Tobacco and alcohol in films and on television

Background Evidence suggests exposure to film smoking increases youth smoking, and this is also likely to be the case for television. Some evidence suggests alcohol in films and television has similar effects on drinking behaviours. It is therefore important to document the extent to which tobacco and alcohol occur in films and television in the UK. Methods Films (1989-2008) and television broadcasting were content coded for tobacco and alcohol including branding, use, paraphernalia, inferred use, and other reference. These episodes were measured using interval recording whereby intervals of film and television were coded for each coding category listed above if at least one such incident occurred during the interval. Results In films, tobacco occurred in 70% of films; 68% of youth rated films. Tobacco fell substantially 1989-2008 for all categories, except branding. Brands were most common in the 15 age category, and 82% were certified as suitable for viewing by those under 18. Brands were most commonly either Marlboro or Silk Cut. Alcohol appeared in 86% of films, and branding in 35%. Alcohol use and branded appearances were higher in 1989, but the frequency of these and other categories changed little in subsequent years. Most films containing alcohol were classified as suitable for youth viewing. The most frequently shown brands were Budweiser, Miller and Coors. On television tobacco occurred in 34% broadcast programmes, and in more than half of all films, reality TV, and comedy programmes. Use occurred in 12% of programmes, particularly films and reality TV. Brands were rare, but several appeared in Coronation Street. Alcohol was commonly portrayed, appearing in 52% of programmes and 37% of advertisements/trailers, and most commonly in soap operas, films, sport, and comedy genres, while use was common in both soap operas and films. Brands were most common in sports programmes, news, and soap operas, with those most frequently being Heineken, Budweiser and Carlsberg. Conclusion These substances are common in films and television in the UK, and are more common in films than on television. Alcohol is more pervasive in films and television than tobacco. Given the evidence on the effects of on-screen smoking and drinking on youth behaviours, measures need to be implemented to restrict these substances in media frequently accessed by young people

Tobacco and alcohol in films and on television

Background Evidence suggests exposure to film smoking increases youth smoking, and this is also likely to be the case for television. Some evidence suggests alcohol in films and television has similar effects on drinking behaviours. It is therefore important to document the extent to which tobacco and alcohol occur in films and television in the UK. Methods Films (1989-2008) and television broadcasting were content coded for tobacco and alcohol including branding, use, paraphernalia, inferred use, and other reference. These episodes were measured using interval recording whereby intervals of film and television were coded for each coding category listed above if at least one such incident occurred during the interval. Results In films, tobacco occurred in 70% of films; 68% of youth rated films. Tobacco fell substantially 1989-2008 for all categories, except branding. Brands were most common in the 15 age category, and 82% were certified as suitable for viewing by those under 18. Brands were most commonly either Marlboro or Silk Cut. Alcohol appeared in 86% of films, and branding in 35%. Alcohol use and branded appearances were higher in 1989, but the frequency of these and other categories changed little in subsequent years. Most films containing alcohol were classified as suitable for youth viewing. The most frequently shown brands were Budweiser, Miller and Coors. On television tobacco occurred in 34% broadcast programmes, and in more than half of all films, reality TV, and comedy programmes. Use occurred in 12% of programmes, particularly films and reality TV. Brands were rare, but several appeared in Coronation Street. Alcohol was commonly portrayed, appearing in 52% of programmes and 37% of advertisements/trailers, and most commonly in soap operas, films, sport, and comedy genres, while use was common in both soap operas and films. Brands were most common in sports programmes, news, and soap operas, with those most frequently being Heineken, Budweiser and Carlsberg. Conclusion These substances are common in films and television in the UK, and are more common in films than on television. Alcohol is more pervasive in films and television than tobacco. Given the evidence on the effects of on-screen smoking and drinking on youth behaviours, measures need to be implemented to restrict these substances in media frequently accessed by young people

Portrayal of tobacco smoking in popular women's magazines: a content analysis

Background: Whilst many countries have introduced legislation prohibiting tobacco advertising and sponsorship, references to tobacco continue to appear in the media. This study quantified and characterized tobacco smoking content in popular women's magazines. Methods: The 10 top weekly and 5 monthly women's magazines most popular among 15–34 year olds in Britain published over a 3-month period were included. A content analysis was conducted for both written and visual content. Results: In 146 magazines, there were 310 instances of tobacco content, the majority of which were positive towards smoking. Instances of celebrities smoking were most common (171, 55%), often in holiday or party settings that could be perceived to be luxurious, glamorous or fun. In all, 55 (18%) tobacco references related to fashion, which generally created an impression of smoking as a norm within the industry; and 34 (11%) text and image references to tobacco in TV and film. There were 50 (16%) reader-initiated mentions of smoking, typically in real-life stories or readers writing in to seek advice about smoking. Anti-smoking references including the hazards of smoking were infrequent (49; 16%). Conclusions: Although tobacco advertising is prohibited in Britain, women's magazines still appear to be promoting positive messages about tobacco and smoking

Tobacco imagery on prime time UK television

Background: Smoking in films is a common and well documented cause of youth smoking experimentation and uptake and hence a significant health hazard. The extent of exposure of young people to tobacco imagery in television programming has to date been far less investigated. We have therefore measured the extent to which tobacco content occurs in prime time UK television, and estimated exposure of UK youth. Methods: The occurrence of tobacco, categorised as actual tobacco use, implied tobacco use, tobacco paraphernalia, other reference to tobacco, tobacco brand appearances or any of these, occurring in all prime time broadcasting on the five most popularly viewed UK television stations during 3 separate weeks in 2010 were measured by 1-minute interval coding. Youth exposure to tobacco content in the UK was estimated using media viewing figures. Findings: Actual tobacco use, predominantly cigarette smoking, occurred in 73 of 613 (12%) programmes, particularly in feature films and reality TV. Brand appearances were rare, occurring in only 18 programmes, of which 12 were news or other factual genres, and 6 were episodes of the same British soap opera. Tobacco occurred with similar frequency before as after 21:00, the UK watershed for programmes suitable for youth. The estimated number of incidences of exposure of the audience aged less than 18 years for any tobacco, actual tobacco use and tobacco branding were 59 million, 16 million and 3 million, respectively on average per week. Conclusions: Television programming is a source of significant exposure of youth to tobacco imagery, before and after the watershed. Tobacco branding is particularly common in Coronation Street, a soap opera popular among youth audiences. More stringent controls on tobacco in prime time television therefore have the potential to reduce the uptake of youth smoking in the UK

Classic ketogenic diet versus further antiseizure medicine in infants with drug-resistant epilepsy (KIWE): a UK, multicentre, open-label, randomised clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Many infancy-onset epilepsies have poor prognosis for seizure control and neurodevelopmental outcome. Ketogenic diets can improve seizures in children older than 2 years and adults who are unresponsive to antiseizure medicines. We aimed to establish the efficacy of a classic ketogenic diet at reducing seizure frequency compared with further antiseizure medicine in infants with drug-resistant epilepsy. METHODS: In this phase 4, open-label, multicentre, randomised clinical trial, infants aged 1-24 months with drug-resistant epilepsy (defined as four or more seizures per week and two or more previous antiseizure medications) were recruited from 19 hospitals in the UK. Following a 1-week or 2-week observation period, participants were randomly assigned using a computer-generated schedule, without stratification, to either a classic ketogenic diet or a further antiseizure medication for 8 weeks. Treatment allocation was masked from research nurses involved in patient care, but not from participants. The primary outcome was the median number of seizures per day, recorded during weeks 6-8. All analyses were by modified intention to treat, which included all participants with available data. Participants were followed for up to 12 months. All serious adverse events were recorded. The trial is registered with the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (2013-002195-40). The trial was terminated early before all participants had reached 12 months of follow-up because of slow recruitment and end of funding. FINDINGS: Between Jan 1, 2015, and Sept 30, 2021, 155 infants were assessed for eligibility, of whom 136 met inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned; 75 (55%) were male and 61 (45%) were female. 78 infants were assigned to a ketogenic diet and 58 to antiseizure medication, of whom 61 and 47, respectively, had available data and were included in the modifified intention-to-treat analysis at week 8. The median number of seizures per day during weeks 6-8, accounting for baseline rate and randomised group, was similar between the ketogenic diet group (5 [IQR 1-16]) and antiseizure medication group (3 [IQR 2-11]; IRR 1·33, 95% CI 0·84-2·11). A similar number of infants with at least one serious adverse event was reported in both groups (40 [51%] of 78 participants in the ketogenic diet group and 26 [45%] of 58 participants in the antiseizure medication group). The most common serious adverse events were seizures in both groups. Three infants died during the trial, all of whom were randomly assigned a ketogenic diet: one child (who also had dystonic cerebral palsy) was found not breathing at home; one child died suddenly and unexpectedly at home; and one child went into cardiac arrest during routine surgery under anaesthetic. The deaths were judged unrelated to treatment by local principal investigators and confirmed by the data safety monitoring committee. INTERPRETATION: In this phase 4 trial, a ketogenic diet did not differ in efficacy and tolerability to a further antiseizure medication, and it appears to be safe to use in infants with drug-resistant epilepsy. A ketogenic diet could be a treatment option in infants whose seizures continue despite previously trying two antiseizure medications. FUNDING: National Institute for Health and Care Research

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in COVID-19.

Host-mediated lung inflammation is present1, and drives mortality2, in the critical illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development3. Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study in 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19 from 208 UK intensive care units. We have identified and replicated the following new genome-wide significant associations: on chromosome 12q24.13 (rs10735079, P = 1.65 × 10-8) in a gene cluster that encodes antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3); on chromosome 19p13.2 (rs74956615, P = 2.3 × 10-8) near the gene that encodes tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2); on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2109069, P = 3.98 ×  10-12) within the gene that encodes dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9); and on chromosome 21q22.1 (rs2236757, P = 4.99 × 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identified potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that low expression of IFNAR2, or high expression of TYK2, are associated with life-threatening disease; and transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte-macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in COVID-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice

Screening of healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 highlights the role of asymptomatic carriage in COVID-19 transmission

Funder: Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002927Significant differences exist in the availability of healthcare worker (HCW) SARS-CoV-2 testing between countries, and existing programmes focus on screening symptomatic rather than asymptomatic staff. Over a 3 week period (April 2020), 1032 asymptomatic HCWs were screened for SARS-CoV-2 in a large UK teaching hospital. Symptomatic staff and symptomatic household contacts were additionally tested. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect viral RNA from a throat+nose self-swab. 3% of HCWs in the asymptomatic screening group tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 17/30 (57%) were truly asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic. 12/30 (40%) had experienced symptoms compatible with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)>7 days prior to testing, most self-isolating, returning well. Clusters of HCW infection were discovered on two independent wards. Viral genome sequencing showed that the majority of HCWs had the dominant lineage B∙1. Our data demonstrates the utility of comprehensive screening of HCWs with minimal or no symptoms. This approach will be critical for protecting patients and hospital staff

Tobacco and alcohol in films and on television

Background Evidence suggests exposure to film smoking increases youth smoking, and this is also likely to be the case for television. Some evidence suggests alcohol in films and television has similar effects on drinking behaviours. It is therefore important to document the extent to which tobacco and alcohol occur in films and television in the UK. Methods Films (1989-2008) and television broadcasting were content coded for tobacco and alcohol including branding, use, paraphernalia, inferred use, and other reference. These episodes were measured using interval recording whereby intervals of film and television were coded for each coding category listed above if at least one such incident occurred during the interval. Results In films, tobacco occurred in 70% of films; 68% of youth rated films. Tobacco fell substantially 1989-2008 for all categories, except branding. Brands were most common in the 15 age category, and 82% were certified as suitable for viewing by those under 18. Brands were most commonly either Marlboro or Silk Cut. Alcohol appeared in 86% of films, and branding in 35%. Alcohol use and branded appearances were higher in 1989, but the frequency of these and other categories changed little in subsequent years. Most films containing alcohol were classified as suitable for youth viewing. The most frequently shown brands were Budweiser, Miller and Coors. On television tobacco occurred in 34% broadcast programmes, and in more than half of all films, reality TV, and comedy programmes. Use occurred in 12% of programmes, particularly films and reality TV. Brands were rare, but several appeared in Coronation Street. Alcohol was commonly portrayed, appearing in 52% of programmes and 37% of advertisements/trailers, and most commonly in soap operas, films, sport, and comedy genres, while use was common in both soap operas and films. Brands were most common in sports programmes, news, and soap operas, with those most frequently being Heineken, Budweiser and Carlsberg. Conclusion These substances are common in films and television in the UK, and are more common in films than on television. Alcohol is more pervasive in films and television than tobacco. Given the evidence on the effects of on-screen smoking and drinking on youth behaviours, measures need to be implemented to restrict these substances in media frequently accessed by young people.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Tobacco and alcohol in films and on television

Background Evidence suggests exposure to film smoking increases youth smoking, and this is also likely to be the case for television. Some evidence suggests alcohol in films and television has similar effects on drinking behaviours. It is therefore important to document the extent to which tobacco and alcohol occur in films and television in the UK. Methods Films (1989-2008) and television broadcasting were content coded for tobacco and alcohol including branding, use, paraphernalia, inferred use, and other reference. These episodes were measured using interval recording whereby intervals of film and television were coded for each coding category listed above if at least one such incident occurred during the interval. Results In films, tobacco occurred in 70% of films; 68% of youth rated films. Tobacco fell substantially 1989-2008 for all categories, except branding. Brands were most common in the 15 age category, and 82% were certified as suitable for viewing by those under 18. Brands were most commonly either Marlboro or Silk Cut. Alcohol appeared in 86% of films, and branding in 35%. Alcohol use and branded appearances were higher in 1989, but the frequency of these and other categories changed little in subsequent years. Most films containing alcohol were classified as suitable for youth viewing. The most frequently shown brands were Budweiser, Miller and Coors. On television tobacco occurred in 34% broadcast programmes, and in more than half of all films, reality TV, and comedy programmes. Use occurred in 12% of programmes, particularly films and reality TV. Brands were rare, but several appeared in Coronation Street. Alcohol was commonly portrayed, appearing in 52% of programmes and 37% of advertisements/trailers, and most commonly in soap operas, films, sport, and comedy genres, while use was common in both soap operas and films. Brands were most common in sports programmes, news, and soap operas, with those most frequently being Heineken, Budweiser and Carlsberg. Conclusion These substances are common in films and television in the UK, and are more common in films than on television. Alcohol is more pervasive in films and television than tobacco. Given the evidence on the effects of on-screen smoking and drinking on youth behaviours, measures need to be implemented to restrict these substances in media frequently accessed by young people.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo