Differences in smoking attitudes of adolescents and young adults

This study employed the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine the differences between adolescent (n = 182) and young adults (n = 209) in their intention to smoke and examined possible differences. Analysis showed that young adults had more positive self-reported attitudes toward smoking than adolescents, had higher intentions to smoke, lower perceived behavioral control over smoking and perceived they were more informed about smoking. The Theory of Planned Behavior provided good prediction of intention for both young adults (R-2 = .70, attitudes, information, and past behavior significant) and adolescents (R-2 = .68, attitudes, past behavior significant). For both samples attitudes were the strongest predictor of intentions to smoke. Implications for understanding intention toward smoking between adolescents and young adults are discussed

Isolation and phenotypic characterization of large vein endothelial cells.

<p>Cells isolated from surgical specimens were characterized <i>in-vitro</i> by morphological assessment (<b>A</b>) and multiparametric flow cytometry analysis (<b>B</b>). In <b>A</b>, cell morphology was examined by using phase-contrast microscopy. VEC cultures were characterized by regular polygonal shape and dimensions and uniform monolayer. On the other hand, non-VEC cultures appeared with a fibroblast-like morphology characterized by elongated shapes and growing in an uneven manner. Representative images of VEC and non-VEC cultures, at two different <i>in vitro</i> passages (p = 0 and p = 3), are shown. Left panels: 10X, original magnification; right panels: 20X original magnifications. In <b>B</b>, multiparametric flow cytometry analyses were performed with a specific panel of endothelial cells defining antibodies. VEC were defined as CD146⁺/CD144⁺/CD31⁺/CD105⁺/CD34⁺/CD45⁻/CD14⁻ while non-VEC displayed a more variable and random pattern of antigens expression. Two representative multiparametric flow cytometry analysis panels of a non-VEC and pure VEC cultures are shown as two-colors dot plots.</p

Analysis of ICAM-1 and VCAM expression in control and pathological VEC.

<p>In <b>A–C</b>, surface expression of ICAM-1 antigen was evaluated by flow cytometry in either pathological and control-VEC. In <b>A</b>, colored histograms represent cells stained with monoclonal antibodies specific for the indicated antigens and white histograms represent background fluorescence obtained by staining the same cells with isotype-matched control antibodies. A representative panel for control-, C2- and C3-VEC is shown. In <b>B</b>, the expression levels of ICAM-1 were determined for all VEC samples (8 C2-VEC, 13 C3-VEC and 5 control VEC) by flow cytometry analysis and expressed as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). *<i>P</i><0.05 compared to control VEC. In <b>C</b>, comparative analysis of ICAM-1 surface expression, reported as MFI, at different VEC passages. In <b>D–E</b>, pathological and control-VEC cultures were exposed to TNF-α for 18 hours before ICAM-1 and VCAM surface expression analysis by flow cytometry (<b>D</b>), and mRNA levels analysis by quantitative RT-PCR (<b>E</b>). In <b>D</b>, two representative panels are shown: dotted histograms represent background fluorescence obtained by staining the same cells with isotype-matched control antibodies. The expression levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM, determined for all VEC samples by flow cytometry analysis upon TNF-α stimulation, are expressed as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). In <b>E</b>, mRNA expression levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM were determined both in unstimulated and TNF-α-stimulated VEC cultures. Results from amplifications, done in duplicate, are expressed as arbitrary units, after normalization for the housekeeping gene. Horizontal bars are median, upper and lower edges of box are 75th and 25th percentiles, lines extending from box are 10th and 90th percentiles.</p

Baseline characteristics of subjects.

<p>Baseline characteristics of subjects.</p

Analysis of the NF-kB, OPG and VEGF levels in VEC culture supernatants and serum samples.

<p>In <b>A</b>, NF-kB-p65 DNA binding activity was assessed in duplicate using the TransAM assay. Results are reported as absorbance values (O.D.) per 20 µg of cell lysate protein. In <b>B</b>, OPG and VEGF levels were determined by ELISA in VEC culture supernatants. In <b>C</b>, OPG and VEGF levels were determined by ELISA in sera of C2 and C3 patients as well as in sex and age-matched normal controls. In <b>A–C</b>, horizontal bars are median, upper, and lower edges of box are 75th and 25th percentiles; lines extending from box are 10th and 90th percentiles. *, <i>P</i><0.05 compared to either control VEC (<b>A–B</b>) or control sera (<b>C</b>).</p

Differential phenotype between control and pathological VEC.

<p>Surface expression of CD31 and CD146 was evaluated by flow cytometry in either pathological and control-VEC. In <b>A</b>, colored histograms represent cells stained with monoclonal antibodies specific for the indicated antigens and white histograms represent background fluorescence obtained by staining the same cells with isotype-matched control antibodies. Representative panels for control, C2- and C3-VEC are shown. In <b>B</b>, the expression levels of the indicated antigens were determined for all VEC samples (8 C2-VEC, 13 C3-VEC and 5 control-VEC) by flow cytometry analysis and expressed as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). Horizontal bars are median, upper and lower edges of box are 75th and 25th percentiles, lines extending from box are 10th and 90th percentiles. *<i>P</i><0.05 compared to control VEC.</p