CONCERNING THE RELATION OF TOBACCOGLYCOPROTEIN TO BUERGER'S DISEASE

Objective To comprehend the reiation of tobacco glycoprotein (TGP) to Buerger,s disease.Metbods TGP was isolated from crude tobacco leaves by basic immunologic techniques. Serum anti- TGPantibodies were tested by Western blot analysis in 11 patients with Buerger,s disease, 15 healthy male smokers and11 nonsmoking healthy male subjects. Results 1. TGP is a dark brown protein of molecular weight 14000. It maybe a subunit of some high molecular weight protein, and exists in crude tobacco leaves. 2. Western blot analysisshowed that 81.81% of patients with Buerger’s disease (9/11), 33.33% of healthy smokers (5/15) and 27.27% ofhealthy nonsmokers (3/11) had serum anti- TGP antibodies. There was significant dtherence between patientswith Buerger,s disease and two control groups (P<0.05), and no signilicant dtherence between both control groups(P>0.05). Conclusion TGP does play an important role in the pathogenesis of Buerger’s disease. As anti - TGPantibodies are also found in some control subjects, it is speculated that other etiologic factors might coordinatelycontribute to the specifc vascular response to TGP in susceptible subjects.

Correlation between tobacco and alcohol use and Traditional Chinese Medicine constitutions: an analysis based on a sample from general population of China

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between smoking and drinking and constitution types from Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)theory.METHODS:The Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire(CCMQ)was used.A sample of 8448subjects from nine provinces and municipalities was chosen from the database of the TCM constitution and health status survey.Constituent ratio and correspondence analysis were used to find the relationship between smoking and drinking and TCM constitution.RESULTS:There was an association between smokinganddrinkingandtheGentleness,phlegm-dampness,and dampness-heat type constitutions.People that did not smoke tobacco or drink alcohol tended to have Yang-deficiency,Yin-deficiency,Qi-depression,Qi-deficiency,special diathesis,orblood-stasis type constitutions.CONCLUSION:There was a significant correlation between tobacco and alcohol use and TCM constitutions.To improve patient health,more attention should be paid to tobacco and alcohol control.