Are ecstasy induced serotonergic alterations overestimated for the majority of users?

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 741-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balázs Szigeti ◽  
Adam R Winstock ◽  
David Erritzoe ◽  
Larissa J Maier
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Dose Intensity ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Dose Comparison ◽  
Survey Sample ◽  
Neuroimaging Study ◽  
Study Participants

Background: Neuroimaging studies imply that the regular use of ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), the major constituent of ecstasy pills, alters the brain’s serotonergic system in a dose-dependent manner. However, the relevance of these findings remains unclear due to limited knowledge about the ecstasy/MDMA use pattern of real-life users. Aims: We examined the representativeness of ecstasy users enrolled in neuroimaging studies by comparing their ecstasy use habits with the use patterns of a large, international sample. Methods: A systematic literature search revealed 10 imaging studies that compare serotonin transporter levels in recreational ecstasy users to matched controls. To characterize the ecstasy use patterns we relied on the Global Drug Survey, the world’s largest self-report database on drug use. The basis of the dose comparison were the Usual Amount (pills/session), Use Frequency (sessions/month) and Dose Intensity (pills/year) variables. Results: Both the average Usual Amount (pills/session) and Use Frequency (sessions/month) of neuroimaging study participants corresponded to the top 5–10% of the Global Drug Survey sample and imaging participants, on average, consumed 720% more pills over a year than the Global Drug Survey participants. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the serotonin brain imaging literature has focused on unusually heavy ecstasy use and therefore the conclusions from these studies are likely to overestimate the extent of serotonergic alterations experienced by the majority of people who use ecstays.

The Stereotype Threat Effect

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Moritz ◽  
Insa Happach ◽  
Karla Spirandelli ◽  
Tania M. Lincoln ◽  
Fabrice Berna
Keyword(s):  
Stereotype Threat ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Neuropsychological Performance ◽  
Neurocognitive Deficits ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Threat Effect ◽  
Efficacy Expectations ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Neurocognitive deficits in patients with mental disorders are partially due to secondary influences. “Stereotype threat” denotes the phenomenon that performance is compromised when a participant is confronted with a devaluing stereotype. The present study examined the impact of stereotype threat on neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia. Seventy-seven participants with a self-reported diagnosis of schizophrenia were randomly assigned to either an experimental condition involving stereotype threat activation or a control condition in an online study. Participants completed memory and attention tests as well as questionnaires on motivation, self-efficacy expectations, cognitive complaints, and self-stigmatization. Contrary to our prediction, the two groups showed no significant differences regarding neuropsychological performance and self-report measures. Limitations, such as a possibly too weak threat cue, are discussed and recommendations for future studies are outlined.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis Resulting in a Typology of Elementary Classroom Movement Integration Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Spyridoula Vazou ◽  
Collin A. Webster ◽  
Gregory Stewart ◽  
Priscila Candal ◽  
Cate A. Egan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Teacher Collaboration ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Dose Intensity ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Movement Integration

Abstract Background/Objective Movement integration (MI) involves infusing physical activity into normal classroom time. A wide range of MI interventions have succeeded in increasing children’s participation in physical activity. However, no previous research has attempted to unpack the various MI intervention approaches. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review, qualitatively analyze, and develop a typology of MI interventions conducted in primary/elementary school settings. Subjects/Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to identify published MI interventions. Irrelevant records were removed first by title, then by abstract, and finally by full texts of articles, resulting in 72 studies being retained for qualitative analysis. A deductive approach, using previous MI research as an a priori analytic framework, alongside inductive techniques were used to analyze the data. Results Four types of MI interventions were identified and labeled based on their design: student-driven, teacher-driven, researcher-teacher collaboration, and researcher-driven. Each type was further refined based on the MI strategies (movement breaks, active lessons, other: opening activity, transitions, reward, awareness), the level of intrapersonal and institutional support (training, resources), and the delivery (dose, intensity, type, fidelity). Nearly half of the interventions were researcher-driven, which may undermine the sustainability of MI as a routine practice by teachers in schools. An imbalance is evident on the MI strategies, with transitions, opening and awareness activities, and rewards being limitedly studied. Delivery should be further examined with a strong focus on reporting fidelity. Conclusions There are distinct approaches that are most often employed to promote the use of MI and these approaches may often lack a minimum standard for reporting MI intervention details. This typology may be useful to effectively translate the evidence into practice in real-life settings to better understand and study MI interventions.

scholarly journals The Influence of Alcohol Consumption on Fighting, Shoplifting and Vandalism in Young Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3509
Author(s):  
Ieuan Evans ◽  
Jon Heron ◽  
Joseph Murray ◽  
Matthew Hickman ◽  
Gemma Hammerton
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Avon Longitudinal Study ◽  
Causal Component

Experimental studies support the conventional belief that people behave more aggressively whilst under the influence of alcohol. To examine how these experimental findings manifest in real life situations, this study uses a method for estimating evidence for causality with observational data—‘situational decomposition’ to examine the association between alcohol consumption and crime in young adults from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Self-report questionnaires were completed at age 24 years to assess typical alcohol consumption and frequency, participation in fighting, shoplifting and vandalism in the previous year, and whether these crimes were committed under the influence of alcohol. Situational decomposition compares the strength of two associations, (1) the total association between alcohol consumption and crime (sober or intoxicated) versus (2) the association between alcohol consumption and crime committed while sober. There was an association between typical alcohol consumption and total crime for fighting [OR (95% CI): 1.47 (1.29, 1.67)], shoplifting [OR (95% CI): 1.25 (1.12, 1.40)], and vandalism [OR (95% CI): 1.33 (1.12, 1.57)]. The associations for both fighting and shoplifting had a small causal component (with the association for sober crime slightly smaller than the association for total crime). However, the association for vandalism had a larger causal component.

scholarly journals Erk is involved in the differentiation induced by diallyl disulfide in the human gastric cancer cell line MGC803

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Ling ◽  
Liang-Yun Zhang ◽  
Qi Su ◽  
Ying Song ◽  
Zhao-Yang Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Gastric Cancer Cell Line ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Diallyl Disulfide ◽  
Human Gastric Cancer ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Gastric Cancer Cells ◽  
Induced Differentiation

AbstractDiallyl disulfide (DADS) is a major constituent of garlic. Previously, we found that DADS both inhibited proliferation in human gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and induced G2/M arrest. In this study, we investigated whether this differentiation effect was induced by DADS in human gastric cancer MGC803 cells, and whether it was related to an alteration in ERK activity. The results showed that the growth of MGC803 cells was inhibited by DADS. Cells treated with DADS displayed a lower nucleocytoplasmic ratio and tended to form gland and intercellular conjunction structures. The ConA-mediated cell agglutination ratio and cells’ ALP specific activity decreased. In MGC803 cells, dye transfer was limited to a few cells neighbouring the dye-injected cell and to a depth of 1–2 layers beneath the scrape site. However, after treatment with DADS, the LY (Lucifer Yellow) was transferred to several cells immediately neighbouring the microinjected cell and to a depth of 2–4 cell layers from the scrape site. This indicated that DADS induced differentiation in MGC803 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that although DADS did not influence the quantity of ERK1/2 protein expressed, it did decrease its phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner, compared with the controls. At 30 mg·L−1, DADS inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 in 15–30 min. These results suggested that the DADS-induced differentiation of MGC803 cells involved an alteration of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

How Do Stages of Change for Physical Activity Relate to Employee Sign-Up for and Completion of a Worksite Physical Activity Competition?

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Walker ◽  
Jessica M. Tullar ◽  
Wendell C. Taylor ◽  
Rolando Román ◽  
Benjamin C. Amick
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Stages Of Change ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Public University ◽  
Self Report ◽  
University System ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Ordinal Logistic Regression Model

Introduction. This study evaluated whether stages of change for physical activity (PA) predict sign-up, participation, and completion in a PA competition. Method. Deidentified data were provided to evaluate a PA competition between 16 different institutions from a public university system. Employees who completed a health assessment (HA) prior to the start of the PA competition ( n = 6,333) were included in the study. Participants completed a self-report HA and logged their PA throughout the competition. Multivariable logistic regression models tested whether stages of change predicted PA competition sign-up and completion. An ordinal logistic regression model tested whether stages of change predicted number of weeks of PA competition participation. Results. Stages of change predicted PA competition sign-up and completion, but not weeks of participation. The odds for PA competition sign-up were 1.64 and 1.98 times higher for employees in preparation and action/maintenance (respectively) compared with employees in precontemplation/contemplation. The odds for PA competition completion were 4.17 times higher for employees in action/maintenance compared with employees in precontemplation/contemplation/preparation. Conclusion. The PA competition was more likely to reach employees in preparation, action, or maintenance stages than precontemplation/contemplation. Most of the completers were likely participating in regular PA prior to the competition.

scholarly journals Retrospective analysis of the effect of CAPOX and mFOLFOX6 dose intensity on survival in colorectal patients in the adjuvant setting

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mamo ◽  
J. Easaw ◽  
F. Ibnshamsah ◽  
A. Baig ◽  
Y.S. Rho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Dose Reduction ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Dose Intensity ◽  
Sensory Neuropathy ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Cancer Centre ◽  
Peripheral Sensory ◽  
Disease Free

Background Despite lack of a true comparative study, the FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil–leucovorin–oxaliplatin) and CAPOX (capecitabine–oxaliplatin) regimens are believed to be similar in their efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of stage III colorectal cancer. However, that belief has been disputed, because real-life data suggest that the CAPOX regimen is more toxic, leading to more frequent reductions in the delivered dose intensity—thus raising questions about the effect of dose intensity on clinical outcomes.Methods A retrospective data review for two Canadian institutions, the Segal Cancer Centre and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, considered patients diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer during 2006–2013. Primary endpoints were dose intensity and toxicity, with a secondary endpoint of disease-free survival.Results The study enrolled 180 eligible patients (80 at the Segal Cancer Centre, 100 at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre). Of those 180 patients, 75 received CAPOX, and 105 received mFOLFOX6. In the CAPOX group, a significant dose reduction was identified for capecitabine compared with 5-fluorouracil in mFOLFOX6 group (p = 0.0014). Similarly, a significant dose reduction was observed for oxaliplatin in mFOLFOX6 compared with oxaliplatin in CAPOX (p = 0.0001). Compared with the patients receiving CAPOX, those receiving mFOLFOX6 were twice as likely to experience a treatment delay of more than 1 cycle-length (p = 0.03855). Toxicity was more frequent in patients receiving mFOLFOX6 (nausea: 30% vs. 18%; diarrhea: 47% vs. 24%; peripheral sensory neuropathy: 32% vs. 3%). At a median follow-up of 40 months, preliminary data showed no difference in disease-free survival (p = 0.598). Pooled data from both institutions were also separately analyzed, and no significant differences were found.Conclusions Our results support the use of CAPOX despite a lack of head-to-head randomized trial data.

scholarly journals Toxicity of chlordane at early developmental stage of zebrafish

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingxuan Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Early Developmental Stage ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Lower Survival Rate ◽  
Zebrafish Larvae ◽  
Hatching Time ◽  
Early Developmental ◽  
Dose Dependent

AbstractChlordane is highly toxic organochlorine pesticides that have been widely used throughout the world for decades and posing adverse effects on the environment. Contents detected in tissue and blood samples have resulted in a raising concern for their potential effects on wildlife and humans. In this study, we investigate the potential effect of chlordane on the development of zebrafish embryos. Zebrafish larvae were treated with different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 ng/L) of chlordane from 12 hours postfertilization (hpf). Different early stage parameters were observed at 1, 2, 3 and 4 day post-fertilization (dpf). Chlordane-exposed zebrafish larvae appeared significant lower survival rate, developmental and hatching time delay and decreased embryo productivity. The heartbeat rate and blood flow were decreased in a dose dependent manner. These results suggested that exposure to real life of chlordane led to direct morphological and phenotypic changes and effects systems related to development and reproduction even in short-term manner.

scholarly journals 1300Associations between self-reported or measured anthropometric variables and cardiometabolic biomarkers in a Danish cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Anja Olsen ◽  
Jytte Halkjær ◽  
Kristina Elin Nielsen Petersen ◽  
Anne Tjønneland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Status ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anthropometric Indices ◽  
Multivariable Regression ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Multivariable Regression Models ◽  
Metabolic Biomarkers

Abstract Background It is easy and cost-effective to ask study participants to self-report height and weight and self-reported anthropometry is therefore widely used in epidemiological studies. However, it is questioned to what degree self-reported adiposity indices are a solid proxy of measured indices in terms of estimates of health outcomes. The current study aimed to quantify the agreement between self-reported and measured anthropometrics, including height, weight, body mass index (BMI), weight circumference (WC), and weight-to-height ratio (WHtR) in a contemporary cohort of adults, and to assess whether anthropometric indices misreporting yielded inaccurate estimates of associations with cardiometabolic biomarkers. Methods Self-reported and measured anthropometric variables were obtained from the Diet, Cancer, and Health-Next Generation Cohort (n = 39,514). Pearson correlations and Lin’s concordance correlations evaluated the correlation between self-report and measured anthropometrics. Misreporting in relation to age, sex and smoking status was investigated. Multivariable regression models and ROC analyses were used to assess the associations of cardiometabolic biomarkers with self-reported and measured general obesity and abdominal obesity. Results Self-reported height was overreported by 1.07 cm, weight was underreported by 0.32 kg on average, which led to self-reported BMI 0.42 kg/m2 lower than measured. Self-reported and measured height, weight, BMI, WC and WHtR were highly correlated (r = 0.98, 0.99, 0.98, 0.88, 0.86, respectively). Associations between self-reported indices and cardiometabolic biomarkers were comparable to associations assessed with measured anthropometrics. Conclusions The self-reported anthropometric indices were reliable when estimating associations with metabolic biomarkers. Key messages This study found overall agreement between self-reported and measured anthropometric variables.

Inhibition of leukocyte locomotion by hyaluronic acid

1981 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 315-331
Author(s):  
J.V. Forrester ◽  
P.C. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Chemotactic Factor ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Surface Binding ◽  
Micropore Filter

The effect of hyaluronate on neutrophil motility in vitro was studied by the micropore filter technique and by direct visual analysis of the locomotion of neutrophils on glass. Both directed and random locomotion of neutrophils was inhibited by physiological concentrations (0.5-6.0 mg ml(−1)) of hyaluronate in a dose- and molecular weight-dependent manner. Inhibition of cell movement was more pronounced for high molecular weight chemoattractants such as casein than for small chemotactic peptides such as f-Met-Leu-Phe. Chemotactic factor gradient formation in filter chambers was profoundly retarded by hyaluronate, which may partly explain the inhibitory effects of hyaluronate on directed neutrophil locomotion. In addition, hyaluronate inhibited the binding of chemotactic factor to the neutrophil surface. This effect, together with a reduction in cell-to-substratum adhesion, may provide an additional explanation for hyaluronate-induced inhibition of random neutrophil locomotion. Inhibition of locomotion by hyaluronate was easily reversed by washing the cells free of hyaluronate; thus competition by hyaluronate for cell-surface binding sites is unlikely, and physical effects such as steric exclusion or molecular sieving by the large hyaluronate polymer provide the most probable explanations of its inhibitory effect on cell locomotion. Since hyaluronate is a major constituent of tissue matrices, these results draw attention to the importance of the extracellular environment in regulating inflammatory cell movement in vivo.

Multimodal emotion perception in young and elderly patients with multiple sclerosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Montembeault ◽  
Estefania Brando ◽  
Kim Charest ◽  
Alexandra Tremblay ◽  
Élaine Roger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Emotion Perception ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Facial Emotions ◽  
Multimodal Emotion Recognition ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Better Than

Background. Studies suggest that emotion recognition and empathy are impaired in patients with MS (pwMS). Nonetheless, most studies of emotion recognition have used facial stimuli, are restricted to young samples, and rely self-report assessments of empathy. The aims of this study are to determine the impact of MS and age on multimodal emotion recognition (facial emotions and vocal emotional bursts) and on socioemotional sensitivity (as reported by the participants and their informants). We also aim to investigate the associations between emotion recognition, socioemotional sensitivity, and cognitive measures. Methods. We recruited 13 young healthy controls (HC), 14 young pwMS, 14 elderly HC and 15 elderly pwMS. They underwent a short neuropsychological battery, an experimental emotion recognition task including facial emotions and vocal emotional bursts. Both participants and their study informants completed the Revised-Self Monitoring Scale (RSMS) to assess the participant’s socioemotional sensitivity. Results. There was a significant effect of age and group on recognition of both facial emotions and emotional vocal bursts, HC performing significantly better than pwMS, and young participants performing better than elderly participants (no interaction effect). The same effects were observed on self-reported socioemotional sensitivity. However, lower socioemotional sensitivity in pwMS was not reported by the informants. Finally, multimodal emotion recognition did not correlate with socioemotional sensitivity, but it correlated with global cognitive severity. Conclusion. PwMS present with multimodal emotion perception deficits. Our results extend previous findings of decreased emotion perception and empathy to a group of elderly pwMS, in which advancing age does not accentuate these deficits. However, the decreased socioemotional sensitivity reported by pwMS does not appear to be observed by their relatives, nor to correlate with their emotion perception impairments. Future studies should investigate the real-life impacts of emotion perception deficits in pwMS.

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