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IntroductionThe aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of a school-based intervention for reducing tobacco consumption among physiotherapy students.Materials And MethodsThe controlled trial involved two groups of physiotherapy students. The treatment consisted of a seminar on smoking related diseases (2 hours) and of a training in a service of respiratory diseases or thoracic surgery (at least 10 months). The control group (B) didn’t undertake any treatment. The main outcome was the prevalence of smokers. The follow up lasted 3 years.Results78 students were involved in the treated group (A) and 72 in the control group (B). The two groups didn’t differ in term of gender distribution, mean age, smokers prevalence and nicotine dependence. Comparing the smokers’ prevalence in group A between T0 and T1 (3 years), the RR at T1 was 0.93 (CI 95%: 0.6-1.44) and the prevalence decreased from 36% to 33%. Among group B the prevalence between T0 and T1 increased passing from 28% to 35% with a RR at T1 of 1.26 (0.76-2.11). The reduction of smokers’ prevalence “attributable” to the intervention in the treated group was 7.7 %, while an increase of 27.8 % of smokers’ prevalence “attributable” to the lack of the intervention was found in the control group. No statistical differences have been found.ConclusionSchool-based interventions seem to be effective in reducing the smokers prevalence among healthcare students involved. Further researches, with a wider sample and standardized methodology are required to confirm these preliminary findings.

IntroductionThe aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of a school-based intervention for reducing tobacco consumption among physiotherapy students.Materials And MethodsThe controlled trial involved two groups of physiotherapy students. The treatment consisted of a seminar on smoking related diseases (2 hours) and of a training in a service of respiratory diseases or thoracic surgery (at least 10 months). The control group (B) didn’t undertake any treatment. The main outcome was the prevalence of smokers. The follow up lasted 3 years.Results78 students were involved in the treated group (A) and 72 in the control group (B). The two groups didn’t differ in term of gender distribution, mean age, smokers prevalence and nicotine dependence. Comparing the smokers’ prevalence in group A between T0 and T1 (3 years), the RR at T1 was 0.93 (CI 95%: 0.6-1.44) and the prevalence decreased from 36% to 33%. Among group B the prevalence between T0 and T1 increased passing from 28% to 35% with a RR at T1 of 1.26 (0.76-2.11). The reduction of smokers’ prevalence “attributable” to the intervention in the treated group was 7.7 %, while an increase of 27.8 % of smokers’ prevalence “attributable” to the lack of the intervention was found in the control group. No statistical differences have been found.ConclusionSchool-based interventions seem to be effective in reducing the smokers prevalence among healthcare students involved. Further researches, with a wider sample and standardized methodology are required to confirm these preliminary findings.

Background: This study aimed to provide a systematic review on the geographical distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis in definitive and intermediate hosts in the European Union (EU) and adjacent countries (AC). The relative importance of the different host species in the life-cycle of this parasite was highlighted and gaps in our knowledge regarding these hosts were identified. Methods: Six databases were searched for primary research studies published from 1900 to 2015. From a total of 2,805 identified scientific papers, 244 publications were used for meta-analyses. Results: Studies in 21 countries reported the presence of E. multilocularis in red foxes, with the following pooled prevalence (PP): low (≤ 1 %; Denmark, Slovenia and Sweden); medium (> 1 % to < 10 %; Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and the Ukraine); and high (> 10 %; Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Liechtenstein and Switzerland). Studies from Finland, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Norway reported the absence of E. multilocularis in red foxes. However, E. multilocularis was detected in Arctic foxes from the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard in Norway. Conclusions: Raccoon dogs (PP 2.2 %), golden jackals (PP 4.7 %) and wolves (PP 1.4 %) showed a higher E. multilocularis PP than dogs (PP 0.3 %) and cats (PP 0.5 %). High E. multilocularis PP in raccoon dogs and golden jackals correlated with high PP in foxes. For intermediate hosts (IHs), muskrats (PP 4.2 %) and arvicolids (PP 6.0 %) showed similar E. multilocularis PP as sylvatic definitive hosts (DHs), excluding foxes. Nutrias (PP 1.0 %) and murids (PP 1.1 %) could play a role in the life-cycle of E. multilocularis in areas with medium to high PP in red foxes. In areas with low PP in foxes, no other DH was found infected with E. multilocularis. When fox E. multilocularis PP was >3 %, raccoon dogs and golden jackals could play a similar role as foxes. In areas with hig

IntroductionImprisoned people have usually a poor health status in comparison with the general population. The aim is to investigate a possible association between the quality of life and physical activity level in male inmates. MethodsA cross-sectional pilot study was carried out between 2010 and 2011. A questionnaire contained SF12 and International Physical Activity Questionnaire was administered. Mental Component Score (MCS) and Physical Component Score  (PCS) were computed. The physical activity level was measured using Metabolic Equivalents score (MET)Results121 inmates entered the survey. MCS is directly correlated to MET of physical activity (r= 0.23; P=0.03) and negatively to BMI variations (r= -0.24; P= 0.02) and smoking status (r= -0.24; P= 0.02).DiscussionThis pilot study suggests to improve the investigation to support the promotion of physical activity programs in Italian prisons in order to improve inmates QoL and allow a better social integration at the end of detention.

IntroductionImprisoned people have usually a poor health status in comparison with the general population. The aim is to investigate a possible association between the quality of life and physical activity level in male inmates. MethodsA cross-sectional pilot study was carried out between 2010 and 2011. A questionnaire contained SF12 and International Physical Activity Questionnaire was administered. Mental Component Score (MCS) and Physical Component Score  (PCS) were computed. The physical activity level was measured using Metabolic Equivalents score (MET)Results121 inmates entered the survey. MCS is directly correlated to MET of physical activity (r= 0.23; P=0.03) and negatively to BMI variations (r= -0.24; P= 0.02) and smoking status (r= -0.24; P= 0.02).DiscussionThis pilot study suggests to improve the investigation to support the promotion of physical activity programs in Italian prisons in order to improve inmates QoL and allow a better social integration at the end of detention.