Cancer Prevention Research Articles

Physiological mechanisms of exercise related to prevention and treatment of breast cancer: A review

Background: Considering limitations related to intensity, duration, and mode of exercise and possible physiological mechanisms, this study aimed to summarize the physiological mechanisms emphasizing inflammation, angiogenesis, and immunology of different exercises related to prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Methods: In the current review study, different platforms were analyzed including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Research Gate as well as Iranian databases such as Scientific Information Database (SID) and Magiran. The data was reviewed until May 2024. Search keywords included “exercise", "sport”, “physical exercise”, “intensity, training”, “breast cancer”, “inflammation”, “angiogenesis”,” immunology”, and “physiological mechanisms”. Results: Among several proposed mechanisms, inflammation, immunity and angiogenesis have been mentioned as important indices but there are ambiguities regarding the influence of different intensities and durations of exercise on breast cancer prevention and treatment. Other effective factors such as the effect of exercise on gene regulation and some other mechanisms have been proposed as possible mediators. Conclusion: According to some previous studies, aerobic exercise induces positive effects on preventing and treating breast cancer through reducing inflammation, improving angiogenesis, and enhancing immunological mechanisms. Regarding duration and intensity, long term regular exercise (>8 weeks), in the form of aerobic and especially high intensity interval training (HIIT) reduces inflammation. while the effect of short-term exercise training is not clear yet and high intensity exercise may induce suppressing effects on the immune system. Therefore, the effect of intensity and duration of exercise on physiological mechanisms must be clarified.

Gut microbiota carcinogen metabolism causes distal tissue tumours.

Exposure to environmental pollutants and human microbiome composition are important predisposition factors for tumour development1,2. Similar to drug molecules, pollutants are typically metabolized in the body, which can change their carcinogenic potential and affect tissue distribution through altered toxicokinetics3. Although recent studies demonstrated that human-associated microorganisms can chemically convert a wide range of xenobiotics and influence the profile and tissue exposure of resulting metabolites4,5, the effect of microbial biotransformation on chemical-induced tumour development remains unclear. Here we show that the depletion of the gut microbiota affects the toxicokinetics of nitrosamines, which markedly reduces the development and severity of nitrosamine-induced urinary bladder cancer in mice6,7. We causally linked this carcinogen biotransformation to specific gut bacterial isolates in vitro and in vivo using individualized bacterial culture collections and gnotobiotic mouse models, respectively. We tested gut communities from different human donors to demonstrate that microbial carcinogen metabolism varies between individuals and we showed that this metabolic activity applies to structurally related nitrosamine carcinogens. Altogether, these results indicate that gut microbiota carcinogen metabolism may be a contributing factor for chemical-induced carcinogenesis, which could open avenues to target the microbiome for improved predisposition risk assessment and prevention of cancer.

Associations of Social Factors and Self-Efficacy with Skin-Self Examination Intentions Among Hispanics at Risk for Skin Cancer and Their Preferences for Digital Interventions.

Skin cancer ranks as the most prevalent cancer in the United States. Over the past two decades, the incidence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, among Hispanics has risen by 20%. Melanoma mortality rates are higher in Hispanics than in non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). Early detection of melanoma via skin self-examination may lead to diagnosis of melanoma at an earlier stage, when they are thinner, less invasive, and more easily treatable, resulting in improved survival rates. Given the gap in research addressing culturally relevant factors related to skin cancer prevention and detection among Hispanics and informed by the Preventive Health Model, this study tested the associations between social and normative factors and self-efficacy with thorough skin self-examination (TSSE) intentions and queried participants about their preferences for skin cancer-related interventions. Among respondents (n = 79), 55.7% were female (n = 44), and 89.9% held a college or higher degree (n = 71). Self-efficacy fully mediated the effects of descriptive norms, injunctive norms, and provider-patient communication on TSSE intentions among Hispanics. On average, respondents demonstrated considerable interest in participating in a skin cancer-related behavioral intervention using a mobile application (75.6%) and/or using WhatsApp (71.8%). These preliminary findings provide new insights for development of future digital skin cancer intervention programs among Hispanics targeting social factors, including social norms and provider-patient communication, and utilizing preferred digital tools.

Bibliometric analysis of global research trends between gut microbiota and breast cancer: from 2013 to 2023

BackgroundBreast cancer is the most prevalent cancer globally and is associated with significant mortality. Recent research has provided crucial insights into the role of gut microbiota in the onset and progression of breast cancer, confirming its impact on the disease’s management. Despite numerous studies exploring this relationship, there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses to outline the field’s current state and emerging trends. This study aims to fill that gap by analyzing key research directions and identifying emerging hotspots.MethodPublications from 2013 to 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The VOSviewer, R language and SCImago Graphica software were utilized to analyze and visualize the volume of publications, countries/regions, institutions, authors, and keywords in this field.ResultsA total of 515 publications were included in this study. The journal Cancers was identified as the most prolific, contributing 21 papers. The United States and China were the leading contributors to this field. The University of Alabama at Birmingham was the most productive institution. Peter Bai published the most papers, while James J. Goedert was the most cited author. Analysis of highly cited literature and keyword clustering confirmed a close relationship between gut microbiota and breast cancer. Keywords such as “metabolomics” and “probiotics” have been prominently highlighted in the keyword analysis, indicating future research hotspots in exploring the interaction between metabolites in the breast cancer microenvironment and gut microbiota. Additionally, these keywords suggest significant interest in the therapeutic potential of probiotics for breast cancer treatment.ConclusionResearch on the relationship between gut microbiota and breast cancer is expanding. Attention should be focused on understanding the mechanisms of their interaction, particularly the metabolite-microbiota-breast cancer crosstalk. These insights have the potential to advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for breast cancer. This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state and future trends of research in this field, offering valuable perspectives for future studies on gut microbiota and breast cancer.

UM OLHAR MULTIFOCAL SOBRE O CÂNCER DE COLO DE ÚTERO

This narrative review addresses cervical cancer prevention and screening strategies, including vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and periodic Pap smears and DNA testing for HPV. Vaccination against HPV has been shown to be effective in preventing infections with viral types related to cervical cancer. Furthermore, regular Pap smears and HPV testing in women have been shown to be crucial in the early detection of precancer and cervical cancer. It is recommended to vaccinate young people before starting sexual activity and regular screening in women after a certain age or beginning of sexual activity. The combined use of these strategies is essential to reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer. It is essential to promote awareness and access to these health interventions to achieve better prevention and control of cervical cancer.

Cytokine release syndrome associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a pharmacovigilance study based on spontaneous reports in FAERS

ABSTRACT Objective To describe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) reported in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods We obtained ICIs adverse event (AE) reports from January 2011 to September 2023 from the FAERS database. The preferred term (PT) ‘cytokine release syndrome’ from the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) 26.1 was used to identify cases with ICIs-related CRS. The reporting odds ratio (ROR) of the disproportionality method was performed to quantify the association between CRS and ICIs treatment strategy. Results Three hundred and ninety-five cases were gathered. 42.03% of the patients were aged 18 to 65. Male patients outnumbered female patients (53.67% vs. 34.94%). The prevalent potential cancer types were lung cancer (33.42%) and skin cancer (20.51%). Japanese were responsible for the majority of ICIs-related CRS cases (176 cases). The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab resulted in the most CRS cases (138 cases), and the ICIs combination therapy had the highest ROR signal value (ROR = 11.95 [10.14–14.06]). ICIs-related CRS had a median time to onset of 14 days (interquartile range [IQR] 7–43.25). Conclusions ICIs-related CRS is an increasingly important immune-related AE. Our study provided helpful information to help medical professionals learn more about ICIs-related CRS.

Building and Maintaining a Whole Community Initiative: Health Communication in Practice with Be Well Communities™

ABSTRACT The most effective health communication builds from evidence-based best practices and theory. In practice, health campaigns rely on considerations often under-discussed in health communication, such as consistent agency-style client service, image management, and community coalition-building. Health outcome progress often requires change at multiple levels, from individual cognition and behavior to policy creation. These multi-level needs further highlight the importance of effective practical health communication supporting a range of outcomes and building toward replication. This article covers the complexities of building and implementing a theory-informed health communication structure for a multifaceted, place-based cancer prevention initiative. Part of the overall process includes detailing the internal communications of a health communication group, interorganizational communication, engaging community partner support, the message creation process, and longitudinal efforts on program maintenance and assessment. Furthermore, this article seeks to offer an example of the client service role a health communication team can play to combine theory, empirical message development, and community goals in whole community efforts. Ultimately, the goal is to share experiences from seven years of program work to help guide future community-based efforts in other health contexts and foster progress in theoretical and practical understandings of health communication.

Sleep traits and breast cancer risk: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Globally, breast cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related incidence and mortality among females. Research has shown that sleep patterns significantly influence tumor onset and progression. In this research, the association was examined through the application of a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. For the analysis of seven sleep patterns, genetic tools were sourced from both the UK Biobank and 23andMe, including morning/evening person (chronotype) n = 177,604, morning person (chronotype) n = 248,094, daytime dozing/sleepiness n = 193,472, getting up in the morning n = 193,717, and sleeplessness n = 193,987; sleep duration n = 192,810; and nap during the day n = 166,853. The Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) supplied genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data, including 133,384 breast cancer cases and 113,789 controls, alongside subtype-specific data with 106,278 cases and 91,477 controls. We discovered that chronotype encompasses both morning and evening types contributes to the risk of overall breast cancer. While daytime dozing and morning person (chronotype) are linked to a lower risk of breast cancer in general, In subtype-specific analyses, morning person (chronotype) was negatively associated with luminal B, HER2-negative-like, and daytime dozing was negatively correlated with luminal A-like, luminal B-like, and HER2-enriched-like. The study corroborates that chronotype is a danger element for breast cancer, aligning with previous observational findings. The association between being a morning person (chronotype) or having daytime dozing and a decreased risk of breast cancer underscores the significance of sleep patterns in formulating strategies for cancer prevention.

Role of Oncostatin M in Exercise-Induced Breast Cancer Prevention

Moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity decreases the risk of breast cancer. The muscle-derived cytokine (myokine), oncostatin M (OSM), has been shown to decrease breast cancer cell proliferation. We hypothesized that OSM is involved in physical activity-induced breast cancer prevention, and that OSM antibody (Anti-OSM) administration would mitigate the effect of physical activity in a rat model of mammary carcinoma. Female Sprague Dawley rats were injected with 50 mg/kg N-methyl-N-nitrosourea to induce mammary carcinogenesis. During the 20-week study, rats were exercise trained (EX) or remained sedentary (SED). Additional groups were treated with Anti-OSM antibody (SED + Anti-OSM and EX + Anti-OSM) to explore the impact of OSM blockade on tumor latency. Exercise training consisted of treadmill acclimation and progressive increases in session duration, speed, and grade, until reaching 30 min/day, 20 m/min at 15% incline. Experimentally naïve, age-matched, female rats also completed an acute exercise test (AET) with time course blood draws to evaluate OSM plasma concentrations. Relative tumor-free survival time was significantly longer in EX animals (1.36 ± 0.39) compared to SED animals (1.00 ± 0.17; p = 0.009), SED + Anti-OSM animals (0.90 ± 0.23; p = 0.019), and EX + Anti-OSM animals (0.93 ± 0.74; p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in relative tumor latency between SED, SED + Anti-OSM, or EX + Anti-OSM animals. Following the AET, OSM plasma levels trended higher compared to baseline OSM levels (p = 0.080). In conclusion, we observed that exercise-induced delay of mammary tumor development was mitigated through Anti-OSM administration. Thus, future studies of the OSM mechanism are required to lay the groundwork for developing novel chemo-prevention strategies in women who are unable or unwilling to exercise.

Targeting the Hippo/YAP1 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma: From mechanisms to therapeutic drugs (Review).

The Hippo signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in regulating cell growth and organ size. Its regulatory effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) encompass diverse aspects, including cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, tumor drug resistance, metabolic reprogramming, immunomodulatory effects and autophagy. Yes‑associated protein 1 (YAP1), a potent transcriptional coactivator and a major downstream target tightly controlled by the Hippo pathway, is influenced by various molecules and pathways. The expression of YAP1 in different cell types within the liver tumor microenvironment exerts varying effects on tumor outcomes, warranting careful consideration. Therefore, research on YAP1‑targeted therapies merits attention. This review discusses the composition and regulation mechanism of the Hippo/YAP1 signaling pathway and its relationship with HCC, offering insights for future research and cancer prevention strategies.

EFEKTIVITAS PROGRAM INTERVENSI PENCEGAHAN KANKER SERVIKS PADA REMAJA PUTRI DI LINGKUNGAN SMK BIM JOMBANG

Cervical cancer is one of the main causes of death in women throughout the world, including in Indonesia. Early prevention through education and health interventions is important to reduce the death rate from cervical cancer. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a cervical cancer prevention intervention program in adolescent girls. The research method used was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design without a control group. A total of 200 young women at secondary schools in SMK BIM Jombang were selected as respondents. The intervention provided included lectures, group discussions, distribution of educational materials, and counseling by competent health workers. Data was collected through a questionnaire that included the level of knowledge and awareness of young women about cervical cancer prevention before and after the intervention. The research results showed a significant increase in the level of knowledge and awareness of young women after the intervention. Before the intervention, 30% of adolescent girls had low knowledge, 55% had medium knowledge, and 15% had high knowledge. After the intervention, this percentage changed to 5% for low knowledge, 30% for medium knowledge, and 65% for high knowledge. In the aspect of awareness, before the intervention, 35% of young women had low awareness, 50% had moderate awareness, and 15% had high awareness. After intervention, 7.5% had low awareness, 32.5% had moderate awareness, and 60% had high awareness. This increase shows that the intervention program provided has succeeded in significantly increasing the understanding and awareness of young women. The involvement of parents and teachers provides additional support that is very important for applying the knowledge they gain in everyday life. In addition, policies that support cervical cancer prevention programs are needed to create an environment that supports the health of adolescent girls

Application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Study of Prostate Cancer Disparities: A Systematic Review

Introduction: PCa is one of the cancers that exhibits the widest disparity gaps. Geographical place of residence has been shown to be associated with healthcare access/utilization and PCa outcomes. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are widely being utilized for PCa disparities research, however, inconsistencies in their application exist. This systematic review will summarize GIS application within PCa disparities research, highlight gaps in the literature, and propose alternative approaches. Methods: This paper followed the methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and the criteria set of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles published in peer-reviewed journals were searched through the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases until December 2022. The main inclusion criteria were employing a GIS approach and examining a relationship between geographical components and PCa disparities. The main exclusion criteria were studies conducted outside the US and those that were not published in English. Results: A total of 25 articles were included; 23 focused on PCa measures as outcomes: incidence, survival, and mortality, while only 2 examined PCa management. GIS application in PCa disparities research was grouped into three main categories: mapping, processing, and analysis. GIS mapping allowed for the visualization of quantitative, qualitative, and temporal trends of PCa factors. GIS processing was mainly used for geocoding and smoothing of PCa rates. GIS analysis mainly served to evaluate global spatial autocorrelation and distribution of PCa cases, while local cluster identification techniques were mainly employed to identify locations with poorer PCa outcomes, soliciting public health interventions. Discussion: Varied GIS applications and methodologies have been used in researching PCa disparities. Multiple geographical scales were adopted, leading to variations in associations and outcomes. Geocoding quality varied considerably, leading to less robust findings. Limitations in cluster-detection approaches were identified, especially when variations were captured using the Spatial Scan Statistic. GIS approaches utilized in other diseases might be applied within PCa disparities research for more accurate inferences. A novel approach for GIS research in PCa disparities could be focusing more on geospatial disparities in procedure utilization especially when it comes to PCa screening techniques. Conclusions: This systematic review summarized and described the current state and trend of GIS application in PCa disparities research. Although GIS is of crucial importance when it comes to PCa disparities research, future studies should rely on more robust GIS techniques, carefully select the geographical scale studied, and partner with GIS scientists for more accurate inferences. Such interdisciplinary approaches have the potential to bridge the gaps between GIS and cancer prevention and control to further advance cancer equity.

Unlocking the Potential: Caloric Restriction, Caloric Restriction Mimetics, and Their Impact on Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Caloric restriction (CR) and its related alternatives have been shown to be the only interventions capable of extending lifespan and decreasing the risk of cancer, along with a reduction in burden in pre-clinical trials. Nevertheless, the results from clinical trials have not been as conclusive as the pre-clinical results. Recognizing the challenges associated with long-term fasting, the application of caloric restriction mimetics (CRMs), pharmacological agents that mimic the molecular effects of CR, to harness the potential benefits while overcoming the practical limitations of fasting has resulted in an interesting alternative. This review synthesizes the findings of diverse clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of CR and CRMs. In dietary interventions, a fast-mimicking diet was the most tolerated to reduce tumoral growth markers and chemotherapy side effects. CRMs were well tolerated, and metformin and aspirin showed the most promising effect in reducing cancer risk in a selected group of patients. The application of CR and/or CRMs shows promising effects in anti-cancer therapy; however, there is a need for more evidence to safely include these interventions in standard-of-care therapies.

Nutraceuticals: An alternative to pharmaceuticals

The study is aimed to highlights the different aspects of nutraceuticals including market trends, difficulties, and the processing methods used to harness natural resources. A very broad "nutraceutical" rise has been caused by the nutraceuticals' reach for healthcare management of chronic disorders. The majority of settings had a negligible impact on inadequate eating and lifestyle choices. Research on nutraceuticals is very important and reasonably priced. The healthcare and pharmaceutical industries are facing difficulties as a result of its financial system. It has been found that nutraceuticals contribute to the prevention of infection and cancer and have a positive effect on immune system and cardiovascular health. Based on their composition and mode of action, nutraceuticals are categorized into classes. The many kinds of nutraceuticals and their potential therapeutic effects in illness, such as their anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-lipid properties, will be discussed in this review. Additionally Over the last fifty years, lifestyles have been significantly impacted by urbanization, the rate of industrialization, and rapid change. which resulted in the formation of a junk food eating habit.The ability to eat healthily is impacted by these practices, which gradually reduce the quantity and quality of nutrients consumed. Dementia, starvation, and degenerative diseases are becoming more common as a result of the population’s changed eating habits. In recent years, people’s worries about their health and ability to receive healthcare have grown. Nutraceuticals are essential for boosting immunity without compromising the body’s natural defenses. Nutraceuticals are present in active foods, designer meals, medical diets, dietary supplements, and other diet regimens that offer additional health benefits. Nutrient-rich foods help with a number of bodily functions, including the prevention and treatment of diseases. The medicinal plant offers a range of phytochemical qualities to address different medical issues.

Gastric cancer prevention by community eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in China. Affecting more than 40% of the world's population, Helicobacter pylori is a major risk factor for gastric cancer. While previous clinical trials indicated that eradication of H. pylori could reduce gastric cancer risk, this remains to be shown using a population-based approach. We conducted a community-based, cluster-randomized, controlled, superiority intervention trial in Linqu County, China, with individuals who tested positive for H. pylori using a 13C-urea breath test randomly assigned to receiving either (1) a 10-day, quadruple anti-H. pylori treatment (comprising 20 mg of omeprazole, 750 mg of tetracycline, 400 mg of metronidazole and 300 mg of bismuth citrate) or (2) symptom alleviation treatment with a single daily dosage of omeprazole and bismuth citrate. H. pylori-negative individuals did not receive any treatment. We examined the incidence of gastric cancer as the primary outcome. A total of 180,284 eligible participants from 980 villages were enrolled over 11.8 years of follow-up, and a total of 1,035 cases of incident gastric cancer were documented. Individuals receiving anti-H. pylori therapy showed a modest reduction in gastric cancer incidence in intention-to-treat analyses (hazard ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.74-0.99), with a stronger effect observed for those having successful H. pylori eradication (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.69-0.96) than for those who failed treatment. Moderate adverse effects were reported in 1,345 participants during the 10-day treatment. We observed no severe intolerable adverse events during either treatment or follow-up. The findings suggest the potential for H. pylori mass screening and eradication as a public health policy for gastric cancer prevention. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-10000979 .

Challenges regarding the implementation of cervical cancer screening guidelines in Limpopo province, South Africa.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) call to eliminate cervical cancer is essential in improving structures and processes at primary healthcare facilities by galvanising change in providing cervical cancer screening services. The main objective of this study was to explore challenges affecting the implementation of cervical cancer screening guidelines in selected districts in Limpopo Province. The study was carried out at primary health care services (PHCs) in Vhembe and Mopani districts, Limpopo province. Qualitative non-experimental research design of an exploratory, descriptive and contextual nature of a qualitative paradigm to understand cervical cancer screening programme challenges from healthcare professionals' perspectives. The study population comprised two males and 16 female professional registered nurses working in Limpopo province's PHC services. The sample size was 18 professional nurses. A face-to-face interview guided by unstructured questionnaires was undertaken to elicit information regarding the implementation of cervical cancer screening services. Captured data were analysed using Tesch's open-coding method. The study revealed that the cervical cancer guidelines were not effectively implemented as there were contradictions and gaps when applying the guidelines about the management of HIV and AIDS, age restrictions and gestation. Furthermore, structural factors contributed to the inadequacy rate and failure to reach the set targets. Primary health care is an essential health care and human right; therefore, the government should ensure that guidelines and policies are supported financially and that professional nurses are capacitated for the efficient implementation of services.Contribution:Addressing the inequalities in the implementation of social policies for the prevention of cervical cancer prevention and improving the nurses' knowledge and practice behaviour regarding cervical cancer prevention are imperative.

Comparison between 16S rRNA and shotgun sequencing in colorectal cancer, advanced colorectal lesions, and healthy human gut microbiota

BackgroundGut dysbiosis has been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most prevalent cancer in the world. This study compares microbiota taxonomic and abundance results obtained by 16S rRNA gene sequencing (16S) and whole shotgun metagenomic sequencing to investigate their reliability for bacteria profiling. The experimental design included 156 human stool samples from healthy controls, advanced (high-risk) colorectal lesion patients (HRL), and CRC cases, with each sample sequenced using both 16S and shotgun methods. We thoroughly compared both sequencing technologies at the species, genus, and family annotation levels, the abundance differences in these taxa, sparsity, alpha and beta diversities, ability to train prediction models, and the similarity of the microbial signature derived from these models.ResultsAs expected, the results showed that 16S detects only part of the gut microbiota community revealed by shotgun, although some genera were only profiled by 16S. The 16S abundance data was sparser and exhibited lower alpha diversity. In lower taxonomic ranks, shotgun and 16S highly differed, partially due to a disagreement in reference databases. When considering only shared taxa, the abundance was positively correlated between the two strategies. We also found a moderate correlation between the shotgun and 16S alpha-diversity measures, as well as their PCoAs. Regarding the machine learning models, only some of the shotgun models showed some degree of predictive power in an independent test set, but we could not demonstrate a clear superiority of one technology over the other. Microbial signatures from both sequencing techniques revealed taxa previously associated with CRC development, e.g., Parvimonas micra.ConclusionsShotgun and 16S sequencing provide two different lenses to examine microbial communities. While we have demonstrated that they can unravel common patterns (including microbial signatures), shotgun often gives a more detailed snapshot than 16S, both in depth and breadth. Instead, 16S will tend to show only part of the picture, giving greater weight to dominant bacteria in a sample. Therefore, we recommend choosing one or another sequencing technique before launching a study. Specifically, shotgun sequencing is preferred for stool microbiome samples and in-depth analyses, while 16S is more suitable for tissue samples and studies with targeted aims.

Effect and Mechanism of 6-Gingerol against Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology and In Vitro Experiment.

Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer (PLGC) are critical in the secondary prevention of gastric cancer. Despite the notable effects of natural products on PLGC, the specific mechanisms by which compounds, like 6-gingerol, influence these lesions are not fully understood. This study aimed to confirm the effect and mechanism of 6-gingerol in the treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC). The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of 6-gingerol against PLGC using network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. We employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets and pathways influenced by 6-gingerol, followed by validation through in vitro experiments using a PLGC cell model. Network pharmacology analysis highlighted the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway as significantly influenced by 6-gingerol. In vitro experiments confirmed that 6-gingerol effectively inhibited proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of MC cells, promoted apoptosis, and induced cell cycle arrest, primarily through modulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Statistical analysis revealed significant inhibition (p < 0.05) across these cellular processes in a dose-dependent manner. This study demonstrated that 6-gingerol acts as an effective agent against PLGC, with clear dose-dependent effects that pave the way for further experimental and clinical exploration.

The possibilities of predicting the individual risk of cervical cancer in women of reproductive age using mathematical modeling

Background. Cervical cancer (CC) refers to cancer of visual localization and in women of reproductive age remains one of the most common oncological diseases. The carcinogenesis of CC is caused by the persistence of highly oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV), the level of carcinogenicity of which is the highest based on the criteria of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, cervical carcinogenesis does not occur in all cases of persistence of highly oncogenic types of HPV. This, in turn, determines the need for a thorough search, study and analysis of possible cofactors that can lead to neoplastic changes in the cervix.Aim. To develop a model for predicting the individual risk of CC in women of reproductive age, taking into account clinical, anamnestic, laboratory and histological data.Materials and methods. The material for the study was retrospective examination data from 251 patients of reproductive age who were treated at the Center for Gynecology and Reproductive Technologies of the National Medical Research Center “Medical and Rehabilitation Center”, Ministry of Health of Russia in the period 2015–2022. Results. Highly oncogenic HPV types were significantly more common in the group of patients with verified СС who took combined oral contraceptives (COC), compared with patients who did not take COC (p = 0.035). Multifactorial analysis allowed us to determine that long-term use of СОС for a total of more than 7 years is associated with a tendency to increase the risk of developing СС (hazard ratio 1.68; 95 % confidence interval 1.1–2.5; p = 0.010). According to the results of statistical calculation, the values of regression coefficients were obtained and the tendency to increase the risk of developing CC was predicted in the presence of such factors as: HPV type 16 persistence, body mass index, and the duration of COC intake in years.Conclusion. Thus, taking into account all possible risk factors for CC, the negative effect of cofactors, namely increased body mass index and prolonged intake of COC, on the course of HPV as the leading etiological factor of breast cancer, will allow us to identify groups at increased risk of developing CC, form an individual algorithm for monitoring and examination throughout the entire period of taking COC, as well as conduct individual cancer prevention by limiting the duration of taking COC.

Factors associated with cervical cancer prevention coverage

Objective: To evaluate the factors associated with cervical cancer prevention coverage. Methods: an integrative literature review was conducted, articles retrieved from the secondary databases Virtual Health Library, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Scientific Electronic Library Online and Online System for Search and Analysis of Medical Literature were analyzed, based on Boolean operators. Results: the factors associated with this outcome were being married/widowed/separated/divorced, not being a smoker, having health insurance, having seen a doctor in the last year and having a domicile registered in the Basic Family Health Unit, factors such as not being scheduled by the professional, women with a family income of up to 1 minimum wage, who studied up to the 4th grade, residents in the Northeast region and in municipalities with up to 20,000 inhabitants, women who had never attended school, with four or more children, a history of four or more births, who did not use contraception and had inadequate knowledge about the test, feelings of shame, fear and fear of the diagnosis represented barriers to the performance of the test. Conclusion: the data of the study indicate that the factors that influence the coverage of cervical cancer prevention tests may be individual, structural and access, technical and cultural.