Background: Shift work (SW) can contribute to metabolic disorders affecting biological rhythms, inducing sleep deprivation, decreasing the resting metabolic rate, and changing dietary habits and eating behaviors. This study aims to assess the relationship of SW on physical and metabolic parameters, including the metabolic syndrome (MetS), and the contributing role of sleep quality, chronotype, chrononutrition, and the Mediterranean diet. Methods: Shift and nonshift workers underwent medical examinations and lab tests. MetS was diagnosed using the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Chrononutrition Profile, Morning-Eveningness, and Prevention through Mediterranean Diet questionnaires were used to explore factors potentially affecting the development of metabolic disorders. Results: Shift (n = 172) and nonshift workers (n = 177), primarily employed in healthcare and social activities and in the education and administrative sectors, were enrolled. Mean systolic blood pressure levels were significantly higher in shift workers compared to the daytime counterpart (121.0 ± 12.9 vs.117.5 ± 13.2 mmHg, p = 0.013). MetS was significantly more frequent in the former group (25.6% vs.13.7%, p = 0.006). Higher percentages of shift workers compared to daytime workers, had poor quality of sleep (37.8% vs. 27.1%, p = 0.033), an evening chronotype (14% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.010), and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (65.7% vs. 43.5%, p < 0.001), while no differences emerged for the chrononutrition profile. SW represents a risk factor for MetS, although its development results from the interaction of personal lifestyle, dietary habits, chronotype, chrononutrition, sleep quality, and occupational factors. Conclusion In the perspective of the Total Worker Health approach to workplace safety, health, and well-being, such an interplay should be addressed.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has correlated with the disruption of screening activities and diagnostic assessments. Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies and it is often detected at an early stage, because it frequently produces symptoms. Here, we aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 54 centers in Italy. We evaluated patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients before (period 1: March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and during (period 2: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak. Results: Medical records of 5,164 EC patients have been retrieved: 2,718 and 2,446 women treated in period 1 and period 2, respectively. Surgery was the mainstay of treatment in both periods (p=0.356). Nodal assessment was omitted in 689 (27.3%) and 484 (21.2%) patients treated in period 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). While, the prevalence of patients undergoing sentinel node mapping (with or without backup lymphadenectomy) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (46.7% in period 1 vs. 52.8% in period 2; p<0.001). Overall, 1,280 (50.4%) and 1,021 (44.7%) patients had no adjuvant therapy in period 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). Adjuvant therapy use has increased during COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). Conclusion Our data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the characteristics and patterns of care of EC patients. These findings highlight the need to implement healthcare services during the pandemic.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common and severe adverse effects related to cancer treatment. Unfortunately, although several agents and protocols have been proposed, no prophylactic strategies have yet to be proven useful. Therefore, new alternative therapies have been considered for CIPN prevention. Herbal medicine in Japan, called Kampo medicine, is derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Goshajinkigan (GJG) is a Kampo medicine, that is comprised of ten herbs. The aim of this work is to analyse the results of pre-clinical and clinical studies on the potential applications of GJG in CIPN prevention.
Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Kampo ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Phytotherapy