Association between serum cotinine and total testosterone in adult males based on NHANES 2011-2016.

The relationship between smoking and testosterone levels in adult males remains a topic of ongoing debate. Serum cotinine is considered a reliable marker of both smoking intensity and exposure to tobacco smoke. Therefore, we aim to examine the association between serum cotinine levels and total testosterone concentrations in adult males using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Our study assessed the relationship between serum cotinine and total testosterone using weighted linear regression models and subgroup analysis. A fully adjusted model with smooth curve fitting was employed to investigate the potential nonlinear association between serum cotinine and total testosterone. Threshold effects were analyzed to identify the inflection point between serum cotinine and total testosterone. Indeed, a total of 7797 participants were included in our study. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the findings indicate a positive association between serum cotinine levels and total testosterone levels (ß: 0.05, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.09). Furthermore, applying smoothed curve fitting analysis and threshold effects, an inflection point was detected at a serum cotinine level of 487 ng/ml. Above this threshold, total testosterone levels declined with increasing serum cotinine levels. In conclusion, the findings of our study suggest a positive association between elevated serum cotinine levels and total testosterone levels in adult men. However, it is essential to note that this association may be reversed at excessively high serum cotinine concentrations.

High cotinine levels as an associated factor with frailty status in older adults: evidence from the NHANES study.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking has been recognized as a contributing factor to frailty in older adults. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether the degree of smoking has a discernible impact on frailty among older smokers. This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the correlation between serum cotinine levels, a biomarker reflecting tobacco exposure, and the presence of frailty within a nationally representative cohort of older adults. METHOD: A total of 1626 individuals aged ≥ 60 who identified as smokers were included in the analysis. Participants were selected based on self-reported current smoking status. According to the Fried Phenotype, frailty is assessed through five dimensions: unintentional weight loss, slow walking speed, weakness, self-reported exhaustion, and low physical activity. Participants with three or more of these conditions were categorized as frailty, those with at least one but less than three as pre-frailty, and those with none as robust. Multinomial logistic regression models were employed to explore the relationship between serum cotinine level quartiles, with the lowest quartile as the reference group, and the various frailty statuses, with robustness as the reference category. These models were adjusted for covariates, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, alcohol drinking, daily protein intake, systolic blood pressure, serum albumin level, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function. The data used for this analysis were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the years 2011 to 2014. RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 69.0 years. The majority were male (62.2%) and non-Hispanic White (49.0%). The distribution of frailty statuses among the participants revealed that the highest proportion had pre-frailty (50.7%), followed by robustness (41.1%), and frailty (8.2%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that participants in the 4th quartile of serum cotinine level exhibited a higher probability of pre-frailty versus robustness (Odds ratio [OR] 1.599, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.017, 2.513, P = 0.042). Participants in the 3rd quartile of serum cotinine level had higher odds of frailty versus robustness (OR 2.403, 95% CI 1.125, 5.134, P = 0.024). Moreover, participants whose serum cotinine levels were higher than the literature cutoffs (≥ 15 ng/ml) were more likely to be pre-frail (Odds ratio [OR] 1.478, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.017, 2.150, P = 0.035) or frail (Odds ratio [OR] 2.141, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.054, 4.351, P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: A higher serum cotinine level is linked to an elevated probability of pre-frailty and frailty among older smokers. Initiatives geared towards assisting older smokers in reducing or quitting their smoking habits might possibly play a crucial role in preventing pre-frailty and frailty.

More precise method of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol estimation for tobacco and electronic cigarette smokers: A cross-sectional study.

Smoking is associated with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. However, the accuracies of the Friedewald, Sampson, and Martin LDL-C-estimating equations based on smoking status are unclear. We analyzed the accuracy of LDL-C levels estimated using these three equations based on tobacco and electronic cigarette smoking status. Data on LDL-C and other lipid components were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from January 2009 to December 2021. Direct LDL-C (dLDL-C) levels and smoking data of 12,325 participants were evaluated. Current smokers had higher triglyceride levels than never smokers. Electronic cigarette smokers had higher triglyceride and dLDL-C levels than never smokers. The Martin equation yielded more accurate mean absolute deviations than the other equations for the group with triglyceride levels <400 mg/dL as well as more accurate median absolute deviation values, except for the group with dLDL-C levels <40 mg/dL. Similar estimates were derived from the equations when the triglyceride levels were <150 mg/dL. However, the Martin equation may lead to the overestimation of LDL-C levels. In conclusion, the Martin equation is suitable for triglyceride levels <400 mg/dL regardless of the electronic cigarette/tobacco smoking status; if the triglyceride level is <150 mg, the Friedewald equation could also be considered, regardless of the electronic cigarette/tobacco smoking status.

Integrated multiscale analysis reveals complex gender-specific changes in lymphocytes of smokers.

Environmental stressors induce specific physiological responses that can be measured in the blood, notably by morphological changes in lymphocytes. Tobacco being the best-known stress in terms of its impact on health, we studied the physiological properties of peripheral blood lymphocytes in a population of 33 healthy non-smokers and smokers. Proteasome amount, mitochondria energy levels, changes in membrane properties and cell and nuclear size were analyzed to obtain 28 parameters from two fluorescence-based techniques: flow cytometry and cell imaging. The results showed that none of the parameters alone identified gender and smoking status, but that statistical analysis of these parameters, whether or not combined with a third set of data, hematological data, can. Statistical analysis of selected parameters clearly discriminates between male and female samples, as well as smokers and non-smokers. Effects of tobacco smoke pollutants are more pronounced in female smokers than in other groups.

Influence of smoking status on the relationship between serum selenium and cause-specific mortality in US adults.

Selenium, a crucial antioxidant in the body, has been linked to all-cause and cause-specific mortality. However, the relationship between selenium and mortality in the general population remains unclear. A total of 5449 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2003-2004, 2011-2016) were analyzed to track participant mortality until December 31, 2019. The COX proportional hazard model, Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis and restricted cubic spline regression analysis were used to investigate the associations. Subgroup analysis was conducted on the basis of age (≤ 60, > 60), sex (male, female), and smoking status (nonsmoker, former smoker, and current smoker). The second quartile was associated with lower all-cause mortality and noncardiovascular mortality (HR and 95% CI 0.61,0.45-0.83;0.59,0.42-0.83, respectively). The third quartile was associated with lower cardiovascular-related mortality (HR and 95% CI 0.49, 0.32-0.76). Elevated serum selenium concentrations were associated with lower all-cause mortality, noncardiovascular mortality (range ≤ 129.82 µg/L), and cardiovascular mortality (range ≤ 129.08 µg/L). Subgroup analysis revealed a positive correlation between the serum selenium concentration (range ≥ 129.82 µg/L) and all-cause mortality among the subgroup of current smokers (p < 0.001). This study indicates that the protective effect of the serum selenium concentration on cause-specific mortality decreases beyond a certain range in the general population, potentially increasing the risk of death among current smokers.

Impact of Smoking and Obesity on the Selected Peptide Hormones and Metabolic Parameters in the Blood of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Preliminary Study.

We investigated the effects of tobacco smoke exposure and abnormal body weight on selected peptide hormones and their association with metabolic and hormonal disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study group included 88 women with PCOS and 28 women without the disease. In women with PCOS, chemerin, lipocalin, and apelin concentrations were influenced by overweight and obesity status, with the highest concentrations observed in those with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30.0. Exposure to tobacco smoke significantly increased only lipocalin-2 concentration. The disease itself did not affect the concentrations of chemerin, lipocalin, and apelin. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between chemerin concentration and fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and triglycerides levels, while a negative correlation was observed with high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) concentration. In the smoking subgroup, chemerin concentration was positively correlated with free testosterone concentration and the free androgen index and negatively associated with sex hormone-binding globulin concentration. Our findings indicate that abnormal body weight has a stronger impact than tobacco smoke exposure on metabolic and hormonal disorders in women with PCOS, highlighting the important role of weight control in such individuals. However, smoking appears to be an additional factor that intensifies hormonal disorders associated with adipose tissue.

Frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and related biochemical parameters in welders.

Stainless steel welders are exposed to heavy filler metals. We evaluated the concentration of these metals in whole blood and urine, and the relevant biochemical parameters in relation to the total chromosomal aberrations (CAs), chromatid-type (CTA-type, CTAs) and chromosome-type (CSA-type, CSAs), in 117 welders and control individuals. Statistically higher concentrations of the total Cr, Ni and Mn were observed in whole blood and urine of welders, and the concentrations were higher in welders who smoked. On the contrary, concentrations of urinary heavy metals Cr and Mn adjusted for creatinine were significantly higher in the control groups. A statistically higher frequency of total CAs was observed in the whole group of welders, and also in the non-smoking welders, as compared to controls. The frequency of total CAs significantly correlated with the concentration of Cr, Ni and Mn in whole blood (R=0.61, P˂0.0001, R=0.33, P˂0.0001 and R=0.66, P˂0.0001, respectively), with urinary concentrations of Ni and Mn (R=0.27, P=0.003 and R=0.28, P=0.003, respectively) and with urinary concentrations of Cr, Ni and Mn adjusted for creatinine (R=0.22, P=0.029, R=0.26, P=0.005 and R=0.20, P=0.030, respectively). Likewise, the frequency of CTA-types significantly correlated with the concentration of Cr and Mn in whole blood (R=0.31, P=0.0007 and R=0.34, P=0.0002). The frequency of CSA-types significantly correlated with concentrations of Cr, Ni and Mn in whole blood (R=0.43, P˂0.0001, R=0.38, P˂0.0001 and R=0.46, P˂0.0001, respectively). The statistically higher values of serum creatinine and total bilirubin were detected in all welders, as well as in smokers when compared to the corresponding controls. The exposure to heavy metals in welders increased the frequencies of CAs and altered the balance between urinary excretion of heavy metals and their possible accumulation.

Comparison of DNA damage in fresh and frozen blood samples: implications for the comet assay in human biomonitoring studies.

The use of the comet assay in large biomonitoring studies may present logistical and technical challenges because of the processing of numerous samples. Proper sample preservation becomes imperative to prevent spurious DNA breakage. Previous research has shown the feasibility of conducting the comet assay on frozen blood samples, highlighting the potential of freezing at - 80 °C in preserving DNA integrity. Nonetheless, this approach presents challenges, including potential DNA damage during freezing and thawing, variability in processing, and the need for standardized protocols. Our objective was to evaluate whether there are comparable results in DNA migration assessed by the comet assay between fresh and frozen blood samples on a larger scale (N = 373). In our findings, elevated DNA migration was evident in frozen samples relative to fresh ones. Additionally, smoking, alcohol consumption, and season were linked to increased DNA damage levels in whole blood cells. Based on our results and available literature, conducting the comet assay on frozen blood samples emerges as a practical and efficient approach for biomonitoring and epidemiological research. This method enables the assessment of DNA damage in large populations over time, with samples, if properly cryopreserved, that may be used for years, possibly even decades. These observations hold significant implications for large-scale human biomonitoring and long-term epidemiological studies, particularly when samples are collected during fieldwork or obtained from biobanks. Continued method optimization and validation efforts are essential to enhance the utility of this approach in environmental and occupational health studies, emphasizing caution when comparing data obtained between fresh and frozen blood samples.

Smoking-Dependent Association of Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with Pulmonary Function Parameters in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background and Objectives: One of the members of the neurotrophin (NT) family is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In addition to its role in the nerve system, it has been found to play a role in lung health and diseases. Materials and Methods: The serum concentrations of BDNF were assessed in 57 patients with COPD and in 19 control individuals and the possible associations of BDNF with the spirometric indexes and disease stages were explored. Results: We did not find a significant difference between the serum concentrations of BDNF of patients and controls (p = 0.521). A significant negative correlation of the serum BDNF levels with the age of the patients (Rho = -0.279, p = 0.036) was observed. In addition, a borderline negative correlation with the age of disease onset (Rho= -0.244, p = 0.063) was also found. When analyzing these correlations in different genders, we found stronger statistical significance in male patients (Rho = -0.398, p = 0.009; and Rho = -0.419, p = 0.006), while no such significance was found in females (p = 0.574 and p = 0.342). The analyses of the possible relations of serum BDNF concentration with the spirometric parameters in the whole group of patients did not reveal any significance (p = 0.231 for FEV1%pr. and p = 0.271 for FEV1/FVC%). However, when the patients were dichotomized on the basis of smoking habits, we obtained a strong positive correlation between BDNF and FEV1%pr. (Rho = 0.501, p = 0.048) in non-smokers, but strong negative correlations with FEV1%pr. (Rho = -0.468, p = 0.003) and with FEV1/FVC% (Rho = -0.331, p = 0.040) in ex/current smokers. Non-smokers with moderate disease (GOLD II) had higher BDNF serum concentrations than patients with GOLD stage III/IV (p = 0.031). In ex/current smokers, there was an opposite association (p = 0.045). Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that the expression and secretion of BDNF are changed in COPD, but its effects and functions may differ according to the smoking history of the patients.

Promising microRNAs in pre-diagnostic serum associated with lung cancer up to eight years before diagnosis: a HUNT study.

INTRODUCTION: Blood biomarkers for early detection of lung cancer (LC) are in demand. There are few studies of the full microRNome in serum of asymptomatic subjects that later develop LC. Here we searched for novel microRNA biomarkers in blood from non-cancer, ever-smokers populations up to eight years before diagnosis. METHODS: Serum samples from 98,737 subjects from two prospective population studies, HUNT2 and HUNT3, were considered initially. Inclusion criteria for cases were: ever-smokers; no known cancer at study entrance; 0-8 years from blood sampling to LC diagnosis. Each future LC case had one control matched to sex, age at study entrance, pack-years, smoking cessation time, and similar HUNT Lung Cancer Model risk score. A total of 240 and 72 serum samples were included in the discovery (HUNT2) and validation (HUNT3) datasets, respectively, and analysed by next-generation sequencing. The validated serum microRNAs were also tested in two pre-diagnostic plasma datasets from the prospective population studies NOWAC (n = 266) and NSHDS (n = 258). A new model adding clinical variables was also developed and validated. RESULTS: Fifteen unique microRNAs were discovered and validated in the pre-diagnostic serum datasets when all cases were contrasted against all controls, all with AUC > 0.60. In combination as a 15-microRNAs signature, the AUC reached 0.708 (discovery) and 0.703 (validation). A non-small cell lung cancer signature of six microRNAs showed AUC 0.777 (discovery) and 0.806 (validation). Combined with clinical variables of the HUNT Lung Cancer Model (age, gender, pack-years, daily cough parts of the year, hours of indoor smoke exposure, quit time in years, number of cigarettes daily, body mass index (BMI)) the AUC reached 0.790 (discovery) and 0.833 (validation). These results could not be validated in the plasma samples. CONCLUSION: There were a few significantly differential expressed microRNAs in serum up to eight years before diagnosis. These promising microRNAs alone, in concert, or combined with clinical variables have the potential to serve as early diagnostic LC biomarkers. Plasma is not suitable for this analysis. Further validation in larger prospective serum datasets is needed.

Inflammatory markers in relation to maternal lifestyle and adverse pregnancy outcomes in twin pregnancies.

It is well known that inflammatory markers play an important role in the development and maintenance of healthy pregnancies. However, the literature regarding inflammation in relation to lifestyle and adverse pregnancy outcomes in twin pregnancies is remarkably uncovered. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the concentration of inflammatory markers in dried capillary blood spot samples from 523 women with twin pregnancies, included at a median gestational age of 21+1 weeks. The relationship between inflammatory markers and maternal lifestyle (current smoking status and pre-pregnancy body mass index) in addition to adverse pregnancy outcomes (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and small for gestational age) was analyzed. The study showed that active smoking at inclusion was associated with an elevated concentration of interleukin-8. Furthermore, maternal obesity was associated with an elevated concentration of C-reactive protein and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Analysis of the data showed no statistically significant variations in the concentration of the assessed inflammatory markers for neither preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, nor small for gestational age. The current study promotes future research on the pathophysiology of twin pregnancies in relation to adverse pregnancy outcomes, as the literature within the area remains scarce.

Metabolomics-based search for lung cancer markers among patients with different smoking status.

Tobacco smoking is the main etiological factor of lung cancer (LC), which can also cause metabolome disruption. This study aimed to investigate whether the observed metabolic shift in LC patients was also associated with their smoking status. Untargeted metabolomics profiling was applied for the initial screening of changes in serum metabolic profile between LC and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, selected as a non-cancer group. Differences in metabolite profiles between current and former smokers were also tested. Then, targeted metabolomics methods were applied to verify and validate the proposed LC biomarkers. For untargeted metabolomics, a single extraction-dual separation workflow was applied. The samples were analyzed using a liquid chromatograph-high resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Next, the selected metabolites were quantified using liquid chromatography-triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. The acquired data confirmed that patients' stratification based on smoking status impacted the discriminating ability of the identified LC marker candidates. Analyzing a validation set of samples enabled us to determine if the putative LC markers were truly robust. It demonstrated significant differences in the case of four metabolites: allantoin, glutamic acid, succinic acid, and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Our research showed that studying the influence of strong environmental factors, such as tobacco smoking, should be considered in cancer marker research since it reduces the risk of false positives and improves understanding of the metabolite shifts in cancer patients.

Identification of Factors on Blood Selenium Levels in the US Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and its low or high concentration in vivo is associated with the high risk of many diseases. It is important to identify influential factors of Se status. The present study aimed to explore the association between several factors (Se intake, gender, age, race, education, body mass index (BMI), income, smoking and alcohol status) and blood Se concentration using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2020 data. Demographic characteristics, physical examination, health interviews and diets were compared among quartiles of blood Se concentration using the Rao-Scott χ2 test. Se levels were compared between the different groups of factors studied, measuring the strength of their association. A total of 6205 participants were finally included. The normal reference ranges of blood Se concentration were 142.3 (2.5th percentile) and 240.8 µg/L (97.5th percentile), respectively. The mean values of dietary Se intake, total Se intake and blood Se concentration of the participants were 111.5 µg/day, 122.7 µg/day and 188.7 µg/L, respectively, indicating they were in the normal range. Total Se intake was the most important contributor of blood Se concentration. Gender, race, education status, income, BMI, smoking and alcohol status were associated with blood Se concentration.

Predictive Value of Smoking Index Combined with NT-proBNP for Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Chronic Lung Disease: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Smoking is a major risk factor for the group 3 PH. NT-proBNP is a biomarker for risk stratification in PH. This study aims to investigate the effects of smoking status and smoking index (SI) on group 3 PH and to evaluate the value of SI and SI combined with NT-proBNP in early diagnosis and prediction of disease severity. Patients and Methods: Four hundred patients with group 3 PH at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January 2020 and December 2021 were enrolled and divided into two groups: mild (30 mmHg ≤ pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP)≤50 mmHg) and non-mild (PASP >50 mmHg). The effect of smoking on group 3 PH was analyzed using univariate analysis, and logistic analysis was conducted to evaluate the risk of group 3 PH according to smoking status and SI. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to test the correlation between SI and the index of group 3 PH severity. The predictive value of SI was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Correlation and logistic analyses showed that SI was associated with PH severity. Smoking status (P=0.009) and SI (P=0.039) were independent risk factors for non-mild group 3 PH, and ROC showed that the predictive value of SI (AUC:0.596) for non-mild PH was better than that of the recognized pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (AUC:0.586). SI can be used as a single predictive marker. SI and NT-proBNP can be formulated as prediction models for screening non-mild clinical cases (AUC:0.628). Conclusion: SI is a potentially ideal non-invasive predictive marker for group 3 PH. SI and NT-proBNP could be used to develop a prediction model for screening non-mild PH cases. This can greatly improve the predictive specificity of the established PH marker, NT-proBNP.

Effects of Active Chronic Cigarette-Smoke Exposure on Circulating Fibrocytes.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that active smoking impacts upon mediators and abundance of circulating fibrocyte cells in smoking-related disease characterised by fibrosis. METHODS: Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to investigate blood from five patient groups: healthy never-smokers, healthy current smokers, stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) active smokers, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) never-smokers, and IPF active smokers. RESULTS: A significant inverse dose-response relationship was observed in healthy smokers among cumulative smoking burden (pack-years) and fibrocyte abundance (p = 0.006, r = -0.86). Among serum profibrotic fibrocyte chemokines measured, CCL18 rose significantly alongside fibrocyte numbers in all five subject groups, while having an inverse dose-response relationship with pack-year burden in healthy smokers (p = 0.003, r = -0.89). In IPF, CCL2 rose in direct proportion to fibrocyte abundance irrespective of smoking status but had lower serum levels in those currently smoking (p = < 0.001). For the study population, CXCL12 was decreased in pooled current smokers versus never-smokers (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The suppressive effect of current, as distinct from former, chronic smoking on circulating fibrocyte abundance in healthy smokers, and modulation of regulatory chemokine levels by active smoking may have implications for future studies of fibrocytes in smoking-related lung diseases as a potential confounding variable.

Association between blood cadmium and depression varies by age and smoking status in US adult women: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005-2016.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium, a toxic metal, is widely encountered in diverse environmental contexts. Despite its pervasive exposure, there is limited research on the association between blood cadmium levels and depression, especially among females. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between blood cadmium levels and depression in adult women. METHODS: Data spanning 2005-2016 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were selected. Depression was diagnosed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, score ≥10). Multiple logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and smoothed curve fitting were used to investigate the relationship between blood cadmium and depression. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were performed to evaluate the stability of this association across populations. RESULTS: A total of 1,173 individuals were diagnosed with depression. The heightened prevalence of depression was linked to increased blood cadmium levels, a trend that persisted even after quartering blood cadmium. In the fully adjusted model, each incremental unit of blood cadmium was associated with a 33% rise in the prevalence of depression (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21-1.45). Participants in the highest quartile were 63% more likely to experience depression compared to those in the lowest quartile of blood cadmium (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.15-2.30), and PHQ-9 score increased by 0.73 (ß = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.30-1.17). This positive association may be relevant to the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Blood cadmium levels are associated with depression in adult women, and this association varies by age and smoking status.

Blood Cadmium Level Is a Marker of Cancer Risk in Men.

Cadmium (Cd) is a known carcinogen, but its impact on cancer risk at lower concentrations is poorly understood. Previous studies on Cd and cancer risk in men show inconsistent results, prompting further investigation. A prospective cohort study involving 2956 men was conducted. Blood Cd levels were measured, and participants were followed for 78 months to assess cancer incidence. Men with high blood Cd levels (>0.71 µg/L) had a significantly increased risk of cancer compared to those with low levels (<0.19 µg/L) (HR 3.42, p < 0.001), particularly among non-smokers (HR 3.74, p = 0.003), individuals aged < 60 years (HR 2.79, p = 0.017), and ≥60 (HR 4.63, p = 0.004). The influence of smoking on cancer risk based on Cd levels was not significant in this study. Blood Cd levels may influence cancer risk in men, emphasizing the importance of minimizing Cd exposure to reduce risk. Confirmation of these results in other populations is essential for effective preventive measures against Cd-related cancers.

Relation Between Exposure to Tobacco Smoke Assessed by Serum Cotinine Concentration and Questionnaire Method, and Serum Renalase Concentration-the Importance of the Coexistence of Arterial Hypertension and Other Cardiovascular Diseases.

Exposure to tobacco smoke (ETS) is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Renalase is a protein that may play a role in the pathogenesis of CVD. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between ETS and serum renalase concentration. A group of 109 patients was recruited for this study (49.7 ± 14.7 years). In accordance with the questionnaire, patients were divided into the following subgroups: subgroup A- declaring themselves active smokers (n = 36), subgroup B- declaring themselves non-smokers and exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (n = 35), subgroup C- declaring themselves non-smokers and not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (n = 38). The same patients were divided based on cotinine concentration into the following subgroups: subgroup D- active smokers (n = 42), subgroup E- non-smokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (n = 66), and subgroup F- non-smokers not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (n = 1). Serum cotinine concentration and serum renalase concentration were measured using ELISA tests. Serum renalase concentration was statistically significantly higher in subgroup C than in subgroups A and B and in subgroup E and F than in D. There was a negative correlation between serum cotinine concentration and serum renalase concentration (r = -0.41, p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that higher BMI, higher diastolic blood pressure, coronary artery disease and higher serum cotinine concentration are independent risk factors of lower serum renalase concentration. The questionnaire method of assessing exposure to tobacco smoke was characterized by high sensitivity, but only moderate specificity, especially in terms of assessing environmental exposure to tobacco smoke. In summary, the study showed an independent relationship between exposure to tobacco smoke and lower serum renalase concentration.

Assessment of plasma malondialdehyde levels among free-diver fishermen in southeast Maluku district: exploring influencing factors on oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: Indonesia, with its expansive territorial waters, hosts numerous fishing communities residing on various islands. Many of these communities rely on diving activities, predominantly free diving without standardized safety equipment. This practice poses risks, including the potential for hypoxia-induced oxidative stress, which plays a role in disease pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in freediving fishermen and explore potential influencing factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research involved 30 freediving fishermen, aged 20-60, who engaged in diving at least twice weekly over the last 3 months. Blood plasma MDA levels were assessed using the Will method. RESULTS: Results revealed a median age of 40.5 years (range: 20-59), a body mass index of 23.1 ± 2.8, and a mean blood pressure of 132/85 mmHg. A significant portion of the subjects exhibited smoking habits (90%) and alcohol consumption (76.7%). The median MDA level among subjects was measured at 0.42 nmol/mL (range: 0.34-0.70). However, no discernible relationship was found between smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and MDA level categories, as determined by the Fisher exact test (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While these findings shed light on the MDA levels in freediving fishermen, further research is warranted to explore additional factors that may influence these levels. This comprehensive understanding is crucial for addressing the health risks associated with free diving practices in this unique population.

A nested case-control study of untargeted plasma metabolomics and lung cancer among never-smoking women within the prospective Shanghai Women's Health Study.

The etiology of lung cancer in never-smokers remains elusive, despite 15% of lung cancer cases in men and 53% in women worldwide being unrelated to smoking. Here, we aimed to enhance our understanding of lung cancer pathogenesis among never-smokers using untargeted metabolomics. This nested case-control study included 395 never-smoking women who developed lung cancer and 395 matched never-smoking cancer-free women from the prospective Shanghai Women's Health Study with 15,353 metabolic features quantified in pre-diagnostic plasma using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. Recognizing that metabolites often correlate and seldom act independently in biological processes, we utilized a weighted correlation network analysis to agnostically construct 28 network modules of correlated metabolites. Using conditional logistic regression models, we assessed the associations for both metabolic network modules and individual metabolic features with lung cancer, accounting for multiple testing using a false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.20. We identified a network module of 121 features inversely associated with all lung cancer (p = .001, FDR = 0.028) and lung adenocarcinoma (p = .002, FDR = 0.056), where lyso-glycerophospholipids played a key role driving these associations. Another module of 440 features was inversely associated with lung adenocarcinoma (p = .014, FDR = 0.196). Individual metabolites within these network modules were enriched in biological pathways linked to oxidative stress, and energy metabolism. These pathways have been implicated in previous metabolomics studies involving populations exposed to known lung cancer risk factors such as traffic-related air pollution and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Our results suggest that untargeted plasma metabolomics could provide novel insights into the etiology and risk factors of lung cancer among never-smokers.