ABSTRACT
Exposure to nitrate and nitrite from dietary sources was estimated by questionnaire and measurement of salivary levels of the ions in residents of four regions of Italy with longstanding, contrasting, gastric cancer mortality rates. Whether using salivary levels or dietary questionnaire estimations no association was found between nitrate and nitrite exposure and gastric cancer mortality rates. For salivary nitrate and nitrite, the intra-provincial variation was greater than any inter-province difference. However, for dietary nitrate and nitrite intakes, there were significant differences between the regional groups (but not related to gastric cancer risk). Despite the limitations of the methods used, there was a weak positive association between salivary concentrations of nitrate and questionnaire assessment. Dietary factors are likely to play key roles at different stages of the gastric carcinogenic process. Nitrate may play a part but is unlikely to be a rate-limiting factor in all individuals or populations.
Subject(s)
Nitrates/adverse effects , Nitrites/adverse effects , Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Diet , Food , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Saliva/chemistry , Stomach Neoplasms/mortality , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
A waterborne tularemia outbreak is described. Forty nine cases were identified in Sansepolcro, a small Medioeval town in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. All cases had laterocervical or sub-mandibular adenitis, and occurred within a period of three weeks during March and April 1982. The study showed association between cases and the consumption of water from an unchlorinated water system. Francisella tularensis type 1 was isolated from wild hares captured in the area.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Tularemia/epidemiology , Water Microbiology , Water Supply , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Child , Female , Francisella tularensis/isolation & purification , Humans , Italy , Lagomorpha/microbiology , Male , Middle Aged , Tularemia/transmissionABSTRACT
A family cluster of tularemia is described. In a family of three members different clinical type of the disease occurred after having been exposed to a sick wild hare. From the hare kidney Francisella tularensis type 1 was isolated. Pneumonic, typhoid-like tularemia occurred in the father who inhaled hare skin hairs and an ulceroglandular form in the mother and in the child who had direct contact with the animal.
