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Biomedical subjects

R J West

Publications and source records attributed to R J West.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Cigarette withdrawal symptoms in adolescent smokers.

One hundred and sixteen female adolescent smokers were asked about withdrawal symptoms experienced during past attempts to give up smoking for good. Sixty-three percent reported difficulties during abstinence of the kind experienced by adult smokers. Daily smokers were more likely to report withdrawal effects than non-daily smokers (74% versus 47%, P less than 0.005). Reported experience of withdrawal symptoms was positively related to self-reports of cigarette consumption and depth of inhalation and nicotine intake as indexed by salivary cotinine concentrations. Reported occurrence of at least one withdrawal effect correlated positively with nicotine intake after controlling for behavioural variables. Our results indicate that teenage smokers are likely to suffer withdrawal symptoms when they try to give up. Behavioural factors and expectations based on observations of adults may have played a part in their experience of withdrawal, but it is also likely that pharmacological factors are implicated even at this early stage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Which smokers report most relief from craving when using nicotine chewing gum?

Seventy-seven smoker clinic clients who managed at least 2 weeks of smoking abstinence while chewing 2 mg nicotine gum reported the degree to which the gum reduced their craving for cigarette, their daily gum consumption and the extent of urges to smoke despite the gum. Greatest relief from craving by the gum was reported by smokers with higher pre-abstinence expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations and higher "stimulant" and "dependent" scores on a smoking motivation questionnaire but not greater usual daily cigarette consumption. Gum consumption correlated positively with expired-air CO, usual daily cigarette consumption, and "stimulant" and "dependent" smoking scores. Despite the gum, urges to smoke and difficulty not smoking were reported and the severity of these was associated with "indulgent", "stimulant" and "dependent" smoking scores but not CO or usual daily cigarette consumption. The results are discussed in terms of the possible role of pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors in craving.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Effects of nicotine on finger tapping rate in non-smokers.

Five experiments were conducted investigating the effects of nicotine on finger tapping rate in non-smokers. In each experiment subjects tapped as fast as possible a fixed number of times with one finger on a conventional computer keyboard. In the first experiment tapping rate was increased by two 2 mg doses of a nasal nicotine solution (NNS) but not by an inactive solution. The second study was carried out double-blind and showed that a single 2 mg dose of NNS improved tapping performance by about 5% whereas a very low dose (0.15 mg) NNS and a placebo had no effect. The effect of the NNS was to bring about a sustained increase in tapping rate from the start of each trial. The third study found that the effect of nicotine on tapping was reduced by a single 2.5 mg dose of the central cholinergic blocking agent, mecamylamine, but not by a placebo. Experiment four followed tapping rate for one hour after a dose of two 2 mg NNS and showed that within a subject this behavioural measure can provide a very consistent and sensitive bio-assay of the time course of nicotine effects. The final experiment found that repeated dosing with one 2 mg NNS on an hourly schedule for six hours produced a reliable increase in tapping speed after each dose with no evidence of acute tolerance. The results indicate that nicotine can substantially improve performance by non-smokers on a simple motor task, probably via its action on cholinergic pathways. NNS provides for the first time an effective means of examining the effects of nicotine on non-smokers.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Pre-abstinence smoke intake and smoking motivation as predictors of severity of cigarette withdrawal symptoms.

Twenty-nine cigarette smokers completed a smoking motivation questionnaire and had expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) and plasma nicotine concentrations measured prior to abstaining from smoking for 24 h. Before and after the abstinence period, the subjects rated mood and physical symptoms known to be affected by cigarette abstinence (e.g. irritability, restlessness). Scores on the "dependent smoking" subscale of the smoking motivation questionnaire correlated significantly with overall withdrawal severity, craving, and increased irritability. "Indulgent smoking" scores correlated positively with increased hunger. Pre-abstinence plasma nicotine concentration significantly predicted craving, hunger, restlessness, inability to concentrate and overall withdrawal severity, while expired-air CO predicted craving and restlessness only. Usual daily cigarette consumption did not significantly predict any withdrawal effects. The data indicate that pre-abstinence measures of smoking motivation and smoke intake may provide a guide to withdrawal severity on smoking cessation and that smokers with a high pre-abstinence nicotine intake experience the greatest discomfort.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Effects of withdrawal from long-term nicotine gum use.

A small proportion of smokers who stop smoking with the aid of nicotine chewing gum continue to use the gum for more than a year. This study shows that when these people abstain from nicotine gum use they experience withdrawal symptoms similar to those found during cigarette withdrawal, including increased irritability, difficulty in concentrating and a drop in heart rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Double blind trial of bezafibrate in familial hypercholesterolaemia.

A six month, double blind, crossover controlled trial of bezafibrate was conducted in 14 children with familial hypercholesterolaemia all of whom had a strong family history of early coronary heart disease. The bezafibrate was given twice daily in a dose of 10 to 20 mg/kg/day. The mean plasma total cholesterol concentration on bezafibrate was 22% lower than during the period on placebo and there was a moderate rise in high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Bezafibrate may be a useful adjunct to treatment in these children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Does switching to an ultra-low nicotine cigarette induce nicotine withdrawal effects?

Twenty-six smokers took part in a study which examined subjective and physiological effects of switching to an ultra-low yielding cigarette (0.1 mg nicotine) for 10 days. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group continued smoking their usual brand while the other group switched to the low yielding cigarette. Subjective ratings and physiological measures were taken at baseline, then after 1, 3 and 10 days in the respective conditions. Plasma nicotine concentrations dropped by some 60% after switching. Although substantial, this drop was considerably less than the drop in nominal yield of the cigarettes (around 90%), indicating marked compensation on the part of these smokers. Switching to the low yielding cigarette was accompanied by a significant increase in hunger and a drop in heart rate. These effects typically occur following cigarette withdrawal. However, other common cigarette withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, depression, and inability to concentrate, were not detected.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Urinary adrenaline concentrations during 10 days of smoking abstinence.

Urinary adrenaline concentrations were measured in 17 subjects during 10 days of cigarette abstinence. Adrenaline concentrations dropped significantly in the first 3 days of cigarette withdrawal. This was followed by a significant rise. More subjects showed a U-shaped function of adrenaline over time than would be expected by chance. The evidence suggests that the drop in urinary adrenaline concentration following cigarette withdrawal does not merely constitute a return to a non-smoking state, but includes an element of rebound resulting from loss of a component of smoking, probably nicotine, to which adaptation has occurred.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Psychology and pharmacology in cigarette withdrawal.

Many smokers would like to give up cigarettes and reduce their risk of ill health or premature death. One reason why they so often fail is the rapid onset of withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, hunger, depression and acute craving for cigarettes. This paper looks at what underlies the cigarette withdrawal syndrome, and in particular the role of nicotine. The evidence reviewed indicates that partial nicotine replacement helps to alleviate withdrawal symptoms following cigarette abstinence, and switching to a low nicotine cigarette can lead to effects normally associated with cigarette withdrawal. Much of the discomfort associated with cigarette abstinence appears to be a direct result of nicotine deprivation. Relief of withdrawal symptoms by means of a temporary substitute source of nicotine can assist smokers who are highly motivated to give up.

Chewing Gum↗
PubMed1984

The effect of duration of breath-holding on expired air carbon monoxide concentration in cigarette smokers.

Exhaled alveolar air contains carbon monoxide that has passed from the blood during a period of breath holding and so provides an accurate guide to carboxyhaemoglobin concentration, itself affected by inhaling tobacco smoke. It has been claimed that breath hold duration makes no appreciable difference to the expired air carbon monoxide (ECO) concentration obtained. A study was conducted to determine the relationship between duration of breath holding prior to exhalation and ECO value. It was found that ECO concentration increased systematically up to 25 seconds of breath holding, with the curve beginning to flatten off after 15 seconds. It is concluded that where possible a breath hold duration of at least 20 seconds should be used and that shorter durations do not provide ECO concentrations comparable with the 20-second value.

Adult↗