Reduction of household air pollution through clean fuel intervention and recovery of cellular immune balance.

Background: We conducted a clean fuel intervention trial (Bangladesh Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOHealth) (NCT02824237) with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for 26 months among rural Bangladeshi women chronically exposed to household air pollution (HAP) from biomass fuel (BMF) use. We aimed to evaluate the effect of HAP reduction following LPG intervention on immune response outcome.

Methods: We supplied LPG cook stove and refills in cylinder in 200 households for 26 months.

The Association Between Smoking and Gut Microbiome in Bangladesh.

Introduction: Epidemiological studies that investigate alterations in the gut microbial composition associated with smoking are lacking. This study examined the composition of the gut microbiome in smokers compared with nonsmokers.

Aims And Methods: Stool samples were collected in a cross-sectional study of 249 participants selected from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study in Bangladesh.

The association between gut microbiome and anthropometric measurements in Bangladesh.

Our objective was to investigate the relationship between the gut microbiota and anthropometric measurements among 248 participants from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Bangladesh. Our cohort represents a unique population that allows for the investigation of the gut microbiota and anthropometric measurements in lean individuals. We measured height, weight, arm, thigh, hip, and waist circumferences, and collected fecal samples.

The role of gut microbiome and its interaction with arsenic exposure in carotid intima-media thickness in a Bangladesh population.

Background: Emerging data suggest that inorganic arsenic exposure and gut microbiome are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. The gut microbiome may modify disease risk associated with arsenic exposure. Our aim was to examine the inter-relationships between arsenic exposure, the gut microbiome, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)-a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis.

Association between number of children and carotid intima-media thickness in Bangladesh.

Previous studies on the association between number of children and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were limited to Western populations. Pregnancy in women is associated with physiologic changes that may influence the risk of cardiovascular disease. Comparing the association between number of children and cIMT in men and women can provide insights on whether the association may be due to pregnancy.

Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water and Urinary Metabolomics: Associations and Long-Term Reproducibility in Bangladesh Adults.

Background: Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic from drinking water has been associated with a host of cancer and noncancer diseases. The application of metabolomics in epidemiologic studies may allow researchers to identify biomarkers associated with arsenic exposure and its health effects.

Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the long-term reproducibility of urinary metabolites and associations between reproducible metabolites and arsenic exposure.

Periodontal diseases and carotid intima-media thickness in Bangladesh.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between periodontal diseases and subclinical atherosclerosis in a younger and lean South Asian population.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 917 subjects (mean age 46 years and mean body mass index 21.1 kg/m ) from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study in Bangladesh.

Gene-arsenic interaction in longitudinal changes of blood pressure: Findings from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Bangladesh.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and mounting evidence indicates that toxicant exposures can profoundly impact on CVD risk. Epidemiologic studies have suggested that arsenic (As) exposure is positively related to increases in blood pressure (BP), a primary CVD risk factor. However, evidence of whether genetic susceptibility can modify the association between As and BP is lacking.

Association between Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water and Longitudinal Change in Blood Pressure among HEALS Cohort Participants.

Background: Cross-sectional studies have shown associations between arsenic exposure and prevalence of high blood pressure; however, studies examining the relationship of arsenic exposure with longitudinal changes in blood pressure are lacking.

Method: We evaluated associations of arsenic exposure in relation to longitudinal change in blood pressure in 10,853 participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS). Arsenic was measured in well water and in urine samples at baseline and in urine samples every 2 years after baseline.

Association of major dietary patterns and blood pressure longitudinal change in Bangladesh.

Background: Observational studies and clinical trials have shown associations of diet and high blood pressure (BP). However, prospective studies on the association between dietary patterns and longitudinal BP change are lacking, especially in low-income populations.

Method: We evaluated the association of dietary patterns and food groups with longitudinal change of BP in 10 389 participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study, with a median of 6.

A prospective study of arm circumference and risk of death in Bangladesh.

Background: Epidemiological studies have observed protective effects of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) against all-cause mortality mostly in Western populations. However, evidence on cause-specific mortality is limited.

Methods: The sample included 19 575 adults from a population-based cohort study in rural Bangladesh, who were followed up for an average of 7.

A prospective study of arsenic exposure, arsenic methylation capacity, and risk of cardiovascular disease in Bangladesh.

Background: Few prospective studies have evaluated the influence of arsenic methylation capacity on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Objective: We evaluated the association of arsenic exposure from drinking water and arsenic methylation capacity with CVD risk.

Method: We conducted a case-cohort study of 369 incident fatal and nonfatal cases of CVD, including 211 cases of heart disease and 148 cases of stroke, and a subcohort of 1,109 subjects randomly selected from the 11,224 participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS).

Arsenic exposure from drinking water and QT-interval prolongation: results from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study.

Background: Arsenic exposure from drinking water has been associated with heart disease; however, underlying mechanisms are uncertain.

Objective: We evaluated the association between a history of arsenic exposure from drinking water and the prolongation of heart rate-corrected QT (QTc), PR, and QRS intervals.

Method: We conducted a study of 1,715 participants enrolled at baseline from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study.