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Biomedical subjects

L T Kozlowski

Publications and source records attributed to L T Kozlowski.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Filter ventilation and nicotine content of tobacco in cigarettes from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to determine filter ventilation and the nicotine content of tobacco and their contribution to machine-smoked yields of cigarettes from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. METHODS: Ninety-two brands of cigarettes (32 American, 23 Canadian, and 37 British brands) were purchased at retail outlets in State College, Pennsylvania, United States, Toronto, Canada, and London, United Kingdom. A FIDUS FDT filter ventilation tester measured the percentage air-dilution from filter vents. High-pressure, liquid chromatography was used to measure the nicotine content of tobacco. Regression techniques were used to examine the contributions of tobacco nicotine content and filter ventilation to machine-smoked yields of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide (CO). RESULTS: Ninety-four per cent of the American brands, 91% of the Canadian brands, and 79% of British brands were ventilated. The total nicotine content of tobacco and percent nicotine (by weight of tobacco) averaged 10.2 mg (standard error of the mean (SEM) 0.25, range: 7.2 to 13.4) and 1.5% (SEM 0.03, range 1.2 to 2) in the United States, 13.5 mg (SEM 0.49, range: 8.0 to 18.3) and 1.8% (SEM 0.06, range: 1.0 to 2.4) in Canada, 12.5 mg (SEM 0.33, range: 9 to 17.5) and 1.7% (SEM 0.04, range: 1.3 to 2.4) in the United Kingdom. Multiple regression analyses showed that ventilation was by far the largest factor influencing machine-smoked yields of tar, nicotine, and CO. CONCLUSION: Filter ventilation appears to be the predominant method for reducing machine-smoked yields of tar, nicotine, and CO in three countries. However, some brands contain about twice as much nicotine (total content or percent nicotine) as do others, indicating that tobacco types or blends and tobacco castings can be used to manipulate nicotine content and nicotine delivery of cigarettes.

Canada↗
PubMed1997

Individual differences in the subjective effects of the first cigarette of the day: a self-report method for studying tolerance.

Some smokers are more sensitive than others to the subjective effects of cigarettes, especially the first cigarette of the day. This report explored self-reported subjective effects to the first cigarette of the day and examined the extent to which heaviness of smoking and years smoking are associated with subjective effects. In 3 independent samples (ns = 254, 116, 86). self-reports of light-headedness from the first cigarette of the day decreased with increasing heaviness of smoking and increasing the number of years smoking, suggesting that differences in responses were due to differences in chronic tolerance. Because measures of the subjective effects of drugs are useful in the study of drug response variability, this self-report item on light-headedness should be included in further research on individual differences in the subjective effects of cigarette smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Smokers are unaware of the filter vents now on most cigarettes: results of a national survey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate awareness and knowledge of cigarette filter ventilation in a national probability sample of smokers of Ultra-light, Light, and regular cigarettes. DESIGN: Random-digit-dialling and computer-assisted telephone interviewing was used on a probability sample of daily cigarette smokers (ages 18 and above). SUBJECTS AND SETTING: 218 Smokers of Ultra-light cigarettes, 360 smokers of Light cigarettes, and 210 smokers of Regular cigarettes living in the continental United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of respondents indicating knowledge of the presence of filter vents and the consequences of behavioural blocking of vents. RESULTS: Many smokers had not heard about or seen the filter holes: 43% (95% CI = 36 to 50%) of smokers of Ultra-lights, 39% (95% CI = 34 to 44%) of smokers of Lights, and 47% (95% CI = 40 to 54%) of smokers of Regulars. About two in three smokers either did not know of the existence of rings of small holes on the filters of some cigarettes, or did not know that blocking increases tar yields: 69% (95% CI = 63 to 75%) of Ultra-lights, 66% (95% CI = 61 to 71%) of Lights, and 69% (95% CI = 63 to 75%) of Regulars. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers are generally unaware of the presence and function of filter vents-a major design feature subject to behavioural blocking by smokers and now present on most cigarettes in the United States. Smokers and policy-makers need to be informed about the presence of filter vents and how vent blocking increases tar and nicotine yields from ostensibly very low-yield cigarettes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Effect of cigarette smoking on alcohol treatment outcome.

Although smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are highly correlated, little research has examined the effects of smoking on alcohol abusers' posttreatment functioning. Alcohol abusers (N = 155) were classified on the basis of their pretreatment smoking status as: nonsmoker, ex-smoker, low dependent smoker (first cigarette of the day > 10 minutes after waking), and high dependent smoker (first cigarette of the day < or = 10 minutes after waking). All subjects had received brief cognitive-behavioral outpatient treatment for their alcohol problem. Subjects who were less dependent on nicotine had fewer drinking days and fewer heavy drinking days prior to entering treatment than those who were more dependent on nicotine; the two nonsmoking groups had fewer abstinent days than the low nicotine-dependent subjects and fewer heavy drinking days than the high nicotine-dependent subjects. At the 1-year follow-up, the two smoking groups did not differ from each other on the alcohol variables but reported significantly more abstinent days than the two nonsmoking groups. Treatment implications are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Detection of vent-blocking on light and ultralight cigarettes.

Trained raters can reliably identify vent-blocking in ultralight cigarettes based on tar stain patterns, yet detection of this phenomenon has not been previously studied in light cigarettes. This study was conducted to extend the research on vent-blocking in ultralight cigarettes to the much more popular light cigarettes. We wanted to find out if individuals could discriminate among stain patterns on cigarette butts with unblocked (0%), partially blocked (50%), and fully blocked (100%) vents using both light and ultralight cigarettes. Subjects were able to use the stain pattern technique to detect vent-blocking in light cigarettes as well as ultralight cigarettes.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Predicting smoking cessation with self-reported measures of nicotine dependence: FTQ, FTND, and HSI.

In two independent studies, we explored the usefulness of three self-report measures of tobacco dependence--the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ), the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and the Heavy Smoking Index (HSI). The FTND is a revised version of the FTQ. The HSI is identical to a two-question subset of the FTND. Study 1 involved 932 participants in a seven-session, five-week, group smoking cessation program, and it looked at the ability of these self-report tests to predict expired air carbon monoxide (i.e., heaviness of smoking) at beginning of treatment and cessation at end of treatment. Study 2 involved 1877 participants in a self-help smoking cessation program, and it looked at the prediction of cessation at 16-month follow-up. All tests made statistically reliable predictions of smoking cessation, but generally accounted for little variance (about 1%). In Study 1, the test scores were associated positively with carbon monoxide levels. The shorter (six vs. eight questions), more reliable FTND is to be preferred to the FTQ; and the HSI (two questions) works as well as the FTND. Evidence is presented that suggests that samples of high-scoring smokers will not be well differentiated from the mid-range to the high-end of the scores.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Over-the-counter sleep aids: widely used but rarely studied.

Over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids are used in greater proportions than benzodiazepines for the treatment of sleep problems, yet limited research has focused on these nonprescription drugs. This article reports the results of two studies that examined the use of OTC sleep aids and alcohol for sleep problems by university students. Of those subjects in both studies who reported sleep problems 1 day per month or more, 6.4% of men and 11.4% of women reported using OTC sleep aids, however, a significantly greater percentage of men reported using alcohol to induce sleep (23.4% vs. 10.9%, p < .008). Future studies on OTC sleep aids are recommended to address a broader range of issues such as potential side effects and at-risk populations, tolerance effects, and individual differences in responsiveness and sensitivity to these drugs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Misuse of "light" cigarettes by means of vent blocking.

Best-selling "light" cigarettes (9-12 mg tar, by FTC method; Federal Trade Commission, 1990) generally employ filter vents to reduce standard tar and nicotine yields. Earlier research on "ultra light" cigarettes (1-4 mg tar) showed that filter vents were blocked by human smokers leading to dramatic increases in tar and nicotine yields. An objective indicator of vent blocking was applied to a sample of 158 discarded light cigarette butts, and results indicated extreme vent blocking in 47% 27% ( +/- 8, 95% CI), some vent blocking in 26% ( +/- 8), and no vent blocking in 47% ( +/- 8). Cigarette consumers need to be informed of the risks of vent blocking as a countermeasure to the marketing of light cigarettes to health-conscious smokers.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed1992

Age interacts with heaviness of smoking in predicting success in cessation of smoking.

There is conflicting evidence regarding the relation between heaviness of smoking and the likelihood of quitting smoking. We investigated this issue using the data set of the 1986 Adult Use of Tobacco Survey, a telephone survey of the smoking behavior of noninstitutionalized, civilian, US adults aged greater than 16 years. Analyses were based on a subsample of 4,383 individuals who had made a serious attempt to stop smoking 1-10 years before the survey. Among younger smokers, the lighter smokers (less than 25 cigarettes/day) were the most likely to stop, whereas among older smokers, the heavier smokers (greater than or equal to 25 cigarettes/day) were the most likely to stop. These results indicate that age is an important factor in the relation between heaviness of smoking and success in quitting smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Rehabilitating a genetic perspective in the study of tobacco and alcohol use.

Despite comparable estimates of 'heritability' for tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking, the human genetics of drinking has been a fashionable topic for research, while the human genetics of smoking has been neglected or viewed with suspicion. The differing course of genetic themes in the alcohol and tobacco areas is discussed in relation to (a) different historical pressures which promoted disease models of alcoholism and 'bad habit' models of heavy smoking and (b) possible fundamental differences in the nature of cigarette and alcohol use. This topic is further complicated by the substantial co-occurrence of heavy smoking and heavy drinking, so that the genetic determinants may well over-lap. 'Cross-cultural' comparison of these contrasting interests in genetics is argued to be an important topic for future research.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1991

The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence: a revision of the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire.

We examine and refine the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ: Fagerström, 1978). The relation between each FTQ item and biochemical measures of heaviness of smoking was examined in 254 smokers. We found that the nicotine rating item and the inhalation item were unrelated to any of our biochemical measures and these two items were primary contributors to psychometric deficiencies in the FTQ. We also found that a revised scoring of time to the first cigarette of the day (TTF) and number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD) improved the scale. We present a revision of the FTQ: the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND).

Adolescent↗