One Last Puff? - Public Smoking Bans and Smoking Behavior

This paper investigates the short-term effects of public smoking bans on individual smoking behavior. In 2007 and 2008, state-level smoking bans were gradually introduced in all of Germany's sixteen federal states. We exploit this variation in the timing of state bans to identify the effect that smoke-free policies had on individuals' smoking propensity and smoking intensity. Using rich longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study, our difference-in-differences estimates show that the introduction of smoke-free legislation in Germany did not change average smoking behavior within the population. However, our estimates also point to important heterogeneous effects. Groups that go out more often, and hence are more exposed to the constraints of public smoking bans in everyday life, did adjust their smoking behavior. Specifically, we find that young, unmarried individuals, and those living in urban areas are groups that are both less likely to smoke and smoke less intensively following the introduction of public smoking bans. Furthermore, effects on individual smoking habits proved stronger in states that had more strict smoking bans. Public smoking bans, therefore, have important health benefits over and above the reduction in exposure of non-smokers to second-hand smoke that is their immediate and prime objective.Das vorliegende Papier untersucht anhand von Daten des Sozio-Oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) die kurzfristige Wirkung von öffentlichen Rauchverboten auf das Rauchverhalten in Deutschland. In den Jahren 2007 und 2008 wurden sukzessive Rauchverbote in allen sechzehn Bundesländern eingeführt. Diese zeitliche Variation erlaubt die Messung der Auswirkung von Rauchverboten auf die Wahrscheinlichkeit von Individuen zu rauchen sowie auf die Höhe ihres Zigarettenkonsums. Die Ergebnisse unserer Differenzen-in-Differenzen Schätzungen zeigen, dass die Verbote das durchschnittliche Rauchverhalten in der Bevölkerung insgesamt nicht beeinflussten. Doch finden wir relevante Effekte für Personengruppen, die traditionell häufiger ausgehen (jüngere Jahrgänge, unverheiratete Personen und Einwohner größerer Städte). Diese sind durch ihr häufigeres Ausgehverhalten den Beschränkungen von Rauchverboten im Alltag stärker ausgesetzt und weisen in Folge der Verbote niedrigere Wahrscheinlichkeiten auf, zu rauchen. Ferner finden sich Hinweise, dass sich striktere Rauchverbote stärker auf das Rauchverhalten auswirkten. Rauchverbote haben somit, neben ihrem eigentlichen Ziel, das Ausmaß des Passivrauchens im öffentlichen Raum zu reduzieren, eine wichtige und zusätzliche gesundheitsfördernde Wirkung

Low omega-6 vs. low omega-6 plus high omega-3 dietary intervention for Chronic Daily Headache: Protocol for a randomized clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Targeted analgesic dietary interventions are a promising strategy for alleviating pain and improving quality of life in patients with persistent pain syndromes, such as chronic daily headache (CDH). High intakes of the omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) may promote physical pain by increasing the abundance, and subsequent metabolism, of LA and AA in immune and nervous system tissues. Here we describe methodology for an ongoing randomized clinical trial comparing the metabolic and clinical effects of a low n-6, average n-3 PUFA diet, to the effects of a low n-6 plus high n-3 PUFA diet, in patients with CDH. Our primary aim is to determine if: A) both diets reduce n-6 PUFAs in plasma and erythrocyte lipid pools, compared to baseline; and B) the low n-6 plus high n-3 diet produces a greater decline in n-6 PUFAs, compared to the low n-6 diet alone. Secondary clinical outcomes include headache-specific quality-of-life, and headache frequency and intensity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adults meeting the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria for CDH are included. After a 6-week baseline phase, participants are randomized to a low n-6 diet, or a low n-6 plus high n-3 diet, for 12 weeks. Foods meeting nutrient intake targets are provided for 2 meals and 2 snacks per day. A research dietitian provides intensive dietary counseling at 2-week intervals. Web-based intervention materials complement dietitian advice. Blood and clinical outcome data are collected every 4 weeks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Subject recruitment and retention has been excellent; 35 of 40 randomized participants completed the 12-week intervention. Preliminary blinded analysis of composite data from the first 20 participants found significant reductions in erythrocyte n-6 LA, AA and %n-6 in HUFA, and increases in n-3 EPA, DHA and the omega-3 index, indicating adherence.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/(NCT01157208)">(NCT01157208)</a></p

Variations in abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellic acid and zeatin concentrations in two bean species subjected to salt stress

WOS: 000226361600023Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is sensitive to drought and salinity, while an ancestral legume, tepary bean (P. acutifolius A. Gray) is cultivated successfully where high temperature and drought are common (Lazeano-Ferrat and Lovatt, 1999). Hence, P. acutifolius is a potential source of stress tolerant traits for P. vulgaris through interspecific hybrids. This study comparatively evaluated the effects of salt stress on leaf relative water content (RWC), soluble protein, the phytohormones indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA(3)), zeatin, and abscisic acid (ABA) levels in P. vulgaris and P. acutifolius. With the exception of ABA, stress-induced changes in hormonal levels putatively related to stress tolerance have not been investigated previously in either species. Treatment with 50 mM, 100 mM and 150 mM NaCl reduced relative water and protein content in P. vulgaris, but did not affect relative water content and increased protein content in P. acutifolius. Varietal differences between P. vulgaris and P. acutifolius were also observed in hormonal content during the stress period. ABA levels in salt-treated plants of P. vulgaris increased but did not change in P. acutifolius versus the controls. Both IAA and gibberellin levels increased in leaves of P. acutifolius but decreased in P. vulgaris under salt stress. In salt-treated plants, zeatin concentrations in leaves of P. vulgaris decreased within 24-72 h after treatment. However, P. acutifolius responded to all tested NaCl levels by increasing zeatin concentrations after short-term NaCl treatment

The effects of nitric oxide on some antioxidant enzyme activities under salt stress in sunflower plants

The effects of externally applied sodium nitroprusside on superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzyme activities, nitric oxide (NO) levels have been investigated in salt stress resistant and sensitive sunflower plants. NaCl treatments and SNP treatments simultaneously with salt application (NaCl+SNP) were performed. SOD, GPx, APX and CAT antioxidant enzyme activities and NO levels showed differences in leaf tissues treated with 100 µM SNP, different concentrations of NaCl, and NaCl+SNP. SOD, GPx and APX enzyme activities were generally increased in sensitive variety, but decreased in tolerant variety. However, while general increase in CAT enzyme activity was determined in tolerant type, a reduction was established in sensitive type. An increase was determined in both types in NO levels. It is evident from these results that administration of NO donor SNP can cope with reactive oxygen species in both varieties. This study indicates that negative effects of salt stress on different sun flower varieties can be recovered by nitric oxide