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BACKGROUND: Elevated postprandial triglycerides reflect a pro-atherogenic milieu, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. OBJECTIVE: We examined differences between fasting and nonfasting profiles of directly measured lipoprotein size and subfractions to assess if postprandial triglycerides reflected increases in very low density and intermediate density lipoproteins (VLDL and IDL) and remnants, or small dense lipid depleted LDL particles (sdLDL). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 15,397 participants (10,135 fasting; 5262 nonfasting [0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Directly measured particle and cholesterol concentrations of VLDL, not sdLDL, were higher nonfasting and may partly contribute to the pro-atherogenicity of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. These differences, although statistically significant, were small and may not fully explain the increased risk of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov Unique identifier: NCT01169259.

Laboratory and observational research studies suggest that vitamin D and marine omega-3 fatty acids may reduce risk for pneumonia, acute exacerbations of respiratory diseases including chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or asthma, and decline of lung function, but prevention trials with adequate dosing, adequate power, and adequate time to follow-up are lacking. The ongoing Lung VITAL study is taking advantage of a large clinical trial-the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL)--to conduct the first major evaluation of the influences of vitamin D and marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on pneumonia risk, respiratory exacerbation episodes, asthma control and lung function in adults. VITAL is a 5-year U.S.-wide randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 × 2 factorial trial of supplementation with vitamin D3 ([cholecalciferol], 2000 IU/day) and marine omega-3 FA (Omacor® fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]+docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], 1g/day) for primary prevention of CVD and cancer among men and women, at baseline aged ≥50 and ≥55, respectively, with 5107 African Americans. In a subset of 1973 participants from 11 urban U.S. centers, lung function is measured before and two years after randomization. Yearly follow-up questionnaires assess incident pneumonia in the entire randomized population, and exacerbations of respiratory disease, asthma control and dyspnea in a subpopulation of 4314 randomized participants enriched, as shown in presentation of baseline characteristics, for respiratory disease, respiratory symptoms, and history of cigarette smoking. Self-reported pneumonia hospitalization will be confirmed by medical record review, and exacerbations will be confirmed by Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services data review.

BACKGROUND The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) is a completed randomized, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D3 (2000 IU/day) and marine omega-3 (1 g/day) supplements in the primary prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Here we examine baseline and change in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and related biomarkers with randomized treatment and by clinical factors. METHODS Baseline 25(OH)D was measured in 15,804 participants (mean age 68 years.; 50.8% women; 15.7% African Americans) and in 1660 1-year follow-up samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and chemiluminescence. Calcium and parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured by chemiluminescence and spectrophotometry respectively. RESULTS Mean baseline total 25(OH)D (ng/mL ± SD) was 30.8 ± 10.0 ng/mL, and correlated inversely with iPTH (r = -0.28), p

In this area where air quality is within EPA standards, living close to a major road was associated with early- and mid-childhood asthma, and lifetime exposure to particles was associated with early asthma, and also, mid-childhood asthma among girls only.

Dr. Culic suggests that the associations that we reported [(1)][1] between particulate air pollution (PM2.5) and atrial fibrillation (AF) may be confounded by inadequate control of meteorology. There is a well-developed body of literature suggesting that acute particulate air pollution exposures