Brief Report: Rate of Nicotine Metabolism and Tobacco Use Among Persons With HIV: Implications for Treatment and Research.

Background: The nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR) is a biomarker that represents individual variation in the speed that nicotine is metabolized. The rate of nicotine metabolism alters smoking behavior (eg, amount) and has been validated for personalizing tobacco dependence medication selection to increase treatment efficacy and reduce treatment side effects in the general population of smokers. Although smoking rates are extremely high among those with HIV, the NMR has not been evaluated in this underserved population.

The association between self-reported varenicline adherence and varenicline blood levels in a sample of cancer patients receiving treatment for tobacco dependence.

Introduction: The degree to which smokers quit successfully with varenicline is strongly associated with their adherence to the medication regimen. Thus, measuring varenicline adherence to identify smokers needing additional intervention is a priority. Few studies, however, have examined the validity of self-reported varenicline adherence, using a biological assessment of adherence as a reference.

Predictors of Varenicline Adherence Among Cancer Patients Treated for Tobacco Dependence and its Association With Smoking Cessation.

Introduction: The degree to which smokers adhere to pharmacotherapy predicts treatment success. The development of interventions to increase adherence requires identification of predictors of treatment adherence, particularly among specific clinical populations.

Methods: Using data from a 12-week open-label phase of a clinical trial of varenicline for tobacco dependence among cancer patients (N = 207), we examined: (1) the relationship between self-reported varenicline adherence and verified smoking cessation and (2) demographic and disease-related variables, and early changes in cognition, affect, withdrawal, the reinforcing effects of smoking, and medication side effects, as correlates of varenicline adherence.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and its treatment in children and adolescents.

This article reviews current concepts of and treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. We discuss the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria and their applicability to children and adolescents. We also review the history of PTSD and the development of its diagnostic criteria.