Consumption Of Tobacco Products Research Articles

India’s Consensus Statement Tobacco Control Priorities: Review of Current Strategies and the Way Forward

IntroductionTobacco consumption remains a significant global public health challenge, causing over 8 million preventable deaths annually, with India bearing a substantial burden as second largest producer and consumer of tobacco products. Despite some advanced tobacco control policies, there are certain gaps, which requires effective implementation. To address these challenges, a national consultation was organized, bringing together experts to identify priorities in tobacco control in India and formulate an action plan. Design/MethodsA national consultation on ‘tobacco control priorities in India- challenges and way forward’ was organised where a total of 40 experts from the government, developmental organizations, and academia participated to formulate Short, Intermediate and Long-term priorities for tobacco control in India. Preceding the consultation, an extensive literature review and policy analysis were conducted to establish initial priorities. Subsequently, a consensus statement was developed to assist policymakers in identifying tobacco control priorities in India with agoal to achieve SDG 3a, aiming to strengthen the implementation of the WHO FCTC. ResultsThe proposed short-term priorities focused on promoting anti-tobacco curricula in health educational institutions, expanding cessation services, creating a national task force for Tobacco Control, training, monitoring and evaluation, and strengthening Tobacco Control Act. The intermediate priorities focused on advancing tobacco taxation, creating Tobacco-Free environments, adopting and implementing FCTC Article 5.3, building the capacity of National Tobacco Testing Laboratories and implementating Tobacco Vendor Licensing. The development of a comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy to address the policy gaps and maintain resources to support the sustainability of tobacco control efforts to reach the goal of tobacco-free India were long-term priorities. ConclusionsNational policies and legislation play a crucial role in strengthening the comprehensive tobacco control framework. The collaborative formulation of short, intermediate, and long-term priorities for tobacco control in India is essential for their phased implementation toward achieving a Tobacco-Free Generation, emphasizing a holistic approach for addressing challenges and leading the way ahead.

“Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Cardiovascular Diseases Among Adults Of Selected Rural Community At Siliguri, West Bengal.”

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions. More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one-third of these deaths occur prematurely. Since there are not many studies on these rural communities to identify the prevalence rate and associated risk factors, so the investigators have selected this study for proper risk identification, assessing the prevalence rate and educating and motivating adults on appropriate screening, prevention, and treatment. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in a rural community in West Bengal, India. Total 100 numbers of adults were selected for the study. The prevalence rate and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases were assessed using the structured interview schedule and physical measurements. Results: The result reveals that regarding behavioural risk factors of Cardiovascular diseases, among the 100 participants, 60(60%) consume Tobacco products and 81 (81%) consume Alcohol, Adequate consumption of Fruits and vegetables is only 10(10%) i.e. more than 5 times in a week, 19(19%) perform sufficient physical activity/exercise i.e more than 150 minutes/week. Regarding physical assessments, the overweight was 19(19%) and obesity was 9(9%), the abdominal obesity in males was 31(31%), and in females was 35 (35%). The prevalence rate of Hypertension was 23(23%), Stroke was 2(2%), Coronary Heart Disease was 7(7%), High blood cholesterol was 2(2%), and Diabetes Mellitus was 11(11%). Conclusion: The study demonstrated the high burden of fatal CVDs and identified the impact of CVDs risk factors such as hypertension, self-reported diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, alcohol, and abdominal obesity. The significant incidence of CVDs risk factors in the rural communities, particularly among those who are overweight or obese, necessitates early clinical identification, referral and appropriate management of clients in primary health care settings

Neural modulation by nicotine aerosols and the role of flavor additives: insights from local field potentials in mice

Research on nicotine's neurobiological effects has rarely focused on aerosols, despite their primary role in tobacco product consumption. Here, we utilized in vivo electrophysiology to examine brain activity in mice exposed to nicotine aerosols, both alone and with flavor additives (citric acid and menthol). Local field potential (LFP) recordings from the nucleus accumbens (NAc), basolateral amygdala (BLA), ventral tegmental area (VTA), and ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) were analyzed under saline, nicotine, nicotine with citric acid(CA + NIC), and nicotine with menthol(MENT + NIC) conditions. Nicotine exposure significantly reduced power spectral density (PSD) in the NAc-Alpha, NAc-Beta, and BLA-Beta bands, unaffected by flavor additives. Coherence between key brain regions (e.g., VPM-VTA in Beta, VPM-BLA in Alpha) also decreased with nicotine but was restored with citric acid or menthol, suggesting their role in mitigating nicotine's disruptive effects on neural synchronization. Our findings show that LFPs can effectively capture nicotine's neural effects and highlight the modulatory role of flavor additives, offering new insights into nicotine exposure management and tobacco product design.

Prevalence and characteristics of E-cigarettes smoking among medical students

Introduction. In recent years, there has been a downward trend in the consumption of traditional tobacco products. However, the use of various electronic means of nicotine delivery, in particular, electronic cigarettes (e-Cigs), is widespread. E-Cigs are popular among young people. The purpose of the work is to assess the prevalence and characteristics of e-Cigs consumption among medical students (using the example of Sechenov University). Materials and methods. A survey of six hundred thirty students was conducted. Quantitative indices were assessed for compliance with normal distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The critical value of the significance level when testing statistical hypotheses was taken as p≤0.05. Results. The proportion of smoking students was 26.8%. Students use e-Cigs more often (64.5% of total smokers) than regular cigarettes (46.7%). Boys use regular tobacco products more often, while girls prefer e-Cigs. Multiple smoking devices (both traditional and electronic) are used by 18.9% of students. The main reasons for using e-Cigs are the absence of tobacco odour, ease of use and the presence of pleasant aromas. Only 18.4% of medical students consider e-Cigs less harmful than regular cigarettes. Preference is given to e-Cigs with nicotine. The most popular flavour among young people is fruit and berry. Almost all respondents use e-Cigs in the presence of other people. The intensity of e-Cigs smoking is high in 33.9%. More than half of smokers would like to quit smoking, but cannot due to the established habit and lack of incentive. Limitations are due to the fact that study included students from university students whose professional standard of training suggest issues of a healthy lifestyle. Conclusion. The share of students using e-Cigs is increasing. More than half of the respondents began using e-Cigs during their university studies. More attention needs to be paid to hygiene education and training on prevention and smoking cessation methods.

Regarding the problematic issues of the application of certain provisions of the Law of Ukraine «On measures to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco products and their harmful effects on the health of the population» No. 2899-IV

The article examines the problematic aspects of the practical implementation of Articles 16, 16¹ of the Law of Ukraine «On measures to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco products and their harmful effects on the health of the population» in the context of distinguishing between the concepts of advertising and promotion of the sale of tobacco products, as well as advertising and promotion of sales devices for consuming tobacco products without burning them. On the basis of the analysis of current legislation, answers to the following questions were formulated: firstly, whether the promotion of the sale of tobacco products is the placement of a QR code on the tables of a restaurant, which contains a link to the Internet, which contains the menu of the restaurant and information about the available sale of tobacco products, hookah devices, hookah preparation services, devices for consumption of tobacco products without burning them, electronic cigarettes (Article 16 of Law No. 2899-VI); secondly, whether advertising and promoting the sale of tobacco products, placement of tobacco products and/ or information about them on visible elements of equipment or on shop windows of business entities in illuminated boxes or on elements that contain images, drawings, background inserts, color which differs from the color of commercial equipment (Article 16 of Law No. 2899-VI); thirdly, whether advertising and promoting the sale of devices for consumption of tobacco products without burning them, placing devices for consumption of tobacco products without burning them and/or information about them (description, prices, etc.) in retail trade places on external elements of the equipment of illuminated advertising structures, background inserts, the color of which is different from the color of retail equipment, and which contain devices for consuming tobacco products without burning them and/ or information about them (description, prices, etc.) (Article 16¹ of Law No. 2899-VI); fourth, whether it is advertising and promoting the sale of devices for consuming tobacco products without burning them, placing information about the manufacturer of devices for consuming tobacco products without burning them, as well as placing devices for consuming tobacco products without burning them outside the places of sale of these products (Article 16¹ of Law No. 2899-VI).

Non-Smoke Tobacco Consumption in India: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

This study evaluates the economic and social impacts of non-smoke tobacco consumption in India and compares them with the tax revenue generated by the government from this industry. Non-smoke tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco and pan masala, are associated with various health and environmental problems, such as oral cancer and littering. The study uses the concept of externalities to analyse the costs and benefits of non-smoke tobacco consumption for the society and the government. Based on available data and assumptions, the study estimates the expenditure on oral cancer treatment and cleanliness, and the revenue from direct and indirect taxes on non-smoke tobacco products. The study finds that the government collects more revenue than it spends on mitigating the negative externalities of non-smoke tobacco consumption, but the social costs are still significant. The study suggests that the government should implement more effective tobacco taxation and control policies to reduce the consumption and harm of non-smoke tobacco products.

Oral potentially malignant disorders: leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral submucosal fibrosis. Systematic review of associated risk factors

Introduction. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) represent a heterogeneous group of oral mucosal disorders associated with an increased risk of malignant transformation. The specialty literature indicates that tobacco consumption in various forms, such as smoking products containing tobacco, reverse smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol consumption, consumption of areca (betel) nuts, are the factors most often involved in the development of OPMD. The aim of the study. Systematic review of scientific researches and clinical trials on risk factors involved in the development of leukoplakia, erythroplakia and oral submucosal fibrosis. Material and methods. To carry out the systematic review, scientific researches and clinical studies from the last 5 years available on the platforms PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library were analyzed. The identification of the studies was based on the presence in them of the terms specific to the topic of the systematic review and the data analysis was carried out by 2 doctors - dento-alveolar surgeons independently. Results. 16 articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed, with a total of 3874 patients, 5 articles - risk factors of leukoplasia, 2 articles - risk factors of erythroplasia, 4 articles risk factors of oral submucosal fibrosis and 5 articles included studies of risk factors for two or all three forms of OPMD examined. Conclusion. The mucosa of the oral cavity is constantly subjected to external aggressions in the case of patients with harmful habits such as the consumption of tobacco, alcohol or other products with a carcinogenic effect that prove to be high risk factors in the development of oral lesions with malignant potential.Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) represent a heterogeneous group of oral mucosal lesions associated with an increased risk of malignant transformation into invasive forms of oral cavity cancer. A systematic review of the prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders by Mello FW et al. in 2018 [14], reports that approximately 4.5% of the world’s population presents OPMD, the study being based on the presence at the given stage of scientific researches from different geographical regions. Leukoplakia, erythroplakia and oral submucosal fibrosis represent 3 of the most common types of oral potentially malignant disorders [20]. At the current stage, the specialty literature assert the fact that OPMD are polyetiological, rarely being involved only on a single risk factor in their development [6]. Tobacco consumption in various forms, such as smoking products containing tobacco, reverse smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol consumption, consumption of areca (betel) nuts, are the factors most often incriminated in the development of oral potentially malignant disorders Chewing tobacco is a major risk factor for all three previously mentioned entities, while smoking tobacco products increases the risk of predominantly developing leukoplakia, chewing areca nuts is associated with the development of oral submucosal fibrosis and the combination of alcohol consumption and smoking creates premises for the development of erythroplakia [5]. Among other risk factors associated with the occurrence of OPDM, we distinguish, sexual transmission of the human papillomavirus (HPV, with a predilection for type 16), chronic inflammation of the mucosa and trauma of the oral mucosa caused by teeth or prosthetics, the presence of various types of metals in the oral cavity with the formation of galvanic currents, poor oral hygiene, vitamin and iron deficiencies, oral candidiasis and syphilis, congenital immunodeficiencies as well as those acquired posttransplant, HIV infection, ultraviolet radiation and last but not least, genetic predisposition [12]. It is important to note that a clinical patient diagnosed with one of the entities of oral potentlly malignant disorders has an increased risk of developing oral cancer and the screening of patients and the early detection of these lesions, as well as the exclusion of risk factors, remain the most effective methods to prevent malignant transformations. The aim of this study was to make a systematic review the current scientific researches and clinical studies on the risk factors implicated in the development of leukoplakia, erythroplakia and oral submucosal fibrosis.

The influence of social media and video-on-demand platforms on the appeal and consumption of tobacco and emerging tobacco products: A cross-sectional study.

Digital platforms serve as an avenue for the tobacco industry to promote both conventional tobacco and emerging products, with a notable focus on capturing the attention of young people through sophisticated marketing campaigns. This research aims to analyze the prevalence of different advertising strategies on digital platforms and to assess the impact of exposure to these strategies on the probability of use initiation and increased consumption of conventional tobacco and new tobacco products among young Spaniards. An online survey was conducted on a representative sample of 1730 young Spaniards aged 16-21 years in November 2022 using a comprehensive approach, considering all possible relevant factors and perspectives regarding the issue of the study. A descriptive analysis and two adjusted logistic regression models were employed to explore the association of exposure to digital platforms with the likelihood of conventional tobacco and new tobacco product use among this population. Among the participants, 83.2% reported witnessing individuals smoking, 61.6% observed identifiable logos or explicit advertisements, and 77.6% encountered indirect product placement on social media. Notably, exposure to conventional tobacco product placement (AOR=1.71; 95% CI: 1.27-2.30) emerged as the variable most significantly associated with an increased probability of tobacco use. Furthermore, exposure to advertising related to new tobacco products (AOR=2.47; 95% CI: 1.90-3.21) was linked to a heightened likelihood of subsequent use. Similarly, the direct promotion of these novel products is also associated with a higher probability of conventional tobacco use (AOR=1.58; 95% CI: 1.21-2.07). A reciprocal impact was identified, with the promotion of vaping being associated with an elevated probability of engaging in conventional tobacco smoking. Urgent attention is warranted for formulating public policies to mitigate the adverse effects of such insidious indirect advertising practices on digital platforms.

WO3@MOF heterostructure in-situ transformed and deposited on La-Bi2WO6-BiFeWOx composite with enhanced photocatalytic performance for degradation of harmful and toxic substances produced by tobacco

Nowadays, tobacco is widely cultivated, and there are millions of people who smoke around the world. The cultivation of tobacco, along with the handling of cigarettes and the consumption of tobacco products, can produce numerous harmful and toxic substances. Many researchers are working diligently to eliminate these harmful and toxic substances. However, the results have been minimal. In this paper, we successfully prepared a novel La-Bi2WO6-BiFeWOx-WO3@MOF using hydrothermal and in-situ transformation methods. All samples were thoroughly investigated using various characterization techniques, including XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV–Vis absorption spectra, transient photocurrent responses, and electron spin resonance. Furthermore, La-Bi2WO6-BiFeWOx-WO3@MOF was utilized as a catalyst for the degradation of harmful and toxic substances produced by tobacco, including phenol, nicotine, benzopyrene, and nitrosamines. The results indicate that La-Bi2WO6-BiFeWOx-WO3@MOF exhibits efficient separation and transfer of photo-generated electron-hole pairs under visible light irradiation. La-Bi2WO6-BiFeWOx-WO3@MOF also exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity, efficiently degrading phenol (98.62%), nicotine (92.41%), benzopyrene (81.74%), and nitrosamine (98.23%). Furthermore, the effects of varying catalyst dosage, phenol concentration, and pH values, as well as the degradation of nicotine, benzopyrene, and nitrosamine by La-Bi2WO6-BiFeWOx-WO3@MOF, were also investigated. The main active radicals are ·OH and ·O2– during the degradation process. Finally, a potential degradation mechanism for phenol, nicotine, benzopyrene, and nitrosamine by La-Bi2WO6-BiFeWOx-WO3@MOF is proposed.

Consumption of tobacco products and associated factors among outpatient visitors of two healthcare facilities in Northern Cyprus: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Background Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable mortality and morbidity. Although Cyprus is considered a developed country, the tobacco prevalence and related issues have not been explored sufficiently in the general population of North Cyprus. Objective The objective of this study is to determine the rate of tobacco product consumption and related factors among the visitors of a community health center and a university hospital in Northern Cyprus. Methods The study was designed as a cross-sectional study The data were collected using a questionnaire developed in compliance with WHO guidelines. The data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS18.0 with p < 0.05 evaluated as significant. Results Out of a total of 635 individuals approached, 615 provided responses. The participation rate was 96%. The frequency of male smokers was 47.2%, while the frequency of female smokers was 34.0%, with a total smoking rate of 40.7%, much higher than world averages. The survey identified friendship influence as the primary reason for starting tobacco use, accounting for 42%, followed by being stressed at 34.6%. Male gender, being single, having no children, Turkish nationality were predictors of smoking, while financial status was not. The participants indicated a high frequency regarding exposure to passive smoke (51.1%). More than half of the respondents thought tobacco control in Northern Cyprus is not satisfactory. Conclusion More research needs to be done to determine the exact overall prevalence of tobacco consumption in the population, which was found high in this study. Moreover, implementation of comprehensive tobacco control strategies is essential to control the prevalent tobacco dependence.

Comparative analysis of the prevalence of smoking and consumption of nicotine-containing products and their risk factors among students of medical and technical universities of Saint Petersburg based on data from the PROTECT study

BACKGROUND: Taking into account the importance of quitting smoking of any nicotine-containing products by young people in various social groups, a comparative analysis of the prevalence of smoking tobacco and nicotine-containing products among students of medical and technical universities in St. Petersburg was carried out. AIM: To compare the prevalence and structure of consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, as well as the smoking behavior of students at medical and technical universities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional cross-sectional study of a random sample of student groups included 1,105 respondents. RESULTS: The prevalence of tobacco smoking among students at a technical university was 2 times higher than at a medical university (p 0.01). Cigarette smoking was also more often noted at the onset of smoking among engineering students and in their families (p 0.05). 17.2% of North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov students and 14.2% of Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI” named after V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin) students consume nicotine-containing products. Men from the medical university smoke cigarettes significantly more often than women, or use nicotine-containing products, as well as a combination of both. No similar gender differences were found at the technical university. Female doctors used ES more often than women from a technical university at the beginning of smoking (p 0.05). Men at a medical university started using nicotine-containing products more often than women, considering them the least dangerous to health (p 0.05). The example of friends was the most common reason for starting smoking among respondents from both universities (43.9 and 30.8%, respectively). Common risk factors for smoking any product among students of North-Western State Medical University and LETI were boyfriend/girlfriend smoking, smoking among one’s immediate environment. Studying in senior years was a protective factor for girls at a medical university in comparison with students at a technical university (odds ratio 0.48). CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained on the lower prevalence of tobacco smoking among medical university students compared to technical students may indirectly indicate the latter’s insufficient knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco smoking on the body. The high prevalence of nicotine-containing products consumption in universities of various fields of study and the lack of significant differences in the share of their consumers can also be interpreted as an underestimation of the health risks of new smoking products. This requires adjustments to educational programs in order to increase students’ awareness of the potential health hazards not only of smoking cigarettes, but also of using any nicotine-containing products.

A Study On Insight Into Cessation Attempts Among Current Smokeless Tobacco Users In An Urban Slum Of Ahmedabad

Introduction:According to GATS-2 report, one out of every five persons in Gujarat uses smokelesstobacco (SLT).Tobacco causes addiction &amp; dependence over a period of time.Tobacco cessation is anintegral part of the National Tobacco Control Programme.Objective:To estimate the proportion ofprevious quit attempts and its determinants among current SLT users of an urban slum inAhmedabad.Methods:A community-based, cross-sectional study using consecutive sampling wasconducted between June 2023 - August 2023 among 250 current SLT users in an urban slum ofAhmedabad( Ward number 15). A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire adapted from GATS-2(Global Adult Tobacco Survey-2) Tobacco Questions for Surveys was administered among theparticipants for eliciting sociodemographic characteristics, SLT consumption pattern and quittingattempts. Results:In this study, 68.8% of the participants had at least one past quit attempt out ofwhich 94.7% tried self- control methods. The most common reason for not being able to quit wasperceived as addiction (70.9%). A larger part of SLT users (89%) had noticed warning labels intobacco packets and 18.3% of them reported that they thought of quitting seeing that warning. Threefourth of the participants were advised by at least one person to not consume tobacco products &amp; in60% of the cases, it was the spouse.Conclusions and recommendations:The results suggest that there is an obvious lacuna in the community's utilization of services, despite the fact that National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) provides nationwide cessation services. This demonstrates theneed for extensive community-based tobacco cessation activities. Keywords:Smokelesstobacco(SLT), Addiction,Quit Attempt, National Tobacco Control Programme(NTCP)

Prevalence of smoking and consumption of nicotine-containing products among students of medical and technical universities (PROTECT)

BACKGROUND: The article presents data of the study “Prevalence of smoking and consumption of nicotine-containing products among students of medical and technical universities” (PROTEСT), carried out in 2023 at North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov and Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University (LETI) named after V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin).&#x0D; AIM: To study the prevalence and patterns of consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, attitudes to smoking behaviour.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a random sample of student groups included 1105 respondents.&#x0D; RESULTS: The average age of respondents was 20.7 ± 2.0 years, 44.3% were men. 6.8% of participants smoked cigarettes; more often men than women (9.4 vs. 4.7%, p 0.01). The prevalence of nicotine-containing products consumption was 15.7%. There were no differences by gender (men 15.7% and women 15.8%). The use of a combination of cigarettes and nicotine-containing products was noted by 6.6% of students, which led to increase the tobacco smokers number to 13.4%; and the number of people consuming nicotine-containing products to 22.4%. The main reason for starting smoking/consuming nicotine-containing products was the example of friends (in 35.8 and 34% of cases). The reason for the start of smoking and consuming nicotine-containing products were problems in school and family among 21.1% of women and 6.6% of men (p 0.05), and nicotine-containing products by 16.0% of women and 5.7% of men (p 0.05). The majority of consumers of cigarettes and nicotine-containing products combination (38.4%) use them in a 20/80 ratio. Among the respondents, the proportion of smoking relatives is 40.3%, friends — 66.2%, classmates/dormitory neighbors — 71.9%.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in tobacco smoking and an increase in the proportion of people using nicotine-containing products and their combination with tobacco, as well as the absence of gender differences in nicotine-containing products consumption, indicates a change in the smoking behavior of students and increases the risk of developing nicotine addiction and harmful health consequences. Differences in the motivation for starting smoking/using nicotine-containing product among men and women requires more detailed study.

Effect of Customized Integrated Teaching Program on Knowledge Regarding Child Abuse and Neglect among Peoples Residing in Rural Area of Bhopal

The present study has been undertaken to assess knowledge score regarding child abuse and neglect among peoples by integrated teaching program in Gandhi Nagar at Bhopal. The research design adopted for the study was pre-experimental in nature. The tool for the study was self-structured knowledge questionnaire which consists of two parts-I consisted questions related to Socio-demographic data; part-II consisted of self-structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge score regarding child abuse and neglect among peoples residing in rural area. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The most significant finding was that 63.3% of peoples residing in rural area were having average knowledge regarding child abuse and neglect whereas 36.7% had good knowledge after posttest. It was suggested that the nurses must educate peoples residing in rural are aregarding tobacco products consumption and its impact.

Black Alaskans Health Needs Assessment during COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Social Work.

At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic it became clear that Black people were experiencing more severe symptoms and had higher rates of mortality from COVID-19 than White people. However, data on racial differences in death and hospitalization rates in Alaska were less clear. To address this, the Alaska Black Caucus initiated the first Black Alaskans health needs assessment to understand the health status, needs, and resources of the Black community of Alaska. This article reports on the design, implementation, and descriptive results from the survey portion of the first community health needs assessment of Black Alaskans. The findings indicate that a majority of Black Alaskans report being moderately healthy, having access to health insurance, owning their homes, and having a favorable view of their neighborhood. However, too many are unable to work due to poor physical or mental health challenges and are diagnosed with one or more chronic health diseases. In addition, Black Alaskans experience high rates of substance abuse, have untreated mental health conditions, consume tobacco products at a high rate, and are not screening for some cancers. The article will conclude by presenting additional strategies for improving healthcare access and responsiveness for Black Alaskans.

Кореляційний аналіз залежності здоров’я населення України від паління як чинника виникнення розвитку цукрового діабету

Numerous clinical studies have established that smoking has a harmful effect on human health including diabetes mellitus. The aim is to assess the peculiarities of health changes among citizens of Ukraine under the influence of a harmful factor, thanks to a simultaneous questionnaire and in-depth medical examination for further improvement of diagnostics and stratification of the degree of risk of developing various diseases and timely appointment of adequate therapy. Materials and methods. Among the laboratory tests, the following were determined: blood glucose level, IR marker – Нoma index, which were determined on an empty stomach, in the morning, the last meal was 12 hours before blood donation. Determination of the results of indicators was carried out using chemiluminescence analysis. Reagents: Roche Diagnostics (Switzerland). Analyzer Cobas 8000 | ProCobas 6000 |Cobas 411 (Switzerland). Statistical data processing was carried out using a software package. The relationship between quantitative indicators was carried out using Pearson’s correlation analysis (r ). Statistical probability was estimated by the parametric Student’s t-test. The difference was considered probable at p&lt;0.05. The relationship between quantitative and rank indicators was carried out using variance analysis, the Fisher coefficient (F). Results. A register of respondents was created - adults (men and women) who were under the influence of a modified factor that is a trigger for the prevalence of such conditions as insulin resistance and hyperglycemia; prediabetes, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), etc. Answers related to smoking were converted from rank indicators into quantitative indicators. Through prospective observations, during the research, it was established that 47.5% consumed tobacco products in one form or another (not often - 15%, moderately - 12.5%, quite often - 7.5%, extremely often - 12.5%). A reliable relationship between quantitative indicators was also confirmed using Pearson’s correlation analysis (rs) between the level of glucose and the IR Нoma index (r=0.444, p=0.004), which once again confirms that the IR Нoma index increases due to the increase in glucose, and the prerequisite for this can be serve: age-related changes in the body’s hormonal balance, a passive lifestyle, weight gain and the presence of a bad habit, namely smoking. For the first time, the relationship between quantitative and rank indicators was established using variance analysis: between the level of glucose and smoking (F=2.757; p=0.043), between the level of IR Нoma index and smoking. Conclusions. As a result of the implementation of the pilot project, it was established that 47.5% of respondents smoke, of which 7.5% very often, 12.5% extremely often. In the course of the implementation of the pilot project, a register of respondents participating in the study was created. The relationship between quantitative indicators was also confirmed, one of which is the relationship between health status and smoking (rs=0.428; p=0.005). For the first time, the relationship between quantitative and rank indicators was investigated using variance analysis: between glucose level and smoking (F=2.757; p=0.043). Thanks to the transformation of the measurement scale, the dependence of the IR level on the Нoma annealing index was established for the first time.

Examining awareness of tobacco's oral health effects: Dentists' role in smoking cessation among dental patients.

Tobacco products are well-known as a major risk factor for systemic and oral diseases. Dentists may play an important role in the prevention and progression of oral problems related to smoking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of awareness about the poor oral health effects of tobacco products and the role of dentists in smoking cessation among dental patients. A survey containing 40 questions was prepared, and patients seeking dental treatment between June and October 2019 at the School of Dentistry, Ege University, were asked to participate. The survey included demographic variables in the first part, habits of using tobacco products in the second part, relations between smoking and oral health, and the possible role of dentists in smoking cessation in the last part. Data were tested statistically by Mann Whitney U and chi-squared tests. A total of 501 patients participated in the survey; more than half of the participants were non-smokers (63.7%). Cigarettes (95.06%), hookah (7.69%), e-cigarettes (2.75%), and cigars (1.65%) were the most frequently consumed tobacco products. The biggest obstacle to quitting smoking was 'having smoker friends'. The rate of non-smokers (41.4%) agreeing that smoking is related to periodontal diseases was more than that of smokers (32.4%) (p<0.05). The most known side effect of tobacco products was halitosis (81.6%). Half of the respondents (46.7%) did not know about dentists' role in helping them quit smoking. The rate of participants previously recommended by a dentist to quit smoking was only 36%. The aesthetic and social consequences of using tobacco products are well known, but smokers are substantially less aware than non-smokers of the relationship between tobacco products and oral diseases. The present findings suggest that dentists should inform their patients about the detrimental effects of tobacco products and play an active role in advising them to quit.

Tobacco use and oral health related quality of life among Indian adolescents.

The present study was conducted to assess tobacco use and its effect on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in Indian adolescents. The present study was conducted on 1,600 13-14 year old adolescents from the schools of Modinagar, western Uttar Pradesh, India selected using stratified random sampling technique. OHRQoL was assessed using Hindi version of Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ). Information regarding demographic, socioeconomic and oral health measures was also collected from the study participants. Tobacco use was assessed through questions derived from Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) questionnaire. Influence of predictor variables on tobacco use was evaluated using multilevel Poisson regression model. The tobacco use among the study population was 8.1 % and CPQ scores were 9.15±0.32. Adolescents who used tobacco had worse OHRQoL scores. Low socioeconomic status, presence of dental caries, absence of regular dental visits (last 6months) were associated with increased regular consumption of tobacco products. The findings of the present study play an important role in planning public health strategies to improve adolescent OHRQoL and reduce tobacco use.

Perspectives on reforming the tobacco tax administration system in Bangladesh to enhance public health

BackgroundTaxation is the most cost-effective instrument to regulate the consumption of tobacco products. However, weak tax administration can compromise the effectiveness of taxation. This paper aimed to understand the process...

New perspectives on biology, disease progression, and therapy response of head and neck cancer gained from single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. The main risk factors are consumption of tobacco products and alcohol, as well as infection with human papilloma virus. Approved therapeutic options comprise surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy through epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition, and immunotherapy, but outcome has remained unsatisfactory due to recurrence rates of ~50% and the frequent occurrence of second primaries. The availability of the human genome sequence at the beginning of the millennium heralded the omics era, in which rapid technological progress has advanced our knowledge of the molecular biology of malignant diseases, including HNSCC, at an unprecedented pace. Initially, microarray-based methods, followed by approaches based on next-generation sequencing, were applied to study the genetics, epigenetics, and gene expression patterns of bulk tumors. More recently, the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and spatial transcriptomics methods has facilitated the investigation of the heterogeneity between and within different cell populations in the tumor microenvironment (e.g., cancer cells, fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells), led to the discovery of novel cell types, and advanced the discovery of cell-cell communication within tumors. This review provides an overview of scRNAseq, spatial transcriptomics, and the associated bioinformatics methods, and summarizes how their application has promoted our understanding of the emergence, composition, progression, and therapy responsiveness of, and intercellular signaling within, HNSCC.