Association of Body Mass Index and Age With Subsequent Breast Cancer Risk in Premenopausal Women.

Importance: The association between increasing body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) and risk of breast cancer is unique in cancer epidemiology in that a crossover effect exists, with risk reduction before and risk increase after menopause. The inverse association with premenopausal breast cancer risk is poorly characterized but might be important in the understanding of breast cancer causation.

Objective: To investigate the association of BMI with premenopausal breast cancer risk, in particular by age at BMI, attained age, risk factors for breast cancer, and tumor characteristics.

Dietary intake of total polyphenol and polyphenol classes and the risk of colorectal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.

Polyphenols may play a chemopreventive role in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, epidemiological evidence supporting a role for intake of individual polyphenol classes, other than flavonoids is insufficient. We evaluated the association between dietary intakes of total and individual classes and subclasses of polyphenols and CRC risk and its main subsites, colon and rectum, within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. The cohort included 476,160 men and women from 10 European countries.

Gene-specific methylation profiles in -mutation positive and -mutation negative male breast cancers.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease. Due to its rarity, MBC research and clinical approach are mostly based upon data derived from female breast cancer (FBC). Increasing evidence indicate that on molecular level MBC may be an heterogeneous disease different from FBC.

Cystic echinococcosis in a domestic cat (Felis catus) in Italy.

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato is a zoonotic agent with a life cycle consisting of definitive hosts (dogs and wild carnivores), and intermediate hosts (usually ungulates). Other animals and humans may accidentally ingest eggs and contract cystic echinococcosis, acting as aberrant hosts. A 3-year-old neutered female cat was brought to a veterinary practice in Sassari (Italy) with abdominal distension.

Smoking and FGFR2 rs2981582 variant independently modulate male breast cancer survival: A population-based study in Tuscany, Italy.

Aim: Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease and recommendations for its clinical management are often extrapolated from those for female breast cancer, even if breast cancer (BC) has different characteristics in the two sexes. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of several individual characteristics including clinico-pathological, lifestyle and genetic factors on overall survival (OS) of a relatively large and well characterized population-based series of 166 MBCs enrolled in Tuscany.

Methods: We genotyped MBC cases at BRCA1/2 genes and at 9 candidate BC susceptibility SNPs.

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet and long-term changes in weight and waist circumference in the EPIC-Italy cohort.

Excessive calorie intake and physical inactivity are considered key determinants of the rapid worldwide increase in obesity prevalence, however the relationship between diet and weight gain is complex. We investigated associations between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and long-term changes in weight and waist circumference in volunteers recruited to the Italian section of the prospective European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). We investigated 32,119 cohort members who provided anthropometric measures at recruitment and updated information on recall a mean of 12 years later.

Development of a Device-Assisted Nerve-Regeneration Procedure in Disruptive Lesions of the Brachial Plexus.

Background:  We describe the development of a new surgical procedure to be used in the treatment of disruptive brachial plexus (BP) lesions. It is centered on an artificial device designed to assist nerve regeneration by providing a confined and protected environment. Nerve fibers can repair inside the device, while the adverse massive scar-tissue formation is limited to the outside of the device.

A five-year survey of tick species and identification of tick-borne bacteria in Sardinia, Italy.

Sardinia is a hotspot for studying tick-borne diseases in the Mediterranean region, where cases of notifiable tick-borne diseases are increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of tick-borne bacteria of medical and veterinary importance in ixodid ticks collected from domestic and wild animals, humans, and vegetation from different collection sites in Sardinia. Using standard PCR and sequencing techniques, the presence of Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Bartonella species, as well as Coxiella burnetii was evaluated.

Prediagnostic Serum Vitamin D Levels and the Risk of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in European Populations: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Background: A low vitamin D status has been put forward as a potential risk factor for the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study investigated the association between prediagnostic circulating vitamin D concentrations and dietary intakes of vitamin D, and the risk of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Among 359,728 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort, individuals who developed CD or UC after enrollment were identified.

Anti-hypertensive drugs and skin cancer risk: a review of the literature and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Several anti-hypertensive drugs have photosensitizing properties, however it remains unclear whether long-term users of these drugs are also at increased risk of skin malignancies. We conducted a literature review and meta-analysis on the association between use of anti-hypertensive drugs and the risk of cutaneous melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library, and included observational and experimental epidemiological studies published until February 28th, 2017.

Molecular evidence of Chlamydiales in ticks from wild and domestic hosts in Sardinia, Italy.

Ticks are well known to be important vectors for a wide range of bacteria, viruses and protozoa affecting human and animal health. Ixodid ticks are widely distributed in Sardinia, and an increasing number of tick-borne bacteria have been documented in the island. A growing number of evidence are supporting the hypothesis of alternative transmission routes for chlamydial bacteria such as the involvement of vectors.

Fibre intake and the development of inflammatory bowel disease: A European prospective multi-centre cohort study (EPIC-IBD).

Background And Aims: Population-based prospective cohort studies investigating fibre intake and development of inflammatory bowel disease are lacking. Our aim was to investigate the association between fibre intake and the development of Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC] in a large European population.

Methods: In total, 401326 participants, aged 20-80 years, were recruited in eight countries in Europe between 1991 and 1998.

Alcohol, alcoholic beverages, and melanoma risk: a systematic literature review and dose-response meta-analysis.

Purpose: Several studies in recent years have investigated the relationship between alcohol intake and melanoma risk, with conflicting results. To help clarify this issue, we conducted a literature review and dose-response meta-analysis of studies published until June 30th, 2017, that examined the association between alcohol intake (overall and by beverage type) and melanoma risk.

Methods: We used random effect models with maximum likelihood estimation to calculate summary relative risk (SRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

Structural and Immunodiagnostic Characterization of Synthetic Antigen B Subunits From Echinococcus granulosus and Their Evaluation as Target Antigens for Cyst Viability Assessment.

Background: Several tools have been proposed for serodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE), but none seems promising for cyst viability assessment. Antigens with stage-specific diagnostic value have been described, but few studies with well-characterized antigens and human serum samples have been performed. Antigen B (AgB) proteoforms hold promise as markers of viability, due to their differential stage-related expression and immunoreactivity.

Second Generation Needling Techniques for the Treatment of Chondral Defects in Animal Model.

 To compare the macroscopic, histological, and immunohistochemical characteristics of the repair tissue of chondral defects treated with microfracture and nanofracture in an ovine model.  Full-thickness chondral lesions were created in the medial femoral condyle of both knees in four adult sheep and were treated with microfracture on one side and with nanofracture on the contralateral side. Chondral repair was assessed after 12 months by macroscopic, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses.

Exploring the role of competition induced by non-vaccine serotypes for herd protection following pneumococcal vaccination.

The competitive pressure from non-vaccine serotypes may have helped pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) to limit vaccine-type (VT) serotype prevalence. We aimed to investigate if, consequently, the indirect protection of vaccines targeting most pneumococcal serotypes could fall short of the profound effects of current formulations. We compared three previously described pneumococcal models harmonized to simulate 20 serotypes with a combined pre-vaccination prevalence in children younger than 5-years-old of 40%.

GroEL typing and phylogeny of Anaplasma species in ticks from domestic and wild vertebrates.

Anaplasma species are globally distributed tick-borne bacteria causing a range of clinical conditions in domestic animals, wildlife, and human. Nevertheless, data on presence and distribution of Anaplasma strains in ticks are still lacking, especially in the Mediterranean region. This study reports the molecular identification, genetic characterization and phylogeny of Anaplasma strains of both veterinary and zoonotic importance in ticks collected from domestic and wild hosts sampled in a typical Mediterranean warm temperate region, the island of Sardinia.

A prospective evaluation of plasma phospholipid fatty acids and breast cancer risk in the EPIC study.

Background: Intakes of specific fatty acids have been postulated to impact breast cancer risk but epidemiological data based on dietary questionnaires remain conflicting.

Materials And Methods: We assessed the association between plasma phospholipid fatty acids and breast cancer risk in a case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Sixty fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography in pre-diagnostic plasma phospholipids from 2982 incident breast cancer cases matched to 2982 controls.

Dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, and cancer risk: results from the EPIC-Italy study.

Factors linked to glucose metabolism are involved in the etiology of several cancers. High glycemic index (GI) or high glycemic load (GL) diets, which chronically raise postprandial blood glucose, may increase cancer risk by affecting insulin-like growth factor. We prospectively investigated cancer risk and dietary GI/GL in the EPIC-Italy cohort.

Dietary Polyphenols in the Aetiology of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis-A Multicenter European Prospective Cohort Study (EPIC).

Background: Oxidative stress may be involved in the aetiology of inflammatory bowel disease and whether dietary polyphenols, which possess antioxidants properties, prevent its development is unknown.

Methods: A total of 401,326 men and women aged 20 to 80 years from 8 countries were recruited between 1991 and 1998 and at baseline completed validated food frequency questionnaires. Dietary polyphenol intake was measured using Phenol-Explorer, a database with information on the content of 502 polyphenols.

Physical activity and blood pressure in 10,000 Mediterranean adults: The EPIC-Florence cohort.

Background And Aims: The relevant role of physical activity (PA) in cardiovascular risk prevention is widely agreed. We aimed to evaluate, in a large Mediterranean population, the influence of PA on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), taking into account individual characteristics and lifestyle habits.

Methods And Results: In the Florence section of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition 10,163 individuals, 35-64 years, without a previous diagnosis of hypertension were recruited.

The disease burden of human cystic echinococcosis based on HDRs from 2001 to 2014 in Italy.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important neglected zoonotic parasitic infection belonging to the subgroup of seven Neglected Zoonotic Disease (NZDs) included in the World Health Organization's official list of 18 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). CE causes serious global human health concerns and leads to significant economic losses arising from the costs of medical treatment, morbidity, life impairments and fatality rates in human cases. Moreover, CE is endemic in several Italian Regions.

Nut intake and 5-year changes in body weight and obesity risk in adults: results from the EPIC-PANACEA study.

Purpose: There is inconsistent evidence regarding the relationship between higher intake of nuts, being an energy-dense food, and weight gain. We investigated the relationship between nut intake and changes in weight over 5 years.

Methods: This study includes 373,293 men and women, 25-70 years old, recruited between 1992 and 2000 from 10 European countries in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study.

Consumption of fruits, vegetables and fruit juices and differentiated thyroid carcinoma risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study.

Fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is considered as probably protective against overall cancer risk, but results in previous studies are not consistent for thyroid cancer (TC). The purpose of this study is to examine the association between the consumption of fruits, vegetables, fruit juices and differentiated thyroid cancer risk within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. The EPIC study is a cohort including over half a million participants, recruited between 1991 and 2000.

Impact of preventable risk factors on stroke in the EPICOR study: does gender matter?

Objectives: The effect of modifiable stroke risk factors in terms of prevented cases remains unclear due to sex-specific disease rate and risk factors prevalence. Our aim was to estimate their impact on stroke by gender through population-attributable fraction (PAF), preventive fraction (PF) and their combination in EPIC-Italian cohort.

Methods: 43,976 participants, age 34-75, and free of cardiovascular disease at baseline (1993-1998) were followed up for almost 11 years.