Female Non-smokers Research Articles

460Social inequalities in second-hand smoking among Japanese adults: A repeated cross-sectional study

Abstract Background We aimed to examine the association between educational history and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in Japanese adults. Methods We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using data from the 2007-2011 baseline and the 2013-2016 follow-up survey in a Japanese suburban area. Overall, 5,562 male and 5,381 female non-smokers participated in the study, which evaluated the SHS exposure and educational history of the participants through self-reported questionnaires. We performed a multilevel ordered logistic regression analysis with survey year as the first level and the individual as the second level, SHS exposure as the dependent variable, educational history as the explanatory variable, and age, smoking history, marital status as covariates, stratified by gender and working status. Results The prevalence of SHS exposure was 45.4% in males and 41.9% in females in the 2007-2011 survey, and 31.6% in males and 28.7% in females in the 2013-2016 survey. Multilevel analysis indicated that less educational history was associated with higher SHS exposure in both genders (among males, the odds ratio compared with ≥13 years was 1.75 for 10-12 years and 1.64 for ≤9 years; among females, it was 1.79 for 10-12 years and 2.43 for ≤9 years). Stratified analysis by working status showed that for females, education-based inequalities in SHS exposure more strongly impacted for workers than non-workers (p for interaction <0.001). Conclusions Education-based inequalities in SHS exposure exist in Japan and might be severe among female workers. Key messages Measures against SHS in Japan should be promoted to reduce social and gender inequalities.

Comparison of palonosetron with combined palonosetron and midazolam for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background:Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an undesirable complication in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Combination therapy via different mechanisms of action for antiemetic prophylaxis has been warranted for effective treatment of PONV. This study was designed to compare the prophylactic antiemetic effect between midazolam combined with palonosetron (group MP) and palonosetron alone (group P) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgeries.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was investigated in non-smoking female. Eighty-eight patients were randomly divided into 2 groups with 44 patients each. Group MP received 0.05 mg/kg of midazolam intravenously before induction of anesthesia whereas group P received the same volume of normal saline. Immediately after anesthetic induction, 0.075 mg of palonosetron was administered to both the groups. The incidence and severity of PONV were assessed during 2 time intervals (0–2 hours, 2–24 hours), postoperatively.Results:The incidence of PONV during 24 hours after surgery was lower in group MP as compared to group P. There was also a significant difference in the use of rescue antiemetics. The severity of nausea was significantly lower in group MP as compared to group P, in the initial 2 hours after surgery. The incidence of side effects was similar between the 2 groups.Conclusion:In the prevention of PONV, midazolam combined with palonosetron, administered during induction of anesthesia was more effective as compared to palonosetron alone.

Long-term environmental cadmium exposure induced serum metabolic changes related to renal and liver dysfunctions in a female cohort from Southwest China

Cadmium (Cd), a toxic heavy mental, has been reported to be correlated with increased incidences of multiple diseases. Only a few studies have paid attention to screen the urine metabolites related to long-term environmental Cd exposure in humans. Research on the Cd exposure-related serum metabolic alternations and biological mechanisms linking Cd exposure to adverse health risks in humans is scanty. In this study, we investigated the serum Cd exposure-related metabolic alternations in a cohort of 101 non-smoking females (two polluted groups and one control group) and 18 Cd exposure-related metabolites were identified. A total of 16 clinical indicators of renal and hepatic functions and bone health were measured. Five health effect biomarkers including serum creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and albumin to globulin ratio that are related to impaired renal and hepatic functions showed significant differences among the three groups and had close correlations with Cd levels. We identified intermediate metabolites that were associated with both Cd exposure and health effect biomarkers using a “meet-in-the-middle” approach. Fourteen Cd exposure-related metabolites in the metabolism of glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, arachidic acid, linoleic acid and amino acids, were identified to be the intermediates of Cd exposure and the health effect biomarkers. Our findings provided evidence for the linkage of long-term environmental Cd exposure and the renal and hepatic insufficiency.

Lung cancer risk in non-smoking females with a familial history of cancer: a multi-center prospective cohort study in China

Familial risk of lung cancer has been widely studied but whether this association holds in non-smoking females is largely unknown. We sought to determine the relationship between a family history of cancer and lung cancer risk among Chinese non-smoking females based on a multi-center prospective population-based cohort study involving 547,218 individuals between 2013 and 2019. A total of 1620 lung cancer cases occurred during a median follow-up of 3.9 years. Multivariable Cox regression showed that a family history of lung cancer in first-degree relatives significantly increased the risk of lung cancer (HR: 1.50, 95%CI: 1.29, 1.75, P<0.001). Relative to those with no relatives affected, the risk of lung cancer was 51% higher in females with one relative affected (HR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.29-1.76, P<0.001), 123% higher in females with two relatives affected (HR: 2.23, 95%CI: 1.57-3.15, P<0.001) and 143% higher in females with three or more relatives affected (HR: 2.43, 95%CI: 1.21-4.91, P=0.013). Two nested case control studies stratified by age at diagnosis were conducted to verify potential disparities in this association between the early or late onset of lung cancer. A family history of lung cancer in first-degree relatives was significantly correlated with an elevated risk of lung cancer for both cases before and after age 65 (OR: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.07-1.74, P=0.013; OR: 1.64, 95%CI: 1.15-2.33, P=0.006). Our analysis confirmed the importance of familial history of cancers on lung cancer risk in non-smoking females and highlighted the possibility of interaction between genetic and environmental effect on lung cancer.

A Multicenter Retrospective Study on the Prognosis of Stage III Unresectable Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Therapy.

BackgroundFor unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), concurrent chemoradiotherapy is nowadays the standard treatment. Patients with advanced NSCLC harboring driver-gene mutations benefit from Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) Therapy. In a real-world setting, there is room for exploring the benefit of TKIs in stage III unresectable NSCLC patients with mutation.MethodsA total of 81 patients from the Jinling Hospital and the Jiangsu Cancer Hospital with stage III unresectable mutant NSCLC applied targeted therapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients with first-line application of TKIs were followed up to gain the situation of surgery qualifications, progression-free survival and overall survival, so as to evaluate the survival prognosis, then whether patients benefit and what kind of patients benefit most from TKI monotherapy treatment or its combination are explored.ResultsThe median progression-free survival of involved 81 patients was 13.87 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 11.66–16.08), and the median survival was 41.47 months (95%CI: 20.11–62.83). The 5-year survival rates were 91.0, 80.3, 56.1, 45.5, and 32.5%, respectively. After first-line TKI therapy, seven patients (8.6%) were reevaluated as eligible for surgery and proceeded to surgery. Although no characteristics were found to be statistical prognostic, younger female non-smokers still tended to have a better prognosis with longer progression free survival and overall survival.ConclusionsTKIs are a viable option for mutant stage III unresectable NSCLC patients who have achieved good clinical benefit from TKI. Patients who cannot tolerate chemoradiotherapy, especially those with driver gene mutations, can choose targeted therapy for first-line treatment.

The Impact of Different Antiemetics on the Nausea in Early Postoperative Period After Laparoscopic Holecystectomy

Abstract Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a patient-important outcome; patients often rate PONV as worse than postoperative pain. This clinical study was aimed to asses the efficiency of standard aniemetics administration separately or in combination in prevention of PONV in patients who underwent to the same surgical procedure - laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Also, this article could provide a novel information about the best choice for prevention and treatment of PONV. This study included 87 patients divided into four groups according to the postoperative phramacological treatment: First group was control group without treatment, Second group was group of patients with ondasetron treatment in postoperative period, Third group was group of patients with ondasetron+dexamethasone treatment, and fourth group was group of patients with dexamethasone treatment in postoperative period for nausea. PONV was distributed in Ondansetron+Dexamethasone group in the lowest percent (4.5%), which means that this conbination of antiemetics was very effective. Than, Dexamethasone group was in relation with low incidence of PONV (14.3%), and after that were Ondansetron and Control groups. Also smokers and males has lower incidence of PONV, especially in combination with Ondansetron+Dexamethasone treatment. The incidence of PONV is lower in male smokers patients who were underwent to combination of two antiemetics, ondansetron and dexamethasone compared to monotherapy and female non-smokers. Preventive strategies for PONV must include risk stratification followed by prophylactic approach and also testing the newer antiemetics. Because of the high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting as a patient-important outcome, the preventive strategies should be considered as serious condition which requires multimodal approach.

621 Association of E-cigarette and Tobacco Use with Adolescent Sleep Quality

Abstract Introduction Recently, targeted marketing has encouraged teen e-cigarette vaping. Although e-cigarettes are often presented as a safe alternative to conventional tobacco, their toxicity is unclear. In adults, we have previously observed a link between dual usage of e-cigarettes and tobacco with increased sleep latency. We hypothesized an association between dual usage and increased sleep latency. Methods Participants were recruited to complete social media surveys. We performed three surveys: Survey 1 (n=47) in 2018, Survey 2 (n=1198) in 2019, and Survey 3 (n=564) in 2020. Surveys 1 and 2 had three sections: past and current inhalant use, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Survey 3 did not include the LCQ, instead including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9). The adolescent data (aged 13–20 years; n=609) were isolated. Results Adolescents reported an increase in sleep duration with increasing age by one-way ANOVA. Males reported no change with increasing age, while, by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test, females got significantly more sleep at ages 19 and 20 than at age 14(p&amp;lt;0.01). There was no significant correlation between inhalant use and sleep duration. When broken down by gender, female dual users slept more than female nonsmokers,(p=0.01; mean difference=43.8 minutes; CI=0.11 to 1.36), while there was no difference in males. We observed a significant association between inhalant use and sleep(p=0.0008), with dual use correlated with a longer sleep latency than nonsmokers (mean difference=6.27 minutes; CI=1.40 to 11.13. We saw no correlation between inhalant use and anxiety or depression, nor between inhalant use and cough severity and prevalence. Conclusion In female adolescents, we observed a peak in sleep hours at age 19 but significantly less sleep in fourteen-year olds. College-aged females may have a later wake time relative to middle-school and high-school aged females. Dual inhalant use in females was associated with a long sleep duration, raising concern for sleep disruption caused by dual use. Dual use’s association with increased sleep latency raises concern for nicotine-induced wakefulness. Further data are required in order to define public health strategies. Support (if any) LCA is supported by NIH.

Managing screening-detected subsolid nodules-the Asian perspective.

The broad application of low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening has resulted in the detection of many small pulmonary nodules. In Asia, a large number of these detected nodules with a radiological ground glass pattern are reported as lung adenocarcinomas or premalignant lesions, especially among female non-smokers. In this review article, we discuss controversial issues and conditions involving these subsolid pulmonary nodules that we often face in Asia, including a lack or insufficiency of current guidelines; the roles of preoperative biopsy and imaging; the location of lesions; appropriate selection of localization techniques; the roles of dissection and sampling of frozen sections and lymph nodes; multifocal lesions; and the roles of non-surgical treatment modalities. For these complex issues, we have tried to present up-to-date evidence and our own opinions regarding the management of subsolid nodules. It is our hope that this article helps surgeons and physicians to manage the complex issues involving ground glass nodules (GGNs) in a balanced manner in their daily practice and provokes further discussion towards better guidelines and/or algorithms.

ALKBH5-mediated m6A demethylation of lncRNA RMRP plays an oncogenic role in lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinomas are more common in non-smoking males and females. In this study, we investigated the function of long non-coding RNA RMRP in lung adenocarcinoma and further explore the regulatory role of ALKBH5 in lncRNA methylation. The results showed lncRNA RMRP expression was significantly enhanced in lung adenocarcinoma tissues, and is positively correlated with poor prognosis. RMRP knockdown in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis. In addition, ALKBH5 upregulated RMRP expression via demethylation, and ALKBH5 knockdown inhibited the tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinoma in vitro and vivo. Given these clear patterns, suppressing RMRP through ALKBH5 manipulation may represent a promising therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinoma.

Bronchodilator response and lung function decline: Associations with exhaled nitric oxide with regard to sex and smoking status

BackgroundFractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a marker of type-2 inflammation used both to support diagnosis of asthma and follow up asthma patients. The associations of FeNO with lung function decline and bronchodilator (BD) response have been studied only scarcely in large populations. ObjectivesTo study the association between FeNO and a) retrospective lung function decline over 20 years, and b) lung function response to BD among asthmatic subjects compared with non-asthmatic subjects and with regards to current smoking and sex. MethodsLongitudinal analyses of previous lung function decline and FeNO level at follow-up and cross-sectional analyses of BD response and FeNO levels in 4257 participants (651 asthmatics) from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. ResultsAmong asthmatic subjects, higher percentage declines of FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were associated with higher FeNO levels (p = 0.001 for both) at follow-up. These correlations were found mainly among non-smoking individuals (p = 0.001) and females (p = 0.001) in stratified analyses.Percentage increase in FEV1 after BD was positively associated with FeNO levels in non-asthmatic subjects. Further, after stratified for sex and smoking separately, a positive association was seen between FEV1 and FeNO levels in non-smokers and women, regardless of asthma status. ConclusionsWe found a relationship between elevated FeNO and larger FEV1 decline over 20 years among subjects with asthma who were non-smokers or women. The association between elevated FeNO levels and larger BD response was found in both non-asthmatic and asthmatic subjects, mainly in women and non-smoking subjects.

Lung cancer screening: who pays? who receives?-the Chinese perspective.

The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) revealed that low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening reduced lung cancer mortality by 20.0%. In China, LDCT is very cheap and easy to access. As a result, LDCT screening is not limited to “high-risk” population defined by the NLST trial. The results of LDCT screening in China are also quite different from that in Western countries. LDCT detected lung cancer in a significant proportion of young, female and non-smokers in China. There is also a higher proportion of adenocarcinoma (ADC), a lower proportion of squamous cell carcinoma, and a higher proportion of early-stage 0/I disease among LDCT-detected lung cancer in China. The issue of overdiagnosis and overtreatment is discussed. Finally, we call the global attention to clarify the etiology of lung cancer in young female non-smokers.

The Prevalence of Secondhand Smoke and Its Associated Factors among Adults Residing in the Low Income Residence, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Worldwide, 40% of children, 33% and 35% of male and female non-smokers respectively, were regularly exposed to second-hand smoke indoors. The practice to avoid second hand smoke at home are mostly individual-driven although in public places SHS can be executed by laws and policies such as gazetted smoke-free zones. A cross sectional study was conducted at Flat Bukit Kecil, Kuala Terengganu involving 211 respondents. Self-administered questionnaire was used and data were analysed. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi square were employed. Findings revealed significant associations between socio demographic factors; gender (p=0.002), ethnicity (p=0.006), and occupational status (p=0.014) with SHS exposure. SHS exposure was also found to be significantly associated with respondents’ vaping (p=0.035) and smoking status (p&lt;0.001), and respondents with existing tobacco related morbidity (p=0.040). In conclusion, the prevalence of SHS among adult residents in Flat Bukit Kecil, Kuala Terengganu (57.8%) was higher in comparison with other local studies. Restaurants were found to be the most common place of SHS exposure followed by workplace and home. In general, the residents demonstrated poor attitude and practice towards SHS whilst knowledge was good on SHS. Malay smoker residents, aged above 40 years old, employed, allowed guests smoking inside the house and had a family history of tobacco related diseases were more likely to be exposed to SHS than its counterpart.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: adults, KAP, low income residence, SHS&#x0D;

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia: DIPNECH.

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare premalignant condition. Over the past decade, there has been increased recognition and reporting of DIPNECH in the literature. Currently, our understanding is that DIPNECH has a predilection to nonsmoking females around their sixth decade of life. The patients usually present with chronic cough, dyspnea, and computed tomography (CT) showing multifocal pulmonary nodules with associated mosaic attenuation. The clinic history is largely driven by constrictive obliterative bronchiolitis, which typically has an indolent course with progressive respiratory decline and difficult to treat symptoms. DIPNECH has been found to be associated with carcinoid tumors. Recent data has found that symptomatic DIPNECH patients respond to somatostatin analog (SSA). SSAs provide improvement in symptoms and pulmonary function tests. According to small studies and case series SSAs can be used in conjunction with steroids and bronchodilators for the treatment of respiratory symptoms. DINPNECH is a premalignant condition that can transform into carcinoid tumors. Although the recent data suggest the potential efficacy of SSA, further studies are needed to validate such results in prospective fashion in addition to investigating other therapeutic agents.

Correlation of Clinical Factors and Loss of Taste and Smell in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019

Objective: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to threaten the whole world. Early diagnosis of patients is very important to prevent the spread of the virus. Sudden loss of taste and smell is a common early symptom in patients. Therefore, it is thought that revealing the pathogenesis of the symptom will help both in early diagnosis and in predicting the prognosis. Materials and Methods: The age, gender, predominant symptoms during Covid, length of stay at home/hospital, and smoking status of patients who had Covid and had loss of taste and smell between July 2020 and December 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Patients with loss of taste and smell were significantly younger than those who did not. The majority were female patients, non-smokers, and patients needing significantly less hospitalization and receiving treatment at home. Among the accompanying symptoms, GIS symptoms were also significantly more common in this group. Conclusion: Loss of taste and smell is an important symptom in Covid-19 infection. Revealing the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with this symptom is valuable in terms of early diagnosis of the disease, predicting the prognosis and reducing the contagiousness.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy May Be a Feasible Option for Primary Pulmonary Lymphoepithelioma-like Carcinoma.

Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (PPLELC) is a rare subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for which there is currently no recognized treatment. Recently, favorable immune checkpoint blockade responses have been observed in PPLELC. This study aimed to review the effects of this regimen in patients with advanced PPLELC. PPLELC patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors at West China Hospital between January 2008 and December 2019 were retrospectively identified. Demographic parameters and antitumor treatment details were retrieved and reviewed. Among 128 patients diagnosed with PPLELC, 5 who received immune checkpoint inhibitors at advanced stages were included in the analysis. All of these patients were female nonsmokers with a median age of 55.6 (range 53-58) years at diagnosis. Their median PD-L1 expression was 40% (range, 30-80%). Although the patients underwent surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, all the treatments failed. Immune checkpoint inhibitors were administered palliatively, and three patients responded favorably, with the best overall response being partial remission (PR). Thus, immune checkpoint inhibitors may be a promising treatment for advanced PPLELC, and large clinical trials are warranted to obtain more evidence regarding this regimen.

Surfactant Protein A and Microbiome Composition in Patients With Atraumatic Intraoral Lesions.

Oral ulcers are lesions that occur due to disruption of epithelial integrity of the mucosa of the oral cavity. Intraoral ulcers are often associated with pain, redness, symptoms of discomfort, and blood hemorrhage. The etiology for many oral ulcers is local trauma, systemic health conditions, or medication; for other ulcers the cause is less clear. This pilot study aims to evaluate the salivary components and microbiome in patients with atraumatic pre-ulcerous and ulcerous oral lesions compared to control individuals, while considering three common risk factors for atraumatic ulcers, smoking, stress, and gender. This study uses matched age, sex, and ethnicity samples from healthy otherwise and oral lesion patients to investigate the changes in salivary surfactant protein A (SP-A) and examines the prevalence and diversity of the salivary oral microflora. The goal is to determine if there are factors in saliva that have the potential to be used as biomarkers for risk of developing atraumatic oral ulcers. Our data show that the average level of SP-A is significantly reduced in female smokers compared to non-smoker healthy females. The average level of SP-A in female oral lesion patients is reduced compared to controls. The microbiome composition is significantly affected by smoking and the level of SP-A. Comparing the control participants and oral lesion patients, there are 16 species of bacteria that are significantly different, and all of these bacteria are significantly affected by smoking and SP-A. LEfSe analysis identified five bacteria that may represent potential biomarkers. This preliminary study demonstrates the potential of the oral microbiome to act as a biomarker for oral ulcer risk and infers potential mechanistic links between risk factors and alterations in innate immune mechanisms such as SP-A levels.

The use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in in acute ischemic stroke is associated with increased level of BDNF.

Much concern was directed towards the crucial role of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in improving neuroplasticity in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The aim of the work to investigate the effect of treating patients with acute ischemic stroke with rt-PA, on the level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a marker of neuroplasticity. This study was conducted on 47 patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (during the first 4.5h from stroke onset); 26 patients of them eligible for receiving rt-PA (patient group) and 21 patients having contraindications for treatment with rt-PA (control group). Neurological, radiological and laboratory assessment (including BDNF serum level) were done for both groups at stroke onset (before receiving rt-PA) and at day 7. There was a statistically significant increase in BDNF serum level from day 1 to day 7 in rt-PA treated patients in comparison to control group (P-value˂ 0.001). Serum level of BDNF is significantly higher at the onset of stroke in female patients and non-smokers than males or smokers (P-value = 0.011, 0.01 respectively). There was no effect of either age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, drug abuse, past or family history of stroke, valvular heart diseases, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, ejection fraction, carotid atherosclerotic changes, lipid profile or uric acid, on BDNF serum level measured at the onset of stroke. Treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke with rt-PA causes significant improvement in neuroplasticity through increasing BDNF serum level.

Prognostic and Clinical Value of Cluster Analysis in Idiopathic Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis Phenotypes.

Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a distinctive interstitial pneumonia with upper lobe predominance that shows unique morphological features among idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). Affected patients have a variety of clinical presentations with heterogeneous clinical courses. Cluster analysis is a valuable tool for identifying distinct clinical phenotypes under heterogeneous conditions. This study aimed to identify the phenotypes of patients with idiopathic PPFE. Using cluster analysis, novel PPFE phenotypes were identified among subjects from our multicenter cohort, and outcomes were stratified according to phenotypic clusters. Among the subjects with baseline data (N = 84), four clusters were identified. Cluster 1 included younger male subjects with coexisting non-UIP-like patterns. Cluster 2 included elderly female nonsmokers with low body mass index (BMI). Cluster 3 included elderly male smokers with a coexisting IP-like pattern. Cluster 4 included younger male smokers without lower lobe lesions. Patients in cluster 3 had significantly worse survival outcomes than those in clusters 1, 2, and 4 (p < 0.001, p = 0.0041, and p = 0.0155, respectively). Among idiopathic PPFE patients, cluster analysis using baseline characteristics identified four distinct clinical phenotypes that might predict survival outcomes.

Exposure to household air pollutants and endothelial dysfunction in rural Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.

Background:More than one third of world’s population use biomass fuel for cooking that has been linked to an array of adverse health hazards including cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. As part of Bangladesh Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEO Health) project, we assessed whether household air pollution (HAP) was associated with dysfunction in microvascular circulation (measured by reactive hyperemia index [RHI]).Methods:We measured exposure to HAP (particulate matter [PM2.5], carbon monoxide [CO], and black carbon [BC]) for 48 hours of 200 healthy nonsmoker adult females who used biomass fuel for cooking. Exposure to PM2.5 and BC were measured using personal monitor, RTI MicroPEM (RTI International, NC) with an internal filter that had been both pre- and post-weighed to capture the deposited pollutants concentration. Lascar CO logger was used to measure CO. Endothelial function was measured by forearm blood flow dilatation response to brachial artery occlusion using RHI based on peripheral artery tonometry. A low RHI score (<1.67) indicates impaired endothelial function.Results:Average 48 hours personal exposure to PM2.5 and BC were 144.15 μg/m3 (SD 61.26) and 6.35 μg/m3 (SD 2.18), respectively. Interquartile range for CO was 0.73 ppm (0.62–1.35 ppm). Mean logarithm of RHI (LnRHI) was 0.57 in current data. No statistically significant association was observed for LnRHI with PM2.5 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.92, 1.01; P = 0.16), BC (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.72, 1.01; P = 0.07), and CO (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.64, 1.25; P = 0.53) after adjusting for potential covariates.Conclusions:In conclusion, HAP was not associated with endothelial dysfunction among nonsmoking females in rural Bangladesh who used biomass fuel for cooking for years.

Study of the Lung Function Tests in Healthy Non-Smoking Women Using Different Cooking Fuels

Background: In developing country like India still a large group of women use biomass as the cookingfuel in a poorly ventilated cooking area and it is considered as a major risk factor for respiratory diseases.Throughthis study we sought to find the effect of biomass and LPG fuel use on the lung function by studspirometry.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural and urban areas of Ghaziabad. We assessedthe lung function in 100 non-smoker females (50 biomass and 50 LPG fuel users) and studies the presenceof any correlation between lung function and the duration of exposure.Results: Compared to LPG users biomass fuel users had significantly lower values of FVC (p = 0.007), FEV1(p = 0.0024), FEV1/FVC (p &lt;0.0001) and PEFR (p = 0.007). Statistically significant negative correlationwas also found between exposure index and spirometry values in both the groups.Conclusion: Biomass fuel has a more adverse effect on the lung function and the lung function decline isassociated with the exposure duration.