Dietary Patterns in Italy and the Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Conclusive evidence on foods, nutrients, or dietary patterns and the risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is lacking in the literature. Methods: We considered data from an Italian hospital-based case\u2013control study (1992\u20132004) on 767 incident RCC cases and 1534 controls. A posteriori dietary patterns were identified by applying principal component factor analysis on 28 nutrients derived from a 78-item food-frequency questionnaire. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) of RCC and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each quartile category (compared to the lowest one) using conditional multiple logistic regression models providing adjustment for major confounding factors. Results: We identified four dietary patterns, named \u201cAnimal products\u201d, \u201cStarch-rich\u201d, \u201cVitamins and fiber\u201d, and \u201cCooking oils and dressings\u201d. Higher intakes of the \u201cStarch-rich\u201d pattern were positively associated with RCC risk (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.04\u20131.82 for the highest quartile, p = 0.018). The association was inverse with the \u201cCooking oils and dressings\u201d pattern (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47\u20130.80, p < 0.001), whereas no association was found with \u201cAnimal products\u201d and \u201cVitamins and fiber\u201d patterns. Conclusions: Higher intakes of starch-related foods may increase RCC risk, whereas consumption of olive and seed oils may favorably influence RCC risk

Mediterranean diet and risk of endometrial cancer: a pooled analysis of three italian case-control studies.

BACKGROUND: Some components of the Mediterranean diet have favourable effects on endometrial cancer, and the Mediterranean diet as a whole has been shown to have a beneficial role on various neoplasms. METHODS: We analysed this issue pooling data from three case-control studies carried out between 1983 and 2006 in various Italian areas and in the Swiss Canton of Vaud. Cases were 1411 women with incident, histologically confirmed endometrial cancer, and controls were 3668 patients in hospital for acute diseases. We measured the adherence to the Mediterranean diet using a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), based on the nine dietary components characteristics of this diet, that is, high intake of vegetables, fruits/nuts, cereals, legumes, fish; low intake of dairy products and meat; high monounsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio; and moderate alcohol intake. We estimated the odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for increasing levels of the MDS (varying from 0, no adherence, to 9, maximum adherence) using multiple logistic regression models, adjusted for major confounding factors. RESULTS: The adjusted OR for a 6-9 components of the MDS (high adherence) compared with 0-3 (low adherence) was 0.43 (95% CI 0.34-0.56). The OR for an increment of one component of MDS diet was 0.84 (95% CI 0.80-0.88). The association was consistent in strata of various covariates, although somewhat stronger in older women, in never oral contraceptive users and in hormone-replacement therapy users. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence for a beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet on endometrial cancer risk, suggesting a favourable effect of a combination of foods rich in antioxidants, fibres, phytochemicals, and unsaturated fatty acids

Dietary Inflammatory Index and Renal Cell Carcinoma Risk in an Italian Case-Control Study

Background: The relation between diet-related inflammation and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been investigated. Methods: In this study, we explored the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and RCC in an Italian case-control study conducted between 1992 and 2004. Cases were 767 patients with incident, histologically confirmed RCC. Controls were 1534 subjects admitted to the same hospitals as cases for various acute, nonneoplastic conditions. The DII was computed based on dietary intake assessed using a reproducible and valid 78-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated through logistic regression models conditioned on age, sex, and center, and adjusted for recognized confounding factors, including total energy intake. Results: Subjects in the highest quartile of DII scores (i.e., with the most proinflammatory diets) had a higher risk of RCC compared to subjects in the lowest quartile [OR 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02, 1.97; p-trend = 0.04)]. Apparently stronger associations were observed among females (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.93, 3.03), subjects aged <60yr (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.05, 2.98), body mass index 25 kg/m(2) (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.07, 2.51), and ever smokers (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.08, 2.57), in the absence of significant heterogeneity. Conclusion: A proinflammatory diet is associated with increased RCC risk

Dietary intake of branched-chain amino acids and colorectal cancer risk

ABSTACTAn adequate intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) is required for protein synthesis and metabolic functions, including insulin metabolism. Emerging studies found positive associations between BCAAs and the risk of various diseases sharing etiological aspects with colorectal cancer (CRC), including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and pancreatic cancer.We investigated the relation between dietary BCAAs and CRC using data from a multicentric Italian case-control study, including 1953 cases of CRC (of these, 442 of sigmoid colon) and 4154 hospital controls with acute, non-neoplastic diseases. A validated food-frequency questionnaire was used to estimate the participants' usual diet and to assess dietary intakes of various nutrients, including energy, BCAAs and calcium. Odds ratio (ORs) and corresponding confidence intervals (CI) were computed by multiple logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex and other confounding factors, including total energy intake.BCAA intake was inversely related to CRC risk (OR for the highest versus the lowest quintile, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55-0.97), but the association was attenuated after adjustment for calcium intake (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.65-1.25). A linear inverse association with sigmoid colon cancer risk remained also after adjustment for other dietary factors, including calcium intake (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.27-0.87).This study provides supporting evidence that higher levels of dietary BCAA intake are not associated with an increase of CRC risk, but confirms that they may be related to a reduced risk of sigmoid colon cancer

HIV Serostatus and Tumor Differentiation Among Patients with Cervical Cancer at Bugando Medical Centre.

Evidence for the association between Human immunodeficiency virus infection and cervical cancer has been contrasting, with some studies reporting increased risk of cervical cancer among HIV positive women while others report no association. Similar evidence from Tanzania is scarce as HIV seroprevalence among cervical cancer patients has not been rigorously evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between HIV and tumor differentiation among patients with cervical cancer at Bugando Medical Centre and Teaching Hospital in Mwanza, North-Western Tanzania. This was a descriptive analytical study involving suspected cervical cancer patients seen at the gynaecology outpatient clinic and in the gynaecological ward from November 2010 to March 2011. A total of 91 suspected cervical cancer patients were seen during the study period and 74 patients were histologically confirmed with cervical cancer. The mean age of those confirmed of cervical cancer was 50.5 ± 12.5 years. Most patients (39 of the total 74-52.7%) were in early disease stages (stages IA-IIA). HIV infection was diagnosed in 22 (29.7%) patients. On average, HIV positive women with early cervical cancer disease had significantly more CD4+ cells than those with advanced disease (385.8 ± 170.4 95% CI 354.8-516.7 and 266.2 ± 87.5, 95% CI 213.3-319.0 respectively p = 0.042). In a binary logistic regression model, factors associated with HIV seropositivity were ever use of hormonal contraception (OR 5.79 95% CI 1.99-16.83 p = 0.001), aged over 50 years (OR 0.09 95% CI 0.02-0.36 p = 0.001), previous history of STI (OR 3.43 95% CI 1.10-10.80 p = 0.035) and multiple sexual partners OR 5.56 95% CI 1.18-26.25 p = 0.030). Of these factors, only ever use of hormonal contraception was associated with tumor cell differentiation (OR 0.16 95% CI 0.06-0.49 p = 0.001). HIV seropositivity was weakly associated with tumor cell differentiation in an unadjusted analysis (OR 0.21 95% CI 0.04-1.02 p = 0.053), but strong evidence for the association was found after adjusting for ever use of hormonal contraception with approximately six times more likelihood of HIV infection among women with poorly differentiated tumor cells compared to those with moderately and well differentiated cells (OR 5.62 95% CI 1.76-17.94 p = 0.004).\ud Results from this study setting suggest that HIV is common among cervical cancer patients and that HIV seropositivity may be associated with poor tumour differentiation. Larger studies in this and similar settings with high HIV prevalence and high burden of cervical cancer are required to document this relationship

Hepatitis C virus and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: Meta-analysis of epidemiology data and therapy options.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global health problem affecting a large fraction of the world\u2019s population: This virus is able to determine both hepatic and extrahepatic diseases. Mixed cryoglobulinemia, a B-cell \u201cbenign\u201d lymphoproliferative disorders, represents the most closely related as well as the most investigated HCV-related extrahepatic disorder. Since this virus is able to determine extrahepatic [non-Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma (NHL)] as well as hepatic malignancies (hepatocellular carcinoma), HCV has been included among human cancer viruses. The most common histological types of HCV-associated NHL are the marginal zone, the lymphoplasmacytic and diffuse large cell lymphomas. The role of the HCV in the pathogenesis of the B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders is confirmed also by the responsiveness of the NHL to antiviral therapy. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the recent literature and a meta analysis of the epidemiology data, to explain the role of HCV in the development of NHL\u2019s lymphoma. Furthermore, the possibility to treat these HCV-related NHL with the antiviral therapy or with other therapeutic options, like chemotherapy, is also discussed

Growth potential of Listeria monocytogenes in sliced turkey bresaola packed in modified atmosphere

According to EC Regulation No 2073/2005, for Food Business Operators (FBOs) that produce Ready To Eat (RTE) product, is crucial to be able to demonstrate if the product supports the growth of Listeria monocytogenes. The objective of the study was therefore to evaluate the behaviour of L. monocytogenes in sliced RTE turkey bresaola (made by cured turkey breast 4.5% NaCl, 1% sodium lactate, sodium nitrite 150 ppm and flavouring) during the shelf life of the product, simulating a contamination during the slicing operation. Considering a shelf life of 90 days, as defined by manufacturer, the packages of sliced bresaola were stored at 5\ub0C for 7 days and at 8\ub0C for the remaining storage time (83 days). L. monocytogenes count decreased during storage test from 1.43/1.98 log cfu/g in the three batches tested to 1.03 log cfu/g in one batch and to undetectable levels in the other two batches. The results show that the investigated product is unable to support the growth of L. monocytogenes

Incidence of malignant neoplasms among HIV-infected persons in Scotland

Among 2574 persons diagnosed with HIV throughout Scotland and observed over the period 1981-1996, cancer incidence compared to the general population was 11 times higher overall; among homosexual/bisexual males, it was 21 times higher and among injecting drug users, haemophiliacs and heterosexuals it was five times higher, mostly due to AIDS-defining neoplasms. However, liver, lung and skin cancers (all non-AIDS-defining) were also significantly increased