Determinants of weight, psychological status, food contemplation and lifestyle changes in patients with obesity during the COVID-19 lockdown: a nationwide survey using multiple correspondence analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced most of the Italian population into lockdown from 11 March to 18 May 2020. A nationwide survey of Italian Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic Services (Obesity Centers or OCs) was carried out to assess the impact of lockdown restrictions on the physical and mental wellbeing of patients with obesity (PWO) who had follow-up appointments postponed due to lockdown restrictions and to compare determinants of weight gain before and after the pandemic. METHODS: We designed a structured 77-item questionnaire covering employment status, diet, physical activity and psychological aspects, that was disseminated through follow-up calls and online between 2 May and 25 June 2020. Data were analyzed by multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 1,232 PWO from 26 OCs completed the questionnaires (72% female, mean age 50.2 ± 14.2 years; mean BMI 34.7 ± 7.6 kg/m2; 41% obesity class II to III). During the lockdown, 48.8% gained, 27.1% lost, while the remainder (24.1%) maintained their weight. The mean weight change was +2.3 ± 4.8 kg (in weight gainers: +4.0 ± 2.4 kg; +4.2% ± 5.4%). Approximately 37% of participants experienced increased emotional difficulties, mostly fear and dissatisfaction. Sixty-one percent reduced their physical activity (PA) and 55% experienced a change in sleep quality/quantity. The lack of online contact (37.5%) with the OC during lockdown strongly correlated with weight gain (p < 0.001). Using MCA, two main clusters were identified: those with unchanged or even improved lifestyles during lockdown (Cluster 1) and those with worse lifestyles during the same time (Cluster 2). The latter includes unemployed people experiencing depression, boredom, dissatisfaction and increased food contemplation and weight gain. Within Cluster 2, homemakers reported gaining weight and experiencing anger due to home confinement. CONCLUSIONS: Among Italian PWO, work status, emotional dysregulation, and lack of online communication with OCs were determinants of weight gain during the lockdown period.

Potato Consumption Is not Associated with Higher Risk of Mortality: A Longitudinal Study among Southern Italian Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: The consumption of potatoes is increasing worldwide, but few studies have assessed the association between potato consumption and mortality, particularly in Mediterranean countries. We therefore investigated whether potato consumption is associated with higher risk of death in a large cohort of people living in South Italy. DESIGN: Longitudinal. SETTING: Community-dwelling. MEASUREMENTS: 2,442 participants coming from MICOL and NUTRIHEP studies aged more than 50 years at baseline were followed-up for 11 years. Dietary intake was assessed by means of a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Potato consumption was categorized in quintiles according to their daily consumption (< 3.95, 3.96-8.55, 8.56-15.67, 15.68-22.0, and > 22.0 g/day). Mortality was ascertained through validated cases of death. The association between potato consumption and mortality was assessed through Cox's regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, and reporting the data as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The 2,442 eligible participants were prevalently males (54.6%) and aged a mean of 64.3±9.3 years. During the 11-year follow-up, 396 (=16.2%) participants died. After adjusting for 12 potential baseline confounders, and taking those with the lowest consumption of potatoes as the reference group, participants with the highest consumption of potatoes did not have an increased overall mortality risk (HR=0.75; 95%CI: 0.53-1.07). Modelling the potato consumption as continuous (i.e. as increase in 10 g/day) did not substantially change our findings (fully-adjusted HR=0.93; 95%CI: 0.84-1.02). CONCLUSION: Overall potato consumption was not associated with higher risk of death in older people living in a Mediterranean area. Future studies are warranted to elucidate the role of potato consumption on all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Effect of a Low Glycemic Index Mediterranean Diet on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. A Randomized Controlled Clinici Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common form of liver disease worldwide affecting all ages and ethnic groups and it has become a consistent threat even in young people. Our aim was to estimate the effect of a Low Glycemic Index Mediterranean Diet (LGIMD) on the NAFLD score as measured by a Liver Ultrasonography (LUS). DESIGN: NUTRIzione in EPAtologia (NUTRIEPA) is a population-based Double-Blind RCT. Data were collected in 2011 and analyzed in 2013-14. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: 98 men and women coming from Putignano (Puglia, Southern Italy) were drawn from a previous randomly sampled population-based study and identified as having moderate or severe NAFLD. INTERVENTION: The intervention strategy was the assignment of a LGIMD or a control diet. OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measure was NAFLD score, defined by LUS. RESULTS: After randomization, 50 subjects were assigned to a LGIMD and 48 to a control diet. The study lasted six months and all participants were subject to monthly controls/checks. Adherence to the LGIMD as measured by Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI) showed a median of 10.1. A negative interaction between time and LGIMD on the NAFLD score (-4.14, 95% CI -6.78,-1.49) was observed, and became more evident at the sixth month (-4.43, 95%CI -7.15, -1.71). A positive effect of the interaction among LGIMD, time and age (Third month: 0.07, 95% CI 0.02, 0.12; Sixth month: 0.08, 95% CI 0.03,0.13) was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: LGIMD was found to decrease the NAFLD score in a relatively short time. Encouraging those subjects who do not seek medical attention but still have NAFLD to follow a LGIMD and other life-style interventions, may reduce the degree of severity of the disease. Dietary intervention of this kind, could also form the cornerstone of primary prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease.

Reproducibility and validity of a food-frequency questionnaire in assessing dietary intakes and food habits in epidemiological cancer studies in Argentina.

A Food-Frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is the method chosen for estimating dietary intake in epidemiological studies because it can provide valid and reliable estimates of usual intake in a variety of populations. Colorectal cancer is associated with diet but no information about validity and reproducibility of dietary exposure assessment is available in Argentina. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the validity and reproducibility of the FFQ used in assessing the relationship between dietary intake and colorectal cancer. Selected nutrient intake, measured by two interviewer-administered FFQs, was compared with average intake derived from using four 24 hour dietary recalls (DR) as the reference method, for 62 control subjects from Córdoba, Argentina. Pearson's product-moment and Spearman correlation coefficients were used. Nutrient intakes were adjusted for energy, sex and age using tertiles of residuals from regression models. Weighted and unweighted kappa statistics were calculated for both FFQs versus DR. The mean correlation coefficients between DR and FFQs were 0.74. Agreement measurement (Kappa) varied from 0.51 to 0.74 for FFQ1 vs. FFQ2 to between 0.71 and 0.87 for FFQ1 and FFQ2. This study demonstrates an acceptable validity and reproducibility for this FFQ. The pattern of the correlation coefficients found in the present study indicates that the FFQ can provide an acceptable assessment of long-term dietary intake in the Argentine population and in other Latin-american areas.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes and risk of cirrhosis in southern Italy.

Because hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes have raised considerable interest as variables that influence chronic hepatitis C progression, a case-control study was conducted to estimate their effects on patients with cirrhosis. Case patients (n = 46) had tested positive for anti-HCV antibody and HCV RNA and were residents of the study area who had cirrhosis recently diagnosed. Controls (n = 138) were drawn randomly from a residents' cohort from the same area. Demographic and other information were recorded. Presence of HCV infection, presence of HCV RNA, and HCV genotypes were assessed. Crude, stratified, and logistic regression analyses were performed. HCV genotype 2a/c occurred in 84 controls (60.9%) and 9 case patients (19.6%); HCV genotype 1b was found in 45 controls (32.6%) and 34 case patients (73.9%). HCV 1b genotype showed an independent effect on the risk of cirrhosis (odds ratio, 7.49; 95% confidence interval, 3.15--17.81). No significant effects related to other variables were observed. These results indicate that the genetic diversity of HCV phylogenetic variants may explain differences in biological behaviors.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver-related mortality: a population-based cohort study in southern Italy. The Association for the Study of Liver Disease in Puglia.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common cause of chronic liver diseases but the degree to which these diseases contribute to liver-related mortality is not well established. The aim of this study was to estimate the absolute and relative effects of HCV infection on liver-related mortality. METHODS: A population random sample of 2472 subjects aged > or = 30 years was enrolled and followed up from 1985 to 1996. At enrollment, a structured interview and a clinical evaluation were performed. Serum samples were tested using HCV ELISA and RIBA HCV. Outcomes were overall and liver-related mortality and tracing procedures included review of office and hospital records, death certificates, and interviews with general practitioners, attending hospital and next of kin. Statistical analysis was performed using Poisson and binomial prospective data regression. RESULTS: Crude overall and liver-related mortality rates were 7.66 (95% CI : 6.68-8.79) and 0.9 (95% CI : 0.3-2.2) per 10(3) person-years, respectively. For HCV infection effect, incidence rate ratio and difference (per 10(3) person-year), risk ratio and difference were 27.5 (95% CI : 6.5-115.6), 4 (95% CI : 3-7), 33.1 (95% CI : 7.8- 139.3) and 0.06 (95% CI : 0.04-0.08), respectively; all measures were adjusted for age at death, sex and daily alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: The results show a strong relative but weak absolute effect of HCV infection on liver-related mortality in the 10-year period considered. Poisson and binomial models are virtually equivalent, but the choice of the summarizing measure of effect may have a different impact on health policy.

Duodenogastric reflux and gastric mucosal polyamines in the non-operated stomach and in the gastric remnant after Billroth II gastric resection. A role in gastric carcinogenesis?

BACKGROUND: The relationship between bile reflux and gastric cancer is not defined. In order to verify whether a relationship exists, we evaluated the duodenogastric reflux and the mucosal polyamines concentration, polycation compounds actively involved in cell proliferation, in the non-operated stomach and in gastric remnant after Billroth II gastric resection, a precancerous condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on three groups of subjects: A) 43 subjects with slight dispeptic symptoms, never operated on; B) 54 cholecystectomized subjects; C) 38 subjects operated on Billroth II gastric resection for duodenal ulcer. Duodenogastric reflux was assessed by measuring the concentration of bile acids in gastric juice and expressed as Fasting Bile Reflux in micromol/hour. Gastric mucosal polyamine concentration was assessed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and expressed in nmol/mg of proteins. RESULTS: The lowest levels of Fasting Bile Reflux (7.95 micromol/hour) and polyamines (7.09 nmol/mg proteins) were observed in subjects never operated on. The middle values were present after cholecystectomy (Fasting Bile Reflux = 18 micromol/hour; polyamines = 8.14 nmol/mg proteins). The highest values were observed after Billroth II gastric resection (Fasting Bile Reflux = 830 micromol/hour; polyamines 11.74 nmol/mg proteins) (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between Fasting Bile Reflux and polyamines (Spearman's rank = 0.33; p = 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: High levels of duodenogastric reflux observed after Billroth II gastric resection are associated with high polyamine concentration in the gastric mucosa. Bile reflux can be considered an important causal factor of the increased risk of gastric stump cancer after Billroth II gastric resection.

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in an area of hyperendemicity in southern Italy: a population-based study.

In a cohort of subjects from Italy, anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCV RNA [HCV(+) subgroup] prevalences were 24.6 and 79.6%, respectively. HCV types 1b and 2a/c accounted for 95% of infections. Adjusted alanine aminotransferase levels were higher in males than in females and in RNA-positive subjects than in RNA-negative subjects regardless of HCV type. Genotype distribution was unrelated to demographic variables.

Antioxidant effect of short-term hormonal treatment in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have shown that estrogens alone or in association with progestins can exert an antioxidant effect on Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and lipids of platelet membranes. It has been demonstrated that the oxidative modification of LDLs also involving the formation of lipid peroxides, exerts several biological effects that may contribute to the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of short-term treatment with oral estrogens alone and estrogens plus progestin on endogenous and copper-induced serum levels of lipid peroxides in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Thirty-nine postmenopausal women were randomly divided into three groups: group I was treated with oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) for 21 days; group II received oral CEE for 21 days and, after 14 days of this treatment, 5 mg/day of medrogestone was added for 7 days; group III did not receive any therapy (controls). Endogenous and copper-induced serum levels of lipid peroxides were determined before and after 21 days of treatment in the two treated groups and in the control group. RESULTS: The serum endogenous levels of lipid peroxides in postmenopausal women did not change after short-term treatment with hormone replacement therapy. Moreover, copper-induced serum levels of lipid peroxides significantly decreased after therapy in both groups I and II. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) inhibits lipid peroxidation and may play a role in preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Prognostic value of low density lipoprotein receptor expression in colorectal carcinoma.

Cancer cells require more cholesterol than normal cells. This requirement seems to be satisfied by a higher HMG-CoA reductase activity or a higher activity of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). We investigated the prognostic value of LDLR in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients. The LDLR was evaluated in 90 patients with CRC by ELISA. The survival time and the relative risk of prognostic factors were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard model. Thirty three cases were LDLR positive (+), while 57 LDLR negative (-). The survival of LDLR(-) patients was shorter than that of LDLR(+). By Cox model, the absence of LDLR and time until metastasis resulted significantly associated with the CRC-related survival. The absence of LDLR in CRC predicts a shorter survival.

Hepatitis B and C virus sexual transmission among homosexual men.

OBJECTIVE: We estimated hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) sexual transmission among homosexual men. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-eight homosexually active men attending two clinical centers and presenting no risk factors except for sexual exposure were interviewed, and a blood sample was drawn. HBV marker test was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay, and HCV was tested using ELISA-2 and recombinant immunoblot assay-2. RESULTS: HBV and HCV infection prevalence rates were 34.4% and 12.7%, respectively. Using logistic regression analysis including sexual exposure and controlling for confounders, we found that anal receptive intercourse (odds ratio [OR] = 4.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.34-11.94), duration of homosexuality (OR = 3.43; 95% CI = 1.29-9.12), insertive anilingus (OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.06-3.87), and sexually transmitted diseases (OR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.00-3.47) were independently associated with the risk of HBV sexual transmission. We did not find any association between sexual behavior and HCV transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual behavior is a plausible explanatory factor of HBV sexual transmission among homosexual men. Further evidence is needed to elucidate the occurrence and the efficiency of HCV sexual transmission in the absence of other risk factors.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in an area of Southern Italy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized as a major cause of liver disease, but little is known about its diffusion at population level. To estimate the prevalence and incidence of HCV infection and to explore potential risk factors at population level, an epidemiologic study was carried out. METHODS: A cohort was built up in 1985, on a random sample of the population of Castellana, a small town in southern Italy (Bari province), and followed up until 1993. HCV ELISA II and RIBA HCV 2.0 were used as screening and confirmatory tests, respectively. RESULTS: The overall anti-HCV prevalence was 26.0% (511/1969) at enrollment. The HCV infection incidence rate was 34.2x100,000 person-years (3 cases/8766 persons-years). A secular trend (referent born before 1930; born 1930-39 Odds Ratio (OR) 0.72, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 0.56-0.94; born 1940-49, OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.25-0.44; born 1950 or after, OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.09-0.23) and geographical pattern (referent born outside Bari province; born in Bari province, OR 1.71, 95% CI 0.93-3.16; born in Castellana G, OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.29-4.05) were found by logistic regression analysis after controlling for several confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence, moderate incidence, and marked decrease in HCV infection in the cohort of birth in a population without known risk factors suggest that an epidemiological transition has been operating at population level since the 1950's.

Modeling incidence rate ratio and rate difference: additivity or multiplicativity of human immunodeficiency virus parenteral and sexual transmission among intravenous drug users. Northern Italy Seronegative Drug Addicts Study.

The analysis concerns data from the Northern Italian Seronegative Drug Addicts Study, a multicenter longitudinal study about the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus infection in intravenous drug users from Milan and other areas of northern Italy between 1987 and 1991. Different measures of parenteral and heterosexual exposure effects were estimated by fitting multiplicative models for rate ratio and additive models for both rate ratio and rate difference into a Poisson regression model for grouped cohort data. In areas of high human immunodeficiency virus prevalence among intravenous drug users, the adjusted rate ratio under a multiplicative structure was 6.2 (95% likelihood-based confidence interval (LCI) 2.9-14.4) for parenteral and 2.9 (95% LCI 1.3-6.1) for sexual transmission. Under the additive model, the rate ratio was 7.8 (95% LCI 3.4-20.2) for parenteral and 9.2 (95% LCI 2.2-29.7) for sexual transmission, and the rate difference per 100 person-years was 9.8 (95% LCI 5.3-15.6) for parenteral and 10.5 (95% LCI 1.8-24.2) for sexual transmission (controlled for each other). Because of the small sample size, a clear discrimination between models could not be reached. However, in spite of the greater risk associated with parenteral transmission under a multiplicative model, the additive model suggests that the relative impact of measures aimed at inducing condom use is similar to that which would be obtained by measures aimed at stopping syringe sharing.