%0 Journal Article
%T Exhaled Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Hookah Smokers: A Public Health Concern
%A Abdullah Alismail
%A Ali Hakamy
%A Arwa Alnashwan
%A Brendan Gongol
%A Michael Horn
%A Traci L Marin
%J -
%D 2015
%R https://doi.org/10.18314/gjct.v1i1.31
%X Current public policy does not reflect health risk awareness associated with hookah smoking. Although, cigarette£¿£¿£¿ smoking has gained considerable attention accompanied by public restrictions, hookah smoking continues to£¿£¿£¿ increase as an unrestricted, socially acceptable means of recreation. This study identified novel biomarkers£¿£¿£¿ altered by hookah smoking compared to cigarette smoking using exhaled breath condensate collected from£¿£¿£¿ nonsmokers, hookah smokers and cigarette smokers pre and post smoking. Both cigarette and hookah smokers had higher levels of inflammatory mediators suggestive of inflammasome activation as well as altered expression£¿£¿£¿ of miR-217 and miR-17, which are known to regulate inflammasome activation and promote oncogenesis. To assess current public knowledge of risk factors and behaviors associated with hookah smoking, and if knowledge£¿£¿£¿ of hookah dangers would influence smoking behaviors, the experimental data were integrated into a survey£¿£¿£¿ emphasizing cancer risk associated with hookah smoking. Survey results indicated that 70% of study participants£¿£¿£¿ were encouraged to abstain from hookah smoking after gaining knowledge of cancer risk associated with hookah.£¿£¿£¿ The identification of behaviors associated with hookah smoking and novel biomarkers of health risk may influence its public health regulation and facilitate community health education
%U https://www.gratisoa.org/journals/index.php/GJCT/article/view/31