Environmental Risk Factors Research Articles

Gene–environment interactions: Epstein–Barr virus infection and risk of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis

Background and Objective: Prior Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with an increased risk of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) and adult-onset multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been challenging to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying this association. We examined the interactions between candidate human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA variants and childhood EBV infection as it may provide mechanistic insights into EBV-associated MS. Methods: Cases and controls were enrolled in the Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors for Pediatric MS study of the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers. Participants were categorized as seropositive and seronegative for EBV-viral capsid antigen (VCA). The association between prior EBV infection and having POMS was estimated with logistic regression. Interactions between EBV serostatus, major HLA MS risk factors, and non-HLA POMS risk variants associated with response to EBV infection were also evaluated with logistic regression. Models were adjusted for sex, age, genetic ancestry, and the mother’s education. Additive interactions were calculated using relative risk due to interaction (RERI) and attributable proportions (APs). Results: A total of 473 POMS cases and 702 controls contributed to the analyses. Anti-VCA seropositivity was significantly higher in POMS cases compared to controls (94.6% vs 60.7%, p < 0.001). There was evidence for additive interaction between childhood EBV infection and the presence of the HLA-DRB1*15 allele (RERI = 10.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.78 to 16.72; AP = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.47 to 0.75). There was evidence for multiplicative interaction (p < 0.05) between childhood EBV infection and the presence of DRB1*15 alleles (odds ratio (OR) = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.06 to 11.07). Among the pediatric MS variants also associated with EBV infection, we detected evidence for additive interaction (p = 0.02) between prior EBV infection and the presence of the GG genotype in risk variant (rs2255214) within CD86 (AP = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.03 to 0.58). Conclusion: We report evidence for interactions between childhood EBV infection and DRB1*15 and the GG genotype of CD86 POMS risk variant. Our results suggest an important role of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in EBV-associated POMS risk.

Fulvic acid modulates mucosal immunity in fish skin: Sustainable aquaculture solution or environmental risk factor?

This is the first study determining the effects of bath exposure to fulvic acid, a humic substance, on the skin mucosal immunity of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Humic substances have recently been gaining attention for their increasing concentrations in aquatic ecosystems and their use as supplements in sustainable aquaculture. This study demonstrated that water exposure to fulvic acid at concentrations of 5 mg C/L and 50 mg C/L increased lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase activities in the mucus by approximately 2-fold and 2.5 to 3.2-fold, respectively. Furthermore, exposure to 50 mg C/L resulted in a 77.0% increase in mucosal immunoglobulin concentrations compared to the other groups. Importantly, all mucus samples demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Yersinia ruckeri, with control mucus reducing bacterial growth by 44.5% and exposure to fulvic acid increasing this effect to 26.3%. Although these modulations show promise for application in aquaculture, alterations of the beneficial microbiota from long-term exposure in natural waters can be expected. Monitoring the rising concentrations of humic substances in natural water bodies is therefore urgently needed. Overall, this study represents the first investigation revealing the ability of humic substances to modulate skin mucosal immunity and the capacity to combat microorganisms.

Managing Colorectal Cancer from Ethology to Interdisciplinary Treatment: The Gains and Challenges of Modern Medicine.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, which has become a serious threat to human health worldwide. This article exhaustively reviews colorectal cancer's incidence and relevance, carcinogenesis molecular pathways, up-to-date treatment opportunities, prophylaxis, and screening program achievements, with attention paid to its regional variations and changes over time. This paper provides a concise overview of known CRC risk factors, including familial, hereditary, and environmental lifestyle-related risk factors. The authors take a closer look into CRC's molecular genetic pathways and the role of specific enzymes involved in carcinogenesis. Moreover, the role of the general practitioner and multidisciplinary approach in CRC treatment is summarized and highlighted based on recent recommendations and experience. This article gives a clear understanding and review of the gains and challenges of modern medicine towards CRC. The authors believe that understanding the current patterns of CRC and its revolution is imperative to the prospects of reducing its burden through cancer prevention and cancer-adjusted treatment.

MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED FACTORS IN PEOPLE DEPREVED OF LIBERTY: INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

The mental health must be understood whit the capacity that each person has to live, produce and enjoy material goods and services, dealing with the stressors of daily life and keeping a level of well-being. People deprived of liberty are characterized with a vulnerable population since before their confinement in the prision environment, then your access to material goods and services is restricted. Like this, knowing the risk factors, scientifically disclosed, for the occurrence of mental disorders in people deprived of liberty translates at the objective created for this integrative review, carried out in june 2023. The indexed terms used for the advanced search were “mental health and prisoners and risk factors”. After applying the inclusion criteria: original or research articles; in full format; available in portuguese, english or spanish; free Access; published in the last 10 years, from 2013 to 2022. And, of the exclused: articles that did not present risk factors for the occurrence of mental disorders or people deprived of liberty as study participants as the object of investigation. A universe of 28 articles was obtained that answer the question: What are the risk factors for the occurrence of mental disorders in people deprived of liberty? The results indicated that of the 20 (100%) articles, 20 (71,42%) point to environmental risk factors, 20 (71,42%) behavioral, and 19 (67,85%) biological. It should be noted that the presentation and interpretation of data occurred in a non-exclusive manner, that is, na article may contain information from more than one of the categories. For environmental risk factors, previous family histories of violence stand out. Among biological ones, the existence prior to imprisonment of signs and symptoms and/or mental disorders. And for behaviorists, the use and abuse of illicit chemical substances is the main factor associated with mental disorders. Among these, anxiety, depression and bipolarity stand out, for wich nursing has different instruments that can be honed and applied. Since, it has gradually been inserted and expanded the field of professional activity in the prison system.

Air pollution, noise and hypertension : Partners in crime

Air pollution and traffic noise are two important environmental risk factors that endanger health in urban societies and often act together as "partners in crime". Although air pollution and noise often co-occur in urban environments, they have typically been studied separately, with numerous studies documenting consistent effects of individual exposure on blood pressure. In the following review article, we examine the epidemiology of air pollution and noise, especially regarding the cardiovascular risk factor arterial hypertension and the underlying pathophysiology. Both environmental stressors have been shown to lead to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, pronounced vascular inflammation, disruption of circadian rhythms and activation of the autonomic nervous system, all of which promote the development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. From asocietal and political perspective, there is an urgent need to point out the potential dangers of air pollution and traffic noise in the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) prevention guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on prevention. Therefore, an essential goal for the future is to raise awareness of environmental risk factors as important and, in particular, preventable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Risk Factors and Environmental Preventive Actions for Aspergillosis in Patients with Hematological Malignancies.

(1) Background: Aspergillus spp. is a widely distributed filamentous fungus in the environment due to its high sporulation capacity. Currently, invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common invasive fungal infection in patients with hematologic malignancies, with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The multifactorial nature of the disease requires appropriate risk stratification to enable the most appropriate preventive measures to be adapted and implemented according to the characteristics of the patient. In this sense, the present research aims to identify recent risk factors and environmental control measures against invasive aspergillosis to establish preventive actions to reduce the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in hospitals. (2) Methods: We conducted a qualitative systematic review of the scientific literature on environmental risk factors and preventive measures for invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. The Medline, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were consulted, following the PRISMA and STROBE guidelines. (3) Results: Adequate implementation of environmental control measures is presented as the most efficient intervention in terms of prevention to decrease the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in hospitals. Neutropenia, fungal contamination, insufficient environmental control measures in hospital and home settings, length of hospital stay, and anemia, are identified as independent risk factors. We show that HEPA, LAF, and Plasmair® systems are suitable methods to reduce the concentration of airborne fungal spores. Antifungal prophylaxis did not significantly influence IA reduction in our study. (4) Conclusions: Proper professional training and environmental control measures in hospitals are essential for the prevention of invasive aspergillosis. We should optimize risk stratification for patients with hematologic malignancies. Antifungal prophylaxis should be complementary to environmental control measures and should never be substituted for the latter. Studies should also be undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of environmental control measures against IA at patients' homes.

Polyoxyethylene tallow amine and glyphosate exert different developmental toxicities on human pluripotent stem cells-derived heart organoid model

The early stage of heart development is highly susceptible to various environmental factors. While the use of animal models has aided in identifying numerous environmental risk factors, the variability between species and the low throughput limit their translational potential. Recently, a type of self-assembling cardiac structures, known as human heart organoids (hHOs), exhibits a remarkable biological consistency with human heart. However, the feasibility of hHOs for assessing cardiac developmental risk factors remains unexplored. Here, we focused on the cardiac developmental effects of core components of Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs), the most widely used herbicides, to evaluate the reliability of hHOs for the prediction of possible cardiogenesis toxicity. GBHs have been proven toxic to cardiac development based on multiple animal models, with the mechanism remaining unknown. We found that polyoxyethylene tallow amine (POEA), the most common surfactant in GBHs formulations, played a dominant role in GBHs' heart developmental toxicity. Though there were a few differences in transcriptive features, hHOs exposed to sole POEA and combined POEA and Glyphosate would suffer from both disruption of heart contraction and disturbance of commitment in cardiomyocyte isoforms. By contrast, Glyphosate only caused mild epicardial hyperplasia. This study not only sheds light on the toxic mechanism of GBHs, but also serves as a methodological demonstration, showcasing its effectiveness in recognizing and evaluating environmental risk factors, and deciphering toxic mechanisms.

Prevalence of common mental disorders and treatment gap among patients with non-communicable diseases in the rural areas of East India.

Mental and physical non-communicable diseases (NCDs) coexist, because they share common environmental and behavioral risk factors. The treatment gap for common mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use, is large compared to other NCDs. To determine the prevalence and treatment gap of common mental disorders among patients with non-communicable diseases. The community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural parts of East India, in people aged 30years and older with NCDs. A simple random sample was chosen to select the villages and participants. Eligible participants administered with screening and diagnostic questionnaire for depression, anxiety, and substance use. Those diagnosed with mental disorders were again assessed for treatment status in the last 12months. Non-receipt of treatment was considered as treatment gap. A total of 515 participants were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of common mental disorders among the study population was 46.4% (95% CI 42.0-50.8), and excluding substance use, the prevalence was 11.7% (95% CI 9.0-14.7). The treatment gap for common mental disorders among patients with non-communicable diseases, including and excluding substance use, was 98.3% (95% CI 95.8-99.5) and 93.3% (95% CI 83.8-98.2), respectively. The prevalence and treatment gap of common mental disorders among persons with NCDs was high. Public health interventions need to be emphasized for the integration of mental health care into NCD care.

85 years of the Department of Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine of Kazan State ­Medical University: from history to modern times

In 2023, it was 85 years since the founding of the Department of Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine at Kazan State Medical University. The article describes the main stages of the history of the department, from its foundation to the present day. The first head of the department in 1938 was V.I. Popov. In addition to successful work in training specialists, the history of the department was marked by extensive scientific activity and work carried out in the direction of the infectious diseases prevention, including as part of eliminating outbreaks. Employees of the department have carried out scientific research devoted to improving the diagnosis of infectious diseases, improving epidemiological surveillance in order to further reduce the incidence and eliminate current infections, including diphtheria, typhus and typhoid fever, tuberculosis, smallpox, viral hepatitis, infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, etc. A significant part of the scientific work carried out by the staff of the department concerned the study of post-infectious and post-vaccination immunity, as well as the study of the influence of environmental risk factors on the immunological reactivity of the body. The change in the paradigm of modern epidemiology and the epidemic situation has necessitated modification of the educational process with the inclusion in the program and expansion of teaching in such areas as clinical epidemiology, hospital epidemiology, and military epidemiology. In 2016, the department was renamed the Department of Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine.

Abstract B084: Association between race and ethnicity, area deprivation, and exposure to environmental toxins in the WISDOM clinical trial population

Abstract Background: Women Informed to Screen Depending on Measures of risk (WISDOM) is a preference-tolerant, pragmatic clinical trial comparing the safety and morbidity of personalized risk-based and annual breast cancer screening. Environmental risk factors are not considered in WISDOM’s risk assessment. Geocoded residential addresses were used to understand whether a relationship between area deprivation, exposure to environmental toxins, and race and ethnicity exists within the cohort. Methods: The residential addresses at time of study entry of consented WISDOM participants were geocoded to latitude/longitude coordinates and assigned census tract and/or Zip Code Tabulation Area IDs from the US Census Bureau. Each census tract was assigned an Area Deprivation Index (ADI). The ADI comprises 17 indicators of poverty, housing, education, and employment which classifies a census tract on a scale from 1 (least deprived) to 10 (most deprived). ADI was grouped into highest deprivation (ADIs 8-10), middle deprivation (ADIs 4-7), and least deprivation (ADIs 1-3). Census tracts were also mapped to data from the Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Screen (EJS) on the national percentile rank of 12 toxic exposures such as proximity to hazardous waste sites, air particulate matter and ozone concentrations. Each EJS exposure variable was categorized into quartiles. The cohort was limited to self-reported White, Asian, Black African American, and Mixed participants. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test and the Dunn’s test of multiple comparison using Bonferroni adjustment were used to test the association between race and ethnicity, ADI, and EJS variables. Results: The analysis cohort had 42,388 women. Most WISDOM participants were White (85%), followed by Asian (5%), Black or African American (5%), and Mixed (5%) race and ethnicity. Most lived in the least deprivation areas (57%) while a minority lived in the highest deprivation areas (12%). Black or African American women were significantly more likely to live in the highest deprivation areas compared to all other races and ethnicities (p&amp;lt;0.001). The highest deprivation areas where more likely to rank in the highest quartile of exposure to ozone (p&amp;lt;0.001), proximity to hazadous waste sites (p&amp;lt;0.001), and concentration of cancer risk air toxins (p=0.017) compared to the middle and least deprivation areas. White and Asian women were more likely to live in the least deprived areas that were more likely to rank in the highest quartile of exposure to particulate matter 2.5 compared to the most deprived areas (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusions: Black and African American women in the WISDOM study were more likely to live in the most deprived areas which have higher exposure to several environmental toxins. Given that exposure to some environmental toxins are known to increase breast cancer risk, investigation on how environmental factors can be encorporated in risk estimation is warranted. WISDOM should also direct targeted recruitment efforts to women who live in the most deprived areas. Citation Format: Katherine E Leggat-Barr, Kimberly Badal, Allison Stover-Fiscalini, Dan Meltzer, Mindy Hebert-DeRouen, Laura Van 'T Veer, Laura Esserman. Association between race and ethnicity, area deprivation, and exposure to environmental toxins in the WISDOM clinical trial population [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2023 Oct 19-22; San Diego, California. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(3 Suppl_1):Abstract nr B084.

Early Life and Childhood Environmental Exposures, More Than Genetic Predisposition, Influence Age of Diagnosis in a Diverse Cohort of 2952 Patients With IBD

Background and AimsInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) develops from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of established environmental risk factors and genetic risk on age of IBD diagnosis in a diverse cohort. MethodsIBD patients in clinic completed detailed questionnaires. Blood was drawn for genetic analysis. Environmental risk factors and age of diagnosis were analyzed by ethnicity (Hispanic/Latinx or non-Hispanic White [NHW] individuals) and IBD subtype (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease [CD]). Weighted genetic risk scores and environmental risk scores were developed. We examined the relationship between environmental risk scores, genetic risk scores, and age of diagnosis. ResultsA total of 2952 patients were included: 58.9% had CD. A total of 46.83% were of Hispanic background. Early life exposures like cesarean delivery and being born in a developed country were associated with a younger age of IBD diagnosis. Childhood exposures such as frequent plastic water bottle use and having more than 1 bathroom at home were associated with a younger age of IBD. Hispanic and NHW individuals shared similar susceptibilities to environmental exposures. Environmental factors explained 21% of the variance in age of CD diagnosis and 39% in ulcerative colitis. In models incorporating genetic risk score and environmental risk score, the environment was the only significant factor associated with younger age of IBD diagnosis in all groups. ConclusionsEarly life and childhood exposures impact IBD diagnosis and influence Hispanic and NHW individuals similarly. A cumulative environmental risk score contributes more to age of IBD diagnosis than genetic risk.

Neuroimmune mechanisms in autism etiology - untangling a complex problem using human cellular models.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 36 people and is more often diagnosed in males than in females. Core features of ASD are impaired social interactions, repetitive behaviors and deficits in verbal communication. ASD is a highly heterogeneous and heritable disorder, yet its underlying genetic causes account only for up to 80% of the cases. Hence, a subset of ASD cases could be influenced by environmental risk factors. Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a response to inflammation during pregnancy, which can lead to increased inflammatory signals to the fetus. Inflammatory signals can cross the placenta and blood brain barriers affecting fetal brain development. Epidemiological and animal studies suggest that MIA could contribute to ASD etiology. However, human mechanistic studies have been hindered by a lack of experimental systems that could replicate the impact of MIA during fetal development. Therefore, mechanisms altered by inflammation during human pre-natal brain development, and that could underlie ASD pathogenesis have been largely understudied. The advent of human cellular models with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and organoid technology is closing this gap in knowledge by providing both access to molecular manipulations and culturing capability of tissue that would be otherwise inaccessible. We present an overview of multiple levels of evidence from clinical, epidemiological, and cellular studies that provide a potential link between higher ASD risk and inflammation. More importantly, we discuss how stem cell-derived models may constitute an ideal experimental system to mechanistically interrogate the effect of inflammation during the early stages of brain development.

Involvement and repair of epithelial barrier dysfunction in allergic diseases.

The epithelial barrier serves as a critical defense mechanism separating the human body from the external environment, fulfilling both physical and immune functions. This barrier plays a pivotal role in shielding the body from environmental risk factors such as allergens, pathogens, and pollutants. However, since the 19th century, the escalating threats posed by environmental pollution, global warming, heightened usage of industrial chemical products, and alterations in biodiversity have contributed to a noteworthy surge in allergic disease incidences. Notably, allergic diseases frequently exhibit dysfunction in the epithelial barrier. The proposed epithelial barrier hypothesis introduces a novel avenue for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases. Despite increased attention to the role of barrier dysfunction in allergic disease development, numerous questions persist regarding the mechanisms underlying the disruption of normal barrier function. Consequently, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the epithelial barrier's role in allergic diseases, encompassing influencing factors, assessment techniques, and repair methodologies. By doing so, it seeks to present innovative strategies for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.

Environmental Justice Index and adverse pregnancy outcomes

The Environmental Justice Index is a tool released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that quantifies and ranks the environmental burden and social vulnerability of each census tract. Racial and ethnic disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes are well established. The relative contributions of individual (person-level) and environmental (neighborhood-level) risk factors to disease prevalence remain poorly understood. This study aimed to determine whether the Environmental Justice Index is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes after adjustment for individual clinical and sociodemographic risk factors. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of all patients who delivered a singleton newborn at ≥23 weeks of gestation between January 2019 and February 2022 at 7 hospitals within a large academic health system in New York. Patients were excluded if their home address was not available, if the address could not be geocoded to a census tract, or if the census tract did not have corresponding Environmental Justice Index data. Patients were also excluded if they had preexisting diabetes or hypertension. For patients who had multiple pregnancies during the study period, only the first pregnancy was included for analysis. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from the electronic medical record. Environmental Justice Index score, the primary independent variable, ranges from 0 to 1. Higher Environmental Justice Index scores indicate communities with increased cumulative environmental burden and increased social vulnerability. The primary outcome was adverse pregnancy outcome, defined as the presence of ≥1 of any of the following conditions: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, low birthweight, small for gestational age newborn, placental abruption, and stillbirth. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to investigate the relationship between Environmental Justice Index score and adverse pregnancy outcome, adjusting for potential confounding variables, including body mass index group, race and ethnicity group, advanced maternal age, nulliparity, public health insurance, and English as the preferred language. A total of 65,273 pregnancies were included for analysis. Overall, adverse pregnancy outcomes occurred in 37.6% of pregnancies (n=24,545); hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (13.4%) and gestational diabetes (12.2%) were the most common adverse pregnancy outcome conditions. On unadjusted analysis, the strongest associations between Environmental Justice Index score and individual adverse pregnancy outcome conditions were observed for stillbirth (odds ratio, 1.079; 95% confidence interval, 1.025-1.135) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (odds ratio, 1.052; 95% confidence interval, 1.042-1.061). On multivariable logistic regression, every 0.1 increase in Environmental Justice Index score was associated with 1.4% higher odds of adverse pregnancy outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 1.014; 95% confidence interval, 1.007-1.021). The strongest associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes were observed with well-established clinical and social risk factors, including class 3 obesity (adjusted odds ratio, 1.710; 95% confidence interval, 1.580-1.849; reference: body mass index <25 kg/m2) and certain race and ethnicity groups (reference: non-Hispanic White), particularly Asian and Pacific Islander (adjusted odds ratio, 1.817; 95% confidence interval, 1.729-1.910), and non-Hispanic Black (adjusted odds ratio, 1.668; 95% confidence interval, 1.581-1.760) people. Environmental Justice Index score is positively associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and most strongly associated with stillbirth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Geospatial analysis with Environmental Justice Index may help to improve our understanding of health inequities by identifying neighborhood characteristics that increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

Kharameh cohort study (KHCS) on non-communicable diseases and preliminary findings of 3-year follow-up

PurposeThe Kharameh cohort study (KHCS) is one branch of the ‘Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran’, located in the south of Iran. The enrolment phase of KHCS spanned from April...

Impact of Short-Term Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Ozone (O3) on Hospital Admissions for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.

In the context of recent climate change, global warming, industrial growth, and population expansion, air pollution has emerged as a significant environmental and human health risk. This study employed a multivariable Poisson regression analysis to examine the association between short-term exposure to atmospheric pollutants (nitrogen dioxide-NO2, sulfur dioxide -SO2, ozone-O3, and particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 μm-PM10) and hospital admissions for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Daily data on NSTE-ACS admissions, air pollutants, and meteorological variables were collected from January 2019 to December 2021. Elevated NO2 concentrations were associated with a higher risk of NSTE-ACS hospitalization, notably in spring (OR: 1.426; 95% CI: 1.196-1.701). Hypertensive individuals (OR: 1.101; 95% CI: 1.007-1.204) and those diagnosed with unstable angina (OR: 1.107; 95%CI: 1.010-1.213) exhibited heightened susceptibility to elevated NO2 concentrations. A 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 during spring at lag 07 (OR: 1.013; 95% CI: 1.001-1.025) and O3 in winter at lag 05 (OR: 1.007; 95% CI: 1.001-1.014) was correlated with an elevated daily occurrence of NSTE-ACS admissions. Short-term exposure to various air pollutants posed an increased risk of NSTE-ACS hospitalization, with heightened sensitivity observed in hypertensive patients and those with unstable angina. Addressing emerging environmental risk factors is crucial to mitigate substantial impacts on human health and the environment.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in China.

The Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2022) intricate landscape of cardiovascular health in China. This section dissects cardiovascular risk factors in China which including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome and air pollution. Hypertension prevalence has steadily increased in China, with efforts to control it facing challenges in achieving optimal rates, especially in rural areas. Interventions like salt substitutes and intensive blood pressure control show promise but need improvement. Abnormal lipid levels, indicative of dyslipidemia, have risen significantly, posing a risk for cardiovascular diseases. Despite efforts, many patients struggle to achieve target lipid levels, necessitating improved treatment strategies. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus affect millions of adults in China, with long-term complications adding to the disease burden. Early intervention and effective management are crucial to mitigate its impact. Prevalent among older adults, chronic kidney disease is associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, necessitating comprehensive management approaches. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, characterized by a cluster of risk factors, has increased in both adults and adolescents, calling for lifestyle modifications and public health interventions. Ambient and household air pollution remain significant environmental risk factors, despite some improvements in air quality. Continued efforts to reduce emissions are essential for mitigating associated health risks. Addressing these risk factors requires a multifaceted approach, including public health initiatives, policy interventions, and individual-level strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce environmental exposures. Surveillance and research efforts are crucial for monitoring trends and developing effective strategies to lessen the burden of cardiovascular diseases in China.

On the Databases of Protein Biomarkers of Human Exposure to Environmental Hazards: A Literature Review

Introduction: Both environmental and occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals is a public health challenge since it can induce oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and protein modifications. Creation of a database linking work-related risk factors and adverse human health outcomes based on protein biomarkers will contribute to the development of effective preventive and therapeutic approaches. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of literature to identify databases containing information about human protein biomarkers of exposure to environmental risk factors. Materials and methods: We examined Russian and English-language publications containing information about existing protein biomarker databases issued in 2003–2023 and found in Elibary.ru, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Research Gate using the following keywords: database, adverse effect, biomarkers, proteins, and occupational environment. Forty of 300 papers initially selected contained systematized data of research aimed at identifying biomarkers of occupational exposures and were therefore chosen for the review. Results: Eight information sources have been found to match our search criteria. We have established that the databases are divided into two types by availability and accessibility of the information of interest. Type I databases contain research findings related to the impact of occupational exposures on the content of biomarkers (proteins) but have limited access. Type II databases are open to access, but they do not contain direct information about protein biomarkers associated with occupational exposures. Conclusion: The existing databases either contain unsystematized data on protein biomarkers of adverse human health effects or are closed to access. Thus, the task of creating such publicly available information sources deems relevant.

Abstract TP162: Polyamine Levels Are Elevated After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Introduction: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has high morbidity and mortality without available targets for intervention. Polyamines are metabolites implicated in neurological diseases such as traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s Disease, and ischemic stroke. No studies have evaluated polyamines as they relate to ICH occurrence or outcomes. In this pilot study, we sought preliminary data on whether polyamines could be potential novel targets to improve outcomes after ICH. Methods: We analyzed plasma samples from 7 ICH cases and 10 control participants from the Genetics and Environmental Risk Factors for Stroke (GERFHS) IV study for polyamine measurements using Capillary Electrophoresis with Laser Induced Fluorescence Detection with the modality of Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography. Plasma samples were deproteinized and derivatized with Fluorescein Isothiocyanate. Samples were spiked with standard solutions and compared with standard curves developed per each polyamine. We report median age and sex of the cohort. Peak spermine, spermidine and putrescine levels were compared using a student’s t-test. Results: In this pilot study of participants enrolled into GERFHS IV (median age 67 vs 61, cases vs controls respectively, 50% female) all three unacetylated polyamine levels were higher in cases. Although sample size is modest, there was a trend towards increased spermidine levels with higher mRS at 90 days (r 2 = 0.3342) (Figure 1). Conclusions: For the first time, we have shown that polyamines are elevated after ICH, and that higher polyamine levels may be associated with worse outcomes. This preliminary data supports further evaluation of polyamines as potential targets to improve outcomes after ICH in a larger cohort.

Equine common variable immunodeficiency: Lessons from 100 clinical cases

SummaryThe clinical manifestation of recurrent fevers and infections alerts the clinician to the possibility of an underlying immunodeficiency. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) in the horse is a rare late‐onset, nonfamilial immunological disorder of B cell depletion and/or dysfunction with resultant inadequate antibody production. The most common clinical presentations in horses with CVID are recurrent upper and/or lower respiratory infections, meningitis and/or ataxia, cholangiohepatitis, infectious colitis, infectious dermatitis and severe gastrointestinal parasitism. Immune‐mediated and lymphoproliferative conditions are additional clinical features. The diagnosis of CVID in horses is based on a persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia primarily caused by a serum IgG concentration below 10.00 g/L in at least two different measurements, often accompanied by a serum IgM concentration below 0.50 g/L. Most horses with CVID show a persistent peripheral blood B cell distribution below 6% of total circulating lymphocytes, indicating severe B cell paucity or depletion, but the B cell distribution can be within the normal reference interval. Post‐mortem findings add diagnostic information about the distribution of B and T cells in lymphoid tissues. Clinical management of horses with immunodeficiency is intense and expensive, and these factors weigh on the difficult decision of elective euthanasia. To date, no genetic mutation has been identified in horse patients with CVID, and the large number of breeds of single‐affected individuals in a same herd or immediate lineage from various parts of the United States and the world do not point at an obvious inheritable mechanism of disease or environmental risk factors. This article describes the clinical and immunological findings in 100 equine cases, and comparisons with the disease in human patients.