Association between maternal smoke exposure and congenital heart defects from a case-control study in China.

There is a gap in knowledge how maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is associated with offspring congenital heart defects (CHDs). In this case-control study, we collected data on 749 fetuses with CHDs and 880 fetuses without any congenital anomalies to examine the association of maternal ETS with fetal CHDs and the potentially moderating effect by maternal hazardous and noxious substances (HNS), periconceptional folate intake and paternal smoking. Maternal exposure to ETS in first trimester was associated with increased risk of CHDs in a dose-response gradient, with the AORs (95% CI) were1.38 (1.00-1.92), 1.60 (1.07-2.41), and 4.94 (2.43-10.05) for ETS < 1 h/day, 1-2 h/day, and ≥ 2 h/day, respectively. With the doubly unexposed group as reference categories, AORs for maternal ETS exposure ≥ 2 h/day in the absence of folate intake, in the presence of HNS exposure or paternal smoking, were 7.21, 11.43, and 8.83, respectively. Significant additive interaction between ETS exposure and maternal folate intake on CHDs was detected. Maternal ETS exposure during first trimester may increase the risk of offspring CHDs in a dose-response shape, and such effect may be modified by maternal folate intake or other potential factors.

[Quality of life of heroin dependent patients with methadone maintenance therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quality of life of heroin dependent patients with methadone maintenance therapy and its influencing factors. METHODS: A total of 216 heroin dependent patients who were receiving methadone maintenance therapy in Zigong of Sichuan Province were surveyed with the WHOQOL-BREF. RESULTS: The patients had a score of 12.06 +/- 3.73 for total quality of life and wellbeing and a score of, 13.14 +/- 2.79, 12.17 +/- 3.38, 12.20 +/- 3.17, 11.94 +/- 3.31, for physical, psychological, social relationships, and environmental function respectively. Age, length of drug addiction, job status, family relationship, arrested in last three months, frequency of sex activity, taking tranquilizer, confidence of treatment, duration of treatment, ways of using drugs had an impact on quality of life (P<0.05). Age, length of drug addiction, job status, family relationships, frequency of sex activity, arrested last three months, taking tranquilizer, and confidence of treatment entered into the multiple regression model. CONCLUSION: It is vital to take measures to improve quality of life of the drug addicted patients according to their different individual and family status.