Cigarette Puffs Research Articles

Characterizing smoking topography of cannabis in heavy users

Little is known about the smoking topography characteristics of heavy cannabis users. Such measures may be able to predict cannabis use-related outcomes and could be used to validate self-reported measures of cannabis use. The current study was conducted to measure cannabis smoking topography characteristics during periods of ad libitum use and to correlate topography assessments with measures of self-reported cannabis use, withdrawal and craving during abstinence, and cognitive task performance. Participants (N = 20) completed an inpatient study in which they alternated between periods of ad libitum cannabis use and abstinence. Measures of self-reported cannabis use, smoking topography, craving, withdrawal, and sleep measures were collected. Participants smoked with greater intensity (e.g., greater volume, longer duration) on initial cigarette puffs with a steady decline on subsequent puffs. Smoking characteristics were significantly correlated with severity of withdrawal, notably sleep quality and architecture, and craving during abstinence, suggesting dose-related effects of cannabis use on these outcomes. Smoking characteristics generally were not significantly associated with cognitive performance. Smoking topography measures were significantly correlated with self-reported measures of cannabis use, indicating validity of these assessments, but topography measures were more sensitive than self-report in predicting cannabis-related outcomes. A dose-effect relationship between cannabis consumption and outcomes believed to be clinically important was observed. With additional research, smoking topography assessments may become a useful clinical tool.

Influence of measurement setting and home smoking policy on smoking topography

While cigarette puffing style, measured by smoking topography, is highly variable between individuals, smoking behavior or style tends to vary relatively little within individuals. Recent research has demonstrated that certain situational factors may produce variation in smoking topography, including location of smoking. Smoking topography directly observed by researchers in a laboratory may differ from that indirectly observed via portable measurement devices at participants' homes. The introduction of clean indoor air laws may also influence smokers' puffing styles, as smokers modify their smoking topography to ensure a quicker, more efficient smoking style. The goal of this analysis was to examine whether directly observed laboratory measures are representative of indirectly observed smoking behavior and to examine the influence of smokers' preference for indoor or outdoor home smoking on puffing style. Overall, participants smoked more intensively in the directly observed setting than when in the indirectly observed setting in terms of total volume intake, inter-puff interval, and total time spent smoking. This difference was most pronounced among individuals who reported smoking indoors when at home. The data suggest that adherence to an indoor home smoking policy may further influence an individual's smoking behavior.

Shorter interpuff interval is associated with higher nicotine intake in smokers with schizophrenia

BackgroundPeople with schizophrenia are frequent and heavy smokers. MethodsThe objective of this study was to measure serum nicotine levels and ad libitum smoking behavior for 24+2h using the CReSS micro topography device in 75 smokers with schizophrenia (SCZ) and compare these to 86 control smokers (CON) without mental illness. Mean values of repeatedly measured topography variables were compared using three-level nested linear models to adjust for between subject differences and the double nested data. ResultsSmokers with SCZ smoked more cigarettes in the 24h period and took an average of 2.8 more puffs per cigarette than CON (p<0.001). The time between puffs, or interpuff interval (IPI), was shorter in SCZ by an average of 6.5s (p<0.001). The peak flow rate was higher in SCZ by an average of 4.9ml/s (p<0.05). Smokers with SCZ spent an average of 1.0min less time smoking a single cigarette vs. CON (p<0.001). Smokers with SCZ also had shorter IPI and more puffs per cigarette in an analysis of first cigarette of the day. For all subjects, a decrease in IPI by 1s was associated with an increase in serum nicotine of 0.19ng/ml and in cotinine of 5.01ng/ml (both p<0.05). After controlling for diagnosis group, higher craving scores on QSU Factor 2 (urgent desire to smoke) were associated with shorter IPI. DiscussionSmokers with schizophrenia demonstrate more intense cigarette puffing that is associated with greater nicotine intake. This pattern may provide insight into other heavily dependent smokers.

An examination of differences in variables maintaining smoking behavior in adult smokers with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) smoke cigarettes at higher rates and have greater difficulty quitting than their non-diagnosed peers. This study examined differences between smokers with and without ADHD on a range of smoking-related variables. Twenty-two subjects with ADHD and 22 controls completed self-report measures of withdrawal symptoms, smoking motivation, sensory experience of smoking, and positive and negative affect. Compared to control smokers, smokers with ADHD reported greater craving and negative affect; perceived smoking as providing greater enhancement of concentration and alertness, as more calming, and as providing a greater decrease in irritability; found cigarette puffs to be more enjoyable and satisfying; and rated smoking as providing greater positive and negative reinforcement and greater cognitive enhancement. Women with ADHD reported the greatest effects of smoking on improving concentration and reducing irritability. Findings support the hypothesis that smokers with ADHD may experience smoking differently than smokers without the disorder, and that they may identify different motivations for smoking.

Pyrolysis behavior of pectin under the conditions that simulate cigarette smoking

In this paper, the formation mechanism of pyrolysis gases released during the pyrolysis of pectin under the conditions that simulate cigarette smouldering was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TG–FTIR). Moreover, the combustion behavior of pyrolysis gases was studied by micro-scale combustion calorimetry (MCC). TG–FTIR results illustrated that the composition of the gaseous products was mainly composed of CO 2, H 2O, CO, methanol, methane and carbonyl compounds. MCC results demonstrated that the combustion of pectin was mainly determined by the prolysis gases formed in the temperature range of 200–300 °C. Flash pyrolysis experiment in combination with high performance liquid chromatography (FPy–HPLC) was used to study the pyrolytic formation of eight carbonyl compounds (i.e. formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, acrolein, propionaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone and butyraldehyde) during the pyrolysis of pectin under the pyrolysis conditions of cigarette puffing. Results demonstrated that pyrolysis temperature influenced the formation of acetaldehyde, acrolein, propionaldehyde and butyraldehyde greatly, while nitrogen flow affected the generation of formaldehyde, acetone, crotonaldehyde and methyl ethyl ketone deeply.

The pyrolysis of cigarette paper under the conditions that simulate cigarette smouldering and puffing

The combustion properties and pyrolysis behavior of cigarette paper under the pyrolysis conditions of cigarette smouldering were investigated by micro-scale combustion calorimetry (MCC), thermogravimetric analysis coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TG-FTIR), respectively. MCC results demonstrated that the combustion and pyrolysis behavior are influenced by heating rate obviously. TG-FTIR results illustrated that the composition of the gaseous products were mainly composed of CO2, H2O carbonyl compounds, CO, and methanol. Flash pyrolysis experiment in combination with high performance liquid chromatography (FPy-HPLC) was used to study the pyrolytic formation of eight carbonyl compounds (i.e., formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, acrolein, propionaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone, and butyraldehyde) during the pyrolysis of cigarette paper under the pyrolysis conditions of cigarette puffing. Moreover, the solid char formed after the flash pyrolysis experiments were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It had been found that the pyrolysis temperature influenced the formation of carbonyl compounds and the composition of char greatly.

Nicotine Metabolite Ratio Predicts Smoking Topography and Carcinogen Biomarker Level

Variability in smoking behavior is partly attributable to heritable individual differences in nicotine clearance rates. This can be assessed as the ratio of the metabolites cotinine and 3'-hydroxycotinine (referred to as the nicotine metabolism ratio; NMR). We hypothesized that faster NMR would be associated with greater cigarette puff volume and higher levels of total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), a carcinogen biomarker. Current smokers (n = 109) smoked one of their preferred brand cigarettes through a smoking topography device and provided specimens for NMR and total NNAL assays. Faster nicotine metabolizers (third and fourth quartiles versus first quartile) based on the NMR exhibited significantly greater total puff volume and total NNAL; the total puff volume by daily cigarette consumption interaction was a significant predictor of total NNAL level. A heritable biomarker of nicotine clearance predicts total cigarette puff volume and total NNAL. If validated, the NMR could contribute to smoking risk assessment in epidemiologic studies and potentially in clinical practice.

Effects of dieting status and cigarette deprivation on progressive ratio responding for cigarette puffs by young women smokers

There is evidence from self-report measures which suggests that young women dieters find cigarette smoking less rewarding than non-dieters. We aimed to further elucidate differences between dieters and non-dieters in their evaluation of smoking using a behavioural measure of drug reward. Thirty female undergraduates attended two sessions (cigarette deprived and non-deprived). A computer-based progressive ratio operant procedure was employed to assess the amount of effort that participants were willing to expend to gain a puff on a cigarette. The point at which responding ceased was taken as a measure of drug reward (breakpoint). Self-report measures of sensory/hedonic aspects of smoking were also completed. The breakpoints of both dieters and non-dieters were greater under deprived than non-deprived conditions but the breakpoints of dieters were significantly lower than those of the non-dieting smokers under both conditions. Self-reported enjoyment of smoking was lower for dieters than non-dieters and reports for non-dieters but not dieters were affected by deprivation level. Both behavioural and self-report measures of rewarding aspects of smoking suggest that young women dieters find smoking less rewarding than non-dieters, but self-report measures are more resistant to deprivation effects for dieters. This is consistent with the suggestion that subjective and behavioural measures assess different dimensions of the rewarding effects of smoking.

What is the biological fate of mentholated cigarette smoking?

What is the biological fate of mentholated cigarette smoking?

Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression Emotion Regulation Strategies in Cigarette Smokers

Negative affect is an important psychological factor in the promotion and maintenance of cigarette smoking, though the underlying factors that account for this relationship remain to be determined. One possible mechanism may be smokers' emotion regulation strategies. Preliminary research among adolescents and young adults suggests that greater utilization of expressive suppression versus cognitive reappraisal is associated with higher rates of smoking initiation. There is limited research, however, on the role of emotion regulation strategies in smoking maintenance in adult smokers. Data from participants in a laboratory study (N = 121) were used to examine whether utilization of cognitive reappraisal and/or expressive suppression were related to smoking characteristics and subjective (i.e., mood, urge to smoke ratings) and behavioral reactions (i.e., Emotional Stroop Task performance, smoking behavior) to a mood induction procedure. Data were evaluated for the full sample and subsample who endorsed current depressive symptoms (n = 46). Frequent reappraisal was associated with weaker expectancies that smoking alleviates unpleasant feelings, greater positive mood, and fewer depressive symptoms. In contrast, frequent suppression was related to longer smoking history and greater attentional bias to smoking cues on an Emotional Stroop Task. Among the depressed subsample, reappraisal moderated the effect of mood condition on smoking duration, number of cigarette puffs, and carbon monoxide boost. These results provide preliminary support that emotion regulation strategies may be associated with motivational correlates of smoking as well as actual smoking behavior among depressed smokers.

Smoking-induced change in intrasynaptic dopamine concentration: Effect of treatment for Tobacco Dependence

The aim of this study was to determine whether standard treatments for Tobacco Dependence affect smoking-induced changes in intrasynaptic dopamine (DA) concentration. Forty-three otherwise healthy adult cigarette smokers (10 to 40 cigarettes per day) were treated with either practical group counseling (PGC) psychotherapy ( n = 14), bupropion HCl ( n = 14), or matching pill placebo ( n = 15) (random assignment) for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, each subject underwent a bolus-plus-continuous-infusion 11C-raclopride positron emission tomography (PET) scanning session, during which he or she smoked a regular cigarette. The PET scanning outcome measure of interest was percent change in smoking-induced 11C-raclopride binding potential (BP ND) in the ventral caudate/nucleus accumbens (VCD/NAc), as an indirect measure of DA release. Although the entire study sample had a smaller mean smoking-induced reduction in VCD/NAc BP ND after treatment (compared to before treatment), this change was highly correlated with smaller total cigarette puff volumes (and not other treatment variables). These data indicate that smoking-induced DA release is dose-dependent, and is not significantly affected by reductions in daily smoking levels or treatment type.

Refining the tobacco dependence phenotype using the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives: II. Evidence from a laboratory self-administration assay.

Prior analyses of the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (Piper et al., 2004) implicated 4 subscales as primary dependence motives (PDM) indexing the core features of tobacco dependence, with the remaining subscales reflecting secondary dependence motives (SDM; Piper et al., 2008). The current study extended this work by examining the correlates of PDM, SDM, their subscales, and other indicators of dependence in an operant self-administration paradigm. Smokers (N = 58) worked for cigarette puffs under differing fixed ratio schedules. Analyses focused on predicting self-administration under conditions of minimal constraint on tobacco access and on withdrawal and craving under conditions of severe constraint. Results support a 2-factor model of dependence, with the PDM factor showing relatively stronger relations with tobacco self-administration and the SDM factor showing relatively stronger relations with withdrawal symptomatology and distress-related craving. The PDM appears to index core features of tobacco dependence, but susceptibility to deprivation-contingent distress and craving may be better indexed by SDM.

The application of profluorescent nitroxides to detect reactive oxygen species derived from combustion-generated particulate matter: Cigarette smoke – A case study

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and related free radicals are considered to be key factors underpinning the various adverse health effects associated with exposure to ambient particulate matter. Therefore, measurement of ROS is a crucial factor for assessing the potential toxicity of particles. In this work, a novel profluorescent nitroxide, BPEAnit, was investigated as a probe for detecting particle-derived ROS. BPEAnit has a very low fluorescence emission due to inherent quenching by the nitroxide group, but upon radical trapping or redox activity, a strong fluorescence is observed. BPEAnit was tested for detection of ROS present in mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke. In the case of mainstream cigarette smoke, there was a linear increase in fluorescence intensity with an increasing number of cigarette puffs, equivalent to an average of 101 nmol ROS per cigarette based on the number of moles of the probe reacted. Sidestream cigarette smoke sampled from an environmental chamber exposed BPEAnit to much lower concentrations of particles, but still resulted in a clearly detectible increase in fluorescence intensity with sampling time. It was calculated that the amount of ROS was equivalent to 50 ± 2 nmol per mg of particulate matter; however, this value decreased with ageing of the particles in the chamber. Overall, BPEAnit was shown to provide a sensitive response related to the oxidative capacity of the particulate matter. These findings present a good basis for employing the new BPEAnit probe for the investigation of particle-related ROS generated from cigarette smoke as well as from other combustion sources.

Rapid automated blood sampling system for pharmacokinetics studies of cigarette smoking

We developed an automated sampling system to allow multiple, discrete blood samples from a human participant to be collected rapidly and immediately following cigarette smoke exposure. We reported the details of the sampling system along with the results of a pilot study for evaluation of the system. Components of the system include silastic tubing, solenoid pinch valves, a peristaltic pump, and a fraction collector. This system incorporates a smoking machine that allows precise delivery of cigarette smoke through a mouthpiece and intricate timing to correlate blood samples with smoke inhalation. All components are controlled via integration from a user interface and are fully customizable. We performed several tests to evaluate the equipment, including tubing dead volume, leakage tests, and sample reproducibility. We also performed a pilot study with 6 adult smokers, who received 6 controlled puffs of a research test cigarette. Each inhalation was followed by radial arterial blood collection (1 sample per second tapered to 1 sample every 4 s) for 1 min. Samples were evaluated for nicotine via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric methods. Sampling times and volumes were sufficient for nicotine analysis. No adverse effects were seen in the pilot study, and a 30-min washout period was deemed appropriate between puffs. A significant rise in plasma nicotine levels above baseline after inhalation of smoke was consistently detected in all participants. The unique advantage of this system is to allow rapid blood sampling after a puff of cigarette smoke, with the benefits of reproducibility, reduction in labor intensity, and high temporal resolution.

Hormones, nicotine, and cocaine: Clinical studies

Nicotine and cocaine each stimulate hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and –gonadal axis hormones, and there is increasing evidence that the hormonal milieu may modulate the abuse-related effects of these drugs. This review summarizes some clinical studies of the acute effects of cigarette smoking or IV cocaine on plasma drug and hormone levels and subjective effects ratings. The temporal covariance between these dependent measures was assessed with a rapid (2 min) sampling procedure in nicotine-dependent volunteers or current cocaine users. Cigarette smoking and IV cocaine each stimulated a rapid increase in LH and ACTH, followed by gradual increases in cortisol and DHEA. Positive subjective effects ratings increased immediately after initiation of cigarette smoking or IV cocaine administration. However, in contrast to cocaine's sustained positive effects (< 20 min), ratings of “high” and “rush” began to decrease within one or two puffs of a high-nicotine cigarette while nicotine levels were increasing. Peak nicotine levels increased progressively after each of three successive cigarettes smoked at 60 min intervals, but the magnitude of the subjective effects ratings and peak ACTH and cortisol levels diminished. Only DHEA increased consistently after successive cigarettes. The possible influence of neuroactive hormones on nicotine dependence and cocaine abuse and the implications for treatment of these addictive disorders are discussed.

Alcohol-induced increases in smoking behavior for nicotinized and denicotinized cigarettes in men and women

Alcohol has been shown to increase smoking urges and smoking behavior. However, alcohol's effects on specific components of smoking behavior for nicotine versus non-nicotine factors and potential sex differences in this response have not been investigated. Forty-two young male and female non-dependent, heavy social drinking smokers participated in two double-blind laboratory sessions. They were randomized to either an alcohol (0.8 g/kg; n = 29) or placebo (n = 13) beverage pre-administration group. After beverage consumption, they were assessed for smoking urges and then given the opportunity to smoke cigarettes which were either all nicotinized (0.6 mg/cigarette) or denicotinized (< or =0.05 mg/cigarette) over a 3-h period; smoking behavior was quantified by a smoking topography device. Subjects took standardized puffs of the session's cigarette both before and after beverage administration to provide a reference when making future smoking choices. Alcohol, compared with placebo beverage, increased both men's and women's smoking urge, as well as subjective ratings of smoking reference puffs for either nicotinized or denicotinized cigarettes. In terms of smoking choice behavior, regardless of cigarette type, alcohol (>placebo) increased men's smoking behavior, including puff count, volume, and duration. In contrast, for women, smoking topography measures did not differ between alcohol and placebo conditions. In summary regardless of nicotine content, in men, alcohol increased smoking urge and behavior, whereas in women, alcohol increased smoking urge but did not increase smoking behavior. These results indicate that the mechanisms underlying co-use of alcohol and tobacco in women may be more complex than in men.

Rats Self-Administer Intravenous Nicotine Delivered in a Novel Smoking-Relevant Procedure: Effects of Dopamine Antagonists

Attempts to explain tobacco addiction have relied heavily on the assumption that each cigarette puff delivers a bolus of nicotine to the brain within seconds. However, nicotine transits from lungs to brain much more gradually than once thought. Nevertheless, animal self-administration studies continue to use rapid (e.g., <3-s) infusions, as well as high unit doses of nicotine (e.g., 15-30 microg/kg/infusion), each equivalent to one to two cigarettes. Here, we report that nicotine is self-administered across a range of infusion durations (3, 30, 60, and 120 s) in rats. Slow (30-s) infusions were preferred over fast (nominal 3-s) infusions and were self-administered across several reinforcement schedules, at doses as low as 3 microg/kg/infusion, equivalent to one to two puffs. A conventional "fast/high" self-administration procedure (3 s-30 microg/kg/infusion) was then compared with our new "slow/low" procedure (30 s-3 microg/kg/infusion) in rats trained on a progressive ratio schedule and acutely challenged with dopamine receptor antagonists. The D(1) antagonist R-(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SCH 23390) (6-25 microg/kg s.c.) reduced intake in both procedures and in rats self-administering cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion). The D(2) antagonists spiperone (3-30 microg/kg s.c.) and sulpiride (5-20 mg/kg i.p.) increased intake of fast/high nicotine and cocaine, but markedly reduced intake of slow/low nicotine. In a final test, in which only infusion speed was varied, an acute spiperone challenge produced the same differential effect on nicotine self-administration. In conclusion, our new slow/low nicotine self-administration procedure, designed to better mimic smoking-associated nicotine intake, is pharmacologically distinct from the conventional fast delivery/high-dose procedure.

The Effect of a Single Cigarette Puff on Air Flow in the Lungs

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured in 160 apparently healthy males, 15 50 years of age, consisting of 60 non-smokers (control) and 100 who volunteered to smoke (experimental subjects). Out of the 100 subjects, 50 who were also non-smokers smoked a cigarette through a single suck (puff). Another 50 who previously smoked also took a single puff. Results indicate that PEFR for the control group was 558 ± 10L/min in the 30 younger subjects (15-30yrs) and 516 ± 11 L/min in the 30 older subjects (31 50 years) and the difference was significant (P

Depression moderates smoking behavior in response to a sad mood induction.

Stress and anxiety have been shown to increase smoking motivation. There is limited experimental data on depressed or sad mood and smoking. This study investigated the effects of two induced moods on smoking behavior. Depression scores were examined as a potential moderator and mood changes were tested as a potential mediator. Smokers (N = 121) were randomly assigned to receive either a sad induction or a neutral induction via standardized film clips. Among participants with higher depression scores, smoking duration and the number of cigarette puffs were greater in response to the sad condition. There was also a marginal interactive effect on the change in expired air carbon monoxide among this subsample; however, no differences in smoking latency or craving were observed. Changes in positive mood partially mediated the effect of condition on smoking behavior among participants with high depression scores. There was no modifying effect of gender or mediating effect of negative mood changes. The results provide preliminary support that decreases in positive mood may have a greater influence on smoking behavior among depression-prone smokers than less psychiatrically vulnerable smokers.

EFFECTS OF INITIAL ABSTINENCE AND PROGRAMMED LAPSES ON THE RELATIVE REINFORCING EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING

Fifty-eight smokers received abstinence-contingent monetary payments for 1 (n=15) or 14 (n=3) days. Those who received contingent payments for 14 days also received 0, 1, or 8 experimenter-delivered cigarette puffs on 5 evenings. The relative reinforcing effects of smoking were assessed in a 3-hr session on the final study day, when participants made 20 choices between smoking or money. The reinforcement contingencies exerted robust control over smoking, and programmed smoking lapses produced few discernible effects. These results further illustrate the robust control that reinforcement contingencies can exert over cigarette smoking and suggest that any effects of lapses on the relative reinforcing effects of smoking are modest under conditions involving abstinence-contingent reinforcement contingencies.