The long-term genetic stability and individual specificity of the human gut microbiome.

By following up the gut microbiome, 51 human phenotypes and plasma levels of 1,183 metabolites in 338 individuals after 4 years, we characterize microbial stability and variation in relation to host physiology. Using these individual-specific and temporally stable microbial profiles, including bacterial SNPs and structural variations, we develop a microbial fingerprinting method that shows up to 85% accuracy in classifying metagenomic samples taken 4 years apart. Application of our fingerprinting method to the independent HMP cohort results in 95% accuracy for samples taken 1 year apart. We further observe temporal changes in the abundance of multiple bacterial species, metabolic pathways, and structural variation, as well as strain replacement. We report 190 longitudinal microbial associations with host phenotypes and 519 associations with plasma metabolites. These associations are enriched for cardiometabolic traits, vitamin B, and uremic toxins. Finally, mediation analysis suggests that the gut microbiome may influence cardiometabolic health through its metabolites.

A Molecular Signature in Blood Reveals a Role for p53 in Regulating Malaria-Induced Inflammation.

Immunity that controls parasitemia and inflammation during Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria can be acquired with repeated infections. A limited understanding of this complex immune response impedes the development of vaccines and adjunctive therapies. We conducted a prospective systems biology study of children who differed in their ability to control parasitemia and fever following Pf infection. By integrating whole-blood transcriptomics, flow-cytometric analysis, and plasma cytokine and antibody profiles, we demonstrate that a pre-infection signature of B cell enrichment, upregulation of T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cell-associated pathways, including interferon responses, and p53 activation associated with control of malarial fever and coordinated with Pf-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Fc receptor activation to control parasitemia. Our hypothesis-generating approach identified host molecules that may contribute to differential clinical outcomes during Pf infection. As a proof of concept, we have shown that enhanced p53 expression in monocytes attenuated Plasmodium-induced inflammation and predicted protection from fever.

An Empirical Dietary Pattern Associated with the Gut Microbial Features in Relation to Colorectal Cancer Risk.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Epidemiologic evidence for dietary influence on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk through the gut microbiome remains limited. METHODS: Leveraging 307 men and 212 women with stool metagenomes and dietary data, we characterized and validated a sex-specific dietary pattern associated with the CRC-related gut microbial signature (CRC Microbial Dietary Score [CMDS]). We evaluated the associations of CMDS with CRC risk according to Fusobacterium nucleatum, pks+Escherichia coli, and enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) status in tumor tissue using Cox proportional hazards regression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2018), Nurses' Health Study (NHS) (1984-2020), and NHS II (1991-2019). RESULTS: The CMDS was characterized by high industrially processed foods and low unprocessed fiber-rich foods intakes. In 259,200 participants, we documented 3,854 incident CRC cases over 6,467,378 person-years of follow-up. CMDS was associated with a higher risk of CRC (Ptrend<0.001), with a multivariable hazard ratio (HRQ5vs.Q1) of 1.25 (95%CI, 1.13-1.39). The association remained after adjusting for previously established dietary patterns, e.g., the Western and prudent diets. Notably, the association was stronger for tumoral F. nucleatum-positive (HRQ5vs.Q1, 2.51; 95%CI, 1.68-3.75; Ptrend<0.001) (Pheterogeneity=0.03, positivity vs. negativity), pks+E. coli-positive (HRQ5vs.Q1, 1.68; 95%CI, 0.84-3.38; Ptrend=0.005) (Pheterogeneity=0.01, positivity vs. negativity), and ETBF-positive CRC (HRQ5vs.Q1, 2.06; 95%CI, 1.10-3.88; Ptrend=0.016) (Pheterogeneity=0.06, positivity vs. negativity), compared with their negative counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: CMDS was associated with increased CRC risk, especially for tumors with detectable F. nucleatum, pks+E. coli, and ETBF in tissue. Our findings support a potential role of the gut microbiome underlying the dietary effects on CRC.

A Bayesian approach for investigating the pharmacogenetics of combination antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV.

Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) with at least three different drugs has become the standard of care for people with HIV (PWH) due to its exceptional effectiveness in viral suppression. However, many ART drugs have been reported to associate with neuropsychiatric adverse effects including depression, especially when certain genetic polymorphisms exist. Pharmacogenetics is an important consideration for administering combination ART as it may influence drug efficacy and increase risk for neuropsychiatric conditions. Large-scale longitudinal HIV databases provide researchers opportunities to investigate the pharmacogenetics of combination ART in a data-driven manner. However, with more than 30 FDA-approved ART drugs, the interplay between the large number of possible ART drug combinations and genetic polymorphisms imposes statistical modeling challenges. We develop a Bayesian approach to examine the longitudinal effects of combination ART and their interactions with genetic polymorphisms on depressive symptoms in PWH. The proposed method utilizes a Gaussian process with a composite kernel function to capture the longitudinal combination ART effects by directly incorporating individuals' treatment histories, and a Bayesian classification and regression tree to account for individual heterogeneity. Through both simulation studies and an application to a dataset from the Women's Interagency HIV Study, we demonstrate the clinical utility of the proposed approach in investigating the pharmacogenetics of combination ART and assisting physicians to make effective individualized treatment decisions that can improve health outcomes for PWH.

Long-Term Exposure to Low Concentrations of Ambient Benzene and Mortality in a National English Cohort.

Background: Benzene affects human health through environmental exposure in addition to occupational contact. However, few studies have examined the associations between long-term exposure to low concentrations of ambient benzene and mortality risks in nonoccupational settings.Methods: This prospective cohort study consists of 393,042 participants without stroke, myocardial infarction, or cancer at baseline from the UK Biobank. Annual average concentrations of benzene for each year during follow-up were measured using air dispersion models. The main outcomes were all-cause mortality and mortality from specific causes. Cox proportional-hazards models with time-varying exposure measurements were used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality risks. Restricted cubic spline models were used to estimate exposure-response relationships.Measurements and Main Results: With each interquartile range increase in the average annual concentration of benzene, the adjusted hazard ratios of mortality risk from all causes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease were 1.26 (95% CI, 1.24-1.27), 1.24 (95% CI, 1.21-1.28), 1.27 (95% CI, 1.25-1.29), and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.20-1.30), respectively. The monotonically increasing exposure-response curves showed no threshold and plateau within the observed concentration range. Furthermore, the effect of benzene exposure on mortality persisted across different subgroups and was somewhat stronger in younger and White people (P for interaction < 0.05).Conclusions: Long-term exposure to low concentrations of ambient benzene significantly increases mortality risk in the general population. Ambient benzene represents a potential threat to public health, and further investigations are needed to support timely pollution regulation and health protection.

Human papillomavirus infection and cardiovascular mortality: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection-a well-established risk factor for cervical cancer-has associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, its relationship with CVD mortality remains uncertain. This study examined the associations between HR-HPV infection and CVD mortality. METHODS: As part of a health examination, 163 250 CVD-free Korean women (mean age: 40.2 years) underwent HR-HPV screening and were tracked for up to 17 years (median: 8.6 years). National death records identified the CVD mortality cases. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. RESULTS: During 1 380 953 person-years of follow-up, 134 CVD deaths occurred, with a mortality rate of 9.1 per 105 person-years for HR-HPV(-) women and 14.9 per 105 person-years for HR-HPV(+) women. After adjustment for traditional CVD risk factors and confounders, the HRs (95% CI) for atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and stroke mortality in women with HR-HPV infection compared with those without infection were 3.91 (1.85-8.26), 3.74 (1.53-9.14), and 5.86 (0.86-40.11), respectively. The association between HR-HPV infection and ASCVD mortality was stronger in women with obesity than in those without (P for interaction = .006), with corresponding HRs (95% CI) of 4.81 (1.55-14.93) for obese women and 2.86 (1.04-7.88) for non-obese women. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort study of young and middle-aged Korean women, at low risks for CVD mortality, those with HR-HPV infection had higher death rates from CVD, specifically ASCVD and IHD, with a more pronounced trend in obese individuals.

Booster vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines and myocarditis in adolescents and young adults: a Nordic cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines are associated with an increased risk of myocarditis. This association appears to be strongest in male adolescents and younger males and after the second dose. The aim was to evaluate the risk of myocarditis following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA booster vaccination in 12-to-39-year-olds. METHODS: A multinational cohort study was conducted using nationwide register data in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden and comprising all 8.9 million individuals residing in each of the four countries. Participants were followed for an inpatient diagnosis of myocarditis. In each of the four countries, Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of myocarditis comparing vaccination schedules, with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Country-specific results were combined in meta-analyses. RESULTS: A total of 8.9 million residents were followed for 12 271 861 person-years and 1533 cases of myocarditis were identified. In 12-to-39-year-old males, the 28-day acute risk period following the third dose of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 was associated with an increased incidence rate of myocarditis compared to the post-acute risk period 28 days or more after the second dose [IRR 2.08 (95% CI 1.31-3.33) and 8.89 (2.26-35.03), respectively]. For females, the corresponding IRR was only estimable for BNT162b2, 3.99 (0.41-38.64). The corresponding absolute risks following the third dose of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 in males were 0.86 (95% CI 0.53-1.32) and 1.95 (0.53-4.99) myocarditis events within 28 days per 100 000 individuals vaccinated, respectively. In females, the corresponding absolute risks following the third dose of BNT162b2 were 0.15 (0.04-0.39) events per 100 000 individuals vaccinated. No deaths occurred within 30 days of vaccine-related cases. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a booster dose is associated with increased myocarditis risk in adolescents and young adults. However, the absolute risk of myocarditis following booster vaccination is low.

Alzheimer incidence and prevalence with and without asthma: A Medicare cohort study.

BACKGROUND: International data suggest that asthma, like other inflammatory diseases, might increase Alzheimer disease (AD) risk. OBJECTIVE: We sought to explore risk pathways and future mitigation strategies by comparing diagnostic claims-based AD incidence and prevalence among US patients with asthma with those without asthma. METHODS: This cohort study included a national Medicare 20% random sample (2013-2015). Adult patients with asthma with more than 12 months continuous Medicare were compared with subjects without asthma overall and as matched. Asthma was defined by 1 inpatient or 2 outpatient codes for asthma. The main outcomes were 2-year incident or prevalent AD defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 331.0 or Tenth Revision code G30.0, G30.1, G30.8, or G30.9. RESULTS: Among 5,460,732 total beneficiaries, 678,730 patients were identified with baseline asthma and more often identified as Black or Hispanic, were Medicaid eligible, or resided in a highly disadvantaged neighborhood than those without asthma. Two-year incidence of AD was 1.4% with asthma versus 1.1% without asthma; prevalence was 7.8% versus 5.4% (both P ≤ .001). Per 100,000 patients over 2 years, 303 more incident AD diagnoses occurred in those with asthma, with 2,425 more prevalent cases (P < .001). Multivariable models showed that asthma had greater odds of 2-year AD incidence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.29-1.36]; matched 1.2 [95% CI, 1.17-1.24]) and prevalence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.47-1.50]; matched 1.25 [95% CI, 1.22-1.27]). CONCLUSIONS: Asthma was associated with 20% to 33% increased 2-year incidence and 25% to 48% increased prevalence of claims-based AD in this nationally representative US sample. Future research should investigate risk pathways of underlying comorbidities and social determinants as well as whether there are potential asthma treatments that may preserve brain health.

The impact of Zika emergence in remote communities in northwestern Ecuador.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Latin America (2015-2016) has primarily been studied in urban centers, with less understanding of its impact on smaller rural communities. To address this gap, we analyzed ZIKV sero-epidemiology in six rural Ecuadorian communities (2018-2019) with varying access to a commercial hub. Seroprevalence ranged from 19% to 54% measured by NS1 blockade of binding ELISA. We observed a decline in ZIKV seroprevalence between 2018 and 2019 that was greater among younger populations, suggesting that the attack rates in the 2015-16 epidemic were significantly higher than our 2018 observations. These data indicate that the 2015-16 epidemic included significant transmission in rural and more remote settings. Our observations of high seroprevalence in our area of study highlights the importance of surveillance and research in rural areas lacking robust health systems to manage future Zika outbreaks and vaccine initiatives.

Detection and Clearance of Type-Specific and Phylogenetically Related Genital Human Papillomavirus Infections in Young Women in New Heterosexual Relationships.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections is essential to cervical cancer prevention planning. We estimated HPV type-specific infection detection and clearance in young women. METHODS: The HPV Infection and Transmission among Couples through Heterosexual activity (HITCH) study is a prospective cohort of 502 college-age women who recently initiated a heterosexual relationship. We tested vaginal samples collected at 6 clinical visits over 24 months for 36 HPV types. Using rates and Kaplan-Meier analysis, we estimated time-to-event statistics with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for detection of incident infections and clearance of incident and present-at-baseline infections (separately). We conducted analyses at the woman- and HPV-levels, with HPV types grouped by phylogenetic relatedness. RESULTS: By 24 months, we detected incident infections in 40.4% (CI, 33.4%-48.4%) of women. Incident subgenus 1 (43.4; CI, 33.6-56.4), 2 (47.1; CI, 39.9-55.5), and 3 (46.6; CI, 37.7-57.7) infections cleared at similar rates per 1000 infection-months. We observed similar homogeny in HPV-level clearance rates among present-at-baseline infections. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses provide type-specific infection natural history estimates for cervical cancer prevention planning. HPV-level analyses did not clearly indicate that high oncogenic risk subgenus 2 infections persist longer than their low oncogenic risk subgenera 1 and 3 counterparts.

Patterns of perinatal polyunsaturated fatty acid status and associated dietary or candidate-genetic factors.

Perinatal exposure to omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can be characterized through biomarkers in maternal or cord blood or breast milk. Objectives were to describe perinatal PUFA status combining multiple biofluids and to investigate how it was influenced by dietary intake during pregnancy and maternal FADS and ELOVL gene polymorphisms. This study involved 1,901 mother-child pairs from the EDEN cohort, with PUFA levels measured in maternal and cord erythrocytes, and colostrum. Maternal dietary PUFA intake during the last trimester was derived from a food frequency questionnaire. Twelve single-nucleotide polymorphisms in FADS and ELOVL genes were genotyped from maternal DNA. Principal component analysis incorporating PUFA levels from the three biofluids identified patterns of perinatal PUFA status. Spearman's correlations explored associations between patterns and PUFA dietary intake, and linear regression models examined pattern associations with FADS or ELOVL haplotypes. Five patterns were retained: "High omega-3 LC-PUFAs, low omega-6 LC-PUFAs"; "Omega-6 LC-PUFAs"; "Colostrum LC-PUFAs"; "Omega-6 precursor (LA) and DGLA"; "Omega-6 precursor and colostrum ALA". Maternal omega-3 LC-PUFA intakes were correlated with "High omega-3 LC-PUFAs, low omega-6 LC-PUFAs" (r(DHA) = 0.33) and "Omega-6 LC-PUFAs" (r(DHA) = -0.19) patterns. Strong associations were found between FADS haplotypes and PUFA patterns except for "High omega-3 LC-PUFAs, low omega-6 LC-PUFAs". Lack of genetic association with the "High omega-3 LC-PUFAs, low omega-6 LC-PUFAs" pattern, highly correlated with maternal omega-3 LC-PUFA intake, emphasizes the importance of adequate omega-3 LC-PUFA intake during pregnancy and lactation. This study offers a more comprehensive assessment of perinatal PUFA status and its determinants.

Low birthweight in patients with type 2 diabetes is associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Low birthweight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and CVD. This prospective cohort study investigated whether lower birthweight increases CVD risk after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Original midwife records were evaluated for 8417 participants recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the Danish Centre for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes (DD2) cohort. Patients were followed for the first occurrence of a composite CVD endpoint (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularisation, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, unstable angina, heart failure or CVD death), a three-component endpoint comprising major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and all-cause mortality. Ten-year risks were estimated using the Aalen-Johansen estimator considering non-CVD death as a competing risk. HRs were determined by Cox regression. Models were controlled for sex, age, calendar year at birth, family history of diabetes and born-at-term status. RESULTS: A total of 1187 composite CVD endpoints, 931 MACE, and 1094 deaths occurred during a median follow-up period of 8.5 years. The 10-year standardised composite CVD risk was 19.8% in participants with a birthweight <3000 g compared with 16.9% in participants with a birthweight of 3000-3700 g, yielding a risk difference (RD) of 2.9% (95% CI 0.4, 5.4) and an adjusted HR of 1.20 (95% CI 1.03, 1.40). The 10-year MACE risk for birthweight <3000 g was similarly elevated (RD 2.4%; 95% CI 0.1, 4.7; HR 1.22; 95% CI 1.01, 1.46). The elevated CVD risk was primarily driven by stroke, peripheral arterial disease and CVD death. All-cause mortality showed no substantial difference. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Having a birthweight <3000 g is associated with higher CVD risk among patients with type 2 diabetes, driven primarily by risk of stroke and CVD death.

Major cardiovascular events and death in parents of children with type 1 diabetes: a register-based matched cohort study in Sweden.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Parenting a child with type 1 diabetes has been associated with stress-related symptoms. This study aimed to elucidate the potential impact on parental risk of major cardiovascular events (MCE) and death. METHODS: In this register-based study, we included the parents of 18,871 children, born 1987-2020 and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Sweden at <18 years. The median parental age at the child's diagnosis was 39.0 and 41.0 years for mothers and fathers, respectively. The cohort also encompassed 714,970 population-based matched parental control participants and 12,497 parental siblings. Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to investigate the associations between having a child with type 1 diabetes and incident MCE and all-cause death, and, as secondary outcomes, acute coronary syndrome and ischaemic heart disease (IHD). We adjusted for potential confounders including parental type 1 diabetes and country of birth. RESULTS: During follow-up (median 12 years, range 0-35), we detected no associations between parenting a child with type 1 diabetes and MCE in mothers (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.02; 95% CI 0.90, 1.15) or in fathers (aHR 1.01; 95% CI 0.94, 1.08). We noted an increased hazard of IHD in exposed mothers (aHR 1.21; 95% CI 1.05, 1.41) with no corresponding signal in fathers (aHR 0.97; 95% CI 0.89, 1.05). Parental sibling analysis did not confirm the association in exposed mothers (aHR 1.01; 95% CI 0.73, 1.41). We further observed a slightly increased hazard of all-cause death in exposed fathers (aHR 1.09; 95% CI 1.01, 1.18), with a similar but non-significant estimate noted in exposed mothers (aHR 1.07; 95% CI 0.96, 1.20). The estimates from the sibling analyses of all-cause death in fathers and mothers were 1.12 (95% CI 0.90, 1.38) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.55, 0.96), respectively. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Having a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Sweden was not associated with MCE, but possibly with all-cause mortality. Further studies are needed to disentangle potential underlying mechanisms, and to investigate parental health outcomes across the full lifespan.

Association of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists with suicidal ideation and self-injury in individuals with diabetes and obesity: a propensity-weighted, population-based cohort study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Regulators worldwide are reviewing safety data on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), following reports by the Icelandic Medicines Agency in July 2023 of suicidal ideation and self-injury (SIS) in individuals taking liraglutide and semaglutide. We aimed to assess the risk of SIS in new users of GLP-1RA when compared with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) users, prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes in individuals with obesity. METHODS: This is a cohort study combining several population-wide databases and covering a Spanish population of five million inhabitants, including all adults with obesity who initiated treatment with either GLP-1RA or SGLT-2i for type 2 diabetes from 2015 to 2021. To estimate the comparative effect of GLP-1RA on the risk of SIS, we employed a new user, active comparator design and we carried out multivariable Cox regression modelling with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) based on propensity scores. We performed several stratified and sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: We included 3040 patients initiating treatment with GLP-1RA and 11,627 with SGLT-2i. When compared with patients treated with SGLT-2i, those in the GLP-1RA group were younger (55 vs 60 years old, p<0.001), had more anxiety (49.4% vs 41.5%, p<0.001), sleep disorders (43.2% vs 34.1%, p<0.001) and depression (24.4% vs 19.0%, p<0.001), and were more obese (35.1% of individuals with BMI ≥40 vs 15.1%, p<0.001). After propensity score weighting, standardised mean differences between groups were <0.1 for all covariates, showing adequate balance between groups at baseline after adjustment. In the main per-protocol analyses we found no evidence that GLP-1RA increased the incidence of SIS (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.35, 3.14). Intention-to-treat analyses resulted in an HR of 1.36 (95% CI 0.51, 3.61). In analyses excluding individuals with no BMI information and using imputation for BMI missing values, respective HRs were 0.89 (95% CI 0.26, 3.14) and 1.29 (95% CI 0.42, 3.92). Stratified analyses showed no differences between subgroups. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our findings do not support an increased risk of SIS when taking GLP-1RA in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity; however, the rarity of SIS events and the wide uncertainty of effect size (although null, effect may be compatible with a risk as high as threefold) calls for a cautious interpretation of our results. Further studies, including final evaluations from regulatory bodies, are called for to discard a causal link between GLP-1RA and suicidality.

Cardiovascular risk management among individuals with type 2 diabetes and severe mental illness: a cohort study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to compare cardiovascular risk management among people with type 2 diabetes according to severe mental illness (SMI) status. METHODS: We used linked electronic data to perform a retrospective cohort study of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in Scotland between 2004 and 2020, ascertaining their history of SMI from hospital admission records. We compared total cholesterol, systolic BP and HbA1c target level achievement 1 year after diabetes diagnosis, and receipt of a statin prescription at diagnosis and 1 year thereafter, by SMI status using logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and clinical history. RESULTS: We included 291,644 individuals with type 2 diabetes, of whom 1.0% had schizophrenia, 0.5% had bipolar disorder and 3.3% had major depression. People with SMI were less likely to achieve cholesterol targets, although this difference did not reach statistical significance for all disorders. However, people with SMI were more likely to achieve systolic BP targets compared to those without SMI, with effect estimates being largest for schizophrenia (men: adjusted OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.49, 1.98; women: OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.38, 1.96). HbA1c target achievement differed by SMI disorder and sex. Among people without previous CVD, statin prescribing was similar or better in those with vs those without SMI at diabetes diagnosis and 1 year later. In people with prior CVD, SMI was associated with lower odds of statin prescribing at diabetes diagnosis (schizophrenia: OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.43, 0.68, bipolar disorder: OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.56, 1.01, major depression: OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.83, 1.01), with this difference generally persisting 1 year later. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We found disparities in cholesterol target achievement and statin prescribing by SMI status. This reinforces the importance of clinical review of statin prescribing for secondary prevention of CVD, particularly among people with SMI.

Outdoor Light at Night, Air Pollution, and Risk of Cerebrovascular Disease: A Cohort Study in China.

BACKGROUND: We sought to explore the associations of outdoor light at night (LAN) and air pollution with the risk of cerebrovascular disease (CeVD). METHODS: We included a total of 28 302 participants enrolled in Ningbo, China from 2015 to 2018. Outdoor LAN and air pollution were assessed by Satellite-derived images and land-use regression models. CeVD cases were confirmed by medical records and death certificates and further subdivided into ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% CIs. RESULTS: A total of 1278 CeVD cases (including 777 ischemic and 133 hemorrhagic stroke cases) were identified during 127 877 person-years of follow-up. In the single-exposure models, the hazard ratios for CeVD were 1.17 (95% CI, 1.06-1.29) for outdoor LAN, 1.25 (1.12-1.39) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm, 1.14 (1.06-1.22) for particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm, and 1.21 (1.06-1.38) for NO2 in every interquartile range increase. The results were similar for ischemic stroke, whereas no association was observed for hemorrhagic stroke. In the multiple-exposure models, the associations of outdoor LAN and PM with CeVD persisted but not for ischemic stroke. Furthermore, no interaction was observed between outdoor LAN and air pollution. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of exposure to outdoor LAN and air pollution were positively associated with the risk of CeVD. Furthermore, the detrimental effects of outdoor LAN and air pollution might be mutually independent.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Postacute Risk of Non-Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infectious Disease Hospitalizations: A Nationwide Cohort Study of Danish Adults Aged ≥50 Years.

BACKGROUND: Reports suggest that the potential long-lasting health consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may involve persistent dysregulation of some immune populations, but the potential clinical implications are unknown. We investigated the associated risk of hospitalization due to non-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infectious diseases following the postacute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: By cross-linking data from the comprehensive Danish test and surveillance system for COVID-19 together with nationwide healthcare and demographic registers, we established a study cohort of 2 430 694 individuals aged ≥50 years, from 1 January 2021 to 10 December 2022, with no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to study entry. Using Poisson regression, we compared the outcome rates of non-COVID-19 infectious disease hospitalizations following the acute phase of (a first) SARS-CoV-2 infection (defined as ≥29 days since the day of infection) in recovered individuals with rates among SARS-CoV-2-uninfected individuals. RESULTS: Among 2 430 694 included individuals (mean age, 66.8 [standard deviation, 11.3] years), 930 071 acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection during follow-up totaling 4 519 913 person-years. The postacute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI]: .88-.92) for any infectious disease hospitalization. Findings (IRR [95% CI]) were similar for upper respiratory tract (1.08 [.97-1.20]), lower respiratory tract (0.90 [.87-.93]), influenza (1.04 [.94-1.15]), gastrointestinal (1.28 [.78-2.09]), skin (0.98 [.93-1.03]), urinary tract (1.01 [.96-1.08]), certain invasive bacterial (0.96 [.91-1.01]), and other (0.96 [.92-1.00]) infectious disease hospitalizations and in subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study does not support an increased susceptibility to non-COVID-19 infectious disease hospitalization following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Effectiveness of the 2023-2024 Formulation of the COVID-19 Messenger RNA Vaccine.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the 2023-2024 formulation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) messenger RNA vaccine protects against COVID-19. METHODS: Cleveland Clinic employees when the 2023-2024 formulation of the COVID-19 messenger RNA vaccine became available to employees were included. Cumulative incidence of COVID-19 over the following 17 weeks was examined prospectively. Protection provided by vaccination (analyzed as a time-dependent covariate) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression, with time-dependent coefficients used to separate effects before and after the JN.1 lineage became dominant. The analysis was adjusted for the propensity to get tested, age, sex, pandemic phase when the last prior COVID-19 episode occurred, and the number of prior vaccine doses. RESULTS: Among 48 210 employees, COVID-19 occurred in 2462 (5.1%) during the 17 weeks of observation. In multivariable analysis, the 2023-2024 formula vaccinated state was associated with a significantly lower risk of COVID-19 before the JN.1 lineage became dominant (hazard ratio = .58; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .49-.68; P < .001), and lower risk but one that did not reach statistical significance after (hazard ratio = .81; 95% CI = .65-1.01; P = .06). Estimated vaccine effectiveness was 42% (95% CI = 32-51) before the JN.1 lineage became dominant, and 19% (95% CI = -1-35) after. Risk of COVID-19 was lower among those previously infected with an XBB or more recent lineage and increased with the number of vaccine doses previously received. CONCLUSIONS: The 2023-2024 formula COVID-19 vaccine given to working-aged adults afforded modest protection overall against COVID-19 before the JN.1 lineage became dominant, and less protection after.

Breast composition during and after puberty: the Chilean Growth and Obesity Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Breast density (BD) is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Little is known about how BD develops during puberty. Understanding BD trajectories during puberty and its determinants could be crucial for promoting preventive actions against breast cancer (BC) at early ages. The objective of this research is to characterize % fibroglandular volume (%FGV), absolute fibroglandular volume (AFGV), and breast volume (BV) at different breast Tanner stages until 4-year post menarche in a Latino cohort and to assess determinants of high %FGV and AFGV during puberty and in a fully mature breast. METHODS: This is a longitudinal follow-up of 509 girls from low-middle socioeconomic status of the Southeast area of Santiago, recruited at a mean age of 3.5 years. The inclusion criteria were singleton birth born, birthweight between 2500 and 4500 g with no medical or mental disorder. A trained dietitian measured weight and height since 3.5 years old and sexual maturation from 8 years old (breast Tanner stages and age at menarche onset). Using standardized methods, BD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in various developmental periods (breast Tanner stage B1 until 4 years after menarche onset). RESULTS: In the 509 girls, we collected 1,442 breast DXA scans; the mean age at Tanner B4 was 11.3 years. %FGV increased across breast Tanner stages and peaked 250 days after menarche. AFGV and BV peaked 2 years after menarche onset. Girls in the highest quartiles of %FGV, AFGV, and BV at Tanner B4 and B5 before menarche onset had the highest values thereafter until 4 years after menarche onset. The most important determinants of %FGV and AFGV variability were BMI z-score (R2 = 44%) and time since menarche (R2 = 42%), respectively. CONCLUSION: We characterize the breast development during puberty, a critical window of susceptibility. Although the onset of menarche is a key milestone for breast development, we observed that girls in the highest quartiles of %FGV and AFGV tracked in that group afterwards. Following these participants in adulthood would be of interest to understand the changes in breast composition during this period and its potential link with BC risk.

Population-Based Evaluation of Vaccine Effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Severe Illness, and Death, Taiwan.

Taiwan provided several COVID-19 vaccine platforms: mRNA (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273), adenoviral vector-based (AZD1222), and protein subunit (MVC-COV1901). After Taiwan shifted from its zero-COVID strategy in April 2022, population-based evaluation of vaccine effectiveness (VE) became possible. We conducted an observational cohort study of 21,416,151 persons to examine VE against SARS-CoV-2 infection, moderate and severe illness, and death during March 22, 2021-September 30, 2022. After adjusting for age and sex, we found that persons who completed 3 vaccine doses (2 primary, 1 booster) or received MVC-COV1901 as the primary series had the lowest hospitalization incidence (0.04-0.20 cases/100,000 person-days). We also found 95.8% VE against hospitalization for 3 doses of BNT162b2, 91.0% for MVC-COV1901, 81.8% for mRNA-1273, and 65.7% for AZD1222, which had the lowest overall VE. Our findings indicated that protein subunit vaccines provide similar protection against SARS-CoV-2---associated hospitalization as mRNA vaccines and can inform mix-and-match vaccine selection in other countries.