Tobacco use disorder represents a significant public health challenge due to its association with various diseases. Despite awareness efforts, smoking rates remain high, partly due to ineffective ...cessation methods and the spread of new electronic devices. This study investigated the impact of prolonged nicotine exposure via a heat-not-burn (HnB) device on selected genes and signaling proteins involved in inflammatory processes in the rat ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), two brain regions associated with addiction to different drugs, including nicotine. The results showed a reduction in mRNA levels for
and
, two nuclear receptors and anti-inflammatory transcription factors, along with the dysregulation of gene expression of the epigenetic modulator
, in both investigated brain areas. Moreover, decreased
mRNA levels and higher AKT phosphorylation were detected in the VTA of HnB-exposed rats with respect to their control counterparts. Finally, significant alterations in ERK 1/2 phosphorylation were observed in both mesolimbic areas, with VTA decrease and NAc increase, respectively. Overall, the results suggest that HnB aerosol exposure disrupts intracellular pathways potentially involved in the development and maintenance of the neuroinflammatory state. Moreover, these data highlight that, similar to conventional cigarettes, HnB devices use affects specific signaling pathways shaping neuroinflammatory process in the VTA and NAc, thus triggering mechanisms that are currently considered as potentially relevant for the development of addictive behavior.
Harm Reduction in Sexual Medicine Sansone, Andrea; Limoncin, Erika; Colonnello, Elena ...
Sexual medicine reviews,
01/2022, Volume:
10, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Strategies of harm reduction (HR) include policies and community-based measures aimed to reduce the risk of self-harm while continuing potentially hazardous behaviors, such as illegal drug, alcohol, ...and tobacco use.
To assess whether and to which extent strategies of HR could have beneficial, or harmful, effects on sexual and reproductive health, for general and at-risk populations.
A literature research was performed between July 2020 and January 2021, investigating the association between harm reduction strategies and sexual and reproductive health.
HR strategies are mostly aimed at providing support to at-risk population, such as injection drug users or sex workers. Alcohol and drug use, smoking and high-risk sexual behaviors are among the main targets for HR strategies. Barriers to access, such as stigma, marginalization or lacking awareness, are often present as negative risk factors and require attention from professionals. Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), early/unwanted pregnancies and violence are the most important results HR programs could provide for sexual and reproductive health. However, evidence is limited and often qualitative, rather than quantitative.
HR strategies are important measures to improve sexual and reproductive health in at-risk populations. Increasing personal and social awareness is a key factor for the success of HR programs. A Sansone, E. Limoncin, E Colonnello, et al. Harm Reduction in Sexual Medicine. Sex Med Rev 2022;10:3-22.
Indoor particle number concentrations and size distributions were monitored in a typical, residential living room, considering two independent variables: smoking activities (using e-cigarettes, ...tobacco heating systems (THS), conventional and hand-rolled cigarettes) and the operation of the air conditioning (AC) system. Each smoking device exhibited its own characteristic size distribution (its own “trace”), in the room atmosphere, which was also affected by the AC operation. All devices emitted ultrafine and fine particles especially in the range around 100 nm. The minimum average PM number or mass concentrations in any size were observed for the THS (either with the AC on or off). The PM
1
number concentrations were maximum when conventional cigarettes were smoked, especially when the AC was off. In the case of the coarse particles, the PM
(1–10)
number concentrations were maximum when hand-rolled cigarettes were smoked (and AC was on). When the AC was off, the maximum PM
(1–10)
number concentration was recorded when the e-cigarette was used. The effect of the AC on particle number concentrations depended on their size and their origin. A factorial ANOVA corroborated that the two independent variables affected significantly (at
p
< 0.05) the airborne PM number concentrations. Specifically, low versus high air temperature, fan operation or not, affected differently particles in different size ranges and for different smoking activities.
