Effect of nicotine lozenge use prior to smoking cue presentation on craving and withdrawal symptom severity.

Background: Smokers are often advised to use nicotine lozenge after cravings or withdrawal symptoms are present, which may be too late to prevent lapses. This study assesses if lozenge use prior to smoking cue exposure attenuates cue-induced increases in symptom severity.

Methods: In this randomized, cross-over study, participants completed three laboratory sessions at which they proceeded through 4 "rooms" in a virtual reality environment.

Timing of nicotine lozenge administration to minimize trigger induced craving and withdrawal symptoms.

Introduction: Smokers are often advised to use nicotine lozenge when craving or withdrawal symptoms occur. This may be too late to prevent lapses. This study assessed if nicotine lozenge use prior to a common smoking trigger can minimize trigger induced increases in craving and withdrawal symptoms.

Effect of paroxetine on physiological response to stress and smoking.

Objective: Smokers often smoke during stressful events, which leads to large increases in cardiovascular measures such as blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Because exaggerated cardiovascular response to stress is associated with cardiovascular disease risk, this study examined paroxetine's effect on the physiological response to combining stress and smoking.

Methods: Sixty-two participants completed this randomized, double-blind, crossover study in which BP, HR, plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol concentrations were measured at rest, while smoking, and during a speech and math task.

A reliable digital photomicroscopic method of nailfold plexus visibility assessment in schizophrenia.

High nailfold plexus visibility (NPV) is a trait identifying a putative endophenotype for schizophrenia. We describe a new method of NPV assessment using computer storage of digital photomicrographs. We performed a reliability study of this method using 40 subjects.

Elevated nailfold plexus visibility aggregates in families and is associated with a specific negative symptom pattern in schizophrenia.

Twenty-four individuals with schizophrenia and 28 of their first-degree biological relatives were studied using clinical scales, functional ratings, and neuropsychological tests. An assessment of Nailfold Plexus Visibility (NPV) was also performed on these individuals. In keeping with the literature, we found an increased prevalence of high NPV in our schizophrenia subjects relative to controls and community norms, and also found that high NPV patients had significantly more negative symptoms and poorer social functioning.