Background Slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) requires behavioral changes such as physical distancing (e.g., staying a 6-foot distance from others, avoiding mass gatherings, reducing houseguests), wearing masks, reducing trips to nonessential business establishments, and increasing hand washing. Like other health behaviors, COVID-19 related behaviors may be related to risk representations. Risk representations are the cognitive responses a person holds about illness risk such as, identity (i.e., label/characteristics of risk), cause (i.e., factors causing condition), timeline (i.e., onset/duration of risk), consequences (i.e., intrapersonal/interpersonal outcomes), behavioral efficacy (i.e., if and how the condition can be controlled/treated), and illness risk coherence (i.e., extent to which representations, behaviors, and beliefs are congruent). The current study applies the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM-SR) to evaluate how risk representations may relate to COVID-19 protective and risk behaviors. Methods Participants include 400 workers from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk aged ≥ 18 years and US residents. Participants completed an online survey measuring risk representations (B-IPQ) and COVID-19 related behaviors, specifically, physical distancing, hand washing, and shopping frequency. Results Risk coherence, consequences, timeline, emotional representation, and behavioral efficacy were related to risk and protective behaviors. Conclusions Risk representations vary in their relationship to COVID-19 risk and protective behaviors. Implications include the importance of coherent, targeted, consistent health communication, and effective health policy in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

Background: Existent research examining perceptions of nicotine addiction use largely surface level items that fail to address the complexity of nicotine addiction. Additional investigation is needed to better understand people’s perceptions of nicotine addiction and whether these align with measures of nicotine dependence. Understanding these perceptions about nicotine addiction may help provide insight into vaping intentions and behavior. This study examines the validity of the Nicotine Addiction Perceptions (NAP) scale, a novel measure designed to assess perceptions of addictive vaping behavior that aligns with the clinical dimensions of tobacco use disorder. Methods: Data were collected from U.S. adults via Prolific (n = 549). As part of scale development and validation a confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric evaluation was conducted. The NAP’s reliability, convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity were established. Results: A five-factor solution returned acceptable fit on all model indices (RMSEA = 0.050; CFI = 0.994; TLI = 0.993). The NAP was significantly related to assessments of perceived risk, 6 month quit intentions, the number of quit intentions over the past year, and past 30-day e-cigarette use ( P’s < .05). Findings also indicate support for discriminant validity. Conclusions: Findings suggest that for most, perceptions of nicotine addiction may not fully align with the clinical criteria of addiction, which may be due to the lack of education surrounding the clinical definition. Future research examining perceptions of nicotine addiction can utilize the NAP scale to better understand people’s understanding of addiction and its relationship to vaping-related behavior.

Limited research on youth tobacco use addresses cannabis use across different tobacco products and racial/ethnic subgroups. This study examines these patterns of cannabis use among youth who use tobacco using 6 waves of nationally representative data. This study analyzed the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study data Waves 1–6 (during 2013–2021) in 2024. The authors conducted cross-sectional weighted analyses for each wave. The authors estimated past 30-day use of cannabis among youth who reported past 30-day use of any tobacco, combustible tobacco, and e-cigarette for the total sample and for each racial and ethnic group (Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic other). Across 6 waves, cannabis-use prevalence was over 36% among youth who used any tobacco product, over 40% among those who used combustible tobacco, and 36% among those who used e-cigarettes. There were racial/ethnic disparities in cannabis use among youth who used e-cigarettes, with non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic other, and Hispanic youth reporting the highest cannabis-use prevalence. There were no significant racial/ethnic differences in cannabis use among youth who used combustible tobacco. Cannabis use is highly prevalent among youth who use tobacco, with significant disparities by tobacco product and race/ethnicity. The disproportionately high prevalence of cannabis use among non-White youth highlights the need for tailored interventions to address these disparities in cannabis and tobacco use among youth.

Lasia spinosa (L. spinosa) is widely used in Asian countries for treating various diseases and as a vegetable, yet its bioactive properties remain under-researched. It is traditionally utilized in Ayurveda and the AYUSH system of medicine for its medicinal properties, and commonly used to treat digestive disorders, respiratory issues, and inflammatory conditions. This study aims to identify the phytochemicals in L. spinosa leaves and fruit extracts and evaluate their biological activities. Phytochemicals in methanol extracts of L. spinosa fruits and leaves were identified by GC-MS analysis. Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were assessed using the DPPH free radical and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assay and brine shrimp lethality test. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Shigella boydii, Shigella flexneri, Streptococcus iniae, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae, while antifungal properties were tested against Cercospora beticola and Rhizoctonia solani. Molecular docking was conducted to predict the effectiveness of L. spinosa phytochemicals against NADPH oxidase and the Shigella effector OspG. Nine compounds were detected from both extracts. The methanol leaves extract exhibited superior antioxidant activity compared to the fruit extract, with IC₅₀ values of 111.81 ± 8.99 µg/ml and 174.81 ± 4.86 µg/ml, respectively, as determined by the DPPH scavenging assay. The nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assay also revealed higher potency in the leaves extract (IC₅₀ = 138.59 ± 1.50 µg/ml) compared to the fruit extract (IC₅₀ = 196.47 ± 1.72 µg/ml). Both extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. In silico studies indicated notable inhibitory activity of all phytochemicals against the target proteins, with Linoelaidic acid and 9-Octadecenamide, (Z)- exhibiting the highest activity against NADPH oxidase (PDB: 2cdu) and Shigella flexneri OspG effector kinase (PDB: 4bvu), respectively. These findings suggest that L. spinosa has potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Compounds from this plant could serve as lead compounds for developing antioxidant and antibacterial agents. However, molecular studies should be addressed.

BACKGROUND Despite increasing interest in quitting e-cigarette use (“vaping”) among adolescents and young adults, few cessation programs are available. Social media interventions may provide engaging social support to promote healthy behavior. However, few studies have tested the relationship between social media engagement and vaping cessation among adolescents and young adults enrolled in social media interventions. OBJECTIVE We examined the relationships between self-reported engagement, observed chat engagement, and 7-day point prevalence abstinence at the end of a five-week social media group-based vaping cessation intervention among adolescents and young adults. METHODS Participants (n = 256) were enrolled in a five-week vaping cessation intervention delivered in Instagram groups to build a social support network to encourage vaping cessation behavior. Engagement was measured both by self-report and observation. We used mixed effects logistic regression models to examine the relationships between self-reported and observed engagement with 7-day point prevalence abstinence from e-cigarette use at the end of the program, adjusting for demographics. RESULTS Most participants (88.6%) read the group chat at least daily, and 51.6% reported reading the chats multiple times per day. Participants were most active at 8 am, and on Mondays and Wednesdays. Observed engagement (number of reactions or posts) was associated with e-cigarette point prevalence abstinence. Self-reported active (i.e. posting) engagement and self-reported passive (i.e. reading) engagement were not associated with 7-day point prevalence abstinence. CONCLUSIONS There were high levels of both self-reported and observed engagement throughout this social media support intervention, and greater observed engagement was associated with vaping abstinence. Future social media-based interventions might consider posting more content during times when participants are more likely to be active (e.g. at the beginning of the day or week). Anticipating group quit attempts may also help increase engagement.