Imaging Sex Differences in Smoking-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation

Recruiting now · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Smoking, Cigarette, Smoking E-cigarette, Healthy Volunteer

In brief

The purpose of this research is to measure the extent of lung inflammation between different groups of participants using a radioactive tracer called \[18F\]NOS. A radioactive tracer is a type of imaging drug that is labeled with a radioactive tag and injected into the body.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03721822

Run by

University of Pennsylvania

People needed

100

Starts

2018-10-23

Expected to finish

2026-10-23

Last updated by the study team

2025-10-03

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Participants will be 18-45 years of age
• Subject must meet one of the following criteria:
• NIC vapers: current e-cigarette use of nicotine at least 5 days per week for the past year, no current combustible cigarette use, cannabis vaping, or cannabis smoking during the 30 days prior to study enrollment
• CAN vapers: current e-cigarette use of cannabis at least 5 days per week for the past year, no current combustible cigarette use, cannabis smoking, or nicotine vaping during the 30 days prior to study enrollment
• Cigarette smokers: current cigarette smoking of at least 5 cigarettes per day, 4 days per week for the past year with no e-cigarette use (cannabis or nicotine) during the 30 days prior to study enrollment
• Dual combustible and e-cigarette users: current e-cigarette use of cannabis and/or nicotine at least 5 days per week for the past year with cigarette or cannabis smoking during the 30 day prior to study enrollment
• Non-Smokers: reported non-smoking history or < 100 lifetime cigarettes, < 100 e-cigarette use episodes, and < 100 lifetime cannabis use episodes
• Participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and be willing to provide written informed consent and participate in this study in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines prior to study-specific procedures.

You may not qualify if…

• Females who are pregnant or breast feeding at the time of screening will not be eligible for this study; a urine pregnancy test will be performed in women of child-bearing potential at screening and on scan day.
• Current untreated and unstable diagnosis of substance use disorder, except nicotine use disorder or cannabis use disorder
• Positive urine drug screen for opiates, methamphetamine or cocaine at screening
• Current unstable and/or untreated major depression or psychotic disorder per medical record review or self-reported
• Use of inhaled or oral corticosteroids or anti-inflammatory medications per medical record review or self-report
• History of lung trauma
• Active (or within the previous 4 weeks of screening) lung infection or lung disease that impact uptake of [18F]NOS (e.g. tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis)
• Inability to tolerate imaging procedures in the opinion of an investigator or treating physician
• Any current or past medical condition, illness, or disorder as assessed by medical record review and/or self-reported that is considered by a physician investigator to be a condition that could compromise participant safety or successful participation in the study

Where it is running

• University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.