Gene defects affects likelihood of nicotine dependence
Those were the findings of a prospective study conducted in 281 7th grade students from 10 schools in Canada who had begun to smoke but were not yet addicted. Participants were followed for, on average, 29.9 months; they completed questionnaires about their smoking every three or four months during the school year, and provided blood samples. During follow-up from time of first inhalation, 29% of the youngsters became dependent on nicotine. Subjects with the genetic variant that caused slowed inactivation of nicotine were almost three times more likely to develop tobacco dependence (O'Loughlin J et al: Tobacco Control 2004;13:422).
Commentary: Another example of how genetic screening may change pediatric practice! One day, we may target counseling based on how likely a patient is to develop a disease or, as in this case, an addiction.
Continuous glucose monitors ease care for parents of young children with T1D
December 5th 2023Continuous glucose monitors have been found to improve sleep for parents of young children with type 1 diabetes and may help alleviate the care burden associated with the condition, according to a study conducted in France.
Stress ulcer prophylaxis does not provide prevention of gastrointestinal bleeding in neonates
December 4th 2023In a poster abstract presented at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition held in Anaheim, California, stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) did not appear to provide benefit for prevention of gastrointestinal bleeding and did not increase SUP-associated adverse effects.
