Semen quality, a predictor of male fertility, has been suggested declining worldwide. Among other life style factors, male coffee/caffeine consumption was hypothesized to influence semen parameters, but also sperm DNA integrity. To summarize available evidence, we performed a systematic review of observational studies on the relation between coffee/caffeine intake and parameters of male fertility including sperm ploidy, sperm DNA integrity, semen quality and time to pregnancy. A systematic literature search was performed up to November 2016 (MEDLINE and EMBASE). We included all observational papers that reported the relation between male coffee/caffeine intake and reproductive outcomes: 1. semen parameters, 2. sperm DNA characteristics, 3. fecundability. All pertinent reports were retrieved and the relative reference lists were systematically searched in order to identify any potential additional studies that could be included. We retrieved 28 papers reporting observational information on coffee/caffeine intake and reproductive outcomes. Overall, they included 19,967 men. 1. Semen parameters did not seem affected by caffeine intake, at least caffeine from coffee, tea and cocoa drinks, in most studies. Conversely, other contributions suggested a negative effect of cola-containing beverages and caffeine-containing soft drinks on semen volume, count and concentration. 2. As regards sperm DNA defects, caffeine intake seemed associated with aneuploidy and DNA breaks, but not with other markers of DNA damage. 3. Finally, male coffee drinking was associated to prolonged time to pregnancy in some, but not all, studies. The literature suggests that caffeine intake, possibly through sperm DNA damage, may negatively affect male reproductive function. Evidence from epidemiological studies on semen parameters and fertility is however inconsistent and inconclusive. Well-designed studies with predefined criteria for semen analysis, subject selection, and life style habits definition, are essential to reach a consistent evidence on the effect of caffeine on semen parameters and male fertility.

We conducted a case-control study at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound to evaluate the relation between longterm histamine-2 (H₂) receptor antagonist use and gastric cancer. We identified 113 cases and 452 controls and estimated a relative risk (RR) of 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-3.9]. When we evaluated the effect of time-since-first-use, the RR estimates were 6.5, 1.2, and 1.0 for 2-4 years of use, 5-9 years, and ≥10 years, respectively. The data provide substantial evidence that long-term H₂ antagonist use is not associated with gastric cancer.

It has been suggested that probiotics modulate atopic dermatitis (AD) progression, but no data are actually available on their mechanisms of action and on their ability to act as immunomodulators in this pathology. The aim of this randomized double-blinded active treatment versus placebo study was to evaluate clinical efficacy of an intake of a combination of 2 probiotics (Lactobacillus salivarius LS01 and Bifidobacterium breve BR03) for the treatment of adult AD patients. Forty-eight patients were enrolled in the study (randomization ratio 2:1) and treated with a combination (LS01 and BR03) or placebo (maltodextrin) for 12 weeks. Clinical efficacy was assessed from baseline by changes in the SCORAD index and DLQ index improvement. Analysis on the gut permeability barrier, immunologic parameters, and changes in fecal microbiota and recovery of probiotics were performed at baseline, at the end of therapy, and 2 months later. Patients receiving probiotics showed a significant improvement in clinical parameters (SCORAD, P<0.0001 and DLQ index, P=0.021) from baseline. The probiotics reduced microbial translocation (P=0.050), immune activation (P<0.001), improved T-helper cell (Th)17/regulatory T cell (Treg) (P=0.029) and Th1/Th2 (P=0.028) ratios. None of these changes were observed in the placebo group. Our results suggest that this specific mixture of probiotics (LS01 and BR03 strains) may induce beneficial effects for clinical and immunologic alterations in adult AD. This combination could be considered as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of AD in adult patients.

To compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in HIV-positive patients with that from a sample of a general Italian population. Cross-sectional study. A total of 1263 HIV-infected patients 18 years of age or older were recruited in 18 centers for infectious diseases in northern and central Italy. Controls were 2051 subjects aged 25 to 74 years representative of the residents of Monza, a town in Milan province, who were enrolled in the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni study. The prevalence of MS in the HIV group was 20.8%, whereas in the control group, it was only 15.8%, with the difference being statistically significant. The age- and gender-adjusted risk of having MS in HIV-infected patients was twice as great as that in controls. Compared with controls, HIV-infected patients had a greater prevalence of the impaired fasting glucose, increased plasma triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol components. MS prevalence was similar in treated and never-treated HIV-infected patients, and so were the various MS components. The risk of MS is greater in HIV-infected patients compared with the general population because of a greater prevalence of lipid and glucose abnormalities. The prevalence of MS and its components is similar in treated and untreated HIV-positive patients.