The Influence of Dietary Components on Early Signs of Atherosclerosis in Apparently Healthy Young-adult Males: An Observational Study of 615 Subjects.

BACKGROUND: The literature shows that a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, has positive effects on overall cardiovascular risk, protecting against atherosclerosis. DESIGN: A cross sectional study in a population of apparently healthy young-adult men with the aim of investigating dietary determinants of early atherosclerosis, assessed by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. METHODS: 615 males (mean age ± SD: 40.8±9.8 years) without overt atherosclerosis were evaluated. Dietary intake was quantified by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) questionnaire. Intake of antioxidants was expressed in relation to total caloric intake. RESULTS: Neither absolute, recommended daily allowance or weight-related values of nutritional intake variables were associated with cIMT. Vitamin E to total calories intake (odds ratio, OR=0.08, 95%CI=0.03-0.89) was inversely associated with impaired FMD. Non-nutritional correlates of FMD <10% were: age (OR=1.02, 95%CI=1.0-1.05) and waist circumference (OR=1.03, 95%CI=1.0-1.06), and those of cIMT >0.8 mm were age (OR=1.10, 95%CI=1.05-1.15), pack-years (OR=1.02, 95%CI=1.0-1.04), C-reactive protein (OR=1.17, 95%CI=1.04-1.33) and total cholesterol (OR=1.01, 95%CI=1.0-1.02). CONCLUSION: Differences in the factors correlating with cIMT >0.8 mm and FMD <10% might have implications for cardiovascular risk reduction. A lower antioxidant to caloric intake ratio might be a risk factor for impaired FMD.

[Environmental indicators in ten Italian cities (2001-2005): the air quality data for epidemiological surveillance]. / Indicatori ambientali in dieci città italiane (2001-2005): i dati di qualità dell'aria per la sorveglianza epidemiologica.

OBJECTIVE: to produce environmental indicators suitable for an epidemiological surveillance in 10 Italian cities part of the EpiAir Project (2001-2005). METHODS: the environmental parameters that correlate to relevant health effects are the particles with diameters less than or equal to 10 micrometers (PM10), the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and the ozone (O3). The necessary meteorological data are: temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure and apparent temperature.We have identified some criteria to select monitoring stations and have taken standard methods of calculation to produce environmental indicators starting from the daily data available after closely evaluating the completeness of the existing data. Furthermore, we have checked the homogeneity of the selected data to ensure that it represents the population's exposure. RESULTS: close examination of descriptive statistics shows a critical situation of the considered pollutants. The analysis of the yearly state underlines for PM10 values higher than 40 microg/m3 in the area of Mestre-Venice and in Milan, Turin, Bologna e Taranto. For NO2, values are consistently above 40 microg/m3 in Milan, Turin, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Palermo. For ozone, the concentrations were stable, with the exception of Summer 2003 when we recorded, on average, an increase of 13% compared to the mean value estimated for the ten cities during the study period, especially in Mestre-Venice, Turin and Palermo. CONCLUSIONS: it is important to ensure the consistency of the methods and instruments in environmental monitoring. To evaluate health effects and perform interventions over the longterm, it is therefore fundamental that the data be homogenous, especially during the periodic reorganizations and rationalizations of air quality management. It is also necessary to include daily meteorological data that influence pollutant dispersion and population health status.

Air pollution from a large steel factory: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions from coke-oven batteries.

A systematic investigation of solid and gaseous atmospheric emissions from some coke-oven batteries of one of Europe's largest integrated steel factory (Taranto, Italy) has been carried out. In air monitoring samples, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were consistently detected at concentrations largely exceeding threshold limit values. By means of PAHs speciation profile and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) equivalent dispersion modeling from diffuse sources, the study indicated that serious health risks exist not only in working areas, but also in a densely populated residential district near the factory.