Thursday, January 22, 2026

Social Factors Shape Lung Cancer in Never-Smokers

CHRONIC lung disease and socioeconomic disadvantage were tied to markedly increased lung cancer risk, among never-smokers in Korea.

Lung Cancer Risk in Never-Smokers Linked to Chronic Lung Disease

While lung cancer screening has reduced mortality in high-risk smokers, risk factors for lung cancer in never-smokers remain less clearly defined. In this multicenter, retrospective matched case-control study, investigators examined clinical and environmental contributors to lung cancer in never-smokers (LCINS) using data from tertiary centers in the Republic of Korea.

The analysis included 3,000 never-smoking case patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between 2016 and 2020 and 3,000 age- and sex-matched controls. Controls were selected from individuals who underwent opportunistic chest computed tomography (CT) scans with negative findings at the same institutions during the same period. The median age across the cohort was 60 years, and most participants were female (81.1%). Among case patients, Stage I disease was the most common presentation (66.7%).

Adjusted multivariable conditional logistic regression identified chronic lung disease as the strongest independent risk factor for NSCLC in never-smokers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.35–3.59; P<0.001), supporting the concept that underlying respiratory disease may meaningfully increase LCINS risk.

Socioeconomic Status and Family History Influence Risk

Several socioeconomic indicators were also independently associated with NSCLC in never-smokers. Living outside the capital region was linked to higher risk (aOR 2.81; 95% CI 2.49–3.17; P<0.001), and unemployment was associated with increased odds of NSCLC (aOR 1.32; 95% CI 1.14–1.53; P<0.001). In contrast, undergraduate-level or higher education was associated with lower LCINS risk (aOR 0.53; 95% CI 0.44–0.63; P<0.001).

A first-degree family history of lung cancer was associated with a modest increase in NSCLC risk among never-smokers (aOR 1.23; 95% CI 1.02–1.49; P=0.028). Notably, the presence of a first-degree family history was not statistically associated with driver mutations among case patients, suggesting familial risk may not directly align with molecular alteration patterns in this cohort.

Overall, the findings support a multifactorial approach to risk assessment and may help shape future lung cancer screen criteria for higher-risk never-smoker populations.

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

 

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posted by G S Iyer at 7:57 AM 0 comments

Your Eye Health May be Correlated to Your Kidney Health

Chronic kidney disease silently afflicts millions worldwide, with symptoms often showing up only after irreversible damage has happened. But scientists may have now found a way to identify kidney diseases sooner, without the need for invasive procedures. 
 
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh discovered a correlation between changes in the retina and choroid—a circulatory layer located beneath the retina—and the health of our kidneys. Using an accessible, non-invasive imaging approach known as optical coherence tomography (OCT), which is commonly available in various eye care facilities, they discovered that people with chronic kidney disease had thinner retinas and choroids than healthy individuals.

In terms of biological function, the eye and kidney are surprisingly similar. Both organs rely on intricate networks of tiny blood vessels to fulfill their roles effectively. In the eye, these delicate vessels play a vital role in nourishing the retina, which is essential for maintaining clear vision. In the kidneys, they are responsible for maintaining the filtration system responsible for cleansing the blood. However, in conditions such as chronic kidney disease, where these blood vessels suffer damage, eyesight issues, as well as reduced kidney function, might occur.

The Edinburgh study found that as kidney disease worsens, the thickness of both the retina and the choroid decreases. Even after accounting for age, a known factor that impacts both kidney and eye health, this association remained consistent. In patients with chronic kidney disease, the central area of the retina, which relies heavily on the choroid for oxygen and nutrients, appeared to be significantly affected.

Interestingly, the researchers discovered a reversal in the thinning of the retinal and choroidal layers that is typical of CKD among people who had undergone kidney transplants. Surprisingly, within a week of getting the transplant, these people began to observe a visible thickening in their eye structures, with more improvement seen over the next year. The eyes appeared to mirror the transplanted kidney's restored state. 
 
The researchers also studied healthy individuals who volunteered to donate their kidneys. Interestingly, despite adequate kidney function, these patients had choroidal thinning within a year of donating. This shows that eye examinations may serve as an advanced alarm system, detecting subtle changes in kidney health much before standard diagnostic tests.

To validate their findings, the researchers followed a group of chronic kidney disease patients for two years. They discovered that those with smaller retinas and choroids at the start of the trial were more likely to experience a significant reduction in kidney function over time. This predictive ability continued even after controlling for factors such as age, blood pressure, and urine protein levels, all of which are indicators of kidney damage.

“We hope that this research, which shows that the eye is a useful window into the kidney, will help identify more people with early kidney disease – providing an opportunity to start treatments before it progresses,” says Dr. Neeraj Dhaun, Professor of Nephrology at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Cardiovascular Science, in a press release. “It also offers potential for new clinical trials and the development of drug treatments for a chronic disease that, so far, has proved extremely difficult to treat.”

Further study is needed, of course, to understand the complicated relationship between the eyes and kidneys. The Edinburgh team plans to broaden its research by enrolling bigger and more varied patient populations and increasing the duration of their studies. They also hope to determine whether specific changes in the eyes may serve as early indications of cardiovascular disease, which is typically associated with chronic renal disease.

Meanwhile, this study shows the human body's extraordinary ability to provide insights into our overall well-being. Although OCT scans are not presently used in regular kidney check-ups, this study identifies exciting areas for future research. Perhaps in the future, people will be able to check their kidney health using a simple and painless eye exam. 
 
The findings of the study are published in the journal Nature Communications.




This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   



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posted by G S Iyer at 5:23 AM 0 comments

6 Theories That Prove a Link Between Sugar & Depression

All of us feel a little blue at some point. When we are feeling a little extra down, though, a lot of us crave eating something sweet, don’t we? Having that candy, a bar of chocolate, an ice cream, or maybe even a little muffin does lift our spirits momentarily. While eating these sweets occasionally is fine, having too much sugar can have long-term implications on mood disorders. 
 
Complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and grains have natural sugars that are healthy. However, it is also present in refined food items, such as cakes, pasta, baked goods, candy, and bread. While regular intake of sugar can lead to a variety of health issues, it has also been found to increase your risk of depression and mood disorders. Since the brain depends on an even supply of glucose, sugar’s involvement in aiding anxiety and depression isn’t altogether surprising.

Here we list some of the possible connections between sugar and depression. 
 
1. The link between depression and refined carbohydrates

A study by Columbia Medical Center in 2015 noted that a diet high in refined carbohydrates may become a risk for depression, especially in postmenopausal women. Highly refined carbohydrates include items like white bread/pasta, white rice, crackers, cookies, and soda. These products increase blood sugar and may set off a hormonal response in the body to reduce blood sugar levels. These responses may also lead to changes in mood and cause fatigue.

Researchers also observed that a diet with a higher intake of dietary fiber, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit can lower the risk of depression for middle-age people. Thus, a healthy diet that is low in refined carbohydrates could well be a preventive measure for depressive episodes. 
 
2. Sugar can be more addictive than cocaine
 
In a study that was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the authors mentioned that sugar could act as a gateway to alcohol and other addictive substances. They added that sugar is refined from plants to produce pure white crystals, much like stimulants, such as cocaine and opium. According to the researchers, this process significantly adds to sugar’s addictive properties. 
 
“Consuming sugar produces effects similar to that of cocaine, altering mood, possibly through its ability to induce reward and pleasure, leading to the seeking out of sugar,” the study states. 
 
Cassie Bjork, R.D., L.D., founder of Healthy Simple Life, further illustrates the point: “Sugar activates the opiate receptors in our brain and affects the reward center, which leads to compulsive behavior, despite the negative consequences like weight gain, headaches, hormone imbalances, and more.”
 
3. Too much sugar could increase depression risk in men
Recent research has indicated that men who consume more sugar run an increased risk of depression. Researchers from University College London (UCL) studied the sugar in the diet and common mental health problems of a large group of men and women. They discovered a greater link between consuming higher levels of sugar and depression in men. The study claims that men who consumed more than 67g of sugar a day had a 23% increased risk of suffering from a common mental disorder after 5 years than those who had less than 39.5g of sugar.

“This study is important because it is the first to be able to show that an increase in risk of about a quarter in common mental disorders – mostly mild anxiety and depression – in men who eat the most sugar cannot be explained by those who were already anxious or depressed using sugar as a form of comfort,” says Rob Howard, professor of old age psychiatry at UCL. 
 
However, more studies are needed to confirm this theory.

4. Frequent consumption of commercial baked goods can increase the risk of depression

Various commercially prepared baked goods like muffins, doughnuts, croissants, and pastries may taste incredibly good but aren’t good for your mental health according to Spanish researchers. They found that participants who ate the most baked goods had a 38% higher risk of depression compared to those individuals who ate less baked goods. 
 
Too much consumption of commercially prepared baked goods was never good for health anyway. Now that they may have a detrimental effect on depression risk, it is important to be cautious before having these products regularly. 
 
5. Depression, sugar, and inflammation
A diet that is high in refined carbs may promote inflammation. In fact, researchers at the University of Kansas found that inflammation was an essential physiological effect of dietary sugar intake. 
 
“Added sugars have a profound effect on inflammatory processes within the body and brain, and inflammation may serve as a key mediator of sugar-induced depression onset,” says one of the researchers from the team. 
 
Interestingly, many symptoms of inflammation are also common with depression, e.g. loss of appetite, changes in sleep patterns and heightened perceptions of pain. Furthermore, some studies have reported that inhibition of inflammatory pathways can improve mood. Thus, depression may very well be an elemental sign of inflammation-related issues.

6. Sugar causes Serotonin crash
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a chemical produced by nerve cells and is found in three parts of the body — the brain, the lining of the digestive tract, and in blood platelets. It is a vital neurotransmitter known as the “happiness molecule” because of its key role in maintaining a positive mood. 
 
When we are feeling low, we often tend to go for sugar and other processed carbs. This generally gives us a serotonin boost or basically helps lift our mood. However, that feeling is short-lived. For instance, candy and sweets, which are simple carbohydrates, will have the greatest impact on your serotonin, but that effect will only last one to two hours before it comes crashing down. This will eventually make you feel worse. Thus, reduced quantities or activity of serotonin in the brain may influence depression.
 
 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

 

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posted by G S Iyer at 5:02 AM 0 comments