Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cancer among men, and it has a multifactorial etiology. Cadmium (Cd), a toxic heavy metal classified as a carcinogen by the IARC, can cause various acute and chronic effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to update previous findings on the association between Cd exposure and PCa. We carried out a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus up to May 2024, identifying eight new articles. The effect size from the highest and lowest exposure categories were extracted and analyzed using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I² test, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plot asymmetry. Overall, the effect size for PCa associated with Cd exposure, combining previous and new articles, was 1.11 (95% CI 0.85–1.45). Heterogeneity was high, but no significant publication bias was detected. For studies from Europe, the effect size was 1.47 (95% CI 1.00–2.17). Notably, 11 articles from the previous systematic review and meta-analysis highlighted that higher Cd exposure is significantly associated with more aggressive histopathological types of PCa (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.08–2.07). These findings suggest a potential public health concern, indicating the need for further research to clarify the risk associated with Cd exposure.

Plastic pollution is a growing concern. It can form smaller particles called microplastics (<5 mm). Microplastics can break down into even smaller pieces called nanoplastics (<1 μm). These minute particles can infiltrate human cells and tissues, with their health impacts still largely undetermined. On average, a liter of bottled water includes about 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the use of bottled plastic water (BW) and several health outcomes. Utilizing data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics’ “Aspects of Daily Life” survey (N = 45,597), we employed logistic regression to explore the correlation between BW consumption and the prevalence of various chronic diseases, including hypertension, gastric/duodenal ulcers, and kidney stones. Adjustments were made for covariates such as education, age, gender, and economic resources. Our analysis indicated a statistically significant association between BW consumption and increased risk of hypertension (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.11), diabetes (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.18), gastric/duodenal ulcers (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.07–1.38), and kidney stones (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.03–1.32). The consumption of BW is associated with heightened risk for certain health conditions. Policymakers and healthcare providers should consider implementing targeted prevention strategies and awareness campaigns.

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide among both men and women, and represents a major public health challenge. DNA methylation (DNAm) has shown potential in identifying individuals at higher risk of LC, but the overall evidence has not been systematically evaluated. This review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate and summarize existing research on the association between blood DNAm levels and LC risk. Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published until February 2024, following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria. Results: Using a random effects model, our pooled analysis showed a significant association between increased DNAm levels and LC risk (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10–1.39; I² = 93.90%, p = 0.0001). Stratifying the results by study design showed a stronger association in two prospective cohort studies (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.36–1.90; I² = 14.42%, p = 0.32), while case–control studies showed a weaker association (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.99–1.11; I² = 70.57%, p = 0.0001). Sensitivity analyses indicated that omitting individual studies did not significantly alter the LC risk estimates. Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher blood DNAm levels are associated with an increased risk of LC, especially in long-term cohort studies. Further research is recommended to explore the potential of DNAm as a screening biomarker for LC and to clarify the role of other influencing factors.

Background: Diabetes and hypertension are major global health challenges aggravated by COVID-19’s impact on healthcare and lifestyle factors. This study aims to compare the prevalence and associated socio-demographic factors of these conditions before and after the pandemic (2019 vs. 2022). Materials and Methods: We used data from Italy’s “Aspects of Daily Life” survey; 74,294 adults were included. Results: Results show a rise in diabetes prevalence from 7.76% in 2019 to 8.49% in 2022 (p < 0.05), while hypertension did not show this. Logistic regression analysis for the years 2019 and 2022 revealed a statistically significant association between the year 2022 and increased odds of diabetes (OR = 1.08, p = 0.008). BMI’s role as a risk factor intensified, with higher odds ratios (ORs) for both conditions in overweight and obese individuals in 2022. For example, obesity-related ORs for diabetes increased from 2.45 (95%CI 1.73–3.47) in 2019 to 3.02 (95%CI 2.09–4.35) in 2022, and for hypertension from 2.86 (95%CI 2.28–3.58) to 3.64 (95%CI 2.87–4.61). Lower education levels also showed a greater association with hypertension risk in 2022; subjects with only middle or high school diplomas had significantly higher ORs than individuals with higher education; there was a non-significant trend in 2019. However, diabetes risk associated with lower education remained stable and significant in both years. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the pandemic may have increased risk factors for diabetes and hypertension, particularly BMI and educational level, compared with the literature on the increased burden of chronic diseases during COVID-19.

LC continues to be the leading cause of cancer mortality globally, among both males and females, representing a major public health challenge. The impact of mitochondria on human health and disease is a rapidly growing focus in scientific research, due to their critical roles in cellular survival and death. Mitochondria play an important role in controlling imperative cellular parameters, and alterations in mtDNAcn might be crucial for LC development. MtDNAcn has been studied as a possible marker for LC risk, but its role in prevention is still unclear. This review and meta-analysis aims to summarize the current evidence and provide an overall estimate of the relationship between the mtDNA copy number in human samples like blood and sputum. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were used for studies published up to February 2024, following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Studies were combined using a random-effects model, and we assessed the heterogeneity between studies with the chi-square-based Cochran’s Q statistic and the I² statistic. Publication bias was checked using Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Five studies, including a total of 3.748 participants, met the eligibility criteria. The MtDNA copy number was measured in blood or sputum samples and compared across different quantiles. The pooled analysis did not find a significant association between the mtDNA copy number and LC risk (OR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.49–1.78). Moreover, when looking at different study designs, no significant results were found, due to the small number of studies available. No significant publication bias was detected. Further studies are needed to better understand the connection between the mtDNA copy number and LC risk and to better understand the role of potential confounders.

Safe water is a global public health concern amid increasing scarcity and pollution. Bottled water production and consumption contribute to these problems. This study examines tap water consumption in Italy, assessing associated sociodemographic factors and related health outcomes such as obesity and self-perceived health status. Data from the Italian National Statistics Institute’s “Aspects of daily life” survey (N = 45,597) were analyzed. Covariates included education, age, gender, economic status, region, concerns about waste and climate change, consumption of carbonated drinks excluding water, alcohol consumption, consumption of vegetables, consumption of snacks, body mass index, and self-perceived health status. Bivariate analyses and mixed-effect logistic regression models explored the associations. People who drink tap water made up 19,674, with a higher prevalence in people aged 45 to 59 old, people with a graduate/post-graduate degree diploma, with optimal economic resources, people concerned about waste production and climate change, and those coming from the north-east regions of Italy. Underweight people showed a higher prevalence of TW consumption as well as those who less than occasionally drank carbonated drinks, drank alcohol, consumed vegetables more than once a day and snacks less than once a week, dairy products more than once a day, sweet less than once a week, cured meat less than once a week, and chicken meat less than once a week, those with no consumption of sheep meat, consumption of beef meat less than once a week and consumption of pork meat less than once a week, and those with a satisfactory level of perceived health status. Regressions showed that all other age classes are less likely to drink tap water than people younger than 20 years old. The category with “inadequate” economic resources is more likely to consume tap water. Low educational classes show a low likelihood of consuming tap water as well as islands. A concern about waste production and climate change is associated with an increased likelihood of consuming tap water. Tap water consumption was negatively associated with obesity but not with a satisfactory self-perceived health status. Insights from this study can inform public health strategies.