RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In Italy, cervical cancer screening programmes actively invite women aged 25-64 years. Programmes are hindered by low participation. METHODS: A sample of non-responder women aged 35-64 years, belonging to three different programmes (in Rome, Florence and Teramo), was randomly split into four arms: two control groups received standard recall letters to perform either Pap-test (first group) or human papillomavirus (HPV) test (second group) at the clinic. A third arm was sent letters offering a self-sampler for HPV testing, to be requested by phone, whereas a fourth group was directly sent the self-samplers home. RESULTS: Compliance with standard recall was 13.9% (N619). Offering HPV test at the clinic had a nonsignificant effect on compliance (N616, relative risk (RR)=1.08; 95% CI=0.82-1.41). Self-sampler at request had the poorest performance, 8.7% (N622, RR=0.62; 95% CI=0.45-0.86), whereas direct mailing of the self-sampler registered the highest compliance: 19.6% (N616, RR=1.41; 95% CI=1.10-1.82). This effect on compliance was observed only in urban areas, Florence and Rome (N438, RR=1.69; 95% CI=1.24-2.30), but not in Abruzzo (N178, RR=0.95; 95% CI=0.61-1.50), a prevalently rural area. CONCLUSIONS: Mailing self-samplers to non-responders may increase compliance as compared with delivering standard recall letters. Nevertheless, effectiveness is context specific and the strategy costs should be carefully considered.
Asunto(s)
Alphapapillomavirus/aislamiento & purificación , Tamizaje Masivo , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/diagnóstico , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Italia , Persona de Mediana Edad , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud , Cooperación del Paciente , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/virología , Frotis VaginalRESUMEN
Alcohol is one of the main causes of traffic accidents worldwide. Its use decreases significantly the driving ability of an individual increasing in this way the possibilities of their involvement in motor-vehicle accidents. The above possibilities are increased when a psychoactive substance has been taken in combination with alcohol due to their synergistic effect. The Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of the University of Athens is authorized to perform the toxicological investigation of traffic accidents that happen in the southern part of Greece. The objective of the present study was to identify the prevalence of alcohol and other psychoactive substances among drivers involved in road traffic accidents in Greece during the period 1998-2004. Alcohol was detected in the blood of about 37% of the drivers involved in traffic accident during the years 1998-2000. The detection of alcohol was lower (29%) in the years 2001-2004. Cannabis, benzodiazepines, opiates, and cocaine were found in 4%, 4%, 4% and 1% of the total number of cases, respectively. The above values were compared with those of a previous study concerning the period 1995-1997 and the reasons for the reduction of the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents during the last years are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Accidentes de Tránsito/estadística & datos numéricos , Detección de Abuso de Sustancias , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/epidemiología , Benzodiazepinas/orina , Cannabinoides/orina , Depresores del Sistema Nervioso Central/sangre , Cocaína/orina , Inhibidores de Captación de Dopamina/orina , Etanol/sangre , Toxicología Forense , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Grecia/epidemiología , Humanos , Narcóticos/orinaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To report two cases of chronic constrictive pericarditis that appear to be related to the intake of bromocriptine for Parkinson's disease. CASE SUMMARY: Two white men (aged 63 and 69 y) were treated with bromocriptine for four (40 mg/d) and two years (30 mg/d), respectively, with a cumulative dose intake of 58.4 and 21.9 g, respectively. The patients experienced dyspnea with bilateral lower-limb edema and pleural effusion, suggesting right cardiac dysfunction. Echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac catheterization results were compatible with a diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, so pericardectomy was performed on both patients. The anatomic pathology examination showed a fibrous pericardium; cultures were sterile. In the first case, pleural effusion recurred seven months after the pericarditis; bromocriptine was suspected and treatment was discontinued. In the second case, just prior to the pericardectomy, an episode of mental confusion occurred and prompted the cessation of bromocriptine therapy. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, only one case of constrictive pericarditis induced by bromocriptine therapy has previously been described in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Our cases call attention to a possible association between bromocriptine use in patients who have Parkinson's disease and constrictive pericarditis.