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ADHD is often described as a disorder of altered reward sensitivity, yet few studies have examined the extent to which: (i) treatments for ADHD impact reward-related mechanisms; and (ii) changes in the reward system are associated with clinical improvement. This study addresses these issues - examining the extent to which clinical improvement following lisdexamfetamine (LDX) treatment is associated with changes in brain reward system activation. Twenty adults (M = 11, 55%, F = 9, 45%), ages 19–52 (M = 33.9, SD = 10.0) with ADHD participated in a randomized cross-over study with lisdexamfetamine (LDX) and placebo (PB). Changes in brain activation were assessed during functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) scans: after receiving 3–5 weeks of treatment with LDX and 3–5 weeks of no drug/PB. fMRI contrasts were derived from the passive-avoidance (PA) learning task, which assessed reward-related learning using computational variables. We analyzed the following conditions: the Choice-Phase, modulated by the expected value (EV; i.e., object-choose and object-reject), and the Feedback-Phase, modulated by the prediction error (PE; i.e., reward and punish). Clinical symptom severity was assessed via interview with the ADHD-Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV). To address the primary objective, we performed group-level mass-univariate regression analyses between LDX and PB of percent change of the ADHD-RS total scores and the four contrast images under the Choice- and Feedback-conditions. Significance was set at a whole-brain voxel-wise threshold of p < 0.05 with family-wise error (FWE) correction and an extent (cluster) threshold of 50 contiguous voxels. Improvement in ADHD symptoms with LDX was accompanied by significantly increased activation in a series of brain regions previously implicated in reinforcement processing in the choice and feedback conditions (e.g., left caudate and putamen, right orbitofrontal cortex, left middle frontal, superior frontal, and precentral gyri). These findings, while preliminary, are the first to show that ADHD symptom improvement with stimulant treatment is associated with increased responsiveness of brain systems engaged in reward processing. Results support the hypothesis that LDX treatment may restore balance to dysfunction (e.g., hypoactivation) within the brain reward circuitry in adults with ADHD. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01924429. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present the synthesis of five novel compounds by combining flurbiprofen with various substituted 2-phenethylamines. The synthesized derivatives underwent comprehensive characterization using techniques such as 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Detailed HRMS analysis was performed for each of these newly created molecules. The biological activities of these compounds were assessed through in vitro experiments to evaluate their potential as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Furthermore, the lipophilicity of these derivatives was determined, both theoretically using the cLogP method and experimentally through partition coefficient (RM) measurements. To gain insights into their binding affinity, we conducted an in silico analysis of the compounds' interactions with human serum albumin (HSA) using molecular docking studies. Our findings reveal that all of the newly synthesized compounds exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, with results statistically comparable to the reference compounds. Molecular docking studies further explain the observed in vitro results, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms behind their biological activities. Using in silico method, toxicity was calculated, resulting in LD50 values. Depending on the administration route, the novel flurbiprofen derivatives show lower toxicity compared to the standard flurbiprofen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the synthesis of 2-(2-fluoro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-N-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl)propanamide in the reaction between 7-amino-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one and (±)-flurbiprofen. The newly-obtained bio-functional hybrid compound was fully characterized via 1H, 13C NMR, UV, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report the synthesis of (±)-N-(3-chlorophenethyl)-2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanamide in the reaction between 2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethan-1-amine and (±)-naproxen. The newly obtained bio-functional hybrid molecule was fully characterized via 1H, 13C NMR, UV, IR, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-(3-chlorophenethyl)-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanamide was synthesized for the first time in the reaction between 2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethan-1-amine and 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoyl chloride with high yield. The newly obtained chlorine-containing ibuprofen derivative was fully analyzed and characterized using 1H-, 13C-NMR, UV, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the obtaining of new hybrid molecules of amphetamine with different profens (amfens). The obtained amfens are characterized by their melting points, UV, 1H–, 13C–NMR, and HRMS spectra. A complete and detailed mass spectral analysis of the newly obtained derivatives of amphetamine with ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and carprofen was performed. In vitro inhibition of albumin denaturation of each new compound was assessed, and they showed significant activity. The IC50 values of the obtained amphetamine-profen derivatives ranged from 92.81 to 159.87 µg/mL. This indicates that the new hybrids inherit the anti-inflammatory properties of profens. Using in silico method, the toxicity was also calculated. The obtained results are given in LD50 values. Depending on the route of administration, the amfens are less toxic compared to the standard amphetamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Widely used psychotropic medications for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may change the volumes of subcortical brain structures, and differently in children vs. adults. We measured subcortical volumes cross-sectionally in patients finely stratified for age taking various common classes of OCD drugs.Methods: The ENIGMA-OCD consortium sample (1081 medicated/1159 unmedicated OCD patients and 2057 healthy controls aged 6-65) was divided into six successive 6-10-year age-groups. Individual structural MRIs were parcellated automatically using FreeSurfer into 8 regions-of-interest (ROIs). ROI volumes were compared between unmedicated and medicated patients and controls, and between patients taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), tricyclics (TCs), antipsychotics (APs), or benzodiazepines (BZs) and unmedicated patients.Results: Compared to unmedicated patients, volumes of accumbens, caudate, and/or putamen were lower in children aged 6-13 and adults aged 50-65 with OCD taking SRIs (Cohen's d = -0.24 to -0.74). Volumes of putamen, pallidum (d = 0.18-0.40), and ventricles (d = 0.31-0.66) were greater in patients aged 20-29 receiving APs. Hippocampal volumes were smaller in patients aged 20 and older taking TCs and/or BZs (d = -0.27 to -1.31).Conclusions: Results suggest that TCs and BZs could potentially aggravate hippocampal atrophy of normal aging in older adults with OCD, whereas SRIs may reduce striatal volumes in young children and older adults. Similar to patients with psychotic disorders, OCD patients aged 20-29 may experience subcortical nuclear and ventricular hypertrophy in relation to APs. Although cross-sectional, present results suggest that commonly prescribed agents exert macroscopic effects on subcortical nuclei of unknown relation to therapeutic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report the obtaining of 1-(3,4-dihydroquinolin-1(2H)-yl)-2- (4-isobutylphenyl)propan-1-one and its characterization. The newly obtained hybrid and its derivatives (hybrids of ibuprofen with 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, and piperidine) were screened for their in vitro antioxidant, antitryptic, and inhibition of albumin denaturation activity. The lipophilicity was established using both reversed-phase thin layer chromatography and in silico calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-(2-fluoro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-N-(1-phenylpropan-2-yl)propanamide was synthesized by a reaction between amphetamine and flurbiprofen in high yields. The newly obtained hybrid molecule was fully analyzed and characterized via 1H, 13C, UV, IR, HPLC, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is unclear whether deviations in brain and behavioral development, which may underpin elevated substance use during adolescence, are predispositions for or consequences of substance use initiation. Here, we examine behavioral and neuroimaging indices at early and mid-adolescence in drug-naive youths to identify possible predisposing factors for substance use initiation and its possible consequences.Method: Among 304 drug-naive adolescents at baseline (age 14 years) from the IMAGEN dataset, 83 stayed drug-naive, 133 used alcohol on 1 to 9 occasions, 42 on 10 to 19 occasions, 27 on 20 to 39 occasions, and 19 on >40 occasions at follow-up (age 16 years). Baseline measures included brain activation during the Monetary Incentive Delay task. Data at both baseline and follow-up included measures of trait impulsivity and delay discounting.Results: From baseline to follow-up, impulsivity decreased in the 0 and 1- to 9-occasions groups (p < .004), did not change in the 10- to 19-occasions and 20- to 29-occasions groups (p > .294), and uncharacteristically increased in the >40-occasions group (p = .046). Furthermore, blunted medial orbitofrontal cortex activation during reward outcome at baseline significantly predicted higher alcohol use frequency at follow-up, above and beyond behavioral and clinical variables (p = .008).Conclusion: These results suggest that the transition from no use to frequent drinking in early to mid-adolescence may disrupt normative developmental changes in behavioral control. In addition, blunted activity of the medial orbitofrontal cortex during reward outcome may underscore a predisposition toward the development of more severe alcohol use in adolescents. This distinction is clinically important, as it informs early intervention efforts in preventing the onset of substance use disorder in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report an alternative eco-friendly method for the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline sulfonamide derivatives. All obtained compounds were screened for their in vitro inhibition of albumin denaturation, antioxidant, antitryptic and antibacterial activity, and have shown significant results. The lipophilicity was established using both reversed-phase thin layer chromatography and in silico calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been hypothesized that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) share common neurobiological features. When abnormalities in the mesolimbic reward system are characteristic of children with ADHD, it is unclear whether youth at particularly elevated risk for SUD may exhibit any further disturbances. The objective of this pilot study is to examine possible neurobiological differences among youth with different levels of SUD risk before exposure to any abusable substances. Methods: We recruited 47 drug-naive children aged 8-13 divided into (1) Low Risk (LR)-ADHD only (n = 16); (2) High Risk (HR)-ADHD+familial SUD (n = 17); and (3) healthy controls (HC, n = 14) who underwent one functional magnetic resonance imaging scan while performing a hybrid task. We used the omnibus analysis of covariance model to assess for group differences in brain activation in regions linked to the brain reward and behavioral control systems. Results: Behavioral analysis showed significant Cue and Flanker main effects, but no significant main effect for Group. Whole-brain analysis showed significant differences in widely distributed networks related to both reward processing and behavioral control. Region of interest (ROI) activations showed that the HR group had the highest activation in the right putamen during both expected rewards and unexpected nonreward outcomes and in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during unexpected nonreward outcomes, while LR and HC youth showed similarly low activation during these contrasts. Furthermore, the LR and HR groups showed lower activation than HC in the right ACC and the right caudate during flanker contrasts. Conclusions: These are the first preliminary results to demonstrate that the magnitude of activation during reward notification differs as a function of reward outcome in youth at high versus LR for SUD, such that youth at LR for SUD exhibit the highest activation for positive rewards, whereas those at HR for SUD exhibit the highest activation during negative rewards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Longitudinal studies have shown that clinical precursors of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and more notably comorbid ADHD and conduct disorder (CD). Despite existing evidence for the purported role of abnormal serotonergic function in aggressive youth and adults, little evidence exists on the role of serotonin in the progression from childhood disruptive behavior disorders to adult psychopathology, including ASPD. This study examined the relation between serotonergic function in children diagnosed with ADHD and the development of ASPD in early adulthood. We hypothesized that low serotonin response to a pharmacological probe in childhood would predict the development of adult ASPD. Towards this goal we divided 40 adults (M = 37, F = 3), ages 23–26 (m-24.57, sd-2.33) diagnosed with childhood ADHD into 2 groups: participants with (n = 21) and without (n = 19) ASPD. We used logistic regression to assess whether serotonergic measures in childhood assessed via prolactin and cortisol responses to a fenfluramine challenge, would selectively predict the development of ASPD in early adulthood. Logistic regression models showed that low central serotonergic response in childhood indexed by cortisol response significantly predicted adult ASPD (Wald = 4.427, p =.035) but not ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Adults without ASPD had the highest serotonergic response whereas adults with adolescent ASPD (i.e. early onset ASPD) had the lowest response. Thus we provide new evidence of the link between low serotonergic function in childhood and the development of ASPD in adulthood, particularly for boys with adolescent onset of ASPD. These findings are relevant for understanding the contribution of childhood neurobiology to risk for later ASPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unofficially dubbed a "3rd generation" antipsychotic, in part due to partial agonist activity at D2 receptors, aripiprazole has more FDA-approved pediatric indications than any other atypical antipsychotic, and is the second most commonly prescribed antipsychotic in U.S. children and adolescents (Cohen et al. [6]). In the late 1990s and early 2000s, prescriptions of atypical antipsychotics to children increased by nearly sixfold (Olfson et al. [19]). In ongoing study by the CAMESA group, Kara and Penner examine pre- and postguideline monitoring in children with neurodevelopmental disorders - a population likely to be prescribed antipsychotic medications, and uniquely vulnerable to their metabolic effects. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, we outline the eco-friendly mechanosynthesis of N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)-4-nitrobenzamide by reacting 2,2-diphenylethan-1-amine with 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride. The resulting bio-functional hybrid compound was meticulously characterized through the analysis of 1H-, 13C-NMR, UV, and detailed mass spectral analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human brain is arguably the most complex information processing system. It operates by acquiring data from the environment, recognizing patterns of events' occurrence, anticipating their re-occurrence and in turn generating appropriate behavioral responses. Through the lenses of the free-energy principle any self-organizing system that is at equilibrium with its environment must minimize its free energy either by manipulating the environmental sensory input or by manipulating its internal states thus altering the recognition density of the outside stimuli. However, several sets of challenges interfere with the human brain's ability to learn and adapt in such a theoretically optimal fashion. These may include, and are not limited to, functional inconsistencies related to attention and memory processes, the functions of "fast" and "slow" thinking and responding, and the ability of emotional states to generate unintended behavioral outcomes that are less adaptive or inappropriate. This paper will review literature on the subject of how ideal learning viewed from the free-energy principle perspective may be affected by the above mentioned limitations and will suggest a model of information processing that may have developed as a way of overcoming these challenges. This neurobiological model stipulates that a neuronal network is formed in response to environmental input and is paralleled by at least one and possibly multiple networks that activate intrinsically and represent "virtual responses" to a situation that demands a behavioral response. This model accounts for how the brain generates a multiplicity of potential behavioral responses and may "choose" the one that seems most appropriate and also explains the uncanny ability of humans to socialize and collaborate. Implications for understanding humans' ability to learn from others, deliberate on opposing constructs and access and utilize information outside of individual minds are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigration is a rich experience, probably like no other, in relation to both unexpected and even unimagined returns but also colossal difficulties. One of the most fascinating aspects of immigration is learning the language of your newly adopted home. I don't mean simply learning the basics, but attempting to master the nuances of expression, the word play, and the subtleties of phrase choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Aggression is a common, yet complex, behavioral complaint, and a frequent indication for referral to child and adolescent psychiatrist treatment. This article reviews the evidence supporting pharmacotherapy of aggression in youth, with a primary focus on impulsive aggression (the primary indication for this intervention). Relevant diagnostic considerations and consensus guidelines are discussed.Methods: Articles examining the role of medications in the treatment of aggression in youth with pathological aggression were identified using PubMed and MEDLINE® databases over the past 15 years (2000-2015); selected articles published prior to 2000 and deemed to be of high relevance were searched and also included. Search terms included: Aggression, aggressive, disruptive behavior, conduct, youth, children, and adolescents. Cited references were also searched for relevant articles.Results: There are a number of evidence-based medication treatments for aggression, which are generally best considered in the context of differential diagnosis and ongoing evidence-based psychosocial interventions. Impulsive aggression is generally considered the type of aggression most amenable to medication, but other aggression subtypes may also possibly respond to treatment. Medication classes with positive evidence include the psychostimulants and α-2 agonists (in the presence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and/or disruptive behavior disorders), mood stabilizing agents, and atypical antipsychotics. Published guidelines recommend systematic and adequate trials of medications in sequential order, to optimize response and minimize polypharmacy. Guidelines for safety monitoring are available for many of the medications used for aggression in youth, and are also discussed.Conclusions: Aggression in children carries a high risk of poor outcomes, and, therefore, a better understanding of treatment options is a high priority. The available literature points to the importance of identifying the underlying disorder, when possible, and using this information to guide treatment selection. Future studies are needed to better inform the treatment of aggression across disorders, and the treatment of different aggression subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, (±)-N-(1,2-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl)-2-(2-fluoro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)propanamide, was obtained for the first time from 1,2-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) ethan-1-amine and (±)-flurbiprofen in one step. The newly synthesized bio-functional hybrid compound was fully characterized using 1H, 13C-NMR, UV, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Gulf War veterans were exposed to environmental toxins not present in other combat theaters resulting in a unique biological signature that only partially resembles that seen in other combat veterans with PTSD. Thus it is important to determine if brain abnormalities seen in non-Gulf War veterans with PTSD are also present in Gulf War veterans. In this pilot study, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography was used to assess the ultra-structural integrity of fronto-limbic white matter connections in Gulf War veterans with and without PTSD. The effects of chronic multisymptom illness on DTI measures was also evaluated. Methods Subjects were 20 previously studied Gulf War veterans on whom MRIs had been obtained. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were determined for left and right cingulum bundle by DTI tractography and compared in separate analyses for 12 veterans with, and 8 without PTSD. The effect of chronic multisymptom illness and it's interaction with PTSD, were similarly investigated using multivariate ACOVA. Partial correlations were used to test the associations of both DTI indices with PTSD severity and plasma cortisol, controlling for whole brain volume. Results Significantly lower MD was demonstrated in the right cingulum bundle among Gulf War veterans with PTSD. There were no significant differences in MD or FA in the left cingulum bundle. The presence of chronic multisymptom illness significantly attenuated the PTSD associated decrement in right cingulum MD. Clinician and self-rated PTSD symptom severity scores were significantly associated with reduced MD and increased FA in the right cingulum. Similar associations were observed for 8am plasma cortisol in a subset of participants. Conclusions The preliminary findings indicate increased structural integrity – supporting enhanced connectivity – between right amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex in PTSD. This effect was strongest among Gulf War veterans without chronic multisymptom illness. The association of both MD and FA in the right cingulum with PTSD severity, and with heightened glucocorticoid responsivity, suggests that these DTI findings are a reflection of current PTSD illness expression. Although based on a small sample, these microstructural observations are consistent with a functional model suggesting increased amygdala responsivity in association with anterior cingulate modulation in PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of sensitization following stimulants administration in humans is just emerging, which prevents reaching more definitive conclusions in favor or against a purported protective role of stimulant treatments for ADHD for the development of substance use disorders. Existing evidence from both animal and human research suggest that stimulants produce neurophysiological changes in the brain reward system, some of which could be persistent. This could be relevant in choosing optimal treatments for young patients with ADHD who have additional clinical risk factors for substance abuse (e.g. conduct disorder (CD) and/or familial addictions). Here we stipulate that, while the majority of youth with ADHD greatly benefit from treatments with stimulants, there might be a subpopulation of individuals whose neurobiological profiles may confer risk for heightened vulnerability to the effects of stimulants on the responsiveness of the brain reward system. We propose that focused human research is needed to elucidate the unknown effects of prolonged stimulant exposure on the neurophysiology of the brain reward system in young patients with ADHD. • Evidence showing sensitization effects of stimulants in animals is substantial while there is minimal evidence for sensitization in humans. • ADHD and SUD share common features of the brain reward system responsiveness to stimulant. • Some ADHD individuals may have unique neurobiological profiles possibly linked to susceptibility to sensitization and risk for substance use. • There no studies to inform the clinically relevant question if sensitization should be considered when youth are exposed to stimulants. • Proposed new lines of research that may provide more definitive answers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate, are thought to improve information processing in motivation–reward and attention-activation networks by enhancing the effects of more relevant signals and suppressing those of less relevant ones; however the nature of such reciprocal influences remains poorly understood. To explore this question, we tested the effect of methylphenidate on performance and associated brain activity in the Anticipation, Conflict, Reward (ACR) task. Sixteen healthy adult volunteers, ages 21–45, were scanned twice using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as they performed the ACR task under placebo and methylphenidate conditions. A three-way repeated measures analysis of variance, with cue (reward vs. non-reward), target (congruent vs. incongruent) and medication condition (methylphenidate vs. placebo) as the factors, was used to analyze behaviors on the task. Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals, reflecting task-related neural activity, were evaluated using linear contrasts. Participants exhibited significantly greater accuracy in the methylphenidate condition than the placebo condition. Compared with placebo, the methylphenidate condition also was associated with lesser task-related activity in components of attention-activation systems irrespective of the reward cue, and less task-related activity in components of the reward–motivation system, particularly the insula, during reward trials irrespective of target difficulty. These results suggest that methylphenidate enhances task performance by improving efficiency of information processing in both reward–motivation and in attention-activation systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The cerebellum is emerging as a key anatomical structure underlying normal attentional and cognitive control mechanisms. Dysregulation within cerebellar circuits may contribute to the core symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In the present study we aimed to characterize surface morphological features of the cerebellum in ADHD and healthy comparison youths. Further, we studied the association of cerebellar morphology with the severity of ADHD symptoms and the effects of stimulant treatment. We examined 46 youths with ADHD and 59 comparison youths 8-18 years of age in a cross-sectional, case-control study using magnetic resonance imaging. Measures of cerebellar surface morphology were the primary outcome. Relative to comparison participants, youths with ADHD exhibited smaller regional volumes corresponding to the lateral surface of the left anterior and the right posterior cerebellar hemispheres. Stimulant medication was associated with larger regional volumes over the left cerebellar surface, whereas more severe ADHD symptoms were associated with smaller regional volumes in the vermis. We used optimized measures of morphology to detect alterations in cerebellar anatomy specific to ADHD, dimensions of symptomology, and stimulant treatment. Duration of treatment correlated positively with volumes of specific cerebellar subregions, supporting a model whereby compensatory morphological changes support the effects of stimulant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder, most often diagnosed in childhood, and characterized by hyperactivity and inattention that negatively impacts one's ability to function and fulfill social and personal obligations. Individuals with past history of ADHD may enlist in the military under certain conditions, however the full impact of military training and deployment of later in life ADHD symptoms is unclear. It is of particular interest how military experience may affect ADHD in remission and if such individuals might be at elevated risk for relapse of ADHD symptoms. METHOD: We performed a systematic review f the available literature including the Department of Defense (DOD) guidelines for both eligibility to enlist and fitness for deployment based on reported history and current symptomatology of ADHD. RESULTS: The after care for veterans with ADHD relapse is inconsistent and presents with number of challenges. We evaluate the DOD policies regarding the implications of ADHD for fitness for military service and post-combat mental health. CONCLUSION: The full extend of the interaction between pre-existing ADHD and post-combat PTSD are not fully understood. The development of comprehensive and clear algorithms for diagnosing and treating ADHD in the military before and after deployment will have a strong positive impact on the quality of care delivered to soldiers and veterans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is hypothesized that the development of substance abuse (SA) may be due to imbalance in functions of the motivation-reward and behavioral inhibition systems in the brain. This speaks to the search for biological risk factors for SA in drug-naïve children who also exhibit motivational and inhibitory control deficits; however, this type of research is currently lacking. The objective of this study was to establish a neurobiological basis for addiction vulnerability using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in drug-naïve youth with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We hypothesized that children with ADHD alone would show higher activity in regions of the motivation-reward and behavioral inhibition systems than children with ADHD and a parental history of SA. Toward this goal we scanned 20 drug-naïve children with ADHD ages 8–13 while performing an event-related reward task. High (N =10) and low (N =10) risk subjects were identified, based on parental history of SA. The effects of anticipation, conflict, and reward were assessed with appropriate linear contrasts, and between-group differences were assessed using statistical parametric mapping. The two groups did not differ on behavioral measures of the task. The fMRI results show heightened activation in the brain motivational-reward system and reduced activation of the inhibitory control system in high-risk compared to low-risk children. These results suggest that a functional mismatch between these two systems may represent one possible biological underpinning of SA risk, which is conferred by a parental history of addiction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of different 1-monosubstituted and 1,1-disubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines was synthesized in high yields from different ketoamides. We have developed a convenient method for the synthesis of disubstituted derivatives by interaction of ketoamides with organomagnesium compounds, followed by cyclization in the presence of catalytic amounts of p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). A number of substituents at the C-1 in the isoquinoline skeleton were introduced varying either carboxylic acid or organomagnesium compound. Some of the obtained 1,1-dialkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines possess contractile activity against guinea pig's gastric smooth muscle preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The role of the thalamus in the genesis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains poorly understood. The authors used anatomical MRI to examine the morphology of the thalamus in youths with ADHD and healthy comparison youths. Method: The authors examined 46 youths with ADHD and 59 comparison youths 8-18 years of age in a cross-sectional case-control study. Conventional volumes and measures of surface morphology of the thalamus served as the main outcome measures. Results: A mixed-effects model comparing whole thalamic volumes revealed no significant differences between groups. Maps of the thalamic surface revealed significantly smaller regional volumes bilaterally in the pulvinar in youths with ADHD relative to comparison subjects. Post hoc analyses showed that ADHD patients who received stimulants (N=31) had larger conventional thalamic volumes than untreated youths with ADHD, and maps of the thalamic surface showed enlargement over the pulvinar in those receiving stimulants. Smaller regional volumes in the right lateral and left posterior thalamic surfaces were associated with more severe hyperactivity symptoms, whereas larger regional volumes in the right medial thalamic surfaces were associated with more severe symptoms of inattention. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate reduced pulvinar volumes in youths with ADHD and indicate that this same area is relatively enlarged in patients treated with stimulants compared to those untreated. Associations of hyperactivity scores with smaller regional volumes on the lateral thalamic surface and inattention scores with larger regional volumes on the medial thalamic surface suggest the differential involvement of thalamic subcircuits in the pathogenesis of differing ADHD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is a widely accepted rodent model of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and methylphenidate (MP) is a central nervous system stimulant that has been shown to have a dose-related positive effect on attention task performance in humans with ADHD. The current study was undertaken to compare SHR to its typical control strain, Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats, on the performance of a Visual Stimulus Position Discrimination Task (VSPDT) as well as of the responsiveness of the two rat strains to MP treatment. The rats were initially trained on the VSPDT, in which a light cue was presented randomly at three different cue-light intervals (1s, 300ms and 100ms) over one of two levers, and presses on the lever corresponding to the light cue were reinforced with a food pellet. Once rats reached stable performance, the treatment phase of the study began, during which they received daily intraperitoneal (IP) injections of saline, 2mg/kg, 5mg/kg, and 10mg/kg of MP in a randomized order immediately prior to being tested on the VSPDT. Baseline performance accuracy on the VSPDT did not differ between the groups. Furthermore, a striking strain dissociation was evident in the response of the two strains to treatment; VSPDT performance was substantially disrupted by the 5 and 10mg/kg dose in the WKY rats but only mildly in the SHR rats. Response omissions were also increased only in WKY rats. Finally, both strains had increased locomotor activity in the operant chamber following MP treatment. These findings point to an important difference in response tendency to MP in the two strains that supports a view that a critical difference between these strains may suggest neurochemical and neuroadaptive differences associated with the behavioral impairments of ADHD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The compound named in the title was prepared from N1,N4-diphenethylterephthalamide 1. The resulting bis terephthalamide was subjected to an intramolecular α-amidoalkylation reaction with paraformaldehyde in the presence of heterogeneous catalyst TfOH/SiO2 to obtain 1,4-phenylenebis[(6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)methanone]. The structure of the newly synthesized compound was determined using 1H, 13C-NMR, UV, IR and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the trends for the therapeutic use of antipyschotic drugs in pediatric psychiatry and the available data that support their efficacy, but also discusses essential issues related to their safety during both short-term and long-term administration. It cites several factors that may have contributed to the phenomenon of increased use of antipsychotics in children. It summarizes several side effects linked with the use of antipsychotics in children, such as weight gain, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus.

Identification of neurobiological factors that confer risk for the development of addiction may substantially advance development of new prevention and treatment strategies to combat substance use disorders. This review focuses on the relationship between impulsivity - a behavior that is common to the clinical picture of both substance use disorders (SUD) and childhood disruptive behavior disorders - and neurobiological risk for SUD. It further examines various behaviors within the over-arching domain of impulsivity, ultimately focusing on the more narrowly defined and measurable construct of inhibitory control, and concluding that underlying deficits in inhibitory control may be central to many of the behaviors associated with high risk for SUD. Targeted cross-sectional study of the neural basis of inhibitory dyscontrol in subjects at high risk for SUD, who have not yet begun to abuse drugs, has the potential to generate important hypotheses regarding the neurobiological underpinnings of SUD risk. Hypotheses developed using this approach can be more definitively evaluated in longitudinal studies with these same populations, extending through the period of maximal risk for SUD in adolescence and early adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of aminobenzophenones have been synthesized by acylation of benzene and its derivatives with different 2-,3-,4-aminobenzoic and 4-aminophenylacetic acids in polyphosphoric acid via Friedel–Crafts reaction as compounds with expected antitumor activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-(Benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-(2-fluoro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)propanamide was prepared by a reaction between benzo[d]thiazol-2-amine and flurbiprofen in high yield. The newly obtained flurbiprofen derivative was fully analyzed and characterized via 1H, 13C, UV, IR, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-(2,2-Diphenylethyl)-2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanamide was prepared by a reaction between 2,2-diphenylethan-1-amine and naproxen in high yield. The newly obtained naproxen derivative was fully analyzed and characterized via 1H, 13C, UV, IR, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is our great pleasure to share this special issue of the I Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology i focused on youth substance use. The resulting special issue includes papers spanning commentary, comprehensive reviews, and reports on novel investigations from both experimental studies and big data analyses. Lintz et al. report findings on academic outcomes among youth engaged in a school-based substance use treatment program. [Extracted from the article]

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by vulnerabilities for the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or MDD. Short-term interventions have adapted motivational interviewing (MI) for dual diagnosis, which has been shown to be effective among other substance abuse disorders. Current treatment approaches for adolescent psychosis-related disorders are, however, still largely based on the knowledge and strategies used in adult populations. [Extracted from the article]

The title compound was obtained in high yield in the reaction between tryptamine and naproxen. The newly synthesized naproxen derivative was fully analyzed and characterized via 1H, 13C-NMR, UV, IR, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)ethyl)-2-(2-fluoro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)propanamide was prepared by a reaction between tryptamine and flurbiprofen, applying N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, as a coupling agent. The obtained new amide has a fragment similar to Brequinar, a compound used in SARS-CoV-2 treatment trials. The newly synthesized compound was fully analyzed and characterized via 1H, 13C-NMR, UV, IR, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The titular compound was prepared by a reaction between tryptamine and carprofen, applying, as a "dehydrating" reagent, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The newly synthesized compound was fully analyzed and characterized via 1H, 13C-NMR, UV, IR, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the synthesis of (±)-2-chloro-N-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl)-2-phenylacetamide through the reaction of 7-amino-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one with (±)-2-chloro-2-phenylacetyl chloride. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the new compound was evaluated, and the results indicated that it exhibited superior activity compared to the standard, ibuprofen. The bio-functional hybrid compound underwent thorough detailed characterization utilizing 1H and 13C NMR, UV, and mass spectral analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the synthesis of N-(3-chlorophenethyl)-4-nitrobenzamide in the reaction between 2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethan-1-amine and 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride. The newly obtained bio-functional hybrid molecule was fully characterized via 1H, 13C NMR, UV, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compound in the title was prepared by reaction between tryptamine and ibuprofen using N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as a "dehydrating" reagent. The structure of the newly synthesized compound was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR), UV, IR, and mass spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of developmentally informed clinical interventions for individuals and families struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) is essential in child and adolescent psychiatric practice. Peter Jackson, MD, will provide a family systems' perspective on SUD and introduce evidence-based family interventions. Kevin Gray, MD, will discuss the rationale and evidence for pharmacotherapies to complement psychosocial treatments for youth SUD. [Extracted from the article]