Nicotine intake from electronic cigarettes on initial use and after 4 weeks of regular use.

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (EC) have the potential to generate a substantial public health benefit if there is a switch from smoking to EC use on a population scale. The nicotine delivery from EC is likely to play a major role in their attractiveness to smokers. We assessed nicotine delivery from a first-generation EC and the effect of experience with its use on nicotine intake.

Do e-cigarettes have the potential to compete with conventional cigarettes?: a survey of conventional cigarette smokers' experiences with e-cigarettes.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are becoming increasingly popular globally. If they were to replace conventional cigarettes, it could have a substantial impact on public health. To evaluate EC's potential for competing with conventional cigarettes as a consumer product, we report the first data, to our knowledge, on the proportion of smokers who try ECs and become regular users.

Weight change during and after Ramadan fasting.

Background: During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for a month. Knowing whether Ramadan fasting affects body weight has implications for health advice to the Muslim community, for understanding the effects of skipping meals on body weight, and for general weight management advice.

Methods: We compared body weight before and after the Ramadan fast and 1 month later in observant Muslims attending a Mosque in East London, UK.

'The smoking toolkit study': a national study of smoking and smoking cessation in England.

Background: Up-to-date data tracking of national smoking patterns and cessation-related behaviour is required to evaluate and inform tobacco control strategies. The Smoking Toolkit Study (STS) was designed for this role. This paper describes the methodology of the STS and examines as far as possible the representativeness of the samples.

Systematic review of the relationship between the 3-hydroxycotinine/cotinine ratio and cigarette dependence.

Rationale: Individual differences in the rate of nicotine metabolism (RNM) could be related to dependence and success in stopping smoking. A range of studies have examined RNM measured by the ratio of trans-3'-hydroxycotinine and cotinine in body fluids (the ratio). A systematic review of this literature is needed to draw conclusions and identify gaps in evidence.

Tobacco dependence and awareness of health risks of smoking in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aim: Smoking is a risk factor for developing Crohn's disease (CD) and worsens its outcome. Conversely, in ulcerative colitis (UC), the onset may be triggered by the smoking cessation and smoking may be beneficial. To help to ascertain whether patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) would benefit from attending a smoking cessation clinic, we assessed: first, the prevalence of smoking; second, patients' awareness of the effects of smoking, and finally nicotine dependence in IBD patients compared with the healthy and disease-matched controls.

Development and initial validation of a caffeine craving questionnaire.

Craving for caffeine has received little empirical attention, despite considerable research into the potential for caffeine dependence. The main aim of this study was to develop, and initially validate, a multi-item, multidimensional instrument to measure cravings for caffeine. Participants were 189 caffeine consumers who completed the Questionnaire of Caffeine Cravings, which was based on the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU), in one of five naturally occurring periods of abstinence; 1-15 min; 16-120 mins; 3-7 h; 12-48 h and +48 h.