The nation’s leading causes of death are related to alcohol and drug use, tobacco smoke exposure, and behavioral addictions. In addition, the comorbidity of addictions and psychiatric illnesses (ie, dual diagnosis) is… Read More
There is strong evidence to support the hypothesis that cannabis consumption is a risk factor for the development of psychotic symptoms and schizophrenia. . . . Read More
Quick . . . name a class of prescription medications that, by most evidence, appears to be overprescribed and abused and the use of which has resulted... More »
In our time, it seems that the number of psychiatrists who believe in a God are increasing, parallel with the decreasing influence of Freud’s ideas. More »
Evidence-based analysis shows that weak opioids have at best a weak effect in rheumatoid arthritis pain. Steroid injections offer no long-term relief... More »
As a consultation liaison psychiatrist, one of his assignments was to work on a renal dialysis unit to determine whether or not a patient was... More »
OBJECTIVE: A three-week in-unit, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial in non-treatment-seeking heroin addicts was undertaken to test the translatability of pre-clinical findings of enhanced opioid analgesia and reduced dependence and tolerance with concomitant ibudilast exposure.
BACKGROUND: Previous animal studies have established that systemic ibudilast administration can improve the analgesic potency and efficacy of therapeutic doses of opioids such as morphine and oxy
Advertisement. Search. Still not a subscriber to JACC Imaging or JACC Interventions? J Am Coll Cardiol, 2012; 59: 2221-2305, doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.02.010 ( Published online 8 May 2012). 2012 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.
Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2, also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) is an important factor for the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The mechanisms of MCP-1-mediated neuropathogenesis, in part, revolve around its neuroinflammatory role and the recruitment of monocytes into the central nervous system (CNS) via the disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB). We have previously demonstrated that HIV-1/HIV-1 Tat upregulate platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, a
Possible interactions between nervous and immune systems in neuro-psychiatric disorders remain elusive. Levels of brain dopamine transporter (DAT) have been implicated in several impulse-control disorders, like attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Here, we assessed the interplay between DAT auto-immunity and behavioural / neurochemical phenotype.|Possible interactions between nervous and immune systems in neuro-psychiatric disorders remain elusive. Leve
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is known to be dysregulated in persons with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), for uncertain reasons. This is an important issue because impaired vasoreactivity has been associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke, elevated overall cardiovascular risk and cognitive impairment.|Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is known to be dysregulated in persons with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), for uncertain reasons. This is an important issue because impaired vasoreactivity has
In the west, men are twice as likely as women to develop a drug problem, but female users have higher rates of morbidity than male users. Iran has the world highest per capita opiate consumption, but little is known about female drug users. In 2007, we established a free methadone clinic with ancillary services for female drug users in South Tehran. The aim was to explore the characteristics of female drug users seeking treatment for heroin dependence in Iran. Clients were interviewed about demographic characteristics, drug use and treatment history, and drug-related health problems. Urine and blood samples were collected and tested for morphine, HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).|Between August 2007 and October 2008, 78 women completed a baseline interview. The median age was 37 years, the main ethnic background was Persian (65%), and half of the clients were married. Opium and heroin and opium use was reported by 69% (n=54) and 87% (n=68) of
Adequate pain management is crucial in maintaining the best possible quality of life for terminally ill patients. This article examines pain management in the palliative care setting, based on a review of the literature using the standard Prescrire methodology. Accurate pain evaluation, preferably by the patient, is essential for guiding treatment decisions. Some causes of pain are amenable to specific treatments. The expected benefits and harms of the various treatment options and procedures must be weighed on a case by case basis. Quality of life should always be the first priority. The World Health Organization has developed a "three-step analgesic ladder", based on the use of increasingly potent analgesics: step I analgesics include paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); codeine is the standard step II analgesic; and morphine is the standard step III analgesic. Fentanyl is an alternative to morphine. The daily morphine dose must be determined for each
The central nervous system (CNS) stimulants to CNS depressants such as morphine, cocaine, methamphetamine and nicotine each have the capacity for inducing chemical dependence with an enormous impact on human behavior. Because of the difficulties in isolation, the role of the reactive metabolites as a modulating factor in the receptor activation and related addiction of these drugs is not studied. The chemical transformations of these compounds to their metabolites at the receptors have been proposed. There is the distinct possibility that irreversible binding of N-hydroxy, N-formyl or related metabolites of morphine, cocaine, methamphetamine, or nicotine with the respective receptors can occur. This unique role of highly reactive molecular species is postulated. In this way, the synaptic glutaminergic and or dopaminergic transmission can be compromised. On repeated exposure of the drug, the receptor reserve may decrease. More drug is needed to activate the residual receptor to
The neuropeptide galanin and its receptors are expressed in brain regions implicated in drug dependence. Indeed, several lines of evidence support a role for galanin in modulating the effects of drugs of abuse, including morphine, cocaine, amphetamine, and alcohol. Despite these findings, the role of galanin and its receptors in the effects of nicotine is largely underexplored. Here, using mouse models of nicotine reward and withdrawal, we show that there is a significant correlation between mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal somatic signs and basal galanin or galanin receptor 1 (GALR1) expression in mesolimbocortical dopamine regions across the BXD battery of recombinant inbred mouse lines. The non-peptide galanin receptor agonist, galnon, also blocks nicotine rewarding effects and reverses mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal signs in ICR mice. Additionally, we conducted a meta-analysis using smoking information from six European-American and African-American
Accumulating evidence indicates important gender differences in substance use disorders. Little is known, however, about gender differences and opioid use disorders.|To compare demographic characteristics, substance use severity, and other associated areas of functioning (as measured by the Addiction Severity Index-Lite (ASI-Lite)) among opioid-dependent men and women participating in a multisite effectiveness trial.|Participants were 892 adults screened for the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network investigation of the effectiveness of two buprenorphine tapering schedules.|The majority of men and women tested positive for oxycodone (68% and 65%, respectively) and morphine (89% each). More women than men tested positive for amphetamines (4% vs. 1%, p < .01), methamphetamine (11% vs. 4%, p < .01), and phencyclidine (8% vs. 4%, p = .02). More men than women tested positive for methadone (11% vs. 6%, p = .05) and marijuana (22% vs. 15%, p = .03). Craving for opioids
APRIL JOGC AVRIL 2011 l 367 Substance Use in Pregnancy This clinical practice guideline has been prepared by the Working Group on Problematic Substance Use in Pregnancy, reviewed by the Maternal Fetal Medicine Committee, the Family Physicians
Primary Care Can't Thrive Without Nurse Practitioners Courtney H. Lyder, ND, May 17, 2013 With a projected shortfall of primary-care physicians, it's time for alternate solutions to patient care. Nurse practitioners are one logical remedy.