Tobacco Combustion Research Articles

Gestational exposure to carbon black nanoparticles triggered fetal growth restriction in mice: The mediation of inactivating autophagy-lysosomal degradation system in placental ferroptosis.

Carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) are ubiquitous in our daily ambient environment, either resulting from tobacco combustion or constituting the core of PM2.5. Despite the potential risk of trafficking CBNPs to the fetus, the underlying toxicity of nano-sized carbon black particles in the placenta remains unambiguous. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice received intratracheal instillation of 30nm or 120nm CBNPs. CBNPs deposited in the lungs could infiltrate the red blood cells, further cross into the placenta, and cause fetal growth restriction. Mechanistically, we proposed a two-hit hypothesis in placenta response to CBNPs. The first hit was that CBNPs caused mitochondrial damage, reflected in the reduced mitochondrial matrix, the excessive mitochondrial fission, and the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA copy number. The second hit was that CBNPs disrupted the autophagy-lysosomal degradation system, impeding the removal of dysfunctional mitochondria and resulting in ferroptosis. Ferrestatin-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor, and rapamycin, an autophagy promotor, reversed ferroptosis and further confirm our suspicion. The findings suggested that CBNPs-triggered double-hit evoked placental ferroptosis, leading to fetal growth restriction. The study raised concerns about the potential placental toxicity of CBNPs and its impact on the fetal adverse outcome, which may propose potential targets for interventions in placental damage.

Correlation Between Stress Level and Smoking Behavior in Adolescents

Stress in a person is an unavoidable condition in life. Stress in everyone is generally similar but has an impact. Smoking behavior is defined as the act of burning tobacco products or inhaling vapor from liquids containing nicotine into the lungs. This research was conducted to determine the relationship between stress levels and smoking behavior in adolescents. The type of research carried out in this study used quantitative data, using a random sampling method using a cross sectional study, while for analysis used univariate bivariate analysis and the chi-square statistical test. The sample in this study consisted of 102 students in classes X and XI. The results of the research obtained data in the form of respondents with a stress level of no stress totaling 27 respondents, a moderate stress level totaling 44 respondents, and a mild stress level totaling 31 respondents. Meanwhile, the next distribution showed that 68 respondents were heavy smokers, 19 respondents were light smokers and 15 others were moderate smokers. The results of the chi-square statistical test obtained a p value of 0.045. There is a relationship between stress levels and smoking behavior in teenagers at SMA Batik 1 Surakarta.

Genetics, Epigenetics, and the Environment: Are Precision Medicine, Provider Compassion, and Social Justice Effective Public Health Measures to Mitigate Disease Risk and Severity?

Environmental forces impacting public health include exposure to toxic substances, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), diet, and exercise. Here, we examine the first two of these forces in some detail since they may be amenable to correction through cultural, medical, and practitioner intervention. At the same time, changing people's dietary and exercise routines are likely more resistant to these interventions and are referred to only incidentally in this review. That is, societal efforts could prevent exposure to toxicants and ACEs-not necessarily requiring cooperation by the affected individuals-whereas changing diet and exercise practices requires an individual's discipline. Toxic substances considered in this review include endocrine disruptors, arsenics, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the organic solvent, Trichloroethylene (TCE), and the Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) produced from incomplete combustion of tobacco and other organic materials. Exposure to each of these toxic substances may have serious adverse health effects, especially in genetically more susceptible individuals. For example, children of mothers exposed to the endocrine disruptor, Atrazine, have significantly lower birth length, weight, and head circumference. Moreover, male offspring exhibit genital abnormalities, and all of these effects may be transgenerational. However, analyses of interactions among genes, the environment, and epigenetic modifications have already revealed distinctive individual risks of adverse reactions to toxic exposure. So, interventions through precision medicine might improve the health of those exposed individuals. Adults previously exposed to more than one ACE (e.g., child abuse and inter-parental violence) are more likely to develop anxiety, cancer, and diabetes. Detecting ACE exposures in children in the general population is fraught with difficulty. Thus, the risks of ACEs to our health remain even more insidious than exposures to toxicants. Nevertheless, higher provider compassion is associated with significantly better clinical outcomes for patients with these afflictions. For all these reasons, the first major aim of this review is to recount several of the major forces contributing to or impairing public health. Our second major aim is to examine mitigating influences on these forces, including social justice and provider compassion in the setting of precision medicine. Idealistically, these mitigators might eventually lead to the development of more cooperative and compassionate cultures and societies.

Smokeless Tobacco: A Comprehensive Review of Molecular Effects, Societal Perception, and Cessation Strategies

Smokeless tobacco (ST) is an alternative to smoking, which involves not the burning of tobacco. Although ST has been used for thousands of years, its health effects are not well characterized, and it is the subject of misconceptions throughout society. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the risks associated with ST use. We conducted a comprehensive search of the scientific literature to identify studies reporting associations between tobacco chewing and the risk of oral cancer and premalignant lesions. Our review discusses the molecular mechanisms associated with ST components, along with the role of ST use in speech impairment and cancer progression. We also examine the effectiveness of tobacco cessation strategies and review the existing perceptions held by ST consumers. Our findings indicate significant health risks associated with ST use, including increased cancer risk and speech impairments. As societal perceptions and misconceptions about ST are important factors that influence its use, there is a need for comprehensive public awareness campaigns to correct these misconceptions and to promote healthier lifestyle choices. We call for further research to improve cessation interventions and to increase public awareness of relevant research discoveries. By providing a thorough discussion of the health impacts of ST, we aim to inform policy decisions and public health strategies to reduce the prevalence of ST use.

Tobacco- and Nicotine-Containing Product Use in Italy: Results From Two Cross-Sectional Studies

BACKGROUND: Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are alternatives to cigarettes that heat rather than burn tobacco. The first HTP sold in Italy was _IQOS®_ (I-HTP), and while it has been available for nearly a decade, limited data are available on the use of these products. OBJECTIVE: To characterize how Italian adults (users of legal age) use tobacco- and nicotine-containing products (TNPs), including smoke-free products (SFPs), we surveyed this population about their current and past use of TNPs from 2018 to 2020. METHODS: Two consecutive cross-sectional surveys were conducted in representative samples of the general adult population (6,095 subjects from 2018 to 2019 and 6,118 from 2019 to 2020) and among adult I-HTP users (1,371 subjects from 2018 to 2019 and 1,401 from 2019 to 2020) in Italy. We assessed the prevalence of current TNP use in the general population sample and use patterns in the I-HTP_ _users sample. RESULTS: In the first cross-sectional study (2018-2019), cigarettes were the most used TNP (24.3%), while only a small proportion of the surveyed general population sample used e-cigarettes or I-HTPs (1.4% and 0.7%, respectively). Nearly all current I-HTP users were current adult cigarette smokers when they started using I-HTPs (98.0%). Both surveys showed low initiation, re-initiation, and relapse with I-HTPs, with the majority of current I-HTP users belonging to the intended audience of adults who already used TNPs. Some participants used both I-HTPs and combustible TNPs (38.6%); however, most (59.2%) used I-HTPs exclusively. I-HTP_ _users perceived the health risk (score 0 = no risk; score 100 = very high risk) associated with cigarette smoking higher (63.7) than that for I-HTP_ _use (42.6). Exclusive I-HTP users reported improved respiratory symptoms (reduced cough and phlegm) and exercise capacity compared to a year before they started using I-HTPs. Most current I-HTP users also reported improved smell and taste, better breath smell, and reduced stains or yellowing teeth. Overall, these results were more pronounced among exclusive I-HTP users. The results of the second cross-sectional study (2019-2020) were similar, except for an increase in I-HTP_ _use_ _(1.1% vs. 0.7% in 2018 to 2019). CONCLUSIONS: These studies show that most TNP users in Italy smoke cigarettes. The uptake of I-HTPs suggests that they are a viable alternative to cigarettes. Nearly all I-HTP users switched from cigarettes to I-HTPs. Furthermore, most I-HTP_ _users exclusively use the product. I-HTP users considered the health risk associated with I-HTP_ _use to be lower compared to cigarette smoking, but they did not perceive I-HTPs_ _as risk free. Study participants reported improvements on some health, hygiene, and appearance aspects after switching from cigarettes to I-HTPs. Our results suggest that SFPs can play a role in a harm reduction approach. Further studies are needed to continually monitor the prevalence of SFP use to provide long-term evidence of their impact.

The Effect of a Caffeine and Nicotine Combination on Nicotine Withdrawal Syndrome in Mice.

Nicotine dependence is an important cause of excessive exposure to tobacco combustion compounds in most smokers. Nicotine replacement therapy is the main method to treat nicotine dependence, but it still has its shortcomings, such as the inability to mitigate withdrawal effects and limited applicability. It has been hypothesized that a combination of low-dose nicotine and caffeine could achieve the same psychological stimulation effect as a high dose of nicotine without causing nicotine withdrawal effects. To establish a model of nicotine dependence, male C57BL/6J mice were subcutaneously injected four times a day with nicotine (2 mg/kg) for 15 days and fed with water containing nicotine at the same time. They were randomly divided into four groups. After 24 h of withdrawal, different groups were injected with saline, nicotine (0.25 mg/kg or 0.1 mg/kg), or nicotine (0.1 mg/kg) and caffeine (20 mg/kg). Behavioral and physiological changes were evaluated by an assessment of physical signs, open field tests, elevated plus maze experiments, forced swimming tests, hot plate tests, and new-object-recognition tests. The changes in dopamine release in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the midbrain were analyzed using ELISA. The results showed that a combination of caffeine and nicotine could effectively relieve nicotine withdrawal syndrome, increase movement ability and pain thresholds, reduce anxiety and depression, enhance memory and cognitive ability, and increase the level of dopamine release in the PFC and VTA. Thus, caffeine combined with nicotine has potential as a stable and effective treatment option to help humans with smoking cessation.

Cigarette smoke extract induces malignant transformation and DNA damage via c-MET phosphorylation in human bronchial epithelial cells

Cigarette smoke, a complex mixture produced by tobacco combustion, contains a variety of carcinogens and can trigger DNA damage. Overactivation of c-MET, a receptor tyrosine kinase, may cause cancer and cellular DNA damage, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this work, we investigated the mechanisms of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induced malignant transformation and DNA damage in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). The results demonstrated that CSE treatment led to up-regulated mRNA expression of genes associated with the c-MET signaling pathway, increased expression of the DNA damage sensor protein γ-H2AX, and uncontrolled proliferation in BEAS-2B cells. ATR, ATR, and CHK2, which are involved in DNA damage repair, as well as the phosphorylation of c-MET and a group of kinases (ATM, ATR, CHK1, CHK2) involved in the DNA damage response were all activated by CSE. In addition, CSE activation promotes the phosphorylation modification of ATR, CHK1 proteins associated with DNA damage repair. The addition of PHA665752, a specific inhibitor of c-MET, or knock-down with c-MET both attenuated DNA damage, while overexpression of c-MET exacerbated DNA damage. Thus, c-MET phosphorylation may be involved in CSE-induced DNA damage, providing a potential target for intervention in the prevention and treatment of smoking-induced lung diseases.

Perception of Health Risks of Electronic Cigarette Use Among College Students: Examining the Roles of Sex, Field of Study, Vaping Device Type, and Their Associations.

Electronic cigarettes are marketed as a safer alternative to regular (combustible) cigarettes, based on the claim that there is no tobacco burning and fewer toxic chemicals in their vapor. However, recent evidence challenges the notion that e-cigarette aerosols are benign. Heating of compounds in e-liquids to high temperatures can lead to the release of toxic compounds in e-cigarette aerosols. However, users and the public may not be aware of these unique harms, impacting their perception of harm from using e-cigarettes. This research explored the perceptions of harm of e-cigarettes compared to regular cigarettes among 418 college students, aged 18-34, by employing a Qualtrics based smartphone survey. The findings revealed a vaping prevalence of 16.7% among our study population, indicating e-cigarette use among college aged young adults is at concerning levels. Perceptions of harm varied significantly by vaping status, sex, and field of study. Non-e-cigarette users and female students were less likely to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes. Among e-cigarette users (vapers), male vapers and users of pod-type devices, such as JUUL and disposables, were more inclined to view e-cigarettes as less harmful. Among vapers, students in non-health-related fields were significantly more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes, underscoring the impact of educational background on health risk awareness. In conclusion, this study provides crucial insights into the varied perceptions of e-cigarettes among young adults. The results emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions and educational efforts to address this growing public health concern.

Phase distribution and probabilistic risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor air of coffee shops at Zahedan, Iran

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of hydrocarbons, some of which are established human carcinogens. Human exposure to these chemicals is complex and originates from both indoor and outdoor sources. This study measured the concentration of PAHs in the gaseous and particulate phases during the cold months of 2022 using XAD-2 sorbent tubes and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters in the indoor air of coffee shops in Zahedan, Iran (n = 23). The average concentrations of particulate-bound PAHs and gaseous PAHs were 13,411.86 ± 6517.24 ng/m³ and 6432.76 ± 4311.72 ng/m³, respectively. Source apportionment analyses indicated that the primary sources of PAHs in coffee shops were fossil fuel combustion and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), commonly referred to as second and third-hand smoke. The lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) of inhaled PAHs was calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation method. The mean LTCR for adults and children from inhaling these substances were 9.43 × 10-6 ± 5.06 × 10-6 and 5.34 × 10-6 ± 2.87 × 10-6, respectively. The hazard quotient (HQ) of PAHs exceeded 1. These findings highlight the need to reduce PAHs exposure in public spaces through proper health warning labels and regulated indoor smoking policies.

Peronia peronii as a bio-indicator to assess the toxicity of waterpipe tobacco leachates in aquatic and sediment media.

This study was aimed to survey toxicity of waterpipe wastes leachates on Peronia peronii in aquatic and sediment environments as two exposure media. For this, leachates of four tobacco types including burnt traditional tobacco (BTT), fresh traditional tobacco (FTT), burnt fruit-flavored tobacco (BFT) and fresh fruit-flavored tobacco (FFT)) were prepared and used to assess their toxic effects on P. peronei in two aquatic and sediment media. The in-vivo toxic effects of five different concentrations of waterpipe tobacco waste leachates on P. peronii were evaluated. The LC50 values of BTTs leachates to P. peronii were 17.50, 16.05, 11.31 and 9.38g/L at exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96h, respectively in aquatic media. These values for BFTs leachates were 14.86, 12.38, 9.53 and 7.46g/L at exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96h, respectively. In the case of sediment media, the LC50 values of BTTs leachates were 15.33, 13.70, 9.09 and 6.70g/L at exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96h, respectively while these values for BFTs leachates were 12.00, 10.32, 8.20 and 5.65g/L. Fruit-flavored tobacco leachates had significantly higher toxicity than traditional tobacco leachates for P. peronii. The findings also showed significant differences between the LC50 values of different leachates in different media of water and sediment. The results demonstrated that even small amount of tobacco waste (~ 5 to 6g/L) can lead to P. peronii mortality and may also pose a hazard to other aquatic and benthic organisms. The results obtained from the present study can be used as a baseline data to assess local effects causing from unsafe disposal of post-consumption tobacco waste in beach areas. In addition, these findings can lead to encouraging decision-makers to focus more on the types of tobacco waste in the municipal solid waste management system and to implement a source separation process for these wastes.

Harm Reduction in Tobaccoism : What Does the Scientific Evidence Say?

Smoking is considered a chronic disease caused by chemical dependence of nicotine. This is highly addicting, it in the brain system it influences our emotions, increases the feeling of pleasure/humor and reduces the anxiety. In a planet with about 8 billion people, around 1,36 billion are smokers. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world, around 8 million people die every year. A global public health problem, and those who smoke are vulnerable to 50 tobacco-related diseases, several kinds of cancer, lung diseases, cardiovascular disease, erectile dysfunction, female infertility and pregnancy complications. In 2020, according to data from the World Health Organization, 22,3% of the world population consumed tobacco, 36,7% of men and 7,8%of women. In Brazil, due to policies implemented to smoking control, we had a significant drop in the of period (1989 to 2019) from 34,8% of smokers to 12,6% and in 2021, the total percentage of smokers age 18 or over was 9.1%. All forms of tobacco consumption are harmful to health and there is no safe level. Cigarette smoke 4.720 different toxic substances such as nicotine, irritants, tar and carbon monoxide. In the last 15 years, new heated tobacco devices have arrived on the market with promises of less harm to health. In 78 countries this products are available, including Japan, The United States, Canada, Portugal, Australia, Italy and The United Kingdom. As they do not cause tobacco combustion, they created significantly lower levels of toxic substances, which is the strongest arguments made by defenders of those products. A systematic review of the literature in 2018 on heated tobacco products identified 31 studies randomly and blind over those devices, 11 independent and 20 funded by the products manufacturers, needing further long-term research. Another systematic review (relevant studies from 2015 to February 2021), both “in vitro” as alive has shown that the benefits of heated tobacco are controversial and more research is needed to the short-and-long term health effects. Another large concern is that availability of these smokeless products may encourage cigarette consumption, especially among young people and often with the combined use of traditional cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Exposure to serum from exclusive heated tobacco product smokers induces mTOR activation and fibrotic features in human cardiac stromal cells

Chronic smokers have increased risk of fibrosis-related atrial fibrillation. The use of heated-tobacco products (HTPs) is increasing exponentially, and their health impact is still uncertain. We aim to investigate the effects of circulating molecules in exclusive HTP chronic smokers on the fibrotic behavior of human atrial cardiac stromal cells (CSCs). CSCs were isolated from atrial tissue of elective cardiac surgery patients, and exposed to serum lots from young healthy subjects, stratified in exclusive HTP smokers, tobacco combustion cigarette (TCC) smokers, or nonsmokers (NS). CSCs treated with TCC serum displayed impaired migration and increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cells cultured with HTP serum showed increased levels of pro-fibrotic markers, and reduced expression of connexin-43. Both TCC and HTP sera increased collagen release and reduced secretion of angiogenic protective factors from CSCs, compared to NS serum. Paracrine support to tube-formation by endothelial cells and to viability of cardiomyocytes was significantly impaired. Treatment with sera of both smokers groups impaired H2O2/NO release balance by CSCs and reduced early phosphorylation of several pathways compared to NS serum, leading to mTOR activation. Cotreatment with rapamycin was able to reduce mTOR phosphorylation and differentiation into aSMA-positive myofibroblasts in CSCs exposed to TCC and HTP sera. In conclusion, the circulating molecules in the serum of chronic exclusive HTP smokers induce fibrotic behavior in CSCs through activation of the mTOR pathway, and reduce their beneficial paracrine effects on endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. These results point to a potential risk for cardiac fibrosis in chronic HTP users.

Assessing the Influence of Intermittent Alcohol Access on Acrylamide-Induced Neuronal Toxicity in an Experimental Rat Model.

Tobacco and alcohol have been identified as health risk behaviors associated with significant unfavorable health consequences, ranking within the list of the top ten causes of mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALY). The combustion of tobacco leads to the formation of acrylamide (ACR), which is well known for its neurotoxic effects. Similarly, alcohol consumption has also been widely recognized for its neurotoxic effects. Both substances can affect neurons and neuroglia cells through various pathways. This study sought to examine the impacts of co-administration of ACR and intermittent-access ethanol (IAE) consumption over a period of one month. The experimental group received 20 mg/kg of ACR, administered orally, along with IAE of 20% ethanol sessions lasting 24 h, three times per week. The cognitive outcomes were assessed utilizing the elevated plus maze (EPM), which was employed as a means of assessing the capability to learn and remember, the novel object recognition (NOR) test, which was employed to assess recognition memory, and the Y-maze, which was used to explore a new environment and navigate. Additionally, ELISA assays were performed to examine underlying mechanisms, including markers associated with inflammation (NF-κB, PGE2, and TNF-α), apoptosis (Bcl2, Bax, and Caspase-3), and oxidative stress (MDA, catalase, and GSH). These markers were assessed in the brain homogenate as part of the investigation. Furthermore, a histopathological study was conducted. The findings indicated that NF-κB levels increased significantly in the combination of ACR and IAE groups (ACR + IAE) compared to either the ACR-alone or IAE-alone groups. However, parallel changes were observed in TNF-α, PGE2, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, GSH, and CAT levels when comparing the ACR + IAE group to the ACR-alone group. Comparable alterations were noted between the ACR + IAE treatment and IAE-alone groups in TNF-α, Bcl-2, MDA, GSH, and CAT levels. Moreover, the histopathological analysis revealed significant changes between the ACR + IAE and the ACR- or IAE-alone groups. Regarding memory parameters assessed using tests including EPM, NOR, and Y-maze, considerable changes were observed across all treatment groups as opposed to the control. Surprisingly, there were no notable differences in the NOR and Y-maze tasks between the alone and combination treatment. Further study is necessary to explore the long-term alteration of co-administering ACR and IAE on behavior, memory, and neurotoxicity-related mechanisms, in order to elucidate their combined effects more clearly.

The Impact of Electronic Cigarettes Smoking on the Health of Adolescents and Young Adults

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes, or electronic nicotine delivery devices, have recently appeared on the global market and become very popular with adolescents and young adults. Manufacturers and distributors of e-cigarettes position them as harmless innovative products that reduce or eliminate exposures to harmful tobacco combustion products and help quit smoking, but this is not true. Objective: To establish health effects of electronic cigarettes and the associated risks for young people by reviewing recent research findings. Material and methods: We have searched eLibrary,PubMed, CyberLeninka databases for publications on the topic using the following keywords: electronic cigarettes, vapes, health effects, adolescents, and youth. Of 328 sources initially selected, we included 38 papers published in 2017 to 2023 and reporting results of prevalence of smoking electronic cigarettes, assessing health risks posed by the use of e-cigarettes in the review. Results: Our study revealed the extensive use of electronic cigarettes, specifics of their health effects in young people, the potential for developing nicotine dependence and a whole number of diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems and other disorders in e-cigarette smokers. According to our findings, e-cigarettes are widely available and easily accessible to schoolchildren and are used not only at home, but also at school. These devices and chemicals contained in the generated aerosols, many of which are carcinogenic to humans, can induce multiple diseases in users. It also demonstrated that young people are poorly aware of adverse outcomes of using the devices. Conclusions: Electronic cigarettes and the substances contained in vaping liquids, many of which are carcinogenic, can have negative effects on health. In order to ensure the health savings of the child population and youth, strict compliance with the already existing introduced legislative restrictions, the implementation of measures restricting the sale of electronic cigarettes and their advertising, as well as the development and implementation of preventive programs for children, adolescents and youth in educational organizations is necessary. Vaping prevention programs implemented at schools should include information about adverse human health effects of electronic cigarettes and possible consequences in case of non-compliance with restrictive legislative measures.

Evaluation of polypropylene microporous membranes as extraction devices for determination of carcinogenic aromatic amines in smoker urine by GC–MS/MS

Exposure to tobacco smoke is highly correlated to the incidence of different types of cancer due to various carcinogenic compounds present in such smoke. Aromatic amines, such as 1-naphthylamine (1-NA) and 2-naphthylamine (2-NA), are produced in tobacco burning and are linked to bladder cancer. Miniaturized solid phase extraction techniques, such as microporous membrane solid phase extraction (MMSPE), have shown potential for the extraction of aromatic compounds. In this study, a bioanalytical method for the determination of 1-NA and 2-NA in human urine was developed using polypropylene microporous membranes as a sorptive phase for MMSPE. Urine samples were hydrolyzed with HCl for 1 h at 80 °C, after which pH was adjusted to 10. Ultrasound-assisted MMSPE procedure was optimized by factorial design as follows. To each sample, 750 µL of methanol was added, and ultrasound-assisted MMSPE was conducted for 1 h with four devices containing seven 2 mm polypropylene membrane segments. After extraction, the segments were transferred to 400 µL of hexane, and desorption was conducted for 30 min. Extracts were submitted to a simple and fast microwave-assisted derivatization procedure, by the addition of 10 µL of PFPA and heating at 480 W for 3 min, followed by clean-up with phosphate buffer pH 8.0 and GC–MS/MS analysis. Adequate linearity was obtained for both analytes in a range from 25 to 500 µg L−1, while the multiple reaction monitoring approach provided satisfactory selectivity and specificity. Intra-day (n = 6) and inter-day (n = 5) precision and accuracy were satisfactory, below 15 % and between 85 and 115 %, respectively. Recovery rates found were 91.9 and 58.4 % for 1-NA and 2-NA, respectively, with adequate precision. 1-NA was found in first-hand smokers’ urine samples in a concentration range from 20.98 to 89.09 µg in 24 h, while it could be detected in second-hand smoker's urine samples, and 2-NA detected in all first and second-hand smokers’ urine samples. The proposed method expands the applicability of low cost MMSPE devices to aromatic amines and biological fluids.

Deep Learning dalam Prediksi Kebiasaan Merokok di Inggris Guna Mendukung Kebijakan Kesehatan Masyarakat yang Lebih Efektif

Smoking is a common practice throughout the world, where a person smokes and inhales the smoke produced from burning tobacco or other tobacco products. This action has become a significant global health issue because of the various health risks. This activity is often considered an addictive habit because nicotine, the psychoactive compound in tobacco, can cause physical and psychological dependence. This research applies Deep Learning methods to predict data on smoking habits in the UK. The dataset used in this research includes information about gender, age, marital status, highest level of education, nationality, ethnicity, income, and region. Through this research using Deep Learning methods, we can examine a complex data set that describes Smoking Habits in the UK. Based on trials with a dataset of 1,691 items, an accuracy of 78% was obtained. This research can provide important insights into the effectiveness of anti-smoking policies that have been implemented and help plan further actions to reduce the prevalence of smoking and its negative impact on society.

Prevalence of Electronic Cigarette Smoking Among Students of Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia.

Background Electronic cigarettes are devices that use a flavored nicotine solution instead of burning tobacco leaves. Since their emergence, e-cigarettes have gained popularity in Saudi Arabia, particularly among young adults. Recently, many non-smoking youths have begun to use e-cigarettes as an alternative social behavior. Recent studies have confirmed that e-cigarettes have harmful effects on the respiratory system. Approximately 48.5 million Europeans have used an e-cigarette at least oncewhile 7.5 million Europeans currently use e-cigarettes. This study aims to assess the prevalence of e-cigarette use and possible addictiveness among Shaqra University students. Methodology This is a cross-sectional studyconducted at Shaqra University in 2021. A total of 290 students (18 years old and older) from Shaqra University were included in our study. The subjects were selected through simple random sampling. A self-administered online questionnaire related to e-cigarettes was used. Results Completed questionnaires were obtained from 290 students (average age of 20.2 ± 1.8 years). A total of 58 (20.1%) of the respondents were e-cigarette users. The obtained results showed that the mean age of e-cigarette smokers was 20.5 years, e-cigaretteusage significantly differed between age groups (p < 0.001), and the highest prevalence of e-cigarette smoking was in Shaqra Governorate (i.e., 13.1%). Conclusion It's vital to acknowledge that the capacity for addiction to e-cigarettes is comparable to traditional smoking and other nicotine-containing items. It's essential to consistently observe students and smokers to better understand the effects of vaping patterns on this specific group.

Exocyclic DNA adducts and oxidative stress parameters: useful tools for biomonitoring exposure to aldehydes in smokers

Exocyclic DNA adducts have been shown to be potential biomarkers of cancer risk related to oxidative stress and exposure to aldehydes in smokers. In fact, aldehydes potentially arise from tobacco combustion directly and endogenously through lipid peroxidation. This study aims to investigate the relationship between a profile of nine aldehydes-induced DNA adducts and antioxidant activities, in order to evaluate new biomarkers of systemic exposure to aldehydes. Using our previously published UPLC-MS/MS method, adducts levels were quantified in the blood DNA of 34 active smokers. The levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E), coenzyme Q10, β-carotene, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein were measured. Adducts induced by tobacco smoking-related aldehydes were quantified at levels reflecting an oxidative production from lipid peroxidation. A significant correlation between SOD and crotonaldehyde-induced adducts (p = 0.0251) was also observed. β-carotene was negatively correlated with adducts of formaldehyde (p = 0.0351) and acetaldehyde (p = 0.0413). Vitamin C tended to inversely correlate with acetaldehyde-induced adducts (p = 0.0584). These results are promising, and the study is now being conducted on larger cohort with the aim of evaluating the impact of smoking cessation programs on the evolution of adducts profile and antioxidants activities.

Exploring the Enigmatic Link: Unraveling the Relationship Between Obesity and Cigarette Smoking Among Diverse College Students at Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat. This medical condition frequently results in a high BMI and an increased risk of a variety of health problems, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. Cigarette smoking includes inhaling smoke created by the combustion of tobacco. It is linked to a variety of health issues, including lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory ailments, and is a primary cause of preventable disease and premature death worldwide. The association between obesity and cigarette smoking is complex and incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the intriguing association between obesity and cigarette smoking among diverse college students at Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted as an observational study, specifically an analytical cross-sectional study, to measure the prevalence of cigarette smoking and obesity and their association. This type of study is chosen because of its advantages including targeting a large sample in a short time and inexpensive way, with no loss to follow-up, unlike some other study designs. In this study, we were able to collect data from 603 participants, of which 57.4% were male and 67.8% of them aged between 20 and 24 years old. Moreover, we found that 39.6% had normal weight; however, the prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight were 24%, 28.1%, and 8.3%, respectively. Considering the prevalence of smoking, we found that 22.6% of the participants reported being current smokers, while 5.3% were former smokers. There is a significant difference between participants with different BMIs (P=0.001). The prevalence of smoking was significantly higher in obese and overweighted participants (35.1% and 31.3%, respectively) compared with 28.4% in normal-weighted participants. The prevalence of smoking and obesity in this study was significantly higher than reported in different studies. Moreover, we found a significant relationship between smoking and obesity; however, further investigation should be conducted to determine the cause of this relationship.

Commentary] On Heated Tobacco Products and the Importance of Science-Based Assessments and Product Classification

Proper assessment of heated tobacco products (HTPs), which are alternatives to cigarettes that heat rather than burn tobacco, is necessary to gain a full understanding of both the potential risks and benefits of these newer products. This includes understanding differences in HTP aerosol compared to cigarette smoke. Recent publications have attempted to characterize HTP emissions in order to provide guidance on relative risk and classification. However, improper representation of studies and misinterpretation of how products are designed and used has led to confusion about the relative risk of HTPs compared to cigarettes. This commentary provides clarification on these important issues with a focus on classification of emissions from the device.