Associations of Daily Versus Nondaily Smoking, Tobacco-Related Risk Perception, and Cancer Diagnosis Among Adults in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study

Optimization of utilizing the HHIE-S for hearing screening in older people: a cross-sectional study of associated factors

This study aims to evaluate sociodemographic information, lifestyle, physical and mental health status, and otological symptoms factors associated with the accuracy of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening version (HHIE-S) in older people, which helps to increase the efficiency of hearing screening. Participants aged over 60 years who had not undergone professional hearing examinations were recruited from July 2023 to November 2024. The assessments consisted of age, sex, body mass index, living alone, education background, occupation, history of smoking, alcohol consumption, noise exposure, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, cognitive function, anxiety, depression, tinnitus and vertigo, along with HHIE-S and pure tone audiometry. The rate of total accuracy, total inaccuracy, false negative, and false positive were calculated, and factors associated with the false negatives and false positives of the HHIE-S were analyzed via multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results revealed that 773 participants (aged 60-93 years) were included, and the total inaccuracy rate of the HHIE-S was 33.11%. Among individuals with normal hearing, the false positive rate of the HHIE-S was 13.64%, while the false negative rate was 36.35% among individuals with hearing loss. Tinnitus (OR = 24.77, 95% CI 4.91-124.89) was the main factor contributing to false positives of HHIE-S. However, the significantly associated factors with false negatives of HHIE-S were living alone (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.21-3.17), smoking (OR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.23-2.70), cognitive decline (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.11-2.16), anxiety (OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.02-2.22) and hypertension (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.91). Therefore, even when the HHIE-S ≤ 8 during hearing screening for the older people, there is still a possibility of hearing loss. Vigilance should be maintained associated factors such as living alone, smoking, cognitive decline and anxiety.

Effects of smoking social cues on brand perception and smoking: an event-related potential study

Introduction

Smokers' dependence on tobacco products stems not only from substance addiction but also from social influences. While prior research has explored the impact of smoking action cues, it has largely overlooked smoking social cues and their role in shaping brand perception and smokers' willingness to pay (WTP), leaving a gap in understanding their interaction. This study addresses the gap by analyzing event-related potentials (ERPs) and behavioral decisions in response to smoking social and action cues.

Methods

Using a 2×2 design (social cues: present vs. absent; action cues: present vs. absent), we assessed brand perception, WTP, and N1 and P3 ERP amplitudes in 22 smokers (18 males, mean age 23.14 ± 1.60 years).

Results

Results showed that smoking social cues increased brand perception and WTP while reducing N1 amplitudes, indicating that the presence of smoking social cues interfere with the processing of smoking action stimuli.

Discussion

These findings highlights the importance of avoiding the simultaneous inclusion of social and action cues in anti-smoking advertisements, which also provide valuable insights for smoking cessation research.

Mapping indicators of tobacco and related product use: Unveiling challenges and variations in the Eurobarometer surveys over three decades

INTRODUCTION

The European Commission's Special Eurobarometer surveys on tobacco are widely used as comparable and representative data across the European Union for monitoring consumption patterns. Despite their broad use, certain challenges persist, including inconsistencies in survey timelines and variations in the collected information across waves. This study aims to identify available tobacco and related product indicators, and assess their temporal comparability, to support researchers to better understand the potential uses of these data and their alignment with other sources.

METHODS

We explored questionnaires and reports in these surveys on tobacco from the Eurobarometer official website since its inception (1992, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023 waves). We extracted and compared questions and responses on use of tobacco and related products, as well as on sociodemographic variables. Finally, we compared all indicators, including frequency and wording, and further mapped the consistency of the indicators and type of product used across the different waves.

RESULTS

Current, daily, former and never use of conventional cigarettes has been consistently assessed across all waves, enabling temporal comparisons. From 2009, the surveys have expanded to include e-cigarette use; since 2012, the surveys include various combusted products such as cigars, pipes, cigarillos, and waterpipes, and from 2020, heated tobacco products. By contrast, detailed data on product-specific use intensity and initiation remain limited. While indicators for secondhand smoke exposure and smoking cessation were present in multiple waves, their comparability is hindered by variations in question-wording and responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Some challenges exist in using Eurobarometer surveys for temporal estimation of tobacco-related burden. Nonetheless, these surveys remain a valuable and unique tool for monitoring tobacco and related product use across the European Union. To further enhance their utility, periodic re-evaluation by tobacco control experts is recommended to ensure that the surveys maintain comparability with past data while capturing effectively emerging products and trends.

Social addiction or nicotine addiction? The effect of smoking social motivation on inhibitory control under smoking social cues: Evidence from ERPs

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies and theoretical models suggest that the decreasing effect of smoking-related cues on inhibitory control in individuals who smoke is one of the underlying mechanisms of smoking behavior. However, many studies have overlooked the effects of other types of smoking-related cues, such as social cues. Moreover, previous studies have lacked investigation into whether this decreasing effect is influenced by internal factors. The present study aims to integrate behavioral and electrophysiological indicators to investigate the effect of smoking social cues on inhibitory control in individuals who smoke, as well as the moderating role of social motivations.

METHOD

In Experiment 1, a visual Go/NoGo paradigm with four types of backgrounds (neutral, neutral social, smoking object, and smoking social backgrounds) was used to record the error rates and reaction times of 32 participants who smoke. In Experiment 2, the Go/NoGo paradigm with two types of backgrounds (smoking object and smoking social backgrounds) was used to record the error rates, reaction times, and amplitudes of the N2 and P3 event-related potentials among 30 participants who smoke with varying degrees of primed smoking social motivation.

RESULTS

(1) Individuals who smoke had higher commission error rates and larger P3 amplitude under smoking social background than under smoking object background; (2) individuals who smoke with primed high smoking social motivation, rather than low motivation had higher commission error rates and larger P3 amplitude under smoking social background than under smoking object background.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking social cues have a greater capacity to decrease inhibitory control in people who smoke than smoking object cues, and this decreasing effect is bolstered by smoking social motivation.

Effects of Smoking Social Cues on Inhibitory Control in Smokers: An Event-Related Potential Study

Objective

Reduced inhibitory control is a general characteristic of smokers and becomes increasingly pronounced in smoking-related contexts. However, research has rarely considered differences in the effects of various smoking-related cues. To fill this research gap, this study compared the effects of smoking object-related and smoking social-related cues on inhibitory control in smokers.

Methods

We used a visual Go/NoGo paradigm with three types of long-lasting backgrounds (neutral, smoking object, and smoking social background) to record the error rates, reaction times, and amplitudes of the N2 and P3 event-related potentials (ERPs) by 25 smokers and 25 non-smokers.

Results

(1) Smokers displayed smaller NoGo-N2 amplitudes than controls under the neutral background; (2) smokers displayed smaller NoGo-N2 amplitudes under the smoking social background and smoking object background than they did under the neutral background; (3) relative to neutral and smoking object backgrounds, smokers displayed higher commission error rates, shorter reaction times, and larger NoGo-P3 amplitudes under smoking social background.

Conclusion

Smoking-related stimuli impair inhibitory control in smokers, especially when these stimuli are socially related.

Switching away from smoking at 12 months among adult JUUL users varying in recent history of quit attempts made with and without smoking cessation medication

Some smokers switch away from smoking using e-cigarettes, but guidelines recommend trying approved medications first. We analyzed switching in adult smokers using JUUL by their recent history of quit attempts and use of smoking cessation medications. Participants were 8511 adult (21+) established smokers (at baseline), in which 50.3% are daily smokers, in a longitudinal observational study who completed a survey 12 months after first purchasing a JUUL Starter Kit. At baseline, participants reported attempts to quit smoking in the prior year and use of pharmacotherapy (nicotine replacement therapy [NRT] or prescription medication) in their most recent attempt. The outcomes were switching (self-reported no past-30-day smoking) and 50%+ reductions in cigarette consumption. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for baseline covariates. Two thirds of the participants had made a quit attempt in the year before purchasing JUUL. Overall, 59% [58%, 60%] had switched at 12 months. Switching was more likely in those who had used NRT and who attempted quitting without medication versus those who used prescription medications or made no quit attempt. In adjusted multivariable analyses, only making a past-year quit attempt (vs. not) was associated with higher odds of switching (OR = 1.15 [1.04, 1.28]). Over 60% of dual users reduced cigarette consumption by ≥50%. These associations were largely similar in daily smokers. Twelve months after purchasing JUUL, almost all smokers reported either switching or reducing their smoking by 50%+, including those who had recently failed to quit smoking with approved pharmacotherapies. E-cigarettes provide an alternative route to abstinence from smoking for smokers with a history of cessation and cessation treatment failure.

Role and mechanism of benzo[a]pyrene in the transformation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease into lung adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

This experiment is explores the genes that play a key role, their expression changes and the biological processes in the transformation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) into lung adenocarcinoma (LAC). Meanwhile, identify the effects of Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in the conversion of COPD into LAC.

METHODS

1. Differential expression genes of COPD and LAC were screened and analyzed by high-throughput microarray data between the two diseases and their respective control groups. 2. The screened genes were used for routine bioinformatics analysis such as functional analysis, expression verification, protein interaction analysis and functional enrichment. 3. Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to establish an in vitro COPD model. 4. MTT assay was used to detect the influence of B(a)P in effect on A549 cell proliferation. CCK-8, Transwell invasion test and scratch test were used to detect the cell proliferation, invasion and migration ability, while qPCR and Western Blot tests were used to observe the cell proliferation, apoptosis and changes in related indicators such as EMT. 5. Experimental method of separately adding agonists (tBHQ) and inhibitors (DIC) of NQO1 was used to confirm the effect of NQO1 on A549 cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. 6. To further clarify whether BaP exerted effect on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion through NQO1, we knocked down NQO1 gene and then infecting cells with BaP.

RESULTS

1. We screened genes of COPD and LAC using datasets from GSE151052, GSE118370, and GSE140797. After screening, the genes upregulated in COPD and downregulated in LAC were RTKN2, SLC6A4, and HBB, the gene downregulated in COPD and upregulated in LAC was NQO1, the genes downregulated in both COPD and LAC were FPR1, LYVE1 and PKHD1L1. 2. The main signaling pathways in which the target genes were enriched are cell cycle, EMT, PI3K/AKT, and apoptosis. In the data included GEPIA, PKHD1L1, FPR1, LYVE1, RTKN2, HBB, and SLC6A4 were significantly downregulated and NQO1 was upregulated in LAC relative to controls. In addition, there were 46 interaction proteins in the target genes, and the functions they enriched included hydrogen peroxide catabolism, etc. 3. When A549 cell was stimulated with 100 ng/mL LPS+ 10% CSE, the COX-2 expression indicated that COPD model in vitro was successfully established. 4. The optimal dose and action time were screened which were 1 μM and 24 h. Compared to the control group, COPD and BaP group increased cell proliferation and invasion capabilities. On the basis of COPD, adding BaP could further increase the proliferation and migration capabilities. Interestingly, the levels of NQO1 decreased in COPD models, while increased by BaP. 5. tBHQ can increase the proliferation and migration capacity of A549 cells, which is inhibited by the addition of DIC. 6. The enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells by BaP were attenuated after knockdown of NQO1.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals that PKHD1L1, FPR1, LYVE1, RTKN2, HBB, SLC6A4 and NQO1 may play an important role in the conversion of COPD to LAC. High NQO1 expression may increase the proliferation and migration ability of A549 cells, and BaP may promote the EMT state by increasing the expression of NQO1, thereby making the COPD model in vitro expose the tumor characteristics.

Smoking Cessation and Tobacco-related Risk Perceptions among People with and without a Diagnosis of Cancer

BACKGROUND

Little is known about how cancer diagnosis and tobacco-related risk perceptions are associated with smoking behavior.

METHODS

We used data from Waves (W) 1-3 (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study to analyze longitudinal smoking behavior among adults who were current smokers and not previously diagnosed with cancer at baseline (W1; N = 7,829). The outcome was smoking cessation as of follow-up (W3). Explanatory variables were sociodemographics, other tobacco product use, adult at first cigarette, tobacco dependence, cancer diagnosis after baseline, and tobacco-related risk perceptions [cigarette harm perception, worry that tobacco products will damage one's health ("worry"), belief that smoking causes cancer ("belief"), and nondaily smoking harm perception].

RESULTS

Cessation was significantly associated with baseline worry (OR = 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.40), follow-up cigarette harm perception [OR = 2.01 (1.77-2.29)], and follow-up belief [OR = 1.40 (1.20-1.63)]. Cessation was inversely associated with follow-up (W3) worry, and this association was stronger among those without a cancer diagnosis (OR = 0.37 without cancer; OR = 0.76 among individuals diagnosed with cancer; interaction P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cessation is associated with tobacco-related risk perceptions, with different perceptions contributing in unique ways. Cessation is predicted by baseline worry but is inversely associated with worry at follow-up, suggesting that perhaps cessation has alleviated worry. The latter finding was stronger among respondents not diagnosed with cancer.

IMPACT

Associations between cancer diagnosis, tobacco-related risk perceptions, and smoking behavior may inform the development of evidence-based smoking cessation interventions.