Vernonia cinerea Less. supplementation and strenuous exercise reduce smoking rate: relation to oxidative stress status and beta-endorphin release in active smokers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of <it>Vernonia cinerea </it>Less. (VC) supplementation and exercise on oxidative stress biomarkers, beta-endorphin release, and the rate of cigarette smoking.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Volunteer smokers were randomly divided into four groups: group 1: VC supplement; group 2: exercise with VC supplement; group 3: exercise; and group 4: control. VC was prepared by wash and dry techniques and taken orally before smoking, matching the frequency of strenuous exercise (three times weekly). Before and after a two month period, exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), blood oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA], nitric oxide [NOx], protein hydroperoxide [PrOOH] and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]), beta-endorphin and smoking rate were measured, and statistically analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In Group 1, MDA, PrOOH, and NOx significantly decreased, whereas TAC increased (p < 0.05). In Group 2, MDA and PrOOH decreased (p < 0.05), with no other changes noted (p > 0.05). In Group 3, MDA, PrOOH, NOx, TAC, and beta-endorphin levels increased significantly (p < 0.05). Group 4 showed no change in oxidative stress variables or beta-endorphine levels (p > 0.05). All groups had lower levels of CO after the intervention. The smoking rate for light cigarette decreased in group 2(62.7%), 1(59.52%), 3 (53.57%) and 4(14.04%), whereas in self-rolled cigarettes it decreased in group 1 (54.47%), 3 (42.30%), 2 (40%) and 4 (9.2%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Supplementation with <it>Vernonia cinerea </it>Less and exercise provided benefit related to reduced smoking rate, which may be related to oxidaive stress and beta-endorphine levels.</p

Environment, human reproduction, menopause, and andropause.

As the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator is an integrator of hormonal, metabolic, and neural signals, it is not surprising that the function of the hypothalamogonadal axis is subject to the influence of a large array of environmental factors. Before puberty, the central nervous system (CNS) restrains the GnRH pulse generator. Undernutrition, low socioeconomic status, stress, and emotional deprivation, all delay puberty. During reproductive life, among peripheral factors that effect the reproductive system, stress plays an important role. Stress, via the release of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), eventually triggered by interleukin 1, inhibits GnRH release, resulting in hypogonadism. Effects of CRF are probably mediated by the opioid system. Food restriction and underweight (anorexia nervosa), obesity, smoking, and alcohol all have negative effects on the GnRH pulse generator and gonadal function. Age and diet are important determinants of fertility in both men and women. The age-associated decrease in fertility in women has as a major determinant chromosomal abnormalities of the oocyte, with uterine factors playing a subsidiary role. Age at menopause, determined by ovarian oocyte depletion, is influenced by occupation, age at menarche, parity, age at last pregnancy, altitude, smoking, and use of oral contraceptives. Smoking, however, appears to be the major determinant. Premature menopause is most frequently attributable to mosaicism for Turner Syndrome, mumps ovaritis, and, above all, total hysterectomy, which has a prevalence of about 12-15% in women 50 years old. Premature ovarian failure with presence of immature follicles is most frequently caused by autoimmune diseases or is the consequence of irradiation or chemotherapy with alkylating cytostatics. Plasma estrogens have a physiological role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Obese women have osteoporosis less frequently than women who are not overweight. Early menopause, suppression of adrenal function (corticoids), and thyroid hormone treatment all increase the frequency of osteoporosis. Aging in men is accompanied by decreased Leydig cell and Sertoli cell function, which has a predominantly primary testicular origin, although changes also occur at the hypothalamopituitary level. Plasma testosterone levels, sperm production, and sperm quality decrease, but fertility, although declining, is preserved until senescence. Stress and disease states accelerate the decline on Leydig cell function. Many occupational noxious agents have a negative effect on fertility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS

More Than Luck: Lucky Strike Advertising During the George Washington Hill Years: 1926-1946

From the time George Hill assumed the presidency of the American Tobacco Company in 1926 until his death in 1946, the company spent more money advertising Lucky Strikes than had ever before been spent on a single product. During Hill's tenure, Americans bought more than 100 billion Lucky Strikes annually. Hill's carefully engineered and innovative advertising campaigns integrated print, radio, public relations, and other forms of advertising to great success in the 1920s and 1930s as the company sought out a mass audience. By World War II, however, the company changed strategies as it increasingly diversified its advertisements to reflect new conceptions of audience segmentation. This abandonment of a "great mass audience" approach paralleled changes in other cultural industries in this period, demonstrating the significance of advertising as part of the mid-century cultural landscape and emphasizing the genius of the ATC's marketing

Challenges of translating epidemiologic research: An application to rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders

Translation of research into public health policy is featured in common definitions of epidemiology, as an end result of scientific discovery on disease occurrence and causes. This dual nature of epidemiology, which brings together discovery and its use, seems to imply two main dimensions by which to judge epidemiologic research: technical or field-specific quality and societal value. This paper uses our research on the epidemiology of rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders as a starting point to discuss the interface between these dimensions, exploring a number of conceptual, practical and ethical challenges that epidemiologists increasingly need to address when aiming for research translation. Those include not only the appraisal of the technical quality of research, which is familiar to researchers, but also the judgement on the usefulness and actual use of knowledge, as well as the assessment of the legitimacy of research based on translation potential. Several challenges lie ahead, but interdisciplinary conceptual and technical developments have the potential to guide future epidemiologic research of consequence. Approaches that recognize complexity and formalize the involvement of stakeholders in the research process within transparent frameworks open promising avenues for an effective translation of epidemiologic research projected into the future.Research that led to this paper was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through COMPETE 2020 Operational Programme ‘Competitiveness and Internationalization’ together with national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education - through the project “STEPACHE - The pediatric roots of amplified pain: from contextual influences to risk stratification” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029087, info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/9471 - RIDTI/PTDC/SAU-EPI/29087/2017/PT) and by the Epidemiology Research Unit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862; UID/DTP/04750/2019), Administração Regional de Saúde Norte (Regional Department of the Portuguese Ministry of Health) and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. This work was also supported by a research grant from FOREUM Foundation for Research in Rheumatology (Career Research Grant)

Volume 53 - Issue 9 - December, 1943

https://scholar.rose-hulman.edu/technic/1177/thumbnail.jp

Computational Fluid-Particle Dynamics Modeling for Unconventional Inhaled Aerosols in Human Respiratory Systems

The awareness is growing of health hazards and pharmaceutical benefits of micro-/nano-aerosol particles which are mostly nonspherical and hygroscopic, and categorized as “unconventional” vs. solid spheres. Accurate and realistic numerical models will significantly contribute to answering public health questions. In this chapter, fundamentals and future trends of computational fluid-particle dynamics (CFPD) models for lung aerosol dynamics are discussed, emphasizing the underlying physics to simulate unconventional inhaled aerosols such as fibers, droplets, and vapors. Standard simulation procedures are presented, including reconstruction of the human respiratory system, CFPD model formulation, finite-volume mesh generation, etc. Case studies for fiber and droplet transport and deposition in lung are also provided. Furthermore, challenges and future directions are discussed to develop next-generation models. The ultimate goal is to establish a roadmap to link different numerical models, and to build the framework of a new multiscale numerical model, which will extend exposure and lung deposition predictions to health endpoints, e.g., tissue and delivered doses, by calculating absorption and translocation into alveolar regions and systemic regions using discrete element method (DEM), lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), and/or physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models. It will enable simulations of extremely complex airflow-vapor-particle-structure dynamics in the entire human respiratory system at detailed levels

College Age Female Smokers and the Efficacy of Smoking Cessation on College Campuses

Young females are smoking on campuses in increasing rates in the last two decades. This thesis is secondary data analysis of a primary study with data from 472 female respondents, ages 18 to 24, enrolled or registered for classes at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Spring, Summer and Fall semester of 2011. This sample included current smokers, former smokers, and nonsmokers. This research study will discuss the relationship between the age one starts smoking and any association with participation in unprotected intercourse and the concomitant use of estrogen containing oral contraceptives. Among the respondents a majority started smoking between the ages 14 to 19. Among current and former smokers, there was positive association among females, ages 14 to 15, and participation in unprotected intercourse. Among current and former smokers, there was no association or preference to use estrogen containing oral contraceptives. Using Pearson\u27s chi-square analysis, there was no statistically significant relationship among age one starts smoking and (a) participation in unprotected intercourse and (b) use of estrogen containing oral contraceptives. The percentage of females receiving smoking cessation advice from providers ranged from 26% among current smokers to 29% among former smokers. However, not all young female smokers disclosed their current smoking status to their providers. Future research should capture a more diverse dataset to improve interventions based on prevalence in various ethnic groups

Not for Old Fogies: A Look at the Flapper in Fitzgerald’s Literary Production

Traballo Fin de Grao en Lingua e Literatura Inglesas. Curso 2018-2019In the aftermath of the First World War, a new chapter in the North American history was being written. Together with the economic prosperity came the social, artistic and cultural changes, which portray the characteristics of the upcoming era: The Roaring Twenties. The winds of change spread a new ideology among the American population, and so a new woman emerged: the Flapper. The aim of this dissertation is to review F.S. Fitzgerald’s literary production concerning the appearance of the figure of the Flapper. The essay has been organized in three main sections. The first part gives a brief overview of the North American History during the 1920’s and the emergence of a new life style. It will then go on to describe the figure of the flapper: influences, behavior and appearance. Famous Flappers and their relationship with the fine arts also to be explained in this part. The second section examines three Fitzgerald’s literary works concerning Flappers, paying attention to female characters: two collections of short stories: “Flappers and Philosophers” and “All the Sad Young Men”; and the novel “The Great Gatsby”. Finally, the last part deals with the end of the Flapper Era as a symbol of woman’s freedom. Therefore, returning to the hypothesis posed at the beginning, the object of this essay is to portray the representation of the Flapper as a new woman, not only in the American society, but also in Fitzgerald’s literary productio