Smoking Cessation News and Research

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Smoking rates continue to fall in Japan

Japan has set a world record with the 15th consecutive year of low smoking rates according to a nationwide survey released Wednesday by Japan Tobacco Inc.

11 Aug 2010

Warnings on stop smoking drug Champix

The smoking cessation drug Champix (sold in the US as Chantix) has allegedly made fifteen people commit suicide since January 2008 in Australia. Another 191 patients have reported suicidal thoughts and related effects. The latest available figures from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) suggest a doubling in the numbers of suicides linked to Champix (Varenicline) since July last year with six people committing suicide.

3 Aug 2010

Aradigm closes private placement with Novo Nordisk

Aradigm Corporation today announced that it has entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement providing for the issuance by the Company of 26 million shares of the Company's common stock to Novo Nordisk A/S in a private placement as consideration for the termination of a promissory note in favor of Novo Nordisk under which approximately $9.1 million is currently outstanding, representing an effective price per share of $0.3505.

2 Aug 2010

'Quit Smoking' Habit Changer program more effective than other popular methods

Today findings from a recent Anderson Analytics market research study were released that examined the underlying reasons for success of common methods used to stop smoking versus a new online approach. This study compared participants that completed the 42-day "Quit Smoking" program by Habit Changer against participants who used nicotine-replacement therapies or other alternatives to quit or reduce intake of cigarettes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), roughly 9.2 million smokers attempt to quit annually.

27 Jul 2010

Smoking cessation effectively alter subgingival microbiome in patients on periodontal therapy: Study

Patients with chronic gum disease who quit smoking in addition to undergoing nonsurgical therapy not only demonstrated a lower abundance of harmful oral pathogens, but also an increase in health-associated bacteria. The researchers from The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, and Newcastle University, United Kingdom report their findings in the July 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

22 Jul 2010

Abortion fight again heats up over high-risk pools, other health reform news

Anti-abortion activists have "scored a victory" after a decision last week by the Obama administration to not allow the new high-risk pools in America to cover most abortions, The Associated Press reports.

20 Jul 2010

Enrollment complete in Nabi's first NicVAX Phase III clinical trial for nicotine addiction

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals announced today that it has completed enrollment in the first Phase III clinical trial of NicVAX® (Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine), the company's innovative and proprietary investigational vaccine being developed to treat nicotine addiction and prevent smoking relapse.

15 Jul 2010

Study shows cigarette cravings result from habit, not addiction

Nicotine patches and gum are common ― and often ineffective ― ways of fighting cigarette cravings, as most smokers have discovered. Now a new study from Tel Aviv University shows why they're ineffective, and may provide the basis for more successful psychologically-based smoking cessation programs.

14 Jul 2010

IBC offers more personalized online information about PHR to its members

Independence Blue Cross now offers its members more personalized online information about their health – as the amazon.com experience is to the savvy shopper, the ibxpress.com experience is to the smart health care consumer. Personal health information began to flow into members' electronic health records this month – available through ibxpress.com, the company's member website.

9 Jul 2010

Interventions that help smokers quit before surgery can reduce risk of complications afterward: Review

It is well known that smokers are at an increased risk for post-surgical complications such as infections and poorly healing wounds. Likewise, smoking can contribute to lowered survival and delayed healing.

7 Jul 2010

Study: High concentrations of cocoa flavanols decrease blood pressure

A new study by UCSF cardiologists and researchers found that high concentrations of cocoa flavanols decrease blood pressure, improve the health of blood vessels and increase the number of circulating blood-vessel-forming cells in patients with heart disease. The findings indicate that foods rich in flavanols - such as cocoa products, tea, wine, and various fruits and vegetables - have a cardio-protective benefit for heart disease patients.

7 Jul 2010

Latest health disparity report examines trend of higher tobacco use among LGBT community

The American Lung Association's latest health disparity report, Smoking Out a Deadly Threat: Tobacco Use in the LGBT Community, examines the trend of higher tobacco use among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the need for additional research specific to this community.

1 Jul 2010

Independence Blue Cross announces five new Personal Choice PPO plans

Beginning July 1, 2010, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) will offer five new Personal Choice® PPO plan options for individuals – expanding the range of individual plan choices for health care consumers in the region. These medically underwritten plans are available in three popular formats: copay, deductible and health savings account (HSA) plan designs that enable consumers to choose the type of plan and pricing that fits their specific needs.

30 Jun 2010

Guidance on ways to protect protect unborn babies from secondhand smoke exposure

New guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggests that testing pregnant mothers would help to ensure they receive appropriate support they need to quit for good or reduce their exposure to secondhand smoke.

30 Jun 2010

Health researchers initiate new study to reduce tobacco use

A team of health researchers from The University of Nottingham are spearheading a new project to reduce tobacco use in an area which has one of the highest rates of smoking in the country.

29 Jun 2010

U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear appeals in civil racketeering lawsuit against cigarette manufacturers

The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to hear appeals in the federal government's civil racketeering lawsuit against cigarette manufacturers. Today's decision upholds the trial court's historic verdict that the cigarette manufacturers are racketeers and have engaged in a decades-long conspiracy to deceive the American public and target children with their deadly and addictive products. That verdict is now final and undeniable: The cigarette manufacturers have been found guilty of engaging in a deadly fraud that is unprecedented in our nation's history.

29 Jun 2010

Misperceptions about 'light,' 'low,' 'mild' cigarettes

Today, new legislation will go into effect surrounding the ban of word descriptors such as "light," "low," and "mild" on all packaging and advertising of existing cigarettes and smokeless products. However, a new survey, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare, shows that many smokers will choose the cigarettes in lighter-colored packaging because they incorrectly believe these cigarettes would be less harmful to their health or make it easier to quit smoking.

23 Jun 2010

Cancer forms “intolerable burden” on the community: Health Minister

A new report reveals that here has been a 10 percent rise in cancer figures from 2006 in Australia. The figure translates to nearly 115,000 Australian cancer cases and 43,700 Australians are expected to die from the disease this year.

22 Jun 2010

Aradigm announces $5 million private placement

Aradigm Corporation today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of common stock and warrants to three existing shareholders and one new investor in a private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5 million. The closing of the private placement is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

21 Jun 2010

Light cigarettes to be phased out as part of Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

Effective June 22, 2010, the most popular selling cigarettes – light cigarettes – will be phased out as part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which was signed into law on June 22, 2009. This historic day provides an opportunity for the 70 percent of smokers who want to quit to finally end their addiction to these deadly products.

18 Jun 2010