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Background: There is limited evidence on the association between prenatal smoking exposure and the risk of asthma in children. The aim of this prebirth cohort study was to investigate the association between prenatal and postnatal tobacco smoke exposure and the risk of asthma in Japanese children., Methods: Study subjects were 1304 mother-child pairs. Information on the variables under study was obtained using repeated questionnaires that were completed by mothers, first prior to delivery, then shortly after birth and subsequently around 4, 12, 24, and 36 months after delivery. Ever asthma was defined as a maternal report of physician-diagnosed asthma at any time since birth. Current asthma was defined as the use of asthma medication at the time of the sixth survey., Results: Logistic regression models revealed that maternal active smoking, either before pregnancy or during pregnancy, was not associated with the risk of ever asthma or current asthma. Further, no association was observed between postnatally living with at least one household smoker and the risk of asthma. Among children whose mothers are never smokers, maternal second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure at work and/or at home during pregnancy increased the risk of ever asthma and current asthma in children; adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for ever asthma and current asthma were 2.41 (1.13-5.05) and 4.82 (1.68-13.43), respectively., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that maternal SHS exposure during pregnancy might be associated with an increased risk of ever asthma and current asthma in young children whose mothers have never smoked., (Copyright © 2020 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Epidemiological evidence regarding the effect of perinatal smoking exposure on atopic eczema in children continues to be inconclusive. The aim of this prospective prebirth cohort study was to investigate the association between prenatal smoking exposure and postnatal living with household smokers and the risk of atopic eczema in Japanese children aged 23 to 29 months., Methods: Study subjects were 1354 Japanese mother-child pairs. Information on the variables under study was obtained through questionnaires which were completed by mothers, first prior to delivery, then shortly after birth and subsequently around 4, 12, and 24 months after delivery. Eczema in the last 12 months was defined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Physician-diagnosed atopic eczema was considered present if reported by mothers., Results: Compared with no perinatal smoking exposure, prenatal smoking exposure only was associated with an increased risk of physician-diagnosed atopic eczema (adjusted odds ratio = 7.11, 95% confidence interval: 1.43 to 27.8). Postnatal living with at least one household smoker only was not associated with the risk of physician-diagnosed atopic eczema; neither was the combination of both prenatal smoking exposure and postnatal living with at least one household smoker. No association was observed between perinatal smoking exposure status and the risk of eczema as defined according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood criteria., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that maternal smoking during pregnancy may increase the risk of atopic eczema in young children., Implication: In the present prebirth cohort study, we assessed the independent and additive effects of pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoking on atopic eczema in children. Compared with no perinatal smoking exposure, prenatal smoking exposure only was significantly associated with an increased risk of atopic eczema. Postnatal smoking exposure only was not associated with the risk of atopic eczema; neither was the combination of both pre- and postnatal smoking exposure. This is the first epidemiological study to show a positive association between prenatal smoking exposure only and the risk of atopic eczema., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Aims: No evidence exists regarding the association between smoking status and nocturia among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We evaluated this association among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by post-hoc analysis., Methods: Study subjects were 817 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Study subjects were considered to have nocturia if they answered "once or more" to the question: "Within one week, how many times do you typically wake up to urinate from sleeping at night until waking in the morning?" We used the following three outcomes: (1) nocturia was ≥1 voids per night; (2) moderate nocturia was ≥2 voids per night; and (3) severe nocturia was ≥3 voids per night. Adjustments were made for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, glycated hemoglobin, current drinking, use of anti-hypertensive agent, use of insulin, use of oral anti-hyperglycemic agent, and diabetic retinopathy., Results: The prevalence values of one void per night, two voids per night, and three or more voids per night were 39.5%, 27.1%, and 14.8%, respectively. Current smoking was independently inversely associated with severe nocturia compared with never or former smoking; the adjusted PR was 0.47 (95%CI: 0.25-0.89). Among the 443 patients who had ever smoked, compared with former smoking, current smoking was independently inversely related to severe nocturia; the adjusted PR was 0.44 (95%CI: 0.24-0.82)., Conclusions: In Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, current smoking may be independently inversely associated with severe nocturia., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Epidemiological evidence on the relationships between the vitamin D receptor (VDR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs731236 (TaqI), rs7975232 (ApaI), rs1544410 (BsmI), and rs2228570 (FokI) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is inconsistent. We investigated these relationships in 229 sporadic PD patients within six years of onset in Japan. Controls were 357 patients without neurodegenerative disease. Adjustment was made for sex, age, region of residence, and smoking. A significant inverse association was found between SNP rs2228570 and the risk of sporadic PD under the additive but not the co-dominant or dominant model (P=0.048); however, this fell below significance after adjustment for multiple comparisons (adjusted P=0.46). No significant relationships were found between SNPs rs731236, rs7975232, or rs1544410 and the risk of sporadic PD in any genetic model. VDR haplotypes inferred in the current study were not associated with sporadic PD. Compared with subjects with the GA or AA genotype of SNP rs2228570 who had ever smoked, those with the GG genotype who had never smoked had a 3.78-fold increased risk of sporadic PD; however, no significant interaction was observed. VDR SNP rs2228570 may be associated with sporadic PD in Japan. Smoking did not significantly modify the relationship between SNP rs2228570 and sporadic PD., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Epidemiological evidence regarding the relationship between maternal secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure during pregnancy and postnatal SHS exposure and childhood behavioral problems is scarce., Objective: The present prebirth cohort study investigated the association between perinatal smoking exposure and behavioral problems in Japanese children aged 5 years., Methods: Subjects were 1200 mother-child pairs. Data on variables under study were obtained using parent questionnaires. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, and peer problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustment was made for maternal age, gestation at baseline, region of residence at baseline, number of children at baseline, maternal and paternal education, household income, maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy, maternal alcohol intake during pregnancy, child's birth weight, child's sex, and breastfeeding duration., Results: Maternal smoking during pregnancy was independently associated with increased risk of conduct problems and hyperactivity problems (adjusted odds ratios: ORs [95% confidence intervals: CIs]=1.93 [1.15-3.17] and 1.89 [1.03-3.33], respectively). Maternal SHS exposure at work during pregnancy was independently positively related to conduct problems and hyperactivity problems (adjusted ORs [95% CI]=1.54 [1.01-2.31] and 1.69 [1.04-2.67], respectively). Smoking by any household member, and especially by the child's father, during the first year of life was independently associated with an increased risk of emotional problems (adjusted ORs [95% CI]=1.55 [1.06-2.26] and 1.63 [1.11-2.40], respectively)., Conclusions: Maternal smoking and maternal SHS exposure at work during pregnancy may increase the risk of conduct problems and hyperactivity problems. Smoking by any household member, and especially by the child's father, may increase the risk of emotional problems., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Epidemiological evidence on the relationships between PARK16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is inconsistent. We examined this issue in Japan. Included were 229 cases within six years of PD onset. Controls were 356 patients without neurodegenerative disease. Compared with subjects with the AA genotype of SNP rs823128, those with the AG genotype, but not the GG genotype, had a significantly reduced risk of sporadic PD. Compared with the AA genotype of SNP rs947211, both the AG genotype and the GG genotype were significantly related to an increased risk of sporadic PD. Using subjects with the AA genotype of SNP rs823156 as a reference group, there were significant inverse relationships under the additive and dominant models. No significant relationships were found between SNPs rs16856139 or rs11240572 and sporadic PD. The CAAAC, the TGAGA, and the CAGAC haplotypes were significantly related to sporadic PD. The additive interaction between SNP rs823128 and smoking affecting sporadic PD was significant, although the multiplicative interaction was not significant. The PARK16 SNPs rs823128, rs947211, and rs823156 and the CAAAC, TGAGA, and CAGAC haplotypes may be significantly associated with sporadic PD in Japan. New evidence of an additive interaction between SNP rs823156 and smoking is suggested., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Epidemiological studies of the association between smoking exposure and dental caries are limited., Objective: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between prenatal and postnatal secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and the prevalence of dental caries in primary dentition in young Japanese children., Methods: Study subjects were 6412 children aged 3 years. Information on exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal SHS exposure at home was collected via parent questionnaire. Children were classified as having dental caries if one or more primary teeth had decayed or had been filled., Results: Compared with never smoking during pregnancy, maternal smoking in the first trimester of pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of dental caries in children (adjusted odds ratio=1.37, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.80). Postnatal SHS exposure was also positively associated with dental caries, with a significant positive exposure-response relationship. Compared with children not exposed to prenatal maternal smoking or postnatal SHS at home, those exposed to both prenatal and postnatal smoking had higher odds of dental caries (adjusted odds ratio=1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-2.11)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal SHS exposure may be associated with an increased prevalence of dental caries in primary dentition., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Three previous genetic association studies conducted in Korea and China investigated the relationship between IL3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs40401 and asthma, but their results were inconsistent. We examined this relationship and the possibility of an interaction between IL3 SNP rs40401 and smoking in young adult Japanese women. Included were 89 women who met the criteria of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) for asthma. Control subjects were 700 women without asthma according to the ECRHS criteria who had not been diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis by a doctor and/or who had not met the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood for rhinoconjunctivitis. A significant positive association was found between SNP rs40401 and the risk of asthma, with the TT genotype as the reference under the additive model: the adjusted odds ratio was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.004-1.93). The positive association was not statistically significant in any other genetic model. Compared with subjects with the TT or TC genotype of SNP rs40401 who had never smoked, those with the CC genotype who had ever smoked had a significantly increased risk of asthma: the adjusted OR was 2.67 (95% CI: 1.23-5.79); the additive interaction, but not the multiplicative interaction, was significant. This study suggests that IL3 SNP rs40401 is significantly associated with the risk of asthma in young adult Japanese women and reveals that the combination of ever smoking and having the CC genotype of IL3 SNP rs40401 is significantly positively associated with asthma., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Objective: Studies reporting on the association between smoking and periodontal disease have mostly focused on active smoking. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between active smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke at home and at work and the prevalence of periodontal disease among young Japanese women., Material and Methods: Study subjects were 1167 postpartum women with a mean age of 31.5 years. Information on smoking and potential confounding factors was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Partial-mouth recording was used to determine probing pocket depth at six sites per tooth for six teeth in the mouth. Periodontal disease was defined as positive if a woman had at least one tooth with a probing pocket depth of 3.5 mm or deeper. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, household income, education, toothbrushing frequency and use of an interdental brush., Results: Compared with never smoking, ever smoking was independently positively associated with the prevalence of periodontal disease: the adjusted odds ratio was 1.56 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.36). There was a marginally significant positive dose-response relationship between pack-years of smoking and the prevalence of periodontal disease (p for linear trend = 0.08). No material associations were observed between second-hand smoke exposure at home or at work and periodontal disease., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that active smoking, but not passive smoking, might be associated with an increased prevalence of periodontal disease among young women in Japan., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Epidemiological evidence on the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms and periodontal disease is inconsistent. We investigated associations between four VDR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including rs731236 (TaqI), rs7975232 (ApaI), rs1544410 (BsmI) and rs2228570 (FokI), and the risk of periodontal disease among young Japanese women. Cases included 131 women who had at least one tooth with a probing depth of 3.5 mm or deeper. Controls included 1019 women without periodontal disease. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, education, toothbrushing frequency and use of an interdental brush. Compared with the AA genotype of SNP rs731236, the GG genotype had a significantly increased risk of periodontal disease: the adjusted OR was 3.68 (95% confidence interval: 1.06-12.78). There were no significant relationships between SNPs rs7975232, rs1544410 or rs2228570 and periodontal disease. None of the haplotypes were significantly related to periodontal disease. Compared with subjects with the AA or AG genotype of SNP rs731236 who had never smoked, those with the GG genotype who had ever smoked had a significantly increased risk of periodontal disease; nevertheless, neither multiplicative nor additive interaction was significant. The additive interaction between SNP rs7975232 and smoking was significant, although the multiplicative interaction was not statistically significant. No multiplicative or additive interactions were observed between the other SNPs and smoking. Our results indicated that VDR SNP rs731236 might be associated with periodontal disease. In addition, we present new evidence for a biological interaction between VDR SNP rs7975232 and smoking that affects periodontal disease., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: In Western countries, active maternal smoking during pregnancy is recognized as the most important preventable risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. However, the effect of passive maternal smoking is less clear and has not been extensively studied. In Japan, there has been only one epidemiological study which examined the effects of active smoking during early pregnancy on birth outcomes although the effects of passive smoking were not assessed., Methods: Study subjects were 1565 mothers with singleton pregnancies and the babies born from these pregnancies. Data on active maternal smoking status in the first, second, and third trimesters and maternal environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure at home and work were collected with self-administered questionnaires., Results: Compared with children born to mothers who had never smoked during pregnancy, children born to mothers who had smoked throughout their pregnancy had a significantly increased risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (adjusted odd ratio [OR] = 2.87; 95% confidence interval: 1.11 - 6.56). However, active maternal smoking only in the first trimester and active maternal smoking in the second and/or third trimesters but not throughout pregnancy were not significantly associated with SGA. With regard to the risk of preterm birth, the adjusted ORs for the above-mentioned three categories were not significant; however, the positive linear trend was significant (P for trend = 0.048). No significant association was found between active maternal smoking during pregnancy and the risk of low birth weight. There was a significant inverse relationship between active maternal smoking during pregnancy and birth weight; newborns of mothers who had smoked throughout pregnancy had an adjusted mean birth weight reduction of 169.6 g. When classifying babies by gender, a significant positive association between active maternal smoking throughout pregnancy and the risk of SGA was found only in male newborns, however, the interaction was not significant. Maternal ETS exposure at home or work was not significantly associated with any birth outcomes., Conclusions: This is the first study in Japan to show that active maternal smoking throughout pregnancy, but not during the first trimester, is significantly associated with an increased risk of SGA and a decrease in birth weight. Thus, women who smoke should quit smoking as soon as possible after conception.

Setting: Multiple A disintegrin and metalloprotease 33 (ADAM33) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to be associated with asthma, but results have been inconsistent., Objectives: To examine the association between ADAM33 SNPs rs2787094, rs628977, rs2280089, rs2280090, rs2280091, rs2853209, rs528557 and rs612709 and asthma in young adult Japanese women, and to perform haplotype analyses and assess interactions between SNPs and smoking., Design: A total of 89 cases who met the criteria of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) for asthma were included in the study. Control subjects were 1281 women without asthma, as per ECRHS criteria, who had not been diagnosed with asthma by a doctor. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, presence of older siblings, smoking and education., Results: Under a co-dominant model, the AA genotype of the rs612709 SNP was significantly positively associated with asthma compared with the GG genotype: the adjusted OR was 4.27 (95%CI 1.49-12.25). A significant positive relationship was found between the CCGGAAGA haplotype and asthma. Interactions between SNPs rs628977 and rs528557 and smoking were marginally significant (P = 0.09 and 0.095, respectively)., Conclusions: ADAM33 SNP rs612709 and the CCGGAAGA haplotype may be associated with asthma. Smoking may modify the associations between SNPs rs628977 and rs528557 and asthma.

Several case-control studies and genome-wide association studies have examined the relationships between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SNCA gene and Parkinson's disease (PD), and have provided inconsistent results. We investigated the relationships between SNPs rs356229, rs356219, rs356220, rs7684318, and rs2736990 and the risk of sporadic PD in Japan using data from a multicenter hospital-based case-control study. Included were 229 cases within 6 years of onset of PD as defined according to the UK PD Society Brain Bank clinical diagnostic criteria. Controls were 357 inpatients and outpatients without neurodegenerative disease. Adjustment was made for sex, age, region of residence, and smoking. Based on the recessive model, compared with subjects with the CC or CT genotype of SNP rs356220, those with the TT genotype had a significantly increased risk of sporadic PD: the adjusted OR was 1.42 (95% CI: 1.002-2.02). In the additive model, SNP rs2736990 was significantly related to the risk of sporadic PD: the adjusted OR was 1.30 (95% CI: 1.002-1.68). There were no significant relationships between SNP rs356229, rs356219, or rs7684318 and the risk of sporadic PD in any genetic model. The additive interactions between SNPs rs356219 and rs356220 and smoking with respect to sporadic PD were significant although the multiplicative interactions were not significant. This study suggests that SNCA SNPs rs356220 and rs2736990 are significantly associated with the risk of sporadic PD in Japanese. We also present new evidence for biological interactions between SNPs rs356219 and rs356220 and smoking that affect sporadic PD., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Two previous studies have demonstrated a significant relationship between ADAM33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and allergic rhinitis. Here, we investigated this issue in young adult Japanese women. The study included 393 women who met the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) for rhinoconjunctivitis. Controls included 767 women without rhinoconjunctivitis according to the ISAAC criteria who had not been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis by a doctor. The GC genotype of rs2787094, the CT genotype of rs628977, and the haplotype containing the rs2787094 C allele, the rs628977 T allele, the rs2853209 T allele, and the rs612709 G allele were significantly inversely associated with rhinoconjunctivitis. The AA genotype of rs2853209, the GA genotype of rs612709, and the haplotype carrying the rs2787094 G allele, the rs628977 C allele, the rs2853209 A allele, and the rs612709 G allele were significantly positively associated with rhinoconjunctivitis. A significant inverse relationship between rs628977 and rhinoconjunctivitis was demonstrated only in women who had never smoked, indicating a significant interaction between rs628977 and smoking. Our results suggest that SNPs and haplotypes in the ADAM33 gene are associated with rhinoconjunctivitis. This study is the first to demonstrate an interaction between rs628977 and smoking that affects rhinoconjunctivitis., (Copyright © 2012 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Studies on the associations between smoking and allergic diseases have mostly focused on asthma. Epidemiological studies in adults on the effects of smoking on allergic diseases other than asthma, such as eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis, have been limited, and the information that is available has been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between smoking status and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and the prevalence of allergic diseases., Methods: Study subjects were 1743 pregnant Japanese women. The definitions of wheeze and asthma were based on criteria from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey whereas those of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis were based on criteria from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Adjustment was made for age; region of residence; family history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis; household income; and education., Results: Compared with never smoking, current smoking and ≥ 4 pack-years of smoking were independently positively associated with the prevalence of wheeze. There were no associations between smoking status and the prevalence of asthma, eczema, or rhinoconjunctivitis. When subjects who had never smoked were classified into four categories based on the source of ETS exposure (never, only at home, only at work, and both), exposure occurring both at home and at work was independently associated with an increased prevalence of two outcomes: wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis. No relationships were observed between exposure to ETS and the prevalence of asthma or eczema., Conclusions: Our results provide evidence that current smoking and ETS exposure may increase the likelihood of wheeze. The possibility of a positive association between ETS exposure and rhinoconjunctivitis was also suggested.

Background: Six previous studies have examined the relationships between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL13 gene and allergic rhinitis, but the results have been inconsistent. However, a recent meta-analysis using data from these 6 studies has shown that the A allele of IL13 SNP rs20541 was associated with an increased risk of allergic rhinitis, whereas no such relationship existed between IL13 SNP rs1800925 and allergic rhinitis. We investigated the associations between IL13 SNPs rs1800925 and rs20541 and the risk of rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese women., Methods: Included were 393 cases who met the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) for rhinoconjunctivitis. Control subjects were 767 women without rhinoconjunctivitis according to the ISAAC criteria, who had also not been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis by a doctor. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, presence of older siblings, smoking, family history of allergic rhinitis, and education., Results: Compared with the GG genotype of IL13 SNP rs20541, the AA genotype, occurring in 7.1% of control subjects, was significantly positively related to the risk of rhinoconjunctivitis: the adjusted odds ratio was 1.65 (95% confidence interval: 1.05 - 2.60). SNP rs1800925 was not associated with rhinoconjunctivitis. The haplotype comprising the rs1800925 C allele and the rs20541 A allele was significantly positively related to rhinoconjunctivitis. The multiplicative interactions between the two SNPs under study and smoking on the risk of rhinoconjunctivitis were not statistically significant. Based on the recessive model, however, the additive interaction between SNP rs1800925, but not rs20541, and smoking was significant., Conclusions: This study suggests that the minor genotype of IL13 SNP rs20541 and the CA haplotype are significantly positively associated with the risk of rhinoconjunctivitis. In addition, a new pattern of biological interaction that affects the risk of rhinoconjunctivitis is described between SNP rs1800925 and smoking.

Background: Several genetic association studies have examined the relationships between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL13 gene and eczema, and have provided contradictory results. We investigated the relationship between the IL13 SNPs rs1800925 and rs20541 and the risk of eczema in Japanese young adult women., Methods: Included were 188 cases who met the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) for eczema. Control subjects were 1,082 women without eczema according to the ISAAC criteria, who had not been diagnosed with atopic eczema by a doctor and who had no current asthma as defined by the European Community Respiratory Health Survey criteria. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, number of children, smoking, and education., Results: The minor TT genotype of SNP rs1800925 was significantly associated with an increased risk of eczema in the co-dominant model: the adjusted odds ratio was 2.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.03-4.67). SNP rs20541 was not related to eczema. None of the haplotypes were significantly associated with eczema. Compared with women with the CC or CT genotype of SNP rs1800925 who had never smoked, those with the TT genotype who had ever smoked had a 2.85-fold increased risk of eczema, though the adjusted odds ratio was not statistically significant, and neither multiplicative nor additive interaction was statistically significant., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the IL13 SNP rs1800925 is significantly associated with eczema in Japanese young adult women. We could not find evidence for an interaction between SNP rs1800925 and smoking with regard to eczema.

Previous case-control studies in Japanese and ethnic Chinese populations reported that the LRRK2 Gly2385Arg variant is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to validate the previous findings and investigate whether cigarette smoking influences the relationship between the Gly2385Arg variant and PD. Included were 229 cases within 6years of onset of sporadic PD. Controls were 358 inpatients and outpatients without a neurodegenerative disease. The frequency of the heterozygous genotype was 13.1% of cases and 6.4% of controls: adjusted OR for the GA genotype was 2.06 (95% CI: 1.15-3.69). Compared with subjects with the GG genotype who had ever smoked, those with the GA genotype who had never smoked had a 5.8-fold increased risk of sporadic PD. The multiplicative interaction between the SNP and smoking was not statistically significant. With respect to the additive interaction, the estimated attributable proportion due to interaction (AP), but not relative excess risk due to interaction or the synergy index, was statistically significant (AP=0.50, 95% CI: 0.05-0.94), suggesting the presence of a biological interaction. The present study confirms that the LRRK2 Gly2385Arg variant is a risk factor for sporadic PD. In addition, we provide new evidence for the biological interaction between the polymorphism and smoking with regard to the risk of sporadic PD., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) appear to have reduced capacity for detoxification of certain environmental compounds. The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are candidate genes for PD because they are involved in the metabolism of pesticides and cigarette smoke. We investigated the relationship of the seven GST polymorphisms (GSTM1 deletion, GSTT1 deletion, GSTP1 rs1695, GSTO1 rs4925, GSTO1 rs11191972, GSTO2 rs156697 and GSTO2 rs2297235) and PD risk with special reference to the interaction with pesticide use or cigarette smoking among 238 patients with PD cases and 370 controls in a Japanese population. None of the GST polymorphisms were associated with PD. GSTO1 rs4925 and GSTO2 rs2297235 were found to be in strong linkage disequilibrium (D' = 0.98). Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with decreased risk of PD. However, no interaction of smoking with any of the GST polymorphisms was observed. Self-reported pesticide use was not associated with increased risk of PD. There was no evidence of interaction between self-reported pesticide use and either GST polymorphism. Our results suggest that the tested GST polymorphisms did not play an important role in PD susceptibility in our Japanese population. Our study does not give evidence of interaction between the GST polymorphisms and smoking may although this study provided sufficient statistical power to detect modest interaction. As for interaction between GSTP polymorphisms and pesticide use, the power of this study to detect an interactive effect was low due to a small number of pesticide users. Future studies involving larger control and case populations and better pesticide exposure histories will undoubtedly lead to a more thorough understanding of the role of the GST polymorphisms in PD development.

Background: Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) is perhaps one of the most important toxic exposures in childhood. However, epidemiological studies on the relation between SHSe and dental caries are limited and have yielded inconsistent results. The present cross-sectional study examined the potential association between SHSe at home and the prevalence of dental caries in children., Methods: Subjects were 20,703 schoolchildren aged 6 to 15 years in Okinawa, Japan. Information on SHSe at home and potential confounding factors was obtained through questionnaires. Data on dental caries were obtained from school records. Children were classified as having decayed and/or filled teeth (DFT) if a dentist diagnosed these conditions. Additionally, we analyzed decayed teeth (DT) and filled teeth (FT) separately. Adjustment was made for sex, age, region of residence, toothbrushing frequency, use of fluoride, sugar intake, and paternal and maternal educational level., Results: The prevalence of DFT was 82.0%. Compared with never smoking in the household, former and current household smoking were independently associated with an increased prevalence of DFT (adjusted prevalence ratios [95% confidence intervals] for former household smoking and current light and heavy household smoking were 1.03 [1.00-1.05], 1.04 [1.02-1.05], and 1.04 [1.03-1.06], respectively); when analyzed separately there was an increased prevalence of DT (adjusted prevalence ratios [95% confidence intervals] for former household smoking and current light and heavy household smoking were 1.06 [1.02-1.11], 1.10 [1.06-1.13], and 1.10 [1.07-1.14], respectively) but not FT. A statistically significant dose-response relationship between cumulative smoking in the household and the prevalence of DFT and DT (P for trend < 0.0001), but not FT, was observed. In an analysis of 2 subgroups, subjects who had at least 1 deciduous tooth and subjects who had at least 1 permanent tooth, household smoking exposure was associated with an increased prevalence of DFT and DT not only in those with deciduous but also those with permanent dentition., Conclusion: Our findings suggested that household smoking might be associated with an increased prevalence of dental caries in children.

The tumor suppressor protein p53 (TP53) plays a central role in directing cellular responses to DNA damage. Tumor protein 53-binding protein 1 (TP53BP1) binds to TP53 and has a potential role in DNA damage responses. DNA damage-dependent interaction between TP53 and TP53BP1 may contribute to lung cancer risk. We aimed to assess whether or not TP53 and TP53BP1 genetic polymorphisms modulate lung cancer susceptibility in a Japanese population. We investigated the relationship of the TP53 Arg72Pro and TP53BP1 Asp353Glu polymorphisms to lung cancer risk with special reference to polymorphism-polymorphism and polymorphism-smoking interactions among 462 lung cancer cases and 379 controls. The Glu/Glu genotype of TP53BP1 Asp353Glu polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.29-0.74]. There was no polymorphism-smoking interaction. A combination of the Pro allele carriage of the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and the Glu/Glu genotype of the TP53BP1 Asp353Glu polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.17-0.83). The multiplicative interaction measure was statistically significant (OR for interaction = 2.93, 95% CI=1.24-6.93). The relative excess risk due to interaction and attributable proportion due to interaction were 0.74 (95% CI=0.38-1.20) and 0.63 (95% CI=0.05-1.21), respectively. Both the additive interaction measures were not equal to zero, suggesting that the existence of a biological interaction. Our findings indicate the possible association of the Glu allele of the TP53BP1 Asp353Glu polymorphism with lower risk of lung cancer especially among the Pro allele carriers of the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism.

Objective: We investigated the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal household smoking on the prevalence of dental caries., Study Design: Study subjects were 2015 children, age 3 years. Information on maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home was obtained through questionnaires. Children were classified as having caries if 1 or more of the deciduous teeth had decayed, were missing, or had been filled., Results: Compared with nonsmoking during pregnancy, maternal smoking throughout pregnancy, but not ceasing to smoke at some time during pregnancy, was associated with an increased prevalence of caries. Regarding postnatal ETS, current but not former ETS exposure at home was independently positively associated with the prevalence of dental caries. A dose-response relationship was observed between cumulative postnatal ETS exposure at home and dental caries., Conclusions: Both in utero exposure to maternal smoking and postnatal exposure to ETS may be associated with an increased prevalence of dental caries in young children.

Purpose: It remains controversial whether environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of allergic diseases. The present prospective cohort study examined whether in utero exposure to maternal smoking and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke were associated with the development of wheeze, asthma, and atopic eczema in Japanese infants., Methods: Study subjects included 763 infants. Data were obtained through the use of questionnaires completed by the mother during pregnancy and at 2 to 9 and 16 to 24 months postdelivery. Information regarding maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was collected at 2 to 9 months postdelivery, and information on allergic symptoms was collected when the infant was between 16 to 24 months of age. Cases were defined according to criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood for wheeze and atopic eczema. Additionally, doctor-diagnosed asthma and atopic eczema were identified. Adjustment was made for maternal age, family income, maternal and paternal education, parental history of asthma, atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis, indoor domestic pets, baby's older siblings, baby's sex, birth weight, and time of surveys., Results: The cumulative incidence of wheeze, atopic eczema, doctor-diagnosed asthma, and doctor-diagnosed atopic eczema was 22.1%, 18.6%, 4.3%, and 9.0%, respectively. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was not related to the risk of wheeze, whereas postnatal maternal smoking in the same room as the child increased the risk of wheeze. No significant association was observed between perinatal tobacco smoke exposure and the development of asthma and atopic eczema., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that postnatal maternal smoking might be associated with an increased risk of wheeze in Japanese infants.

Objectives: The study investigated the relationship between smoking in the household and dental caries in Japanese children using nationally representative cross-sectional data., Methods: This study included 925 children aged 1-14 years. A child was considered to have decayed and/or filled teeth if a dentist diagnosed these conditions in deciduous or permanent teeth. Smoking in the household was defined as positive if someone in the household reported smoking cigarettes., Results: No statistically significant relationship was observed between household smoking and caries experience. However, smoking in the household was independently associated with an increased prevalence of decayed teeth. The adjusted mean of filled teeth among children exposed to household smoking was higher than that among non-exposed children., Conclusions: The results of the study failed to substantiate a positive association between passive smoking and caries experience in Japanese children.

Many risk factors have been proposed for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, there is little information about the relationship between lifestyles and SLE in Japan. Two case control studies were conducted in Kyushu, southern Japan, and in Hokkaido, northern Japan, to examine the relationship between lifestyles and development of SLE in females. The participants were 78 patients and 329 controls in Kyushu and 35 patients and 188 controls in Hokkaido. Smoking was associated with an increased risk of SLE after adjusting for age in both regions. However, in Hokkaido, this association between smoking and SLE did not reach statistical significance after adjusting for alcohol drinking. The present study suggests that smoking may increase the risk of SLE among Japanese females.

Background: Evidence remains inconclusive as to whether smoking is a risk factor for allergic disorders in adults., Objective: To investigate the relationship between active and passive smoking exposure and allergic disorders in pregnant Japanese women., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,002 pregnant women. Participants were classified as having asthma after the age of 18 years if they had used an asthma medication at any time after reaching the age of 18 years. Current atopic eczema and allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) were defined as being present if participants had received any drug treatment during the previous 12 months. Adjustment was made for age; gestation; parity; family history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis; indoor domestic pets; family income; education; and the mite antigen level in house dust., Results: Current smoking, but not environmental tobacco smoke exposure, was independently related to an increased prevalence of asthma after the age of 18 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-5.38). A significant positive association of current passive smoking exposure at home (adjusted OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.10-3.30) and at work (adjusted OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.29-4.76) with the prevalence of current allergic rhinitis was observed, whereas no measurable association with active smoking exposure was found. Neither active nor passive smoking was statistically significantly related to the prevalence of current atopic eczema., Conclusions: These findings suggest that active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure may increase the likelihood of asthma and allergic rhinitis, respectively, in pregnant Japanese women.

Purpose: Many studies have shown a positive association between cigarette smoking and oral diseases. Few studies, however, have focused on the relationship between passive smoking exposure and oral health in adults. We investigated the association of active and passive smoking exposure with tooth loss in Japan., Methods: Study subjects were 1002 pregnant women. Tooth loss was defined as previous extraction of one or more teeth. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, parity, family income, education, and body mass index., Results: Of the 1002 subjects, 256 women had lost one or more teeth. Current light smoking was independently related to an increased prevalence of tooth loss, showing a significant exposure-related association with smoking status. A significant positive association of 8 or more pack-years of smoking with the prevalence of tooth loss was observed. Also, a significant positive relationship was found between current heavy passive smoking at home and tooth loss, but not with pack-years of passive smoking at home. No measurable association between passive smoking exposure at work and tooth loss was indicated., Conclusions: The present findings suggest that passive as well as active smoking may be associated with an increased prevalence of tooth loss in Japanese young adult women.

Background: Many studies have shown that cigarette smoking is associated with elevated concentrations of total serum IgE. Few studies, however, have examined total IgE in relation to passive smoking exposure, especially in adults. This cross-sectional study investigated the association of active and passive smoking exposure with levels of total serum IgE in Japan., Methods: Study subjects were 981 pregnant women in Osaka. Total IgE levels were measured using UniCAP 1000 and were defined as elevated if they exceeded 170 ml/UI. Age, gestation, parity, family history of asthma, atopic eczema and allergic rhinitis, indoor domestic pets, family income, education and the mite allergen level in house dust were selected as potential confounding factors., Results: Current smoking of at least 15 cigarettes a day and 8.0 or more pack-years of smoking were independently related to an increased prevalence of elevated total serum IgE (adjusted odds ratios 3.40 and 2.51, 95% confidence intervals 2.12-5.47 and 1.55-4.06, respectively), and both cigarette smoking status and pack-years of smoking were significantly positively associated with total serum IgE levels, especially in subjects with a positive familial allergic history. There was no measurable association of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home or at work with total serum IgE concentrations among those who had never smoked., Conclusions: Our results corroborate a positive relationship between active smoking and total serum IgE levels; however, this study failed to substantiate a positive association of ETS exposure with total IgE. Investigations with more precise and detailed exposure measurements are warranted.

It has been reported that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) elicits dry cough more frequently in women than in men. This study was designed to evaluate whether airway cough receptors are more sensitive in women than in men. Cough threshold to inhaled tartaric acid was measured in 33 men and 29 women. In non-atopic and non-smoking subjects, geometric mean value of cough threshold in women was 10.0 (GSEM, 1.29) %, which was significantly (p less than 0.02) lower than that in men, 22.5 (GSEM, 1.30) %. In non-atopic men, the cough threshold was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower in smokers (9.3 (GSEM, 1.57) %) than in non-smokers. In non-smoking women, the cough threshold was significantly (p less than 0.02) lower in atopic subjects (4.2 (GSEM, 1.33) %) than in non-atopic subjects. These results demonstrated that airway cough receptors may be more sensitive in women, smoking men and atopic women.

Background and Objective: Salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was reported to be a useful parameter for the screening of periodontal disease. We performed a cross‐sectional study to verify the usefulness of salivary LDH as a biomarker of periodontitis and to investigate the association of severity of periodontitis with systemic inflammation by measuring salivary LDH and serum high sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) levels in a community‐based middle‐aged and elderly population in Japan. Material and Methods: We recruited 644 men and 1171 women, aged 30‐79 years, who participated in the Toon Health Study during 2011–15. Periodontal condition was assessed by full‐mouth examination including mean value of probing depth, percentage of probing depth of ≥4 mm and ≥6 mm, and bleeding on probing. Saliva and blood serum samples were collected for measurement of salivary LDH level and hs‐CRP, respectively. A linear trend across quartiles of salivary LDH was calculated using linear regression. Interaction of salivary LDH and overweight status (body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2) was tested using the cross‐product term of log‐transformed continuous salivary LDH and overweight status. Results: Analysis of covariance adjusted for potential confounders revealed strong associations between salivary LDH level and the indicators of periodontal condition (P < .01) in both men and women. Sex‐ and age‐adjusted mean values of hs‐CRP according to salivary LDH quartiles were 0.40, 0.45, 0.45 and 0.50 mg/L (P for trend <.01). Although the association was attenuated after further adjustment for body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, alcohol intake, smoking status and physical activity. When stratified by overweight status, the association remained significant in overweight individuals (P = .03). The multivariable adjusted odds ratio of hs‐CRP level of ≥1 mg/L for the highest vs lowest quartile of salivary LDH was 1.93 (95% CI, 1.01‐3.69) in overweight individuals, but not significant in non‐overweight individuals. Conclusion: Salivary LDH appears to be a promising biomarker for the mass screening of periodontitis in local community health settings. High salivary LDH levels, particularly in overweight individuals might contribute to prevention of cardiovascular disease, through measuring systemic inflammatory burdens as well as traditional cardiovascular risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present case-control study examined the relationship between IL5 RA SNPs and eczema in young adult Japanese women. Cases and control subjects were selected from pregnant women who participated in the baseline survey of the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study, which is an ongoing prebirth cohort study. Cases comprised 188 women with eczema in the previous 12 months as defined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood ( ISAAC), regardless of the presence of a doctor's diagnosis of atopic eczema. Control subjects comprised 1130 women without eczema as defined according to the ISAAC criteria who also had not been diagnosed with atopic eczema by a doctor. Compared with the AA genotype of IL5 RA SNP rs17881144, the AT genotype, but not the TT genotype, was significantly associated with a decreased risk of eczema. The ATTAGA haplotype and the GTAGCA haplotype of rs17882210, rs3804797, rs334809, rs9831572, rs6771148 and rs17881144 were significantly associated with an increased risk of eczema. In contrast, the GCTGCA haplotype was significantly related to a decreased risk of eczema. Multiplicative interactions between IL5 RA SNPs rs334809 and rs17881144 and smoking with respect to eczema were marginally significant ( P = 0.07 and 0.07, respectively). This is the first study to show significant associations between IL5 RA SNP rs17881144, the ATTAGA haplotype, the GTAGCA haplotype, and the GCTGCA haplotype and eczema. Smoking may modify the relationships between SNPs rs334809 and rs17881144 and eczema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tanaka K, Miyake Y, Fukushima W, Sasaki S, Kiyohara C, Tsuboi Y, Yamada T, Oeda T, Miki T, Kawamura N, Sakae N, Fukuyama H, Hirota Y, Nagai M, the Fukuoka Kinki Parkinson's disease Study Group. Active and passive smoking and risk of Parkinson's disease. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122: 377-382. © 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Munksgaard. To assess the association between active and passive smoking and the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD), a case-control study with 249 PD patients and 369 controls was carried out in Japan. Information on smoking was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Adjustment was made for age, sex, region of residence, educational level, and occupational exposure. Ever having smoked cigarettes was associated with a reduced risk of PD [adjusted odds ratio = 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24-0.59]. Risk for former smokers was intermediate between the high risk for never smokers and the low risk for current smokers. Adjusted odds ratios for former and current smokers were 0.51 (95% CI: 0.32-0.82) and 0.12 (95% CI: 0.05-0.26), respectively. There was an inverse dose-response gradient with pack-years smoked. No significant association was detected for passive smoking exposure. Our results appear to confirm data from previous epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]