Settlement-funded tobacco control in Texas: 2000-2004 pilot project effects on cigarette smoking

Because settlement proceeds allocated for tobacco control in Texas are insufficient for statewide activity at federally recommended funding levels, the Texas Department of State Health Services has used the available funds in quasi-experimental pilot studies in which varying amounts of support are provided for selected parts of the state. Trends in tobacco use were measured in telephone surveys of 7,998 (2000), 5,150 (2002), and 5,721 (2004) adults. Prevalence of cigarette smoking declined by almost one-third in the pilot area where comprehensive and sustained pilot activities to reduce tobacco use were organized at close to the federally recommended funding level. Significantly smaller reductions were observed in other parts of the state. In the group with the highest use, white non-Hispanic men, cigarette consumption declined by half in the pilot area. It is reasonable to expect similar reductions in tobacco use if funds are provided for statewide expansion of the pilot activities.     

Molecular characterization by array comparative genomic hybridization and DNA sequencing of 194 desmoid tumors

Desmoid tumors are fibroblastic/myofibroblastic proliferations. Previous studies reported that CTNNB1 mutations were detected in 84% and that mutations of the APC gene were found in several cases of sporadic desmoid tumors lacking CTNNB1 mutations. Forty tumors were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Karyotype and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed a nonrandom occurrence of trisomy 8 associated with an increased risk of recurrence. We report the first molecular characterization including a large series of patients. We performed array CGH on frozen samples of 194 tumors, and we screened for APC mutations in patients without CNNTB1 mutation. A high frequency of genomically normal tumors was observed. Four relevant and recurrent alterations (loss of 6q, loss of 5q, gain of 20q, and gain of Chromosome 8) were found in 40 out of 46 tumors with chromosomal changes. Gain of Chromosomes 8 and 20 was not associated with an increased risk of recurrence. Cases with loss of 5q had a minimal common region in 5q22.5 including the APC locus. Alterations of APC, including loss of the entire locus, and CTNNB1 mutation could explain the tumorigenesis in 89% of sporadic desmoids tumors and desmoids tumors occurring in the context of Gardner's syndrome. A better understanding of the pathogenetic pathways in the initiation and progression of desmoid tumors requires studies of 8q and 20q gains, as well as of 6q and 5q losses, and study of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Rapid proteome analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage samples of lifelong smokers and never-smokers by micro-scale liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether relative qualitative and quantitative differences in protein expression could be related to smoke exposure or smoke-induced airway inflammation. We therefore explored and characterized the protein components found in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid sampled from either lifelong smokers or never-smokers. METHODS: BAL fluid samples obtained by bronchoscopy from 60-year-old healthy never-smokers (n = 18) and asymptomatic smokers (n = 30) were analyzed in either pooled or individual form. Initial global proteomic analysis used shotgun digestion approaches on unfractionated BAL fluid samples (after minimal sample preparation) and separation of peptides by gradient (90-min) liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with on-line linear ion trap quadropole mass spectrometry (LTQ MS) for identification and analysis. RESULTS: LTQ MS identified 481 high- to low-abundance proteins. Relative differences in patterns of BAL fluid proteins in smokers compared with never-smokers were observed in pooled and individual samples as well as by 2-dimensional gel analysis. Gene ontology categorization of all annotated proteins showed a wide spectrum of molecular functions and biological processes. CONCLUSIONS: The described method provides comprehensive qualitative proteomic analysis of BAL fluid protein expression from never-smokers and from smokers at risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Many of the proteins identified had not been detected in previous studies of BAL fluid; thus, the use of LC-tandem MS with LTQ may provide new information regarding potentially important patterns of protein expression associated with lifelong smoking.     

Adherence to a daily flossing regimen in university students: effects of planning when, where, how and what to do in the face of barriers

OBJECTIVES: Regular (daily) dental flossing is recommended for preventing oral diseases, but adherence is unsatisfactory. Social cognitive theory (SCT) specifies determinants of dental flossing: cognitions about risk, positive and negative outcome expectations and the perceived ability to perform behaviour predict motivation, which in turn predicts behaviour. Recent research suggests that motivation alone may not suffice to predict behaviour, and proposes if-then-planning. This study aims to predict flossing adherence from social cognitive variables and planning. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Questionnaire data from 157 non-dental university students on flossing, SCT variables and planning were gathered at three measurement points over 6 weeks. Residual floss was used to validate behaviour self-reports. RESULTS: Social cognitive variables and planning correlated significantly with flossing at all times. Discriminant function analysis suggests that after controlling for Time 1 flossing, planning Time 2 (Wilk's lambda=0.77; p<0.01) is more important in discriminating between adherent and non-adherent participants at Time 3 than Time 1 social cognitive measures. Regression analyses confirmed this result with planning as only predictor of flossing change (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest targeting planning in interventions to increase compliance with flossing recommendations. Implications for such interventions are discussed.     

Different genotoxic profiles between depleted and enriched uranium

Uranium is an alpha-particle-emitting heavy metal. Its genotoxicity results from both its chemical and its radiological properties that vary with its isotopic composition (12% enriched uranium in ²³⁵U (EU) has a specific activity 20 times higher than 0.3% depleted uranium in ²³⁵U (DU)). The influence of the isotopic composition of uranium on its genotoxic profile (clastogenic/aneugenic) has never been described. The present study evaluated genotoxic profile of uranium with the cytokinesis-block micronucleus centromere assay. C3H10T1/2 mouse embryo fibroblasts were contaminated with either DU or EU at different concentrations (5 μM, 50 μM and 500 μM). Cells received low doses ranging from 0.3 μGy to 760.5 μGy. The frequency of binucleated cells with one micronucleus increased with increasing concentrations of both DU and EU in the same way. EU induced more centromere-negative micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges than DU. A correlation between these two clastogenic markers and ionizing radiation doses was observed. Finally, this study showed that the genotoxic profile of uranium depends on its isotopic composition. DU and EU are low and high clastogens, respectively. However, DU aneugenic effects remain high. Thus, there is a need to study the potential role of aneugenic effects of DU in carcinogenic risk assessment linked to uranium internal exposure.     

Distribution of soluble uranium in the nuclear cell compartment at subtoxic concentrations

Uranium is naturally found in the environment, and its extensive use results in an increased risk of human exposure. Kidney cells have mainly been used as in vitro models to study effects of uranium exposure, and very little about the effects on other cell types is known. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of depleted uranium exposure at the cellular level in human kidney (HEK-293), liver (HepG2), and neuronal (IMR-32) cell lines. Cytotoxicity studies showed that these cell lines reacted in a roughly similar manner to depleted uranium exposure, responding at a cytotoxicity threshold of 300-500 μM. Uranium was localized in cells with secondary ion mass spectrometry technology. Results showed that uranium precipitates at subtoxic concentrations (>100 μM). With this approach, we were able for the first time to observe the soluble form of uranium in the cell at low concentrations (10-100 μM). Moreover, this technique allows us to localize it mainly in the nucleus. These innovative results raise the question of how uranium penetrates into cells and open new perspectives for studying the mechanisms of uranium chemical toxicity.     

Conceptions of acculturation: a review and statement of critical issues

This article reviews evidence for re-conceptualizing acculturation status and acculturation process in health care research with United States (U.S.) Latino populations. Prior literature on acculturation has focused on: (a) acculturative change towards the dominant culture, (b) acculturation as it occurs with Mexican Americans, and (c) language as the principal component of acculturation. We review empirically based health research on acculturation and propose an ecodevelopmental framework for better understanding the process of acculturation. We then offer recommendations that may assist public health researchers, policymakers and program developers in better understanding "real world" acculturation. This includes understanding acculturation within this ecodevelopmental context for a more complete understanding of the acculturation process and its influences on health-related behaviors, with aims of reducing or eliminating health disparities in Latino populations.     

Evaluation der COVID-19-Impfung nach breiter Anwendung – ein Zwischenfazit für Deutschland im Juli 2022

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Seit Dezember 2020 stehen in Deutschland Impfstoffe gegen COVID-19 zur Verfügung. Zu den Hauptaufgaben des Fachgebiets...