“
“Background: Nicotine replacement therapies are efficacious for treating nicotine dependence. However, limited data exist on benefits of different NRTs and predictors of treatment outcome. This study compared the effectiveness

of transdermal nicotine vs. nicotine lozenge for smoking cessation and identified predictors of treatment response.

Methods: Selleck BAY 57-1293 A randomized, open-label effectiveness trial was conducted at 12 medical sites participating in the National Cancer Institute’s Community Clinical Oncology Program, The sample consisted of 642 treatment-seeking smokers randomized to 12 weeks of transdermal nicotine or nicotine lozenge.

Results: Smoker characteristics were assessed at baseline, and 24-h point prevalence abstinence confirmed with breath carbon monoxide (CO) was evaluated at end of treatment (EOT) and at a 6-month follow-up. There was a trend for higher quit rates for transdermal nicotine vs. nicotine lozenge at EOT (24.3% vs. 18.7%, p=.10) and 6 months (15.6% vs. 10.9%, p=.10). A logistic regression model of EOT quit rates showed smokers who preferred transdermal nicotine, were not reactive to smoking cues, and did not use nicotine to alleviate

distress or stimulate cognitive function had higher quit rates on transdermal nicotine. A logistic regression model of 6-month quit rates showed smokers who preferred transdermal nicotine had higher quit rates on transdermal nicotine, and smokers Avapritinib solubility dmso who used nicotine to alleviate distress or stimulate cognitive processes had lower quit rates on nicotine lozenge.

Conclusions: Transdermal nicotine may be more effective than nicotine lozenge for smokers who prefer transdermal nicotine and do not smoke to alleviate emotional distress or stimulate cognitive function. (C)

2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“In this study, the possibility of using a biodegradable grade of thermoplastic poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) with high (71 mol %) vinyl alcohol (EVOH-29), as a carrier to incorporate the renewable and biodegradable component amylopectin (AP) into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) through melt blending, was investigated. The effect of using a plasticizer/compatibilizer (glycerol) in the blend systems was 8-Bromo-cAMP also investigated. In a first step, the EVOH/AP blends were produced and thereafter, in a second step, these were mixed with PLA. In this first study, the blend morphology was investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman imaging spectroscopy and the thermal properties were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Despite the fact that EVOH and AP are both highly polar, their blends were immiscible. Still, the blends exhibited an excellent phase dispersion on a micron level, which was enhanced further by the addition of glycerol.