The Impact of Sharing a Shisha (Hookah) Mouthpiece during Smoking: Case of Tuberculosis and Hepatitis in South Saharan Africa

This study investigates the health implications of sharing a shisha (hookah) mouthpiece during smoking, with a focus on tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis prevalence in Sub Saharan Africa. It examines shisha smoking behavior patterns and associated risks of disease transmission among those sharing a common mouthpiece. Through literature review and empirical data analysis, the research highlights epidemiological factors driving TB and hepatitis transmission within the context of shisha smoking in Sub Saharan Africa. Exploring cultural, social, and behavioral determinants influencing shisha mouthpiece sharing, the study offers insights into interventions and public health strategies. It emphasizes the need for targeted health education campaigns, policy interventions, and community-based initiatives to promote safer smoking practices. Immediate coordinated public health interventions, including educational campaigns and regulatory measures, are recommended. Collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and communities is essential. These insights deepen the understanding of challenges posed by communal shisha smoking in Sub Saharan Africa, laying the groundwork for evidence-based interventions to reduce TB and hepatitis transmission and enhance overall health outcomes in the region. This research underscores the urgency of addressing the risks associated with shisha smoking, aiming to mitigate disease transmission and improve population health in Sub Saharan Africa.

Usefulness of continuous suction mouthpiece during esophagogastroduodenoscopy: A single-center, prospective,randomized study

AIM: To develop a new continuous suction mouthpiece(CSM) and evaluate its usefulness for screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD).METHODS: A total of 196 patients who were scheduled to undergo screening EGD were assigned to one of two groups: a group using the CSM and a group using a conventional mouthpiece. Extent of salivary flow,frequency of saliva suction, number of choking episodesduring the examination, and incidence of aspiration pneumonia after the examination were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Adverse events during and after EGD were also examined. In addition, the oral cavity was meticulously examined after the EGD.RESULTS: The same number of patients was randomly allocated to each group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in sex, age,biopsy procedure, duration of procedure and depth of sedation. Aspiration pneumonia and other significant adverse events were not observed in either group. The grade of extent of salivary flow was significantly lower in patients with the CSM than in patients with the conventional mouthpiece(P < 0.001). Although there was no significant difference, less frequent suctioning and fewer choking episodes were observed in patients with the CSM than in patients with the conventional mouthpiece(P = 0.082 and P = 0.084, respectively). In addition, there were no patients in the CSM group who required saliva suctioning during the procedure.CONCLUSION: Use of the CSM during screening EGD can reduce the extent of salivary flow. The device is expected to reduce complications and contamination with saliva.

Drug delivery interfaces:A way to optimize inhalation therapy in spontaneously breathing children

There are several different types of drug delivery interfaces available on the market.Using the right interface for aerosol drug delivery to children is essential for effective inhalation therapy.However,clinicians usually focus on selecting the right drug-device combination and often overlook the importance of interface selection that lead to suboptimal drug delivery and therapeutic response in neonates and pediatrics.Therefore,it is necessary to critically assess each interface and understand its advantage and disadvantages in aerosol drug delivery to this patient population.The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical assessment of drug delivery interfaces used for the treatment of children with pulmonary diseases by emphasizing advantages and problems associated with their use during inhalation therapy.