Air Pollution and Microvasculature: Cellular Adhesion and Retinal Vessels in MESA

 描述(由申请人提供)：该项目评估环境空气污染暴露与血管现象之间的联系，综合空气污染流行病学、暴露评估和应用的统计技术。该提案旨在进一步了解空气污染和心血管疾病之间的关系的模式和生物学机制。该项目将调查人工智能污染对细胞黏附分子和微血管系统的急性和慢性影响，通过视网膜照片进行测量。这项研究利用了一个庞大的、现有的、多中心的美国队列，这些队列具有良好的健康指标和最先进的空气污染暴露预测。这项研究的设计允许纵向评估微血管，并通过中介分析(“因果模型”)描述空气污染暴露、微血管变化、黏附分子和心血管事件之间的相互关系。这项研究和相应的培训计划将通过正规课程、独立学习和应用研究相结合的方式，提供先进的统计方法、生物测量技术和心血管病理生理学方面的经验。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project assesses associations between ambient air pollution exposures and vascular phenomena, integrating air pollution epidemiology, exposure assessment, and applied statistical techniques. The proposal aims to further understanding of the patterns and biologic mechanisms underlying the relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular disease. This project will investigate acute and chronic effects of ai pollution on cellular adhesion molecules and on the microvasculature, as measured via retinal photographs. This research utilizes a large, existing, multi-center US cohort with well-characterized health measures and state-of-the-art air pollution exposure predictions. Design of the study allows assessment of microvasculature longitudinally as well as characterization the interrelationship between air pollution exposure, microvascular changes, adhesion molecules, and cardiovascular events via mediation analysis ("causal modeling"). This research and corresponding training plan will provide experience in advanced statistical methods, biological measurement techniques, and cardiovascular pathophysiology through a combination of formal coursework, independent study, and applied research.