Research

Lung cancer and melanoma laid bare: First comprehensive analysis of two cancer genomes
DNA sequencing shows that the genome of lung cancer tissue has more than 23,000 mutations not present in normal tissue. The profile of these genetic mutations suggests that most are caused by chemicals found in cigarettes, implying that the average smoker acquires an average of one mutation for every fifteen cigarettes smoked. The research also studied the effects of sun exposure and malignant melanoma tissue, which contained over 30,000 mutations. Click here to read more about the study, or read the abstract of the study, published in Nature.

Weight and smoking linked to skin aging
An analysis of the photodamage scores of 65 sets of identical and fraternal twins indicates that smoking, heavier weight, history of skin cancer, and age were associated with higher levels of skin photodamage. Photodamage causes wrinkles, color changes, and dilated facial blood vessels, and is linked to skin aging. The results indicate that up to 40% of skin changes contributing to an aged appearance are due to behavioral (as opposed to genetic) factors, and thus can be modified. Click here to read more or click here for the abstract of the study in JAMA’s Archives of Dermatology.

Being fit, reducing waist girth, and not smoking improves CV health in men
According to a new study in JAMA’s Archives of Internal Medicine, men who were physically inactive, had ever smoked, and had a large waist circumference were estimated to live 14.2 fewer years than low-risk men. Men who had none of the three risk factors were categorized as “low risk.” Compared to men with all three of the risk factors, the “low-risk” group had a 59% reduced risk of coronary heart disease, 77% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, and a 69% reduced risk of death by any cause. The study results imply that promoting physical activity, smoking cessation, and weight loss would be effective in preventing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in men. Click here to read more or click here to view the abstract.

Smoking ups men's rheumatoid arthritis risk most
A systematic meta-analysis of sixteen studies shows that smoking is a risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially among men who are heavy smokers and test positive for rheumatoid factor (RF), an antibody found in about 80% of RA cases. Male current smokers had nearly twice the risk of developing RA, and male smokers who were RF-positive were at an almost four-fold risk. Results in women were less consistent across the studies; smoking increased the overall risk of developing RA by 27%, regardless of RF status. The researchers recommend cessation for all smokers to reduce the risk of developing RA, a disease that is associated with poor quality of life. Click here to read more about the study results, or read the abstract of the study, published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Smoking-related bladder cancer on the rise
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that current smokers have almost a four times greater risk of developing bladder cancer than smokers in the mid-1990’s. The study used a case-control design to investigate the effects of smoking duration, intensity, and exposure; cessation; exposure to secondhand smoke; and changes in cigarette composition on bladder cancer risk. The results show that smokers were more likely to develop bladder cancer than never-smokers, and the odds of cancer increased along with the duration, intensity, and pack-years of smoking. Also, the odds of bladder cancer increased over time among former and current smokers. This trend could have resulted from modifications to cigarette design and composition or changes in inhalation patterns, resulting in increased exposure to bladder carcinogens. Click here for an article describing the study or click here for the abstract.

It's never too late to quit smoking and save your vision
A new University of California study finds that smoking continues to increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) even after age 80. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in Americans over age 65. Even though age and smoking are the strongest predictors to developing AMD, previous studies were mostly conducted on patients younger than 75. Retinal photographs of women at age 78 and 83 showed that smokers overall had 11% higher rates of AMD than other women the same age. There was also a 5.5 times increased risk of AMD among smokers over age 80 compared to nonsmokers under age 80, reinforcing recommendations of smoking cessation, even for older people. Click here to read more or here for the study abstract, published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Smoking, drinking up risks of gut, throat cancers
A new study published in the journal Gut confirms that smoking increases a person’s risk of developing two forms of esophageal cancer and the two main forms of stomach cancer. Researchers followed 120,852 Dutch adults over sixteen years, linking baseline data on diet and other cancer risk factors with the development of the four types of cancers. Those who reported being a current smoker at baseline were at higher risk for all four cancers than those who never smoked, with former smokers showing heightened risks, as well. In light of recent increases in some types of esophageal and stomach cancers, the researchers recommend that future studies evaluate other risk factors. Click here to read more or click here to view the abstract.

Tobacco may up pain from jaw disorder
Among patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) caused by arthritis or other pain in the jaw joint, current tobacco users are four to five times more likely to experience moderate to severe pain, according to a new study performed at the Mayo Clinic. The study assessed 606 TMJ patients over two years to determine if tobacco use was associated with increased pain. Overall, no significant link was found between tobacco use and TMJ pain severity; however, a subset of smokers—those who did not have myofascial pain (which is caused by problems other than in the jaw muscles)—reported more severe pain. It is unclear why those tobacco users experienced more TMJ pain, or why it is only the case for those without myofascial involvement, but the findings do suggest that quitting smoking may reduce pain in some TMJ patients. Click here to read more or click here to read the abstract of the article, published in Pain.

If you smoke, watch out for low back pain
A meta-analysis of forty studies involving over 300,000 people has revealed a modest association of low back pain with current and former smoking, according to research published in The American Journal of Medicine. A Finnish team analyzed the studies, finding that the association was strongest for “chronic or disabling” pain and among adolescents. The study does not prove that smoking causes low back pain, but there are a number of biological explanations for the link. Click here to read more or read the abstract.

Portland State University researchers find smokeless tobacco products with up to 700% more flavor additives than candy
In a recent study, researchers analyzed the levels of methyl salicylate (wintergreen) and menthol flavorants in several brands of smokeless tobacco and confectionary products via mass spectrometry. Levels of mint and wintergreen flavorants in brand name smokeless tobacco products were significantly higher than in other flavored tobacco products, and up to 700% higher than those found in mint candy. The average flavorant levels were 50% higher in smokeless tobacco than in the candies. For an average adult user, the amount of flavorant in some of the smokeless tobacco products is high enough to result in chemical consumption rates well above the maximum acceptable daily intake established by the World Health Organization. Click here to read more about the study, or read the abstract of the article, published in Food and Chemical Toxicology, here.

Tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer risk: A case-control study in Italy
According to a new study, smoking and drinking may be independent risk factors for pancreatic cancer, accounting for up to one third of pancreatic cancers in the Italian population. Researchers performed a case-control study on 326 pancreatic cancer patients and 652 controls, asking them about current and past smoking and drinking habits. The results show that pancreatic cancer was associated with current smoking, and that the risk increased among heavier smokers. Pancreatic cancer was also associated with heavy drinking (21-34 drinks per week or more). Click here to read the abstract of the article, published in the European Journal of Cancer.

Smoking and alcohol intake linked to severe psoriasis
A new case-control study indicates that smoking is correlated with the severity of psoriasis in men and women, and alcohol intake is correlated with the severity of the disease in women only. Patients hospitalized with severe psoriasis were 2.08 times more likely to be active smokers than members of the general population control group. Psoriasis patients were 3.10 times more likely to be excessive drinkers than the control group, but the severity of the disease was associated with alcohol intake only in women. The researchers suggest that quitting smoking or drinking may decrease the severity of the disease. Click here for more information, or click here to read the abstract of the study in Dermatology.

Tobacco smoke causes lung inflammation, promotes lung cancer growth
A research team at the University of California, San Diego has found that cigarette smoke worsens lung cancer by increasing lung inflammation. Lung tumors were chemically or genetically initiated in mice, some of which were exposed to tobacco smoke and some of which were not. Mice that were exposed to smoke grew larger tumors more quickly than non-exposed animals, with lung tissue inflammation playing a major role in the tumor growth. These findings suggest that anti-inflammatory drugs could be used to treat patients with early stages of lung cancer. Click here for more information, or read the abstract.

Lung cancer patients who quit smoking double their survival chances
A new meta-analysis shows that quitting smoking after a lung cancer diagnosis can help reduce a patient’s chance of dying and prevent recurrence of the cancer. Data from ten studies showed that the five-year survival rate among smokers was 29-33%, and 63-70% among those who had quit smoking. The findings support the theory that smoking can accelerate the progression of lung cancer, suggesting that lung cancer patients should be offered smoking cessation counseling. Click here to read more, or click here to read the abstract of the study.

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