Smoking among construction workers: The nonlinear influence of the economy, cigarette prices, and antismoking sentiment

Little research has been conducted on the influence of macroeconomic environments on smoking among blue-collar workers, a group with high smoking prevalence and that is especially vulnerable to the effects of changing economic circumstances. Using data from 52,418 construction workers in the Tobacco Use Supplement to the United States Current Population Survey, we examined the association of labor market shock, cigarette prices, and state antismoking sentiments with smoking status and average number of cigarettes smoked daily. Data analysis included the use of multiple linear and logistic regressions, which employed the sampling and replicate weights to account for sampling design. Unemployed, American-Indian, lower-educated and lower-income workers had higher smoking rates. Labor market shock had a quadratic association, which was non-significant for smoking status and significant for number of cigarettes. The association of cigarette prices with smoking status became non-significant after adjusting for state-level antismoking sentiment. State-level antismoking sentiment had significant quadratic association with smoking status among employed workers and significant quadratic association with number of cigarettes for all smokers. The study highlights how both workplace-based smoking cessation interventions and antismoking sentiments could further contribute to disparities in smoking by employment status.     

Antihyperglycemic effects of the methanol leaf extract of Diaphananthe bidens in normoglycemic and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats

ObjectiveTo evaluate the methanol leaf extract of Diaphanathe bidens (D. bidens) (AFZEL. EX SW) SCHLTR for antihyperglycemic activity in order to confirm it antidiabetic potential.MethodsD. bidens was extracted by cold maceration for 48 h and concentrated in vacuo to yield D. bidens extract (DBE). Hyperglycemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (75 mg/kg). Oral glucose tolerance test was done with 2 g/kg glucose load in normal rats. DBE (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) was administered orally, while tolbutamide (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as the standard reference drug. Blood glucose levels determined using ACCUCHEK glucose auto-analyzer. The acute toxicity and phytochemical studies were also carried out.ResultsDBE (600 mg/kg) and tolbutamide (100 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05, 0.005) reduced blood glucose levels of rats between 120 and 480 min post administration in normal rats. In the streptozotocin- induced hyperglycemic rats, DBE (150, 300, 600 mg/kg) caused significant (P<0.001) dose- and time- dependent reduction in the blood glucose levels by 1.7%, 22.8% and 43.4%, respectively at 480 min compared to the negative control group. DBE (600 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucose level of rats by 1.2% in the oral glucose tolerance test when compared with the normal saline treated group. The acute toxicity test showed that DBE was safe at the doses used and the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, steroids, tannins and terpernoids.ConclusionsD. bidens extract possess antihyperglycemic activity which may be mediated through pancreatic and extra-pancreatic pathways, thereby justifying it folkloric use.     

Protective effects of vitamin C against propanil-induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rats

ObjectiveTo investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Vitamin C in propanil intoxiciated Wistar rats.MethodsTwenty-four adult male rats were divided into four equal groups of six each: control; 100mg propanil/kg; 100mg vitamin C/kg; propanil (100mg/kg) plus vitamin C (100mg/kg). Treatment was via oral route and was administered once daily for 7 days. Animals were orally treated once daily for 7 days. The effect of propanil on liver lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and biochemical parameters as well as the possible attenuation of its toxicity by vitamin C was studied.ResultsCompared to the control group, propanil treatment significantly increased serum total cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase levels (AST), and significantly lowered triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and total protein (TP) levels. Results obtained furthermore showed that propanil significantly (P < 0.05) induced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were decreased in the liver tissues. However, co-administration of propanil with vitamin C ameliorated the harmful effects of propanil in most of the tested parameters. Liver histological studies revealed changes in liver tissues and the protective role of vitamin C.ConclusionThe present study suggests that Vitamin C could be an important dietary component based on its ability to attenuate propanil induced hepatotoxicity.     

Modulation of intracellular expression of IFNγ and IL-2 in culture of splenic T lymphocytes by some flavonoid glycosides of Alchornea floribunda

Context Alchornea floribunda Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) leaves are widely used in ethnomedicine for the management of rheumatism, arthritis and toothache.

Objective In this study, flavonoid glycosides isolated from Alchornea floribunda were screened for their effect on the intracellular expression of interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) type-1 cytokines.

Materials and methods Chromatographic purification of the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol leaf extract led to the isolation of seven flavonoid glycosides (1–7). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Splenocytes were treated with graded concentrations of the compounds (6.25–25?μg/mL) and incubated for 24?h. Thereafter, their effect on the expression of IFNγ and IL-2 by CD4^+?and CD8^+?T-lymphocytes was evaluated using intracellular cytokine staining and FACS analysis.

Results Compounds 1–7 (6.25–25?μg/mL) caused the up-regulation of activated CD8^+?(57.85–72.45% versus 57.85% for untreated control) and, to a lesser extent, activated CD4^+?(3.21–7.21% versus 2.75% for the untreated control) T-lymphocytes that were both largely interferon-gamma-releasing in treated mouse T lymphocytes relative to untreated control. FACS data analysis showed that stimulation with all the compounds increased the proportion of CD8⁺/IFNγ^+?and CD4⁺/IFNγ^+?T lymphocytes up to two-fold when compared with the cells in untreated control wells. Intracellular IL-2 secretion by treated T cells was not detected.

Conclusion This recorded T-lymphocyte-specific immune-modulatory property may contribute to explain in part the dynamics associated with the ethnomedicine of Alchornea floribunda, and may find relevance as a necessary cellular immune response precursor to infection-associated disease management.     

Adolescent disc dysplasia and back pain

Purpose  

Adolescent disc dysplasia can be a cause of significant back pain and functional impairment in patients. We present a case series of patients inflicted with adolescent disc dysplasia (ADD).     

Comparison of outcomes between operative vaginal deliveries and spontaneous vaginal deliveries in southeast Nigeria

Objective

To evaluate the incidence of, indications for, and outcome of operative vaginal deliveries compared with spontaneous vaginal deliveries in southeast Nigeria.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving cases of operative vaginal delivery performed at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital over a 10-year period. Data on the procedures were abstracted from the operation notes of the medical records of parturients.

Results

An incidence of 4.7% (n = 461) was recorded. The most common indications for vacuum and forceps delivery were prolonged second stage of labor (44.9%) and poor maternal effort (27.8%). The only indication for destructive operation was intrauterine fetal death (3.7%). The risk ratio (RR) for hemorrhage/vulvar hematoma was 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53–2.48) for vacuum-assisted delivery and 5.49 (95% CI, 0.82–36.64) for forceps delivery. The RR for genital laceration was 1.21 (95% CI, 0.44–3.30) for vacuum-assisted delivery and 9.41 (95% CI, 1.33–66.65) for forceps delivery. The risk of fetal scalp bruises and caput succedaneum was higher for operative vaginal delivery than for spontaneous vaginal delivery, with no significant difference in maternal morbidity. The perinatal mortality rate was 0.9 per 1000 live births.

Conclusion

Operative vaginal delivery by experienced healthcare providers is associated with good obstetric outcomes with minimal risk.     

Membrane stripping to prevent post-term pregnancy in Enugu, Nigeria: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and safety of membrane stripping at 40–41 weeks of gestation as a means of preventing post-term pregnancy and the need for formal induction of labor in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methodology

A randomized controlled trial of 134 post-date pregnant women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, from February to November 2012. The intervention group received membrane stripping while the control group did not receive membrane stripping.

Results

The incidence of post-term pregnancy in the membrane stripping group was 16.1 % (10/62) versus 39.3 % (24/61) in the control group (RR 0.41; 95 % CI 0.22–0.78; P = 0.004; NNT = 4). Membrane stripping reduced the duration of pregnancy by 3 days (P < 0.001). The procedure also significantly reduced the need for ‘formal’ labor induction [7/62 (11.3 %) vs. 23/61 (37.7 %); RR 0.30; 95 CI 0.14–0.65; P = 0.002]. However, maternal and neonatal complications were similar between the two groups.

Conclusion

Membrane stripping reduces the incidence of post-term pregnancy and need for formal induction of labor in post-date pregnant women, without increased maternal or neonatal complications.