Comparison of epidemiological and clinical features between two chronological cohorts of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage

To investigate the differences in the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) treated at our institution over the last few decades. Two chronological cohorts with ten-year-interval were established and epidemiological and clinical data were retrospectively collected from patients with ICH, and data were analyzed using SPSS 13.0. The time windows for the two cohorts were from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014 (2010-2014 cohort) and January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004 (2000-2004 cohort). 1598 patients with ICH were enrolled: 360 patients in the 2000-2004 cohort and 1238 patients in the 2010-2014 cohort. ICH often occurred in patients aged from 45 to 75 years, without a sex bias, accounting for 69.6% of patients. Hypertension (60.7%) was still the main risk factors. Meanwhile, the risk factors of smoking (28.9%) and drinking (23.3%) were often present in male patients but not female patients (p ≤ 0.001). The incidence of pulmonary infection, the main complication during hospitalization, was 40.8% in the 2000-2004 cohort and 61.8% in the 2010-2014 cohort (p ≤ 0.001). Moreover, the incidence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage was 12.5% in the 2000-2004 cohort and 6.0% in the 2010-2014 cohort (p ≤ 0.001). The epidemiological and clinical features have changed over the past 10 years. The mortality was reduced but still high, as evidenced by the increased hospitalization rate of patients with ICH. Current preventions and therapeutic strategies for ICH are effective, but more strategies must be developed to improve the outcome of ICH and decrease the incidence of pulmonary infection.

Lung function decline in former smokers and low-intensity current smokers: a secondary data analysis of the NHLBI Pooled Cohorts Study

BACKGROUND

Former smokers now outnumber current smokers in many developed countries, and current smokers are smoking fewer cigarettes per day. Some data suggest that lung function decline normalises with smoking cessation; however, mechanistic studies suggest that lung function decline could continue. We hypothesised that former smokers and low-intensity current smokers have accelerated lung function decline compared with never-smokers, including among those without prevalent lung disease.

METHODS

We used data on six US population-based cohorts included in the NHLBI Pooled Cohort Study. We restricted the sample to participants with valid spirometry at two or more exams. Two cohorts recruited younger adults (≥17 years), two recruited middle-aged and older adults (≥45 years), and two recruited only elderly adults (≥65 years) with examinations done between 1983 and 2014. FEV1 decline in sustained former smokers and current smokers was compared to that of never-smokers by use of mixed models adjusted for sociodemographic and anthropometric factors. Differential FEV1 decline was also evaluated according to duration of smoking cessation and cumulative (number of pack-years) and current (number of cigarettes per day) cigarette consumption.

FINDINGS

25 352 participants (ages 17-93 years) completed 70 228 valid spirometry exams. Over a median follow-up of 7 years (IQR 3-20), FEV1 decline at the median age (57 years) was 31·01 mL per year (95% CI 30·66-31·37) in sustained never-smokers, 34·97 mL per year (34·36-35·57) in former smokers, and 39·92 mL per year (38·92-40·92) in current smokers. With adjustment, former smokers showed an accelerated FEV1 decline of 1·82 mL per year (95% CI 1·24-2·40) compared to never-smokers, which was approximately 20% of the effect estimate for current smokers (9·21 mL per year; 95% CI 8·35-10·08). Compared to never-smokers, accelerated FEV1 decline was observed in former smokers for decades after smoking cessation and in current smokers with low cumulative cigarette consumption (<10 pack-years). With respect to current cigarette consumption, the effect estimate for FEV1 decline in current smokers consuming less than five cigarettes per day (7·65 mL per year; 95% CI 6·21-9·09) was 68% of that in current smokers consuming 30 or more cigarettes per day (11·24 mL per year; 9·86-12·62), and around five times greater than in former smokers (1·57 mL per year; 1·00-2·14). Among participants without prevalent lung disease, associations were attenuated but were consistent with the main results.

INTERPRETATION

Former smokers and low-intensity current smokers have accelerated lung function decline compared with never-smokers. These results suggest that all levels of smoking exposure are likely to be associated with lasting and progressive lung damage.

FUNDING

National Institutes of Health, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and US Environmental Protection Agency.

Reduced Attention in Former Smokers with and without COPD

BACKGROUND

Attention difficulties are often reported by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, limited research exists using objective tests designed specifically to measure attention in this population. This study aimed to (1) identify specific attention deficits in COPD and (2) determine which demographic/clinical characteristics are associated with reduced attention.

METHODS

Eighty-four former smokers (53 COPD, 31 no COPD) completed questionnaires, pulmonary function testing, and the Conner's Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II). Participants with and without COPD were compared on CPT-II measures of inattention, impulsivity, and vigilance. CPT-II measures that differed significantly between the two groups were further examined using hierarchical regression modeling. Demographic/clinical characteristics were entered into models with attention as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

Participants with COPD performed worse than those without COPD on CPT measures of inattention and impulsivity (i.e., detectability [discrimination of target from non-target stimuli], perseverations [reaction time under 100 ms], omissions [target stimuli response failures], and commissions [responses to non-target stimuli]). More severe COPD (measured by greater airflow limitation) was associated with poorer ability to detect targets vs. foils and perseverative responding after adjusting for age and other covariates in the model.

CONCLUSION

Former smokers with COPD experience problems with attention that go beyond slowed processing speed, including aspects of inattention and impulsivity. Clinicians should be aware that greater airflow limitation and older age are associated with attention difficulties, as this may impact functioning.

Low serum IgA and airway injury in World Trade Center-exposed firefighters: a 17-year longitudinal study

Serum IgA ≤70 mg/dL (low IgA) is associated with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The association of low IgA with longitudinal lung function is poorly defined. This study included 917 World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed firefighters with longitudinal spirometry measured between September 2001 and September 2018 and IgA measured between October 2001 and March 2002. Low IgA, compared with IgA >70 mg/dL, was associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % predicted in the year following 11 September 2001 (94.1% vs 98.6%, p<0.001), increased risk of FEV1/FVC <0.70 (HR 3.8, 95% CI 1.6 to 8.8) and increased antibiotic treatment (22.5/100 vs 11.6/100 person-years, p=0.002). Following WTC exposure, early IgA ≤70 mg/dL was associated with worse lung function and increased antibiotic treatment.

Quantitative Ultra-Widefield Angiography and Diabetic Retinopathy Severity: An Assessment of Panretinal Leakage Index, Ischemic Index and Microaneurysm Count

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between the diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity and quantitative ultra-widefield angiographic metrics, including leakage index, ischemic index, and microaneurysm count.

DESIGN

Retrospective image analysis study.

METHODS

Eyes with DR that had undergone ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA) with associated color photography were identified. All eyes were laser-naive and had not received any intravitreal pharmacotherapy within 6 months of UWFA. Each eye was graded for DR severity. Quantitative angiographic parameters were evaluated with a semiautomated analysis platform with expert reader correction, as needed. Angiographic parameters included panretinal leakage index, ischemic index, and microaneurysm count. Clinical characteristics analyzed included age, gender, race, hemoglobin A1C level, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and smoking history.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Association of DR severity with panretinal leakage index, ischemic index, and microaneurysm count.

RESULTS

Three hundred thirty-nine eyes were included with mean age of 62±13 years. Forty-two percent of eyes were from women and 57.5% were from men. Distribution of DR severity was as follows: mild NPDR in 11.2%, moderate NPDR in 23.9%, severe NPDR in 40.1%, and PDR with 24.8%. Panretinal leakage index [mild NPDR (mean = 0.51%), moderate NPDR mean = 1.20%, severe NPDR (mean = 2.75%), and PDR (mean = 5.84%); P<2×10-16], panretinal ischemic index [mild NPDR (mean = 0.95%, moderate NPDR (mean = 1.37%), severe NPDR (mean = 2.80%), and PDR (mean = 9.53%); P<2×10-16], and panretinal microaneurysm count [mild NPDR (mean = 36), moderate NPDR (mean = 129), severe NPDR (mean = 203), and PDR (mean = 254); P<5×10-7] were strongly associated with DR severity. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that ischemic index and leakage index were the parameters associated most strongly with level of DR severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Panretinal leakage index, panretinal ischemic index, and panretinal microaneurysm count are associated with DR severity. Additional research is needed to understand the clinical implications of these parameters related to progression risk, prognosis, and implications for therapeutic response.

Epigenetic signatures of smoking associate with cognitive function, brain structure, and mental and physical health outcomes in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

Recent advances in genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) profiling for smoking behaviour have given rise to a new, molecular biomarker of smoking exposure. It is unclear whether a smoking-associated DNAm (epigenetic) score has predictive value for ageing-related health outcomes which is independent of contributions from self-reported (phenotypic) smoking measures. Blood DNA methylation levels were measured in 895 adults aged 70 years in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936) study using the Illumina 450K assay. A DNA methylation score based on 230 CpGs was used as a proxy for smoking exposure. Associations between smoking variables and health outcomes at age 70 were modelled using general linear modelling (ANCOVA) and logistic regression. Additional analyses of smoking with brain MRI measures at age 73 (n = 532) were performed. Smoking-DNAm scores were positively associated with self-reported smoking status (P < 0.001, eta-squared ɳ2 = 0.63) and smoking pack years (r = 0.69, P < 0.001). Higher smoking DNAm scores were associated with variables related to poorer cognitive function, structural brain integrity, physical health, and psychosocial health. Compared with phenotypic smoking, the methylation marker provided stronger associations with all of the cognitive function scores, especially visuospatial ability (P < 0.001, partial eta-squared ɳp2 = 0.022) and processing speed (P < 0.001, ɳp2 = 0.030); inflammatory markers (all P < 0.001, ranges from ɳp2 = 0.021 to 0.030); dietary patterns (healthy diet (P < 0.001, ɳp2 = 0.052) and traditional diet (P < 0.001, ɳp2 = 0.032); stroke (P = 0.006, OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.12, 1.96); mortality (P < 0.001, OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.42, 1.79), and at age 73; with MRI volumetric measures (all P < 0.001, ranges from ɳp2 = 0.030 to 0.052). Additionally, education was the most important life-course predictor of lifetime smoking tested. Our results suggest that a smoking-associated methylation biomarker typically explains a greater proportion of the variance in some smoking-related morbidities in older adults, than phenotypic measures of smoking exposure, with some of the accounted-for variance being independent of phenotypic smoking status.

Maternal Smoking: A Life Course Blood Pressure Determinant?

Introduction

Exposure to maternal smoking early in life may affect blood pressure (BP) control mechanisms. We examined the association between maternal smoking (before conception, during pregnancy, and 4 years after delivery) and BP in preschool children.

Methods

We evaluated 4295 of Generation XXI children, recruited at birth in 2005-2006 and reevaluated at the age of 4. At birth, information was collected by face-to-face interview and additionally abstracted from clinical records. At 4-year follow-up, interviews were performed and children's BP measured. Linear regression models were fitted to estimate the association between maternal smoking and children's BP.

Results

Children of smoking mothers presented significantly higher BP levels. After adjustment for maternal education, gestational hypertensive disorders, and child's body mass index, children exposed during pregnancy to maternal smoking presented a higher systolic BP (SBP) z-score (β = 0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04 to 0.14). In crude models, maternal smoking was associated with higher SBP z-score at every assessed period. However, after adjustment, an attenuation of the association estimates occurred (β = 0.08, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.13 before conception; β = 0.07, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.12; β = 0.04, 95%CI -0.02 to 0.10; and β = 0.06, 95%CI 0.00 to 0.13 for the first, second, and third pregnancy trimesters, respectively; and β = 0.07, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.12 for current maternal smoking). No significant association was observed for diastolic BP z-score levels.

Conclusion

Maternal smoking before, during, and after pregnancy was independently associated with systolic BP z-score in preschool children. This study provides additional evidence to the public health relevance of maternal smoking cessation programs if early cardiovascular health of children is envisaged.

Implications

Using observational longitudinal data from the birth cohort Generation XXI, this study showed that exposure to maternal smoking-before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and 4 years after delivery-was associated with a systolic BP-raising effect in children at the age of 4. The findings of this study add an important insight into the need to support maternal smoke-free environments in order to provide long-term cardiovascular benefit, starting as early as possible in life.

Mean Platelet Volume in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

<i>Background:</i> Platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular disease, and the size of the platelets can determine their reactivity. Large platelets secrete more prothrombotic factors and aggregate more quickly. In this study, we aimed to investigate mean platelet volume (MPV) levels, which are considered to be an indication of the increase in platelet function in previous studies, in cases of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). <i>Methods:</i> At Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, 297 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke were included in the study and two groups were assigned as patients with and without NVAF. In the study, the relationship between MPV and platelet counts in the first 24 hours after the onset of the symptom between the two groups was examined. In addition, the relationship between MPV and hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, smoking and alcohol use, infarct location, and use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant was assessed. <i>Results:</i> MPV levels were significantly higher in acute ischemic stroke patients with NVAF (p = 0.001; p < 0.01). The mean MPV level in patients with NVAF and non-smokers was significantly higher than smokers (p = 0.012; p < 0.05), but there was no significant relationship between MPV and other parameters. <i>Conclusions:</i> In this study, it was shown that MPV levels were significantly higher in patients with acute ischemic stroke and NVAF than those without NVAF. This finding suggested that MPV which shows platelet reactivity can be assumed as a risk factor of AIS in patients with NVAF.

Effects of smoking and physical exercise on respiratory function test results in students of university: A cross-sectional study

We explored the effects of smoking and exercise on pulmonary function (PF) in young adults.This was a 2-year, prospective cross-sectional study on university students. We recorded age, gender, weight, height, pulmonary symptoms, smoking status, and sports habits. Spirometry was used to evaluate lung function; we recorded the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), the forced vital capacity (FVC), and the FEV1/FVC ratio.A total of 1014 (552 female, 464 male) subjects were included. Smokers reported significantly more wheezing and sputum production than nonsmokers, but exhibited better FVC and FEV1 values. Those who smoked less than half a pack/d had significantly poorer FVC and FEV1 levels than nonsmokers. Smokers exhibited significantly lower FEV1/FVC ratios than nonsmokers. Overall, those who exercised exhibited better FEV1 and FVC levels, but this was attributable entirely to females.The spirometric percentile data were adjusted for gender, age, and height, and used as indicators of health status (good: >90: average: 25-90, poor <25). ln males, PF was associated with regular exercise (good: 7.8, average: 6.5, poor: 14.2, P = .02). The smoking rate was higher in the "good" group (males: good: 31.3, average: 30, poor: 17.9, P = .02/females: good: 22.4, average: 17.9, poor: 10.4, P = .02).On multivariate regression analysis, above-average PF test results were associated with age (1.32 [1.04-1.69]) and exercising at least once per week (4.06 [1.16-14.20]) in males. In females, above-average results were associated with irregular exercise (2.88 [1.36-6.09]), age (1.85 [1.44-2.37]), and exercising until palpitations developed (0.18 [0.04-0.88]).Smoking improves lung function in young adults; these are "healthy smokers." Physical activity did not improve lung function, but the absence of physical activity significantly worsened lung function.

The Peak Index: Spirometry Metric for Airflow Obstruction Severity and Heterogeneity

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation. Spirometry loops are not smooth curves and have undulations and peaks that likely reflect heterogeneity of airflow.Objectives: To assess whether the Peak Index, the number of peaks adjusted for lung size, is associated with clinical outcomes.Methods: We analyzed spirometry data of 9,584 participants enrolled in the COPDGene study and counted the number of peaks in the descending part of the expiratory flow-volume curve from the peak expiratory flow to end-expiration. We adjusted the peaks count for the volume of the lungs from peak expiratory flow to end-expiration to derive the Peak Index. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to test associations between the Peak Index and lung function, respiratory morbidity, structural lung disease on computed tomography (CT), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) decline, and mortality.Results: The Peak Index progressively increased from Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage 0 through 4 (P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, the Peak Index was significantly associated with CT emphysema (adjusted β = 0.906; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.789 to 1.023; P < 0.001) and small airways disease (adjusted β = 1.367; 95% CI, 1.188 to 1.545; P < 0.001), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score (adjusted β = 1.075; 95% CI, 0.807 to 1.342; P < 0.001), 6-minute-walk distance (adjusted β = -1.993; 95% CI, -3.481 to -0.506; P < 0.001), and FEV1 change over time (adjusted β = -1.604; 95% CI, -2.691 to -0.516; P = 0.004), after adjustment for age, sex, race, body mass index, current smoking status, pack-years of smoking, and FEV1. The Peak Index was also associated with the BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity) index and mortality (P < 0.001).Conclusions: The Peak Index is a spirometry metric that is associated with CT measures of lung disease, respiratory morbidity, lung function decline, and mortality.Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00608764).

Testing the Effect of Vapor in ENDS Public Service Announcements on Current Smokers and ENDS Users' Psychophysiological Responses and Smoking and Vaping Urge

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are increasingly popular, especially among young adults. Many ENDS advertisements and anti-ENDS public service announcements (PSAs) contain portrayals of ENDS use and visible vapor. Though it is plausible that vapor would be processed in similar ways to traditional combustible cigarette smoking cues, this has not been consistently established. In a laboratory session, we assessed cognitive and emotional processing using psychophysiological measures (e.g., facial electromyography, heart rate, and skin conductance) among young participants who were either smokers only (N = 43) or dual users of ENDS and cigarettes (N = 28) as they viewed four anti-vaping PSAs depicting either vapor or no vapor. Self-report urge to smoke traditional cigarettes and urge to vape and recognition (encoding) of information within the PSAs were measured following each PSA. Orbicularis oculi activation (positive emotion), heart rate deceleration (cognitive resource allocation), recognition (encoding), and vaping urge were greater in the vapor-present condition relative to vapor-absent condition. Hence, the presence of vapor in anti-vaping PSAs activates the approach/appetitive motivational system indicated by greater positive emotion, cognitive resource allocation, and memory, but also greater vaping urge compared to PSAs absent in vapor. Recommendations for inclusion of vapor and design of anti-vaping PSAs are discussed.

Multidimensional assessment of impulsivity-related measures in relation to externalizing behaviors

BACKGROUND

Trait impulsivity is thought to play a key role in predicting behaviors on the externalizing spectrum, such as drug and alcohol use and aggression. Research suggests that impulsivity may not be a unitary construct, but rather multidimensional in nature with dimensions varying across self-report assessments and laboratory behavioral tasks. Few studies with large samples have included a range of impulsivity-related measures and assessed several externalizing behaviors to clarify the predictive validity of these assessments on important life outcomes.

METHODS

Community adults (N = 1295) between the ages of 30 and 54 completed a multidimensional assessment of impulsivity-related traits (including 54 self-report scales of personality traits implicated in impulsive behaviors, and four behavioral tasks purporting to assess a construct similar to impulsivity) and reported on five externalizing behavioral outcomes (i.e. drug, alcohol, and cigarette use, and physical and verbal aggression). We ran an exploratory factor analysis on the trait scales, and then a structural equation model predicting the externalizing behaviors from the three higher-order personality factors (i.e. Disinhibition v. Constraint/Conscientiousness, Neuroticism/Negative Emotionality, and Extraversion/Positive Emotionality) and the four behavioral tasks.

RESULTS

Relations between the self-report factors and behavioral tasks were small or nonexistent. Associations between the self-report factors and the externalizing outcomes were generally medium to large, but relationships between the behavioral tasks and externalizing outcomes were either nonexistent or small.

CONCLUSIONS

These results partially replicate and extend recent meta-analytic findings reported by Sharma et al. (2014) to further clarify the predictive validity of impulsivity-related trait scales and laboratory behavioral tasks on externalizing behaviors.

Adverse effect of smoking on cross-sectional area of small pulmonary vessel and arterial stiffness in healthy smokers without COPD

INTRODUCTION

Because it induces systemic inflammation, smoking is a risk factor of atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of small pulmonary vessels can be useful markers to assess early changes of arterial stiffness and pulmonary vascular alteration in smokers.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore association between the CSA of small pulmonary vessel and arterial stiffness in healthy male smokers.

METHODS

We enrolled 90 male non-smokers and 90 male smokers (age: 51.5 ± 9.7 years and 52.1 ± 7.9 years, respectively). All subjects underwent chest computed tomography (CT), pulmonary function test and baPWV measurement. We evaluated the total CSAs less than 5 mm² using ImageJ software and divided by the total lung area (%CSA<5). We compared the association between baPWV and %CSA<5 in two groups as well as correlations among the amount of smoking, baPWV and %CSA<5. Multiple linear regression analysis using %CSA<5 as the dependent variable was also performed.

RESULTS

The mean baPWV and mean %CSA<5 were significantly different between the smokers and non-smokers. The pack-years was significantly correlated with %CSA<5 (r = -0.631, P < 0.001) and baPWV (r = 0.534, P < 0.001) in smokers. In multiple linear regression analysis, age, pack-years, FEV₁ /FVC and baPWV were associated with %CSA<5, regardless of body mass index, blood pressure and heart rate.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a dose-response relationship between cigarette smoking and the CSA of small pulmonary vessels and arterial stiffness, respectively. Arterial stiffness, age, pack-years and mild airflow impairment are independent predictors of small pulmonary vascular destruction in smokers.

Exome Chip Meta-analysis Fine Maps Causal Variants and Elucidates the Genetic Architecture of Rare Coding Variants in Smoking and Alcohol Use

BACKGROUND

Smoking and alcohol use have been associated with common genetic variants in multiple loci. Rare variants within these loci hold promise in the identification of biological mechanisms in substance use. Exome arrays and genotype imputation can now efficiently genotype rare nonsynonymous and loss of function variants. Such variants are expected to have deleterious functional consequences and to contribute to disease risk.

METHODS

We analyzed ∼250,000 rare variants from 16 independent studies genotyped with exome arrays and augmented this dataset with imputed data from the UK Biobank. Associations were tested for five phenotypes: cigarettes per day, pack-years, smoking initiation, age of smoking initiation, and alcoholic drinks per week. We conducted stratified heritability analyses, single-variant tests, and gene-based burden tests of nonsynonymous/loss-of-function coding variants. We performed a novel fine-mapping analysis to winnow the number of putative causal variants within associated loci.

RESULTS

Meta-analytic sample sizes ranged from 152,348 to 433,216, depending on the phenotype. Rare coding variation explained 1.1% to 2.2% of phenotypic variance, reflecting 11% to 18% of the total single nucleotide polymorphism heritability of these phenotypes. We identified 171 genome-wide associated loci across all phenotypes. Fine mapping identified putative causal variants with double base-pair resolution at 24 of these loci, and between three and 10 variants for 65 loci. Twenty loci contained rare coding variants in the 95% credible intervals.

CONCLUSIONS

Rare coding variation significantly contributes to the heritability of smoking and alcohol use. Fine-mapping genome-wide association study loci identifies specific variants contributing to the biological etiology of substance use behavior.

The Effects of Nicotine and Tobacco Use on Brain Reward Function: Interaction With Nicotine Dependence Severity

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated the effects of nicotine/tobacco on neural activation during performance of a monetary incentive delay task.

AIMS AND METHODS

Prior to each scan, nonsmokers received nicotine or placebo nasal spray, and smokers were smoking satiated or 24-hour withdrawn. During the scan, participants made timed responses to reward-related cues and received feedback. Parameter estimates from cue- and feedback-related activation in medial prefrontal regions and the nucleus accumbens were extracted and underwent within- and between-group analyses. Smokers' nicotine dependence severity was included as a continuous predictor variable for neural activation.

RESULTS

Among smokers (n = 21), withdrawal decreased cue-related activation in the supplementary motor area and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and the difference in activation (satiety > withdrawal) in these regions negatively correlated with nicotine dependence severity (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence). Among nonsmokers (n = 22), nicotine increased the difference in nucleus accumbens activation between rewarded and nonrewarded feedback phases. Tobacco withdrawal and acute nicotine also had widespread effects on activation throughout the brain during the feedback phase.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute nicotine in nonsmokers may have increased the salience of feedback information, but produced few effects on reward-related activation overall, perhaps reflecting nicotine's modest, indirect effects on reward processing. Conversely, tobacco withdrawal decreased activation compared with satiety, and this difference between conditions correlated with nicotine dependence severity. This suggests that as smokers become more dependent on nicotine, tobacco withdrawal has a more pronounced effect on reward processing.

IMPLICATIONS

Relative to the acute effects of nicotine in nonsmokers, withdrawal from daily tobacco use had more significant effects on reward-related brain activation. This study suggests that the effects of tobacco withdrawal on reward-related brain function interact with subjects' level of nicotine dependence severity. These are potentially important sources of variability that could contribute to smoking cessation outcomes.

Association of self-reported and cotinine-verified smoking status with incidence of metabolic syndrome in 47 379 Korean adults

BACKGROUND

The relationship of cotinine-verified vs self-reported smoking status with the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not known. This study investigated the effect of urinary cotinine-verified vs self-reported smoking status on incident MetS.

METHODS

In all, 47 379 participants without MetS enrolled in the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study and Kangbuk Samsung Cohort Study between 2011 and 2012 (baseline) were included in this study and followed-up in 2014; median follow-up duration was 25 months. Cotinine-verified current smoking was defined as urinary cotinine concentrations >50 ng/mL. According to cotinine-verified smoking status at baseline and follow-up, individuals were divided into four groups: never, new, former, and sustained smokers.

RESULTS

The incidence of MetS in the never, former, new, and sustained smoking groups was 9.9%, 19.4%, 21.4%, and 18.7%, respectively. Multivariate Cox hazard regression analyses revealed that the relative risk (RR) for incident MetS in cotinine-verified former smokers was significantly increased compared with that in cotinine-verified never smokers (RR 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.37), especially in individuals exhibiting weight gain (≥2 kg). These results were consistent with those of self-reported smoking status. Baseline cotinine-verified current smoking (RR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03-1.15) and self-reported former (RR 1.10; 95% CI 1.02-1.18) and current (RR 1.15; 95% CI 1.07-1.23) smoking were also significantly associated with incident MetS.

CONCLUSIONS

This large observational study showed that cotinine-verified and self-reported former smoking during follow-up increased the risk for incident MetS, especially in individuals exhibiting weight gain (≥2 kg). This suggests that weight control in former smokers would be very important to reduce the development of MetS.

The effect of body mass index on smoking behaviour and nicotine metabolism: a Mendelian randomization study

Given clear evidence that smoking lowers weight, it is possible that individuals with higher body mass index (BMI) smoke in order to lose or maintain their weight. We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses of the effects of BMI on smoking behaviour in UK Biobank and the Tobacco and Genetics Consortium genome-wide association study (GWAS), on cotinine levels and nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR) in published GWAS and on DNA methylation in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Our results indicate that higher BMI causally influences lifetime smoking, smoking initiation, smoking heaviness and also DNA methylation at the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) locus, but we do not see evidence for an effect on smoking cessation. While there is no strong evidence that BMI causally influences cotinine levels, suggestive evidence for a negative causal influence on NMR may explain this. There is a causal effect of BMI on smoking, but the relationship is likely to be complex due to opposing effects on behaviour and metabolism.

Effects of smoking status, history and intensity on heart rate variability in the general population: The CHRIS study

Background

Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the autonomous nervous system modulation on heart rate and is associated with several pathologies, including cardiac mortality. While mechanistic studies show that smoking is associated with lower HRV, population-based studies present conflicting results.

Methods

We assessed the mutual effects of active smoking status, cumulative smoking history, and current smoking intensity, on HRV among 4751 adults from the Cooperative Health Research In South Tyrol (CHRIS) study. The HRV metrics standard deviation of normal-to-normal (NN) inter-beat intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean squared differences of consecutive NN intervals (RMSSD), total power (TP), low (LF) and high frequency (HF) power, and their ratio (LF/HF), were derived from 20-minute electrocardiograms. Smoking status, pack-years (PY), and tobacco grams/day from standardized questionnaires were the main exposures. We fitted linear mixed models to account for relatedness, non-linearity, and moderating effects, and including fractional polynomials.

Results

Past smokers had higher HRV levels than never smokers, independently of PY. The association of HRV with current smoking became apparent when accounting for the interaction between smoking status and PY. In current smokers, but not in past smokers, we observed HRV reductions between 2.0% (SDNN) and 4.9% (TP) every 5 PY increase. Furthermore, current smokers were characterized by dose-response reductions of 9.8% (SDNN), 8.9% (RMSSD), 20.1% (TP), 17.7% (LF), and 19.1% (HF), respectively, every 10 grams/day of smoked tobacco, independently of common cardiometabolic conditions and HRV-modifying drugs. The LF/HF ratio was not associated with smoking status, history, or intensity.

Conclusions

Smoking cessation was associated with higher HRV levels. In current smokers, heavier smoking intensity appears gradually detrimental on HRV, corroborating previous evidence. By affecting both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system indexes, but not the LF/HF balance, smoking intensity seems to exert a systemic dysautonomic effect.

Evaluating the temporal relationships between withdrawal symptoms and smoking relapse

Smokers attempting to quit often attribute smoking relapse to negative affect, craving, and other nicotine withdrawal symptoms. In addition, there is evidence that smoking relapse can increase these symptoms, particularly negative affect. To address this issue, we analyzed data from an 11-week smoking cessation clinical trial in which smokers (n = 1,246) were randomized to receive either nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline, or placebo, combined with behavioral counseling. Using cross-lagged analyses, we examined the temporal bidirectional relationships between self-reported measures of affect, craving, and composite withdrawal symptoms and biochemically verified smoking abstinence. The relative strength of these temporal relationships was examined by comparing the explained variances of the models. The results showed that higher negative affect, craving, and composite withdrawal symptoms increased the likelihood of subsequent smoking relapse, and that smoking relapse led to subsequent increases in these same symptoms. A comparison of the explained variances found symptom predicting subsequent relapse models to be stronger than those where relapse predicted subsequent symptoms. Although the explained variance findings generally support a negative reinforcement conceptualization of nicotine dependence, the bidirectional relationship between symptoms and smoking relapse suggests that struggling with quitting smoking leads to significant negative affect, craving, and other withdrawal symptoms that do not quickly resolve. These findings highlight the importance of addressing specific symptoms within the context of smoking cessation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessment of Risk of Harm Associated With Intensive Blood Pressure Management Among Patients With Hypertension Who Smoke: A Secondary Analysis of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial

IMPORTANCE

The randomized Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) showed that lowering systolic blood pressure targets for adults with hypertension reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in general. However, whether the overall benefit from intensive blood pressure control masks important heterogeneity in risk is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that the overall benefit observed in SPRINT masked important heterogeneity in risk from intensive blood pressure control.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this exploratory, hypothesis-generating, ad hoc, secondary analysis of data obtained from 9361 participants in SPRINT, a random forest-based analysis was used to identify potential heterogeneous treatment effects using half of the trial data. Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to test potential heterogeneous treatment effects on the remaining data. The original trial was conducted at 102 sites in the United States between November 2010 and March 2013. This analysis was conducted between November 2016 and August 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were assigned a systolic blood pressure target of less than 120 mm Hg (intervention treatment) or of less than 140 mm Hg (standard treatment).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary composite cardiovascular outcome was myocardial infarction, other acute coronary syndromes, stroke, heart failure, or death from cardiovascular causes.

RESULTS

Of 9361 participants in SPRINT, 466 participants (5.0%) were current smokers with systolic blood pressure greater than 144 mm Hg at baseline, with 230 participants (49.4%) randomized to the training data set and 236 participants (50.6%) randomized to the testing data set; 286 participants (61.4%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 60.7 (7.2) years. Combinations of 2 covariates (ie, baseline smoking status and systolic blood pressure) distinguished participants who were differentially affected by the intervention. In the testing data, Cox proportional hazards models for the primary outcome revealed a number needed to harm of 43.7 to cause 1 event across 3.3 years among participants who, at baseline, were current smokers with systolic blood pressure greater than 144 mm Hg (10.9% [12 of 110] of primary outcome events for intervention treatment vs 4.8% [6 of 126] for standard treatment; hazard ratio, 10.6; 95% CI, 1.3-86.1; P = .03). This subgroup was also associated with a higher likelihood to experience acute kidney injury under intensive blood pressure control (with a frequency of 10.0% [11 of 110] of acute kidney injury events for intervention treatment vs 3.2% [4 of 126] for standard treatment; hazard ratio, 9.4; 95% CI, 1.2-77.3; P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this secondary analysis of SPRINT data, current smokers with a baseline systolic blood pressure greater than 144 mm Hg had a higher rate of cardiovascular events in the intensive treatment group vs the standard treatment group. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential tradeoffs of intensive blood pressure control in hypertensive smokers.

Population attributable risk of risk factors for type 2 diabetes; Bayesian methods

OBJECTIVE

Demonstrating the risk factors of diabetes can help to plan for prevention of this disease. This study aimed at quantification of the impact of physical activity, hypertension, general obesity, central obesity, high cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, smoking, hookah, drug use, alcohol consumption on the incidence of type 2 diabetes at a population level in Yazd, Iran. And this study calculated population attributable risk (PAR) of them.

METHODS

For this study, data from the first phase of the cohort study of chronic diseases in the adults of Yazd city were used, which began in 2016. Data was recorded through a cohort trained team. To calculate PAR and its the Bayesian confidence interval were performed using software R (version 3.4.3).

RESULTS

Of the 9967 subjects studied, age ≥30, 14.67% (n = 1432) has type 2 diabetes. The most common risk factors for diabetes were Inadequate physical activity and central obesity (WHR). The PAR for Inadequate physical activity of diabetes in women was 17.92%, in men 18.53, And PAR for WHR in women was 57.62%, in men 43.03.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, age was the strongest determinant of diabetes. And then type 2 diabetes is mainly attributable to WHR, significantly more so in women than men. Therefore, central obesity probably should be considered as a major strategy for reducing incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as a Main Factor of Premature Aging

(1) Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined as an inflammatory disorder that presents an increasingly prevalent health problem. Accelerated aging has been examined as a pathologic mechanism of many chronic diseases like COPD. We examined whether COPD is combined with accelerated aging, studying two hormones, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and growth hormone (GH), known to be characteristic biological markers of aging. (2) Methods: Data were collected from 119 participants, 70 (58.8%) COPD patients and 49 (41.2%) from a health control group over the period of 2014–2016 in a spirometry program. Information about their medical history, tobacco use, and blood tests was obtained. (3) Results: The average age of the health control patients was 73.5 years (SD = 5.5), and that of the COPD patients was 75.4 years (SD = 6.9). Both groups were similar in age and sex. A greater proportion of smokers were found in the COPD group (87.1%) versus the control group (36.7%). The majority of COPD patients were classified as STAGE II (51.4%) and STAGE III (37.1%) according to GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Levels of DHEA (SD = 17.1) and GH (SD = 0.37) were significantly lower in the COPD group (p < 0.001) compared to those in the controls (SD = 26.3, SD = 0.79). DHEA and GH were more significant and negatively correlated with age. The regression equation of DHEA with age produced a coefficient equal to 1.26. In this study, the difference in DHEA between COPD patients and controls was, on average, 30.2 μg/dL, indicating that the biological age of a COPD patient is on average about 24 years older than that of a control subject of the same age. Similarly, the difference in GH between COPD patients and controls was, on average, 0.42 ng/mL, indicating that the biological age of a COPD patient is on average about 13.1 years older than that of a control subject of the same age. (4) Conclusions: The findings of our study strongly suggest the presence of premature biological aging in COPD patients. Their biological age could actually vary from 13 to 23 years older than non-COPD controls according to DHEA and GH variation.