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Advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs), formed endogenously or obtained exogenously from diet, may contribute to chronic inflammation, intracellular signaling alterations, and pathogenesis of several chronic diseases including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of AGEs in CRC survival is less known. The associations of pre‐diagnostic circulating AGEs and their soluble receptor (sRAGE) with CRC‐specific and overall mortality were estimated using multivariable‐adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression among 1369 CRC cases in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Concentrations of major plasma AGEs, Nε‐[carboxy‐methyl]lysine (CML), Nε‐[carboxy‐ethyl]lysine (CEL) and Nδ‐[5‐hydro‐5‐methyl‐4‐imidazolon‐2‐yl]‐ornithine (MG‐H1), were measured using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography mass‐spectrometry. sRAGE was assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Over a mean follow‐up period of 96 months, 693 deaths occurred of which 541 were due to CRC. Individual and combined AGEs were not statistically significantly associated with CRC‐specific or overall mortality. However, there was a possible interaction by sex for CEL (Pinteraction =.05). Participants with higher sRAGE had a higher risk of dying from CRC (HRQ5vs.Q1 = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.21–2.30, Ptrend =.02) or any cause (HRQ5vs.Q1 = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05–1.83, Ptrend =.09). These associations tended to be stronger among cases with diabetes (Pinteraction =.03) and pre‐diabetes (Pinteraction <.01) before CRC diagnosis. Pre‐diagnostic AGEs were not associated with CRC‐specific and overall mortality in individuals with CRC. However, a positive association was observed for sRAGE. Our findings may stimulate further research on the role of AGEs and sRAGE in survival among cancer patients with special emphasis on potential effect modifications by sex and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring pre‐diagnostic blood metabolites may help identify novel risk factors for prostate cancer. Using data from 4387 matched case–control pairs from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, we investigated the associations of 148 individual metabolites and three previously defined metabolite patterns with prostate cancer risk. Metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Multivariable‐adjusted conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio per standard deviation increase in log metabolite concentration and metabolite patterns (OR1SD) for prostate cancer overall, and for advanced, high‐grade, aggressive. We corrected for multiple testing using the Benjamini–Hochberg method. Overall, there were no associations between specific metabolites or metabolite patterns and overall, aggressive, or high‐grade prostate cancer that passed the multiple testing threshold (padj <0.05). Six phosphatidylcholines (PCs) were inversely associated with advanced prostate cancer diagnosed at or within 10 years of blood collection. metabolite patterns 1 (64 PCs and three hydroxysphingomyelins) and 2 (two acylcarnitines, glutamate, ornithine, and taurine) were also inversely associated with advanced prostate cancer; when stratified by follow‐up time, these associations were observed for diagnoses at or within 10 years of recruitment (OR1SD 0.80, 95% CI 0.66–0.96 and 0.76, 0.59–0.97, respectively) but were weaker after longer follow‐up (0.95, 0.82–1.10 and 0.85, 0.67–1.06). Pattern 3 (8 lyso PCs) was associated with prostate cancer death (0.82, 0.68–0.98). Our results suggest that the plasma metabolite profile changes in response to the presence of prostate cancer up to a decade before detection of advanced‐stage disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental research has uncovered lipocalin 2 (LCN2) as a novel biomarker implicated in the modulation of intestinal inflammation, metabolic homeostasis, and colon carcinogenesis. However, evidence from human research has been scant. We, therefore, explored the association of pre‐diagnostic circulating LCN2 concentrations with incident colorectal cancer (CRC) in a nested case–control study within the in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. LCN2 was measured in 1267 incident CRC cases matched to 1267 controls using incidence density sampling. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) according to tumor subsite and sex. Weighted Cox proportional hazard regression was used to explore associations by adiposity status. In multivariable‐adjusted analyses, the IRR [95% CI] per doubling in LCN2 concentration was 1.16 [0.98–1.37] for CRC overall, 1.26 [1.00–1.59] for colon cancer, and 1.08 [0.85–1.38] for rectal cancer. The association for colon cancer was more pronounced in women (IRR [95% CI], 1.66 [1.20–2.30]) and for proximal colon cancer (IRR [95% CI], 1.96 [1.15–3.34]), whereas no association was seen in men and distal colon cancer. The association for colon cancer was positive in individuals with high waist circumference (hazard ratio [95% CI], 1.69 [1.52–1.88]) and inverse in individuals with low waist circumference (hazard ratio [95% CI], 0.86 [0.76–0.98], P interaction<0.01). Overall, these data suggest that pre‐diagnostic LCN2 concentrations were positively associated with colon cancer, particularly occurring in the proximal colon, in women and among individuals with abdominal adiposity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is a temporary form of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction characterized by a distinct pattern of LV impairment, often triggered by a physical or emotional stressful event. Historically, TS was considered a benign condition due to its prompt restoration of myocardial function and generally excellent outcomes. However, recent studies have shown that complications similar to those seen after myocardial infarction can occur, necessitating careful monitoring of these patients. Among noninvasive imaging techniques, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is becoming increasingly important in evaluating patients with TS. CMR offers a unique ability to noninvasively assess myocardial tissue characteristics, allowing for detecting the typical features of TS, such as specific wall motion abnormalities and myocardial edema. Beyond its well‐established diagnostic utility in the clinical management of TS, CMR has also proven valuable in prognosis and risk stratification for these patients. Advances in CMR, including myocardial strain and parametric mapping have expanded its role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and follow‐up of these patients. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential applications of CMR in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of TS patients. It explores the emerging use of novel CMR imaging biomarkers that may enhance diagnosis, improve prognostic accuracy, and contribute to the overall management of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer (TC) is substantially more common in women than in men, pointing to a possible role of sex steroid hormones. We investigated the association between circulating sex steroid hormones, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and the risk of differentiated TC in men and women within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition (EPIC) cohort. During follow‐up, we identified 333 first primary incident cases of differentiated TC (152 in pre/peri‐menopausal women, 111 in post‐menopausal women, and 70 in men) and 706 cancer‐free controls. Women taking exogenous hormones at blood donation were excluded. Plasma concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol, estrone and progesterone (in pre‐menopausal women only) were performed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method. SHBG concentrations were measured by immunoassay. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models adjusted for possible confounders. No significant associations were observed in men and postmenopausal women, while a borderline significant increase in differentiated TC risk was observed with increasing testosterone (adjusted OR T3 vs T1: 1.68, 95% CI: 0.96–2.92, ptrend =.06) and androstenedione concentrations in pre/perimenopausal women (adjusted OR T3 vs T1: 1.78, 95% CI: 0.96–3.30, ptrend =.06, respectively). A borderline decrease in risk was observed for the highest progesterone/estradiol ratio (adjusted OR T3 vs T1: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.28–1.05, ptrend =.07). Overall, our results do not support a major role of circulating sex steroids in the etiology of differentiated TC in post‐menopausal women and men but may suggest an involvement of altered sex steroid production in pre‐menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐dimensional food printing (3DFP) involves layer‐by‐layer deposition of food materials to transform a part model into a food product. With this cutting‐edge food processing technology, food's acceptability, among others, can be enhanced, consequently contributing to food security. This review focuses on 3D‐printed foods (3DPFs), with an overview of 3DPFs, describing various printing techniques and the differences between them in terms of the principles used, and the food fabricated. This review also thoroughly elucidates the various kinds of 3D‐printable materials, functional ingredients, and the health advantages of using them to obtain 3DPFs. The consumer acceptance and safety of 3DPFs, research drawbacks, and promising aspects related to 3DFP are also explicated in this review. As the food industry looks for ways to reduce waste and boost the production of individualized and customized foods, 3D printing of foods is a sustainable way of food production for now and the future. Practical applications: Adopting 3D food printing in the food industry can help minimize manufacturing costs while providing a variety of food whose designs are customizable, whose nutrients can be digitalized, and which can satisfy individuals' specific dietary requirements. With much more recent developments in novel ingredients, printing technologies, and food printers, post‐processing techniques, among others, this technology can significantly contribute to ensuring food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistin is a protein involved in inflammation and angiogenesis processes and may play a role in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, it remains unclear whether resistin is associated with increased mortality after CRC diagnosis. We examined pre‐diagnostic serum resistin concentrations in relation to CRC‐specific and all‐cause mortality among 1343 incident CRC cases from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. For CRC‐specific mortality as the primary outcome, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated from competing risk analyses based on cause‐specific Cox proportional hazards models and further in sensitivity analyses using Fine–Gray proportional subdistribution hazards models. For all‐cause mortality as the secondary outcome, Cox proportional hazards models were used. Subgroup analyses were performed by sex, tumor subsite, tumor stage, body mass index and time to CRC diagnosis. Resistin was measured on a median of 4.8 years before CRC diagnosis. During a median follow‐up of 8.2 years, 474 deaths from CRC and 147 deaths from other causes were observed. Resistin concentrations were not associated with CRC‐specific mortality (HRQ4vsQ1 = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.73–1.23; Ptrend =.97; and HRper doubling of resistin concentration = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.84–1.19; P =.98) or all‐cause mortality. Results from competing risk (sensitivity) analysis were similar. No associations were found in any subgroup analyses. These findings suggest no association between pre‐diagnostic circulating resistin concentrations and CRC‐specific or all‐cause mortality among persons with CRC, and the potential insignificance of resistin in CRC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Nutri‐score is now widely available in food packages in Europe. Aim: To study the overall nutritional quality of the diet in relation to risks of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort Methods: We collected dietary data at baseline from validated food frequency questionnaires. We used a dietary index based on the UK Food Standards Agency modified nutrient profiling system (FSAm‐NPS‐DI) underlying the Nutri‐Score label, to measure the nutritional quality of the diet. We estimated the association between FSAm‐NPS‐DI score, and CD and UC risks using Cox models stratified by centre, sex and age; and adjusted for smoking status, BMI, physical activity, energy intake, educational level and alcohol intake. Results: We included 394,255 participants (68.1% women; mean age at recruitment 52.1 years). After a mean follow‐up of 13.6 years, there were 184 incident cases of CD and 459 incident cases of UC. Risk of CD was higher in those with a lower nutritional quality, that is higher FSAm‐NPS‐DI Score (fourth vs. first quartile: aHR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.24–3.36; p‐trend: <0.01). Among items of the FSAm‐NPS‐DI Score, low intakes of dietary fibre and fruits/vegetables/legumes/nuts were associated with higher risk of CD. Nutritional quality was not associated with risk of UC (fourth vs. first quartile of the FSAm‐NPS‐DI Score: aHR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.69–1.21; p‐trend: 0.76). Conclusions: A diet with low nutritional quality as measured by the FSAm‐NPS‐DI Score is associated with a higher risk of CD but not UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metals have been postulated as environmental concerns in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD), but metal levels are typically measured after diagnosis, which might be subject to reverse causality. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between prediagnostic blood metal levels and PD risk. Methods: A case‐control study was nested in a prospective European cohort, using erythrocyte samples collected before PD diagnosis. Results: Most assessed metals were not associated with PD risk. Cadmium has a suggestive negative association with PD (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] for the highest quartile, 0.70 [0.42–1.17]), which diminished among never smokers. Among current smokers only, lead was associated with decreased PD risk (0.06 [0.01–0.35]), whereas arsenic showed associations toward an increased PD risk (1.85 [0.45–7.93]). Conclusions: We observe no strong evidence to support a role of metals in the development of PD. In particular, smoking may confound the association with tobacco‐derived metals. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender quota laws, which require political parties to include women among candidate lists, now exist at the subnational level in 15 European countries. Do they increase the inclusion of women in local legislative processes and facilitate the representation of women's interests? To make progress on these questions, we leverage data from the "most similar" Italian region of Campania, which implemented a quota law in 2010, and Calabria, which had no quota law. Using a mixed‐method approach, we pair quantitative analysis of all legislative bills proposed and passed in both regional councils from 2007 to 2017 with qualitative interviews with regional councillors. We find that Campania's gender quota law increased women's inclusion in the legislative process, but little evidence that this translated into substantive policy gains for women. Our qualitative evidence suggests that arcane legislative processes, male‐dominated leadership roles, and a masculinist culture prevent women's policy interests from being prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excess body fatness and hyperinsulinemia are both associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. However, whether women with high body fatness but normal insulin levels or those with normal body fatness and high levels of insulin are at elevated risk of breast cancer is not known. We investigated the associations of metabolically defined body size and shape phenotypes with the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer in a nested case–control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Methods: Concentrations of C‐peptide—a marker for insulin secretion—were measured at inclusion prior to cancer diagnosis in serum from 610 incident postmenopausal breast cancer cases and 1130 matched controls. C‐peptide concentrations among the control participants were used to define metabolically healthy (MH; in first tertile) and metabolically unhealthy (MU; >1st tertile) status. We created four metabolic health/body size phenotype categories by combining the metabolic health definitions with normal weight (NW; BMI < 25 kg/m2, or WC < 80 cm, or WHR < 0.8) and overweight or obese (OW/OB; BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, or WC ≥ 80 cm, or WHR ≥ 0.8) status for each of the three anthropometric measures separately: (1) MHNW, (2) MHOW/OB, (3) MUNW, and (4) MUOW/OB. Conditional logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Women classified as MUOW/OB were at higher risk of postmenopausal breast cancer compared to MHNW women considering BMI (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.14–2.19) and WC (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.09–2.08) cut points and there was also a suggestive increased risk for the WHR (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.94–1.77) definition. Conversely, women with the MHOW/OB and MUNW were not at statistically significant elevated risk of postmenopausal breast cancer risk compared to MHNW women. Conclusion: These findings suggest that being overweight or obese and metabolically unhealthy raises risk of postmenopausal breast cancer while overweight or obese women with normal insulin levels are not at higher risk. Additional research should consider the combined utility of anthropometric measures with metabolic parameters in predicting breast cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EarlyCDT‐Lung test is a blood‐based autoantibody assay intended to identify high‐risk individuals for low‐dose computed tomography lung cancer screening. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the performance of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test in ever‐smokers. We conducted a nested case‐control study within two prospective cohorts to evaluate the risk‐discriminatory performance of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test using prediagnostic blood samples from 154 future lung cancer cases and 154 matched controls. Cases were selected from those who had ever smoked and had a prediagnostic blood sample <3 years prior to diagnosis. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the association between EarlyCDT‐Lung test results and lung cancer risk. Sensitivity and specificity of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test were calculated in all subjects and subgroups based on age, smoking history, lung cancer stage, sample collection time before diagnosis and year of sample collection. The overall lung cancer odds ratios were 0.89 (95% CI: 0.34‐2.30) for a moderate risk EarlyCDT‐Lung test result and 1.09 (95% CI: 0.48‐2.47) for a high‐risk test result compared to no significant test result. The overall sensitivity was 8.4% (95% CI: 4.6‐14) and overall specificity was 92% (95% CI: 87‐96) when considering a high‐risk result as positive. Stratified analysis indicated higher sensitivity (17%, 95% CI: 7.2‐32.1) in subjects with blood drawn up to 1 year prior to diagnosis. In conclusion, our study does not support a role of the EarlyCDT‐Lung test in identifying the high‐risk subjects in ever‐smokers for lung cancer screening in the EPIC and NSHDS cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations among the intake of total polyphenols, polyphenol classes, and polyphenol subclasses and body weight change over 5 years. Methods: A total of 349,165 men and women aged 25 to 70 years were recruited in the Physical Activity, Nutrition, Alcohol, Cessation of Smoking, Eating Out of Home and Obesity (PANACEA) project of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort from nine European countries. Body weight was measured at baseline and at follow‐up after a median time of 5 years. Polyphenol intake, including four main polyphenol classes and eighteen subclasses, was estimated using validated dietary questionnaires and Phenol‐Explorer. Multilevel mixed linear regression models were used to estimate the associations. Results: Participants gained, on average, 2.6 kg (±5.0 kg) over 5 years. Total flavonoids intake was inversely associated with body weight change (−0.195 kg/5 years, 95% CI: −0.262 to −0.128). However, the intake of total polyphenols (0.205 kg/5 years, 95% CI: 0.138 to 0.272) and intake of hydroxycinnamic acids (0.324 kg/5 years, 95% CI: 0.267 to 0.381) were positively associated with body weight gain. In analyses stratified by coffee consumption, hydroxycinnamic acid intake was positively associated with body weight gain in coffee consumers (0.379 kg/5 years, 95% CI: 0.319 to 0.440), but not in coffee nonconsumers (−0.179 kg/5 years, 95% CI: −0.490 to 0.133). Conclusions: Higher intakes of flavonoids and their subclasses are inversely associated with a modest body weight change. Results regarding hydroxycinnamic acids in coffee consumers require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hormone melatonin was initially believed to be synthesized exclusively by the pineal gland and the enterochromaffin cells, but nowadays its production and distribution were observed in several other tissues and organs. Among others, the ultrastructural localization of melatonin and its receptors has been reported in human salivary glands. In these glands, the fine localization of melatonin in intracellular organelles, above all in mitochondria, remains to be explored comprehensively. Bioptic samples of parotid and submandibular glands were treated to search for melatonin using the immunogold staining method by transmission electron microscopy. Morphometric analysis was applied to micrographs. The results indicated that, both in parotid and submandibular glands mitochondria, a certain melatonin positivity was present. Within glandular cells, melatonin was less retrieved in mitochondria than in secretory granules; however, its presence in this organelle was clearly evident. Inside striated duct cells, melatonin staining in mitochondria was more prominent than in glandular cells. Our data provide an ultrastructural report on the presence of melatonin in mitochondria of human major salivary glands and represent a fundamental prerequisite for a better understanding of the melatonin role in this organelle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear whether diet, and in particular certain foods or nutrients, are associated with lung cancer risk. We assessed associations of 92 dietary factors with lung cancer risk in 327 790 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Cox regression yielded adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) per SD higher intake/day of each food/nutrient. Correction for multiple comparisons was performed using the false discovery rate and identified associations were evaluated in the Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS). In EPIC, 2420 incident lung cancer cases were identified during a median of 15 years of follow‐up. Higher intakes of fibre (HR per 1 SD higher intake/day = 0.91, 95% CI 0.87‐0.96), fruit (HR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.86‐0.96) and vitamin C (HR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.86‐0.96) were associated with a lower risk of lung cancer, whereas offal (HR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.03‐1.14), retinol (HR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.03‐1.10) and beer/cider (HR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02‐1.07) intakes were positively associated with lung cancer risk. Associations did not differ by sex and there was less evidence for associations among never smokers. None of the six associations with overall lung cancer risk identified in EPIC were replicated in the NLCS (2861 cases), however in analyses of histological subtypes, inverse associations of fruit and vitamin C with squamous cell carcinoma were replicated in the NLCS. Overall, there is little evidence that intakes of specific foods and nutrients play a major role in primary lung cancer risk, but fruit and vitamin C intakes seem to be inversely associated with squamous cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Salt (sodium chloride) is an essential component of daily food, crucial for many physiological processes. Due to health risks related to salt over consumption, considerable interest is devoted to strategies to reduce dietary salt intake. In this work we evaluated the sensory dimensions of sea salts flavored with Mediterranean aromatic plants with the aim to confirm the role of herbs/spices in the enhancement of salty perception and to validate the use of flavored salts as a strategy to reduce salt intake. To this goal we compared taste dimensions (pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity) of solutions obtained with salt and sea salts flavored with Mediterranean herbs, spices, and fruits. Sensorial differences were analyzed using a seven‐point hedonic Likert‐type scale on 58 non‐trained judges. RESULTS: Main flavor compounds, identified by gas chromatography‐flame ionization detection‐mass spectrometry (GC‐FID‐MS) analysis, were α‐pinene and 1,8‐cineole in myrtle salt (FS 1), verbenone, α‐pinene, 1,8‐cineole, and rosifoliol in herbs/plants salt (FS 2), and limonene in orange fruits/saffron salt (FS 3). At the dose of 0.04 g mL−1, saline solutions obtained with flavored salt (containing approximately 6–30% less sodium chloride) were perceived as more intense, less familiar, but equally pleasant than pure salt solution. In particular, sea salt flavored with orange fruits/saffron emerged as the most interesting in potentiating saltiness perception. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed the important role of Mediterranean aromatic plants in the enhancement of saltiness perception and qualified the use of flavored sea salt during food preparation/cooking instead of normal salt as a potential strategy to reduce the daily salt intake. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the role of sex and body weight in the olfactory and gustatory dimensions (pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity) of mullet cured roes, a marine rich‐fat food with peculiar sensory attributes, was evaluated. One hundred seventy‐seven participants were enrolled. Positive correlations were observed between all food taste and odor dimensions. Women reported a significantly higher odor and taste intensity ratings than men. Multivariate linear regression analyses evidenced that body weight in women was negatively correlated to the food odor and taste pleasantness and positively correlated to odor intensity. These negative correlations were due to different women gustatory performance in relation to body weight. A significantly lower perception of salty and bitter taste was observed in women with a body weight >60 kg compared to those with a body weight ≤60 kg. Our results underline the important role of sex and body weight in the food products sensory evaluation. Practical applications: This study evidenced higher intensity ratings in women than men for the evaluation of olfactory and gustatory dimensions (pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity) of the salted and dried mullet roes, a lipid‐rich food, and the role of body weight in women sensory perception. Therefore, our data highlight the importance of taking into consideration sex and body weight when consumers panels are selected and constituted for the evaluation of sensory properties and acceptance of lipid‐rich foods, but also applicable to other types of foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemosensory (gustatory and olfactory) dysfunction contributes to obesity, but the association between body mass index (BMI) and chemosensory dysfunction are inconsistently reported. The present study included 4,390 subjects at a Smell and Taste Clinic. Results suggested that both the obesity class II group (BMI ≥ 35) and underweight group (BMI < 18.5) exhibited impaired taste function compared with the normal weight group (p <.05). Comparing with the other groups, the obesity class II group exhibited a higher proportion of impaired bitter identification (8.6%), and the underweight group showed a higher proportion of impaired salty identification (7.9%). When investigating differences for individual tastes, subjects with impaired bitter identification had higher BMI (t = 2.79, p =.005) and lower olfactory scores (p <.05) compared with those with intact bitter identification. Finally, reduced taste scores are associated with an increased BMI (r = −.04, p =.022). This correlation becomes more pronounced with age (F = 1.42, p <.001). Practical Application: The nonlinear association between chemosensory dysfunction and BMI suggested that maintaining the gustatory and olfactory function is of significance for normal metabolism. In obesity regulating bitter taste appears to be more important than the other tastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several biomarkers of healthy aging have been proposed in recent years, including the epigenetic clocks, based on DNA methylation (DNAm) measures, which are getting increasingly accurate in predicting the individual biological age. The recently developed "next‐generation clock" DNAmGrimAge outperforms "first‐generation clocks" in predicting longevity and the onset of many age‐related pathological conditions and diseases. Additionally, the total number of stochastic epigenetic mutations (SEMs), also known as the epigenetic mutation load (EML), has been proposed as a complementary DNAm‐based biomarker of healthy aging. A fundamental biological property of epigenetic, and in particular DNAm modifications, is the potential reversibility of the effect, raising questions about the possible slowdown of epigenetic aging by modifying one's lifestyle. Here, we investigated whether improved dietary habits and increased physical activity have favorable effects on aging biomarkers in healthy postmenopausal women. The study sample consists of 219 women from the "Diet, Physical Activity, and Mammography" (DAMA) study: a 24‐month randomized factorial intervention trial with DNAm measured twice, at baseline and the end of the trial. Women who participated in the dietary intervention had a significant slowing of the DNAmGrimAge clock, whereas increasing physical activity led to a significant reduction of SEMs in crucial cancer‐related pathways. Our study provides strong evidence of a causal association between lifestyle modification and slowing down of DNAm aging biomarkers. This randomized trial elucidates the causal relationship between lifestyle and healthy aging‐related epigenetic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic impact and losses caused by abortion of small ruminants represent an important threat to livestock industry worldwide. Infectious agents are the most commonly causes of small ruminant abortion and many of which pose a serious threat to human health. The management of abortion outbreaks is essential to understand the transmission, prevention and control of the zoonotic diseases. This study aimed to increase the knowledge about the common known zoonotic pathogens causing abortion (Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia abortus and Toxoplasma gondii) circulating in Sardinia. In addition, the occurrence of other infectious agents that, until now, had never been identified in abortion samples and which might be cocirculating during the abortion outbreaks were also considered. In this study, 125 abortion samples collected from 91 small ruminant farms were screened for the presence of Babesia/Theileria spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp., Chlamydia spp., C. burnetii and T. gondii by PCR analyses and sequencing. This is the first evidence on the presence of Theileria sergenti/orientalis/buffeli group and Eh. canis in 22 (22/125; 18%) and 26 (26/125; 21%) abortion products from small ruminants, respectively. Chlamydia abortus, C. burnetii and T. gondii were also detected in brain, liver, spleen and placentae at 46% (58/125), 34% (42/125) and 2% (2/125), respectively. This study highlights that pathogens with epizootic and zoonotic potential are circulating in the island and could be involved directly or in association with other pathogens as possible cause of ruminant abortion. Further studies are needed to fully assess the impact of Theileria sergenti/orientalis/buffeli group and Eh. canis on ruminant abortion and their real zoonotic risk in the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiologic studies examining the association between specific fatty acids and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk are inconclusive. We investigated the association between dietary estimates and plasma levels of individual and total saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), industrial‐processed trans (iTFA), and ruminant‐sourced trans (rTFA) fatty acids, and CRC risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Baseline fatty acid intakes were estimated in 450 112 participants (6162 developed CRC, median follow‐up = 15 years). In a nested case‐control study, plasma phospholipid fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography in 433 colon cancer cases and 433 matched controls. Multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using Cox and conditional logistic regression, respectively. Dietary total SFA (highest vs lowest quintile, HRQ5vsQ1 = 0.80; 95%CI:0.69‐0.92), myristic acid (HRQ5vsQ1 = 0.83, 95%CI:0.74‐0.93) and palmitic acid (HRQ5vsQ1 = 0.81, 95%CI:0.70‐0.93) were inversely associated with CRC risk. Plasma myristic acid was also inversely associated with colon cancer risk (highest vs lowest quartile, ORQ4vsQ1 = 0.51; 95%CI:0.32‐0.83), whereas a borderline positive association was found for plasma stearic acid (ORQ4vsQ1 = 1.63; 95%CI:1.00‐2.64). Dietary total MUFA was inversely associated with colon cancer (per 1‐SD increment, HR1‐SD = 0.92, 95%CI: 0.85‐0.98), but not rectal cancer (HR1‐SD = 1.04, 95%CI:0.95‐1.15, Pheterogeneity = 0.027). Dietary iTFA, and particularly elaidic acid, was positively associated with rectal cancer (HR1‐SD = 1.07, 95%CI:1.02‐1.13). Our results suggest that total and individual saturated fatty acids and fatty acids of industrial origin may be relevant to the aetiology of CRC. Both dietary and plasma myristic acid levels were inversely associated with colon cancer risk, which warrants further investigation. What's new? The role of specific fatty acids in cancer development is not fully understood. In this large, prospective European study of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, the authors found that dietary myristic and palmitic acids from dairy were inversely associated with CRC risk, as were total saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acids. Dietary industrially‐processed trans fatty acids (iTFA) were positively associated with rectal cancer. These results suggest that total and individual saturated fatty acids may be relevant to the aetiology of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) may contribute to liver carcinogenesis because of their proinflammatory and prooxidative properties. Diet is a major source of AGEs, but there is sparse human evidence on the role of AGEs intake in liver cancer etiology. We examined the association between dietary AGEs and the risk of hepatobiliary cancers in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition prospective cohort (n = 450 111). Dietary intake of three AGEs, Nε‐[carboxymethyl]lysine (CML), Nε‐[1‐carboxyethyl]lysine (CEL) and Nδ‐[5‐hydro‐5‐methyl‐4‐imidazolon‐2‐yl]‐ornithine (MG‐H1), was estimated using country‐specific dietary questionnaires linked to an AGEs database. Cause‐specific hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between dietary AGEs and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), gallbladder and biliary tract cancers were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression. After a median follow‐up time of 14.9 years, 255 cases of HCC, 100 cases of gallbladder cancer and 173 biliary tract cancers were ascertained. Higher intakes of dietary AGEs were inversely associated with the risk of HCC (per 1 SD increment, HR‐CML = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76‐0.99, HR‐CEL = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74‐0.96 and HR‐MH‐G1 = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74‐0.97). In contrast, positive associations were observed with risk of gallbladder cancer (per 1 SD, HR‐CML = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.05‐1.56, HR‐CEL = 1.17; 95% CI: 0.96‐1.40, HR‐MH‐G1 = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06‐1.54). No associations were observed for cancers of the intra and extrahepatic bile ducts. Our findings suggest that higher intakes of dietary AGEs are inversely associated with the risk of HCC and positively associated with the risk of gallbladder cancer. What's new? Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are proteins or lipids with sugars added to them, and they can form in foods during cooking. They have pro‐inflammatory and pro‐oxidative properties in the body. These authors investigated whether dietary consumption of AGEs affect risk of liver cancer, using the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Participants filled out food questionnaires to determine AGE consumption. Higher intakes of AGEs were associated with reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and increased risk of gallbladder cancer. However, it's still not entirely clear how much AGEs in the diet contribute to circulating AGE levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic photovoltaics (OPV) is an emerging technology that combines semi‐transparency and flexibility in lightweight, ultrathin solar modules. The record power conversion efficiencies for OPV are approaching 20%, with reported lifetimes ranging from months to several years. Despite these attributes, OPV has not yet been commercialized on a large scale. Here, we critically examine the commercial potential of OPV. We begin by surveying feasibility studies in the literature to identify threshold values for performance that would enable OPV to be commercially competitive with conventional electricity production. We discuss how these parameters alone are not sufficient to predict the success of a photovoltaic technology, as there is still significant discrepancy between performance in the laboratory and in the field. Even if this gap can be closed, it is unlikely that OPV will ever compete in the conventional electricity market. Instead, the unique properties may make OPV an interesting candidate for niche applications with less rigid demands on performance, but stricter requirements on aesthetics, flexibility, weight, and transparency. In this case, application‐specific requirements on efficiency and stability must first be established. Ultimately, even the most optimistic scenarios for OPV identify poor stability as the biggest challenge for general market entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the role of individual and lifestyle factors in human disease, an exposome‐wide association study was performed to investigate within a single‐study anthropometry measures and lifestyle factors previously associated with B‐cell lymphoma (BCL). Within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition study, 2402 incident BCL cases were diagnosed from 475 426 participants that were followed‐up on average 14 years. Standard and penalized Cox regression models as well as principal component analysis (PCA) were used to evaluate 84 exposures in relation to BCL risk. Standard and penalized Cox regression models showed a positive association between anthropometric measures and BCL and multiple myeloma/plasma cell neoplasm (MM). The penalized Cox models additionally showed the association between several exposures from categories of physical activity, smoking status, medical history, socioeconomic position, diet and BCL and/or the subtypes. PCAs confirmed the individual associations but also showed additional observations. The PC5 including anthropometry, was positively associated with BCL, diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and MM. There was a significant positive association between consumption of sugar and confectionary (PC11) and follicular lymphoma risk, and an inverse association between fish and shellfish and Vitamin D (PC15) and DLBCL risk. The PC1 including features of the Mediterranean diet and diet with lower inflammatory score showed an inverse association with BCL risk, while the PC7, including dairy, was positively associated with BCL and DLBCL risk. Physical activity (PC10) was positively associated with DLBCL risk among women. This study provided informative insights on the etiology of BCL. What's new? The "exposome" includes all non‐genetic exposures (e.g. diet, viral, environmental, etc.), with the goal of understanding how those exposures may affect an individual's health. In this study, the authors used a technique called "EWAS" (exposome‐wide association study) to identify multiple factors that are associated with B‐cell lymphoma (BCL) risk. Their results confirm both previously reported risk factors and protective factors. In addition, they identify several previously unknown associations. These new insights, gained via the analysis of multiple exposures, suggest that traditional single‐factor approaches may be suboptimal compared with an EWAS approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia (FM) was frequently observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to evaluate the differences in psychiatric comorbidities and life adversities between patients with Rheumatoid arthritis + FM (secondary fibromyalgia [SFM]) and people with primary FM (PFM). In a cross‐sectional, observational study, patients with PFM and SFM underwent a structured interview for the lifetime diagnosis of major depression (MDD), panic disorder (PD) and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and were assessed for childhood/adulthood adversities and FM‐related symptoms severity. Thirty patients with PFM and 40 with SFM were recruited. The univariate analysis showed that the lifetime rates of MDD were significantly higher in PFM versus SFM (76.7 % and 40%, respectively, p < 0.003), as well as the rates of PD (50 % and 15%, respectively, p < 0.003), whereas there was no difference in PTSD rates. The rates of sexual abuse and physical neglect were significantly higher in PFM patients versus SFM patients (p < 0.005 and p < 0.023). Life events occurring before FM onset were different in PFM and SFM groups. In the logistic regression model, lifetime PD and physical neglect remain independent risk factors for PFM. PFM and SFM differ in psychiatric comorbidities and environmental adversities, suggesting that common pathogenesis may develop through different pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: COVID-19 is especially severe for elderly subjects with cardiometabolic and respiratory comorbidities. Neck circumference (NC) has been shown to be strongly related to cardiometabolic and respiratory illnesses even after adjustment for body mass index (BMI). We performed a prospective study to investigate the potential of NC to predict the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in adult COVID-19 inpatients.Materials and Methods: We prospectively and consecutively enrolled COVID-19 adult patients admitted to dedicated medical wards of two Italian hospitals from 25 March to 7 April 2020. On admission, clinical, biochemical and anthropometric data, including BMI and NC were collected. As primary outcome measure, the maximum respiratory support received was evaluated. Follow-up time was 30 days from hospital admission.Results: We enrolled 132 subjects (55.0-75.8 years, 32% female). During the study period, 26 (19.7%) patients underwent IMV. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension and COPD, NC resulted independently and significantly associated with IMV risk (adjusted OR 1.260-per 1 cm increase 95% CI:1.120-1.417; P < .001), with a stronger association in the subgroup with BMI ≤30 Kg/m2 (adjusted OR 1.526; 95% CI:1.243-1.874; P < .001). NC showed a good discrimination power in predicting patients requiring IMV (AUC 0.783; 95% CI:0.684-0.882; P < .001). In particular, NC > 40.5 cm (>37.5 for females and >42.5 for males) showed a higher and earlier IMV risk compared to subjects with lower NC (Log-rank test: P < .001).Conclusions: NC is an easy to measure parameter able to predict the need for IMV in adult COVID-19 inpatients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: platelet count; genetic analysis; GP1BB; bernard-Soulier syndrome; platelet glycoproteins; functional studies EN platelet count genetic analysis GP1BB bernard-Soulier syndrome platelet glycoproteins functional studies e124 e128 5 12/07/20 20201201 NES 201201 Inherited platelets disorders can be severe, especially after trauma or surgical procedures in some monogenic disorders, as in Bernard-Soulier syndrome [BSS; Mendelian Inheritance in Man (MIM) #231200]. The cysteine knot of platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb-beta) is critical for the interaction of GPIb-beta with GPIX. 2015; 94: 2069 - 71. 19 Kunishima S, Naoe T, Kamiya T, Saito H. Novel heterozygous missense mutation in the platelet glycoprotein Ib beta gene associated with isolated giant platelet disorder. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND The Sardinian food delicacy 'bottarga' is the final product of a number of treatments (salting and drying) on the ovaries of mullet (Mugil spp) and represents an important natural source of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) with nutraceutical properties. During the salting process of mullet roes to obtain bottarga, huge amounts of waste salt are generated, rich in residual ovary material. RESULTS: We evaluated the lipid composition (main lipid components and fatty acids) and bioactivity of oil obtained from the ovary material separated from waste salt (waste salt oil). Oil was obtained by supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide (SFE‐CO2), an environmentally friendly separation technique. The lipid composition of waste salt oil was determined by carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C‐NMR) spectroscopy and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC‐DAD/ELSD) chromatography. The oil was characterized by a relatively high level of n‐3 PUFA (122 ± 7 g kg−1 of oil), and these beneficial health compounds were mainly present in the form of wax esters. Waste salt oil showed a marked cytotoxic effect [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay] in cancer B16F10 melanoma cells, with a slight cytotoxic effect in normal cells (3T3 fibroblasts). Waste salt and its derivatives (salt oil and residual material after oil extraction) were also tested for the attractant effect and acceptability to insects (Ceratitis capitata) to gain preliminary information about their potential application for animal supplementation. CONCLUSION: The results qualify waste salt as a potential resource for veterinary dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical applications. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to estimate the income generated by a wind turbine over a given time interval. The income depends on two main variables: the wind speed that determines the produced energy and electricity price. Both wind speed and electricity price evolve randomly in time and are correlated. To consider this dependency, we applied a vector autoregressive process (VAR) that links both variables. An application was performed using real data from a hypothetical wind turbine located in Sardinia (Italy). The income simulated by using the VAR model was closer to the empirical value compared with that obtained by simulating wind speed and electricity prices as independent variables. The results were also discussed in relation to the introduction of the SAPEI submarine cable, which produces a significant change in the income value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited evidence exists on the role of modifiable lifestyle factors on the risk of lymphoma. In this work, the associations between adherence to healthy lifestyles and risks of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were evaluated in a large‐scale European prospective cohort. Within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), 2,999 incident lymphoma cases (132 HL and 2,746 NHL) were diagnosed among 453,808 participants after 15 years (median) of follow‐up. The healthy lifestyle index (HLI) score combined information on smoking, alcohol intake, diet, physical activity and BMI, with large values of HLI expressing adherence to healthy behavior. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate lymphoma hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Sensitivity analyses were conducted by excluding, in turn, each lifestyle factor from the HLI score. The HLI was inversely associated with HL, with HR for a 1‐standard deviation (SD) increment in the score equal to 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.94). Sensitivity analyses showed that the association was mainly driven by smoking and marginally by diet. NHL risk was not associated with the HLI, with HRs for a 1‐SD increment equal to 0.99 (0.95, 1.03), with no evidence for heterogeneity in the association across NHL subtypes. In the EPIC study, adherence to healthy lifestyles was not associated with overall lymphoma or NHL risk, while an inverse association was observed for HL, although this was largely attributable to smoking. These findings suggest a limited role of lifestyle factors in the etiology of lymphoma subtypes. What's new? Do lifestyle factors affect lymphoma risk? Previous studies have been inconclusive, and most lacked statistical power to allow accurate conclusions. In this large, prospective European study, the authors examined the relationship between a score combining lifestyle exposures, such as smoking, BMI, and alchohol, and the risk of lymphoma. They observed that healthy behaviors were inversely related to the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma, although smoking was the main driver of the association. These findings indicated a limited role for lifestyle factors in the etiology of lymphomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To implement, optimize, and characterize lipid‐insensitive binomial off‐resonant RF excitation (LIBRE) pulses for fat‐suppressed fully self‐gated free‐running 5D cardiac MRI. Methods: Bloch equation simulations were used to optimize LIBRE parameter settings in non‐interrupted bSSFP prior to in vitro validation. Thus, optimized LIBRE pulses were subsequently applied to free‐running coronary MRA in 20 human adult subjects, where resulting images were quantitatively compared to those obtained with non‐fat‐suppressing excitation (SP), conventional 1‐2‐1 water excitation (WE), and a previously published interrupted free‐running (IFR) sequence. SAR and scan times were recorded. Respiratory‐and‐cardiac‐motion‐resolved images were reconstructed with XD‐GRASP, and contrast ratios, coronary artery detection rate, vessel length, and vessel sharpness were computed. Results: The numerically optimized LIBRE parameters were successfully validated in vitro. In vivo, LIBRE had the lowest SAR and a scan time that was similar to that of WE yet 18% shorter than that of IFR. LIBRE improved blood–fat contrast when compared to SP, WE, and IFR, vessel detection relative to SP and IFR, and vessel sharpness when compared to WE and IFR (for example, for the left main and anterior descending coronary artery, 51.5% ± 10.2% [LIBRE] versus 42.1% ± 6.8% [IFR]). Vessel length measurements remained unchanged for all investigated methods. Conclusion: LIBRE enabled fully self‐gated non‐interrupted free‐running 5D bSSFP imaging of the heart at 1.5T with suppressed fat signal. Measures of image quality, vessel conspicuity, and scan time compared favorably to those obtained with the more conventional non‐interrupted WE and the previously published IFR, while SAR reduction offers added flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometrial cancer (EC) incidence rates vary ~10‐fold worldwide, in part due to variation in EC risk factor profiles. Using an EC risk model previously developed in the European EPIC cohort, we evaluated the prevention potential of modified EC risk factor patterns and whether differences in EC incidence between a European population and low‐risk countries can be explained by differences in these patterns. Predicted EC incidence rates were estimated over 10 years of follow‐up for the cohort before and after modifying risk factor profiles. Risk factors considered were: body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), use of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) and oral contraceptives (OC) (potentially modifiable); and, parity, ages at first birth, menarche and menopause (environmentally conditioned, but not readily modifiable). Modeled alterations in BMI (to all ≤23 kg/m2) and HT use (to all non‐HT users) profiles resulted in a 30% reduction in predicted EC incidence rates; individually, longer duration of OC use (to all ≥10 years) resulted in a 42.5% reduction. Modeled changes in not readily modifiable exposures (i.e., those not contributing to prevention potential) resulted in ≤24.6% reduction in predicted EC incidence. Women in the lowest decile of a risk score based on the evaluated exposures had risk similar to a low risk countries; however, this was driven by relatively long use of OCs (median = 23 years). Our findings support avoidance of overweight BMI and of HT use as prevention strategies for EC in a European population; OC use must be considered in the context of benefits and risks. What's new? Endometrial cancer rates vary considerably around the world, with incidence rates higher in Europe and North America than in parts of Asia and Africa. Here, the authors investigated how much of the risk disparity arises from modifiable factors, and how much modifying these factors could reduce cancer incidence. The 10% of European women with lowest risk had similar incidence to women in low‐risk countries, they found. Their model predicted that in European women, maintaining BMI below 23 kg/m2 and avoiding postmenopausal hormone use could reduce risk by 30%. Long‐term use of oral contraceptives could reduce risk by 42.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an incurable disease accounting for almost one‐third of leukemias in the Western world. Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is a well‐established characteristic of CLL, and the robust nature of miRNAs makes them eminently suitable liquid biopsy biomarkers. Using a nested case–control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), the predictive values of five promising human miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐16‐5p, hsa‐miR‐29a‐3p, hsa‐miR‐150‐5p, hsa‐miR‐155‐5p and hsa‐miR‐223‐3p), identified in a pilot study, were examined in serum of 224 CLL cases (diagnosed 3 months to 18 years after enrollment) and 224 matched controls using Taqman based assays. Conditional logistic regressions were applied to adjust for potential confounders. The median time from blood collection to CLL diagnosis was 10 years (p25–p75: 7–13 years). Overall, the upregulation of hsa‐miR‐150‐5p, hsa‐miR‐155‐5p and hsa‐miR‐29a‐3p was associated with subsequent risk of CLL [OR1∆Ct‐unit increase (95%CI) = 1.42 (1.18–1.72), 1.64 (1.31–2.04) and 1.75 (1.31–2.34) for hsa‐miR‐150‐5p, hsa‐miR‐155‐5p and hsa‐miR‐29a‐3p, respectively] and the strongest associations were observed within 10 years of diagnosis. However, the predictive performance of these miRNAs was modest (area under the curve <0.62). hsa‐miR‐16‐5p and hsa‐miR‐223‐3p levels were unrelated to CLL risk. The findings of this first prospective study suggest that hsa‐miR‐29a, hsa‐miR‐150‐5p and hsa‐miR‐155‐5p were upregulated in early stages of CLL but were modest predictive biomarkers of CLL risk. What's new? Aberrant circulating microRNA (miRNA) levels are a well‐established characteristic of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but pre‐diagnosis data remain scarce. In this nested case–control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study, circulating hsa‐miRNA‐29a‐3p, ‐150‐5p, and ‐155‐5p were upregulated up to 10 years before CLL diagnosis compared to controls, suggesting a role in early disease progression. However, these biomarkers were suboptimal to discriminate CLL from controls. No difference was observed in hsa‐miRNA‐16‐5p and ‐223‐3p expression between pre‐CLL and controls. The ability to detect pre‐clinical biomarkers may help better understand CLL development and open new avenues for personalized treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proinflammatory diets are associated with risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), however, inconsistencies exist in subsite‐ and sex‐specific associations. The relationship between CRC and combined lifestyle‐related factors that contribute toward a low‐grade inflammatory profile has not yet been explored. We examined the association between the dietary inflammatory potential and an inflammatory profile and CRC risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. This cohort included 476,160 participants followed‐up of 14 years and 5,991 incident CRC cases (3,897 colon and 2,094 rectal tumors). Dietary inflammatory potential was estimated using an Inflammatory Score of the Diet (ISD). An Inflammatory Profile Score (IPS) was constructed, incorporating the ISD, physical activity level and abdominal obesity. The associations between the ISD and CRC and IPS and CRC were assessed using multivariable regression models. More proinflammatory diets were related to a higher CRC risk, particularly for colon cancer; hazard ratio (HR) for highest versus lowest ISD quartile was 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.27) for CRC, 1.24 (95% CI 1.09–1.41) for colon cancer and 0.99 (95% CI 0.83–1.17) for rectal cancer. Associations were more pronounced in men and not significant in women. The IPS was associated with CRC risk, particularly colon cancer among men; HRs for the highest versus lowest IPS was 1.62 (95% CI 1.31–2.01) for colon cancer overall and 2.11 (95% CI 1.50–2.97) for colon cancer in men. Our study shows that more proinflammatory diets and a more inflammatory profile are associated with higher risk of CRC, principally colon cancer and in men. What's new? Chronic inflammation has been implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC), and diet plays an important role in modulating systemic inflammation. Two additional factors that contribute to chronic inflammation and also increase CRC risk are adiposity and lack of physical activity. In this large prospective study, the authors gained further insight into these relationships. They found that pro‐inflammatory diets and a higher Inflammatory Profile Score (IPS, based on diet, physical activity, and abdominal obesity) are strong predictors of CRC, but principally of colon cancer and especially in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence suggests that a metabolic profile associated with obesity may be a more relevant risk factor for some cancers than adiposity per se. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is an indicator of overall body metabolism and may be a proxy for the impact of a specific metabolic profile on cancer risk. Therefore, we investigated the association of predicted BMR with incidence of 13 obesity‐related cancers in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). BMR at baseline was calculated using the WHO/FAO/UNU equations and the relationships between BMR and cancer risk were investigated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. A total of 141,295 men and 317,613 women, with a mean follow‐up of 14 years were included in the analysis. Overall, higher BMR was associated with a greater risk for most cancers that have been linked with obesity. However, among normal weight participants, higher BMR was associated with elevated risks of esophageal adenocarcinoma (hazard ratio per 1‐standard deviation change in BMR [HR1‐SD]: 2.46; 95% CI 1.20; 5.03) and distal colon cancer (HR1‐SD: 1.33; 95% CI 1.001; 1.77) among men and with proximal colon (HR1‐SD: 1.16; 95% CI 1.01; 1.35), pancreatic (HR1‐SD: 1.37; 95% CI 1.13; 1.66), thyroid (HR1‐SD: 1.65; 95% CI 1.33; 2.05), postmenopausal breast (HR1‐SD: 1.17; 95% CI 1.11; 1.22) and endometrial (HR1‐SD: 1.20; 95% CI 1.03; 1.40) cancers in women. These results indicate that higher BMR may be an indicator of a metabolic phenotype associated with risk of certain cancer types, and may be a useful predictor of cancer risk independent of body fatness. What's new? Although the basal metabolic rate (BMR) – defined as the daily rate of energy metabolism required to preserve vital functions – has been positively associated with increased breast cancer risk, its relevance to other cancers remains unknown. Here, the authors examined associations between predicted BMR and risk of 13 cancers in over 520,000 individuals in Europe. Predicted BMR was generally positively associated with cancer risk. Importantly, among normal weight individuals, BMR was positively associated with cancers of the colon, pancreas, thyroid, esophageal adenocarcinoma, postmenopausal breast, and endometrium, indicating that BMR may identify subgroups of the population who are at greater risk of these malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) etiology is not well understood. Reported inverse associations with smoking and coffee consumption prompted the investigation of alcohol consumption as a risk factor, for which evidence is inconclusive.Objective: To assess the associations between alcohol consumption and PD risk.Methods: Within NeuroEPIC4PD, a prospective European population-based cohort, 694 incident PD cases were ascertained from 209,998 PD-free participants. Average alcohol consumption at different time points was self-reported at recruitment. Cox regression hazard ratios were estimated for alcohol consumption and PD occurrence.Results: No associations between baseline or lifetime total alcohol consumption and PD risk were observed. Men with moderate lifetime consumption (5-29.9 g/day) were at ~50% higher risk compared with light consumption (0.1-4.9 g/day), but no linear exposure-response trend was observed. Analyses by beverage type also revealed no associations with PD.Conclusion: Our data reinforce previous findings from prospective studies showing no association between alcohol consumption and PD risk. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) in men is rare and genetic predisposition is likely to play a relevant role in its etiology. Inherited mutations in BRCA1/2 account for about 13% of all cases and additional genes that may contribute to the missing heritability need to be investigated. In our study, a well‐characterized series of 523 male BC (MBC) patients from the Italian multicenter study on MBC, enriched for non‐BRCA1/2 MBC cases, was screened by a multigene custom panel of 50 cancer‐associated genes. The main clinical‐pathologic characteristics of MBC in pathogenic variant carriers and non‐carriers were also compared. BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants were detected in twenty patients, thus, a total of 503 non‐BRCA1/2 MBC patients were examined in our study. Twenty‐seven of the non‐BRCA1/2 MBC patients were carriers of germline pathogenic variants in other genes, including two APC p.Ile1307Lys variant carriers and one MUTYH biallelic variant carrier. PALB2 was the most frequently altered gene (1.2%) and PALB2 pathogenic variants were significantly associated with high risk of MBC. Non‐BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers were more likely to have personal (p = 0.0005) and family (p = 0.007) history of cancer. Results of our study support a central role of PALB2 in MBC susceptibility and show a low impact of CHEK2 on MBC predisposition in the Italian population. Overall, our data indicate that a multigene testing approach may benefit from appropriately selected patients with implications for clinical management and counseling of MBC patients and their family members. What's new? While multigene panel testing for breast cancer predisposition has been performed extensively in females, its use in male breast cancer (MBC) patients has been much more limited, despite a likely role for genetic predisposition in MBC. In this multicenter study in Italy, panel testing involving 50 cancer‐associated genes identified germline pathogenic variants in about 5 percent of BRCA1/2‐negative MBC patients. In non‐BRCA1/2 MBC, the most frequently mutated genes were PALB2 and ATM, with PALB2 mutations having a major impact on MBC risk. By comparison, mutations in CHEK2 had little impact on MBC predisposition in the Italian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: African swine fever (ASF) is a notifiable infectious disease, caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), which is a DNA virus belonging to the family Asfarviridae, genus Asfivirus. This disease has gained importance in the last decade after its spread in several countries in Eastern and Central Europe, and more recently, in China. Despite the efforts made to eradicate it, ASF is still present on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia (Italy) and has been since 1978. ASF risk factors on the island have been analysed in previous studies; the role of free‐ranging pigs in virus persistence has been suggested, but has not been fully elucidated. The most recent eradication plan provides more stringent measures to combat free‐ranging pigs and any kind of illegality in the pig sector. From December 2017 to June 2018, a total of 29 depopulation actions were performed in 13 municipalities in central Sardinia, during which 2,281 free‐ranging pigs were culled and more than 50% of them were tested for ASFV and antibody presence (1,218 and 1,416, respectively). A total of 651 pigs were seropositive, with a mean seroprevalence of 53.4% (CI 95% = 50.6–56.3), and 38 were ASFV positive (virus prevalence = 2.6%; CI 95% = 2.1–3.0). To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to provide a complete evaluation of this millennial system of pig farming and ASFV prevalence in free‐ranging pigs. Furthermore, it has emphasised the necessity of combining the maintenance of an epidemiological surveillance program with continuous education of farmers and other people involved in pig husbandry, based on cultural and economic aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has an exceptionally low survival rate and primary prevention strategies are limited. Folate plays an important role in one‐carbon metabolism and has been associated with the risk of several cancers, but not consistently with PC risk. We aimed to investigate the association between dietary folate intake and PC risk, using the standardised folate database across 10 European countries. A total of 477,206 participants were followed up for 11 years, during which 865 incident primary PC cases were recorded. Folate intake was energy‐adjusted using the residual method. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. In multivariable analyses stratified by age, sex, study centre and adjusted for energy intake, smoking status, BMI, educational level, diabetes status, supplement use and dietary fibre intake, we found no significant association between folate intake and PC risk: the HR of PC risk for those in the highest quartile of folate intake (≥353 μg/day) compared to the lowest (<241 μg/day) was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.51, 1.31; ptrend = 0.38). In current smokers, a positive trend was observed in PC risk across folate quartiles [HR = 4.42 (95% CI: 1.05, 18.62) for ≥353 μg/day vs. <241 μg/day, ptrend = 0.01]. Nonetheless, there was no significant interaction between smoking and dietary folate intake (pinteraction = 0.99). We found no association between dietary folate intake and PC risk in this large European study. What's new? This large investigation with 865 incident pancreatic cancer cases from the EPIC study showed no significant association between dietary folate intake and pancreatic cancer risk. Dietary folate intake was ascertained using the standardised folate dataset compiled for EPIC which provided comparable folate data across the participating countries with minimum influence of folic acid fortification or supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]