Secretion of total solids [solutes] in the saliva of long-term tobacco users

It is generally believed that repeated exposure of a receptor to a stimulus results in inactivation [suppression or adaptation] of the receptor .Most of the methods of tobacco use are linked to the oral cavity where the taste receptors, a primary site for stimulation of salivary secretion, are constantly exposed to tobacco for long time. The present study was designed to document changes in salivary concentration of total solids in response to this effect in chronic tobacco users, if any. Subjects of the study were divided into smokers, pan [tobaccobetel- lime quid] chewers, niswar [moist oral snuff] dippers and non tobacco users as controls. The saliva of each subject was collected under resting condition and following application of crude nicotine and citric acid solutions to the tip of his tongue. After stimulation with nicotine all groups showed a decrease in the total solids concentration but the decrease was not significant in any group. After stimulation with citric acid, further decrease was seen in all groups but it was also insignificant statistically. We conclude that the total solids concentration decreases with the increase in salivary flow rates [and vice versa] in long-term tobacco users, salivary reflex is not adversely affected by long-term use of tobacco and this observation is not much different from that in non users

Effect of noise on heart rate

The objective of the study was to observe the effect of short-term noise on heart rate. One Hundred and seventeen [117] medical students were selected as subjects. Subjects having normal resting heart rate and blood pressure were included in the study. Subjects with, hearing defect were excluded from study. Auditory aquity was confirmed by audiometry before the start of experiment for each subject. A noise of a 90 dB intensity and 4000Hz frequency was produced for 10 minutes. Heart rate was recorded before, during and after exposure to noise. Heart rate increased in 104 [88.9%] subjects, with an average rise of 8.938+ 1.037. In 73 subjects [70.19%] it came back to basal level within 02 minutes. Increase in heart rate was observed in more number of males as compared to females; however, the difference was statistically insignificant. Heart rate increases during exposure to noise

Effect of 90 decibel noise of 4000 hertz on blood pressure in young adults

Almost every individual dislikes excessive and unnecessary noise. Noise exerts various adverse psychological and physiological effects, on human body including a rise in blood pressure. 117 volunteer medical students, aged 18-23 years were exposed to 90 decibel noise of 4000 hertz for 10 minutes, produced by audiometer in a sound-proof room. Blood pressure was recorded every three minutes. Blood pressure increased during exposure to noise. Average rise in systolic blood pressure was 2.462 +/- 0.532 mm Hg and average rise in diastolic blood pressure was 3.064 +/- 1.047mm Hg. Blood pressure came to resting value within two minutes after stopping exposure to noise in more than 50% of the subjects. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increases due to noise exposure

Effects of long-term use of tobacco on taste receptors and salivary secretion

Most of the methods of tobacco use are linked to the mouth, where the taste receptors, a primary site for stimulation of salivary secretion, are constantly exposed to tobacco. The main purpose of this study was to observe the effects of long-term use of tobacco on taste receptors and salivary flow rates. Subjects of the study were divided into smokers, pan, [tobacco-betel-lime quid] chewers, niswar [moist oral snuff] dippers and non-tobacco users as controls. Each group was comprised of 20 healthy male adults. The saliva of each subject was collected under resting condition and following application of crude nicotine and citric acid solutions to the tip of his tongue. The appreciation of taste sensations perceived by each subject of each group was different for nicotine [bitter unpleasant burning sensations] than citric acid [sour burning sensations] but no subjective difference was observed among the corresponding groups. After stimulation with both nicotine and citric acid, all subjects of each group showed a significant rise [p<0.05] in their salivary flow rates but the increase was highly significant [p<0.005] in pan chewers only. We found that the taste receptors response and salivary flow rates of tobacco users were not much different from that of non-tobacco users. Therefore, we conclude that long-term use of tobacco does not adversely affect the taste receptors response and hence salivary secretion