Impulsivity-Related Personality Traits as Predictors of E-Cigarette Use among Young Adults over Time.

Introduction: There has been rising concern about e-cigarette usage among teenagers and young adults. As knowledge about the adverse health effects of e-cigarettes accumulates, it is critical to identify factors that may increase risk of vaping initiation and frequency of use. One potential risk factor known to increase risk for other substance use is impulsivity. This study tested the hypothesis that impulsivity prospectively predicts vaping over time. Methods: Active e-cigarette users (n = 137; 51.8% male; Mean age 20 years at baseline) completed 8 waves of assessment over 21 months (2017-2020). The S-UPPS-P impulse behavior scale was used at baseline to measure impulsivity, and frequency of e-cigarette, cigarette, marijuana and alcohol use was calculated at each wave thereafter. Results: Vaping frequency declined over time [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) = 0.92]. There were significant, stable, positive associations between e-cigarette use and lack of premeditation (IRR = 1.06) and sensation seeking (IRR = 1.09). Vaping frequency was inversely associated with negative urgency (IRR = 0.95). Positive urgency and lack of perseverance were not associated with frequency of vaping. Conclusion: These findings suggest that young adults who have higher impulsivity of certain types may use e-cigarettes more frequently. Thus, vaping interventions for young adults should address these factors to ensure the greatest impact on public health.

Chronic inhalation of e-cigarette vapor containing nicotine disrupts airway barrier function and induces systemic inflammation and multiorgan fibrosis in mice.

Electronic (e)-cigarettes theoretically may be safer than conventional tobacco. However, our prior studies demonstrated direct adverse effects of e-cigarette vapor (EV) on airway cells, including decreased viability and function. We hypothesize that repetitive, chronic inhalation of EV will diminish airway barrier function, leading to inflammatory protein release into circulation, creating a systemic inflammatory state, ultimately leading to distant organ injury and dysfunction. C57BL/6 and CD-1 mice underwent nose only EV exposure daily for 3-6 mo, followed by cardiorenal physiological testing. Primary human bronchial epithelial cells were grown at an air-liquid interface and exposed to EV for 15 min daily for 3-5 days before functional testing. Daily inhalation of EV increased circulating proinflammatory and profibrotic proteins in both C57BL/6 and CD-1 mice: the greatest increases observed were in angiopoietin-1 (31-fold) and EGF (25-fold). Proinflammatory responses were recapitulated by daily EV exposures in vitro of human airway epithelium, with EV epithelium secreting higher IL-8 in response to infection (227 vs. 37 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.05). Chronic EV inhalation in vivo reduced renal filtration by 20% ( P = 0.017). Fibrosis, assessed by Masson's trichrome and Picrosirius red staining, was increased in EV kidneys (1.86-fold, C57BL/6; 3.2-fold, CD-1; P < 0.05), heart (2.75-fold, C57BL/6 mice; P < 0.05), and liver (1.77-fold in CD-1; P < 0.0001). Gene expression changes demonstrated profibrotic pathway activation. EV inhalation altered cardiovascular function, with decreased heart rate ( P < 0.01), and elevated blood pressure ( P = 0.016). These data demonstrate that chronic inhalation of EV may lead to increased inflammation, organ damage, and cardiorenal and hepatic disease.

Vaping-induced metabolomic signatures in the circulation of mice are driven by device type, e-liquid, exposure duration and sex.

Each type of vaping device (vape pen, box Mod and JUUL), as well as nicotine and flavourings, induces a disparate metabolite profile or signature, such that each device and liquid is likely to lead to its own set of health effects https://bit.ly/3eExKzi.