E-cigarette Technology Research Articles

Reinforcing effects of fentanyl and sufentanil aerosol puffs in rats.

Rapidly evolving e-cigarette technology developed for self-administering nicotine aerosol has the potential to be utilized to self-administer other aerosolized drugs of abuse. Rodent models which mirror characteristics of human e-cigarette use are necessary to explore the degree to which this may be a public health concern. Our goal was to develop a highly translational model of discrete nose-only aerosol puff drug delivery to explore the reinforcing effects of fentanyl and sufentanil aerosols in rats. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to perform a multiple schedule FR1 lever-press, 4-s (second) nose hold operant during which the subject's orofacial areas were exposed to drug-free glycerol/propylene glycol aerosol produced by a commercial e-cigarette at a power setting of 18 watts. Each completed 4-s drug-free vehicle aerosol exposure resulted in a 3-s presentation of a 0.1-ml dipper of sweetened milk solution. After training, rats were then allowed to self-administer 4-s nose-only puffs of fentanyl (100-6000µg/ml) or sufentanil (30-500µg/ml) aerosol in the absence of paired milk dipper reinforcers. All 31 rats learned the lever-press/nose-poke multiple schedule for milk dippers alone and 25 accepted exposure to 4s of 18watts of drug-free vehicle aerosol when paired with milk dipper presentations. In the absence of paired milk dipper presentations, fentanyl aerosol puffs at concentrations of 1000 and 3000µg/ml as well as 100µg/ml puffs of sufentanil served as reinforcers compared to both air puffs and drug-free vehicle aerosol puffs. There were no significant differences between males and females in number of fentanyl or sufentanil puffs self-administered. Discrete nose-only puffs of two potent opioids under exposure conditions comparable to puff durations in human e-cigarette users serve as reinforcers in rats. This outcome suggests that under appropriate conditions e-cigarettes might be a potential alternative delivery mechanism for illicit opioids.

Effects of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vapor inhalation in Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats.

An inhalation system based on e-cigarette technology produces hypothermic and antinociceptive effects of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rats. Indirect comparison of some prior investigations suggested differential impact of inhaled THC between Wistar (WI) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats; thus, this study was conducted to directly compare the strains across inhaled and injected routes of administration. Groups (N = 8 per strain) of age-matched male SD and WI rats were prepared with radiotelemetry devices to measure temperature and then exposed to vapor from the propylene glycol (PG) vehicle or THC (25-200 mg/mL of PG) for 30 or 40 min. Additional studies evaluated effects of THC inhalation on plasma THC (50-200 mg/mL) and nociception (100-200 mg/mL) as well as the thermoregulatory effect of intraperitoneal injection of THC (5-30 mg/kg). Hypothermic effects of THC were more pronounced in SD rats, where plasma levels of THC were identical across strains, under either fixed inhalation conditions or injection of a mg/kg equivalent dose. Strain differences in hypothermia were largest after i.p. injection of THC, with SD rats exhibiting dose-dependent temperature reduction after 5 or 10 mg/kg, i.p. and the WI rats only exhibiting significant hypothermia after 20 mg/kg, i.p. The antinociceptive effects of inhaled THC (100, 200 mg/mL) did not differ significantly across the strains. These studies confirm an insensitivity of WI rats, compared with SD rats, to hypothermia induced by THC following inhalation conditions that produced identical plasma THC and antinociception. Thus, quantitative, albeit not qualitative, strain differences may be obtained when studying thermoregulatory effects of THC. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Female rats self-administer heroin by vapor inhalation

Over the last two decades the United States has experienced a significant increase in the medical and non-medical use of opioid drugs, resulting in record numbers of opioid-related overdoses and deaths. There was an initial increase in non-medical use of prescription opioids around 2002, followed later by increased heroin use and then most recently fentanyl. Inhalation is a common route of administration for opioids, with a documented history spanning back to Mediterranean antiquity and up through modern use with e-cigarette devices. Unfortunately, preclinical studies using inhalation as the route of administration remain relatively few. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of e-cigarette vapor inhalation of heroin in rats. Non-contingent exposure to heroin or methadone vapor produced anti-nociceptive efficacy in male and female rats. Female rats were trained to self-administer heroin vapor; the most-preferring half of the distribution obtained more vapor reinforcers when the concentration of heroin was reduced in the vapor vehicle and when pre-treated with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. The anti-nociceptive effect of heroin self-administered by vapor was identical in magnitude to that produced by intravenous self-administration. Finally, anxiety-like behavior increased 24–48 h after last heroin vapor access, consistent with withdrawal signs observed after intravenous self-administration. In sum, these studies show that rewarding and anti-nociceptive effects of heroin are produced in rats by vapor inhalation using e-cigarette technology. Importantly, self-administration models by this route can be deployed to determine health effects of inhaled heroin or other opioids.

Explication of CB1 receptor contributions to the hypothermic effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) when delivered by vapor inhalation or parenteral injection in rats

The use of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by inhalation using e-cigarette technology grows increasingly popular for medical and recreational purposes. This has led to development of e-cigarette based techniques to study the delivery of THC by inhalation in laboratory rodents. Inhaled THC reliably produces hypothermic and antinociceptive effects in rats, similar to effects of parenteral injection of THC. This study was conducted to determine the extent to which the hypothermic response depends on interactions with the CB1 receptor, using pharmacological antagonist (SR141716, AM-251) approaches. Groups of rats were implanted with radiotelemetry devices capable of reporting activity and body temperature, which were assessed after THC inhalation or injection. SR141716 (4 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked or attenuated antinociceptive effects of acute THC inhalation in male and female rats. SR141716 was unable to block the initial hypothermia caused by THC inhalation, but temperature was restored to normal more quickly. Alterations in antagonist pre-treatment time, dose and the use of a rat strain with less sensitivity to THC-induced hypothermia did not change this pattern. Pre-treatment with SR141716 (4 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked hypothermia induced by i.v. THC and reversed hypothermia when administered 45 or 90 min after THC (i.p.). SR141716 and AM-251 (4 mg/kg, i.p.) sped recovery from, but did not block, hypothermia caused by vapor THC in female rats made tolerant by prior repeated THC vapor inhalation. The CB2 antagonist AM-630, had no effect. These results suggest that hypothermia consequent to THC inhalation is induced by other mechanisms in addition to CB1 receptor activation.

Tobacco Litigation, E-Cigarettes, and the Cigarette Endgame

Among his many contributions to the field of public health law, Professor Richard Daynard is perhaps best known for (a) advancing the idea that affirmative litigation, particularly against the tobacco industry, can serve as an effective public health tool, (b) introducing the discussion of an “endgame,” in which the commercial sale of cigarettes—the most deadly form of tobacco use—is phased out. This article unites these two topics and analyzes the potential for affirmative litigation to hasten the end of commercial cigarette sales. In recent years, the major tobacco companies have suggested that they support moving towards a “smoke-free world,” with non-combustible nicotine products such as e-cigarettes gradually replacing more harmful cigarette smoking. Though this rhetoric is deeply cynical—these same companies continue to spend heavily to promote their cigarette brands—it may nonetheless create a window of opportunity for litigants. Past litigation against tobacco companies has foundered on the absence of a “reasonable alternative design” for cigarettes. Today, the tobacco companies’ own statements can be used to show the availability of such alternatives. More importantly, now-public documents from the tobacco industry’s archives help establish the case for treating e-cigarettes as a “reasonable alternative design” for cigarettes. These documents show that the major tobacco companies developed the essential components of e-cigarette technology decades ago, but they chose not to commercialize these products because they feared they would prove to be viable alternatives to cigarettes. This article reviews how the introduction of e-cigarettes may reinvigorate products liability litigation against the manufacturers of conventional cigarettes. Building on the work of Professor Daynard, it also considers how these lawsuits, even if ultimately unsuccessful in court, might nonetheless benefit public health by pressuring the tobacco industry to live up to its public statements and by catalyzing legislative efforts to phase out the sale of cigarettes.

E-Cigarette as Distruptive Innovation: Forecasting of conventional cigarette substitution in Indonesia

<p>This paper intends to forecast conventional cigarette substitution by e-cigarette in the context of disruptive innovation. E-cigarette as disruptive innovation has been driven by technology innovation to create e-cigarette products for global market. The advancement of e-cigarette technology innovation would continue to create smart and less harmfull e-cigarette as alternative tobacco products in future.</p><p>The results of forecasting show that the replacement of conventional cigarette would be in line with the increase of e-cigarette consumption. The future increase of e-cigarette consumption would be influenced by three factors: (i) technology advancement, (ii) excise tax incentives, (iii) and tobacco regulation. The diffusion of e-cigarette products in domestic market have raised the level of public acceptance, despite still reaped some rejections, especially from the health community in Indonesia. The scientific contribution of paper is a system dynamics model on conventional cigarette substitution by e-cigarette’s disruptive innovation. The model is systemic interaction among cigarette consumption, regulators, and public responses both health community and consumers of e-cigarette in Indonesia.</p><p> </p><p>Keywords: <em> disruptive innovation, product substitution, electric-cigarette, system perspective, </em><em>forecasting</em>.</p>

E-cigarettes: Tobacco policy and regulation.

The purpose of this review is to describe current trends in e-cigarette use, provide an overview of the potential health risks and benefits, and discuss tobacco policy and regulatory considerations. E-cigarette use is popular among youth and adults, despite limited evidence about the long-term risks or benefits. Internationally there is wide variability in how e-cigarettes are classified, which has also led to large differences in regulations on these products. Regulatory policies that strike a balance between the potential benefit of these devices for adult smokers who are trying to quit smoking with reducing the appeal and addictive potential for youth are critically needed. Continued research on the health effects and consequences of e-cigarette use will be essential to inform e-cigarette product standards and tobacco regulatory policies as scientific research strives to keep pace with the ever-changing landscape of e-cigarette technology.

Tolerance to hypothermic and antinoceptive effects of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vapor inhalation in rats

RationaleA reduced effect of a given dose of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) emerges with repeated exposure to the drug. This tolerance can vary depending on THC dose, exposure chronicity and the behavioral or physiological measure of interest. A novel THC inhalation system based on e-cigarette technology has been recently shown to produce the hypothermic and antinociceptive effects of THC in rats. ObjectiveTo determine if tolerance to these effects can be produced with repeated vapor inhalation. MethodsGroups of male and female Wistar rats were exposed to 30 min of inhalation of the propylene glycol (PG) vehicle or THC (200 mg/mL in PG) two or three times per day for four days. Rectal temperature changes and nociception were assessed after the first exposure on the first and fourth days of repeated inhalation. ResultsFemale, but not male, rats developed tolerance to the hypothermic and antinociceptive effects of THC after four days of twice-daily THC vapor inhalation. Thrice daily inhalation for four days resulted in tolerance in both male and female rats. The plasma THC levels reached after a 30 min inhalation session did not differ between the male and female rats. ConclusionsRepeated daily THC inhalation induces tolerance in female and male rats, providing further validation of the vapor inhalation method for preclinical studies.

Characterizing JUUL-related posts on Twitter

BackgroundAs vaping rapidly becomes more prevalent, social media data can be harnessed to capture individuals’ discussions of e-cigarette products quickly. The JUUL vaporizer is the latest advancement in e-cigarette technology, which delivers nicotine to the user from a device that is the size and shape of a thumb drive. Despite JUUL’s growing popularity, little research has been conducted on JUUL. Here we utilized Twitter data to determine the public’s early experiences with JUUL describing topics of posts. MethodsTwitter posts containing the term “JUUL” were obtained for 1 April 2107 to 14 December 2017. Text classifiers were used to identify topics in posts (n = 81,689). ResultsThe most prevalent topic wasPerson Tagging (use of @username to tag someone in a post) at 20.48% followed by Pods (mentions of JUUL’s refill cartridge) at 14.72% and Buying (mentions of purchases) at 10.49%. The topic School (posts indicative of using JUUL or seeing someone use JUUL while at elementary, middle, or high school) comprised 3.66% of posts. The topic of Quit Smoking was rare at 0.29%. ConclusionsData from social media may be used to extend the surveillance of newly introduced vaping products. Findings suggest Twitter users are bonding around, and inquiring about, JUUL on social media. JUUL’s discreetness may facilitate its use in places where vaping is prohibited. Educators may be in need of training on how to identify JUUL in the classroom. Despite JUUL’s branding as a smoking alternative, very few Twitter users mentioned smoking cessation with JUUL.

Philip Morris research on precursors to the modern e-cigarette since 1990

BackgroundUse of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is increasing rapidly. Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik is frequently cited as inventing the modern e-cigarette in 2003. However, tobacco companies have developed electronic nicotine delivery...