Effects of Levetiracetam and Lacosamide on survival and seizure control in IDH-wild type glioblastoma during temozolomide plus radiation adjuvant therapy.

Introduction: There are no clear indications for the best choice of anti-seizure medications to control brain tumor related epilepsy. In vitro studies have shown an antitumoral effect of Levetiracetam and Lacosamide on glioblastoma IDH-wild type. Research question: This study investigates whether the use of levetiracetam and/or lacosamide impacts survival rates. The secondary aim was to evaluate the efficacy of both ASMs in controlling seizures. Materials and methods: In this observational retrospective single-cohort study, patients underwent chemoradiation protocol after GBM surgery. They were grouped as follows: (1) use of levetiracetam, (2) use of lacosamide, (3) simultaneous use of levetiracetam and lacosamide, (4) no ASM usage. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method coupled with a log-rank test for difference assesments. To evaluate the pharmacological efficacy of post-operative seizure control, a negative binomial regression was conducted. Results: The study included 272 patients, 174 of which underwent adjuvant chemoradiation treatment. Patients without ASM therapy had a non-significant longer median OS (compared to the other groups (log-rank = 0.37). The IRR of seizure relapse was 2.57 (p = 0.007) times higher in lacosamide users, and MGMT promoter methylation demonstrated a protective effect against postoperative seizure onset (p = 0.05), regardless of the aforementioned confounding factors. Discussion and conclusions: In patients diagnosed with GBM IDH-WT undergoing chemoradiation therapy, the use of levetiracetam or lacosamide for controlling BTRE does not seem to modify survival. Lacosamide users exhibited a higher IRR of postoperative seizures compared to levetiracetam users, and MGMT promoter methylation appears to be a protective factor.

Risk Behaviors among Migrant Adolescents in Italy.

Adolescence is a critical period for engaging in health risk behaviors. Migrant adolescents may face unique challenges due to acculturation stress. This study aims to monitor substance use and problem gambling among migrant adolescents living in Italy. Data from the 2017/18 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey in Italy were analyzed. The 18,794 participants included 15-year-olds, categorized as native or migrants, with ethnic backgrounds from Western, Eastern European, or non-Western/non-European countries. Girls had higher smoking rates, while boys exhibited higher prevalence of alcohol-related risk behaviors, cannabis use, and gambling. Boys from Eastern European countries displayed a greater risk of drunkenness (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.06-2.37), particularly in the first generation, while those from Western countries showed a higher risk of multiple substance use (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05-1.96). Girls from Eastern European and non-Western/non-European countries had a lower risk of alcohol consumption (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.29-0.85; OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.91, respectively). Finally, boys, especially those from Eastern European and non-Western/non-European countries, had a significantly higher risk of problem gambling (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.04-3.22; OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.29-3.42, respectively). This disparity was more pronounced in the first generation, possibly due to acculturation challenges and socio-economic factors. Risk behaviors in adolescents are influenced by complex interplays of gender, cultural factors, and migration generation. Preventive strategies should consider these factors to effectively address substance use and gambling in this heterogeneous population.

Who Stays, Who Moves on and the Host Population: A Picture of Adolescents' Perceived Well-Being and Risk Behaviours.

The study aims to evaluate the health profile of first- and second-generation Romanian immigrants living in Italy compared to their adolescent peers in the country of origin (Romania) and the host population (Italian-borns). Analyses were performed on the 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey data. Romanian natives showed lower levels of health complaints and higher life satisfaction than Romanian migrants, who were similar to the host population, especially the second-generation ones. A comparable prevalence of being bullied was registered among Romanians, both native and immigrant, with significantly lower levels among Italian natives. Bullying others showed the second-generation migrants share a similar prevalence with the host population. The prevalence of liking school a lot was three times higher among the Romanian natives than among their peers living in Italy. Thanks to the HBSC data, this study is the first to examine the health of adolescent migrants from both the perspective of the host country and the population of origin. The results highlight the need for a more nuanced approach to studying immigrant populations, taking into account both the host country's perspective and the health patterns of the population of origin.

Cranial structure and condylar asymmetry of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective cross sectional study was to evaluate the cranial structure and condylar asymmetry of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed after 25 years of age compared to a healthy adult control group. METHODS: Eighteen adult patients (57.4 ± 11.4 years) with RA were compared with a control group. Cephalometric analysis and the Habets method for the calculation of the condylar asymmetry were used. The main cephalometric data investigated were focused on the diagnosis of hyperdivergent cranial structure (NSL/ML, NL/ML), backwards rotation of the mandible (Fh/ML), short vertical ramus (Ar:Go), steep mandibular plane (ML/Oc). RESULTS: The cephalometric data considered were not significantly different in the RA vs controls except for the steepness of the occlusal plane (NL/Oc), which was steeper in the patients group (P < 0.02) and the ramus of the mandible which was greater in patients. The asymmetry of the condyles was significant (P < 0.003) and different from the control group, but that of the ramus was not. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, RA patients diagnosed after 25 years of age did not show a different pattern of growth with respect to the control group. As expected, the condyles showed a difference being asymmetrical in RA patients due to the high turnover of this joint reacting to severe systemic inflammation in conditions of continuous functional work, load and forces. This study follows a previous study with the same research plan conducted on young JIA patients who showed a different pattern of growth of the skull leading to a severe hyperdivergent cranial structure with backward rotation of the mandible; this is mainly due to the insufficient growth of the condylar site exposed to the inflammatory process during development. Unlike JIA patients, this study showed that RA patients follow an individual growth pattern not affected by inflammation, even if they show joint asymmetry.

Comparison between actigraphy and parental reporting for sleep assessment in hospitalized infants.

BACKGROUND: Our aim is to compare data obtained through actigraphy with data from parental diaries to evaluate their concordance. METHODS: We enrolled 55 hospitalized infants aged 1-12 months with a gestational age higher than 35 weeks and without sleep disorders, complications due to perinatal events or movement deficits. They were monitored using both methods for 24 hours. Total diurnal and nocturnal sleep times and the numbers of awakenings were evaluated. Actigraph data were analyzed with Sadeh's algorithm. RESULTS: Sleep time was analyzed in 51 infants. The average sleep time was 724.33 (±104.69) minutes according to the diaries and 625.18 (±109.14) minutes according to the actigraphy data, yielding a difference of 99.16 (±97.53) minutes (P<0.0001). The average number of awakenings was 8.65 (±3.78) according to the diaries and 13.43 (±5.09) according to the actigraphy data, with a difference of -4.78 (±4.50) (P<0.0001). A low concordance (≤0.66) was found between the two methods. The two methods provided different results (P<0.05) regarding nocturnal and diurnal sleep. After accounting for differences in disease and feeding types, the actigraphy and diary data were significantly different except for the number of daily awakenings. Concordances were higher in infants with respiratory diseases and those who were breastfed, except for the evaluation of nocturnal sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Concordance between actigraphy and parental reporting is low. Actigraphy may be a useful and easy to use method for collecting data on infants' sleep than a parental diary, but actigraphy data should be analyzed in conjunction with infants' passive movement records.

The Mental Well-Being of Italian Adolescents in the Last Decade through the Lens of the Dual Factor Model.

(1) Background: In Italy, the components of adolescents' mental well-being (psychological symptomatology and cognitive perception of life satisfaction) showed different temporal trends, suggesting the adoption of a multidimensional conceptualization. We aimed to assess temporal patterns and provide additional insights into Italian adolescents' mental well-being in the last decade by adopting the Dual Factor Model; (2) Methods: We used nationally representative samples of Italian students (n = 165,000) aged 11, 13, and 15 years across the three more recent Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys. Two measures of mental well-being were used: life satisfaction (LS, indicator of positive subjective well-being) and psychological health complaints (PHC, indicator of mental illness); (3) Results: Our study showed that the overall sample has been moving from a Complete Mental Health (Flourishing) to an Incomplete Mental Illness (Struggling) condition. Among 13- and 15-year-old girls, a jump from one to the other mental condition was observed in the 2014-2018 and 2010-2014 time periods, respectively; (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Italian adolescents, especially older girls, have been shifting from Complete Mental Health to Incomplete Mental Illness in the last decade. Further research is needed to investigate this breaking up of the connection between psychological symptomatology and cognitive perception of life satisfaction.

Suicide spectrum among young people during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There are concerns that suicidal behaviors are arising among adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic could have worsened the picture, however, studies on this topic reported contrasting results. This work aimed to summarise findings from the worldwide emerging literature on the rates of suicidality among young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed, searching five electronic databases for studies published from January 1, 2020 until July 27, 2022. Studies reporting rates for each of the three considered outcomes (suicide, suicidal behaviors, and suicidal ideation) among young people under 19 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted, and the intra-study risk of bias was assessed. When pre-COVID-19 data were available, incidence rate ratio (IRR) and prevalence ratio (PR) estimates were calculated between the two periods. All the analyses were performed according to the setting explored: general population, emergency department (ED), and psychiatric services. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022308014). Findings: Forty-seven observational studies were selected for more than 65 million subjects. The results of the meta-analysis showed a pooled annual incidence rate of suicides of 4.9 cases/100,000 during 2020, accounting for a non-statistically significant increase of 10% compared to 2019 (IRR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.94-1.29). The suicidal behaviors pooled prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic was higher in the psychiatric setting (25%; 95% CI: 17-36%) than in the general population (3%; 1-13%) and ED (1%; 0-9%). The pooled rate of suicidal ideation was 17% in the general population (11-25%), 36% in psychiatric setting (20-56%) and 2% in ED (0-12%). The heterogeneity level was over 97% for both outcomes in all settings considered. The comparison between before and during COVID-19 periods highlighted a non-statistically significant upward trend in suicidal behaviors among the general population and in ED setting. The only significant increase was found for suicidal ideation in psychiatric setting among studies conducted in 2021 (PR 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04-1.27), not observed exploring 2020 alone. Interpretation: During the pandemic, suicide spectrum issues seemed to follow the known pattern described in previous studies, with higher rates of suicidal ideation than of suicidal behaviors and suicide events. Governments and other stakeholders should be mindful that youth may have unique risks at the outset of large disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic and proactive steps are necessary to address the needs of youth to mitigate those risks. Funding: The present study was funded by the University of Torino (CHAL_RILO_21_01).

Problematic Social Media Use and Cyber Aggression in Italian Adolescents: The Remarkable Role of Social Support.

The recent increase in electronic and social media use among young people has highlighted the importance of focusing on problematic social media use (PSMU) and the concurrent phenomenon of cyber aggression, as well as the role of social support. As part of the 2018 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study in Italy, this study aims to explore the role of family, peer, and teacher support in the association between cyberbullying and PSMU. METHODS: Data were collected from 4183 school classes in Italy for a total of 58,976 adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 years. The prevalence of cyber aggression (both cybervictimization and perpetration) and PSMU was estimated across subgroups of different age, gender, and geographical residence. A set of multivariable logistic regressions was then used to investigate the association between cyberbullying and PSMU, considering the effect of social support. RESULTS: Cybervictimization was more frequent among girls than in boys. PSMU was higher in 11-year-old boys and 13-year-old girls; 8.3% and 12.7%, respectively. Social support was highest in 11-year-olds, for both sexes, and then decreased with increasing age. The risk of cyberbullying, both suffered and perpetrated, was higher in girls and in the presence of PSMU. Social support showed to be highly protective against PSMU and cyberbullying in all ages and both genders. CONCLUSION: Although cyber aggression is less represented in Italy than in other European countries, it is likely to increase. PSMU appears to be an important contributor to the risk of cyber aggression; however, social support has been shown to be capable of reducing the risk of both phenomena. Public health policies fostering familiar and school support can help protect adolescents' mental health, reducing the risk of problematic media use and cyberbullying.

The Association between Greenness and Urbanization Level with Weight Status among Adolescents: New Evidence from the HBSC 2018 Italian Survey.

Recent studies have examined how the environment can influence obesity in young people. The research findings are conflicting: in some studies, green spaces have shown a protective association with obesity and urbanization has turned out to worsen this condition, while other studies contradicted these results. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between greenness, urbanization, and weight status among Italian adolescents. Student data (11-13 years old) on weight and height, physical activity (PA), and demographic characteristics were extracted from the 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in Piedmont, Northwest of Italy. Data on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and urbanization were obtained from satellite images and the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT). A multilevel regression model was used to assess the association between NDVI, urbanization, and obesity, controlling for PA. Students living in greener areas reported a lower likelihood of being obese [OR = 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.56, p = 0.007], while students living in areas with a higher level of urbanization showed a significantly increased risk of obesity [OR = 2.3, 95% CI:1.14-4.6, p = 0.02]. Living surrounded by higher amounts of greenness and lower levels of urbanization may positively influence health status through lower risk of obesity among youth.

Physical Activity among Italian Adolescents: Association with Life Satisfaction, Self-Rated Health and Peer Relationships.

The aim of this study was to describe physical activity, both moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA), in a large nationally representative sample of Italian adolescents, aged 11, 13 and 15, and to evaluate if Italian adolescents were in line with the 2020 WHO recommendations. In order to assess the possible impact of physical activity on adolescent psychological and social wellbeing, the associations between MVPA and VPA with life satisfaction, self-rated health and peer relationships were also explored. Data from the 2018 Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey on 58,976 adolescents were analysed. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between physical activity and self-rated health, life satisfaction and peer relationships. The association of the Family Affluence Scale with self-rated health, life satisfaction and peer relationships was also studied. The results showed that the majority of Italian adolescents did not meet current physical activity WHO guidelines on MPVA. The prevalence of adolescents claiming to be involved "at least four or more times per week" in VPA was 29%. Overall, our findings highlighted a positive association between MVPA and VPA and life satisfaction, self-rated health and peer support. Data from this study underlined the need to encourage physical activity, especially among older adolescents and girls, who claimed lower levels of MPVA and VPA.

Forecasting Frequent Alcohol Use among Adolescents in HBSC Countries: A Bayesian Framework for Making Predictions.

(1) Aim: To summarize alcohol trends in the last 30 years (1985/6-2017/8) among 15-year-olds in Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) countries (overall sample size: 413,399 adolescents; 51.55% girls) and to forecast the potential evolution in the upcoming 2021/22 HBSC survey. (2) Methods: Using 1986-2018 prevalence data on weekly alcohol consumption among 15-year-olds related to 40 HBSC countries/regions, a Bayesian semi-parametric hierarchical model was adopted to estimate trends making a clusterization of the countries, and to give estimates for the 2022 HBSC survey. (3) Results: An overall declining trend in alcohol consumption was observed over time in almost all the countries. However, compared to 2014, some countries showed a new increase in 2018 and 2021/22 estimates forecast a slight increase in the majority of countries, pointing out a potential bounce after a decreasing period in frequent drinking habits. (4) Conclusions: The clusterization suggested a homogenization of consumption habits among HBSC countries. The comparison between 2022 observed and expected data could be helpful to investigate the effect of risk behaviour determinants, including the pandemic impact, occurring between the last two waves of the survey.

Mental Well-Being: 2010-2018 Trends among Italian Adolescents.

(1) Aims: To explore temporal trends 2010-2018 of well-being among Italian adolescents and to evaluate potential explanatory factors. (2) Methods: Italian nationality representative samples of students aged 11, 13, and 15 years were recruited in 2010, 2014, and 2018; Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC), for an overall number of 165,000 teenagers. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to fit the trends over time of life satisfaction (LS), psychological (PSY-HC) and somatic health complaints (SOM-HC) considering the contextual factors: school work pressure, social support (family, school, peers), socioeconomic status, geographic area, and immigration background; (3) Results: From 2010 to 2018 while LS was steady, health complaints increased, mainly for PSY-HC, in all age and gender groups. Trend of PSY-HC affected mainly 15-years-olds: rates among boys varied from 29.6% to 35.9% (OR: 1.13, 95%CI: 1.02-1.25); among girls from 49.1% to 63.3% (OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.42-1.72). High school work pressure and poor social support play a central role in worsening well-being outcomes; (4) Conclusions: Our findings pictured a remarkable worsening trend of teenagers' well-being, especially among 15-year-old girls. Further research will be required to investigate this breaking up of the connection between psychophysical symptomatology and cognitive perception of life satisfaction.

The wellbeing of adolescents and the role of greenness: A cross-sectional study among Italian students.

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical period of life, and the level of wellbeing acquired during this stage might have an influence on health status in adulthood. The wellbeing of adolescents is associated with both biological and environmental determinants. To date, few studies have evaluated the effect of exposure to urban green spaces (i.e., greenness) on adolescents' wellbeing. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the association between exposure to greenness and the wellbeing of adolescents, accounting for the level of urbanization surrounding schools. Methods: In the frame of the 2018 Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC), we analyzed cross-sectional data from the Piedmont Region. Exposure to greenness was quantified by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Schools were geocoded, and a fixed buffer (radius 1,500 m) centered on each school was then built to enable average NDVI calculations. Adolescents' wellbeing was assessed by self-reported psychological, somatic, and psychosomatic health complaints as follows. Respondents were asked how often, in the last 6 months, they had experienced: (a) headache, (b) stomachache, (c) backache, (d) dizziness, (e) feeling low, (f) irritability or bad temper, (g) feeling nervous, and (h) difficulties getting to sleep using the HBSC Symptom Checklist (HBSC-SCL), an eight-item tool. Multivariable, multilevel logistic regression models tested the association between exposure to NDVI and psychosomatic, somatic, and psychological health complaints, one at a time, using schools as a random intercept. Results: In total, 2065 subjects (47.6% girls) aged 11 (48.4%) and 13 (51.6%) years were involved. Greenness was found to be inversely associated with reported psychosomatic (OR 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53-0.98) and psychological health complaints (OR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49-0.92) in boys only, adjusting for age, urbanization level, and socioeconomic status, and stratifying by gender. Discussion: Our results support the implementation of future policies for urban environmental design supporting the increase of green spaces, as suggested by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Juvenile/Adolescent Idiopatic Scoliosis and Rapid Palatal Expansion. A Pilot Study.

The question of whether orthodontic therapy by means of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) affects the spine during development is important in clinical practice. RPE is an expansive, fixed therapy conducted with heavy forces to separate the midpalatal suture at a rate of 0.2-0.5 mm/day. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of RPE on the curves of the spine of juvenile/adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Eighteen patients under orthopedic supervision for juvenile/adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and independently treated with RPE for orthodontic reasons were included in the study: Group A, 10 subjects (10.4 ± 1.3 years), first spinal radiograph before the application of the RPE, second one during the orthodontic therapy with RPE; Group B, 8 patients (11.3 ± 1.6 years), first radiograph during the use of RPE second one after the removal. Group A showed a significant worsening of the Cobb angle (p ≤ 0.005) at the second radiograph after RPE. Group B showed a significant improvement of the Cobb angle (p = 0.01) at the second radiograph after removal of RPE. Based on the results, the use of RPE during adolescence might influence the spinal curves of patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

Bisphenol A and S in the Urine of Newborns: Plastic for Non-Food Use Still without Rules.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of bisphenol (BP) exposure on pregnancy and neonatal life. We have (a) determined BP (BPA and BPS) concentration levels in a group of newborns and their mothers; (b) identified factors, habits, and devices possibly responsible for BP uptake; and (c) determined the effect of BP exposure. No significant correlations were detected between maternal and neonatal BP concentration levels. In newborns, positive correlations between pacifier use and BPS total (p = 0.04) and free BPS (p = 0.03) concentrations were detected. A significant correlation was also found between oral glucose administration and concentration levels of free BPA (p < 0.05). Our study points to a central role of lifestyle, hospital procedures, and neonatal devices in inducing BP exposure, especially during the perinatal period. This is the first report of BP contamination in newborns due to widely non-alimentary products designed for newborn care, such as glucose-solution containers for BPA and pacifiers for BPS. Further studies are advocated in order to clarify both the impact of other BP forms on human health and development, as well as potential BPA exposure sources during neonatal and childhood life.

Problematic social media use: associations with health complaints among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU) has an addictive potential for young users. The aim of this study was to show the prevalence of PSMU across Italian regions and its association with health complaints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data are gathered from the Italian 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey using a representative sample of Italian adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 years (50.6% males). Participants completed self-administered questionnaires assessing PSMU and health complaints. RESULTS: PSMU affects 8.9% adolescents in Italy and the prevalence is quite consistent across regions. 13-year-olds girls showed the highest percentage of PSMU (13%). Problematic users of social media are more likely to report multiple somatic (OR = 1.84 [95% CI 1.82-1.85]) and psychological (OR = 2.60 [95% CI 2.58-2.63]) symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: PSMU represents a widespread problem in Italy. National prevention interventions are needed in order to promote a positive use of social media.

Alcohol use and misuse: a profile of adolescents from 2018 Italian HBSC data.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol remains the most commonly substance used by adolescents.The aim of the study was to draw a comprehensive picture of the behavioural patterns that characterize alcohol use and abuse among 15-year-olds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample included 18,918 15-year-olds participating in the 2018 Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. A Bayesian approach was adopted for selecting the manifest variables associated with alcohol consumption; a latent class regression model was employed to identify health-related risk patterns associated with alcohol use. RESULTS: 21% of our sample represented the cluster of heavy drinkers who shared other risk behaviours: heavy smoking habits (29%), cannabis (68%), gambling (52%) and drunkenness (76%) experience, binge drinking (96%) and sexual intercourse (51%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm multiple risk-taking behaviours among adolescents tending to cluster in behavioural patterns. This has implications for public health policies and must be considered when planning interventions and prevention strategies.

Sexual behaviour in 15-year-old adolescents: insights into the role of family, peer, teacher, and classmate support.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the role of different forms of social support in early sexual intercourse and contraceptive use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample included 18,918 15-year-olds who took part in the 2018 Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Multivariable multilevel logistic regressions were performed taking into account geographical region and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: 21.7% of adolescents reported early sexual intercourse. 71.9% used a condom at last sexual intercourse, 12.2% oral contraceptives 41.2% other contraceptive methods (multiple response question). High support from family and from teachers were associated with a lower likelihood of early sexual intercourse in both genders, while peer support was shown to increase this likelihood among boys. Adolescents with high social support were more likely to use condoms. CONCLUSIONS: Social support can have a positive influence on adolescents' sexual behaviour. Sexual education programmes should aim to engage peers and those significant adults who can influence adolescents' lives, in and out of school.

The Contribution of Organised Leisure-Time Activities in Shaping Positive Community Health Practices among 13-and 15-Year-Old Adolescents: Results from the Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children Study in Italy.

Background and Objective: Participation in organised out-of-school leisure-time activities (OLTAs) has been shown to have a positive impact on community health practices and to lessen inequities in social and environmental opportunities among youths. According to the social capital theory, OLTAs foster bridging ties that allow individuals to forge new, wider-ranging social connections, increasing social integration and opportunities for identity-related exploration. This study aimed to describe participation in different types of OLTAs and its association with perceived life satisfaction, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and drunkenness in a representative sample of youths. Methods: A representative sample of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old students (n = 47,799) was recruited throughout all Italian regions within the Italian 2013/2014 Health Behaviours in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Data were collected according to the HBSC study protocol. Participants were compared on outcomes according to OLTA participation type (i.e., non-sport, sport-only, and mixed vs. no-OLTA). In accordance with the study sampling procedures, hierarchical logistic regression models were used. Results: Participation in OLTAs was significantly associated with high life satisfaction in all ages (sport-only: odds ratio (OR) = 1.67, 1.48 and 1.55 for 11- 13- and 15-year-olds; mixed: OR = 1.95, 1.60 and 1.45, respectively). Youths participating in OLTAs were more likely to meet physical activity recommendations and report lower rates of tobacco use and drunkenness. Conclusions: Participation in OLTAs showed a favourable impact on health behaviours. Thus, community organisations and clubs, whether supported by public investments, could contribute to the enhancement of beneficial health practices, by engaging and serving the community as a whole and further reducing inequities in both social and environmental opportunities.

Implant survival after surgical treatment of peri-implantitis lesions by means of deproteinized bovine bone mineral with 10% collagen: 10-year results from a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the 10-year outcomes of a regenerative surgical treatment of single peri-implantitis intrabony defects, by means of deproteinized bovine bone mineral with 10% collagen (DBBMC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The original population consisted of 26 patients with one crater-like defect, around either SLA or TPS dental implants, with a probing depth ≥6 mm and no implant mobility. After debridement and surface decontamination, the defects were filled with DBBMC. Subsequently, patients were placed in an individualized supportive peri-implant/periodontal therapy (SPT) program. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (eight SLA and six TPS) reached the 10-year examination. The overall implant survival rate was 67%, 80% for the SLA, and 55% for the TPS implants. During SPT, five patients were lost to follow-up, eight patients needed additional antibiotic and/or surgical therapy, and seven patients had the implant removed. PD was reduced from 6.6 ± 1.3 to 3.2 ± 0.7 mm in SLA and from 7.2 ± 1.5 to 3.4 ± 0.6 mm in TPS. BOP decreased from 75.0 ± 31.2% to 7.5 ± 12.1% (SLA) and from 90.0 ± 12.9% to 30.0 ± 19.7% (TPS). Treatment success was found in 5 of the 12 SLA (42%) and in 4 of the 14 TPS (29%). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed reconstructive treatment, followed by SPT, was able to maintain in function the majority of SLA implants, although the overall treatment success was limited and many of TPS implants were removed. Therefore, the decision to treat implants affected by peri-implantitis should be based on several factors, including surface characteristics.