Pains of various kinds-dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, and dyspareunia-are the major complaints from women with endometriosis, representing the most debilitating nature of the disease. Despite extensive research, our understanding as how endometriosis causes pain is still fragmentary. In this study, we examined transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)-positive nerve fibers ...

There is limited research on the combined effects of smoking and asbestos exposure on risk of localized pleural thickening (LPT). This analysis uses data from the Marysville cohort of workers occupationally exposed to Libby amphibole asbestos (LAA). Workers were interviewed to obtain work and health history, including ever/never smoking and ...

OBJECTIVES:: To describe asbestos-related mortality among manufacturing workers who expanded and processed Libby vermiculite that contained amphibole fiber. METHODS:: Standardized mortality ratio was calculated for 465 white male workers 31 years after last Libby vermiculite exposure. RESULTS:: Two workers died from mesothelioma, resulting in a significantly increased standardized mortality ratio ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training on the quality of life (QOL) in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: Prospective clinical trial with 36 women with a diagnosis of SUI confirmed by urodynamic study. Women with neuromuscular diseases, using hormone replacement therapy, and with ...

Introduction and Aims. In 2009, the National Health and Medical Research Council released a revision of Australia's official low-risk alcohol guidelines, specifying low-risk consumption levels for both short- and long-term consumption. This study aims to assess how the general population's assessment of low-risk drinking levels compares to these guidelines and ...

Hypotheses regarding the role of meat consumption in body weight modulation are contradictory. Prospective studies on an association between meat consumption and BMI change are limited. We assessed the association between meat consumption and change in BMI over time in 3902 men and women aged 55-69 y from the Netherlands ...

The dramatic increase in the prevalence of diverticular disease after industrialization has led to the belief that diet and lifestyle factors play a significant role in its pathogenesis. Dietary fiber deficiency has received the most attention, although data are limited and conflicting. Two recent cross-sectional studies found no association between ...

Background:Most studies of meat and colorectal adenoma have investigated prevalent events from a single screening, thus limiting our understanding of the role of meat and meat-related exposures in early colorectal carcinogenesis.Methods:Among participants in the screening arm of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial who underwent baseline and ...

Nitrosatable drugs, such as secondary or tertiary amines and amides, form N-nitroso compounds in the presence of nitrite. Various N-nitroso compounds have been associated with neural tube defects in animal models. Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, the authors examined nitrosatable drug exposure 1 month before and ...

Studies in different populations have shown that ischemic stroke can trigger an acute phase response resulting in a rise of plasma concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP). However, there are very limited studies on CRP and first ischemic stroke divided into subtypes. High levels of CRP may also be associated with ...

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have not examined potential interactions between meat intake and characteristics of the local environment on the risk of mortality. This study examined the impact of area socioeconomic deprivation on the association between meat intake and all-cause and cause-specific mortality after accounting for individual-level risk factors. METHODS: In ...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Most cases of CRC arise in adenomatous polyps. It has been estimated that 25%-35% of colon adenoma risk could be avoidable by modification of dietary and life-style habits. We estimated the association between total dietary fiber ...

A measure of perceived reinforcement associated with amyl nitrite was developed and evaluated among gay and bisexual men. This is the first known expectancy measure to date for this drug class. The Amyl Nitrite Expectancy Questionnaire for Men who have Sex with Men (AEQ-MSM) was completed online by 102 gay ...

BACKGROUND: Red and processed meat consumption has been implicated in several diseases. However, data on meat consumption in relation to stroke incidence are sparse. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the associations of red meat and processed meat consumption with stroke incidence in men. DESIGN: We prospectively followed 40,291 men ...

Maternal exposure to nitrate, nitrite, and N-nitroso compounds from drinking water or diet has been associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in some studies. Pickled vegetables contain relatively large amounts of nitrite and N-nitroso compounds. We examined the association between maternal periconceptional consumption of pickled vegetables ...

Intersectionality was first articulated in the 1970s and 1980s by women of color scholars, such as Deborah King, Patricia Hill Collins, Kimberle Crenshaw, Cherrie Moraga, Gloria Anzualdua, and Nira Yuval-Davis, and has now become a core concept in women's and gender studies. It is generally understood within feminist circles that ...

Using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) whilst smoking, prior to quitting, is called preloading. Two reviews have estimated the effect of preloading on abstinence, but need updating. Neither investigated possible mediators or moderators of the effect, which could have implications for individual treatment plans. To update the nicotine preloading efficacy estimate ...

Context: UV radiation is responsible for vitamin D synthesis and skin tanning. Longitudinal data relating skin color to vitamin D status are lacking. Objective: Our objective was to determine whether seasonal facial skin color changes are related to changes in 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Design and Setting: We conducted a prospective ...

This study compares women of color and non-Hispanic White women regarding the influence of socioeconomic status, family investment, and psychological abuse on leaving a violent relationship. It was found that most women who left stayed away for less than a month. Women of color and non-Hispanic White women did not ...

Surveys suggest that transfer of secondhand smoke (SHS) between units in multiunit residential buildings is common, but measured data are rare. This study was undertaken to quantify bulk air transfer between units and document transfer of SHS species before and after treatments that sealed boundaries between units and provided a ...

This article shows how a narrative methodological approach is particularly suited to examining the dynamics of intimate partner violence, especially among poor women of color in South Africa. We show how a narrative approach allowed women to represent their experiences of violence according to their own frames of meaning, examining ...

OBJECTIVES:: To determine the best predictors of the presence of retained products of conception (RPOC) on grayscale and color Doppler transvaginal sonographic examination. METHODS:: This was a retrospective study of 91 consecutive patients who underwent transvaginal sonography (TVS) with color Doppler to evaluate for the presence of RPOC. The images ...

To determine the best predictors of the presence of retained products of conception (RPOC) on grayscale and color Doppler transvaginal sonographic examination. This was a retrospective study of 91 consecutive patients who underwent transvaginal sonography (TVS) with color Doppler to evaluate for the presence of RPOC. The images of TVS ...

Background: It has been reported that estrogen deficiency after menopause might cause a decrement in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability by increasing the level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a major endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, thus leading to abnormalities in endothelial function. Because NO plays an important role on feeding behavior, ...

New cases of HIV/AIDS among women of color in the United States highlight the continuing need for the public and private sectors to develop alternate preventive strategies. The author discusses the conceptual basis for using television sex scripts to incorporate women of color relational needs (trust, romance, sexual pressure) to ...

Physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, and obesity are vexing problems among minorities. SAving Lives, Staying Active (SALSA) was an 8-week randomized controlled crossover design, pilot study to promote regular physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption as a means to preventing weight gain among women of color. Participants ...

CONTEXT AND Objective: Many factors influence occurrences of vulvovaginitis. The aims here were to assess skin color and age-related differences in the vaginal flora and occurrences of vulvovaginitis. Cross-sectional study; tertiary referral hospital (Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba). Healthy women who underwent routine outpatient gynecological assessments were assessed for ...

In South Korea, computer game rooms are subject to regulations mandating a designated nonsmoking area pursuant to Article 7 of the Enforcement Rules of the National Health Promotion Act; nonsmoking areas must be enclosed on all sides by solid and impermeable partitions. Using PM(2.5) monitors (SidePak AM510) and airborne nicotine ...

In February 2009, Guatemala implemented a comprehensive smoking ban. We assessed air nicotine levels in bars and restaurants 6 months after the ban (post-ban) and compared them with levels found in 2006 (pre-ban). Exposure was estimated by passive sampling of vapor-phase nicotine using samplers (n=50) placed for 7 working days ...

The primary aim of the study was to investigate the impact of tar and nicotine contents of cigarettes on chromosomal damage in oral mucosa cells of smokers. We monitored the effect of smoking different cigarette types (i.e., of ultralight filter, light filter, medium filter and unfiltered cigarettes) on induction of ...

High nicotine dependence is a reliable predictor of difficulty quitting smoking and remaining smoke-free. Evidence also suggests that the effectiveness of various smoking cessation treatments may vary by nicotine dependence level. Nicotine dependence, as assessed by Heaviness of Smoking Index baseline total scores, was evaluated as a potential moderator of ...

The goal of this study was to compare lifetime cigarette smoking, severity of nicotine dependence, and subjective effects of short-term tobacco abstinence in abstinent alcohol dependent (AD) and control smokers. AD (n=119) and control (n=55) ever-smokers were compared on tobacco use history and nicotine dependence. Negative affect and craving to ...

Menthol cigarettes are smoked by 27% of U.S. smokers, and there are concerns that menthol might enhance toxicity of cigarette smoking by increasing systemic absorption of smoke toxins. We measured urine menthol concentrations in relation to biomarkers of exposure to nicotine and tobacco carcinogens. Concentrations of menthol glucuronide (using a ...

A clinical study conducted in Canada compared two methods of estimating exposure to cigarette smoke in 192 volunteer subjects: 43 smokers of 4-6mg, 49 of 8-12mg and 50 of 14-15mg ISO tar yield cigarettes and 50 non-smokers. Estimates of mouth level exposure (MLE) to nicotine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), pyrene and acrolein ...

The adipocyte hormone leptin regulates satiety and energy expenditure. Recent evidence suggests that leptin is associated with increased craving for alcohol and with shorter length of abstinence during alcohol treatment. This study examined leptin's associations with craving for cigarettes and smoking relapse among smokers interested in cessation. Participants (32 smokers; ...

Tobacco use and depression are highly prevalent among methadone maintenance (MM) treatment programme participants. Our aim was to study the relationship between nicotine dependence, depression, and readiness to change smoking behaviour among women smokers in MM compared to women smokers attending a primary care clinic (Control group). We conducted a ...

Background Secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure is a global public health problem. Ghana currently has no legislation to prevent smoking in public places. To provide data on SHS levels in hospitality venues in Ghana the authors measured (1) airborne particulate matter <2.5&emsp14;μm (PM(2.5)) and nicotine concentrations and (2) hair nicotine ...

The aim of the current study was the examination of exhaled breath carbon monoxide levels as a predictor for heaviness of smoking. In this regard, nicotine dependence was assessed among a representative sample of 1,870 Austrian male military conscripts in a cross-sectional setting. Participants completed the Heaviness of Smoking Index ...

The objectives of the study were to analyse nicotine-dependence patterns among secondary school students in New Zealand (NZ), and identify factors associated with levels of nicotine dependence. This study uses data from the 2004 Youth Lifestyle Study, a survey of Year 10 and 12 students from randomly selected schools in ...

To examine the association between diurnal type and smoking status and nicotine dependence (ND). A cohort study using random-effects model regressions for repeated longitudinal panel data was used to analyse smoking status by diurnal type. Regression analyses examined the association between diurnal type and ND. A total of 23, 289 ...

To examine changes in nicotine withdrawal, nicotine craving, self-efficacy to quit smoking, and perceived control over withdrawal symptoms as predictors of smoking cessation following behavioral counseling and nicotine replacement therapy in a sample of smokers. The data were ascertained from a randomized effectiveness trial comparing nicotine patch to nicotine lozenge. ...

Peer smoking provides a socially reinforcing context of friends' encouragement and approval that contributes to smoking behavior. Twin studies show correlations and interactions between peer substance use and genetic liability for substance use. However, none examined specific genes. Here we test the hypothesis that the nicotinic receptor genes CHRNA5 (rs16969968), ...

The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is a widely used six-item questionnaire, which has often been used as a measure of physical dependence on nicotine. The performance of the FTND was explored in an Indian sample of 75 daily smokers with histories of polysubstance use attending the Tobacco Cessation ...

To compare air nicotine concentrations according to the smoking policy selected by bars/restaurants in Santiago, Chile before and after the enactment of partial smoking ban legislation in 2007 (establishments could be smoke free, have segregated (mixed) smoking and non-smoking areas, or allow smoking in all areas). The study measured air ...

Smoking causes oral fibrosis. In a recent report, Takeuchi and colleagues (J Dent Res 89:34-9, 2010) evaluate whether nicotine can directly elevate collagen production in gingival fibroblasts. They show that CCN2 (connective tissue growth factor, CTGF) is elevated in response to nicotine and that a neutralizing CCN2 antibody reduces the ...

The central dopaminergic system plays a critical role in the reinforcing effects of nicotine, which are key determinants in the urge to smoke. Previous study has demonstrated that immediate administration of 10-mg aripiprazole significantly decreased various subjective responses to smoking. The present study investigated whether 2-week treatment with 10-mg aripiprazole ...

To determine the prevalence of smoking among ED patients compared with the general New Zealand (NZ) smoking prevalence. Secondary outcomes were to determine smokers' level of nicotine dependence, readiness to quit and engagement with primary health care. This was a prospective, cross-sectional prevalence study of ED patients seen consecutively over ...

Schizophrenia is associated with a significantly high prevalence of smoking. Upregulation of neurotrophins by nicotine is well established. Accumulating evidence shows that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The purposes of this study were to compare BDNF levels in smokers to nonsmokers with schizophrenia ...

INTRODUCTION: Given there are few experimental studies comparing the effects of snus and medicinal products for quitting smoking, self-reports from smokers who have used different methods for quitting smoking can be informative. METHODS: Fourteen thousand seven hundred and forty-four Norwegian men aged between 20 and 50 years were selected at ...

OBJECTIVES: Most airlines enforce no-smoking policies, potentially causing flight performance decrements in pilots who are smokers. We tested the hypotheses that nicotine withdrawal affects aircraft pilot performance within 12 h of smoking cessation and that chewing nicotine gum leads to significant relief of these withdrawal effects. METHODS: There were 29 ...