The paper gives a consideration on the development of the national standard, Pure Moxa Stick. It is proposed that the principle and requirements for the development of product standard should be adhered to, while focusing on the applicability and safety of pure moxa stick. In terms of quality, the specific requirements should be developed on the ratio of moxa floss, wrapping paper and adhesives. Regarding the specifications, either the market demands or the resource waste prevention should be considered. In safety, the combustion temperature and moxa smoke control are the key issues.
Moxibustion ; Smoke/analysis* ; Temperature

In view of the limitations of the existing moxibustion instruments, i.e. possible accidental injury when using moxibustion instruments, the negative effects of products from moxibustion instruments on treatment efficacy and health of medical staff and patients, a moxibustion instrument with multi-jointed manipulator is designed. This moxibustion instrument could accurately control the temperature, maintain a safe moxibustion distance, automatically process the burning ashes of moxa and selectively handle moxa smoke. The experimental results shows that this instrument could maintain the constant temperature of target acupoint, reduce the risk of empyrosis, and reasonably deal with the products of moxibustion. The purification rate of moxa smoke is 44.9%, which not only ensures the therapeutic effect of moxa smoke, but also reduces the negative effects of high-concentration moxa smoke on the health of medical staff and patients.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Smoke/analysis* ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the strength of tobacco control and the effectiveness of creating smoke-free hospital, and summarize the main factors that affect the program of creating smoke-free hospitals.

METHODSA total of 210 hospitals from 7 provinces/municipalities directly under the central government were enrolled in this study using stratified random sampling method. Principle component analysis and regression analysis were conducted to analyze the strength of tobacco control and the effectiveness of creating smoke-free hospitals.

RESULTSTwo principal components were extracted in the strength of tobacco control index, which respectively reflected the tobacco control policies and efforts, and the willingness and leadership of hospital managers regarding tobacco control. The regression analysis indicated that only the first principal component was significantly correlated with the progression in creating smoke-free hospital (P<0.001), i.e. hospitals with higher scores on the first principal component had better achievements in smoke-free environment creation.

CONCLUSIONSTobacco control policies and efforts are critical in creating smoke-free hospitals. The principal component analysis provides a comprehensive and objective tool for evaluating the creation of smoke-free hospitals.

Health Facility Environment ; Hospital Administration ; Principal Component Analysis ; Smoke-Free Policy ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo study the levels of pollutions caused by fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) in the public places and investigate the possible influencing factors.

METHODSA total of 20 public places in four types such as rest room in bath center, restaurant, karaoke bars and cyber cafe in Tongzhou district in Beijing were chosen in this study; indoor and outdoor PM(2.5) was monitored by TSI sidepak AM510. Data under varying conditions were collected and analyzed, such as doors or windows or mechanical ventilation devices being opened, rooms cramped with people and smoking.

RESULTSThe average concentration of indoor PM(2.5) in 20 public places was (334.6 +/- 386.3) microg/m(3), ranging from 6 microg/m(3) to 1956 microg/m(3); while in bath center, restaurant, karaoke bars and cyber cafe were (116.9 +/- 100.1)microg/m(3), (317.9 +/- 235.3) microg/m(3), (750.6 +/- 521.6)microg/m(3) and (157.5 +/- 98.5) microg/m(3) respectively. The concentrations of PM(2.5) in restaurant (compared with bath center: Z = -10.785, P < 0.01; compared with karaoke bars: Z = -10.488, P < 0.01; compared with cyber cafe: Z = -7.547, P < 0.01) and karaoke bars (compared with bath center: Z = -16.670, P < 0.01; compared with cyber cafe: Z = -15.682, P < 0.01) were much higher than those in other two places. Single-factor analysis revealed that the average concentration of indoor PM(2.5) in 20 public places was associated with the number of smokers per cube meters(9.13 x 10(-3); r = 0.772, F = 26.579, P < 0.01) and ventilation score [(2.5 +/- 1.5) points; r = 0.667, F = 14.442, P < 0.01], and there were significant correlation between the average indoor and outdoor levels in restaurant [(317.9 +/- 235.3) microg/m(3), (67.8 +/- 78.9) microg/m(3); r = 0.918, F = 16.013, P = 0.028] and cyber cafe [(157.5 +/- 98.5) microg/m(3), (67.7 +/- 43.7) microg/m(3); r = 0.955, F = 30.785, P = 0.012]. Furthermore, significant correlation was observed between the average concentration of indoor PM(2.5) [(157.5 +/- 98.5) microg/m(3)]and the number of people per cube meters (288.7 x 10(-3)) in cyber cafe (r = 0.891, F = 11.615, P = 0.042). Multiple regression analysis showed that smoking (b' = 0.581, t = 3.542, P = 0.003) and ventilation (b' = -0.348, t = -2.122, P = 0.049) were the major factors that may influence the concentration of indoor PM(2.5) in four public places. With cluster analysis, the results showed that the major factors that influence the concentration of indoor PM(2.5) was the outdoor PM(2.5) levels [(49.6 +/- 39.5) microg/m(3); b = 1.556, t = 3.760, P = 0.007] when ventilation (score > 2) was relatively good. The number of smokers per cube meters (14.7 x 10(-3)) became the major influence factor when the ventilation score

CONCLUSIONThis study indicated that smoking was the main source of indoor PM(2.5) in public places. Outdoor PM(2.5) should be correlated with indoor PM(2.5) concentration under drafty situation.

Air Pollution, Indoor ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; Public Facilities ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; analysis

BACKGROUND: The ammonia contained in tobacco fillers and mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke accelerates nicotine dependence in cigarette smokers. Ammonia has been included in the non-exhaustive priority list of 39 tobacco components and emissions of cigarette published by the World Health Organization (WHO) Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation. The development of a simple ammonia detection method will contribute to the establishment of tobacco product regulation under tobacco control policies and allow surveys to be conducted, even by laboratories with small research budgets. METHODS: We developed a simple colorimetric method based on the salicylate-chlorine reaction and absorption spectrometry with two reagents (sodium nitroprusside and sodium dichloroisocyanurate). To compare this method to conventional ion chromatography, we analyzed the ammonia levels in tobacco fillers extracted from 35 Japanese commercially marketed cigarette brands manufactured by four tobacco companies (Japan Tobacco (JT) Inc., British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris Japan, and Natural American Spirit). We also analyzed the ammonia levels in the sidestream smoke from cigarettes of the brands that were found to contain high or low tobacco filler ammonia levels. RESULTS: The ammonia levels in the reference cigarette (3R4F) measured by our method and ion chromatography were similar and comparable to previously reported levels. The ammonia levels in tobacco fillers extracted from 35 cigarette brands ranged from 0.25 to 1.58 mg/g. The mean ammonia level of JT cigarette brands was significantly higher (0.83 ± 0.28 mg/g) than that of Natural American Spirit cigarette brands (0.30 ± 0.08 mg/g) and lower than those in the other two cigarette brands (1.11 ± 0.19 mg/g for BAT and 1.24 ± 0.15 mg/g for Philip Morris) (p < 0.001 by Bonferroni test). The ammonia levels in the sidestream smoke of CABIN, Marlboro Black Menthol, American Spirit Light, and Seven Stars were 5.89 ± 0.28, 5.23 ± 0.12, 6.92 ± 0.56, and 4.14 ± 0.19 mg/cigarette, respectively. The ammonia levels were higher in sidestream smoke than in tobacco filler. CONCLUSIONS Our simple colorimetric could be used to analyze ammonia in tobacco fillers and sidestream smoke. There were significant differences between the ammonia levels of the 35 commercially marketed cigarette brands in Japan manufactured by four tobacco manufacturers. Over 90% of the ammonia in sidestream smoke was in gaseous phase.
Ammonia ; analysis ; Colorimetry ; methods ; Japan ; Smoke ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry ; methods ; Tobacco ; chemistry ; Tobacco Products ; analysis

Tightening of air quality standards for populated urban areas has led to increasing attention to assessment of air quality management areas, where violation of air quality standards occurs, and development of control strategies to eliminate such violation of air quality standards. The Quetta urban area is very densely built and has heavy motorized traffic. The increase of emissions mainly from traffic and industry are responsible for the increase in atmospheric pollution levels during the last years. The dust examined in the current study was collected by both deposit gauge and Petri dish methods at various sites of Quetta Valley. Smoke particles were obtained by bladder method from the exhausts of various types of motor vehicles. The concentration of lead found in the smoke ranged from 1.5x10(-6) to 4.5x10(-6).
Air Pollution ; analysis ; Cities ; statistics & numerical data ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Pakistan ; Particle Size ; Smoke ; analysis ; Vehicle Emissions ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of the subfractions in existence (big and small polymers) of pulmonary surfactant (PS) and their influence on the decrease in PS activity during early postburn stage.

METHODSForty rabbits were employed in the study and were randomly divided into pre-burn, 0.5 postburn hour (PBH), 2 PBH, 6 PBH and 12 PBH groups with 8 in each group. The BALF (bronchial alveolar lavage fluid) was harvested from each rabbit. The BALF samples were centrifuged, and the supernatant (small polymer) and precipitation (big polymer) were harvested for the determination of the contents of the total phospholipids, lecithin, total protein, and albumin in both polymers.

RESULTSCompared with those in pre-burn group, the above chemical contents of PS in big polymer exhibited no change after burn (P > 0.05), but the contents of albumin and total protein increased obviously in small polymer (P < 0.01). In addition, all the contents in the small polymer increased with the elapse of time. The percentage of lecithin in total phospholipids in small polymers decreased along with the passage of time. The pre-burn contents of total phospholipids, lecithin, TP, albumin, and the percentage of lecithin in total phospholipid in small polymer were (2.23 +/- 0.40),(1.54 +/- 0.11), (16.67 +/- 1.34), (3.65 +/- 0.15) mg/ml and (77.2 +/- 3.7)%, respectively. The above indices in small polymer were (3.15 +/- 0.30), (1.77 +/- 0.08), (106.59 +/- 5.50), (11.21 +/- 0.92) mg/ml and (57.2 +/- 3.5)% respectively at 6PBH.

CONCLUSIONThe ratio of small to big polymers increased obviously, which might be an important factor in inducing the decrease in PS activity during early postburn stage leading finally to pulmonary injury.

Albumins ; analysis ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; Phosphatidylcholines ; analysis ; Phospholipids ; analysis ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Smoke Inhalation Injury ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: In recent years, heated tobacco products (HTPs), which are widely used in Japan, have been sold by various brands using additives such as flavors. It has been reported that the components of mainstream smoke are different from those of conventional cigarettes. In this study, we established an analytical method for furans and pyridines in the mainstream smoke, which are characteristic of HTPs and particularly harmful among the generated components, and investigated the amount of component to which the smokers are exposed. METHODS: We established a simple analytical method for simultaneous analysis of gaseous and particulate compounds in the mainstream smoke of HTPs (IQOS, glo, ploom S) in Japan by combining a sorbent cartridge and glass fiber filter (Cambridge filter pad (CFP)). Both the sorbent cartridge and CFP were extracted using 2-propanol and analyzed via GC-MS/MS to determine the concentration of furans and pyridines generated from each HTP. RESULTS: The results showed that the levels of target furans such as furfural, 2-furanmethanol, 2(5H)-furanone, and 5-methylfurfural tended to be higher in the mainstream smoke of glo than in standard cigarettes (3R4F). Pyridine, which is generated at a high level in 3R4F as a combustion component, and 4-ethenylpyridine (EP), which is a known marker of environmental tobacco smoke, were detected. Among these components, 2-furanmethanol and pyridine are classified as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Therefore, it is possible that they will contribute to the health effects caused by use of HTPs. CONCLUSIONS Using the new collection and analytical method for furans and pyridines in the mainstream smoke of HTPs, the level of each compound to which smokers are exposed could be clarified. By comprehensively combining information on the amount of ingredients and toxicity, it will be possible to perform a more detailed calculation of the health risks of using HTPs. In addition, the components detected in this study may be the causative substances of indoor pollution through exhaled smoke and sidestream smoke; therefore, environmental research on the chemicals generated from HTPs would be warranted in future studies.
Furans/analysis* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Japan ; Pyridines/analysis* ; Smoke/analysis* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tobacco Products

BACKGROUND: Varenicline is recently known as smoking cessation medicine has no results of researches conducted in the actual practice settings except for incipient clinical trials. This research attempted to analyze the factors for smoking cessation by using Varenicline prescribed in the family clinic, and the efficacy of Varenicline. METHODS: Brief smoking cessation education was conducted on 140 people who visited the Department of Family Medicine at Dankook University and Varenicline was prescribed for them. This research checked whether smoking was stopped or not after six months and analyzed the factors for succeeding in smoking cessation. RESULTS: Varenicline was prescribed for the 140 people. After six months, 46 smokers were successful in smoking cessation, representing the rate of success of 35.4%, and after 12 months, 31 people of 83 people were successful in smoking cessation, representing the rate of success of 37.3%. The group less smoke than 24.3 cigarettes/day (the average daily smoking amount) has higher quit rate than the group more smoke than 24.3 by 4.9 times. The group takes Varenicline longer than 26.7 days (the average Varenicline dosage period) has higher quit rate than the group takes Varenicline shorter than 26.7 by 4 times. Smoking-cessation rate was 4.5 times when trying to stop smoking by the doctor's recommendation. It was higher than when trying to stop smoking by self-determination. In the multivariate analysis, there were significant relationships in daily smoking amount, dosage and period of Varenicline, and motivation of visits. CONCLUSION: Varenicline is one of the useful medication for quitting smoking in family practice setting. Better compliance of medicine shows better quitting rate.
Benzazepines ; Compliance ; Family Practice ; Humans ; Motivation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Quinoxalines ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Varenicline

BACKGROUND: Aspirin is one of the effective antiplatelet agents with proven benefits for the prevention of ischemic stroke. However, ischemic stroke may recur in some patients despite aspirin therapy. We investigated the prevalence of laboratory assessed low-responsiveness to aspirin in patients who are treated with aspirin for secondarily preventing cerebrovascular events, and we did so by using the VerifyNow(R) Aspirin assay. METHODS: We measured the platelet function using the VerifyNow(R) test in the recurrent (RG) and no-recurrent groups (NRG) that were treated with aspirin for secondarily preventing cerebrovascular events, We analyzed the association of a low response to aspirin with the clinical ischemic events and the factors associated with a low response. RESULTS: There were 110 patients on aspirin for secondary prevention and the mean treatment duration was 17 months. The incidence of a low response to aspirin was significantly higher in the RG than that in the NRG (26.2% vs. 5.8%, respectively, p=0.03). Multivariate analysis revealed that smoking was an independent predictor of a low response to aspirin (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: We found that up to 26.2% of the patients with recurrent stroke are laboratory assessed aspirin low-responsive (as measured with the VerifyNow(R) Aspirin assay), despite that they are on chronic aspirin therapy. Aspirin lowresponsiveness may be associated with the clinical failure to prevent recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, and this is known as clinical aspirin low-responsiveness.
Aspirin ; Blood Platelets ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Prevalence ; Secondary Prevention ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke