The smoking habits of young soldiers.

In a survey of the smoking habits of over 6,000 young soldiers, it was found that the prevalence of regular smoking was 45%. Though the prevalence of regular smoking in young soldiers is higher than the general prevalence rate for smoking in 16 to 19-year olds in the civilian population, the excess is considered to be a reflection of the social and geographical background of Army recruits. The survey found that young soldiers who smoke, smoke heavily. Eighty two percent smoked more than 20 cigarettes per week, 58% more than 40 cigarettes per week. This is higher than has been recorded by any previous survey of young soldiers. The proportion of young soldiers who have never smoked has risen markedly over the years. This survey found that 34% had never smoked.     

Effect of smoking on restenosis during the 1st year after lower-limb endovascular interventions

PURPOSE: To investigate whether smoking has an effect on recurrent lumen narrowing after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) or stent placement in lower-limb arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 650 patients (median age, 70 years; 389 men) with peripheral artery disease who underwent iliac artery PTA (n = 95), iliac artery stent placement (n = 83), femoropopliteal PTA (n = 406), or femoropopliteal stent placement (n = 66) were selected from a prospective database. Patients were categorized according to their preintervention smoking habits as nonsmokers (n = 352), light smokers (one to nine cigarettes daily) (n = 54), habitual smokers (10-20 cigarettes daily) (n = 82), or heavy smokers (>20 cigarettes daily) (n = 162). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to determine whether there was an association between smoking habits and restenosis (> or =50%) in the treated vessel segment within 1 year after treatment. RESULTS: Cumulative restenosis rates at 6 and 12 months according to patients' smoking habits were 99 and 190 nonsmokers, 18 and 22 light smokers, 16 and 29 habitual smokers, and 26 and 47 heavy smokers, respectively (P <.001). Adjusted hazard ratios for restenosis in smokers compared with nonsmokers were 1.51 (95% CI: 0.92, 2.50) for light smokers, 0.49 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.87) for habitual smokers, and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.71) for heavy smokers, indicating a reduced restenosis risk in patients who smoked 10 or more cigarettes daily. These patients had reduced restenosis rates after either iliac (P =.011) or femoropopliteal intervention (P =.009). However, endovascular treatment at a younger age, coronary artery disease, and history of myocardial or cerebrovascular infarction were more frequently found in smokers. CONCLUSION: Smoking 10 or more cigarettes daily is associated with a reduced rate of intermediate-term restenosis after lower-limb endovascular interventions.     

Air trapping at CT: high prevalence in asymptomatic subjects with normal pulmonary function

PURPOSE: To determine the degree and extent of air trapping at computed tomography (CT) in subjects with normal pulmonary function test results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 50 subjects with normal pulmonary function, including 26 nonsmokers and 24 smokers (14 current and 10 ex-smokers; 11 mild and 13 heavy smokers). All 50 subjects underwent thin-section CT at which images were obtained during deep inspiration and expiration at three lung levels. The mean expiratory increase in lung attenuation was measured at each level. Air trapping was visually classified into four degrees (none, lobular, mosaic, or extensive), and the extent of air trapping was also semiquantitatively calculated. The visual grade and semiquantitative ratio of air trapping were compared among nonsmokers, current smokers, and ex-smokers and among nonsmokers, mild smokers, and heavy smokers by using the Kruskal-Wallis rank test and the Fisher protected least significant difference test, respectively. RESULTS: The mean increase in lung attenuation in the three levels at expiration was 111.9 HU +/- 46.3 (SD). The overall frequency of air trapping was 64%. Lobular, mosaic, and extensive air trapping were seen in 10 (20%), 14 (28%) and eight (16%) patients, respectively. There was no significant difference in the visual grade of air trapping among the nonsmokers, current smokers, and ex-smokers (P =.387) or among the nonsmokers, mild smokers, and heavy smokers (P =.231). There was also no significant difference in the semiquantitative ratio of air trapping among nonsmokers, current smokers, and ex-smokers (P =.859) or among nonsmokers, mild smokers, and heavy smokers (P =.897). CONCLUSION: Various degrees of air trapping, including the mosaic or extensive types, can be observed in subjects with normal pulmonary function and have no correlation with the subject's current smoking status or cigarette consumption.     

Cigarette smoking in the Oregon Air National Guard: findings from a health promotions survey

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of smoking among demographic subgroups in the Oregon Air National Guard (ORANG), examine demographic predictors of current smoking, and describe interest in smoking cessation classes. During the autumn of 1995, 1,000 surveys were distributed through unit medical liaisons to ORANG personnel. A total of 589 (59%) surveys were returned. Overall smoking prevalence was 19%. The percentage of smokers who reported heavy smoking (one or more packs per day) was highest among enlisted personnel in the middle (46.9%) and highest (71.4%) pay grades and in the oldest age group (63.4%). Cigarette consumption per day was significantly higher in the oldest age group (F = 3.92, df = 3/107, p < 0.01). In separate logistic regression models, neither age, full-time technician vs. traditional National Guard status, nor pay grade were significant predictors of smoking in either enlisted or officer personnel. Substantial interest in smoking cessation programs was identified.     

Smoking behavior of Greek warship personnel

The results from a study undertaken to assess the smoking behavior of Greek warship personnel found that of the 274 participants, ages 19 to 38 years, 59.5% were current smokers who started the habit between the ages of 15 and 21 years. However, 33.1% of these current smokers started smoking after entering the Greek Navy. There were statistically significant associations between the habit of smoking and the occurrences of respiratory tract infections, alcohol consumption, lack of aerobic exercise during leisure time, and educational level of the personnel. Another significant association was between the age of introduction into the habit of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked daily, with the level of education being a contributing factor. The method of entry into the Greek Navy and the rank held made a significant contribution to the time period of initiation into the habit of smoking. The impact of military life on the smoking behavior of the shipboard personnel is discussed and suitable intervention strategies have been recommended.     

Smoking-related attitudes, characteristics, and opinions in a group of young men with asthma.

The objective of this study was to examine the attitudes, characteristics, and opinions about smoking of a group of young asthmatic men. POPULATION AND METHODS: An anonymous, personal questionnaire was administered to 611 young male volunteers who had been diagnosed with asthma (according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/World Health Organization Global Initiative for Asthma, 1995) in the respiratory disease and allergy clinics of the Burgos Military Hospital (Spain). This questionnaire contained items related to personal information, asthma characteristics, opinions about smoking, and information related to smoking habits. RESULTS: Six hundred patients with asthma completed the questionnaire. All were men, mean age 20.16 +/- 3.03 years; 189 (31.5%) were smokers and 16 (2.5%) were ex-smokers. Mean age at onset of regular smoking was 16.46 +/- 2 years. Sixty-five percent (65.07%) smoked fewer than 10 cigarettes per day. Most of the smoking asthmatics had mild asthma (58.9%). Eighty-eight percent (88.3%) had moderate dependence. Many of the smoking asthmatics were contemplating stopping smoking (54%), and 59% had tried before to stop. Concern about health was the main reason given for stopping smoking. Asthmatics who smoked had a higher percentage of smokers among family members, friends, and colleagues than nonsmoking asthmatics. Attitudes toward smoking were more permissive among smoking asthmatics. Only 36.64% of the total had received information about tobacco previously. In the sample group, 7% claimed that they did not smoke but their carbon monoxide concentration in exhaled air was 10 ppm or higher. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in the onset of the smoking habit between asthmatic and nonasthmatic young people. A large percentage of the smoking asthmatics were considering smoking cessation, motivated mainly by their asthma condition. The group as a whole had little previous information about tobacco.     

Smoking prevalence in military men,and factors affecting this

The aim of the present study was to determine smoking prevalence among noncommissioned officers and privates and the factors affecting it. This study was carried out in a division of 20,000 soldiers. One of every 10 names on the roster was chosen at random. Responses were received from 1,822 subjects (91.1%), all male, in the final month of their 18-month military service with a mean age of 20.3 +/- 2.2 years. Individuals performing their military service were surveyed using a self-administered, anonymous, personal, and voluntary questionnaire. It was determined that 1,160 (63.7%) of the participants were smokers: 180 (9.9%) were occasional smokers, and 980 (53.8) were heavy smokers. For the fathers of the participants, these rates were 15.4% and 40.5%, respectively. The frequency of smoking was found to be higher in subjects who had high incomes, who had high levels of education, whose fathers smoked, and who were raised in environments in which there were many smokers. It was determined that 31.4% of subjects had begun smoking within the previous 2 years during their period of military service.     

Smoking and operative treatment of rotator cuff tear

This registry study was set up to evaluate the effect of smoking on the pre‐operative status, intraoperative findings, and post‐operative status after rotator cuff reconstruction. Five hundred seventy‐six consecutive shoulders with primarily arthroscopically repaired penetrating rotator cuff tear were followed up. Tobacco consumption was recorded as pack‐years. Age‐adjusted Constant score was used as an outcome measure. Five hundred sixty‐four patients were available for 1‐year follow‐up (dropout rate 2%). One hundred fourteen (20%) and 450 (80%) patients were pre‐operatively recorded to be smokers and non‐smokers, respectively. The gender distribution did not differ between the groups (P = 0.286). The mean age of all patients was 55 years in smokers (SD 9.1) and 61 years in non‐smokers (SD 9.4) (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in pre‐operative Constant score (P = 0.075) or mean size of intraoperatively measured tendon tear (P = 0.290) between the groups. At final follow‐up, there was a statistically significant difference in Constant scores between smokers [71 (SE 1.4)] and non‐smokers [75 (SE 0.7)] (P = 0.017). The pack‐years of smoking correlated with neither the Constant score (P = 0.815) nor the size of the tear (P = 0.786). We conclude that operatively treated rotator cuff tear patients who smoked were significantly younger than non‐smokers, and that smoking was associated with lower post‐operative Constant score.     

Smoking and lung functions in sportsmen.

Ten smoker sportsmen and 17 non-smoker sportsmen and 41 smoker non-sportsmen were studied. Lung function was assessed by means of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), the ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1%) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). For the smokers, all the tests were conducted before smoking (BS) and 30 min after smoking (AS) two cigarettes consecutively to observe the acute effect of smoking. In the smoker sportsmen there was no significant difference between BS and AS measures of lung function. Before smoking smoker sportsmen had lower values for FEV1, FEV1% and PEFR than non-smoker sportsmen (p less than 0.05). However, smoker sportsmen show higher BS values of FEV1 (p less than 0.01), FEV1% (p less than 0.01) and PEFR (p less than 0.05) compared with those of smoker non-sportsmen who had similar smoking indices. These results indicated that the smoker sportsmen, despite exhibiting some degree of lung function impairment in relation to non-smoker sportsmen, still maintained rather better lung function status than the smoker non-sportsmen.     

长航吸烟者24h动态心电图过早搏动的变化

目的观察长航吸烟者24 h动态心电图过早搏动的变化。方法对81名参加长航人员根据吸烟情况分为不吸烟、吸烟Ⅰ（〈20支/d）和吸烟Ⅱ（吸烟〉20支/d）组,分别于航前第5～15 d、航行第65～75 d、航行第115～125 d行动态心电图检查,进行过早搏动的变化分析。结果与不吸烟组比较,吸烟组24 h动态心电图室上早总数、1 min最多室上早数、1 h最多室上早数、室早总数、1 min最多室早数和1 h最多室早数明显增多（P〈0.01）;每日吸烟越多,上述变化越明显（P〈0.01）。结论长航吸烟者的自主神经系统损害可能较非吸烟者更重。     

吸烟与新兵基础训练损伤关系的调查分析

目的　研究吸烟对新兵基础训练的影响。方法　采用问卷调查方式 ,询问参训的新兵吸烟的数量和时间。结果　吸烟人群与不吸烟人群训练伤的发生有非常显著性差异 ,吸烟人群明显高于不吸烟人群。每天吸烟≥ 5支 ,吸烟时间≥1年 ,容易发生训练伤。吸烟人群训练伤主要发生在训练的后期。结论　长期大量吸烟对军训损伤是一个危险因素。     

Smoking and deployment: perspectives of junior-enlisted U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army personnel and their supervisors

Smoking during deployments is a growing problem, particularly among junior-enlisted personnel, who have the highest smoking rates in the military. Few studies have examined reasons for smoking initiation among never smokers, relapse among former smokers, or increased smoking frequency among current smokers. We conducted 24 focus groups at four Air Force and two Army installations (N = 189) to examine the extent of smoking during deployment and to elucidate factors thought to contribute to new initiation, relapse, and increased smoking in a sample of junior-enlisted personnel and their supervisors. Important reasons for smoking included: (1) managing stress, boredom, anxiety, and sleep deprivation; (2) lack of alternate activities and privileges; (3) the perception that dangers in the field trumps the health impact of smoking; and (4) the role of the military environment in encouraging smoking. In addition, the phenomenon of new initiation and relapse to smoking in the field was discussed.     

Seven steps of gradual cessation of smoking--an example from India

BACKGROUND/AIM: [corrected] One sixth of smokers in the world live in India. The National Family Health Survey showed that individuals with no education were 2.69 times more likely to smoke and chew tobacco than those with postgraduate education. Whether the physicians' interaction with public can cause the smoking cessation or habit by detailing the harmful effects as well as benefits of cessation without any withdrawal effects? Our aim was, therefore, to help people to stop smoking step by step. METHODS: The study was conducted at the University Student Health Care Centre, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, from June 2004 to February 2005. A total of 1,200 students smokers (graduate, post graduate or research scholars) participated. They were from 17 to 32 years old (mean age, 26 years). All were male sex. Each and every student was explained in details risks and hazards, and benefits of cessation, focusing this latter on immediate and substantial benefits at any sex and age; their every question and quarries were explained. All were told that either they should stop smoking immediately or minimized step by step. The seven steps were explained to them. RESULTS: The smoking duration was one year and more in all the participants ranging from one to 15 years; the average period of smoking was five years and six months; the number of smoked cigarettes per day was 12 on average (5-20). In 450/1200 (37.50%) students, either of any family members were smoking while 200 (16.66%) students have been inspired from their friends. The majority of 780/1200 (65%) gave-up smoking at any step as advised. The followup could not be done in 80/1200 (6.6%) students who did not report at any of the stages. Finally, 340/1200 (28.0%) students either reduced the number or failed to give-up smoking. CONCLUSION: The results of the study are very encouraging. Such interaction type of doctors with smokers will not only help to the concerned person but also to the society.     

中度高原地区坦克乘员腰痛的现患调查

目的：了解中度高原地区坦克乘员腰痛的发病情况、流行病学特点。方法：采用问卷调查、实地考察、物理检查、统计分析等方法，对中度高原地区1041名坦克乘员腰痛情况进行横断面调查。结果：1041名坦克乘员中腰痛患病率45．9％，各工种驾驶员检出率最高（P〈0．05）。腰痛随兵龄增加而明显升高，5年以上驾驶员患病率高达87．5％。经多元回归分析，吸烟、反复高举重物、训练中反复弯腰3种因素与腰痛相关。结论：中度高原地区坦克驾驶员腰痛患病率高，发病率随从业时间而增大。     

Targeted DNA methylation analysis and prediction of smoking habits in blood based on massively parallel sequencing

Tobacco smoking is a frequent habit sustained by > 1.3 billion people in 2020 and the leading preventable factor for health risk and premature mortality worldwide. In the forensic context, predicting smoking habits from biological samples may allow broadening DNA phenotyping. In this study, we aimed to implement previously published smoking habit classification models based on blood DNA methylation at 13 CpGs. First, we developed a matching lab tool based on bisulfite conversion and multiplex PCR followed by amplification-free library preparation and targeted paired-end massively parallel sequencing (MPS). Analysis of six technical duplicates revealed high reproducibility of methylation measurements (Pearson correlation of 0.983). Artificially methylated standards uncovered marker-specific amplification bias, which we corrected via bi-exponential models. We then applied our MPS tool to 232 blood samples from Europeans of a wide age range, of which 90 were current, 71 former and 71 never smokers. On average, we obtained 189,000 reads/sample and 15,000 reads/CpG, without marker drop-out. Methylation distributions per smoking category roughly corresponded to previous microarray analysis, showcasing large inter-individual variation but with technology-driven bias. Methylation at 11 out of 13 smoking-CpGs correlated with daily cigarettes in current smokers, while solely one was weakly correlated with time since cessation in former smokers. Interestingly, eight smoking-CpGs correlated with age, and one displayed weak but significant sex-associated methylation differences. Using bias-uncorrected MPS data, smoking habits were relatively accurately predicted using both two- (current/non-current) and three- (never/former/current) category model, but bias correction resulted in worse prediction performance for both models. Finally, to account for technology-driven variation, we built new, joint models with inter-technology corrections, which resulted in improved prediction results for both models, with or without PCR bias correction (e.g. MPS cross-validation F₁-score > 0.8; 2-categories). Overall, our novel assay takes us one step closer towards the forensic application of viable smoking habit prediction from blood traces. However, future research is needed towards forensically validating the assay, especially in terms of sensitivity. We also need to further shed light on the employed biomarkers, particularly on the mechanistics, tissue specificity and putative confounders of smoking epigenetic signatures.     

Reduction in cortical IMP-SPET tracer uptake with recent cigarette consumption in a young group of healthy males

Functional brain imaging techniques are being used increasingly to infer disturbances in brain function in various neuropsychiatric disorders, but the specificity of such findings is not always clear. We retrospectively examined the effects of one possible confound - cigarette smoking - on cortical uptake of iodine-123 iodo-amphetamine (IMP) using single-photon emission tomographic imaging in a young (mean age=35 years) healthy group of male controls divided according to their smoking history. Subjects who had never smoked (n=17), or those with a history of smoking but no recent smoking (n=8), had equivalent and significantly higher mean cortical uptake of IMP than subjects with a history of smoking and who were current smokers (n=8). There were no differences in the cortical distribution of IMP. Our results indicate that cigarette smoking has an acute effect on global cerebral blood flow. This potential confound must be considered before abnormalities in cortical tracer uptake are attributed to some neuropsychiatric disorder of interest.     

武警某部战士吸烟情况调查及分析

目的 了解武警某部战士吸烟现状及对吸烟的相关认知、态度及行为倾向,为有针对性地开展部队控烟工作提供参考.方法 利用自行设计的吸烟问卷调查表,调查武警某部260名集训新兵及217名老兵的吸烟现状及对吸烟的危害认知、态度及行为倾向,并分析它们之间的关系.结果 战士总体吸烟率为37.32％(178/477),老兵吸烟率62....     

Expiratory CT in cigarette smokers: correlation between areas of decreased lung attenuation, pulmonary function tests and smoking history

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between cigarette-smoke-related bronchial disease and air trapping as assessed by expiratory high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans. Thirty healthy subjects (11 non-smokers, 7 ex-smokers for > 2 years, 12 current smokers; age range 35–55 years) with a smoking history between 0 and 28.5 pack-years underwent pulmonary function tests (PFT) and HRCT in inspiration and expiration in supine and prone position. The extent of air trapping was scored in ventral and dorsal aspects of the upper, middle and lower lung portions. In 24 subjects (7 non-smokers, 7 ex-smokers, 10 current smokers) areas of focal air trapping were found, and were present significantly more often in dependent lung portions (p < 0.05) compared with non-dependent portions. No significant differences were found between apical and basal lung zones. Scores of focal air trapping were not significantly different between smokers and ex-smokers, but were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in non-smokers and showed a significant (p < 0.0005) correlation with pack-years. The degree of air trapping was also associated with several lung function tests, especially RV, DLCO, FRC, FEV1 and FEV1/VC. Air trapping is seen in smokers with normal PFT and correlates with the severity of the smoking history, independently of current smoking status. Received 4 August 1997; Revision received 12 January 1998; Accepted 14 January 1998     

Smoking and tobacco use by U.S. military personnel

Findings regarding smoking behavior for the 1985 survey of military personnel were compared to findings from earlier surveys. A decline in the percentage of cigarette smokers was evident for all ranks and ages. Reported use of smokeless tobacco and cigar/pipe smoking indicated that one-fifth of the cigarette smokers also use smokeless tobacco and that two-fifths of the cigarette users smoke a pipe or cigar. Among non-smokers of cigarettes, about one-tenth of the respondents used smokeless tobacco and/or smoked a pipe or cigars. Using self-evaluation of health status, non-smokers reported "excellent" health significantly more than smokers.