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The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between manifest anxiety and orality as related to smokers and non-smokers as indicated on the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale and the Blaky Pitres Test (4). From the above theoretical background, the following relationships are hypothesized: Hypothesis I: Smokers will show more anxiety than nonsmokers. hypothesis 2: Female smokers will show more anxiety than male smokers. Hypothesis 3: Among the high anxiety group smokers will show more orality than non-smokers.

Purpose To investigate the impact of cigarrete smoking in a group of otherwise healthy young individuals on: 1) Retinal blood flow using Doppler based SD-OCT, 2) Retinal vascular reactivity using a gas sequencer to provoke hypercapnia via constant changes in PETCO2 (end-tidal partial pressure of CO2) and in PETO2 (end-tidal partial pressure of O2). Methods An automated gas flow controller was used to achieve normoxic hypercapnia in ten non-smokers (mean age 28.9 yrs, SD 4.58) and nine smokers (mean age 27.55 yrs, SD 4.77). Retinal blood flow measurements were obtained using Doppler OCT and cannon laser blood flowmeter (CLBF) during baseline, normoxic hypercapnia (15% increase in PETCO2 relative to homeostatic baseline) and post-hypercapnia in both the groups. Exhaled carbon monoxide level was measured in all subjects. Results In non-smokers, retinal arteriolar diameter, blood velocity and flow increased by +4.1% (SD 2.8, p<0.0001), +16.7% (SD 14.6, p=0.0004) and +29.6% (SD 12.5, p<0.0001) respectively, during normoxic hypercapnia; Similarly, the venous area, venous velocity and total retinal blood flow increased by 7% (SD 8.6, p=0.0418), 18.1% (SD 20.8, p=0.0068) and 26% (SD 22.9, p<0.0001) respectively. In smokers, normoxic hypercapnia resulted in a significant increase in velocity by 12.0% (SD 6.2, p=0.0019) and flow by 14.6% (SD 9.5, p=0.0029); though arteriolar diameter increased by 1.7% (SD 1.7, p=0.2616), the result was not statistically significant. Total retinal blood flow increased significantly by 19.3% (SD 18.4, p=0.002) in response to normoxic hypercapnia. However, there was no significant difference in venous area (p=0.3322) and venous velocity measurements (p=0.1185) during hypercapnia compared to baseline and recovery. Comparing smokers and non-smokers, only the percentage change in arteriolar diameter (p=0.0379) and flow (p=0.0101) was significantly different among the groups. Group mean PETCO2 was increased by 15.9% in the non-smoking group and by 15.7% in the smoking group, with a concomitant increase in PETO2 by approximately 1.5 to 2% in both groups. There was no significant difference in baseline PETCO2 level between smokers and non-smokers. Conclusions Retinal vascular reactivity in response to normoxic hypercapnia is significantly reduced in young healthy individuals who smoke compared to non-smokers. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact reason behind the impaired retinal autoregulation to provocative stimuli in smokers.

This study examined the motivational state associated with smoking craving specifically among women and the effect of deprivation and smoking status on the relationship between responses to appetitive cues. Utilizing both psychophysiological (startle EMG, skin conductance) and self-report measures, we compared cue reactivity to positive, neutral, aversive, smoking, and chocolate pictures among groups of 10 hr. smoking deprived smokers, non-deprived smokers, and non-smokers. Smokers responded to smoking cues similar to pleasant affect cues with more inhibited startle and high arousal, while responses from non-smoking females indicated a neutral state. However, deprivation also significantly increased startle responses to smoking cues when compared to non-deprived smokers. Furthermore, a closer look at skin conductance responses to aversive cues suggest that smoking status (deprived and non-deprived groups) significantly inhibited one?s ability to habituate to negative affect stimuli. When responses to chocolate cues were examined, psychophysiological and self-report data seemed to indicate that smoking deprivation influenced one's ability to attend to other appetitive/rewarding cues. Implications of these results on female smoking craving and sensitivity to appetitive cues are discussed.

Background Chronic smokers are at risk of premature death associated with underlying pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases. Dual influenza and pneumococcal vaccination has been shown to prevent death and hospitalization secondary to pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases in elderly persons. Its effect in chronic smokers remained unknown. Methods This is a prospective randomized open-labeled trial conducted from April 2010 to March 2013, comprising adult patients aged less than 50 years who were chronic smokers. Subjects were randomly assigned into 4 groups. Group 1 (study group) patients received both trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) and the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPV). There were 3 control groups: Group 2 patients received the TIV only. Group 3 patients received the PPV only and Group 4 patients did not receive any vaccines. The TIV used was the Vaxigrip® (Sanofi Pasteur, France) and the PPV used was the Pneumovax®23 (Merck, USA). All enrolled patients were follow-up for 24 months post vaccination. Patient details, Charlson comorbidity index, medications, subsequent hospitalization, diagnosis and mortality were recorded and analyzed. Results A total of 1006 subjects were enrolled and completed the study (Group PPV+TIV: 250; Group TIV: 254, Group PPV: 250 and Group None: 259). The baseline demographics and Charlson comorbidity index were similar among subjects in the 4 groups. The median age was 48 years and 85.9% were male patients. Significantly fewer subjects who received the dual vaccination (Group PPV+TIV) were hospitalized (p<0.001), with shorter mean length of stay (p<0.001), and less frequent hospitalization (p<0.001) for cardiovascular or respiratory diseases than no vaccination (Group None) or single vaccination (Group TIV and Group PPV). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that dual vaccination with PPV + TIV was the only independent factor associated with reduced risk of hospitalization (p<0.001; relative risk 0.288; 95% CI 0.101-0.154). There was no difference in mortality rate among the groups. Both vaccinations were well tolerated and no serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion Dual influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations prevented chronic smokers against hospitalization secondary to pulmonary or cardiovascular causes. Annual influenza and a single pneumococcal vaccination should be promoted among chronic smokers. / published_or_final_version / Microbiology / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

The majority of smokers - regardless of race - wish to quit. Quitting tobacco use is a top national priority to improve the quality of life for all people. There is a wide range of effective tobacco addiction treatment strategies. Telephone counseling services or Tobacco Quit Lines (TQL) is one of the effective smoking cessation aids available to all people in the U.S. free of charge. This is a cross sectional analysis of data from Georgia Tobacco Quit Line (TQL). The study examined the differences in the utilization rates of the Georgia TQL by different smoking population. Analysis revealed that 2.9 per 1000 male smokers in Georgia called the TQL compared to 5.0 per 1000 females. Also, the rate of calling among black was significantly higher than that among white smokers. Television commercials promoting the use of the TQL were successful in reaching the Black smokers.

Purpose To investigate the impact of cigarrete smoking in a group of otherwise healthy young individuals on: 1) Retinal blood flow using Doppler based SD-OCT, 2) Retinal vascular reactivity using a gas sequencer to provoke hypercapnia via constant changes in PETCO2 (end-tidal partial pressure of CO2) and in PETO2 (end-tidal partial pressure of O2). Methods An automated gas flow controller was used to achieve normoxic hypercapnia in ten non-smokers (mean age 28.9 yrs, SD 4.58) and nine smokers (mean age 27.55 yrs, SD 4.77). Retinal blood flow measurements were obtained using Doppler OCT and cannon laser blood flowmeter (CLBF) during baseline, normoxic hypercapnia (15% increase in PETCO2 relative to homeostatic baseline) and post-hypercapnia in both the groups. Exhaled carbon monoxide level was measured in all subjects. Results In non-smokers, retinal arteriolar diameter, blood velocity and flow increased by +4.1% (SD 2.8, p<0.0001), +16.7% (SD 14.6, p=0.0004) and +29.6% (SD 12.5, p<0.0001) respectively, during normoxic hypercapnia; Similarly, the venous area, venous velocity and total retinal blood flow increased by 7% (SD 8.6, p=0.0418), 18.1% (SD 20.8, p=0.0068) and 26% (SD 22.9, p<0.0001) respectively. In smokers, normoxic hypercapnia resulted in a significant increase in velocity by 12.0% (SD 6.2, p=0.0019) and flow by 14.6% (SD 9.5, p=0.0029); though arteriolar diameter increased by 1.7% (SD 1.7, p=0.2616), the result was not statistically significant. Total retinal blood flow increased significantly by 19.3% (SD 18.4, p=0.002) in response to normoxic hypercapnia. However, there was no significant difference in venous area (p=0.3322) and venous velocity measurements (p=0.1185) during hypercapnia compared to baseline and recovery. Comparing smokers and non-smokers, only the percentage change in arteriolar diameter (p=0.0379) and flow (p=0.0101) was significantly different among the groups. Group mean PETCO2 was increased by 15.9% in the non-smoking group and by 15.7% in the smoking group, with a concomitant increase in PETO2 by approximately 1.5 to 2% in both groups. There was no significant difference in baseline PETCO2 level between smokers and non-smokers. Conclusions Retinal vascular reactivity in response to normoxic hypercapnia is significantly reduced in young healthy individuals who smoke compared to non-smokers. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact reason behind the impaired retinal autoregulation to provocative stimuli in smokers.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Title from file title page. Michael Eriksen, committee chair; Francis McCarty, Melissa Taylor, committee members. Description based on contents viewed July 24, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-89).

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-41).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.