Effect of smoking cessation on psoriasis vulgaris, palmoplantar pustulosis, and generalized pustular psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a known risk factor for psoriasis; however, the impact of smoking cessation on psoriasis has seldom been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the effects of smoking cessation on the development of psoriasis vulgaris (PsV), palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), and generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). METHODS: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we retrospectively compiled a cohort of 5,784,973 participants without psoriasis, analysed their changes in smoking status from 2004 to 2007 and followed up new cases of psoriasis until 2021. The psoriasis risks were compared with those of sustained smokers, smoking quitters, sustained ex-smokers, and never smokers using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 47.1 years (standard deviation, 13.5), and 3,092,426 (53.5%) were male. During 77,990,688 person-years, 67,364 psoriasis cases were identified. Compared with sustained smokers, smoking quitters showed a reduced risk of developing psoriasis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-0.95), specifically PsV (aHR 0.92; 95% CI 0.88-0.97) and PPP (aHR 0.71; 95% CI 0.63-0.79). The reduction in risk due to smoking cessation was more prominent in sustained ex-smokers (psoriasis: aHR 0.77, 95% CI 0.74-0.79; PsV: aHR 0.76, 95% CI 0.73-0.79; PPP: aHR 0.56, 95% CI 0.51-0.61; GPP: aHR 0.64; 95% CI 0.52-0.78). When conducting sensitivity analyses to address the potential for changes in smoking habits after 2007, the results and trends were consistent with the main findings, and a more pronounced significance was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with continuous smoking, smoking cessation was associated with a decreased risk of developing psoriasis. The risk-reducing effect of smoking cessation was more pronounced in those maintaining a smoke-free status. Smoking cessation and the maintenance of a smoke-free status should be encouraged to prevent the development of psoriasis and all other smoking-related diseases.

The efficacy and safety of low- versus high-fluence fractional picosecond Nd:YAG 1064-nm laser in the treatment of acne scars: A randomized split-face comparison study.

BACKGROUND: Differences in clinical efficacy based on the fluence of fractional picosecond laser treatment for acne scars are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of low-fluence versus high-fluence fractional picosecond Nd:YAG 1064-nm laser treatment in acne scar patients. METHODS: In this 12-week, investigator-blinded, randomized, split-face study, 25 patients with moderate-to-severe acne scars received three sessions of high-fluence laser treatment (1.0 J/cm2 ) on one side of their face and low-fluence (0.3 J/cm2 ) on the other side every 4 weeks. Patients were assessed using acne scar counts, the scar global assessment (SGA), and the ECCA scar grading scale every 4 weeks. The histological analysis compared the acne scars obtained before and 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: At their last visit, 88.00% and 92.00% of the subjects achieved >30% reduction in scar counts on the low- and high-fluence sides, respectively, without a significant difference between the two sides. On both sides, the scar counts, SGA, and ECCA score significantly improved 4 weeks after the last treatment. Although the high-fluence side showed a greater reduction in scar counts (-66.73%) than the low-fluence side (-62.13%), the two sides had no significant difference in the grading scores. The high-fluence side showed significantly more severe pain and higher side-effect scores immediately and 4 weeks after treatment. Histological analysis revealed a significantly increased collagen, elastin, and vimentin expression after treatment on the low-fluence side. CONCLUSIONS: The low-fluence setting demonstrated comparable efficacy and superior safety in treating acne scars compared with the high-fluence setting.

Knowledge and the behavioral patterns of photoprotection among Koreans with skin disease.

BACKGROUND: Photoprotection is crucial in preventing the development and progression of various skin diseases. However, patients with skin disease have limited awareness of photoprotection. We evaluated the knowledge and behavioral patterns of photoprotection among Koreans with skin diseases. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 general hospitals across South Korea. The study population consisted of patients aged 19 years or older who visited dermatologic clinics for their skin diseases. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect patient demographics, knowledge of photoprotection, and photoprotective habits. RESULTS: In this study, 1173 patients with skin cancer, hyperpigmentary disorders, hypopigmentary disorders, or other skin diseases participated. Females scored significantly higher in knowledge of photoprotection compared to males (mean score 8.4 vs. 7.8; p < .001), and younger patients (<50 years) scored higher than older patients (mean score 8.7 vs. 7.5; p < .001). Males also reported longer sun exposure times and lower usage of photoprotective measures (both p < .001). Patients with skin cancer had the lowest mean knowledge score (7.1 ± 2.6) and were less likely to use photoprotective measures compared to other groups (p < .001). In contrast, patients with hyperpigmentation actively avoided sun exposure compared with other groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of photoprotection among Korean patients with skin diseases varied depending on the gender, age, and type of skin disease. Their photoprotective behaviors were inadequate, especially among males and those with skin cancer. These findings emphasize the importance of educating and tailoring photoprotection strategies for patients with skin diseases.

Association of the combined effects of air pollution and changes in physical activity with cardiovascular disease in young adults.

AIMS: Little is known about the trade-off between the health benefits of physical activity (PA) and the potential harmful effects of increased exposure to air pollution during outdoor PA. We examined the association of the combined effects of air pollution and changes in PA with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in young adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: This nationwide cohort study included 1 469 972 young adults aged 20-39 years. Air pollution exposure was estimated by the annual average cumulative level of particulate matter (PM). PA was calculated as minutes of metabolic equivalent tasks per week (MET-min/week) based on two consecutive health examinations from 2009 to 2012. Compared with the participants exposed to low-to-moderate levels of PM2.5 or PM10 who continuously engaged in ≥1000 MET-min/week of PA, those who decreased their PA from ≥1000 MET-min/week to 1-499 MET-min/week [PM10 adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.48] and to 0 MET-min/week (physically inactive; PM10 aHR 1.38; 95% CI 1.07-1.78) had an increased risk of CVD (P for trend <0.01). Among participants exposed to high levels of PM2.5 or PM10, the risk of CVD was elevated with an increase in PA above 1000 MET-min/week. CONCLUSION: Reducing PA may lead to subsequent elevation of CVD risk in young adults exposed to low-to-moderate levels of PM2.5 or PM10, whereas a large increase in PA in a high-pollution environment may adversely affect cardiovascular health.

Association between physical activity and subsequent cardiovascular disease among 5-year breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: To examine the association of physical activity among long-term breast cancer survivors on the occurrence of subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: We investigated the risk of CVD among 39,775 breast cancer patients who were newly diagnosed in 2006 and survived until 2011 within the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Patients were followed up from 5 years after breast cancer diagnosis to the date of CVD event, death, or December 31, 2018, whichever came earliest. Every 500 MET-mins/week correspond to 152, 125, and 62.5 min per week of light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity, respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression by physical activity levels. RESULTS: Compared with those with physical activity of 0 MET-min/week, those with 1-499 (aHR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.98), 500-999 (aHR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63-0.90), and ≥ 1,000 (aHR 0.76, 95% CI 0.63-0.93) MET-min/week of PA had lower risk of CVD. Higher levels of PA were associated with lower risk of stroke (p for trend = 0.016). The benefits of PA on obese and overweight breast cancer survivors were smaller than those in normal weight survivors. The frequency of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) showed a reverse J-curve association with CVD, and the best benefit occurred in the 3-4 times MVPA per week group (aHR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.74). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that even small amounts of PA may be beneficial in potentially decreasing the risk of CVD, CHD, and stroke in breast cancer survivors. Our result will be useful to prescribe and delivery exercise among long-term breast cancer survivors.

Association of particulate matter with autoimmune rheumatic diseases among adults in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to investigate adverse effects of ambient particulate matter of various sizes on the incidence of the prevalent autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs): RA, AS and SLE. METHODS: We investigated 230 034 participants in three metropolitan cities of South Korea from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC). Starting from January 2010, subjects were followed up until the first event of prevalent AIRDs, death, or December 2013. The 2008-2009 respective averages of particulate matter2.5 (<2.5 µm) and particulate mattercoarse (2.5 µm to 10 µm) were linked with participants' administrative district codes. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using Cox regression analysis in one- and two-pollutant models. RESULTS: Adjusted for age, sex, region, and household income, in the two-pollutant model, RA incidence was positively associated with the 10 µg/m³ increment of particulate matter2.5 (aHR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.86), but not with particulate mattercoarse (aHR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.85). In the one-pollutant model, the elevated incidence rate of RA was slightly attenuated (particulate matter2.5 aHR = 1.61, 95% CI: 0.99, 2.61; particulate mattercoarse aHR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.61), with marginal statistical significance for particulate matter2.5. The RA incidence was also higher in the 4th quartile group of particulate matter2.5 compared with the first quartile group (aHR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.11). Adverse effects from particulate matter were not found for AS or SLE in either the one- or two-pollutant models. CONCLUSION: The important components of particulate matter10 associated with RA incidence were the fine fractions (particulate matter2.5); no positive association was found between particulate matter and AS or SLE.

Associations between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease among long-term survivors of colorectal cancer: a population-based, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is no evidence whether it is best to stop drinking alcohol at all or whether it is okay to drink a little in that light-to-moderate alcohol use was associated with low cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-drinker among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, who are regarded as vulnerable to CVD. Therefore, we evaluated the association between alcohol consumption and incident CVD among long-term survivors of CRC. METHODS: This population-based, retrospective cohort study utilized data from the Korean National Insurance Service of 20,653 long-term survivors of CRC diagnosed between 2006 and 2012. Participants were followed up to the date of CVD, death, or December 31, 2018. All patients were categorized according to their daily alcohol consumption (g/day). The outcomes were incident CVD, including ischemic heart disease (IHD) and ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and history of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. RESULTS: There was no association between alcohol consumption and incident CVD among long-term survivors of CRC. Additionally, hazardous alcohol consumption (≥ 40 g/day in male patients and ≥ 20 g/day in female patients) was associated with increased CVD, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.51 [1.15-1.97], 1.60 [1.03-2.48], and 2.65 [1.25-5.62], respectively) compared with non-drinkers. CONCLUSION: No discernable protective association was found between alcohol consumption and incident CVD for even light-to-moderate drinking among long-term survivors of CRC. Alcohol consumption ≥40 g/day in male patients and ≥ 20 g/day in female patients was associated with an increased risk of stroke compared with non-drinkers. These novel results provide useful evidence when advising survivors of CRC regarding alcohol use.

Association of air pollution with osteoporotic fracture risk among women over 50 years of age.

INTRODUCTION: Air particulate matter (PM) is an environmental exposure associated with oxidation and inflammation. Whether particulate matter is associated with risk of osteoporotic bone fracture is unclear. We investigated the association between exposure to PM and risk of bone fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data of 44,602 participants living in three metropolitan cities in Republic of Korea from National Health Insurance Service database. We examined the association of 2 year averaged concentrations of PM and osteoporotic fracture over 4 years. Exposure to 2-year averaged air pollution [PM2.5 (< 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter), PM10 [< 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter], PM coarse (PM ranging from 2.5 µm to 10 µm)] concentrations were estimated from 2008 to 2009 in Air Korea data. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for osteoporotic fractures were calculated using the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, household income, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, PM 2.5 in one pollutant model increased the risk of osteoporotic fractures, compared to the first quartile group (4th quartile group aHR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.24). Also, PM 2.5 increased the risk of spine and non-spine fractures compared to the first quartile group (4th quartile group aHR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.00-1.38, aHR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.01-1.33). We found no association between PM10/PM coarse and osteoporotic fractures. CONCLUSION: We found that PM2.5 is a risk factor for osteoporotic bone fractures.

Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter is associated with changes in fasting glucose and lipid profiles: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Ambient fine particulate matter is a rising concern for global public health. It was recently suggested that exposure to fine particulate matter may contribute to the development of diabetes and dyslipidaemia. This study aims to examine the potential associations of ambient particulate matter exposure with changes in fasting glucose and lipid profiles in Koreans. METHOD: We used the data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC), a nationwide database representative of the Korean population. A total of 85,869 individuals aged ≥20 years were included. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations between exposure to particulate matter and changes in fasting glucose and lipid profiles at 2-year intervals after adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Significant associations were observed between an increase in interquartile range for particulate matter < 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) and elevated levels of fasting glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p for trend = 0.015 and 0.010, respectively), while no association for particulate matter sized 2.5-10 µm in diameter (PM10-2.5) was noted after adjusting for the other covariates. Sub-group analyses showed stronger associations in individuals who were older (≥60 years) or physically inactive. CONCLUSIONS: Fine particulate matter exposure affects worsening fasting glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, with no evidence of an association for coarse particulate matter.

Associations Between Fat Mass, Lean Mass, and Knee Osteoarthritis: The Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V).

As little is known about the associations between body composition (fat mass and lean mass) and knee OA, especially regarding body parts (upper body and lower limbs), the purpose of this study was to identify the association between the former and the prevalence of the latter according to body parts. This study was designed as a cross-sectional analysis, with 4194 people (1801 men and 2393 women) from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V, 2010-2011) included. Body composition (fat mass and lean mass) was measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and knee OA was diagnosed based on the level of Kellgren-Lawrence grade. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, upper body composition was not significantly correlated with radiographic knee OA (P > 0.05), while participants with higher lean mass of lower limbs were less likely to have radiographic knee OA (aOR 0.57; 95 % CI 0.32-0.99). In stratified analysis, participants with higher lean mass of lower limbs were less likely to have a radiographic knee OA in 40-54 kg (P for trend = 0.05) and 55-70 kg stratum (P for trend = 0.03), while this trend slightly attenuated in 70-85 kg stratum (P for trend = 0.15). In conclusion, the increase in lean mass of lower limbs is inversely related to the prevalence of knee OA while upper body composition is not. This study suggests that the lean mass of lower limbs might be associated with reduction in the risk of knee OA.

The effect of cilostazol on carotid intima-media thickness progression in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The progression of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is closely associated with ischemic stroke recurrence. However, the efficacy of cilostazol on preventing CIMT progression in stroke patients has never been investigated properly by a prospective trial. METHODS: This study is a part of "Trial of Cilostazol in Symptomatic Intracranial Arterial Stenosis-2." Six centers that are available to measure CIMT according to the protocol participated in this substudy. After 7 months of randomization, the changes of CIMT were compared between cilostazol group and clopidogrel group. CIMT was measured by a semiautomated software (Intimascope) and was presented as the mean of maximum (CIMT-max) and average (CIMT-ave) of both common carotid arteries. Linear logistic regression analysis and analysis of covariance were performed to verify the independent factors associated with CIMT progression. RESULTS: Among the 85 patients, 39 subjects were assigned to cilostazol group and 46 subjects to clopidogrel group. Follow-up CIMT significantly decreased in cilostazol group (CIMT-max: -.03 ± .11 and CIMT-ave: -.02 ± .08) compared with the increase in clopidogrel group (CIMT-max: .04 ± .20 and CIMT-ave: .04 ± .11; P = .05 and P = .04, respectively). Female, diabetes, and smoking were independently associated with the progression of CIMT, whereas the use of cilostazol was against CIMT progression from the results of linear regression analysis (P = .03 for both CIMT-max and CIMT-ave). The use of cilostazol also well predicted less progression of CIMT at follow-up after adjusting for baseline CIMT values and conventional risk factors (CIMT-max: P = .04 and CIMT-ave: P = .03). CONCLUSION: Cilostazol has a beneficial effect in preventing the progression of CIMT in ischemic stroke patients.

Endocrine and metabolic comorbidities in primary cicatricial alopecia: A nationwide population-based study.

Primary cicatricial alopecia (PCA) is a rare, scarring, hair loss disorder. Due to its low incidence, little is known about endocrine and metabolic comorbidities in patients with PCA. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between PCA and endocrine and metabolic disorders. This nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study included patients diagnosed with PCA or non-cicatricial alopecia (NCA) and normal individuals without history of alopecia registered in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2020. We calculated the odds ratios of endocrine and metabolic comorbidities of patients with PCA compared to all patients or age- and sex-matched patients with NCA or normal individuals using multivariable logistic regression models. A total of 3 021 483 individuals (mean age [SD], 38.7 [15.0] years, 1 607 380 [53.2%] men), including 11 956 patients with PCA, 601 852 patients with NCA, and 2 407 675 normal participants, were identified. Patients with PCA had an increased risk for dyslipidemia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.24), diabetes (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.24-1.53), and hypertension (aOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.19) compared to matched patients with NCA. Regarding PCA subtypes, lichen planopilaris/frontal fibrosing alopecia was positively associated with hypothyroidism (aOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.44-2.86) compared to NCA. Folliculitis decalvans and dissecting cellulitis were positively associated with dyslipidemia (aOR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05-1.28 and aOR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.29, respectively), diabetes (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.20-1.58 and aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.32-1.74, respectively), and hypertension (aOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.20 and aOR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.27, respectively). Similar trends were observed when each PCA subgroup was compared with the normal control group. This study demonstrates that patients with PCA are more likely to have endocrine and metabolic comorbidities than patients without PCA. Further research on these comorbidities may improve the understanding of PCA.

Reduced economic disparity in biologics use for psoriasis after introducing the reducing copayment program.

Biologics for psoriasis are efficient and safe, but very expensive. We investigated the association of the reducing copayment program (RCP) with changes in biologics use patterns depending on the income levels of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. This nationwide cohort study included patients identified as having moderate-to-severe psoriasis between 2014 and 2020. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio for the use of biologics according to income levels. Among 57,139 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, 3464 (6.1%) used biologics for psoriasis from 2014 to 2020. After the introduction of RCP in 2017, the proportion of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis using biologics rapidly increased from 5.0% in 2016 to 19.2% in 2020; the increase was more remarkable in patients with the lowest or mid-low income compared to those with Medical Aid. Drug survival of biologics was higher in patients with the highest income before the RCP, but became comparable between those with high and low incomes after RCP introduction. The introduction of RCP was associated with an increased use of biologics in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis of all income levels; however, the effect was more pronounced in low-income patients. The RCP may contribute to alleviating the disparity in access to biologics.

Cardiovascular Benefit of Statin Use Against Air Pollutant Exposure in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Little is known about the cardiovascular benefit of statin use against ambient air pollution among older adults who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) potentially owing to age-related declines in cardiovascular functions along with other risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective, population-based cohort study consisted of adults aged 60 years and older free of CVD at baseline identified from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database linked to the National Ambient Air Monitoring Information System (NAMIS) for average daily exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 in 2015 in the major metropolitan areas in the Republic of Korea. Follow-up period began on January 1, 2016 and lasted until December 31, 2021. Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate association of cardiovascular benefit with statin use against different levels of air pollutant exposure. Of 1,229,444 participants aged 60 years and older (mean age, 67.4; 37.7% male), 377,076 (30.7%) were identified as statin-users. During 11,963,322 person-years (PY) of follow-up, a total of 86,018 incident stroke events occurred (719.0 events per 100,000 PYs). Compared to statin non-user exposed to high level of PM10 (>50 µg/m3) and PM2.5 (>25 µg/m3), statin users had 20% (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.80; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.75 to 0.85) and 17% (adjusted HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.86) lower adjusted risk of incident stroke for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. Similar risk reduction for incident CVD was also found among statin-users exposed to low or moderate level of PM10 (≤50 µg/m3) and PM2.5 (≤25 µg/m3) exposure. CONCLUSION: Among adults aged 60 years and older with high and low or moderate levels of exposure to PM10 and PM2.5, statin use was associated with a significantly lower risk of stroke.

In a retrospective cohort study of older adults exposed to high and low or moderate levels of PM10 and PM2.5, statin use was associated with a significantly lower risk of incident stroke.

Changes in predicted lean body mass, appendicular skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass and cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the association of changes in two body components, muscle and fat mass, with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among young adults. We investigated the association of changes in predicted lean body mass index (LBMI), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), and body fat mass index (BFMI) with the development of CVD among young adults. METHODS: This nationwide, population-based cohort study included 3 727 738 young adults [2 406 046 (64.5%) men and 1 321 692 (35.5%) women] aged 20-39 years without a previous history of CVD who underwent two health screening examinations during 2009-2010 and 2011-2012. Using validated and robust prediction equations, we calculated the changes in predicted LBMI, ASMI, and BFMI from the first to the second examinations. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age was 32.2 (4.9) years, and 2 406 046 (64.5%) of the participants were men. A total of 23 344 CVD events were detected during 22 257 632 person-years of follow-up. Each 1 kg/m2 increase in predicted LBMI and ASMI change was associated with a reduced risk of CVD among men [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82-0.91; aHR: 0.76, 95% CI 0.69-0.82, respectively] and women (aHR: 0.77, 95% CI 0.63-0.95; aHR: 0.75, 95% CI 0.59-0.96). Each 1 kg/m2 increase in predicted BFMI change was associated with an increased risk of CVD among men (aHR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.22) and women (aHR: 1.32, 95% CI 1.06-1.65). In both sexes, decreases in predicted LBMI and ASMI were associated with greater CVD risk, and decreased predicted BFMI was associated with a reduced CVD risk. Those who maintained their BMI between -1 and +1 kg/m2 also had a decreased risk of CVD per 1 kg/m2 increase in predicted LBMI and ASMI change among men (aHR: 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.92; aHR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.76-0.95) and women (aHR: 0.62, 95% CI 0.47-0.83; aHR: 0.59, 95% CI 0.44-0.80) and had a greater risk of CVD per 1 kg/m2 increase in predicted BFMI change among men (aHR: 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.25) and women (aHR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.20-2.23). Regardless of changes in weight, such as from normal to obese or vice versa, these results were consistent. CONCLUSIONS: Among young adults, increased predicted muscle mass or decreased predicted fat mass were associated with a reduced risk of development of CVD. Decreased predicted muscle mass or increased predicted fat mass were associated with an elevated risk of development of CVD.

Combined Associations of Physical Activity and Particulate Matter With Subsequent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among 5-Year Cancer Survivors.

Background The combined associations of physical activity and particulate matter (PM) with subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is yet unclear. Methods and Results The study population consisted of 18 846 cancer survivors who survived for at least 5 years after initial cancer diagnosis from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Average PM levels for 4 years were determined in administrative district areas, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) information was acquired from health examination questionnaires. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the risk for CVD. Among patients with low PM with particles ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5; (19.8-25.6 µg/m3) exposure, ≥5 times per week of MVPA was associated with lower CVD risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.60-0.99) compared with 0 times per week of MVPA. Also, a higher level of MVPA frequency was associated with lower CVD risk (P for trend=0.028) among cancer survivors who were exposed to low PM2.5 levels. In contrast, ≥5 times per week of MVPA among patients with high PM2.5 (25.8-33.8 µg/m3) exposure was not associated with lower CVD risk (aHR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.79-1.21). Compared with patients with low PM2.5 and MVPA ≥3 times per week, low PM2.5 and MVPA ≤2 times per week (aHR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03-1.55), high PM2.5 and MVPA ≥3 times per week (aHR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.07-1.67), and high PM2.5 and MVPA ≤2 times per week (aHR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.12-1.70) was associated with higher CVD risk. Conclusions Cancer survivors who engaged in MVPA ≥5 times per week benefited from lower CVD risk upon low PM2.5 exposure. High levels of PM2.5 exposure may attenuate the risk-reducing effects of MVPA on the risk of CVD.

Functional Dissection of Glutamatergic and GABAergic Neurons in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis.

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)-a key part of the extended amygdala-has been implicated in the regulation of diverse behavioral states, ranging from anxiety and reward processing to feeding behavior. Among the host of distinct types of neurons within the BNST, recent investigations employing cell type- and projection-specific circuit dissection techniques (such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, deep-brain calcium imaging, and the genetic and viral methods for targeting specific types of cells) have highlighted the key roles of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and their axonal projections. As anticipated from their primary roles in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, these studies established that the glutamatergic and GABAergic subpopulations of the BNST oppositely regulate diverse behavioral states. At the same time, these studies have also revealed unexpected functional specificity and heterogeneity within each subpopulation. In this Minireview, we introduce the body of studies that investigated the function of glutamatergic and GABAergic BNST neurons and their circuits. We also discuss unresolved questions and future directions for a more complete understanding of the cellular diversity and functional heterogeneity within the BNST.

Association of Air Pollutants with Incident Chronic Kidney Disease in a Nationally Representative Cohort of Korean Adults.

(1) Background: There is limited information regarding association between long-term exposure to air pollutants and risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (2). Methods: This study acquired data of 164,093 adults aged at least 40 years who were residing in 7 metropolitan cities between 2002 and 2005 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort database. CKD risk was evaluated using the multivariate Cox hazards proportional regression. All participants were followed up with until CKD, death, or 31 December 2013, whichever occurred earliest. (3) Results: Among 1,259,461 person-years of follow-up investigation, CKD cases occurred in 1494 participants. Air pollutant exposures including PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 showed no significant association with incident CKD after adjustments for age, sex, household income, area of residence, and the Charlson comorbidity index. The results were consistent in the sensitivity analyses including first and last year annual exposure analyses as well as latent periods-washed-out analyses. (4) Conclusions: Long-term exposure to air pollution is not likely to increase the risk of CKD.