Difference in effects of cigarette smoking or alcohol consumption on serum non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels is related to mitochondrial DNA 5178 C/A polymorphism in middle-aged Japanese men: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundMitochondrial DNA 5178 cytosine/adenosine (Mt5178 C/A) polymorphism is associated with longevity in the Japanese. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Mt5178 C/A polymorphism modifies the effects of habitual smoking or habitual drinking on serum non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol levels in middle-aged Japanese men.MethodsA total of 394 male subjects (age 53.9 ± 7.9 years; mean ± SD) were selected from among individuals visiting the hospital for regular medical check-ups. After Mt5178 C/A genotyping, a cross-sectional study assessing the joint effects of Mt5178 C/A polymorphism and cigarette smoking or alcohol drinking on serum non-HDL cholesterol levels was conducted. High levels of serum non-HDL cholesterol were defined as serum non-HDL cholesterol levels ≥160 mg/dl or ≥190 mg/dl.ResultsFor men with Mt5178A, cigarette smoking may increase serum non-HDL cholesterol levels (P for trend < 0.001), as well as the risk of high levels of non-HDL cholesterol (serum non-HDL cholesterol levels ≥160 mg/dl, P for trend < 0.001; serum non-HDL cholesterol levels ≥190 mg/dl, P for trend = 0.004). On the other hand, for men with Mt5178C, after adjusting for age and body mass index, alcohol consumption may decrease serum non-HDL cholesterol levels (P for trend = 0.043) and the risk of high levels of non-HDL cholesterol (serum non-HDL cholesterol level ≥160 mg/dl, P for trend = 0.005).ConclusionsThese gene-environment interactions on serum non-HDL cholesterol levels may contribute to the establishment of individualized prevention of the risk of high levels of serum non-HDL cholesterol.

Children’s Empathy and Their Perception and Evaluation of Facial Pain Expression: An Eye Tracking Study

“…It is also noticeable that although Experiment 1 showed that painful faces attracted children’s attention most quickly, and Experiment 2 showed that only the rating of pain intensity seen in the painful faces were positively related to empathy, the superiority of high empathy in child on their behavioral and perceptual response was manifested across emotions. First, this is consistent with previous findings that empathy facilitated the processing of more than one type of faces ( Dimberg et al, 2011 ; Choi and Watanuki, 2014 ). Second, the affective component of empathy was affective arousal or emotional contagion ( Preston and de Waal, 2002 ; Decety, 2010 ).…”

“…It refers to the process to perceive and be responsive to others’ emotions, which enables us to react appropriately ( Decety et al, 2016 ). Studies have found that higher empathy was associated with better performance and deeper involvement in a task of facial expression recognition ( Choi and Watanuki, 2014 ). Despite the findings on the relationship between empathy and reading of pain in adults, little attention has been given to children.…”

Pathophysiology and Medical Treatment of Carotid Artery Stenosis

“…Cigarette smoke decreases the levels of vitamin C and E which are antioxidants and hence increases the levels of ROS. Cigarette smoke decreases the serum levels of HDL-C 120 and increases the levels of non-HDL-C. 121 HDL is known to inhibit leukocyte NADPH-oxidase, 68 so reduction in HDL-C levels would increase the activity of NADPH-oxidase resulting in generation of ROS. Increases in non-HDL cholesterol would increase generation of ROS through mechanisms already discussed in dyslipidemia section of risk factors.…”

The Role of Food Antioxidants, Benefits of Functional Foods, and Influence of Feeding Habits on the Health of the Older Person: An Overview

“…Even in Britain in the 1950s food produce was limited by availability, cost and tradition compared to today. Turning the clock back, as Steinkraus (1993) [ 24 ] stated, an interaction between man, microbe, and food existed in Paleolithic times [ 25 ], some 10,000 years ago before more elaborate farming took place i.e., the time of transition from hunting and gathering with “plant breeding” programs in Neolithic times. Neolithic crops developed as part of an important advancement in early agriculture (i.e., wild progenitors to emmer wheat, einkorn, barley, flax, chick pea, pea, lentil, bitter vetch), and species of domesticated animals, viz.…”