To perform a systematic review to analyze the association between occupational exposure to wood dust and cancer. A systematic literature search of entries made in the MEDLINE-PubMed database between 1957 and 2013 was conducted to identify studies that had assessed the relationship between occupational exposure to wood dust and different types of cancer. A meta-analysis of selected case-control and cohort studies was subsequently performed. A total of 114 studies were identified and 70 were selected for review. Of these, 42 studies focused on the relationship between wood dust and nasal cancer (n = 22), lung cancer (n = 11), and other types of cancer (n = 9). Low-to-moderate quality evidence that wood dust acts as a carcinogen was obtained, and a stronger association between wood dust and nasal adenocarcinoma was observed. A lesser association between wood dust exposure and lung cancer was also observed. Several studies suggested that there is a relationship between wood dust and the onset of other cancers, although there was no evidence to establish an association. A meta-analysis that included four case-controls studies showed that workers exposed to wood dust exhibited higher rates of nasal adenocarcinoma than other workers (odds ratio = 10.28; 95% confidence interval: 5.92 and 17.85; P<0,0001), although a large degree of heterogeneity was found. Low-to-moderate quality evidence supports a causal association between cancer and occupational exposure to wood dust, and this association was stronger for nasal adenocarcinoma than for lung cancer. There was no evidence of an association between wood dust exposure and the other cancers examined.

Aims: Amyloidosis is a progressive and often fatal disease, with right ventricular (RV) involvement emerging as critical determinant of outcomes. This meta-analysis sought to evaluate the prognostic significance of RV longitudinal strain parameters in patients with amyloidosis. Methods and results: Eligible studies reporting on the association between RV free-wall longitudinal strain (RV-FWLS) and RV global longitudinal strain (RV-GLS) assessed by echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with adverse outcomes were included. Using an inversely weighted random effects meta-analysis, pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for all-cause mortality and a composite endpoint of all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization per 1% lower RV strain values. Eighteen studies with low-to-moderate risk of bias (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) and encompassing 1,772 patients (mean age 68.8±8.8 years; 57.3% with light-chain amyloidosis [AL]), were analysed. 210 patients experienced the composite outcome (median [interquartile range] follow-up: 1.5 [0.6] years) and 628 died (median follow-up: 2.6 [1.6] years). 2D speckle-tracking RV-FWLS was associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 1.10; 95%CI: 1.07–1.13; I² = 8.6%) and the composite outcome (HR: 1.06; 95%CI: 1.02–1.10; I² = 0%). Similarly, 2D speckle-tracking RV-GLS was associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 1.10; 95%CI: 1.07–1.13; I² = 8.6%). Subgroup and meta-regression analysis confirmed consistency across amyloid subtypes, study design, presence of cardiac involvement, follow-up duration and strain analysis software. In AL amyloidosis, CMR-based RV-GLS also predicted all-cause mortality (HR: 1.06; 95%CI: 1.03–1.09; I² = 0%). Conclusions: RV longitudinal strain parameters are powerful and robust predictors of adverse outcomes in amyloidosis.

Aims: The incidence of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) is higher in women than in men, but sex influence on prognosis is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate overall mortality and different major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at follow-up in men and women with MINOCA. Methods: Prospective and retrospective studies reporting on the association between sex and adverse clinical outcomes in MINOCA patients were eligible. In-hospital and at follow-up outcomes in the overall pooled populations and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Fifteen studies, encompassing 42,870 patients (62.0 [3.7] years, 25,172 females [58.7%]), were included. A total of 277 patients died during hospitalization, and 2,236 deaths occurred during a mean follow-up of 3.5 (0.9) years. Pooled analyses demonstrated no sex differences in in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.05, 95%CI, 0.82–1.34, I2 = 0%) or all-cause death at follow-up (OR, 0.93, 95%CI, 0.76–1.13; I2 = 54%). In the long term, men had lower risk of non-fatal stroke (OR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.60–0.99; I2 = 0%) but no significant sex differences were detected for other MACE. In women, MINOCA had a lower risk of in-hospital mortality than MI due to coronary artery disease (MI-CAD; OR, 0.39; 95%CI, 0.21–0.72; I² = 70%) while no relevant differences were found in males. Conclusions: Sex does not seem to influence MINOCA prognosis, except for a higher incidence of stroke during follow-up found in women. In females, MINOCA has lower in-hospital mortality than MI-CAD.