Worksite smoking cessation initiatives: Review and recommendations

Offering health lifestyle change assistance in the workplace represents a major challenge for behavioral scientists and behavior therapists in the 1980s. Business and industry are showing special interest in employee smoking cessation. This paper reviews a wide range of worksite smoking cessation activities and related research. Six types of intervention are discussed; educational campaigns; policies restricting workplace smoking; self-help programs; physical examination and physician advice; incentive programs; and actual smoking cessation services. Existing research is critically reviewed. Practical recommendations for improving and systematically evaluating worksite quit smoking initiatives are presented.     

The progeny of a single progenitor cell can develop characteristics of either a tissue or an alveolar macrophage

Alveolar and peritoneal macrophages differ in their energy metabolism. Alveolar macrophages are mainly aerobic whereas peritoneal macrophages are mainly anaerobic in their energy generation. We investigated the question of whether these differences in metabolism are preprogrammed in subsets of macrophage precursors in the bone marrow, or develop in proliferating cells as a consequence of exposure to different tissue environments. The progeny of single mouse macrophage progenitor cells were grown in vitro for 4 days; the resultant colonies were divided into two roughly equal populations, which were cultured in either a high or low oxygen environment corresponding to that of the alveoli or tissues. Following 4 days incubation at 5% or 20% O2, the activities of the two glycolytic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) were two- to threefold higher in the half of the colonies grown in the low O2 environment, whereas the activity of the oxidative phosphorylative enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was two- to threefold higher in the half colony grown in the aerobic environment. Re-exposure of the cells from the low O2 environment to high O2 conditions for an additional 4 days caused a rise in the GDH activity and a decrease in the LDH and PK. The recovery of the GDH activity after the re-exposure was time dependent. Our results support the theory that macrophages arising from a single progenitor cell can develop different metabolic features depending on the O2 environment in which they mature. A single precursor cell can give rise to mature cells with metabolic characteristic of either alveolar or tissue macrophages.     

Amelogenesis imperfecta—towards a new classification

This editorial reviews the history of the classification of amelogenesis imperfecta (Al). The limitations of the existing classification systems are discussed. An alternative classification is proposed based upon the molecular defect, biochemical result, mode of inheritance and phenotype in the family involved. While not all of the criteria for the proposed classification can yet be addressed, this scheme is proposed for future classification of At cases and families.     

The role of alcohol in oral carcinogenesis with particular reference to alcohol‐containing mouthwashes

Worldwide, oral cancer represents approximately 5 per cent of all malignant lesions, with over 800 new intra‐oral squamous cell carcinomas registered in Australia each year. Despite recent advances in therapy, the five‐year survival rate remains around 50 per cent and the sequelae of treatment can be seriously debilitating. It has been long established that smoking and alcohol consumption are risk factors linked to the development of oral cancer. This review assesses the epidemiological evidence, supportive in vitro studies and mechanism by which alcohol is involved in the development of oral cancer. Further, we review the literature that associates alcohol‐containing mouthwashes and oral cancer. On the basis of this review, we believe that there is now sufficient evidence to accept the proposition that alcohol‐containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of development of oral cancer and further feel that it is inadvisable for oral healthcare professionals to recommend the long‐term use of alcohol‐containing mouthwashes.     

Post-challenge blood glucose concentration and stroke mortality rates in non-diabetic men in London: 38-year follow-up of the original Whitehall prospective cohort study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: While individuals with diabetes have a raised risk of stroke, it is unclear whether hyperglycaemia in non-diabetic populations is related to the development of this disease. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study of 19,019 men, capillary blood was drawn 2 h after consumption of a glucose preparation equivalent to 50 g of anhydrous dextrose. Study participants were then followed for mortality for a maximum of 38 years. RESULTS: During follow-up of 18,406 non-diabetic men, 13,116 deaths occurred (1,189 by stroke). Plots of stroke mortality rates versus blood glucose identified an upward inflection in risk of death from stroke at about 4.6 mmol/l. This upward inflection in risk could be adequately described using a single linear term above this threshold. A 1 mmol/l increase in blood glucose after this point was associated with a 27% increase in risk of death from stroke (hazard ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.14-1.42). This increase in risk was partially attenuated by adjustment for covariates (1.17, 1.04-1.31) but remained statistically significant at conventional levels. Similar observations were made when all-cause mortality was the outcome of interest, although the magnitude of the association with blood glucose was somewhat lower. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: An incremental elevation in stroke mortality rates occurs with increasing post-challenge blood glucose.     

Cardiopulmonary imaging in sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a disease with protean clinical manifestations ranging from no symptoms to sudden death. Radiologic tests are often the key to diagnosis. In this article, the authors review current imaging techniques and discuss emerging technologies used in the noninvasive cardiopulmonary evaluation of the patient who has sarcoidosis.