Perioral aging – An anthropometric appraisal

To adequately perform perioral rejuvenation procedures, it is necessary to understand the morphologic changes caused by facial aging. Anthropometric analyses of standardized frontal view and profile photographs could help to investigate such changes.Photographs of 346 male individuals were evaluated using 12 anthropometric indices. Data from two groups of health subjects, the first exhibiting a mean age of nearly 20 and the second of nearly 60 years, were compared.To evaluate the influence of combined nicotine and alcohol abuse, the data of the second group were compared to a third group exhibiting a similar mean age who were known alcohol and nicotine abusers.Comparison of the first to the second group showed significant decrease of the vertical height of upper and lower vermilion and relative enlargement of the cutaneous part of upper and lower lips. This effect was stronger in the upper vermilion and medial upper lips. The sagging of the upper lips led to the appearance of an increased mouth width. In the third group the effect of sagging of the upper lips, and especially its medial portion was significantly higher compared to the second group. The photo-assisted anthropometric measurements investigated gave reproducible results related to perioral aging.     

Does additional support by nurses enhance the effect of a brief smoking cessation intervention in people with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Smoking cessation is the primary disease modifying intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). SETTING: A Regional Respiratory Centre (RRC) out-patient department in Northern Ireland. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effectiveness of brief advice alone or accompanied by individual nurse support or group support facilitated by nurses. Smoking status was biochemically validated and stage of change, nicotine addiction and dyspnoea were recorded at 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-one cigarette smokers with COPD were enrolled in the study (mean age 61 years, 47 female). RESULTS: After 12 months cessation rates were not significantly different between groups (p=0.7), but all groups had a significant reduction in their nicotine addiction (p=0.03-0.006). No changes in subjects' motivation or dyspnoea were detected over the 12 months. CONCLUSION: Patients with COPD were unable to stop smoking regardless of the type of support they received. Harm reduction may be a more appropriate goal than complete cessation for intractable smokers and nurses must evaluate their role in this arena.     

Effect of smoking on pathological grade and stage in clinically low-risk patients

Objective

To investigate the potential effect of smoking on pathological staging in clinically low-risk patients.

Preventing smoking during pregnancy: the importance of maternal knowledge of the health hazards and of the treatment options available

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the pattern of tobacco use and knowledge about tobacco-related diseases, as well as to identify popular types of electronic media, in pregnant women, in order to improve strategies for the prevention or cessation of smoking among such women.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study involving 61 pregnant women, seen at primary care clinics and at a university hospital, in the city of Botucatu, Brazil. For all subjects, we applied the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. For subjects with a history of smoking, we also applied the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, and we evaluated the level of motivation to quit smoking among the current smokers.

RESULTS:

Of the 61 pregnant women evaluated, 25 (40.9%) were smokers (mean age, 26.4 ± 7.4 years), 24 (39.3%) were former smokers (26.4 ± 8.3 years), and 12 (19.8%) were never-smokers (25.1 ± 7.2 years). Thirty-nine women (63.9%) reported exposure to passive smoking. Of the 49 smokers/former smokers, 13 (26.5%) were aware of the pulmonary consequences of smoking; only 2 (4.1%) were aware of the cardiovascular risks; 23 (46.9%) believed that smoking does not harm the fetus or newborn infant; 21 (42.9%) drank alcohol during pregnancy; 18 (36.7%) reported increased cigarette consumption when drinking; 25 (51.0%) had smoked flavored cigarettes; and 12 (24.5%) had smoked a narghile. Among the 61 pregnant women evaluated, television was the most widely available and favorite form of electronic media (in 85.2%), as well as being the form most preferred (by 49.2%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Among pregnant women, active smoking, passive smoking, and alternative forms of tobacco consumption appear to be highly prevalent, and such women seem to possess little knowledge about the consequences of tobacco use. Educational programs that include information about the consequences of all forms of tobacco use, employing new and effective formats tailored to this particular population, should be developed, in order to promote smoking prevention and cessation among pregnant women. Further samples to explore regional and cultural adaptations should be evaluated.     

吸烟对肺结核的疗效影响

目的:探讨吸烟对肺结核的疗效影响及二者间的剂量-反应关系。方法:选取2001年9月至2002年9月在本院住院治疗并能完成2个月强化疗程的初治痰菌阳性肺结核患者261例。根据其治疗前吸烟年支情况,观察其2个月强化抗结核治疗后痰菌阴转的效果。结果:261例患者经过2个月强化治疗后202例(77.4%)患者痰菌阴转。性别、年龄、病灶范围和低蛋白血症及结核分枝杆菌的耐药菌株对痰菌阴转无明显影响(P>0.05);但在吸烟患者中随着治疗前吸烟年支量的增加,其痰菌阴转率明显下降,二者间有明显的剂量-反应关系(P=0.000)。结论:吸烟对肺结核的疗效有较大影响,应该在临床上引起注意。     

Examining gender differences in emerging tobacco use using the Adolescents' Need For Smoking Scale

Aims To investigate the influence of gender on emerging tobacco use by testing for gender‐based measurement invariance of the Adolescents' Need for Smoking Scale (ANSS) and examining gender differences on each dimension across increasing levels of amount smoked. Design Cross‐sectional survey. Setting Thirteen secondary schools located in British Columbia, Canada. Participants Data from 1425 youth who reported smoking at least once in the past month. Measurements Survey questions about demographic characteristics, tobacco smoking history and need for smoking. Findings The multi‐dimensional structure of the ANSS is equivalent in boys and girls and the ANSS questions are not gender‐biased. There were no significant gender differences in the levels of physical dependence across increasing levels of amount smoked. Girls scored higher than boys on levels of emotional dependence across increasing levels of life‐time cigarette exposure. Girls also had higher scores on the social dimension of the ANSS compared to boys among those who smoked 100 or more cigarettes. Conclusions Canadian girls score higher than boys on measures of emotional dependence and social attitudes associated with tobacco smoking.     

Smoking and weight among patients using clozapine

Abstract

Background: Both obesity and smoking are common in schizophrenia patients taking clozapine, causing cardiovascular disease and premature deaths. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-seven patients with schizophrenia or related psychoses treated with clozapine completed the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Assessment Scale (LUNSERS) and a questionnaire including current height, weight, changes therein and smoking status. Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze weight and weight change in smoking and non-smoking patients taking clozapine. A possible interaction between obesity and smoking was explored. Results: No association was found between weight change and smoking status during clozapine treatment. There was no significant difference in body mass index (BMI) between non-smokers and smokers. In the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with BMI as the dependent variable, the best fitting model comprised age, sex, intensity of sedation, and reported amount of smoking as explanatory variables (ηp²= 0.116; P = 0.029; power = 0.750). None of the explanatory proportions of any single factor was significant. Conclusions: Estimated according to reported weight gain and BMI, no difference was found between smoking and non-smoking clozapine-treated patients. Number of cigarettes smoked explained BMI if age and sex were taken into account. This result is in line with the findings of some general population studies, where heavy smoking has been associated with a greater risk of obesity.     

Two novel loci,COBL and SLC10A2, for Alzheimer's disease in African Americans

Introduction

African Americans' (AAs) late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) genetic risk profile is incompletely understood. Including clinical covariates in genetic analyses using informed conditioning might improve study power.