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Consequences of passive smoking in home environment.

Przegl Lek. 2007;64(10):632-41

Authors: Kałucka S

Passive smoking means cigarette smoke inhaling by people other than smokers. Passive smoker inhales tobacco smoke coming not only from side-stream, but also smoke exhaled by the smoker. Long-term tobacco smoke inhaling increases the risk of appearance of smoke related diseases (for example COPD, heart diseases), including the most dangerous types of cancer, which only few smokers realize. The aim of this study was to check whether tobacco smoke inhaling in home environment from childhood to adulthood has an influence on respiratory system of adults. The study included adults. In the study two types of participants division were used. Among 1481 persons two groups were separated. Group 1 contains people, who have never lived in home environment with active smokers, altogether 465 persons. Group 2 contains people who from birth have been exposed to cigarette smoke inhaling (altogether 1016 persons). With help of the author’s questionnaire the information concerning demographic features and smoking habit were gathered. The patients underwent doctor’s examination. They had a spirometric test and a chest radiogram. Statistically significant differences appear among persons with higher education who belong to two different groups. The number of children who have lived in smoke free rooms during childhood and adolescence and finished studies is bigger than the number of active smokers’ children (p<0.001). Over 90% of never smokers have inhaled cigarette smoke since childhood in home environment. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been diagnosed at 47.5% of active smokers, 48.3% of ex-smokers and up to 44.7% of passive smokers. Cigarette smoking and smoke inhaling for more than twenty years has a significant influence on the appearance of COPD. No statistically significant differences were noted among the three groups of participants. (p>0.05).Cigarette smoke inhaling at childhood and adolescence should be taken seriously because it causes development of chronic diseases like COPD. GOLD 2006 standards convince that at every stage of COPD development the effects of this disease may be partly reversed if one stops smoking cigarettes. That is why a child should not be exposed to cigarette smoke at any stage of its life. Permanent inhalation of tobacco smoke since early childhood in home environment influences equal occurrence of COPD at passive, ex- and active smokers. Reduction of tobacco consumption, better care concerning passive smokers, increasing consciousness of parents smoking in home environment may protect their children from serious health consequences in the future.

PMID: 18409274 [PubMed - in process]

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Phytochemical composition and pigment stability of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.).

J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Mar 24;52(6):1539-45

Authors: Del Pozo-Insfran D, Brenes CH, Talcott ST

Anthocyanin and polyphenolic compounds present in açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) were determined and their respective contribution to the overall antioxidant capacity established. Color stability of açai anthocyanins against hydrogen peroxide (0 and 30 mmol/L) over a range of temperatures (10-30 degrees C) was also determined and compared to common anthocyanin sources. Additionally, stability in a model beverage system was evaluated in the presence of ascorbic acid and naturally occurring polyphenolic cofactors. Cyanidin 3-glucoside (1040 mg/L) was the predominant anthocyanin in açai and correlated to antioxidant content, while 16 other polyphenolics were detected from 4 to 212 mg/L. Red grape anthocyanins were most stable in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, while açai and pigments rich in acylated anthocyanins displayed lower color stability in a temperature-dependent manner. In the presence of ascorbic acid, acylated anthocyanin sources generally had increased color stability. Açai was recognized for its functional properties for use in food and nutraceutical products.

PMID: 15030208 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Model of the home food environment pertaining to childhood obesity.

Nutr Rev. 2008 Mar;66(3):123-40

Authors: Rosenkranz RR, Dzewaltowski DA

The home food environment can be conceptualized as overlapping interactive domains composed of built and natural, sociocultural, political and economic, micro-level and macro-level environments. Each type and level of environment uniquely contributes influence through a mosaic of determinants depicting the home food environment as a major setting for shaping child dietary behavior and the development of obesity. Obesity is a multifactorial problem, and the home food environmental aspects described here represent a substantial part of the full environmental context in which a child grows, develops, eats, and behaves. The present review includes selected literature relevant to the home food environment’s influence on obesity with the aim of presenting an ecologically informed model for future research and intervention in the home food environment.

PMID: 18289177 [PubMed - in process]

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Dialysis and the environment: comparing home and unit-based haemodialysis.

J Ren Care. 2008 Jan-Mar;34(1):33-7

Authors: James R

The quality of the patient’s life while in the hospital setting is important and hence the quality of the hospital environment is equally important. The effect of noise on health varies depending upon the susceptibility of the individual, but can include higher blood pressure, stress and annoyance in staff, and can erode quality of care. This paper ascertains what the noise levels are in a typical renal unit and considers the potential effects on staff and patients. The quality of the hospital environment plays an important part in treating patients effectively and efficiently. The use of acoustic design principles can reduce the level and impact of noise and, in doing so, improve the quality of care and the patient experience.

PMID: 18336521 [PubMed - in process]

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