Low-carbon development of coal-fired power generation (CPG) is essential in achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. While greatly reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide and homologous conventional pollutants, low-carbon CPG may change emitted-pollutants profiles, increase certain emitted-pollutants levels, and even emit new pollutants, bringing both health risks and benefits, which are largely unknown and warrant exigent elucidation by initiating the Tongji carbon peaking and carbon neutrality (TJCC) cohort. Two mainly deployed low-carbon (high-efficiency low-carbon [HLC-] and coal-biomass coupling [CBC-]) and one traditional (Trad-) CPG stations with similar CPG scale in Hubei province, China were randomly chosen. From May to November 2023 (baseline), 3262 adult residents (mean age: 54.4 years; 67.0% female) in communities located 8.5±1.5km downwind of the stations along the annual prevailing wind direction were recruited (1076, 1177, and 1009 around HLC-CPG, CBC-CPG, and Trad-CPG stations, respectively) for survey (questionnaire; health checkup; blood and urine collection for biochemistry and pollutants measurements). A panel (n=150; 50 around each station) was randomly convened from the cohort for additional elaborate survey, like 24-hour personal health and environmental exposure monitoring. Additionally, we established three fixed-sites (at about 1km and 5km downwind of each station, plus community center) to monitor CPG-emitted pollutants. This cohort followed up every 2~3 years will provide novel exquisite data for illuminating emitted-pollutants profile and relevant health risk from CPG and particularly health benefit from low-carbon CPG, which has great significance in identifying priority pollutants for CPG emission control and achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality while safeguarding public health.

BackgroundElevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a well-established risk factor for coronary heart disease, but its role in stroke remains unclear. This study examined the association between LDL-C levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its subtypes in a large cohort of Japanese workers.MethodsWe analyzed data from 69,605 participants in the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health study. Baseline LDL-C levels were categorized as <70, 70-99, 100-119, 120-139, 140-159, and ≥160 mg/dL. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsOver a mean follow-up of 8.5 years (range, 0.1-13.4 years), 406 participants developed CVD. Compared with LDL-C levels of 100-119 mg/dL, participants with LDL-C <70 mg/dL had a higher risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (HR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.31-9.66), whereas no association was observed between LDL-C levels and subarachnoid hemorrhage. For ischemic stroke, a U-shaped association was observed; adjusted HRs (95% CIs) versus 100-119 mg/dL were 2.26 (0.97-5.25), 1.53 (0.92-2.56), 0.95 (0.56-1.60), 1.71 (1.04-2.81), and 1.52 (0.85-2.72) for LDL-C levels of <70, 70-99, 120-139, 140-159, and ≥160 mg/dL, respectively. In contrast, the risk of myocardial infarction increased linearly with increasing LDL-C levels.ConclusionsVery low LDL-C levels were associated with an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, whereas a suggestive U-shaped association was observed between LDL-C levels and ischemic stroke. The risk of myocardial infarction increased with higher LDL-C levels.

BackgroundDepression has been associated with various chronic conditions, including metabolic syndrome (MetS), but findings from Japanese studies have been inconsistent and are limited to cross-sectional design. We therefore examined the longitudinal association between depressive symptoms and incidence of MetS and its components in middle-aged Japanese workers.MethodsData were analysed from 2969 public servants (aged 35-65, 73.1% male) in the Aichi Workers' Cohort Study who were free of MetS at baseline (2013), with at least one follow-up assessment (between 2014 and 2018). Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline using the 11-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D-11) and categorized into tertiles: first tertile (0-4), second tertile (5-7), and third tertile (≥8). MetS was defined by the harmonized criteria for Japanese, based on waist circumference (≥90 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women), triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. Multivariable logistic regression estimated ORs and 95% CIs. Restricted cubic splines and piecewise logistic regression evaluated non-linearity and a threshold.ResultsDuring five years, 391 participants (13.2%) developed MetS, with a cumulative incidence rate of 10.2% in the first tertile, 15.8% in the second tertile, and 14.9% in the third tertile. In the fully adjusted model, participants in the second and third tertile had higher odds of incident MetS (OR: 1.89, 95% CI, 1.44-2.48; OR: 1.92, 95% CI, 1.40-2.64, respectively) and high triglycerides (OR: 1.43, 95% CI, 1.08-1.90; OR: 1.80, 95% CI, 1.31-2.48, respectively) compared with those in the first tertile. Restricted cubic spline suggested non-linearity (p < 0.001) with a threshold at CES-D-11 approximately 10. Below this threshold, each 1-SD increase in CES-D-11 was associated with higher odds of incident MetS (OR 1.59, 95% CI, 1.31-1.92).ConclusionDepressive symptoms were associated with incident MetS among middle-aged Japanese workers, particularly with high triglyceride component. The association appeared non-linear, with risk increasing up to a CES-D-11 score of approximately 10 and then plateauing. This potential threshold may help improve understanding of the relationship between depressive symptoms and MetS risk, although further studies are needed before it can be used for risk stratification and prevention efforts.

Cancer Biobank Aichi (CBBA) was established at Aichi Cancer Center in 2017 as a hospital-based prospective biobank embedded in first-visit outpatient care. With written informed consent, up to 13 mL of blood is collected, processed within 2 hours, fractionated into serum, plasma, and buffy coat, dispensed into 2D-barcoded aliquots, and stored at -80°C under continuous monitoring with distributed freezer storage. DNA is extracted from buffy coat and stored as ready-to-use aliquots. Epidemiological information is obtained using a structured questionnaire; most lifestyle exposures (physical activity, alcohol intake, smoking, and diet) refer to the year preceding the index visit. The questionnaire includes outpatient dietary assessment and separate ascertainment of electronic/heat-not-burn tobacco product use. Clinical information is updated annually through linkage with the institutional hospital-based cancer registry based on standardized registration items recommended by the National Cancer Center Japan; for approved projects, linkage to department-level clinical data is available under governance review with data minimization and pseudonymization. Among 34,574 first-visit outpatients approached or informed about CBBA, 29,470 (85.2%) provided biospecimens and/or questionnaire data and were included, including 10,075 non-cancer participants. Biospecimens were available for 25,105 participants and questionnaire data for 26,570; 22,205 provided both components. CBBA enables multiple epidemiologic and translational study designs using biospecimens collected at first presentation, one-year-referenced lifestyle data, an internal non-cancer reference group, and registry follow-up.