Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco as an Outgrowth of the 1988 Surgeon General's Report on Nicotine Addiction: Reflections of the Early Presidents.

Introduction: The Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco began in the United States as a scientific organization "to stimulate the generation and dissemination of new knowledge concerning nicotine and tobacco in all its manifestations." Now in its 30th year, the Society is taking on new challenges in tobacco control, nicotine vaping, product regulation, and public policy.

Aims And Methods: This Review describes the formative years of the Society from the perspective of researchers who were in leadership positions during that time, documenting how biobehavioral and clinical research in the first 10 years was a continuation of the scientific mission of the 1988 United States Surgeon General's Report on Nicotine Addiction and summarizing organizational innovations during each president's term of office.

Balancing Consideration of the Risks and Benefits of E-Cigarettes.

The topic of e-cigarettes is controversial. Opponents focus on e-cigarettes' risks for young people, while supporters emphasize the potential for e-cigarettes to assist smokers in quitting smoking. Most US health organizations, media coverage, and policymakers have focused primarily on risks to youths.

Significant associations of CHRNA2 and CHRNA6 with nicotine dependence in European American and African American populations.

The direct physiological effects that promote nicotine dependence (ND) are mediated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In line with the genetic and pharmacological basis of addiction, many previous studies have revealed significant associations between variants in the nAChR subunit genes and various measures of ND in different ethnic samples. In this study, we first examined the association of variants in nAChR subunits α2 (CHRNA2) and α6 (CHRNA6) genes on chromosome 8 with ND using a family sample consisting of 1,730 European Americans (EAs) from 495 families and 1,892 African Americans (AAs) from 424 families (defined as the discovery family sample).

Substance use, trait measures, and subjective response to nicotine in never-smokers stratified on parental smoking history and sex.

Introduction: Male and female never-smokers stratified on parental history of smoking were tested for possible differences in susceptibility to the hedonic effects of nicotine.

Methods: We recruited nicotine-exposed never-smokers with two never-smoking biological parents (PH-) or two ever-smoking biological parents (PH+). After completing a baseline assessment battery focusing on conditions or behaviors associated with smoking, participants were tested for subjective and hedonic effects in response to administration of three different nicotine doses (0.

Race differences in factors relating to smoking initiation.

To investigate race differences in retrospectively-reported early smoking experiences, we studied African-American (n=48) and Caucasian (n=155) current smokers who participated in a study designed to identify phenotypic and genotypic factors associated with smoking. Compared with Caucasian smokers, African-American smokers were less educated (mean+/-s.e.

Using MIMIC models to examine the relationship between current smoking and early smoking experiences.

Introduction: The present study expands previous research on early experiences with tobacco by using a Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model, which permits combining indicators tapping into pleasant experiences into one latent construct and those indicators of unpleasant experiences into another latent construct.

Methods: A sample of 458 participants was recruited via newspaper advertisements. Response to early experimentation with cigarettes was assessed using the Early Smoking Experiences questionnaire, in which participants were asked the following question: "The first time you tried cigarettes, did you experience any of the following? (pleasurable and displeasurable sensations [overall], pleasurable rush or buzz, dizziness, relaxation, nausea, cough, difficulty inhaling).

Never-smokers with a positive family smoking history are more likely to be overweight or obese than never-smokers with a negative family smoking history.

To shed light on the complex relationship between smoking and body weight, we used never-smokers stratified on family smoking history to model the effects of a diathesis for smoking on body weight without the potential confound of metabolic changes or decreased physical activity caused by chronic tobacco smoke exposure. Participants were 100 family history negative never-smokers (FH-; 2 never-smoking parents) and 71 family history positive never-smokers (FH+; 2 ever-smoking parents). Controlling for significant group differences in race and age, BMI was significantly higher in FH+ (26.

The role of engagement in a tailored web-based smoking cessation program: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Web-based programs for health promotion, disease prevention, and disease management often experience high rates of attrition. There are 3 questions which are particularly relevant to this issue. First, does engagement with program content predict long-term outcomes? Second, which users are most likely to drop out or disengage from the program? Third, do particular intervention strategies enhance engagement?

Objective: To determine: (1) whether engagement (defined by the number of Web sections opened) in a Web-based smoking cessation intervention predicts 6-month abstinence, (2) whether particular sociodemographic and psychographic groups are more likely to have lower engagement, and (3) whether particular components of a Web-based smoking cessation program influence engagement.

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha 5 (CHRNA5) with smoking status and with 'pleasurable buzz' during early experimentation with smoking.

Aims: To extend the previously identified association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-5 (CHRNA5) and nicotine dependence to current smoking and initial smoking-experience phenotypes.

Design, Setting, Participants: Case-control association study with a community-based sample, comprising 363 Caucasians and 72 African Americans (203 cases, 232 controls).

Measurements: Cases had smoked > or = five cigarettes/day for > or = 5 years and had smoked at their current rate for the past 6 months.

Variants in nicotinic receptors and risk for nicotine dependence.

Objective: A recent study provisionally identified numerous genetic variants as risk factors for the transition from smoking to the development of nicotine dependence, including an amino acid change in the alpha5 nicotinic cholinergic receptor (CHRNA5). The purpose of this study was to replicate these findings in an independent data set and more thoroughly investigate the role of genetic variation in the cluster of physically linked nicotinic receptors, CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4, and the risk of smoking.

Method: Individuals from 219 European American families (N=2,284) were genotyped across this gene cluster to test the genetic association with smoking.

Association of withdrawal features with nicotine dependence as measured by the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND).

The aim of this study was to advance our understanding of how nicotine dependence level, defined by the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND), relates to nicotine withdrawal features. We classified nicotine dependence in two categories, 1) low dependence (LD; FTND<4) and 2) high dependence (HD; FTND> or =4). A sample of 241 smokers was recruited via newspaper ads and public notices.

Web-based smoking-cessation programs: results of a randomized trial.

Background: Initial trials of web-based smoking-cessation programs have generally been promising. The active components of these programs, however, are not well understood. This study aimed to (1) identify active psychosocial and communication components of a web-based smoking-cessation intervention and (2) examine the impact of increasing the tailoring depth on smoking cessation.

Genome-wide linkage analysis for smoking-related regions, with replication in two ethnically diverse populations.

As part of the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy, hypertensive sibships were collected and smoking behavior recorded. Using an affected sibpair design and genome-wide microsatellite data markers ( approximately 10 cM coverage), we identified 214 non-Hispanic White sibships (502 sibpairs) from Rochester, Minnesota (M (age) [SD] = 55.68 years [10.

Genetic research on complex behaviors: an examination of attempts to identify genes for smoking.

A conference on the conduct of genomic research on complex behaviors was convened at the University of Michigan to demystify genetic research by describing the tools and methodologies for identifying genes and to assess the feasibility of conducting genomic research on smoking, a complex behavior with major public health import. These proceedings are excerpts based on the presentations at the conference.

Novel genes identified in a high-density genome wide association study for nicotine dependence.

Tobacco use is a leading contributor to disability and death worldwide, and genetic factors contribute in part to the development of nicotine dependence. To identify novel genes for which natural variation contributes to the development of nicotine dependence, we performed a comprehensive genome wide association study using nicotine dependent smokers as cases and non-dependent smokers as controls. To allow the efficient, rapid, and cost effective screen of the genome, the study was carried out using a two-stage design.

Cholinergic nicotinic receptor genes implicated in a nicotine dependence association study targeting 348 candidate genes with 3713 SNPs.

Nicotine dependence is one of the world's leading causes of preventable death. To discover genetic variants that influence risk for nicotine dependence, we targeted over 300 candidate genes and analyzed 3713 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1050 cases and 879 controls. The Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) was used to assess dependence, in which cases were required to have an FTND of 4 or more.

Differences in smoking-related variables based on phenylthiocarbamide "taster" status.

Test strips impregnated with phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) have been used to identify genetic differences based on whether a bitter taste is perceived. To determine whether smokers who perceive PTC as bitter tasting ("tasters") would differ from those who describe it as tasteless ("non-tasters") on smoking-related variables, we studied 464 current smokers (70% female, 79% White; mean age 30.5+/-9 years) recruited to participate in laboratory experiments and clinical trials.

Unaided smoking cessation among smokers in treatment for alcohol dependence.

To investigate the possible impact of treatment of alcohol dependence on smoking, we studied 144 smokers in an alcohol treatment center for whom 6-month data were available. Of those, 18 reported not smoking at 6 months. No significant differences in age, gender, or race were observed between quitters and continuing smokers.

Nicotine dependence, depression, and gender: characterizing phenotypes based on withdrawal discomfort, response to smoking, and ability to abstain.

Smoking is often viewed as a comprehensive phenotype rather than a complex set of traits involving intermediate phenotypes. To explore this issue in a laboratory setting, we tested 69 smokers stratified on depression, nicotine dependence, and gender. On the third day of an initial withdrawal period, we tested for differences among participants in uncued and cued craving and withdrawal; on the fourth day, we exposed them to a controlled dose of smoke and assessed them for physiological and hedonic effects and reduction of craving and withdrawal.

Validation of retrospective reports of early experiences with smoking.

Initial sensitivity to the pharmacological effects of a drug may affect patterns of future use and dependence for a wide variety of drugs. Retrospective reports of sensations experienced upon early experimentation, however, may be limited by recall bias based on time elapsed and subsequent experiences. To validate reports of early experiences with nicotine, we studied 34 smokers who had contributed retrospective data on early experiences with smoking.

Differences in accuracy of offspring assessment based on parental smoking status.

To investigate the accuracy of offspring assessments of parental smoking status, we studied 116 parents and 151 adult children (276 parent-child dyads) who provided data on both their own and their parents' smoking status. All currently smoking and all ex-smoking parents were correctly classified as ever-smokers by their offspring (n = 79 and 100, respectively). Of the 97 offspring who reported on never-smoking parents, 88 correctly classified their parents as never-smokers.

Heterogeneity in phenotypes based on smoking status in the Great Lakes Smoker Sibling Registry.

We investigated whether 52 same-sex sibling pairs discordant for ever-smoking differed on psychiatric cofactors, alcohol and caffeine use, and responses to initial exposure to smoking. Ever-smokers scored significantly higher on measures of novelty seeking, depression, and childhood ADHD, and on alcohol dependence, alcohol intake, and caffeine intake. They reported significantly more pleasurable experiences, dizziness, "buzz," and relaxation upon initial exposure to smoking and significantly fewer displeasurable sensations, nausea, and cough than did nicotine-exposed, never-smoking siblings.