Background and Objectives: The hemoglobin (Hb)/red cell distribution width (RDW) ratio has emerged as an accessible, repeatable, and inexpensive prognostic factor that may predict survival in cancer patients. The focus of this systematic review is to investigate the prognostic role of the Hb/RDW ratio in cancer and the implications for clinical practice. Materials and Methods: A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was performed by an independent author between 18 March and 30 March 2023 to collect relevant literature that assessed the prognostic value of the Hb/RDW ratio in cancer. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and the association of these with the Hb/RDW ratio were considered to be the main endpoints. Results: Thirteen retrospective studies, including 3818 cancer patients, were identified and involved in this review. It was observed that, when patients with a high vs. low Hb/RDW ratio were compared, those with a lower Hb/RDW ratio had significantly poorer outcomes (p < 0.05). In lung cancer patients, a one-unit increase in the Hb/RDW ratio reduces mortality by 1.6 times, whilst in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma patients, a lower Hb/RDW ratio results in a 1.416-times greater risk of mortality. Conclusions: A low Hb/RDW ratio was associated with poor OS and disease progression in patients with cancer. This blood parameter should be considered a standard biomarker in clinical practice for predicting OS and PFS in cancer patients. Future searches will be necessary to determine and standardize the Hb/RDW cut-off value and to assess whether the Hb/RDW ratio is optimal as an independent prognostic factor or if it requires incorporation into risk assessment models for predicting outcomes in cancer patients.

Aging is a complex process influenced by genetics and the environment, leading to physiological decline and increased susceptibility to diseases. Cognitive decline is a prominent feature of aging, with implications for different neurodegenerative disorders. The gut microbiome has gained attention for its potential impact on health and disease, including cognitive function. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between the gut microbiome and cognitive function in the context of aging. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search strategy was employed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Studies exploring the role of the microbiome in cognition and neurodegenerative disorders, published between 2013 and 2023, were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed. Quantitative synthesis using statistical analyses was performed to examine microbial diversity and relative abundance in various cognitive conditions. Sixteen studies involving a total of 1303 participants were included in the analysis. The gut microbiota’s relative abundance was different in individuals with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia, compared to the healthy controls. The most prevalent phyla affected were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Meta-analyses indicated substantial heterogeneity among studies focusing on Alzheimer’s disease. The overall quality of evidence related to microbial analysis was moderate. The gut microbiome’s role in cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders warrants investigation. Altered microbial abundance, particularly in specific phyla, is associated with cognitive impairments. However, variations in study findings and methodologies highlight the complexity of the relationship between the gut microbiome and cognitive function. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this connection and its potential implications for aging and cognitive health.

Breast cancer is one of the most important neoplasia among women. To reduce its incidence and mortality impact it would be desirable to early identify risk factors associated with its development. It was recently suggested that biological agents could be the etiological cause, particularly Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). No specific relationship with different breast cancer types has been demonstrated until now. In particular, the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), characterized by a receptor negative pattern (ER/PgR/HER2–negative) and poor prognosis, can represent one of the most relevant clinical and public health priority in terms of observational research. Aim of the study was to evaluate the HPV-positivity prevalence in two breast cancer series (TNBC vs. non-TNBC) in Northern Sardinia, Italy. The sample size of each group was represented by 40 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens. The mean age was 60.3 years. The majority of the cancers were ductal (84%). The grading distribution was different: G2 was the most prevalent grade in the non-TNBC series, whereas G3 was the most frequent in the TNBC series (70% and 72%, respectively). Six biological samples were HPV-positive (7.5%): the positivity was assessed only in the TNBC group (15%; p-value: 0.026). The isolated genotypes were: 16, 31, 45, 52, 6, and 66. Only one co-infection was found (i.e., HPV-6 and -66). The prevalence of HPV-positivity in TNBC specimens was 15%. On the basis of its carcinogenetic ability, an etiological role in the pathogenesis of the cancer could be supposed. This association should be confirmed with longitudinal studies to better assess the role of the HPV infection in TNBC and non-TNBC tumors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the most frequent carcinoma worldwide. CRC patients show strong prognostic differences and responses to treatment, and 20% have incurable metastatic disease at diagnosis. We considered it essential to investigate mechanisms that control cellular regulatory networks, such as the miRNA–mRNA interaction, known to be involved in cancer pathogenesis. We conducted a human miRNome analysis by TaqMan low density array, comparing CRC to normal colon tissue (NCT, and experimentally identified gene targets of miRNAs deregulated, by anti-correlation analysis, with the CRC whole-transcriptome profile obtained from RNASeq experiments. We identified an integrated signature of 20 deregulated miRNAs in CRC. Enrichment analyses of the gene targets controlled by these miRNAs brought to light 25 genes, members of pathways known to lead to cell growth and death (CCND1, NKD1, FZD3, MAD2L1, etc.), such as cell metabolism (ACSL6, PRPS1-2). A screening of prognosis-mediated miRNAs underlined that the overexpression of miR-224 promotes CRC metastasis, and is associated with high stage and poor survival. These findings suggest that the biology and progression of CRC depend on deregulation of multiple miRNAs that cause a complex dysfunction of cellular molecular networks. Our results have further established miRNA–mRNA interactions and defined multiple pathways involved in CRC pathogenesis.

The aim is better to understand and critically explore and present the available data from observational studies on the pathogenetic role of the microbiome in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were screened for the relevant literature published in the last ten years. The primary outcomes investigated included the influence of the gut microbiome on the pathogenesis and development of rheumatoid arthritis, exploring the changes in microbiota diversity and relative abundance of microbial taxa in individuals with RA and healthy controls (HCs). The risk of bias in the included literature was assessed using the GRADE criteria. Ten observational studies were identified and included in the qualitative assessment. A total of 647 individuals with RA were represented in the literature, in addition to 16 individuals with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and 247 HCs. The biospecimens comprised fecal samples across all the included literature, with 16S rDNA sequencing representing the primary method of biological analyses. Significant differences were observed in the RA microbiome compared to that of HCs: a decrease in Faecalibacterium, Fusicatenibacter, Enterococcus, and Megamonas and increases in Eggerthellales, Collinsella, Prevotella copri, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Eisenbergiella, and Flavobacterium. There are significant alterations in the microbiome of individuals with RA compared to HCs. This includes an increase in Prevotella copri and Lactobacillus and reductions in Collinsella. Collectively, these alterations are proposed to induce inflammatory responses and degrade the integrity of the intestinal barrier; however, further studies are needed to confirm this relationship.

Background: Triple Negative breast cancer (TNBC) includes a heterogeneous group of tumors with different clinico-pathological features, molecular alterations and treatment responsivity. Our aim was to evaluate the clinico-pathological heterogeneity and prognostic significance of TNBC histologic variants, comparing “special types” to high-grade invasive breast carcinomas of no special type (IBC-NST). Methods: This study was performed on data obtained from TNBC Database, including pathological features and clinical records of 1009 TNBCs patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2015 in the four most important Oncology Units located in different hospitals in Sardinia, Italy. Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank test and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression were applied for overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) according to TNBC histologic types. Results: TNBC “special types” showed significant differences for several clinico-pathological features when compared to IBC-NST. We observed that in apocrine carcinomas as tumor size increased, the number of metastatic lymph nodes manifestly increased. Adenoid cystic carcinoma showed the smallest tumor size relative to IBC-NST. At five-year follow-up, OS was 92.1, 100.0, and 94.5% for patients with apocrine, adenoid cystic and medullary carcinoma, respectively; patients with lobular and metaplastic carcinoma showed the worst OS, with 79.7 and 84.3%, respectively. At ten-years, patients with adenoid cystic (100.0%) and medullary (94.5%) carcinoma showed a favourable prognosis, whereas patients with lobular carcinoma showed the worst prognosis (73.8%). TNBC medullary type was an independent prognostic factor for DFS compared to IBC-NST. Conclusions: Our study confirms that an accurate and reliable histopathologic definition of TNBC subtypes has a significant clinical utility and is effective in the therapeutic decision-making process, with the aim to develop innovative and personalized treatments.