OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between lipoprotein (a) (LP(a)) and cerebral infarction in young adults.

METHODSSerum LP(a) of 90 young adults (age below 45 years) with cerebral infarction was measured. Serum lipids include triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were also measured. Other possible risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, drinking and family stroke history were reviewed.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference of serum LP(a) value between stroke patients and controls. TG (P < 0.01) and ApoB (P < 0.01) values in patients with cerebral infarction were significant higher than those in controls. Lipoprotein (a) was correlated with total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, with the values of correlation coefficient (r) 0.28 and 0.23 (both P < 0.01). After adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, smoking, drinking alcohol, family stroke history and other serum lipids, the odd radio for LP(a) and cerebral infarction was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.27 - 1.98). The odd radio for elevated TG was 3.57 (95% CI: 1.34 - 9.49); The odd ratios for hypertension, heart diseases and smoking as risk factors for cerebral infarction in young patients showed as: hypertension OR = 8.18, 95% CI: 2.54 - 26.33; heart diseases: OR = 8.51, 95% CI: 2.27 - 31.85; smoking: OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.27 - 8.13.

CONCLUSIONLP(a) might not be a risk factor for cerebral infarction in young patients while elevated triglyceride, hypertension, heart diseases and smoking were important risk factors in young adults with cerebral infarction.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; epidemiology ; etiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Lipoprotein(a) ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on thyroid gland volume, thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies in the areas with different iodine intakes.

METHODSA cross-sectional epidemiological study in Panshan (mild iodine-deficient area), Zhangwu (more than adequate iodine intake area) and Huanghua (iodine-excessive area) was conducted in 3761 subjects in 1999.80.2 % of them were followed up in 2004. Questionnaires, thyroid function, thyroid autoantibodies, urinary iodine concentration,and thyroid B ultrasound were performed.

RESULTSThe prevalence of goiter was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (15.1% vs. 11.5%, P< 0.05). The average thyroid volume was higher in smokers with phenomenon more obvious in Panshan and Huanghua areas. Data from logistic analysis showed that smoking cigarette was an independent risk factor of goiter. There was no difference in serum TSH and Tg level between smokers and non-smokers. The positive rate of TPOAb (>100 IU/ml) was higher in smokers than in non-smokers(10.8% vs. 9.0 % , P <0.05) and was especially obvious in Huanghua area. Smoking was a independent risk factor of increasing positive rate of TPOAb. During the prospective observation,it was found that the incidence of positive TPOAb(>,100 IU/ml) was 7.4% in the subjects that were from non-smokers turning to smokers and 2.9% in those whose smoking behavior did not change. Logistic analysis indicated that the shifting from non-smoking to smoking was independent risk factor for the increase on high incidence of positive TPOAb.

CONCLUSIONSmoking cigarette was a independent risk factor of goiter. Smoking was also a risk factor of increasing TPOAb positive rate. Shifting from not smoking to smoking was an independent risk factor of increasing high incidence of positive TPOAb.

Autoantibodies ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Goiter ; blood ; epidemiology ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood

PURPOSE: The goal of this study is to assess the interactions among alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) / alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratios on esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alcohol and the risk of incidence and death from esophageal cancer were examined in a 14-year prospective cohort study of 782,632 Korean men, 30 to 93 years of age, who received health insurance from the National Health Insurance Corporation and had a medical evaluation from 1992 to 1995. RESULTS: Smoking, alcohol intake, and AST/ALT ratios were associated with the increased risk of esophageal cancer in a dose-dependent manner independent of each other. Smoking was associated with an increased risk of incidence [Hazard ratio (HR) = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.8 to 2.5] and mortality (HR = 2.5, 2.0 to 3.1). Combined HR of incidence for alcohol consumption (> 25 g/day) and smoking was 4.5 (3.8-5.5); for alcohol (> 25 g/day) and the AST/ALT ratio (> or = 2.0), it was 5.8 (4.6-7.2); for smoking and the AST/ALT ratio (> or = 2.0), it was 6.3 (5.1-7.5). Similar results were seen for mortality from esophageal cancer. Subjects who drank > or = 25 g/day with an AST/ALT ratio > or = 2 had a higher risk of esophageal cancer incidence (HR = 6.5, 4.8 to 8.7) compared with those who drank > or = 25 g/day with an AST/ALT ratio < 2 (HR = 2.2, 1.9 to 2.6). CONCLUSION: Alcohol, smoking, and the AST/ALT ratio are independently associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer but did not interact synergistically. The combination of the AST/ALT ratio with a questionnaire for alcohol consumption may increase the effectiveness for determining the risk of esophageal cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alanine Transaminase/*blood ; Alcohol Drinking/*adverse effects ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/*blood ; Esophageal Neoplasms/*enzymology/*epidemiology/etiology ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/*adverse effects

PURPOSE: The goal of this study is to assess the interactions among alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) / alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratios on esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alcohol and the risk of incidence and death from esophageal cancer were examined in a 14-year prospective cohort study of 782,632 Korean men, 30 to 93 years of age, who received health insurance from the National Health Insurance Corporation and had a medical evaluation from 1992 to 1995. RESULTS: Smoking, alcohol intake, and AST/ALT ratios were associated with the increased risk of esophageal cancer in a dose-dependent manner independent of each other. Smoking was associated with an increased risk of incidence [Hazard ratio (HR) = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.8 to 2.5] and mortality (HR = 2.5, 2.0 to 3.1). Combined HR of incidence for alcohol consumption (> 25 g/day) and smoking was 4.5 (3.8-5.5); for alcohol (> 25 g/day) and the AST/ALT ratio (> or = 2.0), it was 5.8 (4.6-7.2); for smoking and the AST/ALT ratio (> or = 2.0), it was 6.3 (5.1-7.5). Similar results were seen for mortality from esophageal cancer. Subjects who drank > or = 25 g/day with an AST/ALT ratio > or = 2 had a higher risk of esophageal cancer incidence (HR = 6.5, 4.8 to 8.7) compared with those who drank > or = 25 g/day with an AST/ALT ratio < 2 (HR = 2.2, 1.9 to 2.6). CONCLUSION: Alcohol, smoking, and the AST/ALT ratio are independently associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer but did not interact synergistically. The combination of the AST/ALT ratio with a questionnaire for alcohol consumption may increase the effectiveness for determining the risk of esophageal cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alanine Transaminase/*blood ; Alcohol Drinking/*adverse effects ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/*blood ; Esophageal Neoplasms/*enzymology/*epidemiology/etiology ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/*adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the associated risk factors of metabolic syndrome in Jiangsu province, China.

METHODSUsing identical protocol and questionnaire, an epidemiological study was carried out in a population of 5888 adults in 12 counties in Jiangsu. Anthropometric test and blood sampling were conducted at the time of interview. IDF (2005) was used as the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome . The prevalence and age-standardized prevalence of metabolic syndrome were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify associated risk factors.

RESULTSThe prevalence and age-standardized prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Jiangsu were 19.07% (11.10% in males and 25.72% in females) and 17.48% (11.49% in males, 22.86 % in females), respectively. Among the potential risk factors of metabolic syndrome as gender, age, education level, occupation, income, physical activity, smoking, alcohol drinking, disease family history, data from univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that gender (OR = 1.91), age (OR = 1.15), physical inactivity (OR = 1.94), with hypertension family history (OR = 1.99) and with obesity family history (OR = 6.24) could significantly increase the risk of disease development.

CONCLUSIONMetabolic syndrome has become a significant public health problem among the adults in Jiangsu province.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; physiology ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether smoking and the smoking status are predictors of the incident impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes in Korean men. METHODS: A cohort of 1,717 Korean men without IFG or diabetes, who underwent annual periodic health examinations for 4 years (2002-2006), were retrospectively investigated. IFG and diabetes were defined as a serum fasting glucose concentration of 100-125 mg/dL and more than 126 mg/dL, respectively. Cox's proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association between smoking and development of IFG or type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: A total of 558 cases (32.5%) of incident IFG and 50 cases (2.9%) of diabetes occurred. After controlling for the potential predictors of diabetes, the relative risk for IFG, compared with the never smokers, was 1.02 (95% CI=0.88 to 1.19) for the ever-smokers, 0.96 (95% CI=0.79-1.16) for those who smoked 1-9 cigarettes/d, 1.15 (95% CI=1.01 to 1.30) for those who smoked 10-19 cigarettes/d, and 1.31 (95% CI=1.10 to 1.57) for those who smoked 20 or more cigarettes/d (the P value for the current smokers was only p<0.002). The respective multivariate adjusted relative risks for type 2 diabetes, compared with the neversmokers, were 1.07 (95% CI=0.64 to 1.92), 1.47 (95% CI=0.71 to 3.04), 1.84 (95% CI=0.92-3.04), and 1.87 (95% CI=1.13-3.67), respectively (the P value for the current smokers was only p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The smoking status and the number of cigarettes smoked daily are associated with an increased risk for developing IFG or type 2 diabetes in Korean men.
Adult ; Blood Glucose/*analysis ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*metabolism ; Health Behavior ; Health Status ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/*adverse effects

Many risk factors for atherosclerosis have been proposed to identify high risk individuals. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the risk factors for development of carotid stenosis (CS) in Koreans. Database of 2,805 subjects who underwent a check up of carotid artery for health examination were analyzed. Stenosis (%) of common carotid artery or proximal internal carotid artery was examined with ultrasonography. Subjects were divided into 2 groups (Group I; CS <10%, Group II; CS > or =30%). We compared demographic, laboratory and clinical data between 2 groups to determine the risk factors of CS. One hundred ninety seven subjects (7.0%) were categorized as Group II. At age- and sex-adjusted multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, aspirin medication, current smoking, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and leukocyte count were significant risk factors of CS. At stepwise logistic regression analysis, age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, LDL-C and leukocyte count were independent risk factors. At subgroup analysis by smoking, age and leukocyte count were independent risk factors in smoker and age and hypertension in nonsmoker.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Carotid Stenosis/blood/*epidemiology/etiology ; Cholesterol/blood ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lipoproteins, LDL Cholesterol/blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo determine whether smoking increases the risk for developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Chinese men.

METHODSA total of 693 men with no MetS at baseline were followed for 2.9-5.5 years. Subjects were divided into nonsmokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers according to baseline smoking status.

RESULTSAfter adjusting for age, education level, alcohol intake, fasting plasma insulin, HOMA-IR index, and BMI at baseline and weight change, current smokers were dose-dependently associated with increased risk for developing new MetS compared with nonsmokers. The odds ratio (OR) was 2.131 (95% CI, 1.264, 3.592; P<0.01) for the NCEPIII definition or 3.083 (95% CI, 1.807, 5.295; P<0.01) for the JCDCG definition of MetS. Ex-smokers who had quit for ≥13 years significantly decreased the risk for developing new MetS defined by the JCDCG definition. Compared with nonsmokers, current smokers were significantly associated with increased incidence of hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C.

CONCLUSIONSmoking is a risk factor for developing MetS in Chinese men after adjusting for age, education level, alcohol intake, fasting plasma insulin, HOMA-IR, BMI, and weight change. This could be due to an increased incidence of dyslipidemia. Smoking cessation for >13 years decreased the risk for developing MetS defined by the JCDCG definition.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; epidemiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; blood ; epidemiology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; blood ; epidemiology ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVETo identify independent risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) in Chinese men and to develop a model to predict risk profile of an individual suffering MI.

METHODSStudy sample included 5 137 men aged 45.2 +/- 7.8 years who came from a cohort in Beijing Capital Steel and Iron Company, based on the three surveys on coronary heart disease conducted in 1974, 1979 and 1980, respectively. Demographic data and other risk factors, such as life style, medical history, blood pressure, total serum cholesterol level (TC), etc. were collected according to the same protocol in 1980. All the participants were followed up for MI in an average period of 20.84 years until 2001.

RESULTS(1) There were 122 cases with MI identified during the period of follow-up, with an incidence of MI 117.4 per 100 000 person-years. Age of more than 50, smoking, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) levels, higher TC all were identified as important risk factors of MI. (2) Incidence of MI increased with TC. An increment of 0.52 mmol/L of TC significantly increased relative risk of MI by approximately 40% after adjusted for age, blood pressure and smoking. (3) An increment of 20 mm Hg in SBP or 10 mm Hg in DBP associated with a 40% increase in incidence of MI, adjusting for age, TC and smoking. (4) Smoking was the most risky factors for MI. Smokers had 2.3 times risk of MI, after as compared to non-smokers (or its incidence increased by 137%), after adjusting for blood pressure, TC and age, etc. (5) Incidence of MI increased by 20% with increment of five-year of age in those aged over 50 (P < 0.05), after adjusting for blood pressure, TC and smoking. And, (6) finally, based on multivariate logistic and Cox regression analyses, a model containing several risk factors, such as age, blood pressure, TC and smoking, was developed to predict individual's risk for afflicting MI.

CONCLUSIONSResults of this prospective study showed several established risk factors for MI, including age, blood pressure, TC and smoking all as independent predictors of MI in Chinese men. It is clear and rational that intervention and modification of those traditional risk factors can lead to a decrease in coronary events in Chinese population.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Steel ; Triglycerides ; blood

PURPOSE: Smoking reportedly exerts deleterious effects on renal function; however, its effects on histology have not been clarified in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal histology was evaluated in a cohort of 397 patients diagnosed with IgAN according to smoking status and dose in relation to renal function. RESULTS: Among the study cohort, which was predominantly male (88.5%), 52 patients (13%) were current smokers. These current smokers demonstrated more frequent hypertension and higher serum creatinine levels than non/ex-smokers at the time of diagnosis, which was apparent with increased smoking dose. The percentages of global glomerulosclerosis and arteriolar hyalinosis increased with increased smoking dose, whereas tubulointerstitial fibrosis or arterial intimal thickening did not. Glomerular mesangial alpha-smooth muscle actin expression were similar between current and non/ex-smokers matched for age, gender, hypertension, and histologic severity, although the number of glomerular CD68+ cells was significantly fewer in smokers. Initial serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and global glomerulosclerosis were found to be risk factors of serum creatinine doubling in both smokers and non/ex-smokers by univariate analysis during a mean follow-up of 3.8 years. CONCLUSION: In addition to dose dependent renal functional decline and hypertension, smoking contributes to renal disease progression by eliciting microvascular injury in IgAN patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Creatinine/blood ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/blood/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney/*pathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Glomerulus/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/*adverse effects/epidemiology