Increased resistance to oxidative DNA damage of trabecular meshwork cells by E. coli FPG gene transfection.

Oxidative damage plays a pathogenic role in various chronic degenerative diseases. Oxidative damage targeting trabecular meshwork (TM) cells as a consequence of mitochondrial damage is a pathogenic mechanism for glaucoma, the most common cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Consequences of oxidative damage are attenuated by endocellular activities involved in scavenging reactive oxidative species and DNA repair. Selected bacterial genes are highly efficient at protecting cells from oxidative DNA damage. This situation occurs for Escherichia coli formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (FPG), a major DNA glycosylase that repairs oxidatively damaged DNA. Accordingly, this study was aimed at transfecting human TM cells (HTMC) with Fpg in order to increase their resistance to oxidative damage. This study demonstrates that it is feasible to increase resistance of HTMC to endogenous oxidative damage by gene transfection. These findings bear relevance for primary and secondary prevention of degenerative glaucomas and other degenerative diseases where oxidative damage plays a pathogenic role.

Appropriate and inappropriate use of day-hospital care in Italy.

This study describes the extent of inappropriate day-hospital assistance and the effect of different variables on such inappropriateness. A random sample of patients admitted to pediatric and adult day-hospital care during the period Janurary--December 2000 in three hospitals located in the area of Catanzaro, Italy were reviewed. Assessment of appropriateness was made for the first access and for each of the following accesses in day-hospital. A total of 826 patients were reviewed. Overall, 23.8% of the first access in day-hospital care was judged to be inappropriate and 49.7% of the sample showed at least one inappropriate access for day-hospital care with a mean of 1.4 inappropriate accesses. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the inappropriateness of the first access significantly increased with relation to lower distance from hospital to patient's home; admission to general medicine wards; first access from Monday to Thursday; lower number of patient's diagnostic procedures and medical examinations in the first access. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that the number of inappropriate accesses was significantly higher for general medicine and surgery and trauma/orthopedics wards; in patients who the first access was inappropriate; in those who received a lower number of diagnostic procedures and medical examinations; in patients who showed a higher length of care in day-hospital. The findings suggest the need for standardized diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for day-hospital care.

Consumers and foodborne diseases: knowledge, attitudes and reported behavior in one region of Italy.

A survey was conducted to investigate knowledge, attitudes and related behavior on foodborne diseases and food-handling practices among consumers in one region of Italy. A self-administered questionnaire was offered to a random sample of mothers of children attending public schools. Of the 394 responding mothers, 36% knew about all the six foodborne pathogens investigated but only 11.1% correctly indicated six related different food vehicles; education level was a predictor of this knowledge. A positive attitude towards foodborne disease control, significantly higher in older and more educated women, was reported by the great majority, who agreed that improper storage of food represents a health hazard (95.7%), that washing hands before handling unwrapped raw or cooked food reduces the risk of food poisoning (93.2%), and that the awareness of the temperature of the refrigerator is crucial in reducing risk of food poisoning (90.1%). Only 53.9% reported washing hands before and after touching raw or unwrapped food and 50.4% reported using soap to wash hands. A total of 75.6% clean kitchen benches after every use and 81.1% use hot water and soap for this purpose. Only 25.6% thaw food in the refrigerator and 49.9% put leftovers in the refrigerator soon after meals. Washing hands before and after touching unwrapped food was significantly higher in women living in larger families and who had been informed by physicians about foodborne diseases. Educational programs and the counseling efforts of physicians, particularly focused to less educated subjects, are greatly needed.