Associations between lifestyle factors and smoking status during pregnancy in a group of Romanian women.

BACKGROUND: There is an estimated birth rate of 9.27 births/1,000 population in Romania each year, with approximately 8.4% born with low birth weight (LBW). Our purpose was to evaluate the relationships between maternal smoking and LBW and preterm birth in Mureș County, Romania. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,278 mothers who had given birth in Mureș County obstetrical wards in 2015, based on a lifestyle questionnaire of 109 items and personal and laboratory data from hospitals records. RESULTS: The variables associated with smoking during pregnancy taken into account were: Rroma ethnicity, education <8 grades, income lower than 140 dollars (minimum wages in our country), and lack of facilities in their households. In a multivariable model, smoking during pregnancy was correlated with a low level of education (p = .02), coffee and alcohol use (p = .0001), and lack of interest in potential environmental and behavioral risks during pregnancy (including smoking and diet). The newborn baby's weight was associated with smoker status of the mother (OR 1.71, 95%CI 1.09-2.66, p = .01), by the lack of ownership of a household (OR 3.52, 95%CI 2.27-5.47, p = .0001), and by the pregnant woman not receiving proper information regarding a healthy behavior and diet during pregnancy (OR 1.91, 95%CI 1.33-2.74, p = .0005). CONCLUSION: Our study aimed to emphasize the high rates of maternal smoking during pregnancy and its importance in LBW outcomes in Romanian pregnant women. Moreover, the study highlights disparities in smoking status observed in ethnic minorities and those living in poverty.

TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION OF COMPUTER ASSISTED SMOKING PREVENTION PROGRAM IN ROMANIA (ASPIRA).

ASPIRA smoking prevention online program consists in studying five modules that include tests, videos and interactive games. It was tested on a group of schoolchildren and students from Tîrgu Mures by completing a questionnaire with reference to the opinions of the young people and the functionality of the software. The vast majority of those questioned reported a good or very good impression about the ASPIRA program and believed that the information presented was suitable. High school pupils and boys were more critical.

The implications of hazardous waste neutralization on employees health: a case study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract after exposure to pollutants, causing the obstruction of small respiratory tracts and the destruction of lung parenchyma. These changes ultimately lead to a limitation of air flux. We investigate the association between professional exposure and the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study presents the case of a non-smoker patient, aged 61, a mechanic locksmith by profession at a hospital in Mures County. He has been working with neutralization of medical waste for 13 years with exposure to pneumotropic and biological contaminants and to the overuse of osteoarticular apparatus, recently having been diagnosed with COPD after exposure to mixed powders and hospitalized at the occupational health clinic. Interruption of occupational exposure and establishment of treatment with topical corticotherapy has shown a significant improvement. Measurements of inhalable powder content in the work environment revealed that they exceed the allowed limit in case of neutralization of medical waste and there is an association between occupational exposure and increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Preventive methods should aim to reduce exposure at workplace.

Smoking generated PM 2.5 exposure among Transylvanian students.

UNLABELLED: A WHO project initiated in 2004, tries to identify and reduce the number of smoking third year university students attending medical training in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical sciences as these participants can become role models that patients can look up to. AIM: We proposed to make a general view regarding smoking and exposure to smoke within our medical University, in contrast with the existing legislation regarding smoking within public institutions of the Universities. Along with the investigations held at our university we extended these to other tree, non medical universities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using an TSI Pack Aerosol Monitor unit to measure the total PM 2.5 we determined the air quality in several target locations of our University in holiday season and during full didactical periods. The average values were later compared and assessed in a series of statistical tests. RESULTS: Analyzing the holiday period our university head the most polluted air showing the P.M. 2.5 of 0.016 mg/m3. In the following there were analyzed the recordings from the didactic period where the registered values were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in comparison with the readings from the holiday season. From several points within the universities there were reading 7 times higher than in the holiday season. CONCLUSIONS: The results show two evident conclusion, that there is smoking within the buildings of the universities and within our university the non-smoking students are totally exposed to exhaled cigarette smoke.

Biological monitoring as proficient assessment method in chronic exposure to irritating gases and vapors.

UNLABELLED: Air pollution and its adverse health effect represent a global issue. Long term or permanent exposure at low doses of toxic material may increase the number of new appeared severe respiratory diseases and may aggravate most of the existing chronic cases. AIM OF STUDY: In the present study, the main toxic aerosols released by the greatest chemical factory in Transylvania were analyzed and their health impacts were measured. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have used in our trial biologic monitoring 1786 employees from a chemical factory in a transversal descriptive study. In the same time, we have noticed environmental determination of air quality and also, we have checked the health status and other 90 cases from a nonchemical factory. In this factory there are also pneumotrop harms. Results of our study give useful information regarding workers health status, with possibility to make pollution-medical condition association: there was no significant association between occurrence of decreased lung function tests and exposure of chemical irritants compared to the second investigated factory. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to pneumotrope hazards imposes safeguards to protect health and biological monitoring has proven absolutely necessary to do so. Last but not least, lifestyle monitoring is to be effective.

Presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of mercuric ions on guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle strip preparation.

The toxic effect of mercuric ions on intestinal cholinergic neurotransmission was investigated in vitro. Hg2+ inhibited the evoked release and enhanced the resting release of ACh. Smooth muscle contraction was irreversibly inhibited by Hg2+ in a concentration-dependent manner, and Na2EDTA did not antagonize this effect. We also investigated if Hg2+ enters the nerve terminal through Ca(2+)-channels, or Na(+)-channels, or both. The effects of mercuric ions obtained in our study were completely abolished by the combined administration of TTX and Co2+. It is suggested that the site of the action of mercuric ions is intracellular. We concluded that Hg2+ may interfere with cholinergic transmission by blocking [Ca2+]o-dependent release of ACh and by enhancing [Ca2+]o-independent resting release of ACh. The effect of Hg2+ was not only presynaptic since it also inhibited the effect of ACh on smooth muscle.