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Simple Summary: Individuals with metabolic syndrome exhibit simultaneously pro-thrombotic and a pro-inflammatory conditions which more probably can lead to cardiovascular disease progression, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and some types of cancer. The present scoping review is aimed at highlighting any relations between cancer risk, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. A total of 20 manuscripts were identified and, among them, we identified some associations with breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and cancer in general. Therefore, it could be deducted that cancer and its related progression may also depend on a latent chronic inflammatory condition associated with other concomitant conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. Therefore, prevention may potentially help individuals to protect themselves from cancer. Background: Individuals with metabolic syndrome exhibit simultaneously pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory conditions which more probably can lead to cardiovascular diseases progression, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and some types of cancer. The present scoping review is aimed at highlighting the association between cancer risk, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. Methods: A search strategy was performed, mixing keywords and MeSH terms, such as "Cancer Risk", "Inflammation", "Metabolic Syndrome", "Oncogenesis", and "Oxidative Stress", and matching them through Boolean operators. A total of 20 manuscripts were screened for the present study. Among the selected papers, we identified some associations with breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and cancer in general. Conclusions: Cancer and its related progression may also depend also on a latent chronic inflammatory condition associated with other concomitant conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. Therefore, prevention may potentially help individuals to protect themselves from cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the published terminology, mathematical models, and the possible approaches used to characterise the risk of foodborne chemical hazards, particularly pesticides, metals, mycotoxins, acrylamide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results confirmed the wide variability of the nomenclature used, e.g., 28 different ways of referencing exposure, 13 of cancer risk, or 9 of slope factor. On the other hand, a total of 16 equations were identified to formulate all the risk characterisation parameters of interest. Therefore, the present study proposes a terminology and formulation for some risk characterisation parameters based on the guidelines of international organisations and the literature review. The mathematical model used for non-genotoxic hazards is a ratio in all cases. However, the authors used the probability of cancer or different ratios, such as the margin of exposure (MOE) for genotoxic hazards. For each effect studied per hazard, the non-genotoxic effect was mostly studied in pesticides (79.73%), the genotoxic effect was mostly studied in PAHs (71.15%), and both effects were mainly studied in metals (59.4%). The authors of the works reviewed generally opted for a deterministic approach, although most of those who assessed the risk for mycotoxins or the ratio and risk for acrylamide used the probabilistic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of water due to heavy metals (HMs) is a big concern for humankind; particularly in developing countries. This research is a systematic review, conducted by searching google scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Springer, and Scopus databases for related published papers from 2010 to July 2021, resulting in including 40 articles. Among the analyzed HMs in the presented review, the average content of Cr, Pb, Ba, Al, As, Zn, and Cd exceeded the permissible limits suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 1,053 Iranian standards. Also, the rank order of Hazard Quotient (HQ) of HMs was defined as Cd>As>Cr>Pb>Li for children which means Cd has the highest non-carcinogenic risk and Li has the least. This verifies to the current order As>Cr>Pb>Fe=Zn=Cu>Cd for adults. The corresponded values of HQ and Hazard Index (HI) in most cities and villages were investigated and the results indicated a lower than 1 value, which means consumers are not at non-carcinogenic risk (HQ). Carcinogenic risk (CR) of As in the adult and children consumers in most of the samples (58.82% of samples for both groups) were investigated too, and it was more than>1.00E-04 value, which determines that consumers are at significant CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lessons learned from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are numerous. Low dose radiotherapy (LDRT) was used in the pre-antibiotic era as treatment for bacterially/virally associated pneumonia. Motivated in part by these historic clinical and radiobiological data, LDRT for treatment of COVID-19-associated pneumonia was proposed in early 2020. Although there is a large body of epidemiological and experimental data pointing to effects such as cancer at low doses, there is some evidence of beneficial health effects at low doses. It has been hypothesized that low dose radiation could be combined with immune checkpoint therapy to treat cancer. We shall review here some of these old radiobiological and epidemiological data, as well as the newer data on low dose radiation and stimulated immune response and other relevant emerging data. The paper includes a summary of several oral presentations given in a Symposium on "Low dose RT for COVID and other inflammatory diseases" as part of the 67th Annual Meeting of the Radiation Research Society, held virtually 3-6 October 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS), also known as hereditary mucocutaneous pigmented gastrointestinal polyposis, is a clinically rare autosomal dominant genetic disease, which falls into the category of hereditary colorectal cancer. There are ∼7,000 new cases of PJS in China every year, and 170,000 PJS patients may survive for a long time in society. PJS polyps are characterized by an early age of onset, difficult diagnosis and treatment, and easy recurrence. With repeated growth, polyps can lead to serious complications such as intestinal obstruction, intussusception, gastrointestinal bleeding, and cancerization, which cause serious clinical problems. Due to repeated hospitalization and endoscopic follow-up, PJS patients and their families suffer from great physical and mental pain and economic burden. With the in-depth understanding of PJS and the development and popularization of endoscopic techniques in the past decade, an integrated treatment modality based on endoscopy plus surgery has gradually become the preferred treatment in most hospitals, which greatly improves the quality of life of PJS patients. However, there is still a lack of effective drug prevention and cure means. In this paper, the current clinical treatment means for PJS polyps were summarized by literature review combined with the treatment experience of our medical center, with a focus on their clinical diagnosis, treatment, and cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This article addresses the topic of primary immunodeficiencies, with particular emphasis on antibody deficiencies with near-normal immunoglobulin levels or hyperimmunoglobulinemia. This paper goes beyond genetics and emphasizes the importance of the immune system and particularly immune checkpoints and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) reactivation in the context of these disorders. The article delves into the immune dysregulations occurring in the course of this type of disease and the potential role of EBV reactivation, which affects the clinical picture of patients and, in the future, may contribute to the development of cancer, especially those related to hematological malignancies. Disturbances observed in the immunopathogenesis of the presented diseases go beyond the accepted scheme, with the development of PID largely associated only with genetic disorders, and the article emphasizes that the regulation of immunity and virus reactivation also contributes to the progression of PID. This study delves into the intricate landscape of primary immunodeficiencies, with a particular focus on antibody deficiencies characterized by near-normal immunoglobulin levels or hyperimmunoglobulinemia. Contrary to the conventional focus on genetic dysregulation, these studies investigate the key roles of immune checkpoints, such as PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4/CD86, and CD200R/CD200, on selected subpopulations of T and B lymphocytes and their serum concentrations of soluble forms in patients recruited for the studies in healthy volunteers. In addition, the studies also show the role of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and interactions with tested pathways of immune checkpoints involved in the immunopathogenesis of this disease. By examining the context of antibody deficiencies, this study sheds light on the nuanced interplay of factors beyond genetics, particularly the immune dysregulations that occur in the course of this type of disease and the potential role of EBV reactivation, which affects the clinical presentation of patients and may contribute to the development of cancer in the future, especially related to hematological malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First estimation of nitrosamine intake via tobacco by smokers in 30 provinces, China. • First estimation of cancer risk (CR) of nitrosamines in tobacco to smokers in China. • CRs of NNK and NDMA are comparable in tobacco smoke (1.99 × 10−4 vs. 1.66 × 10 -4). • CR by nitrosamine intake: tobacco (3.80 × 10−4) > food (1.74 × 10−4) > water (1.38 × 10−5). • Tobacco smoking brings 202% extra cancer risk of nitrosamines to Chinese smokers. Nitrosamines are a class of carcinogens which have been detected widely in food, water, some pharmaceuticals as well as tobacco. The objectives of this paper include reviewing the basic information on tobacco consumption and nitrosamine contents, and assessing the health risks of tobacco nitrosamines exposure to Chinese smokers. We searched the publications in English from "Web of Science" and those in Chinese from the "China National Knowledge Infrastructure" in 2022 and collected 151 literatures with valid information. The content of main nitrosamines in tobacco, including 4-(methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N -nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N -nitrosoanatabine (NAT), N -nitrosoanabasine (NAB), total tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA), and N -nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were summarized. The information of daily tobacco consumption of smokers in 30 provinces of China was also collected. Then, the intakes of NNN, NNK, NAT, NAB, TSNAs, and NDMA via tobacco smoke were estimated as 1534 ng/day, 591 ng/day, 685 ng/day, 81 ng/day, 2543 ng/day, and 484 ng/day by adult smokers in 30 provinces, respectively. The cancer risk (CR) values for NNN and NNK inhalation intake were further calculated as 1.44 × 10−5 and 1.95 × 10−4. The CR value for NDMA intake via tobacco smoke (inhalation: 1.66 × 10−4) indicates that NDMA is similarly dangerous in tobacco smoke when compared with the TSNAs. In China, the CR values caused by average nitrosamines intake via various exposures and their order can be estimated as the following: smoke (3.75 × 10−4) > food (1.74 × 10−4) > drinking water (1.38 × 10−5). Smokers in China averagely suffer 200% of extra cancer risk caused by nitrosamines in tobacco when compared with non-smokers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space radiobiology is an interdisciplinary science that examines the biological effects of ionizing radiation on humans involved in aerospace missions. The knowledge of the risk assessment of the health hazard related to human space exploration is crucial to reducing damages induced to astronauts from Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) and sun-generated radiation. GCRs have been identified as one of the primary sources of radiation exposure in space. In this context, an accurate characterization of the possible risk of carcinogenesis induced by exposure to GCRs particles is mandatory for safe human space exploration, and one of the most crucial open problems is the contribution to carcinogenesis due to the effects on the cells directly and not directly irradiated, indicated as Target Effects (TEs) and Non-Target Effects (NTEs), respectively. It is accepted that the detrimental effects of ionizing radiation are not restricted only to the irradiated cells but also to non-irradiated distant cells manifesting various biological effects. Tumor Prevalence (TP) is often used to investigate the effects of NTEs in predictions of chronic GCR exposure risk. This paper reports the status of the research on this topic at the INFN Roma Sapienza Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) research group, where is in progress an extensive study about the risk evaluation of the NTEs that the GCRs radiation will imply when added to the TE. A theoretical framework is presented for TP-induced NTEs modeling, ready to be used with the data collected from the AMS02 detector. Finally, a possible example of the use of the tool is shown for an accurate estimate of the tumor prevalence function of the exposure period for different typical space protons energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of solid waste is increasing with each passing day due to rapid urbanization and industrialization and has become a matter of concern for the international community. Leachate leakages from landfills pollute the soil and can potentially harm the human health. In this paper, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometric studies were employed to assess and analyze the composition of metals (Ba, Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Cr and Mn) and metalloid (As) in soil samples. Results of Cr, Mn, Cu, As, Ba, Cd, Pb and Hg from CRM (certified reference material, SRM 2709a) of San Joaquin soil were evaluated and reported in terms of percent recoveries which were in the range of 97.6–102.9% and show outstanding extraction efficiency. Other than copper, where the permitted limit set by the EU is specified as 50–140 mg/kg in soil, the average amount of all the metals in soil was found within the permissible limits provided by WHO, the European Community (EU) and US EPA. Soil contaminated with Hg (PERI = 100) and Cd (PERI = 145.50) posed an ecological risk significantly. Pollution load index (PLI) value is greater than 1, while degree of contamination (Cdeg) value is less than 32 which indicated that the soil is polluted and considerably contaminated with metals and metalloid, respectively. In terms of the average daily dosage (ADD) of soil, children received the highest doses of all metals (ADDing = 1.315 × 10−7 − 2.470 × 10−3 and ADDderm = 9.939 × 10−7 − 5.292 × 10−11), whereas ADDing (1.409 × 10−8 − 2.646 × 10−4) was found greater in adults. For all metals except for Ba, the hazard quotient (HQ) trend in both children and adults was observed to be HQing > HQderm > HQinh of soil. Children who are at the lower edge of cancer risk had a lifetime cancer risk (LCR) of 2.039 × 10–4 for Cr from various paths of soil exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory impact analyses of proposed environmental, occupational, and consumer product safety regulations often rely on a metric known as the Value per Statistical Case of Cancer (VSCC), that is, the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for reductions in the risk of developing cancer. In this paper, we ask whether the VSCC depends on cancer survival prospects. We develop a simple theoretical model that shows that under standard assumptions the VSCC is decreasing in the chance of surviving cancer. We empirically test this prediction by means of a stated preference survey, where we ask subjects aged 45–60 from the general population in the Czech Republic to report information about their WTP for reductions in the risk of getting cancer. One half of the sample was told that, if they got cancer, the 5-year survival rate was 60 % (corresponding to the average survival chances across all types of cancer), while the other half was told that it was 75 %. Consistent with the theoretical model, we find that the VSCC is larger in the former group. The ratio between the VSCC of the two groups is approximately equal to the ratio between the conditional cancer mortality risks implied by the survey's survival rates, suggesting that the VSCC is proportional to conditional cancer mortality. Our findings have important policy implications in the context of regulations that focus on pollutants linked to cancers with different chances of survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Obesity has been linked to several common cancers including breast, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, gallbladder, uterine, pancreatic, and liver cancer. Obesity also increases the risk of dying from cancer and may influence the treatment choices. About 4–8% of all cancers are attributed to obesity. The underlying mechanism of obesity causing cancer is complex and is incompletely understood. Lifestyle changes that include diet, exercise, and behavior therapy are the mainstay of interventions. Drug therapy and weight reduction surgery result in a more rapid weight loss and may be used for a subgroup of cancer survivors with obesity. This review highlights the epidemiology and the risk associated with the development and recurrence of cancer in obese individuals and the management of obesity. Background: Obesity or excess body fat is a major global health challenge that has not only been associated with diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease but is also a major risk factor for the development of and mortality related to a subgroup of cancer. This review focuses on epidemiology, the relationship between obesity and the risk associated with the development and recurrence of cancer and the management of obesity. Methods: A literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar was performed and the keywords 'obesity' and cancer' were used. The search was limited to research papers published in English prior to September 2022 and focused on studies that investigated epidemiology, the pathogenesis of cancer, cancer incidence and the risk of recurrence, and the management of obesity. Results: About 4–8% of all cancers are attributed to obesity. Obesity is a risk factor for several major cancers, including post-menopausal breast, colorectal, endometrial, kidney, esophageal, pancreatic, liver, and gallbladder cancer. Excess body fat results in an approximately 17% increased risk of cancer-specific mortality. The relationship between obesity and the risk associated with the development of cancer and its recurrence is not fully understood and involves altered fatty acid metabolism, extracellular matrix remodeling, the secretion of adipokines and anabolic and sex hormones, immune dysregulation, and chronic inflammation. Obesity may also increase treatment-related adverse effects and influence treatment decisions regarding specific types of cancer therapy. Structured exercise in combination with dietary support and behavior therapy are effective interventions. Treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues and bariatric surgery result in more rapid weight loss and can be considered in selected cancer survivors. Conclusions: Obesity increases cancer risk and mortality. Weight-reducing strategies in obesity-associated cancers are important interventions as a key component of cancer care. Future studies are warranted to further elucidate the complex relationship between obesity and cancer with the identification of targets for effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes guidance from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to calculate the cancer risk to United States Marines who were exposed to carcinogens in drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Camp Lejeune is a 233-square-mile Marine Corps training facility in North Carolina. From 1953 to 1987, nearby dry cleaners, landfills, and underground storage tanks contaminated drinking water systems that served Camp Lejeune (ATSDR, 2017). Some of the most toxic contaminants found in the drinking water modeled by ATSDR include benzene, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC). ATSDR utilized MODFLOW and EPANET modeling software to determine the level of contamination in the three main drinking water systems at Camp Lejeune: Tarawa Terrace, Holcomb Boulevard, and Hadnot Point. This paper presents an application of methodology to quantify cancer risk for the Marines who lived and served at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 using ATSDR's health assessment, chemical contaminant modeling, and USEPA methodology. While VC and TCE were found to be the main risk drivers, benzene and PCE also contributed to the cumulative cancer risk. This analysis shows (1) That the cancer risk was greatest during the 1970s and 1980s and (2) that the inhalation exposure pathway had the greatest contribution to overall cancer risk followed by ingestion, with the smallest contribution from dermal absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) gene encodes a GTPase that acts as a molecular switch for intracellular signal transduction, promoting cell growth and proliferation. Mutations in the KRAS gene represent important biomarkers for NSCLC targeted therapy. However, detection of KRAS mutations in tissues has shown some limitations. During the last years, analyses of circulating free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as an alternative and minimally invasive, approach to investigate tumor molecular changes. Here, we assessed the diagnostic performance of cfDNA analysis, compared to tissues through a meta-analysis and systematic review of existing literature. From 561 candidate papers, we finally identified 40 studies, including 2,805 NSCLC patients. We extracted values relating to the number of true-positive, false-positive, false-negative, and truenegative. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio, each with 95% CI, were calculated. A summary receiver operating characteristic curve and the area under curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the overall diagnostic performance. The pooled sensitivity was 0.71 (95% CI 0.68-0.74) and the specificitywas 0.93 (95%CI 0.92-0.94). The diagnostic odds ratio was 35.24 (95% CI 24.88-49.91) and the area under the curve was 0.92 (SE = 0.094). These results provide evidence that detection of KRASmutation using cfDNA testing is of adequate diagnostic accuracy thus offering to the clinicians a new promising screening test for NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and is relatively rare in men (12% vs. 0.1%). The effect of sex hormones on the risk and development of cancer among transgender people is not fully understood, although it is well known that steroid hormones affect changes in breast tissue, e.g., the deposition of breast fat and the formation of lobules and ducts in transgender women and the growth of the fibrous tissue. Matherials and methods: This paper reviews the recent literature (available on PubMed, NIH, Google Scholar, and Science Direct) from 2012 to May 2022 on the incidence of breast cancer in the transgender population. Seventeen case reports of breast cancer among transgender men were described (median age: 42; mean number of years of drug use: 7; most commonly diagnosed cancer type: invasive ductal carcinoma; most expressed receptors: estrogen and progesterone) and 15 cases in transgender women (median age: 53; average number of years of drug use: 16; most commonly diagnosed cancer type: invasive ductal carcinoma; most expressed receptors: estrogen and progesterone). Results: The discussed cases indicate a longer hormone therapy in transgender women without a cancer diagnosis and a later age of diagnosis compared to transgender men. Both transgender men and transgender women had a lower median age of cancer diagnosis compared to cisgender women and men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The paper evaluates the benefit and risk for human health associated with consumption of sea cucumber Holothuria polii (H. polii) from Italian coasts (Central Mediterranean Sea). Materials and Methods Body wall (BW), internal tunic (ITu), muscle bands (MBs), alimentary canal (AC), gonad (Gd), and respiratory tree (RT) of H. polii were analyzed for proximate composition. Moreover, amino acids (AAs), fatty acids (FAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UPLC UV/Vis), gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. Results Differences in the contents of total amino acids (TAAs) occurred based on tissue and sex, with AC and MB of female and Gd of male showing higher contents (range 47.8–60.2 g/kg we weight (ww)). Glycine and glutamic acid were the most abundant. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was the major class of FAs and arachidonic acid and eicosapentenoic acid (EPA) were the predominant PUFA. n-3 PUFA showed higher content in Gd, AC, and RT, indicating higher quality. A favorable n-3/n-6 in the range of 1.04–1.67 was observed. PAHs showed values ranging from 23 to 207 µg/kg ww with the highest levels in Gd and AC tissues and the lower in BW. Benzo[ a ]pyrene, the most toxic compound, was detected in all tissues, of both sexes, at levels of 1.5–18 µg/kg ww. Conclusion All tissues of H. polii , although with differences among them, are valuable food and can contribute for a healthy diet. Excess cancer risk (CR) values for Gd and AC tissues were above the considerable CR threshold of one in 10 000 established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for high ingestion rate of this seafood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mountainous regions, the atmospheric dispersion of air pollutants is limited by complex terrain morphology. Trentino (a province located in the Italian Alps) is characterized by a high population density, highly developed agriculture and farming, and the presence of civil and industrial activities, whose emissions tend to be trapped inside the valleys. These conditions translate into exposure levels that are potentially higher than other geographical contexts (e.g., flat or coastal regions). The academic research carried out in Trentino since 2005 has produced a series of publications on topics related to the risk for health derived from waste management and other activities. These publications has focused on: 1) the evaluation of the emissions of organic pollutants from the waste sector; 2) the monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in various environmental matrices; 3) a methodology to carry out a comprehensive health risk assessment considering all the relevant exposure routes in an area; 4) the role of the local diet in the exposure of a population to POPs; 5) methodologies to define new regulatory limit values for dioxin and hexavalent chromium; and 6) the role of dispersion modeling in assessing the exposure to air pollutants. The present paper will review these publications and provide a reference document to evaluate new project proposals that require a health risk assessment and facilitate the work of proponents, clarifying the requirements of a health risk assessment. The paper will refer to waste gasification, but the considerations expressed in this paper may apply to other activities.

INTRODUCTION We compared the design features of popular filtered and non-filtered cigarettes sold in the United States between 1960 and 1990, to assess the relationship between cigarette filter and tobacco weight. METHODS We analyzed data on the design features of six popular filtered and three non-filtered cigarette brands sold in the US including the weight of tobacco used provided in the Cigarette Information Reports produced by Philip Morris Tobacco Company between 1960 and 1990. We also collected information on other design features such as stick length and circumference, the percentage of reconstituted tobacco in the blend, among other product parameters. We used joinpoint regression to test for trends in outcome variables for each brand assessed between 1960 and 1990. RESULTS In all years, filtered cigarettes had less tobacco by weight compared to nonfiltered cigarettes. The lower average weight of tobacco found in filtered cigarettes appears to be due to a combination of factors including stick and filter length, and the amount of reconstituted tobacco in the blend. The average percentages of total alkaloids and expanded tobacco increased over time but were similar between filtered and non-filtered brands. CONCLUSIONS While various design features of popular filtered and non-filtered brands changed between 1960 and 1990, the observed reduction in tobacco weight among filtered brands was perhaps the most salient in terms of disease risk. Less tobacco in a filtered cigarette calls into question the presumed exclusive role of cigarette filter tips in the reduced health risks of filtered versus non-filtered cigarette smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the increasing use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), there is a need to understand its impact on the occurrence of female malignant tumors. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the risk of ovarian cancer associated with HRT and its related risk factors. Methods: PUBMED, OVID, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched from 1980 to April 2022 to identify studies on the risk of ovarian cancer and hormone replacement therapy. The random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled risk of HRT in ovarian cancer, both in cohort studies and case-control studies. Additionally, the analysis examined the outcomes associated with different types of estrogen plus progesterone regimens. Metaregression and sensitive analysis were performed to evaluate the heterogeneity. Results: 21 cohort studies (involving 15,313 cases and 4,564,785 participants) and 30 case-control studies (including 18,738 cases and 57,747 controls) were analyzed. The pooled risks of ovarian cancer for HRT users were 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.44) from cohort studies and 1.13 (95%CI 1.04-1.22) from case-control studies. However, after restricting the study period to recent decades, the significant results indicating a higher risk disappeared in cohort studies conducted after 2010 and in case-control studies conducted after 2006. Furthermore, the continuous use of estrogen-progesterone replacement therapy (EPRT) was associated with a risk comparable to that of sequential use. Subgroup analysis showed that both estrogen replacement treatment (ERT) and EPRT had minor risks; The risk further increased with prolonged exposure time, particularly for durations exceeding 10 years. Additionally, serous ovarian cancer appeared to be more susceptible than other pathological types. Conclusion: The risk of ovarian cancer associated with HRT has been decreasing over time. However, ERT may increase this risk, particularly when used for an extended period. It is recommended that long-time users consider continuous EPRT as a safer alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Northern Ghana, reservoirs/dug-outs provide immeasurable services regardless of the season. A study was conducted in Kokoliguo and Nandom-Guo to evaluate health risks from exposure to surface waters. Samples were analyzed for pH, turbidity, conductivity, zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Kokoliguo revealed mean levels of 7.52 pH units, 124 NTU, 89.6 µS/cm, 0.004 mg/L (Zn), 0.210 mg/L (Fe), 0.219 mg/L (Mn), 0.007 mg/L (Cu), 0.007 mg/L (Cd) and 0.001 mg/L (Pb). Nandom-Guo recorded mean levels of 7.72 pH units, 11.6 NTU, 240 µS/cm, 0.0375 mg/L (Zn), 0.601 mg/L (Fe), 0.220 mg/L (Mn), 0.009 mg/L (Cu), 0.003 mg/L (Cd) and 0.182 mg/L (Pb). The chronic daily intakeoral for Kokoliguo and Nandom-Guo users occurred in the order; Cu < Cd < Zn < Mn < Fe and Cu < Cd < Zn` < Mn < Fe, respectively. Dermal exposure for Kokoliguo and Nandom-Guo occurred in the order; Zn < Cu < Cd < Mn < Fe and Cd < Zn < Cu < Mn < Fe, respectively. Except for Kokoliguo, hazard index derm/oral fell below 1. Cancer riskoral level of Cd exceeded 10e−04 among users. On the contrary, cancer riskoral levels of Pb ranged from 10e−04 to 10e−07 whereas dermal exposure levels ranged from 10e−09—10e−07. The cancer riskoral values predict the risk of carcinogenesis due to Cd toxicity. This study recommends crop farmers desist from the use of synthetic fertilizers. Again, improved water sources should be developed for the communities for domestic uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With few exceptions, research on consumer genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk has focused on tests with limited predictive value and clinical utility. Our study advances the existing literature by exploring the experiences and behaviors of individuals who have taken modern consumer genetic tests for cancer susceptibility that, unlike earlier tests, screen for medically significant variants. Methods: We interviewed 30 individuals who had undergone consumer genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk between 2014 and 2019. We explored participants' pre-test sentiments (7 items), experiences receiving results (5 items), behavioral and health-related changes (6 items), and attitudes and beliefs (3 items). Data were analyzed for thematic content. Results: Most participants reported a personal (n = 6) and/or family history (n = 24) of cancer, which influenced their choice to pursue testing. Before testing, most participants did not consult with a physician (n = 25) or receive genetic counseling (n = 23). Nevertheless, the majority felt that they understood testrelated information (n = 20) and their results (n = 20), though a considerable number reported experiencing negative emotions related to their results. Most also shared their results with family members (n = 27). Overall, participants' attitudes towards consumer genetic testing for cancer risk were predominantly positive (n = 23). Conclusion: This study offers new insights into how individuals use and perceive modern consumer genetic tests for hereditary cancer risk, focusing on their perceptions of the risks, benefits, and limitations of these services. Understanding test-takers' perspectives can potentially inform improvements aimed at ensuring that tests meet users' needs and deliver clinically valuable genetic risk assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) risks imparted by CHEK2 c.1100delC ("1100delC") germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant (GPV) are 20–30%, compared to CHEK2 c.470T>C ("I157T") GPV with <20%, leading to different breast screening recommendations through MRI. We compared cancer risk management (CRM) across these two GPVs. Study participants were adult females with an 1100delC or I157T GPV drawn from the Inherited Cancer Registry (ICARE) across the United States. Cancer history, clinical characteristics, and CRM were compared using chi-squared tests, t-tests, and logistic regression. Of 150 CHEK2 carriers, 40.7% had BC, with a mean age of 50. Comparing 1100delC and I157T GPVs, there were no differences in rates of (1) breast MRI among those with (65.2% versus 55.6% of 23 and 9; p = 0.612) and without (44.0% versus 44.8% of 50 and 29; p = 0.943) BC; (2) risk-reducing mastectomy among those with (50% versus 38.9% of 46 and 15; p = 0.501) and without (13.8% versus 6.5% of 58 and 31; p = 0.296) BC; and (3) risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy among those with (24.2% versus 22.2% of 45 and 18; p = 0.852) and without (17.5% versus 16.7% of 57 and 30; p = 0.918) BC. The results suggest over-screening with breast MRI among CHEK2 I157T GPV carriers and possible overuse of risk-reducing surgeries among CHEK2 carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogenic mutations in BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) confer high risks of both breast (up to 70%) and ovarian (up to 40%) cancers. Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential for various physiological functions, including antioxidant reactions. Their balance, reflected in the Zn/Cu ratio, plays a crucial role in maintaining redox homeostasis, which is vital for cancer prevention. This study examines the antioxidant properties of Zn and Cu, specifically focusing on the blood Zn/Cu ratio as a potential marker for cancer risk among BRCA1 mutation carriers. The study cohort consisted of 989 initially unaffected women, followed up for 7.5 years. Blood samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Although individual Zn and Cu levels did not significantly correlate with overall cancer risk, those women with a Zn/Cu ratio above 6.38 experienced a significantly lower cancer risk than women with a ratio below this cut-off point. This suggests that the Zn/Cu ratio may be a valuable biomarker for cancer prevention in this high-risk group. Given the increased cancer risk in BRCA1 mutation carriers, optimizing Zn and Cu levels through dietary and active interventions could provide a preventive strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Smoking behavior can change with time and lead to different health outcomes. This study explored the trajectory of smoking and its relationship with cancer incidence and mortality among Korean male adults. METHODS We used 2002-2018 data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Smoking status was repeatedly measured in four waves of general health examinations provided by the NHIS between 2002 and 2009. Cancer incidence and mortality were tracked from 2010 to 2018. Trajectory analysis was used to identify the patterns of smoking. The hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional regression models. RESULTS For the 2448548 men (≥20 years), 137788 cases of cancers and 41146 cancer deaths were found. We identified six trajectory groups: never smokers, former smokers, new current smokers, decreasing light smokers, steady moderate smokers, and steady heavy smokers. All smoking groups had an increased risk of cancer. The steady heavy smokers showed higher cancer incidence and mortality rate than the steady non-smokers (hazard ratio, HR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.49--1.58 and HR=2.64; 95% CI: 2.50--2.79, respectively). The cancer-specific analysis showed that the larynx and lung cancer incidence and mortality rate of the smoking group were higher than in never smokers. CONCLUSIONS Smoking, even at low doses, increases the risk of most cancers in men. Quitting or reducing smoking, especially at a young age, can lower cancer incidence and mortality. This study may provide more objective results on the relationship between smoking and cancer, because smoking behavior was examined at multiple time points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astronauts travelling in space will be exposed to mixed beams of particle radiation and photons. Exposure limits that correspond to defined cancer risk are calculated by multiplying absorbed doses by a radiation-type specific quality factor that reflects the biological effectiveness of the particle without considering possible interaction with photons. We have shown previously that alpha radiation and X-rays may interact resulting in synergistic DNA damage responses in human peripheral blood lymphocytes but the level of intra-individual variability was high. In order to assess the variability and validate the synergism, blood from two male donors was drawn at 9 time points during 3 seasons of the year and exposed to 0–2 Gy of X-rays, alpha particles or 1:1 mixture of both (half the dose each). DNA damage response was quantified by chromosomal aberrations and by mRNA levels of 3 radiation-responsive genes FDXR, CDKN1A and MDM2 measured 24 h post exposure. The quality of response in terms of differential expression of alternative transcripts was assessed by using two primer pairs per gene. A consistently higher than expected effect of mixed beams was found in both donors for chromosomal aberrations and gene expression with some seasonal variability for the latter. No synergy was detected for alternative transcription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BRCA1 mutations predispose women to breast and ovarian cancer. The anticancer effect of zinc is typically linked to its antioxidant abilities and protecting cells against oxidative stress. Zinc regulates key processes in cancer development, including DNA repair, gene expression, and apoptosis. We took a blood sample from 989 female BRCA1 mutation carriers who were initially unaffected by cancer and followed them for a mean of 7.5 years thereafter. There were 172 incident cases of cancer, including 121 cases of breast cancer, 29 cases of ovarian cancers, and 22 cancers at other sites. A zinc level in the lowest tertile was associated with a modestly higher risk of ovarian cancer compared to women with zinc levels in the upper two tertiles (HR = 1.65; 95% CI 0.80 to 3.44; p = 0.18), but this was not significant. Among those women with zinc levels in the lowest tertile, the 10-year cumulative risk of ovarian cancer was 6.1%. Among those in the top two tertiles of zinc level, the ten-year cumulative risk of ovarian cancer was 4.7%. There was no significant association between zinc level and breast cancer risk. Our preliminary study does not support an association between serum zinc level and cancer risk in BRCA1 mutation carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine the effect of colchicine on cancer risk in patients with the immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs)-related to colchicine use. Methods: This is a time-dependent propensity-matched general population study based on the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. We identified the IMIDs patients (n = 111,644) newly diagnosed between 2000 and 2012 based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)—274,712, 135, 136.1, 279.49, 518.3, 287.0, 696.0, 696.1, 696.8, 420, 429.4, 710.0, 710.1, 710.3, 710.4, 714.0, 720, 55.0, 55.1, 55.9, 556. Inclusion criteria: aged ≧ 20 years, if a patient had at least these disease diagnosis requirements within 1 year of follow-up, and, these patients had at least two outpatient visits or an inpatient visit. After propensity-matched according to age, sex, comorbidities, medications and index date, the IMIDs patients enter into colchicine users (N = 16,026) and colchicine nonusers (N = 16,026). Furthermore, time-dependent Cox models were used to analyze cancer risk in propensity-matched colchicine users compared with the nonusers. The cumulative cancer incidence was analyzed using Cox proportional regression analysis. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for cancer after adjusting for sex, age, comorbidities, and use of medicine including acetylcysteine, medication for smoking cessation such as nicotine replacement medicines (the nicotine patch) and pill medicines (varenicline), anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressant drugs. Results: Comparing the colchicine nonusers, all cancer risk were mildly attenuated, the (aHR (95% CI)) of all cancer is (0.84 (0.55, 0.99)). Meanwhile, the colchicine users were associated with the lower incidence of the colorectal cancer, the (aHRs (95% CI)) is (0.22 (0.19, 0.89)). Those aged < 65 years and male/female having the colchicine users were associated with lower risk the colorectal cancer also. Moreover, the colchicine > 20 days use with the lower aHR for colorectal cancer. Conclusion: Colchicine was associated with the lower aHR of the all cancer and colorectal cancer formation in patients with the IMIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Models with polygenic risk scores and clinical factors to predict risk of different cancers have been developed, but these models have been limited by the polygenic risk score–derivation methods and the incomplete selection of clinical variables. Methods We used UK Biobank to train the best polygenic risk scores for 8 cancers (bladder, breast, colorectal, kidney, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers) and select relevant clinical variables from 733 baseline traits through extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Combining polygenic risk scores and clinical variables, we developed Cox proportional hazards models for risk prediction in these cancers. Results Our models achieved high prediction accuracy for 8 cancers, with areas under the curve ranging from 0.618 (95% confidence interval = 0.581 to 0.655) for ovarian cancer to 0.831 (95% confidence interval = 0.817 to 0.845) for lung cancer. Additionally, our models could identify individuals at a high risk for developing cancer. For example, the risk of breast cancer for individuals in the top 5% score quantile was nearly 13 times greater than for individuals in the lowest 10%. Furthermore, we observed a higher proportion of individuals with high polygenic risk scores in the early-onset group but a higher proportion of individuals at high clinical risk in the late-onset group. Conclusion Our models demonstrated the potential to predict cancer risk and identify high-risk individuals with great generalizability to different cancers. Our findings suggested that the polygenic risk score model is more predictive for the cancer risk of early-onset patients than for late-onset patients, while the clinical risk model is more predictive for late-onset patients. Meanwhile, combining polygenic risk scores and clinical risk factors has overall better predictive performance than using polygenic risk scores or clinical risk factors alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]