Tobacco Heating Research Articles

Associations between the Frequency and Quantity of Heated Tobacco Product Use and Smoking Characteristics among Korean Smoking Adolescents.

Although heated tobacco product (HTP) use among adolescents is an emerging public health problem, little is known about the frequency and quantity of HTP use. Thus, we investigated the associations between the frequency and quantity of HTP use and smoking characteristics (i.e., combustible cigarette [CC] and electronic cigarette [EC] use, and attempts to quit smoking) among CC-smoking adolescents. We analyzed nationally representative data from 2,470 Korean adolescents who were current CC smokers. To investigate our aim, we conducted multinomial logistic and logistic regression analyses. We found that daily and heavier CC users had greater likelihoods of more frequent and heavier HTP use. In addition, dual users of CCs and ECs were more likely to use HTPs more frequently and heavily than CC users who did not use ECs. Moreover, daily EC users had the highest risk of frequent and heavy HTP use. The frequency and quantity of HTP use were not associated with attempts to quit smoking. Compared to CC-only use, dual use of CCs and HTPs was not associated with quitting attempts, and triple use of CCs, ECs, and HTPs was associated with a lower likelihood of quitting attempts. HTP use was less likely to displace CC use and promote attempts to quit smoking. Thus, strict regulations are required to prevent the promotion of HTPs as a substitute for CCs or as a means of quitting smoking. Additionally, health professionals should consider preventive interventions for HTP, as well as CC and EC use among adolescents.

Process of Using Heated Tobacco Products for Smokers to Continue Smoking

Process of Using Heated Tobacco Products for Smokers to Continue Smoking

Вплив паління на біохімічні показники ротової рідини в осіб підліткового та юнацького віку

Purpose - is to study the effect of smoking on the biochemical indicators of oral fluid in teenagers and young adults. Materials and methods. The study of biochemical indicators of oral fluid was carried out of 114 teenagers and young adults from 15 to 24 years’ old who were divided into groups: the Group I included 26 people who regularly smoke traditional cigarettes; the Group II - 22 people who regularly smoke electronic cigarettes (Vapes); the Group III - 23 people who regularly smoke devices for heating tobacco (IQOS); the Group IV - 43 people without the harmful habit of smoking. Biochemical indicators were studied: the activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase, the content of inorganic phosphorus and calcium. Results. The average values of alkaline phosphatase activity in the examined subjects of the I group were 1.5 times lower compared to persons of teenagers and young adults who do not smoke (IV group), (p<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase activity was also 1.2 times lower in people who smoke alternative types of cigarettes compared to non-smokers (p<0.05). At the same time, an increased activity of acid phosphatase was found, the indicators of which also depended on the type of smoking. Thus, the activity of acid phosphatase was 3.6 times higher in the examined subjects of the I group compared to persons of teenagers and young adults who do not smoke (IV group), (p<0.05). In people who smoke alternative types of cigarettes, the activity of acid phosphatase was 2.2 times higher compared to people who do not smoke (p<0.05). In the oral fluid of teenagers and young adults who have a bad habit, an increased content of calcium and a reduced content of inorganic phosphorus were found compared to those examined in the IV group. Conclusions. The obtained data indicate a violation of the normal functional activity of the organs of the oral cavity under the influence of a bad habit. Changes in the biochemical parameters of the oral fluid occur in adolescents and young adults who smoke. Oral fluid parameters may be an early prognostic test for assessing oral health in teenagers and young adults who smoke. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Health Behaviors in Combustible Cigarette, Heated Tobacco Users and Quitters

Smoking can be changed by health behavior education on the fact that unhealthy behaviors can cause chronic diseases and cancer and that it is important to identify health behaviors in smoking. We try to compare the health behaviors of combustible cigarette (CC), heated tobacco (HT) users, and quitters. Smoking behaviors were divided into three groups (CC, HT users, and quitters). The HT user group (n = 100) was selected among those who underwent a health examination in 2021-2022. CC smokers cohort group (n = 100) and quitters cohort (n = 100) were randomly selected from the same groups (age ± 2) who underwent a health examination in the same period. Sleep-related problems (snoring and sleep apnea), alcohol consumption, and exercise were compared in the CC group, HT group, and quitters group, respectively. Snoring was more common in the quitters group (27%) than in the CC users group (19%) and HT users group (18%). It can be related to weight gain during quitting tobacco use. Nondrinkers were more common in the CC users group (21%) than the HT users group (8%) and quitters group (10%). CC users seem to be more concerned about the health effects of drinking compared to HT users and quitters. Anaerobic exercise was different among groups, and aerobic exercise was not. HT users group did more aerobic exercise than CC users and quitters group. Differences in healthy behaviors among CC and HC users and quitters can be useful information for health education to smokers. Understanding smokers’ health behavior is important to smoking cessation counseling in clinical practice.

CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF INTEGRATED TREATMENT OF PERIODONTAL TISSUE DISEASES IN TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO SMOKE

Smoking has been proved as a risk factor for major dental diseases, including periodontal diseases, which rank the second position among the oral diseases. Statistical data indicate a high prevalence of teenagers and young adults who smoke. Therefore, the issue of developing effective schemes of the effective treatment and prevention, taking into account the presence of the smoking factor, as well as the main links of pathogenesis in teenagers and young adults, is quite relevant. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical effectiveness of the proposed integrated treatment of periodontal diseases in teenagers and young adults who smoke. We assessed the conditions and changes in periodontal tissues before and after treatment in 114 teenagers and young adults aged from 15 to 24 years, who then were divided into four groups: group I included 26 regular smokers using traditional cigarettes; group II involved 22 people who smoked electronic cigarettes (Vapes) on regular basis; group III included 23 regular smokers using devices for heating tobacco (IQOS); group IV was formed by individuals having no harmful habit of smoking. We analyzed the dynamic changes of the OHI-S, PMA and PBI indices before and after the integrated therapy, which included "Quertin", "Supervit" and "BioGaya ProDentis" as well as “Stomolik” and “Kholisal” for local application. All the groups have demonstrated a positive trend in the investigated indices, however, the best results have been found out in the groups of individuals who received the integrated therapy that is confirmed by objective examination data and enables us to assess this therapy as of high clinical effectiveness.

Aerosol Formation and Transfer in Open- and Closed-Ended Heated Tobacco Products

Summary A lit cigarette forms a positive and negative pressure zone by a puff with respect to the position of its paper burn line. Smoke aerosols generated from the two zones are then pulled through the rod under the puff to form the mainstream smoke. This phenomenon is fundamental to the thermophysics and the resultant chemical composition of the mainstream smoke. In this study, we created two different airflow pathways inside a heated tobacco rod by a puff, and investigated the differences in aerosol formation and its chemical compositions. The two different pressure-induced conditions, one through an open-ended tobacco rod (marked as HNB, a label of a designed airflow pathway of commercial heated tobacco products called heat-not-burn prior), and the other through a closed-ended tobacco rod (marked as NSC, a label of a novel-designed airflow pathway of heated tobacco products), were compared for their aerosol collected mass (ACM), the contents of nicotine, water and added aerosol agents such as propylene glycol (PG) and glycerol (VG), as well as selected aldehydes and ketones in the mainstream aerosol. Aerosol particle distribution and the heated temperature along different rod locations were also compared during a puff. The results indicated marked differences in the aerosol formation processes between the two HNB and NSC systems. The transfer ratios of the main aerosol components were significantly higher for the NSC; the levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were significantly lower under the NSC than the HNB condition. There were also significant differences for the aerosol particle number concentration (APNC) and count median diameter (CMD) for the two systems. The lack of convective heat transfer in the aerosol formation under the NSC condition resulted in a relatively stable thermal aerosol generation zone, reflected by the temperature difference between the two systems in the selected locations. The NSC mode of tobacco heating thus offers a novel and enhanced aerosol generation for heat tobacco product designs.

A Decision-Theoretic Public Health Framework for Heated Tobacco and Nicotine Vaping Products.

Markets for nicotine vaping products (NVPs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have grown as these products became positioned as harm-reduction alternatives to combusted tobacco products. Herein, we present a public health decision-theoretic framework incorporating different patterns of HTP, NVP, and cigarette use to examine their impacts on population health. Our framework demonstrates that, for individuals who would have otherwise smoked, HTP use may provide public health benefits by enabling cessation or by discouraging smoking initiation and relapse. However, the benefits are reduced if more harmful HTP use replaces less harmful NVP use. HTP use may also negatively impact public health by encouraging smoking by otherwise non-smokers or by encouraging initiation or relapse into smoking. These patterns are directly influenced by industry behavior as well as public policy towards HTPs, NVPs, and cigarettes. While substantial research has been devoted to NVPs, much less is known about HTPs. Better information is needed to more precisely define the health risks of HTPs compared to cigarettes and NVPs, the relative appeal of HTPs to consumers, and the likelihood of later transitioning to smoking or quitting all products. While our analysis provides a framework for gaining that information, it also illustrates the complexities in distinguishing key factors.

'It's not what you'd term normal smoking': a qualitative exploration of language used to describe heated tobacco product use and associated user identity.

Tobacco and nicotine marketplaces have diversified over the past decade, including with the introduction of heated tobacco products (HTPs), such as the brand IQOS. HTPs typically heat tobacco to generate an aerosol that is inhaled. HTP nomenclature is lacking, and how HTP users define and identify themselves remains understudied. Research in this area is important because language can construct identity, and identity can shape behaviour. This study aimed to explore users' language choice when describing IQOS use, and how language relates to user identity. Qualitative interviews in London, United Kingdom, with 30 adult current and former IQOS users. Analyses were guided by Iterative Categorization. Overall, participants expressed confusion and a lack of suitable terminology for how to describe IQOS use. Verbs such as heating and IQOSing were rarely endorsed. Most often, participants reverted to smoking when describing IQOS use and commonly referred to HEETS (tobacco sticks) as cigarettes. Yet the lack of combustion, electronic device, cleaner experience and perceived reductions in health risks led some to frame IQOS as distinct from smoking. Vaping was generally considered inappropriate for describing IQOS use. Participants also manipulated language to suit their circumstances and manage their identity, whereas some IQOS users embraced the terms smoking and smoker, most were eager to distinguish between using IQOS and being labelled a smoker because of the associated negative connotations and to align with perceptions of IQOS use as a better, less harmful behaviour. Instead, when describing their identity, IQOS users more willingly identified as vapers, or ex-smokers, or created new identities (e.g. HEET user). People who use or have used IQOS (a brand of heated tobacco product) are ambiguous about IQOS terminology. Participants in this study commonly referred to IQOS use as smoking for lack of a more suitable term, but also resisted being labelled as smokers, a choice that may influence smoking cessation. Clear terminology must be used in surveys and by healthcare professionals when asking about cigarette smoking and e-cigarette and heated tobacco product use.

Toba-CPD: An Extended Chemical Percolation Devolatilization Model for Tobacco Pyrolysis.

Tobacco features chemical compositions different from that of raw lignocellulosic biomass. Currently, the performance of network models, like Bio-Chemical Percolation Devolatilization (Bio-CPD), on tobacco pyrolysis is unclear, and only global kinetics have been proposed for tobacco devolatilization, which does not have the versatility for a wide range of heating conditions and tobacco types. To address this issue, the present work first assessed the performance of the Bio-CPD model on tobacco pyrolysis through an a priori study, which showed large deviations. Afterward, an extended Chemical Percolation Devolatilization model for tobacco pyrolysis (Toba-CPD) was developed by modifying the kinetic parameters using a grid-search optimization strategy. The process of grid-search optimization strategy is based on the kinetic parameters of the Bio-CPD model and modified with experimental results of 11 tobacco types under a wide range of heating rates. Finally, the performance of Toba-CPD was measured with experimental results which were not used during parameters optimization. Results demonstrated that the Toba-CPD models could well reproduce the pyrolysis of various tobacco types under a wide range of heating rates (R2 > 0.957).

Heating Up: How Early Twitter Marketing Gave Rise to Organic Word-of-Mouth About Heated Tobacco Products.

Social media are an important marketing platform for emerging tobacco products. Heated tobacco products (HTPs) have been introduced in a limited number of local test markets in the United States as potentially reduced-exposure tobacco products. HTPs can be used to heat tobacco as well as marijuana. However, due to growing digital media promotion of these products, it is possible that public knowledge and purchasing opportunities extend beyond test markets. Research on HTP social media promotion is sparse. The objective of the present study is to assess the amount and characterize the content of HTP-related messages on Twitter. We used keyword rules to collect HTP-related posts from the Twitter Historical Powertrack from 1 August 2016 to 31 July 2021. Posts were coded for type (organic, commercial), promotional strategies (e.g., discounts, event promotion), and marijuana co-use mentions using a combination of machine learning methods and human coding. Keyword filters captured 121,012 relevant tweets posted over the period of data collection, with 46,013 (38.02%) tweets featuring commercial content. Findings revealed that there was a two-fold increase in the monthly volume of messages from August 2016 to July 2021. The proportion of organic tweets increased from 29% of all tweets in August 2016 to 73.5% in July 2021. Approximately 20.6% of tweets included mentions of marijuana, and 5,243 posts (4.3%) contained links to online retailers. Promotional tweets featured event promotion, discounts, reduced harm appeals, and fashion appeals. Tobacco control and substance use prevention initiatives should include efforts to monitor the role of social media in promoting organic word-of-mouth and normalizing novel tobacco products.

A content analysis of heated tobacco product business in Hong Kong on Facebook.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are increasingly popular in Hong Kong (HK) even though they have not been formally launched and the sale of duty-not-paid tobacco sticks is illegal. We investigated how Facebook was used against regulations to sell HTPs in HK. We screened Facebook pages run by HTP businesses targeting HK users in June 2019 and included pages with over 300 "Likes" for inductive content analysis by coding their "About" descriptions and all posts including comments published since January 2017. HTPs included heating devices, accessories, and tobacco sticks. Various attributes were recorded including methods of customer inquiries (telephone, Instant Messaging [IM], address), business responses (comments or private messages, PM), and services provided (warranty/repair). Among 30 pages (50.9% of all 59 eligible pages with related information on HTPs), two-thirds provided phone numbers (66.7%), IM accounts (65.5%), and addresses (66.7%). Most pages sold heating devices (26, 86.7%) and accessories (22, 73.3%) with over 72% providing phone numbers, IM accounts, or addresses. Only 8 pages (26.7%) sold tobacco sticks with 75.0% providing telephone numbers but fewer provided IM accounts (62.5%) and addresses (50.0%). All pages responded using PMs and only 12.5% also used comments. Warranty/repair services were provided by 43.3% of the pages. We found Facebook pages were used as dedicated stores to promote and sell HTPs including heating devices, accessories, and even illicit tobacco sticks in HK, a non-official market.

The prevalence of tobacco use among industrial workers

Introduction. The relevance of the study is determined by the continuous high prevalence of smoking tobacco products among the working population. The aim is to assess the prevalence of smoking tobacco use among the working population of the Saratov region. Materials and methods. In frames of the cross-sectional study, four hundred fifty three employees of various industrial enterprises of the Saratov region who underwent periodic medical examination at the occupational diseases clinic of the Saratov Hygiene Center of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “MRC (Medical Research Center) of Medical and Preventive Technologies for Public Health Risk Management”, were surveyed, including 280 men (63.8%) and 173 women (38.2%). The average age was 50.5 years. The results of the study were statistically processed using the software Statistica 10. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney method was used to compare two independent samples. Results. The prevalence of tobacco smoking was 38.6% among men and 13.3% among women. More than half of those who used tobacco products belonged to the group of “trained” smokers - 66.7% of men and 56.5% of women, the majority of employees (79.4%) smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day. The main reason for giving up smoking was the state of health (65.2%). 8.7% and 9.9% of non-smoking respondents were found to be exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke at home and at work respectively. The frequency of use of other types of smoking products has been studied. Limitations. The study has regional (Saratov region) and professional (employees of industrial enterprises) limitations. Conclusion. Despite the complex of anti-smoking measures people of working age remain highly committed to the use of tobacco smoking products. Smoking of tobacco products and electronic means of heating tobacco is important to take into account when developing and carrying out preventive measures, including during periodic medical examinations of the able-bodied population.

Should IQOS Emissions Be Considered as Smoke and Harmful to Health? A Review of the Chemical Evidence.

The chemical evidence that IQOS emissions fit the definition of both an aerosol and smoke, and that IQOS and potentially other heated tobacco products (HTPs) pose some harmful health threats from the range of compounds released even at somewhat lower concentrations is reviewed. Further, we address the yields of harmful and potentially harmful compounds (HPHCs), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the constituents of IQOS emission that are diagnostic of pyrolysis to provide information on the temperatures reached in IQOS tobacco sticks. The HPHCs present in IQOS emissions are the same as in conventional cigarette smoke (CCs), analogous to emissions from earlier generation of HTPs classed as smoke. However, Philip Morris International (PMI) studies have to some degree underestimated IQOS aerosol HPHC yields, which are a factor of between 3.2 and 3.6 higher when expressed on a tobacco rather than an IQOS stick basis compared to the reference 3R4F cigarette. Further, IQOS emissions contain carbon particles, which fit definition of both aerosol and smoke. Continual reheating of deposited tar in the IQOS device will occur with real-life use, likely leading to generation of even higher concentrations of HPHCs and particulate matter. Despite IQOS not exceeding 350 °C, local hot spots could exist, causing formation of species (phenol/cresols, PAHs). It is recommended that the impact of repeated use to determine the levels of black carbon (insoluble organic matter) in the particulate matter, and the extent to which compounds in IQOS emissions are formed by pyrolysis need to be assessed rigorously. To address whether uneven temperature profiles in heat sticks can lead to potential hot spots that could, for example, lead to PAH formation, it is recommended that pyrolysis studies on tobacco and other constituents of HTPs are required in conjunction with more effort on heating tobacco blends under controlled temperature/time conditions.

STRUCTURE AND PREVALENCE OF PERIODONTIC TISSUE DISEASES IN SMOKERS USING TOBACCO HEATING PRODUCTS

Periodontal pathologies are one of the predominant groups of oral cavity diseases, so the problem of their treatment or prevention is quite relevant. Periodontal disease in patients who use tobacco heating systems is currently understudied.
 Materials and methods of research. The study involved 187 people using tobacco heating products (the main group) and 60 people without this habit (comparison group), without other concomitant diseases. Patients were examined according to generally accepted methods: subjective (life history and medical history) and objective (examination, percussion, palpation, probing) parts, as well as radiographic analysis. Structural dystrophic changes in the bone tissues were thoroughly assessed using orthopantomography.
 Research results. It was found that chronic catarrhal gingivitis and localized periodontitis in patients of the main group who smoked using tobacco heating devices occurred 3, 7, and 2.8 less often than in the comparison group (p <0.01, p <0.05). Generalized periodontitis of initial severity in patients of the main group was 3.6 times more common than in patients of the comparison group (29.95 ± 3.35% vs. 8.33 ± 3.56%, p<0.01). Grade I GP was detected in 78 patients who smoked using tobacco heating devices (41.71±3.61%), which was 2.8 times higher than in the comparison group (15.00 ± 4, 60%, p <0.01). Grade II GP was diagnosed in 10 patients (5.35 ± 1.64%) of the main group, but there were no patients with such disease in the comparison group.
 Studying the structure of periodontal diseases depending on age shows that the amount of chronic catarrhal gingivitis and localized periodontitis in people who smoked using tobacco heaters decreased with age. Thus, at the age of 18 25 years it was 29.41 ± 7.81%, p> 0.05 and 20.59 ± 6.93%, respectively, in patients aged 26 36 years 22.39 ± 5.09% and 16.42 ± 4.53%, respectively, p> 0.05, and in patients aged 37 44 years, HCG and localized periodontitis were not diagnosed at all, p <0.01.
 In patients of the main group aged 18 25 years, GP of initial severity was diagnosed in 50.0 ± 8.57% of subjects p <0.01 and decreased with age to 40.30 ± 5.99% in patients aged 26 36, p <0.01, and to 13.95±3.74% in patients aged 37 44 years, p> 0.05. In the age range of 18 25 years in patients who smoked using tobacco heating devices, GP I severity was not found, but at the age of 26 36 years, this disease was detected in 20.89 ± 4.97% of examined patients, p <0.01 and increased with age, reaching its maximum values (74.42 ± 4.70%) at the age of 37 44 years, p> 0.05.
 GP of the II severity degree was diagnosed only in the older age group (37 44 years) in 11.63 ± 3.46% of patients in the main group, p <0.01.
 The prevalence of GP of the initial severity in the comparative group increased with the age of patients. Thus, in persons aged 18 25 years, GP of the initial degree of severity was not determined, but at the age of 26 36 years this disease was diagnosed in 3.85 ± 3.77% of those examined, and most often (26.67±11.41%, patients) GP of initial severity was diagnosed in patients aged 37 44 years. Grade I GP in non-smokers was diagnosed only in the older age group of 37 44 years in 60.00 ± 12.64% of those examined, which was 1.2 times lower than in the main group, p> 0,05. GP of the II severity degree in the comparison group was not diagnosed.
 Analyzing the impact of smoking on age groups, it was found that the features of early dystrophic-inflammatory lesions of the periodontium and its rapid progression due to atrophic-osteoporotic processes in the macroorganism were caused by tobacco consumption.
 Conclusion. The analysis of the obtained studies showed that patients who smoke using tobacco heating devices tended to increase the frequency of periodontal diseases and their severity.
 The prospect of further research is to study the structure and prevalence of periodontal disease in people who smoke using devices for heating tobacco depending on the time of smoking, as well as the development and implementation of individual effective treatment and prevention measures.

An Investigation of Influential Users in the Promotion and Marketing of Heated Tobacco Products on Instagram: A Social Network Analysis.

While an increasing body of the literature has documented the exposure to emerging tobacco products including heated tobacco products (HTPs) on social media, few studies have investigated the various stakeholders involved in the generation of promotional tobacco content. This study constructed a social network of Instagram users who posted IQOS content, a leading HTP brand, between 1 January and 5 April 2021 and identified users who positioned near the center of the network. We identified 4526 unique Instagram users who had created 19,951 IQOS-related posts during the study period. Nearly half of the users (42.1%) were business accounts authorized by Instagram, among which 59.0% belonged to Personal Goods and General Merchandise Stores and 18.1% belonged to Creators and Celebrities. For users with higher in-degree, out-degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality in the network, the majority of them were accounts directly associated with IQOS (e.g., containing “iqos” in username) or related to tobacco business as self-identified in the bio. Our findings further refine the social media marketing presence of tobacco products and suggest that the current self-regulatory efforts led by social media platforms are far from enough.

The Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Apoptotic, and Antioxidant Effects of a Pomegranate-Peel Extract against Acrylamide-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats.

The Acrylamide is a toxic compound generated under oxidative stress arising from intracellular ROS production and induced toxicity. It is frequently used in industry and generated through the heating of tobacco and foods high in carbohydrates. The exact mechanism of its toxicity is still unclear. In this study, an extract of the peels of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a nutritious and visually appealing fruit with a diverse bioactive profile, was examined for its potential anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. A total of 40 adult male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups of 10 rats each: Group 1 was a negative-control group (CNT) and received normal saline; Group 2 was a positive-control acrylamide group and received acrylamide orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg/bw; in Group 3, the rats were supplemented with pomegranate-peel extract (P.P; 150 mg/kg/bw) orally on a daily basis for 3 weeks, administered simultaneously with the acrylamide treatment described for Group 2; Group 4 was a protective group, and the animals received the pomegranate-peel extract and acrylamide as stated for Groups 2 and 3, with the pomegranate-peel extract (P.P. extract) administered 1 week earlier than the acrylamide. The results indicate that acrylamide exposure increased the serum levels of AST, ALT, creatinine, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 in an extraordinary manner. In addition, it increased the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and simultaneously weakened antioxidant biomarker activities (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and reduced the levels of interleukin-10. The pomegranate-peel extract was shown to reduce the inflammatory blood markers of interleukin-1 beta and IL-6. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and interleukin-10 were all significantly elevated in comparison to the acrylamide-treatment group as a result of the significant reduction in MDA levels induced by the P.P extract. In addition, the pomegranate-peel extract normalized the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and caspase-3 levels, with a significant upregulation of the mRNA expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2), and Bcl-2. Therefore, these data reveal that pomegranate peel has anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, free-radical-scavenging, and powerful antioxidant activity that protects against acrylamide toxicity.

Heated tobacco products for smoking cessation and reducing smoking prevalence.

Heated tobacco products for smoking cessation and reducing smoking prevalence.

HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS: WE STILL NEED TO KNOW A BIT MORE.

The aim: This research aims to analyze the challenges we came across due to the rapid spread among the population (including young people) of tobacco heating devices. Materials and methods: Analysis of 20 literature sources containing information about tobacco heating systems was performed. The search for literary sources was carried out in two main scientific databases: Scopus and PubMed. The review included original articles, research, and official recommendations from medical associations. Conclusions: Tobacco heaters reduce harmful substances in the inhaled air compared to conventional tobacco cigarettes, but these new devices provide effective nicotine absorption, which prolongs a person's nicotine dependence and prevents smoking cessation. The main problem we face due to the rapid spreading of these devices - potentially tobacco heating systems can pose health risks and further research on such risks, especially long - term, are needed. Tobacco heating devices, regardless of their manufacturer and design, should be subject to restrictions similar to traditional cigarettes.

Justification of measures to protect against exposure nicotine-containing products in enclosed spaces

Introduction. The introduction of amendments and additions to the anti-smoking Federal Law No. 15-FZ of 23.02.2013 in 2020 contributed to the cardinal revision of the name of this law and the introduction of a ban on consumption of any nicotine-containing products in public places. There are no separate, specially allocated isolated premises provided for the consumption of tobacco products and other types of nicotine-containing products by law, even though specially conducted studies have shown significantly different levels of additional inhalation risk arising from air pollution when consuming tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems or heating tobacco. The aim of the study: based on experimental data, to justify the multiplicity of air exchange in unique isolated rooms designed to protect against the effects of ambient tobacco smoke, the consequences of tobacco consumption or nicotine-containing products. Materials and methods. The study was subject to 3 types of nicotine-containing products: tobacco cigarettes (cigarettes), an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) and an electronic tobacco heating system (ETHS). In the course of the study were carried out: a series of experiments on the consumption of nicotine-containing products in various ways in a specially equipped indoor room, air sampling and laboratory studies were performed, the gross and specific emissions of chemicals entering the air environment from one unit of production per hour were calculated, the selection of priority chemicals for calculating the air removed from the room when using nicotine-containing products of each type was carried out, the necessary level of air exchange of premises was calculated, intended for the consumption of tobacco or nicotine. Results. The indoor air quality assessment showed that the main components of the gross intake into the air environment are suspended particles and carbon monoxide when smoking cigarettes. However, taking into account the values of the maximum permissible concentrations, the most significant contribution to the integral indicator is made by acetaldehyde and suspended particles PM10 and PM2.5. Using ENDS, the most significant pollutants were acetaldehyde and carbon monoxide, using ETHS - acetaldehyde and suspended particles PM10 and PM2.5. For all the investigation types of products, the priority substance for calculating the removed air is acetaldehyde, its share in the structure of all detected pollutants was: for cigarettes - 56.27%, for ENDS - 62.7%, for ETHS - 82.51%, in connection with which its specific values can be used to calculate the consumption of the removed air when modelling a specially allocated room intended for the consumption of tobacco products and other types of nicotine-containing products. Conclusion. The obtained findings demonstrated an obvious, more than 10-fold difference in the requirements for air exchange of premises intended for cigarette smoking and premises intended for the consumption of ENDS or ETHS, at the same intensity of consumption. Therefore, when organizing specially designated places for smoking or the consumption of nicotine-containing products, it is advisable to separate them depending on the type of products consumed: tobacco smoking separately, ENDS and ETHS consumption separately.

Reasons for Using Heated Tobacco Products among South Korean Adults

AbstractBackground: This study assessed the reasons for using heated tobacco products (HTPs) among South Korean adults according to demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: An online panel survey was conducted from November 3 to 9, 2018, including 7,000 adults (4,700 females, 2,300 males) from 70,000 age-, sex-, and provincial-distributionmatched individuals, based on the 2018 national population statistics. Females were oversampled because their tobacco use prevalence was low. The reasons for using HTPs were investigated and ranked according to age, sex, education level, monthly income, and current HTP usage status. Descriptive statistics were then presented as unweighted numbers and weighted percentages. Results: Of the 7,000 participants, 944 (16.8%) were ever HTP users. The most common reasons for using HTPs among ever HTP users were as follows: “no ash is formed (74.8%)” and “it has less odor than conventional cigarettes (71.9%).” Current HTP users responded with higher percentages for all the reasons, compared to former HTP users. HTP having “less odor than conventional cigarettes” was the most important reason for younger smokers (20-34 years old) compared with those of other age groups. No significant differences were observed in the order of reasons for HTP use between males and females. People with higher education used HTPs to “reduce conventional cigarette use” (41.4% vs. 30.9%), and people with higher income (over monthly income of 7000K won) used HTPs as it produced “less odor than conventional cigarettes” (77.2%). Conclusion: In South Korea, the most important reason for HTP use among current HTP users is the absence of ash and odor.Keywords : Heat not burn tobacco products; Socioeconomic factors; Republic of Korea