Search Results (9,073)

Cancers of the urinary system account for 13.1% of new cancer cases and 7.9% of cancer-related deaths. Of them, renal cancer, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer are most prevalent and pose a substantial threat to human health and the quality of life. Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the male urinary system. It is the second most common type of malignant tumor in men, with lung cancer surpassing its incidence and mortality. Bladder cancer has one of the highest incidences and is sex-related, with men reporting a significantly higher incidence than women. Tumor development in the urinary system is associated with factors, such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, diet, occupational exposure, and genetics. The treatment strategies primarily involve surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Cholesterol metabolism is a crucial physiological process associated with developing and progressing urinary system tumors. High cholesterol levels are closely associated with tumor occurrence, invasion, and metastasis. This warrants thoroughly investigating the role of cholesterol metabolism in urinary system tumors and identifying novel treatment methods for the prevention, early diagnosis, targeted treatment, and drug resistance of urinary system tumors. Full article

The burning of Ethylene–Propylene–Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber generates substantial smoke, posing a severe threat to the environment and personal safety. Considering the growing emphasis on safety and environmental protection, conventional non-smoke-suppressing flame retardants no longer satisfy the present application requirements. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop a novel flame retardant capable of suppressing smoke formation while providing flame retardancy. Sepiolite (SEP), a porous silicate clay mineral abundant in silica and magnesium, exhibits notable advantages in the realm of flame retardancy and smoke suppression. This research focuses on the synthesis of two highly efficient flame-retardant smoke suppression systems, namely AEGS and PEGS, using Enteromorpha (EN), graphene (GE), sepiolite (SEP), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and/or piperazine pyrophosphate (PPAP). The studied flame-retardant systems were then applied to EPDM rubber and the flame-retardant and smoke suppression abilities of EPDM/AEGS and EPDM/PEGS composites were compared. The findings indicate that the porous structure of sepiolite plays a significant role in reducing smoke emissions for EPDM composites during combustion. Full article

Oral health remains one of the most taken for granted parts of human body health, even though poor oral health has now been linked to various diseases, such as cancers, diabetes, autoimmune complications, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disease, just to name a few. As we review in this paper, substance use or abuse, including alcohol, smoking, recreational drugs, and pharmaceutical drugs can have significant implications on oral health, which in turn can lead to more systemic diseases. In this paper, we show that oral microbiome dysbiosis and inflammatory cytokine pathways are two of the most significant mechanisms contributing to oral health complications from substance use. When substance use decreases beneficial oral species and increases periodontopathogenic strains, a subsequent cascade of oncogenic and inflammatory cytokines is triggered. In this review, we explore these mechanisms and others to determine the consequences of substance use on oral health. The findings are of significance clinically and in research fields as the substance-use-induced deterioration of oral health significantly reduces quality of life and daily functions. Overall, the studies in this review may provide valuable information for future personalized medicine and safer alternatives to legal and pharmaceutical substances. Furthermore, they can lead towards better rehabilitation or preventative initiatives and policies, as it is critical for healthcare and addiction aid specialists to have proper tools at their disposal. Full article

Background/Objectives: Taste disorders have a negative impact on meal enjoyment, which is essential for maintaining adequate nutrition and quality of life. Japan is a rapidly aging society with an increasing number of individuals with taste disorders. However, despite the increasing prevalence of taste disorders, the correlation between oral frailty and taste sensitivity remains largely unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between oral health status and taste sensitivity among the Japanese population. Methods: Participants were recruited from Kanagawa Dental University Hospital Medical–Dental Collaboration Center between 2018 and 2021. The exclusion criteria were severe systemic infections, pregnancy, or lactation. Clinical examinations, oral function assessments, and taste tests were conducted using tap water and 1% sweet, 0.3% salty, 0.03% umami, and 0.1% umami tastants. The relationships between oral function, systemic indicators, and taste sensitivity were statistically evaluated. Results: Of the 169 participants included in this cross-sectional study, 39.6% were male and 60.4% were female (median age, 68 years). Participants with low taste sensitivity showed a decline in tongue–lip motor function, independent of age, sex, or smoking status. A multiple logistic regression analysis conducted using two age categories—younger than 65 years and older than 65 years—revealed an association between tongue–lip motor function and taste sensitivity among participants younger than 65 years. Conclusions: Decreased taste sensitivity is associated with tongue–lip motor function. Therefore, the early maintenance of oral function and taste sensitivity may be beneficial for optimal tongue–lip motor function. Full article

Background and Objectives: Formaldehyde induces oxidative stress and is carcinogenic, particularly squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharyngeal area. Around us, in exhaust gases, cigarette smoke, and various industrial products, FA primarily affects the respiratory tract and other organs like the cornea, liver, kidneys, brain, and cardiovascular system. This study aims to determine if antioxidants can mitigate FA’s harmful effects. Materials and Methods: Several databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Springer, and Wiley, were systematically searched. Research publications on antioxidants mitigating FA-induced oxidative damage were included, but reviews and articles lacking complete texts were excluded. SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool for animal studies has been used. Tables were used for data synthesis. Out of 8790 articles, 35 publications detailing tissue homogenate for biochemical analysis, standard hematoxylin–eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry markers for histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis were selected. Most studies were case–control studies, utilizing rat or mouse models. Additionally, one cohort study on industrial workers was analyzed. Conclusions: Antioxidants, including plant extracts, vitamins, and pigments, can prevent or heal FA-induced lesions. However, human studies, particularly biopsies, remain challenging, and animal trials are limited. Further research is needed to confirm FA’s long-term effects and optimize antioxidant dosages. Full article

Despite the popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) among adolescent never-smokers and adult smokers seeking a less pernicious substitute for tobacco cigarettes, the long-term health impact of vaping is largely unknown. Like cigarette smoke, e-cig vapor contains harmful and potentially harmful compounds, although in fewer numbers and at substantially lower concentrations. Many of the same constituents of e-cig vapor and cigarette smoke induce epigenetic changes that can lead to the dysregulation of disease-related genes. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression in health and disease states. Extensive research has shown that miRNAs play a prominent role in the regulation of genes involved in the pathogenesis of smoking-related diseases. However, the use of miRNAs for investigating the disease-causing potential of vaping has not been fully explored. This review article provides an overview of e-cigs as a highly consequential electronic nicotine delivery system, describes trends in e-cig use among adolescents and adults, and discusses the ongoing debate on the public health impact of vaping. Highlighting the significance of miRNAs in cell biology and disease, it summarizes the published and ongoing research on miRNAs in relation to gene regulation and disease pathogenesis in e-cig users and in vitro experimental settings. It identifies gaps in knowledge and priorities for future research while underscoring the need for empirical evidence that can inform the regulation of tobacco products to protect youth and promote public health. Full article

Despite growing interest in the preventive effects of statins, as lipid-lowering agents, on migraine attacks, comprehensive nationwide studies comparing migraine likelihood between statin users and controls are lacking. Our nested case–control study within the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort (2002–2019) investigated this association using 38,957 migraine patients and 155,828 controls, considering migraine subtypes (with/without aura) and statin types (lipophilic vs. hydrophilic). Using propensity score matching and adjusting for confounders, statin use was linked to reduced migraine likelihood overall (odds ratio (OR) 0.93), particularly for migraines with aura (OR 0.75) and without aura (OR 0.94). Lipophilic statins were effective for both subtypes, while hydrophilic statins mainly reduced the likelihood of migraines without aura. Subgroup analyses showed consistent benefits across demographics, but varied effectiveness based on weight, smoking, alcohol use, hemoglobin levels, and dyslipidemia history. In summary, this nationwide cohort study suggests that statin use may reduce migraine likelihood among Korean adults across diverse demographics and clinical profiles, but varied effectiveness based on certain lifestyle and comorbidity factors underscores the importance of considering individual patient profiles when assessing the potential benefits of statin therapy for migraine prevention. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of soft drink consumption among adolescents in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries using nationally representative data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire in a school survey and included 22,116 adolescents aged 12–18 years from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Data were collected and analyzed using complex survey methods. The GSHS was not available for Saudi Arabia. Soft drink consumption was the main outcome variable. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine its associations with sociodemographic characteristics, dietary behaviors, parental factors, and health-related behaviors. Results: The prevalence of soft drink consumption three or more times per day ranged from 10.6% to 26.8% across the countries, with the highest being in Qatar. Adjusted analyses showed that girls had lower odds of SD consumption compared to boys (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.57–0.77). Food insecurity, a proxy for low socioeconomic status, was associated with twice the odds of frequent consumption (OR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.75–2.43). Parental smoking and low physical activity levels were also associated with higher soft drink intake (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.13–1.88 and OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08–1.28, respectively), while obesity showed a weak positive association. Conclusions: Daily soft drink consumption was highly prevalent among adolescents in the GCC countries. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-related factors were significantly associated with frequent intake. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral interventions to reduce soft drink consumption in the region. Full article

This study utilized gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) to analyze the volatile flavor compounds present in various commercially available sausages. Additionally, it conducted a comparative assessment of the distinctions among different samples by integrating sensory evaluation with textural and physicochemical parameters. The results of the GC-IMS analysis showed that a total of 65 volatile compounds were detected in the four samples, including 12 hydrocarbons, 11 alcohols, 10 ketones, 9 aldehydes, 12 esters, and 1 acids. Fingerprinting combined with principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the volatiles of different brands of sausages were significantly different (p < 0.05). The volatiles of S1 and S4 were more similar and significantly different from the other two samples (p < 0.05). Among them, there were 14 key volatile substances in the four samples, of which 3-hydroxy-2-butanone and diallyl sulfide were common to all four sausages. Combined textural and sensory evaluations revealed that smoked sausages exhibited superior characteristics in resilience, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness. Additionally, smoked sausages were found to be more attractive in color, moderately spicy, and salty, while having a lower fat content. In conclusion, smoked sausages are preferred by consumers over flavored oil sausages. Full article

In recent years, the role of the atmosphere in the formation of the chemical composition of water in Lake Baikal and its tributaries has been increasing. In this regard, the study of equivalent black carbon (eBC) in the air above the lake and its coast has an important practical application. This paper presents the results of the mass concentration of eBC and submicron aerosol in the air above the water area of Lake Baikal, which were obtained during expeditions onboard research vessels in the summer of 2019 and 2023. We analyzed the data from the coastal monitoring station Listvyanka. To measure eBC, an MDA-02 aethalometer was used in the water area of the lake, and a BAC-10 aethalometer at the Listvyanka station. The background level of the eBC concentration in the air at different areas of the lake ranged between 0.15 and 0.3 µg m⁻³. The results of the two expeditions revealed the influence of the coastal settlements and the air mass transport along the valleys of the lake’s large tributaries on the five- to twentyfold growth of the eBC concentration in the near-water atmosphere. In the diurnal dynamics of eBC near settlements, we recorded high values in the evening and at night. In background areas, the diurnal dynamics were poorly manifested. In the summer of 2019, there were smoke plumes in the water area of Lake Baikal from distant wildfires and a local fire site on the east coast of the lake. The eBC concentration increased to 5–6 µg m⁻³, which was 10 to 40 times higher than the background. The long-range transport of plumes from coal-fired thermal power plants in large cities of the region made the major contribution to the eBC concentration at «Listvyanka» in winter, which data on aerosol, gas impurities, and meteorological parameters confirmed. Full article

We investigated the effects of tobacco smoke exposure and abnormal body weight on selected peptide hormones and their association with metabolic and hormonal disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study group included 88 women with PCOS and 28 women without the disease. In women with PCOS, chemerin, lipocalin, and apelin concentrations were influenced by overweight and obesity status, with the highest concentrations observed in those with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30.0. Exposure to tobacco smoke significantly increased only lipocalin-2 concentration. The disease itself did not affect the concentrations of chemerin, lipocalin, and apelin. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between chemerin concentration and fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and triglycerides levels, while a negative correlation was observed with high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) concentration. In the smoking subgroup, chemerin concentration was positively correlated with free testosterone concentration and the free androgen index and negatively associated with sex hormone-binding globulin concentration. Our findings indicate that abnormal body weight has a stronger impact than tobacco smoke exposure on metabolic and hormonal disorders in women with PCOS, highlighting the important role of weight control in such individuals. However, smoking appears to be an additional factor that intensifies hormonal disorders associated with adipose tissue. Full article

Peri-implantitis can affect the longevity of successfully integrated implants. Implant success is dependent on reducing the peri-implantitis risk or successfully managing peri-implantitis. Further understanding of peri-implantitis can be derived from its prevalence, microbial and diagnostic findings, existing therapies, and the effects of systemic health issues and medication. Based on published information: (1) peri-implantitis is higher in patients who have periodontitis or smoke as well as in implants with 5 years of function; (2) peri-implantitis microflora is different from periodontitis; (3) peri-implantitis risk is increased in patients with cardiovascular diseases and uncontrolled diabetes; (4) most reported peri-implantitis therapies may result in resolution, but the best peri-implantitis treatment is still to be determined; (5) more frequent peri-implant maintenance may reduce risk for peri-implantitis. Full article

PerFication is a person identification technique that uses a 2D LiDAR sensor in a customized dataset KoLaSu (Kobayashi Laboratory of Saitama University). Video-based recognition systems are highly effective and are now at the forefront of research. However, it experiences bottlenecks. New inventions can cause embarrassing situations, settings, and momentum. To address the limitations of technology, one must introduce a new technology to enhance it. Using biometric characteristics are highly reliable and valuable methods for identifying individuals. Most approaches depend on close interactions with the subject. A gait is the walking pattern of an individual. Most research on identifying individuals based on their walking patterns is conducted using RGB or RGB-D cameras. Only a limited number of studies utilized LiDAR data. Working with 2D LiDAR imagery for individual tracking and identification is excellent in situations where video monitoring is ineffective, owing to environmental challenges such as disasters, smoke, occlusion, and economic constraints. This study presented an extensive analysis of 2D LiDAR data using a meticulously created dataset and a modified residual neural network. In this paper, an alternative method of person identification is proposed that circumvents the limitations of video cameras in terms of capturing difficulties. An individual is precisely identified by the system through the utilization of ankle-level 2D LiDAR data. Our LiDAR-based detection system offers a unique method for person identification in modern surveillance systems, with a painstaking dataset, remarkable results, and a break from traditional camera setups. We focused on demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and durability of LiDAR sensors by utilizing 2D sensors in our research. Full article

Background: Elevated lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentrations are linked mainly to genetic factors. The relationship between Lp(a) and other lipid disorders or cardiovascular (CV) risk factors has been less investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of lipid disorders and other CV risk factors according to Lp(a) concentrations. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 200 primary-care patients who had not been diagnosed with CV disease was conducted. The following risk factors were assessed: older age, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia, smoking, lack of physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. The following lipid parameters were measured: total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and small, dense LDL (sdLDL-C). Patients were divided into two groups based on their Lp(a) concentrations: <30 mg/dL and ≥30 mg/dL. Results: In 70% of patients, the Lp(a) concentration was <30 mg/dL. The concentrations of lipid parameters did not differ between the groups. The rate of patients with sdLDL-C >1.0 mmol/L was higher in the low-Lp(a) group (10.0 vs. 1.7%, p = 0.04), with no significant differences regarding the other analyzed lipid disorders (p > 0.05). Both in the low- and high-Lp(a) group, most patients had two other abnormal lipid factors (45.0% and 60.0%, respectively). The distribution of impaired lipid parameters (p = 0.41) and other CV risk factors (p = 0.16) was similar in both groups. There was a lower rate of patients >60 years old (15.0% vs. 32.9%, p = 0.01) and with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (46.7% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.026) in the high-Lp(a) group, and previously diagnosed hyperlipidemia was more prevalent in this group (65.0% vs. 47.1%, p = 0.02). The occurrence of other cardiovascular risk factors did not differ significantly between the Lp(a) groups (p > 0.05). In the high-Lp(a) group, the highest proportion (25.0%) had two CV risk factors, and in the low-Lp(a) group, 31.4% had four CV risk factors. Conclusions: An elevated Lp(a) concentration is not related to the number of conventional CV risk factors or other impairment major lipid parameters. Full article

Wildland firefighters are exposed to airborne particulates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other hazardous substances. Respiratory protection is indicated, but information is lacking on the tasks and conditions for which mask wearing should be advised. Studies to assess respiratory protection in wildland firefighters were carried out in western Canada in 2021 and 2023. Sampling pumps measured airborne exposures and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP) was assayed to indicate PAH absorption. Participants in 2021 reported the time for which they wore the mask during each task. In 2023, the use of masks was reported, and firefighters rated the smoke intensity. In 2021, 72 firefighters were monitored over 164 shifts and, in 2023, 89 firefighters were monitored for 263 shifts. In 2021, mask wearing was highest for those engaged in initial attack and hot spotting. Urinary 1-HP at the end of rotation was highest for those reporting initial attack, working on a prescribed fire and mop-up. In 2023, firefighter ratings of smoke intensity were strongly associated with measured particulate mass and with urinary 1-HP, but masks were not worn more often when there was higher smoke intensity. The data from the literature did not provide a clear indication of high-exposure tasks. Better task/exposure information is needed for firefighters to make informed decisions about mask wearing. Full article