Cigarette Smoking Habits Research Articles

Effect of lifestyle and dietary factors in the development of brain tumors.

Introduction:A brain tumor occurs when neurons are mutated and thus abnormal cells are formed. Glioma and meningioma are the two most common types, comprising approximately 75% of all brain tumors. The incidence rate of all primary brain tumors was 15.80/100,000 person-years in females and 14.33/100,000 person-years in males. An association of higher risk of brain tumors in adults with cured meat and fruit/vegetable consumption, the primary source of dietary N-nitroso compounds, is seen. Cigarette smoking is a major source of chemical carcinogens. The present study aimed at determining the effects of lifestyle and dietary habits in the development of brain tumor.Methods:The study aimed at the assessment of various dietary factors, lifestyle, and occupational and personal habits in patients diagnosed with brain tumor in a rural tertiary health-care hospital, using a structured questionnaire and statistical analysis.Results:It was observed that – (1) people with stressful, sedentary lifestyle and wrong diet and those addicted to alcohol consumption and the habit of cigarette smoking have higher risk of brain tumors; (2) males are more prone to brain tumors; and (3) among subtypes, majority had glioblastoma and the least had meningioma and opdivoglioblastoma and according to location, majority had cerebellopontine angle tumor and the least had left thalamic glioma and multicentric glioma. Primary care to preoperative brain tumor patients should be given in terms of preventing exposure to radiations, avoiding cigarette smoking, providing healthy diet, and avoiding chronic stress and environmental pollution and postoperative patients should be taken care including avoiding infections by maintaining proper hygiene and providing healthy diet for their speedy recovery.Conclusion:People with stressful life condition, wrong diet, and sedentary lifestyle and those addicted to alcohol, with the habit of cigarette smoking, have higher risk of brain tumors. Males are more prone to brain tumors.

Cigarette smoking and serum level of Vitamin D among older adults

Background: Vitamin D has different biological actions in the body. Vitamin D has pleiotropic effects in multiple organ systems. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to have an inverse relationship with tobacco smoking. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of Vitamin D level and its correlates with tobacco smoking among old adults in Al-Hilla city, Babylon Province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of old adults, both males and females, who were selected from dwellers in community of Al-Hilla city, Babylon Province, Iraq, during the period from January to August 2019. A pretested questionnaire was used for data collection adopted from previous standard national surveys and studies, and the questionnaire included information about sociodemographic characteristics and cigarette smoking habit. Results: The study included 300 participants, and most of them had either insufficiency or deficiency of Vitamin D level (84%). Tobacco cigarette smoking elders had a significantly low serum Vitamin D level (both deficiency and insufficiency) as compared to the nonsmoker group (P

Salivary, Plasma, and Gingival Levels of Melatonin and TNF-α in Nonsmokers and Current Smokers with and without Periodontal Disease

Aim The aim of this study was to quantify the levels of gingival, salivary, and plasma melatonin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in healthy individuals and chronic generalized periodontitis patients with and without cigarette smoking habit and to investigate whether a relationship exists between melatonin and TNF-α levels in the samples. Materials and methods Blood of 5 mL, 5 mL of saliva, and gingival tissue samples were obtained from 30 periodontally healthy individuals without smoking habit (HP), 30 nonsmoking patients with chronic generalized periodontitis (CP), 30 periodontally healthy individuals with current smoking habit (SHP), and 30 current smoker patients with chronic generalized periodontitis (SCP). The levels of melatonin and TNF-α in the samples were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The results obtained were statistically analyzed using SPSS statistical software (23.0 version). Results This study demonstrated the presence of melatonin and TNF-α in all the saliva, plasma, and gingival tissue samples. Gingival tissue melatonin levels were highest in the HP group and least in the SCP groups, while TNF-α levels were least in the HP group and highest in the SCP groups. No significant difference was observed between the groups with regard to salivary and plasma melatonin. An overall significant difference was also observed between the groups with regard to salivary TNF-α but not with regard to plasma TNF-α. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out after dividing the study groups into current smokers and nonsmokers. Results revealed that a reduction in gingival melatonin and an increase in gingival TNF-α were associated with a transition from periodontal health to chronic generalized periodontitis in current smokers but not in nonsmokers. Conclusion This study sheds light on the anti-inflammatory actions of melatonin in the gingival tissues in states of periodontal health and disease in current smokers. Clinical significance Melatonin could be used as a supplement to boost anti-inflammatory mechanisms in periodontal therapy especially in cigarette smokers.

Cardiovascular Risk in Essential Thrombocythemia and Polycythemia Vera: Thrombotic Risk and Survival.

Thromboembolic and bleeding events pose a severe risk for patients with Polycythemia Vera (PV) and Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). Many factors can contribute to promoting the thrombotic event due to the interaction between platelets, leukocytes, and endothelium alterations. Moreover, a significant role can be played by cardiovascular risk factors (CV.R) such as cigarette smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia. In this study, we evaluated the impact that CV.R plays on thrombotic risk and survival in patients with PV and ET.

Discriminative factors for post-stroke depression.

Depression is the most common mood disorder following stroke. It can negatively affects different domains of patient's life. The present study aimed to explore demographic and clinical predictors of post stroke depression and determine discriminative cognitive, motor, and functional factors in stroke patients with and without depression. In a cross sectional study, 100 patients with stroke were investigated. Measurements consisted of Beck Depression Inventory-II, Trail Making Test A & B, Digit Span Subtest of Wechsler Memory Scale, Motricity Index (arm and leg motor), Trunk Control Test, Barthel Index, and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Demographics and clinical data including educational level, marital status, limb affected, cigarette smoking habits, diabetes mellitus, cardiac diseases, and blood pressure were also collected. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that college level of education (OR = 8.78, 95% CI: 2.65-29.11, P < 0.001) and cardiac diseases (OR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.19-8.13, P < 0.001) were significant demographic and clinical predictors of post stroke depression. Using stepwise discriminant function analysis, basic activities of daily living and trunk control with 88.0% classification accuracy, 81.1% sensitivity, and 95.7% specificity were as the best discriminators of post stroke depression. Rehabilitation experts working with patients with stroke should pay special attention to trunk control and basic activities of daily living for preventing consequences of PSD particularly in those with higher educational level and cardiac diseases.

Resveratrol Supplementation Protects Against Nicotine-Induced Kidney Injury.

Prolonged exposure to nicotine accelerates onset and progression of renal diseases in habitual cigarette smokers. Exposure to nicotine, either via active or passive smoking is strongly shown to enhance renal oxidative stress and augment kidney failure in various animal models. In this study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol supplementation on nicotine-induced kidney injury and oxidative stress in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given nicotine (0.6 mg/kg, i.p.) alone or in combination with either resveratrol (8 mg/kg, i.p.), or angiotensin II type I receptor blocker, irbesartan (10 mg/kg, p.o.) for 28 days. Upon completion of treatment, kidneys were investigated for changes in structure, kidney injury markers and oxidative stress. Administration of nicotine alone for 28 days resulted in significant renal impairment as shown by marked increase in plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and oxidative stress. Co-administration with resveratrol however successfully attenuated these changes, with a concomitant increase in renal antioxidants such as glutathione similar to the conventionally used angiotensin II receptor blocker, irbesartan. These data altogether suggest that targeting renal oxidative stress with resveratrol could alleviate nicotine-induced renal injury. Antioxidants may be clinically important for management of renal function in habitual smokers.

The Authors Respond

To the Editor: We thank Finn Diderichsen, Ingelise Andersen, Theis Lange, and Naja Hulvej Rod for their comments on our article.1 To the extent that we understand all the points raised, we attempt to address them here. The authors indicate that they would expect the relative effect of smoking on chronic disease not to vary across levels of socioeconomic position. This runs counter to our thinking and the results from selected extant studies. As we outlined in the original article,2 in analyses of large, population-based surveys, where self-reported cigarette smoking is held constant, cotinine, a biomarker of tobacco smoke exposure, has markedly higher levels in the most disadvantaged folk relative to the affluent.3 This could be because people from lower social groups smoke their cigarettes differently, including inhaling more deeply and more frequently, and/or by choosing higher tar-containing brands. We, as others have before us, therefore hypothesized that the risk to health of smoking in disadvantaged individuals may be elevated in comparison to the more affluent – that is, smoking is most deleterious in lower social groups. While there is some support for this hypothesis – as we describe in our article – and more recently, for health behaviors in aggregate,4 this is not a universal observation; hence, our interest in further testing it is in a well-powered study. Although Diderichsen et al. claim that by computing hazard ratios in this context our work is less comparable to other findings, our reckoning is that the majority of articles in fact report this measure of risk. In the interests of being as comprehensive as possible, we also computed absolute measures of risk in our article – age-standardized mortality rates. Diderichsen and others also raise the issue of biased reporting of cigarette smoking habits, which may be most acute in disadvantaged populations and which may provide a further explanation for any effect modification of the health consequences of smoking across social groups. This is precisely why we used blood and salivary cotinine to corroborate self-reported smoking – to the best of our knowledge, the first study to do so in the context of the present research question. The use of this biomarker also has the value of capturing cigarette dose in smokers, as would the analyses we computed by self-reported numbers of cigarettes that can be found in the appendix of the article. G. David Battya and Carlos de MestralbFrom the aDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom andbInstitute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Effect Of Cigarette Smoking And Vitamin D Status on Fusion Rates After Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) surgery. Does Sound Radiological Fusion Correlates With Better Clinical Outcomes?

The Effect Of Cigarette Smoking And Vitamin D Status on Fusion Rates After Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) surgery. Does Sound Radiological Fusion Correlates With Better Clinical Outcomes?

Effects of environmental and lifestyle exposures on urinary levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites: A cross-sectional study of urban adults in China

Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites, biomarkers of internal PAH exposure, are commonly used to explore the effects of PAH on human health. However, the correlation between environmental PAH exposure and the species or levels of urinary PAH metabolites remains unclear. We collected detailed information on PAH exposure sources, including cigarette smoking, cooking, traffic and diet habits via structured questionnaires, and determined 12 urinary monohydroxylated PAH metabolites (OH-PAHs) among 4092 participants from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort. Linear mixed models and generalized linear models were conducted to explore the associations of urinary metabolite levels with single or multiple PAH exposure sources. We also calculated the standardized regression coefficients to further compare the contributions of different sources to urinary OH-PAH levels. Our results showed that increasing levels of urinary 1-, 2-hydroxynaphthalene (1-, 2- OHNa) and 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OHFlu) were significantly correlated with tobacco smoking (all P < 0.01). The concentrations of 1-, 2- OHNa and 9-hydroxyfluorene (9-OHFlu) were positively correlated with dietary intake (all P < 0.05). Individuals who spent a long time in traffic showed elevated levels of 9-OHFlu and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OHPh) compared with individuals who spent a short time in traffic (all P < 0.05). Self-cooking was associated only with elevated 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) levels. Moreover, good kitchen ventilation resulted in significantly decreased urinary low-molecular-weight OH-PAH levels. These findings suggested that cigarette smoking, self-cooking, high dietary PAH intake and a long time spent in traffic were associated with increased levels of specific urinary PAH metabolites, and good kitchen ventilation effectively reduced the exposure to low-molecular-weight PAHs in self-cooking participants.

Factors affecting the treatment outcomes of myringoplasty in patients with small tympanic membrane perforations.

Factors affecting the outcomes of myringoplasty have been widely discussed but remain controversial. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the factors associated with the outcomes of myringoplasty treating small tympanic membrane perforations (defined as those involving less than 30% of the whole eardrum area) in patients with a history of chronic otitis media. The clinical demographic data, preoperative pure tone audiometry, surgical procedures, and surgical outcomes of patients with small tympanic perforations were analyzed statistically. Overlay myringoplasty was performed in 24 ears (45.27%); Gelfoam® plugs were placed in 29 ears (54.73%). Univariate and multivariate tests among demographic, surgical procedure-related, hearing test-related factors were performed. A total of 53 patients (22 males and 31 females) were enrolled (mean age 54.84 ± 15.51years). Fourteen patients (26.41%) had the habit of cigarette smoking, 8 (15.09%) had diabetes mellitus, 20 (37.73%) had a past history of chronic otitis media, 5 (9.43%) had a history of grommet insertion, 5 (9.43%) had received radiotherapy in the head and neck region, and 1 (1.88%) had microtia. The success rate for overlay myringoplasty using Silastic® sheets was 54.16%; the success rate for Gelfoam® plugs was 54.16%. On univariate analysis, smoking, older age, and the mean air conduction and bone conduction hearing levels significantly affected the surgical outcomes. Cigarette smoking was the only independent (negative) prognostic factor of surgical success on multivariate analysis (OR =0.1614, 95% CI: 0.0336-0.7762, p = 0.0228). As for surgical repair for the small tympanic membrane perforations with a history of chronic otitis media, age, cigarette smoking, mean air conduction threshold, and mean bone conduction threshold were associated with surgical outcomes; cigarette smoking was the independent predictive prognostic factor for the surgical outcomes.

Cross Correlation Statistical Study of Biomarker for Cerebral Infarction

Cerebral infarction (CI) is the most common cerebrovascular disorder with high fatality and disability rates worldwide, and transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a warning of CI, and early diagnosis and intervention of TIA are very important for the prevention of CI. We screened a human aortic endothelial cell cDNA library using serum from TIA patients to obtain lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) antigen. Amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay-linked immunosorbentassay (AlphaLISA) revealed that the antibody levels against LAMP1 were significantly higher in patients with TIA or acute-phase CI (aCI) compared with healthy donors (HDs) (P &lt; 0.01) by examined in three independent cohorts (77 and 158 in the TIA and acute aCI patient cohorts, respectively, and 122 in HD cohort used as normal control). Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that LAMP1-Abs levels were positively correlated with cigarette smoking habit. The serum antibody levels against LAMP1 could potentially serve as a useful biomarker for early detection of TIA or predicting of the onset of CI.

The Pattern of Non-AIDS-defining Cancers in the HIV Population: Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Prognosis. A Review.

The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly reduced the incidence of AIDS events, including AIDS-defining malignancies. Nevertheless, several cohort studies conducted in the post-HAART period have reported an increasing risk of non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADC). Overall, the potential mechanisms leading to an increased risk of developing NADCs probably involve multiple known and unknown factors. In addition to ageing, chronic inflammation and ongoing immune system dysregulation, other contributing factors are co-infection with potentially oncogenic viruses (HBV, HCV, HPV, EBV) and high-risk behaviours such as tobacco smoking. As a consequence of these risk factors, high standardized incidence ratios have been consistently reported, mainly in cohort studies regarding smoking-related cancers (lung cancer, but also pharyngeal and kidney cancer), due to the far more common cigarette smoking habit in the HIV-population. Also in the setting of infection-related malignancies, the high frequency of liver cancer, as a consequence of HBV and HCV co-infection is well known. Similarly, HPV infection accounts for the higher risk of anal cancer. On the same line, Hodgkin lymphoma is more frequent in the HIV population, due to the dysregulation and proliferation of EBV-infected lymphocytes. Several studies addressed the direct relationship between immunosuppression and cancer progression, showing that subjects with HIV infection experience higher cancer-specific mortality, as compared to the general population, independently of cancer stage or cancer treatment. In the HIV population, for many NADCs, the prognosis is still worse as compared to the general population. However, an improvement has been reported over the last decades, mainly thanks to more available and adequate treatment chances.

Habitual cigarette smoking raises pressor responses to spontaneous bursts of muscle sympathetic nerve activity.

Smoking is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Prior reports showed a transient increase in blood pressure (BP) following a spontaneous burst of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). We hypothesized that this pressor response would be accentuated in smokers. Using signal-averaging techniques, we examined the BP (Finometer) response to MSNA in 18 otherwise healthy smokers and 42 healthy nonsmokers during resting conditions. The sensitivities of baroreflex control of MSNA and heart rate were also assessed. The mean resting MSNA, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were higher in smokers than nonsmokers. The MAP increase following a burst of MSNA was significantly greater in smokers than nonsmokers (Δ3.4 ± 0.3 vs. Δ1.6 ± 0.1 mmHg, P < 0.001). The baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) of burst incidence, burst area, or total activity was not different between the two groups. However, cardiac BRS was lower in smokers than nonsmokers (14.6 ± 1.7 vs. 24.6 ± 1.5 ms/mmHg, P < 0.001). Moreover, the MAP increase following a burst was negatively correlated with the cardiac BRS. These observations suggest that habitual smoking in otherwise healthy individuals raises the MAP increase following spontaneous MSNA and that the attenuated cardiac BRS in the smokers was a contributing factor. We speculate that the accentuated pressor increase in response to spontaneous MSNA may contribute to the elevated resting BP in the smokers.

Evaluation of markers CD4+, CD8+, IFN-γ in male smokers in diayla governorate / Iraq

Background: Cigarette smoking habit is widely distribute in the whole world, obviously this bad habit responsible on many diseases which affect the general personal health of the smokers through its effect on the organs of the body in general and the immune system in particular. Objective:To determination of the smoking effect on some immunity parameters and compare the results with the non-smokers by using IFN-γ, CD4+and CD8+. Patients and Methods: 45 of smokers blood samples and 44 of non-smokers blood samples are collected. The levels of cellular of IFN-γ,CD4+and CD8+has been determined by using sandwich ELISA test. Results: The study included 45 smoker that have the average age of 29.60 ( ± ) 10.36 year, while the healthy non-smokers group have 44 person who's have the average age of 26.56 ( ± ) 9.09 years old. When comparing the level of CD4+T cells ,CD8+T and the level of IFN-γwith the number of cigarettes consumed per day, the class (20-1) was found to be the highest average of T cells.while (40-21) were less than average, with no significant difference. When comparing the level of CD4+T cells and the level of CD8+T cells with IFN-γwith smoking duration, the highest mean T-cell (10-6) years and the lowest mean (25-21). The results of the present study showed a statistically significant association between CD4+, CD8+and IFN-γmolecules. Conclusion: The general results of the tests on the effect of smoking on immunologic markers CD4+, CD8+and IFN-γassumed an increase in the ratio of the three indicators compared to the control group.

Longitudinal assessment of clinical and radiographic periimplant status around narrow and regular diameter implants placed in cigarette-smokers and nonsmokers.

To date, no clinical investigation has assessed the clinical and radiographic indices around narrow diameter implants (NDIs) and regular diameter implants (RDIs) in individuals with cigarette smoking habit and nonsmokers. To estimate and compare the clinical and radiographic indices around NDIs (< 3.3 mm) and RDIs placed in cigarette smokers (CS) and nonsmokers (NS). Eighty-six patients requiring implant surgery in the anterior mandible were divided into two groups (39 CS and 43 NS). Patients were further categorized into two subgroups on the basis of implant diameter: (a) patients with NDIs (3.3 mm) and (b) patients with RDIs (4.1 mm). Clinical indices evaluating plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were recorded at 18 and 36 months of follow-up. Digital periapical radiographs were studied to evaluate crestal bone levels (CBL) incorporating in a specialized software and examined on a calibrated computer display screen with the help of an image analyzer. The mean age of patients in CS group and NS group was 44.6 and 42.5 years, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall mean scores of PI, PD, and CBL around NDIs and RDIs among CS and NS patients at 18 and 36 months of follow-up. However, there was a statistically significant difference only in the overall mean BOP around NDIs and RDIs among CS and NS patients at 18 and 36 months of follow-up. The findings of the current study suggests that NDIs can show reliable clinical stability and radiographic bone levels as RDIs placed in CS and NS, with the support of strict oral hygiene protocols.

β-Arrestin-1 expression and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in laryngeal carcinoma.

The novel primary end-point of the present study was to ascertain β-arrestin-1 expression in a cohort of consecutive patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) with information available on their cigarette-smoking habits. A secondary end-point was to conduct a preliminary clinical and pathological investigation into the possible role of β-arrestin-1 in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), identified by testing for E-cadherin, Zeb1, and Zeb2 expression, in the setting of LSCC. The expression of β-arrestin-1, E-cadherin, zeb1, and zeb2 was ascertained in 20 consecutive LSCCs. Statistical analysis showed no significant associations between β-arrestin-1 and EMT (based on the expression of E-cadherin, Zeb1, and Zeb2). The combined effect of nicotine and β-arrestin-1 was significantly associated with a shorter disease-free survival ( P=0.01) in our series of LSCC. This latter result was also confirmed in an independent, publicly available LSCC cohort ( P=0.047). Further investigations on larger series (ideally in prospective settings) are needed before we can consider closer follow-up protocols and/or more aggressive treatments for patients with LSCC and a combination of nicotine exposure and β-arrestin-1 positivity in tumor cells at the time of their diagnosis. Further studies on how β-arrestin functions in cancer via different signaling pathways might reveal potential targets for the treatment of even advanced laryngeal malignancies.

Impact of reduced pulmonary function in the Japanese general population: Lessons from the Yamagata-Takahata study.

Regional epidemiological studies for respiratory diseases have been rarely performed in Japan, because spirometry is not regularly conducted in the standard annual health checks. The Yamagata-Takahata Study is an epidemiological study utilizing regional characteristics based on the 21st Century Centers of Excellence (COE) Program and the Global COE Program. Spirometric examination and other specific measurements via blood sampling were performed for the study participants in annual health check-ups held in Takahata, a town in Yamagata Prefecture. The Yamagata-Takahata Study revealed the impact of cigarette smoking habit on pulmonary function, the impact of reduced pulmonary function on mortality, and the situation regarding COPD comorbidities in Japan. Additionally, the study identified biomarkers of decline in pulmonary function among active smokers, and the risk factors for respiratory mortality in Japan. In this review, we summarize the findings of the Yamagata-Takahata study regarding the association between lower pulmonary function and the clinical characteristics of a Japanese general population.

The association of matrix metalloproteinas-2 promoter polymorphisms with lung cancer susceptibility in Taiwan.

Matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP2) has been reported to be overexpressed in various types of cancer. However, the contribution of various genotypes of MMP2 to lung cancer is controversial and not yet been examined in Taiwan. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated the association of MMP2 genotypes with lung cancer risk among Taiwanese. In this hospital-based, case-control study, 358 lung cancer patients and 716 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited, and the genotypic distributions of MMP2-1306 and MMP2- 735 were determined. Then, their association with lung cancer was evaluated, and their interaction with personal smoking status was also examined via stratification analysis. The results showed that the percentages of variant CT and TT at MMP2-1306 were 17.3% and 1.7% among the lung cancer patients, respectively, much lower than those of 28.7% and 2.4%, respectively, among the healthy controls (P for trend = 0.0001). The allelic frequency distribution analysis showed that the variant T allele at MMP2-1306 conferred a statistically significantly lower lung cancer risk than the wild-type C allele (adjusted odds ratio = 0.54, 95% confidence interval = 0.41-0.72, P = 0.0001). There was an obvious effect of MMP2-1306 genotype on lung cancer risk among the subpopulations of ever smokers but not nonsmokers. As for the genotypes of MMP2-735, there was no such differential distribution in the aspects of genotypic or allelic frequencies, or combinative effects with smoking status. The genotypes of MMP2-1306 may act as a biomarker in determining personal susceptibility to lung cancer in Taiwan. The contribution of MMP2 genotypes alone and its joint effects with personal cigarette smoking habit on lung cancer susceptibility should be taken into consideration of the clinical practices for early detection and prediction of lung cancer in Taiwan.

Drug use, smoking, alcohol abuse and assertiveness of medical students from Poland and Belarus

Introduction: Human health is largely determined by factors such as human behavior and style of life. Purpose: To evaluate selected patterns of behavior of medical students, such as smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use, and their assertiveness. Materials and methods: The study included 338 students from Bialystok, Poland, and 339 from Grodno, Belarus. The original questionnaire, Fasterström's Nicotine Addiction Test, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, Drug Use Problem Test, and Assertiveness Test according to Grębski were all used. Results: In both groups, the level of cigarette dependence was low, with 10% of the students from Poland and 15% from Belarus being habitual cigarette smokers. No significant differences were found in the frequency of alcohol consumption between Polish (57%) and Belarusian (52%) students. Of the respondents, 3.3% from Poland and 1.5% from Belarus met the criteria of alcohol dependence according to the MAST test. There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of drug use between the Polish (1.5%) and Belarusian (1.8%) students. The average level of assertiveness was 16.2 for Polish students and 15.4 for Belarusian students, which was a significant difference. Conclusions: These results indicate similar percentages of Polish and Belarusian students smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and use drugs. In addition, Polish students were more assertive than Belarusian students.

Binge drinking: Prevalence, correlates, and expectancies of alcohol use among individuals with first-episode psychosis.

AimThis study examines the prevalence and correlates of binge drinking and its association with expectancies of alcohol use, within a sample of patients with first‐episode psychosis enrolled in the Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) in Singapore's Institute of Mental Health.MethodsA total of 280 patients from the EPIP were recruited for an on‐going longitudinal study examining cigarette smoking and alcohol habits. Only baseline data were used, pertaining to socio‐demographics, alcohol use, clinical symptomology, quality of life, and expectancies of alcohol use.ResultsOverall 23.9% (N = 67) reported ever binge drinking in their lifetime, and 11.4% (N = 32) had binged in the past 2 weeks. Controlling for all other socio‐demographic and clinical factors, binge drinking was significantly associated with higher education levels, having children, current or past history of cigarette smoking, and lower negative symptom scores. Binge drinkers were also more likely to endorse statements relating to the themes of enhancement seeking (ie, using alcohol to alter or enhance experiences in a pleasurable way), coping with distress, and socializing‐related expectancies of alcohol use.ConclusionSimilar to past studies, the prevalence of binge drinking among our first‐episode sample was relatively high. Our findings suggest certain lifestyle and social factors associated with risky drinking behaviour that future prevention efforts may address. Additionally, the three motivations of enhancement seeking, coping, and socializing also suggest psychological processes and coping styles that could be targeted for interventions.