Urgent health concerns: Clinical issues associated with accidental ingestion of new metal-blade-containing sticks for heated tobacco products.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, a concerning pattern has emerged in clinical settings, drawing attention to the potential health risks associated with the accidental ingestion, mostly by children, of a new Heated Tobacco Product (HTP) stick, which contains a sharp metal blade inside. METHODS: Following a webinar of the Joint Action on Tobacco Control 2 project, where data on adverse health incidents related to novel tobacco and nicotine products from EU Member States were presented, the Milan Poison Control Center (PCC) conducted a case series study on the accidental ingestion of blade-containing HTP sticks in Italy, between July 2023 and February 2024. The data in the medical records were analyzed to identify the age distribution, clinical presentation symptoms, performed diagnostic procedures, and medical management. RESULTS: Overall, 40 cases of accidental ingestion of HTP sticks were identified and are described. A total of 33 (82.5%) children (infants and toddlers, mean age 12.3 ± 3.3 months) were hospitalized. Of these, 29 underwent abdominal X-rays, two children underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and one child suffered from cut injuries to the tonsillar pillar and genian mucosa, requiring anesthesia for fibroscopy. The observed clinical cases associated with new HTP sticks containing a metal blade occurred over just eight months. This issue required the immediate implementation of corrective measures to mitigate health risks. The Ministry of Health issued an alert regarding the dangers related to the accidental ingestion of the stick and imposed more visible warnings on the package. CONCLUSIONS: It is of the utmost importance to raise awareness among both the general public and medical practitioners to prevent further cases of accidental ingestion of HTP sticks by infants and toddlers, and ensure a prompt and informed response in emergency situations.

Tobacco endgame in the WHO European Region: Feasibility in light of current tobacco control status.

INTRODUCTION: To assess the feasibility of developing World Health Organization (WHO) European Region countries' goals and measures in line with tobacco endgame objectives, information on the current tobacco control context and capacity is needed. The aim of this study was to assess the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and MPOWER measures in the region. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study we used data from the WHO FCTC implementation reports and MPOWER from 2020 in 53 WHO European Region countries. Six domains (i.e. capacity, taxation and price policies, other national key regulations, public awareness raising and communication, tobacco use cessation, and monitoring) were formed. Subsequently, available indicators under these domains were scored and the level of implementation was computed for each country. Mann-Whitney tests were carried out to compare the scores between the group of countries with and without official endgame goals. RESULTS: Overall, implementation of the WHO FCTC with the selected indicators at the country level ranged from 28% to 86%, and of MPOWER from 31% to 96%. Full implementation was achieved by 28% of WHO FCTC Parties in the region in taxation and price policies, 12% in public awareness raising and communication, and 42% in monitoring. In capacity, tobacco use cessation and other national key regulations, none of the Parties in the region reached full implementation. Overall median WHO FCTC scores were significantly higher in countries with official endgame goals than in those without (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is unequal implementation of both WHO FCTC and MPOWER measures among WHO European Region countries. MPOWER and WHO FCTC provide all the measures for the necessary first steps, followed by innovative measures, to accomplish tobacco endgame goals.

Electronic cigarette use as an aid to quit smoking: Evidence from PASSI survey, 2014-2021.

This paper updates a previous cross-sectional study on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as an aid to quit smoking. In the 2014-2021 PASSI survey, the ongoing Italian behavioural risk factor surveillance system, on a total of 239,812 subjects representative of the Italian adult population respondents who smoked and made at least one quit attempt in the previous 12 months (i.e., 19,234 subjects) were categorized into four groups according to the method used in their most recent quit attempt: no aid, e-cigarettes, standard pharmacological support (medications) and/or smoking cessation services (SCSs), other unspecified methods. The primary outcome was self-reported abstinence for a period ≥6 months. Thirteen percent of participants used e-cigarettes to quit, 83% no aid, 2% medications/SCSs, 3% other unspecified methods. Smoking abstinence was reported among 10% of those using no aid; 11% among e-cigarette users; 16% among those using medications/SCSs; and 13% among those using other unspecified methods. No significant difference in abstinence was observed for those reporting no aid compared with e-cigarette users (adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR] = 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79-1.10). Those using medications/SCSs were significantly more likely to report abstinence than e-cigarette users (aPR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.01-1.81). E-cigarettes as consumer products are not associated with higher quitting rates than those recorded using no aid, therefore there is no health benefit for allowing them to be marketed to smokers.

Italians are still loyal to conventional cigarettes, despite novel tobacco products.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last few decades in Italy, we observed a substantial reduction in conventional tobacco cigarette consumption, the introduction of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) in 2010, and the launch of heated tobacco products (HTP) in 2015. METHODS: We investigated novel products, i.e. e-cigarettes and HTP, use in Italy in 2018-2021 using data from the cross-sectional annual PASSI (Progressi delle Aziende Sanitarie per la Salute in Italia) survey conducted in representative samples of adults aged 18-69 (overall n = 101,458). We compared characteristics of conventional cigarette smokers with those of novel product users. RESULTS: A stall in e-cigarette use at around 2.4% and a three-fold increase in HTP use from 0.5% in 2018 to 2.5% in 2021 were recorded, with around 60% of e-cigarette users and 70% of HTP users who kept on smoking conventional cigarettes. Around 86% of smokers did not use novel products at all. Novel products use among former smokers was more likely in younger e-cigarette with no nicotine users, whereas older users of both novel products were less able to completely shift to an exclusive use. CONCLUSIONS: After 10 years from the introduction of e-cigarettes and 5 years from that of HTP, the majority of smokers in Italy were still loyal to conventional tobacco cigarettes, and more than half of novel product users kept on smoking conventional cigarettes.

Use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Only a few studies investigated changes in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) and heated tobacco product (HTP) use during pandemic restrictions. We conducted a web-based cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 6,003 Italian adults during the strictest phase of the Covid-19 lockdown (April-May 2020). Participants were asked to report changes in e-cigarette and HTP use compared to before the pandemic. E-cigarette users increased from 8.1% to 9.1% and HTP users from 4.0% to 4.5%. Among e-cigarette non-users before lockdown, 1.8% started using e-cigarettes during lockdown. New users were more frequently younger (p for trend 0.001), men (odds ratio, OR 1.56; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.03-2.34), cannabis users (OR 2.35; 95% CI: 1.33-4.13), gamblers (OR 3.34; 95% CI: 2.18-5.11) and individuals with anxiety symptoms (OR 1.58; 95% CI: 1.00-2.52). 1.0% of HTP non-users started using it during lockdown. New users were less frequently current than never cigarette smokers (OR 0.19; 95% CI: 0.06-0.61) and more frequently gamblers (OR 2.23; 95% CI: 1.22-4.07). E-cigarettes and HTPs played little role as smoking cessation tools for hardcore smokers but rather provided opportunities for young never smokers to engage in socially acceptable activities, perhaps reflecting the obstacles they faced in obtaining other addictive substances during confinement.

The Role of Novel (Tobacco) Products on Tobacco Control in Italy.

In Italy, electronic cigarettes have spread since 2010 and heated tobacco products (HTP) since 2016. We investigated their public health consequences on conventional cigarette smoking, taking advantage of a series of cross-sectional studies annually conducted between 2001 and 2019 in Italy. Every year, the sample, including around 3000 individuals, was representative of the general Italian population aged ≥15 years. In Italy, smoking prevalence steadily declined from 29.1% in 2001 to 20.6% in 2013, then increased to 22.0% in 2019. In 2017-2019, current electronic cigarette users were 2.1% and in 2019 current HTP users were 1.1%. Among 498 ever electronic cigarette users, 23.2% started or re-started smoking and 15.7% quit smoking after electronic cigarette use; of 49 ever HTP users, 19.1% started or re-started smoking combusted cigarettes and 14.6% quit smoking after HTP use. The availability of novel products in Italy resulted in a halt of the decreasing trend in smoking prevalence. For the first time, we observed an increase of Italians inhaling nicotine, concurrently with the spread of novel (tobacco) products. More importantly, the use of novel products appears to increase-rather than decrease-the likelihood of smoking conventional cigarettes. Considering this evidence, we see no argument to justify the huge fiscal and regulatory benefits these products continue to have, at least in Italy.

[Smoking initiation in Italian regions, 2014, and Regional Prevention Plans]. / Iniziare a fumare nelle regioni italiane nel 2014 e Piani Regionali di Prevenzione.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate smoking prevalence in adolescents by Italian region from the Health Behaviour Study in School-aged Children (HBSC) of 2014 and to correlate it with the presence, in the 2014-2018 Regional Prevention Plans (PRPs), of school-based smoking prevention interventions. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: the 2014 HBSC surveillance system provided data on 48,000 adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 years; Ministry of Health provided data for each PRP on interventions with a tobacco control component and, among them, school-based smoking prevention interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: weekly smoking prevalence; proportion of school-based smoking prevention interventions out of prevention interventions with tobacco control measures. RESULTS: regions with the highest weekly smoking prevalence were Sardinia and Apulia for all age groups, Abruzzo for 11- and 15-year-old children, Basilicata for 15-year-old children, Bolzano for girls aged 13 years old; Liguria for females, Molise, Calabria, and Veneto for males. In the regions with the highest prevalence of smoking in 2014, in girls aged 11 and 13 years (Sardinia, Apulia, Basilicata, Liguria, Bolzano), a greater proportion of school-based smoking prevention interventions to be developed in the period 2014-2018 have been recorded. CONCLUSIONS: smoking prevalence in Italian adolescents is high, especially in 15-year-old children. Implementing policies recommended by the World Health Organization - Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (higher tobacco taxes, anti-tobacco mass media campaigns, plain tobacco package) could work synergistically with school-based interventions in order to decrease tobacco initiation among adolescents in Italy.

Prevalence of tobacco smoking and electronic cigarette use among adolescents in Italy: Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (GYTS), 2010, 2014, 2018.

This research aims to study tobacco smoking and vaping among adolescents in Italy through three repeat national cross sectional surveys conducted before (in 2010, 2014) and after (2018) the 2016 introduction of the European Union - Tobacco Product Directive (EU-TPD) and its transposition into Italy, and before Juul entered the Italian market in 2019. Prevalence of smoking and vaping, access to cigarettes and electronic cigarettes in adolescents aged 13-15 years were estimated from the 2010, 2014, and 2018 Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (N = 1587; N = 1428; N = 1518, respectively) conducted in Italy. Prevalence of current smokers and/or current vapers combined, accounting for dual users, non-significantly increased from 20.7% in 2010 to 27.9% in 2018. Although current smokers stalled around 20%, current vapers substantially increased from 0% in 2010, 7.4% in 2014, to 17.5% in 2018, and current exclusive vapers recorded an almost 3-fold significantly increase from 2.9% in 2014 to 8.2% in 2018. Moreover, 42% of ever vapers used nicotine-free electronic cigarettes, and only 5% of current users were frequent vapers (≥20 days in the past month). About 65% of current smokers and 76% of current vapers easily accessed to cigarettes or electronic cigarettes in 2018. After 2 years from its implementation in 2016, the EU-TPD does not seem to have slowed down the increase in vaping among Italian adolescents before Juul entered the Italian market. Additional research is needed in order to show a clear association between EU-TPD and changes in vaping and smoking in Italy and in the EU.

[Socioeconomic and regional inequalities in smoking cessation in Italy, 2014-2017]. / Disuguaglianze regionali e socioeconomiche nella cessazione del fumo in Italia, 2014-2017.

OBJECTIVES: to study regional differences in Italy of quit smoking attempts and of successful abstinence, in relation to socioeconomic status, cigarettes per day (cig/die), and smoking cessation method in a representative sample of the population resident in Italy. DESIGN: cross-sectional survey. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: in 2014-2017, PASSI survey (the ongoing Italian behavioural risk factor surveillancesystem) gathered data on smoking and sociodemographic characteristics of 35,157 smokers; 13,130 aged 18-69 years made >1 quit attempt in the previous year, 1,176 of them were successful quitters for >6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: proportion of smokers who tried to quit; proportion of smokers who successfully quitted. RESULTS: about 35% of smokers made >1 quit attempt in the last year. Northern Italians and smokers with many economic difficulties were more likely to make a quit attempt, whereas heavy smokers were less likely. About 10% of attempters were abstinent for >6 months: from 6% in Campania and Abruzzo to 17% in the Bolzano province. Attempters who smoked <20 cig/die had higher likelihood to be abstinent, compared to those smoking <20 cig/die. Attempters with many economic difficulties had the lowest likelihood to be abstinent (7%), with no differences by region, educational level, quitting method. Attempters with no economic difficulties recorded the highest cessation rates (12%). Among them, those from Northern Italy, Tuscany, Marche, and Lazio (Central Italy), and Apulia (Southern Italy) compared to attempters from most Southern regions, and those with high education level or using traditional quitting methods compared to those using electronic cigarettes or unaided were more likely to be abstinent for >6 months. CONCLUSIONS: smokers with many economic difficulties in all Italy, and those with no economic difficulties residing in Umbria and in most Southern Italian regions, except for Basilicata and Puglia, recorded lower chances to quit. Regional differences may have two possible explanations integrating each other: Northern-Central regions are in a slightly more advanced stage in the tobacco epidemic; regions which developed specific tobacco control interventions in their Prevention Plans recorded higher quitting rates. Not-yet-implemented interventions could promote smoking cessation in smokers from Southern Italy and in those with lower socioeconomic status: reimbursement of smoking cessation treatments, a well-developed national Quitline linked to a webplatform and to mobile phone application or text-messaging, an opt-out smoking cessation service offered systematically to all smokers at every encounter in hospitals or health services.

Roll-your-own cigarette use in Italy: sales and consumer profile-data from PASSI surveillance, 2015-2016.

OBJECTIVES: The use of roll-your-own (RYO) cigarette has substantially increased in most high-income countries recently. This work aims to update Italian trends on loose tobacco sales and to describe the consumer profile of predominant RYO users. METHODS: Data from the Italian Agency of Customs and State Monopolies and from PASSI (Italian behavioral risk factor surveillance system) were used. Information on 16,858 interviews to current smokers aged 18-69 was analyzed. RESULTS: Sales of loose tobacco increased more than sevenfold between 2004 and 2017. In 2015-2016, 11.6% of smokers reported smoking predominantly RYO cigarettes, with higher percentages among the youngest where a significant association between use of RYO and education was observed, unlike what happened in older adults. The association between economic difficulties and use of RYO was observed only in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: A growing trend in RYO cigarette sales was registered between 2004 and 2017. In young smokers, the greater use of RYO was observed among the most educated regardless of financial strain, while in older ones among those with economic difficulties.

Fibrous Pituitary Macroadenomas: Predictive Role of Preoperative Radiologic Investigations for Proper Surgical Planning in a Cohort of 66 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The endoscopic technique is in many cases the technique of choice for the removal of pituitary adenomas. Extended endoscopic approaches make it possible to remove lesions with suprasellar and parasellar extension and fibrous consistency. We identify some characteristics that might point to the adoption of an expanded approach in the preoperative phase. METHODS: We considered 66 consecutive cases treated for pituitary macroadenomas. All patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, as well as postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. From the analysis of surgical reports and preoperative radiologic investigations, we extracted data related to size, extension, morphologic characteristics, consistency, and type of approach used (sellar or expanded). The degree of removal was judged to be total, near total, subtotal, or partial. RESULTS: The data showed that in some cases it is possible to assume in advance that there is a need for an expanded endoscopic approach. The features that led to an extended approach for extracapsular dissection of the lesion were the size of the tumor; an hourglass/dumbbell shape; lateral extension to the suprasellar carotid artery; Knosp degree 3 or 4; contrast enhancement heterogeneity; intratumoral hemorrhage, erosion, or discontinuity of the sellar floor; and increased sellar depth, which predicts increased thickness. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to predict the consistency of pituitary adenomas allows the surgeon to design a surgical procedure tailored to the patient. This approach has advantages concerning the extent of resection and allows a radical strategy with a single surgical procedure to be pursued.

A long way to go: 20-year trends from multiple surveillance systems show a still huge use of tobacco in minors in Italy.

Background: Main aim was to describe youth smoking prevalence in Italy over the last two decades, and to provide recent trends in knowledge, attitudes towards smoking, awareness of anti-tobacco mass media campaigns, second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and access to cigarettes. Methods: Figures from three surveillance systems, with 12 representative cross-sectional surveys (about 43 000 participants): European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, 15-16-year-old students, 1995-2015; Health Behaviour in School-aged Children, 11-, 13-, 15-year-old students, 2002-14 and Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 13-15-year-old students, 2010, 2014. Results: Among 11- and 13-year-old students, daily and non-daily smokers decreased by 30-50% from 2002 to 2014. Among 15-16-year-old adolescents, ever smokers significantly decreased by 10% in the period 1995-2015, whereas current and daily smokers have been stalling or even increased. Appeal of smoking increased in 2014 compared to 2010, perception of SHS as harmful, and awareness of recent anti-tobacco mass media campaigns decreased. Moreover, a significant 30% reduction in reporting retailers did not refuse to sell cigarettes to adolescents and a decrease in reporting to buy cigarettes were reported. Conclusions: Policies enforced in Italy over the last 20 years slightly reduced ever smokers, but did not decrease current and daily smokers in 15-16-year-old adolescents, and determined an impact among younger adolescents. Stricter rules on youth tobacco access reduced ease of access to cigarettes, but did not affect adolescents' tobacco use. Stronger tobacco control measures are urgently needed in order to determine a steeper decline in smoking prevalence in adolescents.

Smoking habits among italian adolescents: what has changed in the last decade?

Tobacco use, alcohol abuse, overweight and obesity are risk factors for numerous diseases in Italy as elsewhere. However, children and adolescents are not usually included in official national surveys although it is at this stage of life when unhealthy habits are often established. Italian participation in HBSC and GYTS surveys allows our country to implement standardized surveillance systems providing reliable information on tobacco-related behaviors of this population. Data from three HBSC surveys (2002-2010) show that following the drop in the first half of the decade, prevalence of tobacco use stabilized in the second half. The decline was significant for younger age groups, while prevalence of regular tobacco use remained stable among 15-year-olds. Many adolescents reported being exposed to secondhand smoke, to have at least one parent who smokes, and having seen teachers and students smoking at school. Although the sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited, the vast majority had no trouble in buying cigarettes. Data from GYTS and HBSC surveys provide a wealth of information about attitudes and behaviors of Italian adolescents with respect to smoking. Despite some progress, sizeable gaps remain in meeting standard recommendations for discouraging smoking initiation and motivating adolescent smokers to quit the habit.

Compliance with the smoking ban in Italy 8 years after its application.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to report compliance with the smoking ban and the spread of smoke-free homes after 3-8 years since the Italian smoking ban implementation, according to the ongoing Italian surveillance system for behavioural risk factors (PASSI). METHODS: PASSI is based on representative annual samples of the Italian population aged 18-69 years. We considered questions on smoking habits, self-reported compliance with the ban, and on smoke-free homes of 176,236 interviews conducted in 2008-2012. RESULTS: Ninety percent of respondents in 2012 reported that the smoking ban was enforced in hospitality premises (HPs), with a significant 3% increase from 2008. Similarly, 91.3% in 2012 reported a high compliance in workplaces other than HPs, with a significant 5% increase. Perception of compliance did not change among smokers and non-smokers. Seventy-eight percent of respondents in 2012 reported smoke-free homes, with a significant increase from 2008 to 2012. CONCLUSIONS: The high compliance with the ban that is still increasing even after 8 years since its implementation may partially have caused the concurrent increase in smoke-free homes.