Electronic cigarette use was not associated with quitting of conventional cigarettes in youth smokers

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Genetic modification of a baculovirus vector for increased expression in insect cells

Generating large amounts of recombinant protein in transgenic animals is often challenging and has a number of drawbacks compared to cell culture systems. The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) uses virus-infected insect cells to produce recombinant proteins to high levels, and these are usually processed in a similar way to the native protein. Interestingly, since the development of the BEVS, the virus most often used (Autographa californica multi-nucleopolyhedovirus; AcMNPV) has been little altered genetically from its wild-type parental virus. In this study, we modified the AcMNPV genome in an attempt to improve recombinant protein yield, by deleting genes that are nonessential in cell culture. We deleted the p26, p10 and p74 genes from the virus genome, replacing them with an antibiotic selection cassette, allowing us to isolate recombinants. We screened and identified recombinant viruses by restriction enzyme analysis, PCR and Western blot. Cell viability analysis showed that the deletions did not improve the viability of infected cells, compared to non-deletion viruses. However, expression studies showed that recombinant protein levels for the deletion viruses were significantly higher than the expression levels of nondeletion viruses. These results confirm that there is still great potential for improving the BEVS, further increasing recombinant protein expression yields and stability in insect cells

Sol-gel based optically active phenolphthalein encapsulated nanomatrices for sensing application

In this work, synthesis and characterization of phenolphthalein-immobilized titania (T-phph) and silica–titania (ST-phph) nanomatrix is reported. The thin films are deposited by sol–gel method at low temperature. The effect of host–guest chemistry in matrices, on the surface structures, optical and sensing activity of the resultant thin films is studied. The phenolphthalein-immobilized fabricated nanoparticles/nanomatrices are analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic-force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Thermally stable and high surface area homogeneous nanoparticles, containing nanocrystalline anatase phase with low refractive index (1.58), low roughness (5.5 nm), and high transparency (95 %) are obtained for phenolphthalein-immobilized ST-phph nanomatrix. Moreover, smaller nanoparticles (56–121 nm) with good incorporation of dye and good response of sensing are obtained. The sensor response is optimized at pH 12 with 10.1 pKa value at 555 nm. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext

Knowledge of the health risks of smoking and impact of cigarette warning labels among tobacco users in six European countries: Findings from the EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveys

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine knowledge of health effects of smoking and the impact of cigarette package warnings among tobacco users from six European Union (EU) Member States (MS) immediately prior to the introduction of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in 2016 and to explore the interrelationship between these two factors. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected via face-to-face interviews with adult smokers (n=6011) from six EU MS (Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Spain) between June–September 2016. Sociodemographic variables and knowledge of health risks of smoking (KHR) were assessed. Warning salience, thoughts of harm, thoughts of quitting and foregoing of cigarettes as a result of health warnings were assessed. The Label Impact Index (LII) was used as a composite measure of warning effects. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine sociodemographic predictors of KHR and LII and the inter-relationship between knowledge and LII scores. Results: The KHR index was highest in Romania and Greece and lowest in Hungary and Germany. While the majority of smokers knew that smoking increases the risk for heart diseases, lung and throat cancer, there was lower awareness that tobacco use caused mouth cancer, pulmonary diseases, stroke, and there were very low levels of knowledge that it was also associated with impotence and blindness, in all six countries. Knowledge regarding the health risks of passive smoking was moderate in most countries. The LII was highest in Romania and Poland, followed by Spain and Greece, and lowest in Germany and Hungary. In almost all countries, there was a positive association between LII scores and higher KHR scores after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Several sociodemographic factors were associated with KHR and LII, with differences in these associations documented across countries. Conclusions: These data provide evidence to support the need for stronger educational efforts and policies that can enhance the effectiveness of health warnings in communicating health risks and promoting quit attempts. Data will serve as a baseline for examining the impact of the TPD