Progressive nicotine patch dosing prior to quitting smoking: feasibility, safety and effects during the pre-quit and post-quit periods.

Background And Aims: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) may be more effective in aiding smoking cessation if higher doses of nicotine from it can be tolerated. We examined the responses to, and 4-week abstinence rates observed, when titrating the dose of transdermal nicotine patch up to 84 mg/day over 4 weeks prior to a target quit date and titrating down again over 4 weeks afterwards.

Design: Clinical cohort study.

Comparison of peak inspiratory flow rate via the Breezhaler®, Ellipta® and HandiHaler® dry powder inhalers in patients with moderate to very severe COPD: a randomized cross-over trial.

Background: The chronic and progressive nature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires self-administration of inhaled medication. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are increasingly being used for inhalation therapy in COPD. Important considerations when selecting DPIs include inhalation effort required and flow rates achieved by patients.

Want, need and habit as drivers of smoking behaviour: A preliminary analysis.

Background And Aims: Models of tobacco smoking behaviour propose that anticipated pleasure or satisfaction, the need to alleviate a nicotine-induced drive state and a stimulus-driven impulse potentially play an important role. This study aimed to provide a preliminary assessment of how far urges to smoke are reported by smokers and whether the strength of such urges prior to a quit attempt predicts short-term success at quitting.

Methods: In a prospective study, 566 smokers attending a treatment programme to help smokers quit completed a written questionnaire covering frequency of different types of urge to smoke (automatic impulse - 'automatic urges', anticipated pleasure - 'pleasure urges', and fulfilling a need - 'need urges').

INSTEAD: a randomised switch trial of indacaterol versus salmeterol/fluticasone in moderate COPD.

The Indacaterol: Switching Non-exacerbating Patients with Moderate COPD From Salmeterol/Fluticasone to Indacaterol (INSTEAD) study investigated the effect of switching patients at low risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations from salmeterol/fluticasone (SFC; inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) regimen) to indacaterol monotherapy (non-ICS regimen). This 26-week, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, phase IV study, randomised 581 patients with moderate COPD to indacaterol 150 μg once daily or SFC 50/500 μg twice daily. Patients had been receiving SFC 50/500 μg for ≥3 months, with no COPD exacerbations for more than a year before the study (patients for whom ICS is not recommended).

Smoking and smoking cessation in Latin America: a review of the current situation and available treatments.

Tobacco smoking is a growing problem throughout Latin American countries, especially in underdeveloped countries where poverty and lack of education about the dangers of smoking may make people more susceptible to becoming smokers. Moreover, the economies of many Latin American countries have become dependent on the production of tobacco. Furthermore, because of the associated promotion of tobacco, smoking has integrated into many Latin American cultures.