The Immediate Physiological Effects of E-Cigarette Use and Exposure to Secondhand E-Cigarette Vapor.

BACKGROUND: Vaping continues to grow as an alternative to smoking and as a recreational activity for people of all ages, including minors. The billion-dollar industry offers users a plethora of flavors, nicotine concentrations, e-juice combinations, and devices. While some studies suggest vaping is beneficial for certain ailments and as a smoking cessation tool, many studies report concerning health outcomes associated with vape use. Recent FDA regulations have banned certain vaping products following an increase of vaping-related lung injuries reported in 2019. Health care providers need to better understand the physiological effects of vaping-specific products and the impact of secondhand vapor. The specific aims of the present study were to understand the immediate effects on heart rate, breathing frequency, blood pressure, blood sugar, [Formula: see text], pulmonary function, and oral temperature following e-cigarette use and secondhand vapor exposure. METHODS: A total of 149 volunteers participated in this study; 76 subjects vaped mint-flavored e-cigarettes with 5% nicotine for 20 min while seated next to 73 nonvaping subjects who agreed to be exposed to the vapor. Health variables including heart rate, blood pressure, breathing frequency, blood glucose, FVC, [Formula: see text], and oral temperature were obtained prior to vaping or exposure to vapor and again after 20 min. RESULTS: Subjects who vaped had significantly higher heart rate, breathing frequency, and oral temperature, and significantly lower blood oxygenation levels (ie, [Formula: see text]) after vaping for 20 min. Nonvaping subjects exposed to vapor had significantly higher oral temperature after 20 min of exposure. Blood sugar and FVC were not significantly affected by vaping or exposure to vapor. CONCLUSIONS: Vaping with mint-flavored e-cigarettes with 5% nicotine for 20 min resulted in significant immediate physiological changes. Exposure to e-cigarette vapor significantly increased oral temperature within the same amount of time.

A Mixed Methods Pilot Study on the Short-Term Physiological Effects of Vaping and Attitudes Regarding Its Use and Health Effects in Samples of Young Adults.

Vaping is a fairly new and legal way young people are inhaling substances into their lungs. Very little is currently known about the immediate physiological impact or the psychosocial reasons surrounding vape use. This study used a mixed methods approach to (a) understand the short-term physiological implications of vape use compared with people who do not vape and (b) investigate the reasons people choose to vape compared with those who choose not to vape. Twenty-four people participated in the study: 12 self-identified as nonvapers, and 12 self-identified as people who vape. All participants were between 18 and 24 years old. Qualitative analysis suggested people vape because they think it is cool, think it is less risky than smoking, and enjoy the social aspects of vaping. People who choose not to vape are concerned about the unknown health implications, think it is a waste of resources, and are apathetic toward it. Quantitative results revealed statistically significant increases in heart rate and decreases in the percentage of blood oxygenation after 20 minutes of vape use. Blood pressure, respiratory rate, and blood sugar scores did not significantly change after 20 minutes of vape use. Differences in the frequencies of men and women across the two groups were found. Significant differences found for systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pulmonary function test became nonsignificant after controlling for gender. Both long- and short-term effects of vaping need to be further evaluated. The psychosocial reasons why certain people vape whereas others in the same peer group do not also need to be better understood.

Effects on vital signs after twenty minutes of vaping compared to people exposed to second-hand vapor.

INTRODUCTION: Very little is known about the immediate physiological implications of vaping or inhaling second-hand vapor. This study used a quantitative approach to understand the short-term physiological implications of vape use and exposure to sec-ond-hand vapor for people who do not vape. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and forty-eight people participated in the study, 75 self-identified as non-vapers and 73 self-identified as people who vape. All participants were over the age of 18. Participants used or were exposed to non-flavored e-juice without nicotine in Sorin® vape devices. Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, blood oxygenation, blood glucose and pulmonary function tests were assessed. Physiological parameters were assessed prior to vape use or exposure to vapor and again after 20 minutes of vaping. RESULTS: Findings indicated there were no significant changes in most health parameters except blood pressure which was reduced in both groups. Heart rate was also significantly reduced for vaping participants. CONCLUSION: Vaping without flavorings or nicotine do not appear to have an immediate negative health impact on vital signs. The physiological effects of long-term exposure and/or vape use requires additional investigation. Information was established regarding the physiological effects of non-flavored, non-nicotine vaping so future studies can compare the effects of vaping with assorted flavors and nicotine concentrations to the effects of vaping only the base ingredients (vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol). New knowledge was gleaned relating to exposure to vapor, a phenomenon not previously examined but common espe-cially among non-vaping people who attend social events where people are vaping.

Psychometric examination of a Brazilian adaptation of the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory - Revised / Exame das propriedades psicométricas de uma adaptação brasileira do Expressions of Spirituality Inventory - Revised / El examen de las propiedades psicométricas de una adaptación brasileña del Expressions of Spirituality Inventory - Revised

Using a sample of 493 adults, the present investigation examined the psychometric properties of a Brazilian adaptation of the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory- Revised (ESI-R; MacDonald 2000a), a measure of an empirically derived five dimensional model of spirituality which has been shown to have some promise for cross-cultural research. Reliability analysis indicated that the ESI-R dimensions produced satisfactory inter-item consistency coefficients. Exploratory factor analysis provided evidence generally supportive of the replicability of the five dimensions. Confirmatory factor analysis testing two competing factor models (four versus five factor) provided some support for both models. However, the five factor model emerged superior. Support for both convergent and discriminant validity of the ESI-R dimensions was also obtained. Overall, the findings of this study are consistent with those seen with samples from other cultures and suggest that the ESI-R holds promise for use in spirituality research in Brazil.

Utilizando uma amostra de 493 adultos, a presente investigação examinou as propriedades psicométricas de uma adaptação brasileira do Expressions of Spirituality Inventory- Revised (ESI-R; MacDonald 2000a), um teste empiricamente derivado de um modelo de espiritualidade de cinco fatores que tem se mostrado promissor para a pesquisa transcultural. Análises de fidedignidade indicaram que as dimensões do ESI-R produziram coeficientes satisfatórios de consistência inter-item. As análises fatoriais exploratórias apresentaram resultados gerais favoráveis à replicabilidade das cinco dimensões. As análises fatoriais confirmatórias, testando dois modelos fatoriais concorrentes (quatro versus cinco fatores), proveram algum suporte para ambos os modelos. Apesar disso, o modelo de cinco fatores emergiu como superior. Evidências para as validades convergente e discriminante do ESI-R também foram encontradas. No geral, os achados deste estudo são consistentes com aqueles observados em amostras de outras culturas e sugerem que o ESI-R se mostra promissor para o uso na pesquisa em espiritualidade no Brasil.

Utilizando una muestra de 493 adultos, el presente estudio examinó las propiedades psicométricas de una adaptación brasileña de las expresiones del Expressions of Spirituality Inventory - Revised (ESI-R, MacDonald 2000a), una prueba derivada empíricamente de un modelo espiritual de cinco factores que han demostrado prometedor para la investigación transcultural. Análisis de confiabilidad indicaron que las dimensiones del ESI-R produjeron coeficientes satisfactorios de consistencia inter-ítem. El análisis factorial exploratorio mostró resultados favorables para la aplicación general de las cinco dimensiones. El análisis factorial confirmatorio proporcionaran algún apoyo para ambos modelos al probar dos modelos de factores concurrentes (cuatro a cinco factores). Sin embargo, el modelo de cinco factores era superior. También obtuvo evidencia de validez convergente y discriminante de las dimensiones ESI-R. En general, los resultados de este estudio son consistentes con los observados con muestras de otras culturas y sugieren que lo ESI-R se muestra prometedor para su uso en la espiritualidad de la investigación en Brasil.

Aflibercept exhibits VEGF binding stoichiometry distinct from bevacizumab and does not support formation of immune-like complexes.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies have improved clinical outcomes for patients with cancers and retinal vascular diseases. Three anti-VEGF agents, pegaptanib, ranibizumab, and aflibercept, are approved for ophthalmic indications, while bevacizumab is approved to treat colorectal, lung, and renal cancers, but is also used off-label to treat ocular vascular diseases. The efficacy of bevacizumab relative to ranibizumab in treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration has been assessed in several trials. However, questions persist regarding its safety, as bevacizumab can form large complexes with dimeric VEGF165, resulting in multimerization of the Fc domain and platelet activation. Here, we compare binding stoichiometry, Fcγ receptor affinity, platelet activation, and binding to epithelial and endothelial cells in vitro for bevacizumab and aflibercept, in the absence or presence of VEGF. In contrast to bevacizumab, aflibercept forms a homogenous 1:1 complex with each VEGF dimer. Unlike multimeric bevacizumab:VEGF complexes, the monomeric aflibercept:VEGF complex does not exhibit increased affinity for low-affinity Fcγ receptors, does not activate platelets, nor does it bind to the surface of epithelial or endothelial cells to a greater degree than unbound aflibercept or control Fc. The latter finding reflects the fact that aflibercept binds VEGF in a unique manner, distinct from antibodies not only blocking the amino acids necessary for VEGFR1/R2 binding but also occluding the heparin-binding site on VEGF165.