Nicotine Flux, a Potentially Powerful Tool for Regulating Nicotine Delivery From Electronic Cigarettes

Inclusion Criteria

• Above 21 years of age
• Use ENDS at least 3 months and at least 3 times a week.
• Be willing to provide informed consent, attend the lab, and abstain from tobacco/nicotine as required.
• Have a normal Allen test

Exclusion Criteria

• Any significant current medical condition such as neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, or hepatic pathology that would increase risk or would interfere with/mimic tobacco abstinence
• Untreated, unresolved active pulmonary or cardiovascular conditions (i.e. chest pain, dyspnea, acute infection, recurring bronchitis, and reactive airway disorder)
• Breast-feeding or Pregnant (by urinalysis at screening).
• Vaping less than 3 months and less than 3 times per week
• Taking anticoagulants and blood thinners
• Known hypersensitivity to propylene glycol
• History of environmental - bronchospastic allergies, multiple chemical sensitivities, or other airway sensitivities that require the use of an epi pen or that in the investigator's view would make it risky for participation.
• Has current symptoms as identified by the Health Assessment Checklist including cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, or weight loss
• Participants intending to quit tobacco/nicotine use in the next 30 days will be excluded and referred to cessation treatment.
• Abnormal Allen Test (impaired collateral circulation)
• Positive pregnancy test at any study visit
• Infection of skin or soft tissue at insertion site (erythema, swelling, ulceration)
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Coronary artery disease/advance atherosclerosis
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Coagulopathy (hereditary bleeding disorders, advanced liver disease)
• Thromboangiitis obliterans
• COPD/emphysema/chronic bronchitis
• Allergy to lidocaine or anesthetics
• Inability to tolerate blood draws for any reason
• Additional Screening Procedures: Significant changes and/or abnormalities in these assessments during the study period may warrant exclusion at the discretion of the PI.
• Participants will be asked to answer the 4-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function scale and will be excluded if they report greater than "without any difficulty" on any single item as a screening tool
• Spirometry (baseline and before each visit)
• Physical Exam
• Application of the self-reported signs and symptoms health questionnaire with exclusion of those with chronic symptoms that would interfere with monitoring of vaping complications (baseline and * before each visit). Participants will be excluded and referred for medical treatment if they indicate dyspnea or cough symptoms are "severe."
• PROMIS Dyspnea Severity Item Pool
• PROMIS Dyspnea Characteristics
• PROMIS Fatigue Short Form
• Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) Cough item