Changes in E-cigarette Use, Cigarette Smoking, and Dual-Use Among the Youth (13-15 Years) in 10 Countries (2013-2019)-Analyses of Global Youth Tobacco Surveys.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing use of e-cigarettes among the youth is a public health problem that needs surveillance. We report changes in e-cigarette use, cigarette smoking, and "dual use" among youth in 10 countries. AIMS AND METHODS: Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)s from Georgia, Iraq, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Romania, and San Marino were analyzed. Changes in prevalence of "awareness of e-cigarettes," "ever use" (even tried a few puffs) and "current use" (during last 30 days) of e-cigarettes and cigarette smoking, and "dual use" (both e-cigarette and cigarette smoking) between baseline (2013 and 2014) and most recent (2017-2019) surveys were estimated. RESULTS: "Awareness of e-cigarettes" and "ever e-cigarette use" significantly increased (p < .001). "Ever e-cigarette use" was highest in Italy, 93% (95% CI 90.9, 94.4). "Current e-cigarette use" significantly (p < .05) increased by > 50% in most countries. During the most recent surveys, "current e-cigarette" use was > 10% in five countries Italy (18.3%) and Latvia (18.5%) being the highest. Cigarette smoking significantly declined in Italy, Latvia, Peru, and San Marino (p < .05) but remains unchanged in other countries. "Dual use" (both electronic and conventional cigarettes) significantly increased in all countries (p < .001). During the most recent surveys "dual use" was highest in Italy (10%, 95% CI 8.1, 12.2) and Latvia (8.6%, 95% CI 7.2, 10.2). Youth aged 14 and ≥15 years the smokers, were more likely to be e-cigarette users. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness and use of e-cigarettes and "dual use" among youth have increased. Closer monitoring of tobacco use among youths and comprehensive tobacco control policies inclusive of e-cigarettes are needed. IMPLICATIONS: Secondary data analyses of serial GYTSs in 10 countries showed that both awareness of e-cigarette and e-cigarette use has increased among school-going youth aged 13-15 years. A concurrent increase in "dual use" of e-cigarettes and cigarette smoking during the last 30 days in all 10 countries indicates continued cigarette smoking in the absence of e-cigarettes because of the common risk construct of tobacco product use. Results call for continued surveillance of both e-cigarettes and cigarette smoking among school-going youth. Comprehensive tobacco control measures inclusive of e-cigarettes should be implemented to reduce tobacco use among the youth.

Tobacco Imagery in the 50 Most Popular Malaysian Movies Released During 2015-2019.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to tobacco imagery creates a positive impression about smoking and is associated with youth smoking uptake. METHODS: From the list of movies released during 2015-2019, we selected the top 10 movies per year rated by the Malaysian Film Development Corporation. Two researchers coded tobacco imagery in each movie considering 5-minute time intervals as a unit. The 5-minute interval coding was adopted from previous research for comparability. Frequencies and the average occurrence of tobacco imagery were compared by movie language, genre, and age categorization. RESULTS: In 50 movies analyzed, there were a total of 1037 five-minute intervals of which 26 (52%) movies and 277 (26.7%) of intervals tobacco imagery were present. Brand appearances were absent and health warnings about tobacco use were present in just one movie. The proportions of intervals containing actual use, paraphernalia, and implied use were 63.5%, 22.0%, and 14.5%. Tobacco imagery of actual use, paraphernalia, and implied use was present in 25, 20, and 10 movies, respectively. In those movies with tobacco imagery, the average number of occurrences of actual use, paraphernalia, and implied use was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-11.5), 2.5 (IQR 1.3-4.0), and 1 (IQR 1-4), respectively. Movies classified as "p13" (median 6, IQR 6-13) and "18" (median 5, IQR 0-15) had higher average occurrences of tobacco imagery than "U" movies (median 0, IQR 0-2; p = .028). CONCLUSIONS: The lack of health warnings despite the presence of tobacco imagery in Malaysian movies calls for measures to regulate tobacco-related content and reclassify such movies as "for adults-only." IMPLICATIONS: Tobacco imagery was prevalent in Malaysian movies that are allowed viewing by individuals aged 13 years and above. A review of the age categorization of Malaysian movies and the placement of health warnings in movies is needed. A comprehensive implementation of the ban on tobacco advertisements, promotion, and sponsorship should also include a ban on tobacco imagery in movies.

Estrogen Regulates Mitochondrial Morphology through Phosphorylation of Dynamin-related Protein 1 in MCF7 Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Estrogen affects mitochondrial function in various tissues, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. We, therefore investigated the effect on estrogen-regulated mitochondrial morphology by dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and its Ser616-phosphorylated derivative (pDrp1Ser616) are involved in mitochondrial fission. MCF7 human breast cancer cells were treated with 17ß-estradiol (E2), an estrogen receptor (ER) α and ß antagonist (ICI 182, 780), an ERα antagonist (MPP), and an ERß antagonist (PHTPP) for 24 hr. The expression of Drp1 and pDrp1Ser616 was analyzed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Mitochondrial morphology was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In control cells, Drp1 was detected in the cytoplasm of all cells while pDrp1 was observed in the cytoplasm of 3.4 ± 1.0% of the total population. After E2 treatment, pDrp1Ser616-positive cells comprised 30.6 ± 5.6% of the total population, 10.5 ± 1.7% after E2 + ICI treatment, 12.4 ± 4.2% after E2 + MPP treatment, and 24.0 ± 2.2% after E2 + PHTPP treatment. In ERα knockdown MCF7 cells, pDrp1 expression was decreased after E2 treatment compared to E2-treated wild type cells. Tubular pattern mitochondria were found in the control cells but the number of short and small pattern mitochondria (< 0.5 µm2) was significantly increased after E2 treatment (as observed by TEM). We, therefore concluded that the phosphorylation of Drp1 is important for E2-dependent mitochondrial morphological changes through ERα.

Ontogenetic changes in the expression of estrogen receptor ß in mouse duodenal epithelium.

Estrogen is considered to be involved in duodenal function; however, the details of its receptor expression are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression and localization of estrogen receptors (ERs) in mouse duodenum. Male and female C57BL/6J mouse intestinal tissues were used to investigate the expression of ERα and ERß by RT-PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and Southwestern histochemistry. ERß, but not ERα, was expressed in proximal duodenal epithelium, but not in jejunum and ileum. The expression of ERß mRNA and protein were confirmed by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. At postnatal day 20, the transit period of suckling to weaning, the distribution of ERß-positive cells was changed in the crypt-villus axis, and cytoplasm/nuclear staining changed to only nuclear staining. Moreover, Southwestern histochemistry was used to detect estrogen response element (ERE)-binding proteins, and their expression pattern was highly similar to that of ERß. These results suggested that ERß is the predominant ER type in mouse small intestine, and the highly similar co-localization of ERE-binding proteins reveals that ERß is functionally active in mouse duodenum. The ERß expression changes during postnatal development indicate that ERß may be involved in the differentiation of duodenal epithelium.