Is Methadone Bad for the Heart?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
New evidence links the <$EMPH_O>S<$EMPH_C>-enantiomer and high methadone doses with prolonged QTc interval.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 2, 2007
Covering:
Eap CB et al., Clin Pharmacol Ther 2007 May; 81:719-28
How Teens Use ADHD Medications
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Few teens with ADHD were receiving stimulant prescriptions in this study, but nonmedical use of stimulants was popular.
By Deborah S. Cowley, MD
July 2, 2007
Covering:
Poulin C., Addiction 2007 May; 102:740-51
Two Interventions for At-Risk Alcohol-Using Trauma Patients
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Both methods are brief, effective, and durable.
By John A. Marx, MD, FAAEM, FACEP
June 29, 2007
Covering:
Soderstrom CA et al., J Trauma 2007 May; 62:1102-11
Smoking and Endothelial Dysfunction
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Smokers had more epicardial endothelial dysfunction than nonsmokers, but the smokers' microvascular function was intact.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
June 19, 2007
Covering:
Lavi S et al., Circulation 2007 May 22; 115:2621-7
Anabolic Steroid Use in Female Teens
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Steroid use was correlated with a range of high-risk behaviors, but not with competitive athletics or bodybuilding.
By Robert A. Dershewitz, MD, MSc
June 19, 2007
Covering:
Elliot DL et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007 Jun; 161:572-7
Cannabis, Cognition, and the Prefrontal Cortex
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Researchers propose some hypotheses regarding how cannabis may be connected to schizophrenia risk or to treatment for Parkinson disease.
By Barbara Geller, MD
June 11, 2007
Covering:
Hermann D et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Jun 1; 61:1281-9
Hepatitis C Transmission: Sex or Drugs?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A study among heterosexual couples provides additional evidence that sexual contact plays little role in HCV transmission.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
May 2, 2007
Covering:
McMahon JM et al., J Infect Dis 2007 Jun 1; 195
Diverting Drugs: Teens and Misuse of Psychoactive Prescription Drugs
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Rates of prescription use and misuse were high in this single-site survey.
By Barbara Geller, MD
April 30, 2007
Covering:
Boyd CJ et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007 Mar; 161:276-81
Emerging Perspectives: Psychopathology and the Serotonin Transporter
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The effect of the short-allele variant on depression may be secondary to more general effects.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 30, 2007
Covering:
Covault J et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Mar 1; 61:609-16
Kraft JB et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Mar 15; 61:734-42
Young KA et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Mar 15; 61:813-8
Teens Report Using Drugs More Often Than Alcohol in Cars
Drugs, too, can affect driving performance.
By Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAAP
April 11, 2007
Videotapes of Delirium Tremens Reduce Relapse Rates
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Watching yourself in DTs is a sobering experience.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
March 26, 2007
Covering:
Mihai A et al., Addiction 2007 Feb; 102:226-31
Abstinence Restores the Alcoholic Brain
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
New evidence correlates short-term recovery of brain structure, metabolism, and function in abstinent alcoholics.
By Michael E. Charness, MD
March 20, 2007
Covering:
Bartsch AJ et al., Brain 2007 Jan; 130:36-47
Insula: Another Brain Region Important for Addiction
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A little-known area of the brain may mediate the urge to smoke.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
March 12, 2007
Covering:
Naqvi NH et al., Science 2007 Jan 26; 315:531-4
Having an Alcoholic Partner Is Bad for Your Health
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Women whose partners had drinking problems had multiple medical and psychological dysfunctions.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 5, 2007
Covering:
Dawson DA et al., J Stud Alcohol 2007 Jan; 68:66-75
How Often Is Alcohol a Factor in Emergency Room Visits?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Often enough that systematic screening of emergency patients might be useful.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 5, 2007
Covering:
Fleming EA et al., J Stud Alcohol 2007 Jan; 68:28-35
Ethnic Disparities in Receipt of Alcohol Treatment?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Hispanics were more likely than blacks or whites to report logistical problems as a barrier to seeking alcohol treatment.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
March 1, 2007
Covering:
Schmidt LA et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2007 Jan; 31:48-56
Brief Intervention for Alcohol Abuse in Medical Inpatients?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In this well-designed study, it didn’t seem effective.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
February 26, 2007
Covering:
Saitz R et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Feb 6; 146:167-76
How Do We Become Tolerant to Opiates? An Animal Study
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Scientists target a signal transduction pathway in dopaminergic neurons.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 26, 2007
Covering:
Russo SJ et al., Nat Neurosci 2007 Jan; 10:93-9
Cocaine Injection, Needle Exchange, and HIV Infection
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The increased risk for HIV seroconversion associated with daily participation in Vancouver’s needle-exchange program can be partially explained by daily cocaine injection.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
February 21, 2007
Covering:
Wood E et al., Am J Med 2007 Feb; 120:172-9
Another Smoking-Cessation Trial
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Bupropion plus a nicotine inhaler proved the most successful treatment, but long-term rates of abstinence were low for all approaches.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
February 20, 2007
Covering:
Croghan IT et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2007 Feb; 82:186-95
Effect of Smoking on Chronic Pancreatitis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Smoking is a significant risk factor for pancreatic damage.
By Stuart Sherman, MD
February 16, 2007
Covering:
Maisonneuve P et al., Pancreas 2006 Aug; 33:163-8
Counseling Can Reduce Alcohol Exposure During Pregnancy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Counseling sessions reduced risky drinking among women who were pregnant and those at risk for pregnancy.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
February 15, 2007
Covering:
Floyd RL et al., Am J Prev Med 2007 Jan; 32:1-10
O’Connor MJ and Whaley SE., Am J Public Health 2007 Feb; 97:252-8
Abbreviated Alcohol Counseling Ineffective for Inpatients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a hard-core population of problem drinkers, a 30-minute discussion has no discernible effect.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
February 8, 2007
Covering:
Saitz R et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Feb 6; 146:167-76
O'Connor PG., Ann Intern Med 2007 Feb 6; 146:223-5
Elucidating the Mechanisms of Behavioral Sensitization
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Studied little in humans, this phenomenon does alter dopamine-receptor binding and self-reported reactions to amphetamine.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 5, 2007
Covering:
Boileau I et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Dec; 63:1386-95
Cigarette Smoking Increases Risk for Alcohol-Use Disorders in Teen Drinkers
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Risk was greater for smokers than for nonsmokers who drank similar amounts.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
January 29, 2007
Covering:
Grucza RA and Bierut LJ., Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2006 Dec; 30:2046-54
