FDA Approves Smoking-Cessation Drug - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

FDA Approves Smoking-Cessation Drug - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today: "ROCKVILLE, Md., May 11 � The FDA today approved the smoking-cessation drug Chantix (varenicline tartrate), which targets nicotine receptors in the brain.
The approval followed a priority review that the FDA said was necessary because of the drug's 'significant potential benefit to public health.'
The drug, which was developed by Pfizer, effectively occupies nicotine receptors in the brain and produces effects similar to nicotine, while blocking nicotine itself from the receptors. This one-two approach is designed to prevent withdrawal symptoms while it blocking the nicotine high from cigarettes for smokers who relapse. "

Active and passive smoking and development of glucose intolerance among young adults in a prospective cohort: CARDIA study -- Houston et al. 332 (7549

Active and passive smoking and development of glucose intolerance among young adults in a prospective cohort: CARDIA study -- Houston et al. 332 (7549): 1064 -- BMJ: "Participants Black and white men and women aged 18-30 years with no glucose intolerance at baseline, including 1386 current smokers, 621 previous smokers, 1452 never smokers with reported exposure to secondhand smoke (validated by serum cotinine concentrations 1-15 ng/ml), and 1113 never smokers with no exposure to secondhand smoke.

Main outcome measure Time to development of glucose intolerance (glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl or taking antidiabetic drugs) during 15 years of follow-up.

Results Median age at baseline was 25, 55% of participants were women, and 50% were African-American. During follow-up, 16.7% of participants developed glucose intolerance. A graded association existed between smoking exposure and the development of glucose intolerance. The 15 year incidence of glucose intolerance was highest among smokers (21.8%), followed by never smokers with passive smoke exposure (17.2%), and then previous smokers (14.4%); it was lowest for never smokers with no passive smoke exposure (11.5%). Current smokers (hazard ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.27 to 2.13) and never smokers with passive smoke exposure (1.35, 1.06 to 1.71) remained at higher risk than never smokers without passive smoke exposure after adjustment for multiple b"