Search results for "drug addiction"

Lateral Habenula contribution in nicotine addiction: Focus on dopamine, GABA and serotonin interactions

2011

Compelling evidence has shown a pivotal role of dopaminergic function in drug addiction. Recently, the Habenula (Hb) has attracted a great deal of attention as another target for nicotine in the brain because of its role in regulating dopamine (DA), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin (5-HT) systems. Nicotine acts binding to acetylcholine receptors that are widely distributed in the brain. Interestingly, the receptor subtypes that mediate nicotine withdrawal responses are highly expressed in the Hb. Moreover, the block of habenular nicotinic receptors in animals chronically treated with nicotine enhances withdrawal responses once nicotine is discontinued. Furthermore, it has been s…

Dipendenza da sostanze ed esperienze sfavorevoli infantili: uno studio empirico condotto con la Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse Interview (CE…

2015

Backgroud: Numerose ricerche rilevano l’impatto che esperienze sfavorevoli infantili possono avere sulla dipendenza da sostanze. Metodo: 32 tossicodipendenti maschi in trattamento presso comunità e 32 soggetti appartenenti a un gruppo non clinico sono stai intervistati attraverso la Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse. Risultati: La maggior parte dei soggetti del gruppo clinico ha esperito maggiori esperienze (p<0,05) di negligenza, abuso fisico, abuso psicologico e ha ricevuto forme più inadeguate di supervisione e disciplina. Inoltre, i soggetti del gruppo clinico sono stati esposti a un numero più elevato (p=0,01) di esperienze sfavorevoli. Conclusioni: I risultati suggeriscono la pre…

Computational methodologies applied to Protein-Protein Interactions for molecular insights in Medicinal Chemistry

2021

In living systems, proteins usually team up into “molecular machinery” implementing several protein-to-protein physical contacts – or protein-protein interactions (PPIs) – to exert biological effects at both cellular and systems levels. Deregulations of protein-protein contacts have been associated with a huge number of diseases in a wide range of medical areas, such as oncology, cancer immunotherapy, infectious diseases, neurological disorders, heart failure, inflammation and oxidative stress. PPIs are very complex and usually characterised by specific shape, size and complementarity. The protein interfaces are generally large, broad and shallow, and frequently protein-protein contacts are…

Increased ethanol consumption after interruption of fat bingeing

2018

There is a marked comorbidity between alcohol abuse and eating disorders, especially in the young population. We have previously reported that bingeing on fat during adolescence increases the rewarding effects of ethanol (EtOH). The aim of the present work was to study if vulnerability to EtOH persists after cessation of binge eating. OF1 mice binged on fat (HFB: high-fat binge) during adolescence (PND 25-43) and were tested for 15 days after the last access to HFB (on PND 59) using the self-administration paradigm, the conditioned place preference (CPP) and locomotor sensitization to ethanol. Our results showed that after 15 days of cessation of fat ingestion, mice increased their consumpt…

Role of NMDA and AMPA glutamatergic receptors in the effects of social defeat on the rewarding properties of MDMA in mice

2019

Exposure to social stress alters the response to drugs of abuse of experimental animals. Changes in the glutamatergic system seem to play a role in the effects of social defeat stress on the rewarding properties of cocaine and amphetamine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) glutamate receptors in the effects of social defeat on the conditioned place preference induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Our hypothesis was that changes in these receptors could mediate the effects of social defeat on MDMA reward. Young adult male mice were exposed to an episode…

Cuarenta años de difusión científica

2016

Editorial.

Role of serotonin in central dopamine dysfunction

2010

The interaction between serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA)-containing neurons in the brain is a research topic that has raised the interest of many scientists working in the field of neuroscience since the first demonstration of the presence of monoamine-containing neurons in the mid 1960. The bulk of neuroanatomical data available clearly indicate that DA-containing neurons in the brain receive a prominent innervation from serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) originating in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem. Compelling electrophysiological and neurochemical data show that 5-HT can exert complex effects on the activity of midbrain DA neurons mediated by its various receptor subtypes. The m…

Oxytocin Signaling as a Target to Block Social Defeat-Induced Increases in Drug Abuse Reward

2021

There is huge scientific interest in the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) due to its putative capacity to modulate a wide spectrum of physiological and cognitive processes including motivation, learning, emotion, and the stress response. The present review seeks to increase the understanding of the role of OXT in an individual’s vulnerability or resilience with regard to developing a substance use disorder. It places specific attention on the role of social stress as a risk factor of addiction, and explores the hypothesis that OXT constitutes a homeostatic response to stress that buffers against its negative impact. For this purpose, the review summarizes preclinical and clinical literature rega…

Hallinnan näkökulmia huumeriippuvuuden hoitoon Suomessa vuosina 1965-2005

2011

Bedringsprosesser i et hverdagsperspektiv : Hvilken betydning kan mestring av daglige aktiviteter ha for rusmiddelavhengiges vei mot rusfrihet og opp…

2017

Masteroppgave psykisk helsearbeid ME504 - Universitetet i Agder 2017 The World Health Organization expects mental illnesses, including drug addiction, to be the main cause of disease in Western countries by 2020. Recommended measures in order to meet these health challenges are facilitating recovery, empowerment, local services and social inclusion. The purpose of this study has been to investigate which importance coping with daily activities has for drug addicts in a rehabilitation phase. The study is qualitative with a phenomenological starting point. Through individual interviews with four drug addicts, we wanted them to describe their everyday life activities. The subjects were living …