Relationships between GABA, glutamate, and GABA/glutamate and social and olfactory processing in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Theories of altered inhibitory/excitatory signaling in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggest that gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) abnormalities may underlie social and sensory challenges in ASD. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure Glu and GABA+ levels in the amygdala-hippocampus region and cerebellum in autistic children (n = 30), a clinical control group with sensory abnormalities (SA) but not ASD (n = 30), and children with typical development (n = 37). All participants were clinically assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale-2, and the Child Sensory Profile-2. The Social Responsiveness Scale-2, Sniffin Sticks Threshold Test, and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test were administered to assess social impairment and olfactory processing. Overall, autistic children showed increased cerebellar Glu levels compared to TYP children. Evidence for altered excitatory/inhibitory signaling in the cerebellum was more clear-cut when analyses were restricted to male participants. Further, lower cerebellar GABA+/Glu ratios were correlated to more severe social impairment in both autistic and SA males, suggesting that the cerebellum may play a transdiagnostic role in social impairment. Future studies of inhibitory/excitatory neural markers, powered to investigate the role of sex, may aid in parsing out disorder-specific neurochemical profiles.

Interpersonal Influences on the Choice to Treat Nausea during Pregnancy with Medication or Cannabis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to better understand the interpersonal influences on a pregnant individual's decision of how to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy using a qualitative approach. STUDY DESIGN: A semistructured interview guide was developed to assess pregnancy symptoms, decision-making regarding treating nausea, and interpersonal influences on treatment decisions. Interviews were conducted with 17 individuals enrolled in a neuroimaging and behavioral study of prenatal exposure to cannabis who used medication and/or cannabis to treat symptoms associated with pregnancy. RESULTS: Interviews revealed four groups of stakeholders who influenced participant decision-making: medical providers, partners, family, and friends. Influence was categorized as either positive, negative, neutral, or absent (if not discussed or participant chose not to disclose). Those in the medication group reported only positive or neutral feedback from friends, family, partners, and providers. In contrast, the cannabis group participants reported positive feedback from friends, mixed feedback from family and partners, and negative feedback from providers, which was often felt to be stigmatizing. Many in the cannabis group also reported varying feedback from different medical providers. While the cannabis group frequently reported eliciting feedback from friends, family, and partners, the medication group often did not. CONCLUSION: Medication group participants reported entirely positive feedback from providers and often did not mention any feedback at all from partners, family, and friends. Cannabis group participants reported much more varied feedback, both positive and negative, from a variety of interpersonal contacts and sometimes decided to conceal their treatment choice after receiving or fearing negative feedback. We recommend further research into the health outcomes of pregnant patients who chose not to discuss their treatment decisions with providers, family, partners, or friends. We also suggest further study of possible reasons behind a lack of disclosure, including fear of stigma and/or legal consequences. KEY POINTS: · Providers, partners, family, friends gave feedback.. · Medication group got positive feedback.. · Cannabis group stigmatized by providers.. · Cannabis group got mixed feedback..

Self-report methodology for quantifying standardized cannabis consumption in milligrams delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

Background: There is currently no format-independent method to determine delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in milligrams for self-report studies.Objectives: Validate self-report method for quantifying mg THC from commercially available cannabis products using product labeling, which includes both net weight and product potency.Methods: 53 adult cannabis users (24 M, 29F), 21-39 years of age (M = 28.38, SD = 4.15), were instructed to report daily use via a weekly survey for two consecutive weeks, provide product label photographs, abstain from use for 24 h, submit a urine sample and complete the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test - Revised (CUDIT-R) and the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire - Short Form (MCQ-SF). Milligrams of THC were determined by multiplying quantity of product used by its THC concentration. Urine was analyzed for the urine metabolite 11-nor-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH) via liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy. THC and THC-COOH values were log10 transformed prior to correlational analyses.Results: Median daily THC consumption was 102.53 mg (M = 203.68, SD = 268.13). Thirty-three (62%) of the 53 participants reported using two or more formats over the 2-week period. There was a significant positive correlation between log10 THC-COOH and log10 THC mg (r(41) = .59, p < .001), log10 THC mg and MCQ-SF score (r(41) = .59, p < .001), and log10 THC mg dose and CUDIT-R score, (r(41) = .39, p = .010).Conclusion: Our label-based methodology provides consumption information across all modalities of cannabis use in standard units that can be combined across products for calculation of dose. It is a viable and valid method for quantifying mg of THC consumed and can be utilized in any region where cannabis is legal, and labeling is regulated.