Carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations were measured in 3487 subjects comprising 1255 non-smokers, 1933 cigarette smokers, 193 cigar smokers (39 primary, 154 secondary), and 106 pipe smokers (30 primary, 76 secondary). In cigarette smokers the mean carboxyhaemoglobin concentration was 4.78% of the total haemoglobin and 94.7% of smokers had a concentration greater than 1.7%. Primary cigar smokers had...

We investigate the robustness of Case Initialized Genetic AlgoRithm (CIGAR) systems with respect problem indexing. When confronted with a series of similar problems CIGAR stores potential solutions in a case-base or an associative memory and retrieves and uses these solutions to help improve a genetic algorithm’s performance over time. Defining similarity among the problems, or indexing, is key...

BACKGROUND Pipe and cigar smoking are still regarded by many as less hazardous to health than cigarette smoking. METHODS Prospective study of 7735 men aged 40-59 years drawn from general practices in 24 British towns with mean follow-up of 21.8 years. The outcome measures include major coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke events, cancer incidence, and deaths from all causes. RESULTS Ther...

Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels were studied in 11 249 men. The distribution among the 2613 men who smoked cigarettes was well separated from that in 6641 non-smokers (including ex-smokers). The distribution for 2005 cigar and pipe smokers was intermediate, though some of the highest COHb levels occurred in cigar smokers. Using a COHb cut-off level of 2%, 81% of cigarette smokers, 35% of cigar...

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. Evidence highlights tobacco use’s prevalence among today’s youth. 25.6% of high school students reported using some type of tobacco products. Actually, 19% of high schools students in 2009 reported they are current cigarette users and 14% reported they were current cigar users. 3 According to the CDC, cigar smoking ...

Cigar smoking is increasingly common among adolescents who perceive cigars as less harmful than cigarettes. This perception of reduced harm is especially true for cigars that are user-modified by removing the tobacco binder through a process called 'freaking'. Little is known about 'freaking' and this multi-study, mixed-methods analysis sought to understand better the rationale and prevailing b...