Purpose: Cigarette smoke continues to be widely used around the world and it contains several substances that can affect the pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics of medications, altering their safety and effectiveness. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the scientific evidence regarding possible changes in the pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics of drugs induced by cigarette smoking, possible mechanisms of action and related effects. Methods: The systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA Statement and the protocol was registered on the PROSPERO platform (CRD42023477784). Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science databases were used. We considered observational, semi-experimental or experimental studies written in English and published between January 1, 2000, and November 13, 2024, focused on smoking subjects (healthy volunteers or patients) receiving any kind of medication. Data regarding possible modifications in drugs’ pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics induced by cigarette smoking were assessed. The quality of observational studies and experimental studies was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale and the Jadad Scale, respectively. Results: In total, 37 studies were included, and 31 of them showed relevant modifications in the pharmacokinetics or effects of the drugs in smokers compared to non-smokers. Most of the included studies (n = 20) investigated drugs for psychiatric or neurological disorders, showing a reduction in plasma concentration or an increase in drug clearance in smokers as well as antibiotics metronidazole and cycloserine. Besides, seven articles focused on anticancer drugs indicating an increase in drug metabolism. The remaining articles reported effects of smoking on the metabolism of other drugs, such as cardiovascular drugs, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, local anesthetics and medications for musculoskeletal or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Induction of the cytochrome enzyme CYP1A2 is the most common mechanism mediating the reduction of drug concentrations by cigarette smoking. Conclusion: The results indicate an increased risk of therapeutic failure for smokers and represent further motivation to encourage smoking cessation or attention in formulating personalized therapy.

Respiratory diseases are extremely common conditions worldwide with a high social and economic impact. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the scientific evidence on the efficacy of thermal inhalation treatments to manage the signs and symptoms of all type of upper and lower respiratory diseases. The review was conducted according to the PRISMA recommendations. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO platform (ID: CRD42024510869). The bibliographic search was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases without time limits up to January 2nd 2025. All experimental and semi-experimental studies conducted on humans, published in Italian and English, aimed to evaluate the effects of thermal inhalation treatments in the treatment of respiratory diseases were considered eligible. The quality of the studies was assessed using the CLEAR NPT scale. Overall, 27 studies were included, related to chronic and chronic-recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract diseases. The results agree on beneficial effects of thermal waters use, with an improvement in the sensation of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, muco-ciliary transport time and lung function parameters. The therapeutic effects determined by thermal inhalation treatments is attributed to the composition and biochemical activity of the different waters, which lead, among other effects, to a regularization of the activity of the immune system. The results, although agreeing and encouraging, cannot be definitive due to the limitations of the studies included, especially their low quality and heterogeneity. Therefore, further clinical studies should be conducted using more appropriate methodologies, study designs and statistical analysis techniques.

Background: Many human activities release harmful substances, contaminating the air, water, and soil. Since exposure to environmental pollutants is currently unavoidable, it is important to verify how these compounds may influence individual immune responses to vaccines. Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The protocol was registered on the PROSPERO platform with the following ID: CRD42024582592. We evaluated all observational, semi-experimental, and experimental studies written in both Italian and English that reported possible effects of exposure to environmental pollutants on the production of vaccine-induced antibodies. Results: Forty-two studies were included. The effects of pollutants were examined mainly in terms of antibody production in relation to mumps, measles and rubella, diphtheria and tetanus, hepatitis A and B, Haemophilus influenzae type B, influenza, tuberculosis, pertussis, Japanese encephalitis, poliomyelitis, and COVID-19 vaccines. Perfluorinated compounds were the most studied pollutants. Conclusions: Correlations between exposure to pollutants and reductions in antibody production were found in quite all the selected studies, suggesting that pollution control policies could contribute to increase the efficacy of vaccination campaigns. However, the heterogeneity of the examined studies did not allow us to perform a meta-analysis, and the literature on each type of vaccine or pollutant is still too limited to generate robust evidence. In order to confirm the findings of the present systematic review, and in the perspective of establishing possible exposure limit values for each type of pollutant, further research in this field is required.

Background/Objectives: In recent decades, the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional foods for the global population has become urgent. To this aim, edible insects, cultivated meat, and vegetables produced through soil-less farming have been proposed. This cross-sectional study was aimed at exploring willingness to eat these novel foods and its possible correlates in young Italian adults. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was administered to the student populations of 13 universities throughout the Italian territory. Results: The results show that insects and cultivated meat were widely acknowledged as possible food, while soil-free cultivation seems to be less known. Indeed, the percentage of participants who have heard of insects, cultivated meat, and soil-free cultivation was respectively equal to 91.5%, 84.7%, and 32.9%. However, the majority of respondents were uncertain about the sustainability of all the proposed products (52.6% for insects, 39.5% for cultivated meat, and 58.0% for soil-free cultivation, respectively), and the propensity to try and eat insects (9.5%) was lower than that declared for synthetic meat (22.8%) and products from soil-free cultivation (19.2%). However, the regression analysis showed that the propensity to eat these foods regularly is positively related to the confidence in their sustainability (p < 0.001). Willingness to try each of the proposed foods positively correlated with that declared for the others (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need to implement interventions aimed at increasing awareness about the use of these products as alternatives to less sustainable foods and the importance of identifying consumer groups to which these interventions should be addressed.