Trends in smoking and quitting in China from 1993 to 2003: National Health Service Survey data

OBJECTIVE: China has about 350 million smokers, more commonly men. Using data from National Health Service Surveys conducted in 1993, 1998 and 2003, we (i) estimated trends in smoking prevalence and cessation according to sociodemographic variables and (ii) analysed cessation rates, quitting intentions, reasons for quitting and reasons for relapsing. METHODS: Data were collected from approximately 57 000 households and 200 000 individuals in each survey year. Household members > 15 years of age were interviewed about their smoking habits, quitting intentions and attitudes towards smoking. We present descriptive data stratified by age, sex, income level and rural versus urban residence. FINDINGS: In China, current smoking in those > 15 years old declined 60–49% in men and 5–3.2% in women over 1993–2003. The decline was more marked in urban areas. However, heavy smoking (≥ 20 cigarettes daily) increased substantially overall and doubled in men. The average age of uptake also dropped by about 3 years. In 2003, 7.9% of smokers reported intending to quit, and 6% of people who had ever smoked reported having quit. Of former smokers, 40.6% quit because of illness, 26.9% to prevent disease and 10.9% for financial reasons. CONCLUSION: Smoking prevalence declined in China over the study period, perhaps due to the combined effect of smoking cessation, reduced uptake in women and selective mortality among men over 40 years of age. However, heavy smoking increased. People in China rarely quit or intend to quit smoking, except at older ages. Further tobacco control efforts are urgently needed, especially in rural areas

Surfactant Protein-A Suppresses Eosinophil-Mediated Killing of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Allergic Lungs

Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) has well-established functions in reducing bacterial and viral infections but its role in chronic lung diseases such as asthma is unclear. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) frequently colonizes the airways of chronic asthmatics and is thought to contribute to exacerbations of asthma. Our lab has previously reported that during Mp infection of non-allergic airways, SP-A aides in maintaining airway homeostasis by inhibiting an overzealous TNF-alpha mediated response and, in allergic mice, SP-A regulates eosinophilic infiltration and inflammation of the airway. In the current study, we used an in vivo model with wild type (WT) and SP-A−/− allergic mice challenged with the model antigen ovalbumin (Ova) that were concurrently infected with Mp (Ova+Mp) to test the hypothesis that SP-A ameliorates Mp-induced stimulation of eosinophils. Thus, SP-A could protect allergic airways from injury due to release of eosinophil inflammatory products. SP-A deficient mice exhibit significant increases in inflammatory cells, mucus production and lung damage during concurrent allergic airway disease and infection (Ova+Mp) as compared to the WT mice of the same treatment group. In contrast, SP-A deficient mice have significantly decreased Mp burden compared to WT mice. The eosinophil specific factor, eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), which has been implicated in pathogen killing and also in epithelial dysfunction due to oxidative damage of resident lung proteins, is enhanced in samples from allergic/infected SP-A−/− mice as compared to WT mice. In vitro experiments using purified eosinophils and human SP-A suggest that SP-A limits the release of EPO from Mp-stimulated eosinophils thereby reducing their killing capacity. These findings are the first to demonstrate that although SP-A interferes with eosinophil-mediated biologic clearance of Mp by mediating the interaction of Mp with eosinophils, SP-A simultaneously benefits the airway by limiting inflammation and damage

Updated Guidance Regarding The Risk ofAllergic Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines and Recommended Evaluation and Management: A GRADE Assessment, and International Consensus Approach

This guidance updates 2021 GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) recommendations regarding immediate allergic reactions following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and addresses revaccinating individuals with first-dose allergic reactions and allergy testing to determine revaccination outcomes. Recent meta-analyses assessed the incidence of severe allergic reactions to initial COVID-19 vaccination, risk of mRNA-COVID-19 revaccination after an initial reaction, and diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine excipient testing in predicting reactions. GRADE methods informed rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations. A modified Delphi panel consisting of experts in allergy, anaphylaxis, vaccinology, infectious diseases, emergency medicine, and primary care from Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States formed the recommendations. We recommend vaccination for persons without COVID-19 vaccine excipient allergy and revaccination after a prior immediate allergic reaction. We suggest against \u3e 15-minute postvaccination observation. We recommend against mRNA vaccine or excipient skin testing to predict outcomes. We suggest revaccination of persons with an immediate allergic reaction to the mRNA vaccine or excipients be performed by a person with vaccine allergy expertise in a properly equipped setting. We suggest against premedication, split-dosing, or special precautions because of a comorbid allergic history

Session 2D Post-Fire Trail Assessment of Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires

The Cameron Peak Fire which occurred from August to December 2020 in Colorado, U.S affected many of Northern Colorado\u27s trails systems. Through GIS analysis we are able to determine trails most affected by the fire and at need for restoration. These results will be given to Wildlands Restoration Volunteers in order to complete future restoration. Additional analysis occurred with the East Troublesome Fire to provide additional resources to determine restoration for Wildlands Restoration Volunteer

Alteration of surfactant levels during inflammation and infection.

<p><b>A</b>) SP-A or <b>B</b>) SP-D levels were determined by densitometry of Western blots of BAL samples of untreated, Ova only (day 28 of our model) or Ova+Mp (day 28 of our model). n = 2 experiments with 3–4 mice/group each.</p

SP-A is protective against Mp-induced allergic pathologies.

<p><b>A</b>) PAS stained lung sections examined at 10× magnification were <b>B</b>) blindly scored for mucus production with 0 representing no mucus present and 5 being mucus present in greater than 75% of airways and bronchioles. <b>C</b>) H&E stained lung sections shows inflammation and RBCs in alveolar spaces and lymphatics of Ova+Mp treated mice. <b>D</b>) Albumin measured in the BAL as a measure of lung damage and vascular permeability. n = representative of 3 experiments, *p<.05.</p

EPO is vital for Mp killing mechanisms <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.

<p><b>A</b>) Purified human EPO (0.5 µM) was added to Mp (5×10⁶) and viability was assessed over the course of 1 hr. **p<.01,*p<.05. n = 3 experiments. <b>B</b>) Mice were treated with Ova and Mp (O+Mp) as previously described but 2 hrs prior to Mp infection, some mice were given either vehicle (V) or resorcinol (R). Mice were given boosters after 24 hrs and samples harvested at 72 hrs for Mp burden. *p<.05. n = 2 experiments (8–10 mice/group).</p

Mp burden is decreased in Mp-infected SP-A^{<b>−/−</b>} allergic mice.

<p><b>A</b>) WT and SP-A^−/− mice were injected ip with Ova/Alum mixture on days 1 and 14, subject to Ova aerosolization on days 21–23 and instilled with either Mp or saline on day 25. Mp burden was determined in <b>B</b>) BAL by plating dilutions on PPLO agar plates and counting via 10× magnification or in <b>C</b>) lung tissue by RT-PCR for Mp P1-adhesin relative to housekeeper. n = at least 15 mice/group, 3 experiments combined, **p<.01.</p