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A recent report from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at UNSW Sydney reveals that over half of people who use party drugs in Australia have taken ADHD medications without a prescription. The study surveyed 740 individuals from Australian capital cities who regularly use ecstasy or other illicit stimulants. The use of pharmaceutical stimulants without a prescription has tripled since 2007, with 54% of respondents reporting non-prescribed use in the previous six months. While pharmaceutical stimulants are relatively safe when used as prescribed, there are additional risks associated with non-prescribed use, including acute cardiac events and chronic changes in heart functioning. Harm reduction campaigns and continual monitoring are recommended to address these risks. [Extracted from the article]

Underage drinkers most commonly source alcohol from older peers. However, few studies have examined older peers’ supply‐related beliefs and motivations. A sample of 270 risky drinkers aged 18‐19 years were interviewed in Australia where the legal purchase age is 18. They were asked about their provision to underage friends, awareness of secondary supply legislation (intended to prohibit such supply) and 24 psycho‐legal beliefs around supply. Half (49%) provided alcohol to a 16‐ to 17‐year‐old friend to drink at a party they were both attending at least twice a year. Three‐quarters reported provision was okay so long as the recipient(s) were in a safe environment, and 46% reported “everyone gives alcohol to teenagers if they are in a safe environment.” There was significantly higher agreement that “my friends would think I was mean if I did not give alcohol to a friend under the age of 18” (37%), compared to “my friends would think I was uncool if I did not give alcohol to a friend under the age of 18” (26%). Two thirds (69%) felt more responsible for an underage friend's safety if they provided the alcohol. A multivariate logistic regression revealed supply was more likely if the supplier: was aged 18 compared to 19 (95% CI OR: 1.57, 4.84), male (1.06, 3.27), of a higher SES quintile (1.08, 1.80) and believed alcohol supply to minors was morally acceptable (1.01, 1.33) and normal (1.04, 1.38). Knowledge of regulatory strategies (68%) designed to prevent supply to minors, and their perceived deterrent value did not significantly impact supply. Supply of alcohol to underage peers was perceived as morally and socially acceptable in a group of 18‐ to 19‐year‐old risky drinkers. Opportunities include harm reduction initiatives that prioritise caring responsibilities towards friends, as opposed to relying on external enforcement measures alone.

ABSTRACTObjective:People bereaved by suicide, people who make suicide attempts and people who care for someone at risk of suicide may experience negative psychosocial and physical health outcomes. Provision of support to these populations is an important component of suicide prevention and postvention in Australia, including the Queensland Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2015–2017. This study aimed to identify, classify and review resources available in Queensland for people affected by suicide using an innovative classification framework.Method:Searches of the grey literature were completed in Google Chrome in August/September 2016 using seven search terms relevant to Queensland. The first three pages of results were recorded, assessed for suitability, and analysed using a classification framework created by the authors.Results:The study found 24 resources for people affected by suicide in Queensland. The majority of resources (n = 14, 58%) targeted the bereaved, four (17%) addressed carers of people affected by suicide, and six (25%) were general suicide prevention resources. None of the resources specifically targeted people who have made a suicide attempt. The quality of the resources varied and only two had been evaluated.Discussion:Using the classification framework the study identified several gaps, such as relative lack of resources for specific vulnerable populations, including minority subgroups, older adults and men. There is also space for improvement in both the implementation of rigorous evaluation and quality assurance mechanisms for the development of suicide prevention and postvention resources, and in their co-creation with consumers.

Sixteen Chinese chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients were treated with recombinant interferon-α2a (rIFN-α2a). Of these, 8 made a response to IFN, with titers of neutralizing antibody of 141-4525 as determined by an antiviral neutralization bioassay. To determine whether the immunogenicity of the IFN was directly linked to the patients' genotype, their genomic DNA was analyzed for the presence of the human IFN-α2a gene. None of the patients possessed the gene for IFN-α2a, but only 50% developed neutralizing antibodies. The hypothesis, therefore, of a direct link between antibody formation and genotype cannot be sustained. Alternative explanations of the immunogenicity of IFN-α2a must be sought.

Mitochondria purified from cotyledons of soybean seedlings five to ten days old have the capacity to rapidly oxidize glutamate (measured as glutamate dependent oxygen consumption). This capacity was greatest at ten days after planting but was very low prior to emergence of cotyledons from the vermiculite and during senescence. Solubilized glutamate dehydrogenase activity, on the other hand, was substantial at two days after planting, peaked at seven days, then declined and rose again during senescence. It is suggested that mitochondrial glutamate oxidation plays a role in reserve mobilization and amino acid metabolism during seedling growth. Leaf mitochondria and those from senescing cotyledons could not sustain rapid rates of glutamate oxidation despite ready oxidation of other substrates and high solubilized glutamate dehydrogenase activity, suggesting an alternative role for the enzyme in these tissues. Possible controlling factors are discussed.