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At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

The use of nicotine patches with minimal intervention.

BACKGROUND: This paper describes a natural, prospective, open-label study designed to evaluate the impact of free nicotine patches with minimal support for smoking cessation. METHODS: Surveys were administered to 223 participants who received nicotine patches from the American Lung Association. All participants received a 6-week supply of 15-mg/16-h transdermal nicotine patches, a self-help book Freedom from Smoking, and information about area smoking cessation classes. Follow-up telephone surveys were administered 6 weeks after the patches were distributed. Abstinence was measured through self-report exclusively. RESULTS: The overall quit rate at 6-weeks was 21% (47/223). Among nonquitters, the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day dropped from 25 at baseline to 14 at 6 weeks. There was a significant difference in the average number of patches used by quitters and nonquitters (26 versus 11, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine patches with minimal support can be effective in smoking cessation and smoking reduction. The availability of patches may have motivated participants to quit. Efforts to increase access to and use of nicotine patches may result in increased attempts to quit and successful quitting.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Clinical evaluation of a citric acid inhaler for smoking cessation.

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a hand-held inhaler as an adjunct to a smoking cessation behavioral program. The inhaler delivered a citric acid aerosol with tobacco smoke flavor. Seventy-four smokers were recruited for a 3-week smoking cessation trial. During the first 12 days of the cessation period, smokers used the citric acid aerosol inhaler instead of a cigarette whenever the urge to smoke occurred. The citric acid inhaler significantly reduced CO levels and enhanced rates of smoking abstinence for those with higher than average (34.2 ppm) baseline end-expired carbon monoxide (CO) levels. Craving for cigarettes and negative affect were also alleviated by the citric acid aerosol. These results suggest that the citric acid aerosol may promote successful smoking reduction or cessation in a subgroup of smokers and relieves withdrawal symptoms such as craving for cigarettes, a symptom difficult to treat with currently available nicotine replacement techniques.

Adult↗

Enhancing decision behavior in high school "smokers".

In the first stage of the present study, personal control beliefs of smokers and nonsmokers in several high schools were analyzed. This attitudinal information was utilized for embedding implicit suggestions into an interventional format. The cognitive-behavioral intervention in two high schools consisted of identified smokers receiving various reinforcements for coping behaviors relevant to cigarette control. Matched groups in two other high schools received popular tips on how to quit smoking. Only subjects in the cognitive-behavior condition reported a significant smoking reduction at 1-month and 3-month posttests. Subjects receiving the cognitive-behavioral program revised their ideal level of marijuana consumption downward and differed on certain other beliefs compared to the popular tips group. Motivational and self-regulative characteristics of participants were also examined through in-depth questioning.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

New perspectives in the treatment of tobacco dependence.

Tobacco dependance treatment is a long lasting journey that is now approaching the fifty-years landmark. Beginning with lobeline in the late Fifties, and passing through the development of nicotine replacement therapy, the pharmacological therapy of nicotine dependance has now reached a new phase of intense and florishing research. The purpose of this review is to briefly overview the history of tobacco dependence treatments and to lead the reader towards the future, not only in terms of drug therapy but also of new goals like relapse prevention strategies and smoking reduction. Neurobiology of drug addiction mechanisms better understanding has recently unmasked new therapeutical targets and has lead to the development of new drugs. Nicotine vaccine, tetrahydrocannabinoid receptor blockers, partial agonists for the nicotine receptors are now under evaluation. Interference with the liver enzymes metabolising nicotine is another approach who has just reached the testing phase. The article will briefly overview each of this new promising drug treatments.

Humans↗

Relapse prevention versus broad spectrum treatment for smoking cessation: a comparison of efficacy.

The efficacy of a smoking cessation relapse prevention (RP) program, emphasizing cognitive-behavioral coping skills, was compared to that of a broad spectrum (BS) program, which emphasized behavioral skills. It was hypothesized that the RP program would be more effective in producing long-term abstinence, compared to the BS package. Abstinence rates validated by saliva thiocyanate and carbon monoxide, as well as self-report of smoking reduction, were measured at posttreatment, 3 and 6 months. No differences in posttreatment quit rates were found between the two groups, although both programs produced significantly higher quit rates than the wait-list control group. Contrary to prediction, the BS group produced marginally significantly greater abstinence at 3 months. No differences in abstinence were found at 6 months. Reduction in cigarette consumption was marginally significantly greater for the BS group at 3 and 6 months. Various mediators of treatment outcome were not found to influence success in quitting. There was a significant weight gain in those who quit.

Adult↗

Satiation and sensory deprivation combined in smoking therapy: some case studies and unexpected side-effects.

Two promising techniques for smoking reduction, sensory deprivation and stimulus satiation, were applied in combination to five smokers. All were successful initially in achieving abstinence and four ultimately in maintaning abstinence. The issue of possible side-effects is worth considering. Quitting per se and both satiation and sensory deprivation may be stressful and as a result may potentially produce negative side effects. The observation of positive side-effects in these cases balances this possibility to some extent.

Adult↗

Smoking cessation in family practice: the effects of advice and nicotine chewing gum prescription.

The efficacy of physician anti-smoking intervention with 289 patients in a family practice setting was assessed. The design included two treatment conditions, physician advice and physician advice plus the offer of nicotine chewing gum (NCG) prescription. A no-advice group permitted assessment of the effects of repeated testing. The NCG group had higher rates of abstinence at all follow-up points, but the difference approached statistical significance at 3 months only (p less than .10). Comparison of those who actually used NCG to all other groups revealed significantly more users were abstinent at 1- and 3-month follow-up. A similar pattern occurred for proportion attempting cessation and smoking reduction. A dose-response relationship of gum use to outcome was identified. Long-term users (greater than 20 days) had 86% abstinence at 3 months versus 18% for short-term users. Thus, NCG does appear to have a role in family practice for promoting short-term cessation.

Adolescent↗

Regulation of nicotine replacement therapies (NRT): a critique of current practice.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) describes a group of products delivering nicotine that are licensed for the relief of withdrawal as an aid to smoking cessation. This paper examines areas where public health considerations suggest changes should be made to the current indications and characteristics for NRT products. It is argued that the current regulatory framework restricts access to NRT without adequately considering that the likely consequence is continued dependent use of a far more harmful and widely available version of the same drug: tobacco. The paper argues that minors, pregnant smokers and smokers with cardiovascular disease (CVD) be allowed to use NRT. NRT use for smoking reduction, to support temporary abstinence, for long-term use should also be enabled and NRT products should be made as widely available as cigarettes. This paper also recommends that regulators encourage the development of less harmful forms of nicotine delivery devices to compete with cigarettes. Although this paper is written largely with reference to the UK medicines regulatory framework, these issues also apply to many other countries.

Adolescent↗

Effects of smoking cessation or reduction on hormone profiles and bone turnover in postmenopausal women.

The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the impact of smoking cessation on hormonal concentrations, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women. Sixty-six women who were either users or non-users of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) were randomly assigned, using a weighted randomization scheme, to smoking cessation (SC) or to smoking cessation after 6 weeks of monitoring (wait-list control group, WLC). We measured hormones [estrone, estradiol, testosterone, parathyroid hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and androstenedione] and SHBG, markers of bone turnover [procollagen peptide (PINP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and osteocalcin (OC), N- and C-terminal collagen cross-links (NTx and CTx)], and cotinine, at baseline and again at 6 weeks in women who reported smoking cessation and in women randomized to the WLC group. Analyses included 20 subjects who quit or significantly reduced their smoking and 18 subjects in the WLC group. After controlling for differences in age and ERT use between groups, we found a significant change in SHBG in the SC vs. the WLC group (-8% vs. +5%, respectively; p = 0.01), and in DHEA (-18% vs. -5%, respectively; p = 0.04), but not in other hormonal concentrations. We also noted a significant change in NTx in the SC vs. WLC group (-5% vs. +56%, respectively, p = 0.01), but not in other markers of bone turnover. Percentage changes in SHBG and NTx were correlated with changes in plasma cotinine (r = 0.48; p = 0.004 and r = 0.36; p = 0.04, respectively). Six weeks of smoking abstinence produces reductions in SHBG and NTx. This may partly explain how smoking contributes to osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Dehydroepiandrosterone↗

Smoking and other health related behaviour in the social and environmental context.

It seems clear that parental smoking is harmful, although the magnitude of its effect may be smaller than sometimes suggested. However, smoking and other behaviours detrimental to health must be seen within a social and historical context. Individuals are not 'free choosing actors' and their behaviour is determined, at least in part, by their social and environmental circumstances. Smoking might better be regarded as a 'proximal' cause. 'Proximal' causes such as infectious or toxic agents are themselves subject to 'causes of causes' which are the determinants of exposure to these agents. Smoking may act as the 'proximal' cause, directly harming the fetus, but is itself caused by factors in the social and environmental circumstances. The complexity of the relationship between social and environmental circumstances, health related behaviours, and adverse outcomes cannot be resolved by the search for single causative agents. As Rutter points out, in order to begin to understand causal complexity 'it is necessary to examine distal causal relationships in the form of chains and of linked sequences involving several different, relatively short-term effects or operations' (p 2). Health promotion programmes sensitive to social context avoid 'victim blaming' and acknowledge that it is not enough to exhort mothers to 'stop smoking before and during pregnancy because this will harm your baby' (p 99). Mothers know that smoking can harm themselves and their babies and the vast majority want to give up. Their choice is limited by their social circumstances, and failure to recognise this has ensured the failure of health promotion initiatives aimed at smoking reduction during pregnancy. There are limitations in the techniques available to control for confounding in multivariate analysis and results must be interpreted with caution. Misinterpretation can lead to overemphasis of the role of single factors, diverting attention from complex pathways. While health related behaviours may be a 'proximal' cause of ill health, there is a duty on researchers, health promoters, and health policy makers to take account of the complex causal pathways in which these 'proximal' causes lie.

Child↗

Hypertriglyceridemia.

Hypertriglyceridemia is a commonly encountered lipid abnormality frequently associated with other lipid and metabolic derangements. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends obtaining a fasting lipid panel in adults over the age of 20. The discovery of hypertriglyceridemia should prompt an investigation for secondary causes such as high fat diet, excessive alcohol intake, certain medications, and medical conditions (eg, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism). In addition, patients should be evaluated for other components of the metabolic syndrome. These include abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high triglyceride, and hypertension. Hypertriglyceridemia is classified as primary hypertriglyceridemia when there are no secondary causes identified. Primary hypertriglyceridemia is the result of various genetic defects leading to disordered triglyceride metabolism. It is important to treat hypertriglyceridemia to prevent pancreatitis by reducing triglyceride levels to <500 mg/dL. Furthermore, lowering triglycerides while treating other dyslipidemias and components of the metabolic syndrome will reduce coronary events. However, it is controversial how much isolated hypertriglyceridemia correlates directly with coronary artery disease and further studies are needed to clarify whether treatment for this condition leads to meaningful clinical outcomes. Therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) are the first line of treatment for hypertriglyceridemia. These changes include a low saturated fat, carbohydrate-controlled diet, combined with alcohol reduction, smoking cessation, and regular aerobic exercise. High doses of omega-3 fatty acids from fish and fish oil supplements will lower triglyceride levels significantly. When patients do not reach their goals by TLC, drug therapy should be started. In cases of isolated hypertriglyceridemia, fibrates are initially considered. When elevated low-density lipoprotein levels accompany hypertriglyceridemia, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors are preferred. In patients with low HDL levels and hypertriglyceridemia, extended release niacin can be considered. A combination of the medicines may be necessary in recalcitrant cases.

Adult↗

Interventions during and after acute myocardial infarction.

There is now evidence that infarct size in man can be reduced by early treatment and that some cases of threatened infarction can be aborted. Beta blockade, given intravenously within about 6-8 hours after the onset of pain can reduce infarct size and abort some infarctions. So far we have no conclusive data on mortality. Beta blockers may act by a number of mechanisms, namely reduction of cardiac contractility, heart rate and blood pressure thus reducing cardiac work and oxygen requirement, prevention of cardiac rupture by the same mechanism, and by an early effect on R on T ectopic beats and hence serious ventricular arrhythmia. Early myocardial revascularization either by coronary graft, percutaneous angioplasty or intracoronary streptokinase are all promising but so far unproven by adequate clinical trial. Randomized trials suggest that intravenous streptokinase may be effective and hyaluronidase appears promising, possibly by promotion of collateral vessel flow. Calcium channel blockade may also be helpful and there are some early studies which support this. Lowering work by sodium nitroprusside also reduces infarct size. Heparin may have a place in the treatment of threatened infarction. After recovery it now appears established that beta 1-blockade will lower mortality. We do not know how long this effect persists. Other agents are less well established perhaps because the trials have been too small. Anticoagulants may have a place but their use is not widespread. Anti-platelet agents are also controversial. Studies of dipyridamole and sulphinpyrazone have been suggestive but not conclusive; the studies of aspirin are moderately encouraging, when all trials are pooled. Anti-arrhythmic therapy after infarction has been disappointing, with the exception of beta blockade. Perhaps more emphasis should also be put upon changes in lifestyle, notably stopping smoking, reduction of fat intake and encouraging regular exercise.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Cardiac rehabilitation program participation and outcomes after myocardial infarction.

Rehabilitation programs for myocardial infarction (MI) survivors are designed to alter survivors' self-care patterns and to improve long-term physical and psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between participation in cardiac rehabilitation and health state; days of reduced activity; anxiety; depression; self-esteem; quality of life; and performance of exercise, diet, medication, stress-modification, and smoking-reduction self-care behaviors after MI. Interviews were conducted with 197 women and men 1 to 2 years after their initial MI to measure health state, mood, self-esteem, quality of life, and relevant self-care behaviors. Rehabilitation center records were reviewed to determine participation in rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation participation was significantly associated with health state; days of reduced activity; self-esteem; quality of life; and performance of exercise, diet, and medication self-care. These findings suggest that participation in cardiac rehabilitation is a worthwhile intervention that facilitates recovery from myocardial infarction.

Adult↗

The challenge of cancer research.

The challenge of cancer research can be summarized by simple statistics. In 1992, more than 1.1 million Americans are expected to develop cancer, and roughly 520,000 are expected to die from cancer. The National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) mission is to eradicate the death and suffering from cancer, to cure cancer once it starts and ultimately to prevent cancer. To this end, initiatives that promote continued development of sophisticated molecular technologies and clinical application of those technologies to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer are of surpassingly high priority. Epidemiological studies tell us that at least 30-50% of cancer is directly related to smoking, diet and environmental factors. Treatment studies indicate that significant gains in survival are possible and have already been achieved in some cancers, with promise from new drugs and other modalities (including genetic engineering) for still other cancers. Prevention strategies such as smoking reduction, diet, environmental measures, chemoprevention and vaccine development have the potential to achieve a substantial reduction in cancer mortality. This reduction, realized over two decades, would result in at least 100,000 lives saved per year in this country, and a large number can be saved just by applying what we already know.

Female↗

Effect of cimetidine and ranitidine on the hepatic and renal elimination of nicotine in humans.

In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over experiment, 6 healthy consenting male subjects were administered cimetidine 600 mg or ranitidine 300 mg or placebo p.o. q12h x 2 days. Nicotine bitartrate was administered i.v. on day 2 (1 microgram/kg/min) x 30 min. After cimetidine mean nicotine total and metabolic clearances were decreased by 30% and 27% while after ranitidine the clearances were decreased by 10% and 7% respectively. Since smokers regulate their smoke intake based in large part on their nicotine blood levels these results suggest that the diminished nicotine total clearance in the presence of cimetidine could be important in assisting smoking reduction or cessation.

Adult↗

Epidemiological approaches to primary and secondary prevention of cancer.

Primary prevention of cancer requires control of both involuntary and voluntary exposures. Involuntary exposures include carcinogens in air and water, and various forms of radiation. Often these exposures are difficult to characterise individually and difficult to study epidemiologically. Although it is unlikely that they account for more than a small proportion of cancers, it is important that we refine our techniques of study to facilitate their control. Voluntary (lifestyle) exposures are responsible for the majority of cancers. In many developed countries, tobacco accounts for approximately 30% of cancer deaths, and major public health endeavours are justified to reduce this toll. Dietary factors may be as important, with dietary fat the most important risk factor, vegetables and fruits being protective. In several studies, including a cohort study in Canada, dietary fat increases breast cancer risk, though other studies have been negative. The evidence for fat increasing the risk of colorectal is more consistent. Epidemiology has shown that secondary prevention of cancer is applicable by screening for breast cancer with mammography with or without physical examination in women age 50-69, and screening for cervix cancer in women age 25-60 with cervical cytology. Organised screening programmes are essential to ensure that a high proportion of women are screened, and that the tests are high quality with adequate quality control. Under these circumstances screening every 2 years for breast cancer and every 3 years for cervix cancer is cost-effective. Screening for other cancers cannot be recommended currently. There is a time to effect that must be recognised in planning primary or secondary prevention. Full effect of most primary activities will not be achieved for decades, screening may require a decade. Available knowledge must be applied now, however, to ensure the effect will eventually be seen, as is now occurring in some countries with the downturn in lung cancer mortality following smoking reduction in men.

Adult↗

Electrodermal activity during aversive stimulation: sex differences in smokers and non-smokers.

Skin conductance activity was monitored in male and female smokers and non-smokers during repeated presentation of high intensity auditory stimuli. Smokers, and, in particular, female smokers, exhibited significantly higher resting skin conductance levels and significantly larger skin conductance responses. The results are discussed in relation to "stress-reduction" smoking.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Transdermal administration of nicotine.

The physiological response to nicotine topically applied to the skin was measured in an adult male volunteer. Nicotine base (9 mg) was applied in a 30% aqueous solution to intact skin on the underside of the forearm. Salivary nicotine, heart rate and blood pressure were monitored for 12 h after application of the nicotine. Within 30 min a significant level of nicotine was detected in the saliva (50 ng/ml), pulse had risen by 15 beats/min and systolic blood pressure had risen 10 mmHg. Nicotine levels remained elevated for 2 h and were comparable to levels of nicotine produced by cigarette smoking. Because previous research has shown nicotine to suppress smoking behavior, it may be fruitful to examine transdermal administration of nicotine as a smoking reduction and cessation aid.

Administration, Topical↗