Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

About: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart is a education organization based out in Milan, Lombardia, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 13592 authors who have published 31048 publications receiving 853961 citations.

Maintaining and Testing Separability in Demand Systems

Abstract: We derive a general elasticity representation of the necessary and sufficient conditions for direct weak separability of the utility function. Parametric restrictions required to implement the separability conditions are presented for three common demand systems: the Almost Ideal, Translog, and Rotterdam. Our empirical application uses the Rotterdam model to test a few separable structures within a complete U.S. demand system emphasizing food commodities. Results, based on size-corrected likelihood ratio tests, provide support for commonly used separability assumptions about food and meat demand.

Expression of CD133-1 and CD133-2 in ovarian cancer.

Abstract: Cancer stem cells have been isolated from several solid tumors including prostate, colon, liver, breast, and ovarian cancer. Stem cells isolated from nervous system and prostate express CD133 antigen, which is widely used to isolate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of the CD133-1 and CD133-2 epitopes in primary ovarian tumors and to biologically characterize CD133(+) ovarian cancer cells, also according to clinicopathologic parameters. Tissue specimens were obtained at primary surgery from 41 ovarian carcinomas; eight normal ovaries and five benign ovarian tumors were also collected. Flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies against CD133-1 and CD133-2 epitopes was employed. FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting) analysis enabled the selection of CD133(+) cells, whose epithelial origin was confirmed by immunofluorescence analysis with monoclonal anti-cytokeratin 7. CD133(+) cells gave rise to a 4.7 +/- 0.9-fold larger number of colonies than that documented in CD133(-) population (P < 0.001). Moreover, CD133(+) cells showed an enhanced proliferative potential compared to CD133(-) cells. The percentages of CD133-1- and CD133-2-expressing cells were significantly lower in normal ovaries/benign tumors with respect to those in ovarian carcinoma. Both the percentages of CD133-1- and CD133-2-expressing cells were significantly lower in omental metastases than in primary ovarian cancer (P = 0.009 and 0.007 for CD133-1- and CD133-2-expressing cells, respectively). There seems not to be any difference in the distribution of the percentage of CD133-1- and CD133-2-expressing cells according to clinicopathologic parameters and response to primary chemotherapy. CD133-1 and CD133-2 may be useful in order to select and enrich the population of CD133(+) ovarian tumor cells, which are characterized by a higher clonogenic efficiency and proliferative potential.

Effects of home confinement on mental health and lifestyle behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak: Insights from the ECLB-COVID19 multicentre study

Abstract: Although recognised as effective measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and self-isolation have been suggested to generate a burden throughout the population. To provide scientific data to help identify risk factors for the psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 outbreak, an international cross-disciplinary online survey was circulated in April 2020. This report outlines the mental, emotional and behavioural consequences of COVID-19 home confinement. The ECLB-COVID19 electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists, following a structured review of the literature. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform and was promoted by thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North Africa, Western Asia and the Americas. Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses “before” and “during” the confinement period. 1047 replies (54% women) from Western Asia (36%), North Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other continents (3%) were analysed. The COVID-19 home confinement evoked a negative effect on mental wellbeing and emotional status (P < 0.001; 0.43 ≤ d ≤ 0.65) with a greater proportion of individuals experiencing psychosocial and emotional disorders (+10% to +16.5%). These psychosocial tolls were associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours with a greater proportion of individuals experiencing (i) physical (+15.2%) and social (+71.2%) inactivity, (ii) poor sleep quality (+12.8%), (iii) unhealthy diet behaviours (+10%), and (iv) unemployment (6%). Conversely, participants demonstrated a greater use (+15%) of technology during the confinement period. These findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 home confinement period and provide a clear remit for the urgent implementation of technology-based intervention to foster an Active and Healthy Confinement Lifestyle AHCL).

Body mass index and mortality among older people living in the community.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To determine if body mass index (BMI = weight/height2), predictive of mortality in seriously ill hospitalized and institutionalized patients, is also predictive of mortality in a longitudinal epidemiologic study. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Rovereto, a town in northern Italy. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive sample of 214 patients aged 81.2 ± 7.3 years receiving community care services. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Malnutrition and mortality. RESULTS: According to logistic regression analysis, malnutrition status, expressed by a BMI 27 Kg/m2) was not significantly related to risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition variables are a cardinal component of comprehensive geriatric assessment. Our results suggest that BMI, a simple anthropometric measure of nutritional status, is an important predictor of mortality among older people living in the community. Even when controlling for clinical and functional variables, a low BMI remained a significant and independent predictor of shortened survival. J Am Geriatr Soc 47:1072–1076, 1999.