Patient Experience Survey Of Anti-VEGF Treatment for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding patient perspectives of treatment may improve adherence and outcomes. This study explored real-world patient experiences with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). METHODS: This multinational, non-interventional, quantitative, cross-sectional, observational survey assessed treatment barriers/burden, patient-reported visual functioning, and treatment satisfaction in DME and nAMD patients in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, and Spain. Treatment patterns and visual outcomes were extracted from medical charts. Regression models evaluated relationships between adherence, total missed visits, number of anti-VEGF injections and clinical and patient-reported outcomes for visual functioning. Association between treatment satisfaction and aspects of burden were assessed. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 183 DME and 391 nAMD patients. Patients had moderately high vision-related functioning (25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire score: mean=74.8) and were satisfied with their current treatment (mean total score: Macular Disease Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire=59.2; Retinopathy Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire=61.3). Treatment satisfaction scores were worse with higher time-related impacts of treatment (nAMD/DME), higher impacts on finances and daily life (nAMD), negative impact on employment and lower expectations for treatment effectiveness (DME). Most patients reported ≥1 barrier (66.1% DME, 49.2% nAMD patients) related to treatment (35.0%), clinic (32.6%), and COVID-19 (21.1%). Moreover, 44.9% of patients reported some impairment in activities of daily living. Work absenteeism was observed among >60% of working patients. Nearly one-quarter (24.2%) of patients needed ≥1 day to recover from intravitreal injections; most reported ≥30 minutes of travel time (73.7%) and clinic wait time (54.2%). In unadjusted univariable analyses, treatment adherence (vs non adherence) was related to higher most recent visual acuity (ß = 8.98 letters; CI, 1.34-16.62) and lower odds of visual acuity below driving vision (≤ 69 letters) (OR = 0.50; CI, 0.25-1.00) . CONCLUSION: More durable treatments with reduced frequency of injections/visits may reduce treatment burden and improve patient satisfaction, which may enhance adherence and visual outcomes.

Rationale and Design of VOYAGER: Long-term Outcomes of Faricimab and Port Delivery System with Ranibizumab for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema in Clinical Practice.

Purpose: To describe the rationale and design of the VOYAGER (NCT05476926) study, which aims to investigate the safety and effectiveness of faricimab and the Port Delivery System with ranibizumab (PDS) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME) in clinical practice. VOYAGER also aims to understand drivers of clinical practice treatment outcomes by gaining novel insight into the intersection of treatment regimens, decisions, anatomic outcomes, and vision. Design: Primary data collection, noninterventional, prospective, multinational, multicenter clinical practice study. Participants: At least 5000 patients initiating/continuing faricimab or PDS for nAMD/DME (500 sites, 31 countries). Methods: Management will be per usual care, with no mandated scheduled visits/imaging protocol requirements. Using robust methodologies, relevant clinical and ophthalmic data, including visual acuity (VA), and data on treatment clinical setting/regimens/philosophies, presence of anatomic features, and safety events will be collected. Routinely collected fundus images will be uploaded to the proprietary Imaging Platform for analysis. An innovative investigator interface will graphically display the patient treatment journey with the aim of optimizing treatment decisions. Main Outcome Measures: Primary end point: VA change from baseline at 12 months per study cohort (faricimab in nAMD and in DME, PDS in nAMD). Secondary end points: VA change over time and per treatment regimens (fixed, treat-and-extend, pro re nata, and other) and number. Exploratory end points: VA change in relation to presence/location of anatomic features that impact vision (fluid, central subfield thickness, fibrosis, atrophy, subretinal hyperreflective material, diabetic retinopathy severity, and disorganization of retinal inner layers) and per treatment regimen/philosophies. The impact of regional and practice differences on outcomes will be assessed as will safety. Results: Recruitment commenced in November 2022 and will continue until late 2027, allowing for up to 5 years follow-up. Exploratory interim analyses are planned annually. Conclusions: VOYAGER is an innovative study of retinal diseases that will assess the effectiveness and safety of faricimab and PDS in nAMD and DME and identify clinician- and disease-related factors driving treatment outcomes in clinical practices globally to help optimize vision outcomes. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Associations with Non-Persistence with Intra-Vitreal Therapy for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration at 24 Months.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate non-persistence with treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NvAMD) before day 720 (24 months) after initiation, explore associations with baseline characteristics and variation between sites. METHODS: Anonymised demographic and clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records at treating National Health Service (NHS) Trusts for NvAMD eyes starting intra-vitreal therapy from 2017 to 2018. Time to non-persistence with treatment, defined as no recorded attendance for either monitoring or treatment for a period ≥6 months, was visualised with a Kaplan-Meier survival plot. Associations with treatment non-persistence were investigated using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Analysis included 7,970 eyes of 7,112 patients treated at 13 NHS trusts. Censoring deaths and those eyes in which treatment was stopped permanently, the Kaplan-Meier analyses demonstrated survival figures of 77.7% for persistence with treatment to day 360 and 71.8% to day 720. Hazard ratios for non-persistence with treatment were reduced at 10 sites, relative to the reference, with first-treated eye status and with baseline acuity worse than or equal to LogMAR 1.0. Hazard ratios increased with younger age, in the presence of other ocular co-morbidities and with baseline acuity better than or equal to LogMAR 0.5. After an episode of non-persistence, visual acuity decreased by at least 0.1 and 0.3 LogMAR in 39% and 18% of eyes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Non-persistence with treatment was common, especially in the first year of treatment, and was often associated with a decrease in visual acuity. Treatment site, baseline visual acuity, and age were the strongest predictors of treatment non-persistence before day 720. Understanding and addressing reasons for non-persistence are important to ensure that effective but expensive treatments are used cost-effectively and to maintain acuity. Variation in non-persistence between sites, even after adjustment for other variables, suggests that local factors in treatment provision may be particularly important.

Outcomes of Over 40,000 Eyes Treated for Diabetic Macula Edema in Routine Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated effectiveness and safety outcomes of diabetic macula edema (DME) treatment in routine clinical practice. METHODS: A literature search was conducted of peer-reviewed articles published from January 2011 to September 2021. Studies of DME treatment in real-world practice of at least 6 months with at least 50 eyes at baseline were included. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were excluded. The primary outcome for this meta-analysis was change in visual acuity (VA) 12 months after starting treatment. RESULTS: Of 3034 initially identified studies, 138 met selection criteria, representing more than 40,000 eyes. The mean 12-month VA gain was 4.6 letters (95% CI 3.7, 5.4; baseline 58.6) for vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF), 4.4 (2.5, 6.3; baseline 54.2) for steroids, and 2.1 (- 1.2, 5.3; baseline 63.6) for macular laser. Australian and New Zealand studies had better baseline VA when initiating treatment compared with Asia, Europe, and North America, translating to better VA at 12 months. Fewer anti-VEGF injections were delivered in real-world practice than registrational RCTs. Neither systemic nor ocular safety was consistently reported. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal anti-VEGF or steroids for DME generally led to visual gains in real-world practice but these were less impressive than RCTs, with undertreatment and differences in baseline characteristics likely contributing factors.

Drivers of and Barriers to Adherence to Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema Treatment Management Plans: A Multi-National Qualitative Study.

Purpose: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) patients treated with intravitreally injected anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) monotherapies achieve lower vision improvements compared with patients in clinical trials. This qualitative research study aimed to better understand the real-world anti-VEGF treatment experience from nAMD and DME patients', caregivers', and retina specialists' perspectives. Methods: One-time, semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted with adult patients with nAMD or DME treated with anti-VEGF injections for ≥12 months, their caregivers, and experienced retina specialists. Interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively using a thematic analysis approach. Results: A total of 49 nAMD and 46 DME patients, 47 nAMD and 33 DME caregivers, and 62 retina specialists were interviewed in the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Most (79%) patients and caregivers reported disruptions to their routine on the day before, the day of, or the day after anti-VEGF injection. Seven nAMD patients (14%) and 14 DME patients (30%) reported having missed an injection visit. The most frequently reported driver for adherence for patients was the doctor-patient relationship (n=66, 70%), whereas for caregivers, it was the ease of booking an appointment (n=25, 32%). Retina specialists reported patient education on the treatment (n=28, 45%) as the most important driver. Treatment barriers could be grouped into four categories: tolerability, clinical factors, logistical parameters and human factors. The most frequently reported barrier to adherence for patients and caregivers was related to side effects (pain/discomfort/irritation: n=63, 67% of patients; n=52, 66% of caregivers), whereas for retina specialists it was logistical parameters (travel logistics: n=44, 71%). Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and patient education as key drivers, and treatment tolerability and logistics as key barriers to treatment adherence. Improved doctor-patient relationship/communication and patient education together with new therapies offering convenience, long-acting effectiveness, and better tolerability may improve treatment adherence.

Epigenome-wide analysis of long-term air pollution exposure and DNA methylation in monocytes: results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Air pollution might affect atherosclerosis through DNA methylation changes in cells crucial to atherosclerosis, such as monocytes. We conducted an epigenome-wide study of DNA methylation in CD14+ monocytes and long-term ambient air pollution exposure in adults participating in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). We also assessed the association between differentially methylated signals and cis-gene expression. Using spatiotemporal models, one-year average concentrations of outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) were estimated at participants' homes. We assessed DNA methylation and gene expression using Illumina 450k and HumanHT-12 v4 Expression BeadChips, respectively (n = 1,207). We used bump hunting and site-specific approaches to identify differentially methylated signals (false discovery rate of 0.05) and used linear models to assess associations between differentially methylated signals and cis-gene expression. Four differentially methylated regions (DMRs) located on chromosomes 5, 6, 7, and 16 (within or near SDHAP3, ZFP57, HOXA5, and PRM1, respectively) were associated with PM2.5. The DMRs on chromosomes 5 and 6 also associated with NOX. The DMR on chromosome 5 had the smallest p-value for both PM2.5 (p = 1.4×10-6) and NOX (p = 7.7×10-6). Three differentially methylated CpGs were identified for PM2.5, and cg05926640 (near TOMM20) had the smallest p-value (p = 5.6×10-8). NOX significantly associated with cg11756214 within ZNF347 (p = 5.6×10-8). Several differentially methylated signals were also associated with cis-gene expression. The DMR located on chromosome 7 was associated with the expression of HOXA5, HOXA9, and HOXA10. The DMRs located on chromosomes 5 and 16 were associated with expression of MRPL36 and DEXI, respectively. The CpG cg05926640 was associated with expression of ARID4B, IRF2BP2, and TOMM20. We identified differential DNA methylation in monocytes associated with long-term air pollution exposure. Methylation signals associated with gene expression might help explain how air pollution contributes to cardiovascular disease.

Trends in Acute Myocardial Infarction by Race and Ethnicity.

Background Trends in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) incidence rates for diverse races/ethnicities are largely unknown, presenting barriers to understanding the role of race/ethnicity in AMI occurrence. Methods and Results We identified AMI hospitalizations for Kaiser Permanente Southern California members, aged ≥35 years, during 2000 to 2014 using discharge diagnostic codes. We excluded hospitalizations with missing race/ethnicity information. We calculated annual incidence rates (age and sex standardized to the 2010 US census population) for AMI, ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction by race/ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic racial groups: Asian or Pacific Islander, black, and white). Using Poisson regression, we estimated annual percentage change in AMI, non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction incidence by race/ethnicity and AMI incidence rate ratios between race/ethnicity pairs, adjusting for age and sex. We included 18 630 776 person-years of observation and identified 44 142 AMI hospitalizations. During 2000 to 2014, declines in AMI, non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction were 48.7%, 34.2%, and 69.8%, respectively. Age- and sex-standardized AMI hospitalization rates/100 000 person-years declined for Hispanics (from 307 to 162), Asians or Pacific Islanders (from 271 to 158), blacks (from 347 to 199), and whites (from 376 to 189). Annual percentage changes ranged from -2.99% to -4.75%, except for blacks, whose annual percentage change was -5.32% during 2000 to 2009 and -1.03% during 2010 to 2014. Conclusions During 2000 to 2014, AMI, non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction hospitalization incidence rates declined substantially for each race/ethnic group. Despite narrowing rates among races/ethnicities, differences persist. Understanding these differences can help identify unmet needs in AMI prevention and management to guide targeted interventions.

Antibiotic and antifungal treatment among persons with confirmed coccidioidomycosis - Southern California, 2011.

We investigated coccidioidomycosis testing and treatment patterns among persons in an integrated healthcare delivery system to identify gaps in diagnosis and treatment. Coccidioidomycosis diagnosis delays were common. Among persons who tested positive, 70% were prescribed antibiotics before positive coccidioidomycosis tests. Antibiotic treatment decreased and antifungal treatment increased after positive testing.

Validity of ICD-10-CM codes for determination of diabetes type for persons with youth-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Diagnosis codes might be used for diabetes surveillance if they accurately distinguish diabetes type. We assessed the validity of International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes to discriminate between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among health plan members with youth-onset (diagnosis age <20 years) diabetes. Research design and methods: Diabetes case identification and abstraction of diabetes type was done as part of the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. The gold standard for diabetes type is the physician-assigned diabetes type documented in patients' medical records. Using all healthcare encounters with ICD-10-CM codes for diabetes, we summarized codes within each encounter and determined diabetes type using percent of encounters classified as T2DM. We chose 50% as the threshold from a receiver operating characteristic curve because this threshold yielded the largest Youden's index. Persons with ≥50% T2DM-coded encounters were classified as having T2DM. Otherwise, persons were classified as having T1DM. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy overall and by demographic characteristics. Results: According to the gold standard, 1911 persons had T1DM and 652 persons had T2DM (mean age (SD): 19.1 (6.5) years). We obtained 90.6% (95% CI 88.4% to 92.9%) sensitivity, 96.3% (95% CI 95.4% to 97.1%) specificity, 89.3% (95% CI 86.9% to 91.6%) positive predictive value, 96.8% (95% CI 96.0% to 97.6%) negative predictive value, and 94.8% (95% CI 94.0% to 95.7%) accuracy for discriminating T2DM from T1DM. Conclusions: ICD-10-CM codes can accurately classify diabetes type for persons with youth-onset diabetes, showing promise for rapid, cost-efficient diabetes surveillance.

Tobacco exposure-related alterations in DNA methylation and gene expression in human monocytes: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Alterations in DNA methylation and gene expression in blood leukocytes are potential biomarkers of harm and mediators of the deleterious effects of tobacco exposure. However, methodological issues, including the use of self-reported smoking status and mixed cell types have made previously identified alterations in DNA methylation and gene expression difficult to interpret. In this study, we examined associations of tobacco exposure with DNA methylation and gene expression, utilizing a biomarker of tobacco exposure (urine cotinine) and CD14+ purified monocyte samples from 934 participants of the community-based Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Urine cotinine levels were measured using an immunoassay. DNA methylation and gene expression were measured with microarrays. Multivariate linear regression was used to test for associations adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and study site. Urine cotinine levels were associated with methylation of 176 CpGs [false discovery rate (FDR)<0.01]. Four CpGs not previously identified by studies of non-purified blood samples nominally replicated (P value<0.05) with plasma cotinine-associated methylation in 128 independent monocyte samples. Urine cotinine levels associated with expression of 12 genes (FDR<0.01), including increased expression of P2RY6 (Beta ± standard error = 0.078 ± 0.008, P = 1.99 × 10-22), a gene previously identified to be involved in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. No cotinine-associated (FDR<0.01) methylation profiles significantly (FDR<0.01) correlated with cotinine-associated (FDR<0.01) gene expression profiles. In conclusion, our findings i) identify potential monocyte-specific smoking-associated methylation patterns and ii) suggest that alterations in methylation may not be a main mechanism regulating gene expression in monocytes in response to cigarette smoking.

PACAP Promotes Matrix-Driven Adhesion of Cultured Adult Murine Neural Progenitors.

New neurons are born throughout the life of mammals in germinal zones of the brain known as neurogenic niches: the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. These niches contain a subpopulation of cells known as adult neural progenitor cells (aNPCs), which self-renew and give rise to new neurons and glia. aNPCs are regulated by many factors present in the niche, including the extracellular matrix (ECM). We show that the neuropeptide PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) affects subventricular zone-derived aNPCs by increasing their surface adhesion. Gene array and reconstitution assays indicate that this effect can be attributed to the regulation of ECM components and ECM-modifying enzymes in aNPCs by PACAP. Our work suggests that PACAP regulates a bidirectional interaction between the aNPCs and their niche: PACAP modifies ECM production and remodeling, in turn the ECM regulates progenitor cell adherence. We speculate that PACAP may in this manner help restrict adult neural progenitors to the stem cell niche in vivo, with potential significance for aNPC function in physiological and pathological states.

Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict Domain-Specific Cognitive Decline in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Vascular risk factors, including inflammation, may contribute to dementia development. We investigated the associations between peripheral inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive decline in five domains (memory, construction, language, psychomotor speed, and executive function). METHODS: Community-dwelling older adults from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study (n = 1,159, aged 75 or older) free of dementia at baseline were included and followed for up to 7 years. Ten biomarkers were measured at baseline representing different sources of inflammation: vascular inflammation (pentraxin 3 and serum amyloid P), endothelial function (endothelin-1), metabolic function (adiponectin, resistin, and plasminogen activating inhibitor-1), oxidative stress (receptor for advanced glycation end products), and general inflammation (interleukin-6, interleukin-2, and interleukin-10). A combined z-score was created from these biomarkers to represent total inflammation across these sources. We utilized generalized estimating equations that included an interaction term between z-scores and time to assess effect of inflammation on cognitive decline, adjusting for demographics (such as age, race/ethnicity, and sex), cardiovascular risk factors, and apolipoprotein E ε4 carrier status. A Bonferroni-adjusted significance level of .01 was used. We explored associations between individual biomarkers and cognitive decline without adjustment for multiplicity. RESULTS: The combined inflammation z-score was significantly associated with memory and psychomotor speed (p < .01). Pentraxin 3, serum amyloid P, endothelin-1, and interleukin-2 were associated with change in at least one cognitive domain (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that total inflammation is associated with memory and psychomotor speed. In particular, systemic inflammation, vascular inflammation, and altered endothelial function may play roles in domain-specific cognitive decline of nondemented individuals.

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure Associations With DNA Methylation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor.

INTRODUCTION: Cigarette smoking is inversely associated with DNA methylation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR; cg05575921). However, the association between secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure and AHRR methylation is unknown. METHODS: DNA methylation of AHRR cg05575921 in CD14+ monocyte samples, from 495 never-smokers and 411 former smokers (having quit smoking ≥15 years) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), was cross-sectionally compared with concomitantly ascertained self-reported SHS exposure, urine cotinine concentrations, and estimates of air pollutants at participants' homes. Linear regression was used to test for associations, and covariates included age, sex, race, education, study site, and previous smoking exposure (smoking status, time since quitting, and pack-years). RESULTS: Recent indoor SHS exposure (hours per week) was inversely associated with cg05575921 methylation (ß ± SE = -0.009 ± 0.003, p = .007). The inverse effect direction was consistent (but did not reach significance) in the majority of stratified analyses (by smoking status, sex, and race). Categorical analysis revealed high levels of recent SHS exposure (≥10 hours per week) inversely associated with cg05575921 methylation (ß ± SE = -0.28 ± 0.09, p = .003), which remained significant (p < .05) in the majority of stratified analyses. cg05575921 methylation did not significantly (p < .05) associate with low to moderate levels of recent SHS exposure (1-9 hours per week), urine cotinine concentrations, years spent living with people smoking, years spent indoors (not at home) with people smoking, or estimated levels of air pollutants. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of recent indoor SHS exposure may be inversely associated with DNA methylation of AHRR in human monocytes. IMPLICATIONS: DNA methylation is a biochemical alteration that can occur in response to cigarette smoking; however, little is known about the effect of SHS on human DNA methylation. In the present study, we evaluated the association between SHS exposure and DNA methylation in human monocytes, at a site (AHRR cg05575921) known to have methylation inversely associated with current and former cigarette smoking compared to never smoking. Results from this study suggest high levels of recent SHS exposure inversely associate with DNA methylation of AHRR cg05575921 in monocytes from nonsmokers, albeit with weaker effects than active cigarette smoking.

Long-term outdoor air pollution and DNA methylation in circulating monocytes: results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

BACKGROUND: DNA methylation may mediate effects of air pollution on cardiovascular disease. The association between long-term air pollution exposure and DNA methylation in monocytes, which are central to atherosclerosis, has not been studied. We investigated the association between long-term ambient air pollution exposure and DNA methylation (candidate sites and global) in monocytes of adults (aged ≥55). METHODS: One-year average ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) concentrations were predicted at participants' (n = 1,207) addresses using spatiotemporal models. We assessed DNA methylation in circulating monocytes at 1) 2,713 CpG sites associated with mRNA expression of nearby genes and 2) probes mapping to Alu and LINE-1 repetitive elements (surrogates for global DNA methylation) using Illumina's Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. We used linear regression models adjusted for demographics, smoking, physical activity, socioeconomic status, methyl-nutrients, and technical variables. For significant air pollution-associated methylation sites, we also assessed the association between expression of gene transcripts previously associated with these CpG sites and air pollution. RESULTS: At a false discovery rate of 0.05, five candidate CpGs (cg20455854, cg07855639, cg07598385, cg17360854, and cg23599683) had methylation significantly associated with PM2.5 and none were associated with NOX. Cg20455854 had the smallest p-value for the association with PM2.5 (p = 2.77 × 10-5). mRNA expression profiles of genes near three of the PM2.5-associated CpGs (ANKHD1, LGALS2, and ANKRD11) were also significantly associated with PM2.5 exposure. Alu and LINE-1 methylation were not associated with long-term air pollution exposure. CONCLUSIONS: We observed novel associations between long-term ambient air pollution exposure and site-specific DNA methylation, but not global DNA methylation, in purified monocytes of a multi-ethnic adult population. Epigenetic markers may provide insights into mechanisms underlying environmental factors in complex diseases like atherosclerosis.

Individual and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and the Association between Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Long-term fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is linked with cardiovascular disease, and disadvantaged status may increase susceptibility to air pollution-related health effects. In addition, there are concerns that this association may be partially explained by confounding by socioeconomic status (SES). OBJECTIVES: We examined the roles that individual- and neighborhood-level SES (NSES) play in the association between PM2.5 exposure and cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The study population comprised 51,754 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. PM2.5 concentrations were predicted at participant residences using fine-scale regionalized universal kriging models. We assessed individual-level SES and NSES (Census-tract level) across several SES domains including education, occupation, and income/wealth, as well as through an NSES score, which captures several important dimensions of SES. Cox proportional-hazards regression adjusted for SES factors and other covariates to determine the risk of a first cardiovascular event. RESULTS: A 5 µg/m3 higher exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a 13% increased risk of cardiovascular event [hazard ratio (HR) 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 1.26]. Adjustment for SES factors did not meaningfully affect the risk estimate. Higher risk estimates were observed among participants living in low-SES neighborhoods. The most and least disadvantaged quartiles of the NSES score had HRs of 1.39 (95% CI: 1.21, 1.61) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.07), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Women with lower NSES may be more susceptible to air pollution-related health effects. The association between air pollution and cardiovascular disease was not explained by confounding from individual-level SES or NSES. Citation: Chi GC, Hajat A, Bird CE, Cullen MR, Griffin BA, Miller KA, Shih RA, Stefanick ML, Vedal S, Whitsel EA, Kaufman JD. 2016. Individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status and the association between air pollution and cardiovascular disease. Environ Health Perspect 124:1840-1847; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP199.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and risk of dementia in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) mass and activity with risk of dementia and its subtypes. METHODS: Analysis were completed on 3320 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), a population-based longitudinal study of community-dwelling adults age ≥65 years followed for an average of 5.4 years. Baseline serum Lp-PLA2 mass was measured using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay and Lp-PLA2 activity utilized a tritiated-platelet activating factor activity assay. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the relative risk of incident dementia with higher baseline Lp-PLA2 adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors, inflammation markers and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. RESULTS: Each standard deviation higher Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were related to increased risk of dementia (fully adjusted HR: 1.11 per SD, 95% CI: 1.00-1.24 for mass; HR: 1.12 per SD, 95% CI: 1.00-1.26 for activity). Persons in the highest quartile of Lp-PLA2 mass were 50% more likely to develop dementia than those in the lowest quartile in adjusted models (HR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.08-2.06). Among dementia subtypes, the risk of AD was increased two-fold in the highest compared to lowest quartile of Lp-PLA2 mass (adjusted HR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.22-3.21). Results were attenuated in models of mixed dementia and VaD. Lp-PLA2 activity also doubled the risk of mixed dementia in the highest compared to lowest quartile (HR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.12-4.373). INTERPRETATION: These data support Lp-PLA2 as a risk factor for dementia independent of CVD and its risk factors. Further study is required to clarify the role of Lp-PLA2-related mechanisms in dementia subtypes.

Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide counteracts hedgehog-dependent motor neuron production in mouse embryonic stem cell cultures.

Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP; ADCYAP1) is a neuropeptide that regulates a wide array of functions within the brain and periphery. We and others have previously demonstrated that PACAP and its high-affinity receptor PAC1 are expressed in the embryonic mouse neural tube, suggesting that PACAP plays a role in early brain development. Moreover, we previously showed that PACAP antagonizes the mitotic action of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in postnatal cerebellar granule precursors. In the present study, we demonstrate that PACAP completely blocked Shh-dependent motor neuron generation from embryonic stem cell cultures and reduced mRNA levels of the Shh target gene Gli-1 and several ventral spinal cord patterning genes. In vivo examination of motor neuron and other patterning markers in embryonic day 12.5 spinal cords of wild-type and PACAP-deficient mice by immunofluorescence, on the other hand, revealed no obvious alterations in expressions of Islet1/2, MNR2, Lim1/2, Nkx2.2, or Shh, although the Pax6-positive area was slightly expanded in PACAP-deficient spinal cord. Caspase-3 staining revealed low, and similar, numbers of cells undergoing apoptosis in embryonic wild-type vs. PACAP-deficient spinal cords, whereas a slight but significant increase in number of mitotic cells was observed in PACAP-deficient mice. Thus, although PACAP has a strong capacity to counteract Shh signaling and motor neuron production in vitro, corresponding patterning defects associated with PACAP loss may be obscured by compensatory mechanisms.