Effects of Thiophene and Benzene Ring Accumulation on the Photocatalytic Performance of Polymers.

Six polymers were prepared with 4,4',4″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)triphenylamine as the amine unit, and six different aldehyde units as substrates. The effects of the number of thiophene and benzene rings on the degradation of tetracycline (TC) in water were studied using polymer photocatalysts, and the reaction mechanism was discussed. The results indicate that ThTA-3 containing three thiophene group monomers and BATA-1 with one benzene ring unit monomer have higher absorption and utilization of visible light. In addition, ThTA-3 and BATA-1 have stronger charge separation and transfer capabilities and better morphology and thermal stability.

Demographic and Clinical Features of Chinese Heroin Users Who Switch from Non-injection to Injection.

BACKGROUND: Injection drug users (IDUs) are at high-risk for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and other infections, and delaying the switch from non-injection drug use to injection to drug use could reduce the spread of these infections. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of switching from non-injected heroin use (usually smoking or "chasing") to injection and to investigate the risk factors for this change. METHODS: We reviewed the socio-demographic and clinical data of 7305 heroin-dependent patients treated at a detoxification clinic of a university-affiliated psychiatric hospital in China from January 2000 to February 2009. RESULTS: Within 1 year, the majority of non-injection drug users (NIDUs) transitioned to IDUs (59.4% within 6 months and 76.7% within 12 months). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that marital status, years of education, employment status, age at onset of heroin use, duration of drug abuse, and initial dose were associated with the switch from NIDU to IDU. Being married (B = -0.410, OR = 0.664), being employed (B = -0.243, OR = 0.784), and older age at onset (B = -0.040, OR = 0.961) were protective factors. More education (B = 0.120, OR = 1.128), longer duration of drug abuse (B = 0.010, OR = 1.010), and a higher dose at initial drug use (B = 0.234, OR = 1.264) were risk factors. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: The study has identified several risk factors for the switch to injection among heroin users. Understanding these factors can help design new approaches to more specifically target high-risk populations and high-risk behaviors to delay or prevent the transition to injection.

Physiological response of marine centric diatoms to ultraviolet radiation, with special reference to cell size.

Three centric diatoms, Thalassiosira pseudonana (diameter ~4 µm), Thalassiosira weissflogii (~11 µm), and Thalassiosira punctigera (~47 µm), were exposed to low and high levels of UV radiation. UV-induced inhibition on photosystem II was correlated with cell size under high light levels, though it was insignificant under low light levels (PAR<63 Wm(-2)). The highest inhibition (~15%) was observed for the smallest species. Several mechanisms may explain the observed relationship between cell size and response to UV. All three species counteracted UV-related photosystem damage via protein synthesis within the chloroplast. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was induced when that process was blocked with an inhibitor in T. pseudonana and T. weissflogii, but not T. punctigera, as neither radiation nor the inhibitor had a significant effect on NPQ in this species. Moreover, UV-induced inhibition for cells treated with lincomycin was highest for T. weissflogii, which was in accordance with the highest UV exposure within the cell. The intracellular UV distribution was not associated with cell size, indicating that the package effect was not the only determinant of cell-size dependent UV sensitivity in phytoplankton.

Nocturnal sleep architecture disturbances in early methadone treatment patients.

The subjective and objective sleep patterns of patients with opioid dependence have been previously reported, but the sleep characteristics of patients in early methadone treatment, especially the objective sleep patterns, remain largely unexamined. This study was designed to explore the nocturnal sleep structure of patients on early methadone treatment. Twenty male methadone treatment (MT) patients and 20 male age- and body mass index-matched controls were assessed with overnight limited polysomnography. Subjective sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Compared with healthy controls, MT patients had lower sleep efficiency, shorter total sleep time, more awakenings and shorter slow wave sleep (SWS). The PSQI and ESS scores in MT patients were significantly higher than in the controls. ESS scores of the patients were significantly associated with the SWS. The findings indicate that patients in early MT have poor sleep quality and abnormal sleep architecture.

Alterations in pituitary-thyroid axis function among opioid-dependent subjects after acute and protracted abstinence.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in the pituitary-thyroid axis (PTA) and the time course of the hormonal alterations in subjects with opioid dependence after abstinence. Blood samples from in-patients with opioid dependence and age- and sex-matched healthy controls were collected. The severity of opioid abuse and of withdrawal symptoms was assessed. Results were compared between patients with opioid dependence (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 30). We found that free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels were comparable with healthy controls while thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was lower in patients in acute opioid abstinence period. Also, TSH levels in patients remained lower than controls after 30 days of abstinence. These results indicate that PTA function is altered in opioid-dependent subjects. These data highlight the importance of screening the thyroid function for individuals with chronic opioid dependence.

Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in opioid dependent subjects: effects of acute and protracted abstinence.

OBJECTIVES: The function of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis during opioid dependence has been inconsistent. We compared HPA axis measures between subjects during methadone stabilization and drug-free detoxification with healthy controls. METHODS: Sixty heroin dependent patients received either non-opiate treatment (NOT) with benzodiazepines and clonidine (n = 30) or methadone stabilization treatment (MT, n = 30), and their serum levels of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol (COR) were measured and compared to those of healthy, nondependent controls. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, CRH was significantly lower (p < .001) while COR was higher (p < .001) during acute withdrawal in the NOT group. CRH and COR was lower (p < .001), while ACTH was normal in the MT group compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that chronic opioid dependence may cause reduced function of the HPA axis, while opioid withdrawal may decrease the response of the pituitary to CRH and increase the adrenal response to ACTH.

Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of 3129 heroin users in the first methadone maintenance treatment clinic in China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the characteristics of heroin users in the first methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinic in China. METHODS: In a retrospective chart review, the notes of 3127 heroin users who received both detoxification and MMT at the clinic were analyzed. Their socio-demographic and clinical data were collected, and the frequency of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections was investigated. RESULTS: The main findings are as follows: (1) 66.5% of the patients were younger than 35 years; (2) 55.1% were married at admission; (3) 32% were non-local residents; (4) the majority had high school level education, a history of smoking and alcohol consumption prior to the initial heroin use, and did not have stable jobs; (5) 28.4% were self-employed; (6) 5.4% of the sample had total hearing loss coupled with loss of speech; (7) 83.4% sniffed heroin or injected it intravenously at the time of admission, but 87.2% had smoked the drug when they first began abusing it; (8) a significant proportion of the patients were infected with HIV, HCV, and syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the above findings are not consistent with the results of previous studies conducted in Western countries and China. The unique socio-cultural and clinical characteristics of heroin abusers in different regions of China should be considered when MMT services are planned.