A synthetic small-molecule Isoxazole-9 protects against methamphetamine relapse.

Adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) is strongly influenced by drug-taking behavior and may have a role in the etiology of drug-seeking behavior. However, mechanistic studies on the relationship of neurogenesis on drug seeking are limited. Outbred Wistar rats experienced extended access methamphetamine self-administration and individual differences in drug taking defined animals with higher preferred and lower preferred levels of drug intake. Forced abstinence from higher preferred levels of drug taking enhanced neurogenesis and neuronal activation of granule cell neurons (GCNs) in the DG and produced compulsive-like drug reinstatement. Systemic treatment with the drug Isoxazole-9 (a synthetic small molecule known to modulate neurogenesis in the adult rodent brain) during abstinence blocked compulsive-like context-driven methamphetamine reinstatement. Isoxazole-9 modulated neurogenesis, neuronal activation and structural plasticity of GCNs, and expression of synaptic proteins associated with learning and memory in the DG. These findings identify a subset of newly born GCNs within the DG that could directly contribute to drug-seeking behavior. Taken together, these results support a direct role for the importance of adult neurogenesis during abstinence in compulsive-like drug reinstatement.

Protracted abstinence from chronic ethanol exposure alters the structure of neurons and expression of oligodendrocytes and myelin in the medial prefrontal cortex.

In rodents, chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE) produces alcohol dependence, alters the structure and activity of pyramidal neurons and decreases the number of oligodendroglial progenitors in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In this study, adult Wistar rats were exposed to seven weeks of CIE and were withdrawn from CIE for 21 days (protracted abstinence; PA). Tissue enriched in the mPFC was processed for Western blot analysis and Golgi-Cox staining to investigate the long-lasting effects of CIE on the structure of mPFC neurons and the levels of myelin-associated proteins. PA increased dendritic arborization within apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons. These changes occurred concurrently with hypophosphorylation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor 2B (NR2B) at Tyr-1472. PA increased myelin basic protein (MBP) levels which occurred concurrently with hypophosphorylation of the premyelinating oligodendrocyte bHLH transcription factor Olig2 in the mPFC. Given that PA is associated with increased sensitivity to stress and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, and stress alters oligodendrocyte expression as a function of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation, the levels of total GR and phosphorylated GR were also evaluated. PA produced hypophosphorylation of the GR at Ser-232 without affecting expression of total protein. These findings demonstrate persistent and compensatory effects of ethanol in the mPFC long after cessation of CIE, including enhanced myelin production and impaired GR function. Collectively, these results suggest a novel relationship between oligodendrocytes and GR in the mPFC, in which stress may alter frontal cortex function in alcohol dependent subjects by promoting hypermyelination, thereby altering the cellular composition and white matter structure in the mPFC.

[Do the Spanish university students follow Mediterranean dietary patterns?]. / ¿Siguen patrones de dieta Mediterránea los universitarios Españoles?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of food intake among the students of the University of Alicante (UA) by the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet. METHODS: Descriptive trans-sectional study estimating the individual intake by means of a questionnaire of food intake frequency (QFIF) in a representative sample of 380 college students. STUDY VARIABLES: age, gender, geographical area of origin, self-communicated weight and height; types and intake frequencies of the foods included in the QFIF. The percentage of adherence was calculated taking into account the actual intake and the intake recommended in the guideline of traditional Mediterranean diet: 100 x servings consumed/recommended servings. We established 5 ranges of percentage of adherence: optimal intake (80%-119%), acceptable intake (60%-79%), deficient intake (40%-59%), very deficient intake (< 39%), excessive intake (> 120%). We analyzed the differences in proportions distribution and the Student's t test with EPIDAT 3.1 and SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight/obesity is higher in men (34.6%) than in women (9.8%), p < 0.001, whereas women had higher prevalence of low weight (7.0%) than men (0.7%), p < 0.05. The consumption of grains and derivatives was very deficient (women = 90.6; men = 94.9) whereas the intake of red meats (women = 90.6; men = 92.7) and cold meats (women = 95.9%, men = 96.3%) was excessive. No student had an "optimal intake" or an "acceptable intake" of all the dietary groups (n = 12). DISCUSSION: The educational level and access to the information do not protect the university population from socio-environmental factors that have an influence on their dietary habits. The public health strategies focused on this population group should be strengthen.

[Spanish diet quality according to the healthy eating index]. / Calidad de la dieta española según el índice de alimentación saludable.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the quality of the Spanish diet by means of the Healthy Feeding Index (IASE) and its relationship with geographical and socioeconomic variables. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study from the National Heath Questionnaire 2006 (ENS-2006). 29,478 people answering the Frequency of Consumption Questionnaire (CFC) were studied (women = 15,019; men =14,459). The IASE comprises 10 variables (grains and derivatives, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meats, legumes, cold-processed meats, sweets, beverages, and diet-variety) constructed from the CFC and the recommendations of the Feeding Guidelines (Spanish Society of Community Nutrition 2004). The IASE categories (maximum score: 100) were: healthy feeding > 80 points; Need-for-change > 5,080; Little healthy, 50. A descriptive analysis was performed with differences of the means (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests), and the Chi-square test to study the independency of the variables such as age, gender, social class, and educational level with the IASE categories. RESULTS: 72% of the whole sample needs changes in their feeding patterns. The mean score for women was 73.7 ± 10.5 and for men 69.9 ± 11.3 (p < 0.001). Among the healthy category, the age group > 65 years and women obtain higher percentage (38.8% and 28.3%, respectively) in comparison to men (18.4%). Besides, the higher the social class the higher the healthy diet index will be (class-I: 24.4%, class-II: 25.0%, class-III: 25.8%) (p < 0.001). The Autonomous Communities from Valencia (5.4%), Balearic Islands (4.6%) and Andalusia (4.3%) are the ones presenting the highest index of little healthy feeding. CONCLUSIONS: The IASE is a rapid and cheap method to estimate the quality of the diet in the population since it uses secondary data coming from the ENS and the feeding guidelines. It is useful to planning the nutritional policies in Spain.

[Sleeping habits and sleep disorders during adolescence: relation to school performance]. / Hábitos de sueño y problemas relacionados con el sueño en adolescentes: relación con el rendimiento escolar.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in adolescence. To describe sleeping habits of adolescents in relation to sleep disorders and associated factors. To determine the relation between sleep disorders/inappropiate sleeping habits and school performance. DESIGN: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Secondary school of Cuenca (city in Spain). PARTICIPANTS: 1293 school children of first and fourth curses of secondary education. MAIN MEASURES: Structured questionnaire with opened and closed questions on sleeping habits during weekdays and at weekends and sleep disorders to be answered by the adolescents anonymously and on their own. Student's school performance with relation with to sleeping habits and sleep disorders were determined. RESULTS: 1155 students out of 1293 (response rate 89.33%) answered the questionnaire, 537 (45.9%) boys and 618 (54.1%) girls, 14 years old on average (between 11-18 years). On weekdays students went to bed at 23.17 h and got up at 7.46 h (average sleeping time =8 hours and 18 minutes). At weekends they went to bed at 1.02 h and got up at 10.42 h (average sleeping time =9 hours and 40 minutes). 45.4% of students said to sleep badly on Sunday night's. On average the number of subjects failed in class is higher with adolescents who complain about sleep (2.28 vs 1.91; P=.04), who are tired at waking up time (2.17 vs 1.97; P=.048) and who have morning sleepiness (2.17 vs 1.75; P=.004). CONCLUSIONS: Schools hours cause deficit sleeping time during weekdays which is partly made up for at weekend. At weekends there is an interruption of the adolescent's sleeping habits. School performance of adolescents with sleep disorders is lower.

Hábitos de sueño y problemas relacionados con el sueño en adolescentes: relación con el rendimiento escolar / Sleeping habits and sleep disorders during adolescence: relation to school performance

Objetivo. Conocer la prevalencia de trastornos de sueño en los adolescentes. Describir los hábitos de sueño de los adolescentes y su relación con los trastornos del sueño y los factores asociados. Conocer la relación entre los trastornos del sueño y/o los hábitos de sueño inadecuados con el rendimiento escolar. Diseño. Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal. Emplazamiento. Institutos de enseñanza secundaria obligatoria (ESO) de la ciudad de Cuenca. Participantes. Un total de 1.293 alumnos escolarizados en primero y cuarto cursos de ESO. Mediciones principales. Hábitos de sueño en días lectivos y fines de semana y prevalencia de trastornos del sueño medidos mediante un cuestionario estructurado con preguntas abiertas y cerradas, autoadministrado y anónimo. Se determinó el rendimiento escolar de los alumnos y su relación con los hábitos y trastornos de sueño. Resultados. De los 1.293 alumnos matriculados, completaron la encuesta 1.155 (89,33%), 537 (45,9%) chicos y 618 (54,1%) chicas, con una media de edad de 14 años (rango, 11-18 años). Los días laborables se acuestan en promedio a las 23.17 y se levantan a las 7.46 (tiempo medio, 8 h y 18 min) y los fines de semana se acuestan a la 1.02 y se levantan a las 10.42 (tiempo medio, 9 h y 40 min). El 45,4% declara dormir mal la noche del domingo al lunes. El promedio de asignaturas suspendidas es mayor en los adolescentes con queja de sueño (2,28 frente a 1,91; p = 0,04), los que se levantan cansados (2,17 frente a 1,97; p = 0,048) y los que tienen somnolencia diurna (2,17 frente a 1,75; p = 0,004). Conclusiones. El horario escolar conlleva deuda de sueño durante la semana que se recupera parcialmente el fin de semana. En los fines de semana se produce una rotura en los hábitos de sueño de los adolescentes. Los adolescentes con problemas relacionados con el sueño muestran peor rendimiento escolar

Objective. To determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in adolescence. To describe sleeping habits of adolescents in relation to sleep disorders and associated factors. To determine the relation between sleep disorders/inappropiate sleeping habits and school performance. Design. Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Setting. Secondary school of Cuenca (city in Spain). Participants. 1293 school children of first and fourth curses of secondary education. Main measures. Structured questionnaire with opened and closed questions on sleeping habits during weekdays and at weekends and sleep disorders to be answered by the adolescents anonymously and on their own. Student's school performance with relation with to sleeping habits and sleep disorders were determined. Results. 1155 students out of 1293 (response rate 89.33%) answered the questionnaire, 537 (45.9%) boys and 618 (54.1%) girls, 14 years old on average (between 11-18 years). On weekdays students went to bed at 23.17 h and got up at 7.46 h (average sleeping time =8 hours and 18 minutes). At weekends they went to bed at 1.02 h and got up at 10.42 h (average sleeping time =9 hours and 40 minutes). 45.4% of students said to sleep badly on Sunday night's. On average the number of subjects failed in class is higher with adolescents who complain about sleep (2.28 vs 1.91; P=.04), who are tired at waking up time (2.17 vs 1.97; P=.048) and who have morning sleepiness (2.17 vs 1.75; P=.004). Conclusions. Schools hours cause deficit sleeping time during weekdays which is partly made up for at weekend. At weekends there is an interruption of the adolescent's sleeping habits. School performance of adolescents with sleep disorders is lower

[The prevalence of sleep disorders among adolescents in Cuenca, Spain]. / Prevalencia de los trastornos del sueño en adolescentes de Cuenca, España.

INTRODUCTION: A number of different studies have shown that there is a high prevalence of sleep disorders among adolescents. These are often cited as being due to psychological, hormonal or pubertal factors, as well as inadequate sleep habits. AIMS: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in the adolescent population and to describe their sleep habits and the relationship between sleep disorders and daytime tiredness or drowsiness. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We conducted an epidemiological, observational, cross-sectional study in a sample of schoolchildren studying the 1st and 4th years of compulsory secondary education by means of a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Insomnia was diagnosed using DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: Of a total number of 1155 children, 537 were males and 618 were females, with a mean age of 14.03 +/- 1.86 years. They sleep an average of 8 h 18 m during the week and 9 h 40 m at the weekend. Poor quality sleep was reported by 38.55%, 23.1% had difficulty in getting to sleep, 38.2% woke up during the night and 15.9% woke up too early. 17.7% reported some kind of sleep complaint plus some other insomnia-related symptom; the prevalence of insomnia was found to be 9.9%. Snoring (20.5%), talking in their sleep (45.4%) and nightmares (29.5%) were the most frequent parasomnias. 53% of them complained of excessive sleepiness during the day. Insomnia is more frequent in older adolescents, with a family history of similar disorders, among those who smoke and drink and sleep fewer hours at the weekend; those with insomnia present more symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as more daytime drowsiness. CONCLUSIONS: A number of factors are related to the high prevalence of sleep disorders among adolescents, giving rise to their being very tired and drowsy during the day. The interruption of their normal sleep habits at the weekend and an insufficient number of hours' sleep are related to the appearance of insomnia.

[Prevalence of insomnia and use of psychodrugs among elderly in a basic health area in Cuenca]. / Prevalencia de insomnio y consumo de psicofármacos en ancianos de una zona básica de salud de Cuenca.

OBJECTIVES: Insomnia is the most common sleeping disorder, increasing as people get older, which therefore creates an increase in the use of hypnotics. The presence of insomnia in elderly people, according to different authors, ranges between 17 and 43% depending on the criteria of diagnosis used and the group of population studied. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of insomnia in a population of 65 years and over in a Basic Health Area and the medical consumption related to it. DESIGN: A cross sectional study by means of an ad hoc questionnaire about sleeping habits given by medical staff, including social demographic variables, psychotropic medication consumption, cognitive assessment by means of Mini Mental Status Examination and a range of anxiety-depression of Goldberg. Hartman and DSM-IV criteria were used for the insomnia diagnosis. SETTING: Cuenca I Primary Care Center, Cuenca (Spain). PATIENTS: A random sample of 343 patients of a population of 2253, 65 years and over. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence found was 13.6% (Hartman) and 30.7% (DSM-IV) more common amongst women (p < 0.005), sufferers of psychiatric illnesses (p < 0.01) and those at the top-half of the anxiety-depression scale (p < 0.001). A 46.1% suffer from daylight hypersomniac. A 19.1% takes some kind of medication to help them sleep and the 74.6% of them take it daily. Long and short plasma half-life benzodiazepines are the most consumed, with women and insomniacs being the majority consumers. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of insomnia in our population is slightly inferior to that of other studies and the consumption of sleep-enhancing medication although inappropriate is similar to that referred to in literature.

Prevalencia de insomnio y consumo de psicofármacos en ancianos de una zona básica de salud de Cuenca / Insomnia prevalence and psychotropic medication consumption in elderly population in Cuenca

Objetivos. El insomnio es el trastorno del sueño más frecuente, incrementándose a medida que avanza la edad, lo que produce un aumento paralelo en el uso de hipnóticos. En el anciano, la prevalencia de insomnio, según distintos autores, oscila en el 17-43 por ciento en función de los criterios de diagnóstico utilizados y el tipo de población a estudio. Los objetivos de este trabajo son determinar la prevalencia de insomnio en población de edad igual o mayor a 65 años de una zona básica de salud (ZBS) y el consumo farmacéutico relacionado con él. Diseño. Estudio transversal mediante cuestionario ad hoc sobre hábitos de sueño, administrado por personal sanitario, que incluye variables sociodemográficas, consumo de psicofármacos, valoración cognitiva mediante el Mini Examen Cognitivo y escala de ansiedad-depresión de Goldberg. Se utilizaron los criterios de Hartman y DSM-IV para el diagnóstico de insomnio. Emplazamiento. Centro de Salud Cuenca I. Pacientes. Muestra aleatoria de343 sujetos a partir de una población de 2.253 personas de edad mayor o igual a 65 años. Mediciones y resultados principales. La prevalencia encontrada fue del 13,6 por ciento (Hartman) y 30,7 por ciento (DSM-IV), más frecuente en mujeres (p < 0,005), en aquellos que presentan enfermedad psiquiátrica (p < 0,01) y con puntuaciones altas en la escala de ansiedad-depresión (p < 0,001). Un 46,10 por ciento refiere hipersomnolencia diurna. El 19,1 por ciento toma algún fármaco para dormir, el 74,6 por ciento a diario. Las benzodiacepinas de vida media larga y corta son los más usados, consumiendo más las mujeres y los insomnes (p < 0,01). Conclusiones. La prevalencia de insomnio en nuestra población es ligeramente inferior a la descrita en otros estudios y el consumo de fármacos para dormir, aunque inadecuado, es similar al referido en la bibliografía (AU)