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Effects of Novel E-cigarette Constituents on Adults TCORS 3.0

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Nicotine Use Disorder
Interventions
Other: E-liquid coolant (Low WS-3) for non-menthol (2)
Other: E-liquid coolant (Low WS-23) for non-menthol (4)
Other: E-liquid coolant (Low WS-23) for low menthol (4)
Other: E-liquid coolant (Low WS-3) for high menthol (2)
Other: E-liquid coolant (No WS-3) for high menthol (1)
Other: E-liquid coolant (High WS-3) for non-menthol (3)
Other: E-liquid coolant (High WS-3) for high menthol (3)
Other: E-liquid coolant (High WS-23) for high menthol (5)
Other: E-liquid coolant (No WS-3) for non-menthol (1)
Other: E-liquid coolant (No WS-3) for low menthol (1)
Other: E-liquid coolant (High WS-23) for low menthol (5)
Other: E-liquid coolant (Low WS-3) for low menthol (2)
Other: E-liquid coolant (High WS-3) for low menthol (3)
Other: E-liquid coolant (Low WS-23) for high menthol (4)
Other: E-liquid coolant (High WS-23) for non-menthol (5)
Registration Number
NCT05932745
Lead Sponsor
Yale University
Brief Summary

This study is an examination of the influence of cooling components of WS-3, WS-23, and menthol on the appeal and addiction potential of nicotine-containing e-liquids among adults.

Detailed Description

The investigators will examine the influence of cooling components of WS-3, WS-23 (synthetic coolants) and menthol on the appeal and addiction potential of nicotine-containing e-liquids among adults. Participants will rate the flavor intensity, coolness, sweetness, and irritation/harshness, bitterness experienced using validated rating scales. 66 adult participants (18+ years of age) who are current e-cigarette users will participate in 3 laboratory sessions. Participants will receive 3 e-cigarette that contain cooling flavors and nicotine (59mg/ml nicotine salt) during the sessions. Participants will be randomized to receive one of the 3 menthol conditions (no-menthol, low menthol, high menthol) in combination three WS-3 conditions (no WS-3, low WS-3, high WS-3) and two WS-23 conditions (low WS-23, high WS-23). All participants will be exposed to all fifteen conditions across 3 lab sessions.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
66
Inclusion Criteria
  • 18 years or older
  • Able to read and write
  • Some current e-cigarette use
  • Willing to abstain from tobacco/nicotine use 2 hours prior to sessions
Exclusion Criteria
  • Current use of non-prescription substances besides nicotine, marijuana, alcohol
  • Any significant current medical or psychiatric condition
  • Known hypersensitivity to propylene glycol
  • Pregnant or lactating females
  • Uncontrolled asthma
  • Nut/e-liquid flavorant allergy
  • Current marijuana (tetrahydrocannabinol) vaping + E-cigarette or vaping use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) symptoms

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Non-menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (2)E-liquid coolant (Low WS-3) for non-menthol (2)Flavor without menthol with 59mg/ml nicotine
Non-menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (4)E-liquid coolant (Low WS-23) for non-menthol (4)Flavor without menthol with 59mg/ml nicotine
Low menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (4)E-liquid coolant (Low WS-23) for low menthol (4)Flavor low menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
High menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (2)E-liquid coolant (Low WS-3) for high menthol (2)Flavor with high menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
High menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (1)E-liquid coolant (No WS-3) for high menthol (1)Flavor with high menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
Non-menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (3)E-liquid coolant (High WS-3) for non-menthol (3)Flavor without menthol with 59mg/ml nicotine
High menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (3)E-liquid coolant (High WS-3) for high menthol (3)Flavor with high menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
High menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (5)E-liquid coolant (High WS-23) for high menthol (5)Flavor high menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
Non-menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (1)E-liquid coolant (No WS-3) for non-menthol (1)Flavor without menthol with 59mg/ml nicotine
Low menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (1)E-liquid coolant (No WS-3) for low menthol (1)Flavor with low menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
Low menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (5)E-liquid coolant (High WS-23) for low menthol (5)Flavor low menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
Low menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (2)E-liquid coolant (Low WS-3) for low menthol (2)Flavor with low menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
Low menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (3)E-liquid coolant (High WS-3) for low menthol (3)Flavor with low menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
High menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (4)E-liquid coolant (Low WS-23) for high menthol (4)Flavor high menthol concentration with 59mg/ml nicotine
Non-menthol, nicotine 59mg/ml (5)E-liquid coolant (High WS-23) for non-menthol (5)Flavor without menthol with 59mg/ml nicotine
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Liking: Score change in liking/wanting of each e-cigarette condition (5 conditions in total)Following administration of e-cigarette condition 1 (at 10 minutes), following administration of e-cigarette condition 2 (at 40 minutes)...following administration of e-cigarette condition 5 (at 130 minutes)

The Labeled Hedonic Scale will be used to ask about liking and wanting of the e-cigarette (one item Visual Analog Scale with ratings ranging from "most disliked sensation imaginable" to "most liked sensation imaginable" with higher values indicating greater liking).

Reinforcing Efficacy: Score change in drug effects of each e-cigarette condition (5 conditions in total)Following administration of e-cigarette condition 1 (at 10 minutes), following administration of e-cigarette condition 2 (at 40 minutes)...following administration of e-cigarette condition 5 (at 130 minutes)

Difference between e-cigarette effects for each e-cigarette condition as measured by the computerized version of the Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ). Participants will self-report their responses using a computer mouse to indicate where on the scale response falls. A modified version of the Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) will be used in which participants rate acute responses to the e-cigarette on a 0-100mm scale from "not at all" (0mm) to "extremely" (100mm).

Irritation/Harshness: Score change in irritation of harshness of each e-cigarette condition (5 conditions in total)Following administration of e-cigarette condition 1 (at 10 minutes), following administration of e-cigarette condition 2 (at 40 minutes)...following administration of e-cigarette condition 5 (at 130 minutes)

Difference in irritation at each e-cigarette condition as measured by the computerized Generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS). Participants will self-report their responses using a computer mouse to indicate where on the scale response falls. The Generalized Labeled Magnitude Scales (gLMS) are category ratio scales with seven semantic labels: "no sensation", "barely detectable", "weak", "moderate", "strong", "very strong", and "strongest imaginable", positioned quasi-logarithmically as per empirically determined semantic magnitudes on a 0-100 scale (strongest imaginable at the 100 end).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Craving: Change in craving score for e-cigarette from baseline at each e-cigarette condition (5 conditions in total)At baseline (at 0 minute), following administration of e-cigarette condition 1 (at 10 minutes), following administration of e-cigarette condition 2 (at 40 minutes)...following administration of e-cigarette condition 5 (at 130 minutes)

Difference from baseline in craving for each e-cigarette condition will be measured by the Generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS). Participants will self-report their craving for e cigarettes using a computer mouse to indicate where on the scale response falls. The Generalized Labeled Magnitude Scales (gLMS) are category ratio scales with seven semantic labels: "no sensation", "barely detectable", "weak", "moderate", "strong", "very strong", and "strongest imaginable", positioned quasi-logarithmically as per empirically determined semantic magnitudes on a 0-100 scale (strongest imaginable at the 100 end).

Changes of salivary Nicotine and Cotinine Levels from baseline at each e-cigarette condition (5 conditions in total)At baseline (at 0 minute), Following administration of e-cigarette condition 1 (at 10 minutes), following administration of e-cigarette condition 2 (at 40 minutes)...following administration of e-cigarette condition 5 (at 130 minutes)

Saliva samples will be collected following each exposure to product and before each lab sessions to assess change in nicotine/cotinine levels. These levels will be used for correlational analyses with behavioral measures and will be determined using LC/MS techniques at the core laboratory of university.

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