Smoking in hospitalized patients. A great opportunity. / Tabaquismo en pacientes hospitalizados. Una gran oportunidad.

The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of smokers admitted to different medical and surgical services in a university hospital and the perception of patients regarding the need for a specialized intervention. The sample comprises a total of 307 patients (mean age of 59.4 years), being 40% (n = 123) non-smokers, 42.7% (n = 131) ex-smokers, and 17.3% (n = 53) smokers. The average consumption of smokers was 22.2 cigarettes / day and the severity of nicotine dependence evaluated with the Fagerström test exceeded 5 points in more than half of the sample. On the other hand, 77.7% had made at least one previous attempt to quit tobacco use. Almost the entire sample (89.9%) of smokers and ex-smokers considered it necessary to develop tobacco treatment programs during hospitalization. Finally, the importance of the hospital context is argued as an opportunity to address the cessation of smoking. The data obtained in this study will allow focusing more appropriately on the management of these patients and optimizing resources.

El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las características de los fumadores ingresados en diferentes servicios médicos y quirúrgicos en un hospital universitario y la percepción de los pacientes respecto a la necesidad de una intervención especializada. La muestra comprende un total de 307 pacientes (edad media de 59,4 años), siendo un 40% (n = 123) no fumadores, 42,7% (n = 131) exfumadores, y un 17,3% (n = 53) fumadores. El consumo medio de los fumadores era de 22,2 cigarrillos/día y la gravedad de la dependencia a la nicotina evaluado con el test de Fagerström sobrepasaba los 5 puntos en más de la mitad de la muestra. Por otra parte, el 77,7% había realizado al menos un intento previo de abandono del consumo de tabaco. Casi la totalidad de la muestra (89,9%) de los fumadores y ex fumadores consideraba necesario desarrollar programas de tratamiento del tabaquismo en la hospitalización. Finalmente se argumenta la importancia del contexto hospitalario como oportunidad para abordar la cesación del hábito tabáquico. Los datos obtenidos en el presente estudio permitirán enfocar más adecuadamente el manejo de estos pacientes y optimizar los recursos.

Effect of serum from patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction on endothelial cells.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Clinical and experimental studies have shown that, in patients with reperfused ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), abnormalities in the endothelial monolayer are initiated during ischemia but rapidly intensify upon restoration of blood perfusion to the ischemic area. We aimed to evaluate the effect of serum isolated after revascularization from STEMI patients on the degree of endothelial permeability in vitro, by promoting endothelial cell apoptosis and necrosis in vitro. We also investigated the association between the percentage of serum-induced endothelial cell apoptosis or necrosis in vitro and the extent of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived parameters of reperfusion injury (edema, hemorrhage, and microvascular obstruction). METHODS: Human coronary artery endothelial cells were incubated with serum isolated 24hours after revascularization from 43 STEMI patients who underwent CMR and 14 control participants. We assessed the effect of STEMI serum on activation of apoptosis and necrosis, as well as on the permeability and structure of the endothelial monolayer. RESULTS: Serum from STEMI patients increased apoptosis (P <.01) and necrosis (P <.05) in human coronary artery endothelial cells and caused increased permeability of the endothelial monolayer in vitro (P <.01), due to enlarged intercellular spaces (P <.05 vs control in all cases). Higher serum-induced necrosis was associated with greater endothelial permeability in vitro (P <.05) and with more extensive CMR-derived indices of reperfusion injury and infarct size. CONCLUSIONS: Postreperfusion serum activates necrosis and apoptosis in endothelial cells and increases the degree of endothelial permeability in vitro. The more potent the necrosis-triggering effect of serum, the more deleterious the consequences in terms of the resulting cardiac structure.

Prevention of tobacco use in an adolescent population through a multi-personal intervention model.

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to assess the impact of a new intervention proposal involving students, teachers, and parents on smoking prevalence in secondary school adolescents. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted, in which the response to a preventive multi-personal intervention model (intervention) against tobacco consumption was compared with a standard anti-smoking activity carried out by the local government administration (control). The study was carried out during the 2017-2018 academic year. The study population included 306 students (intervention 151, control 155) with a mean age of 13.4 years. The model involved the parents, the students (aged 15-17 years), and the teachers. The primary outcome was the change in smoking status one year after the intervention. RESULTS: The percentage of non-smokers increased from 84.1% to 88.7% in the intervention group and remained almost unchanged among controls (89.3% vs 89.9%). After one year, there was an increase in the prevalence of non-smokers of 4.6% and a decrease in the prevalence of smokers of 4.7% among students who received the multi-personal intervention, whereas changes among controls were almost negligible (there was in fact a slight increase in the prevalence of smokers of 0.9%). The students who received the intervention smoked less or quit smoking more than those in the control group (OR=0.135; 95% CI: 0.019-0.973, p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The multi-personal model developed in the study with the participation of teachers and parents focused on students was feasible, and effectively reduced the prevalence of smoking among high school adolescents.

Characteristics of tobacco use among secondary school students: a cross-sectional study in a school in Valencia, Spain.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a significant public health problem, and it is essential to work actively with young people to limit the incorporation of this addiction. This study aimed to identify characteristics associated with tobacco use in adolescents in a real setting. Methods: Epidemiologic, cross-sectional study including secondary school students aged 12-17 years in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades of "Joan Fuster High School" in the city of Sueca, Valencia (Spain). An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, cigarette smoking history, alcohol consumption, nicotine dependence, and exposure to parental cigarette smoking. Results: The final sample of individuals surveyed included 306 students (50.6% females) with a median age of 13 years. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was 11.8% (13.5% in females and 9.9% in males). The mean age of cigarette smoking onset was 12.7 ± 1.6 years. Ninety-three students (30.4%) were repeaters, and 114 (37.3%) reported alcohol consumption. Significant factors associated with tobacco use were being a repeater (odds ratio [OR] 4.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.75-10.55, p = 0.002), alcohol consumption (OR 4.06, 95% CI 1.75-10.15, p = 0.002) and parental cigarette smoking (OR 3.76, 95% CI 1.52-10.74, p = 0.007). Discussion: An operational profile of features associated with tobacco consumption was identified in the presence of parental cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor academic performance. Consideration of these factors could be useful in the operational design of cigarette smoking cessation interventions for young people in a context where there is a great need for better prevention and control of cigarette smoking.

Association between a comprehensive smoking ban and hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction: An observational study in the Autonomous Community of Valencia, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between a comprehensive smoking ban and hospitalization rates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: An observational study was conducted to assess changes in hospital admission rates for AMI in the Autonomous Community of Valencia, Spain (population 5 million), during the period 1995-2013. Law 28/2005 prohibited smoking in all enclosed spaces (public and private), and Law 42/2010 extended the ban to bars and restaurants as well as children's playgrounds and access areas of schools and hospitals. Data on hospital admissions were obtained from the Hospital Discharge Database (CMBD) of the Autonomous Community. Annual hospital admission rates per 100000 population for AMI (ICD-9-CM code 410) for men and women were calculated. RESULTS: Adjusted hospital admission rates per 100000 population for AMI decreased markedly from 141.1 in 2005 to 119.2 in 2007, with a further reduction to 102.9 in 2013. Reductions in hospital admission were recorded in both men and women, but the downward trends were stronger in women. CONCLUSION: The Spanish comprehensive smoking ban was associated with a marked reduction in the adjusted rate of hospital admissions due to AMI in the Autonomous Community of Valencia. This decrease in the number of persons requiring in-patient care due to AMI is important from both a health care and a societal perspective.

[Saccharin test for the study of mucociliary clearance: reference values for a Spanish population]. / Test de la sacarina en el estudio del aclaramiento mucociliar. Valores de referencia en una población española.

OBJECTIVE: Mucociliary transport is an important defense mechanism for the airways. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for nasal mucociliary clearance time (MCT) by means of the saccharin test. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study was performed. The variables studied were nasal MCT, age, and sex. We included 249 healthy nonsmokers (134 male and 115 female subjects) aged over 10 years and stratified the sample by age. To establish reference values, percentiles were calculated and lower and upper limits of normal were established at percentiles 2.5 and 97.5, respectively. The association between nasal MCT and the main study variables was then investigated along with the reproducibility of the test. RESULTS: The following values for nasal MCT were obtained for the sample as a whole: mean (SD), 17.17 (8.43) minutes; median (interquartile range), 16 minutes (12-20 minutes), indicating that the central 50% of the sample fell within this 8-minute range; and maximum and minimum values of 4 to 54 minutes (range, 50 minutes). The upper and lower limits of normal were 6 and 36 minutes, respectively. In addition, it is noteworthy that only 6 subjects had a nasal MCT longer than 36 minutes. No significant differences between male and female subjects were found. Nasal MCT showed a positive correlation with age (rho=0.324; P=.0001). No significant differences were observed in the reproducibility test (P=.208). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to facilitating reliable data on mucociliary function, the saccharin test is easy to do, inexpensive, and reproducible. The data obtained from this study should allow the results of this test to be correctly interpreted for a given subject's age and so facilitate its use in clinical practice.