Nicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract reduces the penile erectile function of rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the impact of nicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract (fCSE) on the serum testosterone (T) level and erectile function of male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomized 30 male SD rats to three groups of equal number to receive subcutaneous injection of PBS (1.0 ml / 300 g body weight per day), fCSE (1.0 ml/300 g body weight per day), and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH, 200 mg per kg body weight per day) in addition to fCSE (fCSE + GSH), respectively, all for 8 weeks. Then we evaluated the erectile function of the rats by measuring the maximal intracavernous pressure (MICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ICP/MAP ratio, time of stimulation to MICP (Tmax), and cavernosal filling fate (CFR). We determined the serum T level, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) , malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the cavernosal tissue, and also observed the morphological changes of the corpus cavernosum.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the controls, the rats of the fCSE group showed obvious decreases in the levels of serum T ([5.37 ± 1.43] vs [3.22 ± 1.11] μg/L), NOS ([2.90 ± 0.27] vs [1.67 ± 0.18] U/mg) , and SOD ([18.41 ± 1.09] vs [13.36 ± 1.18] U/mg prot) and erectile function-related indexes MICP ([85.92 ± 6.36] vs [58.99 ± 10.76] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.86 ± 0.09 vs [0.56 ± 0.08]), and CFR (2.14 ± 0.44 vs 0.89 ± 0.44), but markedly increased Tmax ([29.90 ± 5.78] vs [42.90 ± 8.56]s), with a positive correlation between the serum T level and CFR (r = 0. 364, P < 0.05). Masson staining revealed a lower ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber in the fCSE group (0.27 ± 0.04) than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12). Compared with the fCSE group, the fCSE + GSH group exhibited significantly improved MICP ([58.99 ± 10.76 ] vs [77.95 ± 7.71] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.56 ± 0.08 vs 0.77 ± 0.09), and CFR (0.89 ± 0.44] vs 1.76 ± 0.42) and shortened Tmax ([42.90 ± 8.56 ] vs [32.10 ± 5.84 ] s). The ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber was higher in the fCSE + GSH than in the fCSE group (0.77 ± 0.09 vs 0.27 ± 0.04) but still lower than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract reduces the serum T level and erectile function of rats, which is related to oxidative stress. Antioxidant therapy can improve erectile function but has a limited value for morphological protection of the penile tissue.</p>

Illicit tobacco trade between the United States and Mexico / El comercio ilícito de tabaco entre los Estados Unidos y México

OBJECTIVE: To provide a brief history of the illicit tobacco trade between Mexico and the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Research included a previously published study: "Cigarette taxes and smuggling: A statistical analysis and historical review", published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy; US Customs and Border Protection data; various US court documents; General Accountability Office reporting; media reports; other historical material, and a personal interview. RESULTS: The research revealed that there is no credible evidence of organized criminal activity related to the illicit trade in tobacco products from Mexico into the United States. However, there is clear and convincing evidence of organized criminal activity in smuggling tobacco products from the United States into Mexico for at least 167 years. CONCLUSION: Historical records from 1845 into the 21st century clearly demonstrate that the United States was usually the source country for tobacco products moving illegally between the two countries.

OBJETIVO: Describir brevemente la historia del comercio ilícito de tabaco entre Estados Unidos y México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: La investigación incluye publicaciones previas, como "Impuestos sobre los cigarrillos y el contrabando: Un análisis histórico y estadístico"; datos de la Agencia de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza; varios documentos de la Corte; los informes de la Oficina General de Rendición de Cuentas de EU; notas de prensa; materiales históricos, y una entrevista personal. RESULTADOS: La investigación reveló que no hay pruebas creíbles de actividad delictiva organizada relacionada con el comercio ilícito de productos de tabaco de México a EU. Sin embargo, hay pruebas claras y convincentes de que esta actividad se ha realizado de EU a México por lo menos durante 167 años. CONCLUSIÓN: Los registros históricos desde el año 1845 claramente demuestran que EU solía ser el país de origen del tabaco ilegal entre los dos países.

Pityriasis Rotunda Treated with Combination of Topical and Oral Retinoid / 대한피부과학회지

Pityriasis rotunda (PR) is a rare disease characterized by persistent, sharply defined, oval, scaly patches of dry skin, localized mainly on the trunk and extremities. Its etiology remains unknown. However, several reports suggest that it is a form of acquired ichthyosis vulgaris or a skin manifestation of systemic disease, such as malnutrition, chronic illness, hepatic disease, and malignancies. Although a variety of treatment modalities, including topical lactic acid, urea, tars, emollients, and corticosteroid, have been applied to it, their efficacies are not satisfactory. Herein, we report a case of PR in a healthy man who was successfully treated with oral and topical retinoids.

Pityriasis Rotunda Treated with Combination of Topical and Oral Retinoid / 대한피부과학회지

Pityriasis rotunda (PR) is a rare disease characterized by persistent, sharply defined, oval, scaly patches of dry skin, localized mainly on the trunk and extremities. Its etiology remains unknown. However, several reports suggest that it is a form of acquired ichthyosis vulgaris or a skin manifestation of systemic disease, such as malnutrition, chronic illness, hepatic disease, and malignancies. Although a variety of treatment modalities, including topical lactic acid, urea, tars, emollients, and corticosteroid, have been applied to it, their efficacies are not satisfactory. Herein, we report a case of PR in a healthy man who was successfully treated with oral and topical retinoids.

Assessment of narghile [shisha, hookah] smokers' actual exposure to toxic chemicals requires further sound studies

Tobacco smoking is hazardous for health. However, not all forms of tobacco use entail the same risks and the latter should be studied and compared in a sound realistic way. Smoking machines for cigarettes [which are consumed in a few minutes] were early designed as a tool to evaluate the actual intake of toxic substances ['toxicants'] by smokers. However, the yields [tar, nicotine, CO, etc.] provided by such machines poorly reflect the actual human smoking behaviour known to depend on numerous factors [anxiety, emotions, anthropological situation, etc.]. In the case of narghile smoking, the problems are even more complex, particularly because of the much longer duration of a session. A recent study from the US-American University of Beirut was based on a field smoking topography and claimed consistency with a laboratory smoking machine. We offer a point by point critical analysis of such methods on which most of the 'waterpipe' antismoking literature since 2002 is based

Influence of smoke tar on mRNA expression of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor and cytochrome P4501A1 gene of mice lungs / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of the smoke tar on the expression of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and the cytochrome P4501Al (CYP1A1) gene of mice lungs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The smoke tar of 5.29, 10.58 and 15.87 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally in mice respectively. RNA of mice lungs was got with RNA kit. RT-PCR technique was used for determining AHR and CYP1A1 gene expression with beta-actin as control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The AHR gene expression level was (0.554 +/- 0.023) for the mice intraperitoneally administered with 5.29 mg/kg smoke tar for 72 hours with the significant difference in gene expression level compared with the Tween-80 group (0.484 +/- 0.045) (P < 0.05). The AHR gene expression levels were (0.555 +/- 0.014), (0.606 +/- 0.051), and (0.566 +/- 0.014), (0.684 +/- 0.069) for the mice intraperitoneally administered with 10.58 and 15.87 mg/kg smoke tar for 48 hours and 72 hours respectively with the significant difference in gene expression level compared with the Tween-80 group (0.486 +/- 0.060, 0.484 +/- 0.045) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The CYP1Al gene expression levels were (1.535 +/- 0.021), (1.643 +/- 0.046) and (1.624 +/- 0.056), (1.739 +/- 0.038) respectively with the significant difference compared with the Tween-80 group (l.436 +/- 0.016, 1.404 +/- 0.036) (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The smoke tar can regulate up the expression of AHR and CYP1A1 gene at a certain dosage and time. The regulation of the smoke tar for the expression of AHR was earlier than for that of CYP1A1.</p>

Terapeutica de afeccoes do couro cabeludo pela associacao de um topico com betametasona - 17 valerato e um xampu de derivados do alcatrao. / Treatment of scalp diseases with a combination of topic betametasone- 17 valerate and a shampoo of tar derivatives

Foram tratados 26 casos de afeccoes do couro cabeludo, sendo 11 casos de dermatite seborreica, 11 casos de pitiriase capitis e 4 casos de psoriase, com a associacao de um produto topico de betametasona 17 valerato e um xampu de alcatroes de diversas origens. Os resultados foram considerados bons em 10 dos 11 casos de Dermatite seborreica, em todos os casos de pitiriase capitis e 3 casos moderados dos 4 casos de psoriase

The Effects of Lead Exposure on Hematocrit and Hemoglobin / 예방의학회지

In order to study the effect of lead exposure on the hematocrit and hemoglobin values in accordance with the level of lead exposure, twenty-four Sprague-Dawly rates were equally divided into four groups of six tars each. Lead acetate disolved in glucose was injected intrapertitoneally six times a week, for weeks with does of 0.05 mg/kg/day for group I, 0.5 mg/kg/day for group II, and 5 mg/kg/day for group III. Control group was injected glucose only. Blood samples for the checking of the hematocrit and hemoglobin values, were taking from tail vein of rats before lead injection and on the third, seventh, fourteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-eighth days after lead injection. And also, the concentration of lead and ALA in urine were checked for evaluating the lead absorption. The results were as follows ; 1. The alteration of the hematocrit and hemoglobin values of the group I was not significant as that of the control group. 2. In group II, the hematocrit values were significantly decreased from the fourteenth day after lead injection, and the hemoglobin values were decreased from the twenty- first day after lead injection when the concentration of lead in urine was elevated more than 260 microgram/liter. 3. In group III, the hematocrit value were decreased from the seventh day after lead injection, and the hemoglobin value were decreased even from third day after lead injection. And the hemoglobin values were more rapidly decreased than the hematocrit values. 4. In all group, the correlation coefficient between hematocrit and hemoglobin was highly significant. And the difference between the correlation coefficient of the group III and that of the others was highly significant.