Increase In Smokers Research Articles

Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the nature of attempts to stop smoking and to reduce alcohol consumption in Great Britain: A representative population survey, 2021-2022.

Smoking and excessive drinking place a strain on household budgets. We aimed to examine the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in Great Britain on the nature of smoking cessation and alcohol reduction attempts, and explore changes in health professionals offering support. Data were from 14,567 past-year smokers and high-risk drinkers (AUDIT-C ≥5) participating in monthly representative surveys, January-2021 through December-2022. We estimated time trends in cost as a motive driving the most recent (smoking cessation/alcohol reduction) attempt, use of paid or evidence-based support, and receipt of GP offer of support for smoking cessation or alcohol reduction, and tested for moderation by occupational social grade. The proportion of attempts motivated by cost did not change significantly over time among smokers (25.4% [95%CI = 23.8-26.9%]), but increased between December-2021 and December-2022 among high-risk drinkers from less advantaged social grades (from 15.3% [95%CI 12.1-19.3] to 29.7% [20.1-44.1]). The only change in support use was an increase in smokers using paid support, specifically e-cigarettes (from 28.1% [23.7-33.3] to 38.2% [33.0-44.4]). Among those visiting their GP, the proportion who received an offer of support was similar over time among smokers (27.0% [25.7-28.2]) and high-risk drinkers (1.4% [1.1-1.6%]). There is limited evidence that the 2021/22 cost-of-living crisis affected the nature of attempts to stop smoking and reduce alcohol consumption, or receipt of GP offer of support. It is encouraging that use of evidence-based support has not declined and that use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts has increased. However, cost is increasingly motivating alcohol reduction attempts among less advantaged drinkers, and rates of GPs offering support, especially for alcohol reduction, remain very low.

The influence of smoking on oral neutrophils and matrix metalloproteinase-8 in periodontitis patients before and after nonsurgical treatment.

To evaluate and compare the oral neutrophil numbers (ONN) in saliva, the level of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and the periodontal parameters in smokers versus non-smokers with periodontitis, before and after nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT). 40 chronic periodontitis patients including 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers were enrolled in this quasi-experimental study. All patients were received the NSPT included instructing oral hygiene, scaling and root planing. At baseline (T0) and after NSPT 1 month (T1) and 3 months (T3), all patients were assessed for salivary ONN, GCF MMP-8, and clinical parameters like plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL). The differences between the two groups were analyzed using the independent sample t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test; and the differences between T0, T1 and T3 of each group were analyzed with paired-samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The level of significance was set at 0.05. The ONN was significantly less in smokers than in non-smokers although there was no significant difference in other parameters between the two groups at baseline (p>0.05). All clinical periodontal parameters reduced significantly after 1 month and 3 months of NSPT in both groups (p<0.01). PPD of non-smokers was significantly lower than those of smokers at T1 and T3. ONN and MMP-8 level showed a significant decrease in non-smoking subjects, while there was no significant difference in smoking ones after NSPT (T1 and T3). At 1 month after treatment, ONN tended to reduce in non-smokers whereas to increase in smokers significantly. Smoking reduced ONN, impaired treatment effect in reducing PPD, and changed the MMP-8 level in gingival crevicular fluid to NSPT. Identifier NCT04974502 in CLinicalTrials.gov.

Abstract 4467: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells, prevalent in the TME of smokers, is associated with a good prognosis and treatment response of LUAD

Abstract Background: Attempts to find therapeutic biomarkers through investigation of subgroup showing good responses to certain drugs in cancer often yielded meaningful results. Smoker’s lung adenocarcinoma has consistently shown a favorable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) than non-smoker’s lung adenocarcinoma. Comparing the macrophages (Mϕ) and dendritic cells (DC) constituting the innate immune tumor microenvironment (TME) in lung cancer of smokers and nonsmokers, we tried to figure out the difference in TME and biomarkers that predict the therapeutic response to ICIs. Methods: The inflammatory TME of current and never smokers’ lung cancer was explored by tumor and adjacent normal appearing lung tissues (Tu and NL hereafter) scRNA sequencing and verified by IF, IHC, and open-source dataset. Results: Compared to lungs of nonsmokers, smokers’ lung have an increased proportion of cell populations involved in innate immunity, and the increased cell population was mostly Mϕ, which were enriched in NL. When the number of Mϕ present in the NL of the corresponding individual were taken as the denominator, Tu of smokers has a lower proportion of Mϕ than that of non-smokers. Further sub-clustering of Mϕ and DCs showed that FCN1-mono and CD163-LGMN Mϕ, which correspond to the initial differentiation into the resident cell population within the tissue, and mo-DC, cDC2, and pDC were significantly enriched in the Tu. Among them, pDC is a functionally differentiated tissue resident cell that showed a different tissue distribution pattern between smokers and non-smokers, so it was estimated as one of the causes of the different treatment response to ICIs between the two patient groups. The difference of pDC’s distribution was further verified through IHC staining using anti-LILRA4 and anti-TLR9 antibody, showing pDC was significantly enriched in the smokers’ TME. A significant increase in TLR9 expression was observed in or around lung cancer immediately after ionizing radiation or cisplatin treatment in LSL-Kras G12D mouse model. The survival analysis of TCGA-LUAD dataset showed that the patients' overexpressing pDC markers such as IRF4 and TLR9 was superior clinical outcomes to the age, gender and smoking matched control group. Comparing the difference in TMB between the top 25% and bottom 25% groups according to the expression of TLR9, it was 5.81/Mb in the upper group and 4.36/Mb in the subgroup, showing a significant difference. Conclusions: pDC is an innate immune cell population that showed a prominent increase in smokers’ TME compared to that of non-smokers, suggesting that its increase may be one the factors that smokers’ lung cancer show favorable responses to ICI than that of non-smokers. These findings suggest that the pDC signature can be developed as a biomarker predicting the response to ICIs and increasing the number of pDCs or its activity may improve treatment outcome of ICIs. Citation Format: Eun Young Kim, Yoon Jin Cha, Yong Jun Choi, Min Kyung Park, Yoon Soo Chang. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells, prevalent in the TME of smokers, is associated with a good prognosis and treatment response of LUAD. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4467.

Effect of cigarette smoking on blood biochemical parameters in males of district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Smoking is one of the most common preventable causes of mortality worldwide. It increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases by affecting lipid profiles and diabetes by elevating blood glucose levels. To investigate the injurious effect of cigarette smoking, the present study was done in the tehsil Topi of district Swabi. The study aimed to find an association between cigarette smoking and liver function, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. About 100 healthy males were selected, ranging from 20 to 35. They were divided into two groups, 50 were smokers, and 50 were non-smokers. Blood samples were taken to estimate serum liver function test and blood glucose levels. Serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) in smokers was increased by 12% (P &lt; 0.05) in comparison to non-smokers. At the same time, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) was increased by 17% (P &gt; 0.05) for smokers as compared to non-smokers. Lactate Dehydrogenase showed a 4% (P &gt; 0.05) increase in smokers. Blood glucose levels showed elevation by 7% (P &lt; 0.05) in smokers. The study concluded that the injurious health effects of cigarette smoking increase with an increase in the number of cigarettes smoked in a day. It can affect blood glucose levels putting cigarette smokers at high risk of diabetes.

Methylation of APC2, NR3C1, and DRD2 gene promoters in turkish patients with tobacco use disorder.

Many studies have investigated the association of the methylation of gene and tobacco use disorders (TUD), but results remain ambiguous. This study evaluated the relationship between methylation of Adenomatosis Polyposis Coli (APC), Nuclear Receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1), Dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene promoters, and its effect on TUD. We recruited 154 active smokers and 111 healthy non-smoker controls. PCR based methods on genomic DNA characterized the methylation of APC2, NR3C1, and DRD2 gene promoters. We have found a significant difference in methylation of APC2 for TUD compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). The partial methylation ratio was about an eight-fold increase in smokers compared to healthy controls. NR3C1 methylation was slightly higher in TUD patients compared to the control group, but the difference was not significant between the two groups (%95.33 vs. 91.08, P = 0.269). DRD2 methylation ratio was not significant between TUD patients and healthy control groups (P = 0.894). We think that it is important to detect APC2 methylated cases earlier and to advise them to quit smoking.

Smoking and stress in the general population in Denmark.

INTRODUCTIONThe social pressure placed on smokers today might potentially lead to an increasing level of stress. We investigated if the proportion of persons with high stress level had increased over time more in smokers than in non-smokers.METHODSData were obtained from repeated cross-sectional surveys of The Capital Region Health Survey conducted in 2010, 2013 and 2017. Survey data were weighted for survey design and non-response, and linked to national register data. Cohens Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) score was used. Logistic regression analyses, based on 136608 citizens’ self-reports, were adjusted for sex, age, education level, employment, and alcohol intake (and loneliness, in analysis investigating the associations between tobacco consumption and high stress level).RESULTSA significantly higher proportion of citizens reported a high stress level in 2017 compared with 2010 and 2013 but there was not a greater increase in smokers than in non-smokers. Daily smoking men had 69% higher odds of reporting perceived high stress level and daily smoking women had 36% higher odds, than never smokers of the same sex. There was a significant trend between higher daily tobacco consumption and a higher proportion of smokers with high stress level.CONCLUSIONSThe increase in high stress level over time occurred independently of smoking status. Daily smokers had the highest odds of perceived high stress level, and a higher daily tobacco consumption was associated with a higher proportion of smokers with high stress level. Smoking cessation programs should, to a higher degree, consider implementing stress-coping elements to prevent relapse.

The Relationships between the Repolarisation and Depolarisation Markers of Sudden Cardiac Death in Smokers

Backgroung: The risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) increase in smokers. This study aimed to determine the relationships between the repolarization and depolarization predictors of SCD in routine electrocardiography (ECG) in smokers. Methods: Between January and August-2019, ninety-eight healthy patients smoking for more than five years were included in the study group by simple random sampling. The control group consisted of one hundred twenty-two non-smokers. In the study and control group, following a routine physical examination and blood tests, P wave dispersion in the right precordial leads (PWdR) and the left precordial leads (PWdL), T peak-end interval in the right precordial leads (Tp-eR) and the left precordial leads (Tp-eL), QRS dispersion in the right precordial leads (dQRSR) and the left precordial leads (dQRSL), and QRS duration values in the right precordial leads (QRSR) and the left precordial leads (QRSL) were calculated in routine 12-lead ECG + right precordial leads. Results: There was a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between dQRSRxTp-eR/QRSR-value and smoking time in the study group. Also, there was a statistically significant weak negative correlation between dQRSLxTp-eL/QRSL-value and smoking time in the study group (Respectively, R=0.52, and P&lt;0.01, R=0.41 and P&lt;0.01). There was a significant difference between correlation ratio of dQRSRxTp-eR/QRS-value and smoking time and dQRSLxTp-eL/QRSL-value and smoking time in the study group (Z=5.73, p&lt;0.01). Conclusions: In the current smokers, dQRSRxTp-eR/QRSR and dQRSLxTp-eL/QRSL values significantly higher than in the control group.

Passive Smoking Behaviour and Individual Productivity in Indonesia

This research tries to examine the effect of passive smoking behavior at the household level in Indonesia by focusing on the association of smoking behavior of husbands on productivities of their working and non-smoking wives measured by income and number of working hours. Statistically, smoking male prevalence in Indonesia is around 67% while female smoking prevalence is only 2.1%. To do so, this research uses the panel data sourced from Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) 4 and IFLS 5, and compares the results of three statistical methods: OLS, Fixed Effect, and IV method. Overall, the results show that the smoking behavior of husbands is negatively associated with the income of their wives and that there is no correlation with the number of working hours of their wives. This research also finds evidence that the increase of smokers in wives’ community significantly and negatively correlates with their income pointing to community-wide spillover effects.

Differences in smokers\u2019 awareness of the health risks of smoking before and after introducing pictorial tobacco health warnings: findings from the 2012\u20132017 international tobacco control (ITC) Netherlands surveys

BackgroundAs of May 2016, pictorial health warnings (PHWs) showing the harms of smoking were implemented in the European Union. After one year they had to be fully implemented. We studied changes in awareness of the health risks of smoking after implementation of PHWs among smokers from the Netherlands, whether the trend before the implementation changed after the implementation, and whether there were differences between subgroups.MethodsWe used survey data from six yearly waves of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Netherlands Survey from 2012 to 2017. The number of participating smokers ranged between 1236 and 1604 per wave. Data were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analyses.ResultsIndicators of awareness of the health risks of smoking that did not change between 2015 and 2017 were perceived susceptibility (β = 0.043, p = 0.059) and perceived severity (β = − 0.006, p = 0.679) regarding lung problems. Perceived susceptibility, however, was more pronounced between 2015 and 2017 than between 2012 and 2015(p value of interaction: p = 0.044). Noticing information about the dangers of smoking (β = 0.119, p < 0.001) and knowledge about the health risks of smoking (β = 0.184, p < 0.001) increased between 2015 and 2017. These increases were both more pronounced when compared to 2012–2015 (p values of interactions: p = 0.002 and p < 0.001 respectively). Compared to high educated smokers, low educated smokers (β = − 1.137, p < 0.001) and moderate educated smokers (β = − 0.894, p < 0.001) were less knowledgeable about the health risks of smoking in 2016 and 2017.ConclusionsIntroducing PHWs coincided with an increase in smokers’ knowledge about the health risks of smoking. Dutch tobacco control policy and campaigns should focus on improving Dutch smokers’ awareness of the health risks of smoking even more, especially among low educated smokers.

Suppressive effect of ghrelin on nicotine-induced clock gene expression in the mouse pancreas.

Those who smoke nicotine-based cigarettes have elevated plasma levels of ghrelin, a hormone secreted from the stomach. Ghrelin has various physiological functions and has recently been shown to be involved in regulating biological rhythms. Therefore, in this study, in order to clarify the significance of the plasma ghrelin increase in smokers, we sought to clarify how nicotine and ghrelin affect the expression dynamics of clock genes using a mouse model. A single dose of nicotine administered intraperitoneally increased plasma ghrelin concentrations transiently, whereas continuous administration of nicotine with an osmotic minipump did not induce any change in the plasma ghrelin concentration. Single administration of nicotine resulted in a transient increase in ghrelin gene expression in the pancreas but not in the stomach, which is the major producer of ghrelin. In addition, in the pancreas, the expression of clock genes was also increased temporarily. Therefore, in order to clarify the interaction between nicotine-induced ghrelin gene expression and clock gene expression in the pancreas, nicotine was administered to ghrelin gene-deficient mice. Administration of nicotine to ghrelin-gene deficient mice increased clock gene expression in the pancreas. However, upon nicotine administration to mice pretreated with octanoate to upregulate ghrelin activity, expression levels of nicotine-inducible clock genes in the pancreas were virtually the same as those in mice not administered nicotine. Thus, our findings indicate that pancreatic ghrelin may suppress nicotine-induced clock gene expression in the pancreas.

Evaluation of the Impact of a Regional Educational Advertising Campaign on Harm Perceptions of E-Cigarettes, Prevalence of E-Cigarette Use, and Quit Attempts Among Smokers.

IntroductionWe evaluated how effective an advertising campaign that was piloted by Cancer Research UK in January/February 2018 was at promoting quit attempts by increasing awareness of the relative harms of e-cigarettes compared with smoking.MethodsAdults (≥16 years, n = 2217) living in Greater Manchester (campaign region), Yorkshire & Humber and the North East of England (control regions) completed cross-sectional surveys immediately before and after the campaign period. Surveys measured socio-demographics, perceptions and use of e-cigarettes, and motivation and attempts to quit smoking. We tested interactions between time (pre, post) and region (campaign, control).Results36.7% (95% CI 33.0%–40.6%) of those in the intervention region recognized the campaign. In the general population, interactions were nonsignificant for all outcomes except for perception of e-cigarettes as effective cessation aids, with smaller increases from pre- to post-campaign in the campaign (49.9% to 54.0%) compared with the control region (40.5% to 55.0%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.66, 95% CI .45–0.98). Among smokers, motivation to quit increased in the intervention region (44.0% to 48.0%) but decreased in the control region (40.5% to 21.5%; OR = 2.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25–7.16), with no other significant differences between regions over time. Bayes factors confirmed that nonsignificant results were inconclusive.ConclusionsCompared with the control region, the campaign was associated with an increase in smokers’ motivation to quit but a smaller increase in adults’ perception of e-cigarettes as an effective cessation aid. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether the campaign affected other outcomes.ImplicationsPast extended mass media tobacco control campaigns have been shown to change public attitudes towards smoking, improve motivation to quit smoking, and reduce smoking prevalence. Much less is known about shorter, targeted campaigns. Here we show that using mass media to communicate accurate information about the relative harms of e-cigarettes compared with smoking may be an effective strategy in increasing smokers’ motivation to quit. Moreover, even when only run for a month, such campaigns can reach a large proportion of the targeted population. Further research is needed to evaluate effects on quit attempts and success.

LncRNA MALAT1 gene polymorphisms in coronary artery disease: a case-control study in a Chinese population.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the main fatal diseases all over the world. CAD is a complex disease, which has multiple risk factors mechanisms. In recent years, genome-wide association study (GWAS) had revealed single nucleotide polymorphism genes (SNPs) which were closely related with CAD risks. The relationship between long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) and CAD risk is largely unknown. To our knowledge, this is the first study which demonstrated the interaction effects of SNP–SNP and SNP–environment with CAD risk. In general, our case–control study is to detect the association between MALAT1 (rs619586, rs4102217) SNPs and CAD risk. Methods: Three hundred and sixty-five CAD patients and three hundred and eighty-four matched control participants blood samples were collected in Liaoning province, China. Two polymorphisms (rs619586, rs4102217) in lncRNA MALAT1 were genotyped by KASP platform. Results: In a stratified analysis, we found that non-drinkers with GC genotype and the recessive model of rs4102217 had higher CAD risk (P=0.010, odds ratio (OR): 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17–3.28; P=0.026, OR: 1.73, 95% CI = 1.07–2.79) and diabetes mellitus (DM) history group (P=0.010, OR: 4.07, 95% CI = 1.41–11.81; P=0.019, OR: 3.29, 95% CI = 1.22–8.88). In SNP–SNP interactions analysis between MALAT1 and CAD risk, we found rs4102217 had an increase in smokers (GG: OR: 2.04, 95% CI = 1.42–2.92; CC+GC: OR: 2.64, 95% CI = 1.64–4.26) and a decrease in drinkers (CC+GC: OR: 0.33, 95% CI = 0.20–0.55). Smokers with MALAT1 rs619586 AA genotype (OR: 2.20, 95% CI = 1.57–3.07) and GG+AG genotype (OR: 2.11, 95% CI = 1.17–3.81) had a higher risk of CAD. Moreover, drinkers with AA genotype (OR: 0.22, 95% CI = 0.10–0.48) and GG+AG genotype (OR: 0.38, 95% CI = 0.22–0.65) had a lower risk of CAD. According to the MDR software, MALAT1 rs4102217 polymorphism-smoking-drinking was the best interaction model, which has higher risk of CAD (Testing Bal.ACC. = 0.6979). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the GC genotype and the recessive model of rs4102217 potentially increased CAD risk in some specific group.

Impact of China National Tobacco Company’s ‘Premiumization’ Strategy: longitudinal findings from the ITC China Surveys (2006–2015)

BackgroundIn 2009, the China National Tobacco Company (CNTC) began their Premiumization Strategy, designed to encourage smokers to trade up to more expensive brands, mainly by promoting the concept that higher...

Influence of tobacco smoking on clinical efficacy of a 1-year rehabilitation programme for myocardial infarction patients of economically active age

Aim. Evaluation of the efficacy of 1-year exercise based program (EP) in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients of economically active age after acute myocardial infarction (MI), depending on smoking status.Material and methods. To the study, males included (n=338) after MI (not later than 3 weeks from the event). Four groups shaped by randomization: EP patients smokers (group 1, n=84), EP non-smokers (group 2, n=85); no EP smokers (group 3, n=85) and no EP non-smokers (group 4, n=84). All patients received standard medication treatment. The EP were added, of moderate intensity (50-60% from the load in exercise test) 3 times a week during 1 year.Results. After EP in smokers (n=41) and non-smokers (n=85) there was an increase of load duration by 30,3% (p&lt;0,001) and by 28,4% (p&lt;0,001), and its intensity by 31,2% (p&lt;0,001) and 30,8% (p&lt;0,001), with 3,8% (p&lt;0,01) increase of economicity of physical work, but only in smokers. With no EP only in non-smokers there was slight increase of exercise duration by 10,1% (p&lt;0,01) and its intensity by 11,1% (p&lt;0,05), but milder, and in smokers, in contrary, the economicity parameter declined by 13,3% (p&lt;0,05). This was linked with the heart size enlargement and the left ventricle ejection fraction increase in smokers and non-smokers; in the absence of EP there were no changes, just slight (by 1,9%) (p&lt;0,05) increase of the left ventricle ejection fraction in non-smokers. Only at EP, with similar grade in smokers and non-smokers there was decrease of atherogenic lipids levels and high density cholesterol increase. In 1 year of EP, all cases of cardiovascular adverse events significantly decreased in smokers by 44,8% (р&lt;0,05) and in nonsmokers by 50,9% (р&lt;0,05).Conclusion. Long term (1 year) EP of moderate intensity, in both smokers and non-smokers MI patients lead to stable disease course, decrease the rate of cardiovascuar complications and improve patients life quality. However the “smoking factor” decreases rehabilitational potentional of patient and interferes with better results achievement in cardiorehabilitation.

Abstract 5145: PAH-metabolizing microorganism in the oral cavity of smokers

Abstract Certain soil microorganisms have been identified as being not only resistant to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) but also capable of metabolizing these compounds. We hypothesized that a subset of oral bacteria may be enriched by the altered oral environment of the tobacco smoker with relatively high levels of PAHs. We identified microorganisms that survived long term in minimal media with PAH as the sole carbon source and showed they were much more likely to be isolated from smokers. To start to determine their contribution to oral health, we measured their level in vivo on two mucosal surfaces. On both gingival and lateral border of the tongue mucosa, a group of bacteria were seen to be at lower relative numbers in those exposed to cigarette smoke, while a minority increased. Three taxons were shown to be enriched on gingiva on the family, Streptococcaceae, or genus level, Staphylococcus and Granulicatella. On tongue, genera Mogibacterium and Dialister were enriched. Of bacteria genera that survived harsh PAH exposure in vitro, one was found at substantial levels in the oral mucosal microbiome. Staphylococcus was enriched approximately 6x in smokers, suggesting that the reason for its increase in smokers is due to its resistance to PAH. We will report on this and other oral microbes that can metabolize PAHs. This study highlights the possibility that the oral microbiome can metabolize PAHs like those in cigarette smoke, resulting in carcinogenic products that may contribute to the cancer process in vivo. Citation Format: Guy R. Adami, Lin Tao, Sylvia Pavlova, Stefan J. Green, Ankur Naqib, Benjamin Salameh, Jessica L. Tang, Joel L. Schwartz. PAH-metabolizing microorganism in the oral cavity of smokers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5145.

Natural levels of polonium-210 in urine

This paper presents a review and analysis of available data on background levels of polonium-210 in urine. It was established that 819 measurements could be considered to correspond to natural background levels, excluding a large number of values identified by the original investigators as potentially due to an artificial source or due to recognised enhancement of dietary intake. Almost 550 measurements were extracted from studies reported in the literature; additional measurements were contributions of previously unpublished data by authors of more recent papers. The majority of the measurements (462) were single samples from individuals but 357 values were repeat measurements provided by 81 subjects and for these the mean value for each subject was used. The final dataset consisted of measurements from 543 individuals. Analysis of the measurements confirmed the data was log normally distributed with mean and median values of 15.5 mBq d−1 and 11 mBq d−1 in urine samples, respectively. While the overall range was from 0.3–111 mBq d−1, almost 90% of the measurements were less than 30 mBq d−1, 95% were less than 45 mBq d−1, and 99% less than 70 mBq d−1. Separate analysis of data for smokers and non-smokers suggested a modest increase in smokers of up to 5 mBq d−1. Perhaps reflecting the importance of dietary differences such as seafood consumption, a marked difference between countries was observed in the range of results. While for most countries, 95% or more of results were below 30 mBq d−1, China and Italy were notable exceptions, with greater than 20% of values above this level.

Smoking Prevention for Students: Findings From a Three-Year Program of Integrated Harm Minimization School Drug Education

ABSTRACTBackground: This study investigated the impact of the Drug Education in Victorian Schools (DEVS) program on tobacco smoking. The program taught about licit and illicit drugs in an integrated manner over 2 years, with follow up in the third year. It focused on minimizing harm, rather than achieving abstinence, and employed participatory, critical-thinking and skill-based teaching methods. Methods: A cluster-randomized, controlled trial of the program was conducted with a student cohort during years 8 (13 years), 9 (14 years), and 10 (15 years). Twenty-one schools were randomly allocated to the DEVS program (14 schools, n = 1163), or their usual drug education program (7 schools, n = 589). One intervention school withdrew in year two. Results: There was a greater increase in the intervention students' knowledge about drugs, including tobacco, in all 3 years. Intervention students talked more with their parents about smoking at the end of the 3-year program. They recalled receiving more education on smoking in all 3 years. Their consumption of cigarettes had not increased to the same extent as controls at the end of the program. Their change in smoking harms, relative to controls, was positive in all 3 years. There was no difference between groups in the proportionate increase of smokers, or in attitudes towards smoking, at any time. Conclusions: These findings indicate that a school program that teaches about all drugs in an integrated fashion, and focuses on minimizing harm, does not increase initiation into smoking, while providing strategies for reducing consumption and harm to those who choose to smoke.

Tobacco smoking and oxidative stress to DNA: a meta-analysis of studies using chromatographic and immunological methods

Oxidative stress to DNA from smoking was investigated in one randomized smoking cessation study and in 36 cohort studies from excretion of urinary 8-oxo-7-hydrodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG). Meta-analysis of the 36 cohort studies showed smoking associated with a 15.7% (95% CL 11.0:20.3, p < 0.0001) increased oxidative stress to DNA, in agreement with the reduction of oxidative stress to DNA found in the smoking cessation study. Meta-analysis of the 22 studies that used chromatography methodology on 1709 persons showed a significant 29.3% increase in smokers (95% CL 17.3;41.3), but meta-analysis of 14 studies on 3668 persons using ELISA methodology showed a non-significant effect of 8.7% [95% CL −1.2;18.6]. Tobacco smoke induces oxidative damage to DNA; however, this is not detected with ELISA methodology. Currently, the use of existing ELISA methodology to measure urinary excretion of 8-oxo-7-hydrodeoxyguanosine cannot be recommended.

Blood Pressure Responses to Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity are Accentuated in Smokers

Smoking is a risk factor for hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. It is unclear if the blood pressure (BP) response to sympathetic activity is altered in smokers. In this project, we examined the BP response to muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in 18 smokers and 10 nonsmokers. BP (Finapres), heart rate, and MSNA (microneurography) were continuously recorded during 10 min of supine rest, and these variables were analyzed on a beat-by-by basis. Signal averaging was used to examine the responses in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate for 15 sec according to the onset of the MSNA bursts. MAP in smokers was higher than that in nonsmokers (92.5±2.3 vs. 85.6±2.9 mmHg, P=0.02). MSNA in smokers was not significantly greater than that in nonsmokers (24.1±3.1 vs. 19.3±3.8 bursts/min, P>0.05). In the both groups, the averaged MSNA burst occurred in a nadir of the averaged MAP curve with ~1-2 sec time lag. Thereafter, MAP gradually increased, reaching a peak at ~6-8 sec following MSNA bursts. However, the MAP increase in smokers was significantly greater than that in nonsmokers (Δ2.94±0.71 vs. Δ1.58±0.31 mmHg, P<0.05). These data suggest that the BP response to the sympathetic activity may be accentuated in smokers. We speculate that altered adrenergic receptor sensitivity and/or baroreflex function may contribute to it.

Threatening Messages, Risk Perception and the Intention of Smoking Cessation. the Case of Student Smokers at Athens Panteion University

AbstractA plethora of campaigns focuses on communicative practices, such as the use of public warnings in the form of advertisements, with the aim of informing smokers about the potential risks of starting and maintaining smoking. Conducted researches have shown the effectiveness of such campaigns on smoking cessation. The present survey examines the influence of threatening messages given to 150 smokers, who are students of Athens Panteion University, aged between 18 and 28, by estimating subjective risk perception, the intention to quit smoking within 30 days and within 6 months, and the disengagement beliefs. The participants were separated in two groups, the control group and the experimental group, in which they received a threatening message, and subsequently completed the questionnaire. The results indicated that smokers in the experimental group had higher subjective risk perception. In specific, those who were in the later stages of changing behaviour appeared to have a higher intention to quit smoking. The smokers' high adherence to disengagement beliefs reduced the risk perception, but there is a correlation between disengagement beliefs and groups related to this variable. The results suggest that threatening messages are an effective strategy for preventing and motivating people to quit smoking.Keywords: Sociology of health, risk perception, medical information, health campaigns.IntroductionHealth campaigns usually attempt to boost conscious-raising and motivation in order to change unhealthy behaviour patterns by issuing them with health warnings. This communicative attempt mostly pertains to exposing to fear and threatening messages, thus increasing smokers' subjective perception that something bad will happen (risk perception) and motivating them in adopting healthy behaviours, preventing themselves from future health risks (Lipksus, 2007: 696-713).It is also argued that the subjective experience of being at risk is conducive to altering smokers' health identities, especially in conditions that their vulnerability to health diseases has been statistically measured before (Gillespie, 2012: 194-207). It is noticeable that our analytical focus on behaviour and experience energetically synthesizes sociological and psychological concerns on a highly interdisciplinary research basis.In health sociology literature, the increase of smokers' risk perception and vulnerability can be arguably achieved by taking advantage of different types of threatening messages. Specifically, there is considerable evidence that graphic advertisements about the negative impact of smoking are effective and suitable in low and middle income countries, whilst media campaigns affect more economically advantaged populations (see for example Durkin et al., 2013; Niederdeppe et al., 2008).Last but not least, another course of action taken by various health campaigns is the increasing depiction of tobacco industry's action as seriously deceitful and exploitative (see Thrasher et al., 2006). This significantly conduces to preventing adolescents' smoking and raising highly their levels of concern, even on health risks regarded as being of less importance (Mart, 2012: 87-97).Actively cutting across disciplinary boundaries, the current sociological study uses (a) the Transtheoretical Model to carefully examine the effects of the stages of change and of the reception of threatening messages on risk perception and the intention of the smoking cessation, (b) the Health Action Process Approach Model (HAPA) to investigate the factors that intervene and increase the motives and intention, leading to action, and (c) the disengagement beliefs for the examination the (low or high) adherence to them, after the received warning message.Risk and Addiction in the Sociology of HealthOver the recent years, many sociological attempts have been made in order to define and describe the term risk, which, within contemporary culture, is a ubiquitous issue being stretched over a wide range of social activities and practices, such as national security, terrorism, food, smoking, drugs, safety, and so on. …