Vagotomy ameliorates islet morphofunction and body metabolic homeostasis in MSG-obese rats

The parasympathetic nervous system is important for β-cell secretion and mass regulation. Here, we characterized involvement of the vagus nerve in pancreatic β-cell morphofunctional regulation and body nutrient homeostasis in 90-day-old monosodium glutamate (MSG)-obese rats. Male newborn Wistar rats received MSG (4 g/kg body weight) or saline [control (CTL) group] during the first 5 days of life. At 30 days of age, both groups of rats were submitted to sham-surgery (CTL and MSG groups) or subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (Cvag and Mvag groups). The 90-day-old MSG rats presented obesity, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and hypertriglyceridemia. Their pancreatic islets hypersecreted insulin in response to glucose but did not increase insulin release upon carbachol (Cch) stimulus, despite a higher intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Furthermore, while the pancreas weight was 34% lower in MSG rats, no alteration in islet and β-cell mass was observed. However, in the MSG pancreas, increases of 51% and 55% were observed in the total islet and β-cell area/pancreas section, respectively. Also, the β-cell number per β-cell area was 19% higher in MSG rat pancreas than in CTL pancreas. Vagotomy prevented obesity, reducing 25% of body fat stores and ameliorated glucose homeostasis in Mvag rats. Mvag islets demonstrated partially reduced insulin secretion in response to 11.1 mM glucose and presented normalization of Cch-induced Ca2+ mobilization and insulin release. All morphometric parameters were similar among Mvag and CTL rat pancreases. Therefore, the higher insulin release in MSG rats was associated with greater β-cell/islet numbers and not due to hypertrophy. Vagotomy improved whole body nutrient homeostasis and endocrine pancreatic morphofunction in Mvag rats.

The consumption of alcohol and other drugs among college students: interference in their academic life / O consumo de álcool e outras drogas entre estudantes universitários: interferências na vida acadêmica / El consumo de alcohol y otras drogas entre estudiantes universitarios: interferencias en su vida académica

The proposed study is justified by the vulnerability of young people regarding psychoactive substances consumption. The objectives were: to identify the number of students who use psychoactive substances in an Institution of Higher Education; to identify factors that influence consumption and the number of students who need intervention. For data collection we used two instruments: the sociodemographic and ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test). In a sample of 437 students, we found that 221 of them must receive intervention and eight need to be referred for treatment; 68 students think that alcohol hinders them in college and 99 students miss classes due to alcohol consumption...

A realização do estudo justifica-se pela vulnerabilidade dos jovens para o consumo de substâncias psicoativas. Os objetivos foram: identificar o número de universitários que fazem uso, em uma instituição de ensino superior, verificar fatores que influenciam o consumo e o número de universitários que necessitam receber intervenção. Para a coleta de dados utilizaram-se dois instrumentos: de caracterização sociodemográfica e o Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screen Test. Em amostra com 437 acadêmicos, verificou-se que 221 precisavam receber intervenção e oito precisavam ser encaminhados para tratamento; 68 universitários achavam que o álcool os atrapalhava na faculdade e 99 universitários faltavam às aulas devido ao consumo de álcool...

La realización del estudio se justifica por la vulnerabilidad de los jóvenes para el consumo de substancias psicoactivas. Los objetivos fueron: identificar el número de universitarios que hacen uso, en una Institución de Enseñanza Superiora; verificar factores que influencian el consumo; y el número de universitarios que necesitan recibir intervención. Para la recogida de datos se utilizó dos instrumentos: de caracterización sociodemográfica y el ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screen Test). En muestra de 437 académicos, se verificó que 221 necesitan recibir intervención y ocho necesitan ser encaminados para tratamiento; 68 universitarios creen que el alcohol les estorba en la facultad y 99 universitarios faltan a las clases debido al consumo de alcohol...

Selective attention and drug related attention bias in methadone maintenance patients

One of the main problems of the drug abusers is drug related attention bias, which causes craving, and as a result drive the drug abusers to take narcotics. Methadone is used as a maintenance treatment for drug abusers. The purpose of this study is evaluation of the effect of Methadone maintenance therapy [MMT] on selective attention and drug related attention bias. This study investigated drug cue-related attention bias and selective attention in 16 methadone-maintained patients before and 45 days after methadone therapy period. Stroop color-word test and addiction Stroop test were used as measurement methods. Results show less reaction time and higher accuracy in Color-Word Stroop Test after MMT and less delay for addict related word in addiction Stroop test. It is concluded that methadone can improve selective attention capability and reduce drug related attention bias

Sociedad libre de drogas o reducción de daño. Un falso dilema / Drug-free society or harm reduction. A false dilema

En el ensayo se argumenta que preguntarse por los beneficios de tomar o no una postura de “reducción de daño” en el contexto del consumo de drogas es un falso dilema. No es posible tener una posición absoluta frente al tema, debido a que existen variables individuales, culturales, históricas, entre otras, que influyen en los resultados de las prácticas asociadas a la reducción del daño y que no permiten establecer la bondad o no de dicha postura

Neonatal abstinence syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To study the substance misuse in pregnant mothers and its impact on their newborns. METHODS: Case note review of the study population was undertaken. Infants of mothers who had taken substance of misuse were monitored regularly using Finnegan's score and treatment initiated based on a pre-existing protocol. The parameters that were studied included maternal drug habits, antenatal problems, and neonatal epidemiology with particular reference to growth, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), its severity and management. RESULTS: Out of 32 neonates, 28 had developed neonatal withdrawal requiring treatment. The earliest presentation of NAS was at six hours and the average time of presentation of NAS was 26 hours. The dose of methadone taken by the mother related well with the likelihood of development of NAS. The most common symptoms noted at the time of diagnosis were irritable cry, increased tone, tachypnea, sleeplessness and tremor. CONCLUSION: Majority of neonates born to mothers on methadone exhibit neonatal abstinence syndrome and require pharmacological treatment. Neonates who had not exhibited symptoms of drug withdrawal within the first 3 days of life are unlikely to present with NAS requiring treatment.

Naltrxone maintenance treatment of opium dependents and its relation with demographics and psychological factors

This project was conducted to appraise the role of naltrexone drug and its relation with the demographics and psychological factors in relapse prevention of opium addicts post the detoxification phase. In this cross-sectional study, 107 male opium dependents who had received detoxification treatment at the dual diagnosis ward of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kerman were educated about naltrexone maintenance treatment. The continuum of naltrexone consumption by the subjects was followed up via telephone contacts one month and once again in three months after hospital discharge. Subjects demographic factors were evaluated by way of a demographic questionnaire and their psychological features were assessed by SCL-90-R questionnaire before the appearance of withdrawal symptoms. The mean age of subjects was 33.75 +/- 7.86 years. There was a positive correlation between patients' level of education and the length of time subjects remained on naltrexone drug. 27.1% of subjects consumed the drug for less than a month; 59.8% took it for one month, and 13.1% used it for three months. The first group scored significantly higher across all scales of SCL-90-R than the other two groups. Prescription of naltrexone is more beneficial for educated patients. Pharmacotherapy coupled with non-medicinal treatment may lengthen naltrexone maintenance treatment

Ultra-rapid opioid detoxification: current status and controversies.

Opioid dependence is a major health problem and a cause of increasing concern to physicians and other health professionals worldwide. A crucial first step in intervention is detoxification. Recent trends in medical practice have seen the emergence of newer techniques that claim to accelerate the detoxification procedure and ensure prevention of relapse by rapid induction onto maintenance treatment with opioid antagonists such as naltrexone. This review delves into the theoretical and methodological aspects related to ultra-rapid opioid detoxification (opioid detoxification procedure using opioid antagonists, performed under general anaesthesia or heavy sedation) and discusses the status of the same in light of the available evidence regarding its applicability, safety and effectiveness. Although useful in some respects (especially in completion rates for detoxification and subsequent induction onto naltrexone maintenance), the justification of this procedure lies in (a) the resolution of the ethical conflicts surrounding the procedure and (b) conduction of methodologically sound long-term studies to demonstrate greater efficacy over routine/standard detoxification procedures beyond the short-term detoxification period.

A naturalistic analytic study of veterans using naltrexone in Puerto Rico

Los records médicos de 18 pacientes que estaban usando Naltrexona y 13 pacientes que abandonaron esta actividad terapéutica fueron estudiados al azar, para determinar aquellas carcterísticas biosiocosociales de mayor utilidad clínica en un programa de rehabilitación ambulatória. Se descubrieron sus similitudes y diferencias. Algunas hipótesis fueron presentadas ya que prometen ser de gran utilidade clínica. Um hallazgo de gran relevancia clínica (P < 0.01) fue la mayor capacidad del grupo que se mantenía usando Naltrexona para mantener uma relación marital que la del grupo que abandonó el uso del antagonista del opiaceo