Nicotine Therapy Research Articles

The Niacin Rebirth: Revisiting the Potential of Nicotinic Acid Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease and Niacin Supplementation for Healthy Aging

The Niacin Rebirth: Revisiting the Potential of Nicotinic Acid Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease and Niacin Supplementation for Healthy Aging

Competitive inhibition of nicotine acetylcholine receptors using microneedles of nicotine and varenicline for smoking withdrawal therapy

Current strategies for smoking withdrawal conditions involve monotherapy of nicotine and combinational therapy of nicotine with varenicline or bupropion as per the CDC and FDA. The available dosage forms for nicotine are patches, gums, inhalers and nasal sprays, bupropion and varenicline are available in tablet form. This research work focused on developing a microneedle delivery system to deliver combination drug for overcoming the obstacles encountered by oral route of administration of varenicline such as severe side effects (mood swings, agitation, depressed behaviour, seizures, etc), and nicotine therapy challenges such as short half-life, repeated dosing, nausea, and vomiting. The nanoparticles of nicotine prepared by nanoprecipitation method showed particle size PTZ (356.6 ± 65.98), percentage entrapment efficiency (35.55 % ± 0.007), in-vitro drug release (47.89 % ± 0.7) for 72 h. Microneedles showed height (600 μm), width (350 μm), and tip diameter (10 μm). The nanoparticles encapsulated in microneedles showed in-vitro sustained delivery of nicotine (67.00 % ± 4.92) and varenicline (79.78 % ± 1.09) in 48 h. Nicotine released in a sustained manner attaches to the nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAchR) to release dopamine for controlling the withdrawal challenges such as anxiety, irritability, cravings, disturbed sleep pattern, etc. The varenicline released from microneedles binds to the nAchR and inhibits dopamine release responsible for the euphoric effect induced by nicotine, and thus assists in curbing the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This combination microneedle system offers prolonged treatment in a single application for smoking withdrawal conditions wherein patients are not in stage of oral dosing because of repeated dosing resulting in adverse effects like seizures, hypertension, sleep disturbances, insomnia, and nausea.

Ameloriate Effect of Glucose Monohydrate on Nicotine Sulfate-induced Toxicity and Teratogenicity in Xenopus embryos: an Experimental Study

It is well documented that nicotine causes low birth weight, preterm birth, pregnancy difficulties, lower fertility, inhibition of spermatogenesis, and decreased steroidogenesis and potassium channels conductance of Xenopus oocytes. Lung cancer is the most well-known adverse impact of nicotine. This work used a 96-hour FETAX test to examine how concurrent administration of glucose monohydrate modifies the effects of exposure to nicotine, nicotine sulfate, and/or glucose on ion channels and membrane potential in Xenopus leavis embryos at an early stage of development. In-vitro fertilised embryos were treated with nicotine and glucose alone or in combination for this aim, and the effects of those treatments were then assessed for potential teratogenic effects. At the conclusion of the FETAX technique, the ratios of healthy, abnormal, and dead embryos were calculated, and the length of embryos in each treatment group was assessed. The ratios of abnormal and dead embryos were considerably higher with nicotine treatment alone compared to controls. Compared to the results of the nicotine-alone treatment group, the ratio of aberrant embryos was marginally reduced by concurrent glucose and nicotine therapy. In contrast, the ratio of normal embryos was raised. Additionally, treatments with glucose, nicotine, and Nic+Glu significantly altered the resting membrane potentials of fertilised oocytes (p < 0.001). Our findings indicated that the simultaneous treatment groups that also received glucose had a protective impact on embryos. Such structured, more sophisticated research is required to confirm these findings.

Nicotine Has a Therapeutic Window of Effectiveness in a Drosophila melanogaster Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Strong epidemiological evidence and studies in models of Parkinson's disease (PD) suggest that nicotine may be therapeutically beneficial in PD patients. However, a number of clinical trials utilizing nicotine in PD patients have had mixed results, indicating that either nicotine is not beneficial in PD patients, or an important aspect of nicotine therapy was absent. We hypothesized that nicotine must be administered early in the adult fly life in order to have beneficial effects. We show that continuous early nicotine administration improves both climbing and flight deficiencies present in homozygous park25 mutant PD model Drosophila melanogaster. Using a new climbing assay, we identify several climbing deficiencies in this PD model that are improved or rescued by continuous nicotine treatment. Amongst these benefits, it appears that nicotine improves the ability of the park25 flies to descend the climbing vial by being able to climb down more. In support of our hypothesis, we show that in order for nicotine benefits on climbing and flight to happen, nicotine administration must occur in a discrete time frame following adult fly eclosure: within one day for climbing or five days for flight. This therapeutic window of nicotine administration in this PD model fly may help to explain the lack of efficacy of nicotine in human clinical trials.

Nicotine and modafinil combination protects against the neurotoxicity induced by 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in hippocampal neurons of male rats

MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a common recreational drug of abuse which causes neurodegeneration. Nicotine and modafinil provide antioxidant and neuroprotective properties and may be beneficial in the management of MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to characterize how acute and chronic administration of nicotine and/or modafinil exert protective effects against the MDMA-induced impaired cognitive performance, oxidative stress, and neuronal loss. Adult male rats were divided into three groups, namely control, MDMA and treatment (modafinil and/or nicotine). MDMA (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally during a three-week schedule (two times/day for two consecutive days/week). The treated-groups were classified based on the acute or chronic status of treatment. In the groups which underwent acute treatments, nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) and/or modafinil (100 mg/kg) were injected just prior to the MDMA administration (acute nicotine (NA), acute modafinil (MA), and acute nicotine and modafinil (NMA)). In the rats which received chronic treatments, nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) and/or modafinil (100 mg/kg) were injected every day during the three week-schedule administration of MDMA (chronic nicotine (NC), chronic modafinil (MC), and chronic nicotine and modafinil (NMC)). Learning and memory performance, as well as avoidance response, were assessed by Morris water maze and Shuttle box, respectively. Our findings indicate enhanced learning and memory and avoidance response in the NMC group. By TUNEL test and Cresyl Violet staining we evaluated neuronal loss and apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 and found increased neuronal viability in the NMC group. On the other hand, chronic administration of modafinil and nicotine significantly down-regulated the caspase 3 and up-regulated both BDNF and TrkB levels in the MDMA-received rats. The serum levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated and we found that the alterations of serum levels of GPx and TAC were considerably prevented in the NMC group. The overall results indicate that nicotine and modafinil co-administration rescued brain from MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. We suggest that nicotine and modafinil combination therapy could be considered as a possible treatment to reduce the neurological disorders induced by MDMA.

Transdermal nicotine in non-smokers: A systematic review to design COVID-19 clinical trials

Recent data show an interaction between COVID-19 and nicotine and indicate the need for an assessment of transdermal nicotine use in non-smokers. Assessments have been conducted into the short-term cognitive effects of nicotine and into diseases such as Parkinson's, Tourette syndrome, ADHD or ulcerative colitis. MethodsAnalyses of nicotine administration protocols and safety were conducted after reviewing Medline and Science Direct databases performing a search using the words [transdermal nicotine] AND [non-smoker] AND selected diseases. ResultsAmong 298 articles identified, there were 35 reviewed publications reporting on 33 studies of non-smokers receiving transdermal nicotine for >48hours. In the 16 randomized trials, 7 crossover, 1 case/control and 9 open studies patients received an initial nicotine dose of between 2.5mg and 15mg/day. In 22 studies, daily doses increased by 2 to 7 steps in 3 to 96 days until the dose was between 5mg and 105mg/day. The target nicotine dose was 19.06±20.89mg/day. The 987 non-smokers (534 never-smokers, 326 ex-smokers and 127 classified as “non-smokers”) received or did not receive nicotine. The most common side-effects were nausea and skin itching. Forty-three (7.1%) non-smokers stopped treatment because of an adverse event of nicotine. No hospitalization related to nicotine side-effects were reported. ConclusionDespite a relatively safe tolerance profile, transdermal nicotine therapy in non-smokers can only be used in clinical trials. There is a lack of formal assessment of the potential risk of developing a tobacco addiction. This review offers baseline data to set a transdermal nicotine protocol for non-smokers with a new purpose.

A randomized trial protocol to determine effectiveness of Nicotine Replacement Therapy on smoking cessation of tuberculosis patients in coastal India

Background: Tobacco smoking and pulmonary tuberculosis combined is two preventable public health concerns. They put the annual global death rates from these two diseases at over six million. There is tangible evidence from studies conducted on more than forty thousand patients regarding nicotine therapy for tobacco smokers enhances likelihood of success when compared to support without nicotine replacement. This study determines the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy among tuberculosis patients.Methods: This protocol study determines the effectiveness of tobacco smoking cessation rates among pulmonary tuberculosis patients on nicotine replacement treatment. The secondary objectives are to determine the relationship between smoking cessation and tuberculosis treatment outcome and the determinants of smoking cessation. This CONSORT 2010 checklist-based, placebo controlled, block- randomized, double-arm, single blind trial will be experimented between March 2019 and August 2022 in Mangaluru, India, with a sample size of 300 in both the arms. The intervention group will be prescribed with nicotine polacrilex chewing gums along with brief advice and the control group with brief advice and sugar-free chewing gum as a placebo for three months in a tapered dose with 3 months of follow-up. The binary outcome of reported status of smoking the participants will be confirmed by urine cotinine qualitative test at the start and end of the trial apart from monthly carbon monoxide monitoring and Fagerstorm scoring. Ethical clearance is obtained from Nitte University.Discussion: The collected information will be summarized by using frequencies and percentages for qualitative data, mean and standard deviation for quantitative data. To compare the outcome measures, quantitative, before and after intervention, paired-t test will be used. If the study has missing data more than 10% of the total sample size as expected during sample size calculation, Pattern-Mixture Model within a mixed-effects logistic regression model for longitudinal dichotomous data will be used. The significance of this study is to gather further evidence nicotine replacement therapy as an appropriate technology in primary care settings and further upwards by conducting the trial in actual healthcare settings. Trial registration: The trial is registered prospectively with the Clinical Trials Registry of India vide CTRI/2018/11/016457 dated 28/11/2018.

Effectiveness of Aerobic Exercise on Smoking Cessation in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The specific benefits of aerobic exercises in smoking cessation are unclear, as they have different characteristics, intensities, and durations. The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise, with or without co-interventions, compared with a control group of cognitive behavior treatment on smoking cessation. This review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO, and the searches were performed from 2016 to 2018. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of aerobic exercise, with or without nicotine therapy replacement, compared with usual care were included. The primary outcome was smoking cessation defined as the prevalence of those who quit or continuous abstinence. Meta-analysis was calculated using random effects model in the comprehensive meta-analysis software. The authors identified 18 trials reporting data for a total of 2815 participants. There was moderate-quality evidence that aerobic exercise was better than usual care in promoting smoking cessation at short term (11 trials, risk ratio 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.94). However, there were no differences between aerobic exercises and usual care at medium- or long-term follow-ups. According to review, aerobic exercise may be effective in promoting smoking cessation at short-term, but not at medium- and long-term follow-ups.

A study on the agents that reduces the nicotine induced nicotinic receptor density in wistar rats

The most important substance causing addiction towards cigarette is nicotine. Nicotine abstinence causes withdrawal symptoms in smokers. It is not just nicotine, along with it is the upregulation of nicotinic receptor density (NRD) that leads to addiction. All together makes nicotine deaddiction the most difficult aspect. Nicotine receptor density increases as long as the person is exposed to nicotine. When once the NRD is initiated by nicotine, later though you stop smoking, the increased nicotine receptors create an urge to smoke. Hence the person feels to smoke for satisfying the nicotine receptors. The smokers may attempt to quit smoking but the NRD will create an urge for nicotine again. One cannot completely quit smoking or cannot stop taking nicotine, until the NRD is reduced to normal. In our present study we have studied the effect of citric acid and tyrosine on decreasing nicotinic receptor density. We have induced the nicotinic receptor density to raise and studied the citric acid and tyrosine’s effect in maintaining the NRD closer to normal. The study concludes that citric acid and tyrosine have reduced the NRD significantly. This can control withdrawal symptoms and can stop craving for nicotine and finally can lead to cessation of smoking and from taking nicotine therapy.

Design, rationale, and baseline characteristics of a pilot randomized clinical trial of nicotine treatment for pulmonary sarcoidosis

IntroductionSarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown cause afflicting young to middle-aged adults. The majority of patients with active pulmonary sarcoidosis complain of overwhelming fatigue, which often persists despite administration of immune-modulating drugs typically used to treat sarcoidosis. Nicotine offers an alternative to conventional treatments, which are associated with a spectrum of serious untoward effects, including diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, bone marrow suppression, severe infections, cirrhosis. The described pilot randomized trial aims to provide preliminary data required to design subsequent Phase II/III trials to formally evaluate nicotine as a novel low-cost and highly-effective, safe treatment option for patients with active pulmonary sarcoidosis. Methodsand Design: This is a randomized double-blind controlled trial of adults with confirmed pulmonary sarcoidosis, allocated in equal proportion to sustained release transdermal nicotine or placebo patch. The primary objective outcome is the improvement in forced vital capacity at study week 26 from baseline measurement. Secondary measures include lung texture score, and self-reported outcomes including the Fatigue Assessment Scale, the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and the Sarcoidosis Assessment Tool. DiscussionCurrent therapies for active pulmonary sarcoidosis, remain either expensive and often with numerous side-effects, as with novel industry developed therapies, or with reduced quality of life, as with corticosteroids. Nicotine therapy provides promise as a safe, available, and cost-effective intervention strategy, which we expect to be acceptable to patients. ClinicalTrials.govNCT02265874.

The Stop-Tabac smartphone application for smoking cessation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial in the general population

BackgroundSmartphone-based support can reach thousands of smokers and help those who would otherwise try to quit smoking by themselves with little chance of success. Nicotine medications double the chances of quitting smoking, but few smokers use them, and they often use them for too short a time and at an insufficient dose. It is therefore important to increase access to support for smoking cessation and compliance with nicotine therapy. The objectives of this study are to assess whether the Stop-Tabac application (app) is effective for smoking cessation and to examine whether the outcome is influenced by the personal characteristics of participants.MethodsTrial design: this is a two-arm, parallel-group, superiority, individually randomized, “placebo” controlled trial in 5200 smokers, with follow up after 1 week, 1 month and 6 months. The participants are adult daily smokers (N = 5200) enrolled on the Internet, living in France or Switzerland. The intervention is the Stop-tabac fully-automated app for smartphones, which was launched in 2012 and continuously improved thereafter. It includes fact sheets; calculators of cigarettes not smoked, money saved, and years of life gained; an interactive “coach” that provides automated, individually tailored counseling messages based on the user’s personal profile, sent regularly for 6 months; immediate feedback during episodes of craving and tobacco withdrawal symptoms; a discussion forum (“The Tribe”) where participants provide and receive social support; a quiz that informs users in a playful way; and a module on nicotine therapy that includes personalized feedback and follow up. The outcome is self-reported smoking cessation after 6 months (no puff of tobacco in the past 4 weeks), and after 1 week and 1 month (no puff in the past 7 days). Participants will be randomized automatically based on a list of random numbers. Participants, assistants in charge of collecting follow-up data and data analysts will be blinded to allocation. Funding is provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation, CHF 194,942 (EUR 182,200, USD 200,700), grant 32003_179369. JFE’s salary is paid by the University of Geneva, YK’s salary is paid by the Lausanne University Hospitals.DiscussionThere is little evidence from randomized trials of the impact of health apps in general and of smoking cessation apps in particular. This study will fill this gap.Trial registrationISRCTN Registry: ISRCTN11318024. Registered on 17 May 2018.

Sarcoidosis and smoking: An unlikely duo

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous pulmonary disorder in middle-age adults characterized by systemic proliferation of helper T cells. Fewer than 10% of sarcoidosis patients have a family history, and many cases develop from interactions between environmental exposure and genetic polymorphisms. Several epidemiological studies suggest cigarette smoke with nicotine may prevent sarcoidosis. Given the many studies linking smoking to several diseases and long-term complications, recommending smoking or nicotine therapy for granulomatous lung diseases, such as sarcoidosis, remains a difficult proposition. More research is needed to isolate the chemical component(s) in cigarette smoke that might reduce the risk of sarcoidosis and determine efficacy and potential adverse effects. In addition, more investigation is needed to determine whether cigarette smoking actually lowers the risk of developing sarcoidosis.

Effect of Chronic Nicotine Exposure on Maternal Renal Adaptations in Pregnant Rats: The Possible Role of Nitric Oxide

Abstract Background: Nicotine exposure during pregnancy contin-ues to be a widespread public health problem, impacting both fetal and postnatal health. Although the deleterious effects of nicotine on fetal development and the newborn have been extensively investigated, few studies have focused on its negative effects on the maternal adaptations to pregnancy especially relevant on renal functions. Aim of Study: To study the effects of chronic nicotine exposure on the maternal renal adaptations during pregnancy and the possible underlying mechanisms. Material and Methods: Thirty six adult virgin female albino rats, divided into two main groups, each subdivided into three subgroups; all received treatment for four weeks. Group I (virgin): Subdivided into; saline treated: Received daily subcutaneous saline injections, nicotine treated: Received daily nicotine bitartrate (1mg/kg) subcutaneous injections, combined with transdermal nicotine patches (5.2mg nico-tine/day) application, and nicotine and L-arginine treated: Received the same nicotine therapy plus 0.25% L-arginine added to drinking. Group II (pregnant): Subdivided into; saline treated: Received daily subcutaneous injections of saline (2 weeks prior to mating and 1 st two weeks of gestation), nicotine treated: Received daily subcutaneous injections of nicotine bitartrate (1mg/kg), with transdermal nicotine patches, and nicotine and L-arginine treated): Received same nicotine therapy plus 0.25% L-arginine added to drinking water. Results: Physiological effects of the pregnancy on renal function were significantly improved by L-argini ne. Similarly, nicotine exposure to virgin group produced a significant increase in serum and urinary Na+, significant decrease in renal total protein, nitric oxide with renal oxidative stress compared to their control group. Co-administration of nicotine and L-arginine to virgin group produced a significant decrease in serum Na+, urinary albumin and renal MDA levels, and significant increase in the urinary Na+ level, renal total protein, NO and GSH levels compared to the virgin nicotine group. Similarly, nicotine administration to pregnant group produced a significant increase in serum and urinary Na+, FENa, urinary albumin levels, together with significant de-crease in GFR, UFR and renal total protein, NO and GSH levels. While co-administration of nicotine and L-arginine to pregnant group produced a significant decrease in serum Na+, FENa, urinary albumin levels, with significant increase in the GFR, UFR and renal total protein, NO and GSH levels. Conclusion: We concluded that chronic nicotine exposure potentially impaired maternal renal adaptation to pregnancy which was improved greatly by L-arginine, implicating NO as crucial player.

Pharmacological and behavioural interventions to promote smoking cessation in adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

ObjectiveSmoking in people with serious mental illness is a major public health problem and contributes to significant levels of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the review was to systematically...

Nicotinic Acid as a Phosphate-lowering Agent in Patients with End-stage Renal Disease on Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Single-center Prospective Study.

BackgroundHyperphosphatemia increases the risk of mortality and morbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In addition to dietary restriction and renal replacement therapy, phosphorus-binding agents are the mainstay of treatment. While the use of calcium-containing binders has certain limitations, non-calcium-based binders are expensive and not readily available in developing countries. Previous studies on nicotinic acid as a phosphorus-lowering agent have limited data. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of nicotinic acid in patients with ESRD on hemodialysis (HD) in Pakistan.MethodsForty-five patients with ESRD on maintenance HD having serum phosphorus levels >5.5 mg/dL were recruited. Nicotinic acid 250 mg was administered with food for four weeks. All patients with serum phosphorus levels <8 mg/dL were placed on a twice-daily regimen while the rest received it three times a day with meals. Patients were assessed at the beginning and end of the study with serum phosphorus levels.ResultsMean age of the sample population was 44.6 ± 13.9 years and 57.8% of participants were male. Serum phosphorus level before treatment ranged from 5.6 to 10.8 mg/dL (mean, 6.91 ± 1.33). After nicotinic acid therapy, it ranged from 2.60 to 8.70 mg/dL (mean, 5.82 ± 1.40). Mean decrease in serum phosphorus levels with nicotinic acid after one month of treatment was 1.08 ± 1.16 mg/dL (p-value <0.001).ConclusionNicotinic acid is effective in lowering serum phosphorus levels in patients with ESRD who are under renal replacement therapy with maintenance HD.

A systematic approach to smoking cessation activities in Danish shelters

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Shelter users have an alarmingly high smoking prevalence; our aim was to develop systematic smoking cessation activities in the shelters. Method: All available (n = 13) shelters in Copenhagen were included. This Participatory Action Research had a development/test period and an implementation period for the revised intervention. Shelter-staff completed a questionnaire at baseline. Municipal smoking cessation counselors were trained to work with shelter users. Three types of on-site smoking cessation activities were developed and offered. Results: The estimated mean smoking prevalence in shelter users was 79%. Only two shelters ran smoking cessation activities prior to study start. All but one of the shelters implemented group-based intervention activities and approximately 13% of smokers signed-up; 26.6% of those who attended the first session were abstinent after approximately 12 weeks, as confirmed by staff. Conclusion: Smoking cessation activities in shelters are wanted by staff and shelter users, they are feasible and even very vulnerable persons are able to quit. Based on our experiences in Copenhagen shelters, we propose a systematic approach for future smoking cessation initiatives: smoking activities should be driven by the municipality, be pro-active, on-site, tailored and flexible, in addition, free nicotine therapy should be offered and trained smoking cessation counselors should be available.

Heating Up the Cutaneous Flushing Response

Multiple evidence shows that nicotinic acid can prevent myocardial infarction.1 The mechanisms underlying the antiatherogenic effects of nicotinic acid have been disputed during the past decades, and there is evidence for beneficial effects on plasma lipid levels, as well as for anti-inflammatory effects.1–4 Nicotinic acid has been suggested as an add-on therapy to the well-established statins for prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, recent clinical data indicate no additional benefit of nicotinic acid treatment in high-risk patients under optimal statin therapy,5,6 and it is currently only recommended in patients in whom statins cannot be given or do not lead to sufficient changes in plasma lipid levels. The most important unwanted effect of nicotinic acid is a transient skin irritation called flushing.7,8 Although harmless, it causes many patients to discontinue nicotinic acid therapy. Flushing has a vascular component consisting of a cutaneous vasodilation resulting in a reddening and warming of the skin. This is accompanied by a sensory component that includes tingling and burning sensations in the skin. Past research has shown that, in particular, the vascular component of flushing is mediated by the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCA2), also known as G-protein–coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A), expressed in epidermal Langerhans cells and in keratinocytes and directly activated by nicotinic acid.9 This is based on studies in HCA …

Nicotinic acid: a lipid-lowering agent with unrealized potential

Nicotinic acid is a well-known treatment for dyslipidemia in adults. This review article explored not only the role of nicotinic acid in dyslipidemia but also its role in hypertension and as a cardioprotective agent. Adverse effects in association with nicotinic acid use are described with a focus on flushing, the major reason for the discontinuation of nicotinic acid therapy. The role of nicotinic acid receptor in mediating its metabolic and vascular effects is also reviewed.

금연 이침과 경피적 니코틴 패치 및 병용 요법 간의 금연 효과에 대한 예비적 비교 연구

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare three therapies - auricular acupuncture, transdermal nicotine patch and therapy - in combination with auricular acupuncture and nicotine patch. Methods : The subjects of this study included 188 male smokers in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, who visited Wonmi Public Health Center. They were evaluated with the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence, amounts of daily smoking and success rate of smoking cessation. The subjects decided on a therapy method strictly of their own choice. They were divided into three groups according to the therapy; auricular acupuncture group (62 persons), nicotine patch group (69 persons) and combination therapy group (57 persons). Results : All three groups resulted in statistically significant reducing effects of nicotine dependence and amounts of daily smoking. In the combination therapy group, nicotine dependence was significantly decreased by more than those of the other groups. There were no statistically significant differences in decrements of daily smoking and success rate of smoking cessation among the three groups. Conclusions : The above results suggest that auricular acupuncture and transdermal nicotine patch have significant effects of smoking cessation. If they are combined, it is expected that therapies for smoking cessation would be developed.

Efficacy of a smoking cessation program in a population of adolescent smokers in vocational schools: a public health evaluative controlled study

BackgroundTo evaluate the public health efficacy of a community-based smoking cessation program (TABADO) among vocational school trainees (15 to 20 years old).MethodsThis prospective, controlled, quasi-experimental study was conducted in eight vocational training centres (VTC) in France. The intervention group underwent the TABADO program, which included a general information session for all students and small-group sessions plus individual counselling and nicotine therapy, if needed, for volunteers in an enhanced program. The control group received no specific intervention other than the educational services usually available. The primary outcome was 30-day point prevalence abstinence at 12 months.ResultsThe mean age of the 1,814 students included was 16.9 years (SD = 1.0); 84.7% were males. At baseline, 52% were smokers and 5.7% ex-smokers. In the intervention group, 24.6% of smokers volunteered for the enhanced program and 18.1% could be included. By 12-month follow-up, with participants lost to follow-up considered non-abstinent, 10.6% of smokers in the intervention group had become abstinent versus 7.4% in the control group (adjusted p = 0.03; odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05–3.0); considering lost to follow-up as missing data, 17% of intervention group participants were abstinent versus 11.9% in the control group (univariate p = 0.08; adjusted p = 0.008; OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2–3.6).ConclusionThe TABADO program, targeting teenagers in vocational schools, was effective in producing a higher 12-month abstinence rate among all smokers in the intervention group.Trial registrationClinical trial identification number is NTC00973570.