A gene expression profile for non-smoking and non-drinking patients with head and neck cancer

Oral Diseases (2012) 18 , 178–183 Objective: A small subset of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are non‐smoking and non‐drinking and have distinct clinical characteristics. We aimed to identify a possible different genetic profile for these patients when compared with their smoking and drinking counterparts. Materials and Methods: The gene expression data previously detected from primary tumors located in the oral cavity and oropharynx, using DNA microarray was analyzed for their differential expression between non‐smoking and non‐drinking patients (n = 15) and smoking and drinking patients (n = 89). Student’s T‐test (P < 0.05) and 10‐fold cross‐validation procedure (100 times repeated) were performed to determine differentially expressed genes. Results: Non‐smoking and non‐drinking patients were older, mostly female and had oral cavity‐localized tumors, whereas smoking and drinking patients were younger male patients with 81% oral cavity and 19% oropharynx tumors. A set of 49 differentially expressed genes were detected. Among others, seven genes related to interferon‐γ were upregulated and two genes linked to NFKB pathway were downregulated. Conclusions: Differentially expressed genes in non‐smoking and non‐drinking patients possibly indicate the presence of a different cellular response to carcinogenic events in these patients. Further studies are warranted to validate this gene set and explore possible therapeutic implications to improve prognosis for these patients.     

The relationship between osteoporosis and periodontitis in women aged 45-70 years

Oral Diseases (2012) 18 , 353–359 Objective: To explore the possible relationship between the osteoporotic condition and the severity of periodontitis in women aged 45–70 years. Materials and Methods: Ninety women with generalized chronic periodontitis, aged 45–70 years, were studied. Areal bone mineral density (BMDa) was assessed using standardized dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (normal: T‐score ≥ ?1, osteopenic: ?2.5 ≤ T‐score T‐score < ?2.5). Gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing, clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth and gingival recession (GR) were recorded. Periodontitis severity was represented by CAL. Menopausal condition and smoking were documented. Results: Mean GI, bleeding on probing, CAL and GR were significantly greater for osteoporotic women than women with normal BMDa (P = 0.002, P = 0.01, P = 0.04, respectively). Osteopenic women and women with normal BMDa significantly differed in mean GI (P = 0.02). The associations found between osteoporotic women and women with normal BMDa and the associations found between osteopenic women and women with normal BMDa existed even after adjusting for smoking and menopausal status. Conclusion: Subjects with osteoporosis (OPR) presented with greater CAL than the subjects with normal BMDa, which suggests a greater severity of periodontitis. Subjects with OPR had greater GR than the subjects with normal BMDa. Subjects with osteopenia and subjects with normal BMDa did not differ in CAL, which might suggest that the early diagnosis of reduced BMDa, prior to the establishment of a significant negative impact on the periodontal tissues, might be important. Smoking and menopausal status did not alter these associations.     

Is the Asthma Epidemic Still Ascending?

Asthma is a phenotypically heterogeneous disorder of multifactorial origins that affects 300 million people suffering from asthma and more than 250,000 asthma-related deaths each year. Although treatment for asthma has improved, its prevalence continues to increase, particularly in low and middle income countries, or in some ethnic groups in which prevalence was previously low. Observed spatio-temporal variations in the increased prevalence of asthma depend on exposure to environmental factors. Recently, several arguments are also in favor of the involvement of host susceptibility and stress in the observed increase of asthma prevalence. Further?investigations are warranted to better understand mechanisms underlying asthma increase or stagnation.     

Does exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy affect the clinical features of ADHD? Results from a controlled study

Objectives. Exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy may be a significant risk factor for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) independently of family history of ADHD. The main aim of this study was to examine whether the clinical profile of ADHD differs between children with and without exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Methods. This was a case–control study of boys and girls with and without ADHD ascertained from psychiatric and paediatric sources. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was defined by interviews with subjects’ mothers. Main outcome measures were ADHD symptoms and associated clinical features in children with and without exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Results. No significant differences were found between ADHD children with and without exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy on clinical characteristics. When these analyses were repeated in the subgroup of subjects without parental history of ADHD, there were also no statistically significant differences found. Conclusions. Despite adequate statistical power, no significant differences were found between ADHD children with and without exposure in the clinical features of ADHD and associated disorders. Results provide support for the notion that ADHD cases resulting from exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy have similar clinical profiles as other ADHD cases.     

Cigarette smoking and inflammation revisited

Despite the significant health risks resulting from tobacco use, the prevalence of smokers worldwide remains high. Cigarette smoking is one of the major sources of toxic chemical exposure to humans and is the greatest cause of preventable illnesses and premature death. The adverse consequences of smoking in various pathologies are mediated by its effects on the immune-inflammatory system. In this review, we aim to explore the effects of cigarette smoking on the inflammatory response and molecular mechanisms with emphasis on the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) pathway. The effects of smoking on various inflammatory pathologies will be discussed, focusing on oral diseases, airway inflammation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).     

What can health psychologists learn from health economics: from monetary incentives to policy programmes

Abstract

Health economists and health psychologists share many common goals, such as reducing the number of smokers, improving the therapeutic outcome for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and helping disadvantaged groups gain better access to health services, but there has been little collaboration between the disciplines. Health economists, in fact, have played the greater role in shaping the American health care system. This, we believe, is a serious oversight on the part of psychologists, who have much to contribute to health policy development through their understanding of cognitive and emotional processes. It is our hope that this paper will encourage health psychologists to engage in dialogue and seek collaboration with (health) economists, as well as conceive of novel ways to apply economic models and methodologies in their own practices.     

Alcohol use disorder,smoking and dental fear among adults in Finland

Abstract

Objective. This study investigated the association between dental fear and alcohol use disorder and smoking controlling for age, gender and attained level of education as well as anxiety and depressive disorders. Materials and methods. Nationally representative data on Finnish adults, 30 + years old (n = 5953), were gathered in interviews. Dental fear was measured in an interview using the question: ‘How afraid are you of visiting a dentist?’ The alternatives for replying were: ‘Not at all’, ‘Somewhat’ and ‘Very’. Alcohol use, anxiety and depressive disorders were assessed with a standardized structured psychiatric interview based on DSM-IV criteria. The question on regularity of smoking gave three reply alternatives: smoking ‘Daily’, ‘Occasionally’ or ‘Not at all’. Results. When socio-demographics and anxiety and depressive disorders were controlled for, those with lifetime alcohol use disorder were more likely to have high dental fear than were those without this disorder. When smoking was added to the model, those who smoked regularly were more likely to have high dental fear than those who smoked occasionally or not at all. In this model, alcohol use disorder was not statistically significantly associated with dental fear. Conclusions. The results of this study support the suggestion that some individuals may have personality traits that make them vulnerable to substance use disorders and dental fear.