$y = 0; @loop = ();
  while($y < $x) {
    my %items;

    $items{_TOPIC} = $topic[$y];

    $sth = $dbh->prepare("SELECT item1, item2, item3 FROM table WHERE topic='$topic[$y]' ORDER BY id ASC");
    $sth->execute();

    @subloop = ();
    while(@ary = $sth->fetchrow_array()) {
      my %subitems;

      $subitems{_first_item} = $ary[0];
      $subitems{_second_item} = $ary[1];
      $subitems{_third_item} = $ary[2];

      push(@subloop, \%subitems);
    }

    $items{_ITEMS} = \@subloop;
    push(@loop, \%items);

    $y++;
  }
  $html->param(_TOPICS => \@loop);
  $html->output;