Psychiatry News & Articles

1 The role of dopamine receptors in the neurotoxicity of methamphetamine Journal of Internal Medicine, April 30, 2013
Ares-Santos S et al. - methamphetamine is a synthetic drug consumed by millions of users despite its neurotoxic effects in the brain, leading to loss of dopaminergic fibres and cell bodies. Moreover, clinical reports suggest that methamphetamine abusers are predisposed to Parkinson's disease. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms involved in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity.

2 Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis and Progressive Massive Fibrosis Related to Smoking Methamphetamine With Talc as Filler Respiratory Care, April 30, 2013
Baylor PA et al. - The authors present a case of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis accompanied by radiographic evidence of progressive massive fibrosis in a patient who had a 15–20year history of almost daily recreational inhalation of methamphetamine. Mineralogical analysis confirmed the presence of talc on biopsy of the area of progressive massive fibrosis. The coexistence of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and progressive massive fibrosis suggests that prolonged recreational inhalation ...

3 Teen girls less successful than boys at quitting meth in UCLA pilot research study EurekAlert!, May 1, 2013
A UCLA-led study of adolescents receiving treatment for methamphetamine dependence has found that girls are more likely to continue using the drug during treatment than boys, suggesting that new approaches are needed for treating meth abuse among teen girls. Results from the study, conducted by the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine and the community-based substance abuse treatment program Behavioral Health Services Inc., are published in the April edition of the ...

4 Teen girls less successful than boys at quitting meth in UCLA pilot research study UCLA Health System, May 1, 2013
A UCLA-led study of adolescents receiving treatment for methamphetamine dependence has found that girls are more likely to continue using the drug during treatment than boys, suggesting that new approaches are needed for treating meth abuse among teen girls. Results from the study, conducted by the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine and the community-based substance abuse treatment program Behavioral Health Services Inc., are published in the April edition of the ...

5 ROS and Sympathetically Mediated Mitochondria Activation in Brown Adipose Tissue Contribute to Methamphetamine-Induced Hyperthermia Frontiers in Endocrinology, May 7, 2013
Sanchez-Alavez M et al. - methamphetamine (Meth) abuse has been shown to induce alterations in mitochondrial function in the brain as well as to induce hyperthermia, which contributes to neurotoxicity and Meth-associated mortality. Thus, sympathetically mediated mitochondrial activation in the BAT and Meth-induced ROS are key components to the development of hyperthermia in Meth abuse.

6 SN79, a sigma receptor ligand, blocks methamphetamine-induced microglial activation and cytokine upregulation Experimental Neurology, May 10, 2013
Robson MJ et al. - methamphetamine (METH) abuse is associated with several negative side effects including neurotoxicity in specific brain regions such as the striatum. The ability of a sigma receptor antagonist to block METH-induced microglial activation and cytokine production provides a novel mechanism through which the neurotoxic effects of METH may be mitigated.

7 Volume reductions in frontopolar and left perisylvian cortices in methamphetamine induced psychosis Schizophrenia Research, May 21, 2013
Aoki Y et al. - Consumption of methamphetamine disturbs dopaminergic transmission and sometimes provokes schizophrenia-like-psychosis, named methamphetamine-associated psychosis (MAP). The volume reductions in the left perisylvian structure suggest that patients with MAP have a similar pathophysiology to schizophrenia, whereas those in the frontopolar cortices and orbitofrontal area suggest an association with antisocial traits or vulnerability to substance dependence.

8 Prospective predictors of unprotected anal intercourse among HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men initiating antiretroviral therapy AIDS and Behavior, May 16, 2013
Pantalone DW et al. - In a sequential logistic regression, baseline measures of UAI (step 1), socio-demographic factors such as Latino ethnicity (step 2), and psychosocial factors such as crystal methamphetamine use, greater life stress, and lower trait anxiety (step 3) were predictors of UAI at 6 months. Problem drinking was not a significant predictor. Prevention efforts among MSM living with HIV/AIDS might focus on multiple psychosocial targets, like decreasing their crystal ...

9 Switch from selegiline to rasagiline is beneficial in patients with Parkinsons disease Journal of Neural Transmission, May 8, 2013
Müller T et al. - The objective of this study is to demonstrate that application of rasagiline instead of selegiline with concomitant determination of l-amphetamine and l-methamphetamine in plasma is safe and well tolerated and influences sleep, mood, and motor behavior in patients with Parkinson’s disease on a stable drug therapy. Motor behavior and motor complications probably became better due to the additional glutamate receptor antagonizing properties of rasagiline in ...

10 Stereoselectivity in the cytochrome P450-dependent N-demethylation and flavin monooxygenase-dependent N-oxidation of N,N-dimethylamphetamine Archives of Pharmacal Research, May 16, 2013
Lee S et al. - N,N-Dimethylamphetamine (DMA), a methamphetamine (MA) analog, is known as a weak central nervous system stimulant. As DMA possesses a chiral center, the authors investigated the enantioselective formation of N,N-dimethylamphetamine N-oxide (DMANO) and MA from DMA using human liver microsomes, recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6, and flavin monooxygenases (FMO) 1 and 3. Given the minor contribution of FMO3 compared with FMO1, it would not affect the ...