Male Non-smokers Research Articles

Evaluation on the Sex-Specific Association Between Cigarette Smoke Exposure and Inflammation Markers-C-Reactive Protein and White Blood Cell Count.

Cigarette smoke increases peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count. However, the dose-dependent association between smoking and C-reactive protein (CRP), an important inflammatory marker, has been reported as inconsistent. Here, we evaluated the associations between smoking and CRP using both smoking questionnaires and urine cotinine as exposure markers. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were used for analyzing the associations. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between cigarette smoke exposure, as assessed by questionnaires and urine cotinine, and health effects, as measured by CRP and WBC count, controlling for potential confounders. The confounders, including age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, and uric acid, were selected a priori based on the literature. A total of 11 435 participants were included for analysis. For the exposure-response relationship, the results indicated a significant increase in CRP levels in male smokers compared to male nonsmokers (p = .002), whereas no significant increase was found in female smokers compared to female nonsmokers (p = .680). For the dose-response relationship, a significant positive association was observed between urine cotinine and CRP in male smokers (p = .018), whereas no significant association was found in female smokers (p = .508). WBC count consistently showed significant exposure-response and dose-response relationships in both sexes. WBC count was found to be a consistent effect marker of cigarette smoke exposure, while the association between CRP level and smoking was inconsistent and varied by sex. The sex-specific response to cigarette smoke exposure warrants further exploration in future studies. Cigarette smoke exposure is known to increase inflammation and has been thought to increase CRP, a significant inflammation marker. However, recent studies have reported conflicting results regarding the dose-dependent association between cigarette smoke exposure and CRP. This study found that the association between smoking and CRP is inconsistent and varies by sex, showing significant exposure response in men but not in women. Furthermore, the study suggests that WBC count is a more consistent marker for cigarette smoke exposure.

Analyzing and Examining Smoking Effects and Oxidative Stress Markers in Seminal Plasma in Iraqi Infertility Men

The oxidative stress (OS) and sperm DNA fragmentation have been associated with sub-infertility in males and infertility due to a lack of means of protection and defense (antioxidants) for spermatozoa and an increase in reactive oxygen spices (ROS) related to wrong lifestyle (cigarettes and hookah) or what also known as Shisha. The study included (90) men between the ages of (23-40) years, (60), infertile men who smoked cigarettes and hookahs. They were divided into two groups, the first oligozoospermia and the second asthenozoospermia, according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization for seminal fluid analysis (SFA), 5 th edition, WHO(2010). Each group included (30) smoking infertile males, with a control group included (30) non-smoking fertile males. The study aimed to estimate the concentration level of Ascorbic Acid (AA) in the seminal plasma of two groups of infertile men smoking cigarettes and hookahs using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, with calculating the concentration of Malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as estimating the percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) using sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD), Halo view. Compared with healthy fertile men of non-smokers of cigarettes and hookahs as one of the biomarkers of oxidative stress in infertile men in Nineveh Governorate-Iraq. The results indicated that there were significant differences at the probability level (p<0.01) for the studied parameters (AA, MDA, SDF) compared to the control group (fertile men). The results showed an increase in the percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation with increasing the concentration of MDA in seminal plasma and decreasing the concentration of AA. Cigarette and hookah smoking increased the generation of ROS with a decrease in the water-soluble non-enzymatic antioxidant Ascorbic acid (AA) and thus increased the oxidative processes of the plasma membranes of spermatozoa and the occurrence of oxidative stress and impaired fertility and caused infertility. Keywords: male infertility, oxidative stress, sperm DNA fragmentation, Ascorbic acid, MDA. Bionatura http://dx.doi.org/10.21931/RB/CSS/2023

Connectome-based predictive modeling of smoking severity using individualized structural covariance network in smokers.

Abnormal interactions among distributed brain systems are implicated in the mechanisms of nicotine addiction. However, the relationship between the structural covariance network, a measure of brain connectivity, and smoking severity remains unclear. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between structural covariance network and smoking severity in smokers. A total of 101 male smokers and 51 male non-smokers were recruited, and they underwent a T1-weighted anatomical image scan. First, an individualized structural covariance network was derived via a jackknife-bias estimation procedure for each participant. Then, a data-driven machine learning method called connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) was conducted to infer smoking severity measured with Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scores using an individualized structural covariance network. The performance of CPM was evaluated using the leave-one-out cross-validation and a permutation testing. As a result, CPM identified the smoking severity-related structural covariance network, as indicated by a significant correlation between predicted and actual FTND scores (r = 0.23, permutation p = 0.020). Identified networks comprised of edges mainly located between the subcortical-cerebellum network and networks including the frontoparietal default model and motor and visual networks. These results identified smoking severity-related structural covariance networks and provided a new insight into the neural underpinnings of smoking severity.

Relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and dual-system imbalance in tobacco dependence: An rs-fMRI research.

According to the classic cognitive behavioral theory proposes, dysfunctional goal-directed and habit control systems are considered central to the pathogenesis of dependent behavior and impair recovery from addictions. The functional connectivity (FC) of the brain circuits for goal-directed or habitual behavior has not been clearly reported in tobacco-dependent groups. Smoking is one of the factors in the formation of atherosclerosis. Studies have shown that the thickness of carotid intima-media (cIMT) is associated with attention-executive-psychomotor functioning. Therefore, we hypothesized whether cIMT in tobacco-dependent individuals is associated with changes in the FC of the dual-system network. A total of 29 male tobacco-dependent subjects (tobacco-dependent group) (mean age: 64.20 years, standard deviation [SD]: 4.81 years) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Exactly 28 male nonsmokers (control group) (mean age: 61.95 years, SD: 5.52 years) were also recruited to undergo rs-fMRI. We used the dorsolateral striatum (putamen) and dorsomedial striatum (caudate) as regions of interest for whole-brain resting-state connectivity to construct habitual and goal-directed brain networks, respectively. In addition, all participants were evaluated by carotid artery ultrasound to obtain the cIMT values. Then, we compared the dual-system brain networks between the tobacco dependence and control groups and the relationship between cIMT and imbalance of dual-system brain networks in tobacco dependence. The results showed a reduction in the connection between the caudate and precuneus and an increased connection between the putamen and prefrontal cortex; and supplementary motor area. The bilateral connectivity between the caudate and inferior frontal gyrus showed a significant negative correlation with the cIMT, and no positive correlation was observed with cIMT in the brain region that connects to the caudate. However, for the putamen, increased connectivity with the inferior temporal and medial frontal gyri was strongly associated with a high cIMT. The results indicate that the formation of tobacco dependence behavior is related to changes in the dual-system brain network. Carotid sclerosis is associated with the weakening of the goal-directed network and enhancement of the habit network in tobacco dependence. This finding suggests that tobacco dependence behavior and clinical vascular diseases are related to changes in brain functional networks.

Association between smoking behavior and serum uric acid among the adults: Findings from a national cross-sectional study.

Gout incidence is increasing worldwide; appropriate management of serum uric acid levels and a healthy lifestyle may help its prevention. The popularity of electronic cigarettes and the resultant emergence of dual smokers is increasing. Despite many studies on the effects of various health behaviors on serum uric acid levels, the association between smoking and serum uric acid levels remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between smoking and serum uric acid levels. In this study, total sample of 27,013 participants (11,924 men and 15,089 women) were analyzed. This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2020) and grouped adults into dual smokers, single smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between smoking behavior and serum uric acid levels. Compared to male non-smokers, male dual smokers had significantly higher serum uric acid level (odds ratio [OR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.88). In female, serum uric acid level was higher among single smokers than non-smokers (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.25-2.25). Higher serum uric acid levels were more likely to be present in male dual smokers with a > 20 pack-year smoking habit (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.06-3.18). Dual smoking may contribute to high serum uric acid levels in adults. Thus, serum uric acid levels should be properly managed through smoking cessation.

Increased spontaneous activity of the superior frontal gyrus with reduced functional connectivity to visual attention areas and cerebellum in male smokers.

Chronic smokers have abnormal spontaneous regional activity and disrupted functional connectivity as revealed by previous neuroimaging studies. Combining different dimensions of resting-state functional indicators may help us learn more about the neuropathological mechanisms of smoking. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of 86 male smokers and 56 male non-smokers were first calculated. Brain regions that displayed significant differences in ALFF between two groups were selected as seeds for further functional connectivity analysis. Besides, we examined correlations between brain areas with abnormal activity and smoking measurements. Increased ALFF in left superior frontal gyrus (SFG), left medial superior frontal gyrus (mSFG) and middle frontal gyrus (MFG) as well as decreased ALFF in right calcarine sulcus were observed in smokers compared with non-smokers. In the seed-based functional connectivity analysis, smokers showed attenuated functional connectivity with left SFG in left precuneus, left fusiform gyrus, left lingual gyrus, left cerebellum 4 5 and cerebellum 6 as well as lower functional connectivity with left mSGF in left fusiform gyrus, left lingual gyrus, left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), left calcarine sulcus, left cerebellum 4 5, cerebellum 6 and cerebellum 8 (GRF corrected, Pvoxel < 0.005, Pcluster<0.05). Furthermore, attenuated functional connectivity with left mSGF in left lingual gyrus and PHG displayed a negative correlation with FTND scores (r = -0.308, p = 0.004; r = -0.326, p = 0.002 Bonferroni corrected). Our findings of increased ALFF in SFG with reduced functional connectivity to visual attention areas and cerebellum subregions may shed new light on the pathophysiology of smoking.

COVID-19 Quarantine Effects on Smoking Behavior and Mental Health of Smoking Adolescents.

The world is struggling with the damage caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Most countries have applied quarantines to combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019. The aim of this study was to determine the mental health of smoking adolescents and the change in smoking behavior compared to their peers during the coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine. This study was conducted with adolescents registered in the adolescent outpatient clinic with no record of psychiatric illness. The mental health of smoking (n = 50) and non-smoking (n = 121) adolescents was evaluated using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Smoking adolescents have been questioned about the change in smoking behavior since quarantine began. The rates of depression and hostility symptoms were significantly higher in smoking than in nonsmoking adolescents. Male smokers had significantly higher depression and hostility symptoms than male non-smokers. However, no significant difference was observed between the rates of female smokers and non-smokers. It was determined that 54% (27) of the smokers reduced their smoking, while 14% (7) smoked more than before and 3.5% of former smokers stated that they quit smoking during quarantine and these people were included in the non-smoker group. It is not surprising that the mental health of adolescents was affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine. Our findings revealed the necessity to closely monitor the mental health of smoking adolescents, especially males smokers. The results of our study suggest that encouraging adolescents who smoke to quit during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic may be more effective than before quarantine.

The Bioavailability to Humans of Ascorbic Acid from Oranges, Orange Juice and Cooked Broccoli Is Similar to That of Synthetic Ascorbic Acid

The relative bioavailability of ascorbic acid from several sources was compared in 68 male non-smokers. Subjects underwent two 8-wk ascorbic acid depletion-repletion cycles. In repletion, subjects were randomized to receive 108 mg/d ascorbic acid as tablets with or without iron, as orange segments or juice, or as raw or cooked broccoli with a crossover within each major treatment group (e.g., cooked to raw broccoli) for the second repletion. Relative ascorbic acid bioavailability was estimated based on the slope obtained from linear regression of plasma ascorbic acid on time during each repletion. In the first repletion, slopes for all groups were similar except for the group consuming raw broccoli (20% lower response, P < 0.01). Second repletion responses were attenuated, but were similar to the first repletion. Ascorbic acid ingested as cooked broccoli, orange juice or fruit, or in synthetic form seems to be equally bioavailable. The lower relative bioavailability of ascorbic acid from raw broccoli is unlikely to be of practical importance in mixed diets.

Gender differences in clinical characteristics of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in different age groups in northern China.

Patient gender has clinical and prognostic implications in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, yet the potential effect of gender on clinical characteristics of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in clinical characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis in different age groups in northern China. A total of 777 patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis were retrospectively included in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and divided into two groups by gender: the male group and the female group. Each group was then subdivided into two according to their age (≤65 and >65 years). Gender differences in clinical characteristics were compared in all patients with bronchiectasis in the two age groups, respectively. A total of 777 bronchiectasis patients were included. Of these patients, the prevalence of female non-smokers was substantially higher than that of male non-smokers (94.0% vs. 36.8%). There were gender differences in etiology of bronchiectasis, with more post-measles and connective tissue disease in females (p = 0.006 and 0.002 separately) and more chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in males (p < 0.001). The male group had a significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) on admission (p = 0.03). Female patients showed a higher forced expiratory volume in 1 s as percentage of predicted volume (FEV1%pred) and forced vital capacity rate of 1 s (FEV1/FVC) (p < 0.001), lower partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2 ) (p = 0.04) and hospital costs (p = 0.02) than males, and a higher prevalence of infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in >65-year-old group (p = 0.019). There were many differences between male and female patients in smoking status, etiology, lung function, blood gas analysis, and hospital costs in all patients or different age groups.

Sex and diet-dependent gene alterations in human and rat brains with a history of nicotine exposure.

Chronic nicotine exposure induces changes in the expression of key regulatory genes associated with metabolic function and neuronal alterations in the brain. Many bioregulatory genes have been associated with exposure to nicotine, but the modulating effects of sex and diet on gene expression in nicotine-exposed brains have been largely unexplored. Both humans and rodents display motivation for nicotine use and the emergence of withdrawal symptoms during abstinence. Research comparing pre-clinical models with human subjects provides an important opportunity to understand common biomarkers of the harmful effects of nicotine as well as information that may help guide the development of more effective interventions for nicotine cessation. Human postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dLPFC) tissue BA9 was collected from female and male subjects, smokers and non-smokers (N = 12 per group). Rat frontal lobes were collected from female and male rats that received a regular diet (RD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) (N = 12 per group) for 14 days following implantation of a osmotic mini-pump (Alzet) that delivered nicotine continuously. Controls (control-s) received a sham surgical procedure. RNA was extracted from tissue from human and rat samples and reversed-transcribed to cDNA. Gene expression of CHRNA10 (Cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 10), CERKL (Ceramide Kinase-Like), SMYD1 (SET and MYD Domin Containing 1), and FA2H (Fatty Acid 2-Hydrolase) in humans was compared to rats in each subset of groups and quantified by qPCR methods. Additionally, protein expression of FA2H was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in human dLPFC. Humans with a history of smoking displayed decreased CHRNA10 (p = 0.0005), CERKL (p ≤ 0.0001), and SMYD1 (p = 0.0005) expression and increased FA2H (p = 0.0097) expression compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05). Similar patterns of results were observed in nicotine exposed vs. control rats. Interestingly, sex-related differences in gene expression for CERKL and FA2H were observed. In addition, ANCOVA analysis showed a significant effect of nicotine in a sex-different manner, including an increase in CERKL in male and female rats with RD or HFD. In rats exposed to an HFD, FA2H gene expression was lower in nicotine-treated rats compared to RD rats treated with nicotine. Protein expression of FA2H (p = 0.001) by IHC was significantly higher in smokers compared to non-smokers. These results suggest that a history of long-term nicotine exposure in humans alters the expression of sphingolipid metabolism-related (CERKL, SMYD1, and FA2H) and neuronal (CHRNA10) marker genes similarly as compared to rats. Sex- and diet-dependent differences appear in nicotine-exposed rats, critical in regulating sphingolipid metabolism and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This research enhances the construct validity of rat models of nicotine usage by showing a similar pattern of changes in gene expression in human subjects with a smoking history.

Comparison of microvascular endothelial function as measured by laser Doppler flowmeter among non-smoker and smoker males

Background: To understand the role of smoking in influencing endothelial function as assessed by LDF among non-smoker and smoker males. Methods: The LDF measurement for a total of 35 non-smokers and 16 smokers was done in the central research laboratory after written informed consent. The change in LDF signal in response to acetylcholine 100 µl, which was delivered to the forearm skin by iontophoresis, was measured as perfusion units (PU). Results: The pre-ACh LDF signal were statistically not significant between the groups. The increase in LDF signal was more prominent in non-smoker group. The LDF signal parameters such as differences in minimal response pre and post-ACh; difference in mean response pre and post ACh; the difference in maximal response pre and post ACh was not statistically significant between groups. However, the difference in the area under curve (AUC) pre and post-ACh (PU.min) (non-smoker 20089.34 (3438.92) vs smoker 13220.72 (3379.52); p=0.16) showed a trend towards statistical significance. Conclusions: Microvascular endothelial function as assessed by LDF signal among smokers (pack-years;1.9±1.44) and non-smokers is statistically insignificant. However, lower microvascular endothelial function is observed among smokers.

PS-BPC02-3: EVALUATION OF VASCULAR FUNCTION FOR PREDICTION OF RENAL PROGNOSIS IN JAPANESE PATIENTS WITH LIFESTYLE-RELATED DISEASES.

Background: Since chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with the development of serious cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, coronary artery disease and heart failure, prevention and early diagnosis of CKD are important clinical issues. Many risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and cigarette smoking are known to be involved in the development of CKD; however, there is no available biomarker that can predict the progression of CKD at an early stage. Although it has been reported that glomerular endothelial injury causes development of CKD, it remains unclear whether evaluation of vascular endothelial function can predict renal prognosis. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the association between vascular endothelial function and longitudinal eGFR change in patients with lifestyle-related diseases. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 341 Japanese patients (176 males and 165 females; mean age, 63.87 ± 12.02 years) with lifestyle-related diseases in whom baseline vascular function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and in whom 24-month longitudinal eGFR values were recorded after vascular testing at Tokushima University Hospital and Anan Medical Center, Tokushima Japan. The association between values of FMD and eGFR slope and the association between values of baPWV and eGFR slope were statistically analyzed. Statistical significance was set at p &lt; 0.05. Results: Single regression analysis showed that value of FMD was positively associated with eGFR slope in females (p &lt; 0.001) and non-smoking males (p = 0.033) but not in smoking males (p = 0.133). Multiple regression analysis including confounding factors demonstrated that the value of FMD remained a contributor against annual eGFR decline in females (p = 0.002) and non-smoking males (p = 0.046) but not in smoking males (p = 0.266). On the other hand, the value of baPWV had no significant association with eGFR slope regardless of sex and smoking. Conclusions: In patients with lifestyle-related diseases, FMD value can be used for prediction of renal prognosis represented by the eGFR slope in females and non-smoking males. Thus, early comprehensive intervention for improving vascular endothelial function might lead to a better renal prognosis in female and non-smoking male patients with lifestyle-related diseases.

Pulmonary function tests in compressed natural gas pump workers in Surat city

Background: Various studies have known abatements in lung function and several other health problems associated with longstanding air pollution exposure. One of the most cost-effective and environmental alternative of conventional fuels (petrol and diesel) is compressed natural gas (CNG). The increasing use of CNG as a fuel (as it is safe and cheap as compare to the conventional fuels) can add one more bug to the list of work-related disease. Aims and Objectives: This study is to evaluate the respiratory functions of CNG pump workers. Materials and Methods: The present study was held on 82 male subjects. The study group included of non-smoking healthy adult males, age group of 20–40 years working in different CNG stations in Surat city for &gt;6 months and 8 h per day. The control group included of non-smoking healthy adult males, age group of 20–30 years working or studying in the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER). Results: Out of 82 male subjects, 30 subjects were control and 52 subjects were CNG station workers. The study group comprised of 52 healthy non-smokers in the age group of 20–40 years working in different CNG station in Surat city for &gt;6 months and 8 h/day. The control group comprised of 30 healthy non-smokers males between the age group of 20–30 years working or studying in the SMIMER. Conclusion: In this study, we have not found statistically significant deterioration in pulmonary functions of CNG pump workers when compared to controls.

Респираторные аллергические заболевания у курящих и некурящих молодых мужчин

Background: smoking is a well-known trigger of asthma. Therefore, doctors should be alert for smok-ers with respiratory allergies. Aim: to compare the severity of respiratory allergy course, pollen and house dust sensiti-zation, and laboratory and instrumental tests in young adult male smokers and non-smokers. Patients and Methods: a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 249 men aged 16–27 years with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma was performed. Patients were examined on the basis of the standard of medical care for adults with asthma. Allergic examination included skin tests and allergen-specific IgE measurement. Results: 249 patients were divided into 2 groups: smokers (n=62) and non-smokers (n=187). The mean age of smokers and non-smokers was 19.3±0.5 and 18.6±0.3 years, respectively. The median smoking history was 2.0 [1.0; 4.0] years. Allergic asthma was more common in smokers (93.5%) than in non-smokers (89.3%). No differences in the rate of allergic rhinitis were reported. Comparative cross-sectional analysis of examination results in young patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma has demonstrated that positive tests for tree pollen and house dust prevail in both groups. No differences in sensitization between smokers and non-smokers were reported. The mean spirometry values in smokers were lower than those in non-smokers. Bron-chodilator coefficient calculated by forced expiratory volume in 1 s correlated with absolute eosinophil count only in smokers. Conclusions: no significant differences in the severity of allergic rhinitis and asthma, sen-sitization to pollen and house dust, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, and total serum IgE levels were reported between young smokers and non-smokers. KEYWORDS: smoking, asthma, allergic rhinitis, electronic cigarettes, traditional cigarettes. FOR CITATION: Devyatkova E.A., Minaeva N.V., Tarasova M.V., Shelud'ko V.S., Plotnikova E.Yu. Respiratory allergies in young adult male smokers and non-smokers. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2023;7(8):482–487 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2023-7-8-2.

Study of the Effect of the Smoking on Blood Proteins in Diyala Province

After the widespread phenomenon of smoking in all societies, cultures and age groups, smoking hookah, a social phenomenon common among different members of society, has recently spread. The purpose of this study was to find out how smoking affects blood proteins. Place of collection of Diyala University sample the level of full blood protein was determined by the serums of 20 smokers and all age groups and compared to the serum of 20-25 from male non-smokers and according to the results of the tests conducted showed a clear rise and "means" in the level of blood protein in people who smoke at a rate (1.500+ 6.180) compared to non-smokers who had a protein level (1.00+4.160) at (0.01) >P level of albumin as measured and recorded. Smokers had (1,400+ 3.50) fewer album levels than non-smokers compared to (3,400 + 0.600) for non-smokers, which may be due to the role of albumin as an extracellular antioxidant. The results also revealed that smokers have a higher level of Globulins (1.408+3.53) than non-smokers (1.345 = 1.700), indicating that the high total protein in smokers is due to the high rate of Globulins , which shows that smoking has a negative effect on blood proteins, causing imbalances in body function and eventually leading to chronic diseases and death if smoking continues for a long time.

Smoking Affects the Post-Stroke Inflammatory Response of Lipid Mediators in a Gender-Related Manner.

The main goal of our study was to determine the effect of cigarette smoking on selected derivatives of arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, DHA, and EPA, which may be markers of post-stroke inflammation. The eicosanoid profile was compared in both smoking and non-smoking patients, without division and with division into gender. In the group of non-smokers, we observed higher levels of the linolenic acid derivative (LA) 9S HODE (p ≤ 0.05) than in smokers. However, after dividing the results by sex, it turned out that the level of this derivative was higher in non-smoking women compared to smoking women (p ≤ 0.01) and did not differentiate the group of men. Similarly, the level of the arachidonic acid metabolite LTX A4 (p ≤ 0.05) differed only in the group of women. In this group, we also observed a decreased level of 15S HETE in smoking women, but it was statistically insignificant (p ≤ 0.08). On the other hand, the level of this derivative was statistically significantly higher in the group of non-smoking women compared to male non-smokers. The group of men was differentiated by two compounds: TXB2 and NPD1. Male smokers had an almost two-fold elevation of TXB2 (p ≤ 0.01) compared with non-smokers, and in this group, we also observed an increased level of NPD1 compared with male non-smokers. On the other hand, when comparing female non-smokers and male non-smokers, in addition to the difference in 15S HETE levels, we also observed elevated levels of TXB2 in the group of non-smokers. We also analyzed a number of statistically significant correlations between the analyzed groups. Generally, men and women smokers showed a much smaller amount of statistically significant correlations than non-smokers. We believe that this is related to the varying degrees of inflammation associated with acute ischemic stroke and post-stroke response. On the one hand, tobacco smoke inhibits the activity of enzymes responsible for the conversion of fatty acids, but on the other hand, it can cause the failure of the inflammatory system, which is also the body's defense mechanism. Smoking cigarettes is a factor that increases oxidative stress even before the occurrence of a stroke incident, and at the same time accelerates it and inhibits post-stroke repair mechanisms. This study highlights the effect of smoking on inflammation in both genders mediated by lipid mediators, which makes smoking cessation undeniable.

Periodontal status in male smokers visiting Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital

Background: Many clinical studies, which were conducted to evaluate the association between smoking and periodontal diseases, have confirmed the harmful effects of smoking on oral health. Therefore, it is essential to properly assess the periodontal status and smoking habits to improve the effectiveness of interventions and disease prevention. Objective: This study aims to compare the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in male smokers and male non-smokers visiting Hue University Hospital of Medicine and Pharmacy and to investigate the relationship between smoking and periodontal disease. Methods: A casecontrol study with 220 patients divided into two groups using a questionnaire to survey men aged 18-65 who have been smoking at the Department of Odonto-Stomatology - the Hue University Hospital of Medicine and Pharmacy. Factors related to smoking behavior and clinical examination of periodontal status were adopted. Results: In the smokers group, the mean gingival index “GI” (0.647 ± 0.316), plaque index “PlI” (2.045 ± 0.447), “PPD” periodontal pocket depth (1.955 ± 0.470mm), clinical adhesion loss “CAL” (1.883 ± 0.771mm), “BOP” bleeding index (4.898 ± 3.117) with 95% confidence interval “CI”. The percentage of patients without periodontitis accounts for the majority compared with the remaining levels of periodontitis with values of smokers 67.27% and 99.36% non-smokers. There is a signficant difference in gingivitis and periodontitis in both study groups with p&lt;0.05. There is a correlation between periodontal indices and smoking indicators such as the number of cigarettes smoked per day, the number of years of smoking, and cumulative exposure p&lt;0.05. Conclusion: The study shows that the heavier the smoking status, the worse the periodontal condition. However, the more cigarettes smoked, the less gingivitis and bleeding gums. Key words: Periodontal index, smoking, periodontal disease

Massive Recurrent Pleural Effusion in a 35-Year-Old Non-Smoking Male

Massive Recurrent Pleural Effusion in a 35-Year-Old Non-Smoking Male

Effect of Smoking on the Red Blood Cell Count, Hemoglobin Concentration, Hematocrit and Red Cell Indices in Adult Male Smokers

Background- Cigarette smoking is one of the common addictions. The effects of cigarette smoking on health are serious and, in many cases, deadly.&#x0D; Objectives: The present study was carried to observe the effect of smoking on Red Blood Cells (RBC) count, Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, Hematocrit (HCT) and Red cell indices in adult male smokers and compare it with non-smokers to create awareness.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: In this study 50 adult male smokers and 50 adult male non-smokers aged from 20-45 years were taken. The smokers were regularly smoking for at least one year. Fresh peripheral blood sample from subjects were collected and analyzed for Red blood cell count, Hemoglobin concentration, Hematocrit and Red cell indices by using Mythmic-22 automated 5-part Hematology Analyzer.&#x0D; Result: In this study the values of RBCs count, Hb concentration and Hematocrit showed significant increase (p&lt;0.05) in smokers as compared to non-smokers. The values of Red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC) were statistically not significant between two groups.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study concluded that smoking causes persistent state of hypoxia in the body due to smoke contents which cause increase in RBCs count, Hb concentration and Hematocrit.&#x0D; EMCJ. January 2022; 7(1): 1-5

Assessment of Tear Osmolarity in Smokers Using TearLab and I-Pen Systems.

Smoking has a negative effect on health and ocular tear film. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the correlation between the TearLab and I-Pen osmolarity scores in smokers and compare them with those of non-smoking healthy males. Thirty male smokers (25.3 ± 2.2 years) participated in the study. An age-matched (22.9 ± 2.0 years) control group of non-smoking healthy males (N = 30) was also recruited for comparison purposes. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) was completed first, followed by the TearLab and I-Pen osmolarity measurements. The median TearLab osmolarity score was lower (P < 0.001) than that obtained using the I-Pen in both the study and the control groups. The OSDI scores and osmolality measurements were higher (P < 0.001) in smokers than in the control subjects. In the smoker group, there were moderate correlations between the OSDI scores and the measurements obtained using the TearLab (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r = 0.463; P = 0.010) and I-Pen (r = 0.449; P = 0.013) systems. In addition, there was a strong correlation between the osmolarity scores obtained from the TearLab and I-Pen systems in smokers (r = 0.911; P < 0.001). The I-Pen scores in smokers were significantly higher than those obtained using TearLab. The TearLab scores showed small variations compared with those obtained using I-Pen. A strong correlation was found between the TearLab and I-Pen scores in smokers. The osmolarity TearLab and I-Pen scores were significantly higher in smokers compared with normal eye subjects.