Alterations in neurotransmitter levels and transcription factor expression following intranasal buprenorphine administration.

Buprenorphine is an opioid drug used in the management of pain and the treatment opioid addiction. Like other opioids, it is believed that it achieves these effects by altering functional neurotransmitter pathways and the expression of important transcription factors; cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to support these theories.

Mass Spectrometric Imaging of the Brain Demonstrates the Regional Displacement of 6-Monoacetylmorphine by Naloxone.

Overdose is the main cause of mortality among heroin users. Many of these overdose-induced deaths can be prevented through the timely administration of naloxone (NLX), a nonselective mu (μ)-, kappa (κ)-, and delta (δ)-opioid receptor antagonist. NLX competitively inhibits opioid-overdose-induced respiratory depression without eliciting any narcotic effect itself.

Time-dependent regional brain distribution of methadone and naltrexone in the treatment of opioid addiction.

Opioid addiction is a serious public health concern with severe health and social implications; therefore, extensive therapeutic efforts are required to keep users drug free. The two main pharmacological interventions, in the treatment of addiction, involve management with methadone an mu (μ)-opioid agonist and treatment with naltrexone, μ-opioid, kappa (κ)-opioid and delta (δ)-opioid antagonist. MET and NAL are believed to help individuals to derive maximum benefit from treatment and undergo a full recovery.

Post heroin dose tissue distribution of 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) with MALDI imaging.

Heroin is an illicit opioid drug which is commonly abused and leads to dependence and addiction. Heroin is considered a pro-drug and is rapidly converted to its major active metabolite 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) which mediates euphoria and reward through the stimulation of opioid receptors in the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and localization of 6-MAM in the healthy Sprague Dawley rat brain following intraperitoneal (i.

Towards a comprehensive test specification for normative adolescent fears: a conservation of resources perspective.

Objective: This study assessed the extent to which the primary tenets of Conservation of Resources theory provide an adequate basis for categorising and conceptualising normative adolescent fears.

Method: Initial descriptive research, using data obtained from a sample of South African adolescents (n = 163), used systematic emergent content analysis to develop a test specification (i.e.