New Compounds May Treat Both Alcohol And Cigarette Addictions05 Nov 2010
Researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco, and Pfizer Inc., have determined that two new compounds may be effective in treating both alcohol and nicotine dependence at the same time.
In a paper published in the November 3, 2010 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology, the researchers showed that alcohol consumption in rodents was significantly decreased by two compounds that target neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtype (alpha)3(Beta)4.
nAChRs are proteins found in the brain and broader central nervous system that mediate the effects of substances such as nicotine. Recent human genetic studies have shown that the genes encoding the α3ß4* subtype are of significant importance for susceptibility to both alcohol and nicotine dependence.
"The problem has been translating these important genetic findings into more effective medications for people," said co-senior author Selena E. Bartlett, PhD, director of the Preclinical Development group at the Gallo Center. The lead author of the study is Susmita Chatterjee, PhD, of the Gallo Center.
The work was done in collaboration with scientists led by co-senior author Hans Rollema, PhD, in the Neuroscience Research Unit at Pfizer Inc.
One of the new compounds, CP-601932, has been shown in a clinical study to be safe in humans, notes Bartlett. She recommends a clinical study to evaluate the compound's efficacy and potential benefits in treating both alcohol and nicotine dependence.
The other compound is PF-4575180. Both were developed by Pfizer.
"Alcohol and nicotine addiction are often treated as separate disorders," Bartlett says, "despite the fact that 60 to 80 percent of heavy drinkers smoke tobacco. There are very few effective strategies for treating these disorders separately, let alone together. Our data suggest that by targeting specific nAChR subtypes, it may be possible to treat both alcohol and nicotine dependence with one medication."
Significantly, while the compounds had a significant effect on the rodents' alcohol consumption, their intake of sucrose was not affected. "This indicates that unlike currently approved alcohol abuse medications, the compounds do not interfere with the brain's natural reward system in a larger way," says Bartlett.
Co-authors of the study are Pia Steensland, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, Jeffrey A. Simms, BSc, and Joan Holgate, BSc, of the Gallo Center, and Jotham W. Coe, PhD, Raymond S. Hurst, PhD, Christopher L. Shaffer, PhD, and John Lowe, PhD, of Pfizer.
The study was supported by funds from the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Defense, the State of California, the Foundation BLANCEFLOR Boncompagni-Ludovisi, née Bildt, the Sweden-America Foundation, and Insamlingsstiftelsen Hjärnfonden/The Swedish Brain Foundation.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
SMOKING AND SMOKING
BETTER BONE-HEALTH SANS SMOKING
If you are over 45 and find yourself going weak at the knees, don't think that Cupid is shooting its arrow at you! The bones of your legs may have fallen victim to osteoporosis, an unhealthy condition in which the bones become porous.
Osteoporosis is characterised by a decrease in bone density and bone mass which makes the bones of the body fragile and weak.
Nearly 20% of the women and 12 percent of the men aged 50 or above in India suffer from osteoporosis but the disorder remains largely under-diagnosed and undertreated. The prevalence of osteoporosis is even more widespread in rural and semi-urban areas.
Weakening of the bones leads to unexpected fractures that can occur anywhere in the body. Nowadays, more than 80 percent of all spinal fractures are caused by osteoporosis, say experts.
Another area of the body commonly affected by osteoporosis is the hip bone.
Apart from the pain and immobility they cause, the long-term consequences of fractures caused by osteoporosis include debilitating pain, spinal deformity, functional, and psychosocial impairments, poor pulmonary function and risk of fresh fractures.
The contemporary view in medicine is that osteoporosis is something of a lifestyle disease, too, as poor food habits and consumption of alcohol aggravate the condition. With the World Osteoporosis Day falling on October 20, experts have reiterated the need to raise awareness about how osteoporosis can be prevented.
Dr Bharat Dave, a spine surgeon and member of the association of spine surgeons of India (ASSI), said that most major osteoporotic fractures occur in the spine, wrist or the hip bones.
"During puberty and adolescence, the skeleton absorbs calcium avidly and builds up its reserves," Dave said. "The amount of calcium converted into bone is largely dependent on calcium and vitamin D nutrition, as well as exercise."
Bones continue to grow in strength till the age of 30. But from the mid-thirties, there is a gradual bone loss that continues throughout life.
Osteoporosis is not completely curable; hence its prevention is as important as its treatment. The most important prevention measures include quitting smoking, curtailing excessive intake of alcohol, exercising regularly, and consuming a balanced diet with adequate calcium and
If you are over 45 and find yourself going weak at the knees, don't think that Cupid is shooting its arrow at you! The bones of your legs may have fallen victim to osteoporosis, an unhealthy condition in which the bones become porous. Osteoporosis is characterised by a decrease in bone density and bone mass which makes the bones of the body fragile and weak.
Nearly 20% of the women and 12 percent of the men aged 50 or above in India suffer from osteoporosis but the disorder remains largely under-diagnosed and undertreated. The prevalence of osteoporosis is even more widespread in rural and semi-urban areas.
Weakening of the bones leads to unexpected fractures that can occur anywhere in the body. Nowadays, more than 80 percent of all spinal fractures are caused by osteoporosis, say experts.
Another area of the body commonly affected by osteoporosis is the hip bone.
Apart from the pain and immobility they cause, the long-term consequences of fractures caused by osteoporosis include debilitating pain, spinal deformity, functional, and psychosocial impairments, poor pulmonary function and risk of fresh fractures.
The contemporary view in medicine is that osteoporosis is something of a lifestyle disease, too, as poor food habits and consumption of alcohol aggravate the condition. With the World Osteoporosis Day falling on October 20, experts have reiterated the need to raise awareness about how osteoporosis can be prevented.
Dr Bharat Dave, a spine surgeon and member of the association of spine surgeons of India (ASSI), said that most major osteoporotic fractures occur in the spine, wrist or the hip bones.
"During puberty and adolescence, the skeleton absorbs calcium avidly and builds up its reserves," Dave said. "The amount of calcium converted into bone is largely dependent on calcium and vitamin D nutrition, as well as exercise."
Bones continue to grow in strength till the age of 30. But from the mid-thirties, there is a gradual bone loss that continues throughout life.
Osteoporosis is not completely curable; hence its prevention is as important as its treatment. The most important prevention measures include quitting smoking, curtailing excessive intake of alcohol, exercising regularly, and consuming a balanced diet with adequate calcium and
Friday, September 10, 2010
ADDICTIVE SMOKING
Menthol Cigarettes More Addictive to U.S. Minorities
12/10/2009
THURSDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Menthol cigarettes appear to be more addictive for black and Hispanic smokers than regular cigarettes, a U.S. study has found.
Researchers from the School of Public Health at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) analyzed data on 7,815 current and former smokers who'd reported at least one attempt to quit. The information came from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey.
Among adults who smoked menthol cigarettes, just 44 percent of blacks and 48 percent of Hispanics were able to kick the habit. But blacks and Hispanics who smoked regular cigarettes had higher quit rates -- 62 percent and 61 percent, respectively. Those rates were similar to quit rates for white adults.
The data also showed that non-whites tended to smoke fewer cigarettes a day and were about three times more likely than whites to smoke menthol cigarettes, the study authors noted.
"Historically, tobacco companies have targeted minority populations when marketing menthol cigarettes," study co-author Cristine Delnevo, director of the Center for Tobacco Surveillance and Evaluation Research at UMDNJ, said in a university news release.
"Although whites and non-whites have similar smoking prevalence rates, the fact that non-whites are more likely to smoke menthols, and those who smoke menthols are less likely to quit, could explain why minority populations continue to suffer disproportionately from tobacco-caused disease and death," she said.
Study author Daniel Gundersen said in the news release that "with the substantial number of smokers smoking menthol cigarettes, particularly among minorities, this is serious cause for concern."
SMOKING BANS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Mulls Uniform Ban On Outdoor Smoking
Louise Hall
Brisbane , September 10, 2010
THE state government is considering a statewide ban on smoking in outdoor areas such as alfresco dining areas and children's playgrounds following lobbying by local councils and health groups.
The new five-year NSW Tobacco Strategy, which is yet to be approved by cabinet, is believed to recommend the introduction of uniform anti-smoking laws in crowded outdoor areas such as concerts, markets and shopping malls.
Half of all NSW councils now have some sort of ban on smoking in outdoor areas, up from 38 per last year, and 18 per cent in 2007, a report released today by the Heart Foundation finds.
However, the rules vary between suburbs, with neighbouring councils implementing smoke-free policies in a piecemeal fashion since Manly Council became the first jurisdiction in the country - and only the second in the world behind Los Angeles - to legislate a smoking ban on beaches in May 2004.
The Heart Foundation said the current situation, where smoking is banned on Bondi and Balmoral beaches, but allowed at Coogee and Cronulla, was ''ridiculous''.
Its chief executive, Tony Thirlwell, said the foundation was part of a coalition including the Cancer Council NSW and the Local Government and Shires Associations that had been advocating a statewide approach since 2006.
''While we haven't received any details about proposed legislation, we would welcome a move that bring us into line with other states and protects all NSW residents from harmful second-hand smoke,'' he said.
This week, the Minister assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Frank Sartor, said smoking rates had dropped by 5 per cent to 17.2 per cent since 2003, due in part to the landmark Smoke-free Environment Act introduced in 2000.
''We are about to release a tobacco strategy which aims to further reduce smoking to 13.5 per cent by 2016 and 10 per cent by 2020,'' he told Parliament.
A spokeswoman for the minister confirmed that legislation prohibiting smoking in outdoor areas was part of a range of policies being considered by cabinet.
The laws would be similar to those introduced in Queensland, where smoking has been banned in all children's playgrounds and sporting fields since January 2005 and in outdoor eating and drinking venues, except pubs and clubs, since July 2006.
The Heart Foundation's annual survey of smoke-free policies in NSW's 152 councils found that 74 per cent of the 43 metropolitan municipalities have now introduced some sort of ban, compared with only 40 per cent of 109 regional councils.
Of the 76 councils with smoke-free policies, 99 per cent cover playgrounds, making this the most common smoke-free area. Sporting fields (80 per cent), pools (46 per cent), areas within a certain distance of council buildings (42 per cent) and alfresco-dining areas (14 per cent) were included to various degrees.
The president of the Local Government Association, Genia McCaffery, said the lack of state legislation and funding had been a significant barrier for councils implementing or expanding a smoke-free policy.
There is emerging evidence on how smoking affects air quality in outdoor locations. A recent study showed that a person sitting near a smoker in an outdoor area could be exposed to levels of cigarette smoke similar to those experienced by someone sitting in an indoor pub or club.
There is also evidence to suggest that smoke-free areas support smokers who are trying to quit as well as reduce their overall cigarette consumption.
Half of all NSW councils now have some sort of ban on smoking in outdoor areas, up from 38 per last year, and 18 per cent in 2007, a report released today by the Heart Foundation finds.
However, the rules vary between suburbs, with neighbouring councils implementing smoke-free policies in a piecemeal fashion since Manly Council became the first jurisdiction in the country - and only the second in the world behind Los Angeles - to legislate a smoking ban on beaches in May 2004.
The Heart Foundation said the current situation, where smoking is banned on Bondi and Balmoral beaches, but allowed at Coogee and Cronulla, was ''ridiculous''.
Its chief executive, Tony Thirlwell, said the foundation was part of a coalition including the Cancer Council NSW and the Local Government and Shires Associations that had been advocating a statewide approach since 2006.
''While we haven't received any details about proposed legislation, we would welcome a move that bring us into line with other states and protects all NSW residents from harmful second-hand smoke,'' he said.
This week, the Minister assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Frank Sartor, said smoking rates had dropped by 5 per cent to 17.2 per cent since 2003, due in part to the landmark Smoke-free Environment Act introduced in 2000.
''We are about to release a tobacco strategy which aims to further reduce smoking to 13.5 per cent by 2016 and 10 per cent by 2020,'' he told Parliament.
A spokeswoman for the minister confirmed that legislation prohibiting smoking in outdoor areas was part of a range of policies being considered by cabinet.
The laws would be similar to those introduced in Queensland, where smoking has been banned in all children's playgrounds and sporting fields since January 2005 and in outdoor eating and drinking venues, except pubs and clubs, since July 2006.
The Heart Foundation's annual survey of smoke-free policies in NSW's 152 councils found that 74 per cent of the 43 metropolitan municipalities have now introduced some sort of ban, compared with only 40 per cent of 109 regional councils.
Of the 76 councils with smoke-free policies, 99 per cent cover playgrounds, making this the most common smoke-free area. Sporting fields (80 per cent), pools (46 per cent), areas within a certain distance of council buildings (42 per cent) and alfresco-dining areas (14 per cent) were included to various degrees.
The president of the Local Government Association, Genia McCaffery, said the lack of state legislation and funding had been a significant barrier for councils implementing or expanding a smoke-free policy.
There is emerging evidence on how smoking affects air quality in outdoor locations. A recent study showed that a person sitting near a smoker in an outdoor area could be exposed to levels of cigarette smoke similar to those experienced by someone sitting in an indoor pub or club.
There is also evidence to suggest that smoke-free areas support smokers who are trying to quit as well as reduce their overall cigarette consumption.
SMOKING BANS
Smoking Ban on Residential Balconies, Porches
Smokers in Santa Monica are no longer allowed to light up while on balconies or porches near homes.
The Santa Monica City Council strengthened the city's protections against second-hand smoke by adopting an ordinance Aug. 10 that expands the smoke-free outdoor areas at multi-unit residential properties to a 25-foot radius around all doors, windows, and vents.
The Santa Monica City Council strengthened the city's protections against second-hand smoke by adopting an ordinance Aug. 10 that expands the smoke-free outdoor areas at multi-unit residential properties to a 25-foot radius around all doors, windows, and vents.
This includes all private balconies, patios, porches, and decks within the 25-foot radius and also covers areas on neighboring properties that are within 25 feet of a door, window or vent.
The new 25-foot rule takes effect Thursday, Sept. 9.
Existing city law already prohibits smoking in common areas that are usable by more than one unit of the property - such as yards, walkways and play areas.
Under the law, a person who smokes in a restricted area is subject to a court-ordered payment of $100 for the first offense. Subsequent violations carry payments of $200 and $500 respectively, according to the city attorney's office. Any person can bring a case to court.
The law also requires landlords and homeowners' associations to do two things:
Post at least one conspicuous sign in the common area notifying residents of the law and the remedy; and
Give notice by Dec. 1 to all affected units of the new covered locations and the remedies for violations.
For information and for downloadable signs and notices, www.smconsumer.org/.
The new 25-foot rule takes effect Thursday, Sept. 9.
Existing city law already prohibits smoking in common areas that are usable by more than one unit of the property - such as yards, walkways and play areas.
Under the law, a person who smokes in a restricted area is subject to a court-ordered payment of $100 for the first offense. Subsequent violations carry payments of $200 and $500 respectively, according to the city attorney's office. Any person can bring a case to court.
The law also requires landlords and homeowners' associations to do two things:
Post at least one conspicuous sign in the common area notifying residents of the law and the remedy; and
Give notice by Dec. 1 to all affected units of the new covered locations and the remedies for violations.
For information and for downloadable signs and notices, www.smconsumer.org/.
E-CIGARETTES
E-Cigarettes Illegally Marketed,
Are Unapproved Drugs, FDA Letters Say
By - Sep 9, 2010
Electronic cigarettes sold in the U.S. are being marketed illegally as smoking-cessation aids, the Food and Drug Administration said.
E-cigarettes and related products sold by five closely held companies are unapproved new drugs and devices because they’re promoted as a way to help smokers stop or reduce their use of regular cigarettes, the FDA said in warning letters posted today on the agency’s website. To sell the products, companies must conduct animal and human studies, and submit an application to the FDA, the agency said in a separate letter to the Electronic Cigarette Association, a Washington-based industry group.
E-cigarettes, which mimic the appearance of traditional cigarettes, are metallic tubes filled with a vaporized liquid nicotine mixture. The FDA in February won a temporary delay of a U.S. judge’s ruling that the agency lacks authority to regulate the products as drug devices and must allow them to be imported. The case is scheduled for a Sept. 23 hearing.
“In the interest of protecting the public health, the FDA will take a reasonable and measured approach to the regulation of electronic cigarettes,” Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in yesterday’s letter to the Electronic Cigarette Association.
A representative of the cigarette association could not be reached for comment.
The warning letters were sent to Gamucci America Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida; E-Cig Technology Inc. in Las Vegas; Ruyan America Inc. in Minneapolis; Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin; and E-CigaretteDirect LLC in Parker, Colorado.
To contact the reporter on this story: Molly Peterson in Washington at mpeterson9@bloomberg.net
- [ Courtesy Molly Peterson ]
E-cigarettes and related products sold by five closely held companies are unapproved new drugs and devices because they’re promoted as a way to help smokers stop or reduce their use of regular cigarettes, the FDA said in warning letters posted today on the agency’s website. To sell the products, companies must conduct animal and human studies, and submit an application to the FDA, the agency said in a separate letter to the Electronic Cigarette Association, a Washington-based industry group.
“In the interest of protecting the public health, the FDA will take a reasonable and measured approach to the regulation of electronic cigarettes,” Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in yesterday’s letter to the Electronic Cigarette Association.
A representative of the cigarette association could not be reached for comment.
The warning letters were sent to Gamucci America Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida; E-Cig Technology Inc. in Las Vegas; Ruyan America Inc. in Minneapolis; Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin; and E-CigaretteDirect LLC in Parker, Colorado.
To contact the reporter on this story: Molly Peterson in Washington at mpeterson9@bloomberg.net
- [ Courtesy Molly Peterson ]
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
People, non-governmental organizations and governments unite on World No Tobacco Day to draw attention to the health problems that tobacco use can cause. It is held on May 31 each year.
What do people do?
World No Tobacco Day is a day for people, non-governmental organizations and governments organize various activities to make people aware of the health problems that tobacco use can cause. These activities include:
- Public marches and demonstrations, often with vivid banners.
- Advertising campaigns and educational programs.
- People going into public places to encourage people to stop smoking.
- The introduction of bans on smoking in particular places or types of advertising.
- Meetings for anti-tobacco campaigners.
Moreover, laws restricting smoking in particular areas may come into effect and wide reaching health campaigns may be launched.
Public life
World No Tobacco Day is not a public holiday.
Background
Tobacco is a product of the fresh leaves of nicotiana plants. It is used as an aid in spiritual ceremonies and a recreational drug. It originated in the Americas, but was introduced to Europe by Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal in 1559. It quickly became popular and an important trade crop.
Medical research made it clear during the 1900s that tobacco use increased the likelihood of many illnesses including heart attacks, strokes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema and many forms of cancer. This is true for all ways in which tobacco is used, including:
- Cigarettes and cigars.
- Hand rolling tobacco.
- Bidis and kreteks (cigarettes containing tobacco with herbs or spices).
- Pipes and water pipes.
- Chewing tobacco.
- Snuff.
- Snus (a moist version of snuff popular in some countries such as Sweden).
- Creamy snuff (a paste consisting of tobacco, clove oil, glycerin, spearmint, menthol, and camphor sold in a toothpaste tube popular in India).
- Gutkha (a version of chewing tobacco mixed with areca nut, catechu, slaked lime and other condiments popular in India and South-East Asia).
On May 15, 1987, the World Health Organization passed a resolution, calling for April 7, 1988, to be the first World No Smoking Day. This date was chosen because it was the 40th anniversary of the World Health Organization. On May 17, 1989, the World Health Organization passed a resolution calling for May 31 to be annually known as World No Tobacco Day. This event has been observed each year since 1989.
Themes
The themes of World No Tobacco Day have been:
- 2009 – Tobacco health warnings.
- 2008 – Tobacco-free youth.
- 2007 – Smoke free inside.
- 2006 – Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise.
- 2005 – Health professionals against tobacco.
- 2004 – Tobacco and poverty, a vicious circle.
- 2003 – Tobacco free film, tobacco free fashion.
- 2002 – Tobacco free sports.
- 2001 – Second-hand smoke kills.
- 2000 – Tobacco kills, don't be duped.
- 1999 – Leave the pack behind.
- 1998 – Growing up without tobacco.
- 1997 – United for a tobacco free world.
- 1996 – Sport and art without tobacco: play it tobacco free.
- 1995 – Tobacco costs more than you think.
- 1994 – Media and tobacco: get the message across.
- 1993 – Health services: our windows to a tobacco free world.
- 1992 – Tobacco free workplaces: safer and healthier.
- 1991 – Public places and transport: better be tobacco free.
- 1990 – Childhood and youth without tobacco: growing up without tobacco.
- 1989 – Initial observance.
Symbols
Images that symbolize World No Tobacco Day are:
- Clean ashtrays with flowers in them.
- Ashtrays with images of body parts, such as the heart and lungs, which are damaged by tobacco use.
- No smoking signs.
- Symbols of death, such as gravestones and skulls, with cigarettes.
- Images of the diseases caused by tobacco use.
These images are often displayed as posters, on Internet sites and blogs, on clothing and public transport vehicles.
World No Tobacco Day Observances
Weekday  | Date | Year  | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | May 31 | 1989 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Thu | May 31 | 1990 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Fri | May 31 | 1991 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Sun | May 31 | 1992 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Mon | May 31 | 1993 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Tue | May 31 | 1994 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Wed | May 31 | 1995 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Fri | May 31 | 1996 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Sat | May 31 | 1997 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Sun | May 31 | 1998 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Mon | May 31 | 1999 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Wed | May 31 | 2000 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Thu | May 31 | 2001 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Fri | May 31 | 2002 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Sat | May 31 | 2003 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Mon | May 31 | 2004 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Tue | May 31 | 2005 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Wed | May 31 | 2006 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Thu | May 31 | 2007 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Sat | May 31 | 2008 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Sun | May 31 | 2009 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Mon | May 31 | 2010 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Tue | May 31 | 2011 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Thu | May 31 | 2012 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Fri | May 31 | 2013 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Sat | May 31 | 2014 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day | |
| Sun | May 31 | 2015 | World No Tobacco Day | United Nation day |
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