Association between current cigarette prices and cessation behaviors among male adult smokers: findings from 2018 to 2020 ITC Vietnam surveys.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the impact of the tax increase in January 2019 on changes in intention to quit and the effect of cigarette prices on quit attempts and successful quitting among male cigarette smokers in Vietnam. METHODS: Data were derived from the ITC project in Vietnam, which included 1585 adult smokers at baseline (Wave 1, Aug-Oct 2018) followed up to waves 2 (Sep-Nov 2019) and 3 (Sep-Dec 2020). Generalized estimating equations regression was performed to estimate changes in the intention to quit. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the cigarette price of a cigarette pack in relation to quit attempts and successful quitting. RESULTS: The increase in cigarette tax in 2019 did not significantly increase the likelihood of the intention to quit. After the tax increase, 63.6% of participants who smoked made a quit attempt, and 27.6% successfully quit smoking in the follow-up waves. However, the price of a cigarette pack was not significantly associated with quit attempts and successful quitting. The study did not observe a significant impact of cigarette prices on quit attempts and successful quitting in all subgroups of household income. Factors associated with quit attempts included the number of cigarettes smoked and the intention to quit, while those associated with successful quitting included age, dual use of cigarettes and other tobacco products, and the intention to quit. CONCLUSION: Current cigarette prices were not associated with cessation behaviors even within the lowest household income group. Therefore, a sharp rise in cigarette tax is required to incentivize smokers to quit smoking.

Helicobacter pylori-Negative Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in a Girl.

Introduction: Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) arises in a number of epithelial tissues, including the stomach, salivary gland, lung, small bowel, thyroid, ocular adnexa, skin, and elsewhere. It has also been called low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). MALT lymphoma predominantly occurs in adults and is rare in children. Case Presentation: We report a case of MALT lymphoma involving the stomach, which is the most common subtype, in a 12-year-old girl. Initially, the patient relapsed after antibiotic therapy but achieved successful treatment subsequently through irradiation. Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy should be given to all patients with gastric MZL, irrespective of stage. In patients who do not respond to antibiotic therapy, treatment options such as irradiation and systemic cancer therapies should be considered, depending on the disease stage.

Il34-Csf1r Pathway Regulates the Migration and Colonization of Microglial Precursors.

Microglia are the major immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Born in peripheral hematopoietic tissues, microglial precursors colonize the CNS during early embryogenesis and maintain themselves thereafter. However, the mechanism underlying this colonization process remains elusive. We have recently demonstrated that neuronal apoptosis contributes to microglia colonization in zebrafish. Here, we further show that prior to neuronal apoptosis, microglial precursors are attracted to the proximal brain regions by brain-derived interleukin 34 (il34) and its receptor colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor a (csf1ra). In both il34- and csf1ra-deficient zebrafish larva, embryonic macrophages fail to migrate to the anterior head and colonize the CNS, but their initial development and colonization to peripheral tissues remain largely unaffected. Activation of Il34-Csf1ra pathway is sufficient to attract embryonic macrophages to the CNS independent of neuronal apoptosis. Our study shows that cytokine signaling and neuronal apoptosis synergistically orchestrate the colonization of microglia in early zebrafish development.