Cross-sectional study of smoking exposure: no differential effect on OCT metrics in a cohort of MS patients

Background Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides quantitative measures of retinal layer thickness. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) onset and disease severity: its effects on OCT metrics have not been assessed. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the effect of smoking history on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform (GCIP) of MS patients by OCT. Methods 112 MS patients were recruited from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Spectralis OCT scans were acquired to measure GCIP, peripapillary RNFL, and total macular volume. Multivariable linear mixed effects regression model assessed RNFL and GCIP change with fixed effects for smoking history while adjusting for optic neuritis eye status, age, disease duration, sex, baseline EDSS, and disease modifying therapies (DMTs). Results Smoking histories were available for 102 patients: 46 (45.10%) had a history of smoking cigarettes and 56 (54.90%) never smoked. No statistically significant differences were found between ever-smokers and never-smokers with respect to GCIP, RNFL, and macular volume. Conclusion Our study shows no significant difference in retinal thickness between ever-smokers and never-smokers. If confirmed, this result suggests mechanistic differences between the retina and other central nervous system (CNS) compartments in response to smoking and should be noted when considering OCT as a surrogate measure of CNS activity.

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ANOSMIA AND AGEUSIA IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19

Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal ◽

10.51253/pafmj.v71isuppl-3.7934 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 71 (Suppl-3) ◽

pp. S512-16

Author(s):

Tahir Ghulam Abbas ◽

Atif Hafeez Siddiqui ◽

Syed Hasan Abbas Zaidi ◽

Danish -Ur- Rahim ◽

Irfan Ahmed Shaikh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Smoking History ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Online Data ◽

Diagnostic Significance ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cigarette Smokers ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Online Data Collection ◽

Diagnostic Clue

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and diagnostic significance of anosmia and ageusia among COVID-19 positive patients of Karachi, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dr Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital, (Dow University of Health Sciences), Karachi Pakistan, from Jan 2021 to Feb 2021. Methodology: The data were collected prospectively from 265 COVID-19 positive patients. Some patients were interviewed over the telephone, while for patient's ease, an online Google form was also formed, facilitating the online data collection. The patient's demographics, comorbidities, allergies, and COVID-19 associated characteristics were inquired. The statistical analysis was performed on SPSS version 23. Results: The observed frequency of anosmia and ageusia in COVID-19 patients was 49.1% & 43.8% respectively. The median time to recovery was 8-8.5 days (median) for both symptoms. We found no significant difference for gender, BMI, marital status, residential area, comorbidities and reason for long-standing breathing difficulties between patients with or without both anosmia and ageusia (p>0.05). Furthermore, most of the cigarette smokers reported none of the two symptoms (anosmia and ageusia), 24% and 25.2% of COVID-19 positive cases with smoking history were presented without anosmia and ageusia, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion: Loss of sense of smell and taste was reported in almost half of the studied population infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, screening for anosmia and ageusia must be considered while COVID-19 suspicion as an important diagnostic clue.

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Modified effect of active or passive smoking on the association between age and abdominal aortic calcification: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047645 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e047645

Author(s):

Luyan Lv ◽

Shixian Wu ◽

Yungui Yang ◽

Xiongli Yue

Keyword(s):

Vascular Calcification ◽

Passive Smoking ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Serum Cotinine ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related ◽

Abdominal Aortic ◽

Smoking Exposure ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Never Smokers

ObjectiveThe deleterious effects of smoking on atherosclerosis were well known; however, the interaction among ageing, smoking and atherosclerosis remains unclear. This study tested the hypothesis that the association between age and vascular calciﬁcation, a critical mark of atherosclerosis, was modified by smoking.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingA nationally representative sample, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2013–2014.ParticipantsThis study included 3140 adults aged 40–80 years with eligible data for abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). Active and passive smoking exposure was identified through self-reports and tobacco metabolites (serum cotinine and urinary 4-methylnitrosamino-3-pyridyl-1-butanol).Primary outcome measuresAAC score was determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. OR was estimated using the logistic regression method to assess the association between age and the presence of severe or subclinical AAC stratified by smoking exposure. The survey-weighted Wald test was used to evaluate potential interactions.ResultsAAC was positively associated with age in the general population. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity and other cardiovascular risk factors, age was significantly associated with the odds of severe AAC (OR for each 5-year increase in age: 1.66, 95% CI 1.48 to 1.87, p<0.001). As expected, the association between age and vascular calcification was especially stronger in smokers than in never smokers (p value for interaction ≤0.014). According to spline fitting, the progression of vascular calcification was significantly increased after 45 years in smokers compared with that after 60 years in never smokers. Quitting smoking may compromise the deleteriousness of the vascellum especially in younger adults. However, the difference in age-related calcification among never smokers with or without secondhand smoke exposure was minor, regardless of the definition by self-report, serum cotinine, or urinary 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol.ConclusionsSmoking significantly accelerated the progression of age-related subclinical atherosclerosis. Early smoking cessation should be encouraged among young smokers. The effect of passive smoking exposure on arteriosclerosis should be assessed further.

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Changes in retina's vascular and nervous structures in patients with hypertension

10.21203/rs.3.rs-232650/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Run-ze Zhao ◽

Melba Márquez Fernández ◽

Maria Cáceres Toledo ◽

Teddy Osmin Tamargo Barbeito ◽

Guo-xun Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hypertensive Retinopathy ◽

Ganglion Cell Complex ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group 2 ◽

Post Hoc ◽

Group 1

Abstract Introduction: This study aims to analyze the correlation between hypertension (HTN) and changes in the retina's vascular and nervous structures in patients with hypertension.Method: This was a cross-sectional study, which included a group of 45 subjects who did not suffer from hypertension (HTN) (Group 1), other two groups of 51 patients with controlled (Group 2) and not controlled (Group 3) HTN. Changes in vascular and nervous structures were identified and evaluated by ophthalmoscopy and OCT, respectively. Parametric and non-parametric tests, Post-hoc, Pearson, and Spearman correlation were used, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.Results: We observed hypertensive retinopathy (HTNR G I and II) in both groups with HTN, with a significant difference (p=0.023). We found a lower average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the average and minimum ganglion cell complex (GCC) in the patients of groups 2 and 3 than those of group 1. We found a negative and slight correlation between systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HTNR with superior GCC thickness in hypertensive patients.Conclusions: hypertension correlated to changes in the retina's vascular and nervous structures, and the nervous structure alterations were not visible by ophthalmoscopy but detected by OCT.

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Risk Factors of Preeclampsia among Pregnant Women in Khorramabad (West of Iran)

Current Women s Health Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573404816999200521094509 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 313-317

Author(s):

Mahnaz Mardani ◽

Farshad Teymouri ◽

Maryam Rezapour

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Smoking History ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Spss Software ◽

Health Care Centers ◽

Risk Of Preeclampsia

Background: Preeclampsia occurs in 2-10% of pregnancies, worldwide, and is characterized as a combination of hypertension and proteinuria. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the risk factors associated with the incidence of preeclampsia in the west of Iran and associated factors. Methods: This is a cross sectional study that was performed on 740 pregnant women between 2014- 2017, who were referred to different health care centers of Khorramabad. The data was collected from these centers and a questionnaire was filled for every woman that included age, height, gender of the neonate, number of pregnancies, multiparity, season of the pregnancy, birth weight, mothers’ body mass index (BMI) before delivery, smoking history and diagnosis of preeclampsia. The data obtained was statistically analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Of the 760 subjects included, 1.1% (8 cases) were reported to be presented with preeclampsia. We found a significant difference between non pre-eclamptic and pre-eclamptic patients in terms of BMI (p=0.006), number of pregnancies (p<0.05), maternal age (p<0.05) and weight (p=0.004). With an increase in BMI and the number of pregnancies, the risk of preeclampsia was elevated. Pre-eclamptic mothers had higher body weight than non-pre-eclamptic ones (75.9 kg vs. 65.6 kg) and the prevalence of preeclampsia increased with age. Conclusion: The prevalence of preeclampsia was seen to be positively associated with higher BMI, pregnancy rate, mother weight and age are associated with higher prevalence of preeclampsia.

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Ocular biomarkers for cognitive impairment in nonagenarians; a prospective cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.2.10871/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Jacoba Alida van de Kreeke ◽

Nienke Legdeur ◽

Maryam Badissi ◽

H. Ton Nguyen ◽

Elles Konijnenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Layer Thickness ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Fundus Photography ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Retinal Layer ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness

Abstract Background: Ocular imaging receives much attention as a source of potential biomarkers for dementia. In the present study, we analyze these ocular biomarkers in cognitively impaired and healthy participants in a population aged over 90 years (= nonagenarian), and elucidate the effects of age on these biomarkers. Methods: For this prospective cross-sectional study, we included individuals from the EMIF-AD 90+ study, consisting of a cognitively healthy (N=67) and cognitively impaired group (N=33), and the EMIF-AD PreclinAD study, consisting of cognitively healthy controls aged ≥60 (N=198). Participants underwent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and fundus photography of both eyes. OCT was used to asses total and individual inner retinal layer thickness in the macular region (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study circles) as well as peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, fundus images were analyzed with Singapore I Vessel Assessment to obtain 7 retinal vascular parameters. Values for both eyes were averaged. Differences in ocular biomarkers between the 2 nonagenarian groups were analyzed using linear regression, differences between the individual nonagenarian groups and controls were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results: Ocular biomarkers did not differ between the healthy and cognitively impaired nonagenarian groups. Both nonagenarian groups differed in most ocular biomarkers from the younger controls. Conclusion: Ocular biomarkers were not associated with cognitive impairment in nonagenarians, making their use as a screening tool for dementing disorders in this group limited. However, ocular biomarkers were significantly associated with chronological age, which were very similar to those ascribed to occur in Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Can the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cause choroiditis and optic neuropathy?

European Journal of Inflammation ◽

10.1177/20587392211059060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 205873922110590

Author(s):

Kürşad Ramazan Zor ◽

Gamze Yıldırım Biçer ◽

Nesrin Tutaş Günaydın ◽

Erkut Küçük ◽

Uğur Yılmaz

Keyword(s):

Choroidal Thickness ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness ◽

Rnfl Thickness ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

The Right

Objectives: We aim to investigate the involvement of the choroid and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in COVID-19 patients using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2020. 40 patients (23 female and 17 male) with COVID-19 and 42 healthy individuals (26 female and 16 male) were included in the study. The OCT scans were performed 4 weeks after the COVID-19 diagnosis. Results: In the COVID-19 group, in the right eyes, the mean nasal choroidal thickness was 295.70 ± 7,046 μm ( p = 0.017), mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 333.25 ± 6,353 μm ( p = 0.003), mean temporal choroidal thickness was 296.63 ± 6,324 μm ( p = 0.039), and mean RNFL was 89.23 ± 1.30 μm ( p = 0.227). In the left eyes, mean nasal choroidal thickness was 287.88 ± 9,033 μm ( p = 0.267), mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 333.80 ± 9,457 μm ( p = 0.013), mean temporal choroidal thickness was 298.50 ± 9,158 μm ( p = 0.079), and mean RNFL was 89.48 ± 1,289 μm ( p = 0.092). Compared with the control group, the patient group had significant thickening of the choroidal thickness in all quadrants of the right eyes, and significant thickening of the subfoveal choroidal thickness in the left eyes. There was no significant difference in the RNFL thickness between groups ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: COVID-19 may cause a subclinical involvement in the choroidal layer.

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Comparison of OCT angiography in children with a history of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab versus laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-315520 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bjophthalmol-2019-315520

Author(s):

Jinfeng Zhao ◽

Zhenquan Wu ◽

Waiching Lam ◽

Mingmin Yang ◽

Lu Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intravitreal Injection ◽

Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽

Laser Photocoagulation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Foveal Avascular Zone ◽

Retinal Layer ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Microvascular Changes ◽

Significant Difference ◽

History Of

PurposeTo compare the foveal microvascular structure characteristics in children with a history of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) versus laser photocoagulation (LP) for retinopathy of prematurity by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a total of 17 children (28 eyes) underwent IVR and 20 children (37 eyes) underwent LP were recruited. The age of doing OCTA examination of the two groups are 5.4±1.1 years and 6.3±1.8 years, respectively (p=0.07). Spectral-domain OCTA was performed for all the eyes with a scan size of 3×3 mm. The data of the superficial retinal layer were analysed. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and vessel density (including vessel length density (VLD) and perfusion density (PD)) were measured using the software of OCTA (Cirrus AngioPlex 5000, Carl Zeiss, Meditec, Dubin, California, USA). The central foveal thicknesses (CFT) were measured by cross-sectional OCT.ResultsIn the central fovea, the retinal VLD and PD of patients with IVR were 13.82±2.99 mm/mm2 and 0.25±0.05 mm2/mm2, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of the LP group (15.64±2.71 mm/mm2 and 0.28±0.05 mm2/mm2, p=0.01 and p=0.006). The FAZ area of patients with IVR and LP were 0.13±0.09 mm2 and 0.09±0.07 mm2, respectively (p=0.048). The CFT of patients with IVR and LP were 200.7±16.7 µm and 220.9±22.7 µm, respectively (p<0.01). The logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity of patients with IVR and LP were 0.2±0.1 and 0.1±0.1, respectively (p=0.01). There was no significant difference in the parafoveal and foveal VLD and PD, FAZ morphological index and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) between the two groups.ConclusionThe IVR might contribute to microvascular changes in the macular zone, such as reducing the central foveal VLD and PD, while the LP might contribute to microstructural changes, such as smaller FAZ and thicker CFT.

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Relation of Secondhand Smoking to Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Inpatients

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/2012/726948 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Giuseppe Orsitto ◽

Vincenzo Turi ◽

Amedeo Venezia ◽

Francesco Fulvio ◽

Cosimo Manca

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Older Patients ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Smoking History ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Secondhand Smoking ◽

Dementia Patients ◽

Older Inpatients ◽

Never Smokers

Up to now, controversy still exists regarding the role of secondhand smoking (SHS) in developing cognitive impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SHS in hospitalized older patients with cognitive deficit, particularly in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Smoking history was classified into four groups: never smokers, former-active smokers/no SHS, active smokers, and secondhand smokers, and cognitive function into three levels: normal cognition (C), MCI, and dementia. A total of 933 older subjects with diagnoses of MCI (n=98), dementia (n=124), or C (n=711) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. As expected, patients with dementia had significantly higher frequency of former-active smokers than cognitively normal. Moreover, patients with MCI showed a significantly higher frequency of active and secondhand smokers than patients with dementia or C. A smoking history is very frequent in older patients with dementia. Patients with MCI had even higher rate of exposure to active or secondhand smoking.

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Association between Cigarette Smoking Status and Composition of Gut Microbiota: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm7090282 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (9) ◽

pp. 282 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

Su Hwan Lee ◽

Yeojun Yun ◽

Soo Jung Kim ◽

Eun-Ju Lee ◽

Yoosoo Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Former Smokers ◽

Never Smokers ◽

The Relationship ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

There have been few large-scale studies on the relationship between smoking and gut microbiota. We investigated the relationship between smoking status and the composition of gut microbiota. This was a population-based cross-sectional study using Healthcare Screening Center cohort data. A total of 758 men were selected and divided into three groups: never (n = 288), former (n = 267), and current smokers (n = 203). Among the three groups, there was no difference in alpha diversity, however, Jaccard-based beta diversity showed significant difference (p = 0.015). Pairwise permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) tests between never and former smokers did not show a difference; however, there was significant difference between never and current smokers (p = 0.017) and between former and current smokers (p = 0.011). Weighted UniFrac-based beta diversity also showed significant difference among the three groups (p = 0.038), and pairwise PERMANOVA analysis of never and current smokers showed significant difference (p = 0.01). In the analysis of bacterial composition, current smokers had an increased proportion of the phylum Bacteroidetes with decreased Firmicutes and Proteobacteria compared with never smokers, whereas there were no differences between former and never smokers. In conclusion, gut microbiota composition of current smokers was significantly different from that of never smokers. Additionally, there was no difference in gut microbiota composition between never and former smokers.

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Chronic airflow limitation and its relation to respiratory symptoms among ever-smokers and never-smokers: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open Respiratory Research ◽

10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000600 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. e000600 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kjell Toren ◽

Linus Schiöler ◽

Anne Lindberg ◽

Anders Andersson ◽

Annelie F Behndig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Symptom ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Population Sample ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Airflow Limitation ◽

Smoking History ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Never Smokers

BackgroundThe diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is based on the presence of persistent respiratory symptoms and chronic airflow limitation (CAL). CAL is based on the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV1:FVC) after bronchodilation, and FEV1:FVC less than the fifth percentile is often used as a cut-off for CAL. The aim was to investigate if increasing percentiles of FEV1:FVC were associated with any respiratory symptom (cough with phlegm, dyspnoea or wheezing) in a general population sample of never-smokers and ever-smokers.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study comprising 15 128 adults (50–64 years), 7120 never-smokers and 8008 ever-smokers completed a respiratory questionnaire and performed FEV1 and FVC after bronchodilation. We calculated their z-scores for FEV1:FVC and defined the fifth percentile using the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) reference value, GLI5 and increasing percentiles up to GLI25. We analysed the associations between different strata of percentiles and prevalence of any respiratory symptom using multivariable logistic regression for estimation of OR.ResultsAmong all subjects, regardless of smoking habits, the odds of any respiratory symptom were elevated up to the GLI15–20 strata. Among never-smokers, the odds of any respiratory symptom were elevated at GLI<5 (OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.43 to 5.23) and at GLI5–10 (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.69 to 3.91), but not at higher percentiles. Among ever-smokers, the odds of any respiratory symptom were elevated from GLI<5 (OR 4.64, 95% CI 3.79 to 5.68) up to GLI≥25 (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.75).ConclusionsThe association between percentages of FEV1:FVC and respiratory symptoms differed depending on smoking history. Our results support a higher percentile cut-off for FEV1:FVC for never-smokers and, in particular, for ever-smokers.

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