This study examined school-related factors affecting smoking intention among Korean middle school students who were current non-smokers.
As previously reported [2], [12], [20], MAO-B (the only isoenzyme present in human platelets) activity was significantly weaker (Fig. 1C) in current smokers (S) than in current non-smokers (NS + FS).
Here, the distinct measurement of MAO activities and of MAO protein concentrations shows that the FS group accounts for the significantly higher platelet MAO-B activity found in "current non-smokers".
Most studies dealing with smoking have compared S and NS, thus initially, in this study, only two groups were compared, i.e. current smokers [S] and current non-smokers who had not smoked for at least one year on the day of blood sampling (thus including never smokers [NS] and former smokers [FS]).
This surprising lack of differences between current smokers (S) and current non-smokers (NS + FS) prompted a further analyze of the NS + FS group in order to differentiate those who had never smoked (NS) from those who had smoked but had quit one year ago or more, i.e. former smokers (FS).
Smoking was classified into current smoker (at least one cigarette every day) versus current non-smoker.
*Having all four factors in low risk category (current non-smoker, BMI <25.0, moderate/vigorous physical activity >150 min/week, Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 diet score in upper two fifths), except for stratified analysis by overweight status in which other three factors except BMI were included.
Current non-smokers who did not previously smoke.
The difference in knowledge between current smokers and current non-smokers was also studied elsewhere.
Their smoking status was indicated as 0 for current non-smokers and 1 for current smokers.
Smoking status was classified into two groups: current smokers or current non-smokers (past smokers or never smokers).
