Smoking Mechanics and Impact on Smoking Cessation: Two Cases of Smoking Lapse Status Post Lung Transplantation

Background Smoking behavior includes mechanisms taken on by persons to adjust for certain characteristic changes of cigarettes. However, as lung function declines due to lung-specific diseases, it is unclear how mechanical smoking behavior changes affect persons who smoke. We review two cases of patients who stopped smoking prior to and then subsequently resumed smoking after lung transplantation. Methods A retrospective review of two patients who were recipients of lung transplantation and sustained from cigarette usage prior to transplantation. Results Patient A was a 54-year-old woman who received a double lung transplant secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in October 2017. She had stopped smoking cigarettes in July 2015 (FEV1 .56 L). Patient B was a 40-year-old man who received a double lung transplantation due to sarcoidosis in January 2015. He stopped smoking cigarettes in February 2012 (FEV1 1.15 L). Post-transplant, Patient A resumed smoking on March 2018 where her FEV1 was at 2.12 L (5 months post-transplantation), and Patient B resumed smoking in April 2017 where his FEV1 was 2.37 L (26 months post-transplantation). Conclusion We report on two patients who resumed smoking after lung transplantation. While variations of smoking mechanics have been identified as a function of nicotine yield and type of cigarette, it lung mechanics may play a role in active smoking as well. Therefore, proper screening for tobacco usage post-lung transplantation should be considered a priority in order to preserve transplanted lungs.

Oral manifestation of post cancer therapy

Oral cancer has become serious health issues. It is owing to a variety of factors including poor hygiene, tobacco usage, chewing tobacco, smoking, and others. Along with surgery and chemotherapy, the most common treatments include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Patients with cancer may experience oral toxic effects as a result of antineoplastic therapy such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A variety of factors influence radiation, including the oral mucosa's fast cell turnover rate, the richness and complexity of the oral microbiota, and soft tissue stress during normal mouth function. The present literature review is for awareness regarding the main oral manifestation secondary to post cancer therapy.

Culture And COVID-19 Related Mortality- A Cross Sectional Study of 53 Countries

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of culture on COVID-19 related mortality relying on Hofstede’s six dimensional concept of culture. Retrieving data from 53 countries a multivariable regression model was fitted that controls for health related, economic and policy related variables that have been found to be associated with mortality. In particular we included the percentage of population above 65 years of age, the prevalence of relevant co-morbidities (i.e. diabetes, hypertension, cancer. obesity), and tobacco usage as health related variables. Economic variables were GDP per capita and the connectedness of a country as measured by the number of international arrivals. As policy variables we included the Oxford stringency index as well as stringency speed, and the Global Health Security index. The results suggests that individualistic societies can navigate well through the pandemic when they are also characterized by low power distance which reflects a low acceptance of inequality within a society. This finding contradicts with previous studies that supported the popular narrative that autocratic societies with an obedient population are better positioned to manage the pandemic.

Tobacco Consumption and its Associated Factors among Nepalese Students

Background: Tobacco smoking is one of the major issues among the adolescent population worldwide. WHO has estimated that tobacco use causes six million deaths worldwide each year and predicts reaching eight million by 2030. Our study aims to assess the proportion of tobacco use and its associated factors among Nepalese students. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 430 students in Syangja, Nepal. Samples were selected through the cluster sampling technique. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square (χ2) test was used to find out the associated factors of tobacco consumption. Results: The prevalence of tobacco usage was found to be 22.8% (males 37.2%, females 8%). Students were regularly exposed to tobacco smoking in public places (70.3%) and at home (62.2%). Peer pressure (62.3%) was the most influencing factor for tobacco consumption, followed by experimentation (18.2%) and tobacco advertisements (7.8%). Cigarette (75.5%) and Hookah (74.5%) were the most common type of tobacco consumed by the participants. Tobacco consumption was higher among private school students (24.5%) than government school students (19.6%). Conclusion: Gender, family type, occupation, and pocket money were associated with tobacco usage (p<0.05). Although the majority of students were aware of the negative health impacts of tobacco use, the usage of tobacco products is still prevalent among Nepalese adolescent students. School-based health education and intervention programs should be implemented to reduce the habit of tobacco consumption.

Old age and other factors associated with salivary microbiome variation

Background Many factors can contribute to the exact makeup of the salivary microbiome. Differences in the oral microbiome occur with old age, which may be due to oral conditions and diseases associated with old age, such as edentulism, as well as other unknown causes. Methods The salivary microbiome was sampled in patients from a large urban clinic. For all subjects age, gender, periodontal status, caries status, presence of edentulism, medications, and tobacco usage were recorded. Multifactor analysis was used to study variation in salivary microbiome profiles linked to these factors. Results In the population sampled, there were significantly higher numbers of edentulous subjects, and increased levels of polypharmacy found with aging. Large differences in alpha diversity and beta diversity of the salivary microbiome in the old age group were largely linked to edentulism. However, multivariable analysis revealed, even after adjusting for differences in edentulism, polypharmacy, tobacco usage, periodontal disease, caries level, and gender, that old age itself was associated with lower levels of taxa Porphyromonas endodontalis, Alloprevotella tannerae, Filifactor alocis, Treponema, Lautropia Mirabilis and Pseudopropionibacterium sp._HMT_194. Surprisingly, of these taxa, most were ones known to reside on or near tooth surfaces. Conclusions Another factor or factors beyond edentulism, polypharmacy and periodontal disease play a role in the differences seen in oral microbiome with old age. The nature of this factor(s) is not known.

Influence of Sociodemographic Factors and Behavioral Habits on Periodontal Disease Status

Aim The aim of this study is to asses the influence of sociodemographic factors and behavioral habits on the periodontal disease status of the population in a selected region. Methodology Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire and clinical examination. Various sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, and socioeconomic status and behavioral habits, such as tobacco usage and oral hygiene practices, were factored into the questionnaire. Factors determining the socioeconomic status were education, work profile, and salary. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21, IBM Corp, 2015 Virginia, United States). Results The total prevalence of periodontal disease was 94.6%, out of which 90% had gingivitis and 4.6% had periodontitis. Only 5.4% of the population was healthy. In the present study, sociodemographic factors such as socioeconomic status, age, and gender were found to have a positive correlation with the periodontal disease status. Conclusion Since the treatment of periodontal disease is not simple and is expensive, it needs early intervention for its prevention.

Survival of Patients with Floor of Mouth Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Surgical Resection and Reconstruction

Objective. To identify predictors of survival in patients with floor of mouth SCC in order to improve patient selection for resource intensive resection and reconstruction procedures.Study design and setting. A retrospective record review of patients who underwent resection and reconstruction for floor of mouth SCC at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Methods. Patient data were collected and analyzed with respect to age, sex, race, tobacco usage, alcohol usage, tumour stage and postoperative chemo-radiation. One- and five-year recurrence and survival rates were also evaluated.Conclusion. The use of alcohol as well as disease stage appear to be significant variables in the risk of recurrence and five-year survival of patients.