Sperm chromatin integrity in young men with no experiences of infertility and men from idiopathic infertility couples

Damage to the genetic component of spermatozoa seems to play the main role in a majority of cases where current approaches fail to reveal the specific cause of male infertility. In this study, we compared semen quality in men assigned to two defined groups: men from couples with unexplained infertility – idiopathic infertility (A) and young men with no experiences of infertility (B). All samples were examined by standard ejaculate analysis and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Sperm chromatin damage was significantly higher in men from group A than in those from group B. Similar results were obtained by comparison of men from group A (all men were normozoospermic) with normozoospermic men from group B. According to these results, we can suppose that chromatin disorders may be the causal factor of subfertility or infertility in some of these men. No evidence for a strong association between chromatin disorders and standard parameters of ejaculates was found. We failed to confirm a relationship between smoking and sperm quality in men from any of the investigated groups. SCSA is a method that facilitates the identification of infertile men who otherwise show normal semen variables.     

Tobacco smoking: a major risk factor for loss of teeth in three 70-year-old cohorts

Oral health was examined in a random sample of 1377 people in three 70-year-old cohorts studied within 5-yr intervals. During the studied period 1971-1983 the prevalence of toothlessness decreased from 52 to 34%. Toothlessness in men was more common in smokers, 48%, and ex-smokers, 32%, than in non-smokers, 20%. Eichner's index was used as a measurement of dental invalidity. This index showed a worse dental state among smokers and ex-smokers compared to non-smokers. Multivariate analyses indicated that tobacco smoking was a major independent risk factor for tooth loss in elderly men.     

男性病人冠状动脉病变与吸烟关系的研究

[目的]探讨吸烟对病人冠状动脉病变的影响。[方法]对吸烟组(5 0例)与不吸烟组(3 0例)进行冠状动脉造影,观察记录冠状动脉病变情况并进行统计学分析。[结果]两组冠状动脉病变记分、每日不同吸烟量与冠状动脉病变记分、不同的吸烟年限与冠状动脉病变记分比较均有统计学意义(P <0 .0 1)。[结论]长期吸烟可使冠状动脉病变程度加重,应加强对长期吸烟及冠状动脉介入术后病人的健康教育,有效预防和控制冠心病,提高人群的健康水平。     

Risk Factors for a First Febrile Seizure: A Matched Case-Control Study

Summary We conducted a matched casecontrol study to identify risk factors for first febrile seizures, with special emphasis on characteristics of the acute illness episode. Cases were identified through hospital emergency departments; controls were identified through outpatient clinics and emergency departments. Sixtynine children with first febrile seizures and no history of previous unprovoked seizures were matched for age (±6 months), site of routine pediatric care, and date of visit (±weeks) with 1 or 2 febrile controls who had no history of previous febrile or unprovoked seizures. Medical records for the index visit were reviewed, and parents were interviewed by telephone. Illness characteristics examined included height of temperature, type of underlying illness, contact with a physician during the illness but before the index visit, and use of acetaminophen or decongestants. Family history of febrile and of unprovoked seizures, sociodemographic characteristics, daycare use, and selected preand perinatal variables were also studied. On multivariable analysis, significant independent risk factors were height of temperature, history of febrile seizures in a firstor in a higher degree relative. Gastroenteritis as the underlying illness had a significant inverse (i.e., protective) association with febrile seizures. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was a marginally significant predictor of febrile seizures.     

Nicotine dependence and withdrawal in alcoholic and nonalcoholic ever-smokers

We compared nicotine dependence and withdrawal in male alcoholic and control ever-smokers, controlling for relevant demographic and clinical variables. Alcoholics were more likely to meet criteria for moderate or severe nicotine dependence and endorse more nicotine dependence symptoms. Symptoms reported more frequently by alcoholics included: (a) using nicotine in larger amounts or over a longer time than intended; (b) continued use despite problems caused or exacerbated by nicotine; (c) marked tolerance; and (d) experiencing characteristic nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Alcoholics also smoked more heavily. Other than “headaches,” and “decreased heart rate,” alcoholics consistently endorsed nicotine withdrawal symptoms at a higher rate. After controlling for demographic and clinical variables and level of nicotine dependence, only “feel depressed” differed significantly between groups. Our research supports previous findings suggesting that nicotine dependence is more severe in those with a history of alcohol dependence. As a result, alcoholics may experience greater discomfort from nicotine withdrawal upon smoking cessation.     

The complex enterprise of modelling prenatal exposure to cigarettes: what is ‘enough’?

While there is a burgeoning body of research linking smoking during pregnancy to problem behaviour in offspring, a major criticism of this work has been the crude measurement of exposure in these studies (e.g. retrospective, self-reported only) that could lead to biased estimates. To address this issue, we used a pregnancy cohort with repeated prospective measures of exposure as well as biological assays to generate estimates of exposure patterns using a range of modelling techniques. In this paper we report on the analytical approaches we have developed, including patterns of exposure over time and best-estimate approaches that combine self-report and cotinine measures, and compare their predictive value in relation to different dimensions of fetal growth as a first step towards examining the utility of greater precision of exposure measurement.
Surprisingly, in this sample the more complex assessments of exposure, including biological measures, generally did not perform better than simple indicators of exposure based on repeated self-report measures, with one exception: a combined self-report cotinine 'best estimate' of third trimester exposure was uniquely associated with lower brain : body ratio. Further study is needed using more sophisticated cotinine assays and testing prediction of a range of outcomes to ascertain whether these findings represent true differences or are specific to the sample, methods and outcomes used. Such research will inform the development of guidelines for adequate exposure characterisation in developmental studies.     

初诊高血压病患者心理、个性和行为特征对控烟效果的影响

目的 观察初诊高血压病患者心理、个性和行为特征对控烟效果的影响.方法 对84例初诊高血压病吸烟患者行控烟治疗,连续3个月后评价控烟效果,并采用A型行为问卷、艾森克个性问卷(EPQ)及症状自评量表(SCL-90)对其进行测评.结果 控烟效果佳者38例,占45.24%;控烟效果差者46例,占54.76%.前者A型行为问卷、EPQ问卷(除外内外向性维度)评分均显著优于后者(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);SCL-90除偏执、阴性项目外,其余项目评分均显著优于后者(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).结论 A型行为类型、神经质和精神病性人格特征及负性情绪是影响控烟效果的重要因素,对此类患者实施控烟的同时予以针对性心理干预可望获得事半功倍的效果.