Bupropion and nicotine patch as smoking cessation aids in alcoholics.

This is a double-blind placebo-controlled study of sustained-release bupropion as a smoking cessation aid in alcoholics undergoing treatment for their alcoholism. Participants (N=58) were enrolled within 1 week of entry into alcohol treatment from community and Veterans Affairs Substance Use Disorder programs. All participants received nicotine patch and were invited to attend a smoking cessation lecture and group. Cigarette smoking and alcohol outcomes were measured at 6 months. Bupropion when added to nicotine patch did not improve smoking outcomes. One third of participants on bupropion reported discontinuing the drug during weeks 1-4. Participants reported cigarette outcomes with nicotine patch that are similar to those seen in the general population. All study participants significantly reduced cigarette use. Comorbid affective disorder or antipersonality disorder did not affect outcomes. Alcohol outcomes were improved in those who discontinued cigarettes.     

The effect of subhypnotic doses of propofol on the incidence of pruritus after intrathecal morphine for Caesarean section

The effect of subhypnotic doses of propofol on intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus was studied in a prospective, randomly allocated, double-blind controlled trial. Fifty-eight women undergoing elective lower segment Caesarean section for a singleton fetus received spinal anaesthesia with 2.5 ml hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.2 mg of preservative-free morphine. They then received propofol 1 ml (10 mg) or Intralipid 1 ml (control group) intravenously after delivery. Pruritus was assessed using a five-point verbal rating scale at hourly intervals for 8 h. A second dose of their allocated treatment drug was administered at the first recording of significant pruritus. The pruritus score was reassessed after 5 min and the treatment was repeated if pruritus remained. There were no differences between the groups in the onset of pruritus or its successful treatment. No adverse side-effects were associated with this dose of propofol. There were no differences in the incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting between the two groups. Subhypnotic propofol is not an effective treatment for intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus in women following Caesarean section.     

Graduate Education in the Field of Substance Abuse

Abstract: Twenty-six part-time students from a variety of professional backgrounds are enrolled in the first year of a Graduate Diploma in Social Science (Drug Dependence) at the Phillip Institute of Technology in Victoria. The course is conducted under the auspices of the School of Social Work and commenced in 1984. It is argued that the graduates from this unique course could play a key role in providing personnel to fill positions in the areas of clinical work, staff development, drug education, programme development and management and research.     

阿片类依赖者的社会心理因素分析

本文对２８４例自愿戒毒的阿片类依赖者的部分社会心理因素进行分析。３０ａ以下、初中以下文化的青年，特别是待业和个体户，性格不稳定者是阿片类物质滥用的高危人群，为预防的重点对象。阿片类依赖戒断治疗后的高复吸率，反映出目前的治疗仅注重戒断，忽视康复和回归社会后的随访工作。今后应在人力、财力方面向康复和社会随访方面转移和倾斜，方能真见成效。     

中国蒙,汉族酒依赖与醇脱氢酶和醛脱氢酶基因多态性的相关研究

为探讨醇脱氢酶（ＡＤＨ）基因和醛脱氢酶（ＡＬＤＨ）基因多态性与酒依赖患病的相互关系，用耳血干血痕聚合酶链反应、等位基因特异性寡核苷酸探针方法，检测乙醇代谢酶ＡＤＨ和ＡＬＤＨ基因型在我国蒙、汉民族酒依赖与非酒依赖者中分布频率。结果显示在酒依赖组（汉族５２例，蒙族３１例）与正常对照组（汉族４８例，蒙族３５例）之间：汉族的ＡＬＤＨ２基因型频率与等位基因频率的分布差异有非常显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１），而蒙族则表示为ＡＤＨ２基因型频率与等位基因频率的分布差异有非常显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）。这提示汉族酒依赖的发病与ＡＬＤＨ２基因有关，蒙族则与ＡＤＨ２基因有关。     

吗啡导致猕猴海马神经元自发放电节律转变

目的 分析吗啡对猕猴海马神经元自发放电节律的影响。方法 分析注射吗啡后猕猴海马神经元自发放电节律变化情况，并用数学方法加以验证。结果 在吗啡作用下海马神经元自发放电节律会发生转变，纳络酮可以逆转这种转变，共观察到种转变形式。为了研究这种转变的动力学机制，用数学模型模拟吗啡对神经元自发放电节律的影响，得到了与在体实验一致的结果。结论 在吗啡作用下海马神经自发放电节律发生转变。利用数学模型研究发现节律转变的原因是吗啡改变了膜上钠，钾，超极化电流等离子通道的功能所致，节律转变的过程存在着混沌规律。     

Depressive symptoms during buprenorphine vs. methadone maintenance: findings from a randomised, controlled trial in opioid dependence

Research suggests that buprenorphine may possess antidepressant activity. The Beck Depression Inventory was completed at baseline and 3 months by heroin dependent subjects receiving either buprenorphine or methadone maintenance as part of a larger, pre-existing, double blind trial conducted by NDARC (Australia). Depressive symptoms improved in all subjects, with no difference between methadone and buprenorphine groups, suggesting no differential benefit on depressive symptoms for buprenorphine compared to methadone.     

Locus of control, life events and treatment outcome in alcohol dependent patients

We investigated the relationship of locus of control and life events to outcome of treatment at 6 months in 67 patients with alcohol dependence. Outcome was less favourable in patients with pre-treatment scores indicating external locus of control than in those with internal locus of control. Furthermore, patients with relapse in the follow-up period experienced more independent life events with moderate to severe objective negative impact than those with more favourable outcome. These results suggest that locus of control may be of clinical use in formulating treatment and prognosis, and that the occurrence of life events may influence outcome. The results are discussed in relation to strategies for treatment and prevention of relapse.