Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Esther E. Omaiye, Wentai Luo, Kevin J. McWhirter, James F. Pankow, Prue Talbot
Summary: The popularity of disposable fourth-generation electronic cigarettes (ECs) among young adults and adolescents has been increasing. This study aimed to determine the chemicals and toxicity of a specific brand of disposable ECs, Puff, and investigate the health risks associated with synthetic coolants in EC products. The study found high levels of cytotoxic chemicals in Puff ECs, suggesting the need for regulation of flavor chemicals and synthetic coolants in ECs to protect public health.
CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pediatrics
Hannah Rosenthal, Nelson Chow, Setu Mehta, Duy Pham, Ruth Milanaik
Summary: Puff Bars, a popular brand of disposable e-cigarettes, pose significant health and safety risks to adolescents. Their attractive design, affordable price, and easy accessibility make them appealing to children and teenagers. This review examines the rise in Puff Bar popularity, highlights health concerns, and offers advice for parents and pediatricians.
CURRENT OPINION IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jon-Patrick Allem, Allison Dormanesh, Anuja Majmundar, Vanessa Rivera, Maya Chu, Jennifer B. Unger, Tess Boley Cruz
Summary: This study aimed to understand public discourse on both Puff Bar and JUUL products on Twitter. Analysis of posts revealed common themes including flavors, dual use, design features, youth use, health risks, switching between products, price, confusion over differences, product longevity, and nicotine concentration. This research could help health communication campaigns target the consequences of using multiple e-cigarette products to reduce nicotine exposure among younger populations.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Scott Appleton, Helen Cyrus-Miller, Ryan Seltzer, Karin Gilligan, Willie McKinney
Summary: Inaccurate labeling of some e-cigarette products, especially in terms of nicotine concentration and e-liquid volume, highlights the need for regulatory enforcement and quality control to optimize harm reduction and consumer experience.
Article
Substance Abuse
Divya Ramamurthi, Cindy Chau, Hannah Y. Berke, Afnan M. Tolba, Lu Yuan, Vedika Kanchan, Giulia Santos, Robert K. Jackler
Summary: This study investigates the flavors marketed by the disposable e-cigarette brand Puff Bar and its copycats, revealing a wide range of flavors with fruit flavors predominating. It also highlights the emergence of a new popular flavor category combining fruit with menthol/mint. The study suggests that flavor regulations need to cover all recreational nicotine-containing products and address post-market flavor additions to be effective in protecting youth.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Di Zhao, Vesna Ilievski, Vesna Slavkovich, Pablo Olmedo, Arce Domingo-Relloso, Ana M. Rule, Norman J. Kleiman, Ana Navas-Acien, Markus Hilpert
Summary: The study found that different flavors and nicotine content in e-liquids can affect the concentration of metal aerosols produced by electronic cigarettes. Some elements showed higher concentrations under certain conditions, highlighting the need for stricter product regulations, especially on e-liquid composition and nicotine content, to inform users about metal exposure through vaping.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Theodore L. Wagener, Jason A. Avery, Eleanor L. S. Leavens, W. Kyle Simmons
Summary: The study revealed that among smokers transitioning to e-cigarettes, greater increases in e-cigarette puff duration were associated with greater reductions in cigarette smoking. The findings suggest that prolonged puffing on e-cigarettes may lead to decreased smoking behavior.
NICOTINE & TOBACCO RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Anand Ranpara, Aleksandr B. Stefaniak, Elizabeth Fernandez, Lauren N. Bowers, Elizabeth D. Arnold, Ryan F. LeBouf
Summary: This study characterizes the emissions from Puff Bar(TM) e-cigarettes, finding that puff volume significantly affects the total mass of emitted particles, and flavor types significantly influence the particle mass and volatile carbonyl compounds. The study also evaluates the potential secondhand exposure risk and finds that a large portion of the inhaled particles are exhaled by users, containing carcinogens and respiratory irritants.
AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dannielle Senga Green, Bas Boots, Brigitta Olah-Kovacs, Daniela Palma-Diogo
Summary: Cigarette butts are a major source of littered plastic waste and can have harmful effects on the environment. Disposable e-cigarettes have become a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes worldwide, but their littering has become a growing concern. A study using duckweed as a model organism found that cigarette butts promoted growth, while e-cigarettes and e-liquid had negative effects on root length and biomass, suggesting potential disruption to aquatic ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shatha K. Alhadyan, Vijay Sivaraman, Rob U. Onyenwoke
Summary: The translation reveals that the chemosensory experiences evoked by flavors involve olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthetic stimuli. Electronic cigarette liquids typically contain high concentrations of nicotine and various flavorings or flavor chemicals, and there is a wide variety of flavored products available. However, knowledge about the flavors and their sensory effects in these products is limited.
CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Katarzyna Dybka-Stepien, Hubert Antolak, Magdalena Kmiotek, Dominik Piechota, Anna Kozirog
Summary: Disposable food serving utensils are a convenient solution for limited traditional dishes use, with increasing attention on biodegradability of single-use products from both manufacturers and consumers. Traditional polymers and modern alternatives regarding their biodegradable properties are summarized in this study.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Erna J. Z. Krusemann, Loes van Tiel, Jeroen L. A. Pennings, Wim Vaessen, Kees de Graaf, Reinskje Talhout, Sanne Boesveldt
Summary: Switching to electronic cigarettes may reduce health risk for smokers, but concerns exist about the appeal of flavored e-liquids to nonsmokers and youth. Sweet and minty flavors are liked equally by young nonsmokers and adult smokers, with tobacco flavors being least preferred. Banning all flavors except tobacco may decrease e-cigarette appeal, particularly among young nonsmokers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander L. R. M. Augustini, Christopher Borg, Stefanie Sielemann, Ursula Telgheder
Summary: The analysis of aerosol from tobaccoless electronic cigarettes is important for understanding their impact on human health. This study presents a setup using standard lab equipment for quickly collecting a quantitative sample from e-cigarettes aerosol. The setup allows for simple and sensitive identification of unknown substances and degradation products in the aerosols.
Article
Substance Abuse
Alayna P. Tackett, Hongying Daisy Dai, Dae-Hee Han, Erin A. Vogel, Saida I. Coreas, Nikki Jafarzadeh, Maria J. Gonzalez Anaya, Devaki Patel, Natalia Peraza, Tyler B. Mason, Adam M. Leventhal
Summary: Research on the appeal of flavored e-cigarette solutions shows that adults who have never smoked, former smokers, and current smokers who vape are more attracted to non-tobacco flavors. However, adults who currently smoke but have never tried e-cigarettes do not find tobacco flavors particularly appealing.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Kathleen Gali, Sabrina Kastaun, Claudia R. Pischke, Daniel Kotz
Summary: E-cigarette use continues to rise among adolescents and young adults in Germany. Over half of e-cigarette users also smoke tobacco, and approximately half of them use e-cigarettes with nicotine. Men and current or former smokers are more likely to use e-cigarettes.
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Omar Dzaye, Alexander C. Razavi, Zeina A. Dardari, Daniel S. Berman, Matthew J. Budoff, Michael D. Miedema, Olufunmilayo H. Obisesan, Ellen Boakye, Khurram Nasir, Alan Rozanski, John A. Rumberger, Leslee J. Shaw, Martin Bodtker Mortensen, Seamus P. Whelton, Michael J. Blaha
Summary: This study found that mean and peak calcium density may describe plaque composition differently in the early stages of atherosclerosis, and mean calcium density performs better than peak calcium density factor for predicting ASCVD mortality among individuals with Agatston CAC 1-99.
JACC-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
S. Michelle Ogunwole, Ruth-Alma N. Turkson-Ocran, Ellen Boakye, Andreea A. Creanga, Xiaobin Wang, Wendy L. Bennett, Garima Sharma, Lisa A. Cooper, Yvonne Commodore-Mensah
Summary: This study examined the disparities in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among women of different nativities and durations of US residence. It found that foreign-born women with longer residence in the US had a higher risk of GDM. Acculturation and changes in health behaviors may explain these disparities among foreign-born women.
BMJ OPEN DIABETES RESEARCH & CARE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yaa A. Kwapong, Ellen Boakye, Olufunmilayo H. Obisesan, Lochan M. Shah, S. Michelle Ogunwole, Allison G. Hays, Roger S. Blumenthal, Andreea A. Creanga, Michael J. Blaha, Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, Khurram Nasir, Pamela S. Douglas, Xiaobin Wang, Garima Sharma
Summary: This study analyzed data from the Boston Birth Cohort on non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic women, and found disparities in preterm birth related to nativity and duration of U.S. residence. Foreign-born women had better cardiovascular risk profiles and lower odds of preterm birth in the non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic groups.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Correction
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ellen Boakye, Olufunmilayo H. Obisesan, S. M. Iftekhar Uddin, Omar El-Shahawy, Omar Dzaye, Albert D. Osei, Emelia J. Benjamin, Andrew C. Stokes, Rose Marie Robertson, Aruni Bhatnagar, Michael J. Blaha
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Ellen Boakye, Ngozi Osuji, John Erhabor, Olufunmilayo Obisesan, Albert Danso Osei, Omar El Shahawy, Michael Joseph Blaha
Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of tobacco use screening by healthcare providers among US youth using 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey data. The results showed that the odds of tobacco use screening were lower among males.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yaa A. Kwapong, Ellen Boakye, Sadiya S. Khan, Michael C. Honigberg, Seth S. Martin, Chigolum P. Oyeka, Allison G. Hays, Pradeep Natarajan, Mamas A. Mamas, Roger S. Blumenthal, Michael J. Blaha, Garima Sharma
Summary: Depression and poor mental health are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and suboptimal cardiovascular health among young adults.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
John Erhabor, Ellen Boakye, Ngozi Osuji, Olufunmilayo Obisesan, Albert D. Osei, Hassan Mirbolouk, Andrew C. Stokes, Omar Dzaye, Omar El-Shahawy, Carlos J. Rodriguez, Glenn A. Hirsch, Emelia J. Benjamin, Andrew P. DeFilippis, Rose Marie Robertson, Aruni Bhatnagar, Michael J. Blaha
Summary: This study examines the association between psychosocial stressors and current e-cigarette use among adolescents in the United States. The results show that adolescents who experience psychosocial stressors are more likely to use e-cigarettes, similar to the association between stressors and combustible cigarette use. These findings highlight the importance of targeted school-based interventions to reduce adolescent e-cigarette use.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Shiavax J. Rao, Yaa A. Kwapong, Ellen Boakye, Pratheek Mallya, Juan Zhao, William Akel, Haoyun Hong, Shen Li, Chigolum P. Oyeka, Faith Elise Metlock, Pamela Ouyang, Roger S. Blumenthal, Khurram Nasir, Abha Khandelwal, Claire Kinzy, Laxmi S. Mehta, Veronique L. Roger, Jennifer L. Hall, Garima Sharma
Summary: This study examined the awareness of preconception health and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in a large population-based registry. The results showed that 37% of postmenopausal individuals were unaware of the association between APOs and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, with significant variations by race-ethnicity. Additionally, 59% of participants were not educated by their providers regarding this association, and 37% reported providers not assessing pregnancy history during current visits, with significant variations by race-ethnicity, income, and access to care. Only 37.1% of respondents were aware that CVD was the leading cause of maternal mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more education on APOs and CVD risk to improve the healthcare experiences and postpartum health outcomes of pregnant individuals.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Ellen Boakye, S. M. Iftekhar Uddin, Ngozi Osuji, Jill Meinert, Olufunmilayo H. Obisesan, Mohammadhassan Mirbolouk, Erfan Tasdighi, Omar El-Shahawy, John Erhabor, Albert D. Osei, Tanuja Rajan, Michael Patatanian, Janet T. Holbrook, Aruni Bhatnagar, Shyam S. Biswal, Michael J. Blaha
Summary: This study investigated the association between habitual e-cigarette use and endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. The findings suggest that there is no significant association between e-cigarette use and endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation in relatively young and healthy individuals.
TOBACCO INDUCED DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Olufunmilayo H. Obisesan, S. M. Iftekhar Uddin, Ellen Boakye, Albert D. Osei, Mohammadhassan Mirbolouk, Olusola A. Orimoloye, Omar Dzaye, Omar El Shahawy, Andrew Stokes, Andrew P. DeFilippis, Emelia J. Benjamin, Michael J. Blaha
Summary: This study investigated the use of pod-mod e-cigarettes among college students in Maryland. The results showed that most users initiated their use based on social influence and owned their own devices. Current use, JUUL use, and menthol flavor were associated with reduced nicotine autonomy.
TOBACCO INDUCED DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Olufunmilayo H. Obisesan, Olusola A. Orimoloye, Frances M. Wang, Zeina A. Dardari, Elizabeth Selvin, Ellen Boakye, Albert D. Osei, Yasuyuki Honda, Omar Dzaye, James Pankow, Josef Coresh, Candace M. Howard-Claudio, Khurram Nasir, Kunihiro Matsushita, Michael J. Blaha
Summary: The distribution of coronary artery calcium (CAC) was found to be associated with diabetes-specific risk enhancers among older adults with diabetes, indicating an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). These findings have important implications for prognostication in diabetes patients and support the incorporation of CAC in the assessment of cardiovascular disease risk in this population.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Erfan Tasdighi, Kunal K. Jha, Zeina A. Dardari, Ngozi Osuji, Tanuja Rajan, Ellen Boakye, Michael E. Hall, Carlos J. Rodriguez, Andrew C. Stokes, Omar El Shahawy, Emelia J. Benjamin, Aruni Bhatnagar, Andrew P. DeFilippis, Michael J. Blaha
Summary: While the impact of combustible cigarette smoking on cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well-established, the association of non-traditional tobacco products with CVD needs further exploration due to limited data and lack of well-phenotyped cohorts.
TOBACCO INDUCED DISEASES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Dhiran Verghese, Ellen Boakye, Michael J. Blaha, Venkat Sanjay Manubolu, Jairo Aldana, April Kinninger, Zeina Dardari, Roberto J. Cubeddu, Mazen Saadi Albaghdadi, Michael D. Miedema, Joseph Yeboah Sion Roy, Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, Matthew J. Budoff
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Fawzi Zghyer, Ahmed Daniyaal Rasheed, Harsh P. Patel, Yaa A. Kwapong, Ellen Boakye, Sourbha Dani, Roger Blumenthal, Garima Sharma
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yaa A. Kwapong, Ellen Boakye, Safi U. Khan, Sadiya S. Khan, Michael C. Honigberg, Allison G. Hays, Khurram Nasir, Roger S. Blumenthal, Michael J. Blaha, Garima Sharma