjects, along with body composition, HOMA and laboratory investigations. RESULTS: Age, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, insulin, HOMA and triglycerides are significantly greater in the Ad36 seropositive group. Ad36 seropositivity, along with HOMA and total cholesterol, explains BMI variance. No Ad36 seropositivity effect to HOMA could be envisaged by the same statistical model. CONCLUSION: A significant association of Ad36 seropositivity with obesity and with essential hypertension in human beings is suggested by our study; this association is mostly significant in women. Our results do not support that any Ad36 adipogenic adenovirus effect is operating in human obesity through an insulin-resistance-related mechanism. Ad36 seropositive status could also be a hallmark of a clinical-metabolic profile possibly preceding obesity and diabetes in non-obese patients.

Insulin resistance in postmenopausal women: concurrent effects of hormone replacement therapy and coffee.

BACKGROUND: In postmenopausal women, an increase in insulin resistance is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reduce insulin resistance and coffee use is reported to decrease the incidence of diabetes. The aim of our study was to assess possible concurrent effects of HRT and espresso coffee intake on insulin resistance and on interdependent nutritional and clinical features. METHODS: A total of 478 healthy postmenopausal, non-diabetic women (aged 54.5 +/- 4.2 years) were studied: 360 had been on HRT for at least 2 years and 118 were not treated. Insulin resistance was assessed by a conventional homeostasis model (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Insulin resistance is directly related to body mass index (p < 0.0001), and not with age and blood pressure; hypertensive menopausal women have a slightly higher body mass index but the same degree of insulin resistance as normotensive women. Women on HRT show lower insulin resistance, but not lower prevalence of arterial hypertension. Coffee use is associated with a decrease in insulin resistance in non-obese women receiving HRT, but not in other subsets. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of coffee consumption and HRT could lower insulin resistance in postmenopausal women. In overweight women, greater insulin sensitivity is associated with intake of espresso coffee and not with HRT; in normal weight women, only HRT is associated with lower insulin resistance.

Increased formation of 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2alpha) is associated with altered bone metabolism and lower bone mass in hypercholesterolaemic subjects.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship of 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) levels, a reliable marker of in vivo oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, with bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) in hypercholesterolaemia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University hospital centre. METHODS: Serum 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels were measured in 173 hypercholesterolaemic subjects and in 152 age- and sex-matched normocholesterolaemic controls. Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), OPG and RANKL levels, as well as urinary levels of C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX-I), were also assessed. RESULTS: Hypercholesterolaemic subjects showed higher (P < 0.0001) serum 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels than controls. They also had decreased (P < 0.0001) femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD, and lower (P < 0.0001) serum BAP and OC levels. No significant differences between hypercholesterolaemic and control subjects were found when comparing urinary CTX-I levels, or serum OPG and RANKL levels. In multivariate linear regression analysis, serum 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) was the only negative predictor for femoral neck BMD and serum BAP and OC levels in hypercholesterolaemic subjects. No significant correlation (all P > 0.25) was present between serum 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels and urinary CTX-I levels, or serum OPG and RANKL levels, in hypercholesterolaemic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: We found an association between increased serum 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels and lower bone mass and reduced serum BAP and OC concentrations in hypercholesterolaemic subjects. These results would suggest a possible role for oxidative stress in the development of lower bone mass in hypercholesterolaemia.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with abdominal visceral diseases.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs in advanced age. As such, its frequency has increased with the general ageing of the population as has the possibility of finding AAA associated with abdominal visceral disease, especially neoplasms. A malignant mass is present in 4% of patients who undergo aortic reconstruction for AAA. Since surgical treatment for both is often potentially life-threatening, the surgeon is faced with a series of treatment decisions concerning foremost timing of the operation. The main worry is that simultaneous treatment carries a potential risk of infection of the vascular graft. On the other hand, a 2-phase procedure is also burdened by risks linked to a second anaesthesia and a second surgical operation carried out on scar or contaminated tissue and the worsening of one of the 2 potentially life-threatening illnesses. In this situation endovascular treatment of an AAA may represent an advantageous alternative therapeutic strategy.

Psychological stress measure in type 2 diabetes.

Psychological stress has been implicated as a cause of several psychosomatic disorders, but also as a factor that can unfavourably influence many diseases including diabetes mellitus. Measure of psychological stress in diabetes was performed by Psychological Stress Measure (PSM), a validated instrument, designed using 49 items drawn from descriptors generated by focus groups on stress. Clinical and psychological framework was assessed in a cohort of 100 type 2 diabetic patients (30 m, 70 f), aged 66.99 +/- 13.68 years considering disease grade, complications and level of instruction. Three other questionnaires were administered concurrently to all patients: Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), Functional Living Index (FLI) and SF-36 QOL. ANOVA statistical testing and Spearman correlation matrix were used also vs socio-cultural and clinical profile. Gender, obesity, diet compliance, smoking do not affect PSM response. Hypertensive patients and those with family history of diabetes show lower PSM scores, according to a sort of moderator effect on stress of concurrent and/or previous experience with chronic disease. Neuromuscular ailments are more prevalent in women; men vs women experience severe limitations of their working capacities and relational possibilities, with severe discomfort. In the whole, higher scores of PSM (greater stress p < 0.01) and lower scores of FLI (fair well-being perception; p < 0.01) are reciprocally related inside any school instruction level. Despite the great reciprocal association of the PSM vs FLI and SIP, no significant correlation is found between PSM vs SF-36 QOL. Socio-cultural elements interfere, and particularly instruction level quantified as school grades achieved, with the manner of living their disease. Interventions on psychological distress of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients is warranted, specially in the groups with lower levels of instruction which may need an attentive strategy for achieving a satisfactory coping with this disease.

[Quality of life in diabetes]. / Qualità della vita nel paziente diabetico.

Different clinical features of diabetic patients and type of complications are certainly a critical components of the global individual perception of quality of life (qol); but also personal socio-cultural characteristics interfere concurrently. Qol in diabetes was assessed considering disease grade, complications and level of instruction in a population of 100 diabetic patients (30 m, 70 f), aged 66.99 +/- 13.68 years. Two questionnaires were administered to all patients; Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) and Functional Living Index (FLI). SIP is an index of psycho-social, physical and motor functionality; FLI derives from a scale devised for cancer patients and adapted to diabetic patients. Both were analysed by Spearman correlation test, and assayed vs. sociocultural profile and clinical symptoms. Neuro-muscular ailments were more prevalent in women; men experience severe limitations of working capacities an relational possibilities, with severe discomfort. In the whole, higher scores of SIP (greater disability p: ns) and lower score for FLI (scant well-being perception r = 0.29: p<0.01) are related with lower school instruction level. Global QOL score is related as well with degree of instruction (r = 0.22: p<0.03). So QOL is altered during chronic diseases: however, in diabetes, qol impairment does not seem related with severity, treatment features and complications of diabetes. Socio-cultural elements, and particularly instruction level quantified as school grades achieved, interfere with the manner of living diabetic disease.

Perception of cultural correlates of medicine: a comparison between medical and non-medical students--the authoritarian health.

UNLABELLED: Aim of the study was to ascertain if a common cultural feeling of young people toward health, disease, physician's role and doctor-patient relationship, is present, and if under- and post-graduate students concepts and opinions modify during their stay in a School of Medicine. The study (1999-2001) was performed by anonymous questionnaires with 75 students (m = 28; f = 47) of the State School of Medicine, tested at the 3rd year, and with 73 students (m = 29; f = 44) tested at the 5th year of course; moreover with 71 (m = 30, f = 41) postgraduate residents at the 3rd year of specialty (Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Surgery). A group of 76 (m = 33; f = 43) students of the last year of a high school was also tested as reference group. RESULTS: Interference of medical under- and post-graduate school curricula on thoughts of youngsters toward health, disease, physician's role and doctor-patient relationship appears quite limited. Dissimilar way of thinking of medical vs. non-medical students was confined to some aspects concerning patient's possibility of healing, physician's role, behavior and function in chronic diseases. In the whole, our results suggest a trend, growing with the age of students, toward a more authoritarian and less "participative" approach with the patient: less confident relationship and more conflictual and antagonistic behaviors are widely considered and accepted. A general perspective with the construct of an authoritarian concept of health is superimposed as a net of rules and conditions on feelings' background of youngsters: postgraduate students regard themselves (and are perceived by younger students) as the guardians of an "healthy" system founded on scientific, economical and sociological grounds, as a work pointing to effectiveness, more than as a science with the target of efficacy. CONCLUSION: Impact of curricular studies of Medicine on youngsters is complex, but seems to modify only some and limited aspects of previously acquired thoughts and feelings on health and disease.

[Portal flow, nutritional status, and circulation effects of parathormone]. / Flusso portale, stato nutrizionale ed effetti circolatori del paratormone.

Circulatory effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were reported in experimental animal models, also in liver portal system. We devised to study non invasively relationship between plasmatic iPTH and portal blood flow rate in humans. The study was done in a group of healthy post-menopausal women aged 52.0 +/- 5.2 years (range 47-65), not treated with hormone therapy, with different body mass index. Women were studied by echocolor-doppler and by clinical and biochemical assays of common laboratory test and of iPTH, insulin and prolactin (RIA). A positive correlation between iPTH and mean portal flow rate was observed in the overall group. Women with BMI < 25 showed a more marked correlation between these two parameters, not observed in women with BMI > 25, with slight-moderate overweight. In this last group an inverse correlation between blood pressure and iPTH was observed. From these preliminary results, as previously observed in chronic disease, relationship among iPTH, regional flows and nutritional state can be operating also in physiological conditions.