This study aimed to assess the adherence and willingness to participate in colorectal cancer screening programs in people living in prison (PLP). This survey was conducted from October 2023 and July 2024. Of the 995 participating, 314 were eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Overall, 25.2% PLP had undergone a fecal occult blood test in a screening program. Those who reported consumption of at least 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables, that were minimally active and had at least one chronic disease were significantly more likely to have undergone fecal occult blood test, whereas those who had a length of detention of 2-10 years, those who reported correct protein consumption, and those who do not drink alcohol were significantly less likely to have undergone a fecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer screening purposes. The majority (86%) expressed their willingness to undergo fecal occult blood test for screening in prison. Willingness was significantly higher in those involved in working activities in prison (OR = 4.18; 95% CI = 1.18-14.84; p = 0.027), and who had expressed willingness to receive vaccinations in prison if offered (OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 1.47-13.22; p = 0.008). Those at their first experience of detention and that had expressed their willingness to participate in interventions to promote healthy lifestyle were significantly less willing to undergo fecal occult blood test for screening purposes if offered in prison. This study highlights the need to promote health literacy on the role of cancer prevention in eligible PLP and the need for the elimination of organizational barriers.

Colorectal adenomas are key precancerous lesions and a major target for colorectal cancer prevention. While gut microbiome alterations are well described in colorectal cancer, microbial composition and functional capacity at the adenoma stage remain poorly understood. Emerging metagenomic data suggest early adenomas are associated with loss of microbial metabolic functions supporting epithelial and immune homeostasis.

To investigate the association between gut microbiome composition and functional pathways and the presence of colorectal adenomas in patients undergoing routine colonoscopy.

This cross-sectional case-control study included adult patients undergoing routine colonoscopy. Participants were enrolled based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria to minimize confounding factors such as inflammatory bowel disease, prior colorectal surgery, and recent antibiotic or probiotic use. Fecal samples were collected prior to bowel preparation, and gut microbiome taxonomic composition and functional pathways were analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing.

A total of 136 participants were included, of whom 56 had colorectal adenomas. Alpha diversity indices did not differ significantly between adenoma-positive and adenoma-negative groups. In contrast, beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in overall microbial community structure. Descriptive genus-level differences suggested features of dysbiosis in adenoma-positive patients, including higher relative abundance of Bacteroides and Prevotella and lower abundance of Faecalibacterium and Anaerostipes. Differential abundance analysis identified a single species-level feature, UBA7597 sp003448195, enriched in the adenoma group. Functional profiling showed reduced microbial pathways related to menaquinone (vitamin K₂) biosynthesis, Stickland fermentation, and short-chain fatty acid (propionate) production in patients with adenomas.

The presence of colorectal adenomas was associated with reduced microbial metabolic functions linked to vitamin K₂ biosynthesis, amino acid fermentation, and propionate production, alongside compositional shifts toward a less functionally robust gut microbiome. These findings indicate that early colorectal neoplasia is accompanied by functional microbiome alterations that may serve as markers of adenoma-associated dysbiosis and provide insight into early metabolic changes in the colonic microenvironment.

The gut microbiome may modify the associations between lifestyle factors and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but their complex interplay, including the interactions between lifestyle factors, remain underexplored. We examined associations between CRC-related lifestyle patterns and gut microbiome diversity and composition in Finnish adults.

Our data included 1,228 adults aged 25-64 years from the National FINRISK/FINDIET 2002 Study. Information on lifestyle and background factors was obtained through self-administered questionnaires. Dietary data were gathered using a 48-h dietary recall. CRC-related lifestyles were modelled using a CRC lifestyle index based on nine major risk factors for CRC. Lower index points reflected higher-risk lifestyles. The gut microbiome profiles were analyzed using shallow shotgun metagenome sequencing. Associations between the index and microbial diversity and composition were assessed using, e.g., linear regression and permutational multivariate ANOVA adjusted for relevant confounders.

The index explained 0.2% of the variation in microbial composition between participants (p < 0.05). Higher-risk lifestyles for CRC were associated with lower microbial diversity (β 0.037, p 0.009). Higher-risk lifestyles were also associated with a higher relative abundance of species representing primarily the family Lachnospiraceae and genera such as Dorea and Mediterraneibacter, and lower relative abundance of species within the genus Bifidobacterium (< 0.0001).

Participants with higher- and lower-risk lifestyles showed clear differences in their gut microbiome diversity and composition, higher-risk lifestyles being associated with potentially adverse microbial traits. These findings contribute to identifying microbial features that may characterize early stages of CRC development in individuals with high-risk lifestyles.

Lymphedema is chronic and can be a consequence of cancer treatment. Little is known about the range of movement (ROM) of the limbs with lymphedema. We aimed to quantify the ROM in patients with lymphedema to assess the impact of lymphedema and multilayer bandaging on mobility.

A motion analysis system quantified ROM. The ankle and knee of 22 patients (57 years, 14 females) with lower limb lymphedema (mainly secondary to gynecological or urological cancer) were evaluated. The wrist and elbow of 21 women (58 years) affected by upper limb lymphedema secondary to breast cancer were studied. Tests were repeated on the lymphedematous limb before (L) and after (B) bandaging, and with the compression garment (G, only for upper limb). The contralateral healthy limb (H) was set as a reference.

Lymphedema limited the knee maximal flexion (H 97.7°; L 83.1°) and the forearm rotation (H 140°, L 131°). Bandaging further limited the maximal knee ROM (70°). Bandaging restricted the maximal ROM of the ankle, elbow (H 147°, B 130°; only flexion limited), and wrist (H 113°, B 86°; both extension and flexion limited). Bandaging limits the ROM of the knee (H 40.7°; B 36.6°), ankle (H 29.6°; B 25.3°), and elbow (L 59°, B 54°) during the dynamic test. G limited the rotation of the forearm (111°). Data reported as median.

Lymphedema and its treatment introduce important restrictions on joint mobility that may impact the quality of life, as adequate joint dorsiflexion is necessary for daily functional activities.

There is a global call to end cervical cancer, and various jurisdictions are still determining optimal strategies to accelerate elimination. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative testing confers lower risk of future precancer vs normal cytology; high-quality longitudinal data are needed comparing risk after a negative HPV test vs negative cotest (HPV and cytology).

To compare long-term risk of cervical precancer based on HPV, cytology, and cotest screening results.

This cohort study linked data from a randomized clinical trial to a comprehensive screening program in British Columbia. Participants were recruited between 2006 and 2012 and followed from trial exit to 10 years postexit. Eligible participants were women who completed trial exit cotesting. Data were analyzed between January and April 2025.

HPV and cytology status from exit cotesting were considered, stratified by status of each test.

Cumulative risk of precancer was calculated over follow-up using Kaplan-Meier techniques. Risk was compared among groups who tested HPV-negative with normal cytology, HPV-negative with abnormal cytology, HPV-positive with normal cytology, and HPV-positive with abnormal cytology. Additionally, risk among those who were HPV-negative (regardless of cytology result), with normal cytology (regardless of HPV results), or were cotest negative were compared in order to simulate outcomes in primary HPV screening, cytology, and cotest programs, respectively.

In this cohort of 8078 women (median [IQR] age at exit screen, 49 [41-57] years; 1636 Asian [22.4%], 223 Indigenous [3.0%], 5568 White [76.1%]) who participated in a British Columbia-based cervical cancer screening trial, the HPV-positive with abnormal cytology group had the highest cumulative incidence risk (CIR) of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or higher at the end of follow-up (CIR, 43.47%; 95% CI, 23.45%-58.26%), followed by the HPV-positive and cytology-negative group (CIR, 22.21%; 95% CI, 11.49%-31.62%). The HPV-negative with abnormal cytology (CIR, 4.83%; 95% CI, 0%-10.03%) and the HPV-negative with normal cytology (CIR, 0.37%; 95% CI, 0.13%-0.60%) groups had significantly lower CIR at the end of follow-up. Less than 1% of the population was HPV-negative with abnormal cytology (69 of 8078 [0.85%]). Women who were HPV-negative regardless of cytology results (CIR, 0.41%; 95% CI, 0.17%-0.65%) had a similar risk as those who cotested negative (CIR, 0.37%; 95% CI, 0.13%-0.60%); both groups had lower risk than those with normal cytology results (regardless of HPV result) (CIR, 1.28%; 95% CI, 0.78%-1.78%) throughout follow-up.

In this cohort study of cervical cancer screen testing approaches and risk of cervical precancer, after a negative HPV test (regardless of cytology results) risk of precancer remained acceptably low throughout long-term follow-up. This suggests that cotesting yielded limited benefits, while increasing costs, relative to primary HPV testing.

The composite index lesion severity (CAILS) score is used to monitor disease and therapeutic response in mycosis fungoides (MF), but is limited by interobserver variability and low sensitivity. Emerging imaging techniques, such as multispectral imaging (MSI), colourimetry and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), offer objective alternatives for quantifying CAILS parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate non-invasive imaging modalities for objective and reliable quantification of disease extent in MF. Sixty-six participants were enrolled in two prospective studies: a cross-sectional discovery cohort to assess baseline characteristics of 35 MF patients (IA-IVB) and 10 healthy controls using CAILS and MSI, and a longitudinal confirmation cohort including 21 early-stage MF patients (IA-IIA) treated with chlormethine gel 0.016% for 16 weeks, in whom lesional and non-lesional skin were assessed using CAILS, MSI, colourimetry and LSCI at multiple time points. Candidate biomarkers were required to meet five clinical validation criteria: disease discrimination, repeatability, treatment responsiveness, correlation with CAILS and patient acceptability. In the discovery cohort, MSI detected significant differences in erythema, pigmentation, elevation and desquamation between healthy, non-lesional and lesional skin. In the confirmation cohort, four candidate biomarkers met all validation criteria: MSI CIELAB a*, MSI average haemoglobin, and colourimetry CIELAB a* (DSMIII) for quantifying erythema, and MSI individual typology angle (ITA) for pigmentation. These biomarkers reliably discriminated lesional from non-lesional skin (p ≤ 0.001), showed strong test-retest reliability (CV < 10%, ICC > 0.84), detected treatment effects, showed moderate concordance with CAILS, and were associated with low patient burden (mean 3.4/100). These findings show that MSI- and colourimetry-derived biomarkers can objectively monitor disease extent in MF and complement existing clinical assessments.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is frequently associated with autonomic nervous system dysfunction, even in the absence of obesity or overt metabolic abnormalities. Alterations in pupillary responses may reflect early autonomic involvement and serve as a potential tool for early diagnosis, risk stratification, and disease monitoring. This study aimed to investigate pupillary reflex parameters using dynamic pupillometry in newly diagnosed non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome and to compare the findings with those of healthy controls.

This prospective cross-sectional study included 48 newly diagnosed women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 44 ageand sex-matched healthy controls. Pupillary function parameters were measured using dynamic pupillometry (MonPackOne; Metrovision, France).

The mean age did not differ significantly between the groups (p=0.870). Initial pupil diameter, pupil contraction amplitude, and contraction velocity were significantly lower in the PCOS group than in the control group, whereas pupillary dilation duration was significantly longer (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.007, and p=0.032, respectively). No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding contraction latency, contraction duration, dilation latency, or dilation velocity (p=0.749, p=0.925, p=0.653, and p=0.310, respectively).

Newly diagnosed non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome exhibit significant alterations in pupillary dynamics, suggesting a generalized reduction in both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Dynamic pupillometry may represent a practical, noninvasive tool for detecting early autonomic hypoactivity and identifying patients at risk for future metabolic or cardiovascular complications.

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) technology has become a revolutionary tool in medicine, offering substantial potential for treating a wide range of diseases, including hematological disorders, cancers, genetic conditions, and ophthalmological diseases. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy, safety, and applicability of CRISPR/Cas9 in clinical trials. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases was conducted. All studies, up to November 2024, meeting the eligibility criteria assessing the application of CRISPR for the treatment of diseases were included. A quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement for systematic reviews and meta-analyses was followed, and a total of 17 studies were included. This systematic review of CRISPR/Cas9 technology focused on its effectiveness and safety across various diseases. In nonmalignant hematological disorders, CRISPR successfully treated β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, resulting in high transfusion independence and the elimination of disease crises. In malignant hematological disorders, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, CRISPR-engineered chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells achieved an 83.3% complete remission rate. Furthermore, CRISPR-based CAR-T cells showed promising results in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In oncology, lung cancer and other solid tumors are among the diseases that have been safely engineered using CRISPR gene editing technology. For genetic disorders, CRISPR improved vision in retinal degeneration and reduced symptoms in hereditary angioedema and transthyretin amyloidosis with mild side effects. The results demonstrated CRISPR's potential across a wide range of conditions. In conclusion, the findings underscore the potential role of CRISPR/Cas9 technology across a wide range of diseases. However, challenges remain, including optimizing delivery systems, minimizing off-target effects, addressing immunogenicity concerns, and ethical considerations.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and fatal cancers worldwide. Despite therapeutic advancements, patients with stage II and III colon cancer often experience recurrences and metastases, particularly to the liver, leading to suboptimal disease-free survival (DFS) rates and decreased long-term survival. Qu-Shi-Jie-Du decoction (QSJDD), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, may prevent cancer recurrence and spread by boosting immunity, reducing inflammation, and inhibiting tumour growth. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that QSJDD reduces liver metastasis in patients with colon cancer. However, robust clinical evidence is required to confirm its efficacy and safety.

This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of QSJDD in preventing colon cancer recurrence and liver metastasis, thereby offering a potential adjunctive therapy to improve patient outcomes.

This multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial involves 336 high-risk stage II or III colon cancer patients from 10 Chinese hospitals. Post-surgery and chemotherapy, 168 patients will receive either QSJDD compound granules or a placebo for 6 months, with a 3-year follow-up and evaluations every 6 months. The primary endpoint is to measure the 3-year DFS rate, while secondary endpoints include 1- and 2-year DFS rates, overall survival, and changes in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Dampness Syndrome Scale. Safety and adverse events will be tracked, and blood and gut microbiomes will be analysed to assess QSJDD's impact on delaying colon cancer metastasis.

This trial will determine the efficacy and safety of QSJDD and provide evidence regarding its role in the adjuvant treatment of colon cancer.

Validated tools assessing oncological genetic counseling (OGC) quality are lacking.

We assessed OCG effectiveness using italian-translated version of the Genomics Outcome Scale (GOS) questionnaire. Clinical variables were collected and their association with different answers was assessed by Fisher's exact test or Chi-square test for either dichotomous or other categorical variables, respectively, with level of statistical significance p = 0.05.

Between November 2024 and February 2025, 209 subjects who received the complete OGC program at Our Center responded to the questionnaire; median age was 56 years (25-81). Most (76%) had breast cancer, 72% received a negative test, 15% positive test, and 13% noninformative test with variant of unknown significance (VUS). Most patients answered affirmatively to Question 1, focused on OGC understanding: age (p = 0.0181) and education (p = 0.0028) yielded different answers. Question 2, assessing relatives risk understanding, was answered completely/partially affirmative by 94% of subjects: test result (negative noninformative vs. positive vs. VUS) was associated (p = 0.0175) with different answers. To Question 3, related to concern, 65% confirmed their worry: education (p = 0.0392) and cancer type (p = 0.0128) yielded different answers. In Question 4, focused on surveillance understanding, 77% declared full or partial awareness, regardless of examined factors. In Question 5, enquiring decisional ability for themselves or family members, 72% stated they were completely/partially able to make decisions. Education (p = 0.0287) and genetic test result (p = 0.0090) yielded different answers. In Question 6, reflecting future planning, 69% responded completely/almost completely affirmatively, 17% were uncertain, and 14% responded partially/completely negatively, regardless of examined clinical factors.

GOS questionnaire confirms that OGC is useful and effective to inform patients about their condition, surveillance, and prevention. Higher levels of empowerment were seen in younger patients and those with higher education.