Drug Abuse News and Research

RSS

Exploring Gene Behavior Patterns With Cutting-Edge Technology

In an effort to comprehend how the genetic makeup and environment interact to cause diseases, scientists have studied the structure, sequencing, and interactions of genetic material with proteins in great detail.

29 Feb 2024

Newly Developed Antibody Therapy to Have Benefits Over Existing Opioid-Overdose Treatments

An antibody in single-chain fragment variable (scFv) format that binds to the powerful opioid carfentanil was shown to reverse signs of carfentanil overdose in preclinical tests conducted by scientists at Scripps Research.

11 Aug 2023

Myeloid cells contribute to a long-lived HIV reservoir, study shows

A subset of white blood cells, known as myeloid cells, can harbor HIV in people who have been virally suppressed for years on antiretroviral therapy, according to findings from a small study supported by the National Institutes of Health.

28 Mar 2023

Genetic signature might be shared across multiple substance use disorders, new study reveals

A new study has revealed a common genetic signature that seems to underlie multiple substance use disorders.

22 Mar 2023

Research reveals gene expression changes in two brain regions of individuals with cocaine use disorder

Individuals with cocaine use disorder exhibit gene expression changes in two brain regions: the nucleus accumbens, a region associated with reward, and the caudate nucleus, a region mediating habit formation, according to research conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published February 10 in Science Advances.

13 Feb 2023

Exploring how smoking cannabis alters the oral microbiome and its impact on the brain

Inspiration strikes when you least expect it. For Wei Jiang, M.D., a professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), inspiration came in 2018 on a smoke-filled boat tour around Amsterdam during an international conference.

30 Jan 2023

Engineers develop the world's smallest EEG caps for mini brains

It could be the world's tiniest EEG electrode cap, created to measure activity in a brain model the size of a pen dot. Its designers expect the device to lead to better understanding of neural disorders and how potentially dangerous chemicals affect the brain.

18 Aug 2022

Healthy people can reap mental health benefits from gardening

Many longtime gardeners will tell you that the garden is their happy place. New research suggests that many people may indeed reap mental health benefits from working with plants -; even if they've never gardened before.

7 Jul 2022

Research finds an increase in prenatal cannabis usage

Kaiser Permanente analyzed more than 100,000 pregnancies and identified that there was a 25% increase in the rate of cannabis use early in pregnancy.

1 Oct 2021

Determining class A drug use from a single fingerprint

AZoLifeSciences speaks to Dr. Catia Costa about her latest research that showed how class A drug use can be determined from a single fingerprint.

From University of Surrey 29 Jun 2021

Many light smokers meet the criteria for nicotine addiction

Even people who consider themselves to be casual cigarette smokers may be addicted, according to current diagnostic criteria. Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and Duke University found that many light smokers -- those who smoke one to four cigarettes per day or fewer -- meet the criteria for nicotine addiction and should therefore be considered for treatment.

24 Dec 2020

Astrocytes regulate inhibitory synapses by binding to neurons

In the orchestra of the brain, the firing of each neuron is controlled by two notes--excitatory and inhibitory-- that come from two distinct forms of a cellular structure called synapses.

16 Nov 2020

New strategy for capturing interactions among glycans and protein activators in live cells

Human cells are encased by a membrane coated with diverse sugar molecules known as glycans. These glycans play many roles in health and disease, making them important to understand.

20 Oct 2020

Dopamine and serotonin found to be involved in perception, cognitive capacities

In first-of-their-kind observations in the human brain, an international team of researchers has revealed two well-known neurochemicals -- dopamine and serotonin -- are at work at sub-second speeds to shape how people perceive the world and take action based on their perception.

13 Oct 2020

Novel molecule shown to have potential therapeutic effects for arthritis

Arthritis affects almost 2% of the world's population, or some 150 million people, and currently, there is no completely effective treatment for this chronic disease. A new molecule developed in the laboratory has been shown to have potential therapeutic effects.

12 Aug 2020

A focused approach to imaging neural activity in the brain

When neurons fire an electrical impulse, they also experience a surge of calcium ions.

29 Jun 2020

Study uncovers new risk genes for problematic alcohol use

Do you have what is known as problematic alcohol use? Then statistically you will also be particularly genetically predisposed to develop e.g. depression and insomnia. And to become dependent on drugs and tobacco. This is shown by a new international study in which researchers from iPSYCH are involved.

8 Jun 2020

Synthetic molecule suppresses drug cravings with fewer side effects

A new synthetic molecule selectively reduces the physiological rewards of cocaine in mice.

1 Jun 2020

Determining The Quantity And Location Of Lipids In The Brain

Researchers have developed a new technique that can determine the specific molecular form, location, and the number of lipids in samples of rat brain tissue.

22 May 2020