Cigarettes with ultralow nicotine levels are now being called the game-changer in the fight against smoking. If you are having trouble in quitting smoking, then, it is for you, that soon the Biden White House is expected to formally propose a plan that will order cigarette nicotine levels to be reduced, reports The Washington Post. For now though, it has been a failure, as these cigarettes, also known as VLN cigarettes that stands for very low nicotine are only available in 5,100 stores in 26 states. This is a very small fraction of the overall market for cigarettes. The company that makes it, 22nd Century, is struggling not because of the low supply, but also from the advocates who have long believed slashing nicotine levels altogether.

The Advent and ideation

Nicotine is a chemical that is produced naturally from tobacco that makes the cigarette and also keeps people hooked. While it is believed that it makes people alert, and get the "hit" to keep them going, it exposes the users to harmful substances, carcinogens, and increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other illness.

Ultralow-nicotine cigarettes, like the VLN brand, contain about 95% less nicotine than the regular cigarettes. The idea is quite simple: without the addictive grip of nicotine, smokers will find it easier to quit. Research too has shown some promise. For instance, the studies funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that very low nicotine cigarettes reduced addiction potential significantly without having users to increase their smoking frequency. However, the problem is, why would anyone choose for a low-nicotine that does not make them feel the same way, when the high-nicotine cigarette is right next to it, making them feel the same way, with the same alertness, sold at the same price.

“It’s very hard to imagine someone actively choosing to continue to use a low-nicotine product for the same price when a high-nicotine product is right next to it,” said Eric Donny, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine nicotine researcher.

No wonder, the experiment with low nicotine product by Philip Morris' Next cigarettes in the 1980s and Vector Tobacco's Quest brand in the early 2000s, flopped.

FDA's Role in the Push

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has supported the development of such products, even allowing VLN cigarettes to be marketed as lower-risk options. However, these products remain a niche market, available in only a fraction of U.S. stores.

Recently, the Biden administration has considered a bold step—mandating a dramatic reduction in nicotine levels for all cigarettes sold in the United States. Supporters believe this move could save millions of lives, while critics, including tobacco companies, warn of potential unintended consequences.

What Could Be The Challenges?

Resistance from Big Tobacco Companies: They could argue that slashing nicotine levels could backfire. Their claim is, smokers will turn to black markets or smoke more to satisfy their cravings, which may lead to greater exposure to harmful substances.

Consumer Reluctance: History is proof to the instances of smokers being hesitant to embrace the low-nicotine products.

Political Hurdle: It may face political roadblocks, as under the Trump administration, plans to cut nicotine were shelved.

Could Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Be The Solution?

Advocates believe that ultralow-nicotine cigarettes could be a game-changer, comparing them to decaf coffee or non-alcoholic beer—products that reduce harm while offering a similar experience.

Some experts warn that a black market for traditional cigarettes could undermine these efforts. They also stress the need for safer alternatives, such as vaping products, to support smokers transitioning away from traditional cigarettes.

Endometriosis is usually characterised by painful periods, chronic pelvic pain and fertility issues. But a new study suggests the condition may also be linked to a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Researchers found that women with endometriosis had a 46% higher risk of type 2 diabetes compared with women without the condition.

The findings come from one of the largest studies to examine the relationship between the two conditions, adding a new dimension to the adverse effects of endometriosis.

What Did The Study Find?

Also read: 'My Periods Are Painful' Is Not Always Normal: When Could It Be A Sign of Endometriosis?

Researchers studied health records from nearly 3 million women in the Utah Population Database, covering the period from 1996 to 2021. Almost 100,000 women were diagnosed with endometriosis.

After accounting for factors including age, race and body mass index, women with endometriosis were found to have a 46% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women without the condition. The researchers also found that the association differed depending on the type of endometriosis.

Additionally, the risk of type 2 diabetes was higher across several subtypes, including superficial peritoneal, ovarian and deep infiltrating endometriosis.

The strongest association was seen in women with endometriosis outside the usual pelvic sites, where the risk was about twice as high. Adenomyosis was also associated with an increased risk.

Why Could The Two Disorders Be Connected?

Also read: Maternal Anemia: Why It’s A Major Pregnancy Risk For Indian Women And How to Prevent It

Chronic inflammation could be the reason why the two disorders could be connected. Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease in which tissue resembling the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.

Persistent inflammation can affect several systems in the body, while inflammation and poor insulin sensitivity could lead to type 2 diabetes.

“Previous studies largely evaluated endometriosis as a single condition and generally reported little or no overall association with type 2 diabetes,” said Fuzak Nunziato, lead author of the study. “Our findings add to a growing understanding that endometriosis may affect more than reproductive health alone.”

Despite the strong observation, it is to be noted that study found an association, meaning women with endometriosis were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. It does not prove that endometriosis directly causes type 2 diabetes.

The study was also retrospective, meaning researchers looked back at archival health records rather than assigning participants to groups and studying them prospectively.

A large prospective research published in 2021 found no overall significant increase in type 2 diabetes among women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis, although it did find modestly higher risks among certain groups, including women who were not obese.

The association was particularly notable among premenopausal women and women without obesity - groups that are not normally not considered to be at the highest risk for type 2 diabetes.

If further research solidifies the the link, researchers say women with endometriosis could potentially benefit from greater awareness of metabolic health and earlier identification of diabetes risk.

A one-time gene-editing treatment has been reported to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) by as much as 62% in an early clinical trial, raising hopes that high cholesterol could one day be treated without everyday pills.

The experimental treatment, VERVE-102, is designed to make a long-term genetic change in the liver. Researchers say it could eventually offer a new way of managing high cholesterol, although it is still years away from standard use. The latest results have been described as an “extremely exciting milestone” by researchers.

How Does The One-Time Treatment Work?

VERVE-102 targets a gene called PCSK9, which plays an important role in controlling how much LDL cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream.

The treatment uses base editing, a form of gene editing, to switch off the PCSK9 gene in liver cells. PCSK9 reduces the liver’s ability to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood.

By permanently disabling the gene, researchers hope to reproduce the effect seen in people who naturally have PCSK9 variants that keep their cholesterol low and their risk of coronary heart disease reduced.

The treatment is delivered through a single intravenous infusion containing the gene-editing machinery packaged inside a lipid nanoparticle.

Also read: How To Read Your Blood Test Results: A Simple Guide To What Your Numbers Mean

What Did The Trial Find?

The Phase 1b Heart-2 trial involved 35 adults with either heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, an inherited condition that leads to high cholesterol, or premature coronary artery disease. Participants received a single infusion at different doses.

At the highest dose tested, LDL cholesterol fell by an average of 62%, while PCSK9 levels fell by as much as 88%. The reductions sustained during follow-up, with some being observed for up to 18 months.

The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, making the findings particularly notable because they provide the first clinical evidence that this type of in-body gene editing can produce a substantial and potentially durable cholesterol reduction.

Also read: Stopping Statins After 75 May Not Raise Death Risk In Low-Risk Adults: The Lancet Study

Could It Replace Statins?

The clinical trial was small and still early-stage. It was designed to examine safety and whether the treatment produces the expected biological effect, not to prove that VERVE-102 prevents heart attacks or strokes by lowering cholesterol. Researchers also need to understand the consequences of permanently altering PCSK9 over many years.

The trial did not report any serious adverse events related to the treatment or dose-limiting toxicities, although some participants experienced fatigue and other reactions.

Dr Riyaz Patel, a cardiologist at Barts Health NHS Trust and professor at University College London, said the early results provide encouraging evidence that PCSK9 base editing could eventually offer “substantial and durable” LDL reduction with a one-time treatment.

Statins and other cholesterol-reducing medicines generally require regular, continued treatment. VERVE-102 is attempting to change the liver’s system of regulating cholesterol.

That could be particularly useful for people who struggle to take medication consistently or whose cholesterol remains dangerously high despite existing treatments.

Despite the promising results, calling VERVE-102 a 'cure' for high cholesterol would be premature. Eli Lilly plans to begin a Phase 2 trial by the end of 2026, which should provide more information about the treatment’s safety, effectiveness and durability.

Men in the UK could face limited access to prostate cancer testing under updated guidance that gives GPs authority to decide if some men without symptoms should receive a PSA blood test.

The development comes after the UK Government rejected calls for routine prostate cancer screening for all men. It instead backed a targeted approach in which those at highest genetic risk would be considered first.

Why Is The UK Changing Prostate Cancer Testing Guidance?

Under existing NHS guidance, men aged 50 and over can request a PSA test after discussing the benefits and limitations with their GP.

The new guidance states that the decision to authorise PSA testing ultimately rests with the doctor. Recent reports suggested that the policy has sparked criticism from cancer charities and campaigners.

Regardless, a PSA test can find prostate cancer, but it cannot reliably tell doctors which cancers are dangerous and which may be manageable with treatment.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) concluded in May that routine screening of the whole male population could do more harm than good.

It said that for every 1,000 men aged 50 to 60 screened using PSA, up to two lives could be saved, but as many as 20 men could experience overdiagnosis.

Also read: Prostate Cancer: NHS England's New Precision Radiotherapy Offers Hope In Just 5 Sessions

Who Will Be Eligible For Regular Screening?

The UK NSC has recommended targeted screening every two years for a much smaller group who are more likely to get prostate cancer. It includes men in the age group of 45 to 61 who have a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer.

Importantly, the committee did not recommend targeted screening for other groups at higher risk, including Black men or men with a family history but no BRCA2 variant. It said that more evidence is needed to take a call on those matters.

What Is A PSA Test?

PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a protein produced by prostate cells. Higher levels can be associated with prostate cancer. But they can also increase because of non-cancerous prostate enlargement or inflammation.

This means screening can produce false alarms and lead to biopsies or treatment that some men may never need. Cancer Research UK says PSA testing may also fail to detect some prostate cancers.

Also read: Testicular Cancer Warning: Be Vigilant About These Unnoticeable Signs, Doctor Warns

Why Are Black Men Ineligible Despite Being In Higher Risk Group?

Black men have a substantially higher risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer, but the UK NSC said there is currently insufficient evidence to establish whether routine screening of Black men would help.

At the same time, the UK Government has expanded access for Black men to the TRANSFORM prostate cancer screening trial, which is designed to find a better way of detecting clinically significant prostate cancer.

The change does not mean PSA testing is being banned. Men with symptoms or particular risk factors can still be assessed by their GP, and doctors can request testing when it is clinically appropriate.