Oral precancerous disorders associated with areca quid chewing, smoking, and alcohol drinking in southern Taiwan

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and the associated risk factors of oral precancerous disorders in southern Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional community survey interviewing 1075 adult subjects, 15 years of age and over, gathered from randomly selected 591 households, and spanning five villages in southern Taiwan. The study protocol included a visual oral soft tissue examination and a questionnaire-based interview. The chi-square test was used to test the differences in prevalence of oral precancerous lesions and conditions by different "life styles" relating to current risk habits of current areca quid chewing, smoking, and alcohol drinking. To control for possible confounding, a logistic regression model was used to estimate the Odds Ratios (OR) for leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). RESULTS: 136 precancerous lesions and conditions were detected among 1075 subjects (12.7%). The analysis of the spectrum of oral precancerous disorders detected, leukoplakia (n = 80), OSF (n = 17) and verrucous lesions (n = 9), demonstrated an association with gender (P < 0.001). There were statistically significant associations among leukoplakia (P < 0.01), OSF (P < 0.0001), and verrucous lesions (P < 0.0001) and the life style of current areca quid chewing, smoking, and alcohol drinking. The synergistic effect of smoking and areca quid chewing habit on leukoplakia and OSF was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: This study reinforces the association of current areca quid chewing without tobacco, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking to leukoplakia, OSF, and verrucous lesions in Taiwan.     

Cigarette smoking,snuff use and alcohol drinking: coexisting risk behaviours for oral health in young males

OBJECTIVES: The use of oral moist snuff (snus) is widespread among Swedish men, but little is known about the use in adolescents. The aim of this study was to describe patterns of snuff dipping, smoking and alcohol drinking in a sample (n = 6287) of 9th grade male students participating in a census survey in the Stockholm region. RESULTS: About 20% of the sample reported use of snus, and more than two-thirds of snus users were also cigarette smokers. Among current nonusers of tobacco (66% of the sample), 14% reported frequent binge drinking, in contrast to 49% among current exclusive cigarette smokers, 60% among exclusive snus users and 69% among users of both cigarettes and snus. The estimated mean annual consumption of alcohol was 5-10 times higher among tobacco users than among nonusers, with users of snus consuming more alcohol than smokers. Compared to non- or minimal drinkers, heavy alcohol drinkers had a disproportionately higher risk to report snus use, after adjustment for smoking behaviour (OR = 16.7, 95% CI 12.9-21.7). When the analysis was restricted to users of only one type of tobacco, heavy drinkers were twice as likely to report snus, rather than cigarette, use. CONCLUSIONS: Both tobacco use and alcohol drinking have been independently associated with a variety of pathological oral conditions in adults. These behaviours coexist in early adolescence. Their effect on oral health need to be investigated in prospective studies and should be of concern to the dental professionals.     

Cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and oral and pharyngeal cancer mortality in Japan

Objectives:  To prospectively examine the association of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking with oral and pharyngeal carcinogenesis, we analyzed data from a nation-wide large-scale cohort study in Japan.
Methods:  A total of 34 136 men and 43 711 women aged 40–79 years were included in the study. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of oral and pharyngeal cancer for smoking and drinking by sex, while adjusting for age, consumption of green tea, preference for salty foods, and consumption of green yellow vegetables.
Results:  Current smokers were found to have a higher risk of death caused by oral and pharyngeal cancer compared with non-smokers in both sexes: the RR was 2.6 (95% CI: 1.0–6.7) in men and 8.2 (95% CI: 2.1–32.1) in women. Men who drank more than 46 g ethanol per day had an approximately threefold increased risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer. Simultaneous exposure to both factors was significantly associated with an elevated risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer (RR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.1–9.6).
Conclusions:  The result supports the carcinogenic effect of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking on the oral cavity and pharynx.     

Is peripheral alcohol injection of value in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia? An analysis of 100 cases

This retrospective study assessed the effectiveness and complications of peripheral alcohol injections in the management of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). 100 patients were analyzed who received 250 peripheral alcohol injections from June 2004 to January 2010. The duration of effect of alcohol blocks, the effect of repeated administration, and complications associated with alcohol injections were examined. The distal injection technique was applied. The branch of the nerve was identified and confirmed. After carefully anesthetizing the nerve with local anesthesia, 1-1.5 ml of absolute alcohol was injected depending on the nerve involved. Pain relief lasted for a mean of 14.13 ± 8.66 months. There was a fall in the duration of effect with subsequent injections. No serious complications were reported. Only 3% patients presented with non-neuralgic pain, swelling, burning sensation, trismus, dysesthesia, soreness, infection and the expected loss of sensation along the branch involved in TN. The combination of efficacy and reduced morbidity makes this procedure preferable for the treatment of TN. Alcohol injections are useful in those who are refractory to drug therapy, the elderly, medically compromised patients, unwilling to undergo neurosurgical procedures and in whom surgery is delayed for any reason.     

Substance use among Dutch dental students

OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to assess the prevalence of substance use among Dutch dental students and to determine their attitudes about substance use and its consequences. METHODS: In association with a national study of drug use among US dental students, a questionnaire was translated from English into Dutch and administered to dental students at two dental schools in The Netherlands. Students received an anonymous 115-item questionnaire in the fall of 1996. RESULTS: Alcohol was the students' drug of choice for lifetime (95%), past year (94%) and past month (88%) use. No significant correlations were found between alcohol use and gender, schools, and years in dental education. In the past month, 58% of students reported drinking on 5 or more days; 53% had 5 or more drinks on the same occasion, 20% had 5 or more drinks on the same occasion on 5 or more days; and 17% reported getting drunk at least monthly. Prevalence rates for past month use of tobacco was 24% and marijuana, 4%. Male students smoked twice as much as females, with significant differences found for all three periods of use (X2>19.00, P<0.01). When asked whether their schools offered policies and education programs on alcohol and other drugs, 52% of students reported that these were not available. CONCLUSIONS: Dental schools should develop effective programmes to educate students about responsible use of alcohol and other licit and illicit drugs. Schools should also inform students about their susceptibilities to substance abuse and dependency.     

葛花枳椇子配伍使用对醉酒小鼠体内乙醇代谢过程的影响

目的:通过检测急性乙醇中毒小鼠体内乙醇浓度、乙醇脱氢酶(ADH)、乙醛脱氢酶(ALDH)的在不同时间的变化水平,探讨葛花枳蓂子配伍应用是否优于单独使用。方法:将ICR小鼠分为空白组、模型组、阳性药组、单用葛花、枳蓂子组及配伍1、2、3组。选取预防给药的方法,即给药30min后灌酒复制模型,分别于酒后05h,1h,2h,3h摘眼球取血及肝脏组织。酶法测定酒后不同时间点小鼠血中乙醇浓度、肝中ADH和ALDH水平。结果:醉酒小鼠血中乙醇浓度在2h达到峰值,葛花、枳蓂子配伍1、2、3组小鼠体内乙醇浓度均较模型组显著降低(P0.05);小鼠肝脏中ADH水平在1h达峰,配伍2、3组可显著升高小鼠酒后1h肝脏中ADH的水平(P0.05),在2h、3h后,只有配伍3组效用较为明显(P0.05);小鼠肝脏中ALDH水平在2h到达峰值,配伍3组可显著增加其水平,其余各组有增加的趋势但差异无统计学意义。结论:葛花、枳蓂子配伍使用效果优于单独应用,可降低酒后不同时间点小鼠血中乙醇浓度,其机制可能与激活肝脏中ADH与ALDH活性有关,从而起到预防醉酒的作用。     

热毒宁注射液青蒿金银花浓缩过程近红外快速定量检测方法的建立

目的建立热毒宁注射液青蒿金银花醇沉浓缩过程主要药效成分的定量校正模型,实现生产过程在线监控。方法采用近红外光谱技术(NIRS)结合偏最小二乘法(PLSR)分别建立新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸的定量校正模型。结果新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸定量校正模型的决定系数(R~2)分别为0.954 5、0.975 2、0.9691;校正集误差均方根(RMSEC)为0.213、0.676、0.225,交叉验证集误差均方根(RMSECV)分别为0.233、0.692、0.258。采用所建模型进行在线分析,新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸的预测值与实测值的决定系数分别为0.984 2、0.983 7、0.9870,预测相对误差(RPD)分别为4.77、5.29、4.37,预测相对偏差(RSEP)分别为3.519%、3.778%、3.895%。结论所建的模型可以用于热毒宁注射液青蒿金银花醇沉浓缩过程中新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸的在线定量测定。