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.

Individuals diagnosed with rare diseases had higher COVID-19 rates than people who did not have them. As per a study analysing health records of 62.5 million people in England, there were significant differences in infections recorded across ethnic groups and individual rare diseases.

Published in Scientific Reports recently, the study analysed 406 rare diseases with the help of healthcare records from the National Health Service (NHS) in England.

Of the 62.5 million people included in the analysis, around 1.05 million, or 1.7%, had at least one of the 406 rare diseases.

COVID-19 infections were reported in around 32.8% of people with a rare disease, compared with 29% of those without one. Even though the difference between the two figures is not far from each other, it makes us stop and think.

According to the study researchers, the findings provide a country-wide picture of rare disease rates and incidence of COVID-19 infections across various ethnic groups.

COVID-19 Infection Rates Differed Across Rare Diseases

The study found that COVID-19 infection rates differed significantly depending on the rare disease. Among the 25 most common rare diseases, infection rates ranged from 24.6% to 41.2%.

Four conditions had recorded infection rates below 30%: congenital laryngomalacia, at 24.6%; retinopathy of prematurity, at 26.5%; polymyalgia rheumatica, at 27.1%; and infantile apnoea, at 29.9%. The remaining 21 conditions had recorded infection rates between 30% and 50%.

These differences highlight an important point that people with rare diseases should not be treated as one uniform group, especially when it comes to their COVID experience.

However, the study did not establish that every person with a rare disease had a higher risk of contracting the virus, nor did it show that rare diseases necessarily led to more severe COVID-19.

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Ex-CDC Vaccine Advisor Says Measles Outbreak Bigger Than Reported, Slams RFK Jr’s ‘No-See Evil’ Approach

Infection Rates Differed By Ethnicity

The researchers also identified differences in COVID-19 infection rates among ethnic groups within the rare disease occurrence.

The highest rates were observed among people classified as White British, at 33.7%, and those in the broader White category used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), at 33.5%.

Lower rates were recorded among several other groups, including Black African people, at 23.8%; Gypsy or Irish Traveller people, at 24.1%; Bangladeshi people, at 27.2%; and Pakistani people, at 27.7%.

The researchers said that this pattern was different from trends in the general population, where ethnic minority groups experienced an uneven burden of COVID-19.

Rare Diseases Varied Across Ethnic Groups

Apart from COVID-19 infection, the study mapped 406 rare diseases across various ethnic groups. The researchers found variations in how frequently each condition was recorded.

Some of these differences became clearer when broad ethnic categories were divided into more specific groups. For example, discoid lupus erythematosus was more prevalent among Black Caribbean people than among Black African people.

The researchers also found that polymyalgia rheumatica was more prevalent among White people than Asian or Asian British and Black or Black British populations.

Also read: World Breast Cancer Day 2026: Life After Breast Cancer, The Fear No One Sees

How Was The Study Conducted?

The researchers carried out a cross-sectional analysis using NHS England’s Secure Data Environment, linking primary care, hospital and mortality records for people alive on July 31, 2023.

They estimated the prevalence of 406 rare diseases and examined COVID-19 infections across the overall population, individual rare diseases and ethnic groups. The analysis used both six ONS ethnic categories and 19 more detailed NHS ethnicity classifications.

The study’s large population base allowed the researchers to examine conditions that can be difficult to investigate because each rare disease affects relatively few people.

The researchers said the national estimates provide a baseline for understanding rare disease rates and COVID-19 cases across different populations in England. The findings may help inform future research and support efforts towards earlier diagnosis and better healthcare.

Nearly 94% of tuberculosis (TB) patients in an Indian study conducted in Bengaluru reported anxiety symptoms, while 77.3% showed signs of depression. The findings focus on the mental health toll that comes with TB. It also sheds light on the need to include psychological support in routine treatment of tuberculosis.

The cross-sectional study, conducted with 66 adults at the Yeshwanthpur Tuberculosis Unit in Bengaluru, found that 56.1% had moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, while 46.9% had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Nearly half of the participants experienced symptoms of both conditions.

The study was conducted by Dr. Pavithra Cheluvaraj, Dr. Vishnu C. Sudhakaran, Dr. Babitha Rajan and Anjana Sasikumar Nair from the Department of Community Medicine at Ramaiah Medical College.

The researchers examined the patients using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales.

Why Are TB Patients May Experience Anxiety And Depression?

Stigma linked with TB, fear of transmitting the infection to family members and existing health conditions may contribute to anxiety and depression among patients, Dr. Pavithra told Bangalore Mirror.

TB treatment can also entail a prolonged course of medication and regular follow-up. Psychological distress may make it harder for patients to continue treatment or seek timely care.

According to Dr. Pavithra, anxiety and depression if left untreated could affect the course of TB treatment. Patients experiencing psychological distress may delay starting treatment or stop taking their medication, which could compromising recovery and increasing the risk of drug resistance.

“If there is delay in diagnosis or treatment, the person can spread the disease,” she said.

Also read: You May Be Carrying TB, And Not Know Until It Gets Worse

How Was Mental Health Assessed In The Study?

The researchers used two standardised screening tools to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The PHQ-9 measures depressive symptoms, while the GAD-7 tests for symptoms of anxiety. The study found that 51 of the 66 participants had symptoms linked with depression, and 62 had symptoms that indicated anxiety.

Moderate to severe symptoms were found in 31 participants for depression and 37 for anxiety. These screening results indicate the need for further clinical assessment. The findings are merely observations and they do not mean that every participant had a confirmed psychiatric diagnosis of anxiety and depression.

Additionally, the study was based on 66 adults in one tuberculosis unit in Bengaluru, so its findings cannot represent all TB patients in India.

But the high percentage of participants who reported symptoms of anxiety and depression suggest that there is need for better integration of mental health screening into TB treatment.

The researchers recommended routine screening for depression and anxiety when patients are diagnosed with TB and during follow-up visits. They also called for counselling and referrals for patients with more severe symptoms.

They say that identifying psychological distress early may help doctors connect patients with appropriate support while they receive treatment for the infection.

TB Is A Global Health Crisis

Even though this study is based on a small sample, it speaks about the long-term effects of the disease on mental health. TB is a global health crisis, which means this study warrants further investigation and action.

According to the WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, in 2024, more than ten million people across the globe developed TB while more than 1.2 million lost their lives to the disease.

Currently, India bears the lion's share of TB burden compared to other countries. Uneven access to drug-resistant TB treatment, financial hardships, stigma, prolonged treatment are some of the factors that may contribute to deteriorating mental health of TB patients.

GLP-1 medications, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also be associated with a lower risk of serious complications after surgery, a new study suggests.

The study, involving more than 2 million adults undergoing surgery, found that people taking GLP-1 medications had lower rates of major cardiovascular complications and postoperative infections than those not taking the drugs. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Houston presented the findings at the Anesthesiology 2026 annual meeting.

"GLP-1 medications have become part of everyday care for many people with diabetes or obesity, but physicians still need more evidence about how these drugs affect patients around the time of surgery," said lead author Josephine Tolan, an anesthesiologist at the Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

Tolan added that although the results are encouraging, more research is needed to determine if the medications themselves are driving these benefits and how best to manage them before and after surgery.

What Are The Key Findings

Also read: Exclusive: GLP-1 Drugs Are The ‘New Statins’, Says University Hospital Birmingham Professor

Researchers analyzed data from the Epic Cosmos database, a de-identified electronic health record database covering more than 1,700 hospitals and 40,000 clinics.

The study included US adults aged 18 and older who underwent elective surgeries lasting more than 60 minutes and stayed in the hospital for at least 24 hours after surgery between January 2016 and December 2024. Of the 2,028,601 patients included, 145,610, or about 7%, were taking GLP-1 medications.

After matching GLP-1 users with similar patients who were not taking the drugs, researchers found that GLP-1 use was associated with:

• 11% lower odds of major cardiovascular complications, including heart attack, heart injury, stroke or death.
• 8% lower odds of postoperative infections, including surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and sepsis.

How Might GLP-1 Drugs Affect Surgical Outcomes?

Read More: GLP-1 Drugs May Offer Mental Health Benefits, Reduce Schizophrenia Relapses: Lancet Study

Previous research has shown that GLP-1 medications can lower the risk of cardiovascular problems in some patients. However, their effects during and after surgery remain less clear.

Surgery places stress on the body, can trigger inflammation and may cause changes in blood pressure, blood sugar and circulation, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications and infections, the researchers explained.

Further, they suggest that GLP-1 medications may be associated with fewer cardiovascular complications because they support weight loss, improve blood pressure and blood sugar control, reduce inflammation and may protect heart muscle during periods of stress.

These medications may also help reduce infection risk by improving blood sugar control. High blood sugar can weaken the body's immune response, making it harder to fight infections.

GLP-1 Drugs And Cardiovascular Health

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Research has found that people taking GLP-1 medications to treat diabetes, overweight or obesity have fewer major cardiovascular events, like heart attack or stroke, compared to people not taking GLP-1 medications.

In fact, the American College of Cardiology now recommends GLP-1 drugs as a way to reduce cardiovascular disease risk through weight loss.

When weight decreases, so does blood pressure, inflammation, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, and protective factors like good (HDL) cholesterol increase. In other words, overweight or obese individuals who are prescribed a GLP-1 for weight loss may experience positive changes to their heart health, especially if they are at risk of heart disease.