Epidemiological evidence relating environmental smoke to COPD in lifelong non-smokers: a systematic review.

Some evidence suggests environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) might cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We reviewed available epidemiological data in never smokers. We identified epidemiological studies providing estimates of relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for various ETS exposure indices.

Investigation into the risk of ultra-low tar cigarettes and lung cancer.

We present analyses relating cigarette type to lung cancer based on a case-control study in five European countries. The analyses involved 3561 cases and 2301 controls with diseases not associated with smoking. Subjects completed a detailed questionnaire, including a lifetime smoking history.

Estimating the effect of differing assumptions on the population health impact of introducing a Reduced Risk Tobacco Product in the USA.

We use Population Health Impact Modelling to assess effects on tobacco prevalence and mortality of introducing a Reduced Risk Tobacco Product (RRP). Simulated samples start in 1990 with a US-representative smoking prevalence. Individual tobacco histories are updated annually until 2010 using estimated probabilities of switching between never/current/former smoking where the RRP is not introduced, with current users subdivided into cigarette/RRP/dual users where it is.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Risk of Stroke in Never Smokers: An Updated Review with Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: The study aimed to review the epidemiological evidence relating environmental tobacco smoke exposure to stroke in never smokers.

Methods: The study is similar to our review in 2006, with searches extended to March 2016.

Results: Twelve further studies were identified.

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and risk of breast cancer in nonsmoking women. An updated review and meta-analysis.

Context: In 2006, we reviewed the evidence on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and breast cancer in nonsmoking women. Since then various studies and reviews have been published but opinion remains divided.

Objective: To provide an updated review.

Epidemiological evidence on environmental tobacco smoke and cancers other than lung or breast.

We reviewed 87 epidemiological studies relating environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure to risk of cancer other than lung or breast in never smoking adults. This updates a 2002 review which also considered breast cancer. Meta-analysis showed no significant relationship with ETS for nasopharynx cancer, head and neck cancer, various digestive cancers (stomach, rectum, colorectal, liver, pancreas), or cancers of endometrium, ovary, bladder and brain.

Systematic review with meta-analysis of the epidemiological evidence relating FEV1 decline to lung cancer risk.

Background: Reduced FEV1 is known to predict increased lung cancer risk, but previous reviews are limited. To quantify this relationship more precisely, and study heterogeneity, we derived estimates of β for the relationship RR(diff) = exp(βdiff), where diff is the reduction in FEV1 expressed as a percentage of predicted (FEV1%P) and RR(diff) the associated relative risk. We used results reported directly as β, and as grouped levels of RR in terms of FEV1%P and of associated measures (e.

Using the negative exponential distribution to quantitatively review the evidence on how rapidly the excess risk of ischaemic heart disease declines following quitting smoking.

No previous review has formally modelled the decline in IHD risk following quitting smoking. From PubMed searches and other sources we identified 15 prospective and eight case-control studies that compared IHD risk in current smokers, never smokers, and quitters by time period of quit, some studies providing separate blocks of results by sex, age or amount smoked. For each of 41 independent blocks, we estimated, using the negative exponential model, the time, H, when the excess risk reduced to half that caused by smoking.

The relation between smokeless tobacco and cancer in Northern Europe and North America. A commentary on differences between the conclusions reached by two recent reviews.

Background: Smokeless tobacco is an alternative for smokers who want to quit but require nicotine. Reliable evidence on its effects is needed. Boffetta et al.

Systematic review of the relation between smokeless tobacco and cancer in Europe and North America.

Background: Interest is rising in smokeless tobacco as a safer alternative to smoking, but published reviews on smokeless tobacco and cancer are limited. We review North American and European studies and compare effects of smokeless tobacco and smoking.

Methods: We obtained papers from MEDLINE searches, published reviews and secondary references describing epidemiological cohort and case-control studies relating any form of cancer to smokeless tobacco use.

Does use of flue-cured rather than blended cigarettes affect international variation in mortality from lung cancer and COPD?

We compared risk of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with flue-cured and blended cigarettes. Mortality and smoking data were collected for 1971-2000 by sex, age, and period for three countries with a mainly flue-cured market and four with a blended market. Epidemiological relative risk estimates for current and ex smoking were summarized.

Facilitating meta-analyses by deriving relative effect and precision estimates for alternative comparisons from a set of estimates presented by exposure level or disease category.

Epidemiological studies relating a particular exposure to a specified disease may present their results in a variety of ways. Often, results are presented as estimated odds ratios (or relative risks) and confidence intervals (CIs) for a number of categories of exposure, for example, by duration or level of exposure, compared with a single reference category, often the unexposed. For systematic literature review, and particularly meta-analysis, estimates for an alternative comparison of the categories, such as any exposure versus none, may be required.

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and risk of breast cancer in nonsmoking women: a review with meta-analyses.

Recent authoritative reviews consider smoking has no effect on breast cancer risk, but some studies report an increase from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). We reviewed the overall evidence on ETS and breast cancer in nonsmoking women. We extracted details of available studies, derived relative risk (RR) estimates with confidence intervals (CIs) for various ETS exposure indices and conducted meta-analyses.

Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1 in human chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, and interferon gamma, as well as activation of proinflammatory signalling molecules such as nuclear factor kappa B, is characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aims: To investigate expression and activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1 in patients with IBD.

Patients: Patients with active IBD (n=42), disease specificity controls (n=8), and normal controls (n=12) were investigated.

Low dose balsalazide (1.5 g twice daily) and mesalazine (0.5 g three times daily) maintained remission of ulcerative colitis but high dose balsalazide (3.0 g twice daily) was superior in preventing relapses.

Background: Balsalazide is a new 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) containing prodrug. Its efficacy in comparison with standard mesalazine therapy and the optimum dose for maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis are still unclear.

Aims: To compare the relapse preventing effect and safety profile of two doses of balsalazide and a standard dose of Eudragit coated mesalazine.

Switch from systemic steroids to budesonide in steroid dependent patients with inactive Crohn's disease.

Background: Steroid dependent patients with Crohn's disease are at high risk of developing glucocorticosteroid induced side effects.

Aims: We evaluated the possibility of switching from systemic steroids to budesonide (Entocort) in prednisolone/prednisone dependent patients with inactive Crohn's disease affecting the ileum and/or ascending colon.

Patients: Steroid dependent patients with a Crohn's disease activity index View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mycophenolate mofetil: lack of efficacy in chronic active inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a new immunosuppressant with pharmacodynamic properties comparable to azathioprine. Recent reports found MMF to be effective in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: An open-label prospective and uncontrolled multicentre 6 month trial of MMF in combination with steroids was conducted in 24 chronic active IBD patients.

Lack of clinical efficacy of additional factor XIII treatment in patients with steroid refractory colitis. The Factor XIII Study Group.

Patients with active ulcerative colitis have decreased levels of factor XIII (FXIII) activity, which is important for woundhealing. Recent uncontrolled studies claimed a beneficial effect of Factor XIII on clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis, in particular intestinal bleeding. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the benefits of additional FXIII treatment in steroid-refractory patients with ulcerative colitis in a prospective, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

Tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1beta in relapse of Crohn's disease.

Background: Concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines are increased in the intestinal mucosa of patients with active Crohn's disease. Experimental immunotherapeutic interventions with anticytokine agents in refractory Crohn's disease show that tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) may be an important mediator of inflammation. We investigated the relation between production of TNF alpha and interleukin 1beta by mononuclear cells of the colonic lamina propria in patients with remitting Crohn's disease and the risk of relapse.

Renal tubular dysfunction in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with aminosalicylate.

Background: An increasing number of case reports indicate potential nephrotoxicity of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), which shares similarities with the chemical structures of both phenacetin and acetylsalicylic acid.

Aim: In a point prevalence study the occurrence of sensitive indices indicative of early kidney malfunction was assessed in outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: Routine indices of kidney function (creatinine clearance, urinary protein content, pH, electrolytes, and microscopy) were investigated in 223 patients with inflammatory bowel disease as well as sensitive markers of glomerular or tubular dysfunction (microproteinuria by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), urinary concentrations of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, alpha 1-microglobulin, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and albumin).

5-Aminosalicylic acid-associated renal tubular acidosis with decreased renal function in Crohn's disease.

The use of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA, mesalazine) in Crohn's disease is usually well tolerated. Nevertheless, the occasional occurrence of nephrotoxic side effects has been described in several case reports. We present the case of a 34-year-old female in whom chronic use of 5-ASA may have caused renal damage which manifested with tubular acidosis, severe weight loss, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Peripheral lactate and oxygen metabolism in man: the influence of oral glucose loading.

We investigated the influence of oral glucose loading (100 g) on glucose, lactate, and oxygen metabolism by deep (mainly muscle) and superficial (mainly skin and adipose tissue) forearm tissues. In normal men aged 19 to 32 years (mean +/- SE, 24 +/- 1), basal arterialized venous-deep venous (A-DV) and arterialized venous-superficial venous (A-SV) plasma glucose concentration differences were 4.1 +/- 1.

Basal glucose homeostasis with and without fixed concentrations of glucagon and insulin.

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which the basal steady state could be maintained with fixed concentrations of glucagon and insulin. To this end, arterial plasma glucose concentrations and peripheral glucose uptake (using the forearm technique) were compared in healthy men (age 19 to 23 years) in the normal postabsorptive state and after suppression of endogenous pancreatic secretion. Two groups (A and B), each consisting of four men, were studied.