Smoking and abdominal fat in blood donors

Social vulnerability and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Social vulnerability can influence in the development of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents (CRF). For this reason, the objective of our study was to evaluate the presence of CRF in adolescents, according to social vulnerability.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study with 517 adolescents of both sexes, from 10 to 19 years of age, classified into 2 groups by social vulnerability, according to socioeconomic characteristics collected by means of questionnaires, where adolescents who did not have access to drinking water, sewage network, and adequate per capita income were classified as vulnerable. Anthropometric, biochemical, and blood pressure data were evaluated. Level of physical activity was assessed by an adapted questionnaire, and food intake was assessed by a 3-day food record. Independent T, Mann-Whitney, and χ2 tests were used, according to the scale of measurement of the variables, on the statistical program SPSS, version 25, at a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

Adolescents had median age of 14 (11 to 15) years; 58.4% were female; 32.4% were overweight, and 52.4% were physically inactive in leisure. Mean consumption of ultra-processed food was observed to account for 45.0% of calorie intake. Adolescents classified as vulnerable had lower weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and neck circumference when compared to non-vulnerable adolescents. Both groups had cholesterol concentrations above the normal level. Non-vulnerable adolescents had higher triglyceride concentrations, higher alcohol consumption, and lower fiber intake compared to vulnerable adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with social vulnerability are less likely to have cardiovascular risk factors.

Investigation of the association of the RAN (rs14035) and XPO5 (rs11077) polymorphisms with venous thromboembolism

INTRODUCTION

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common hemostatic disease worldwide. Studies have reported a role for microRNA (miRNA) in the homeostasis and development of VTE. The ras-related nuclear protein (RAN) and exportin 5 (XPO5) genes are involved in miRNA biogenesis, as both regulate the transport of pre-miRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to examine the association between RAN (rs14035) and XPO5 (rs11077) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and VTE.

METHODS

The study sample consisted of 300 subjects (150 patients and 150 age and sex matched controls). The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system (T-ARMS) techniques were used to genotype rs14035 and rs11077, respectively.

RESULTS

The results showed that there was a significant association between the XPO5 rs11077 and the risk of VTE (P < 0.05). Subjects with AC (OR: 2.08, CI:1.26-3.44) and CC (OR: 1.77, CI: 0.88-3.55) genotypes were at increased risk of the developing VTE. Regarding RAN gene, no association was found between rs14035 and VTE (P > 0.05). In addition, no associations were found between XPO5 rs11077 and RAN rs14035 genotypes with blood cell parameters (P > 0.05). As for the demographic characteristics, the results indicated a strong association between family history and body mass index (BMI) with the risk of VTE (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The XPO5 rs11077, BMI and family history might contribute to the development of VTE in Jordan.

Prevalence of smoking and associated factors in people living with HIV undergoing treatment

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of smoking and evaluate the factors associated with this outcome in people living with HIV (PLHIV).

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of a prospective concurrent cohort of 462 individuals initiating antiretroviral therapy at three HIV/AIDS specialized services in Belo Horizonte between 2015 and 2017. The following smoking status were used: current smoker (CS), former smoker (FS) and non-smoker (NS). Multinomial logistic regression was performed with NS as the reference category.

RESULTS

Most participants were men (81.4%), young (up to 34 years old; 57.2%) and non-white (75.7%). Of the total number of individuals, 27.7% were CS, 22.9% FS, and 49.4% NS. Most smokers were light smokers (65.1%), consumed up to 10 cigarettes per day and had been smoking for more than 10 years (63.3%), starting on average at 17.2 years of age (SD = 5.1). In the multivariate analysis, higher chances of being CS were associated with: being female, having up to 9 years of schooling, current or prior use of alcohol and illicit drugs (marijuana, cocaine and crack) and presenting signs and/or symptoms of anxiety or depression. Higher chances of being FS were associated with having up to 9 years of schooling and current or prior use of alcohol and illicit drugs (marijuana and crack).

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that smoking is highly prevalent among PLHIV, indicating the need for HIV specialized services to prioritize smoking cessation interventions. These interventions should consider the use of alcohol and illicit drugs and be targeted especially to young people, those with low schooling and with signs and/or symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Smoking cessation leads to changes in survivin expression in oral mucosa

BACKGROUND

Survivin is an inhibitor protein of apoptosis and plays a role in oral carcinogenesis mechanism.

METHODS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking in survivin expression of oral mucosa of chronic smokers with and without oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The study was composed of three groups: Group 1-26 patients smoking more than 20 cigarettes/day/10 years without either history of oral malignant neoplasia or visible clinical signs in the examined site; Group 2-26 patients with OSCC; Group 3-22 patients surgically treated for OSCC for at least 1 month. The immunohistochemistry was performed with 1 smear for each group and analyzed by microscopy regarding extension, intensity of positive cells for survivin, and intracellular location.

RESULTS

The survivin expression was observed in 100% of the cases in Group 1, 88.5% in Group 2, and 100% in Group 3. Concerning to Groups 1 and 3, the survivin expression with cytoplasmic location occurred in 100%, while in Group 2 occurred in 87.5%. The cytoplasmic and nuclear expression was observed only in Group 2, with 7.69%. The results were correlated with clinical-pathological data by Fischer's exact test with significant relation between smoking cessation and intensity (P = .015) for Group 2.

CONCLUSIONS

The extension and intensity of survivin expression in the cytological smears were related to the smoking cessation in the group with OSCC. However, the smoking history (packs/years) did not influence the survivin expression.

Is DNA ploidy related to smoking?

BACKGROUND

In the oral cavity, genomic instability is caused by long-term exposure to carcinogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between smoking and DNA ploidy.

METHODS

Cytological material was obtained from patients participating in the Outpatient Smoking Treatment Program of the Heart Institute (INCOR-HCFMUSP), and of the Discipline of Oral Medicine (ICT-UNESP). The inclusion criteria for all groups were the absence of a history of malignant tumors, absence of clinical signs of changes in the selected area, and alcohol consumption of less than 3 units per week. Group 1:30 smokers before smoking cessation treatment; Group 2:30 non-smokers; Group 3:30 ex-smokers abstinent for at least 1 year. Cytological smears were collected from the floor of the mouth and border of the tongue and stained by Feulgen. Aneuploidy was evaluated using the ACIS® III system.

RESULTS

The Kruskal-Wallis test showed no statistically significant difference (P = .4383) between the groups studied. No association between tobacco consumption and aneuploidy was observed in group 1 (P = 1) or group 2 (P = .68; Fisher's exact test).

CONCLUSION

Smoking was not associated with changes in DNA content or the incidence of aneuploidy in normal oral mucosa.

Effect of smoking cessation in saliva compounds by FTIR spectroscopy

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is currently considered one of the biggest risk factors for the development of various diseases and early death. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a valuable tool for analysis of biofluids such as saliva and is considered useful for diagnostic purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on saliva composition by FTIR spectroscopy.

METHODS

We analyzed the saliva of participants in two groups: a smoker group made up of 10 chronic smokers and a former smoker group made up of 10 individuals who had stopped smoking. Members of both groups had similar smoking history.

RESULTS

The results showed few differences in spectral intensity between the groups; however, spectral peaks were slightly increased in the group of smokers in the bands for DNA, indicating modification of its content or cell necrosis. They were also increased for the mannose-6-phosphatase molecule, which is expressed in prostate and breast carcinomas. In the former smoker group, the peak of thyociante was decreased and the band referring to collagen increased in intensity, which indicates a better tissue regeneration capacity.

CONCLUSION

Considering these results and the fact that tobacco intake was similar between the groups, it can be concluded that there was recovery of tissue regeneration capacity with smoking cessation during the study period, although the effects found in smokers persisted in the bodies of those who had given up smoking.

Perfil clínico, diagnósticos e cuidados de enfermagem para pacientes em pós-operatório de cirurgia bariátrica

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar o perfil clínico, os diagnósticos e os cuidados de enfermagem estabelecidos para pacientes em pós-operatório de cirurgia bariátrica. Método Estudo transversal realizado em um hospital do Sul do Brasil, com amostra de 143 pacientes. Os dados foram coletados retrospectivamente entre 2011-2012 no prontuário eletrônico dos pacientes, os quais foram analisados estatisticamente. Resultados Identificaram-se pacientes femininas adultas (84%) com obesidade grau III (59,4%) e hipertensas (72%), com 35 diagnósticos de enfermagem, sendo os mais frequentes: Dor aguda (99,3%), Risco de lesão pelo posicionamento perioperatório (98,6%) e Integridade tissular prejudicada (93%). Dentre os cuidados de enfermagem prescritos, os mais utilizados foram: usar mecanismos de proteção no posicionamento cirúrgico do paciente, registrar a dor como 5° sinal vital e verificar sinais vitais. Foi observada associação entre a idade e as comorbidades. Conclusão Os diagnósticos de enfermagem subsidiaram a prescrição de cuidados, possibilitando qualificar a assistência de enfermagem.

Smoking is associated with more abdominal fat in morbidly obese patients

INTRODUCTION

While the association between cigarette smoking and abdominal fat has been well studied in normal and overweight patients, data regarding the influence of tobacco use in patients with morbid obesity remain scarce. The aim of this study is to evaluate body fat distribution in morbidly obese smokers.

METHODS

We employed a cross-sectional study and grouped severely obese patients (body mass index [BMI] >40 kg/m2 or >35 kg/m2 with comorbidities) according to their smoking habits (smokers or non-smokers). We next compared the anthropometrical measurements and body composition data (measured by electric bioimpedance) of both groups. We analyzed the effect of smoking on body composition variables using univariate and multiple linear regression (MLR); differences are presented as regression coefficients (b) and their respective 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

We included 536 morbidly obese individuals, 453 (84.5%) non-smokers and 83 (15.5%) smokers. Male smokers had a higher BMI (b=3.28 kg/m2, p=0.036), larger waist circumference (b=6.07 cm, p=0.041) and higher percentage of body fat (b=2.33%, p=0.050) than non-smokers. These differences remained significant even after controlling for confounding factors. For females, the only significant finding in MLR was a greater muscle mass among smokers (b=1.34kg, p=0.028). No associations were found between tobacco load measured in pack-years and anthropometric measures or body composition.

DISCUSSION

Positive associations between smoking and BMI, and waist circumference and percentage of body fat, were found among male morbidly obese patients, but not among females. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first investigation of these aspects in morbidly obese subjects. We speculate that our findings may indicate that the coexistence of morbid obesity and smoking helps to explain the more serious medical conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms, seen in these patients.