Reassessing the link between adiposity and head and neck cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Adiposity has been associated with an increased risk of head and neck cancer (HNC). Although body mass index (BMI) has been inversely associated with HNC risk among smokers, this is likely due to confounding. Previous Mendelian randomization (MR) studies could not fully discount causality between adiposity and HNC due to limited statistical power.

Perceived Harm of Vaping Relative to Smoking and Associations With Subsequent Smoking and Vaping Behaviors Among Young Adults: Evidence From a UK Cohort Study.

Introduction: There is a lack of evidence on whether vaping harm perceptions can predict vaping and smoking behaviors among young adults in the United Kingdom. We aimed to assess whether the perceived harm of vaping relative to smoking is associated with subsequent changes in vaping and smoking behaviors in this population.

Methods: Data were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a prospective cohort study.

Disentangling the effects of nicotine versus non-nicotine constituents of tobacco smoke on major depressive disorder: A multivariable Mendelian randomisation study.

Background And Aims: There is growing evidence that tobacco smoking causes depression, but it is unclear which constituents of tobacco smoke (e.g. nicotine, carbon monoxide) may be responsible.

Exploring pleiotropy in Mendelian randomisation analyses: What are genetic variants associated with 'cigarette smoking initiation' really capturing?

Genetic variants used as instruments for exposures in Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses may have horizontal pleiotropic effects (i.e., influence outcomes via pathways other than through the exposure), which can undermine the validity of results.

Exploring the opinions and potential impact of unflavoured e-liquid on smoking cessation among people who smoke and smoking relapse among people who previously smoked and now use e-cigarettes: findings from a UK-based mixed methods study.

Background: Although electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) appear to be effective in helping people who smoke to stop smoking, concerns about use of e-cigarettes among young people have led to restrictions on non-tobacco flavoured e-liquids in some countries and some US states. These restrictions could reduce the appeal of these products to non-smoking youth but could have negative consequences for people who smoke or use e-cigarettes.

Methods: In this mixed methods study, we recruited UK adults who smoked or used to smoke and subsequently vaped to explore their opinions of unflavoured e-liquids and their beliefs about how they would be impacted by hypothetical e-liquid flavour restrictions.

Do Flavor Descriptions Influence Subjective Ratings of Flavored and Unflavored E-liquids Among Nonsmoking and Non-vaping UK Adolescents?

Introduction: Youth use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is rising globally and is associated with health harms. Flavor descriptions on e-liquid packaging may contribute to the appeal of e-cigarettes among youth. This study compared subjective ratings of e-liquid packaging flavor descriptions among nonsmoking and non-vaping UK adolescents.

Estimating the health impact of nicotine exposure by dissecting the effects of nicotine versus non-nicotine constituents of tobacco smoke: A multivariable Mendelian randomisation study.

The detrimental health effects of smoking are well-known, but the impact of regular nicotine use without exposure to the other constituents of tobacco is less clear. Given the increasing daily use of alternative nicotine delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes, it is increasingly important to understand and separate the effects of nicotine use from the impact of tobacco smoke exposure. Using a multivariable Mendelian randomisation framework, we explored the direct effects of nicotine compared with the non-nicotine constituents of tobacco smoke on health outcomes (lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV-1], forced vital capacity [FVC], coronary heart disease [CHD], and heart rate [HR]).

Associations between COVID-19 Risk Perceptions and Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Risk Behaviours.

Background: Mental health has worsened, and substance use has increased for some people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Some cross-sectional studies suggest that higher COVID-19 risk perceptions are related to poorer mental health and greater risk behaviours (e.g.

Reporting and methodological quality of studies that use Mendelian randomisation in UK Biobank: a meta-epidemiological study.

Objectives: To identify whether Mendelian randomisation (MR) studies are appropriately conducted and reported in enough detail for other researchers to accurately replicate and interpret them.

Design: Cross-sectional meta-epidemiological study.

Data Sources: Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed and PsycINFO were searched on 15 July 2022 for literature.

Effects of electronic cigarette e-liquid flavouring on cigarette craving.

Background: E-liquid flavour restrictions may discourage electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) uptake among youth. However, possible unintended consequences may include reduced appeal and effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Non-tobacco flavours appear to be important for smoking cessation, but how and why are currently unclear.

Investigating the DNA methylation profile of e-cigarette use.

Background: Little evidence exists on the health effects of e-cigarette use. DNA methylation may serve as a biomarker for exposure and could be predictive of future health risk. We aimed to investigate the DNA methylation profile of e-cigarette use.

Association of genetic liability to smoking initiation with e-cigarette use in young adults: A cohort study.

Background: Tobacco smoking and e-cigarette use are strongly associated, but it is currently unclear whether this association is causal, or due to shared factors that influence both behaviours such as a shared genetic liability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether polygenic risk scores (PRS) for smoking initiation are associated with ever use of e-cigarettes.

Methods And Findings: Smoking initiation PRS were calculated for young adults (N = 7,859, mean age = 24 years, 51% male) of European ancestry in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a prospective birth cohort study initiated in 1991.

Associations between reasons for vaping and current vaping and smoking status: Evidence from a UK based cohort.

Background: This study aimed to discover which young adults vape, the reasons given for vaping, and which reasons for vaping are associated with continued vaping/smoking.

Methods: In a UK cohort of 3,994 young adults, we explored the association of retrospectively-recalled reasons for vaping by 23 years (collected between 2015 and 2016) with vaping/smoking status at 24 years (collected between 2016 and 2017). Using logistic regression, we assessed the association with vaping behaviour among ever vapers who had ever smoked (n = 668), and with smoking behaviour among individuals who regularly smoked prior to vaping (n = 412).

Investigating the added value of biomarkers compared with self-reported smoking in predicting future e-cigarette use: Evidence from a longitudinal UK cohort study.

Biomarkers can be used to assess smoking behaviour more accurately and objectively than self-report. This study assessed the association between cotinine (a biomarker of smoke exposure) and later e-cigarette use among a population who were unexposed to e-cigarettes in youth. Young people in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children took part in the study.

Is e-cigarette use in non-smoking young adults associated with later smoking? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this review was to investigate whether e-cigarette use compared with non-use in young non-smokers is associated with subsequent cigarette smoking.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wiley Cochrane Library databases, and the 2018 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco and Society for Behavioural Medicine conference abstracts.

Study Selection: All studies of young people (up to age 30 years) with a measure of e-cigarette use prior to smoking and an outcome measure of smoking where an OR could be calculated were included (excluding reviews and animal studies).

Epigenetic gestational age and trajectories of weight and height during childhood: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Differences between an individual's estimated epigenetic gestational age (EGA) and their actual gestational age (GA) are defined as gestational age acceleration (GAA). GAA is associated with increased birthweight and birth length. Whether these associations persist through childhood is yet to be investigated.

Effects of acute alcohol consumption on emotion recognition in social alcohol drinkers.

Background: Research suggests that acute alcohol consumption alters recognition of emotional expressions. Extending this work, we investigated the effects of alcohol on recognition of six primary expressions of emotion.

Methods: We conducted two studies using a 2 × 6 experimental design with a between-subjects factor of drink (alcohol, placebo) and a within-subjects factor of emotion (anger, disgust, sadness, surprise, happiness, fear).

Is screen time associated with anxiety or depression in young people? Results from a UK birth cohort.

Background: There is limited and conflicting evidence for associations between use of screen-based technology and anxiety and depression in young people. We examined associations between screen time measured at 16 years and anxiety and depression at 18.

Methods: Participants (n = 14,665; complete cases n = 1869) were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK-based prospective cohort study.

Nicotine preloading for smoking cessation: the Preloading RCT.

Background: Nicotine preloading means using nicotine replacement therapy prior to a quit date while smoking normally. The aim is to reduce the drive to smoke, thereby reducing cravings for smoking after quit day, which are the main cause of early relapse. A prior systematic review showed inconclusive and heterogeneous evidence that preloading was effective and little evidence of the mechanism of action, with no cost-effectiveness data.

Epigenetic gestational age acceleration: a prospective cohort study investigating associations with familial, sociodemographic and birth characteristics.

Background: Gestational age at delivery is associated with health and social outcomes. Recently, cord blood DNA methylation data has been used to predict gestational age. The discrepancy between gestational age predicted from DNA methylation and determined by ultrasound or last menstrual period is known as gestational age acceleration.

Influence of maternal and own genotype at tanning dependence-related SNPs on sun exposure in childhood.

Background: Research suggests there may be a genetic influence on the likelihood of becoming tanning dependent (TD). The way in which mothers regulate their children's sun exposure may be affected by being TD. We investigated the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to being TD and early sun exposure.