Métodos para abandono do tabagismo e tratamento da dependência da nicotina

Use of snuff and its main constituents for religious purposes in an alternative community with shamanic practices in the south of Brazil

Snuff is a fine aromatic powder composed of dried and thin leaves combined with tobacco, roots, peels, and seeds. Its use for indigenous religious purposes has appeared since pre-Columbian period in various localities of American continent. Practice is considered sacred in indigenous culture and suffered from trivialization of consumption due to influence of colonizers, which triggered subsequent industrialization of this complex for commercial purposes. Commercial snuff is essentially made from industrialized tobacco without addition of other medicinal plants and without therapeutic or spiritual purposes beyond its indiscriminate and inappropriate use, causing health risks. Therefore, this study aimed to make a review on snuff in Brazilian culture and a tour of a local community. In shamanism, plants are used as access vehicles to other religions of cosmos and its inhabitants, from where experts dialogue, bring songs, news, omens, and acquire new knowledge. The plants used in shamanic composition of snuff vary with the locality of indigenous villages in America and are essential ingredients of this interaction between humans and non-humans, a special mediator of intersubjective interactions. Several studies show the use and meaning of Erythroxylum coca used in different communities of the Amazon, besides Chacrona and Mariri, popular names of plants used in manufacture of Ayahuasca drink by doctrine Santo Daime. Because of this, it is essential to establish differences between recreational snuff and shamanic and their effects on body as well as studies on use of shamanic snuff should be directed according to their applications and plants employed by communities.

Smoking cessation in Brazil: a survival analysis based on consumers' profile

Cigarette consumption is a worldwide epidemic and its reduction is one of the major public health concerns. In Brazil, although there is a wide literature on smoking cessation it is restricted to experimental studies. Based on data from the 2013 National Health Survey (PNS), this study uses the survival methodology and use population data and consumer's profile to investigate which characteristics will affect smoking cessation hazard. The results showed that the people who are less likely to quit smoking are older, single men, with low income and fewer education years. They also do not practice physical exercise. The findings of cigarette cessation hazard to Brazilian population are similar of experimental studies with smokers and ex-smokers in country. Therefore, in order to decrease public health spending, Brazilian health policies regarding tobacco cessation could focus on those groups who will likely smoke for a long time.

Prevalência de hipertensão arterial em adultos no município de São Paulo e fatores associados

RESUMO: Objetivo: Analisar o comportamento da prevalência de hipertensão arterial no município de São Paulo e seus fatores associados. Métodos: O presente trabalho utilizou os dados do Inquérito de Saúde no Município de São Paulo (ISA Capital), estudo transversal de base populacional executado no município de São Paulo. Foram utilizados dados de 1.667 e de 3.184 indivíduos em 2003 e 2015, respectivamente, com idade de 20 anos e mais. Fizeram-se análises descritivas das prevalências de hipertensão arterial com respectivos intervalos de 95% de confiança. Análises simples e múltiplas foram realizadas para analisar possíveis associações com as variáveis socioeconômicas, demográficas e de estilo de vida por meio de regressão de Poisson. Resultados: A prevalência de hipertensão arterial passou de 17,2% em 2003 para 23,2% em 2015. Os fatores associados à hipertensão foram: sexo feminino; idade (60 anos e mais); situação conjugal (casados, separados e viúvos); ter religião; baixa escolaridade; ter nascido no estado de São Paulo (exceto capital); estado nutricional (baixo peso, sobrepeso e obesidade); e ex-fumantes. Conclusão: A prevalência de hipertensão autorreferida aumentou significativamente no período estudado em São Paulo. Considerando o impacto dessa doença na sociedade, conhecendo sua atual prevalência e identificando seus principais fatores associados, evidencia-se a necessidade de intensificar atividades que contribuam para a prevenção desse agravo, atenuando os danos aos indivíduos e gastos públicos.

Predictors of overweight/obesity in a Brazilian cohort after 13 years of follow-up

Background

Obesity is a chronic complex disease with an increasing prevalence around the world. Prospective studies in adult cohorts are needed to provide information about predictors of new-onset overweight/obesity on population-based levels. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the risk of an adult individual become overweight/obese after 13 years of follow-up.

Methods

Second phase of an observational population-based prospective cohort study in a small town in the Midwest region of Brazil. A representative sample of the adult population (≥18 years) was assessed in 2002 (phase 1). Anthropometric, sociodemographic, dietary intake and lifestyle data were collected. After 13 years of follow-up (2015), the same variables were re-evaluated (phase 2). New-onset overweight/obesity was the outcome variable.

Results

A total of 685 subjects were included with a mean age in phase 1 of 42.7 ± 13.8 years and 56.1 ± 13.8 years in phase 2, the mean follow-up time was 13.2 years and female sex counted for 66.3% of the sample. Total weight gain was 5.9 ± 10.2 Kg, body mass index increased 2.6 ± 3.8 Kg/m² and waist circumference (WC) values increased 8.0 ± 10.5 cm. The prevalence of overweight/obesity went from 49.1% in phase 1 to 69.8% in phase 2 (p < 0.001). The factors associated with a decreased risk of new-onset overweight/obesity were ages between 50 and 64 (RR 0.40; CI 0.24–0.67 – p = 0.001) and ≥65 years (RR 0.15; CI 0.06–0.35 - p < 0.001), being part of the second quartile of fat consumption (RR 0.59; CI 0.35–0.97 – p = 0.041), no alcohol consumption (RR 0.59; CI 0.37–0.93 – p = 0.024) and smoking (RR 0.58; CI 0.39–0.86 – p = 0,007) in phase 1.

Conclusions

We identified in thirteen years of follow-up that older ages, a moderate fat consumption compared to low consumption, no alcohol consumption and smoking habit were related to a decreased risk of new-onset overweight/obesity. Obesity prevention actions must focus on subjects at younger ages and include policies to reduce alcohol consumption.

Perfil Sócio-demográfico e Clínico de uma Amostra de Fumantes Portugueses: Implicações do Sexo para a Intervenção na Cessação Tabágica

RESUMO As medidas de cessação tabágica mostram resultados positivos na diminuição da morbidade e mortalidade associadas ao consumo do tabaco. Esses programas possuem maior eficácia quando se adequam às especificidades dos tabagistas. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as diferenças de sexo em uma amostra de 100 fumantes portugueses, através da administração de um questionário sócio-demográfico e clínico. Observaram-se diferenças de sexo no número de cigarros consumidos por dia, no momento do dia e no contexto social de maior consumo, no residir com fumantes, na pressão social para deixar de fumar e no sono. As implicações clínicas dos resultados foram discutidas no sentido de otimizar a prestação dos serviços de saúde em contexto de cessação tabágica.

Tobacco and alcohol use after head and neck cancer treatment: influence of the type of oncological treatment employed

OBJECTIVE

To assess the cigarette smoking and alcohol intake maintenance rate in patients treated for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to compare the observed outcome with the type of oncological treatment employed.

METHODS

One hundred and ten patients treated for high aero-digestive tract squamous cell carcinoma were included and divided into a surgical group, treated with a surgery, and a medical group, treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation. The patients were interviewed to determine whether or not they had persisted with the smoking and drinking behavior after treatment. The habit maintenance rate was compared with the treatment modality employed. The relationship between the oncological status of the patients and the cigarette smoking and alcohol intake rates found was also tested.

RESULTS

Among smokers, 35% maintained the habit after treatment. The medical group had a significantly higher percentage of patients maintaining smoking compared with the surgical group (58.3% vs 25.0%; p = 0.004). Among alcohol users, 16.6% kept drinking alcoholic beverages, with a percentage also shown higher for the medical group (23.8% vs 13,3%), but with no statistically significant difference. The oncological status of patients was not related to the maintenance of the habits studied.

CONCLUSION

Smoking and alcoholism maintenance rates are high after head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is treated, especially if we consider smoking in patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation. A more effective multidisciplinary approach is required in order to obtain better rates of tobacco and alcohol quitting, especially in patients undergoing non-surgical treatments.

Tabagismo em usuários de um centro de atenção psicossocial alcool e drogas: um estudo piloto

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o padrão de consumo do tabaco em clientes de um serviço especializado no tratamento da dependência de substâncias psicoativas. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de abordagem quantitativa realizado, em 2009, em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e Drogas, situado no interior do Estado de São Paulo-SP. Aplicou-se um questionário contendo informações sociodemográficas e o teste de Fargeström em 48 usuários atendidos, em um único dia, nesse serviço. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi caracterizada como sendo predominantemente adulta, com indivíduos do sexo masculino, solteiros, com baixo nível de escolaridade e com vínculo empregatício. Em relação ao consumo de tabaco, identificou-se uma frequência alta de fumantes atuais, com nível moderado de dependência do tabaco, motivados a mudarem o hábito de fumar. CONCLUSÃO: Conhecer o comportamento de fumar entre usuários de um serviço especializado auxiliará a repensar as ações preventivas e educacionais na área da saúde.

Uncoupled angiogenesis and osteogenesis in nicotine-compromised bone healing

Nicotine is the main chemical component responsible for tobacco addiction. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of nicotine on angiogenesis and osteogenesis and the associated expression of angiogenic and osteogenic mediators during bone healing. Forty-eight adult New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to a nicotine group and a control group. Nicotine pellets (1.5 g, 60-day time release) or placebo pellets were implanted in the neck subcutaneous tissue. The nicotine or placebo exposure time for all the animals was 7 weeks. Unilateral mandibular distraction osteogenesis was performed. Eight animals in each group were euthanized on day 5, day 11 of active distraction, and week 1 of consolidation, respectively. The mandibular samples were subjected to radiographic, histologic, immunohistochemical, and real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction examinations. Nicotine exposure upregulated the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor and enhanced angiogenesis but inhibited the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and impaired bone healing. The results indicate that nicotine decouples angiogenesis and osteogenesis in this rabbit model of distraction osteogenesis, and the enhanced angiogenesis cannot compensate for the adverse effects of nicotine on bone healing.

[Assisting users of a health care unit to stop smoking: an experience report]

Smoking is responsible for 4.9 millions of deaths every year, nationwide and worldwide. It is becoming a serious public health problem because of the damages caused to human health as regards its limitations to life quality, the incapacity to work, followed by illness and death. Most deaths occur in developing countries. Tobaccoism control strategies need to be intensified and improved, especially in low income areas. Herein is presented a experience report of tobaccoism control with cognitive behavior groups, at a health care unit in the suburbs of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State. The inexpressive yearly number of people who quit smoking shows the great challenge to be faced. Therefore it is necessary the involvement of more professionals in such issue, mainly in the public health network.

Smoking, nicotine and neuropsychiatric disorders

Tobacco smoking is an extremely addictive and harmful form of nicotine (NIC) consumption, but unfortunately also the most prevalent. Although disproportionately high frequencies of smoking and its health consequences among psychiatric patients are widely known, the neurobiological background of this epidemiological association is still obscure. The diverse neuroactive effects of NIC and some other major tobacco smoke constituents in the central nervous system may underlie this association. This present paper summarizes the pharmacology of NIC and its receptors (nAChR) based on a systematic review of the literature. The role of the brain's reward system(s) in NIC addiction and the results of functional and structural neuroimaging studies on smoking-related states and behaviors (i.e. dependence, craving, withdrawal) are also discussed. In addition, the epidemiological, neurobiological, and genetic aspects of smoking in several specific neuropsychiatric disorders are reviewed and the clinical relevance of smoking in these disease states addressed.

Changes in blood perfusion and bone healing induced by nicotine during distraction osteogenesis

Nicotine is the main chemical in cigarettes responsible for the tobacco's pathological effects. The influence of nicotine on bone healing remains controversial. Distraction osteogenesis provides an ideal model to study bone healing and regeneration. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of nicotine on blood perfusion, angiogenesis and bone formation using a rabbit model of mandibular lengthening. Twenty adult New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to the control group and nicotine group. The total nicotine or placebo exposure time for all animals was 7 weeks. After 2- or 4-week of consolidation following osteotomy, 3-day of latency and 11-day of active distraction, the animals were sacrificed and the mandibles were harvested. Blood perfusion and vascularization were evaluated by Laser Doppler monitoring and Collagen IV immunohistochemistry staining respectively. Bone formation was assessed by radiological, histological and immunohistochemical examination. Results showed that nicotine exposure increased microvessel density, whereas inhibited blood flow and bone formation. The expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 in osteoblasts was also decreased. Frequent appearance of cartilage islands suggested ischemia and low oxygen tension in the distraction regenerate. We concluded that nicotine compromises bone regeneration possibly by causing ischemia and directly inhibitory effect on osteoblastic cells. Nicotine exposure enhances angiogenesis but cannot compensate for the adverse effect of vasoconstriction.

A eficácia das intervenções farmacológicas e psicossociais para o tratamento do tabagismo: revisão da literatura

A cessação do tabagismo traz benefícios à saúde, pois indivíduos que param de fumar evitam a maioria das doenças associadas ao tabaco. Objetiva-se revisar as características fundamentais e eficácia das intervenções farmacológicas e psicossociais para o tratamento dos tabagistas, apresentando dados de revisões tipo meta-análises e de ensaios clínico randomizados. Intervenções farmacológicas como a terapia de reposição de nicotina e a bupropiona e intervenções psicossociais como a terapia cognitivo-comportamental e a intervenção motivacional face a face e por telefone demonstram eficácia. A farmacoterapia aumenta a chance de abstinência em 2 vezes e as intervenções psicossociais face a face ou por telefone em 1,5 a 2,5 vezes em relação a tabagistas recebendo intervenções controles. Estes dados fornecem subsídios para profissionais de saúde decidirem qual o melhor tratamento para o tabagista, informando as intervenções disponíveis, sua eficácia e o benefício de sua utilização.

Atenção aos tabagistas pela capacitação de profissionais da rede pública

O estudo avaliou desdobramentos de um treinamento para abordagem de tabagistas para 40 profissionais da rede pública, de novembro de 2004 a março de 2007. Os profissionais realizaram abordagem mínima individual (3.419 tabagistas) e grupal (982). Dos pacientes fumantes que participaram dessas atividades, 9,2% conseguiram parar de fumar. As dificuldades relatadas pelos profissionais foram baixa adesão dos pacientes (11%), falta de medicação (38%) e de apoio/estrutura da unidade (29%). O treinamento aumentou a população abordada pelas unidades de saúde nas estratégias de prevenção do tabagismo.