Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic and persistent chemicals produced between 1930s and 1980s primarily for insulating fluids in heavy-duty electrical equipment in power plants, industries, and large buildings. They persist in the environment and accumulate in plants and animals, and have been classified as probable carcinogens to humans. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of scientific literature on the relationship between PCB exposure and human cancer. Two cohorts of people highly exposed to PCBs through ingestion of contaminated rice oil and some cohorts of occupationally exposed workers failed to show a definite increase in total cancer mortality and provided inconsistent results regarding single cancers. Several cohort and case-control studies investigated the association between PCBs and specific cancers, showing an association between PCB serum levels and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), with a summary odds ratio of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.7), but no consistent results for the other cancer sites and types. In conclusion, this review provides some evidence for the role of PCBs in the development of NHL, although the inconsistent results of studies performed on highly polluted people and occupationally exposed workers do not allow a firm conclusion to be drawn.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Several herbs are used for lowering high blood cholesterol levels in traditional medicines including Indian Medicine (Ayurveda). We aimed to assess the short-term effects of the combination of Guggulu (<i>Commiphora mukul</i>) and Triphala (<i>Terminalia chebula</i>, <i>Terminalia belerica</i>, and <i>Phyllanthus emblica</i>) on serum cholesterol in healthy subjects with hypercholesterolaemia. <b><i>Patients and Methods:</i></b> This was a parallel randomised double-blind controlled trial that included 90 individuals at low-moderate cardiovascular risk. The main outcome measures were serum levels of total and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, HDL-C). Secondary outcome measures included BMI, waist circumference, and adverse events. Subjects were administered either Guggulu and Triphala or placebo three times daily for 3 months, with 3 months of follow-up after the end of treatment. <b><i>Results:</i></b> At intention-to-treat analysis, from baseline to 3 months, total serum cholesterol decreased by 1.9% in the placebo (<i>n</i> = 44) and 3.3% (<i>p</i> = 0.01) in the intervention (<i>n</i> = 46) group. Serum LDL-C decreased by 4.9% (<i>p</i> = 0.03) and 4.8% (<i>p</i> = 0.02) in the placebo and intervention group, respectively, without differences between them. Two participants in the intervention group developed hypersensitivity rash (4.3%) as compared with none in the placebo group. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Three months of treatment with Guggulu and Triphala did not show better effects than placebo on serum levels of total and LDL cholesterol, BMI, and waist circumference.

BackgroundWe carried out a study to evaluate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae genital infections in school-based adolescents in Northern Italy.MethodsSystematic screening for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae genital infection was performed in 13th grade students in the province of Brescia, an industrialized area in Northern Italy. Student filled in a questionnaire on sexual behaviour and provided a urine sample for microbiological testing.ResultsA total of 2,718 students (mean age: 18.4 years; 59.1 % females) provided complete data (62.2 % of those eligible). Overall 2,059 students (75.8 %) were sexually active (i.e. had had at least one partner), and the mean age at sexual debut was 16.1 years (SD: 1.4). Only 27.5 % of the sexually active students reported regular condom use during the previous 6 months, with higher frequency in males than in females (33.8 % vs 24.2 %). No case of N. gonorrhoeae infection was detected, while C. trachomatis was found in 36 adolescents, with a prevalence of 1.7 % (95 % CI: 1.2–2.4) among sexually active students, and no statistical difference between females and males (1.9 and 1.4 %, respectively). Inconsistent condom use (odds ratio, OR = 5.5) and having had more than one sexual partner during the previous 6 months (OR = 6.8) were associated with an increased risk of Chlamydia infection at multivariate analysis.ConclusionThe prevalence of C. trachomatis infection among sexually active adolescents in Northern Italy was low, despite a high proportion of students who engage in risky sexual behaviour. No cases of N. gonorrhoeae infection were identified.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-2839-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Results 1257 men and 3025 women participated (66-71% response rate). Chlamydia positivity was 4.6%(95% CI: 3.9-5.4); similar between men (5.2%; 95% CI: 3.9-6.4) and women (4.4%; 95% CI: 3.5-5.2). The likelihood ratio test found number of partners to be most significantly associated with chlamydia, followed by partnership duration, ≥ 1 concurrent partnerships (yes vs no), condom use (inconsistent vs consistent) and frequency of sex (daily/weekly/ monthly vs less). The association was strongest for ≥ 1 concurrent partnerships (OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7-3.4) followed by condom use (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.3-2.9), partnership duration (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4-0.6) and number of partners (OR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1-1.3). Frequency of sex was not associated with chlamydia. When all variables were included in the model, condom use (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4-3.1) had the strongest association with chlamydia followed by partnership duration (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4-0.7), concurrent partnership (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.3) and number of partners (OR = 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0-1.2), with the latter two highly correlated (p < 0.01). Conclusion Sexual behaviour is difficult to capture accurately in questionnaires, but these results suggest that number of partners, partnership duration, concurrent partnerships and condom use are important. It is difficult to separate the effect of concurrency from number of partners. Prevalence of Genital chlamydia trachomatis and neisseria Gonorrhoeae infections amonG adolescents in northern italy Institute of Public Health and Human Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, ItalyBackground Sexually transmitted infections are widespread globally, especially among people aged 15-25. Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually-acquired bacterial disease. This infection is not notified in Italy; prevalence data on population-based surveys are not available. Methods We conducted a prevalence survey among students aged 18 or older attending high schools in the Province of Brescia, Northern Italy. A total of 3134 adolescents were offered to enter the study; overall, 1886/3134 (60.2%) participated. Each consenting student answered to a socio-behavioural questionnaire and C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae were searched on first void urine samples using VERSANT ® CT/GC DNA 1.0 Assay (kPCR). We present preliminary data concerning 1311 enrolled individuals attending 16 schools. Results Overall, 63.8% (836/1311) were females and the median age was 18.4 years. Most students (91.7%) were born in Italy. 77.1% of the enrolled students declared to be sexually active (F > M, p < 0.001), with their first intercourse occurring at a median age of 16.0 years. About 57.0% of sexually active persons reported using condom during the last intercourse and only 26.5% (M > F, p = 0.017) admitted always using it. Females were found to become sexually active earlier, had more partners in the previous six months and less frequently used condoms. No case of N. gonorrhoeae infection was identified, while 8 males and 13 females were positive for C....