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Objective: To investigate the association between interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and total oral fluid (TOF) and the responsiveness to steps 1 and 2 of periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: One‐hundred and fifty‐nine patients affected by periodontitis received steps 1 and 2 of periodontal therapy. At baseline, TOF and GCF samples were collected and analysed for IL‐8 (Il‐8TOF/IL‐8GCF) using flow cytometry. Therapy outcomes were relative proportions of residual periodontal pockets (PPD%), pocket closure (PC) rates and pocket probing depth (PPD) reductions; these were associated with IL‐8TOF/IL‐8GCF. Results: High IL‐8TOF was significantly associated with higher residual PPD% (p = 0.044) and lower PPD reduction compared to low IL‐8TOF (high 0.79 ± 1.20 mm vs. low 1.20 ± 1.20 mm, p < 0.001) in non‐smokers, while in smokers high IL‐8GCF was related to lower PPD reduction (high 0.62 ± 1.22 mm vs. low 0.84 ± 1.12 mm, p = 0.009). Furthermore, high baseline IL‐8TOF was significantly associated with poorer PC rates compared to medium and low concentrations in both non‐smokers (high 41% vs. medium 55% vs. low 58%, p < 0.001) and smokers (high 34% vs. medium 44% vs. low 46%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: High IL‐8 concentrations at baseline had a significant impact on residual PPD%, PC rates and PPD reduction. The findings suggest that, especially in non‐smokers, baseline IL‐8 levels collected from the TOF could serve as a component in the estimation of responsiveness to steps 1 and 2 of periodontal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Smokers have a higher chance of developing peri-implant diseases and are therefore considered an at-risk population. Our aim was to compare peri-implant characteristics in users of electronic cigarettes (EC), waterpipes (WP), cigarettes (CS), smokeless tobacco (ST), and nonsmokers (nonusers of any nicotine and tobacco product; NS). Aims and Methods A systematic search of four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CENTRAL) was performed until April 2023, restricted to English language. Thirty-nine observational studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, of which 32 studies were included in a Bayesian network meta-analysis. Using a predesigned form, two researchers independently collected data about marginal bone loss (MBL), probing pocket depth (PPD), plaque index, bleeding on probing, modified plaque index, probing pocket depth > 4 mm (PPD > 4), gingival index, peri-implant sulcular fluid volume, and TNF-α and IL-1β levels. QUIPS and CINeMA were used to evaluate the risk of bias and certainty of evidence. Results Nonsmokers had the smallest MBL. Most nicotine-containing product users had significantly higher MBL (CS, mean difference [MD]: 1.34 credible interval [CrI]: 0.85, 1.79; WP, MD: 1.58 CrI: 0.84, 2.35; ST, MD: 2.53, CrI: 1.20, 3.87) than NS. Electronic cigarettes did not show significant difference compared to NS (MD: 0.52 CrI: −0.33, 1.36). In secondary outcomes, NS were ranked in first place. Subset analysis based on smoking habit, implant duration, and maintenance control revealed no differences in ranking probability. Conclusions Most nicotine-containing product users presented worse peri-implant parameters compared to NS, while EC users did not show significant differences to NS in many outcomes. Implications Alternative nicotine-containing products are gaining popularity and are often considered less harmful by the general public compared to traditional cigarettes. This is the first network meta-analysis comparing users of four nicotine-containing products and NS. This study shows that CS, WP, and ST have a detrimental effect on the overall health of peri-implant tissues. EC users also presented inferior parameters compared to NS; however, the difference was not significant in many outcomes. It is essential to educate patients who are using nicotine-containing products, and to provide proper maintenance and appropriate cessation support. Well-designed multiarmed studies are needed for direct comparison of different products, including heated tobacco products. Greater transparency of confounding factors is needed regarding smoking habit and oral hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer screening guidelines prioritize individuals with a history of smoking due to their higher risk of the disease. Methods: Our study examines the awareness and interest in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening among different smoking statuses using data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 6 (2022). We analyzed data from HINTS 6, including 3915 participants on smoking status, LDCT screening, and telehealth use. Participants were categorized as current smokers, former smokers, and non-smokers. Results: Current smokers had the highest likelihood of being recommended for LDCT screening (OR: 7.1, aOR: 10.4) compared with non-smokers. Former smokers also had increased odds of screening recommendations (OR: 3.1, aOR: 3.4) than non-smokers. Despite higher screening recommendations, current smokers exhibited significantly lower interest in cancer screening (interest rating score: 2.1) compared with non-smokers (interest rating score: 2.4) and former smokers (interest rating score: 2.5). Current smokers rated their telehealth care experiences more positively in terms of care quality compared with non-smokers. Conclusions: Our findings underscore a gap in cancer screening interest among current smokers despite their higher likelihood of being recommended for LDCT screening. The favorable perception of telehealth among current smokers provides an opportunity to enhance engagement and promote LDCT scan through telehealth care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Lung cancer in never-smoker (LCINS) patients accounts for 20% of lung cancer cases, and its biology remains poorly understood, particularly in genetically admixed populations. We elucidated the molecular profile of driver genes in Brazilian LCINS. Methods The mutational and gene fusion status of 119 lung adenocarcinomas from self-reported never-smoker patients, was assessed using targeted sequencing (NGS), nCounter, and immunohistochemistry. A panel of 46 ancestry-informative markers determined patients' genetic ancestry. Results The most frequently mutated gene was EGFR (49.6%), followed by TP53 (39.5%), ALK (12.6%), ERBB2 (7.6%), KRAS (5.9%), PIK3CA (1.7%), and less than 1% alterations in RET , NTRK1 , MET ∆ex14, PDGFRA , and BRAF. Except for TP53 and PIK3CA , all other alterations were mutually exclusive. Genetic ancestry analysis revealed a predominance of European (71.1%), and a higher African ancestry was associated with TP53 mutations. Conclusion Brazilian LCINS exhibited a similar molecular profile to other populations, except the increased ALK and TP53 alterations. Importantly, 73% of these patients have actionable alterations that are suitable for targeted treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the amount of smoking, the presence of back pain and the severity of pain, and to examine whether there was a relationship between smoking and back pain. Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 100 randomly selected students who were educated at university and had back pain. In individuals, a 22-question questionnaire and 21-question Beck Depression Scale were used, questioning parameters such as sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity levels, previous health problems, smoking status, as well as pain assessment tests. The results were analyzed by appropriate statistical methods. Results: Morning back pain was found to be higher in smokers compared to nonsmokers. (p <.05) BECK Depression Scale scores of smokers were found to be significantly different compared to nonsmokers (p =.00). In addition, it was observed that smokers needed more psychological medical support than nonsmokers (p =.00). Conclusions: This study revealed that although some significant results were found between smoking and some factors that cause back pain, there was no significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Women smokers are overlooked because of their current low smoking rates compared to men smokers. However, smoking among women in developing countries, including Indonesia is increasing due to the weakening of social stigma that was previously said to prevent them from uptake cigarettes. The study aimed to explore the stigmatization of smoking women from women's perspectives. Methods: We interviewed 39 women—19 smokers and 20 nonsmokers aged 18 years old and above in Banda Aceh and Jakarta representing urban contexts. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using the self-categorization theory where women characterized identity at different levels of inclusiveness. Results: Our study found most participants perceived the social stigma of women smokers still exists. Women's viewpoints toward women smokers are situated between challenging and compromising women and their smoking conduct, illustrated by why they smoke, where they choose to smoke, and how the smokers look like. Conclusion: Women's perceptions and attitudes toward women smoking provide insights into how the remainder of social judgment can serve as a barrier to capturing accurate information about women smokers and solving smoking-related issues, particularly in developing countries, such as Indonesia. Policymakers and health professionals need to determine and implement more gendered sensitive tobacco control interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver (MASLD) disease is the commonest hepatic cause of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis after the introduction of the direct acting antivirals and eradication of hepatitis C. MASLD is usually associated with metabolic syndrome and elevated inflammatory markers. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) offers a non-invasive diagnostic, alternative to liver biopsy. This is a case–control diagnostic-accuracy study conducted on 40 patients in the Hepato-gastroenterology Unit in the Internal Medicine Department, Ain Shams University Hospitals, to study the role of MRI spectroscopy as a new diagnostic model for assessment of liver steatosis in non-diabetic MASLD patients compared to the standard ultrasound and clinical criteria. MASLD was diagnosed by a combination of a validated ultrasound hepatic steatosis score grading system and hepatic steatosis index using clinical and laboratory parameters. MRS was performed in all patients and fat peak, water peak, and fat fraction % were measured, and diagnostic accuracy of different MRS is compared to the US scoring and different laboratory and clinical parameters. To our knowledge this is the first study conducted on MRS in our region and Egypt. Results: This study revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding HbA1C, creatinine, while there was highly statistically significant difference regarding fasting blood sugar, 2 h post-prandial glucose level, urine albumin, and low-density lipoprotein levels. Hepatic steatosis score grading by abdominal ultrasound on the 20 controls showed no fatty changes with grade 0 (50%), and on the 20 MASLD patients showed that 2 cases were grade 1 steatosis (5%), 9 cases were grade 2 steatosis (22.5%), and 9 cases were grade 3 steatosis (22.5%). The diagnostic accuracy of predicting hepatic steatosis using different MRS parameters: fat peak, water peak, and fat fraction had area under the curve of 99.9%, 88.6%, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of fat fraction in detecting hepatic steatosis were 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of the fat peak in detecting hepatic steatosis were 100% and 95%, respectively. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of the water peak in detecting the hepatic steatosis were 88.6% and 85%, respectively. There is a statistically significant correlation between the three MRS parameters and the abdominal ultrasound hepatic steatosis score grades. Conclusion: MRS parameters: fat fraction, fat peak, and water peak, have high diagnostic accuracy for predicting the liver steatosis. Moreover, MRS has the added advantage of being a non-invasive and a tool with low radiation risk. MRS also shows the metabolic changes in the liver and could be an eligible outcome in therapeutic clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Though an association between cluster headache (CH) and smoking has been postulated, data from the Middle East region is scarce. Aim of work: To study the relationship between smoking and CH clinical characteristics and responsiveness to therapy in Egypt. Methodology: This was a prospective cohort hospital-based study conducted on patients with episodic and chronic CH in a tertiary headache clinic in Egypt during the period between 2019 and 2023. Patients were consecutively recruited at the time of their presentation and were followed up for two weeks after initiation of prophylactic treatment and steroids (as transitional therapy). Results: Of 172 patients with CH recruited, 144 (83.7%) were smokers. Twenty-eight patients (16.3%) had chronic CH. The mean age was 42.08 ± 10.93 (20–66) years, and 131 (76.2%) were males. Smokers had a significantly higher median number of cluster bouts in the past five years (3.0 (IQR2.0–4.0) versus 2.0 (IQR 1.0–2.0)) and worse HIT-6 scores [51.0 (44.0–59.75) versus 41.0 (38.0–41.75)] than non-smokers (p < 0.001). The number of cluster bouts in the past five years was positively correlated with the smoking index (r = 0.249 (p = 0.006) and the smoking duration (in years) (r = 0.392 (p < 0.001)). HIT-6 scores were significantly correlated with the age at smoking onset (r=-0.190, = 0.023), smoking index (r = 0.519, p < 0.001), smoking duration (r = 0.611, p < 0.001), and number of cigarettes consumed per day (r = 0.392, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Smoking is significantly correlated with the daily frequency of CH attacks, the frequency of CH bouts in the past five years, and the HIT-6 scores among our cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the G allele variant of TERT-CLPTM1L rs4975616 has been confirmed to be negatively associated to the risk of lung cancer (LC), some other studies haven't found this negative association. The purpose of this study is to clarify the association of the rs4975616 with the risk of developing LC and the differences of this association among patients with different ethnicities (Caucasians and Asians), different subtypes of LC, and different smoking status. Methods: Relevant literatures published before July 20, 2023 in PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, MEDLINE databases were searched through the Internet. Statistical analysis of data was performed in Revman5.3, including drawing forest plots, funnel plots and so on. Sensitivity and publication bias were performed in Stata 14.0. The stability of the results was assessed using Test Sequence Analysis (TSA) software. Registration number: CRD42024568348. Results: The G allele variant of rs4975616 was negatively associated with the risk of LC ([OR] = 0.86, 95%CI [0.84, 0.88]), and that this negative association was present in both Caucasians ([OR] = 0.85, 95%CI [0.83, 0.87]) and Asians ([OR] = 0.91, 95%CI [0.86, 0.95]), and the strength of the negative association was higher in Caucasians than in Asians (subgroup differences: P = 0.02, I2 = 80.3%). Across LC subtypes, rs4975616[G] was negatively associated with the risk of NSCLC (LUAD, LUSC) in both Caucasians and Asians (P<0.05) and the strength of the association with NSCLC (LUAD) was higher in Caucasians than in Asians (Subgroup differences: I2>50%). In Caucasians, rs4975616[G] was negatively associated with the risk of LC in both smokers and non-smokers (P<0.05), and the strength of the association did not differ between smokers and non-smokers (Subgroup differences: P = 0.18, I2 = 45.0%). In Asians, rs4975616[G] was mainly negatively associated with the risk of LC in smokers (P<0.05) but not in non-smokers ([OR] = 0.97, 95%CI [0.78, 1.20]). Comparisons between the two populations showed that the strength of this negative association was higher in Caucasian non-smokers than in Asian non-smokers (Subgroup differences: P = 0.04, I2 = 75.3%), whereas the strength of this negative association was the same for Caucasian smokers as for Asian smokers (Subgroup differences: P = 0.42, I2 = 0%). Among the different LC subtypes, rs4975616[G] was negatively associated with the risk of NSCLC (LUAD) incidence in both Asian smokers and Caucasian non-smokers (P<0.05), whereas it was not associated with the risk of NSCLC development in Asian non-smokers (P>0.05). Comparisons between the two populations showed that the strength of the association was higher in Caucasian non-smokers than in Asian non-smokers (Subgroup differences: I2>50%). Conclusion: The G allele variant of rs4975616 is negatively associated with the risk of LC and NSCLC (LUAD, LUSC). Compared with Asians, Caucasians are more likely to have a higher risk of LC and NSCLC (LUAD) due to the rs4975616 variant. In Caucasians, smoking and other factors like non-smoking contribute to rs4975616 variations leading to LC, and other factors like non-smoking also induce rs4975616 variations leading to NSCLC (LUAD). In Asians, smoking is the major risk factor for the induction of rs4975616 variations leading to LC and NSCLC(LUAD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and changing trends of non-smokers with lung cancer (LC) based on data from a population-wide cancer registry in northern China. METHODS The study used LC incidence and follow-up data from 2010 to 2019 from the Cancer Registry System of Tianjin city, which included 82769 cases. Trends in the incidence and proportion of non-smokers with LC were examined by joinpoint regression analysis. Life table and Cox survival analyses were used to calculate the survival rates and compare the death hazard ratios (HRs) in different groups, respectively. RESULTS Among the 82769 new diagnosis cases of LC during 2010 to 2019, there were 34589 (41.8%) current smokers, 14913 (18.0%) ex-smokers, 28123 (34.0%) non-smokers, and 5144 (6.2%) unknowns. The proportion of non-smokers changed slightly from 2010 (35.36%) to 2019 (36.87%) (annual percentage change, APC= -0.01%, p>0.05). This proportion declined in men (2010 vs 2019; 22.06% vs 20.66%) and increased in women (2010 vs 2019; 53.02% vs 62.35%), and in the 0--44 years age group it showed an upward trend from 2015 to 2019 (APC=4.82%, 95% CI: 1.8--7.9). Compared with smokers with LC, non-smokers with LC were predominantly females (64.15% vs 27.26%), had a predominantly adenocarcinoma histological subtypes (76.71% vs 42.22%), and had a 20% lower risk of death than smokers (HR=0.80; 95% CI: 0.78--0.81). CONCLUSIONS The proportion of non-smokers with LC was relatively high in northern China, with an increasing trend in the proportion of females and younger age groups. Non-smokers with LC had different epidemiological and clinical characteristics compared with smokers with LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many participants living with hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine continue to experience challenges with their physical, social, cognitive, and psychological functions. These symptoms may lead to poor quality of life (QoL). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the health-related QoL in participants living with hypothyroidism on levothyroxine therapy and to describe the association between QoL in participants living with hypothyroidism on levothyroxine therapy and various demographic and treatment parameters. Methods: The disease-specific ThyPRO instrument was used to measure the QoL in treated hypothyroid participants at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH). The study recruited 127 participants with primary hypothyroidism on levothyroxine therapy for more than six months, who attended the clinic from 1 January 2021 until 30 September 2021. ThyPRO contains 84 items, summarised in 13 scales. Results: Of the 127 participants, the average Overall QoL was 31.4%. The highest ThyPRO scores were recorded for vitality (49.9%), difficulty in coping with the mood (38.5%), tiredness (37.5%), nervousness, and tension (33.3%). No negative impact on mean ThyPRO scores was recorded for sex life among all the respondents. Indian and White descent participants had poorer ThyPRO scores of 44.4% and 39.3%, respectively, as compared with Black participants at 30.7% and mixed origin at 26.0%. Smokers had a poorer ThyPRO score of 40.1% compared with 30.3% among non-smokers. Participants who were on treatment for less than one year had poorer ThyPRO scores of 61.0% as compared with 29.4% of those who received treatment for longer (between one year and four years) and 31.1% for more than five years. Conclusion: Participants who received treatment for an extended period had a better QoL. It is recommend to use ThyPRO to assess the health-related QoL in treated hypothyroid patients for future clinical research and good clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on assessing the prevalence of allergic sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus (AS) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, comparing smokers and non-smokers. It explores the association between AS and factors like tobacco smoking, biomass fuel exposure, and the prevalence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), particularly in those who smoke bidis or cigarettes.

Introduction The harmful effects of first and secondhand smoking are well-established. Smoke-free laws aim at protecting nonsmokers. This study aimed to assess the impact of the 2013 total ban on indoor smoking in Chile on hospitalizations and deaths of major cardiovascular events. Aims and Methods The logarithm of the monthly hospitalization and death rates, standardized by age for every 100 000 inhabitants, were estimated for ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, strokes, and a composite outcome of ischemic heart diseases (which includes acute myocardial infarction) and strokes. In addition, interrupted time series with synthetic control groups were used to assess changes in levels and trends after the intervention. Results The total ban on indoor smoking caused significant reductions in death rates for the three diseases studied for age groups above 20 years old. In addition, there were substantial decreases in the post-intervention hospitalization rates for ischemic heart disease: for the 20–44 age group, the decrease was 8.7% compared to the pre-intervention period (p  < .01). In comparison, such a reduction was 4% (p  < .01) for the ≥65 age group. For acute myocardial infarction, the decrease was 11.5% (p  < .01) for the 20–44 age group, while for stroke, it was a 1.2% (p  < .01) decrease for the total population. It is estimated that the smoking ban averted 15.6% of the deaths compared with the synthetic control groups. Conclusions The implementation of total smoke-free environments in Chile contributed to the reduction of mortality for main cardiovascular diseases. This study provides additional evidence of causality linking the policy to health outcomes. Implications The total indoor smoking ban significantly affected age-standardized hospitalization and deaths. The number of deaths averted by this policy is estimated at approximately 4758 and 5256 for IHD and stroke, respectively, during the 2013–2017 period (15.6% fewer deaths than predicted by the synthetic control groups). The study contributes to the body of evidence that supports total indoor smoking bans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Building on the idea of a germline oligogenic origin of lung cancer, we performed WES of DNA from patients' peripheral blood and their unaffected sibs. Filtering for rare variants and potentially damaging effects, we identified 40 deleterious variants mapping in genes previously associated with cancer exclusively identified in patients. Transcriptome profiling on both tumor and normal lung tissues revealed that, among the selected mutated genes, 16 variants mapping in 16 genes were either down- or upregulated in cancer specimens. Among the downregulated genes, 9 variants in 9 genes carried the mutated allele suggesting a loss of heterozygosity. Notably, the group of mutated genes was unique for each patient, pinpointing to a "private" oligogenic germline signature. In the era of precision medicine, this report emphasizes the importance of an "omic" approach to uncover an oligogenic germline signature underlying cancer development and identify suitable therapeutic targets. Lung cancer (LC) continues to be an important public health problem, being the most common form of cancer and a major cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Despite the great bulk of research to identify genetic susceptibility genes by genome-wide association studies, only few loci associated to nicotine dependence have been consistently replicated. Our previously published study in few phenotypically discordant sib-pairs identified a combination of germline truncating mutations in known cancer susceptibility genes in never-smoker early-onset LC patients, which does not present in their healthy sib. These results firstly demonstrated the presence of an oligogenic combination of disrupted cancer-predisposing genes in non-smokers patients, giving experimental support to a model of a "private genetic epidemiology". Here, we used a combination of whole-exome and RNA sequencing coupled with a discordant sib's model in a novel cohort of pairs of never-smokers early-onset LC patients and in their healthy sibs used as controls. We selected rare germline variants predicted as deleterious by CADD and SVM bioinformatics tools and absent in the healthy sib. Overall, we identified an average of 200 variants per patient, about 10 of which in cancer-predisposing genes. In most of them, RNA sequencing data reinforced the pathogenic role of the identified variants showing: (i) downregulation in LC tissue (indicating a "second hit" in tumor suppressor genes); (ii) upregulation in cancer tissue (likely oncogene); and (iii) downregulation in both normal and cancer tissue (indicating transcript instability). The combination of the two techniques demonstrates that each patient has an average of six (with a range from four to eight) private mutations with a functional effect in tumor-predisposing genes. The presence of a unique combination of disrupting events in the affected subjects may explain the absence of the familial clustering of non-small-cell lung cancer. In conclusion, these findings indicate that each patient has his/her own "predisposing signature" to cancer development and suggest the use of personalized therapeutic strategies in lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The research regarding the effect of hookah smoking on health is still deficient, even though it has been proven to jeopardize human health by raising the hazard of different types of cancers, infections, and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to study the effect of dual tobacco smoking (hookah and cigarettes) on semen parameters of infertile men. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we studied the effect of different types of smoking patterns on human semen parameters among men who visited IVF laboratories to do a seminal fluid analysis (SFA). A total number of 761 participants were included, divided into the following: 108 dual smokers, 219 hookah smokers, 222 cigarette smokers, and 212 non-smokers. To analyze the effect of dual smoking on normal morphology, an interaction term between the cigarette index and hookah index was used. Results: Multivariable regression analysis after adjustment for age, BMI, education level, children, chronic diseases, varicocele, testicular surgery history, infertility duration, and cause revealed no significant difference in the sperm concentration and the percentage of progressive motility between non-smokers, cigarette smokers, or hookah smokers. However, there was a significant difference in the log of normal morphology percentage between the three groups. Cigarette and hookah smoking were significantly associated with having lower percentages of normal morphology. There was a significant difference in the log-normal morphology %, where light and heavy dual smokers had the least exponential beta of log-normal morphology %, 0.43 (95% CI: 0.33–0.55) and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.24–0.53), respectively. Conclusions: Dual tobacco smoking can adversely affect sperm morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in the Najaf Governorate, Iraq, to analyze biological samples from smokers and non-smokers. Blood serum, urine, hair, and nails as a biological sample at five age groups were chosen to determine alpha emitters (222Rn, 226Ra, 218Po, and 214Po) using a CR-39 detector. The results show that the average values of radon concentrations (Bq m−3) in blood serum, urine, hair, and nails for smokers were 54 ± 19, 63 ± 20, 33 ± 9, and 40 ± 12 respectively. While, the average values of radon concentrations (Bq m−3) in blood serum, urine, hair, and nails for non-smokers were 23 ± 6, 30 ± 6, 18 ± 5, and 20 ± 6 respectively. Age and smoking affect all alpha emitters, according to the study's conclusions and comparisons. Significantly higher alpha emitters were seen in smokers compared to non-smokers (p < 0.01). Alpha emitter levels were significantly variable among age groups (p < 0.01). In smokers, greater levels were significantly linked to exposure time (p < 0.01). Smokers had greater mean values of 222Rn, 226Ra, 218Po, and 214Po in biological samples than non-smokers. Thus, it may be said that cigarette smoking is used as a biomarker of the presence of alpha emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Federally qualified health centers (FQHC) aim to improve cancer prevention by providing screening options and efforts to prevent harmful behavior. Patient portals are increasingly being used to deliver health promotion initiatives. However, little is known about patient portal activation rates in FQHC settings and the factors associated with activation. This study examined patient portal activation among FQHC patients and assessed correlations with demographic, clinical, and health service use variables. We analyzed electronic health record data from adults >18 years old with at least one appointment. Data were accessed from the electronic health records for patients seen between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2022 (n = 40,852 patients). We used multivariate logistic regression models to examine the correlates of having an activated EPIC-supported MyChart patient portal account. One-third of patients had an activated MyChart portal account. Overall, 35% of patients with an activated account had read at least one portal message, 69% used the portal to schedule an appointment, and 90% viewed lab results. Demographic and clinical factors associated with activation included younger age, female sex, white race, English language, being partnered, privately insured, non-smoking, and diagnosed with a chronic disease. More frequent healthcare visits were also associated with an activated account. Whether or not a patient had an email address in the EHR yielded the strongest association with patient portal activation. Overall, 39% of patients did not have an email address; only 2% of those patients had activated their accounts, compared to 54% of those with an email address. Patient portal activation rates were modest and associated with demographic, clinical, and healthcare utilization factors. Patient portal usage to manage one's healthcare needs is increasing nationally. As such, FQHC clinics should enhance efforts to improve the uptake and usage of patient portals, including educational campaigns and eliminating email requirements for portal activation, to reinforce cancer prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The nicotine in e-cigarette liquid can negatively impact periodontal tissues by altering the salivary pH and elevating cotinine levels. Thus, the study aimed to determine the periodontal parameters, salivary pH, and cotinine levels among cigarette, e-cigarette, and never-smokers. Methods: A total of 144 participants were recruited (48 cigarette smokers, 48 e-cigarette smokers, and 48 never-smokers). Clinical periodontal parameters, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), periodontal probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded, excluding third molars. The level of unstimulated whole salivary pH was measured using a portable pH meter and the levels of salivary cotinine were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: Data were analysed statistically using analysis of variance. Mean scores of PPD, percentage of pocket depth ≥ 4 mm, and CAL (p < 0.05) were significantly higher among cigarette smokers than those in e-cigarette and never-smokers, while GI (p < 0.05) were significantly higher among e-cigarette smokers. The unstimulated salivary pH was more acidic among cigarette smokers (p < 0.05) and e-cigarette smokers (p < 0.05) than in never-smokers. The cotinine levels were higher among cigarette smokers (p < 0.05) and e-cigarette smokers (p < 0.05) than in never-smokers. Conclusions: Clinical periodontal parameters were poorer in cigarette smokers than in e-cigarette smokers and never-smokers. Meanwhile, cigarette and e-cigarette smokers have more acidic salivary pH and higher cotinine levels than in never-smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Türkiye is the leading country that has been applying the MPOWER criteria of the World Health Organization for years. However, the prevalence of smoking among nurses appears to be high, according to the literature. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence, addiction levels, and dynamics of tobacco smoking among nurses in Türkiye. Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a questionnaire (prepared in cooperation with the "World Health Organization") and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence were administered to 529 nurses working at a tertiary-care university hospital in 2020. Logistic regression was performed to determine factors predicting smoking. Results: The prevalence of smoking among nurses was 32.7% (n = 173). The mean Fagerström test score indicated a "low dependence" level (score: 3 ± 2.6). Both results were higher for males. A relationship was found between trying smoking cigarette and hookah. Of the "current smokers" group, 102 (60.4%) stated that they wanted to quit smoking. Only 21 (27.6%) of the nurses who have tried to quit smoking thus far have received professional help. Conclusion: The prevalence of smoking among nurses working at a tertiary-care university hospital was relatively low compared to that among nurses in Türkiye. While females are normally expected to smoke less, the high prevalence of smoking among nurses (most of them female) raises the question of the professional basis of this situation. However, the low rate of receiving professional help reveals the lack of promotion and accessibility of smoking cessation outpatient clinics in the faculty environment. Finally, the perception that hookah is an alternative tobacco product leads to cigarette smoking. The good news was that nurses had a low dependency rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (ES-LUAD) is steadily increasing among non-smokers. Previous research has identified dysbiosis in the gut microbiota of patients with lung cancer. However, the local microbial profile of non-smokers with ES-LUAD remains largely unknown. In this study, we systematically characterized the local microbial community and its associated features to enable early intervention. Methods: A prospective collection of ES-LUAD samples (46 cases) and their corresponding normal tissues adjacent to the tumor (41 cases), along with normal lung tissue samples adjacent to pulmonary bullae in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (42 cases), were subjected to ultra-deep metagenomic sequencing, host transcriptomic sequencing, and proteomic sequencing. The obtained omics data were subjected to both individual and integrated analysis using Spearman correlation coefficients. Results: We concurrently detected the presence of bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the lung tissues. The microbial profile of ES-LUAD exhibited similarities to NAT but demonstrated significant differences from the healthy controls (HCs), characterized by an overall reduction in species diversity. Patients with ES-LUAD exhibited local microbial dysbiosis, suggesting the potential pathogenicity of certain microbial species. Through multi-omics correlations, intricate local crosstalk between the host and local microbial communities was observed. Additionally, we identified a significant positive correlation (rho > 0.6) between Methyloversatilis discipulorum and GOLM1 at both the transcriptional and protein levels using multi-omics data. This correlated axis may be associated with prognosis. Finally, a diagnostic model composed of six bacterial markers successfully achieved precise differentiation between patients with ES-LUAD and HCs. Conclusions: Our study depicts the microbial spectrum in patients with ES-LUAD and provides evidence of alterations in lung microbiota and their interplay with the host, enhancing comprehension of the pathogenic mechanisms that underlie ES-LUAD. The specific model incorporating lung microbiota can serve as a potential diagnostic tool for distinguishing between ES-LUAD and HCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: China is the largest tobacco consumer in the world, and tobacco poses a serious threat to the health of pregnant women. However, there are relatively few domestic studies on smoking during pregnancy and childbirth outcomes among pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of active and passive smoking on pregnant women and their pregnancy outcomes, providing evidence and recommendations for intervention measures. Methods: This was a cohort study in Shanghai from April 2021 to September 2023. According to the smoking status of pregnant women, they were divided into three groups: active smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers. A self-designed questionnaire was utilized to conduct the survey, and their pregnancy outcomes were tracked and followed up. Results: A total of 3446 pregnant women were included in this study, among which 2.1% were active smokers, 43.5% were passive smokers, and 54.4% were nonsmokers. The average age of the pregnant women was 29.9 years, and 41.2% had a university degree or higher. The education level of active smokers and passive smokers was significantly lower than that of non-smokers (p<0.05).The average gestational age of non-smokers was 38.6 weeks, and the birth weight was 3283.2 g, which was higher than those of active smokers and passive smokers (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that passive smoking increased the likelihood of preterm birth (AOR=1.38; 95% CI: 1.05–1.81), low birth weight (AOR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.10–2.12), and intrauterine growth restriction (AOR=1.35; 95% CI: 1.02–1.79), while active smoking increased the likelihood of preterm birth (AOR=2.98; 95% CI: 1.50–5.90), low birth weight (AOR=4.29; 95% CI: 2.07–8.88), intrauterine growth restriction (AOR=2.70; 95% CI: 1.37–5.33) , and birth defects (AOR=2.66; 95% CI: 1.00–6.97). Conclusions: Our findings illustrate that active and passive smoking can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study provides data on the relationship between smoking during pregnancy and delivery outcomes among pregnant women. In the future, we need more effective strategies to protect pregnant women from the harm of tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Smoking among medical, dental, and pharmacy students is an issue in every university worldwide, which will impact future smoking cessation services as they are future healthcare providers. This study investigates the smoking prevalence, exposure to secondhand smoke, and factors associated with smoking among medical, dental, and pharmacy students at a public university in Malaysia. Methods: The self-administered online survey utilized in this cross-sectional study was derived from the Global Health Professions Students Survey (GHPSS), which involved medical, dental, and pharmacy students. A total of 328 participants completed a questionnaire from June to August 2022, with a response rate of 91.1%. Results: The overall smoking prevalence was 4.6% among the medical, dental, and pharmacy students who participated in this study; 46.7% of current smokers were exposed to secondhand smoke at home compared to 17.6% of non-smokers (p=0.011); and 66.7% of smokers were exposed to secondhand smoke in public compared to 40.3% of non-smokers (p=0.043). In all, 99.1% of respondents supported the smoking ban and 46.7% of current smokers supported the smoking ban in discos/bars/pubs, compared to 82.0% of non-smokers (p=0.002). Of the participants, 96.6% received lessons on the danger of tobacco, and 65.5% received smoking cessation training. Among factors associated with current smoking was gender; male students had a 19-fold higher likelihood of smoking than female students (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=19.25; 95% CI: 4.25–87.19, p<0.001). In addition, home exposure to secondhand smoke was four times more common for current smokers (OR=4.11; 95% CI: 1.43–11.79, p=0.009). Conclusions: Although smoking prevalence was low among the students in this study, there was a higher percentage of them exposed to secondhand smoke at home and in public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for various diseases worldwide, including pancreatic exocrine diseases such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer (PC). Currently, few studies have examined the impact of smoking cessation on the likelihood of common pancreatic exocrine diseases. This study sought to determine whether smoking cessation would reduce pancreatitis and PC morbidity. Methods: This cohort study used data from the UK Biobank (UKB) to examine the association between smoking status and the likelihood of pancreatitis and PC among 492855 participants. The subjects were divided into never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers. Using a multivariate-adjusted binary logistic regression model, we analyzed the relationship between different smoking conditions and the likelihood of pancreatitis and PC. Further, we studied the impact of smoking cessation on pancreatitis and PC compared with current smoking. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, current smokers had higher odds for acute pancreatitis (AP) (AOR=1.38; 95% CI: 1.18–1.61), chronic pancreatitis (CP) (AOR=3.29; 95% CI: 2.35–4.62) and PC (AOR=1.72; 95% CI: 1.42–2.09). People who quit smoking had comparable odds for the diseases as those who never smoked. Compared with current smokers, ex-smokers had reduced odds for AP (AOR=0.76; 95% CI: 0.64–0.89), CP (AOR=0.31; 95% CI: 0.21–0.46), and PC (AOR=0.62; 95% CI: 0.50–0.76). Subgroup analysis revealed reduced odds for these pancreatic diseases in males and females. Conclusions: Smokers have an increased odds for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Moreover, smoking cessation can significantly reduce the odds for acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This cohort study aimed to compare the effect of ultrasonic scaling on the expression of IL-1β in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) among ENDS users and non-smokers (NS) with gingivitis. Methods: Self-reported current electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) users and NS with generalized gingivitis were included in this study. All the patients underwent scaling at the baseline visit (T0). Clinical measures, periodontal parameters [probing depth (PD), plaque index (PI), and bleeding on probing (BOP)], and GCF IL-1β were measured at T0, after 1 week (T1) and after 3 weeks (T2). Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess the changes in the periodontal measurements and IL-1β levels at different time points and Mann–Whitney U Test was used to compare the two groups. Results: A total of 38 individuals (18 NS and 20 ENDS users) participated in the study. The PD was significantly higher in ENDS users than in NS at baseline. However, the PI and BOP were similar in all groups at baseline. At T1, the PI was significantly lower for NS than for ENDS users (p=0.045). At T2, there were no significant differences in any of the parameters assessed between the two groups. For ENDS users, BOP was significantly lower at T1 than at baseline. For NS, the BOP at T1 and T2 and the PI at T1 were significantly lower than at baseline. There was no difference in the GCF IL-1β levels in NS and ENDS users at baseline, T1, and T2. At T2, there was a significant reduction in IL-1β (p<0.05) than at baseline in both groups. Conclusions: Both ENDS users and NS with gingivitis responded similarly to scaling. GCF IL-1β levels were significantly higher at baseline (p<0.05) compared with their levels at T1 and T2 for both the groups. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on the official website of ClinicalTrials.gov IDENTIFIER: ID NCT05745324 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite strong and consistent epidemiological evidence linking cigarette smoking to several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the association between smoking intensity and CVD risk factors remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the possible effects of cigarette smoking on cardiometabolic risk in healthy individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2022 and June 2023. Consecutive sampling was performed to include 160 healthy participants: 100 smokers with 60 males and 40 females; and 60 age- and sexmatched non-smokers with 36 males and 24 females. Blood samples were taken from each participant to assess their cardiometabolic function: lipid profile, von Willebrand factor (vWF), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), and fibrinogen levels; and liver function using an automated enzymatic method. In addition, blood sugar level, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure were recorded. Results: Smokers had significantly higher vWF functional activity and hs-cTnI but significantly lower albumin and total bilirubin levels than non-smokers (65.87 ± 19.07 vs 56.45 ± 6.59, respectively, p<0.001; 0.0382 ± 0.0077 vs 0.0147 ± 0.0105, respectively, p<0.001; and 4.63 ± 0.32 vs 4.74 ± 0.28, respectively, p=0.026). The number of cigarettes consumed daily was associated positively and significantly with plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, vWF functional activity, and hs-cTnI but were negatively associated with total bilirubin. Moreover, heavy smokers had a significantly higher BMI and waist-to-hip ratio among male smokers than non-smokers. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking was associated with increased dyslipidemia, BMI, and central obesity, in addition to higher vWF functional activity. Altogether, increased hs-cTnI levels in smokers indicate a higher susceptibility to CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify the characteristics of individuals transitioning from metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) to unhealthy obesity and the factors influencing the change. Design: This is a nationwide cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea. Sample: Individuals with obesity but metabolically healthy in 2009 and 2010 and those still obese 4 years later were selected. Measurements: Sociodemographic, physical, metabolic, and health behavior variables were collected, and logistic regression was used to find an association with the transition. Results: We analyzed 1,564,467 individuals, observing significant differences in all variables and the transition from MHO to unhealthy obesity. Among males, the transition was associated with smoking and drinking positively and physical activity negatively. Among females, drinking demonstrated a negative correlation. Regardless of age, regular exercise was negatively associated with the transition for all individuals. Except for older adults, all age groups showed a positive correlation with smoking and drinking. Conclusions: Considering the significant factors in the transition, it is essential to develop and implement interventions varied by gender and age to delay and prevent the change in metabolic status. The necessity of developing interventions enables individuals to engage in regular exercise, regardless of age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associations of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) with airway wall remodeling and mucus plugs remain to be explored in smokers and nonsmokers with asthma. Ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (U-HRCT), which allows accurate structural quantification of airways >1 mm in diameter, was used in this study to examine whether higher FeNO was associated with thicker walls of the 3rd to 6th generation airways and mucus plugging in patients with asthma. The retrospective analyses included consecutive former smokers and nonsmokers with asthma who underwent U-HRCT in a hospital. The ratio of wall area to summed lumen and wall area was calculated as the wall area percent (WA%). Mucus plugging was visually scored. Ninety-seven patients with asthma (including 59 former smokers) were classified into low (<20 ppb), middle (20–35 ppb), and high (>35 ppb) FeNO groups (n = 24, 26, and 47). In analysis including all patients and subanalysis including nonsmokers or former smokers, WA% in the 6th generation airways was consistently higher in the high FeNO group than in the low FeNO group, whereas WA% in the 3rd to 5th generation airways was not. In multivariable models, WA% in the 6th generation airways and the rate of mucus plugging were higher in the high FeNO group than in the low FeNO group after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, lung volume, and allergic rhinitis presence. Higher FeNO may reflect the inflammation and remodeling of relatively peripheral airways in asthma in both former smokers and nonsmokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Demographic and health factors are known to predict vaping. Less is known about psychological predictors of vaping uptake, particularly among non‐smoking adults using longitudinal designs. We aimed to model how psychological factors related to personality and mental health predicted the likelihood of vaping uptake over time in non‐smoking adults ages 18+ using longitudinal data. Methods: Longitudinal regression models utilised data from the 2018–2020 waves of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study to assess how the Big Five personality traits, mental distress and self‐control predicted who began vaping over time among non‐users (non‐vapers and non‐smokers), controlling for gender, age, ethnicity and economic deprivation. Results: Analyses included 36,309 adults overall (ages 18 to 99; M = 51.0). The number of non‐users who transitioned into current vaping was small (transitioned from 2018 to 2019, n = 147; 0.48%; 2019 to 2020, n = 189, 0.63%). Fully adjusted models showed that adults with higher mental distress (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–1.88), lower self‐control (aOR 0.79; 95% CI 0.69–0.89) and higher extraversion (aOR 1.09; 95% CI 1.06–1.13) were more likely to begin vaping at the next time point compared to adults who remained non‐users. Higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness also predicted vaping uptake in initial models, but inclusion of mental distress and self‐control superseded these traits. Discussion and Conclusions: Psychological factors related to mental distress, impulse control and sociability predicted who was more likely to begin vaping as non‐smoking adults. Harm prevention interventions could target these factors to reduce vaping uptake in non‐smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking is one of the sources of many health problems in the world. Smoking adversely affects systemic diseases as well as oral health. The effects of smoking on oral health are mainly periodontal tissue damage. Periodontal inflammation limited to the gingival tissue is gingivitis, most often caused by bacteria. According to the results of several studies, it is stated that there were differences in gingivitis in smokers and non-smokers based on clinical parameters. We aimed to map the kinds of literature comparing gingivitis in smokers and non-smokers based on clinical parameters. The research was carried out using the scoping review method by PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews) based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles were retrieved from four databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. After screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 articles were included in the analysis. Nine parameters used to compare gingivitis in smokers and non-smokers were Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), Gingival Index (GI), gingival redness, vascular reaction, gingival exudate, Calculus Index (CI), and OHI-S. The review results showed that the PI in smokers and non-smokers was similar. GBI, BOP, GI, gingival redness, vascular reactions, and gingival exudate were higher in non-smokers compared to smokers. CI showed higher results in smokers and OHI-S it showed worse results in smokers. Gingivitis in smokers showed minimal signs of inflammation compared to non-smokers. This is characterized by the Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), Gingival Index (GI), gingival redness, vascular reaction, and gingival exudate that were lower in smokers compared to non-smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to controlling tobacco use lies in preventing new smokers. Graphic health warnings (GHW) discourage smoking initiation, but their effectiveness depends, in part, on their design. To measure the effect of varying the design and location of GHW, which occupy 30% of the package, to discourage smoking initiation. Non-smokers young adults aged 18–21 years (n = 358) were recruited online and randomized to one of four experimental conditions, in a 2 (Color, yellow vs white) × 2 (Location, top vs. bottom) between subjects experimental design. GHWs located on top increase perceived message effectiveness, reduce pack appeal, and decrease purchase intention. Yellow color increases perceived message effectiveness and white color reduces pack appeal. Yellow warnings on top grabbed more attention. Results suggest that the yellow warning on top is the best combination for GHWs covering 30% of the pack. This combination increases perceived message effectiveness, decreases pack appeal, and is the most attention-grabbing. Health communication strategies that address these key considerations can contribute to the prevention of cigarette smoking-associated noncommunicable diseases. Competencies and sub-competencies in one area of responsibility, (V) Advocacy, were addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although the adverse effects of smoking are well-established, evidence shows a longer survival rate following an acute myocardial infarction (MI) among smokers or the so-called "smoker's paradox". This study aimed to determine the impact of smoking on the one-year clinical outcomes of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in a large registry of the Iranian population. Methods: A total of 3087 patients diagnosed with acute STEMI who underwent PPCI between 2013 and 2018 were enrolled in the study. Patients' smoking status was determined based on self-reported history and categorized into two groups: current smokers and non-smokers. Clinical and angiographic data were collected from the Tehran Heart Center (THC) registry. The primary outcome was one-year of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The effect of smoking on MACCE was evaluated using a Cox model. Results: From the study population, 1967 (63.7%) were non-smokers, and 1120 (36.3%) were current smokers. Non-smokers had higher rates of prior CABG (5.3%) as well as a higher history of co-morbidities, including a history of diabetes mellitus (46.0%), hypertension (52.7%) and hyperlipidemia (55.4%) than smokers (2.3%, 30.4%, 35.7%, and 49.8% respectively). Smokers had a higher reference vessel diameter than non-smokers (P=0.005). The unadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for MACCE within one year were significantly lower in smokers than nonsmokers (0.73, 95% CI: [0.58,0.92]; P=0.009); however, after adjustment for confounders, the HRs for MACCE in smokers were similar to non-smokers (HR: 1.00, 95% CI: [0.73,1.38]). Conclusion: The study found that smoking had no significant impact on the one-year clinical outcomes of STEMI patients after PPCI in the Iranian population. This study is the first of its kind to assess the effect of smoking on STEMI patients in Iran and highlights the need for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Individuals above the age of 65 are the first to be vaccinated. In this study, it was aimed to determine the health perceptions and vaccine complications of individuals over 65 years of age who recieved the covid-19 vaccine. Methods: The research is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The sample consists of 151 adults over 65 who have received the Covid-19 vaccination. Individuals over the age of 65 who come to three different pharmacies in three distinct districts to buy medicine are considered participants. Results: The age of the participants was 72.42 ± 6,838, and their health perception score was 40,987 ± 5,878. The majority of them are male (51%), have had Sinovac (88.1%), are a primary school graduate (82.1%), live with their spouse (68.9%), are non-smokers (83.4%), have a chronic disease (96,0%), regularly take medication (96.7%), do not regularly get seasonal flu vaccine (78.8%), do not regularly use vitamins (92.7%), do not have joint pain (71.6%), and sleep for 7–9 h daily (50.4%). Scale scores were found as follows; control center 11.02 ± 2.66, precision 8.97 ± 2.41, importance of health 11.74 ± 2.64, self awareness 9.26 ± 2.03 health perception 40.99 ± 5.88. Conclusion: Those who received Sinovac, those with chronic disease, those who received routine influenza vaccination, those who took vitamin supplements, those who did not have joint pain, and those who had cough problems had higher health perception scores, and the difference was significant (p0.05). It will be critical to educate those over 65 about the vaccine's importance and adverse effects, as well as to boost their awareness in the appropriate manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A family history of lung cancer has been reported to increase the risk of lung cancer development. Since a family history of lung cancer is generally regarded as an unmodifiable factor, understanding the relationship between a family history of lung cancer and the development of lung cancer is essential for establishing lung cancer screening strategies. However, previous studies on this issue did not consider various characteristics of study participants, such as age, sex, and smoking status, and there is an ongoing debate regarding which subgroups exhibit a higher genetic predisposition to lung cancer. Furthermore, no data are available on the impact of a family history of lung cancer on lung cancer risk in the general Korean population. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between a family history of lung cancer in first-degree relatives and lung cancer development through a comprehensive analysis of a large population-based cohort in Korea. Comprehensive analyses of the association between a family history of lung cancer and lung cancer risk are limited, especially in the Korean population. We used baseline data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, conducted between 2001 and 2013. This study enrolled 198,980 individuals. Lung cancer diagnoses and family histories were determined using questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of family history on the risk of lung cancer. Of 198,980 individuals, 6296 (3.2%) and 140 (0.1%) had a family history of lung cancer and lung cancer, respectively. Individuals with a family history of lung cancer in first-degree relatives (FDRs) had a higher risk of lung cancer development than those without (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–4.66). This was more pronounced in young individuals (<60 years) who had affected relatives diagnosed with lung cancer before the age of 60 years (aOR = 3.77, 95% CI = 1.19–11.88). In subgroup analyses, this association was more evident in women, never smokers, and young individuals. A family history of lung cancer, especially in FDRs, is a significant risk factor for lung cancer development in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Smoking is a cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the dose–response relationship between secondhand smoke exposure (SHS) and NAFLD is unclear. This study sought to determine the relationship between SHS and NAFLD risk among adult nonsmokers in the United States. Aims and Methods Data from 7412 adult nonsmokers aged ≥20 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2016 were used in this study. SHS was defined as a nonsmoker with a serum cotinine concentration of 0.05–10.00 ng/mL. NAFLD was identified using the U.S. fatty liver index (USFLI), hepatic steatosis index (HSI), and fatty liver index (FLI). Weighted multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were applied to evaluate the relationship between SHS and NAFLD risk. Results The participants had a weighted mean age of 49.2 years, and 55.5% were female. SHS was associated with NAFLD (odds ratio [OR] 1.22; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.05 to 1.42), showing a linear dose–response relationship (natural log of cotinine level: OR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.17). Sensitivity analyses using different NAFLD definitions (HSI: OR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.46; FLI: OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.49), excluding participants taking hepatotoxic drugs, and propensity score-adjusted analysis yielded similar results. The association between SHS and NAFLD was consistent in analyses stratified by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Conclusions Among this nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, SHS had a linear dose–response relationship with the risk of NAFLD, suggesting that measures to lower SHS might lower NAFLD risk. Implications This study assessed the association between secondhand smoke exposure and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using data from 7412 adult nonsmokers aged 20 years or older who participated in the United States NHANES between 2007 and 2016. Secondhand smoke exposure was measured using serum cotinine levels. Three different noninvasive indexes were used to measure NAFLD. Secondhand smoke exposure was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD, with a linear dose–response relationship. The results of sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The number of smokers worldwide increased greatly during the past decades and reached 1.14 billion in 2019, becoming a leading risk factor for human health. Tobacco smoking has wide effects on human genetics, epigenetics, transcriptome, and gut microbiome. Although many studies have revealed effects of smoking on host transcriptome, research on the relationship between smoking, host gene expression, and the gut microbiome is limited. Aims and Methods We first explored transcriptome and metagenome profile differences between smokers and nonsmokers. To evaluate the relationship between host gene expression and gut microbiome, we then applied bidirectional mediation analysis to infer causal relationships between smoking, gene expression, and gut microbes. Results Metagenome and transcriptome analyses revealed 71 differential species and 324 differential expressed genes between smokers and nonsmokers. With smoking as an exposure variable, we identified 272 significant causal relationships between gene expression and gut microbes, among which there were 247 genes that mediate the effect of smoking on gut microbes. Pathway-based enrichment analysis showed that these genes were significantly enriched in heme metabolic pathway, which mainly mediated the changes of Bacteroides finegoldii and Lachnospiraceae bacterium 9_1_43BFAA. Additionally, by performing metabolome data analysis in the Integrated Human Microbiome Project (iHMP) database, we verified the correlation between the intermediate products of the heme metabolism pathway (porphobilinogen, bilirubin, and biliverdin) and gut microbiome. Conclusions By investigating the bidirectional interaction between smoking-related host gene expression and gut microbes, this study provided evidence for the mediation of smoking on gut microbes through co-involvement or interaction of heme metabolism. Implications By comparing the metagenome and transcriptome sequencing profiles between 34 smokers and 33 age- and gender-matched nonsmokers, we are the first to reveal causal relationships among tobacco smoking, host gene expression, and gut microbes. These findings offer insight into how smoking affects gut microbes through host gene expression and metabolism, which highlights the importance of heme metabolism in modulating the effects of smoking on gut microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite increasing use of cannabis, literature on perioperative effects is lagging. We compared active cannabis-smokers versus non-smokers and postoperative wound morbidity and reoperations following open abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). Methods: Patients who underwent open, clean, AWR with transversus abdominis release and retromuscular synthetic mesh placement at our institution between January 2014 and May 2022 were identified using the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative database. Active cannabis-smokers were 1:3 propensity matched to non-smokers based on demographics and comorbidities. Wound complications, 30 day morbidity, pain (PROMIS 3a-Pain Intensity), and hernia-specific quality of life (HerQles) were compared. Results: Seventy-two cannabis-smokers were matched to 216 non-smokers. SSO (18% vs 17% p = 0.86), SSI (11.1% vs 9.3%, p = 0.65), SSOPI (12% vs 12%, p = 0.92), and all postoperative complications (46% vs 43%, p = 0.63) were similar between cannabis-smokers and non-smokers. Reoperations were more common in the cannabis-smoker group (8.3% vs 2.8%, p = 0.041), driven by major wound complications (6.9% vs 3.2%, p = 0.004). No mesh excisions occurred. HerQles scores were similar at baseline (22 [11, 41] vs 35 [14, 55], p = 0.06), and were worse for cannabis-smokers compared to non-smokers at 30 days (30 [12, 50] vs 38 [20, 67], p = 0.032), but not significantly different at 1 year postoperatively (72 [53, 90] vs 78 [57, 92], p = 0.39). Pain scores were worse for cannabis-smokers compared to non-smokers at 30 days postoperatively (52 [46, 58] vs 49 [44, 54], p = 0.01), but there were no differences at 6 months or 1 year postoperatively (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Cannabis smokers will likely experience similar complication rates after clean, open AWR, but should be counseled that despite similar wound complication rates, the severity of their wound complications may be greater than non-smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies indicated that smoking alters the response to anesthetics and alters the outcome of perioperative care. A full understanding of the impact of smoking cessation to enhance surgical outcomes is pertinent. Purpose: This research aimed to compare perioperative cardiopulmonary complications in smokers and non-smokers during elective surgery under general anesthesia. We aimed to determine the incidence of complications in patients with a history of smoking, identify those at an increased risk, and assess the relationship between smoking duration and complications Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients, comprising 50 smokers and 50 non-smokers, were enrolled in the study. Various parameters, including heart rate increase during intubation, severe coughing, bronchospasm, oral secretions, oxygen desaturation, reintubation, opioid antagonist use, pulmonary edema, and other cardiopulmonary events, were assessed perioperatively. Statistical analysis involved both continuous and categorical variables. For continuous variables, the Student's t -test and the Mann–Whitney U test were used for normally and non-normally distributed data, respectively. For categorical variables, chi-squared tests were employed. Sub-group analysis assessed the influence of smoking duration on the measured parameters. Results: Smokers exhibited significantly higher incidences of severe coughing, heart rate elevation during intubation, and bronchospasm compared to non-smokers. Additionally, smokers experienced more pronounced oxygen desaturation throughout the perioperative period. Furthermore, a longer history of smoking was associated with an increased risk of complications, with individuals smoking for 10 or more years displaying a higher incidence of adverse events. Conclusion: Smokers, particularly those with extended smoking histories, are at an increased risk of cardiopulmonary complications during elective surgery under general anesthesia. Emphasizing preoperative optimization, meticulous airway management, and smoking cessation support is essential to mitigate these risks. The study underscores the significance of these measures for enhancing perioperative safety and calls for further research to explore the long-term impacts and patient satisfaction associated with these interventions. These steps are essential not only for perioperative care but also for long-term health benefits among this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent respiratory condition with global implications. Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical; however, traditional diagnostic methods (based on spirometry) show limitations, prompting the search for predictive biomarkers and modern diagnostic techniques. This study explored the validation of COPD-related biomarkers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, neutrophil elastase, and alpha-1 antitrypsin) in saliva. A diverse cohort, including healthy non-smokers, healthy smokers, and COPD patients of Polish origin, underwent spirometry and marker analysis. The data correlated with clinical factors, revealing noteworthy relations. Firstly, salivary biomarker levels were compared with serum concentrations, demonstrating notable positive or negative correlations, depending on the factor. Further analysis within healthy individuals revealed associations between biomarker levels, spirometry, and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, and BMI. Next, COPD patients exhibited an enhanced concentration of biomarkers compared to healthy groups. Finally, the study introduced a breathing assessment survey, unveiling significant associations between self-perceived breathing and spirometric and tested parameters. Outcomes emphasized the relevance of subjective experiences in COPD research. In conclusion, this research underscored the potential of salivary biomarkers as diagnostic tools for COPD, offering a non-invasive and accessible alternative to traditional methods. The findings paved the way for improved modern diagnostic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To examine the prevalence of smoking among medical faculty students in Turkey, and to explore the associations between smoking, depression, and other factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students in Konya, Turkey, from November 2018 to February 2019. The first section included eight questions pertaining to sociodemographic details. The second comprised nine questions addressing smoking and other harmful habits. The third section involved the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence while the fourth was the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: The study was completed with a total of 1117 participants (90.2% of all students). In regard to smoking, 813 (72.78%) were non-smokers, 98 (8.77%) were ex-smokers, and 222 (19.87%) were active smokers. Notably, 16.29% of students (n = 182) had a high BDI score (≥17). Male sex, good economic status, depression diagnosis at any time in life, and alcohol use were independently associated with active smoking. Being a senior student and regular exercise were independently associated with a low (<17) BDI score, whereas depression diagnosis at any time in life and drug use were independently associated with high (≥17) BDI. Conclusions: Almost 20% of medical school students were active smokers, with about a 2.5-fold higher prevalence among males compared to females. There is a significant association between smoking frequency and symptoms of depression. Policies targeting modifiable risk factors can reduce smoking and depression among future physicians, which can have a strong impact on population-wide smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periodontitis is a complex chronic inflammatory disease that is particularly associated with health-related conditions such as smoking, excessive drinking and depression. This research aimed to investigate the interaction between these lifestyles factors on periodontitis risk. Methods: This study included participants who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States between 2009 and 2014. They had completed oral health-periodontal examination, Smoking-Cigarette Use Questionnaire, Alcohol Use Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire. Periodontal clinical attachment loss (CAL) of 3 mm or more and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) of 10 scores or more were used to identify periodontitis and depression, respectively. Daily alcohol consumption in the past year was classified into three levels: low (1 drink or less), moderate (between 1 and 3 drinks), and heavy drinking (4 drinks or more), while smoking was defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in one's lifetime. Then, the logistic regression combined with interaction models were used to analyze the independent and combined effects of smoking, drinking and depression on periodontitis risk. Results: The results indicated a statistically significant multiplicative interaction between smoking and depression in relation to the development of periodontitis, both in the overall population (P = 0.03) and among male participants (P = 0.03). Furthermore, among individuals experiencing depression, smoking was found to significantly increase the prevalence of periodontitis by 129% in the younger age group compared to non-smokers (odds ratio [OR]: 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10 to 4.76). However, the interaction between smoking and alcohol consumption was only significant among females (P < 0.05). There was a dose-dependent relationship between drinking frequency and smoking on periodontitis prevalence. In the smoking population, occasional drinking (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.37) and regular drinking (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.68 to 3.11) significantly increased the prevalence of periodontitis compared to individuals without these two factors. Conclusion: These results suggested that there were interactive effects between smoking, drinking and depression on periodontitis risk and policies aimed at healthy behaviours and mental health may be beneficial for our oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association of serum zinc with periodontitis in non‐diabetics based on smoking status, using a representative sample of adults in the United States. Methods: A total of 1051 participants who underwent full‐mouth periodontal examination and serum zinc testing were enrolled from NHANES 2011 to 2014. The covariate‐adjusted association of serum zinc concentrations with periodontitis was explored using multivariable logistic regression, restricted cubic spines, and sensitivity analysis. Results: The mean age of the 1051 adults was 54.5 years, 59.37% were male, and 20.65% had periodontitis. Analysis of the results showed that serum zinc was associated with periodontitis. The overall adjusted odds of periodontitis were 9% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83–1.00) and 14% (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75–0.98) for nonsmokers and smokers, respectively. Smokers with T3 serum zinc exhibited a 53% reduction in the fully adjusted odds of periodontitis (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23–0.96), when compared to the reference group (T1 serum zinc), with serum zinc as the categorical variable. Conclusions: Serum zinc levels were associated with the risk of periodontitis in non‐diabetic smokers but not non‐smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Patients with severe coronary artery disease who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting consistently demonstrate that continued smoking after surgery increases late mortality rates. Smoking may exert its harmful effects through the ongoing chronic process of atherosclerotic progression both in the grafts and the native system. However, it is not clear whether cardiac mortality is primary and solely responsible for the inferior late survival of current smokers. METHODS In this retrospective analysis, we included all consecutive patients undergoing primary isolated coronary artery bypass surgery from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2015 in an Academic Hospital in Northern Portugal. The predictive or independent variable was the patients' smoking history status, a categorical variable with 3 levels: non-smoker (the comparator), ex-smoker for >1 year (exposure 1) and current smoker (exposure 2). The primary end point was long-term all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were long-term cause-specific mortality (cardiovascular and noncardiovascular). We fitted overall and Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard models. RESULTS We identified 5242 eligible patients. Follow-up was 99.7% complete (with 17 patients lost to follow-up). The median follow-up time was 12.79 years (interquartile range, 9.51–16.60). Throughout the study, there were 2049 deaths (39.1%): 877 from cardiovascular causes (16.7%), 727 from noncardiovascular causes (13.9%) and 445 from unknown causes (8.5%). Ex-smokers had an identical long-term survival than non-smokers [hazard ratio (HR) 0.99; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88, 1.12; P  = 0.899]. Conversely, current smokers had a 24% increase in late mortality risk (HR 1.24; 95% CI 1.07, 1.44; P  = 0.004) as compared to non-smokers. While the current smoker status increased the relative incidence of noncardiac death by 61% (HR 1.61; 95% CI 1.27, 2.05, P  < 0.001), it did confer a 25% reduction in the relative incidence of cardiac death (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.59, 0.97; P  = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS Whereas ex-smokers have an identical long-term survival to non-smokers, current smokers exhibit an increase in late all-cause mortality risk at the expense of an increased relative incidence of noncardiac death. By subtracting the inciting risk factor, smoking cessation reduces the relative incidence of cardiac death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies evaluating smoking and periodontal status show controversial results regarding the impact on oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQol). The aim was to evaluate the association between OHRQol and periodontal status in patients according to their smoking habit. Methods: Cross‐sectional study with a total of 100 patients (31.44 ± 8.50 years, 55% females) answered the short version of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14) and underwent a periodontal examination. Associations between periodontal status and total mean OHIP‐14 scores related with smoking habit were analysed with Kruskal–Wallis test. Results: Mean percentage of sites with Bleeding on Probing (BOP), Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) and Number of Teeth were significantly different between current smokers (n = 53) and never (n = 40) or former smokers (n = 7; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference for Periodontal Probing Depth (PPD) in relation to smoking status. A total mean OHIP‐14 score of 13.07 was observed for the entire sample. The corresponding total mean OHIP‐14 scores, for current smokers, never smokers and former smokers, were 15, 10 and 13 (p = 0.280), respectively. The domains social disability and handicap of the OHIP‐14 were worse in current smokers (p = 0.028 and p = 0.026, respectively). Conclusion: Current smoking was associated with a negative influence on OHRQoL in the domain of social disability and handicap. In addition, smokers have worse periodontal status, related to less BOP, greater CAL and fewer teeth than never and former smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large population-based prospective studies are necessary to provide clarification on the associations of panoramic secondhand smoking burden, including prenatal and postnatal secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, with the risk of developing dementia. Methods: Our study comprised a sample of 353,756 dementia-free individuals from the UK Biobank who were nonsmokers had data on the exposure of maternal smoking as well as SHS exposure in daily life, which was quantified in terms of hours per week (h/week) and whether they lived with household smokers. Multivariable Cox regression models were utilized to analyze the independent and joint associations of maternal smoking and daily life SHS exposure with dementia risk. Results: During a median follow-up of 11.8 years, 4,113 participants developed dementia. Compared with those who lived in the environment without smokers, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% CIs) were 1.11 (1.02, 1.20) and 1.31 (1.13, 1.52) for those who exposed to SHS for >0 but ≤4 h/week and >4 h/week, respectively, and was 1.25 (1.13, 1.39) for those who lived with smokers in the household. A positive history of maternal smoking was associated with a modestly higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.15). Furthermore, compared with participants with neither history of maternal smoking nor exposure to SHS, a particularly higher risk of dementia was observed among those with both exposures (HR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.86). Additionally, the HR (95% CI) was 1.32 (1.10, 1.59) when comparing participants with a history of maternal smoking who lived with smokers in their households with those who had neither exposures. Conclusions: Having a history of maternal smoking, longer exposure to SHS, and living with smokers in the household were each associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. Individuals who were simultaneously exposed to maternal smoking and SHS or lived with household smokers had a particularly higher dementia risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although some studies have linked smoking to mortality after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs), data regarding smoking and mortality after OHCAs have not yet been discussed in a meta-analysis. Thus, this study conducted this systematic review to clarify the association. Methods: The study searched Medline-PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane libraries between January 1972 and July 2022 for studies that evaluated the association between smoking and mortality after OHCAs. Studies that reportedly showed relative risk estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were included. Results: Incorporating a collective of five studies comprising 2477 participants, the analysis revealed a lower mortality risk among smokers in the aftermath of OHCAs compared with non-smokers (odds ratio: 0.77; 95% CI 0.61–0.96; P < 0.05). Egger's test showed no publication bias in the relationship between smoking and mortality after OHCAs. Conclusions: After experiencing OHCAs, smokers had lower mortality than non-smokers. However, due to the lack of data, this 'smoker's paradox' still needs other covariate effects and further studies to be considered valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare presence and levels of serum cytokines in smokers and non-smokers with periodontitis following periodontal therapy. Methods: Thirty heavy smokers and 30 non-smokers with stage III or IV periodontitis were included in this prospective cohort study. Clinical data and blood serum were collected at baseline (T0), after step I-III (T1), and after 12 months step IV periodontal therapy (T2). Cytokine IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-10, and IP-10 levels were measured using multiplex kit Bio-Plex Human Pro™ Assay. Linear regression models with cluster robust variance estimates to adjust for repeated observations were used to test intra- and intergroup levels for each marker, IL-6 and IL-8 defined as primary outcomes. Results: Clinical outcomes improved in both groups following therapy (p < 0.05). IL-6 levels increased with 75.0% from T0-T2 among smokers (p = 0.004). No significant intra- or intergroup differences were observed for IL-8. Higher levels of TNF-α (44.1%) and IL-10 (50.6%) were detected in smokers compared with non-smokers at T1 (p = 0.007 and p = 0.037, respectively). From T1-T2, differences in mean change over time for levels of TNF-α and IL-10 were observed in smokers compared with non-smokers (p = 0.005 and p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusion: Upregulated levels of serum cytokines in smokers indicate a systemic effect of smoking following periodontal therapy. Differences in cytokine levels between smokers and non-smokers demonstrate a smoking induced modulation of specific systemic immunological responses in patients with severe periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is a valuable tool for patient-based outcome analysis, for which limited data is available in the literature, especially after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). Although several studies have reported MCID after ARCR, few have studied the impact of various clinical factors such as Diabetes, pseudoparalysis, type of cuff repair, and retear over MCID. This study attempts to determine the MCID in shoulder functional scores after ARCR and the impact of various factors on MCID. Methods: 144 patients undergoing ARCR were prospectively evaluated at six and 12 months by ASES and UCLA scores. MCID for American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and the University of California and Los Angeles (UCLA) scores were calculated using an anchor-based and distribution-based approach. MCID was also calculated for diabetic and non-diabetic patients, smokers vs. non-smokers, presence or absence of pseudoparalysis, type of cuff repair (single row vs. suture bridge), and presence of retears. Uni- and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors affecting the MCID of both scores. Results: Mean MCID for ASES score was 13.3 and 16.6 using an anchor-based and distribution-based approach, respectively. For the UCLA score, the mean MCID was 10.0 and 12.6 by anchor-based and 12.6 by distribution-based approach, respectively. Patients with higher pre-operative ASES scores demonstrated lower MCID values. No significant difference was observed in MCID scores of diabetic vs. non-diabetic patients, smoker vs. non-smoker, patients with or without pseudoparalysis, and type of cuff repair. The age, gender, and presence of retear did not affect MCID values. Conclusion: This study establishes the MCID values of ASES and UCLA scores for rotator cuff repair by anchor and distribution methods. No patient or surgical factors appear to affect the MCID except pre-operative ASES scores. Study design: Prospective cohort, Level II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the association between increased micronuclei (MNi) level in reproductive age women and increased risk of congenital abnormalities, we aimed in this study to find the contribution of WTS to women's health in apparently healthy young cases by comparing the variability of MN values in water pipe smokers and non-smokers. Finding the associations between MNi levels and demographic, socioeconomic, reproductive, and lifestyle factors was the secondary scope of this study. This cross-sectional case-control study was performed on 30 premenopausal women (15 cases and 15 controls) who lived in Tehran, according to our inclusion criteria. The mean MN frequency among waterpipe smokers was 28.53± 7.462, whereas the same parameter in the control group was 6.53 + 3.24 (p= 0.001). Non-parametric tests revealed a significant association between MNi and frequency of waterpipe smoking (p = 0.001), age of starting waterpipe smoking (p = 0.003), concurrent use of alcoholic drinks (p= 0.004), and secondhand smoking (p =0.001). In the context of heavy environmental pollution in Tehran, significantly higher MNi frequencies and decreased genomic health in waterpipe smoker women in reproductive age may predispose them to an increased risk of harmful reproductive outcomes. These findings emerge from governmental and non-governmental biomonitoring programs in high-risk women to concern more on unhealthy lifestyles and environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]