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Addiction â€" You know you want to"¦ THE BIOCHEMIST October 2002 issue
October 01, 2002The illicit manufacture of drugs
It is estimated that around 180 million people around the world consume illicit drugs. The manufacture of these drugs is big business and depends on the regular supply of raw materials. Professor Hamid Ghodse (Chair of Addictive Behaviour, St George's Hospital Medical School) describes some of the International efforts used to deny access to the necessary precursors. This includes 'drug-tracing' (a highly sophisticated chemical analysis) which can establish whether samples have a common source. (p.10)
Contact: Hamid Ghodse, Dept. of Addictive Behaviour and Psychological Medicine, St. George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE; e-mail: hghodse@sghms.ac.uk
Alcoholic myopathy - Your legs go before your liver
The consumption of alcohol has been a part of the cultural heritage of humans for thousands of years. It is a common misconception, say the authors of this article, that the brain and liver are the two most affected organs in chronic alcohol misuse. Studies have shown that 60% of patients with a history of alcohol misuse have evidence of skeletal muscle damage, or alcoholic myopathy. This makes it the most common pathology involved in alcoholism. Your legs really are the first to go! (p.11)
Contact: Victor Preedy, Room 4.13 (4th Floor); Dept. Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Life Sciences, King`s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NN; tel.: +44 (0)20 7848 4255; fax (44) 020 7848 4185; e-mail: victor.preedy@kcl.ac.uk
The deadly weed - Nicotine and tobacco dependence
Nicotine's effects on the body arise because of its binding to a certain receptor in the brain. These nicotinic receptors influence the rate and pattern of firing in neurones, and the release of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, ß-endorphin and glutamate. Tolerance to the toxic effects of nicotine can develop in days, and persistent smokers can begin to experience the effects of nicotine known as 'positive reinforcement'. The nicotine 'hit' sends a 'teaching signal' to the brain and the behaviour is repeated. And repeated (p. 15)
Contact: Robert West, c/o Gary Burd, The Biochemist, 59 Portland Place, London W1B 1QW; tel.: +44 (0)20 7580 5530; fax: +44 (0)20 7323 1136; e-mail: gary.burd@biochemistry.org
Adrenaline junkies - Addicted to the rush?
As early as 1895 experiments demonstrated the effect of crude adrenal gland extract on heart function and blood pressure. The many groups of people who crave the excitement of dangerous sports thrive on adrenaline. The use of the term addiction is common but inappropriate argues Adolfo Garc'a-S'¡inz - 'compulsion' is a more suitable word. In this article, the author identifies the role adrenaline, and its derivatives, plays in stimulation, memory and addictive drug misuse. Both adrenaline and noradrenaline have key roles in addiction to cocaine, caffeine and amphetamines. (p. 19)
Contact: J. Adolfo Garc'a S'¡inz, Instituto de Fisiolog'a Celular, Universidad Nacional Aut'³noma de México, Apartado Postal 70-248, México D.F. 04510; e-mail: agarcia@ifisiol.unam.mx
Product focus
A cut above the rest - A new tool for microengineering cell and tissue cultures
The culmination of more that 20 years has resulted in the development of a new microscope-based laser processing system, introduced commercially by Bio-Rad as Clonis™. The unique functionality of this technology introduces new methods for sorting living cells, modifying cell organization and interactions in proliferating tissue cultures, and microdissecting living, fixed, or frozen tissue sections or explants. Clonis™ has been designed specifically for work with viable biological material, and since the patented method was originally developed to isolate cells in aqueous media, it is not adversely affected by either atmospheric moisture or liquid contained within the sample. (p. 25)
Contact: Carole Staniford, Catalyst Communications International, 9 Irving Street, Leicester Square,
London, WC2H 7AT; tel.:+44 (0) 20 7932 2500; fax:+44 (0) 20 7932 2519; e-mail: carole.staniford@btopenworld.com
Other articles
>> Meeting reports - Biochemical Society Meeting 677, University of Cardiff (colloquia on intervertebral disc, complement, allergens, and fatty acid synthesis ); Research Colloquium for young researchers on Connective Tissue; Regulation of B Lymphocytes (p. 29)
>> Imperial College Meeting Preview (16-18 December 2002) (p. 37)
>> Policy matters - Short term academic contracts - is anything being done? (p. 39)
>> Learning curve - Careers advice. Review of the Careers Advice Workshop (p. 41)
>> Cyberbiochemist - Internet addiction (p. 46)
>> News - New Editor-in-Chief for Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry (p. 51)
ALL ARTICLES NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE: http://www.biochemist.org/bio
Strathclyde, University of
Nicotine's effects on the body arise because of its binding to a certain receptor in the brain. These nicotinic receptors influence the rate and pattern of firing in neurones, and the release of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, ß-endorphin and glutamate. Tolerance to the toxic effects of nicotine can develop in days, and persistent smokers can begin to experience the effects of nicotine known as 'positive reinforcement'. The nicotine 'hit' sends a 'teaching signal' to the brain and the behaviour is repeated. And repeated (p. 15)
Contact: Robert West, c/o Gary Burd, The Biochemist, 59 Portland Place, London W1B 1QW; tel.: +44 (0)20 7580 5530; fax: +44 (0)20 7323 1136; e-mail: gary.burd@biochemistry.org
Adrenaline junkies - Addicted to the rush?
As early as 1895 experiments demonstrated the effect of crude adrenal gland extract on heart function and blood pressure. The many groups of people who crave the excitement of dangerous sports thrive on adrenaline. The use of the term addiction is common but inappropriate argues Adolfo Garc'a-S'¡inz - 'compulsion' is a more suitable word. In this article, the author identifies the role adrenaline, and its derivatives, plays in stimulation, memory and addictive drug misuse. Both adrenaline and noradrenaline have key roles in addiction to cocaine, caffeine and amphetamines. (p. 19)
Contact: J. Adolfo Garc'a S'¡inz, Instituto de Fisiolog'a Celular, Universidad Nacional Aut'³noma de México, Apartado Postal 70-248, México D.F. 04510; e-mail: agarcia@ifisiol.unam.mx
Product focus
A cut above the rest - A new tool for microengineering cell and tissue cultures
The culmination of more that 20 years has resulted in the development of a new microscope-based laser processing system, introduced commercially by Bio-Rad as Clonis™. The unique functionality of this technology introduces new methods for sorting living cells, modifying cell organization and interactions in proliferating tissue cultures, and microdissecting living, fixed, or frozen tissue sections or explants. Clonis™ has been designed specifically for work with viable biological material, and since the patented method was originally developed to isolate cells in aqueous media, it is not adversely affected by either atmospheric moisture or liquid contained within the sample. (p. 25)
Contact: Carole Staniford, Catalyst Communications International, 9 Irving Street, Leicester Square,
London, WC2H 7AT; tel.:+44 (0) 20 7932 2500; fax:+44 (0) 20 7932 2519; e-mail: carole.staniford@btopenworld.com
Other articles
>> Meeting reports - Biochemical Society Meeting 677, University of Cardiff (colloquia on intervertebral disc, complement, allergens, and fatty acid synthesis ); Research Colloquium for young researchers on Connective Tissue; Regulation of B Lymphocytes (p. 29)
>> Imperial College Meeting Preview (16-18 December 2002) (p. 37)
>> Policy matters - Short term academic contracts - is anything being done? (p. 39)
>> Learning curve - Careers advice. Review of the Careers Advice Workshop (p. 41)
>> Cyberbiochemist - Internet addiction (p. 46)
>> News - New Editor-in-Chief for Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry (p. 51)
ALL ARTICLES NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE: http://www.biochemist.org/bio
Strathclyde, University of
Addiction Current Events and Addiction News RSSWhy can't some people give up cocaine?
Drug dependency is a recurrent but treatable kind of addiction. However, not all people who are drug dependent progress in the same way once they stop taking drugs.
Women Can Quit Smoking and Control Weight Gain
Many women don't quit smoking because they are afraid of gaining weight. That's because nicotine suppresses the appetite and boosts a smoker's metabolism.
Scientists call for ban on alcohol-industry sponsorship of sport
The alcohol industry's sponsorship of sport should be banned and replaced with a dedicated alcohol tax modelled on those employed by some countries for tobacco, say scientists.
Scripps team shows diet switching can activate brain's stress system, lead to 'withdrawal' symptoms
In research that sheds light on the perils of yo-yo dieting and repeated bouts of sugar-bingeing, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute have shown in animal models that cycling between periods of eating sweet and regular-tasting food can activate the brain's stress system and generate overeating, anxiety, and withdrawal-like symptoms.
Stress-induced changes in brain circuitry linked to cocaine relapse
Stress-evoked changes in circuits that regulate serotonin in certain parts of the brain can precipitate a low mood and a relapse in cocaine-seeking, based on mouse studies published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Crushing cigarettes in a virtual reality environment reduces tobacco addiction
Smokers who crushed computer-simulated cigarettes as part of a psychosocial treatment program in a virtual reality environment had significantly reduced nicotine dependence and higher rates of tobacco abstinence than smokers participating in the same program who grasped a computer-simulated ball.
Iberian wolves prefer wild roe deer to domestic animals
A Spanish researcher has analysed the preferences of wolves from the north east of the Iberian Peninsula to demonstrate that, in reality, their favourite prey are roe deer, deer and wild boar, ahead of domestic ruminants (sheep, goats, cows and horses).
Exercise makes cigarettes less attractive to smokers
Exercise can help smokers quit because it makes cigarettes less attractive. A new study from the University of Exeter shows for the first time that exercise can lessen the power of cigarettes and smoking-related images to grab the attention of smokers. The study is published in the journal Addiction.
U of C chemists discover recipe to design a better type of fuel cell
Fuel cells are often touted as one method to help decrease society's addiction to fossil fuels. But there is still a lot of work to be done before fuel cells will be ready for mass market to be used in transportation, home heating and portable power for emergencies.
UK incidence of children living with substance-misusing parents considerably underestimated
Current figures underestimate the number of children who may be at risk of harm from parental substance use. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Public Health have generated new estimates using five national surveys which include measures of binge, hazardous and dependent drinking, illicit drug use and mental health.
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