Effects of acute tobacco abstinence in adolescent smokers compared with nonsmokers

PURPOSE: Abstinence effects such as nicotine withdrawal and mood changes contribute to the maintenance of cigarette smoking in adult smokers, and emerging reports on adolescent smokers suggest they may experience similar subjective effects when deprived. This study aimed to prospectively document tobacco abstinence-induced changes during the first 48 hours of abstinence in adolescent smokers compared with nonsmokers, to distinguish effects distinct from typical adolescent lability. METHODS: Fifty-seven adolescent smokers and 44 adolescent nonsmokers were assessed during a 48-hour inpatient session. Characteristic nicotine withdrawal symptoms, cravings for cigarettes, and mood symptoms were measured at 13 time points following initiation of abstinence. RESULTS: The only abstinence-related effects observed were changes in craving for tobacco and feelings of anger. Tobacco craving increased and peaked quickly following initiation of abstinence and displayed a slight decrease toward the end of the 48-hour abstinence period, while anger symptoms peaked after a more prolonged abstinence. Overall, smokers' symptoms and cravings were positively associated with amount of daily smoking but not with reports of dependence or biological measures of extent of use. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that among adolescent smokers, the primary effects associated with abstinence from cigarettes are relatively minimal, and include a heightened and persistent craving to smoke and increases in anger. Although smokers had greater negative mood symptoms compared with nonsmokers, the presence and severity of most of these symptoms appear to be minimally altered by abstinence and not associated with dependency or biological indicators of amount of tobacco use.     

Bioactivity of selenium from Brazil nut for cancer prevention and selenoenzyme maintenance

Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa,) is one of very few consumable products with exceptionally high levels of selenium. The mean selenium concentrations of two shipments of Brazil nut used in the present study were determined to be 16 and 30 μg/g. In contrast, most common foods contain much less selenium, from 0.01 to 1 μg/g. Previous research on selenium cancer chemoprevention invariably used a pure compound, whereas little information is available on the efficacy of selenium delivered naturally in a food form. This paper reports the results of two mammary cancer prevention experiments in the rat dimethylbenz[a]anthracene model by continuous feeding of selenium‐rich Brazil nut (processed to a smooth‐textured nut material for mixing in the diet). A dose‐dependent inhibitory response was observed at dietary selenium concentrations of 1–3 μg/g. Interestingly, Brazil nut was found to be just as powerful as sodium selenite, if not more so, at similar levels of dietary selenium intake. Mammary cancer protection by Brazil nut was associated with increased selenium retention in the liver, kidney, mammary gland, and plasma. The magnitude of tissue selenium accumulation was proportional to the amount of Brazil nut added to the diet. The nutritional biopotency of selenium in Brazil nut was also evaluated by the repletion of two selenoenzymes, glutathione peroxidase and type 15'‐deiodinase, in selenium‐deficient rats. Supplementation with Brazil nut as the sole source of selenium produced an efficient gradient of enzyme restoration at 0.05–0.2 μg/g of dietary selenium. A parallel comparison with sodium selenite indicated that the selenium in Brazil nut and selenite selenium were equally bioactive. Although at this point it can only be inferred that the above biologic effects are likely to be attributable to the high selenium content of Brazil nut, there is persuasive evidence to suggest that the models under investigation are responding to the selenium rather than to the other components of Brazil nut.     

Identifying Preschool Children with Asthma in Orange County

Airway changes related to childhood asthma occur early in the disease process. This pilot study focuses on the validation of the Breathmobile Case Identification Survey (BCIS) in preschool-age children in Orange County, CA. Fifty-two children from low-income Spanish-speaking families participated in the study. Thirteen children were identified as possibly having asthma from the survey results compared with 20 children diagnosed by an asthma specialist. We found that the complete seven-question survey had a sensitivity of 0.65 and a specificity of 0.94. An abbreviated three-question version had a sensitivity of 0.70 and a specificity of 0.84. Our data suggest that the abbreviated BCIS, which is simple and easily analyzed, may be a useful tool in identifying young children who are at risk for asthma and need further evaluation and appropriate therapy.     

The Impact of Economic Pressure on Parent Positivity,Parenting, and Adolescent Positivity into Emerging Adulthood

This study describes how positivity can be incorporated into the family stress model to explain resilience to disrupted family processes in the face of economic distress. Prospective, longitudinal data came from 451 mothers, fathers, and youth participating from their adolescence through early adulthood. Assessments included observational and self‐report measures. Information regarding economic pressure, parental positivity, and parenting were collected during early adolescence, positivity was collected in late adolescence and emerging adulthood. Results indicated that economic pressure was indirectly associated with adolescent positivity through parental positivity. Economic pressure was negatively associated with parent positivity, whereas parental positivity was positively associated with parenting. Moreover, parental positivity and parenting were related to positivity in adolescence. Results suggest that personal resources linked to a positive outlook can foster nurturant parenting, even in times of economic strain. Such parenting seems to positively influence adolescent development into emerging adulthood.