OPIOIDS 2008 <599>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008174861Authors  Fiellin D.A. Moore B.A. Sullivan L.E. Becker W.C. Pantalon M.V. Chawarski M.C. Barry D.T. O'Connor P.G. Schottenfeld R.S.Institution  (Fiellin, Sullivan, O'Connor) Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.  (Moore, Pantalon, Chawarski, Barry, Schottenfeld) Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.  (Becker) Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States.  (Fiellin) Yale University, School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06520-8025, United States.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Long-term treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone in primary care: Results at 2-5 years.Source  American Journal on Addictions.  17(2)(pp 116-120), 2008. Date of Publication: Mar 2008.Abstract  To examine long-term outcomes with primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone treatment, we followed 53 opioid-dependent patients who had already demonstrated six months of documented clinical stability for 2-5 years. Primary outcomes were retention, illicit drug use, dose, satisfaction, serum transaminases, and adverse events. Thirty-eight percent of enrolled subjects were retained for two years. Ninety-one percent of urine samples had no evidence of opioid use, and patient satisfaction was high. Serum transaminases remained stable from baseline. No serious adverse events related to treatment occurred. We conclude that select opioid-dependent patients exhibit moderate levels of retention in primary care office-based treatment. Copyright copyright American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.ISSN  1055-0496Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  American Journal on AddictionsVolume  17Issue Part  2Page  116-120Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Mar 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <625>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008162058Authors  Singhal A. Tripathi B.M. Pal H.R. Jena R. Jain R.Institution  (Singhal) Mental Health Unit, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.  (Tripathi, Jain) National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.  (Pal) North East Essex Drug and Alcohol Service (NEEDAS), Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom.  (Jena) East London and City Mental Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Effect of buprenorphine on psychomotor functions in patients on buprenorphine maintenance.Source  Journal of Opioid Management.  4(1)(pp 41-47), 2008. Date of Publication: Jan 2008.Abstract

  Objective: Patients on buprenorphine maintenance for opioid dependence often abuse its additional doses over and above the maintenance dose. Being a psychoactive agent, it may affect psychomotor performance with all its consequences, for example, effect on quality of life. This study was conducted to assess the effects of its additional doses on psychomotor performance in patients who are maintained on it. Design and Setting: This was an interventional study, carried out in an in-patient setting in a tertiary care national drug dependence treatment center. Participants: It included 19 subjects maintained on buprenorphine, 4 mg/ d (s/L)for at least a month. Intervention: Maintenance dose was followed by three administrations of buprenorphine, 2 mg, at two hourly intervals (cumulative dose design). Main Outcome Measures: Subjects were assessed on digit symbol substitution test, trail making, digit span, and delayed recall, after each administration and the next morning. Results: Performance of subjects on Digit Symbol Substitution Test (chi² = 52.98, p < 0.000) and Trail Making Test-A (chi² = 26.29, p < 0.000) and B (chi² = 42.08, p < 0.000) improved significantly with each assessment while other tests were unaffected. Conclusions: Improvement in psychomotor performance (which could be true effect of drug itself or a result of other factors, eg, inadequate maintenance dose or practice effect) though contrasting with some of the earlier findings, does have significant clinical implications regarding the long-term use of buprenorphine. It would be worthwhile repeating this type of study in a placebo controlled design to further verify the results.ISSN  1551-7489Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Journal of Opioid ManagementVolume  4Issue Part  1Page  41-47Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Jan 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <629>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008135368Authors  Nielsen D.A. Ji F. Yuferov V. Ho A. Chen A. Levran O. Ott J. Kreek M.J.Institution  (Nielsen, Yuferov, Ho, Levran, Kreek) Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States.  (Ji, Chen, Ott) Laboratory of Statistical Genetics, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States.  (Ott) Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.  (Nielsen) Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Rockefeller University, Box 171, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Genotype patterns that contribute to increased risk for or protection from developing heroin addiction.Source  Molecular Psychiatry.  13(4)(pp 417-428), 2008. Date of Publication: Apr 2008.Abstract  A genome-wide association study was conducted using microarray technology to identify genes that may be associated with the vulnerability to develop heroin addiction, using DNA from 104 individual former severe heroin addicts (meeting Federal criteria for methadone maintenance) and 101 individual control subjects, all Caucasian. Using separate analyses for autosomal and X chromosomal variants, we found that the strongest associations of allele frequency with heroin addiction were with the autosomal variants rs965972, located in the Unigene cluster Hs.147755 (experiment-wise q=0.053), and rs1986513 (q=0.187). The three variants exhibiting the strongest association with heroin addiction by genotype frequency were rs1714984, located in an intron of the gene for the transcription factor myocardin

(P=0.000022), rs965972 (P=0.000080) and rs1867898 (P=0.000284). One genotype pattern (AG-TT-GG) was found to be significantly associated with developing heroin addiction (odds ratio (OR)=6.25) and explained 27% of the population attributable risk for heroin addiction in this cohort. Another genotype pattern (GG-CT-GG) of these variants was found to be significantly associated with protection from developing heroin addiction (OR=0.13), and lacking this genotype pattern explained 83% of the population attributable risk for developing heroin addiction. Evidence was found for involvement of five genes in heroin addiction, the genes coding for the mu opioid receptor, the metabotropic receptors mGluR6 and mGluR8, nuclear receptor NR4A2 and cryptochrome 1 (photolyase-like). This approach has identified several new genes potentially associated with heroin addiction and has confirmed the role of OPRM1 in this disease. copyright 2008 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved.ISSN  1359-4184Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Molecular PsychiatryVolume  13Issue Part  4Page  417-428Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Apr 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <641>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008136753Authors  Berman A.H. Kallmen H. Barredal E. Lindqvist P.Institution  (Berman, Lindqvist) Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Forensic Psychiatry, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.  (Kallmen) Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.  (Berman, Barredal) Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Hopeless patients? A study of illicit opiate users who drop out from in-patient detoxification.Source  Journal of Substance Use.  13(2)(pp 121-130), 2008. Date of Publication: Apr 2008.Abstract  Individual and treatment-related factors associated with early self-discharge were studied among illicit opiate users consecutively admitted for hospital detoxification (ITT = 68, n = 45). Only 20% of the drop-outs had a detailed treatment plan, 20% participated in their own treatment planning, and none were enrolled in a methadone/buprenorphine programme at admission (compared with 60, 80, and 66%, respectively, of those retained in treatment). Having a treatment plan at intake improved the odds for planned discharge by 13 and perceiving fewer positive aspects of drug use increased the odds for drop-out by 12.6. A configural frequency analysis (CFA) showed one significant type: patients with sketchy or no treatment planning at intake, no maintenance treatment, and a low score on positive aspects of drug use were 7.5 times more likely to drop out than expected. Lacking a close maternal relationship characterized patients in this type (83% compared with 31% of non-types). Drop-outs seem to have insecure attachment patterns, which make contact difficult with social services and substance abuse treatment providers. Future research should devise ways of establishing a working alliance with patients likely to drop out, as well as investigating management policies for this patient group.ISSN  1465-9891Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Journal of Substance UseVolume  13Issue Part  2

Page  121-130Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Apr 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <644>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008136749Authors  Pinto H. Rumball D. Maskrey V. Holland R.Institution  (Pinto, Rumball, Maskrey, Holland) The Bure Centre, Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership Trust, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  A pilot study for a randomized controlled and patient preference trial of buprenorphine versus methadone maintenance treatment in the management of opiate dependent patients.Source  Journal of Substance Use.  13(2)(pp 73-82), 2008. Date of Publication: Apr 2008.Abstract  Aims: To assess the feasibility of conducting an RCT comparing buprenorphine and methadone maintenance therapy in Norfolk. Design: Forty-two opiate dependent patients were given the option of being randomized or choosing between open label buprenorphine or methadone maintenance treatment for 6 months. Dosage was assessed individually using a flexible regime. Findings: No subjects agreed to randomization. At 6 months more methadone patients were retained (68 vs. 55% for buprenorphine), however, after adjustment for baseline differences between the groups results favoured buprenorphine, but were not statistically significant (odds ratio for retention BMT vs. MMT = 1.57, 95% CI, 0.30-8.29, p = 0.60). The buprenorphine group showed a non-significant advantage in illicit opiate use (45 vs. 66% p = 0.43) and CHRISTO scores at 6 months (-0.85 units lower score, 95% CI, -4.93 to +3.23, p = 0.67). In this study, predictors of retention in treatment at six months were lower (better) CHRISTO score (p = 0.01), age below 29.5 years (p = 0.02) and of borderline statistical significance was being married or cohabiting (p = 0.06). Conclusions: A local RCT is not feasible. As a pilot this study lacked power but the results suggest that, in practice, in the UK, buprenorphine may be more able to retain patients in treatment, suppress illicit opiate use and improve functioning. Given the significantly higher cost of buprenorphine a larger study is needed to answer these questions.ISSN  1465-9891Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Journal of Substance UseVolume  13Issue Part  2Page  73-82Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Apr 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <653>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008121424Authors  Felice A.M. Kouimtsidis C.Institution  (Felice) North West Hert Community Drug and Alcohol Team, Hertfordshire Partnership Trust, Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom.  (Kouimtsidis) Section of Addictive Behaviour, Division of Mental Health, St. George's University of London, 6th floor HunterWing, Crammer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, United Kingdom.  Country of Publication

  United KingdomTitle  Shared care for treatment of opioid dependence and the new general medical services contract.Source  Psychiatric Bulletin.  32(3)(pp 88-90), 2008. Date of Publication: Mar 2008.Abstract  Aims and methods: An audit of clients in specialist and shared care services was undertaken in 2003 and in 2005 to investigate the capacity, quality of prescribed medication and profile of clients, and to assess the impact of the new General Medical Services contract on drug misuse treatment. Results: Capacity in specialist services increased by 55% from 2003 to 2005, but not in shared care, and type and dosage of prescribed medication improved for shared care. Profile of clients suggests that stable clients are treated within shared care. Clinical implications: Attention should be given in training general practitioners to provide shared care treatment, increasing the number of clients accepted in shared care, and considering new treatment models.ISSN  0955-6036Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Psychiatric BulletinVolume  32Issue Part  3Page  88-90Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Mar 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <656>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008104980Authors  Gu J. Lau J.T.F. Chen H. Liu Z. Lei Z. Li Z. Lian Z. Wang R. Hu X. Cai H. Wang T.Institution  (Gu, Lau) Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong.  (Chen, Lei, Li, Wang, Hu, Cai, Wang) Dazhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 96 Tongchuan North Road, Dazhou, Sichuan 635000, China.  (Liu, Lian) National Institution of Drug Dependence, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100083, China.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Validation of the Chinese version of the Opiate Addiction Severity Inventory (OASI) and the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) in non-institutionalized heroin users in China.Source  Addictive Behaviors.  33(5)(pp 725-741), 2008. Date of Publication: May 2008.Abstract  No fully validated Chinese instrument measuring severity of drug dependence exists. The Chinese Opiate Addiction Severity Inventory (OASI) and the translated Chinese version of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) were validated in this study. A total of 178 eligible participants were recruited using snowballing method. The 11-item revised version of OASI (OASI-R) exhibited good reliability (item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50 to 0.73, Cronbach's alpha was 0.85, test-retest Intra-class Correlation Coefficient was 0.81, p < 0.001). Two factors were identified by principal component method and correlated significantly with the Quality of Life-Drug Addiction (QOL-DA). The 3-item revised version of SDS (SDS-R) was one of the two factors of SDS (item-total correlation coefficients were 0.79 to 0.86, Cronbach's alpha was 0.78, test-retest Intra-class Correlation Coefficient was 0.64, p < 0.001). It correlated significantly with QOL-DA. OASI-R and SDS-R were also significantly correlated with each other and with some heroin-related characteristics. The validation of the Chinese version of OASI-R and SDS-R would facilitate research in different Chinese

populations. SDS has been translated to different languages and the Chinese version allows for international comparison. copyright 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.ISSN  0306-4603Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Addictive BehaviorsVolume  33Issue Part 5Page  725-741Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  May 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <671>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008092677Authors  Sherman S.G. Gann D.S. Scott G. Carlberg S. Bigg D. Heimer R.Institution  (Sherman, Gann) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States.  (Scott) Department of Sociology, Depaul University, 990 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, United States.  (Carlberg, Bigg) Chicago Recovery Alliance, 400 E Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611, United States.  (Heimer) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8034, United States.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  A qualitative study of overdose responses among Chicago IDUs.Source  Harm Reduction Journal.  5, 2008. Article Number: 2.  Date of Publication: 24 Jan 2008.Abstract  Background: Opioid overdose is a leading cause of death among injection drug users. Over half of injection drug users report at least one nonfatal overdose during their lifetime. Death from opioid overdose rarely occurs instantaneously, but rather over the course of one to three hours, allowing ample time for providing life-saving measures. In response to the prevalence of overdoses in the U.S., there are a growing number of overdose prevention and naloxone distribution programs targeting the injection drug using community. Methods: We explored injection drug users' experiences with opioid overdose response, examining differences between overdose responses in which naloxone was and was not used. The current study is based upon qualitative interviews (N = 31) with clients of the Chicago Recovery Alliance needle exchange program who had witnessed an overdose in the past six months. The interviews explored participants' drug use history, personal overdose experiences, and details concerning their last witnessed overdose. Verbatim transcripts were coded and analyzed thematically to address major study questions. Results: Participants were 81% were male, their median age was 38. They reported having injected a median of 10 years and having witnessed a median of six overdoses in their lifetime. All described overdoses were recognized and responded to quickly. None of the overdoses resulted in a fatality and naloxone was successfully administered in 58% of the last witnessed overdoses. Administering naloxone for the first time was characterized by trepidation, but this feeling dissipated as the naloxone quickly took effect. Emergency medical personnel were called in 10 of the 31 described overdoses, including four in which participants administered naloxone. The overwhelming majority of experiences with police and paramedics were positive Conclusion: Overall, our small study found that the overdose prevention efforts build on extensive knowledge possessed by IDUs. Teaching IDUs how to use naloxone is an effective risk reduction strategy. copyright 2008 Sherman et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Harm Reduction JournalVolume  5Year of Publication  2008

Date of Publication  24 Jan 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <680>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008072017Authors  Modi P.Institution  (Modi) Innovatech Rx., 519 Golf Links Road, Ancaster, ON L9G 4X6, Canada.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Review of rational approaches to the treatment of pain management - Role for opioids therapies.Source  Current Drug Therapy.  3(1)(pp 33-43), 2008. Date of Publication: Jan 2008.Abstract  Opioids remain an important cornerstone and the most effective mainstay analgesies for acute and terminal cancer pain treatments. Effective analgesia is obtained in the majority of cancer pain patients with the application of fairly straightforward rational treatment algorithms using opioids as the main therapy. A major barrier to be overcome, however, is that chronic pain is often not viewed as a physical illness worthy of treatment. Many studies demonstrating that specific changes occur in the peripheral and central nervous systems of patients with chronic pain provide the rationale for changing the approaches to chronic pain management and instituting more aggressive and comprehensive treatment. This review describes the role of opioids in the treatment of cancer pain, including a brief overview of cancer pain syndromes, essential aspects of opioid therapy, opioid pharmacology, opioid rotation, properties of the individual opioids, and management of common side effects of opioids. As understanding ofthe pharmacology of this class of drugs becomes more sophisticated, clinicians may anticipate dosage-limiting adverse effects and variations in individual response. copyright 2008 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.ISSN  1574-8855Publication Type  Journal: ReviewJournal Name  Current Drug TherapyVolume  3Issue Part  1Page  33-43Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Jan 2008

OPIOIDS (A) 2008 <681>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008071555Authors  Fischer S.J. Arguello A.A. Charlton J.J. Fuller D.C. Zachariou V. Eisch A.J.Institution  (Fischer, Arguello, Fuller, Zachariou, Eisch) Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, United States.  (Charlton, Zachariou) Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete 71005, Greece.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Morphine blood levels, dependence, and regulation of hippocampal subgranular zone proliferation rely on administration paradigm.Source  Neuroscience.  151(4)(pp 1217-1224), 2008. Date of Publication: 19 Feb 2008.Abstract

  Chronic morphine, administered via s.c. pellet, decreases the number of proliferating cells in the dentate gyrus subgranular zone (SGZ) in both rats and mice. This robust morphine-induced decrease could be used to better understand mechanisms regulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis, as well as to explore the relationship between neurogenesis and drug dependence, withdrawal, and relapse behaviors. Such research would benefit enormously from identifying a route of morphine administration that produces addiction-relevant blood levels of morphine, results in a high degree of dependence, translates to both rat and mouse, and is free of the behavioral confounds of s.c. pellets. Therefore, we examined a classic chronic morphine pellet paradigm (two s.c. pellets over 5 days) versus three chronic morphine injection paradigms (escalating dose i.p. injections over 2, 5, or 10 days) for their effect in adult male C57BL/6J mice. We assessed blood morphine levels, SGZ proliferation, and drug dependence as assessed by tolerance to locomotion sensitization and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. The pellet paradigm produced high and relatively stable blood levels of morphine, a high degree of dependence, and a significant decrease in SGZ proliferation. In contrast, the three injection paradigms produced transient spikes in morphine blood levels, significantly less dependence than the pellet paradigm, and no significant decrease in SGZ proliferation. These data show that regulation of mouse SGZ proliferation requires high and relatively stable blood levels of morphine, and provide critical knowledge for the design of future studies to probe the relationship between addiction and neurogenesis. copyright 2008 IBRO.ISSN  0306-4522Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  NeuroscienceVolume  151Issue Part  4Page  1217-1224Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  19 Feb 2008

OPIOIDS (A) 2008 <692>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008065527Authors  Chu N.-N. Xia W. Yu P. Hu L. Zhang R. Cui C.-L.Institution  (Cui) 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China.  (Chu) Department of Pharmacology, Qingdao University Medical College, 38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Chronic morphine-induced neuronal morphological changes in the ventral tegmental area in rats are reversed by electroacupuncture treatment.Source  Addiction Biology.  13(1)(pp 47-51), 2008. Date of Publication: Mar 2008.Abstract  The aim of this study was to observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on chronic morphine-induced neuronal morphological changes in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in rats at electron-microscopic level. Fourteen days of administering escalating doses of morphine induced pathological morphological changes of neurons in the VTA: the rough endoplasmic reticulum swelled, membrane configuration of the nucleus and mitochondria blurred, and structure of myelin sheath changed. Both 2 and 100 Hz EA treatment reversed the morphological alterations induced by chronic morphine administration. The findings provide new evidence that EA may serve as a potential therapy in treating opiate addiction. copyright 2008 The Authors.ISSN  1355-6215Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Addiction Biology

Volume  13Issue Part  1Page  47-51Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Mar 2008

NICOTINE / OPIOIDS 2008 <726>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008046337Authors  Haas A.L. Sorensen J.L. Hall S.M. Lin C. Delucchi K. Sporer K. Chen T.Institution  (Haas, Sorensen, Hall, Lin, Delucchi, Sporer, Chen) San Francisco Treatment Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.  (Sorensen, Lin, Chen) San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, United States.  (Sorensen) San Francisco General Hospital, Building 20, Box 0852, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, United States.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Cigarette smoking in opioid-using patients presenting for hospital-based medical services.Source  American Journal on Addictions.  17(1)(pp 65-69), 2008. Date of Publication: Jan 2008.Abstract  Little is known about cigarette smoking among opioid users who are not in substance abuse treatment. The study examined cigarette smoking in out-of-treatment opioid users presenting at a hospital who participated in drug abuse research. Participants exhibited a high rate of smoking (92%) at baseline that remained unchanged at one year and were moderately nicotine-dependent. Nineteen percent preferred unfiltered cigarettes. Women were more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes; men were more likely to smoke unfiltered cigarettes. Caucasians tended to smoke more than other ethnicities and exhibited greater dependence. Out-of-treatment drug users continue to be at high risk for continued smoking. Copyright copyright American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.ISSN  1055-0496Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  American Journal on AddictionsVolume  17Issue Part  1Page  65-69Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Jan 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <735>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008014064Authors  Reid C.M. Gooberman-Hill R. Hanks G.W.Institution  (Reid) Gloucestershire Hospitals, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Gloucester Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN, United Kingdom.  (Gooberman-Hill) MRC Health Services Research Collaboration, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, United Kingdom.  (Hanks) Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle

  Opioid analgesics for cancer pain: Symptom control for the living or comfort for the dying? A qualitative study to investigate the factors influencing the decision to accept morphine for pain caused by cancer.Source  Annals of Oncology.  19(1)(pp 44-48), 2008. Date of Publication: Jan 2008.Abstract  Background: Morphine and other opioids are the mainstay of cancer pain management, yet considerable fears surrounding them present barriers to pain control. Research in groups already using opioids has examined their concerns, but there is little evidence about how patients react when first offered opioids. We explored the factors influencing the decision to accept or reject morphine when first offered to patients with cancer. Patients and methods: A qualitative in-depth interview study nested within a cancer pain management trial. Interviews were conducted with 18 patients (nine females), aged 42-88 years. Results: The categories that surrounded decisions about commencement of opioids were: anticipation of death; morphine as a last resort; the role of the professional; and 'no choice' but to commence. Participants rejected morphine as a medical intervention to control pain and promote quality of life because they saw it only as a comfort measure for the dying. However, opioids were more acceptable if health care providers had confidence in opioids and side-effects were well managed. Conclusion: Among cancer patients the idea that opioids represent a comfort measure for the dying and not legitimate analgesics may represent a greater barrier to their uptake than concerns about tolerance or addiction. copyright 2007 European Society for Medical Oncology.ISSN  0923-7534Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Annals of OncologyVolume  19Issue Part  1Page  44-48Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Jan 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <743>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008012916Authors  Liu N. Li B. Sun N. Ma Y.Institution  (Liu, Li, Sun, Ma) Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.  (Liu, Li, Sun, Ma) Kunming Primate Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.  (Liu, Sun) Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China.  (Ma) Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Effects of addiction-associated and affective stimuli on the attentional blink in a sample of abstinent opiate dependent patients.Source  Journal of Psychopharmacology.  22(1)(pp 64-70), 2008. Date of Publication: Jan 2008.Abstract  The attentional blink reveals the limits of the brain's ability in information processing. It has been extensively studied in people with neurological and psychiatric disturbances to explore the temporal characteristics of information processing and examine attention deficits. The aim of the present study is to examine the attentional blink in abstinent opiate dependent patients (AODPs). Also, we planned to study whether addiction-associated and affective stimuli can influence the attentional blink in AODPs. A dual-target rapid serial visual presentation test (RSVP) was used in the present study. The second target consisted of three kinds of stimuli: neutral, addiction-associated and negative. We found that there was an exaggerated attentional blink in AODPs. It suggested that there were the deficits of information processing

and attention in AODPs. Addiction-associated stimuli reduced the attentional blink in AODPs, suggesting addiction-associated information were selected by the brain for attentive and perceptual processing. In addition, affective effects on the attentional blink in AODPs were not in the similar level to those in controls. copyright 2008 British Association for Psychopharmacology.ISSN  0269-8811Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Journal of PsychopharmacologyVolume  22Issue Part  1Page  64-70Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Jan 2008

OPIOIDS (A) 2008 <750>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008029468Authors  Gu C. Li P. Hu B. Ouyang X. Fu J. Gao J. Song Z. Han L. Ma Y. Tian S. Hu X.Institution  (Gu, Hu, Ouyang, Fu, Gao, Song, Han, Tian) Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Nanhua University, Hengyang, Hunan, China.  (Li) Department of Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Nanhua University, Hengyang, Hunan, China.  (Ma, Hu) Laboratory of Primate Cognitive Neuroscience, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.  (Tian) Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Nanhua University, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.  (Hu) Laboratory of Primate Cognitive Neuroscience, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Chronic morphine selectively impairs cued fear extinction in rats: Implications for anxiety disorders associated with opiate use.Source  Neuropsychopharmacology.  33(3)(pp 666-673), 2008. Date of Publication: Feb 2008.Abstract  Previous studies have shown that opioid transmission plays an important role in learning and memory. However, little is known about the course of opiate-associated learning and memory deficits after cessation of chronic opiate use in a behavioral animal model. In the present study, we examined the effects of chronic morphine on fear extinction, an important preclinical model for behavior therapy of human anxiety disorders. Rats were administrated subcutaneously morphine hydrochloride or saline twice per day for continuous 10 days. Rats received a cued or contextual fear conditioning session 7 days after the last morphine injection. During subsequent days, rats received four cued or contextual extinction sessions (one session per day). Percent freezing was assessed during all phases of training. Chronic morphine did not affect the acquisition of cued fear response or the initial encoding of extinction memory within each session, but produced an impairment in the between-session extinction. However, the same morphine treatment schedule did not affect the acquisition or extinction of contextual fear response. These results suggest that the effects of chronic morphine on memory for fear extinction are complex. Chronic morphine selectively impairs extinction of cued fear response. This deficit in fear extinction may be one of those critical components that contribute to the high prevalence of anxiety disorders in opiate addicts. copyright 2008 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved.ISSN  0893-133XPublication TypeJournal: ArticleJournal Name  NeuropsychopharmacologyVolume  33Issue Part  3

Page  666-673Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Feb 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <754>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008024579Authors  Tetrault J.M. Desai R.A. Becker W.C. Fiellin D.A. Concato J. Sullivan L.E.Institution  (Tetrault) Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8025, United States.  (Tetrault, Concato) Veterans Affairs Clinical Epidemiology Research Center, West Haven, CT, United States.  (Tetrault, Desai, Becker, Fiellin, Concato, Sullivan) Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, United States.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Gender and non-medical use of prescription opioids: Results from a national US survey.Source  Addiction.  103(2)(pp 258-268), 2008. Date of Publication: Feb 2008.Abstract  Aims: Gender differences exist regarding alcohol and illicit drug use disorders in the United States. Little is known about the gender-related factors associated with non-medical use of prescription opioids. Design: Using data from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we examined risk factors for past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids stratified by gender. Setting: Non-institutionalized US residences. Participants: Civilian, non-institutionalized US citizens aged 12 years and older. Measurements: Self-reported alcohol and drug use, focusing specifically on past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids. Findings: Among 55 023 respondents, 4.8% reported past-year, non-medical use of prescription opioids. For both women and men, alcohol abuse/dependence and marijuana, hallucinogen, cocaine, non-medical stimulant and sedative/tranquilizer use were associated with past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids. Among women but not men, first use of illicit drugs beginning at 24 years or older [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 1.90, 95% CI 1.05-3.44], serious mental illness (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.29-2.17) and cigarette smoking (AOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05-1.68) were associated with past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids. Among men but not women, past-year inhalant use (AOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.28-2.92) was associated with the outcome. Conclusions: For both women and men, illicit drug use is associated with the non-medical use of prescription opioids. Additionally, certain factors associated with the non-medical use of prescription opioids are notably gender-specific. Clinicians should recognize that patients with a history of illicit substance use or misuse of other prescription medications are at increased risk for non-medical use of prescription opioids, and that gender-specific factors can help to identify individuals at greatest risk. copyright 2007 Society for the Study of Addiction.ISSN  0965-2140Publication Type  Journal: Conference PaperJournal Name  AddictionVolume  103Issue Part  2Page  258-268Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  Feb 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <226>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008510601

Authors  Amato L. Minozzi S. Davoli M. Vecchi S. Ferri M.M.F. Mayet S.Institution  (Amato, Minozzi, Davoli, Vecchi) Department of Epidemiology, ASL RM/E, Rome, Italy.  (Ferri) Project Unit: EBM and Models of Health Assistance, Agency of Public Health, Rome, Italy.  (Mayet) Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.  (Amato) Department of Epidemiology, ASL RM/E, Via di Santa Costanza, 53, Rome, 00198, Italy.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Psychosocial combined with agonist maintenance treatments versus agonist maintenance treatments alone for treatment of opioid dependence.Source  Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.  (4), 2008. Article Number: CD004147.  Date of Publication: 2008.Publisher  John Wiley and Sons LtdAbstract  Background: Maintenance treatments are effective in retaining patients in treatment and suppressing heroin use. Questions remain regarding the efficacy of additional psychosocial services offered by most maintenance programs. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of any psychosocial plus any agonist maintenance treatment versus standard agonist treatment for opiate dependence in respect of retention in treatment, use of substances, health and social status. Search strategy: We searched: Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group's Register of Trials (February 2008), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL - The Cochrane Library issue 1, 2008), MEDLINE (January 1966 to February 2008), EMBASE (January 1980 to February 2008), CINAHL (January 2003-February 2008), PsycINFO (January 1985 to April 2003), reference lists of articles. Selection criteria: Randomised studies comparing any psychosocial plus any agonist with any agonist alone intervention for opiate dependence. Data collection and analysis: Three reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Main results: Twenty eight trials, 2945 participants, were included. These studies considered twelve different psychosocial interventions and three pharmacological maintenance treatments. Comparing any psychosocial plus any maintenance pharmacological treatment to standard maintenance treatment, results do not show benefit for retention in treatment, 23 studies, 2193 participants, Relative Risk (RR) 1.02 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.07), use of opiate during the treatment, eight studies, 681 participants, RR 0.86 (95% CI 0.65 to 1.13), compliance, three studies, MD 0.43 (95% CI -0.05 to 0.92), psychiatric symptoms, four studies, MD 0.02 (-0.19 to 0.23), depression, four studies, MD -1.30 (95% CI -3.31 to 0.72) and results at follow up as number of participants still in treatment at the end of the follow-up , 289 participants, RR 0.91 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.06). In spite of results at follow up as number of participants abstinent at the end of the follow-up, five studies, 232 participants, show a benefit in favour of the associated treatment RR1.15 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.32). The remaining outcomes were analysed only in single studies considering a limited number of participants.Comparing the different psychosocial approaches, results are never statistically significant for all the comparisons and outcomes. Authors' conclusions: Results suggest that adding any psychosocial support to maintenance treatments improve the number of participants abstinent at follow up; no differences for the other outcome measures. Data do not show differences between different psychosocial interventions also for contingency approaches, contrary to all expectations. Duration of the studies was too short to analyse relevant outcomes such as mortality. Copyright copyright 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.ISSN  1469-493XPublication Type  Journal: ReviewJournal Name  Cochrane Database of Systematic ReviewsIssue Part  4Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <227>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008510600Authors  Amato L. Minozzi S. Davoli M. Vecchi S. Ferri M.M.F. Mayet S.Institution  (Amato, Minozzi, Davoli, Vecchi) Department of Epidemiology, ASL RM/E, Rome, Italy.  (Ferri) Project Unit: EBM and Models of Health Assistance, Agency of Public Health, Rome, Italy.  (Mayet) Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.  (Amato) Deparment of Epidemiology, ASL RM/E, Via di Santa Costanza, 53, Rome, 00198, Italy.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments versus pharmacological treatments for opioid detoxification.Source  Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.  (4), 2008. Article Number: CD005031.  Date of Publication: 2008.Publisher  John Wiley and Sons LtdAbstract  Background: Different pharmacological approaches aimed at opioid detoxification are effective. Nevertheless a majority of patients relapse to heroin use, and relapses are a substantial problem in the rehabilitation of heroin users. Some studies have suggested that the sorts of symptoms which are most distressing to addicts during detoxification are psychological rather than physiological symptoms associated with the withdrawal syndrome. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of any psychosocial plus any pharmacological interventions versus any pharmacological alone for opioid detoxification, in helping patients to complete the treatment, reduce the use of substances and improve health and social status. Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group trials register (27 February 2008). Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2008), PUBMED (1996 to February 2008); EMBASE (January 1980 to February 2008); CINAHL (January 2003-February 2008); PsycINFO (1985 to April 2003) and reference list of articles. Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials which focus on any psychosocial associated with any pharmacological intervention aimed at opioid detoxification. People less than 18 years of age and pregnant women were excluded. Data collection and analysis: Three reviewers independently assessed trials quality and extracted data. Main results: Nine studies involving people were included. These studies considered five different psychosocial interventions and two substitution detoxification treatments: Methadone and Buprenorphine. The results show promising benefit from adding any psychosocial treatment to any substitution detoxification treatment in terms of completion of treatment relative risk (RR) 1.68 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11 to 2.55), use of opiate RR 0.82 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.93), results at follow-up RR 2.43 (95% CI 1.61 to 3.66), and compliance RR 0.48 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.59). Authors' conclusions: Psychosocial treatments offered in addition to pharmacological detoxification treatments are effective in terms of completion of treatment, use of opiate, results at follow-up and compliance. Although a treatment, like detoxification, that exclusively attenuates the severity of opiate withdrawal symptoms can be at best partially effective for a chronic relapsing disorder like opiate dependence, this type of treatment is an essential step prior to longer-term drug-free treatment and it is desirable to develop adjunct psychosocial approaches that might make detoxification more effective. Limitations to this review are imposed by the heterogeneity of the assessment of outcomes. Because of lack of detailed information no meta analysis could be performed to analyse the results related to several outcomes. Copyright copyright 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.ISSN  1469-493XPublication Type  Journal: ReviewJournal Name  Cochrane Database of Systematic ReviewsIssue Part  4Year of Publication  2008

Date of Publication  2008

OPIOIDS (A) 2008 <244>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2009000110Authors  Zhang D. Zhang H. Jin G.-Z. Zhang K. Zhen X.Institution  (Zhang, Zhang, Jin, Zhang, Zhen) State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Department of Neuropharmacology, Shanghai Institute of Material Medica, Shanghai, China.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Single dose of morphine produced a prolonged effect on dopamine neuron activities.Source  Molecular Pain.  4, 2008. Article Number: 57.  Date of Publication: 17 Nov 2008.Publisher  BioMed Central Ltd.Abstract  Background: Clinical observation and experimental studies have indicated that a single exposure to morphine could induce tolerance and dependence. It has become a concern in clinical antinociceptive practice. However, the underling mechanism remains unknown. This study was designed to explore the changes of dopamine (DA) neuron activities in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) by employing a spectral analysis followed single morphine treatment. Results: Acute morphine treatment significantly increased not only the firing rate and firing population but also the power of slow oscillation of DA neurons in naive rats. These changes lasted at least for 3 days following the morphine treatment. During this period of time, responses of the DA neurons to subsequent morphine challenge were diminished. We further demonstrated a transient desensitization of opiate receptors as monitored by GTPgammaS binding to G-proteins. The present study provided first direct evidence for the temporal changes in the VTA DA neuron activities and opiate receptors desensitization. Conclusion: Prolonged VTA DA neuron activation and opiate receptors desensitization followed single morphine exposure may underlie the development of dependence and tolerance that may associate with the acute analgesic tolerance and acute addiction of morphine. copyright 2008 Zhang et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.ISSN  1744-8069Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Molecular PainVolume  4Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  17 Nov 2008

OPIOIDS (A) 2008 <264>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008578087Authors  Hodgson S.R. Hofford R.S. Norris C.J. Eitan S.Institution  (Hodgson, Hofford, Norris, Eitan) Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Texas A and M University, College Station, TX, United States.  (Eitan) Texas A and M University, Department of Psychology, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, United States.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Increased elevated plus maze open-arm time in mice during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal.Source

  Behavioural Pharmacology.  19(8)(pp 805-811), 2008. Date of Publication: December 2008.Publisher  Lippincott Williams and WilkinsAbstract  Opioid withdrawal is known to be anxiogenic in humans and, using the elevated plus maze (EPM), was demonstrated to also be anxiogenic in rats. Thus, this study characterizes EPM behaviors of mice during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Naloxone did not significantly change EPM behaviors of drug-naive mice. Additionally, morphine-dependent mice in which withdrawal was not precipitated (i.e. morphine-dependent mice receiving saline) spent less time in the open-arms compared to the controls. Surprisingly, increased open-arm time was observed in morphine-dependent mice undergoing naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. This increase was not because of total motor activity, as no significant differences in total activity were observed. Moreover, morphine dependency was necessary, given that there was not a significant increase in open-arm time for mice undergoing withdrawal from acute morphine. Increased open-arm time during withdrawal is unexpected, given that opioid withdrawal is usually associated with anxiety. Additionally, even in mice, naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal is known be aversive and increases plasma corticosterone levels. In conclusion, this study demonstrates somewhat unexpected EPM behavior in mice undergoing naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Possible interpretations of these EPM results, though somewhat speculative, raise the possibility that EPM behaviors might not be driven exclusively by anxiety levels but rather by other withdrawal-induced behaviors. copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health|Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.ISSN  0955-8810Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Behavioural PharmacologyVolume  19Issue Part  8Page  805-811Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  December 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <270>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008578101Authors  Cui J. Chen Q. Yu L.-C. Zhang Y.Institution  (Cui, Chen, Yu, Zhang) Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.  (Cui, Chen, Yu, Zhang) Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Chronic morphine application is protective against cell death in primary human neurons.Source  NeuroReport.  19(18)(pp 1745-1749), 2008. Date of Publication: 03 Dec 2008.Publisher  Lippincott Williams and WilkinsAbstract  Morphine addiction has become a long-time, serious medical and social problem. To understand the cellular mechanisms of morphine application and addiction, the effects of chronic morphine treatments were examined in primary cultured human neurons. Our results show that, surprisingly, morphine protects cultured human neurons against serum deprivation and staurosporine induced cytotoxicity. Morphine downregulates proapoptotic factor Bax levels in cultured human neurons. In addition, heat shock protein 70 is also involved in morphine protection. Our data suggest that chronic morphine application may be beneficial to stimulate cell survival. copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health|Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

ISSN  0959-4965Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  NeuroReportVolume  19Issue Part  18Page  1745-1749Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  03 Dec 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <273>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008573675Authors  Dijkstra B.A.G. Krabbe P.F.M. De Jong C.A.J. van der Staak C.P.F.Institution  (Dijkstra, De Jong) Novadic-Kentron, Network for Addiction Treatment Services, St. Oedenrode, Netherlands.  (Dijkstra, De Jong) Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction (NISPA), Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands.  (Krabbe) Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Health Technology Assessment, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands.  (De Jong, van der Staak) Department of Clinical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Prediction of withdrawal symptoms during opioid detoxification.Source  Journal of Opioid Management.  4(5)(pp 311-319), 2008. Date of Publication: September/October 2008.Publisher  Weston Medical PublishingAbstract  Objective: The severity of self-reported withdrawal symptoms varies during detoxification of opioid-dependent patients. The aim of this study is to identify subgroups of withdrawal symptoms within the detoxification trajectory and to predict the severity of withdrawal symptoms on the basis of drug-related and sociodemographic characteristics. Design and setting: A prospective study carried out in an in-patient setting in four addiction treatment centres in the Netherlands. Participants: Two hundred opioid-dependent patients who participated in a randomized controlled trial and completed more than 75 percent of the administrations of the subjective opioid withdrawal scales during rapid detoxification. Intervention and main outcome measure: Main outcome measure was the severity of opioid withdrawal as measured by the subjective opioid withdrawal scale during detoxification (18 measurements). Predictor baseline data were obtained on sociodemographic background, severity of addiction, psychopathology, personality disorder, and craving. Statistics: Those variables found to be statistically significant in univariate analyses were entered into multivariate regression models to predict the severity of subjective withdrawal. Results: No distinct subgroups could be identified despite substantial individual variability throughout the detoxification trajectory. The multiple regression results showed only four variables to predict the severity of withdrawal symptoms: baseline withdrawal symptoms, intravenous heroin use in the last 30 days, anxiety, and cluster C personality disorder. The variance explained by these sociodemographic variables was low while the largest amount of variance was explained by baseline withdrawal symptoms (27 percent). Conclusions: The results of the present study provide evidence that the severity of withdrawal symptoms during detoxification treatment is moderately predicted by the baseline severity of their withdrawal symptoms and not by drug- and patient-related characteristics.ISSN  1551-7489Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Journal of Opioid Management

Volume  4Issue Part  5Page  311-319Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  September/October 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <279>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008572691Authors  Asgary S. Sarrafzadegan N. Naderi G.-A. Rozbehani R.Institution  (Asgary) Basic Sciences Department, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research, Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Islamic Republic of.  (Sarrafzadegan, Naderi) Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Islamic Republic of.  (Rozbehani) Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Islamic Republic of.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Effect of opium addiction on new and traditional cardiovascular risk factors: Do duration of addiction and route of administration matter?Source  Lipids in Health and Disease.  7, 2008. Article Number: 42.  Date of Publication: 2008.Publisher  BioMed Central Ltd.Abstract  Background. There is a belief among some society that opium has a number of beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present investigation as a cross-sectional study was to assess this hypothesis. Several biochemical factors (Fasting blood sugar, Cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol, HbA1C, CRP, Fibrinogen, Factor VII, SGOT, SGPT, Lpa, apo A and apo B were evaluated in opium-addicted men (case) against non opium-addicted men(control). Three hundred and sixty opium-addicted men were divided into three groups according to the route of administration (Orally, Vafour and Sikh-Sang) and each group was divided into four subgroups according to the duration of addiction (5 months, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years). Blood morphine concentration was measured by ELISA method. Results. The results show that morphine concentration was significantly higher in orally administration. In all routes, there was a direct correlation between blood morphine concentration and period of addiction. Regardless to the period and route of administration, the level of HbA1C, CRP, factor VII, Fibrinogen, apo B, Lpa, SGOT, and SGPT were significantly higher in the case subjects as compared with controls and HDL-Cholesterol and apo a were significantly lower in the case subjects. Conclusion. This study demonstrated the deleterious effects of opium on some traditional and new cardiovascular disease risk factors. These deleterious effects are related to the period of addiction and their levels are significantly increased after 2 years of addiction. Route of administration impresses cardiovascular risk factors and "Sikh-Sang" showed the worst effect. copyright 2008 Asgary et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Lipids in Health and DiseaseVolume  7Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <283>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2008544220Authors  Desjardins S. Belkai E. Crete D. Cordonnier L. Scherrmann J.-M. Noble F. Marie-Claire C.

Institution  (Desjardins, Belkai, Crete, Cordonnier, Scherrmann, Noble, Marie-Claire) Laboratoire de Neuropsychopharmacologie des addictions (UMR CNRS 7157, INSERM U705), Universite Paris Descartes, Faculte de Pharmacie, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle  Effects of chronic morphine and morphine withdrawal on gene expression in rat peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Source  Neuropharmacology.  55(8)(pp 1347-1354), 2008. Date of Publication: December 2008.Publisher  Elsevier LtdAbstract  Chronic morphine treatment alters gene expression in brain structures. There are increasing evidences showing a correlation, in gene expression modulation, between blood cells and brain in psychological troubles. To test whether gene expression regulation in blood cells could be found in drug addiction, we investigated gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) cells of saline and morphine-treated rats. In rats chronically treated with morphine, the behavioral signs of spontaneous withdrawal were observed and a withdrawal score was determined. This score enabled to select the time points at which the animals displayed the mildest and strongest withdrawal signs (12 h and 36 h after the last injection). Oligonucleotide arrays were used to assess differential gene expression in the PBMCs and quantitative real-time RT-PCR to validate the modulation of several candidate genes 12 h and 36 h after the last injection. Among the 812 differentially expressed candidates, several genes (Adcy5, Htr2a) and pathways (Map kinases, G-proteins, integrins) have already been described as modulated in the brain of morphine-treated rats. Sixteen out of the twenty-four tested candidates were validated at 12 h, some of them showed a sustained modulation at 36 h while for most of them the modulation evolved as the withdrawal score increased. This study suggests similarities between the gene expression profile in PBMCs and brain of morphine-treated rats. Thus, the searching of correlations between the severity of the withdrawal and the PBMCs gene expression pattern by transcriptional analysis of blood cells could be promising for the study of the mechanisms of addiction. copyright 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.ISSN  0028-3908Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  NeuropharmacologyVolume  55Issue Part  8Page  1347-1354Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  December 2008

OPIOIDS 2008 <500>Database  EMBASEAccession Number  2009365596Authors  Yang Z. Shao Y.-C. Li S.-J. Qi J.-L. Zhang M.-J. Hao W. Jin G.-Z.Institution  (Yang, Shao, Qi) Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Science, Beijing 100005, China.  (Shao, Qi) Department of Aerospace Psychology, Forth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710003, China.  (Li) Department of Biophysics, Milwaukee, WI, United States.  (Zhang) Department of Biostatistics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.  (Hao) Mental Health Institute of Xiangya, Medical School, Changsha 410078, China.  (Jin) Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 201203, China.  Country of Publication  United KingdomTitle

  Medication of l-tetrahydropalmatine significantly ameliorates opiate craving and increases the abstinence rate in heroin users: A pilot study.Source  Acta Pharmacologica Sinica.  29(7)(pp 781-788), 2008. Date of Publication: July 2008.Publisher  Nature Publishing GroupAbstract  Aim:Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease with constant relapse requiring long-term treatment. New pharmacological strategies focus on the development of an effective antirelapse drug. This study examines the effects of levotetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) on reducing heroin craving and increasing the abstinence rate among heroin-dependent patients.Methods:In total, 120 heroin-dependent patients participated in the randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study using l-THP treatment. The participants remained in a ward during a 4-week period of l-THP treatment, followed by 4 weeks of observation after treatment. The patients were followed for 3 months after discharge. Outcome measures are the measured severity of the protracted abstinence withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) and the abstinence rate.Results:Four weeks of l-THP treatment significantly ameliorated the severity of PAWS, specifically, somatic syndrome, mood states, insomnia, and drug craving, in comparison to the placebo group. Based on the 3 month follow-up observation, participants who survived the initial 2 weeks of l-THP medication and remained in the trial program had a significantly higher abstinence rate of 47.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33%-67%) than the 15.2% in the placebo group (95% CI: 7%-25%), according to a log-rank test (P<0.0005).Conclusion:l-THP significantly ameliorated PAWS, especially reducing drug craving. Furthermore, it increased the abstinence rate among heroin users. These results support the potential use of l-THP for the treatment of heroin addiction. copyright 2008 CPS and SIMM.ISSN  1671-4083Publication Type  Journal: ArticleJournal Name  Acta Pharmacologica SinicaVolume  29Issue Part  7Page  781-788Year of Publication  2008Date of Publication  July 2008