Predictors of cocaine use disorder treatment outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: Psychosocial approaches are the first-line treatments for cocaine dependence, although they still present high dropout and relapse rates. Thus, there is a pressing need to understand which variables influence treatment outcomes to improve current treatments and prevent dropout and relapse rates. The aim of this study is to explore predictors of treatment retention and abstinence in CUD.

CBT4CBT web-based add-on treatment for cocaine use disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a chronic condition that presents high relapse rates and treatment dropouts. Web-based interventions have proven to be effective when optimizing face-to-face treatments in different mental health conditions and have the potential to optimize current CUD treatments. However, web-based interventions in addictive behaviors are still limited.

Type 2N VWD: Conclusions from the Spanish PCM-EVW-ES project.

Introduction: Type 2N von Willebrand disease (VWD) is characterized by a decreased affinity of von Willebrand factor (VWF) for factor VIII (FVIII). Abnormal binding of FVIII to VWF (VWF:FVIIIB), results in low FVIII plasma levels, which can lead to a misdiagnosis of mild haemophilia A. Accurate diagnosis of type 2N VWD is essential for appropriate genetic counselling and therapy.

Factors associated with the absence of cocaine craving in treatment-seeking individuals during inpatient cocaine detoxification.

Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests a substantial proportion of individuals with cocaine use disorder do not report craving during inpatient detoxification.

Objective: To examine prevalence and clinical correlates of consistent absence of cocaine craving among inpatients during detoxification. We hypothesized that craving absence would be associated with less severity of cocaine use, depression, and anxiety.

Role of multimeric analysis of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in von Willebrand disease (VWD) diagnosis: Lessons from the PCM-EVW-ES Spanish project.

The multimeric analysis (MA) of plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) evaluates structural integrity and helps in the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD). This assay is a matter of controversy, being considered by some investigators cumbersome and only slightly informative. The centralised study 'Molecular and Clinical Profile of von Willebrand Disease in Spain (PCM-EVW-ES)' has been carried out by including the phenotypic assessment and the genetic analysis by next generation sequencing (NGS) of the VWF gene (VWF).

Patient perception of methadone dose adequacy in methadone maintenance treatment: The role of perceived participation in dosage decisions.

Objective: In clinical practice, methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) entails tailoring the methadone dose to the patient's specific needs, thereby individualizing treatment. The aim of this study was to identify the independent factors that may significantly explain methadone dose adequacy from the patient's perspective.

Method: Secondary analysis of data collected in a treatment satisfaction survey carried out among a representative sample of MMT patients (n=122) from the region of La Rioja (Spain).

Satisfaction With Methadone Among Heroin-Dependent Patients With Current Substance Use Disorders During Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has long been used to treat heroin-dependent patients. However, satisfaction with methadone in this patient population is unknown. The aim of this cross-sectional case-control study was to evaluate satisfaction with methadone in heroin-dependent patients with current substance use disorders (SUDs).

Cocaine addiction is associated with abnormal prefrontal function, increased striatal connectivity and sensitivity to monetary incentives, and decreased connectivity outside the human reward circuit.

Cocaine addiction has been associated with increased sensitivity of the human reward circuit to drug-related stimuli. However, the capacity of non-drug incentives to engage this network is poorly understood. Here, we characterized the functional sensitivity to monetary incentives and the structural integrity of the human reward circuit in abstinent cocaine-dependent (CD) patients and their matched controls.

Targeting arterial wall sulfated glycosaminoglycans in rabbit atherosclerosis with a mouse/human chimeric antibody.

The progression of atherosclerosis is favored by increasing amounts of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the artery wall. We previously reported the reactivity of chP3R99 monoclonal antibody (mAb) with sulfated glycosaminoglycans and its association with the anti-atherogenic properties displayed. Now, we evaluated the accumulation of this mAb in atherosclerotic lesions and its potential use as a probe for specific in vivo detection of the disease.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment to evaluate cocaine withdrawal in treatment-seeking individuals.

Reliable and valid assessment of cocaine withdrawal is relevant for treating cocaine-dependent patients. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment (CSSA), an instrument that measures cocaine withdrawal. Participants were 170 cocaine-dependent inpatients receiving detoxification treatment.

Development and validation of the scale to assess satisfaction with medications for addiction treatment-methadone for heroin addiction (SASMAT-METHER).

Objective: To develop and examine the psychometric properties of a scale to specifically assess satisfaction with methadone in heroin-dependent patients.

Methods: The 44-item preliminary version of the scale to assess satisfaction with medications for addiction treatment-methadone for heroin addiction (SASMAT-METHER) was obtained from a pool of items designed to assess satisfaction with any medication-addiction combination. Theoretical domains of the initial SASMAT-METHER were overall satisfaction, pharmacotherapy, initiation, anti-addictive effect on heroin, mental state, physical state, personal functioning, acceptability, and anti-addictive effect on secondary substances.

Feasibility of double-blind clinical trials with oral diacetylmorphine: a randomized controlled phase II study in an inpatient setting.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of conducting double-blind controlled randomized clinical trials using twice-a-day immediate-release oral diacetylmorphine (DAM) in heroin-dependent patients, by means of measuring the capacity of oral DAM to block opiate withdrawal and clinicians' ability to distinguish it from morphine and methadone. This was a randomized, phase II, double-blind, multicenter pilot study comparing immediate-release oral DAM, slow-release oral morphine and oral methadone administered twice a day during 10 days. Forty-five heroin-dependent patients were randomly assigned to these three treatment groups in an inpatient regime.

Patient and clinician's ratings of improvement in methadone-maintained patients: Differing perspectives?

Background: In the last few years there seems to be an emerging interest for including the patients' perspective in assessing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), with treatment satisfaction surveys being the most commonly-used method of incorporating this point of view. The present study considers the perspective of patients on MMT when assessing the outcomes of this treatment, acknowledging the validity of this approach as an indicator. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the concordance between improvement assessment performed by two members of the clinical staff (a psychiatrist and a nurse) and assessment carried out by MMT patients themselves.

A hybrid method for quasi-three-dimensional slope stability analysis in a municipal solid waste landfill.

Limited space for accommodating the ever increasing mounds of municipal solid waste (MSW) demands the capacity of MSW landfill be maximized by building landfills to greater heights with steeper slopes. This situation has raised concerns regarding the stability of high MSW landfills. A hybrid method for quasi-three-dimensional slope stability analysis based on the finite element stress analysis was applied in a case study at a MSW landfill in north-east Spain.

Drug-dependent inpatients reporting continuous absence of spontaneous drug craving for the main substance throughout detoxification treatment.

Introduction And Aims: Drug craving is considered to be an essential component of substance dependence. We aimed to characterise drug-dependent inpatients reporting continuous absence of subjective spontaneous drug craving.

Design And Methods: This is a 3 year chart-review study designed to compare drug-dependent inpatients who did not report craving everyday (non-cravers) and their counterparts who did (cravers).

Variations of waste unit weight during mechanical and degradation processes at landfills.

This manuscript develops a model for assessing the time and space variations in unit weight of traditional municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The model considers the variations of unit weight caused by deformation of the waste matrix and degradation of the organic portion. Deformation of the waste matrix includes both short-term effects, resulting from mechanical strain during the filling period, and long-term effects, resulting from superposition of waste skeleton creep and waste degradation.

[HIV infection and injecting drug users: The urgency of reinvigorating harm-reduction programmes].

The HIV epidemic among injecting drug users (IDUs) has led to greater support for the development of the harm-reduction perspective. This has proven to be a driving force for initially reluctant policy makers, managers and health care providers and has facilitated the implementation of harm-reduction programmes. This article presents recent data, both global and at the European and Spanish levels, about a) the epidemiological situation of HIV infection among IDUs, and b) the state of development of harm-reduction programmes.

Personality traits of cocaine-dependent patients associated with cocaine-positive baseline urine at hospitalization.

Background: Cocaine abstinence at treatment entry is considered a predictor of good response in cocaine dependence treatment. Therefore, identification of factors facilitating pretreatment cocaine abstinence could be useful for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Objective: This retrospective chart review study examines the association between personality traits and cocaine-positive baseline urinalysis (CPB) in cocaine-dependent inpatients.

Gas flow to a vertical gas extraction well in deformable MSW landfills.

Active gas control systems are commonly used in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and the design of such systems requires thorough understanding of the gas flow pattern. A model is developed to predict the two-dimensional radial transient gas flow to a vertical gas extraction well in deformable MSW landfills. Variations of gas storage include time-dependent compression of the refuse, dissolution of gas components and porosity enlargement due to organic matter degradation.

Improvements in the production of doubled haploids in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) through isolated microspore culture.

The objective of this study was to produce durum wheat doubled haploid (DH) plants through the induction of microspore embryogenesis. The microspore culture technique was improved to maximize production of green plants per spike using three commercial cultivars. Studies on factors such as induction media composition, induction media support and the stage and growth of donor plants were carried out in order to develop an efficient protocol to regenerate green and fertile DH plants.

[Cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of cocaine dependence].

The past two decades have been characterized by marked progress in the development of effective cognitive- behavioral therapies for cocaine dependence, for which no generally effective pharmacotherapies have been identified. The increasing literature on the efficacy of several types of cognitive-behavioral therapies (community reinforcement approach plus vouchers, cue exposure treatment, relapse prevention therapy and motivational interviewing) for cocaine use disorders is reviewed, followed by discussion of a number of issues that arise when integrating these cognitive-behavioral interventions into clinical practice. Overall, this review describes a vigorous area of research that has much to contribute to the treatment of cocaine use disorders.