Altered effective connectivity of emotion perception and regulation networks during an emotional face perception task in adults with alcohol use disorder.

Impairments in emotional regulation and mood symptoms are interrelated and associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) risk, but the underlying aberrant neural circuitry involved is poorly understood. In the present study, we examined alterations in effective (directional) connectivity (EC) during emotional face processing in individuals with and without AUD. We utilized functional MRI data from the Human Connectome Project obtained during an emotional face processing task in 70 participants with AUD and 70 controls (CON).

Lorcaserin modulation of semantic drug cue-elicited effective brain connectivity in persons with cocaine and opioid use disorders.

Understanding the neural mechanisms of drug cue reactivity may improve understanding of therapeutic targets for substance use disorders (SUDs). Preclinical studies indicate that the serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT receptor (5-HTR) and 5-HTR systems considerably but oppositely impact relapse vulnerability. Specifically, 5-HTR antagonists and 5-HTR agonists reduce drug-seeking behavior and reactivity to drug cues.

Unintended bias in the pursuit of collinearity solutions in fMRI analysis.

In task functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), collinearity between task regressors in time series models may impact power. When collinearity is identified after data collection, researchers often modify the model in an effort to reduce collinearity. However, some model adjustments are suboptimal and may introduce bias into parameter estimates.

Structural Brain Correlates of Childhood Inhibited Temperament: An ENIGMA-Anxiety Mega-Analysis.

Objective: Childhood inhibited temperament (cIT) is associated with an increased risk for developing internalizing psychopathology. Neurobiological characteristics identified by structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may elucidate the neural substrates for cIT, but studies are scarce and often focus on particular regions of interest. Moreover, current findings lack replication.

An economical in vitro model of wood smoke exposure.

Objective: The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires pose significant environmental and public health risks. While existing research has highlighted the effects of wildfire smoke exposure on chronic diseases, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. exposure systems are necessary to dissect the effects of wood smoke on various cell types, but current exposure systems are often expensive and technically complex.

Phase 1b/2a safety study of lemborexant as an adjunctive treatment for insomnia to buprenorphine-naloxone for opioid use disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Evidence supports the common incidence of sleep disturbance in opioid use disorder (OUD) as a potential marker of disrupted orexin system functioning. This study evaluated the initial safety and tolerability of a challenge dose of lemborexant, a dual orexin antagonist, as an adjunct to buprenorphine/naloxone.

Methods: Patients (18-65 years old) with OUD receiving sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone, with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score of 6 or higher, were recruited from outpatient clinics.

Transcending Self Therapy-Virtual Reality (TST-VR) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Completion in Veterans.

Transcending Self Therapy (TST) is an integrative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for substance use disorders (SUD). Virtual reality (VR)-based enhancement of treatment for mental health disorders holds potential as an innovative and immersive adjunct to standards of care. However, outside of cue-conditioning applications, how VR may assist SUD treatment is not well understood.

Developmental differences in striatal recruitment by reward prospects as a function of attentional demand.

Adolescent risk-taking has been attributed to earlier-developing motivational neurocircuitry that is poorly controlled by immature executive-control neurocircuitry. Functional magnetic resonance imaging findings of increased ventral striatum (VS) recruitment by reward prospects in adolescents compared to adults support this theory. Other studies found blunted VS recruitment by reward-predictive cues in adolescents compared to adults.

Insomnia symptoms and neurofunctional correlates among adults receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.

Objectives: Insomnia symptoms are negatively related to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment outcomes, possibly reflecting the influence of sleep on neurofunctional domains implicated in addiction. Moreover, the intersection between OUD recovery and sleep represents an area well-suited for the development of novel, personalized treatment strategies. This study assessed the prevalence of clinically significant insomnia symptoms and characterized its neurofunctional correlates among a clinical sample of adults with OUD receiving buprenorphine.

Role of PIP39 in oxidative stress response appears conserved in kinetoplastids.

Kinetoplastids, a group of flagellated protists that are often insect intestinal parasites, encounter various sources of oxidative stress. Such stressors include reactive oxygen species, both internally produced within the protist, and induced externally by host immune responses. This investigation focuses on the role of a highly conserved aspartate-based protein phosphatase, PTP-Interacting protein (PIP39) in managing oxidative stress.

Behavioral and neurocognitive factors distinguishing post-traumatic stress comorbidity in substance use disorders.

Significant trauma histories and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common in persons with substance use disorders (SUD) and often associate with increased SUD severity and poorer response to SUD treatment. As such, this sub-population has been associated with unique risk factors and treatment needs. Understanding the distinct etiological profile of persons with co-occurring SUD and PTSD is therefore crucial for advancing our knowledge of underlying mechanisms and the development of precision treatments.