How fatigue affects return to work in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue after breast cancer treatment affects one in four women. Feeling tired affects womens daily activities, coping with the disease and quality of life. After active treatment, women want to return to their working lives, where fatigue is a barrier. Despite the fact of fatigue being such a common consequence of the treatment, it seems to be often overlooked. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article is a substudy of the research focused on the complex experience of women with breast cancer. In this substudy, we focus on breast cancer patients perceptions of fatigue and its impact on daily life. A qualitative methodology was used to collect the data. The interviews were structured into two consecutive parts. The first, narrative part was followed by a semi-structured interview. The research population was recruited to meet the conditions of maximum variation sample (different regions of the country, age categories, education, stage of the disease, and treatment modality). Fifty-three interviews were collected and transcribed verbatim. The data from which the categories were created were analysed using NVivo10 software and were open coded. The codes were then grouped into themes for thematic analysis. RESULTS: Most women experienced fatigue as a consequence of the disease. Fatigue often forced them to change their lifestyle. The women perceived great limitations when returning to work. They did not feel ready to return to work and often postponed it or considered changing their working hours or a type of job. CONCLUSION: Fatigue seems to be an underestimated consequence of the treatment in breast cancer patients. It often leads to a forced change in womens lifestyle, which has a negative impact on their mental health. Methods to monitor fatigue and early interventions are needed to improve womens quality of life after the treatment.

Energy drink consumption: a survey in high school students and associated psychological effects.

INTRODUCTION: Energy drinks represent an emerging health problem among young people. Energy drinks generally refer to a class of beverages containing sugars and various combinations of bioactive ingredients such as caffeine, taurine etc. Also the mix of energy drinks with alcohol is fairly frequent among young people and could be associated with dangerous effects. METHODS: In 2016-2017, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 1581 students attending eight high school in the Marche Region. Data were collected via an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The 27.7% of students use energy drinks and the majority, corresponding with the 93.0%, are aware of the main ingredients contained in energy drinks. The main activities for which young people use these drinks are: sport, leisure, pleasure, study. Young people who admit to using alcohol mixed with energy drinks more than 4 times a month are an alarming fact. CONCLUSIONS: This research confirms that energy drinks are used more by young males and especially by those who practice sports. Furthermore, the use these beverages to increase the concentration in the study and to be more brilliant in free time, is confirmed.

Mental and physical effects of energy drinks consumption in an Italian young people group: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: The primary consumers of energy drinks were athletes, to combat fatigue, but in reality, thanks to their fast expansion and economic growth, young adults and teenagers represent the new target market. Consumption of energy drinks by both recreational and competitive athletes has increased dramatically in recent years, though they are often unaware of what is being ingested, believing to improve their physical and psychological performance. The literature shows contradictions about the capacity of energy drinks to enhance psychophysical results. In relation to probable adverse effects induced by the irregular consumption of energy drinks, which in several cases are not so clear, we decided to investigate the possible relationship between the intake of energy drinks and the presence of mental and physical stress in young people and athletes. METHODS: Two experimental sessions, separated at least by 1 week, according to a randomized cross-over design, following this protocol were conducted: in the first session a mental and physical stress was conducted without the consumption of energy drinks, the second after energy drinks consumption. BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory) and BDI (Beck Depression Inventory II) test have been used to test the mental stress, and a "cycle ergometer test" to test the physical stress. RESULTS: BAI and BDI tests results showed that before the consumption of energy drinks, subjects are considered in the range of "minimal level of anxiety", (10 and 60 percentiles) and do not report a level of depression. After the energy drinks consumption, a "mild level of anxiety" has been recorded, and the BDI showed a case with a pathological profile. The physical test recorded a small increase in the maximum heart rate was verified with the intake of an energetic beverage. CONCLUSIONS: The stimulating effect of Energy Drinks EDs on nervous system and cardiovascular system, must be checked and studied in deeper detail, because it may represent a risk for the health of young athletes.

Implications of modified food choices and food-related lifestyles following the economic crisis in the Marche Region of Italy.

BACKGROUND: The economic crisis in Italy has led to profound changes in resource management not only at the macro level but also for individual families, causing substantial changes in different habits of Italians. STUDY DESIGN: The purpose of this research was to conduct a study on changes in family eating habits potentially triggered by the economic crisis was conducted in an area of the Marche Region in central Italy. METHODS: The research was conducted in the period 2016 - 2017 by administering a specific and anonymous questionnaire. RESULTS: The interviewed people has reduced its food consumption. In particular, analyzing the results for the animal protein food group, there has been a reduction in purchase of beef, and an increase in that of pork. Overall fish consumption has decreased by 44%, with a decrease in the purchase of fresh fish, and an increase in that of canned fish products. Finally, consumers have reduced their purchases of fresh and canned legumes, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit. CONCLUSION: The economic crisis seems to have changed the eating habits and food-related lifestyle choices of the subjects studied, especially in the urban area affected by the deeper economic depression. These changes are likely to have permanent social consequences, and deserve to be analyzed also in smaller territories in order to better understand the dynamics of individual choices and the social framework.