Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
David Nutt, Alexandra Hayes, Leon Fonville, Rayyan Zafar, Emily O. C. Palmer, Louise Paterson, Anne Lingford-Hughes
Summary: Alcohol affects the brain in various harmful ways, including damage during intoxication, withdrawal effects, and peripheral factors like poor diet and vitamin deficiencies. Prenatal alcohol exposure can also have lasting impacts on brain development.
Article
Neurosciences
Natalie N. Nawarawong, K. Ryan Thompson, Steven P. Guerin, Chinchusha Anasooya Shaji, Hui Peng, Kimberly Nixon
Summary: Recent studies suggest that females may be more susceptible to alcohol-induced brain damage, and during abstinence from alcohol dependence, adult female rats also exhibit similar reactive increases in hippocampal neurogenesis. These data suggest that reactive, adult neurogenesis may be a means of recovery for the hippocampus after alcohol dependence in females.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biology
Kei Nakayama, Hiroshi Hasegawa
Summary: Excessive intake of ethanol is associated with severe brain dysfunction and neurological and behavioral abnormalities, which are recognized social risks. Ethanol activates endothelial cells and induces neurological toxicity, with nitric oxide playing an important role in this process. However, the molecular targets of ethanol on endothelial cells are still unknown. Future research will contribute to a better understanding of the contribution and underlying mechanisms of endothelial cells in protecting neurological health against ethanol-induced toxicity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Junchang Wang, Jianwen Hu, Pingyong Liao, Shang Xue, Shan He, Ruijia Chen, Xuejun Zhao, Wenbin Liu
Summary: The aim of this study is to synthesize unique metabolites of carfentanil for comparison with published structures and confirmation of its administration.
Article
Neurosciences
Wenhan Yang, Min Zhang, Fei Tang, Yanyao Du, Li Fan, Jing Luo, Cui Yan, Shicong Wang, Jun Zhang, Kai Yuan, Jun Liu
Summary: This study found that after protracted heroin abstinence, heroin users showed improvements in cortical thickness and resting-state functional connectivity in the brain, leading to enhanced cognition and reduced craving. This indicates that impaired frontal-limbic neurocircuitry in substance-abusing individuals can be partially restored, providing novel scientific evidence for brain circuit recovery associated with cognition and craving.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
J. S. Dileep Kumar, Andrei Molotkov, Michael C. Salling, Patrick Carberry, Jaya Prabhakaran, John Castrillon, Akiva Mintz
Summary: This study utilized Positron Emission Tomography to investigate the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on brain microtubules in mice, revealing a trend of decreased microtubule binding in the chronic alcohol group. These findings suggest the potential of [C-11]MPC-6827 as a PET ligand for further in vivo imaging studies on alcohol use disorder.
PHARMACOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Lihua Sun, Richard Aarnio, Erika Atencio Herre, Salli Karna, Senthil Palani, Helena Virtanen, Heidi Liljenback, Jenni Virta, Aake Honkaniemi, Vesa Oikonen, Chunlei Han, Sanna Laurila, Marco Bucci, Semi Helin, Emrah Yatkin, Lauri Nummenmaa, Pirjo Nuutila, Jing Tang, Anne Roivainen
Summary: Photoperiod affects the availability of mu-opioid receptors (MOR) in brown adipose tissue (BAT), and sympathetic innervation may regulate thermogenesis via the peripheral MOR system.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Darko Vlahovic, Ana Matosic, Vjekoslav Peitl, Daniela Vojnovic, Din Durakovic, Dalibor Karlovic
Summary: The study aimed to investigate changes in platelet serotonin concentration after four weeks of alcohol abstinence in patients with AUD, and found no statistically significant effect of serotonin transporter polymorphism on platelet serotonin concentration at this time point.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTIVE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shawn M. Flynn, Charles P. France
Summary: Drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, have significantly increased over the past decade, making it a major driver of the opioid epidemic in the United States. This study evaluated the effects of mixtures of fentanyl analogs and other opioids to understand the interactions between these drugs that may contribute to their increased lethality.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Toxicology
Christopher Dalton, Rachel Watkins, Sarah Pritchard, Stuart Graham
Summary: Carfentanil, a potent synthetic opioid restricted to veterinary use, raises public health concerns regarding its potential toxicity via percutaneous absorption. This study measured the penetration of carfentanil through human, pig, and rat skin, suggesting that skin decontamination and medical countermeasures may be necessary to mitigate toxicity. Data from pig and rat skin penetration will inform future models to elucidate toxic effects and strategies to mitigate them.
TOXICOLOGY IN VITRO
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Zeqiang Linli, Edmund T. Rolls, Wei Zhao, Jujiao Kang, Jianfeng Feng, Shuixia Guo
Summary: The association between smoking and brain structure and cognitive function is inconsistent. Using brain imaging data from the UK Biobank, researchers found that smoking is related to lower brain gray matter volumes, with the extent depending on smoking frequency and cessation. The study also revealed that the relationship between smoking and cognitive function is partially mediated by brain structure.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Prakash Adhikari, Pradeep K. Shukla, Fatemah Alharthi, Radhakrishna Rao, Prabhakar Pradhan
Summary: The study utilized the IPR technique to investigate the effects of chronic alcoholism on brain cell structures, revealing that chronic alcoholism causes damage to brain cells and probiotic treatment can reverse this damage, restoring brain cells to a normal state.
JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Candelaria Martin-Gonzalez, Ana Maria Godoy-Reyes, Pedro Abreu-Gonzalez, Camino Maria Fernandez-Rodriguez, Esther Martin-Ponce, Maria Jose Sanchez-Perez, Julio Cesar Alvisa-Negrin, Melchor Rodriguez-Gaspar, Emilio Gonzalez-Reimers
Summary: Heavy alcohol consumption leads to vascular calcification, which is associated with brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of vascular calcifications in alcoholics, their relationship with brain atrophy, and the role of sclerostin in these alterations.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Andrew Whittier Day, Carol A. Kumamoto
Summary: This study examines the changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome during alcohol use disorder and discusses its impact on alcohol related disorders and the gut-brain axis. Understanding the role of the GI microbiome in alcohol related disorders could lead to the development of targeted therapeutics for mitigating these disorders.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Nicholas Glen Wilson, Joshua Raveendran, Aristides Docoslis
Summary: The novel silver SERS substrates can effectively detect fentanyl and its analogues, distinguish different drug spectra, and detect trace amounts of fentanyl in high concentrations of mixtures. These substrates are compatible with handheld Raman spectrometers, showing potential for use as DCTs.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Dean F. Wong, Hiroto Kuwabara, Andrew G. Horti, Joshua M. Roberts, Ayon Nandi, Nicola Cascella, James Brasic, Elise M. Weerts, Kelly Kitzmiller, Jenny A. Phan, Lorena Gapasin, Akira Sawa, Heather Valentine, Gary Wand, Chakradhar Mishra, Noble George, Michael McDonald, Wojtek Lesniak, Daniel P. Holt, Babak B. Azad, Robert F. Dannals, William Kem, Robert Freedman, Albert Gjedde
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kelly E. Dunn, Elise M. Weerts, Andrew S. Huhn, Jennifer R. Schroeder, David Andrew Tompkins, George E. Bigelow, Eric C. Strain
Article
Psychology, Biological
August F. Holtyn, Elise M. Weerts
EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kelly E. Dunn, Andrew S. Huhn, Cecilia L. Bergeria, Cassandra D. Gipson, Elise M. Weerts
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS
(2019)
Article
Substance Abuse
August F. Holtyn, Catherine M. Davis, Elise M. Weerts
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2020)
Article
Substance Abuse
Tory R. Spindle, Edward J. Cone, Elia Goffi, Elise M. Weerts, John M. Mitchell, Ruth E. Winecker, George E. Bigelow, Ronald R. Flegel, Ryan Vandrey
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dennis J. Sholler, Justin C. Strickland, Tory R. Spindle, Elise M. Weerts, Ryan Vandrey
Summary: Research comparing the acute effects of oral and vaporized cannabis in occasional users found that females exhibited stronger drug effects in some aspects, especially when controlling for body weight. Recommendations include starting with lower doses for females and being aware of potential acute anxiogenic reactions when using cannabinoids.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tory R. Spindle, Hiroto Kuwabara, Alisha Eversole, Ayon Nandi, Ryan Vandrey, Denis G. Antoine, Annie Umbricht, Angela S. Guarda, Dean F. Wong, Elise M. Weerts
Summary: The study found that chronic cannabis use appears to lead to downregulation of CB1 receptors in women, similar to what has been observed in men previously. Female healthy controls had significantly higher CB1 receptor availability in brain regions compared to males. Gender differences play an important role in the effects of cannabis, progression to cannabis use disorder, and severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Cecilia L. Bergeria, Hongjun Tan, Denis Antoine, Elise M. Weerts, Andrew S. Huhn, J. Gregory Hobelmann, Kelly E. Dunn
Summary: Successful management of opioid withdrawal can improve treatment outcomes and reduce related morbidity and mortality. Buspirone, as an adjunct to opioid withdrawal, can alleviate withdrawal symptoms and positively impact sleep quality.
EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Bryan W. Jenkins, Catherine F. Moore, Dan Covey, Jacob D. McDonald, Timothy W. Lefever, Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, Elise M. Weerts
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of minor cannabinoids and terpenes in tests sensitive to anxiety. The results suggest that some minor cannabinoids and terpenes may have anxiolytic properties.
CANNABIS AND CANNABINOID RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Catherine F. Moore, Julie Marusich, Mehdi Haghdoost, Timothy W. Lefever, Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, Elise M. Weerts
Summary: This study found that the minor cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis have little effect on the interoceptive effects of D9-THC, suggesting that they are unlikely to lower the psychoactive effects of D9-THC in human users.
CANNABIS AND CANNABINOID RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Catherine F. Moore, Elise M. Weerts, Justyna Kulpa, Daniela Schwotzer, Wendy Dye, Jacob Jantzi, Jacob D. McDonald, Timothy W. Lefever, Marcel O. Bonn-Miller
Summary: This study examined the pharmacokinetics of four minor cannabinoids (THCV, CBC, CBN, and D8-THC) after repeated oral dosing. The results showed detectable levels of these cannabinoids in plasma and their translocation to brain tissue. D8-THC exhibited the highest dose-normalized Cmax and AUClast. The concentration of THCV was lower on day 14, indicating potential adaptation and increased drug elimination. These findings are important for determining target dose ranges and dosing schedules in future studies evaluating the potential effects of these compounds.
CANNABIS AND CANNABINOID RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Catherine F. Moore, Jeffrey W. Stiltner, Catherine M. Davis, Elise M. Weerts
Summary: This review focuses on the emerging field of preclinical vapor models, specifically examining cannabinoid exposure. It summarizes vapor exposure parameters and other methodological details, discusses the pharmacological and behavioral effects of vaporized cannabinoids, and compares the behavioral effects of cannabinoid vapor administration with other routes of administration. This review serves as a guide for current and future research in vapor delivery methods in animals.
BEHAVIOURAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mary E. McCaul, Gary S. Wand, Elise M. Weerts, Xiaoqiang Xu
Article
Substance Abuse
August F. Holtyn, Barbara J. Kaminski, Elise M. Weerts
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2017)