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Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM Jul 12 2023

A new $3.9 million grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow researchers with the Center for Tobacco Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center to evaluate effects of e-cigarette flavors on the smoking behaviors of current adult smokers.

The study, co-led by Theodore Wagener, PhD, director of Ohio State's Center for Tobacco Research, and Tracy Smith, PhD, of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hollings Cancer Center, will be the first to provide definitive information about the impact of non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors for helping adult smokers stop smoking.

Wagener says this study will provide scientific data that are urgently needed to inform the FDA's regulation of flavor use in e-cigarettes.

Youth advocates have strenuously objected to flavored e-cigarettes, arguing that, with flavors like cinnamon bun, cotton candy, bubble gum, mango, strawberry or chocolate, e-cigarettes are enticing young people to take up an addictive and harmful habit. Those flavors might also be more appealing to adults who smoke cigarettes and have been unable to quit. The FDA is currently making regulatory decisions about e-cigarette flavors with incomplete scientific data. Existing data show that smokers also prefer flavored e-cigarettes, and while there are a few survey studies suggesting that flavored e-cigarettes may be more helpful for switching to vaping, these studies are not rigorous enough for the FDA to base its regulatory decisions on. Our study will be the first to provide the FDA with definitive information as to the benefit, if any, of e-cigarette flavors to adult smokers."

Theodore Wagener, PhD, Director of Ohio State's Center for Tobacco Research

While the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine have concluded that e-cigarettes are likely to be far less harmful than combustible cigarettes, Wagener notes that more than 1 million e-cigarette products have been banned since 2020, mostly due to the significant rise in youth vaping, often with flavored e-cigarettes.

Switching to e-cigarettes, while not a completely healthy choice, is thought to be better than continuing to smoke, a concept that public health scientists refer to as "harm reduction." Related StoriesTowards Zika preparedness: immunogenicity insights from vaccine researchUnlocking the brain-lung dialogue key to future treatments for critical care patientsAre flavored e-cigarette bans effective?

Wagener says "the FDA must decide how to balance its goals of protecting young people and offering harm-reduction options to adults. This new trial will generate critical data to help make more informed public health decisions that have a lasting impact.". New study evaluates how much flavoring impacts smoking behavior

This national, randomized, controlled trial will recruit up to 1,500 cigarette users from the across the United States.

Researchers will measure e-cigarette flavor impact on product uptake and appeal, cigarette craving, symptoms, dependence and smoking behavior, including sustained and complete switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes. They will also utilize combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT, patch and lozenge) as an FDA-approved comparator to determine the potential increased benefit (or not) of e-cigarettes versus nicotine replacement therapies on smoking. Smokers will be randomized to one of three groups: preferred flavor e-cigarette, tobacco flavor e-cigarette or combination nicotine replacement therapy.

Study participants will receive products at no cost for 14 weeks. Participants in the preferred flavor group will be able to change flavors throughout that time. Changes in smoking will be biochemically confirmed via remote exhaled carbon monoxide readings at 12 weeks and 26 weeks after the product switch date.

"If our study demonstrates no significant improvements in switching with flavored e-cigarette use, then the continued sale of these products is likely indefensible; however, if improvements are significant, these findings will provide a critical counterweight to the current FDA regulations and will aid future decision making," Wagener said. Source:

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

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The ‘£7bn’ government secret

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The '£7bn' government secret

👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈

Who knew what about the Afghan data leak? And could anyone in parliament have done more to help scrutinise the government at the time of the superinjunction? Harriet thinks so.

So in this episode, Beth, Ruth, and Harriet talk about the massive breach, the secret court hearings, and the constitutional chaos it’s unleashed.

Plus – the fallout from the latest Labour rebellion. Four MPs have lost the whip – officially for repeated defiance, but unofficially? A government source called it “persistent knobheadery”.

So is Keir Starmer tightening his grip or losing control? And how does this compare to rebellions of Labour past?

Oh and singer Chesney Hawkes gets an unexpected mention.

Responding to claims in the podcast about whether Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle could have scrutinised the government, a Commons spokesperson said: “As has been made clear, Mr Speaker was himself under a superinjunction, and so would have been under severe legal restrictions regarding speaking about this. He would have had no awareness which organisations or individuals were and were not already aware of this matter.

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“The injunction could not constrain proceedings in parliament and between being served with the injunction in September 2023 and the 2024 General Election Mr Speaker granted four UQs on matters relating to Afghan refugees and resettlement schemes.

“Furthermore, as set out in the Justice and Security Act 2013, the Speaker has no powers to refer matters to the Intelligence and Security Committee.”

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England through to semi-finals of Women’s Euros after beating Sweden on penalties

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England through to semi-finals of Women's Euros after beating Sweden on penalties

England have booked their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Euros after knocking out Sweden.

The Lionesses won 3-2 on penalties at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, after clawing their way back to take the game into extra-time.

The defending champions had been 2-0 down at half-time after goals from Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius in the quarter-final clash.

England then levelled matters towards the end of normal time. Lucy Bronze delivered the first England goal on 79 minutes, assisted by substitute Chloe Kelly. Two minutes later, Michelle Agyemang followed suit, taking the score to 2-2.

England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton (R) celebrates with teammates after the side beat Sweden. Pic: AP
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England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton (R) celebrates with teammates after the side beat Sweden. Pic: AP

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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Bronze’s penalty kept England’s hopes alive. Pic: Reuters

After a goalless extra-time, it was time for penalties.

Alessia Russo kicked things off, finding the back of the net for England, before Lauren James, Alex Greenwood, Beth Mead and Grace Clinton had their attempts saved by Sweden’s Jennifer Falk.

The game was sent into sudden death after Falk went face-to-face with England’s Hannah Hampton but sent the ball flying over the crossbar.

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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Pic: Reuters

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Sweden
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A devastated Sweden. Pic: Reuters

It all came down to Sweden’s seventh penalty after Bronze sensationally scored, with 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg missing the chance to send her team through.

England will next face Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva on Tuesday.

‘That was crazy’

England boss Sarina Wiegman described the action as “one of the hardest games I’ve ever watched”.

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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Sarina Wiegman after the match. Pic: Reuters

“We could have been out of the game three or four times, when you’re 2-0 at half-time it’s not good,” she said after the match.

“Although we started really bad, at the end it got better, but we didn’t create anything so we had to change shape, and we score two goals – that was crazy.

“We miss a lot [of penalties], and they miss even more. I need to decompress, I think.”

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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Hannah Hampton still delivered with one nostril down. Pic: Reuters

Goalkeeper Hampton added that it was “stressful watching” and “stressful playing”.

The 24-year-old, who was left with a bloodied nose in extra-time, said: “Every time I saved one, I was just thinking ‘please put it in, so we have a bit of a cushion!’

“To be honest, I think I was better in the game when I had one nostril than when I was completely fine!”

She said it was the support of the England fans that helped the team push on. She said: “They were definitely behind me and I appreciate all the support.”

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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Michelle Agyemang reacts after levelling the game for the Lionesses. Pic: Reuters

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Sweden
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Pic: Reuters

Pressure was on the Lionesses after they won the tournament in 2022.

Their journey in the group stages started with a 2-1 defeat to France, but hopes were lifted after England sailed past the Netherlands and Wales to reach the knockout stages, finishing second in Group D.

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Sweden on the other hand went into Thursday’s game unbeaten in the tournament so far, having already defeated Germany, Poland and Denmark in the group stages.

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Lionesses went from sloppy to celebratory in nerve-shredding euros quarter-final

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Lionesses went from sloppy to celebratory in nerve-shredding euros quarter-final

By the time Hannah Hampton appeared in the news conference, the England goalkeeper was relieved, ecstatic and wanting to share this night far and wide.

So when her phone started ringing with a FaceTime call, she broke off speaking to the media about reaching the Euros semi-finals to answer it.

And then share the call with the room in Zurich.

After such a nerve-shredding night, this was the moment to relax and just savour it all.

Savour how close they came to throwing it all away against Sweden before staging a stirring comeback inspired by Lucy Bronze.

The 33-year-old scored the goal that began the fightback with 11 minutes to go and converted England’s final penalty in the shootout.

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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Lucy Bronze converted England’s final penalty. Pic: Reuters

“Lucy Bronze is one of a kind,” England manager Sarina Wiegman said. “It’s that resilience, that fight. I think the only way to get her off the pitch is in a wheelchair.”

The Lionesses looked down and out, 2-0 down after 25 minutes.

Completely outplayed. A defence run ragged. Just too sloppy.

“We said at half-time we don’t want to go home,” Hampton said. “So it’s up to us to turn the game around.”

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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Things were not looking good for England by half-time. Pic: Reuters

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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But the team managed to turn things around. Pic: Reuters

That only came after Wiegman deployed the substitutes the manager calls “finishers”.

They fulfilled their mission.

“Sweden in that moment had to adapt to some different things in the game,” Wiegman said, “before they could, it was 2-2.”

Within seconds of coming on, match-winner Chloe Kelly showed the missing spirit. The spirit that saw her score the Euro 2022 winner.

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Sweden
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Pic: Reuters

A creator of two goals in 103 seconds.

A cross headed in with 11 minutes to go by Bronze – the only player still playing from the Euro 2013 group-stage elimination.

It was a lifeline seized on so quickly.

Another cross from Kelly was this time brought down by Beth Mead before Michelle Agyemang.

The timeliest of goals from the teen – a first tournament goal on her third appearance as a sub.

Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 Englan
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Teenager Michelle Agyemang reacts after scoring England’s second goal in normal time. Pic: Reuters

But there would be the anxiousness of extra time to follow, unable to find a breakthrough.

So to the shootout that lasted 14 penalties between them.

Hampton said: “It was stressful watching and playing, I thought every single time when I saved one, ‘Please score and give us a cushion’. I feel so happy and relieved.”

Around Alessia Russo and Kelly scoring there were four England misses before Bronze converted England’s seventh and Sweden missed a fifth.

Read more:
How far has women’s football come since 1972?
Lioness star explains what ‘Proper England’ is

A frenzied 3-2 shootout win was complete.

“I can’t remember anything like this,” said Wiegman, who has only reached finals in her four tournaments with the Netherlands and England.

“I thought three times we were out,” she said.

But instead it’s off to Geneva for the European champions for a semi-final with Italy.

They’ll be hoping it’s less of a struggle, less dramatic – while just glad to have made it there.

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