Effects of intranasal oxytocin on cigarette withdrawal and smoking in the laboratory: Differences by sex and social functioning traits.

Intranasal oxytocin (INOT) has received attention as a treatment for substance use disorders including tobacco dependence. However, it is unclear whether INOT-related effects differ by sex and social functioning traits. This study examined the influence of sex and two trait social functioning measures (hostility and rejection sensitivity) on INOT effects on abstinence-related subjective measures and smoking lapse. Adults who smoked cigarettes daily (N = 64; 21-40 years; 39% female) completed trait hostility and rejection sensitivity surveys at baseline followed by three experimental sessions following 12-hr smoking abstinence. Each session, participants received a single INOT dose (placebo, 20, 40 international units [IU]) in counterbalanced order, completed withdrawal, smoking urges and affect questionnaires, and a smoking lapse analog task. Interactive effects between INOT and sex, hostility, or rejection sensitivity on all outcomes were analyzed. INOT produced differential effects as a function of sex, trait hostility, and rejection sensitivity. The 20 IU dose worsened abstinence-related subjective effects for individuals with high trait hostility. Both INOT doses decreased smoking urges for high rejection sensitivity, and the 20 IU dose increased smoking urges for low rejection sensitivity. INOT increased withdrawal symptoms, smoking urges, and feelings of anger in females but not males. INOT did not improve withdrawal symptoms during abstinence and did not affect smoking lapse. While INOT produced some beneficial effects for a subset of participants with high rejection sensitivity, it worsened abstinence-related symptoms for others. Our results suggest that sex and social functioning should be considered when examining the therapeutic potential of INOT for smoking cessation in future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Racial/ethnic minority females smoke more cigarettes after social interaction with others who smoke.

The present study investigated the effects of social interaction with others who smoke on daily cigarette use among diverse females via ecological momentary assessment methods. Ninety-eight premenopausal females (29.6% White, 70.4% racial/ethnic minority) who smoke daily reported their social interactions and cigarette use over 35-days. Greater than usual levels of social interaction with others who smoke was associated with increased cigarette use that day among racial/ethnic minority females. Future smoking cessation interventions targeting racial/ethnic minority females should consider the impact of social environments on smoking behaviors, such as the frequency of peer interactions with others who smoke.

Effects of cannabis use on cigarette smoking cessation in LGBTQ+ individuals.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual and gender minority individuals are more likely to use tobacco and cannabis and have lower cigarette cessation. This study examined cannabis use associations with daily cigarettes smoked in sexual and gender minority individuals before and during a quit attempt. METHOD: Participants included dual smoking same-sex/gender couples from California that were willing to make a quit attempt (individual n = 205, 68.3% female sex). Participants reported baseline past 30-day cannabis use and number of cigarettes smoked and cannabis use (yes/no) during 35 nightly surveys. Individuals with current cannabis use reported baseline cannabis use and/or nightly survey cannabis use. Multilevel linear models predicted number of cigarettes smoked by cannabis use. RESULTS: Number of cigarettes decreased from before to during a quit attempt, but this decrease was smaller in individuals with current cannabis use compared to no current cannabis use (p < .001). In individuals with current cannabis use, number of cigarettes smoked was greater on days with cannabis use (p < .001). Furthermore, cannabis use that day increased overall number of cigarettes in those with relatively high overall cannabis use but only during a quit attempt in those with relatively low cannabis use (Within-Subject Cannabis Use × Between-Subject Cannabis Use × Quit Attempt interaction; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Sexual and gender minority individuals with cannabis and cigarette use may have a harder time quitting smoking than those who do not use cannabis. For those with cannabis use, guidance on not using cannabis during a quit attempt may improve cigarette cessation outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of mint, menthol, and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes on tobacco withdrawal symptoms in adults who smoke menthol cigarettes: A laboratory pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Menthol cigarette smoking has remained stable or increased in certain groups, despite an overall decline in cigarette smoking rates in the U.S. Understanding whether e-cigarettes alter patterns of menthol cigarette use is critical to informing efforts for reducing the public health burden of menthol cigarette smoking. This 2019-2020 laboratory pilot study evaluated whether self-administration of mint-, menthol-, or tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes would differentially impact tobacco withdrawal symptoms in e-cigarette-naïve adults who smoke menthol cigarettes daily. METHODS: Participants (N=17; 35.3% Female; mean age=51.8) attended three laboratory sessions after 16-hours of tobacco abstinence. Participants self-administered a study-provided JUUL e-cigarette (0.7mL with 5% nicotine by weight) at each session in which flavor was manipulated (mint vs. menthol vs. tobacco; order randomized). Participants completed pre- and post-e-cigarette administration self-report assessments on smoking urges, nicotine withdrawal, and positive and negative affect states. Multilevel linear regression models tested differences between the three flavor conditions for individual study outcomes. RESULTS: Following overnight tobacco abstinence, vaping either a mint or menthol (vs. tobacco) flavored e-cigarette led to significantly greater reductions in smoking urges over time; menthol (vs. tobacco) flavored e-cigarettes also suppressed urges to smoke for pleasure. Notably, no differences in nicotine withdrawal, positive affect, or negative affect were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this laboratory pilot study, mint and menthol (vs. tobacco) flavored e-cigarettes provided some negative reinforcement effects via acute reductions in smoking urges during tobacco abstinence, yet only menthol flavored e-cigarettes demonstrated suppressive effects on smoking urges for pleasure in adults who smoke menthol cigarettes daily.

Heparanase inhibition as a systemic approach to protect the endothelial glycocalyx and prevent microvascular complications in diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease which is detrimental to cardiovascular health, often leading to secondary microvascular complications, with huge global health implications. Therapeutic interventions that can be applied to multiple vascular beds are urgently needed. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are characterised by early microvascular permeability changes which, if left untreated, lead to visual impairment and renal failure, respectively. The heparan sulphate cleaving enzyme, heparanase, has previously been shown to contribute to diabetic microvascular complications, but the common underlying mechanism which results in microvascular dysfunction in conditions such as DR and DKD has not been determined. METHODS: In this study, two mouse models of heparan sulphate depletion (enzymatic removal and genetic ablation by endothelial specific Exotosin-1 knock down) were utilized to investigate the impact of endothelial cell surface (i.e., endothelial glycocalyx) heparan sulphate loss on microvascular barrier function. Endothelial glycocalyx changes were measured using fluorescence microscopy or transmission electron microscopy. To measure the impact on barrier function, we used sodium fluorescein angiography in the eye and a glomerular albumin permeability assay in the kidney. A type 2 diabetic (T2D, db/db) mouse model was used to determine the therapeutic potential of preventing heparan sulphate damage using treatment with a novel heparanase inhibitor, OVZ/HS-1638. Endothelial glycocalyx changes were measured as above, and microvascular barrier function assessed by albumin extravasation in the eye and a glomerular permeability assay in the kidney. RESULTS: In both models of heparan sulphate depletion, endothelial glycocalyx depth was reduced and retinal solute flux and glomerular albumin permeability was increased. T2D mice treated with OVZ/HS-1638 had improved endothelial glycocalyx measurements compared to vehicle treated T2D mice and were simultaneously protected from microvascular permeability changes associated with DR and DKD. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that endothelial glycocalyx heparan sulphate plays a common mechanistic role in microvascular barrier function in the eye and kidney. Protecting the endothelial glycocalyx damage in diabetes, using the novel heparanase inhibitor OVZ/HS-1638, effectively prevents microvascular permeability changes associated with DR and DKD, demonstrating a novel systemic approach to address diabetic microvascular complications.

Longitudinal associations between anxiety sensitivity and substance use in adolescents: Mediation by depressive affect.

Though anxiety sensitivity (AS)-fear of anxiety-related experiences-is primarily tied to anxiety vulnerability, AS has also been prospectively associated with general negative affect and depression. Furthermore, depression has been longitudinally associated with different forms of substance use, and some AS subfactors (e.g., cognitive concerns) have been associated more consistently with depression and substance use than others. However, no previous study has investigated if longitudinal associations of AS with substance use may be mediated by depression or whether aspects of AS may be prospectively associated with substance use among adolescents. Hence, the present study tested depressive affect (the negative affective aspect of depression) as a prospective mediator of AS associations with substance use and examined longitudinal AS subfactor associations with substance use and problems. High school 9th graders (N = 2,877; Mage = 14.1 years; 55.3% female) completed self-report measures at baseline and at 6 months and 1 year later. Depressive affect mediated AS associations with subsequent alcohol, cigarette, electronic cigarette, cannabis, benzodiazepine, and opioid use. Also, AS cognitive and social concerns (vs. physical concerns) were more consistently associated with later depressive affect and substance use and problems. Current findings suggest that adolescents high in anxiety sensitivity tend to prospectively experience greater depressive affect, which in turn is related to a higher likelihood of engaging in several different forms of substance use. Thus, it is possible that interventions which target AS (particularly AS cognitive concerns) may help to treat or prevent depression and substance use among adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Association of e-Cigarette Use and Postpartum Depression: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2016-2019.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent public health concern. Combustible cigarette use is associated with increased risk of PPD. While electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use during pregnancy is linked to increased risk of depressive symptoms during pregnancy, the relationship between e-cigarette use and PPD is not well understood. We sought to examine the association of e-cigarette use with PPD. Materials and Methods: Using Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2016-2019 data, unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses for PPD were conducted via three analyses where e-cigarette use (any vs. none) was retrospectively self-reported (1) in past 2-year, (2) prepregnancy (i.e., 3 months before pregnancy), and (3) during pregnancy (i.e., last 3 months of pregnancy). We conducted an additional past 2-year e-cigarette use analysis excluding those who used combustible cigarette and/or hookah. Covariates included age, race, ethnicity, combustible cigarette, and/or hookah use, prenatal care during the last trimester, health insurance coverage during pregnancy, physical abuse during pregnancy, income, and survey type. Results: Only unadjusted odds ratios from past 2-year e-cigarette use (1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-1.87) and past 2-year e-cigarette use excluding individuals with cigarette and/or hookah use (1.78, 95% CI: 1.30-2.38) were statistically associated with PPD. No adjusted analyses were statistically significant. Conclusion: Any e-cigarette use, as compared to no use, does not appear to be an independent risk factor of PPD, though it may be a useful clinical marker of increased risk of PPD. Future studies are warranted to advance our knowledge of impact of e-cigarette use on PPD.

Nicotine deprivation amplifies attentional bias toward racial discrimination stimuli in African American adults who smoke cigarettes.

High smoking prevalence and low quit smoking rates among African American adults are well-documented, but poorly understood. We tested a transdisciplinary theoretical model of psychopharmacological-social mechanisms underlying smoking among African American adults. This model proposes that nicotine's acute attention-filtering effects may enhance smoking's addictiveness in populations unduly exposed to discrimination, like African American adults, because nicotine reduces the extent to which discrimination-related stimuli capture attention, and in turn, generate distress. During nicotine deprivation, attentional biases toward discrimination may be unmasked and exacerbated, which may induce distress and perpetuate smoking. To test this model, this within-subject laboratory experiment determined whether attentional bias toward racial discrimination stimuli was amplified by nicotine deprivation in African American adults who smoked daily. Participants (N = 344) completed a computerized modified Stroop task assessing attentional interference from racial discrimination-related words during two counterbalanced sessions (nicotine sated vs. overnight nicotine deprived). The task required participants to quickly name the color of discrimination and matched neutral words. Word Type (Discrimination vs. Neutral) × Pharmacological State (Nicotine Deprived vs. Sated) effects on color naming reaction times were examined. Attentional bias toward racial discrimination-related stimuli was amplified in nicotine deprived (reaction time to discrimination minus neutral stimuli: M [95%CI] = 34.69 [29.62, 39.76] ms; d = 0.15) compared to sated (M [95%CI] = 24.88 [19.84, 29.91] ms; d = 0.11) conditions (Word Type × Pharmacological State, p < .0001). The impact of nicotine deprivation on attentional processes in the context of adverse societal conditions merit consideration in future science and intervention addressing smoking in African American adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Associations of DHEA(S) with negative and positive affect in people who smoke daily with elevated and low depression symptoms: A pilot laboratory study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with depression symptoms have a harder time quitting smoking. High negative affect and low positive affect are core depression symptoms and arise following cigarette abstinence. Investigating associations of biological markers with negative and positive affect may provide valuable information about factors relevant to smoking cessation in individuals with elevated depression symptoms. METHODS: Depression symptoms were measured at a baseline session. Participants then completed two counterbalanced experimental sessions (non-abstinent, abstinent) and completed measures of positive and negative affect, and provided saliva samples. Saliva samples were assayed at the Salimetrics' SalivaLab (Carlsbad, CA) using the Salimetrics Salivary Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Assay Kit (Cat. No. 1-1202) and Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) Assay Kit (Cat. No. 1-1252). RESULTS: There were no main or interactive associations of DHEA with negative affect. However, there were significant DHEAS × experimental session and DHEAS × experimental session × depression symptom level interactions with negative affect. In the high depression symptom group, DHEAS positively associated with negative affect during the non-abstinent experimental session, but DHEAS negatively associated with negative affect during the abstinent experimental session. There were no associations of DHEA or DHEAS with positive affect. CONCLUSION: This study found that DHEAS negatively associated with negative affect during cigarette abstinence in individuals with elevated depression symptoms. This is important as high negative affect during cigarette abstinence may result in a return to smoking.

Daily ovarian hormone exposure and loss of control eating in adolescent girls: A registered report.

OBJECTIVE: The daily biobehavioral factors that precipitate loss of control eating (LOCE) in adolescent girls are not well known. Ovarian hormone levels are key biological factors associated with the etiology of eating disorders in adolescent girls. Yet, models on how daily ovarian hormone exposure predicts LOCE in adolescent girls are underdeveloped. The goal of this study is to examine the daily patterns and mechanisms of ovarian hormone levels on LOCE across the menstrual cycle in adolescent girls and the mediating roles of food-related reward anticipation and response inhibition. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) paired with daily hormonal sampling will be used to examine (1) daily associations between within-person hormones and LOCE, and (2) the mediating role of within-person food-related reward anticipation and response inhibition. METHODS: Normally cycling adolescent girls who have reached menarche will provide daily saliva samples for hormone analysis and complete EMA for 35 days. During EMA, girls will report LOCE and will complete task-based and self-report measures of food-related response inhibition and reward anticipation. DISCUSSION: This work has implications for the development of new real-world biobehavioral models of LOCE in adolescent girls, which will guide theory improvements and treatment for LOCE. Results will provide preliminary evidence for treatment targets for novel interventions for adolescent girls-for example, a response inhibition intervention. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Adolescent eating disorders are severe mental health conditions, often marked by loss of control eating. Estrogen and progesterone play a role in the development and persistence of loss of control eating. The current study will examine how daily exposure to estrogen and progesterone predicts loss of control eating in adolescent girls and identify possible daily mechanisms linking estrogen and progesterone exposure and loss of control eating.

Fear of COVID-19 among nonsmokers and smokers/former smokers: Implications for health promotion practice.

INTRODUCTION: Fear of COVID-19 may differ for individuals with compromised health and those with unhealthy behaviors, placing them at greater risk. Based on previous analysis of academic medical center faculty and staff, the authors predicted that workers who were smokers/previous smokers would express the greater fear of COVID-19 relative to nonsmokers. METHODS: The present study used the Fear of COVID-19 Scale to assess fear among nonsmokers (n = 1,489) and smokers/previous smokers (n = 272) from a larger population of academic medical center members (N = 1,761). This study assessed nonsmokers' and smokers/previous smokers' demographic and background variables on Fear of COVID-19 scores. RESULTS: In this academic community, smokers/previous smokers had higher fear of COVID-19 scores than did nonsmokers (p < 0.05). Smokers/previous smokers differed from nonsmokers on three Fear of COVID-19 scale items (most afraid of COVID-19, fear of losing life, and physiological fear of COVID-19). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: These results provide a better understanding of how fear of COVID-19 can differ based on one's smoking status. These findings inform public health smoking cessation efforts aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality, both in response and secondary to COVID-19 exposure.

Implementation planning for equitable tobacco treatment services: a mixed methods assessment of contextual facilitators and barriers in a large comprehensive cancer center.

Tobacco use among cancer patients is associated with an increased mortality and poorer outcomes, yet two-thirds of patients continue using following diagnosis, with disproportionately higher use among racial/ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status patients. Tobacco treatment services that are effectively tailored and adapted to population characteristics and multilevel context specific to settings serving diverse patients are needed to improve tobacco cessation among cancer patients. We examined tobacco use screening and implementation needs for tobacco treatment services to inform equitable and accessible delivery within a large comprehensive cancer center in the greater Los Angeles region. We conducted a multi-modal, mixed methods assessment using electronic medical records (EMR), and clinic stakeholder surveys and interviews (guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research). Approximately 45% of patients (n = 11,827 of 26,030 total) had missing tobacco use history in their EMR. Several demographic characteristics (gender, age, race/ethnicity, insurance) were associated with greater missing data prevalence. In surveys (n = 32), clinic stakeholders endorsed tobacco screening and cessation services, but indicated necessary improvements for screening/referral procedures. During interviews (n = 13), providers/staff reported tobacco screening was important, but level of priority differed as well as how often and who should screen. Several barriers were noted, including patients' language/cultural barriers, limited time during visits, lack of smoking cessation training, and insurance coverage. While stakeholders indicated high interest in tobacco use assessment and cessation services, EMR and interview data revealed opportunities to improve tobacco use screening across patient groups. Implementing sustainable system-level tobacco cessation programs at institutions requires leadership support, staff training, on routine screening, and intervention and referral strategies that meet patients' linguistic/cultural needs.

Implementation of equitable tobacco cessation services for diverse cancer patients will require understanding the specific needs and referral processes within health care setting context and target populations. In our study, we identified barriers to implementing a tobacco cessation program for diverse cancer patients (e.g., Asian/Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a). Barriers noted by clinic team members to routine tobacco use screening and treatment included limited time during patient visits, lack of clinic team training on smoking cessation needs, language/cultural barriers for patients, and insurance coverage. Our findings showed health system leaders, providers, and staff agree that both tobacco use screening and providing tobacco cessation services are important, but there is a need for better understanding and improvement of clinic workflows, designated roles, and responsibilities of providers and staff, and increased awareness and training about tobacco use screening, available cessation services, and referral to treatment.

Emotion regulation expectancies and smoking cessation factors: A daily diary study of California adults who smoke cigarettes during a practice quit attempt.

SIGNIFICANCE: Cross-sectional studies have shown that greater cigarette smoking-related emotion regulation expectancies were associated with retrospectively reported withdrawal during prior quit attempts and greater barriers to cessation. Few studies have investigated the relationship of within-person daily emotion regulation expectancies to factors related to initiating and maintaining a brief quit attempt. METHODS: People living in California who smoked cigarettes daily (n = 220, 50 % female; 48.5 % white, 14.6 % Hispanic, 16.7 % Black or African American, 9.6 % Asian, 7.6 % Multi-race, 3.0 % other race; mean age=43.71 years old) completed a practice quit attempt and 28-days of daily diary surveys. In the morning, participants reported non-smoking and smoking emotion regulation expectancies based on the Affective Processing Questionnaire, daily abstinence plan, abstinence self-efficacy, and cigarettes smoked. Successful abstinence plans were calculated as days with an abstinence plan and no cigarettes smoked. Multilevel models investigated whether within-person emotion regulation expectancies were associated with abstinence plan, self-efficacy, and successful abstinence plan. RESULTS: Greater within-person non-smoking emotion regulation expectancies were associated with increased odds of having an abstinence plan, higher self-efficacy, and a successful abstinence plan on a given day (ps < .05). Greater within-person smoking emotion regulation expectancies were associated with lower odds of having an abstinence plan and lower self-efficacy (ps < .001) but did not significantly associate with a successful abstinence plan. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that within-person levels of expectations in emotion regulation abilities may contribute to factors relevant to initiating and achieving daily abstinence during a practice attempt.

Pediatric case of septic arthritis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A.

In recent years, the incidence of pediatric septic arthritis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae has been quite low. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV10 is the available vaccine included in the Bulgarian national immunization program. PCV10 reduces the incidence of invasive diseases, but non-vaccinal serotypes like 19A, the etiologic agent of the case of septic arthritis reported herein in a 3-year-old boy. The synovial fluid was positive for S. pneumoniae. The patient was treated with vancomycin during hospitalization and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was recommended for at-home treatment. The isolate was subjected to latex agglutination, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR detection for macrolide-resistance genes, and MLST. The strain revealed ST695 and a genotype previously associated with vaccine serotype 4. The incidence of pneumococcal infections caused by capsule-switching events and non-PCV10 serotypes is expected to increase.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in diabetes reduces albuminuria by preserving the glomerular endothelial glycocalyx.

The glomerular endothelial glycocalyx (GEnGlx) forms the first part of the glomerular filtration barrier. Previously, we showed that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation caused GEnGlx damage and albuminuria. In this study, we investigated whether MR antagonism could limit albuminuria in diabetes and studied the site of action. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats developed albuminuria, increased glomerular albumin permeability (Ps'alb), and increased glomerular matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity with corresponding GEnGlx loss. MR antagonism prevented albuminuria progression, restored Ps'alb, preserved GEnGlx, and reduced MMP activity. Enzymatic degradation of the GEnGlx negated the benefits of MR antagonism, confirming their dependence on GEnGlx integrity. Exposing human glomerular endothelial cells (GEnC) to diabetic conditions in vitro increased MMPs and caused glycocalyx damage. Amelioration of these effects confirmed a direct effect of MR antagonism on GEnC. To confirm relevance to human disease, we used a potentially novel confocal imaging method to show loss of GEnGlx in renal biopsy specimens from patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). In addition, patients with DN randomized to receive an MR antagonist had reduced urinary MMP2 activity and albuminuria compared with placebo and baseline levels. Taken together, our work suggests that MR antagonists reduce MMP activity and thereby preserve GEnGlx, resulting in reduced glomerular permeability and albuminuria in diabetes.

Interactive associations between abstinence plans and romantic partner conflict and support with cigarette smoking.

BACKGROUND: While most individuals who smoke cigarettes desire to quit, quit motivation can change daily and sustained abstinence is rarely achieved in quit attempts. Assessment of psychosocial factors that moderate associations between daily abstinence intentions and smoking behavior is necessary to inform effective cessation efforts. METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from a 28-day ecological momentary assessment study among individuals who smoke and who were not actively planning a long-term quit attempt (N = 81 individuals; N = 1585 days). We examined main effect and interaction associations between primary predictors (daily abstinence plans and within- and between-person estimates of perceived romantic relationship conflict and support) and daily number of cigarettes smoked, as well as baseline emotion regulation difficulties as a moderator of these associations. RESULTS: Smoking was reduced on days with an abstinence plan (ß=-0.57,p<.001), especially among individuals with lower average levels of conflict (plan × between-person conflict interaction: ß=0.98, p < .001), and higher average levels of support (plan × between-person support interaction: ß=0.26, p < .001). Additionally, smoking was increased on days when participants had higher levels of conflict than usual (ß=0.07, p < .01), but only on days when participants did not have a plan (plan × within-person conflict interaction:ß=-0.10, p < .05). Emotion regulation difficulties did not moderate any associations. CONCLUSION: This study adds to the literature on the influence of negative aspects of social experience on smoking behavior. Further, the present study underlines the importance of assessing the influence of both positive and negative aspects of - and within- and between-person differences in - social experiences.

Alcohol use and motives for drinking across the menstrual cycle in a psychiatric outpatient sample.

BACKGROUND: Females who misuse alcohol experience high rates of negative physical and mental health consequences. Existing findings are inconsistent but suggest a relationship between ovarian hormones and alcohol use. We aim to clarify how alcohol use and drinking motives vary across the menstrual cycle in female psychiatric outpatients using the luteinizing hormone (LH)-confirmed cycle phase. METHODS: Daily self-reports (n = 3721) were collected from 94 naturally cycling females, recruited for past-month suicidal ideation, during the baseline phase of three parent clinical trials between February 2017 and May 2022. Multilevel logistic and linear models estimated the relationship between the cycle phase (with LH-surge confirmed ovulation) and daily alcohol use or drinking motives, moderated by the weekend. Models were adjusted for age, legal drinking status, substance use disorder, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and included random effects. RESULTS: Participants were generally more likely to drink in the midluteal (vs. perimenstrual) phase, but more likely to drink heavily on weekends in periovulatory and perimenstrual (vs. midluteal) phases. Social motives for drinking were significantly higher on weekends in the periovulatory, mid-follicular, and midluteal phases (vs. weekdays), but this finding was non-significant in the perimenstrual phase. Participants rated drinking to cope higher in the perimenstrual phase (vs. midluteal phase), regardless of the weekend. CONCLUSION: In a psychiatric sample with LH-surge-confirmed ovulation, we find an increased likelihood to drink heavily in periovulatory and perimenstrual phases on weekends. We also find that the perimenstrual phase is associated with increased drinking to cope, and relatively lower weekend social drinking. Finally, random effects across models suggest individual differences in the extent to which the cycle influences drinking. Our findings stress (1) predictable phases of increased high-risk alcohol use across the menstrual cycle, and (2) the importance of individual assessment of cyclical changes in alcohol use to predict and prevent ovulation- and menses-related surges in heavy drinking.

Interactive effects of financial strain and distress tolerance on prequit tobacco withdrawal symptoms in smokers preparing to initiate a quit attempt.

Smokers experiencing greater financial strain are less likely to successfully quit smoking, possibly due to greater severity of tobacco withdrawal. However, limited research has explored whether individual-level psychological factors (i.e., distress tolerance) may buffer the deleterious effects of financial strain on withdrawal. This study examined the main and interactive effects of financial strain and distress tolerance on tobacco withdrawal experienced prior to quitting smoking among smokers preparing to initiate a quit attempt. Fifty-nine adult smokers completed a baseline session including a financial strain measure and subjective and behavioral assessments of distress tolerance. Participants were then instructed to initiate a quit attempt, without any behavioral or pharmacological assistance, 14 days following baseline. Prequit tobacco withdrawal symptoms were assessed once per day for 3 days prior to quit date. Linear regression models tested main and interactive effects between financial strain and distress tolerance on experiences and perceptions of prequit withdrawal. Findings demonstrated significant interactions between financial strain, distress tolerance, and perceptions of tolerating withdrawal. Negative associations found between higher distress tolerance and lower perceptions of tobacco withdrawal and negative mood as being "intolerable" prior to quitting were stronger for those experiencing greater levels of financial strain. Financial strain may negatively impact one's perceived ability to tolerate mood- and tobacco-related withdrawal prior to quitting. Yet, higher distress tolerance may buffer the effects of financial strain on smoking cessation processes. Psychosocial interventions designed to promote tolerance of distress from both internal and external stressors may benefit cessation efforts among smokers experiencing high financial strain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Characterizing different-flavored e-cigarette solutions from user-reported sensory attributes and appeal.

Scientists and regulators need parsimonious methods of characterizing flavored e-cigarettes which may vary widely in both chemical flavoring constituents and marketing descriptors. This laboratory experiment characterized user-reported appeal and experience of five cross-cutting sensory attributes (sweetness, bitterness, smoothness, harshness, coolness) of 10 common e-cigarette flavors. In a within-subject double-blind single-visit protocol, current nicotine/tobacco product users (N = 119) self-administered a single puff of each e-liquid flavor via a pod-style device and rated its appeal and sensory attributes on 0-100 scales. Custom-manufactured e-liquids, nicotine concentration: M (SD) = 23.4 (0.9) mg/mL, representative of commonly marketed fruit (green apple, strawberry), dessert (dark chocolate, vanilla), mint (peppermint, spearmint), nonmint cooling (menthol, koolada), and tobacco (subtle tobacco, full-flavored tobacco) flavor descriptors were used and their constituents were independently analyzed. Results largely demonstrated that a flavor's sensory attributes concorded with its marketed flavor descriptor. Among the 10 flavors, vanilla was rated sweetest (B[difference vs. mean of 9 other flavors] = 14.44, 95% CI [10.84, 18.03]), full-flavored tobacco was most bitter, B = 8.34, 95% CI [4.73, 11.96], subtle tobacco was most harsh, B = 5.69, 95% CI [1.70, 9.68], and peppermint scored highest in both smoothness, B = 6.98, 95% CI [3.13, 10.82], and coolness, B = 29.25, 95% CI [25.50, 33.01]. Flavors with higher appeal ratings tended to be sweeter, smoother, cooler, and less bitter and harsh. Chemical analysis found numerous flavoring constituents among study products without any clear differentiation of chemicals being present in particular flavor categories, which underscores the utility of using sensory ratings to characterize different-flavored e-cigarettes over and above constituent analyses. Characterizing e-cigarette flavors by subjective sensory attributes may be useful in future research and regulatory activities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Activities and risk factors associated with fall-related injuries among US Army soldiers.

INTRODUCTION: Falls/near falls are the second leading cause of hospitalisation and outpatient visits among US Army soldiers. While numerous studies have evaluated fall-related or near fall-related injuries among elderly adults, few have evaluated this association among young adults. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics and risk factors associated with fall-related or near fall-related injuries among male US Army soldiers. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of male US Army Airborne Division soldiers (n=5187). Electronic surveys captured demographic, lifestyle, physical training (PT), fitness and injury data during spring/summer of 2016. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors of fall-related or near fall-related injuries, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Primary findings indicated that activities and risk factors associated with fall-related or near fall-related injuries among soldiers included younger age (≤35 years), holding a job that required minimal lifting activities, slower 2-mile run times and not running during personal PT. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that male US Army soldiers and other physically active men may benefit from (1) obtaining and/or maintaining higher aerobic endurance and muscular strength, and (2) training focused on preventing fall-related injuries during PT, road marching and sports/recreational activities. Moreover, prevention strategies and education should further target younger soldiers (≤35 years old), as younger age is not modifiable.