Occupational difference in use of heated tobacco products: a cross-sectional analysis of retail workers in Japan

Takeuchi²,

Journal of Occupational Health

et al. 2022

Self Cite

Objectives We sought to examine occupational disparities in tumor grade and cytosolic expression of high‐mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1) among renal cell cancer (RCC) patients. Methods This retrospective study included 318 RCC patients with complete information on occupation and pathology in Kanagawa Cancer Registry (KCR). Longest‐held occupations were grouped into manual workers (e.g., manufacturing, construction) versus “others.” Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for high‐grade histology were estimated by logistic regression, adjusted for age and sex. We also examined a sub‐sample of 74 low‐grade RCC inpatients to estimate the OR for positive cytosolic HMGB1 expression in manual workers, adjusting for age, sex, and other available covariates. Results High‐grade tumors were more prevalent in manual workers compared to other occupations: 23.0% (14/61) versus 10.9% (28/257, p = .01) with an adjusted OR of 2.28 (95% CI, 1.11–4.69). In the sub‐sample of low‐grade RCCs, positive cytosolic HMGB1 expression was more prevalent in manual workers compared to other occupations: 71.4% (10/14) versus 38.3% (23/60, p = .03) with a sex‐ and age‐adjusted OR of 3.76 (95% CI, 1.03–13.7). Conclusions Manual workers are associated with increased risks of high‐grade renal cell tumors and cytosolic HMGB1 expression.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We excluded those involved in transportation from the manual worker group because they were less likely to expose to industrial agents. We also excluded those involved in service and sales from the other occupational group because they were also higher risk of lifestyle‐related factors compared to professional and managerial workers 19,23 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational disparities in tumor grade and cytosolic HMGB1 expression in renal cell cancer

Takeuchi²,

Journal of Occupational Health

et al. 2022

Self Cite

“…Since the launch of HTPs in Japan in 2014, tobacco industries have claimed that HTPs contain fewer harmful chemicals than combustible cigarettes and have marketed HTPs as healthier alternatives to combustible cigarettes. [1][2][3] Globally, the number of HTP smokers has increased. In Japan, during the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, more than 15% of people aged 20-39 years smoked HTPs.…”

Section: Backg Rou N Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of heated tobacco products (HTPs), in which tobacco leaves are heated to produce aerosols containing nicotine and hazardous chemicals, is an emerging concern, particularly among younger populations. Since the launch of HTPs in Japan in 2014, tobacco industries have claimed that HTPs contain fewer harmful chemicals than combustible cigarettes and have marketed HTPs as healthier alternatives to combustible cigarettes 1–3 . Globally, the number of HTP smokers has increased.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal heated tobacco product use during pregnancy and allergy in offspring

Kono

Hosokawa

et al. 2022

Allergy

Self Cite

Background:Little is known about the association between maternal use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) during pregnancy and the onset of allergy among offspring.This study aimed to determine whether maternal HTP smoking is associated with allergy in their offspring and to evaluate the potential dose-response association.Methods: In this web-based, cross-sectional survey conducted in July and August 2021 in Japan, we investigated 5688 pairs of postpartum women and infants (<3 years). Clinical diagnoses of infant asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, or atopic dermatitis were reported. Using multilevel Poisson regression, we estimated the prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of allergy in infants with HTP smoking categories cross-classified by pregnancy periods, and adjusted for potential covariates including maternal cigarette smoking and partner's smoking status. Non-smokers served as the reference group. Results:In total, 2.4% women smoked HTPs during pregnancy. Allergy occurred in 7.8% of the infants. The prevalence of allergy increased among the offspring of current HTP smokers during pregnancy at 15.2% (PR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.28-3.05); this association was the most pronounced during the first trimester but attenuated before pregnancy and postpartum. Dose-response associations were observed, for example a one-unit increase in daily maternal HTP use during pregnancy was associated with a 5% increase in allergy onset. Sub-group analyses excluding cigarette smokers during pregnancy and sensitivity analyses using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire showed a similar pattern.Conclusions: Maternal HTP smoking during pregnancy is associated with allergy in the offspring.

“…Stakeholders who were more affected by COVID-19 consequences, they may be more likely to express more pessimistic views of the food industry's future. In addition, the cross sectional design does not allow generating relationships in the long run (109). Data selection started after the first lockdown, when most food businesses had to adapt to the new reality and overcome obstacles in the food chain.…”

Section: Study Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Aftermath of COVID-19 Outbreak in the Agro-Food System: An Exploratory Study of Experts' Perspectives

Raptou¹,

Mattas²,

Tsakiridou³

et al. 2022

Front. Nutr.

The present study explored COVID-19 outbreak impacts on the food system in terms of agro-food production, distribution networks efficiency, and emerging food consumption patterns according to food experts' perspectives. Individual level data were selected from a sample of 59 executive managers of different domains representing agro-food businesses, agro-food cooperatives, and agro-food consulting firms and public institutions. The empirical analysis addressed the effects of the COVID-19 crisis to all the stages in the food chain and attempted to indicate the factors that could influence the trajectory from “farm to fork” under uncertain circumstances. Factor analysis elicited the underlying dimensions of experts' viewpoints toward the operation of the food system during COVID-19 pandemic. Data were also elaborated through hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis and the cluster structure was further validated by discriminant analysis. A two-cluster solution emerged, revealing differences in experts' perceptions toward the aftermath of the pandemic on agriculture (socioeconomic impacts on rural areas, impacts on agricultural production), food processing businesses (decline in the economic viability of food businesses, sharp economic downturn in the food industry, economic recession, incentives for innovation), food distribution networks (distribution channels fallout, food supply disruption), and consumers' food habits and preferences (increasing interest in health protection, adoption of unhealthy eating habits, demand for innovative and sustainable foods). These segments were identified as “skeptical food experts about COVID-19 impacts” (33.9%) and “alarmed food experts about COVID-19 impacts” (66.1%). Our findings highlighted the main disruptions that the food sector should overcome to meet consumer demand for safe and healthy food products and also ensure food availability and food system resiliency.