Latent tuberculous infection among foreign-born individuals applying to shelters in the metropolitan area of Milan

SETTING

Screening for latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) of groups at high risk of active tuberculosis (TB) is a key component of the End TB Strategy.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a retrospective descriptive analysis of LTBI rates among foreign-born individuals applying to shelters in the metropolitan area of Milan, Italy.

DESIGN

All foreign-born individuals registering for accommodation centres in the city of Milan from November 2009 to April 2017 were screened for active TB and LTBI. Individuals aged <36 years with a tuberculin skin test (TST) induration of >10 mm were offered confirmatory testing with QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT).

RESULTS

Of the 2666 TST-positive migrants aged <36 years who underwent LTBI confirmation testing, 1322 (49.6%) tested negative, 1339 (50.2%) were positive and five (0.2%) had indeterminate results. In the multivariate analysis, TB incidence in the country of origin and age were significantly associated with QFT-GIT positivity. Although estimated TB incidence in Eritrea, Morocco and Romania was 100/100 000 person-years (py), the probability of being QFT-GIT-positive in individuals from these countries were not statistically significantly different from individuals from countries with TB incidence > 250/100 000 person-years.

CONCLUSION

Our data showed a high proportion of LTBI among individuals coming from intermediate TB burden countries.

Spring diet of the pine marten in Sardinia, Italy

Knowledge of a carnivore’s foraging behaviour is essential to understand its ecology. The pine marten Martes martes is commonly defined as an opportunistic generalist predator since its diet in Europe includes mammals, fruits, birds and invertebrates. Based on faecal analyses, we evaluated spring feeding habits and trophic niche breadth of the pine marten in a Mediterranean landscape on the island of Sardinia (Central Italy). The most important source of food for the pine marten was small mammals (mainly Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus musculus and Eliomys quercinus), accounting for 52% of the percent mean volume. Important secondary foods were invertebrates (mainly beetles and insect larvae) and birds (almost exclusively passerines), whereas large mammals, lagomorphs, reptiles and fruits made little contribution to the diet. The diet composition and the Levins’ index value suggest that the pine marten in Sardinia behaves as a facultative specialist predator, with a specialization towards small mammals.

[Impact of domestic violence on reproductive and neonatal health]

BACKGROUND

Domestic violence can have an important influence on mother and child health.

AIM

To assess the consequences of remote and actual, emotional or physical, domestic violence on the reproductive and newborn health in pregnant women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A longitudinal epidemiological observation from an Urban Primary Health Care Center from Valdivia, Chile, in 1998. Two cohorts were studied: Pregnant women that experienced domestic violence (index group) and pregnant women not exposed to domestic violence (control group). Women were followed during pregnancy and at labor. The newborn was also assessed.

RESULTS

The index group had a higher relative risk (RR) for impending abortion (RR 1.44, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-1.93), hypertensive syndrome of pregnancy (RR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.18-1.96), intrahepatic cholestasis (RR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-1.94). Women that experienced violence during pregnancy had a higher risk of urinary tract infection (RR 2.88, 95% CI: 1.28-6.43), intrauterine growth retardation (RR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.77-7.93) and intrahepatic cholestasis. Newborns from the index group had lower weight, size and gestational age.

CONCLUSIONS

Domestic violence is associated with hypertension during pregnancy and intrauterine growth retardation. The incorporation of bio-psychological evaluation and monitoring systems could attenuate the consequences of domestic violence.

Ocular hypertension: 12 years' follow-up

A retrospective 12-year study on 35 patients having IOP values higher than 21 mmHg in repeated tonometric curves with no clinical glaucomatous-type signs was carried out with the aim of discovering the incidence of the eyes which evolved towards the glaucomatous disease, to evaluate the role of the preventive therapy and to observe how response to the ibopamine provocation test (which assesses outflow pathway compromission) was modified with time. The data obtained showed that, in 39.13% of the eyes, there was an evolution towards the disease. The ibopamine test was positive at time "0" (study begins) in 48.14% in the evolutive eyes and in 66.66% of the eyes which remained stable, while, at time "12" (study ends), almost all of the eyes (92-95%) had become positive. The role of precociously initiated ocular hypotensive therapy concurring with the test positivity is put in evidence.

[Domestic violence and sexuality]

BACKGROUND

Women's reproductive health is closely related to the conditions in which intercourse is carried out with the sexual partner. Physical and emotional abuse is expressed as loss of bonds, reduction in self esteem and deterioration in interpersonal relationships.

AIM

To assess the effects of domestic violence on pregnant women attitudes towards sexual relations with their partners, and to critically analyze the dependence of these variables on biosociodemographic factors, socioeconomic status and family functioning.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty three pregnant women with a domestic violence background (index group) and 43 women without such background (control group) were subjected to a structured survey including questions about biosociodemographic variables, socioeconomic status, family relations, couple interactions and questions about attitudes towards sexual relations.

RESULTS

Domestic violence was caused by the woman's partner or ex partner in 73% of cases. A greater family dysfunction and disturbance in the couple's relation was observed in the index group (p < 0.05). Association tests and multiple correspondence analysis did not show a clear correspondence between variables related to a woman's attitude towards sex relations and the risk of domestic violence.

CONCLUSIONS

This quantitative methodology was unable to identify the reasons, interpretations and meanings that women with a background of violence, give to features associated with their sexuality.

[What, how much and when the university student drinks]

The aim of this work was to define the epidemiological profile of alcohol ingestion and its associated risks, in university students. A social survey about drinking habits was performed to a random sample of 528 students, aged 17 to 26 years old, 54% male, from Austral University. Eighty two percent of males and 79% of females drink alcoholic beverages. They mainly consume beer and strong spirits. Their main consumption is occasional, during parties or celebrations. Thirty percent of males and 15% of females had three or more inebriations during the last year. Nine percent of males and 3% of females can be considered as problem drinkers. Student that drink alcohol have lower grades that teetotalers. It is concluded that alcohol consumption is frequent among students.

[Sexual behavior and contraceptive practices among university students]

The aim of this work was to study the knowledge, opinions and sexual behaviour of a sample of 464 students from the Universidad Austral de Chile. Results show that 78% of male and 41% of female students have had a sexual intercourse and that 78% of males and 72% of females with an active sexual life use contraceptive methods. The principal reasons to avoid the use of these methods are the irregularity of sexual intercourse and the reduction in pleasure. Most students think that these methods are harmful for their health but they should be used. The use of contraceptive methods increase with the frequency of sexual relations and university experience, but first year students use them more frequently than second year students. Most students know several contraceptive methods, but their knowledge about mechanisms of action is inadequate or distorted. Likewise, more than 50% think that it is possible to prevent pregnancy after a sexual intercourse. It is concluded that most sexually active students use contraceptive methods, but inappropriately. Stereotypes, myths and lack of information are influencing their sexual and contraceptive practices, showing incoherence between their knowledge and behavior. A possible explanation could be a scarce influence of high school and religion on their sexual formation.

[University students and sex: what they think, what they know, what they do]

Using the social survey technique, a random sample of 464 students from the Universidad Austral answered a structured questionnaire about behavior and attitudes towards sex. Results show that the majority of students have had sexual experiences. Men and women differ significantly in motivations and age at the start of their sexual activity, stability of their relationships, first sexual partner and emotional experiences. Sexual behavior is associated with age, years of university studies and geographical origin. On the contrary this behavior is weakly influenced by religion or family. Premarital sexual intercourse is accepted by the majority of students. Knowledge about sexual physiology and contraception is scarce in 30 to 80% of students. It is concluded that, since a great number of students have an active sexual life along with little knowledge in this topic, the University has to assume an active role in the sexual education of students.