BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vitamin C, water-soluble antioxidant, has been reported to restore coronary microcirculatory responsiveness and impaired coronary flow reserve in smokers. However, the effect of high dose of vitamin C on coronary circulation is unclear in nonsmokers. METHODS: We used transthoracic echocardiography to measure the coronary flow reserve, an integrated measure of coronary flow in 20 male healthy nonsmokers (26+/-3 years) before and after administration of the high dose of vitamin C. RESULTS: The coronary peak diastolic velocity was increased by 14.8% after administration of antioxidant vitamin C, whereas the coronary flow reserve did not changed. CONCLUSION: High dose of vitamin C acutely increases the coronary flow velocity without restoration of coronary flow reserve in male healthy nonsmokers.
Ascorbic Acid* ; Coronary Circulation ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Lobeline ; Male ; Vitamins*

The major burden of tobacco related diseases is borne by developing countries. Tobacco cessation is an important step in preventing mortality and morbidity due to tobacco related diseases. The objective of the study was to assess the profile of tobacco users utilizing the services of the district anti tobacco cell in Bangalore. A cross sectional study was carried out in 2009. Total of 122 persons above 18 years old, current tobacco users and who were motivated to quit were interviewed by a trained medical social worker. Information about the socio-demographic profile of the clients, details of tobacco use and nicotine dependence levels using Fagerstrom score was collected. SPSS 16.0 software was used for data analysis. The results have been presented using descriptive statistics and ANOVA tests. The study population was comprised of exclusively males. The mean age was 34.9 years. Seventy four percent (73.8%) were smokers while 26% were users of smokeless tobacco products. Fagerstrom scores showed that majority of tobacco users (54% of smokers and 63% of smokeless tobacco users) had moderate to high nicotine dependence. Most of the clients were self-referred. The average pack years of tobacco use and the mean Fagerstrom score were higher in the physician referred group indicating that physicians have access to tobacco users who could benefit the most from tobacco cessation efforts. Clients attending tobacco cessation clinics tend to have moderate to high tobacco dependence. Health care providers need to put in more efforts to refer tobacco users to tobacco cessation services. Improved physician awareness could help in stepping up tobacco cessation efforts.
Tobacco Use Cessation ; Lobeline ; Smoking ; Tobacco Use Disorder

A 68-year-old man with constrictive pericarditis underwent pericardiectomy. The pericardium was dissected with a Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH). The harmonic scalpel differs from electrocautery in that there is only a minimal transfer of energy and no transfer of electrical energy to the tissues. A significant decrease in intraoperative and possibly even postoperative heart rhythm disorders is to be expected, as there is no conduction of electricity. This new device has many advantages including no muscular stimulation, low heat, a smokeless field and easy hemostasis. We exprienced a patient who underwent pericardiectomy using the Harmonic scalpel, so we report this case with a brief literature.
Aged ; Electricity ; Electrocoagulation ; Heart ; Hemostasis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lobeline ; Pericardiectomy* ; Pericarditis, Constrictive* ; Pericardium

OBJECTIVE: Tobacco consumption among patients with schizophrenia has been investigated extensively in western countries, but there is a dearth of studies in India, where socio-economic and cultural variables are different. This study aims to investigate the patterns of tobacco consumption among schizophrenia patients compared with their non-psychotic siblings. METHODS: Consenting, successive male outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=100, DSM-IV criteria), and their non-psychotic brothers (n=100) were compared. Following a structured diagnostic interview, detailed information about tobacco consumption (including smokeless tobacco) was obtained using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence for smoked tobacco, and FTND-smokeless tobacco. The University of Pennsylvania Computerized Neurocognitive battery (CNB) was administered to a sub-group of patients (n=48). RESULTS: Schizophrenia patients initiated tobacco use at a significantly earlier age than their brothers, but there was no significant difference with regard to type, quantity or frequency of tobacco use (smoke or smokeless varieties). Patients who consumed tobacco had significantly higher positive symptom scores compared with non-users (p=0.043). There were no significant differences between nicotine dependent and non-dependent patients with regard to CNB domains except attention. CONCLUSION: Patterns of tobacco consumption were similar among schizophrenia patients and their non-psychotic brothers. Tobacco use was associated with increased positive symptom scores, but there were no significant differences in cognitive measures among nicotine dependent and non-dependent patients.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; India ; Lobeline ; Male ; Nicotine ; Outpatients ; Pennsylvania ; Schizophrenia ; Siblings ; Smoke ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Use Disorder

PURPOSE: Smokeless tobacco-based oral-use products like gutka are popular in India. Gutka usage leads to increased periodontal destruction and inflammation; however, the relevant mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the role of gutka in periodontitis by examining its effect on the levels of interleukin (IL) 1beta and IL-8 from the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). METHODS: A total of 45 patients were enrolled in this study. Thirty patients with periodontitis (15 gutka chewers [GCP] and 15 nongutka chewers [NGC]) and 15 periodontally healthy controls (HC) were selected. The full-mouth plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and recession (RC) were recorded. The IL-1beta and IL-8 levels in the GCF of all subjects were assessed through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Quantikine). RESULTS: The IL-1beta and IL-8 levels were not significantly higher in the GCP group (IL-1beta, 369.01+/-273.44 microL; IL-8, 205.97+/-196.78 microL) as compared to those in the NGC group (IL-1beta, 195.57+/-96.85 microL; IL-8, 178.61+/-149.35 microL). More gingival RC and loss of attachment was seen among the GCP group (RC: 2.02+/-0.31, P=0.013; CAL: 4.60+/-0.56, P<0.001) than among the NGC group (RC, 1.21+/-1.15; CAL, 3.70+/-0.32); however, PD was deeper among the NGC subjects (P=0.002). PI and GI were significantly higher for the periodontitis group (P<0.001) when compared to the HC, but there was no difference among gutka chewers and non-chewers (P=0.22 and P=0.89). A positive correlation was found between the IL-8 levels and the duration of gutka chewing (r=-0.64, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Gutka chewing leads to increased gingival RC and clinical loss of attachment. There was no effect seen in the proinflammatory cytokine levels in the GCF of gutka users.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gingival Crevicular Fluid ; Humans ; India ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Lobeline ; Mastication ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis* ; Tobacco, Smokeless

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reversal effect and mechanism of lobeline on the multidrug-resistance (MDR) of human breast cancer cells MCF-7/ADM. METHODS: In human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADM, MTT assay was used to determine the cell growth inhibiting ratio of MCF-7/ADM by ADM and Fu. Fluorospectorphotometer was employed to investigate the intracellular concentration of rhodamine123 to reflect the effect of lobeline on the activity of MDR-related protein P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Taking untreated MCF-7/ADM cells as controls, flow cytometry was applied to detect the intracellular concentration of rhodamine123 in MCF-7/ADM cell intervened with lobeline of 20 micromol/L. RESULTS: The sensitivity of MCF-7/ADM to ADM and Fu was significantly increased by lobeline in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitive concentration 50 (IC(50)) of ADM declined from (44.81+/-0.43) mg/L to (16.72+/-0.75) mg/L with a reversion index of 2.68. The IC(50) of Fu declined from (53.12+/-1.60) mg/L to (38.90+/-1.43) mg/L with a reversion index of 1.37. The fluorescence intensity of lobeline-treated cells was significantly higher than that of the controls, when the concentration of lobeline was more than 10 micromol/L. With fewer side effects, the reversal efficacy of 20 micromol/L lobeline was 71.6% of the classical MDR reversal agent of verapamil at the same concentration. CONCLUSION Lobeline can reverse the MDR of MCF-7/ADM cells by inhibiting the activity of P-glycoprotein.
Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Humans ; Lobeline ; pharmacology

128 individuals with tattoos, who were seen during physical examination for conscription from February to May, 1985, were taken for a clinical study of tattoos. The results were as follows: 1. The color of the tattoos were blue-black or light blue. The materials most commonly employed were Chinese ink stick and others were Chinese ink, black ink, blue ink, and smokeless coal powder. 2. The tattoos were made by tattooed themselves or by their friends and sewing needles were punctured to introduce particles of pigment into the skin in all cases. 3. As to the sites of tattoos, left forearm was the favorite(42.4%) and others were left upper arm(28. l%), right forearm(5. 5%), right upper arm(5 1%) etc. 4. Among 271 tattoos of 100 kinds, a rose was most frequently seen(5. 9%) and others were a symbol of love(4. 8%), a butterfly(4.l%), - I (one mind) (3.7%), patience (3. 7%) etc. 5. The complications of tattooing were found in 8. 6p, of the tattooed and they were pyoderma, hypertrophic scar, keloid, lymphadenopathy, post-inflammatory ]yper-and hypopigmentation, and scar formation about tattoos. 6. The removd of tatoos were tried all by tattooed themselves. The most frequent method used was scratching up with a knife and others were cigarette burn, attatchment of bean-curd, rubbing with salt, and chemical burns with hydrochloric acid. etc.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Burns ; Burns, Chemical ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Coal ; Forearm ; Friends ; Humans ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Hypopigmentation ; Ink ; Keloid ; Lobeline ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Needles ; Physical Examination ; Pyoderma ; Skin ; Tattooing ; Tobacco Products

Smokeless tobacco consumption, which is widespread throughout the world, leads to oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), which is a long-lasting and devastating condition of the oral cavity with the potential for malignancy. In this review, we mainly focus on the consumption of smokeless tobacco, such as paan and gutkha, and the role of these substances in the induction of OSMF and ultimately oral cancer. The list of articles to be examined was established using citation discovery tools provided by PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The continuous chewing of paan and swallowing of gutkha trigger progressive fibrosis in submucosal tissue. Generally, OSMF occurs due to multiple risk factors, especially smokeless tobacco and its components, such as betel quid, areca nuts, and slaked lime, which are used in paan and gutkha. The incidence of oral cancer is higher in women than in men in South Asian countries. Human oral epithelium cells experience carcinogenic and genotoxic effects from the slaked lime present in the betel quid, with or without areca nut. Products such as 3-(methylnitrosamino)-proprionitrile, nitrosamines, and nicotine initiate the production of reactive oxygen species in smokeless tobacco, eventually leading to fibroblast, DNA, and RNA damage with carcinogenic effects in the mouth of tobacco consumers. The metabolic activation of nitrosamine in tobacco by cytochrome P450 enzymes may lead to the formation of N-nitrosonornicotine, a major carcinogen, and micronuclei, which are an indicator of genotoxicity. These effects lead to further DNA damage and, eventually, oral cancer.
Activation, Metabolic ; Areca ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Deglutition ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; Epithelium ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lobeline* ; Male ; Mastication ; Mouth ; Mouth Neoplasms* ; Nicotine ; Nitrosamines ; Nuts ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis ; Prevalence* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Risk Factors ; RNA ; Tobacco ; Tobacco, Smokeless*

Smokeless tobacco consumption, which is widespread throughout the world, leads to oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), which is a long-lasting and devastating condition of the oral cavity with the potential for malignancy. In this review, we mainly focus on the consumption of smokeless tobacco, such as paan and gutkha, and the role of these substances in the induction of OSMF and ultimately oral cancer. The list of articles to be examined was established using citation discovery tools provided by PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The continuous chewing of paan and swallowing of gutkha trigger progressive fibrosis in submucosal tissue. Generally, OSMF occurs due to multiple risk factors, especially smokeless tobacco and its components, such as betel quid, areca nuts, and slaked lime, which are used in paan and gutkha. The incidence of oral cancer is higher in women than in men in South Asian countries. Human oral epithelium cells experience carcinogenic and genotoxic effects from the slaked lime present in the betel quid, with or without areca nut. Products such as 3-(methylnitrosamino)-proprionitrile, nitrosamines, and nicotine initiate the production of reactive oxygen species in smokeless tobacco, eventually leading to fibroblast, DNA, and RNA damage with carcinogenic effects in the mouth of tobacco consumers. The metabolic activation of nitrosamine in tobacco by cytochrome P450 enzymes may lead to the formation of N-nitrosonornicotine, a major carcinogen, and micronuclei, which are an indicator of genotoxicity. These effects lead to further DNA damage and, eventually, oral cancer.
Activation, Metabolic ; Areca ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Deglutition ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; Epithelium ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lobeline ; Male ; Mastication ; Mouth ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Nicotine ; Nitrosamines ; Nuts ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis ; Prevalence ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Risk Factors ; RNA ; Tobacco ; Tobacco, Smokeless