Given their central role in the needle-syringe exchange programme, the NGOs are well positioned to convince injecting drug users to opt for voluntary medical treatment. This can potentially reduce both the harm from drug use and the prevalence of it.
Smoking cessation significantly reduces risk of smoking-related diseases and mortality. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with attempts to quit and smoking cessation among adult current smokers in Malaysia. Data from the National E-Cigarette Survey 2016 were analyzed. Forty nine percent of current smokers had attempted to quit at least once in the past 12 months and 31.4% of the respondents were former smokers. Multivariable analysis revealed that current smokers with low nicotine addiction and aged below 45 years were more likely to attempt to quit smoking. Being married, older age group, and having tertiary education were significantly associated with smoking cessation. Only half of the current smokers ever attempted to quit smoking and only a third of smokers quit. Stronger tobacco control policies are needed in Malaysia to encourage more smokers to quit smoking. Improved access to cessation support for underprivileged smokers is also needed.
Objective To evaluate the two most common urethral warming catheters currently available for their effectiveness in preventing urethral injury in an animal model and thus during transperineal cryosurgery for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Patients, materials and methods The warming efficiency of the variable‐diameter thin latex‐balloon catheter (Cook, Australia) and the fixed‐diameter PVC catheter (Candela, USA) were evaluated in a water‐bath. A sheep model was then used for subsequent experiments to further evaluate the better catheter. The technique used for the insertion of the Cook catheter in a series of 33 patients treated with prostate cryosurgery is also described.
Results In vitro, the Cook catheter was more effective (P<0.01) than the Candela catheter in preventing localized cooling. In vivo, results in five animals showed that the urethral epithelium was viable in all sections that had been protected by the catheter and focally denuded or necrotic in those sections not protected, with each animal used as its own control (P<0.01 Fisher's exact test). The 33 patients treated while using the Cook catheter had no subsequent complications.
Conclusion The urethral warming catheter currently in use for prostatic cryosurgery in Australia is more effective in vitro than its competitor and is effective in preventing urethral injury in vivo.
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