HIV awareness: a kap study among students in Italy reveals that preventive campaigns still represent a public health priority.

BACKGROUND: Improving knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young people is crucial for preventing new infections. The aim of the study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding HIV infection among students attending university courses related to the healthcare professions, in order to better target future preventive and informative HIV campaigns tailored for young people. STUDY DESIGN: A knowledge, attitude and practices study was conducted among university students attending the following university courses in Bari (Southern Italy): Medicine and Surgery (MS), Dentistry and Dental Prostheses, Health Assistance, Motor Activities and Sports Sciences, Sciences and Technology of Herbal and Health Products, Nursing, Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, and Dietetics. METHODS: Students completed a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge/attitudes re/ HIV and their own sexual practices. The general part of the questionnaire requested information about age, gender, nationality, religion and marital status. The second part included questions asking about knowledge, attitude and practices with respect to HIV, which required true/false answers or graduated answers (reported as agree, quite agree, quite disagree, and disagree). RESULTS: Four hundred students were invited to fill in the questionnaire. The response rate was 91.2% (n=365). Almost all students were aware that HIV is transmitted through sexual intercourse and blood, but only 34% knew that breastfeeding is a route of transmission. Of the respondents, 86.8% referred to previous sexual intercourse (25.8% reported using a condom in all cases of sexual intercourse, 43.5% in most cases, 18.6% rarely and 12.1 never). Sexual intercourse with casual partners was reported by 37.5% of these students and 63.9% of them did not always use a condom. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that knowledge about some aspects of HIV is insufficient even though the students participating in the present study are students attending university courses related to the healthcare professions. Moreover, high-risk behaviors as the lack of the use of condom during sexual intercourse with casual partners are also common among interviewed students. Programs aimed at providing information that can prevent/reduce transmission of HIV in young people and new strategies to improve knowledge should be stressed as a public health priority.

School density affects the strength of collective avoidance responses in wild-caught Atlantic herring Clupea harengus: a simulated predator encounter experiment.

An experimental study in a semi-controlled environment was conducted to examine whether school density in wild-caught Atlantic herring Clupea harengus affects the strength of their collective escape behaviours. Using acoustics, the anti-predator diving responses of C. harengus in two schools that differed in density were quantified by exposing them to a simulated threat. Due to logistical restrictions, the first fish was tested in a low-density school condition (four trials; packing density = 1.5 fish m(-3); c. 6000 fish) followed by fish in a high-density school condition (five trials; packing density = 16 fish m(-3); c. 60 000 fish). The C. harengus in a high-density school exhibited stronger collective diving avoidance responses to the simulated predators than fish in the lower-density school. The findings suggest that the density (and thus the internal organization) of a fish school affects the strength of collective anti-predatory responses, and the extent to which information about predation risk is transferred through the C. harengus school. Therefore, the results challenge the common notion that information transfer within animal groups may not depend on group size and density.

Prevalence of HPV infection and genotype distribution in women from Africa seeking asylum in Puglia, Italy.

HPV type-specific distribution was evaluated in genital samples collected from 151 women from West Africa and Horn of Africa, living in the Asylum Seeker Center in Bari Palese (Italy), undergoing voluntary screening correlated with cytological abnormalities. HPV-DNA was assayed by Linear Array HPV genotyping test. HPV DNA was detected in 39.1 % of the women, 42.5 % of which had multiple infection and 69.5 % had high-risk HPV infection. Age-prevalence rates evidenced a peak of HPV infection in women ≤ 20 years of age (53.1 %). HPV 53 and 16 were the most common viral types (13.5 and 12.0 % respectively). Abnormal Pap test results were found in 4.4 % of women with known cytological result. Although a prevalence of HPV positive women higher in African than in European women was expected, the differing rate between residents and migrants African women must be investigated in future studies.

Case report: fulminant pneumococcal sepsis in an unvaccinated asplenic patient in Italy.

We report a fatal case of overwhelming pneumococcal infection in an asplenic young adult not vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae).

Frequency of human papillomavirus infection and genotype distribution among women with known cytological diagnosis in a Southern Italian region.

INTRODUCTION: In the Puglia region (South Italy) about 200 new hospitalizations for cervical cancer are registered every year. The study investigated the frequency of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the genotype distribution of HPV in a sample of women with known cytology attending the outpatient clinics of four Gynecological Departments of the University of Bari over a four-year period (2005-2008). METHODS: Cervical samples from 1,168 women were analyzed for the presence of HPV-DNA through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in L1 region and reverse hybridization. The cytological results were associated with HPV positivity and type-specific prevalence. RESULTS: Overall, HPV infection was found in 355 (30.4%) women. HPV-DNA was found in 34.4% of women with a cytological diagnosis of ASCUS, in 46.8% of women with Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) and in 87.0% of women with High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL)/carcinoma. Also 16.0% of women with normal Pap smear were found to be HPV-DNA positive. The most common HPVgenotype was type 16 found in 27.3% of positives, followed by type 53 (11.5%), type 66 (9.2%) and type 31 (9.0%). HPV genotype 18 was found in 6.4% of positives. Types 16 or 18 were detected in about 34% (120/355) of all infected women, in about 33% of LSIL and in 60% of HSIL/ carcinoma HPV-positive women. Among low risk (LR) genotypes, type 61 was found in 10.7% of HPV positive women, type 62 in 8.4%, type 42 in 8.1% and type CP6108 in 7.8%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study give evidence that HPV infection is frequent in the studied cohort of women. The most widespread genotypes found were 16 and 53. These data may represent a benchmark for future evaluation after the recent introduction of vaccination against HPV in 12-year-old girls.

Efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women.

This randomized, double-blind, multicenter placebo-controlled study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol, a cholesterol-lowering drug purified from sugar cane wax, in women who had experienced menopause and showed elevated serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels despite a 6-week standard lipid-lowering diet. Thus, 56 eligible patients were randomized to receive placebo or policosanol 5 mg/day for 8 weeks and the dose was doubled to 10 mg/day during the next 8 weeks. Policosanol (5 and 10 mg/day) significantly decreased LDL-cholesterol (17.3% and 26.7%, respectively), total cholesterol (12.9% and 19.5%) as well as the ratios of LDL-cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (17.2% and 26.5%) and total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (16.3% and 21.0%) compared with baseline and placebo. HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly raised by 7.4% at study completion. No significant changes occurred in the lipid profile of the placebo group. The drug was safe and well tolerated. No drug-related adverse effects were observed. None of the patients administered policosanol but three of those administered placebo withdrew from the trial because of adverse effects: one due to a serious hypertensive status, one because of an allergic reaction (pruritus plus skin rash) and one due to gastrointestinal disturbances (nauseas plus vomiting). Eleven placebo patients reported 24 adverse effects compared with six policosanol patients who reported seven adverse effects (p < 0.05). In addition, five placebo (17.9%) and 13 policosanol patients (46.4%) (p < 0.05) reported improvements in habitual symptoms and health perception during the study. In conclusion, policosanol was effective and well tolerated in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women, showing additional benefits in the health perception of the study patients.

Binding of 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate by open chain polyammonium cations.

The interaction of some open chain polyammonium cations with 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate was studied potentiometrically, at 25 degrees C. For all the investigated systems, the species ALHr(r-3) (r = 1,2 ... n + 2; n = number of aminogroups; A = amine; L = carboxylate) are formed. The stability of these complexes depends on charges in the polyammonium cation and in the carboxylic ligand, and for the reaction HiAi+ + HjL(j - 3) = ALHi + j(i + j - 3) we found a mean free energy contribution for salt bridge -delta G0 = 6.5 +/- 0.3 kJ mol-1 n-1 (n = number of possible salt bridges). The results of this investigation are compared with those of similar systems. By considering also the tricarboxylic ligands citrate and 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate, we found for their complexes with polyammonium cations a fairly close stability. Calculations performed including complexes formed with these two ligands give -delta G0 = 6.6 +/- 0.4 kJ mol-1 n-1.

Binding of acrylic and sulphonic polyanions by open-chain polyammonium cations.

The interactions between some acrylic and sulphonic polyanions and some protonated amines (diamines NH(2)-(CH(2))(x)-NH(2), x=2,...,10; linear tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa-amines) were studied potentiometrically in aqueous solution, at 25 degrees C. For both types of polyanions AL(2)H(i) (L(-), monomer of polyanion, A, amine) species are formed, with i=1,...,n (n=number of amino groups in the amine). The stability of these species is strictly dependent on the polyammonium cation charge, and fairly independent of the type of amine (in diamine species maximum stability is observed for x=4, 5). Acrylic and sulphonic polyanion complexes are considerably stronger than analogous species formed by low molecular weight anions. Mean stability can be expressed as logK=2.87zeta(2/3), for polyacrylic anions and logK=2.42zeta(2/3) for polysulphonic anions (zeta=absolute value for charge product of reactants).

Thermodynamic parameters for the binding of inorganic and organic anions by biogenic polyammonium cations.

Thermodynamic parameters for the interaction of protonated biogenic polyamines with inorganic or organic polyanions were studied potentiometrically (H(+)-glass electrode) and calorimetrically, at 25 degrees C. No background salt was used in the measurements to avoid interferences, and the formation constants and formation enthalpies were extrapolated to zero ionic strength. Species formed are ALH(r) [L=Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), HPO(4)(2-), P(2)O(7)(4-) and P(3)O(10)(5-); tartrate, malate, citrate, glutamate, 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate, 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate], with r=1,2...(n+m-2) and r=1,2...(n+m-1) for inorganic and organic ligands, respectively (n, m=maximum degree of protonation of amine and ligand, respectively). The stability of the various species formed is a function of charges involved in the formation reaction. DeltaH(0) values are generally positive, and therefore these complexes are entropically stabilized. Results are discussed in connection with several previously reported data on similar systems. DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) follow a linear trend as a function of polyammonium cation and inorganic or carboxylic anion charges. DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) charge relationships are reported. In particular, mean values of DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) for single interaction were calculated: DeltaG(0)=7.0 kJ mol(-1) n(-1), TDeltaS(0)=9.1 kJ mol(-1) n(-1) and DeltaG(0)=5.7 kJ mol(-1) n(-1) and TDeltaS(0)=8.7 kJ mol(-1) n(-1), for the species of inorganic and organic polyanions, respectively (n=number of possible salt bridges). A linear relationship was also found for TDeltaS(0) versus DeltaG(0), whose equation is TDeltaS(0)=-7-1.39 DeltaG(0) (with r=0.9409; r, correlation coefficient). The body of correlations found for these thermodynamic parameters shows quite good predictive value.

Binding of polyanions by biogenic amines. III. Formation and stability of protonated spermidine and spermine complexes with carboxylic ligands.

The formation and stability of protonated spermidine and spermine-carboxylic ligand complexes (seven systems) were studied potentiometrically (H(+)-glass electrode). ALH(r) species are formed (A=spermidine, spermine, L(z-)=acetate, malonate, 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate, 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate; r=1...m+n-1, where m and n are the maximum degree of protonation of the amine and of the carboxylic ligand, respectively), and their stability is a function of charges involved in the formation reaction. For the equilibrium H(i)A(i+)+H(j)L((j-z))=ALH(i+j)((i+j-z)) the linear relationship logK(ij)=0.46 zeta (zeta=mid R:i(z-j)mid R:) was found. By means of this simple equation a mean free energy value can be obtained per salt bridge (n), namely -DeltaG degrees =5.25+/-0.15 kJ mol(-1)n(-1). Species formed by the highest charged ligands are quite stable (K>10(3) mol(-1) dm(3)) and potentially play an important role in the speciation of biofluids, as shown by speciation diagrams and simulated experiments.

Solubility and thermal stability of some amino-mellitate compounds.

By reaction between the anion of mellitic acid (benzenehexacarboxylic acid) and some protonated linear polyamines (diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, tetraethylene-pentamine, pentaethylenehexamine, spermidine, and spermine), fairly insoluble complexes have been obtained, with the general formula (amine)(x)(mellitate)H(6) (diethylenetriamine and spermidine, x=1; triethylenetetramine and spermine, x=0.75; tetraethylenepentamine, x=0.6 and 0.8; pentaethylenehexamine, x=0.5). K(s0) values for these complexes have been determined at I=0 mol dm(-3) and T=25 degrees C (logK(s0) ranges between -48.2 and -56.6). The solubility has been studied as a function of pH and of ionic strength. The thermal analysis, performed using air or argon flow, showed that all the solids behave in a similar way. In the range 20-120 degrees C the loss of hydration water occurs, and in the range 150-350 degrees C the first step of non oxidative decomposition takes place, with complete decomposition at 650 degrees C in air flow, whilst in argon flow the decomposition is still incomplete at 900 degrees C. Preliminary results of a parallel diffractometric study are also reported.

Binding of polyanions by biogenic amines. I. Formation and stability of protonated putrescine and cadaverine complexes with inorganic anions.

The formation and stability of proton diamine-inorganic anion [Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), HPO(4)(2-), P(2)O(7)(4-) and Fe(CN)(6)(4-)] complexes was studied potentiometrically [(H(+))-glass electrode] at 25 degrees C. Several general formula ALH(r) complexes are formed in these various systems. The stability of complexes formed between H(2)A(2+) and different anions ranges from one to six (log formation constants). The formation constants are slightly dependent on the length of the alkylic chain whilst they strongly depend on the anion charge. A general relationship [logK=-0.85+1.81z-0.055n] was found for the reaction H(2)A(2+)+L(z-)=ALH(2)((2-z)) [L=inorganic anions, A=NH(2)-(CH(2))(n)-NH(2) diamines with n=2...8].

Thermodynamic parameters for the formation of dimeric hydrolytic species of copper(II) in aqueous NaClO(4) solution at different ionic strengths.

The hydrolysis of copper(II) has been studied in experimental conditions for which polynuclear species are formed prevalently. The study has been carried out by the pH-metric technique at different temperatures and ionic strengths in NaClO(4) aqueous solution. As previously reported in literature, the most important hydrolytic species is Cu(2)(OH)(2)(2+). For copper(II) concentrations greater than 75 mmol dm(-3), also the species Cu(2)(OH)(3+) is formed in appreciable amount. The formation constants of these species have been determined, together with their dependence on ionic strength. The temperature coefficients of equilibrium constants allowed to obtain the relative formation enthalpies.

Solubility of some calcium-carboxylic ligand complexes in aqueous solution.

Insoluble species were identified in the systems Ca(2+)-hemimellitate, Ca(2+)-1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate and Ca(2+)-citrate, and their solubilities were determined in aqueous solution at T = 25 degrees C. Values of pK(s0) were obtained for the species CaLH (L = benzene-1,2,3-tricarboxylate or hemimellitate), Ca(2)L (L = 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate), CaLH and Ca(3)L(2) (L = citrate), together with their dependence on ionic strength. Solid compounds were also characterized by thermogravimetry. The complex formation in solution for the system Na(+) - and Ca(2+)-hemimellitate was studied too.

Ionic strength dependence of formation constant-XVI. Protonation of some nitrophenols and dihydroxybenzoic acids in aqueous (tetraethylammonium iodide) solution at 25 degrees.

The protonation of 2- and 3-nitrophenol (NO(2) Ph) and 2,X and 3,Y dihydroxybenzoic acids (DBA, X = 4,5,6; Y = 4,5) has been studied potentiometrically in aqueous tetraethylammonium iodide solutions, at T = 25 degrees in the ionic strength range 0.05:5

Studies of polyfunctional O-ligands: Formation and stability of Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) complexes of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid in aqueous solution at 25 degrees.

The stabilities of the Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) complexes with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (pyromellitic acid) were studied potentiometrically, at 25 degrees . The species ML, MHL, MH(2)L, and M(2)L [L = pyromellitate(4-); M = Ca(2+), Mg(2+)] were found to be present in solution (for Mg(2+) the species MH(3)L was also found). The dependence of the formation constants on ionic strength, and the stability trends of the Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) complexes with carboxylate ligands, are discussed.

The determination of formation constants of weak complexes by potentiometric measurements: experimental procedures and calculation methods.

Experimental and calculation procedures for the study of weak complexes by the pH-measurement technique are described. An algorithm for the calculation of formation constants, together with a computer program in FORTRAN and BASIC versions, is reported. The problems of studying weak interactions are discussed. Simulated titration curves and experimental data for K(+)-thiodiacetate complexation were used to check the proposed method.

Ionic strength dependence of formation constants-X: proton activity coefficients at various temperatures and ionic strengths and their use in the study of complex equilibria.

The activity coefficients of the proton were determined in aqueous solution in the presence of several background electrolytes at 10, 25, 37 and 45 degrees and 0.01 < or = I < or = 1M. The results indicate that the proton activity coefficients are fairly independent of the different salts used as background, in particular when ion-pair formation between cations and anions of the medium is taken into account. This result is in agreement with the findings of previous works in this series. Some previously published data were reanalysed for comparison, and showed excellent accordance with the present results. A general equation for calculating proton activity coefficients is reported.

Formation and stability of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) citrate complexes in aqueous solution at various temperatures.

The citrate complexes of Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) have been investigated by pH titration at I = 0.1 M (KNO(3)) and 10, 25, 35 and 45 degrees . The species found were [Zn(cit)](-), [Zn(cit)H], [Zn(cit)(2)](4-) and [Zn(2)(cit)(2)H(-)(2)](4-), [Cd(cit)](-), [Cd(cit)H], [Cd(cit)(2)](4-) and [Cd(cit)H(-1)](2-). From the dependence of the formation constants on temperature, DeltaH degrees and DeltaS degrees values were calculated. Speciation in the Zn(2+)]- and Cd(2+)-citrate systems is discussed with particular attention to formation of polynuclear species. Some comparisons with literature data are made.