Air Pollution and Polyclonal Elevation of Serum Free Light Chains: An Assessment of Adaptive Immune Responses in the Prospective Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.

Background: Residential exposure to air pollution (AP) has been shown to activate the immune system (IS). Although innate immune responses to AP have been studied extensively, investigations on the adaptive IS are scarce.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between short- to long-term AP exposure and polyclonal free light chains (FLC) produced by plasma cells.

The role of depressive symptoms within the association of long-term exposure to indoor and outdoor traffic noise and cognitive function - Results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

Objectives: Traffic noise is negatively associated with cognitive function, and its perception can differ between depressed and non-depressed people. We studied the role of depressive symptoms in the association between traffic noise and cognitive function. We studied the role of depressive symptoms in the association between traffic noise and cognitive function.

Long-term exposure to ambient source-specific particulate matter and its components and incidence of cardiovascular events - The Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

Background: Few studies have examined the risk of long-term exposure to source-specific airborne pollutants on incidence of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the effect of long-term exposure to source-specific air pollution and particulate matter (PM) components on incidence of stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), and total cardiovascular events (CVE) in the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study (HNR).

Methods: We used baseline (2000-2003) and 14-year follow-up data of the HNR Study, an ongoing population-based prospective cohort study in Western Germany.

All-source and source-specific air pollution and 10-year diabetes Incidence: Total effect and mediation analyses in the Heinz Nixdorf recall study.

Background: An increasing number of studies have been published recently on the association between ambient air pollution (AP) and incident diabetes mellitus (DM), but studies investigating source-specific AP toxicity and potential mediating pathways are rare. We investigated the associations of all-source, traffic-specific, and industry-specific outdoor AP exposure with 10-year incidence of DM and potential mediation via inflammation-associated biomarkers.

Methods: Data from participants of the prospective Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study who attended the baseline (t; 2000-2003), 5-year follow-up (t; 2006-2008), and 10-year follow-up (t; 2011-2015) examinations was used.

Effects of short-term exposure to fine and ultrafine particles from indoor sources on arterial stiffness - A randomized sham-controlled exposure study.

Objectives: Particulate air pollution is linked to adverse cardiovascular effects, including arterial stiffness. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of short-term exposure to indoor fine and ultrafine particles on augmentation index (AIx), augmentation pressure (AP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV), early signs of vascular damage.

Methods: We analyzed the association of particle emissions from typical indoor sources (candle burning - CB, toasting bread - TB, and frying sausages - FS) with changes in pulse wave analysis indices in 55 healthy adults in a randomized cross-over controlled exposure study.

Investigation of air pollution and noise on progression of thoracic aortic calcification: results of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.

Aims: Air pollution and noise are potential risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis. Longitudinal analyses, especially on the interplay of these environmental factors, are scarce and inconsistent. Hence we investigated long-term traffic-related exposure to air pollution and noise with the development and progression of thoracic aortic calcification, a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Indoor and outdoor road traffic noise and incident diabetes mellitus: Results from a longitudinal German cohort study.

Unlabelled: Road traffic noise affects a large number of people in urbanized areas. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates that environmental noise exposure may not only be associated with cardiovascular but also with cardio-metabolic outcomes. This prospective cohort study investigated the effect of outdoor and indoor residential road traffic noise on incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Air pollution and diabetes-related biomarkers in non-diabetic adults: A pathway to impaired glucose metabolism?

Background: While prior studies have linked air pollution (AP) to diabetes prevalence and incidence, few have investigated whether AP exposure is also associated with alterations in diabetes-related biomarkers in metabolically healthy adults.

Objective: To evaluate the associations between short-, medium-, and long-term AP and diabetes-related biomarkers (adiponectin, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1RA], high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], fibrinogen) in persons without diabetes.

Methods: Adiponectin, IL-1RA, hsCRP, and fibrinogen were measured in blood samples collected at the baseline (t; 2000-2003) and first follow-up (t; 2006-2008) examinations of the prospective Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) cohort study in Germany.

Two-way effect modifications of air pollution and air temperature on total natural and cardiovascular mortality in eight European urban areas.

Background: Although epidemiological studies have reported associations between mortality and both ambient air pollution and air temperature, it remains uncertain whether the mortality effects of air pollution are modified by temperature and vice versa. Moreover, little is known on the interactions between ultrafine particles (diameter ≤ 100 nm, UFP) and temperature.

Objective: We investigated whether the short-term associations of particle number concentration (PNC in the ultrafine range (≤100 nm) or total PNC ≤ 3000 nm, as a proxy for UFP), particulate matter ≤ 2.

Long-term exposure to airborne particulate matter and NO and prevalent and incident metabolic syndrome - Results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.

Introduction: Recently, epidemiological studies have found a link between air pollution (AP) and individual components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a condition predisposing to cardiometabolic diseases. However, very few studies have explored a possible association between air pollution and MetS.

Objective: We analyzed the effects of long-term exposure to airborne particulate matter and NO on prevalence and incidence of MetS.

Air Pollution and Glucose Metabolism: An Analysis in Non-Diabetic Participants of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.

Background: Despite the importance of understanding the connection between air pollution exposure and diabetes, studies investigating links between air pollution and glucose metabolism in nondiabetic adults are limited.

Objective: We aimed to estimate the association of medium-term air pollution exposures with blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among nondiabetics.

Methods: This study included observations from nondiabetic participants (n=7,108) of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study at baseline (2000–2003) and follow-up examination (2006–2008).

Ultrafine and Fine Particle Number and Surface Area Concentrations and Daily Cause-Specific Mortality in the Ruhr Area, Germany, 2009-2014.

Background: Although epidemiologic studies have shown associations between particle mass and daily mortality, evidence on other particle metrics is weak.

Objectives: We investigated associations of size-specific particle number concentration (PNC) and lung-deposited particle surface area concentration (PSC) with cause-specific daily mortality in contrast to PM.

Methods: We used time-series data (March 2009-December 2014) on daily natural, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality (NM, CVM, RM) of three adjacent cities in the Ruhr Area, Germany.

Is long-term particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide air pollution associated with incident monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)? An analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

Background: Exposure to air pollution activates the innate immune system and influences the adaptive immune system in experimental settings. We investigated the association of residential long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and NO air pollution with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) as a marker of adaptive immune system activation.

Methods: We used data from the baseline (2000-2003), 5-year (2006-2008) and 10-year (2011-2015) follow-up examinations of the German Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study of 4814 participants (45-75years).

Arterial blood pressure responses to short-term exposure to fine and ultrafine particles from indoor sources - A randomized sham-controlled exposure study of healthy volunteers.

Objectives: Particulate air pollution is linked to adverse cardiovascular effects. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of short-term exposure to indoor particles on blood pressure (BP).

Methods: We analyzed the association of particle emissions from indoor sources (candle burning, toasting bread, frying sausages) with BP changes in 54 healthy volunteers in a randomized cross-over controlled exposure study.

Comparison of coronary artery calcification, carotid intima-media thickness and ankle-brachial index for predicting 10-year incident cardiovascular events in the general population.

Aims: To compare the predictive value of coronary artery calcification (CAC), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in a primary prevention cohort depending on risk factor profile to determine which of the three markers improves cardiovascular (CV) risk discrimination best in which risk group.

Methods And Results: We quantified CAC, CIMT, and ABI in 3108 subjects (mean age 59.2 ± 7.

Associations of long-term exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise with cognitive function-An analysis of effect measure modification.

Background: Adverse effects of traffic-related air pollution (AP) and noise on cognitive functions have been proposed, but little is known about their interactions and the combined effect of co-exposure.

Methods: Cognitive assessment was completed by 4086 participants of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study using five neuropsychological subtests and an additively calculated global cognitive score (GCS). We assessed long-term residential concentrations for size-fractioned particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides with land use regression.

Long-term air pollution and traffic noise exposures and cognitive function:A cross-sectional analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

Investigations of adverse effects of air pollution (AP) and ambient noise on cognitive functions are apparently scarce, and findings seem to be inconsistent. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of long-term exposure to AP and traffic noise with cognitive performance. At the second examination of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study (2006-2008), cognitive performance was evaluated in 4086 participants.

Linkage and Association Analysis Identifies TRAF1 Influencing Common Carotid Intima-Media Thickness.

Background And Purpose: Carotid intima-media thickness is a marker for subclinical atherosclerosis that predicts subsequent clinical cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to identify chromosomal loci with linkage or association to common carotid intima-media thickness.

Methods: Nuclear families were recruited using the single parental proband sib-pair design.

Exposure to ultrafine particles and respiratory hospitalisations in five European cities.

Epidemiological evidence on the associations between exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP), with aerodynamic electrical mobility diameters <100 nm, and health is limited. We gathered data on UFP from five European cities within 2001-2011 to investigate associations between short-term changes in concentrations and respiratory hospitalisations.We applied city-specific Poisson regression models and combined city-specific estimates to obtain pooled estimates.

Association of long-term exposure to local industry- and traffic-specific particulate matter with arterial blood pressure and incident hypertension.

Background: Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may lead to increased blood pressure (BP). The role of industry- and traffic-specific PM2.

Applicability of the Global Lung Initiative 2012 Reference Values for Spirometry for Longitudinal Data of Elderly Women.

Background And Objectives: Lung function depends nonlinearly on age and height, so that the use of age and height specific reference values is required. The widely used age and height specific GLI (Global Lung Initiative) z-scores derived from cross-sectional data, however, have not been proven for validity in an elderly population or for longitudinal data. Therefore, we aimed to test their validity in a population of elderly women followed prospectively for more than 20 years.

Update of the effect estimates for common variants associated with carotid intima media thickness within four independent samples: The Bonn IMT Family Study, the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, the SAPHIR Study and the Bruneck Study.

Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) is a marker for subclinical atherosclerosis. The most recent genome-wide association meta-analysis (GWAMA) from the CHARGE consortium identified four genomic regions showing either significant (ZHX2, APOC1, PINX1) or suggestive evidence (SLC17A4) for an association. Here we assess these four cIMT loci in a pooled analysis of four independent studies including 5446 individuals by providing updated unbiased effect estimates of the cIMT association signals.

Long-Term Air Pollution and Traffic Noise Exposures and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) describes the intermediate state between normal cognitive aging and dementia. Adverse effects of air pollution (AP) on cognitive functions have been proposed, but investigations of simultaneous exposure to noise are scarce.

Objectives: We analyzed the cross-sectional associations of long-term exposure to AP and traffic noise with overall MCI and amnestic (aMCI) and nonamnestic (naMCI) MCI.