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Background: Working on board presents unique healthcare challenges for maritime personnel. Italian Law mandates a medical fitness assessment for seafarers registry enrolment. The Port Health Officer assesses seaworthiness and, against this judgment, the applicants can appeal to the First-degree Medical Commission. Studies on maritime personnel's medical fitness are limited and primarily focus on the health conditions of individuals already employed in the maritime sector. Methods: A retrospective study reviewed 459 medical reports of 361 seafarers from Naples' Port Authority First-degree Medical Commission (2013–2022). Characteristics such as sex, age, diseases, and suitability judgments were analyzed. Results: Out of the 361 candidates, most were male with an average age of 28.67 years. A total of 160 (44.32%) were deemed suitable for matriculation in both the first and second categories, 79 (21.88%) were approved for one category, 53 (14.68%) were found not suitable, and 69 (19.11%) are still under assessment. Eye diseases were most common (50.83%), followed by cardiovascular and orthopedic conditions. Applicants with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, and advanced tumors were declared unsuitable. Conclusion: Our study provides opportunities to improve applicants' awareness of the physical requirements for pursuing a career in navigation and to update the list of illnesses and physical impairments used for this medico-legal evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered a "man's disease". However, emerging data show that females may have a higher prevalence of certain risk factors. A potential causal role of asbestos in CRC carcinogenesis has been suggested. This relationship is controversial, and only a few studies have focused on exposed female populations. The aim of this study was to review the scientific literature related to asbestos-related CRC incidence and mortality rates in female populations to address gender bias in the existing research. Methods: A systematic review was performed following PRISMA statement. Results: Fourteen studies reporting 92 cases in total were included. Most women were aged 50 years or older and were employed in occupational activities with high asbestos exposure (steel, textile, and asbestos-cement industry) for at least 10 years. In one single case, household asbestos exposure was reported. The colon was the primary location of the tumor in 47 out of 92 cases. Three women were also affected by synchronous or metachronous peritoneal mesotheliomas. Conclusions: This study revealed a general methodological "gender bias" in scientific research. A significantly higher representation of women in clinical studies is needed to clarify the link between asbestos exposure and the development of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asbestos is considered one of the major global work-related carcinogens. Some studies suggest a potential causal relationship between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of asbestos in CRC carcinogenesis is still controversial. Methods: 35 claims of occupational CRC among asbestos-exposed workers were reviewed. All claims were rejected by the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents (INAIL) due to the "lack of scientific evidence in the causality" between asbestos exposure and CRC; causality was finally assessed in civil trials. All cases were categorized by age, gender, industry type, task, exposure and latency periods, anatomical location, and histopathological characteristics of CRC and concomitant respiratory diseases. Results: Most workers were males aged 60 years or more and employed in occupational activities with extensive use of asbestos for over 20 years. In 31 out of 35 cases, CRC was diagnosed over 39 years after employment. Right-sided colic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in nine cases; rectum was involved in eight cases. Respiratory comorbidities were observed in 22 workers. Conclusions: Our study provides some interesting points in the assessment of the causal relationship between asbestos exposure and CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: to provide an overview of the geographical distribution of mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths in the Campania Region (Southern Italy) occurred from 2005 to 2018 and to identify areas at higher risk., Design: for each municipality, Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) for mesothelioma and asbestosis have been estimated from the mortality data provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat). Deaths for which mesothelioma and asbestosis were identified as the underlying causes, according to the classification system ICD-10 codes (C45 and J61, respectively), were included. Expected cases were estimated applying age- and gender-specific mortality rates in Campania on resident populations of each municipality. Furthermore, the association between the municipal SMR and the local socioeconomic deprivation index based on the 2011 General Census of Population and Housing was also analysed., Setting and Participants: Campania Region., Main Outcomes Measures: the study outcomes were standardized mortality ratios for mesothelioma and asbestosis and the identification of territorial subareas., Results: a total of 998 deaths attributed to mesothelioma and 62 to asbestosis were identified. No cases of death due to mesothelioma or asbestosis were reported in the province of Benevento. A significant increase in mortality due to mesothelioma was observed across 34 municipalities. These findings show that several municipalities within the province of Naples display a high increase in mortality due to mesothelioma and asbestosis, with 506 deaths in total and 246 cases recorded in the municipality of Naples against 178,37 expected (SMR 1,38; 90%CI 1.24-1.53). In 15 municipalities, a notable increase in mortality for asbestosis was recorded; in Naples, 28 cases occurred (SMR 2,51; 90%CI 1.84-3.42). The overlap between mortality maps for mesothelioma and asbestosis confirms the existence of areas subjected to definite and prolonged asbestos exposure. Additionally, a correlation with the deprivation index was noted: the pooled SMR by quintiles increases with higher quintiles of the deprivation index, for both mesothelioma and asbestosis., Conclusions: results highlight the crucial need for epidemiological surveillance of asbestos-related diseases in Campania. Actively searching out for new cases of mesothelioma in the entire region is a crucial task in primary prevention of occupational, environmental, and domestic exposures to asbestos.