The Relationship Between Air Pollution and Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers in Taiwan

Introduction

For never-smokers (smoked <100 lifetime cigarettes), lung cancer (LC) has emerged as an important issue. We aimed to investigate the effects of prevalence changes in tobacco smoking and particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (PM_2.5) levels on LC in Taiwan, in relation to contrasting PM_2.5 levels, between Northern Taiwan (NT) and Southern Taiwan (ST).

Properties of polyacetylene obtained with (η-Cp)2Ti(PMe3)2

Acetylene was polymerized by (η-Cp)₂Ti(PMe₃)₂ at room temperature to give predominantly trans-polyacetylene. All properties are within the ranges reported for polyacetylene produced with Ti(OBu)₄/AlEt₃ as catalyst.     

Survey of psychiatric disorders in a Taiwanese village population six months after a major earthquake.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake of September 21, 1999 in Taiwan provided a unique opportunity to study the disaster's psychiatric impact on survivors. This study assessed the development of psychiatric disorders among residents in a Taiwanese village near the epicenter of the earthquake within 6 months of the disaster. METHODS: A total of 442 of the 602 actual living residents of Tong-Chi village who were over 16 years of age and were present in the community at the time of the earthquake were included in this population survey. Subjects were interviewed by psychiatrists using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and questionnaires to collect demographic information and risk factors for psychiatric disorders 4 to 6 months after the earthquake. RESULTS: The prevalence rates were 9.5% for current major depression, 2.8% for past major depressive episode, and 7.9% for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Females had significantly higher rates of most psychiatric disorders. After controlling for covariates, the significant risk factors for PTSD were female gender and having sought medical service after the earthquake. Significant risk factors for major depressive episode were divorced/widowed status, education level equal to or below primary school, and prominent house damage. CONCLUSION: This population survey of earthquake disaster survivors found an increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders after exposure to a catastrophic earthquake. These results highlight the need for prompt therapeutic attention to residents of earthquake disaster areas after the event.     

A cohort study of tobacco use,diet, occupation,and lung cancer mortality

In 1966, a cohort of White males aged 35 or over, who were policy-holders with the Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance Society (United States), completed a mail questionnaire on tobacco use, diet, and demographic characteristics. During the 20 years of follow-up, 219 lung cancer deaths occurred. Besides the strong relationship with cigarette smoking, we observed an effect on lung cancer risk among current users of cigars or pipes who were nonsmokers of cigarettes (relative risk [RR]=3.5, 95 percent confidence interval[CI]=1.0–12.6) or who were past/occasional users of cigarettes (RR=2.7, CI=1.4–5.3). In addition, elevated risks (from 1.5 to 2.6) of lung cancer were found among craftsmen and laborers, with the highest risks among subjects who worked in the mining or manufacturing industry. No association between current (as of 1966) use of beer or hard liquor and lung cancer was observed, although past users were at elevated risk. An inverse association between lung cancer and intake of fruits was observed, and risks of lung cancer were lower among persons in the highest dietary intake quintiles of vitamins A and C. Except for oranges, however, none of the inverse associations with fruits or dietary nutrients had statistically significant trends. The findings from this cohort study add to the evidence of an adverse effect of cigar/pipe smoking and possibly protective effect of dietary factors on lung cancer risk.     

Ocular Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Phenylephrine and Phenylephrine Oxazolidine in Rabbit Eyes

The aqueous humor concentration of phenylephrine and its corresponding mydriatic response were measured over time in New Zealand albino rabbit eyes following a 10-µl topical instillation of a phenylephrine HC1 viscous solution (10%) or a phenylephrine oxazolidine (prodrug) suspension in sesame oil (1 and 10%). The bioavailability of a 1% prodrug suspension in the rabbit eye (AUC of aqueous humor concentration vs time) was 30% lower than that of a 10% phenylephrine solution (P < 0.1) with the exception that the peak time occurred 34 min earlier with the prodrug. A 10% prodrug suspension increased the aqueous humor bioavailability approximately eightfold but improved the mydriatic activity (AUC of mydriasis vs time) only fourfold. The pharmacokinetic parameters, apparent absorption, and elimination rate constants, of phenylephrine and the prodrug were determined from aqueous humor concentration–time and mydriasis–time profiles. The study showed that the kinetic parameters of phenylephrine estimated from its mydriasis profile do not accurately reflect the kinetics of drug distribution in the iris. These parameters also varied with the instillation of phenylephrine solution or prodrug suspensions. A mydriatic tolerance of the pupil response was apparent after the topical instillation of phenylephrine solution. The mydriatic tolerance may be due to the decrease in receptor number in the iris dilator muscle.     

Effects of chelating agents on the rheological property of cervical mucus

As an ongoing effort to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the calcium-dependent fertility regulation process, the viscoelastic properties of the mucus obtained from lamb cervix and human semen, as well as their water and total protein contents after exposure to EDTA, a chelating agent, or Nonoxynol-9 (N-9), a spermicidal agent, were examined. The viscosity was measured using a Cone Plate Digital Viscometer, while the water and total protein contents were determined by the lyophilization process and the Lowry method, respectively. The significant changes in the rheological properties of mucus, such as its viscosity and the water content, upon exposure to EDTA were demonstrated. The viscosity of cervical mucus and human semen were significantly increased by EDTA treatment (as compared to the controls): lamb cervical mucus (2.9 ± 0.3 vs. 2.2 ± 0.3 cps) and human semen (5.0 ± 0.3 vs. 4.3 ± 0.3 cps), respectively. The hydration rate was decreased by EDTA treatment as compared with the control (93.6 ± 0.7 vs. 96.8 ± 0.8%). Among tested samples, the reduction in the percentage of sperm penetration through the cervical mucus was the highest in the mucus containing EDTA, which had the lowest water content (93.6 ± 0.7%), indicating that there is a positive relationship between the hydration rate of the cervical mucus and its ability to permit the penetration of spermatozoa. This result indicates that spermicidal activity exerted by high concentrations of EDTA is in part due to its effect on the rheological properties of cervical mucus or semen.     

Mechanical stimulation of dorsal root ganglia induces increased production of substance P: a mechanism for pain following nerve root compromise?

The undecapeptide, substance P, is known to be synthesized in cell bodies of dorsal root ganglia. This neuropeptide is also known to modulate sensory, nociceptive transmission postsynaptically on dorsal horn interneurons. In the animal model used in the current study, experimental mechanical stimulation of dorsal root ganglia and nerve roots increased the amounts of substance P, as well as substance P immunoreactivity in cell bodies of the dorsal root ganglia and in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal dorsal horn that the cell bodies innervated. These results were determined by using both immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay. This study suggests that substance P may modulate nociception when lumbar nerve roots are stimulated mechanically.