Smoking is associated with remodeling of gap junction in the rat heart: Smoker's paradox explanation?

Background: In a previous study utilizing the rat model, exposure to tobacco smoke for 5 weeks increased survival after AMI, despite similar age and infarct size between the smokers and nonsmokers, and absence of reperfusion. Objective: Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effects of exposure to tobacco smoke on intensity, distribution or phosphorylation of connexin 43 in the rat heart. Methods: Wistar rats weighing 100 g were randomly allocated into 2 groups: 1) Control (n = 25); 2) Exposed to tobacco smoke (ETS), n = 23. After 5 weeks, left ventricular morphometric analysis, immunohisthochemistry and western blotting for connexin 43 (Cx43) were performed. Results: Collagen volume fraction, cross-sectional areas, and ventricular weight were not statistically different between control and ETS. ETS showed lower stain intensity of Cx43 at intercalated disks (Control: 2.32 ± 0.19; ETS: 1.73 ± 0.18; p = 0.04). The distribution of CX43 at intercalated disks did not differ between the groups (Control: 3.73 ± 0.12; ETS: 3.20 ± 0.17; p = 0.18). ETS rats showed higher levels of dephosphorylated form of Cx43 (Control: 0.45 ± 0.11; ETS: 0.90 ± 0.11; p = 0.03). On the other hand, total Cx43 did not differ between control and ETS groups (Control: 0.75 ± 0.19; ETS: 0.93 ± 0.27; p = 0.58). Conclusion: Exposure to tobacco smoke resulted in cardiac gap junction remodeling, characterized by alterations in the quantity and phosphorylation of the Cx43, in rats hearts. This finding could explain the smoker's paradox observed in some studies.

Effects of Cigarette Smoking Intensity on the Mucociliary Clearance of Active Smokers

Background: Smoking impairs mucociliary clearance and increases respiratory infection frequency and severity in subjects with and without smoking-related chronic lung diseases. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of smoking intensity on mucociliary clearance in active smokers. Methods: Seventy-five active smokers were grouped into light (1-10 cigarettes/day; n = 14), moderate (11-20 cigarettes/day; n = 34) and heavy smokers (≥21 cigarettes/day; n = 27) before starting a smoking cessation programme. Smoking behaviour, nicotine dependence, pulmonary function, carbon monoxide in exhaled air (exCO), carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) and mucociliary clearance measured by the saccharin transit time (STT) test were all evaluated. An age-matched non-smoker group (n = 24) was assessed using the same tests. Results: Moderate (49 ± 7 years) and heavy smokers (46 ± 8 years) had higher STT (p = 0.0001), exCO (p < 0.0001) and COHb (p < 0.0001) levels compared with light smokers (51 ± 15 years) and non-smokers (50 ± 11 years). A positive correlation was observed between STT and exCO (r = 0.4; p < 0.0001), STT and cigarettes/day (r = 0.3, p = 0.02) and exCO and cigarettes/day (r = 0.3, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Smoking impairs mucociliary clearance and is associated with cigarette smoking intensity. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The who start study suicidal behaviors across different areas of the world

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) study entitled Suicide Trends in At-Risk Territories (START) is an international multisite initiative that aims to stimulate suicide research and prevention across different areas of the globe. A central component of the study is the development of registration systems for fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviors. Aims: This paper provides an overview of the data collected on suicidal behaviors from the participating locations in the START study. Method: Descriptive statistics on the data are presented in terms of age, sex, and method. Results: Agreater proportion of suicide deaths occurred among males. In all areas except the Philippines more females than males engaged in nonfatal suicidal behaviors. Compared to Australia, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Hong Kong SAR, in the Pacific Islands suicide most often occurs in younger age groups. Results indicate notable variations between countries in choice of method. A greater proportion of suicides occurred by hanging in Pacific Islands, while inhalation of carbon monoxide, use of firearms, ingestion of chemicals and poisons, and drug overdose were the most frequent methods of choice in other areas. Conclusion: The information drawn from this study demonstrates the enormous variation in suicidal behavior across the areas involved in the START Study. Further research is needed to assess the reliability of the established data-recording systems for suicidal behaviors. The baseline data established in START may allow the development of suicide prevention initiatives sensitive to variation in the profile of suicide across different locations. © 2013 Hogrefe Publishing.

Influence of specimen size, tray inclination and air flow rate on the emission of gases from biomass combustion

Experiments of biomass combustion were performed to determine whether specimen size, tray inclination, or combustion air flow rate was the factor that most affects the emission of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. The chosen biomass was Eucalyptus citriodora, a very abundant species in Brazil, utilized in many industrial applications, including combustion for energy generation. Analyses by gas chromatograph and specific online instruments were used to determine the concentrations of the main emitted gases, and the following figures were found for the emission factors: 1400 ± 101 g kg-1 of CO2, 50 ± 13 g kg-1 of CO, and 3.2 ± 0.5 g kg-1 of CH4, which agree with values published in the literature for biomass from the Amazon rainforest. Statistical analysis of the experiments determined that specimen size most significantly affected the emission of gases, especially CO2 and CO. •Statistical analysis to determine effects on emission factors.•CO2, CO, CH4 emission factors determined for combustion of Eucalyptus.•Laboratory results agreed with data for Amazonian biomass combustion in field tests.•Combustion behavior under flaming and smoldering was analyzed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Transporte mucociliar em fumantes participantes de um programa de cessação do tabagismo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Transporte mucociliar e atividade física na vida diária de fumantes saudáveis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influências do protocolo agroambiental do setor sucroalcooleiro na produção de açúcar, álcool e energia: estudo de caso em uma usina no interior do Estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Estudo da adsorção e oxidação do monóxido de carbono sobre as fases intermetálicas ordenadas Pt-M(M = Mn, Pb, Sb e Sn)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Poluição do ar por veículos automotores e tipos de tempo em áreas metropolitanas: a elaboração de um roteiro metodológico

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo teórico das reações de hidrogênio e do monóxido de carbono sobre fases intermetálicas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Live High-Train High increases hemoglobin mass in Olympic swimmers

This study tested whether 3-4 weeks of classical Live High-Train High (LHTH) altitude training increases swim-specific VO2max through increased hemoglobin mass (Hb(mass)).Ten swimmers lived and trained for more than 3 weeks between 2,130 and 3,094 m of altitude, and a control group of ten swimmers followed the same training at sea-level (SL). Body composition was examined using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Hb(mass) was determined by carbon monoxide rebreathing. Swimming VO2peak was determined and swimming trials of 4 x 50, 200 and 3,000 m were performed before and after the intervention.Hb(mass) (n = 10) was increased (P < 0.05)after altitude training by 6.2 +/- A 3.9 % in the LHTH group, whereas no changes were apparent in the SL group (n = 10). Swimming VO2peak was similar before and after training camps in both groups (LHTH: n = 7, SL: n = 6). Performance of 4 x 50 m at race pace was improved to a similar degree in both groups (LHTH: n = 10, SL: n = 10). Maximal speed reached in an incremental swimming step test (P = 0.051), and time to complete 3,000 m tended (P = 0.09) to be more improved after LHTH (n = 10) than SL training (n = 10).In conclusion, 3-4 weeks of classical LHTH is sufficient to increase Hb(mass) but exerts no effect on swimming-specific VO2peak. LHTH may improve performance more than SL training.

Some properties of intermetallic compounds of Sn with noble metals relevant for hydrogen electrocatalysis

Using density functional theory and a model developed in our own group, we have investigated the suitability of three intermetallic compounds - AuSn, PdSn, and PtSn - as electrode materials for hydrogen oxidation in fuel cells, focusing on their CO tolerance and their catalytic properties. All three metals were found to have lower susceptibility to be poisoned by CO compared to platinum, but only PtSn promises to be a good catalyst for hydrogen oxidation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thermal and spectroscopic study of the lanthanide 2-aminoterephthalate compounds in the solid state

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Nasal and systemic inflammatory profile after short term smoking cessation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)