Perspectives of cocaine users on addiction recovery: a qualitative study following a CRA + vouchers programme

Abstract

Addiction recovery has gained considerable attention over the past few years. Despite the diffuse conceptualization of ‘recovery’, a range of studies have been conducted on what recovery means. Even though cocaine is the most frequently used stimulant drug, little qualitative research has been done on recovery from cocaine addiction. This study provides more insight into the personal perspectives of (former) cocaine-dependent individuals. In-depth interviews (n?=?23) were conducted in a cocaine-specific treatment programme (CRA?+?vouchers) in Belgium. According to respondents, cocaine addiction recovery is a process that concerns an identity shift, building on personal strengths and utilizing sources of support from the close social network and society. The results showed some specific features regarding the recovery process of individuals in recovery from cocaine addiction, since ‘socially integrated’ cocaine users had a head start due to advantages such as being employed and having a social network. Support should be tailored to the specific needs of individuals in recovery and social networks and communities that support recovery are needed.     

Preclinical approaches to assess potential kinase inhibitor‐induced cardiac toxicity: Past,present and future

Over a decade ago, use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the treatment of malignancies was found to cause left ventricular dysfunction, a finding that was unexpected and not well predicted by standard preclinical studies. Subsequently, several preclinical approaches were proposed to address this issue. Over the last 5 years, several approaches for preclinical evaluation of cardiac function using isolated perfused hearts, engineered heart tissue and human‐induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiac myocytes have been shown to be relatively predictive of the cardiotoxic potential of TKIs. Further, preclinical studies submitted for regulatory review for recently approved KIs have demonstrated various forms of KI‐induced cardiotoxicity. Thus, early identification and assessment of cardiotoxicity in the preclinical setting is now possible. Given that kinases are involved in diverse cellular processes common to both normal and tumor cells, KI‐induced toxicity, particularly in the heart, appears difficult to avoid. To develop drugs with fewer adverse effects, better efficacy and safety assessments, such as pharmacological separation of targets for cancer from heart, and/or wider separation of the drug concentrations for antitumor activity from cardiac toxicity, may be helpful. Additional preclinical approaches for assessing drug efficacy and toxicity in parallel may include use of animal cancer models and a 3D integrated in vitro model of perfused tumor and heart tissues. Minimizing and predicting potential KI‐induced cardiotoxicity is still an important regulatory challenge, and better preclinical approaches may help achieve this goal.     

Inter-ictal assay of peripheral circulating inflammatory mediators in migraine patients under adjunctive cervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS): A proof-of-concept study

Objective

To assay peripheral inter-ictal cytokine serum levels and possible relations with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) responsiveness in migraineurs.