Developing a Point-of-Sale Health Communication Campaign for Cigarillos and Waterpipe Tobacco

ABSTRACT

Adolescents and young adults smoke waterpipe tobacco (WT) and cigarillos, at least in part, based on erroneous beliefs that these products are safer than cigarettes. To address this challenge, we used a systematic, three-phase process to develop a health communication campaign to discourage WT and cigarillo smoking among at-risk (tobacco users and susceptible non-users) 16- to 25-year-olds. In Phase 1, we used a national phone survey (N = 896) to determine salient message beliefs. Participants reported constituents (i.e., harmful chemicals) emitted by the products were worrisome. In Phase 2, we developed and evaluated four message executions, with varying imagery, tone, and unappealing products with the same constituents, using focus groups (N = 38). Participants rated one execution highly, resulting in our development of a campaign where each message: (1) identified a tobacco product and constituent in the smoke; (2) included an image of an unappealing product containing the constituent (e.g., pesticides, gasoline) to grab attention; and (3) used a humorous sarcastic tone. In Phase 3, we tested the campaign messages (17 intervention and six control) with a nationally representative online survey (N = 1,636). Participants rated intervention and control messages highly with few differences between them. Exposure to messages resulted in significant increases in all risk beliefs from pre to post (p < 0.05). For WT, intervention messages increased beliefs about addiction more than control messages (p < 0.05). This systematic, iterative approach resulted in messages that show promise for discouraging WT and cigarillo use.     

Perforated colorectal neoplasms: correlation of clinical, contrast enema, and CT examinations

Results of clinical, contrast enema (CE), and computed tomographic (CT) examinations in 39 patients with perforated colorectal neoplasms were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty patients were toxemic at initial presentation, but in only four patients was the diagnosis of perforated colorectal neoplasm initially suspected clinically. CE study was performed in 22 patients and enabled the diagnosis of perforated neoplasm in 11 cases, neoplasm alone in eight, and neither neoplasm nor perforation in three. CT was performed in 38 patients and enabled the diagnosis of perforated neoplasm in 36; pericolic phlegmon but no mass lesion was evident in two. In 16 patients, CT also demonstrated metastatic disease. Because of its reliability in establishing the diagnosis and staging the extent of the inflammatory and neoplastic disease, CT is indicated in cases of suspected or proved perforated colorectal neoplasm and in cases in which CE study findings are indeterminate or suggestive of perforated neoplasm.     

氯仿重结晶棉酚的质量研究

报道了氯仿重结晶的棉酚的化学性质,样品在不同温度下干燥恒重后,经熔点、薄层层析、紫外光谱、红外光谱、X-射线衍射、热重量分析、元素(C,H,Cl)分析及棉酚合量测定等一系列的分析,确证了在60℃以下棉酚与氯仿成溶剂化物(solvate)。随着干燥温度的升高或在室温长时间的贮存,此现象逐渐消失,100℃真空干燥恒重后成为纯棉酚。     

Detection of frequent allelic loss on proximal chromosome 17q in sporadic breast carcinoma using microsatellite length polymorphisms.

Analyses of losses of heterozygosity and linkage studies have implicated a gene(s) on chromosome 17q in the genesis of sporadic and early-onset familial breast carcinomas, respectively. To define the critical region of 17q, we examined DNAs from a series of 20 sporadic breast carcinomas and corresponding blood samples for allelic losses of chromosome 17q using microsatellite length polymorphisms. With these highly informative markers (average heterozygosity, 0.73), we observed frequent deletions of 17q at several loci. We found that D17S250 was deleted in 50% (7 of 14), THRA1 in 79% (11 of 14), D17S579 in 59% (11 of 19), NME1 in 29% (5 of 17), MPO in 36% (4 of 11), and GH in 25% (4 of 16) in the tumor set examined. A common region of deletion was found that was flanked by D17S250 to D15S579. These markers have recently been localized to a 6-cM interval of proximal chromosome 17q in bands 17q11.2-q21 and map within the region of the early-onset familial breast cancer locus, implying that the same gene or genes may be involved in both sporadic and familial breast tumors. Thyroid hormone receptor alpha and retinoic acid receptor alpha are two potential candidate genes in this region.     

Neonatal gallbladder enlargement and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency

Patients with clinical signs of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency in the neonatal period usually present with prolonged obstructive jaundice. We report a patient with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency who presented with gallbladder enlargement in the neonatal period. This gallbladder enlargement may be due to cystic duct hypoplasia or atresia, which has been reported in association with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. The diagnosis of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency should be considered in neonates with gallbladder enlargement and prolonged obstructive jaundice.