Search

Background and Purpose: Currently, there is no effective drug to treat cocaine‐use disorder, which affects millions of people worldwide. Benzodiazepines are potential therapeutic candidates, as microdialysis and voltammetry studies have shown that they can decrease dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens of rodents and block the increase in dopamine levels and appetitive 50‐kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) induced by amphetamine in rats. Experimental Approach Here, we tested whether administration of 2.5‐mg·kg−1 diazepam (i.p.) in adult male rats could block the effects of 20‐mg·kg−1 cocaine (i.p.) on electrically evoked phasic dopamine signals in the nucleus accumbens measured by fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry, as well as 50‐kHz USV and locomotor activity. Key Results: Cocaine injection increased evoked dopamine signals up to threefold within 5 min, and the increase was significantly higher than baseline for at least 75 min. The injection of diazepam, 5 min after cocaine, attenuated the cocaine effect by nearly 50%, and this attenuation was maintained for at least 40 min. Behaviourally, cocaine increased the number of appetitive 50‐kHz calls by about 12‐fold. Diazepam significantly blocked this effect for the entire duration of the session. Also, cocaine‐treated rats were more active than controls and diazepam significantly attenuated cocaine‐induced locomotion, by up to 50%. Conclusion and Implications: These results suggest that the neurochemical and psychostimulant effects of cocaine can be mitigated by diazepam. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Building Bridges in Neuropharmacology. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.8/issuetoc [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tendon or muscle rupture is a rare complication of statins that could potentially be disabling and result in a significant burden to patients. The co‐administration of statin and gemfibrozil should warrant prescribers' awareness of tendon‐related complications of statin use, particularly in high‐risk populations with poor renal function or musculoskeletal comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Patients who achieve sustained virological response ( SVR) following the treatment of post-liver transplant ( LT) recurrence of hepatitis C virus ( HCV) infection have improved outcomes. The full impact of eradication of HCV on allograft histology is, however, not clearly known. Methods We studied allograft histology in protocol-based paired liver biopsies in consecutive LT recipients who underwent post- LT treatment of recurrence of HCV. Results A total of 116 patients were treated with interferon-based therapy for recurrent HCV. Paired pre-treatment baseline biopsies and post-treatment biopsies were available in 83.2% of patients. SVR was achieved in 37.9% of patients. Among the patients who achieved SVR, 20.5% had progression of fibrosis on post-treatment biopsies vs. 65.5% of patients with non-response/relapse ( P < 0.001). The impact of virological response on fibrosis progression was sustained and a similar outcome was observed in the subset of patients who had 4-5 year post-treatment biopsies available. In the SVR group, 12.8% progressed to fibrosis stage ≥3 on post-treatment biopsies vs. 37.9% in the non-response/relapse group ( P = 0.001). The 5-year survival in patients with progression of fibrosis 86% vs. 98% among patients who had improvement/stable fibrosis [ P = 0.003; HR 3.8 (1.2-11.8)]. A small subset of patients who achieve SVR unfortunately still experience progression of fibrosis, most commonly associated with plasma cell hepatitis. Conclusions In post-transplant patients treated for HCV, SVR is associated with improved graft survival and also with sustained and significant improvement in histological outcome. Importantly, progression of fibrosis still occurred in a small subset of patients who achieved SVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the concept of mentoring as a mutually beneficial relationship in which both the mentor and the protégé grow as a result of their relational connection. It identifies the characteristics of mentoring from the perspective of diverse college students. Results suggested that mentoring is perceived as important for success and that neither race nor gender were perceived as critical influences on the mentoring process but that friendship, nurturance, open-mindedness, and trustworthiness are key to mentoring relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the market for information sources in the commercial agriculture sector of Idaho. Role of technical consultants in improving productivity and profitability of farmers' operations; Value of different sources of information in making managerial decisions; Reasons for the preference for payment of consultant services by the farmers.

A reply to a letter to the editor is presented about an article regarding the positioning of low-dose oral glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, published in the previous issue.

A response from the authors of the article "Impact of fibrosis progression on clinical outcome in patients treated for post-transplant hepatitis C recurrence" in the 2015 issue is presented.

Reject rate analysis is considered an integral part of a diagnostic radiography quality control (QC) program. A rejected image is a patient radiograph that was not presented to a radiologist for diagnosis and that contributes unnecessary radiation dose to the patient. Reject rates that are either too high or too low may suggest systemic department shortcomings in QC mechanisms. Due to the lack of standardization, reject data often cannot be easily compared between radiography systems from different vendors. The purpose of this report is to provide guidance to help standardize data elements that are required for comprehensive reject analysis and to propose data reporting and workflows to enable an effective and comprehensive reject rate monitoring program. Essential data elements, a proposed schema for classifying reject reasons, and workflow implementation options are recommended in this task group report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is considerable concern about the long‐term deleterious effects of repeat head trauma on cognition, but little is known about underlying mechanisms and pathology. To examine this, we delivered four air blasts to the left side of the mouse cranium, a week apart, with an intensity that causes deficits when delivered singly and considered "concussive," or an intensity that does not yield significant deficits when delivered singly and considered "subconcussive." Neither repeat concussive nor subconcussive blast produced spatial memory deficits at 4 months, but both yielded deficits at 14 months, and dorsal hippocampal neuron loss. Hierarchical cluster analysis of dorsal hippocampal microglia across the three groups based on morphology and expression of MHCII, CX3CR1, CD68 and IBA1 revealed five distinct phenotypes. Types 1A and 1B microglia were more common in sham mice, linked to better neuron survival and memory, and appeared mildly activated. By contrast, 2B and 2C microglia were more common in repeat concussive and subconcussive mice, linked to poorer neuron survival and memory, and characterized by low expression levels and attenuated processes, suggesting they were de‐activated and dysfunctional. In addition, endothelial cells in repeat concussive mice exhibited reduced CD31 and eNOS expression, which was correlated with the prevalence of type 2B and 2C microglia. Our findings suggest that both repeat concussive and subconcussive head injury engender progressive pathogenic processes, possibly through sustained effects on microglia that over time lead to increased prevalence of dysfunctional microglia, adversely affecting neurons and blood vessels, and thereby driving neurodegeneration and memory decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effectiveness of gypsum and three proprietary products to remediate brine‐contaminated soil. The research objective was to determine if additives could increase plant cover germination in soils without costly prior soil‐washing or dilution techniques. The soil was shredded using a soil shredder equipped with a spray bar to apply the individual treatments of DeSalt Plus, SoilTech, Chlor*rid, and calcium sulfate (gypsum). Treatments were placed in 40‐mm high‐density polyethylene cells and small drainage systems were installed to allow removal of excess water. An initial 10‐point soil composite was taken from bulk untreated soils at a depth of more than 2.5 cm. Five‐point composite samples were collected from the same depth at weekly intervals and analyzed for: electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, cation exchange capacity, sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chlorides, and pH. The Gapon selectivity coefficient was calculated and utilized to quantify the affinity for binding between ionic alkali salt constituent groups Na+, Ca ++, and Mg ++. Soil analysis indicated product‐related improvements in and bioavailability of salts. The nature of the products requires some prior treatment such as soil washing or dilution using clean soil to lower electroconductivity levels and allow the site to vegetate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimentation with substances is typical for many young people, but unfortunately some will go on to develop substance abuse problems that substantially affect their lives. Successfully intervening with students who use or abuse substances is a challenge for school mental health professionals across the nation. There is a need for evidence-based practices that school professionals can use when working with students who have substance abuse problems. This article provides school professionals in secondary settings with current information on student substance use rates, evidence-based individual and group interventions, and discussion of the 42 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 2 (42 CFR). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an abstract of the study "White Matter Tract Injury After Focal Seizures in Mice." The researchers evaluated the white matter tract injury within the corpus callosum in a novel seizure model in mice. Results showed that the prolonged focal limbic seizures in mice induce damage to non-neuronal elements within the corpus callosum. The injury of white matter tracts also offer a potential mechanism for seizure generation.

The article presents an abstract of the study "Intraventricular Delivery of Gabapentin to Ventricles Delays Flurothyl Seizures in the Rat." The researchers performed proof-in-principle study of intraventricular gabapentin in the rat. Results showed that intraventricular delivery of gabapentin elevates the threshold for generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the rat flurothyl model. They noted that intraventricular delivery would be useful for antiepileptic drugs with poor oral absorption.

The article presents an abstract of the study "Diffusion Tensor MR Imaging of the Rat Model of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy." The researchers used MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to determine the temporal hippocampal and parahippocampal structural changes. Results showed that the induced status epilepticus produces bilateral structural changes that are visible in detail with DTI.