[Italian national register of low etiological fraction occupational cancer pursuant to art. 244 of legislative decree n. 81/2008]. / Il registro nazionale dei casi di neoplasia a bassa frazione eziologica con sospetta origine professionale istituito dall'art. 244 del D.Lgs. n. 81/2008.

Legislative decree No. 81/2008 in the article n. 244 states that ISPESL, now INAIL, realizes a register of occupational cancers with low etiological fraction by means of a data collection method based exclusively on voluntary reports by GPs, healthcare and social security agencies (ReNaLOC) and a surveillance cancer monitoring system (OCCAM) based on linkage of routinely available data (cancer registries, hospital discharge records, Italian Social Security archives). ReNaLOC has produced a partial picture of the situation, it includes 1.584 cases as of June 2011. With OCCAM many situations of known risks were identified and others are worthy to be deepen.

3-O-Methylfunicone, a metabolite produced by Penicillium pinophilum, modulates ERK1/2 activity, affecting cell motility of human mesothelioma cells.

OBJECTIVES: 3-O-methylfunicone (OMF), a secondary metabolite produced by Penicillium pinophilum, affects cell proliferation and motility in a variety of human solid tumours. The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether OMF has the ability to arrest cell division and motility, in a human mesothelioma cell line. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that does not respond to standard therapies the cells of which are considered to be highly resistant to apoptosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cell motility and invasion were measured using a modified Boyden chamber. Gene expression was examined by RT-PCR, while ERK1/2 was investigated by Western blot analysis. All experiments were also performed on primary cultures of mesothelial cells. RESULTS: The present study shows that OMF inhibited motility of the NCI mesothelioma cell line by modulating ERK signalling activity, and affected alphaVbeta5 integrin and MMP-2 expression, inducing marked downregulation at both mRNA and protein levels. Substantial downregulation of VEGF gene expression was also demonstrated. These effects were not observed in normal mesothelial cell cultures. CONCLUSION: OMF may have potential as a naturally derived anti-tumour drug for treatment of mesothelioma.

[Activity of the Campania Register of Mesothelioma from July 2003 to October 2007]. / Attività del Registro Mesoteliomi della Campania dal luglio 2003 all'ottobre 2007.

Campania Mesothelioma Register was established in 2002; its purpose is to record every case of malignant mesothelioma that occurs in the registered population of Campania. Its aim is to identify new dangerous asbestos sources, by giving patients a questionnaire about their working and living habits. The questionnaire used is by National Mesothelioma Register (ReNaM). Analyzing carefully the answers to the questionnaire, it is possible to classify patients' exposure with a code given by ReNaM. By means of a recognition identification network, COR Campania identified 492 cases of malignant mesothelioma (pleura, pericardium, peritoneum and tunica vaginalis of the testis) diagnosed between 1996-2007. The analysis of the ReNaM questionnaire confirms a prevalence of professional exposures (71%), however unknown exposures (15%) also play an important role. The economic sector that determined the greatest number of professional exposures are Construction (17.5%), Industrial Metalwork (13.13%), Railway Car (9.3%), Vehicle production and maintenance (8.16%), Ship building (7.5%).

[Case studies on the malignant mesothelioma in Pellezzano (SA)]. / Casistica di mesotelioma maligno nel comune di Pellezzano (SA).

41 malignant mesothelioma cases were reported between January 2000 and April 2007 in the province of Salerno. The small town of Pellezzano, near Salerno, has more cases than any other urban centre in the province; five mesothelioma cases (three male and two female) in Pellezzano (population 9,171 in 1991) means a standardized incidence rate of 32.7 males and 21.8 females per 100.000 inhabitants. That's very alarming, considering that in Italy mesothelioma standardized incidence rate per 100.000 inhabitants is 2,98 for males and 0,98 for females. Campania Mesothelioma Register aims to investigate which kind of exposure caused this abnormal incidence rate. All five patients answered the questionnaire and a team of doctors performed an on-the-spot investigation. The studies verified the existence of two kind of asbestos exposure, professional (Cotton Manufacture, Construction, Foundry) and environmental (cement-asbestos pre-fabricated since 1980 earthquake), that have to be analyzed further.

[Distribution of the incidence of pleural malignant tumors in Campania in the period 1988-1999 and 1995-1997]. / Distribuzione della incidenza dei tumori maligni della pleura in campania nei periodi 1988-1994 e 1995-1997.

From the comparative appraisal, an area is identified for the period 1995-1997, corresponding to the so-called inner zones, in which the "ex novo" emersion of consisting cluster of mesotheliomas is recorded. Such data are analyzed for a possible correlation with professional and/or extra professional causes.

[Biaggi law, transformation of the labor market, protection of health at the workplace]. / Legge Biagi, trasformazione del mercato del lavoro, tutela della salute nei luoghi di lavoro.

The new legislation on the labor market (Biagi Law, Ministerial Decree approved by the Council of Ministers on 06.06.2003) introduces new contractual profiles imprinted to the criterion of maximum mobility and flexibility. This new legislation does not appear equipped from a parallel legislation that guarantees occupational safety and the protection of the new professional figures.

Acoso moral (mobbing): un nuevo riesgo en la medicina del trabajo / Moral harassment: a new risk in occupational medicine

Los riesgos psicosociales se están constituyendo en una de las principales causas de alteración de la salud en los puestos de trabajo. En los últimos años, el "riesgo relacional o interpersonal" - mobbing - se ha ido incrementando debido a los cambios macroeconómicos y por el cambio en la tipología del trabajo y en los riesgos laborales derivados. Cada trabajador, independientemente de las características de su propia personalidad y del propio carácter, puede ser objeto de acoso moral. Los primeros efectos derivados del mobbing son observables sobre la salud de la víctima que, casi siempre, después de un intervalo variable, se altera con manifestaciones en la esfera neuropsíquica, Las consecuancias sociales pueden ser devastadoras. El costo del mobbing no se limita a los aspectos individuales, sino que se refleja generalmente a nivel de la empresa. La gestión del fenómeno de mobbing es multidisciplinaria. A nivel asistencial, el rol del médico del trabajo, del psiquiatra y del psicólogo son interdependientes y deben por lo tanto ser integrados en una estructura funcional unitaria...

Acoso moral (mobbing): un nuevo riesgo en la medicina del trabajo / Moral harassment: a new risk in occupational medicine

Los riesgos psicosociales se están constituyendo en una de las principales causas de alteración de la salud en los puestos de trabajo. En los últimos años, el "riesgo relacional o interpersonal" - mobbing - se ha ido incrementando debido a los cambios macroeconómicos y por el cambio en la tipología del trabajo y en los riesgos laborales derivados. Cada trabajador, independientemente de las características de su propia personalidad y del propio carácter, puede ser objeto de acoso moral. Los primeros efectos derivados del mobbing son observables sobre la salud de la víctima que, casi siempre, después de un intervalo variable, se altera con manifestaciones en la esfera neuropsíquica, Las consecuancias sociales pueden ser devastadoras. El costo del mobbing no se limita a los aspectos individuales, sino que se refleja generalmente a nivel de la empresa. La gestión del fenómeno de mobbing es multidisciplinaria. A nivel asistencial, el rol del médico del trabajo, del psiquiatra y del psicólogo son interdependientes y deben por lo tanto ser integrados en una estructura funcional unitaria...(AU)