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Biomedical subjects

S R Sutton

Publications and source records attributed to S R Sutton.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Adjustment of smokers to dilution of tobacco smoke by ventilated cigarette holders.

This study was designed to examine the extent to which smokers would compensate for the dilution of smoke produced by ventilated cigarette holders. Peak plasma nicotine and carboxyhemoglobin levels were measured in 18 smokers when they had been smoking normally and when they had been using holders which dilute the smoke by about 20% (holder 1) and 60% (holder 2) for periods of 2 days and 7 days. Comparison of the observed blood levels with the "expected" levels estimated from the dilution factors of the holders showed that subjects partially compensated on holder 2 but showed little or no compensation on holder 1. There were no changes in the number of cigarettes smoked when using the holders so any compensation achieved must have been due to increasing the intake from each cigarette. There was wide individual variation in the amount of compensation with about 50% of subjects compensating fairly consistently on both holders. Degree of compensation was not significantly associated with usual cigarette consumption, plasma nicotine and carboxyhemoglobin levels when smoking without a holder, the nicotine yields of the subjects' cigarettes, or the experience of withdrawal symptoms and the degree of satisfaction when using the holders. It cannot be determined from this study whether the compensation observed was mediated by a need to regulate the intake of nicotine rather than some other factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Nicotine chewing gum as a substitute for smoking.

The capacity of nicotine-containing chewing gum to produce plasma nicotine levels comparable to heavy cigarette smoking was tested in 21 subjects. On a fixed schedule of one piece of gum (4 mg nicotine) per hour, the average peak plasma nicotine concentration was 175-7 nmol/l (28-5 ng/ml) compared to 189-3 nmol/l (30-7 ng/ml) obtained from normal ad libitum smoking. Unpleasant side effects were common and in some cases plasma nicotine concentrations were two and even three times as high as with smoking; The chewing gum provided some satisfaction to all but four subjects, but its degree was not related to the concentration of plasma nicotine it produced, neither was there an inverse relation between the plasma nicotine concentration while taking the gum and the subjective sense of missing cigarettesmthis suggests that the capacity of the gum to act as a substitute for smoking is not necessarily related to its capacity to provide nicotine. Flexible dosage dictated by individual needs would probably lower the incidence of side effects and might secure closer approximation to smoking concentrations of plasma nicotine.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Smokers, non-smokers and the attribution of addiction.

Questionnaries concerned with attitudes towards cigarette smoking were completed by 368 respondents who were taking part in a survey of audience reactions to one week's television programmes. Cigarette smokers were asked how difficult it would be for them to give up cigarettes, whether they would like to do so, whether they felt they were addicted to cigarettes, and how often a cigarette gave them real pleasure. Non-smokers were asked parallel questions to determine their perceptions of the average cigarette smoker. In comparison to how smokers saw themselves, non smokers saw the average smoker as more addicted, and as deriving less pleasure from cigarettes. Smokers who saw themselves as more addicted felt it would be more difficult for them to give up, smoked more cigarettes per day, said they would like to give up more, and derived somewhat more pleasure from cigarettes. Among those who had never smoked cigarettes, the attribution of addiction to the average smoker was related only to perceived difficulty of giving up. Lesser self-attributed addiction was also relevant to the prediction of which smokers claimed to be trying to reduce or give up smoking. Implications of these data for attribution theory, and for health education, are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An X-ray microprobe facility using synchrotron radiation.

An X-ray microprobe for trace elemental analysis at micrometer spatial resolutions, using synchrotron radiation (SR), is under development. The facility consists of two beamlines, one including a 1:1 focusing mirror and the other an 8:1 ellipsoidal mirror. At present, "white light" is used for excitation of the characteristic X-ray fluorescence lines. Sensitivities in thin biological samples are in the range of 2-20 fg in 100 microns2 areas in 5 min irradiation times. Scanning techniques, as well as microtomography and chemical speciation, are discussed. Application to a specific biomedical study is included.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Direct and indirect effects of nicotine/smoking on cognition in humans.

Acute nicotine administration and acute nicotine withdrawal have been shown to have effects on mood, arousal, and cognition in humans. However, given what is known about the interrelationships between mood, arousal, and cognition in the psychology literature, it is unclear to what extent these effects on a given response are direct, or mediated through other responses (indirect). This article discusses this issue with particular emphasis on the question of whether nicotine has direct effects on cognition. Five ways are suggested as to how this question can be resolved, the relevant literature is reviewed, and some research ideas are proposed.

Affect↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between cigarette yields, puffing patterns, and smoke intake: evidence for tar compensation?

The relationship between cigarette yields (of nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide), puffing patterns, and smoke intake was studied by determining puffing patterns and measuring blood concentrations of nicotine and carboxy-haemoglobin (COHb) in a sample of 55 smokers smoking their usual brand of cigarette. Regression analyses showed that the total volume of smoke puffed from a cigarette was a more important determinant of peak blood nicotine concentration than the nicotine or tar yield of the cigarette, its length, or the reported number of cigarettes smoked on the test day. There was evidence of compensation for a lower tar yield over and above any compensation for nicotine. When nicotine yield was controlled for, smokers of lower-tar cigarettes not only puffed more smoke from their cigarettes than smokers of higher-tar cigarettes but they also had higher plasma nicotine concentrations, suggesting that they were compensating for the reduced delivery of tar by puffing and inhaling a greater volume of smoke. The results based on the COHb concentrations were consistent with this interpretation. If an adequate intake of tar proves to be one of the main motives for smoking, then developing a cigarette that is acceptable to smokers and also less harmful to their health will be much more difficult.

Carboxyhemoglobin↗