Public attitudes towards e-cigarette regulations and policies in Taiwan

Background: There are various approaches to e-cigarette regulation globally. In Taiwan, the term “e-cigarette” is not found in existing regulations, but health authorities apply explanatory notes derived from standing laws to e-cigarette. Taiwan health authority is in the process of regulative reform to include “e-cigarette” in standing tobacco law. Our objective was to investigate the public’s attitudes towards potential policy options for e-cigarette regulations in Taiwan.Design and Methods: We conduct an anonymous online survey in the general public. A questionnaire in Mandarin was posted on the website Stop-tabac.ch between July and November 2017.Results: Participants (n=236) were mostly male, young, highly educated, employed, and smoked or had smoked cigarettes in the past. Half were e-cigarette users. Four measures banning e-cigarettes, labelling content and nicotine level and establishing a maximum-allowable nicotine level were supported by more than 70% of participants. Vaping status was strongly associated with support for most measures after controlling for other factors in multivariate models.Conclusion: We documented attitudes of a self-selected sample of the general public in Taiwan regarding e-cigarette regulations and policies. These results may be useful to design studies in more representative samples and to inform e-cigarette regulations, policies and education campaigns

The Effects of Hunger Marketing in Scarcity products

[[abstract]]Hunger marketing is a marketing strategy where goods suppliers deliberately limit product supply to achieve excess demand. This research paper primarily investigated the varying impacts of Jordon shoes (tangible goods) and travelling to the Maldives (intangible goods) on the variables of the various dimensions of hunger marketing. This researchalso focused on the relationships between hunger marketing; knowledge exchange motivation, opportunities, and ability; involvement; epistemic value; purchase intention; WOM; and the interference caused by Jordon shoes, travelling to the Maldives, and financial status. This research adopted structural equation modelling (SEM) to construct the research framework. The researchers collaborated with a survey company to distribute the questionnaires, of which 975 were recovered. The analytical methods were employed to verify the collected data such as factor loading, t-value, AVE, Cronbach’s α being consistent with the hypotheses set by the aims of this research. The results showed could provide academic value in hunger marketing related researches.[[notice]]補正完

Pandemic influenza preparedness and health systems challenges in Asia: results from rapid analyses in 6 Asian countries

BACKGROUND: Since 2003, Asia-Pacific, particularly Southeast Asia, has received substantial attention because of the anticipation that it could be the epicentre of the next pandemic. There has been active investment but earlier review of pandemic preparedness plans in the region reveals that the translation of these strategic plans into operational plans is still lacking in some countries particularly those with low resources. The objective of this study is to understand the pandemic preparedness programmes, the health systems context, and challenges and constraints specific to the six Asian countries namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Taiwan, Thailand, and Viet Nam in the prepandemic phase before the start of H1N1/2009. METHODS: The study relied on the Systemic Rapid Assessment (SYSRA) toolkit, which evaluates priority disease programmes by taking into account the programmes, the general health system, and the wider socio-cultural and political context. The components under review were: external context; stewardship and organisational arrangements; financing, resource generation and allocation; healthcare provision; and information systems. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected in the second half of 2008 based on a review of published data and interviews with key informants, exploring past and current patterns of health programme and pandemic response. RESULTS: The study shows that health systems in the six countries varied in regard to the epidemiological context, health care financing, and health service provision patterns. For pandemic preparation, all six countries have developed national governance on pandemic preparedness as well as national pandemic influenza preparedness plans and Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) response plans. However, the governance arrangements and the nature of the plans differed. In the five developing countries, the focus was on surveillance and rapid containment of poultry related transmission while preparation for later pandemic stages was limited. The interfaces and linkages between health system contexts and pandemic preparedness programmes in these countries were explored. CONCLUSION: Health system context influences how the six countries have been preparing themselves for a pandemic. At the same time, investment in pandemic preparation in the six Asian countries has contributed to improvement in health system surveillance, laboratory capacity, monitoring and evaluation and public communications. A number of suggestions for improvement were presented to strengthen the pandemic preparation and mitigation as well as to overcome some of the underlying health system constraints

Health System Resource Gaps and Associated Mortality from Pandemic Influenza across Six Asian Territories

BACKGROUND: Southeast Asia has been the focus of considerable investment in pandemic influenza preparedness. Given the wide variation in socio-economic conditions, health system capacity across the region is likely to impact to varying degrees on pandemic mitigation operations. We aimed to estimate and compare the resource gaps, and potential mortalities associated with those gaps, for responding to pandemic influenza within and between six territories in Asia. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We collected health system resource data from Cambodia, Indonesia (Jakarta and Bali), Lao PDR, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. We applied a mathematical transmission model to simulate a "mild-to-moderate" pandemic influenza scenario to estimate resource needs, gaps, and attributable mortalities at province level within each territory. The results show that wide variations exist in resource capacities between and within the six territories, with substantial mortalities predicted as a result of resource gaps (referred to here as "avoidable" mortalities), particularly in poorer areas. Severe nationwide shortages of mechanical ventilators were estimated to be a major cause of avoidable mortalities in all territories except Taiwan. Other resources (oseltamivir, hospital beds and human resources) are inequitably distributed within countries. Estimates of resource gaps and avoidable mortalities were highly sensitive to model parameters defining the transmissibility and clinical severity of the pandemic scenario. However, geographic patterns observed within and across territories remained similar for the range of parameter values explored. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have important implications for where (both geographically and in terms of which resource types) investment is most needed, and the potential impact of resource mobilization for mitigating the disease burden of an influenza pandemic. Effective mobilization of resources across administrative boundaries could go some way towards minimizing avoidable deaths

An Overview of Regional Experiments on Biomass Burning Aerosols and Related Pollutants in Southeast Asia: From BASE-ASIA and the Dongsha Experiment to 7-SEAS

By modulating the Earth-atmosphere energy, hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, and affecting regional-to-global weather and climate, biomass burning is recognized as one of the major factors affecting the global carbon cycle. However, few comprehensive and wide-ranging experiments have been conducted to characterize biomass-burning pollutants in Southeast Asia (SEA) or assess their regional impact on meteorology, the hydrological cycle, the radiative budget, or climate change. Recently, BASEASIA (Biomass-burning Aerosols in South-East Asia: Smoke Impact Assessment) and the 7-SEAS (7- South-East Asian Studies) Dongsha Experiment were conducted during the spring seasons of 2006 and 2010 in northern SEA, respectively, to characterize the chemical, physical, and radiative properties of biomass-burning emissions near the source regions, and assess their effects. This paper provides an overview of results from these two campaigns and related studies collected in this special issue, entitled Observation, modeling and impact studies of biomass burning and pollution in the SE Asian Environment. This volume includes 28 papers, which provide a synopsis of the experiments, regional weatherclimate, chemical characterization of biomass-burning aerosols and related pollutants in source and sink regions, the spatial distribution of air toxics (atmospheric mercury and dioxins) in source and remote areas, a characterization of aerosol physical, optical, and radiative properties, as well as modeling and impact studies. These studies, taken together, provide the first relatively complete dataset of aerosol chemistry and physical observations conducted in the sourcesink region in the northern SEA, with particular emphasis on the marine boundary layer and lower free troposphere (LFT). The data, analysis and modeling included in these papers advance our present knowledge of source characterization of biomass-burning pollutants near the source regions as well as the physical and chemical processes along transport pathways. In addition, we raise key questions to be addressed by a coming deployment during springtime 2013 in northern SEA, named 7-SEASBASELInE (Biomass-burning Aerosols Stratocumulus Environment: Lifecycles and Interactions Experiment). This campaign will include a synergistic approach for further exploring many key atmospheric processes (e.g., complex aerosol-cloud interactions) and impacts of biomass burning on the surface-atmosphere energy budgets during the lifecycles of biomass burning emissions

E-cigarettes: Users' Profiles, Stakeholders and Public Attitudes to Regulations in Taiwan

The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 14 Taiwanese stakeholders, using semi-structured questionnaires, either face-to-face or over the telephone, in 2016-2017, to better understand stakeholders' perspectives. All interviews were transcribed. In addition, a cross-sectional, on-line, self-administered, and anonymous survey was conducted between July and November 2017 to collect the behavioral and socio-demographic characteristics of e-cigarette users, and to assess the public's opinions on e-cigarette regulation and policy options. Almost all interviewees agreed that there is a need for a specific legal framework for e-cigarettes in Taiwan, and that e-cigarettes should be regulated in the same way as combustible cigarettes. We documented the attitudes of a self-selected sample of the general public in Taiwan regarding e-cigarette regulations and policies. These results may be useful to design studies in more representative samples and to inform e-cigarette regulations, policies and education campaigns

Stakeholders' views on e-cigarette legislation: a qualitative study in Taiwan

Objectives: Little is known about stakeholders' opinions on e-cigarette legislation in Taiwan. Our aim is to understand the perspectives of stakeholders regarding the current legal system and measures that could be included in future e-cigarette legislation in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 14 Taiwanese stakeholders, using semi-structured questionnaires, either face-to-face or via telephone, in 2016-2017. All interviews were transcribed. Results: The current legal system is applied to e-cigarettes even though it does not mention them specifically, this system carries risks and faces challenges from anti-tobacco and vaper groups. Some weaknesses in the current legislative framework were noted, including the facts that e-cigarettes are sold without government approval, that there are no manufacturing standards, no inspections or monitoring, and no regulations for usage or advertising. There was wide acceptance among stakeholders that e-cigarettes should be better regulated, particularly e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Most interviewees agreed that there is a need to restrict e-cigarette use by teenagers and in public places where tobacco smoking is prohibited. Most interviewees also would like to restrict marketing, ban sales in vending machines, via mail order, and over the internet; label content and nicotine levels; and introduce health warnings and taxation. Conclusions: Almost all interviewees agreed that there is a need for a specific legal framework for e-cigarettes in Taiwan, and that e-cigarettes should be regulated in the same way as combustible cigarettes

台灣地區成年人對於香菸警語、香菸廣告及反菸廣告之看法

台灣地區自民國八十一年六月三日起，規定不論是國內製造或國外進口之香菸，均應於菸盒正面標示菸害警語。為瞭解民眾對於警語標示及香菸廣告和反菸廣告之反應，本研究以民國八十二年一月居住於台灣地區的十八歲以上人口為母羣體，利用分層隨機集束抽樣方法，選出樣本。實際訪到樣本共2437人，其中男性1192人(48.9%)，女性1245人(51.1%)。 本研究發現有43.8%的吸菸者於取菸時曾注意到菸盒上的警語，有95.8%吸菸者表示會繼續吸菸；有21.9%的人表示最近三個月曾看過推銷香菸的廣告；依廣告出現處排序，其來源前三位分別為商店櫃台(54.7%)、雜誌(53.9%)及街頭看板或海報(45.1%)；有82.9%的人表示最近三個月曾看過反菸廣告，他們主要從電視(96.4%)、報紙(33.6%)及海報單張(23.3%)上看到這類廣告。有63.7%的人認為反菸廣告是「勸吸菸者不要吸菸」，有21.9%的人表示反菸廣告「根本無效」

Post-Treatment with Erinacine A, a Derived Diterpenoid of H. erinaceus, Attenuates Neurotoxicity in MPTP Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Hericium erinaceus, a valuable pharmaceutical and edible mushroom, contains potent bioactive compounds such as H. erinaceus mycelium (HEM) and its derived ethanol extraction of erinacine A, which have been found to regulate physiological functions in our previous study. However, HEM or erinacine A with post-treatment regimens also shows effects on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity, but its mechanisms remain unknown. By using annexin-V–fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide staining and a 2’,7’ –dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA) staining assay, the cell death, cell viability, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MMP+)-treated Neuro-2a (N2a) cells with or without erinacine A addition were measured, respectively. Furthermore, signaling molecules for regulating the p21/GADD45 cell death pathways and PAKalpha, p21 (RAC1) activated kinase 1 (PAK1) survival pathways were also detected in the cells treated with MPP+ and erinacine A by Western blots. In neurotoxic animal models of MPTP induction, the effects of HEM or erinacine A and its mechanism in vivo were determined by measuring the TH-positive cell numbers and the protein level of the substantia nigra through a brain histological examination. Our results demonstrated that post-treatment with erinacine A was capable of preventing the cytotoxicity of neuronal cells and the production of ROS in vitro and in vivo through the neuroprotective mechanism for erinacine A to rescue the neurotoxicity through the disruption of the IRE1α/TRAF2 interaction and the reduction of p21 and GADD45 expression. In addition, erinacine A treatment activated the conserved signaling pathways for neuronal survival via the phosphorylation of PAK1, AKT, LIM domain kinase 2 (LIMK2), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and Cofilin. Similar changes in the signal molecules also were found in the substantia nigra of the MPTP, which caused TH+ neuron damage after being treated with erinacine A in the post-treatment regimens in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our data indicated a novel mechanism for post-treatment with erinacine A to protect from neurotoxicity through regulating neuronal survival and cell death pathways