[Materials and articles intended to come into contact with food: evaluation of the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) 2008-2010]. / Materiali destinati a venire a contatto con gli alimenti: analisi del sistema di allerta RASFF nel triennio 2008-2010.

For some time, packaging materials and articles intended to come into contact with food are included in the system of controls, early warnings and risk communication provided by the European Commission (EU) regulation 178/2002. Data analysis of the EU rapid alert system for food allows one to define a specific risk profile and to establish an effective plan for official control of materials intended to come into contact with food. In the 2008-2010 period the rapid alert system has ratified alert notifications, mostly related to plastic materials of Chinese origin.

[Feasibility of behavioural interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in routine general practice]. / Intervento motivazionale del medico di medicina generale nel processo di disassuefazione dal fumo di tabacco.

The aims of this study were: 1) to evaluate a training course on smoking cessation techniques offered to general practitioners of the RMB Local Health Unit (Rome, Italy) 2) to evaluate the feasibility of delivering brief counseling interventions during routine primary care practice and 3) to evaluate factors associated with modification of smoking habits. In total, 166 GPs participated in the training courses. Of these 60 GPs (36.1%) voluntarily agreed to take part in the study. A total of 3280 patients were enrolled and given a brief counseling intervention ("ask-advise"). Six months later the same patients were asked to complete a questionnaire, 24% responded. Approximately 24% of those who responded had quit smoking and over 43% had either reduced the number of cigarettes or attempted to quit. Of the subjects who modified their smoking behaviour (quit, attempted to quit, or reduced the numbers of cigarettes smoked) following the "ask-advise" intervention, 10% had also used drug therapy, while approximately 4% did so only with their doctor's assistance. Smoking cessation interventions incorporated into routine consultations in general practice are feasible and relevant from a public health perspective.

[An intervention model for smoking prevention strategies]. / Strategie di prevenzione del tabagismo:un modello di intervento.

Tobacco smoke represents the main cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in Western countries: in Italy, approximately 85.000 persons die each year because of smoke-related illnesses. Starting from the objectives defined by the 2001/2003 National Healthcare Plan, the Department of Prevention of the "Roma B" Local Health Unit elaborated a three-year project for the fight against tobacco smoke. The general objectives of the project are: to prevent young people from starting to smoke, to promote stop-smoking initiatives (with the involvement of General Practitioners) and to protect non-smokers from passive smoking (in the context of a smoke-free health facilities program). A special technical-scientific committee was set up to evaluate the effectiveness of the smoking prevention interventions.