The effect of vitamin B 12 (cobalamin) intake on gastric cancer is unclear. We investigated this association within the Stomach Cancer Pooling Project. Data from eight case-control studies within an international consortium were harmonized. Study-specific quartiles of dietary B 12 intake (μg/day) were created using food frequency questionnaires and country-specific dietary composition tables. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between B 12 and gastric cancer were calculated using multivariable logistic regressions adjusted by major sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. A random-effect meta-analysis pooling study-specific associations was also conducted. Secondary analyses were further adjusted for Helicobacter pylori (Hp ) and dietary factors. Analyses stratified by anatomical subsite, histological type, sex, age, smoking, alcohol, and socioeconomic status (SES) were performed. The main analysis included 2228 cases and 7096 controls. A borderline positive association was observed between vitamin B 12 intake and gastric cancer (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.99–1.10 per quartile of intake). Results only slightly attenuated after adjusting for Hp and dietary factors. No statistical heterogeneity was found by histology and anatomical subsite, despite a higher risk being observed for the intestinal subtype (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02–1.19 per quartile of intake). Women, the elderly, never smokers, no-to-low alcohol consumers, and individuals from high SES had an increased risk of gastric cancer with increasing B 12 intake, with no significant heterogeneity. Overall, dietary vitamin B 12 intake was not associated with gastric cancer risk, while a positive association was observed for intestinal-type gastric cancer and within specific population subgroups.
Iron deficiency anemia may signal underlying gastrointestinal pathology in adults. This study aimed to evaluate endoscopic and histopathological findings in adults undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy for iron deficiency anemia and to compare selected lesion frequencies between age groups. This retrospective study included 328 adult patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for iron deficiency anemia between January 2024 and December 2025; 285 also underwent colonoscopy. The mean age was 61.2 ± 14.8 years, and 62.5% of patients were male; 64.3% were older than 50 years. Pangastritis (30.5%) and antral gastritis (23.8%) were the most common upper gastrointestinal findings. Among biopsied patients, Helicobacter pylori positivity was 54.2%, intestinal metaplasia 14.6%, and atrophic gastritis 7.5%. On colonoscopy, hemorrhoids were most common (32.3%), followed by colonic polyps (24.6%); colorectal adenocarcinoma was found in eight patients (2.8%), all older than 50 years. Tubular adenoma with low-grade dysplasia was the most frequent polyp histopathology. Gastric polyps (P = 0.013) and colonic polyps (P = 0.041), which were not uniformly subclassified histologically, were significantly more frequent after age 50, whereas intestinal metaplasia (P = 0.051) and colorectal cancer (8/190 vs. 0/95; P = 0.055) did not differ significantly between age groups. In this descriptive, single-group cohort, bidirectional endoscopy identified premalignant and malignant lesions in adults with iron deficiency anemia. As no nonanemic control group was included, these findings describe the diagnostic yield within this population and do not establish the clinical benefit of combined endoscopic evaluation.
Cervical cancer, primarily caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in women globally. No nationwide analysis has integrated molecular HPV testing and cervical cytology using registry-based data. The aim of the present study was to provide the first nationwide registry-based estimate of HR-HPV positivity and age-specific cervical cytological abnormalities within the Chilean National Cervical Cancer Screening Program. A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using nationwide aggregate data from the Chilean Ministry of Health (MINSAL), covering the nationwide cervical cancer screening network. A total of 506 712 cervical samples tested for HR-HPV (2020–2024) and 4 055 738 adequate Papanicolaou (PAP) tests (2019–2024) were analyzed. The HR-HPV positivity between 2020 and 2024 was 13.02% (95% confidence interval: 12.93–13.11%), with annual values of 12.34, 12.73, 13.27, 13.47, and 12.85% in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively. The highest HPV prevalence was observed in G1 (30–44 years), ranging from 15.39 to 16.26%, compared with 8.95–10.55% in G2 (45–64 years) and 5.46–13.30% in G3 (≥65 years). Among all HPV-positive women, HPV-16 accounted for 19.57% of infections, HPV-18 for 6.39%, and pooled HR-HPV types for 74.03%. Regarding PAP results, 95.63% of adequate tests were classified as negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy, while low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (NIE I) was found in 0.77%, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (NIE II) in 0.33%, and severe HSIL (NIE III) in 0.26% of cases. This nationwide registry-based study establishes the first comprehensive baseline of HR-HPV positivity and cervical cytology in Chile. The predominance of non-16/18 h-HPV infections reinforces the importance of broad-spectrum extended HPV genotyping surveillance and provides a benchmark for evaluating the long-term impact of HPV vaccination and implementation of primary HPV screening.
Infectious agents may play a role in breast cancer. Viral sequences of Epstein–Barr virus, human papillomavirus, and murine mammary tumor virus have been identified in breast tumors. A potential but unexplored pathway for viral entry is nipple suction during sexual practices. We aimed to evaluate the association between nipple suction as a sexual practice and breast cancer in women. We conducted a secondary analysis of a large population-based case-control study carried out between 2007 and 2011 in five northern Mexican states. The sample included 988 women with histologically confirmed incident breast cancer and 1019 matched controls without the disease. Information was obtained through standardized face-to-face interviews. Nipple suction was assessed via self-report, with responses categorized as never, sometimes, or frequently/always. We used logistic regression to estimate the association between breast cancer and nipple suction, adjusting for age and breastfeeding duration, with stratified analyses by menopausal status and tumor immunophenotype. Nipple suction was positively associated with breast cancer, with a significant dose-response trend ( P < 0.001). Compared with never, women reporting occasional suction had higher odds [odds ratio (OR) = 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14–1.67], and those reporting frequent/always showed a markedly increased risk (OR = 14.36, 95% CI: 9.22–22.35). Associations were consistent across menopausal groups and tumor subtypes. Our findings raise the hypothesis that nipple suction could represent a potential route of exposure to oncogenic viruses present in saliva; however, molecular and virological studies are warranted to evaluate this possible mechanism.
Cumulative ultraviolet radiation exposure and chronic immunosuppression are major risk factors for keratinocyte cancers. Squamous cell carcinomas, the most frequent malignancies following solid organ transplantation, show markedly increased incidence and aggressiveness in transplant recipients. While posttransplant dermatologic surveillance is well established, pretransplant skin cancer prevention remains insufficiently addressed. This monocentric cross-sectional study (August 2023 to August 2025) assessed skin cancer and sun protection knowledge in adult transplant candidates undergoing dermatologic screening at a university hospital dermatology outpatient clinic, using the validated 25-item Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge (SCSK) Scale, supplemented by questions on immunosuppression-related risk awareness and self-perceived knowledge adequacy. Immunosuppression-naive transplant candidates constituted the primary cohort; immunosuppression-experienced transplant candidates served as reference. Descriptive and nonparametric analyses were performed. Among 154 transplant candidates (144 immunosuppression-naive and 10 immunosuppression-experienced), immunosuppression-naive (mean age: 52.2 years; 69.4% male) demonstrated significantly lower SCSK scores than immunosuppression-experienced (13.6 vs. 16.9; P = 0.018). Deficits were greatest regarding tanning behavior and prevention, while symptom recognition was poor across both groups. Only 59.0% of immunosuppression-naive transplant candidates recognized immunosuppression as major skin cancer risk factor, and 29.2% felt adequately informed. Higher knowledge was associated with personal ( P = 0.031) or family ( P < 0.001) history of skin cancer, regular screenings ( P < 0.001), and lighter Fitzpatrick skin types ( P = 0.011). Transplant candidates, particularly those without prior immunosuppression, exhibit substantial deficits in skin cancer and sun protection knowledge. The pretransplant phase represents a critical, underutilized opportunity for early, structured dermatologic education before lifelong immunosuppression and increased cancer risk.
