Histological sections from paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma and axillary lymph nodes were examined for the presence of human papillomaviruses by two different techniques: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the in situ hybridization with biotin-labelled probes. By PCR we detected HPV 16 DNA sequences in 29.4% of breast tumours and in some metastatic lymph nodes, though we were unable to identify any HPV DNA sequences by in situ hybridization. These results suggest that HPV's could play a role in the genesis of breast neoplasia.

Screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) types was performed by a PCR‐ based assay on 29 women (mean age 34.0 years, range 21‐48 years). HPV‐DNA was demonstrated in 16 women (55.2%), with a detection rate of 37.9% in the oral cavity and 34.5% in the genital tract. HPV‐16 was the most prevalent genotype (53.8%), followed by HPV‐6, which was present in 34.6% of the positive samples. Other types were more rarely detected. Five subjects showed concurrent genital tract and oral cavity infections but HPV type‐specific concordance was detected in only 3 patients. Multiple HPV infections were found in 9 of the 26 positive samples, where HPV‐6 appeared frequently associated with the other types. These data confirm the occurrence of mixed HPV infections and the wide diffusion of different types of HPV in the genital mucosa and in the oral cavity; they also stress the need to utilize diagnostic methods with a wide typing capacity.

Background and aims: The WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) recommends a 30% relative reduction in mean population salt/ sodium intake. The study assessed the trend in the habitual salt intake of the Italian adult population from 2008 to 2012 to 2018e2019 based on 24-h urinary sodium excretion, in the framework of the CUORE Project/MINISAL-GIRCSI/MENO SALE PIU' SALUTE national surveys. Methods and results: Data were from cross-sectional surveys of randomly selected age and sex estratified samples of resident persons aged 35e74 years in 10 (out of 20) Italian Regions distributed in North, Centre and South of the Country. Urinary sodium and creatinine measurements were carried out in a central laboratory. The analyses included 942 men and 916 women examined in 2008 e2012, and 967 men and 1010 women examined in 2018 e2019. The agestandardized mean daily population salt (sodium chloride) intake was 10.8 g (95% CI 10.5 e11.1) in men and 8.3 g (8.1e8.5) in women in 2008e2012 and respectively 9.5 g (9.3e9.8) and 7.2 g (7.0e7.4) in 2018e2019. A statistically significant (p<0.0001) salt intake reduction was thus observed over 10 years for both genders, and all age, body mass index (BMI) and educational classes. Conclusions: The average daily salt intake of the Italian general adult population remains higher than the WHO recommended level, but a significant reduction of 12% in men and 13% in women has occurred in the past ten years. These results encourage the initiatives undertaken by the Italian Ministry of Health aimed at the reduction of salt intake at the population level.

Cancer has been in existence longer than human beings, and man has been facing the illness ever since he made his appearance on Earth. Amazingly, the first human cancer gene was cloned only thirty years ago. This, and other extraordinary scientific goals achieved by molecular cancer research in the last 30 years, seems to suggest that definitive answers and solutions to this severe disease have been finally found. This was not the case, as cancer still remains to be defeated. To do so, cancer must be first understood.This review highlights how cancer onset and progression has been tackled from ancient times to present day. Old theories and achievements have provided the pillars of cancer understanding, in laying the basis of 'modern era' cancer research, are discussed. The review highlights the discovery of oncogenes and suppressor tumor genes, underlining the crucial role of these achievements in cancer diagnosis and therapies. Finally, an overview of how the modern technologies have given impetuous to expedite these goals is also considered.

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