Toxoplasmosis and knowledge: what do the Italian women know about?

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonotic infectious disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This infection is estimated to affect about a third of the world's population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of Italian women about toxoplasmosis and its forms of transmission, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and prevention through two different modalities (e-research and traditional research). In a cross-sectional study, 808 Italian women were interviewed, using a self-administered questionnaire, through two different modalities: an e-research or web survey and a traditional paper research and 84% reported to have heard about toxoplasmosis, but from most of the sample, it resulted that the knowledge of the protozoan disease was superficial and incomplete.The assessment of the dimensionality related to the toxoplasmosis knowledge's instrument showed that the scale is composed by two stable and reliable factors which explain 58.6% of the variance: (a) the basic knowledge (α = 0.83), which explains the 45.2% of the variance and (b) the specialist knowledge (α = 0.71), which explains the 13.4% of the variance. The variance and the multiple linear regression data analysis showed significant predictors of correct basic knowledge of toxoplasmosis: the highest age, the highest degree of study, to have previously contracted illness or to know someone who had contracted it, to be working or to be housewives. In conclusion, this study showed limited awareness of toxoplasmosis and suggested the implementation of effective education and learning programs. The results also showed that online data collection, in academic research, might be a valid alternative to more traditional (paper-and-pencil) surveys.

The Working Life of People with Degenerative Cerebellar Ataxia.

The aim of the present study was to characterize and analyze the most important individual and organizational variables associated with job accommodation in subjects with degenerative cerebellar ataxia by administering a series of international and validated work activity-related scales. Twenty-four workers (W) and 58 non-workers (NW) were recruited: 34 with autosomal dominant ataxia and 48 with autosomal recessive ataxia (27 with Friedreich ataxia and 21 with sporadic adult-onset ataxia of unknown etiology). The severity of ataxia was rated using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. Our results showed that the ataxic W were predominantly middle-aged (41-50 years), high school graduate, and married men with a permanent work contract, who had been working for more than 7 years. The W with ataxia exhibited a good level of residual working capacity, irrespective of gender, age range, and duration of the disease, and they were observed to have a low or average-to-low job stress-related risk. Supporting patients with ataxia to find an appropriate job is an important priority because about 78% of NW search for a job and W and NW have the same potential work abilities (no relevant differences were found in terms of disease characteristics, gender, and work resilience). In this view, introducing NW to work-life may have a potential rehabilitative aspect. Findings of this study highlight that equal job opportunities for subjects affected by cerebellar ataxia are recommended.

[Implementation and validation in the Italian context of the HSE management standards: a contribution to provide a practical model for the assessment of work-related stress]. / Contestualizzazione e validazione in Italia del modello management standards HSE quale contributo all'individuazione delle indicazioni per la valutazione dello stress lavoro correlato.

Over the last years, stress has been recognized as a potential work-related risk factor. Unfortunately, work-related stress is a very delicate subject, especially because it is difficult to assess it objectively and in broadly acceptable terms. In fact, work-related stress is a subjective personal response to a specific work environment, ad is of a multifactorial origin. In order to provide a practical tool for the assessment of work-related stress, the authors carried out a thorough benchmarking analysis of the various models to manage work stress problems adopted by EU countries. As a result, the authors have chosen to apply and implement the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Management Standards approach in the Italian context. In compliance with the European Framework Agreement signed on October 8, 2004, HSE Management Standards ask for the coordinated and integrated involvement of workers and safety personnel and represent a valid assessment approach based on principles widely acknowledged in the scientific literature.

Occupational safety and health's role in sustainable, responsible nanotechnology: gaps and needs.

The newly fledged nanotechnologies offer opportunities for social development, but uncertainties prevail about their impact on human and environmental health. There is still a huge gap between technological progress and research into the health and safety aspects of nanomaterials. This is clear from the quantity of nanoproducts already on the market--more than 600--and the public and private funds dedicated to the development of nanotechnologies, which are almost a hundred times those available for research into their effects on health and safety. Estimates have it that by 2014, nanotechnologies will be widely used in our society and ten million new jobs will be created. Therefore, it becomes essential to plan an integrated approach to specific risk analysis at work. The following gaps and needs come to light: limited information, difficulties in relating nanotechnologies and production of nanomaterials to specific areas of application, efforts required to assess the hazards posed by nanomaterials in realistic exposure conditions, ethical issues about nanotechnology in the workplace likely to arise from today's knowledge about the hazards of nanomaterials and the risks they may pose to workers. An integrated approach to research, cooperation, and communication strategies is essential if we are to direct our efforts toward responsible and sustainable growth of nanotechnologies.

[The ISPESL-SIMLII surveys to develop and address updating and accreditation's projects in occupational medicine]. / Le indagini conoscitive ISPESL-SIMLII per lo sviluppo e l'indirizzo dei progetti di aggiornamento e accreditamento in medicina del lavoro.

The SIMLII set up a program of continuous training and accreditation of postgraduate specialists in Occupational Health in 2000, before continuous medical training (ECM) was formally introduced. Therefore, especially over the past few years, SIMLII has involved its membership to an ever increasing extent, in an attempt to understand their expectation as regards the scientific community and as regards a continuously evolving discipline that is subject to continuous changes in educational requirements. The surveys carried out by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Prevention (ISPESL), in collaboration with SIMLII, provided data that, besides identifying the type of activity of the membership, attempted to assess members' compliance with the society's initiatives, with special reference to the Programme for continuous training and accreditation of postgraduates in Occupational Health and the issue of Guidelines.

[Migration, work flexibility and early retirement of nurses in Italy]. / Immigrazione, flessibilità e ritiro precoce nel personale infermieristico in Italia.

Several work organizational changes have been occurring in the health sector in the last years. Workforce is rapidly changing and particularly nurses. In Italy there is a growing shortage of nurses (5,4/1000 inhabitants versus 9,26 in EU25) due mainly to early retirement and insufficient turnover of nurses coming from educational programmes. Work flexibility and facilitation of migration flow of foreigner nurses have been introduced in Italy to face the problem. The present study is aimed at investigating the impact of such a change in the nursing sector in Italy and its possible impact on occupational safety and health. In view of this, the main institutional and category Sources were used. According to IPASVI estimates, the shortage of nurses in Italy is 99,000. Out of a total of 342,000 active professional nurses, 20,000 are foreign, mainly from European countries. Nurses are specially affected by accidents at work, mainly musculoskeletal disorders. The study shows a higher vulnerability of migrated nurses and nurses hired through cooperatives. Therefore urgent measures are needed to promote their integration and assess educational and training needs in the field of health and safety at work.

Sister chromatid exchange and oxidative DNA damage in paving workers exposed to PAHs.

Paving workers are exposed during road paving to several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in asphalt fumes. In this study early genotoxic and oxidative effects of exposure to bitumen fumes were evaluated in 19 paving workers and 22 controls. Environmental and biological monitoring of exposure was carried out, measuring, on personal air samples from exposed workers collected during three working days, the concentration of 14 PAHs and urinary OH-pyrene at the end of each of the three working days. Genotoxic effect was evaluated analysing sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency and direct-oxidative DNA damage by formamido-pyrimidine-glycosylase (Fpg)-modified comet assay on lymphocytes. Tail moment values from Fpg-enzyme treated cells (TMenz) and from untreated cells (TM) were used as parameters of direct and oxidative DNA damage, respectively. For each subject, the TMenz/TM ratio >2.0 was used to indicate the presence of oxidative damage. DNA damage was also evaluated analysing comet percentage. Personal air samples showed low level of total PAHs (2.843 microg m(-3)) with prevalence of 2-3 ring PAHs (2.693 microg m(-3)). Urinary OH-pyrene after work-shift of the three working days was significantly higher than that found at the beginning of the working week. SCE analysis did not show any difference between two groups while an oxidative DNA damage was found in 37% of exposed with respect to the absence in controls. Comet percentage was significantly higher (P = 0.000 ANOVA) in the exposed than in controls. The results demonstrate the high sensitivity of comet assay to assess early oxidative effects induced by exposure to bitumen fumes at low doses and confirm the suitability of urinary OH-pyrene as a biomarker of PAH exposure. In conclusion the study suggests the use of Fpg-modified comet test as a biomarker of early genotoxic effects and that of urinary OH-pyrene as a biomarker of PAH exposure to furnish indications in terms of characterization, prevention and management of risk in occupational exposure to mixtures of potentially carcinogenic substances.

[Training needs and role of general practitioners for preventing measures and medical surveillance of ex-exposed to occupational carcinogens]. / Bisogni formativi e ruolo dei medici di medicina generale per la prevenzione e la sorveglianza sanitaria degli ex esposti a cancerogeni professionali.

The study was aimed at investigating in a sample of general medicine practitioners the level of epidemiologic and law knowledge as well as the degree of sensitivity to the topic of subjects formerly affected by occupational cancer. From the research, carried out on a sample of 745 practitioners from two northern Italy highly industrialized regions, come out the need for training and information on the problems associated with identification and management of subjects formerly exposed to professional cancer.

[Survey on educational needs in occupational medicine in Italy]. / Indagine conoscitiva sul fabbisogno formativo in medicina del lavoro in Italia.

The importance to correctly address continuing education among occupational health professionals in Italy has been particular in the focus of the Scientific and Professional Medical Community also in consideration of the recent regulations implemented in the field of Continuing Medical Education (CME). The Italian Society of Occupational Medicine recently developed an advanced programme of Continuing Medical Education for Occupational Physician. In order to correctly asses the education needs and collect valid information of Occupational Physicians in Italy we administered a target questionnaire among a group of them. The results are analyzed and discussed.