“Deadly Disguise: How Candy-Like Nicotine Pouches Led to a 763% Spike in Child Poisonings”

A new study has revealed that ingestions of nicotine pouches by young children have surged in recent years. Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center analyzed calls to U.S. poison centers and found a staggering 763% increase in the rate of reported nicotine pouch ingestions among children younger than 6 years old from 2020 to 2023.

Nicotine pouches, which contain nicotine powder and are placed in the mouth, were not tracked in national poison center data until 2020. However, between 2020 and 2023 (the most recent year of data from the study), the rate of unintentional ingestion of nicotine pouches by young children increased at a fast rate – even as ingestion rates for other formulations of nicotine declined.

“The rapid increase in the number and comparative severity of nicotine pouch ingestions is a reminder of the public health challenges of the changing nicotine product market,” said Hannah Hays, MD, co-author of the study and medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center. “This is why we need to continue ongoing surveillance and increase our efforts to prevent nicotine ingestions among young children.”

The study, published in Pediatrics, also investigated other nicotine products and formulations. Researchers examined nearly 135,000 cases of nicotine ingestions among children younger than 6 years old that were reported to U.S. poison centers from 2010 through 2023. Most ingestions occurred at home and involved children under the age of 2 years.

While most exposures resulted in minor or no effects, there were 39 cases with major medical outcomes and two deaths. The overall rate of all nicotine ingestions increased 59% from 2010-2015 before decreasing 34% from 2015-2023. This rate was primarily driven by the ingestion rate for liquid nicotine and nicotine solid formulations such as tablets, capsules, and caplets.

The study’s findings have significant implications for public health policy and prevention strategies. “Many nicotine products are flavored and sold in colorful packaging that may be attractive to a young child,” said Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s. “Banning flavors in all nicotine products helps reduce unintentional ingestions by young children as well as discourage use among teens.”

Researchers also shared a few safety tips for parents and caregivers of young children. The safest choice is to keep all nicotine products out of the home. If you choose to have them in your home, you can lower the risk by following these steps:

* Store nicotine products safely and securely.
* Keep an eye on your child at all times when they are in the same room as nicotine products.
* Be aware of the potential for accidental ingestion and take immediate action if it occurs.

By taking these precautions, parents and caregivers can help prevent nicotine poisonings among young children.

The human body has remarkable abilities to regenerate certain cells, such as those in our blood and gut. However, when it comes to regrowing hair cells in the inner ear, we’re not as fortunate. Damage to these delicate sensory cells often results in permanent hearing loss or balance problems. In contrast, animals like fish, frogs, and chicks can effortlessly regenerate their own sensory hair cells.

Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have made a groundbreaking discovery that may change this narrative. By identifying two distinct genes responsible for guiding the regeneration of sensory cells in zebrafish, they’ve taken a significant step towards understanding how regeneration works in these creatures. This newfound knowledge could potentially guide future studies on hearing loss and regenerative medicine in mammals, including humans.

The research, led by Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski, Ph.D., from the Piotrowski Lab, reveals that two different genes regulating cell division each control the growth of two key types of sensory support cells in zebrafish. This finding is crucial because it may help scientists study whether similar processes could be triggered in human cells in the future.

Zebrafish are an excellent model for studying regeneration due to their unique characteristics, such as transparent development and accessible sensory organ systems. By visualizing, genetically sequencing, and modifying each neuromast cell, scientists can investigate the mechanisms of stem cell renewal, progenitor cell proliferation, and hair cell regeneration.

The team’s research focuses on understanding how cell division is regulated in zebrafish to promote regeneration of hair cells while maintaining a steady supply of stem cells. They discovered that two distinct cyclinD genes present in only one or the other population control cell division independently. This finding shows that different groups of cells within an organ can be controlled separately, which may help scientists understand cell growth in other tissues.

The implications of this study extend beyond hair cell regeneration. Insights from zebrafish hair cell regeneration could eventually inform research on other organs and tissues, both those that naturally regenerate and those that do not. This knowledge has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of regenerative medicine and may one day lead to new treatments for human hearing loss and balance disorders.

The University of South Australia has made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have developed a long-acting injectable formulation that delivers a steady dose of levodopa and carbidopa over an entire week, potentially replacing the need for multiple daily tablets.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurological disorder, affecting more than 8.5 million people worldwide. Currently, there is no cure, and symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and slow movement are managed with oral medications that must be taken several times a day. The frequent dosing can be a burden, especially for elderly patients or those with swallowing difficulties, leading to inconsistent medication levels, more side effects, and reduced effectiveness.

The newly developed injectable gel combines an FDA-approved biodegradable polymer PLGA with Eudragit L-100, a pH-sensitive polymer, to achieve a controlled and sustained drug release. The system can be tuned to release drugs over a period ranging from a few days to several weeks depending on therapeutic needs.

Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg says the weekly injection could significantly improve treatment outcomes and patient adherence. “Our goal was to create a formulation that simplifies treatment, improves patient compliance, and maintains consistent therapeutic levels of medication. This weekly injection could be a game-changer for Parkinson’s care.”

UniSA PhD student Deepa Nakmode adds, “After years of focused research, it’s incredibly rewarding to see our innovation in long-acting injectables for Parkinson’s disease reach this stage. Our invention has now been filed for an Australian patent.”

The implications of this research are profound, and the technology could also be adapted for other chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, pain management, and chronic infections that require long-term drug delivery.

UniSA scientists hope to start clinical trials in the near future and are exploring commercialisation opportunities. With this breakthrough, patients with Parkinson’s disease may soon have a more convenient and effective treatment option available, leading to improved quality of life and reduced burden on caregivers.