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Evaluating the filial behaviour scale across three cultural groups using exploratory structural equation modelling

Zong X, Ingoglia S, Lo Coco A, Tan JP, Inguglia C, Liga F, et al.

Int J Psychol, 2023 Feb;58(1):42-51.
PMID: 36181306 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12880

Filial piety is a Confucian concept that guides how children treat and take care of their parents. The Filial Behaviour Scale (FBS) is a 25-item instrument developed in the Chinese context measuring behavioural manifestations of filial piety. Although the components of filial piety have been found to be relevant across cultures, little research has investigated the psychometric properties of the FBS in other cultural contexts. The present study evaluated the factor structure, internal consistency, measurement invariance and construct validity of the FBS across three cultural groups: the United States, Italy and Malaysia. Participants were 1090 emerging adults (67% females; Mage = 21.29 years, SD = 1.97; White Americans: n = 455, White Italians: n = 428, Malays: n = 328). A two-factor structure emerged across groups: Obedience/Obligation (behaviours showing obedience and obligation towards parents) and Relationship (behaviours expressing affection and promoting positive parent-child relationships). The two factors demonstrated adequate internal consistency, full configural, partial metric and partial scalar invariance, as well as unique associations with depressive symptoms and parent-child relationships across groups. These findings yielded a more nuanced understanding of filial behaviour and supported the utility of a two-factor FBS among emerging adults in various cultural contexts.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Fulltext Economic and social impacts of COVID-19 and public health measures: results from an anonymous online survey in Thailand, Malaysia, the UK, Italy and Slovenia

Osterrieder A, Cuman G, Pan-Ngum W, Cheah PK, Cheah PK, Peerawaranun P, et al.

BMJ Open, 2021 Jul 20;11(7):e046863.
PMID: 34285007 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046863

OBJECTIVES: To understand the impact of COVID-19 and public health measures on different social groups, we conducted a mixed-methods study in five countries ('SEBCOV-social, ethical and behavioural aspects of COVID-19'). Here, we report the results of the online survey.
STUDY DESIGN AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Overall, 5058 respondents from Thailand, Malaysia, the UK, Italy and Slovenia completed the self-administered survey between May and June 2020. Poststratification weighting was applied, and associations between categorical variables assessed. Frequency counts and percentages were used to summarise categorical data. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using Pearson's χ2 test. Data were analysed in Stata 15.0 RESULTS: Among the five countries, Thai respondents reported having been most, and Slovenian respondents least, affected economically. The following factors were associated with greater negative economic impacts: being 18-24 years or 65 years or older; lower education levels; larger households; having children under 18 in the household and and having flexible/no income. Regarding social impact, respondents expressed most concern about their social life, physical health, mental health and well-being.There were large differences between countries in terms of voluntary behavioural change, and in compliance and agreement with COVID-19 restrictions. Overall, self-reported compliance was higher among respondents who self-reported a high understanding of COVID-19. UK respondents felt able to cope the longest and Thai respondents the shortest with only going out for essential needs or work. Many respondents reported seeing news perceived to be fake, the proportion varying between countries, with education level and self-reported levels of understanding of COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that COVID-19 and public health measures have uneven economic and social impacts on people from different countries and social groups. Understanding the factors associated with these impacts can help to inform future public health interventions and mitigate their negative consequences.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: TCTR20200401002.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Comparison of propofol consumption and recovery time in Caucasians from Italy, with Chinese, Malays and Indians from Malaysia

Ortolani O, Conti A, Chan YK, Sie MY, Ong GS

Anaesth Intensive Care, 2004 Apr;32(2):250-5.
PMID: 15957725

Differences in sensitivity to anaesthetic drugs may exist among different ethnic groups. Allelic variants for drug metabolizing isoenzymes and pharmacokinetic differences may account for a variable response to some anaesthetic drugs. This study was designed to compare propofol consumption and recovery characteristics in four ethnic groups: Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Malaysia and Caucasians in Italy. Patients undergoing total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and fentanyl were evaluated for propofol consumption and recovery time. The Bispectral Index (BIS) was used to maintain the same anaesthesia depth in all patients. The BIS value, the response to verbal stimuli and eye-opening time were used to assess recovery. After propofol discontinuation the BIS values returned to baseline in 11+/-4.2 min for Caucasians, in 12.5+/-5.1 min for Chinese, 15.9+/-6.3 min for Malays and 22.1+/-8.1 for Indians. Time to eye-opening was 11.63+/-4.2 min in Caucasians, 13.23+/-4.9 min in Chinese, 16.97+/-5.2 min in Malays and 22.3+/-6.6 min in Indians. The propofol consumption was significantly lower in Indians compared to the other three groups (P<0.01). The recovery of Indians was much slower compared to Chinese, Malays and Caucasians. The recovery time of Malays is significantly slower compared to Chinese and Caucasians. Differences in propofol consumption and recovery time were not significant between Chinese and Caucasians, but the ratio recovery time/propofol consumption was significantly lower in Caucasians compared to all the other groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy/ethnology
International differences in the epidemiology of male erectile dysfunction

McKinlay JB, Digruttolo L, Glasser D, Sweeney M, Shirai MF

Int J Clin Pract Suppl, 1999 Jun;102:35.
PMID: 10665122
Matched MeSH terms: Italy/epidemiology
Lessons from Ramazzini for occupational health in the Asia-Pacific region

Binns C, Low WY

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2014 Nov;26(6):557-9.
PMID: 25385927 DOI: 10.1177/1010539514557441
Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Rheumatology News and Views from APLAR Region

Mok TM

Int J Rheum Dis, 2015 Jun;18(5):583-6.
PMID: 26082351 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.12676
Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Fulltext A brief review of potential neuroprotective roles of the culinary herb Ocimum basilicum

Manali Haniti, M.Z., Norazrina, A., Chan, K.M.

Medicine & Health, 2018;13(2):3-19.
MyJurnal

Neurodegenerative diseases commonly affect elderly population and are characterised by progressive neuronal loss. Oxidative stress is highly associated with neurodegeneration. The targeted herbal plant in this review, Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum), is typically used in Indochina and Italian cuisine. Pharmacological studies on O. basilicum have demonstrated potent antioxidant activities with some reports of neuroprotective actions. This brief review highlights the potential neuroprotective roles of O. basilicum by discussing previously documented antioxidative actions of the plant extract, essential oils and its phytochemical compounds on the nervous system based on in vitro and in vivo studies. Accumulating evidence on the neuroprotective action of O. basilicum points to a notion that neuroprotection is made possible by way of its antioxidant properties and largely due to the presence of polyphenol compounds such as rosmarinic acid which has been identified as the major constituent. Although the mechanisms of O. basilicum antioxidant action have been proposed, further studies are required for better understanding of its antioxidant action leading to neuroprotective roles. It is also possible that the antioxidant actions of O. basilicum are mediated through synergism of a mixture of various naturally-occurring bioactive compounds in the plant, as is with many other plant-based food supplements, to produce the putative effects instead of a single bioactive compound from the plant. Therefore, specific targeting of neuroprotection by means of antioxidant actions warrants further preclinical and clinical studies investigating the therapeutic potentials of O. basilicum particularly in view of the prevention of neurodegenerative processes.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Enhancing nitrate and strontium concentration prediction in groundwater by using new data mining algorithm

Bui DT, Khosravi K, Karimi M, Busico G, Khozani ZS, Nguyen H, et al.

Sci Total Environ, 2020 May 01;715:136836.
PMID: 32007881 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136836

Groundwater resources constitute the main source of clean fresh water for domestic use and it is essential for food production in the agricultural sector. Groundwater has a vital role for water supply in the Campanian Plain in Italy and hence a future sustainability of the resource is essential for the region. In the current paper novel data mining algorithms including Gaussian Process (GP) were used in a large groundwater quality database to predict nitrate (contaminant) and strontium (potential future increasing) concentrations in groundwater. The results were compared with M5P, random forest (RF) and random tree (RT) algorithms as a benchmark to test the robustness of the modeling process. The dataset includes 246 groundwater quality samples originating from different wells, municipals and agricultural. It was divided for the modeling process into two subgroups by using the 10-fold cross validation technique including 173 samples for model building (training dataset) and 73 samples for model validation (testing dataset). Different water quality variables including T, pH, EC, HCO3-, F-, Cl-, SO42-, Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ have been used as an input to the models. At first stage, different input combinations have been constructed based on correlation coefficient and thus the optimal combination was chosen for the modeling phase. Different quantitative criteria alongside with visual comparison approach have been used for evaluating the modeling capability. Results revealed that to obtain reliable results also variables with low correlation should be considered as an input to the models together with those variables showing high correlation coefficients. According to the model evaluation criteria, GP algorithm outperforms all the other models in predicting both nitrate and strontium concentrations followed by RF, M5P and RT, respectively. Result also revealed that model's structure together with the accuracy and structure of the data can have a relevant impact on the model's results.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Motherhood status moderates the relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation and breast size dissatisfaction

Lombardo C, Panasiti MS, Vacca M, Grano C, Swami V

Body Image, 2019 Sep;30:75-80.
PMID: 31200234 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.05.005

Perfectionistic self-presentation refers to a desire to create an image of flawlessness in the eyes of the others and has been associated with more negative body image. We extended previous research by examining associations between perfectionistic self-presentation and breast size dissatisfaction, and also examined whether motherhood status moderated this association. A total of 484 Italian women (age M = 40.39, SD = 13.73; mothers n = 53.9%) completed measures of perfectionistic self-presentation (perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection) and breast size dissatisfaction. Preliminary analyses indicated that a majority of the sample (69.2%) reported breast size dissatisfaction, with 44.4% and 24.4% desiring larger and smaller breasts, respectively, than they currently had. Only perfectionistic self-promotion and nondisplay of imperfection were significantly correlated with breast size dissatisfaction. Both associations were additionally moderated by motherhood status, with associations being significant in non-mothers but not in mothers. Our findings suggest that motherhood may help decouple the link between perfectionistic self-presentation and breast size dissatisfaction. Future studies should assess whether this effect is due to an enhanced maternal view of breasts that emphasises nurturing and biological functions or a result of weaker investment in sociocultural norms on physical appearance.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) spermatozoa: hsp70 expression and protamine-like protein property studies

Piscopo M, Notariale R, Rabbito D, Ausió J, Olanrewaju OS, Guerriero G

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2018 May;25(13):12957-12966.
PMID: 29478169 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1570-9

In this work, we describe results of the reproductive health monitoring studies in Mytilus galloprovincialis following spermatozoa hsp70 expression and protamine-like protein properties. Mussels control (ctr) were released within cages for 30 days in three different marine sites near Naples (Campania, Italy): Bagnoli south (BAs) and Bagnoli north (BAn), both close to a disposal metallurgical factory and in Capo Miseno (CM). Studies of hsp70 gene expression carried out, by RT-qPCR, in mussel spermatozoa have shown varied expression levels, particularly 5, 13, and 15-fold more than ctr in CM, BAs, and BAn, respectively, indicating highest involvement of stress proteins in spermatozoa of mussels in Bagnoli. In order to evaluate the possible risk on Mytilus galloprovincialis sustainability loss, electrophoretic analyses were performed on protamine-like proteins (PL) of collected spermatozoa. The results showed that CM PL were apparently unaltered with respect to ctr PL, while BAs and BAn PL appeared in part in the form of peptides and in part as bands with low mobility. Further, CM and BAs PL showed, by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, a decrease in DNA binding ability and a change in their DNA binding mode. The results of this investigation show the usefulness of the study of alterations of spermatozoa hsp70 expression and protamine-like protein properties for eco-toxicological evaluation using Mytilus galloprovincialis as a bioindicator.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction in four countries: cross-national study of the prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction

Nicolosi A, Moreira ED, Shirai M, Bin Mohd Tambi MI, Glasser DB

Urology, 2003 Jan;61(1):201-6.
PMID: 12559296 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(02)02102-7

OBJECTIVES:
To measure the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in community-based populations in Brazil, Italy, Japan, and Malaysia and to study its association with the demographic characteristics, medical conditions, and health-related behavior.

METHODS:
In each country, a random sample of approximately 600 men aged 40 to 70 years was interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. All the data were self-reported. ED was assessed by the participants' "ability to attain and maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse," and the men were classified as not having ED if they answered "always" and as having mild, moderate, or complete ED if they answered "usually," "sometimes," or "never," respectively.

RESULTS:
The age-adjusted prevalence of moderate or complete ED was 34% in Japan, 22% in Malaysia, 17% in Italy, and 15% in Brazil. The overall age-specific prevalence of moderate or complete ED was 9% for men aged 40 to 44 years, 12% for 45 to 49 years, 18% for 50 to 54 years, 29% for 55 to 59 years, 38% for 60 to 64 years, and 54% for those 65 to 70 years. The increased risk of ED was associated with diabetes, heart disease, lower urinary tract symptoms, heavy smoking, and depression and increased by 10% per year of age. It was inversely associated with education, physical activity, and alcohol drinking.

CONCLUSIONS:
ED is an international problem, the prevalence and severity of which increases with age. Despite national variations in prevalence, uniform associations were found between ED and medical conditions and lifestyle habits.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy/epidemiology
Molecular characterization of influenza viruses circulating in Northern Italy during two seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) of low influenza activity

Pariani E, Amendola A, Zappa A, Bianchi S, Colzani D, Anselmi G, et al.

J Med Virol, 2008 Nov;80(11):1984-91.
PMID: 18814246 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21323

The influenza activity and circulation of influenza viruses in Lombardy (the most populous Italian region) were observed during two consecutive seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) characterized by low influenza activity by the Italian Influenza Surveillance Network. The molecular characteristics of circulating viruses were analyzed to evaluate the introduction of new variants and emergence of vaccine-escape viruses. In both seasons, the epidemic in Lombardy was sustained almost exclusively by influenza A viruses, accounting for 80.5% and 93.6% of total detections, respectively, and the co-circulation of A/H3 viruses belonging to distinct phylogenetic groups was observed. The A/H1N1 viruses isolated during the 2005/2006 season were closely related to A/New Caledonia/20/99, while the hemagglutinin (HA) sequences of the A/H1N1 viruses from the 2006/2007 season exhibited a greater diversity. These viruses were A/Solomon Islands/3/2006-like and showed several variants. All B isolates were similar to B/Malaysia/2506/2004 belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87-lineage. Influenza B virus was the dominant virus in Europe in the 2005/2006 season and accounted for the 20% of total detections in Lombardy. Overall, the viruses studied presented heterogeneity in their HA sequences suggesting the circulation of a miscellaneous set of variants during the two seasons notwithstanding the medium-low activity of influenza. The importance of virological surveillance of influenza viruses is recognized widely and the molecular characterization of the viruses, especially in vaccinated subjects, is of particular importance to evaluate the introduction and circulation of new variants.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy/epidemiology
Fulltext A new member of the Pteropine Orthoreovirus species isolated from fruit bats imported to Italy

Lorusso A, Teodori L, Leone A, Marcacci M, Mangone I, Orsini M, et al.

Infect Genet Evol, 2015 Mar;30:55-58.
PMID: 25497353 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.12.006

A novel member of the Pteropine Orthoreovirus species has been isolated and sequenced for the whole genome from flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus) imported to Italy from Indonesia. The new isolate named Indonesia/2010 is genetically similar to Melaka virus which has been the first virus of this species to be shown to be responsible for human respiratory disease. Our findings highlight the importance of flying foxes as vectors of potentially zoonotic viruses and the biological hazard that lies in the import of animals from geographical areas that are ecologically diverse from Europe.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
A new genus and species of myrmecophilous brentid beetle (Coleoptera: Brentidae) inhabiting the myrmecophytic epiphytes in the Bornean rainforest canopy

Maruyama M, Bartolozzi L, Inui Y, Tanaka HO, Hyodo F, Shimizu-Kaya U, et al.

Zootaxa, 2014;3786:73-8.
PMID: 24869524 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3786.1.5

Pycnotarsobrentus inuiae Maruyama & Bartolozzi, gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Brentinae: Eremoxenini) is described from the Lambir Hills National Park, Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia) based on specimens collected from Crematogaster difformis F. Smith, 1857 ant nests in the myrmecophytic epiphytic ferns Platycerium crustacea Copel. and Lecanopteris ridleyi H. Christ. A second species of Pycnotarsobrentus is known from Malaysia but is represented by only one female and consequently not yet described pending discovery of a male. Pycnotarsobrentus belongs to the tribe Eremoxenini and shares some character states with the African genus Pericordus Kolbe, 1883. No species of Eremoxenini with similar morphological modifications are known from the Oriental region.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is not discerned in diabetes mellitus patients in Hyderabad, India

Rani PS, Doddam SN, Agrawal S, Hasnain SE, Sechi LA, Kumar A, et al.

Int J Med Microbiol, 2014 Jul;304(5-6):620-5.
PMID: 24863528 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.04.010

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is an obligate intracellular pathogen. It causes chronic intestinal inflammation in ruminants known as Johne's disease and is associated with human Crohn's disease. Furthermore, association of MAP with other autoimmune diseases, such as type-1 diabetes, has been established in patients from Sardinia (Italy) which is a MAP endemic and genetically isolated region. Due to largest livestock population and consequently high MAP prevalence amidst a very high diabetes incidence in India, we sought to test this association on a limited number of patient samples from Hyderabad. Our results of ELISA with MAP lysate and MAP-specific protein MAP3738c as well as PCR/real-time PCR of MAP-specific sequences IS900 and/or f57 indicated that, in contrast to Sardinian diabetic patients, MAP infection in blood is not discerned in diabetic patients in Hyderabad. The association of a mycobacterial trigger with diabetes therefore could well be a population-specific phenomenon, highly dependent on genetic repertoire and the environment of susceptible populations. However, a larger study is needed in order to confirm this.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Fulltext Tako-Tsubo like syndrome triggered by meperidine

Sacco A, Morici N, Belli O, Bossi I, Mafrici A, Klugmann S

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Dec;66(5):520-1.
PMID: 22390119

We present a case of "inverted Tako-Tsubo" syndrome in a woman sedated with meperidine before undergoing a colonscopy. We discuss possible etiology of this ventricular dysfunction.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Redescriptions of species of Tetrarhynchobothrium Diesing, 1850 and Didymorhynchus Beveridge & Campbell, 1988 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha), with the description of Zygorhynchus borneensis n. sp

Beveridge I

Syst Parasitol, 2008 Feb;69(2):75-88.
PMID: 18038196

Tetrarhynchobothrium tenuicolle Diesing, 1850 is redescribed from the type-specimens collected from Raja clavata Linnaeus in the Adriatic Sea. T. striatum (Wagener, 1854) is redescribed from voucher specimens from the type host, Myliobatis aquila Linnaeus, from the type-locality, off Naples, Italy. The two species are very similar in tentacular armature, but are provisionally maintained as independent species, since the armature of T. tenuicolle cannot be fully described and because all available specimens of T. striatum are immature, limiting comparisons of potential differences in segment anatomy. T. setiense Dollfus, 1969 is treated as a synonym of T. striatum. Zygorhynchus borneensis n. sp. is described from Himantura uarnacoides (Bleeker) and H. pastinacoides (Bleeker) off Sabah, Malaysia. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the very small hooks present in the basal region and by the presence of a uterine pore. The metabasal tentacular armature of Didymorhynchus southwelli Beveridge & Campbell, 1988, described for the first time, is homeoacanthous and homeomorphous in form. However, it has a basal swelling with hook rows originating on the bothrial surface and terminating on the antibothrial surface of the tentacle.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
The thalassemia repository

Kutler A, Lanclos KD

Hemoglobin, 1987;11(1):93-109.
PMID: 3583769
Matched MeSH terms: Italy
Summary of an eleven-country study of socio-legal measures to combat drug abuse and related crime

Asuni T, Bruno F

Bull Narc, 1984 Jul-Sep;36(3):3-8.
PMID: 6570650

In a comparative study of a group of experimental and control subjects in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Japan, Jordan, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States of America (State of New York), and of the results of independent studies conducted in Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a rather close association was found to exist between drug abuse, criminal behaviour and social attitudes to such problems. Both drug abuse and the socio-legal systems varied greatly in the countries involved. No correlation was found between the level of foreseen or actual harshness of the socio-legal system and the level of seriousness of drug abuse and its associated criminality, but there was a significant correlation between knowledge of the law and the efficacy of the socio-legal system. In each country informal control systems, such as the family, church, school, neighbourhood and work environment, were active. Approximately one half of the subjects that were interviewed from countries with the most punitive socio-legal systems perceived informal controls as harsh and punitive while in the other countries such controls were generally perceived as positive. The study encouraged the review, testing and implementation of alternative measures to penal sanctions, particularly with a view to creating a genuine therapeutic approach to correcting the deviant behaviour of drug abusers.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy
The economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Europe: results from a systematic review of the literature

Rehman AU, Hassali MAA, Muhammad SA, Harun SN, Shah S, Abbas S

Eur J Health Econ, 2020 Mar;21(2):181-194.
PMID: 31564007 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-019-01119-1

OBJECTIVES: To find the economic burden of COPD and to identify the key cost drivers in the management of COPD patients across different European countries.
BACKGROUND: COPD is a major cause of mortality and morbidity and is associated with considerable economic burden on the individual and society. It limits the daily activities and working ability of the patients.
METHODOLOGY: We conducted a systematic search of PUBMED, SCIENCE DIRECT, Cochrane CENTRAL, SCOPUS, Google Scholar and SAGE Premier Databases to find scientific research articles evaluating the cost of COPD management from patient and societal perspective.
RESULTS: Estimated per patient per year direct cost in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Belgium, and Serbia was €10,701, €9580, €7847, €7448, €7045, €2896, €1963, and €2047, respectively. Annual per patient cost of work productivity loss was highest in Germany as €5735 and lowest in Greece as €998. It was estimated as €4824, €2033 and €1298 in Bulgaria, Denmark and Sweden, respectively. Several factors found associated with increasing cost of COPD management that include but not limited to late diagnosis, severity of disease, frequency of exacerbation, hospital readmissions, non-adherence to the therapy and exposure to COPD risk factors.
CONCLUSION: Minimizing the COPD exacerbations and controlling the worsening of symptoms may potentially reduce the cost of COPD management at any stage.

Matched MeSH terms: Italy

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