Patterns of cortisol and craving by menstrual phase in women attempting to quit smoking.

Research indicates stress, craving and menstrual phase may play a role in relapse to smoking. It remains unknown how these factors may interact during cessation. This study describes the relationship between craving and cortisol concentrations by menstrual phase during ad libitum smoking and investigates the impact of this relationship on time to relapse.

Nicotine withdrawal and craving in adolescents: effects of sex and hormonal contraceptive use.

While sex differences in the nicotine withdrawal (NW) symptoms and craving (NC) have been extensively described in adult cigarette smokers, few studies have investigated these phenomena in adolescents. We investigated the effect of gender and hormonal contraception (HC) on NW and NC during the first 14 days of cessation in adolescent smokers using data from a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of the transdermal nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Analyses showed similar levels of NW severity in males and females, regardless of HC use.

Short-term weight gain by menstrual phase following smoking cessation in women.

Prevention of early weight gain may be critical to avoid relapse among women with a fear of weight gain. Menstrual phase has physiological fluctuation of fluid resulting in short-term weight gain, suggesting menstrual phase of smoking cessation may impact short-term weight gain. This study examined the effect of smoking abstinence and menstrual cycle on short-term weight gain.

Influence of phase-related variability in premenstrual symptomatology, mood, smoking withdrawal, and smoking behavior during ad libitum smoking, on smoking cessation outcome.

Emerging evidence suggests that women have a more difficult time quitting smoking than men-possibly due, in part, to sex hormones. The present study characterized mood, premenstrual symptomatology, and smoking withdrawal, as well as smoking behavior, in the follicular and luteal phases during ad libitum smoking in 25 women intending to quit. We also investigated the possible influence of phase-related variability in these measures on likelihood of study adherence and smoking cessation.

Smokeless tobacco brand switching: a means to reduce toxicant exposure?

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of smokeless tobacco (ST) brand switching on biomarkers of ST exposure and on ST use. Subjects seeking treatment to reduce their use were randomized to ST brand switching with controlled ST topography, brand switching with ad libitum ST use, or a waitlist control with subsequent randomization to one of these two conditions. The waitlist control group was included to assess whether changes were a consequence of time effect.

Safety and immunogenicity of a nicotine conjugate vaccine in current smokers.

Immunotherapy is a novel potential treatment for nicotine addiction. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and immunogenicity of a nicotine conjugate vaccine, NicVAX, and its effects on smoking behavior. Smokers (N = 68) were recruited for a noncessation treatment study and assigned to 1 of 3 doses of the nicotine vaccine (50, 100, or 200 microg) or placebo.

Characteristics of cigarette smokers seeking treatment for cessation versus reduction.

Comparisons were made between cigarette smokers seeking treatment to quit smoking and cigarette smokers seeking treatment to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke. Potential subjects were recruited from the local metropolitan area by advertisement in the local media. A total of 665 cigarette smokers telephoned our clinic to seek treatment for smoking cessation and 565 cigarette smokers telephoned to seek treatment to gradually reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke but not quit smoking.