Tobacco Induced Diseases via MedWorm.com

Analysis of primary risk factors for oral cancer from select US states with increasing rates

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Due to the rising costs of health care in the US and the limited resources available for health prevention efforts, it is essential to organize and direct more effective efforts by public health officials and epidemiologists, as well as funding from local, state and federal governments, to reduce and eliminate identified health disparities. This study provides evidence how these efforts may be directed to specific geographic areas, and towards the white males, previously thought to be unaffected by the increases in oral cancer among females and minorities. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Tobacco use prevalence, knowledge, and attitudes among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Penang State and Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Smoking prevalence rate is high among patients with TB in Malaysia. These patients generally had deficiencies in knowledge of tobacco use and its health dangers, but had positive attitudes against tobacco use. Efforts should be geared towards reducing tobacco use among this population due to its negative impact on TB treatment outcomes. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Acute effect of smoking on plasma Obestatin levels

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Background: Smoking and smoking cessation are considered to be associated with weight changes. We have recently shown that smoking acutely increases plasma levels of ghrelin, a known orexigenic hormone. Obestatin is a peptide encoded by the ghrelin gene, which opposes ghrelin effects on food intake. We conducted a study in adult volunteers measuring plasma levels of obestatin immediately after initiation of smoking. Methods: 31 volunteers (mean age 32.2+/-9.2 years and mean BMI 25.7+/-4.1), 17 smokers and 14 non-smokers, were enrolled in our study. The 2 groups were matched in age and BMI. Plasma obestatin concentrations were determined at baseline (T0), 2 (T2), 5 (T5), 15 (T15), and 60 (T60) minutes after the initiation of smoking. Results: In all 31 subjects, no significant difference in...

Perceptions of hookah smoking harmfulness: predictors and characteristics among current hookah users

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This study assessed beliefs about the harmfulness of smoking hookah. Methods: We surveyed hookah users in all cafes that provided hookah to its customers in downtown San Diego, California and nearby areas. A total of 235 hookah users participated in this study. Results: Average age of study participants was 22 years, 57% were males, and 72% were not cigarette smokers. Whites were more likely to use hookah than the other ethnic groups (33%), older hookah users (26-35 years) were mostly males, and mint flavor of hookah tobacco was the most popular among a wide variety of flavors (23%). There was no significant difference in gender in relation to the wrong perception that hookah is less harmful than cigarettes, but those of Asian ethnicity were much less likely than other ethnic groups to bel...

Distribution of new graphic warning labels: Are tobacco companies following regulations?

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that tobacco companies would not follow a regulation that required seven new graphic health warnings (GHWs) to be evenly distributed on cigarette packs and that they would distribute fewer packs featuring warnings regarded by smokers as being more disturbing.MethodCross-sectional survey of purchased packs (n=168) and street-collected discarded packs (convenience sample of New Zealand cities and towns, n=1208 packs) with statistical analysis of seven types of new GHWs. A priori warning impact was judged using three criteria, which were tested against data from depth interviews with retailers. Results: The GHWs on the purchased packs and street-collected packs both showed a distribution pattern that was generally consistent with the hypothesis ie, there were d...

Promoting cessation and a tobacco free future: willingness of pharmacy students at the University of Lagos, Nigeria

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: From this study it can be concluded that smoking prevalence is low among pharmacy students at the University of Lagos. Awareness of global policy is low but they are willing to be involved in smoking cessation and promoting a tobacco free future. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Assessment of smoking status based on cotinine levels in nasal lavage fluid

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Cotinine is a principal metabolite of nicotine with a substantially longer half-life, and cotinine levels in saliva, urine or serum are widely used to validate self-reported smoking status. The nasal cavity and olfactory system are directly exposed to tobacco smoke in smokers and in non-smokers who live with or work around smokers. However, despite the potential for a direct impact of tobacco smoke on the nasal epithelium and olfactory neurons, no prior studies have assessed cotinine levels in nasal mucus. We sought to determine whether cotinine levels in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) would provide a reasonable estimate of smoke exposure. We assayed cotinine using a competitive immunoassay in NLF from 23 smokers, 10 non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke (ETS) and 60 non-smokers who did not repor...

Correlates of smoking quit attempts: Florida Tobacco Callback Survey, 2007

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Targeted smoking cessation interventions are needed for smokers with selected medical conditions and with high nicotine dependence. The importance of physician advice in encouraging individuals to quit is further highlighted. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Tobacco companies are booming despite an economic depression

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

During the past year, an economic crisis has affected economies and life styles throughout the world. However, the three largest transnational tobacco companies--Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, and Japan Tobacco--showed excellent returns during this period, reflecting more widespread indirect exposure to smoking. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Smoke-free hospitals in Greece: Personnel perceptions, compliance and smoking habit

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Smoke-free environments in Greece are scarce. Despite existent legislation that forbids smoking in all health care service centers, smoking is still evident. Using a random sample of hospital personnel from a large university hospital in Greece, we evaluated their smoking habits, perceptions and compliance towards hospital smoking regulations. 57.8% of the nursing personnel and 34.5% of medical/research staff were found to be current smokers (p < 0.05). Although 66% of the staff does not oppose the complete hospital smoking ban, 95% responded that they would prefer it to be partial. The above findings warrant the necessity for nurturing efforts to reduce smoking and increase the health professionals' awareness of their position as a role model to both patients and the society. (Source: Tob...

Smoke-free hospitals in Greece: personnel perceptions, compliance and smoking habits

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100

School-based smoking prevention programs with the promise of long-term effects

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100

I provide a systematic review of trials of school-based smoking prevention programs that had at least 15 sessions, preferably with some in high school, that reported significant short-term effects, and that included long-term follow-up. This is supplemented with a description of some other programs that produce short-term effects that portend large long-term effects. I conclude that school-based programs can have long-term effects of practical importance it they: include 15 or more sessions, over multiple years, including some in high school; use the social influence model and interactive delivery methods; include components on norms, commitment not to use, intentions not to use, and training and practice in the use of refusal and other life skills; and use peer leaders in some role. Schoo...

The promise of long-term effectiveness of school-based smoking prevention programs: a critical review of reviews

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100

I provide a review and critique of meta-analyses and systematic reviews of school-based smoking prevention programs that focus on long-term effects. Several of these reviews conclude that the effects of school-based smoking prevention programs are small and find no evidence that they have significant long-term effects. I find that these reviews all have methodological problems limiting their conclusions. These include severe limiting of the studies included because of performance bias, student attrition, non-reporting of ICCs, inappropriate classification of intervention approach, and inclusion of programs that had no short-term effects. The more-inclusive meta-analyses suggest that school-based smoking prevention programs can have significant and practical effects in both the short- and t...

The roll-your-own cigarette market in Canada: a cross-sectional exploratory study

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that RYO tobacco use is not a negligible problem within Canada and provides valuable new insight for developing future tobacco control initiatives for this population of smokers. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Age of smoking initiation and risk of breast cancer in a sample of Ontario women

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The results suggest that women who initiate smoking at an older age are at an increased risk of breast cancer. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Youth Tobacco Use Cessation: 2008 Update

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions are made regarding implications for developing and implementing teen tobacco use cessation programs. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Explaining cross-country variation in cigarette consumption

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

This short paper uses cross-country data on per capita cigarette consumption and selected socio-economic variables to explain inter-country differentials in consumption. It is found that the proportion of the aged in the total population and higher literacy among women have relatively greater and positive impact on cigarette consumption. Even after controlling for the effect of the two variables, a country's industrialized status has a positive impact on consumption. It would thus seem that aging and economic, and social developments are pro-cigarette consumption. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

The historical decline of tobacco smoking among Australian physicians: 1964-1997

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Overall, our review suggests that not only do contemporary Australian physicians smoke at very low rates when compared internationally, but that an active professional community can also make a real difference to the lifestyle choices of its own members. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Tobacco use and susceptibility to bacterial infection

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Active smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of bacterial infection. A review of the recent evidence reveals that tobacco smoke increases susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, including tuberculosis, pneumonia and Legionnaires disease; bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea; Helicobacter pylori infection; periodontitis; meningitis; otitis media; and nosocomial infections. Further epidemiological and mechanistic research into this important area is warranted. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

A report of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Prevention of Tobacco Induced Diseases (ISPTID)

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Discussions held during the three days meeting's sessions (including poster session and platform discussion) promoted a better understanding of the connection between tobacco use and associated medical and health consequences. The Sixth Annual meeting of ISPTiD served as another successful step toward decrease in the huge sociological and economical burden that the entire World is facing with this addiction. The proceedings of the meeting were published in the conference booklet, the ISPTiD global web site and Cancer Database abstract web site. Funds generated from this meeting helped in part to establish the society's Journal "Tobacco Induced Diseases "into the major scientific journal index PubMed database and BioMed Central. The meeting set the tone for next the Annual meeting in Kyoto,...

The historical decline of tobacco smoking among United States physicians: 1949–1984

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Although the quality and coverage of historical surveys varied over time, a review of their main results indicates a clear and consistent decline in tobacco use among US physicians between 1949 and 1984. Much can be learned from this pivotal era of public health, where the importance of scientific knowledge, professional leadership and social responsibility helped set positive examples in the fight against tobacco. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)

Tobacco Induced Diseases moves to BioMed Central

Tobacco Induced Diseases — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

This Editorial marks the transfer of Tobacco Induced Diseases to BioMed Central's publishing platform. (Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases)