Long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter and stroke etiology: Results from the Women's Health Initiative

Background: Ambient particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a leading cause of global disability and accounts for an annual 2.9 million deaths globally. PM is established as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, however the evidence supporting a link specifically between long-term exposure to ambient PM and incident stroke is less clear. We sought to evaluate the association of long-term exposure to different size fractions of ambient PM with incident stroke (overall and by etiologic subtypes) and cerebrovascular deaths within the Women's Health Initiative, a large prospective study of older women in the US. Methods: We studied 155,410 postmenopausal women without previous cerebrovascular disease enrolled into the study between 1993 and 1998, with follow-up through 2010. We assessed geocoded participant address-specific concentrations of ambient PM (fine [PM2.5], respirable [PM10] and coarse [PM10-2.5]), as well as nitrogen dioxide [NO2] using spatiotemporal models. We classified hospitalization events into ischemic, hemorrhagic, or other/unclassified stroke. Cerebrovascular mortality was defined as death from any stroke etiology. We used Cox proportional hazard models to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for individual and neighborhood-level characteristics. Results: During a median follow-up time of 15 years, participants experienced 4,556 cerebrovascular events. The hazard ratio for all cerebrovascular events was 2.14 (95% CI: 1.87, 2.44) comparing the top versus bottom quartiles of PM2.5. Similarly, there was a statistically significant increase in events comparing the top versus bottom quartiles of PM10 and NO2 (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.33 and HR:1.26; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.42). The strength of association did not vary substantially by stroke etiology. There was little evidence of an association between PMcoarse and incident cerebrovascular events. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to fine (PM2.5) and respirable (PM10) particulate matter as well as NO2 was associated with a significant increase of cerebrovascular events among postmenopausal women. Strength of the associations were consistent by stroke etiology

Evaluación turística de las ferias de artesanos

La artesanía constituye una forma de Patrimonio Inmaterial muy valorada en la actividad turística y su integración en la oferta de los destinos resulta, en la mayoría de los casos espontánea. La modalidad más frecuente de comercialización es en ferias, y éstas siempre se consideran un Atractivo Turístico Cultural, aunque su jerarquía pueda variar. La producción artesanal representa para la comunidad receptora una oportunidad de trabajo a la vez que una forma de expresión de identidad privilegiada, mientras que para los turistas, la artesanía es motivo de interés como actividad complementaria, para el paseo y la compra de recuerdos. En el proyecto de investigación "Turismo y Desarrollo en Destinos Costeros de la Provincia de Buenos Aires" que se desarrolla en el Centro de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales de la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, se trabaja en una propuesta de desarrollo turístico para la localidad de Santa Clara del Mar. En este contexto, se realiza el Relevamiento de Recursos que incluye la identificación y la evaluación de los mismos. La ponencia tiene por objetivo analizar la metodología de evaluación de las Ferias de Artesanos como Atractivo Turístico Cultural. Se presentan los antecedentes, los criterios y subcriterios utilizados, la construcción de un índice que permite comparar este atractivo con otros de diferente tipo, y las técnicas propuestas para realizar esta evaluación de manera participativa, integrando la visión de diferentes actores locales. La metodología de relevamiento se aplicará puntualmente a la Feria Artesanal y de Manualidades de la localidad de Santa Clara del Mar, Partido de Mar Chiquita. La misma se desarrolla durante los meses de verano en la localidad y durante el resto del año como feria itinerante.Fil: Varisco, Cristina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Campoliete, Lucía. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina

Beyond the mean: Quantile regression to explore the association of air pollution with gene-specific methylation in the normative aging study.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution has been related to mean changes in outcomes, including DNA methylation. However, mean regression analyses may not capture associations that occur primarily in the tails of the outcome distribution. OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether the association between particulate air pollution and DNA methylation differs across quantiles of the methylation distribution. We focused on methylation of candidate genes related to coagulation and inflammation: coagulation factor III (F3), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and toll-like receptor 2 (TRL-2). METHODS: We measured gene-specific blood DNA methylation repeatedly in 777 elderly men participating in the Normative Aging Study (1999-2010). We fit quantile regressions for longitudinal data to investigate whether the associations of particle number, PM2.5 black carbon, and PM2.5 mass concentrations (4-weeks moving average) with DNA methylation [expressed as the percentage of methylated cytosines over the sum of methylated and unmethylated cytosines at position 5 (%5mC)] varied across deciles of the methylation distribution. We reported the quantile regression coefficients which corresponded to absolute differences in DNA methylation (expressed in %5mC) associated with an interquartile range increase in air pollution concentration. RESULTS: Interquartile range increases in particle number, PM2.5 black carbon, and PM2.5 mass concentrations were associated with significantly lower methylation in the lower tails of the IFN-γ and ICAM-1 methylation distributions. For instance, a 3.4 µg/m(3) increase in PM2.5 mass concentration was associated with a 0.18%5mC (95% CI: -0.30, -0.06) decrease on the 20th percentile of ICAM-1 methylation, but was not significantly related to the 80th percentile (Estimate: 0.07%5mC, 95% CI: -0.09, 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: In our study population of older men, air pollution exposures were associated with a left shift in the lower tails of the IFN-γ and ICAM-1 methylation distributions

Temporal stability of epigenetic markers: sequence characteristics and predictors of short-term DNA methylation variations

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that has been increasingly investigated in observational human studies, particularly on blood leukocyte DNA. Characterizing the degree and determinants of DNA methylation stability can provide critical information for the design and conduction of human epigenetic studies. in blood samples obtained from 63 healthy individuals at baseline (Day 1) and after three days (Day 4). DNA methylation was measured by bisulfite-PCR-Pyrosequencing. We calculated intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to measure the within-individual stability of DNA methylation between Day 1 and 4, subtracted of pyrosequencing error and adjusted for multiple covariates., ICC = 0.08) between Day 1 and 4. Multiple sequence and marker characteristics were associated with the degree of variation. Density of CpG dinucleotides nearby the sequence analyzed (measured as CpG(o/e) or G+C content within ±200bp) was positively associated with DNA methylation stability. The 3′ proximity to repeat elements and range of DNA methylation on Day 1 were also positively associated with methylation stability. An inverted U-shaped correlation was observed between mean DNA methylation on Day 1 and stability.The degree of short-term DNA methylation stability is marker-dependent and associated with sequence characteristics and methylation levels

Association between blood pressure and DNA methylation of retrotransposons and pro-inflammatory genes

Background Methylation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is an epigenetic regulator of gene expression that changes with age, but its contribution to aging-related disorders, including high blood pressure (BP), is still largely unknown. We examined the relation of BP to the methylation of retrotransposon sequences of DNA and of selected candidate genes. Methods This investigation included 789 elderly participants in the Normative Aging Study, ranging in age from 55 to 100 years, who had longitudinal measurements of DNA methylation. In these subjects DNA we measured the proportion of methylated sites in retrotransposable sequences and in pro-inflammatory genes, expressed as the percent of 5-methylated cytosines (5mC) among all cytosines. From one to four methylation measurements were made for each subject between 1999 and 2009. We fit mixed-effects models, using repeated measures of BP as the outcome and DNA methylation as the explanatory variable, adjusting for confounding variables. We also fit a Bayesian mixed-effects structural equation model to account for heterogeneity in the effects of methylation sites within each gene. Results An increase in inter-quartile range (IQR) in the methylation of Alu elements was associated with an increase of 0.97 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (95 CI 0.32-1.57), but no such association was observed for long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1). We also found positive associations between DBP and methylation of the genes for toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and a negative association between DBP and methylation of the gene for interferon-\u3b3 (IFN-\u3b3). Associations between methylation and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were weaker than those between methylation and DBP. Bayesian mixed-effects structural equation model results were similar for both DBP and SBP models. Conclusions The results of our study suggest that changes in DNA methylation of some pro-inflammatory genes and retrotransposable elements are related to small changes in BP. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Associatio

Prenatal exposure to traffic pollution and childhood body mass index trajectory

10.3389/fendo.2018.00771Frontiers in Endocrinology10JA

DNA methylation-based biomarkers of age acceleration and all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cancer in two cohorts: The NAS, and KORA F4.

Background: DNA methylation (DNAm) may play a role in age-related outcomes. It is not yet known which DNAm-based biomarkers of age acceleration (BoAA) has the strongest association with age-related endpoints. Methods: We collected the blood samples from two independent cohorts: the Normative Ageing Study, and the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg cohort. We measured epigenome-wide DNAm level, and generated five DNAm BoAA at baseline. We used Cox proportional hazards model to analyze the relationships between BoAA and all-cause death. We applied the Fine and Gray competing risk model to estimate the risk of BoAA on myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and cancer, accounting for death of other reasons as the competing risks. We used random-effects meta-analyses to pool the individual results, with adjustment for multiple testing. Findings: The mean chronological ages in the two cohorts were 74, and 61, respectively. Baseline GrimAgeAccel, and DNAm-related mortality risk score (DNAmRS) both had strong associations with all-cause death, MI, and stroke, independent from chronological age. For example, a one standard deviation (SD) increment in GrimAgeAccel was significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR): 2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15, 3.50], higher risk of MI (HR: 1.44; 95% CI, 1.16, 1.79), and elevated risk of stroke (HR: 1.42; 95% CI, 1.06, 1.91). There were no associations between any BoAA and cancer. Interpretation: From the public health perspective, GrimAgeAccel is the most useful tool for identifying at-risk elderly, and evaluating the efficacy of anti-aging interventions. Funding: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of U.S., Harvard Chan-NIEHS Center for Environmental Health, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the State of Bavaria in Germany

Cumulative exposure to environmental pollutants during early pregnancy and reduced fetal growth: The Project Viva cohort

Background: Reduced fetal growth is associated with perinatal and later morbidity. Prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants is linked to reduced fetal growth at birth, but the impact of concomitant exposure to multiple pollutants is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine interactions between early pregnancy exposure to cigarette smoke, traffic pollution, and select perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on birth weight-for-gestational age (BW/GA). Methods: Among 1597 Project Viva mother-infant pairs, we assessed maternal cigarette smoking by questionnaire, traffic pollution at residential address by black carbon land use regression model, and plasma concentration of select PFASs in early pregnancy. We calculated sex-specific BW/GA z-scores, an index of fetal growth, from national reference data. We fit covariate-adjusted multi-pollutant linear regression models and examined interactions between exposures, using a likelihood-ratio test to identify a best-fit model. Results: Two hundred six (13%) mothers smoked during pregnancy. Mean [standard deviation (SD)] for black carbon was 0.8 (0.3) μg/m3, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was 29.1 (16.5) ng/mL, and BW/GA z-score was 0.19 (0.96). In the best-fit model, BW/GA z-score was lower in infants of mothers exposed to greater black carbon [- 0.08 (95% CI: -0.15, - 0.01) per interquartile range (IQR)]. BW/GA z-score (95% CI) was also lower in infants of mothers who smoked [- 0.09 (- 0.23, 0.06)] or were exposed to greater PFOS [- 0.03 (- 0.07, 0.02) per IQR], although confidence intervals crossed the null. There were no interactions between exposures. In secondary analyses, instead of PFOS, we examined perfluorononanoate (PFNA) [mean (SD): 0.7 (0.4) ng/mL], a PFAS more closely linked to lower BW/GA in our cohort. The best-fit multi-pollutant model included positive two-way interactions between PFNA and both black carbon and smoking (p-interactions = 0.03). Conclusions: Concurrent prenatal exposures to maternal smoking, black carbon, and PFOS are additively associated with lower fetal growth, whereas PFNA may attenuate associations of smoking and black carbon with lower fetal growth. It is important to examine interactions between multiple exposures in relation to health outcomes, as effects may not always be additive and may shed light on biological pathways. © 2018 The Author(s)