Addiction and Health最新文献

Oxidative stress (OS) results from an imbalance between the formation and detoxification of reactive species. Although reactive species at low or moderate levels play numerous physiological roles, high concentrations can lead to disturbances in signaling and metabolic pathways and cause different metabolic, chronic, and age-related disorders. Several endogenous and exogenous processes may lead to the formation of reactive species. The severity of OS can be reduced with the help of antioxidants. Tobacco is one of the most important environmental factors contributing to reactive species production. After cigarette smoking, water-pipe tobacco (WPT) smoking is ranked as the second most popular tobacco product. Its popularity is proliferating due to flavored products, social acceptability, etc. However, studies have shown that WPT smoking is associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness, ischemic heart disease, and several cancer types. In this study, we aimed to review the most recent evidence on WPT smoking constituents and their association with OS.

Background: Disulfiram is the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence, primarily acting as a deterrent agent. The available literature on disulfiram treatment for alcohol dependence among individuals in low-income and middle-income countries is scarce, while numerous factors impact the acceptance and adherence to such treatment.

Methods: The study utilized a purposive sampling methodology. The participants were contacted by telephone at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks after the initiation of disulfiram treatment. Alcohol abstinence was calculated using the self-reported total alcohol-free days, and adherence and attitudes toward disulfiram treatment were measured using the Treatment Compliance Assessment Scale (TCAS).

Findings: The participants had a mean age of 39.30±7.7 years. Nearly 62% and 46% of the subjects reported maintenance of alcohol abstinence after initiation of 12 and 24 weeks of disulfiram treatment, respectively. The proportion of non-adherent subjects increased from 36.3% to 57.2% during the 12-week and 24-week follow-up periods. Attitudes toward disulfiram treatment varied significantly across different time points. A strong positive correlation was observed in the alcohol abstinence, adherence, and attitude scores at different time points (P<0.01).

Conclusion: The present study's findings unveiled that nearly 60% and 40% of the study subjects were maintaining alcohol abstinence and adherence at 12 weeks and 24 weeks after initiation of disulfiram treatment, respectively. Disulfiram could be a viable psychological tool for alcohol abstinence, but objective measurements are required to underpin its utility in this setting.

Background: Naltrexone is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved anti-craving agent for the long-term treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS). However, it may not be equally effective in all patients. This study aims to assess naltrexone treatment response over four weeks in a national-level tertiary care setting.

Methods: Male patients with ADS (n=100) who were initiated on naltrexone were included in the study. The clinical data, including the drinking pattern and craving, were recorded at baseline. At the end of the one-month follow-up, the drinking status and compliance with naltrexone were recorded.

Findings: At the end of one month, more than half of the patients (n=53) were retained in the study. All the treatment-retained patients (n=53) reported naltrexone consumption for more than 24 days in the last month. Those who retained in the study reported significantly less craving among 72% of patients, while an almost 50% reduction in alcohol use was observed.

Conclusion: This study adds to the evidence of outcomes with naltrexone in terms of reduced craving and alcohol use.

Background: Personality traits or disorders are now attracting more attention as factors in the initiation and continuation of substance/drug use. However, few studies have been conducted on the association between interpersonal dependence and substance/drug use. The present study aimed to investigate the association between this form of psychological dependence and the tendency to use substances/drugs in medical students.

Methods: The present study was based on an analytical cross-sectional design and conducted on 310 medical students selected by stratified sampling at Guilan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. The Interpersonal Dependency Inventory and the Iranian Addiction Potential Scale were employed to assess the two variables of interpersonal dependence and the tendency to use substances/drugs.

Findings: The correlation matrix shows that the tendency to use substances/drugs has a significant negative correlation with interpersonal dependence (P=0.0001, r=-0.285) in general and emotional reliance on another person (P=-0.0001, r=-0.264) and lack of social self-confidence (LSSC) (P=0.0001, r=-0.297) in particular. Female (F=8.57, P=0.004) and married (F=5.14, P=0.024) students showed more tendency to use substances/drugs than male and single students, but no significant difference was observed regarding interpersonal dependence. Academic course, residence status, parents' occupation, number of family members, and birth order did not significantly affect the scores.

Conclusion: Interpersonal dependence can have different functions, depending on its level. Although interpersonal dependence at maladaptive levels can act as a risk factor and make a person vulnerable to some behavioral problems, at adaptive levels, it acts as a protective factor and reduces those problems.

Background: Weight-gaining (WG) products are either medicine or herbal products that have been used intensively by the young and adolescents in Yemen. These products may contain undeclared potentially toxic ingredients that can lead to several health problems and diseases on long-term usage. This study was intended to evaluate the presence of some undeclared pharmaceuticals, dexamethasone (DX) and cyproheptadine (CPR), in WG products in Aden, Yemen.

Methods: The detection of DX & CPR in WG products was evaluated using UV& Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Also, phytochemical analysis was carried out for herbal products.

Findings: The study indicated the presence of CPR in Tab-II, honey mixture, and capsules in the range between 0.10%-102.6%. A lower percentage was detected in the honey mixture and a higher percentage in Tab-2. DX was only detected in Tab-I (102.87%).

Conclusion: It can be concluded that WG products may contain undeclared amounts of DX and CPR. Stricter regulations must be implemented for the usage and distribution of these products to avoid potential long-term adverse consequences.

Background: Mobile phones have become a vital part of modern life, generating concerns about addiction among students. The present study aimed to assess smartphone usage and addiction among undergraduate dental students in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 304 dental students using a pre-designed questionnaire based on the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV). Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Findings: Out of 304 participants, most spent 3-4 hours on smartphones. Females showed slightly lower addiction scores than males. Addiction tendencies differed across different academic years, with second-year students scoring the highest.

Conclusion: The study's findings suggested that most dental students were addicted to smartphones. The study also revealed that having a smartphone was a crucial asset in their daily lives, and they preferred smartphones with advanced features.

Addiction, characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and impaired self-control, remains a significant public health concern. Understanding the neurobiology of addiction is crucial for identifying novel therapeutic targets and further developing effective treatments. Recently, the apelin/APJ system, an emerging signaling pathway, has attracted attention for its involvement in various neuropsychiatric disorders. The cross-talk between the apelin/APJ system and hypothalamic mu opioid signaling, as well as its heterodimerization with kappa opioid receptors (KORs), supports the potential relevance of this system to addiction. Moreover, several protective effects of apelin against various addictive substances, including methamphetamine, morphine, and alcohol, underscore the need for further investigation into its role in substance use disorder. Understanding the contribution of the apelin/APJ system in addiction may offer valuable insights into the underlying neurobiology and pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions in substance use disorders. This review provides a concise overview of the apelin/APJ system, emphasizing its physiological roles and highlighting its relevance to addiction research.

Background: Many waterpipe users are willing to quit but have difficulty doing so. Little is known about the characteristics of those who are willing to quit.

Methods: Using two-stage cluster sampling, we conducted a secondary analysis of a population-based household survey of 2038 adults in Aleppo, Syria. We examined the prevalence of, and reasons for, willingness to quit and compared users who were willing with those were not willing to quit based on sociodemographic, psychosocial, tobacco-related, and health-related characteristics.

Findings: Twelve percent of adults smoked waterpipe (n=248), of these, 56% were willing to quit, and 25% had made a quit attempt in the past year. Friends/socializing (69%) and boredom/free time (16%) were the most reported obstacles to quitting. Those who were willing to quit walked more frequently (odds ratio [OR]=1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.24-2.77), ate less fruit (OR=0.56; CI=0.42-0.73), and were more likely to experience sneezing/blocked nose (OR=2.55, CI=1.22-5.34). Compared to users who did not also smoke cigarettes, dual users who were willing to quit cigarettes were more likely to be willing to quit waterpipe (OR=2.32; CI=1.24-4.34), whereas dual users who were not willing to quit cigarettes were less likely to be willing to quit waterpipe (OR=0.24; CI=0.10-0.58).

Conclusion: Many waterpipe users are willing to quit and perceive the loss of positive social functions as a major obstacle. Very few sociodemographic, tobacco-related, psychosocial, or health-related characteristics are associated with willingness to quit. However, quitting efforts may benefit from targeting dual users who are motivated to quit using all tobacco products.

Background: Tramadol, one of the most common opioid pain relievers, acts upon the µ-receptor in the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate pain associated with various situations like postoperative pain, arthritis, and muscular pain. Additionally, it has been utilized to address depression and anxiety disorders. Extensive research has shown that tramadol can potentially inflict irreversible harm on different regions of the CNS, including the cerebrum, cerebellum, amygdala, and, notably, the hippocampal formation. However, the precise mechanism behind these effects remains unclear. Within this study, we conducted a comprehensive examination of the impacts of tramadol on the CNS, specifically focusing on hippocampal formation.

Methods: In this study, we collected relevant articles published between 2000 and 2022 by conducting searches using specific keywords, including tramadol, tramadol hydrochloride, central nervous system, hippocampus, and hippocampal formation, in various databases.

Findings: The results of this study proposed several processes by which tramadol may impact the CNS, including the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, excessive production of free radicals, and dysfunction of cellular organelles. These processes ultimately lead to disturbances in neural cell function, particularly within the hippocampus. Furthermore, it is revealed that tramadol administration led to a significant decrease in the neural cell count and the volume of various regions within the brain and spinal cord.

Conclusion: Consequently, neuropsychological impairments, such as memory formation, attention deficits, and cognitive impairment, may happen. This finding highlights the potential impacts of tramadol on neural structures and warrants further investigation.

Background: Nicotine dependence is one of the most significant barriers to smoking cessation. Therefore, measuring this dependence is crucial for effective smoking cessation interventions. The current study aimed to evaluate the degree of agreement between the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) among Iranian smokers.

Methods: We analyzed the data obtained from two previous studies among 580 daily smokers in Iran. Data were collected using the FTND scale. Cohen's kappa was utilized to assess the degree of agreement between HSI and FTND.

Findings: The HSI showed significant agreement with FTND (Cohen's kappa=0.72) in assessing nicotine dependence, with a sensitivity of 88.6% and a specificity of 90.3%.

Conclusion: The HSI is a valid and reliable tool for measuring nicotine dependence, exhibiting significant agreement with FTND. As a result, the HSI can be considered an alternative to the FTND in both clinical and research settings, particularly for heavy smokers.