Sposàrsi a Franca: tendências da nupcialidade entre imigrantes italianos no interior paulista, 1885-1930 / Sposàrsi a Franca: nuptial trends among Italian immigrants in the interior of São Paulo, 1885-1930 / Sposàrsi a Franca: tendencias de la nupcialidad entre inmigrantes italianos en el interior de São Paulo, 1885-1930

Em consonância com os estudos em Demografia Histórica e História da Família, este artigo visa a resgatar aspectos relativos à nupcialidade vivenciada pelos italianos e seus descendentes no município de Franca, interior do estado de São Paulo. A reflexão é corroborada pela historiografia recente que aponta a expansão da economia cafeeira no interior paulista como responsável por alterações no panorama demográfico por meio da atração de uma imigração internacional em massa, cujos impactos foram sentidos em diferentes espaços de ação, na família, nas relações matrimoniais, na etnicidade e integração desses grupos na sociedade brasileira entre o final do século XIX e as primeiras décadas do século XX. Combinando metodologias seriais e de microanálise para explorar os dados disponíveis nos registros de matrícula da Hospedaria de Imigrantes de São Paulo e assentos de casamento do Registro Paroquial do Arquivo da Cúria Diocesana de Franca (1885-1930), abre-se caminho para enriquecer o universo de interpretações sobre a nupcialidade nos municípios atingidos pela imigração internacional de italianos. Esse artigo examina os impactos das variáveis imigratórias nos padrões de casamento dos italianos no município e resgata aspectos da endogamia desse grupo, favorecida pelos respectivos contextos e bagagens culturais que conduziram o processo imigratório por eles vivenciado.

In line with studies in Demographic History and Family History, this article aims to rescue aspects related to nuptiality experienced by Italians and their descendants in the municipality of Franca, in the interior of the state of São Paulo. The reflection is corroborated by recent historiography research pointing to the expansion of the coffee-based economy in the interior of São Paulo as responsible for demographic changes through the attraction of mass international immigration. This affected different areas, including family, matrimonial relations, ethnicity and integration of these groups in Brazilian society at the turn of the 20th century. A combination of serial and microanalysis methodologies to explore the data available in the registration records of the São Paulo Immigrant Inn and wedding seats in the Parish Records of the Diocesan Archive of Franca (1885-1930), paves the way to expand the universe of interpretations on nuptiality in municipalities affected by Italian immigration. This article examines the impacts of immigration variables on Italians' marriage patterns in the municipality and retrieves aspects of this groups' inbreeding, favored by the respective cultural contexts and backgrounds that led to the immigration process they experienced.

En línea con los estudios en Demografía histórica e Historia familiar, este artículo tiene como objetivo rescatar aspectos relacionados con la nupcialidad vivida por los italianos y sus descendientes en el municipio de Franca, en el interior del estado de San Pablo. La reflexión es corroborada por la historiografía reciente, que apunta a la expansión de la economía cafetera en el interior del estado como responsable de cambios en el panorama demográfico mediante la atracción de la inmigración internacional masiva, cuyos impactos se sintieron en diferentes espacios de acción, en la familia, en las relaciones matrimoniales, en la etnicidad y en la integración de estos grupos en la sociedad brasileña entre fines del siglo XIX y las primeras décadas del XX. Al combinar metodologías seriadas y de microanálisis para explorar los datos disponibles en los registros de la Posada de Inmigrantes de San Pablo y en los asientos de boda del Registro Parroquial del Archivo de la Curia Diocesana de Franca (1885-1930) se abre el camino para enriquecer el universo de interpretaciones sobre nupcialidad en los municipios afectados por la inmigración internacional de italianos. Este artículo examina los impactos de las variables de inmigración en los patrones matrimoniales de los italianos en el municipio y recupera aspectos de la endogamia de este grupo, favorecida por los respectivos contextos culturales y antecedentes que llevaron al proceso de inmigración que vivieron.

Megacities, migration and an evolutionary approach to bipolar disorder: a study of Sardinian immigrants in Latin America

Objective: To determine whether people with a Sardinian genetic background who live in the megacities of South America have a higher frequency of hypomania than residents of Sardinia. Methods: A community survey of Sardinian immigrants was carried out in four Brazilian metropoles (n=218) and Buenos Aires (n=306). The results were compared with those of a study involving a similar methodology (Mood Disorder Questionnaire [MDQ] as a screening tool) conducted in seven Italian regions, including a sub-sample from Sardinia. Results: There was a higher prevalence of lifetime hypomania among Sardinians living in the Brazilian metropoles than among those living in Sardinia. This result was also consistent with Sardinian immigrants in Buenos Aires. After stratification by sex and age, the lifetime prevalence of MDQ scores ≥ 8 among Sardinians in South-American megacities and Sardinia was 8.6% vs. 2.9%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The higher frequency of hypomania in migrant populations appears to favor an evolutionary view in which mood disorders may be a maladaptive aspect of a genetic background with adaptive characteristics.

Mortality Paradox of Older Italian-Born Men in Australia: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project.

Italian migrants are one of the largest groups of older migrants in Australia. Past research has found lower mortality rates in Italian migrants but it is unclear if this persists into older age. Data came from 334 Italian-born and 849 Australian-born men aged 70 years and over participating in a longitudinal study of men's ageing. Male Italian migrants were more likely to smoke, be overweight, and have lower socio-economic status (SES). They also had higher morbidity from diabetes, chronic pain, dementia and depressive symptoms but lower morbidity from heart disease and cancer. There was no age-adjusted mortality difference. However, adjusting for SES, lifestyle and morbidity differences revealed a 25% lower mortality rate (adjusted HR = 0.75; 95% CI 0.57, 0.98) in Italian-born men. Compared to their Australian-born counterparts, older Italian-born men have a lower mortality than expected considering their lower SES, higher smoking and higher morbidity.

Total, Added, and Free Sugar Consumption and Adherence to Guidelines in Switzerland: Results from the First National Nutrition Survey menuCH.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends reducing free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake (TEI) due to their potential implications in weight gain and dental caries. Our objectives were to (1) estimate the intake of total, added, and free sugars, (2) define the main sugar sources, and (3) evaluate the adherence to sugar guidelines. The first national nutrition survey 2014-2015 included non-institutional adults aged 18-75 years. Diet was assessed with two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls in 2057 participants. Added and free sugar content was systematically estimated by two dietitians using available information from the manufacturer and/or standard recipe/composition. Usual daily intake distributions were modeled and weighted for sampling design, non-response, weekdays, and seasons. Total, added, and free sugar intake was respectively 107 g (±44), 53 g (±36), and 65 g (±40), representing 19%, 9%, and 11% of TEI. Sugar consumption was higher among younger adults and lower among people living in the Italian-speaking region. The three main food sources of free sugars were: (1) sweet products (47% of total free sugars), in particular sweet spreads (15%) and cakes/cookies (11%); (2) beverages (29%), mainly fruit and vegetable juices (13%), and sugar-sweetened beverages (12%, but 20% in younger adults); and (3) dairy products (9%), with yogurt accounting for 6%. Respectively, 44% of women and 45% of men had free sugar intake below 10% of TEI. Of people aged between 18-29, 30-64, and 65-75 years, 36%, 45%, and 53% had free sugar intake below 10% of TEI, respectively. The prevalence of Swiss people with free sugar intake that was <5% of the TEI was 8%. Adherence to the WHO recommendations guidelines was generally low in Switzerland, particularly among young adults, and in line with other high-income countries.

Moving for Cures: Breast Cancer and Mobility in Italy.

I combine the theoretical tools of medical anthropology and the framework of mobility studies to explore the intranational movements of women with breast cancer from Southern and Northern Italy. Differences include patients' technical and moral evaluations of doctors, that influence the patients' definitions of cure and illness experiences through their mobility and immobility. These (im)mobilities are, in turn, linked to the material and symbolic inequalities between Southern and Northern Italy and to the stigma attached to the south. These (im)mobilities suggest the need to further articulate the concept of cure.

p.Ser891Ala RET gene mutations in medullary thyroid cancer: Phenotypical and genealogical characterization of 28 apparently unrelated kindreds and founder effect uncovering in Northern Italy.

Applying genetic screening in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) patients we identified an unexpectedly high frequency of c.2671T>G, p.Ser891Ala RET mutation carriers. Our aim was to: (a) deeply characterize the clinical expression of this mutation, (b) identify the presence of a founder effect in our region. Genetic analysis was performed in 251 relatives from 28 Ser891Ala kindreds, among 108 p.Ser891Ala asymptomatic carriers, 64 were submitted to thyroidectomy: mean age for 10 subjects presenting C-cells hyperplasia was 30.2 ± 13.7 years, raising to 37.9 ± 10.3 in 14 subjects with micro-MTC and to 55.0 ± 14.7 years in 39 subjects with MTC. Age-related progression across histopathological groups CCH/microMTC and MTC were statistically significant: genetic screening in Ser891Ala families could be safely postponed at the age of 14. To investigate the hypothesis of a common ancestor for Ser891Ala mutation we genotyped for 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers encompassing RET locus all subjects belonging to Ser891Ala families and we identified a founder effect, estimating the age of a common ancestor, dating back to 1493 AD. Ethnographic data collected in historical archives support laboratory results; the high prevalence of this mutation in our region could suggest the hypothesis of a population study to realize a preventive intervention in a rare neoplastic disease.

Transethnic, Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Immune-Related Risk Alleles and Phenotypic Correlates in Pediatric Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome.

Background Steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) is a childhood disease with unclear pathophysiology and genetic architecture. We investigated the genomic basis of SSNS in children recruited in Europe and the biopsy-based North American NEPTUNE cohort.Methods We performed three ancestry-matched, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in 273 children with NS (Children Cohort Nephrosis and Virus [NEPHROVIR] cohort: 132 European, 56 African, and 85 Maghrebian) followed by independent replication in 112 European children, transethnic meta-analysis, and conditional analysis. GWAS alleles were used to perform glomerular cis-expression quantitative trait loci studies in 39 children in the NEPTUNE cohort and epidemiologic studies in GWAS and NEPTUNE (97 children) cohorts.Results Transethnic meta-analysis identified one SSNS-associated single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1063348 in the 3' untranslated region of HLA-DQB1 (P=9.3×10-23). Conditional analysis identified two additional independent risk alleles upstream of HLA-DRB1 (rs28366266, P=3.7×10-11) and in the 3' untranslated region of BTNL2 (rs9348883, P=9.4×10-7) within introns of HCG23 and LOC101929163 These three risk alleles were independent of the risk haplotype DRB1*07:01-DQA1*02:01-DQB1*02:02 identified in European patients. Increased burden of risk alleles across independent loci was associated with higher odds of SSNS. Increased burden of risk alleles across independent loci was associated with higher odds of SSNS, with younger age of onset across all cohorts, and with increased odds of complete remission across histologies in NEPTUNE children. rs1063348 associated with decreased glomerular expression of HLA-DRB1, HLA-DRB5, and HLA-DQB1.Conclusions Transethnic GWAS empowered discovery of three independent risk SNPs for pediatric SSNS. Characterization of these SNPs provide an entry for understanding immune dysregulation in NS and introducing a genomically defined classification.

High rates of chronic HBV genotype E infection in a group of migrants in Italy from West Africa: Virological characteristics associated with poor immune clearance.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype E almost exclusively occurs in African people, and its presence is more commonly associated with the development of chronic HBV (CHB) infection. Moreover, an epidemiological link has been found between the distribution of HBV genotype E infection and African countries with high incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma. As part of a programme for the health assessment of migrants, we evaluated 358 young African subjects for HBV infection; 58.1% (208/358) were positive for an HBV marker, and 54 (25.5%) had CHB. Eighty-one percent of the CHB subjects were infected with HBV genotype E, with a median serum HBV-DNA of 3.2 (IQR: 2.7-3.6) logIU/ml. All patients had high serum HBsAg titres (10,899 [range 5,359-20,272] IU/ml), and no correlation was found between HBsAg titres and HBV-DNA plasma levels. RT sequence analysis showed the presence of a number of immune escape mutations: strains from all of the patients had a serine at HBsAg position 140; 3 also had T116N, Y100C, and P142L+S143L substitutions; and 1 had a G112R substitution. Six (18%) patients had stop-codons at position 216. In 5 of the 9 (26.5%) CHB patients, ultrasound liver biopsy, quantification of total intrahepatic HBV-DNA and cccDNA, and RT/HBsAg sequencing were performed. The median (IQR) total intrahepatic HBV-DNA was 766 (753-1139) copies/1000 cells, and the median (IQR) cccDNA was 17 (10-27) copies/1000 cells. Correlations were observed for both total intrahepatic HBV-DNA and cccDNA with serum HBV-DNA, while no correlation was found for the HBsAg titres. A difference of 2.5/1,000 nucleotides was found in the HBsAg sequences obtained from plasma and from liver tissue, with 3 cases of possible viral anatomical compartmentalization. In conclusion, a high rate of CHB infection due to the E genotype was demonstrated in a group of immigrants from Western Africa. An analysis of the viral strains obtained showed the virological characteristics of immune escape, which may be the cause of viral replication persistence. Moreover, a fair percentage of stop codon mutations were found. The lack of correlation between HBsAg titres and plasma or intrahepatic HBV-DNA found in these subjects suggests a pathway of virus production that is not linked to HBsAg secretion. Studies with a larger number of patients with CHB due to the E genotype are advisable to corroborate these observations.

Diet quality and its implications on the cardio-metabolic, physical and general health of older men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP).

The revised Dietary Guideline Index (DGI-2013) scores individuals' diets according to their compliance with the Australian Dietary Guideline (ADG). This cross-sectional study assesses the diet quality of 794 community-dwelling men aged 74 years and older, living in Sydney, Australia participating in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project; it also examines sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with DGI-2013 scores; it studies associations between DGI-2103 scores and the following measures: homoeostasis model assessment - insulin resistance, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, TAG, blood pressure, waist:hip ratio, BMI, number of co-morbidities and medications and frailty status while also accounting for the effect of ethnicity in these relationships. Median DGI-2013 score was 93·7 (54·4, 121·2); most individuals failed to meet recommendations for vegetables, dairy products and alternatives, added sugar, unsaturated fat and SFA, fluid and discretionary foods. Lower education, income, physical activity levels and smoking were associated with low scores. After adjustments for confounders, high DGI-2013 scores were associated with lower HDL-cholesterol, lower waist:hip ratios and lower probability of being frail. Proxies of good health (fewer co-morbidities and medications) were not associated with better compliance to the ADG. However, in participants with a Mediterranean background, low DGI-2013 scores were not generally associated with poorer health. Older men demonstrated poor diet quality as assessed by the DGI-2013, and the association between dietary guidelines and health measures and indices may be influenced by ethnic background.

An evolutionary approach to mania studying Sardinian immigrants to Argentina

Objective: To ascertain lifetime prevalence of positivity to a screening questionnaire for bipolar disorders (BD) in Sardinian immigrants to Argentina and residents of Sardinia and assess whether such positivity affects quality of life (QoL) in either group. Our hypothesis is that screen positivity for BD may be more frequent in immigrants. Methods: Observational study. Subjects were randomly selected from the membership lists of associations of Sardinian immigrants in Argentina. A study carried out in Sardinia using the same methodology was used for comparison. The Mood Disorder Questionnaire was used to screen for mania/hypomania and the Short-Form Health Survey-12 to measure QoL. Results: A higher prevalence of manic/hypomanic episodes was found in Sardinian immigrants to Argentina (p < 0.0001; odds ratio = 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.87-4.77). Positivity at screening was associated with a lower QoL both in Sardinian immigrants to Argentina and in residents of Sardinia. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show a higher lifetime prevalence of manic/hypomanic episodes in a general-population sample of individuals who migrated to a foreign country. Our results are in agreement with the hypothesis that hyperactive/novelty-seeking features may represent an adaptive substrate in certain conditions of social change.

A social network analysis of substance use among immigrant adolescents in six European cities.

BACKGROUND: Social integration and the health of adolescents with a migration background is a major concern in multicultural societies. The literature, however, has paid little attention to the wider determinants of their health behaviours, including the composition of their social networks. The aim of this study was to describe the composition of adolescents' social networks according to migration background, and to examine how social networks are associated with substance use. METHOD: In 2013, the SILNE study surveyed 11,015 secondary-school adolescents in 50 schools in six European cities in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal, using a social network design. Each adolescent nominated up to five of their best and closest friends. Migration status was defined as first-generation migrants, second-generation migrants, and speaking another language at home. We computed two groups of network structural positions, the centrality of individual adolescents in networks, and the homophily of their social ties regarding migration (same-migration). Multilevel logistic regression was used to model the association between network structural position and smoking, alcohol use, and cannabis use. RESULTS: Compared with non-migrant adolescents, adolescents with migration backgrounds had similar relationship patterns. But almost half their social ties were with same-migration-background adolescents; non-migrants had few social ties to migrants. For adolescents with a migration background, a higher proportion of social ties with non-migrants was associated with increased use of cannabis (OR = 1.07, p = 0.03) and alcohol (OR = 1.08, p < 0.01), but not with increased smoking (p = 0.60). Popular migrant adolescents were at less risk of smoking, alcohol use, and cannabis use than popular non-migrant adolescents. CONCLUSION: Homophily of social ties by migration background is noticeable in European schools. The tendency of migrant adolescents to have same-migration social ties may isolate them from non-migrant adolescents, but also reduces their risky health behaviours, in particular cannabis and alcohol use.

Using the Portuguese version of the Bicultural Scale in Brazil / O uso da versão em português da Escala de Biculturalidade no Brasil

Abstract Introduction: Brazil has received influxes of people, mainly from Africa, Europe and Japan, forming one of the most heterogeneous populations in the world. Some groups, particularly in Southern Brazil, have retained their original cultural traditions, whilst acquiring elements of the typical local Brazilian cultural identity. This is the first study designed to formally evaluate biculturality in Brazil. Objective: To psychometrically assess and validate the Portuguese version of the Bicultural Scale (BS) in Brazil. Methods: The BS was adapted and translated to Portuguese and tested for the first time in Brazil in a sample of descendants (n = 160) from four immigrant groups and respective locations in Southern Brazil. A series of psychometric tests were conducted in order to examine the validity of the Portuguese version of the BS. Analyses of variance across scores for all subgroups were also conducted. Results: Factor analysis revealed two main factors contributing to most of the variance in scores. The 10 items measuring affiliation with minority cultural characteristics and the typical Brazilian culture yielded Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.69 and 0.78 respectively, whereas the overall Cronbach's alpha for all 20 items of the BS was 0.67. There was a significant correlation between items related to the typical Brazilian culture and the generation since immigration of research participants (r = 0.23, p = 0.004). The mean time taken to complete the questionnaire was 7.4 minutes. Conclusion: The results indicate that the Portuguese version of the BS is a valid, reliable and easy-to-use instrument to assess biculturality experienced by descendants of immigrants in southern Brazil.

Resumo Introdução: O Brasil recebeu afluxo de imigrantes principalmente da África, Europa e Japão, formando uma das populações mais heterogêneas do mundo. Alguns grupos, particularmente no Sul do Brasil, têm mantido suas tradições culturais originais, ao mesmo tempo que adquirem elementos típicos da identidade cultural brasileira local. Este é o primeiro estudo a avaliar formalmente a biculturalidade no Brasil. Objetivo: Avaliação psicométrica e validação da versão em português da Escala de Biculturalidade (EB) no Brasil. Métodos: A EB foi adaptada e traduzida para o português e testada pela primeira vez no Brasil em uma amostra de descendentes de quatro grupos de imigrantes (n = 160) em diferentes localizações no Sul do Brasil. Uma série de testes psicométricos foram aplicados a fim de examinar a validade da versão em português da EB. Análises de variância através dos escores obtidos em cada subgrupo também foram conduzidas. Resultados: A análise fatorial revelou que dois fatores principais contribuem para a maioria da variância nos escores. Os 10 items que medem afiliação com características culturais minoritárias e cultura típica brasileira demonstraram índice de Cronbach de 0,69 e 0,78, respectivamente, enquanto que o alfa global de Cronbach para todos os 20 itens da EB foi de 0,67. Houve correlação significativa entre os itens relacionados à cultura típica brasileira e a geração dos voluntários desde o período de imigração (r = 0,23, p = 0,004). O tempo médio para completar o questionário foi de 7,4 minutos. Conclusões: Os resultados indicam que a versão em português da EB é um instrumento válido, confiável e de fácil utilização para avaliar expêriencias de biculturalidade de descendentes de imigrantes no Sul do Brasil.

High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Native versus Migrant Mothers and Newborns in the North of Italy: A Call to Act with a Stronger Prevention Program.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D status during pregnancy is related to neonatal vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Aim of this study was to investigate 25OHD levels in maternal serum and in neonatal blood spots in native and migrant populations living in Novara (North Italy, 45°N latitude). METHODS AND FINDINGS: We carried out a cross sectional study from April 1st 2012 to March 30th 2013, in a tertiary Care Center. Maternal blood samples after delivery and newborns' blood spots were analyzed for 25OHD levels in 533 pairs. Maternal country of origin, skin phototype, vitamin D dietary intake and supplementation during pregnancy were recorded. Multivariate regression analysis, showed a link between neonatal and maternal 25OHD levels (R-square:0.664). Severely deficient 25OHD values (<25 nmol/L) were found in 38% of Italian and in 76.2% of migrant's newborns (p <0.0001), and in 18% of Italian and 48,4% of migrant mothers (p <0.0001) while 25OHD deficiency (≥25 and <50 nmol/L) was shown in 40.1% of Italian and 21.7% of migrant's newborns (p <0.0001), and in 43.6% of Italian and 41.3% of migrant mothers (p <0.0001). Italian newborns and mothers had higher 25OHD levels (34.4±19.2 and 44.9±21.2 nmol/L) than migrants (17.7±13.7 and 29.7±16.5 nmol/L; p<0.0001). A linear decrease of 25OHD levels was found with increasing skin pigmentation (phototype I 42.1 ±18.2 vs phototype VI 17.9±10.1 nmol/l; p<0.0001). Vitamin D supplementation resulted in higher 25OHD values both in mothers and in their newborns (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D insufficiency in pregnancy and in newborns is frequent especially among migrants. A prevention program in Piedmont should urgently be considered and people identified as being at risk should be closely monitored. Vitamin D supplementation should be taken into account when considering a preventative health care policy.

Plasma levels of active Von Willebrand factor are increased in patients with first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a multicenter and multiethnic study.

AIMS: Von Willebrand factor (VWF), a key player in hemostasis and thrombosis, is released from endothelial cells during inflammation. Upon release, VWF is processed by ADAMTS13 into an inactive conformation. The aim of our study was to investigate whether plasma levels of active VWF, total VWF, ADAMTS13, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the ratios between VWF and ADAMTS13 are risk factors for first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed 1026 patients with confirmed first STEMI and 652 control subjects from China, Italy and Scotland, within six hours after their cardiovascular event. Median plasma levels of total VWF, active VWF, OPG and ratios VWF/ADAMTS13 were increased, while plasma levels of ADAMTS13 were decreased in patients compared to controls. The odds ratio (OR) of STEMI in patients with high plasma levels of active VWF was 2.3 (interquartile range (IQR): 1.8-2.9), total VWF was 1.8 (1.4-2.3), ADAMTS13 was 0.6 (05-0.8), OPG was 1.6 (1.2-2.0) and high VWF/ADAMTS13 ratios was 1.5 (1.2-2.0). The OR for total VWF, active VWF and ratios VWF/ADAMTS13 remained significant after adjustment for established risk factors, medical treatment, C-reactive protein, total VWF, ADAMTS13 and OPG. When we adjusted for levels of active VWF, the significance of the OR for VWF and ratios VWF/ADAMTS13 disappeared while the OR for active VWF remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence that plasma levels of active VWF are an independent risk factor for first STEMI in patients from three different ethnic groups. Our findings confirm the presence of VWF abnormalities in patients with STEMI and may be used to develop new therapeutic approaches.

Improving access to health information for older migrants by using grounded theory and social network analysis to understand their information behaviour and digital technology use.

Migrant well-being can be strongly influenced by the migration experience and subsequent degree of mainstream language acquisition. There is little research on how older Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) migrants who have 'aged in place' find health information, and the role which digital technology plays in this. Although the research for this paper was not focused on cancer, we draw out implications for providing cancer-related information to this group. We interviewed 54 participants (14 men and 40 women) aged 63-94 years, who were born in Italy or Greece, and who migrated to Australia mostly as young adults after World War II. Constructivist grounded theory and social network analysis were used for data analysis. Participants identified doctors, adult children, local television, spouse, local newspaper and radio as the most important information sources. They did not generally use computers, the Internet or mobile phones to access information. Literacy in their birth language, and the degree of proficiency in understanding and using English, influenced the range of information sources accessed and the means used. The ways in which older CALD migrants seek and access information has important implications for how professionals and policymakers deliver relevant information to them about cancer prevention, screening, support and treatment, particularly as information and resources are moved online as part of e-health.

Italianity is associated with lower risk of prostate cancer mortality in Switzerland.

PURPOSE: Different prostate cancer mortality rates observed in European countries may depend on cultural background. We aimed at exploring variation in prostate cancer mortality in the language regions of Switzerland as a function of "Italianity", a proxy for adherence to an Italian lifestyle. METHODS: We used data of the Swiss National Cohort, a census-based record linkage study, consisting of census (1990 and 2000) and mortality (until 2008) data. 1,163,271 Swiss and Italian nationals 40+-year old were included. Multivariate age-standardized prostate cancer mortality rates and hazard ratios (HR) from Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed. Italianity was defined by an individual's nationality, place of birth and principal language, resulting in a score of 0-3 points. RESULTS: Age-standardized prostate cancer mortality rates (per 100,000 person-years) were lowest in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland (66.7 vs. 87.3 in the German-speaking region). Both Italian nationality and/or place of birth were significantly associated with lower mortality. There was a graded inverse association between mortality rates and increasing Italianity score. Individuals with the highest level of Italianity had a HR of 0.67 (95 % CI 0.59-0.76) compared to those with an Italianity score of zero. Results were similar when looking at language regions separately. CONCLUSIONS: The strong and consistent association between Italianity and prostate cancer mortality suggests protective properties of an Italian lifestyle. Further research is required in order to determine which factors specific for Italian culture are responsible for the lower prostate cancer mortality.

Família, religiosidade e identidade étnica nas práticas de transmissão de nomes de batismo em um grupo de imigrantes italianos / /Family, religiosity and ethnical identity in the practices of transmission of baptismal names in a group of Italian immigrants / /Familia, religiosidad e identidad étnica en las prácticas de transmisión de nombres de bautismo en un grupo de inmigrantes italianos

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar a construção da identidade etnocultural de um grupo de imigrantes italianos e seus descendentes instalados no município de Campo Largo (Paraná) no período de 1878 a 1937. Para isso, parte-se do pressuposto de que a identidade de um grupo étnico surge a partir do contato interétnico, ou seja, da necessidade da afirmação de nós diante dos outros. Nessa direção, são analisadas as práticas de transmissão dos nomes de batismo como signo de construção da identidade étnica. Procurou-se verificar como o grupo em estudo construiu sua identidade pautada pelos referenciais simbólicos e culturais da terra de partida e de que forma se dá o processo de mudança tendo em vista a nova realidade e os contatos culturais estabelecidos com os brasileiros. Para conduzir essa análise, utilizaram-se, principalmente, registros paroquiais (atas de batismos, casamentos e óbitos) que foram sistematizados pela metodologia de reconstituição de famílias, oriunda da demografia histórica. Por meio da análise da documentação foi possível perceber nos nomes de batismos a predominância de elementos típicos do mundo rural de origem desses imigrantes que simbolicamente os ligavam à terra de seus ancestrais. Esses elementos foram de grande relevância para a definição da identidade do grupo como ítalo-brasileira...

The present paper has the objective of analyzing the construction of the ethnic and cultural identity of a group of Italian immigrants and their descendants who settled in Campo Largo, Paraná, Brazil, between 1878 and 1937. We assume that the identity of a group appears when inter-ethnic contact occurs or when one group feels the need to affirm itself over the others. In this context we analyzed the practices of transmission of baptismal names as signs of the construction of ethnical identity. We sought to verify how the group being studied built its identity under the guidance of the symbolic and cultural references of the land they left and how the process of change took place in view of their new realities and the cultural contacts established with the Brazilians. To guide this analyze, we based our work mainly on parish registers (records of baptisms, marriages and deaths) that were systematized by the methodology of family reconstitution, based on historical demography. This analysis enabled us to note in the baptismal names the predominance of rural traits typical of the homeland of the immigrants that symbolically linked them with the land of their ancestors. These elements were of great importance for defining the identity of the group as being both Italian and Brazilian...

El presente artículo tiene el objetivo de analizar la construcción de la identidad etnocultural de un grupo de inmigrantes italianos y sus descendientes instalados en el municipio de Campo Largo (Paraná) en el periodo de 1878 a 1937. Para ello se parte del supuesto de que la identidad de un grupo étnico surge a partir del contacto interétnico, es decir, de la necesidad de afirmación de uno frente a los demás. En este sentido se analizan las prácticas de transmisión de los nombres de bautismo como signo de construcción de la identidad étnica. Se intentó verificar cómo el grupo en estudio construyó su identidad pautada por los referentes simbólicos y culturales de la tierra de partida y de qué forma ocurre el proceso de cambio, teniendo en cuenta la nueva realidad y los contactos culturales establecidos con los brasileños. Para conducir este análisis se utilizaron sobre todo registros parroquiales (actas de bautismos, matrimonios y defunciones) que fueron sistematizados por la metodología de reconstitución de familias, oriunda de la demografía histórica. Por medio del análisis de la documentación fue posible percibir en los nombres de bautismo la predominancia de elementos típicos del mundo rural de origen de dichos inmigrantes que simbólicamente los conectaban a la tierra de sus ancestrales. Estos elementos fueron muy relevantes para definir la identidad del grupo como ítalo-brasileña...