1299Association between environmental cadmium exposure and plasma and urinary metabolite profiles in Japanese cohort study

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to identify plasma and urinary metabolites that can be used to better identify the effects of cadmium exposure than N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) using capillary electrophoresis - mass spectrometry (CE-MS). Methods Urinary cadmium (U-Cd) was measured as an indicator of cadmium exposure. Fasting plasma and urine samples were collected from 1,412 men and 2,022 women in Tsuruoka Metabolomics Cohort Study. Charged 94 plasma and 123 urinary metabolites were detected and determined. Regression analysis was performed for urinary NAG, plasma, and urinary metabolites as dependent variables and U-Cd in quartiles as an independent variable. Multivariate regression model included age, SBP, smoke, rice intake, BMI, HbA1c, LDLc, alcohol consumption, physical activity, educational history, dietary energy intake, urinary Na/K ratio, and uric acid. Results The mean U-Cd of the population was 2.65 μg/g creatinine (SD: 1.63). NAG was positively associated with U-Cd, but the association was not significant with lower U-Cd quartiles. In the plasma metabolites, 10 metabolites had significantly negative association with U-Cd in all models and Cd quartiles. Among urinary metabolites, 27 metabolites had significantly positive association with U-Cd. Alanine was negatively associated with U-Cd in urinary metabolites. The trend test also showed significant dose-response trends for 9 plasma and all 28 urinary metabolites (p < 0.05). Conclusions We found that the levels of Cd exposure, which did not cause an increase in NAG, caused changes in plasma and urinary metabolites. Key messages This study indicated that metabolomics might be promising and useful as markers of Cd exposure.

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Facebooking Alone? Millennials’ Use of Social Network Sites and Volunteering

Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly ◽

10.1177/0899764019868844 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 203-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Young-joo Lee

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Social Network ◽

Civic Engagement ◽

Online Social Network ◽

Social Network Sites ◽

Positive Association ◽

Prosocial Behaviors ◽

Network Site ◽

Facebook Use ◽

Mixed Messages

The younger generation’s widespread use of online social network sites has raised concerns and debates about social network sites’ influence on this generation’s civic engagement, whether these sites undermine or promote prosocial behaviors. This study empirically examines how millennials’ social network site usage relates to volunteering, using the 2013 data of the Minnesota Adolescent Community Cohort Study. The findings reveal a positive association between a moderate level of Facebook use and volunteering, although heavy users are not more likely to volunteer than nonusers. This bell-shaped relationship between Facebook use and volunteering contrasts with the direct correlation between participation in off-line associational activities and volunteering. Overall, the findings suggest that it is natural to get mixed messages about social network sites’ impacts on civic engagement, and these platforms can be useful tools for getting the word out and recruiting episodic volunteers.

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Incidence of diabetes mellitus among people living with and without HIV in British Columbia, Canada between 2001 and 2013: a longitudinal population-based cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048744 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e048744

Author(s):

Andreea Bratu ◽

Taylor McLinden ◽

Katherine Kooij ◽

Monica Ye ◽

Jenny Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

British Columbia ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Population Based ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Trend Test ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Age Related ◽

Hiv Serostatus ◽

The Impact

IntroductionPeople living with HIV (PLHIV) are increasingly at risk of age-related comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (DM). While DM is associated with elevated mortality and morbidity, understanding of DM among PLHIV is limited. We assessed the incidence of DM among people living with and without HIV in British Columbia (BC), Canada, during 2001–2013.MethodsWe used longitudinal data from a population-based cohort study linking clinical data and administrative health data. We included PLHIV who were antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve at baseline, and 1:5 age-sex-matched persons without HIV. All participants had ≥5 years of historic data pre-baseline and ≥1 year(s) of follow-up. DM was identified using the BC Ministry of Health’s definitions applied to hospitalisation, physician billing and drug dispensation datasets. Incident DM was identified using a 5-year run-in period. In addition to unadjusted incidence rates (IRs), we estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) using Poisson regression and assessed annual trends in DM IRs per 1000 person years (PYs) between 2001 and 2013.ResultsA total of 129 PLHIV and 636 individuals without HIV developed DM over 17 529 PYs and 88,672 PYs, respectively. The unadjusted IRs of DM per 1000 PYs were 7.4 (95% CI 6.2 to 8.8) among PLHIV and 7.2 (95% CI 6.6 to 7.8) for individuals without HIV. After adjustment for confounding, HIV serostatus was not associated with DM incidence (adjusted IRR: 1.03, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.27). DM incidence did not increase over time among PLHIV (Kendall trend test: p=0.9369), but it increased among persons without HIV between 2001 and 2013 (p=0.0136).ConclusionsAfter adjustment, HIV serostatus was not associated with incidence of DM, between 2001 and 2013. Future studies should investigate the impact of ART on mitigating the potential risk of DM among PLHIV.

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A Positive Association of Overactivated Immunity with Metabolic Syndrome Risk and Mitigation of Its Association by a Plant-Based Diet and Physical Activity in a Large Cohort Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072308 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2308

Author(s):

Sunmin Park ◽

Ting Zhang

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Large Scale ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Positive Association ◽

Cell Counts ◽

High Hba1c

The association between immunity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been studied, but its interaction with lifestyles remains unclear. We studied their association and interactions with lifestyles in 40,768 adults aged over 40 years from a large-scale, hospital-based cohort study collected during 2010–2013. White blood cell counts (WBC) and serum C-reactive protein concentrations (CRP) were used as indexes of immune status. The participants were categorized into four groups by the cutoff points of 6.2 × 109/L WBC(L-WBC) and <0.5 mg/dL CRP(L-CRP): L-WBC+L-CRP(n = 25,604), H-WBC+L-CRP(n = 13,880), L-WBC+H-CRP(n = 464), and H-WBC+H-CRP(n = 820). The participants in the H-WBC+L-CRP were younger and had higher numbers of males than the L-WBC+L-CRP. MetS risk was higher by 1.75- and 1.86-fold in the H-WBC+L-CRP and H-WBC+H-CRP, respectively, than the L-WBC+L-CRP. MetS components, including plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations, and SBP were elevated in H-WBC+L-CRP and H-WBC+H-CRP compared with L-WBC+L-CR+P. The risk of hyperglycemia and high HbA1c was the highest in the H-WBC+H-CRP among all groups. Areas of WBC counts and serum CRP concentrations were 0.637 and 0.672, respectively, in the receiver operating characteristic curve. Daily intake of energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat was not significantly different in the groups based on WBC counts and CRP. However, a plant-based diet (PBD), physical activity, and non-smoking were related to lowering WBC counts and CRP, but a Western-style diet was linked to elevating CRP. A high PBD intake and smoking status interacted with immunity to influence MetS risk: a low PBD and current smoking were associated with a higher MetS risk in the H-WBC+H-CRP. In conclusion, overactivated immunity determined by CRP and WBC was associated with MetS risk. Behavior modification with PBD and physical activity might be related to immunity regulation.

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An Investigation of the Glucose Monitoring Practices of Nurses in Stroke Care: A Descriptive Cohort Study

Nursing Research and Practice ◽

10.1155/2013/715802 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Elizabeth Ann Laird ◽

Vivien E. Coates ◽

Assumpta A. Ryan ◽

Mark O. McCarron ◽

Diane Lyttle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Glucose Monitoring ◽

Positive Association ◽

Stroke Care ◽

Routine Practice ◽

Full Potential ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

History Of

Glucose derangement is commonly observed among adults admitted to hospital with acute stroke. This paper presents the findings from a descriptive cohort study that investigated the glucose monitoring practices of nurses caring for adults admitted to hospital with stroke or transient ischaemic attack. We found that a history of diabetes mellitus was strongly associated with initiation of glucose monitoring and higher frequency of that monitoring. Glucose monitoring was continued for a significantly longer duration of days for adults with a history of diabetes mellitus, when compared to the remainder of the cohort. As glucose monitoring was not routine practice for adults with no history of diabetes mellitus, the detection and treatment of hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia events could be delayed. There was a significant positive association between the admission hospital that is most likely to offer stroke unit care and the opportunity for glucose monitoring. We concluded that adults with acute stroke, irrespective of their diabetes mellitus status prior to admission to hospital, are vulnerable to both hyperglycaemic and hypoglycaemic events. This study suggests that the full potential of nurses in the monitoring of glucose among hospitalised adults with stroke has yet to be realised.

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The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant is associated with increased clinical severity of disease

10.1101/2021.08.17.21260128 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David J Pascall ◽

Guy Mollett ◽

Rachel Blacow ◽

Naomi Bulteel ◽

Robyn Campbell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Positive Association ◽

Clinical Severity ◽

Generalised Linear Mixed Model ◽

The Impact

Background The Alpha (B.1.1.7) SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern has been associated with increased transmission and increased 28-day mortality. We aimed to investigate the impact of infection on clinical severity of illness, including the need for oxygen or ventilation in a national cohort study. Methods In this prospective clinical cohort study, 1475 SARS-CoV-2 sequences were obtained from patients infected in Scotland, UK between the 1st November 2020 and 30th January 2021 and matched to clinical outcomes as the lineage became dominant in Scotland. We modelled the association between B.1.1.7 infection and severe disease using a cumulative generalised linear mixed model employing a 4-point scale of maximum severity based on requirement of respiratory support at 28 days. We also estimated the growth rate of B.1.1.7-associated infections as it emerged in Scotland using a phylogenetic exponential growth rate population model. Results The B.1.1.7 lineage was responsible for a third wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Scotland in association with a transmission rate 5-fold higher than the preceding second wave B.1.177 lineage. Of 1475 patients, 364 were infected with B.1.1.7, 1030 with B.1.177 and 81 with other lineages. Our analysis found a positive association between increased clinical severity and lineage (B.1.1.7 versus non-B.1.1.7; cumulative odds ratio: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.93). Viral load was higher in B.1.1.7 samples than in non-B.1.1.7 samples, as measured by cycle threshold (Ct) value (mean Ct change: -2.46, 95% CI: -4.22, -0.70). Conclusions The B.1.1.7 lineage was associated with more severe clinical disease in Scottish patients than co-circulating lineages.

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Age differences in clinical features and outcomes in patients with COVID-19, Jiangsu, China: a retrospective, multi-center cohort study

10.1101/2020.06.01.20086025 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Huanyuan Luo ◽

Songqiao Liu ◽

Yuancheng Wang ◽

Penelope A. Phillips-Howard ◽

Yi Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Respiratory Failure ◽

Hospital Stay ◽

Older Patients ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Trend Test ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Chi Square ◽

Chi Square Test

Objectives To determine the age-specific clinical presentations and incidence of adverse outcomes among patients with COVID-19 in Jiangsu, China. Design and setting This is a retrospective, multi-center cohort study performed at twenty-four hospitals in Jiangsu, China. Participants From January 10 to March 15, 2020, 625 patients with COVID-19 were involved. Results Of the 625 patients (median age, 46 years; 329 [52.6%] males), 37 (5.9%) were children (18 years or less), 261 (40%) young adults (19-44 years), 248 (39.7%) middle-aged adults (45-64 years), and 79 (12.6%) elderly (65 years or more). The incidence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes comorbidities increased with age (trend test, P < .0001, P = 0.0003, P < .0001, and P < .0001 respectively). Fever, cough, and shortness of breath occurred more commonly among older patients, especially the elderly, compared to children (Chi-square test, P = 0.0008, 0.0146, and 0.0282, respectively). The quadrant score and pulmonary opacity score increased with age (trend test, both P < .0001). Older patients had significantly more abnormal values in many laboratory parameters than younger patients. Elderly patients contributed the highest proportion of severe or critically-ill cases (33.0%, Chi-square test P < 0.001), intensive care unit (ICU) (35.4%, Chi-square test P < 0.001), and respiratory failure (31.6%, Chi-square test P = 0.0266), and longest hospital stay (21 days, ANOVA-test P < 0.001). Conclusions Elderly (≥65) patients with COVID-19 had the highest risk of severe or critical illness, intensive care use, respiratory failure, and the longest hospital stay, which may be due partly to that they had higher incidence of comorbidities and poor immune responses to COVID-19.

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Variance and covariance heterogeneity analysis for detection of metabolites associated with cadmium exposure

Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology ◽

10.1515/sagmb-2013-0041 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Beatriz Valcarcel Salamanca ◽

Timothy M.D. Ebbels ◽

Maria De Iorio

Keyword(s):

Hierarchical Models ◽

Urinary Metabolites ◽

Potential Effect ◽

Environmental Pollutant ◽

Cadmium Exposure ◽

Urinary Cadmium ◽

Bayesian Hierarchical ◽

Metabolic Traits ◽

Statistical Framework ◽

Heterogeneity Analysis

AbstractIn this study, we propose a novel statistical framework for detecting progressive changes in molecular traits as response to a pathogenic stimulus. In particular, we propose to employ Bayesian hierarchical models to analyse changes in mean level, variance and correlation of metabolic traits in relation to covariates. To illustrate our approach we investigate changes in urinary metabolic traits in response to cadmium exposure, a toxic environmental pollutant. With the application of the proposed approach, previously unreported variations in the metabolism of urinary metabolites in relation to urinary cadmium were identified. Our analysis highlights the potential effect of urinary cadmium on the variance and correlation of a number of metabolites involved in the metabolism of choline as well as changes in urinary alanine. The results illustrate the potential of the proposed approach to investigate the gradual effect of pathogenic stimulus in molecular traits.

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Association between Anemia and Stroke in Females: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17207440 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (20) ◽

pp. 7440

Author(s):

Yuan Sui ◽

Chien-Tai Hong ◽

Li-Nien Chien ◽

Hung-Yi Liu ◽

Hung-Yi Chiou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Medical Condition ◽

Positive Association ◽

Population Based ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Research Database ◽

Female Patients

Optimal stroke prevention strategies for women should take into account specific sex-related stroke risk factors. Anemia is a common medical condition in females, particularly in women of reproductive age. This study investigated whether anemia is an independent risk factor for stroke in females in a population-based cohort study. We investigated newly diagnosed anemic female patients with no history of central nervous system disease, psychiatric disorders, traumatic brain injury, major operations or hemorrhagic diseases identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Non-anemic matched controls (1:1) were selected based on a propensity score estimated using a logistic regression model that included demographic characteristics and comorbidities. A competing risk analysis was applied to estimate the stroke risk in anemic patients compared to that of their matched controls. In our study, the adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratios (aSHRs) of overall, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in anemic female patients aged <50 years were 1.35 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–1.52, p < 0.001), 1.31 (95% CI, 1.09-1.56, p < 0.003), and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.15–1.58, p < 0.001), respectively, compared to non-anemic female controls. However, a positive association between anemia and stroke was not found for those aged ≥50 years. Similar results were observed when the follow-up age was limited to 50 years to reduce the potential effects of menopause on stroke. In conclusion, the present population-based cohort study found that anemia is a potential risk factor for overall, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in females of reproductive age.

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Birth order is associated with caries development in young children: a register-based cohort study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-8234-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Julihn ◽

F. C. Soares ◽

U. Hammarfjord ◽

A. Hjern ◽

G. Dahllöf

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Young Children ◽

Birth Order ◽

Positive Association ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Study Cohort ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Born Child ◽

Caries Increment

Abstract Background Birth order has been shown to affect the health of the child; less is known, however, about how birth order affects caries development in children. Thus, the present study investigated the association between birth order and dental caries development in young children. Methods This retrospective registry-based cohort study included all children born in 2000–2003 who were residing in Stockholm County, Sweden, at age 3 years (n = 83,147). The study followed the cohort until subjects reached 7 years of age. Children with registry data on dental examinations and sociodemographic characteristics at ages 3- and 7 years constituted the final study cohort (n = 65,259). The outcome variable was “caries increment from age 3- to 7 years” (Δdeft > 0) and the key exposure, “birth order”, was divided into five groups. A forward stepwise logistic binary regression was done for the multivariate analysis with adjustments for sociodemographic factors. Results At age 3 years, 94% had no fillings or manifest caries lesions. During the study period, 22.5% (n = 14,711) developed dental caries. The final logistic regression analysis found a statistically significant positive association between birth order and caries increment. Further, excess risk increased with higher birth order; with the mother’s first-born child as reference, risk for the second-born child was OR 1.17, 95% CI = 1.12–1.23; for the third-born child, OR 1.47, 95% CI = 1.38–1.56; for the fourth-born child, OR 1.69, 95% CI = 1.52–1.88; and for the fifth-born or higher birth-order child, OR 1.84, 95% CI = 1.58–2.14. Conclusions These findings show that birth order influences caries development in siblings, suggesting that birth order can be regarded as a predictor for caries development in young children. This factor may be helpful in assessing caries risk in preschool children and should be considered in caries prevention work in young children with older siblings.

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