Smoking in film in New Zealand: measuring risk exposure

BACKGROUND: Smoking in film is a risk factor for smoking uptake in adolescence. This study aimed to quantify exposure to smoking in film received by New Zealand audiences, and evaluate potential interventions to reduce the quantity and impact of this exposure. METHODS: The ten highest-grossing films in New Zealand for 2003 were each analysed independently by two viewers for smoking, smoking references and related imagery. Potential interventions were explored by reviewing relevant New Zealand legislation, and scientific literature. RESULTS: Seven of the ten films contained at least one tobacco reference, similar to larger film samples. The majority of the 38 tobacco references involved characters smoking, most of whom were male. Smoking was associated with positive character traits, notably rebellion (which may appeal to adolescents). There appeared to be a low threshold for including smoking in film. Legislative or censorship approaches to smoking in film are currently unlikely to succeed. Anti-smoking advertising before films has promise, but experimental research is required to demonstrate cost effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Smoking in film warrants concern from public health advocates. In New Zealand, pre-film anti-smoking advertising appears to be the most promising immediate policy response

Interaction of hydroquinone and substituted derivatives\ud with two cyclophane-like hosts: X-ray, molecular modelling\ud and NMR studies

An investigation of the interaction of hydroquinone and selected substituted derivatives with the 28-membered tetrabenzo-cyclophane-type receptor 1 and a tetramethoxy-substituted variant, 2, each incorporating an O4N2-heteroatom set, is reported. In a preliminary solution study, aromatic solvent introduced shift (ASIS) experiments had indicated that deuterated benzene is intercalated between the two xylyl bridges of cyclophane 1. In parallel with this result, a further NMR study was consistent with the inclusion of hydroquinone between the xylyl groups of 1 to produce a face-to-face π-stacked arrangement, with additional host–guest stability being provided by a pair of simultaneous hydrogen bonds between host and guest. Owing to limited CHCl3 or CH2Cl2 solubilities no association constant (K) for this host–guest system could be determined. However, use of the more soluble substituted guests 2,5-di-tert-butylquinone and 2,3-dimethylquinone enabled K values for 1 and 2 (ranging from 54 to 162 dm3 mol−1) to be determined. Single crystal X-ray structure determinations of (solvated) 1 and 2 are reported, their highly different conformations reflecting their change in substitution pattern

Extracardiac 18F-florbetapir imaging in patients with systemic amyloidosis: more than hearts and minds

Purpose 18F-Florbetapir has been reported to show cardiac uptake in patients with systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL). This study systematically assessed uptake of 18F-florbetapir in patients with proven systemic amyloidosis at sites outside the heart. Methods Seventeen patients with proven cardiac amyloidosis underwent 18F-florbetapir PET/CT imaging, 15 with AL and 2 with transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Three patients had repeat scans. All patients had protocolized assessment at the UK National Amyloidosis Centre including imaging with 123I-serum amyloid P component (SAP). 18F-Florbetapir images were assessed for areas of increased tracer accumulation and time–uptake curves in terms of standardized uptake values (SUVmean) were produced. Results All 17 patients showed 18F-florbetapir uptake at one or more extracardiac sites. Uptake was seen in the spleen in 6 patients (35%; 6 of 9, 67%, with splenic involvement on 123I-SAP scintigraphy), in the fat in 11 (65%), in the tongue in 8 (47%), in the parotids in 8 (47%), in the masticatory muscles in 7 (41%), in the lungs in 3 (18%), and in the kidney in 2 (12%) on the late half-body images. The 18F-florbetapir spleen retention index (SRI) was calculated. SRI >0.045 had 100% sensitivity/sensitivity (in relation to 123I-SAP splenic uptake, the current standard) in detecting splenic amyloid on dynamic imaging and a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 100% on the late half-body images. Intense lung uptake was seen in three patients, one of whom had lung interstitial infiltration suggestive of amyloid deposition on previous high-resolution CT. Repeat imaging showed a stable appearance in all three patients suggesting no early impact of treatment response. Conclusion 18F-Florbetapir PET/CT is a promising tool for the detection of extracardiac sites of amyloid deposition. The combination of uptake in the heart and uptake in the spleen on 18F-florbetapir PET/CT, a hallmark of AL, suggests that this tracer holds promise as a screening tool for AL