The colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence: the limits between polypectomy and intestinal resection

A hemocytometer-based trypan blue dye exclusion cell quantitation and viability assay was compared with a similar assay using simultaneous fluorometric staining with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide. Viable and nonviable cell densities were measured, and culture viability was calculated both during the normal growth cycle of a murine hybridoma and in response to the application of millimolar concentrations of either tert-butyl hydroperoxide or ferrous iron. During the early phase of rapid hybridoma cell growth, assay-based differences in viable cell density were not significant. As the culture aged, the trypan blue dye exclusion assay significantly overestimated cell viability, thereby underestimating nonviable cell density and yielding an erroneous estimation of the overall viability of the culture. Because of its lack of ambiguity in the identification of stained, nonviable cells and its resulting increased accuracy in the estimation of culture viability, the fluorometric assay was considered a better choice for the evaluation of cell viability.     

Cigarette smoking and chewing gum: Response to a laboratory-induced stressor.

The current study examined the anxiolytic effects of cigarette smoking and chewing gum on urge to smoke, withdrawal, and anxiety in response to a public speaking task in 45 undergraduate smokers. Participants were asked to smoke, chew gum, or do nothing in response to the stressor. Participants completed measures of anxiety, withdrawal symptoms, and urge to smoke pre- and poststressor. The smoke group reported fewer urges to smoke pre- and poststressor than the other groups. The smoke and gum groups reported fewer withdrawal symptoms than did the control group poststressor. Chewing gum was helpful in managing levels of withdrawal symptoms compared with the control group. Groups did not differ on measures of anxiety. Results suggest that smoking in response to a stressor may not reduce levels of affective stress. Furthermore, chewing gum may be helpful in managing withdrawal symptoms in response to a stressor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes of the mucosal n3 and n6 fatty acid status occur early in the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence

We report the derivation of eight pluripotent cell lines from common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) blastocysts. These cell lines are positive for a series of markers (alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81) that characterize undifferentiated human embryonal carcinoma cells and rhesus embryonic stem cells. All eight cell lines had a modal chromosome number of 46; seven cell lines were XX and one was XY. Two cell lines (Cj11 and Cj62) were cultured continuously for over a year and remained undifferentiated and euploid. In the absence of fibroblast feeder layers, these cell lines differentiated to multiple cell types, even in the presence of leukemia inhibiting factor. Differentiated cells secreted bioactive CG into the culture medium and expressed alpha-CG, beta-CG, and alpha-fetoprotein mRNA, indicating trophoblast and endoderm differentiation. Bioactive CG secretion in differentiating cells was increased substantially in the presence of GnRH agonist D-Trp6-Pro9-NHEt. When grown at high densities, these cells formed embryoid bodies with a close resemblance to early postimplantation embryos, including the formation of a yolk sac, amnion, and an embryonic disc with an early primitive streak. These results make these pluripotent cells strong candidates for marmoset embryonic stem cells.     

Cigarette smoking and breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate osteoclastic resorption in trabeculae of osteoporotic femoral head. METHODS: Osteoporotic femoral heads were collected from 7 aged women with an average age of 72.4 years, who underwent endoprosthetic replacement for intracapsular hip fracture. Femoral head trabeculae from 3 young adults killed in traffic accidents served as control. The two types of specimens were processed and studied under scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: The trabeculae of femoral head formed round or roundish arch structure. The columnar trabeculae of femoral head in the aged women showed overt osteoclastic resorption, manifested in thinning, tapering and perforation, resulting in formation of icicle-like trabeculae, which then became rounded, lost height and eventually turned into small tubercle. As a result, the inter-trabecular space enlarged markedly. Under high magnification, the trabeculae could be discerned oval, narrow oval or spindle-shaped. Howship resorption lacunae, which varied in size, depth and content, but all revealed punched-out margin. During bone resorption, the inorganic and organic components were successively resorbed. In the Howship lacunae and surrounding areas, newly formed collagen fibrils and bone tissues emerged, signifying reversal and new bone formation phases after bone resorption phase. CONCLUSION: Osteoclastic resorption markedly compromises the structural integrity and strength of the trabeculae of the arch structure of the femoral head in the aged women.     

Cigarette smoking and age-related macular degeneration

BACKGROUND: Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is one of the leading causes of severe visual impairment among older Americans. Several hypotheses have been proposed regarding the pathogenesis of ARMD. The possible association of cigarette smoking and ARMD remains controversial. METHODS: Studies concerning the relationship between cigarette smoking and ARMD are identified through the use of Vision Articles Online and PubMed. Articles published since 1970 are reviewed. RESULTS: The literature reviewed strongly supports a link between smoking and ARMD. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of smoking as a risk factor can lead to early intervention. Such intervention may lessen visual loss from this disease, which has limited medical treatment options.     

Cigarette smoking under stress: the role of coping expectancies among smokers in a clinic-based smoking cessation program

This study examined 2 expectancies to explain smoking under stress: smokers' expectations about their ability to cope with stress while remaining abstinent and their expectations about the stress-ameliorating and coping benefits of smoking under stress. The interaction of the expectancies concurrently predicted smoking urge under stress, which, in turn, predicted subsequent smoking. The interaction of posttreatment expectancies prospectively predicted smoking status 3 months after treatment, although the coping benefits of smoking expectancy effect was reversed. Expectations about coping ability increased and expectations about the coping benefits of smoking decreased as a function of participating in a smoking cessation program. The discrepant concurrent and prospective findings, reasons that coping expectancies are associated with smoking under stress, and treatment implications are discussed.     

Cigarette smoking in a multiethnic population of youth: methods and baseline findings

BACKGROUND: To expand upon recent research studies that have identified dramatic ethnic differences in adolescent cigarette smoking, this study was designed to characterize smoking among a multiethnic population of adolescents and to identify significant factors that may protect against smoking initiation. METHODS: During the first 2 years, this mixed cross-sectional, longitudinal study recruited and collected baseline data from a volunteer sample of 1,441 Houston-area public school students in the 5th, 8th, or 12th grade. A wide range of new and established predictors of smoking behavior was assessed, and their associations with ever smoking and susceptibility to smoking were assessed within ethnicity (white, N = 537; African-American, N = 454; and Hispanic, N = 297). RESULTS: Consistent with previous studies, white students smoked in substantially higher proportions than African-American students, with Hispanic adolescents in-between. Simultaneously adjusting for other variables, the odds of ever smoking (OR = 0.47, P < 0.01) and susceptibility to smoking (OR = 0.64, P < 0.01) were significantly lower among African-American adolescents when compared with whites; odds ratios for Hispanics and whites did not differ. Across all three ethnicities, the most important predictor of both ever smoking and susceptibility to smoking was the smoking status of the three best friends. Several ethnicity-specific variables also were identified. CONCLUSIONS: In concordance with previous investigations, cigarette smoking prevalence differs by ethnicity, and the factors associated with ever smoking and susceptibility to smoking differ among white, African-American, and Hispanic adolescents. The results of this study may be used to develop theory-based, culturally appropriate smoking intervention programs for adolescents.     

Cigarette smoking and trisomy 21 at amniocentesis

Several studies raise the possibility that smoking during pregnancy is associated with a slightly decreased odds of trisomy 21 at birth. If it is, associations may reflect decreased incidence at conception, increased intrauterine loss (at one or several times in gestation), or both. Women (n = 13,729) undergoing prenatal diagnosis completed a questionnaire before learning karyotype results. For each women with a trisomy, up to 4 controls with chromosomally normal pregnancies, matched for age and hospital, were selected. Analyses drew on the 89 trisomy 21-control matched m-tuples in which diagnosis was by amniocentesis at 14-26 weeks. We compared the odds of smoking at last menstrual period and in the past in cases and controls. The odds of current smoking versus never smoking were decreased [adjusted odds ratio = 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-1.6] and the odds of exsmoking increased (adjusted odds ratio = 1.4, 95% CI 0.9-2.4) in trisomy 21 cases. The association with current smoking was essentially unchanged when the unexposed reference group was defined as exsmokers and women who never smoked (adjusted odds ratio = 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.4). These results for current smoking agree well with a summary estimate based on combined studies of births. One interpretation is that at amniocentesis, as has been reported for births, current smoking is associated with a slightly decreased odds of trisomy 21. If associations at amniocentesis and birth are of equal magnitude, the explanation that observations at birth reflect increased loss in the second half of pregnancy with current smoking is unlikely to be correct.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cigarette smoking and hearing loss: the epidemiology of hearing loss study

CONTEXT: Clinical studies have suggested that cigarette smoking may be associated with hearing loss, a common condition affecting older adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between smoking and hearing loss. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community of Beaver Dam, Wis. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 48 to 92 years. Of 4541 eligible subjects, 3753 (83%) participated in the hearing study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The examination included otoscopy, screening tympanometry, and pure-tone air-conduction and bone-conduction audiometry. Smoking history was ascertained by self-report. Hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone average (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) greater than 25-dB hearing level in the worse ear. RESULTS: After adjusting for other factors, current smokers were 1.69 times as likely to have a hearing loss as nonsmokers (95% confidence interval, 1.31-2.17). This relationship remained for those without a history of occupational noise exposure and in analyses excluding those with non-age-related hearing loss. There was weak evidence of a dose-response effect. Nonsmoking participants who lived with a smoker were more likely to have a hearing loss than those who were not exposed to a household member who smoked (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-3.74). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that environmental exposures may play a role in age-related hearing loss. If longitudinal studies confirm these findings, modification of smoking habits may prevent or delay age-related declines in hearing sensitivity.     

A novel hypothesis to explain the hemorrhagic and connective tissue manifestations of Ebola virus infection

The hemorrhagic and connective tissue complications of infection with Ebola virus are poorly understood. While searching for homologies and motifs of the aortic aneurysm-associated autoantigenic protein 40 kDa (AAAP-40), we have noted some short sequences (possibly shared epitopes) that occur in the envelope glycoprotein (40 kDa) of the Ebola virus. As a first step toward determining whether molecular mimicry of human matrix proteins by the Ebola virus protein might explain some of the severe connective tissue manifestations of infection, we have tested whether immunoglobulin (IgG) purified from the sera of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are immunoreactive with the 40-kDa protein of the Ebola virus. Immunoblots of soluble Ebola proteins (strain Mayinga/Zaire) were probed with IgG's purified from the sera of eight patients with AAA and two healthy young control volunteers. The proteins were also probed with IgG extracted from the walls of two surgical aneurysm specimens. Serum IgG from eight consecutively studied AAA patients was immunoreactive with an Ebola virus protein of 40 kDa, consistent with the envelope glycoprotein. IgG's extracted from the walls of two AAAs were also reactive. The control sera were not reactive. In addition to the Ebola sequences in AAAP-40, an Ebola sequence also occurs in the microfibril-associated glycoprotein-4 (MAGP-4), which is distributed ubiquitously throughout connective tissue with elastin. We hypothesize that the catastrophic hemorrhagic and connective tissue complications of Ebola virus infection may be the result of these shared epitopes.     

Cigarette advertising and onset of smoking in children: questionnaire survey

OBJECTIVE: To investigate uptake of smoking in a cohort of 11 to 12 year olds related to awareness of advertised cigarette brands named. DESIGN: Self completed questionnaires administered to whole classes of schoolchildren in June 1993 and June 1994. SETTING: Primary, middle, and secondary schools in the north and south of England. SUBJECTS: 1450 pupils aged 11 and 12 years at the time of the first survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Onset of smoking and brands smoked by the second survey related to cigarette brands named in the first one. Less advertised brands were used as the base for calculating odds ratios. RESULTS: Girls who named the most advertised brands-namely, Benson and Hedges alone (odds ratio = 2.50, 95% confidence interval = 1.18 to 5.30) or Benson and Hedges and Silk Cut (2.15, 1.04 to 4.42) in the first survey were at greatest risk of taking up smoking by the second one. The difference was similar but not significant for boys. Boys and girls who named the least advertised brands in the first survey were at no greater risk of taking up smoking by the second survey than those who named no brands (boys odds ratio = 0.49 (0.24 to 1.01); girls 0.79 (0.38 to 1.62)). New smokers were more likely to smoke any available brand (29.5%) or a less advertised brand such as Embassy (24.6%) than the most advertised ones, Benson and Hedges (19.7%) and Silk Cut (14.8%). Established smokers were more selective, only 15% smoking any available brand and 38.3% smoking Benson and Hedges. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette advertising appears to increase children's awareness of smoking at a generic level and encourages them to take up the behaviour, beginning with any cigarettes which are available and affordable.     

Cigarette smoking: CT and pathologic findings of associated pulmonary diseases

The health risks associated with cigarette smoking are well known. Cigarette smoking is the most important causative factor in the development of bronchogenic carcinoma. Pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis, centrilobular and panacinar emphysema, respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD), and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis are also related to cigarette smoking. In adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the most common manifestation at computed tomography (CT) is a solitary pulmonary nodule; in small cell carcinoma, hilar and mediastinal adenopathy secondary to metastases; and in large cell carcinoma, a mass with central necrosis or cavitation in the lung periphery. For chronic bronchitis, the most common CT finding is bronchial wall thickening, but this finding is nonspecific. Emphysema, both centrilobular and panacinar associated with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, usually manifests as areas of decreased attenuation and may involve bullous changes. However, centrilobular emphysema more commonly involves the upper lungs, whereas panacinar emphysema more commonly involves the lower lungs. Most patients with RB-ILD have normal high-resolution CT scans; however, abnormalities may be present, the most common of which are areas of ground-glass attenuation. CT appearance of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis varies depending on the disease stage: In the early stage, typical CT findings include multiple nodules, usually accompanied by cystic spaces with thin, well-defined walls. As the disease progresses, the cystic spaces become more numerous and the number of nodules decreases.     

Cigarette smoking is associated with unhealthy patterns of nutrient intake: a meta-analysis

The aim of this investigation was to assess the relationship between smoking status and nutrient intakes using a meta-analysis. Publications in English were sought through a Medline search using the following key words: food habits, eating, feeding behavior, diet, food, nutrition, nutritional status or assessment, tobacco use disorder, tobacco, nicotine and smoking. Scanning relevant reference lists of articles and hand searching completed the data collection. No attempt was made to search for unpublished results. Paper selection was based on nutritional surveys including comparisons of smokers with nonsmokers. Fifty-one published nutritional surveys from 15 different countries with 47,250 nonsmokers and 35,870 smokers were used in the analysis. The estimates of size effects were calculated with the mean and variance values of each nutrient intake and the size of the sample. Smokers declared significantly (all P < 10(-5)) higher intakes of energy (+4.9%), total fat (+3.5%), saturated fat (+8.9%), cholesterol (+10.8%) and alcohol (+77.5%) and lower intakes of polyunsaturated fat (-6.5%), fiber (-12.4%), vitamin C (-16.5%), vitamin E (-10.8%) and beta-carotene (-11.8%) than nonsmokers. Protein and carbohydrate intakes did not differ between smokers and nonsmokers. There was no evidence of heterogeneity among studies. In conclusion, the nutrient intakes of smokers differ substantially from those of nonsmokers. Some of these differences may exacerbate the deleterious effects of smoke components on cancer and coronary heart disease risk.     

Cigarette smoking and periodontal destruction in young adults

The relationship between cigarette smoking and periodontal destruction was assessed in young adults. Eighty-two regular dental attenders (21 current cigarette smokers, 61 non-smokers) aged between 20 and 33 years were examined. The smokers consumed on average 15.4 (+/- 7.3) cigarettes per day and had smoked for an average of 11.8 (+/- 7) years. Cigarette smokers had almost the same levels of plaque as non-smokers but had more proximal surfaces with subgingival calculus (P < 0.01) and which bled on probing (P < 0.05). Smokers had significantly more pockets > or = 4 mm (14.6 +/- 19.9) than non-smokers (5.8 +/- 7.9), P < 0.01. Only 2 (10%) of the smokers and 1 (2%) of the non-smokers had deep pocketing (> or = 6 mm). Smokers had significantly more sites (21.8 +/- 24.9) with periodontal attachment loss of > or = 2 mm than non-smokers (9.3 +/- 12.2), P < 0.01. Severe loss of periodontal attachment (> or = 6 mm) was present in 4 (19%) of smokers compared with 2 (3%) of non smokers. In total 4 (19%) of the smokers had "established periodontitis" compared with 1 (2%) of the non-smokers. The odds ratio for the presence of "established periodontitis" and smoking was 14.1 (confidence interval 1.5 to 132.9). It is concluded that cigarette smoking was a major environmental factor associated with accelerated periodontal destruction in this selected group of young adult regular dental attenders.