The intersection of gender and race/ethnicity in smoking behaviors among menthol and non-menthol smokers in the United States

To determine whether menthol is related to initiation, quantity or quitting, we examined differences in smoking behaviors among menthol and non-menthol smokers, stratified by gender and race/ethnicity, and adjusting for age, income and educational attainment.Cross-sectional, using data from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey and Cancer Control Supplement.United States.Black, Hispanic and white women and men aged 25–64 years.For each group, we examined (i) proportion of menthol smokers (comparing current and former smokers); (ii) age of initiation, cigarettes smoked per day and quit attempt in the past year (comparing menthol and non-menthol current smokers); and (iii) time since quitting (comparing menthol and non-menthol former smokers). We calculated predicted values for each demographic group, adjusting for age, income and educational attainment.After adjusting for age, income and education, black (compared with Hispanic and white) and female (compared with male) smokers were more likely to choose menthol cigarettes. There was only one statistically significant difference in age of initiation, cigarettes smoked per day, quit attempts or time since quitting between menthol and non-menthol smokers: white women who smoked menthol cigarettes reported longer cessation compared with those who smoked non-menthol cigarettes.The results do not support the hypothesis that menthol smokers initiate earlier, smoke more or have a harder time quitting compared with non-menthol smokers. A menthol additive and the marketing of it, given the clear demographic preferences demonstrated here, however, may be responsible for enticing the groups least likely to smoke into this addictive behavior.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79098/1/j.1360-0443.2010.03191.x.pd

Effect of Plant Growth Hormones on Shoot and Root Regeneration in Rose under In Vitro Conditions

Background: Rose is a commercially important shrub. This research aimed to observe the influence of different plant growth hormones on development of shoots and roots of Rosa Indica L. in tissue culture.Methods: Various concentrations of N6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were used in the study. The different concentrations of BAP (2.00, 3.00, and 4.00 mg l-1) and IAA (2.00 and 3.00 mg l-1) were tested for shoot induction. While varying concentrations of IAA and IBA were analyzed for root proliferation.Results: The results of the study indicated that the fastest shoot initiation (17.77 days), the highest number of shoots bottle-1 (3.55), the maximum shoot length (4.72 cm), and the utmost number of leaves bottle-1 (53.67) were observed on MS media containing 3.00 mg l-1 BAP, 3.00 mg l-1 IAA, and 30 g l-1 sugar, while the highest number of shoots bottle-1 were produced under MS + 2.00 mg l-1 BAP + 3.00 mg l-1 IAA + 30 g l-1 sugar. Regarding root induction, the maximum number of roots (4.67) and root length (2.60 cm) were observed under half strength MS media supplemented with 30 g l-1 sugar.Conclusion: The study suggested that MS media containing 3.00 mg l-1 BAP and IAA could be used for tissue culturing rose plants. For root induction, half-strength MS media, along with sugar, could be used. The study gives an insight into potential media compositions for the propagation of rose. The suggested media can have promising uses in commercial multiplication of this important plant.Keywords: Rose; Tissue culture; Micropropagation; MS media; Shoot developmen

Transcriptomic analysis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma reveals a multi-gene prognostic signature associated with metastasis

Background: Metastasis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is uncommon. Current staging methods are reported to have sub-optimal performances in metastasis prediction. Accurate identification of patients with tumours at high risk of metastasis would have a significant impact on management.Objective: To develop a robust and validated gene expression profile (GEP) signature for predicting primary cSCC metastatic risk using an unbiased whole transcriptome discovery-driven approach.Methods: Archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary cSCC with perilesional normal tissue from 237 immunocompetent patients (151 non-metastasising and 86 metastasising) were collected retrospectively from four centres. TempO-seq was used to probe the whole transcriptome and machine learning algorithms were applied to derive predictive signatures, with a 3:1 split for training and testing datasets.Results: A 20-gene prognostic model was developed and validated, with an accuracy of 86.0%, sensitivity of 85.7%, specificity of 86.1%, and positive predictive value of 78.3% in the testing set, providing more stable, accurate prediction than pathological staging systems. A linear predictor was also developed, significantly correlating with metastatic risk.Limitations: This was a retrospective 4-centre study and larger prospective multicentre studies are now required.Conclusion: The 20-gene signature prediction is accurate, with the potential to be incorporated into clinical workflows for cSCC

Evaluation of Different Brassica spp. Against Aphids, Under Multan Agro-Ecological Conditions

Four species of Brassica viz,. B. napus, B. juncea. B. compestris and B. rapa were studied for their relative resistance/susceptibility against aphids, under field conditions for three consecutive crop seasons i.e., 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. The data on the incidence of aphids were recorded at weekly interval. Host plant susceptibility indices were also calculated. B. napus was found to be susceptible showing maximum population of aphids i.e., 6.80 per 10-cm inflorescence whereas B. compestris showed comparatively resistant response with minimum population of aphids i.e., 0.43 per 10-cm inflorescence. The population of aphid was recorded to be the highest (12.83 per 10-cm inflorescence) on March 11 which showed non-significant difference with those of recorded on March 04 (12.52/10-cm inflorescence) Furthermore, the population of aphids remained present throughout the crop season starting from December 10 of each cropping period. The population of aphids was recorded to be higher on B. napus and B. juncea as compared to B. compestris and B. rapa on most of the dates of observation. Non-significant difference was found to exist among years regarding the population of aphids on Brassica species. The population of aphids showed significant difference among years for B. napus whereas B. juncea, B. compestris and B. rapa showed non-significant difference. The crop seasons 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 did not show significant difference regarding the population of aphids at various dates of observation starting from December 03 to January 28 for each crop season. Significant difference was found to exist thereafter from February 04 to march 25 among crop seasons. The highest population was recorded to be 12.84 during 2009-2010 on March 11, 13.15 per 10-cm inflorescence on March 04 during 2010-2011 and 13.78 per 10-cm inflorescence on March during 2011-2012. The maximum HPSIs were recorded to be 51, 48, 55 and 51 percent in B. napus during 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 on cumulative basis, respectively and proved to be susceptible specie. The minimum HPSI was recorded to be 3, 5, 1 and 3 percent for B. compestris during the crop seasons as mentioned above, respectively and found to be comparatively resistant

Human papilloma virus detection by immunohistochemistry on sinonasal papillomas and nasopharyngeal carcinomas: Report on 26 cases

Background : Human papilloma virus (particularly HPV 6 and 11) has been documented in 20% to 76% of nasopharyngeal papillomas. HPV is also associated with 25% keratinizing nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma detected by studies using techniques of immunopathology and by modern molecular biology. Objectives: To study the role of human papilloma virus as an etiological agent in sinonasal papillomas and nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Materials and Methods: A total of 26 cases of neoplasms were studied for HPV antigen. Tumors were classified histopathologically by using Hematoxylin and Eosin-stained slides. Evidence of HPV infection like koilocytic changes and HPV antigens were noted down in all 26 cases. Results: There were 14 sinonasal papillomas, 7 each of fungiform and inverted types and 12 nasopharyngeal carcinomas. All cases of fungiform papillomas had either histological (koilocytes) or immunohisochemical evidence of HPV infection. 85.5% of inverted papillomas had evidence of HPV infection either in the form of koilocytes or in the form of positive immunohistochemistry or both. 50% of nasopharyngeal carcinomas had histological and immunohistochemical (either one or both) evidence of HPV infection. Conclusion: This study, unlike other studies, has found higher rate of HPV detection in both types of Schneiderian papillomas. Not many studies have been carried out on nasopharyngeal carcinomas. We have found evidence of HPV infection in 100% of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas and 33.3% cases of poorly to undifferentiated cases of NPC

Use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Academic Achievement of University Students: A Correlational Investigation

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore the relationship between the use of ICTs and the academic achievement of students at public and private level universities. The objectives of the study were to study the relationship between the use of ICTs and academic achievement of masters’ level students. Methodology: The population of the study included all the students which are enrolled in master degree programs of all public and private sector universities of the Punjab province. The sample of the study comprised 400 students including 243 females and 157 males. The data was collected by a self-developed questionnaire which was based on the students’ opinions related to the use of ICT. All the 400 students gave their responses on six point likert type questionnaire that had 30 items. A pilot study was conducted for the validation of instrument. The reliability index (Cronbach’s Alpha) was 0.89, which was statistically significant. Data were collected personally from students (both male and female) of two public and two private sector universities. The data gathered from the students were analyzed on SPSS version 22. Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, ANOVA, mean scores, standard deviation were calculated to find the major results. Findings: The study found the benefits and uses of ICT in education sector and also explored different ways which may help in teaching learning process using resources of ICTs. Implications: The policy makers should make such policies which ensure the use of ICT resources in all public and private sector educational institutions

The Effect of Hypothyroidism on the Body Weight of Adult Albino Wistar Rats

Background: To study the alteration in the body weight of adult albino rats in hypothyroid state.Methods: In this experimental animal study, change in the body weight of adult albino wistar rats was measured after they were made hypothyroid. Twenty adult albino wistar rats with average weight of 130-150 gms were randomly assigned into two groups. Group A served as control and Group B served as experimental group. The rats in group A were kept as control and given normal food and water ad libitum whereas Group B were administered Methimazole 0.02% for 22 days in drinking water. Body weight was recorded at the beginning and on alternate days.Results: MMI treatment produced significant influence on the body weight of the animals. Significant difference was observed in the initial and the final body weight of the control and the experimental group of animals, p<0.01.Conclusion: Hypothyroidism caused increase in the body weight of the experimental albino rats but decreased as compared to previous experimental studies