scholarly journals Comparison of color discrimination in chronic heavy smokers and healthy subjects

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Monteiro de Paiva Fernandes ◽  
Natalia Leandro Almeida ◽  
Natanael Antonio dos Santos

Background: Cigarette smoke is probably the most significant source of exposure to toxic chemicals for humans, involving health-damaging components, such as nicotine, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of chronic heavy smoking on color discrimination (CD). Methods: All subjects were free of any neuropsychiatric disorder, identifiable ocular disease and had normal acuity. No abnormalities were detected in the fundoscopic examination and in the optical coherence tomography exam. We assessed color vision for healthy heavy smokers (n = 15; age range, 20-45 years), deprived smokers (n = 15, age range 20-45 years) and healthy non-smokers (n = 15; age range, 20-45 years), using the psychophysical forced-choice method. All groups were matched for gender and education level. In this test, the volunteers had to choose the pseudoisochromatic stimulus containing a test frequency at four directions (e.g., up, down, right and left) in the subtest of Cambridge Colour Test (CCT): Trivector. Results: Performance on CCT differed between groups, and the observed pattern was that smokers had lower discrimination compared to non-smokers. In addition, deprived smokers presented lower discrimination to smokers and non-smokers. Contrary to expectation, the largest differences were observed for medium and long wavelengths. Conclusions: These results suggests that cigarette smoking, chronic exposure to its compounds, and withdrawal from nicotine affect color discrimination. This highlights the importance of understanding the diverse effects of nicotine on attentional bias.

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Monteiro de Paiva Fernandes ◽  
Natanael Antonio dos Santos

Background: Cigarette smoke is probably the most significant source of exposure to toxic chemicals for humans, involving health-damaging components, such as nicotine, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of chronic heavy smoking on color discrimination (CD). Methods: All subjects were free of any neuropsychiatric disorder, identifiable ocular disease and had normal acuity. No abnormalities were detected in the fundoscopic examination and in the optical coherence tomography exam. We assessed color vision for healthy heavy smokers (n = 15; age range, 20-45 years), deprived smokers (n = 15, age range 20-45 years) and healthy non-smokers (n = 15; age range, 20-45 years), using the psychophysical forced-choice method. All groups were matched for gender and education level. In this paradigm, the volunteers had to choose the pseudoisochromatic stimulus containing a test frequency at four directions (e.g., up, down, right and left) in the subtest of Cambridge Colour Test (CCT): Trivector. Results: Performance on CCT differed between groups, and the observed pattern was that smokers had lower discrimination compared to non-smokers. In addition, deprived smokers presented lower discrimination to smokers and non-smokers. Contrary to expectation, the largest differences were observed for medium and long wavelengths. Conclusions: These results suggests that cigarette smoke and chronic exposure to nicotine, or withdrawal from nicotine, affects CD. This highlights the importance of understanding the diffuse effects of nicotine either attentional bias on color vision.


F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Monteiro de Paiva Fernandes ◽  
Natalia Leandro Almeida ◽  
Natanael Antonio dos Santos

Background: Cigarette smoke is probably the most significant source of exposure to toxic chemicals for humans, involving health-damaging components, such as nicotine, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of chronic heavy smoking on color discrimination (CD). Methods: All subjects were free of any neuropsychiatric disorder, identifiable ocular disease and had normal acuity. No abnormalities were detected in the fundoscopic examination and in the optical coherence tomography exam. We assessed color vision for healthy heavy smokers (n = 15; age range, 20-45 years), deprived smokers (n = 15, age range 20-45 years) and healthy non-smokers (n = 15; age range, 20-45 years), using the psychophysical forced-choice method. All groups were matched for gender and education level. In this paradigm, the volunteers had to choose the pseudoisochromatic stimulus containing a test frequency at four directions (e.g., up, down, right and left) in the subtest of Cambridge Colour Test (CCT): Trivector. Results: Performance on CCT differed between groups, and the observed pattern was that smokers had lower discrimination compared to non-smokers. In addition, deprived smokers presented lower discrimination to smokers and non-smokers. Contrary to expectation, the largest differences were observed for medium and long wavelengths. Conclusions: These results suggests that cigarette smoke and chronic exposure to nicotine, or withdrawal from nicotine, affects CD. This highlights the importance of understanding the diffuse effects of nicotine either attentional bias on color vision.


1985 ◽  
Vol 24 (02) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. M. Midgley ◽  
K. R. Gruner

SummaryAge-related trends in serum free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) concentrations were measured in 7248 euthyroid subjects (age-range 3 months to 106 years). 5700 were patients referred to hospitals for investigation of suspected thyroid dysfunction, but who were diagnosed euthyroid. 1548 were healthy blood donors (age-range 18-63 years) with no indication of thyroid dysfunction. FT4 concentrations were little affected by the age, the sex or the state of health of the subjects in either group. Serum FT3 concentrations were significantly affected by both age and health factors. The upper limit of the euthyroid reference range for young subjects up to 15 years was about 20% higher (10.4 pmol/1) than for adult subjects older than 25 years (8.8 pmol/1). The change in the upper limits typical of young subjects to that typical of adults occurred steadily over the decade 15–25 years. After this age, little further change occurred, especially in healthy subjects. Additionally, the lower limit of the euthyroid range for FT3 was extended by the inclusion in the reference group of patients referred to hospitals. Compared with the lower limit of the FT3 range for healthy subjects (5 pmol/1), the corresponding limit for referred subjects (young or adult) was 3.5–3.8 pmol/1. Broadening of the FT3 reference range was probably brought about by a significant number of patients in the hospital-referred group with the “1OW-T3 syndrome” of mild non-thyroidal illness. Accordingly, FT3 was inferior to FT4 in the discrimination of hypothyroidism, as FT4 was unaffected by this phenomenon. Effects of age and non-thyroidal illness on serum FT3 concentrations require great care when selecting subjects for a laboratory euthyroid reference range typical of the routine workload. Constraints on the choice of subjects for FT4 reference ranges are less stringent.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-63
Author(s):  
Rulla Sabah ◽  
Ahmed saad abbas Fatin F.Al-Kazazz ◽  
Salam A.H Al-Ameri

Addiction is the most critical form of Addiction. It is a chronic disease with a potential for fatality if not treated. In this work, 180 samples of male individuals were collected in this study. They classified into three groups, groups:  G1 who were healthy control; G2 who was addicted to methamphetamine (meth); G3 who was addicted to tramadol (Tra). Each group consists of 60 heavy smokers Iraqi male individuals in the age range of 18-43 years. The results showed a highly significant increase (p<0.0001) in the level of Glucose of the two addicted groups in comparison with the healthy group. A highly significant decrease (p<0.0001) could be seen in the level of Zn of the two addicted groups G2, G3 compared to the control group, while the level of Cu of the two addicted groups were highly significant increased (p<0.0001). Also, the results showed a highly significant difference (p<0.0001) in BMI for the studied groups, G2, G3 in comparison with the control group. All addictive individuals under this study were at normal weight depending on their BMI.  


2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 433-435
Author(s):  
MUMTAZ ALI SHAIKH ◽  
DUR-E- YAKTA ◽  
DARGAHI SHAIKH

Objective: This study is conducted to observe the serum lipoprotein alterations in chronic heavy smokers in LUMHS Sindh. Study Design: Analytical study Material and Methods: It was conducted on 60 non obese adult smokers, both sexes, who smoked more than twenty cigarettes or beeries a day regularly for more than five years. All the participants were current smokers. Sampling technique was simple random technique. Setting: The study was conducted in outdoor department of LUMHS Jamshoro/Hyderabad. Period: Jan 2010 to Jan 2011. Eighteen hours fasting blood sample was sent for lipid studies. Lipids studied were serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, high density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins. For control values ATP 3 guidelines were used. Statistics: Mean of statistical values was calculated with standard deviation and variance in standard deviation. Results obtained were analyzed by SPSS 11. Results: Age of the patients was 25-70 years. Mean age was 47.81±12.96 years. Median age was 50 years. Male/ female ratio was 45/15. Patients were from both rural and urban areas. Mean duration of smoking was 25.5±9.15 years. The study carried out on 60 chronic heavy smokers, showed deranged lipid levels as: Total cholesterol mean 237.57 mg/dl ±37.89; TG mean 203.76 mg/dl ±47.08; LDL-C mean 158.62 mg/dl ±17.25; HDL-C mean 29.67 mg/dl ±3.12. Results are shown in Table No I. Conclusions: Our study concluded at LUMHS showed that by continuous heavy smoking the serum lipid levels get deranged.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-22
Author(s):  
Tatjana Gazibara ◽  
Marija Milic ◽  
Milan Parlic ◽  
Jasmina Stevanovic ◽  
Nebojsa Mitic ◽  
...  

Background: Evidence suggests that people who live in regions affected by the armed conflict are more likely to smoke. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess factors associated with smoking status in a sample of students in the northern Kosovo province. Materials and methods: A total of 514 students enrolled in University in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, were recruited be- tween April to June 2015 at Student Public Health Center during mandatory health checks. Participants filled in socio-demo- graphic and behavioral questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Based on responses about smoking, students were categorized in non-smokers, former smokers, light smokers (1-13 cigarettes/day) and heavy smokers (> 13 cigarettes/ day). Results: Of 514 students, 116 (22.6%) classified themselves as smokers. Higher education level of fathers (Odds ra- tio [OR]=2.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-6.44, p=0.009), not living with smokers (OR=0.42, 95%CI 0.15-0.97, p=0.017) and longer exposure to second hand smoke (OR=1.07, 95%CI 1.01-1.13, p=0.036) was associated with former smoking. Studying medical and natural sciences (OR=2.07, 95%CI 1.05-4.18, p=0.040), consuming alcohol (OR=2.98, 95%CI 1.19-10.03, p=0.020), living with smokers (OR=2.88, 95%CI 1.49-5.56, p=0.002), longer exposure to second hand smoke (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.11, p=0.019) and having a more intense depressive symptoms (OR=1.08, 95%CI 1.03-1.13, p=0.002) was associated with light smoking. Being male (OR=0.22, 95%CI 0.07-0.41, p=0.001), older (OR=1.47, 95%CI 1.21-1.78, p=0.001), living with smokers (OR=3.78, 95%CI 1.69-8.07, p=0.001), longer daily exposure to second-hand smoke (OR=1.10, 95%CI 1.04-1.16, p=0.001), and having more severe depressive symptoms (OR=1.12, 95%CI 1.07-1.18, p=0.001) were associated with heavy smoking. Conclusion: Smoking prevention and cessation programs should include the entire community, because exposure to en- vironmental second hand smoke may facilitate initiation and more intense smoking. Screening of student smokers for depression should be prioritized in the process of rebuilding the framework for primary and secondary prevention in the post-conflict period. Keywords: Students; smoking; tobacco; prevention.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Yushau Yusuf ◽  
Muhammad U.A ◽  
Isah F.A

Working memory is a system that is responsible for transient holding and processing of new and already stored information. It also involves processing for reasoning, comprehension, learning and memory updating. Headphones are a pair of small loudspeakers that are designed to be held in place close to a user’s ear. They are electroacoustic transducers which convert electrical signals to a corresponding sound in the user’s ear. Several studies have recently shown a link between cognitive abilities and response to hearing aid and signal processing in the brain. Therefore, the relationship between headphone usage among healthy subjects become pertinent. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of headphone on working memory using N-back task. One hundred (100) participants (55 headphone users and 45 non-headphone user’s) within the age range of 18-31 years were assessed. Participants were instructed to keep in memory, a series of letters and say “target” whenever there was a repetition of letter with exactly one intervening letter and to remain silent when any other letter appeared. The results of this study showed that there was no statistically significant difference in working memory between headphone and non-headphone users with p>0.05. In conclusion, this study revealed headphone use has no effect on working memory of the participants subjected to N–back test.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2006 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daria Simcic ◽  
Sonja Pezelj-Ribaric ◽  
Renata Gržic ◽  
Jelena Horvat ◽  
Gordana Brumini ◽  
...  

The etiology of BMS remains unknown. Role of various cytokines has been implicated in the development of BMS. The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of salivary IL-2 and IL-6 in patients with BMS, compared with age-matched healthy volunteers (control group). Whole saliva from 30 patients with BMS, age range 55–65, was tested for the presence of IL-6 and IL-2 by enzyme immunoassay. Control group consisted of 30 healthy participants, aged 55–65 years. Saliva IL-2 concentrations in BMS were significantly increased in patients compared to healthy subjects: mean34.1±9.7versus7.3±3.0pg/mL;P<.001. Patients with BMS had significantly higher concentrations of IL-6 compared to control: mean30.8±5.6versus5.2±2.8pg/mL;P<.001. In patients with BMS, IL-2 and IL-6 levels in saliva are elevated, correlating with the severity of illness.


1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Zahavi ◽  
N.A.G. Jones ◽  
M. Dubiel ◽  
J. Leyton ◽  
V.V. Kakkar

Plasma β TC was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA)in 202 healthy subjects (age range 12-103); 111 young (mean age 25.2) 34 middle aged (MA) (mean age 55.6) and 57 old (mean age 82.2). Their mean ±1SE plasma β TG levels in ng/ml were 28.3 ± 1.5 (range 3-74), 31.9-2-70 (range 7-65) and 49.99 ± 2.9 (range 14-95) respectively. Plasma βTG level was significantly raised in the old subjects compared to young or MA (p ⩽ 0.0005). Furthermore the ratio of plasma β TG to platelet concentration in whole blood (PC) was higher in the MA subjects compared to the young (p ⩽ 0.009). Plasma platelet factor 4 (PF4) was measured by RIA in 4l healthy subjects, 11 young and 30 old and correlated to plasma βTG. A significant correlation between the 2 proteins was found in the 2 groups (r = 0.8337 in the young and r = 0.0602 in the old subjects), indicating that both proteins are released in-vivo from the same pool and presumably at the same rate. The mean plasma PF4 level in ng/ml was 14.6 (range 6-48) in the young and 18.2 (range 7.7-50) in the old and the ratio of the plasma PF4 to PC was higher in the old subjects (p ⩽ 0.04), These results suggest that in-vivo platelet activation and “release reaction” are increased in old and MA subjects compared to young, presumably due to atherosclerotic vascular changes. This enhanced platelet activity may reflect a pre-thtombotic state.


2020 ◽  
pp. 499-507
Author(s):  
Shaymaa H. Aldabagh ◽  
Makarim Q. Al-Lami ◽  
Abdilkarim Y. Al-Samarriae

The present study aims to evaluate levels of calcium regulating hormones and some biochemical parameters in a sample of growth hormone (GH) deficient patients. Seventy five GH deficient patients and twenty healthy subjects used as a control group have been involved in this study during their attendance at the National Diabetic Centerfor Treatment and Research /Al-Mustansiriya University. The studied subjects were in an age range of 3-15 years. Blood samples were collected from the studied subjects to determine levels of basal GH,GH2. and GH3 after 60 mins. and 90mins. of provocation with clonidine. The study also included the measurement of the levels of insulin like growth factor (IGF-1); calcium regulating hormones [parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D],and some biochemical parameters [calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), urea, and creatinine].Distribution of the studied groups according to gender revealed that most of the GH deficientpatients (60 %) were males while 40 % were females,with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05), while the control included two equal subgroups (50 % males and 50 % females). Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups Distribution of the studied groups according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed according to BMI values showed that the percentage of underweight was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the patients (48%) compared to the control (10%), while the percentage of normal weight was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the control (85%) as compared to the patients (40%).The results showed highly significant decreases (P<0.01) in the levels of basal GH, GH2 and GH3 in the patients as compared to the control group. Also, IGF-1 levels showed a high significant (P<0.01) decrease in the patients as compared to the control group.The findings of calcium regulating hormones revealed non-significant differences in the levels of PTH and vitamin D between the patients and the control group. Also, the results of the biochemical parameters (Ca, P, urea, and creatinine) showed non-significant differences in their values between the patients and the control group.It can be concluded from the present study that GH deficiency (GHD) seems to be dominating in the males under weighted patients. The diagnosis of GHD cannot be achieved at the basal GH level.IGF-1 is a reliable marker of GH functions. Finally, levels of calcium regulating hormones are not affected by GHD.


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