CR-19-0950: Event-related responses to alcohol-related stimuli in Mexican-American young adults: Relation to age, gender, comorbidity and "dark side" symptoms.

Background: Electrophysiological variables may represent sensitive biomarkers of vulnerability to or endophenotypes for alcohol use disorders (AUD).

Methods: Young adults (age 18-30 yrs, n = 580) of Mexican American heritage were assessed with the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism and event-related oscillations (EROs) generated in response to a task that used pictures of objects, food, and alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related drinks as stimuli.

Results: Decreases in energy in the alpha and beta frequencies and higher phase synchrony within cortical brain areas were seen in response to the alcohol-related as compared to the non-alcohol-related stimuli.

Variants Near CCK Receptors are Associated With Electrophysiological Responses to Pre-pulse Startle Stimuli in a Mexican American Cohort.

Neurophysiological measurements of the response to pre-pulse and startle stimuli have been suggested to represent an important endophenotype for both substance dependence and other select psychiatric disorders. We have previously shown, in young adult Mexican Americans (MA), that presentation of a short delay acoustic pre-pulse, prior to the startle stimuli can elicit a late negative component at about 400 msec (N4S), in the event-related potential (ERP), recorded from frontal cortical areas. In the present study, we investigated whether genetic factors associated with this endophenotype could be identified.

Low voltage alpha EEG phenotype is associated with reduced amplitudes of alpha event-related oscillations, increased cortical phase synchrony, and a low level of response to alcohol.

Low voltage EEG (LVEEG) is a heritable phenotype that differs depending on ancestral heritage, yet its impact on brain networks and cognition remain relatively unexplored. In this study we assessed energy and task related phase locking of event-related oscillation (EROs), behavioral responses, measures of IQ and personality, and expected responses to alcohol in a large sample of individuals with LVEEG compared to those with higher voltage variants. Participants (n=762) were recruited from a Native American community and completed a diagnostic interview, the Quick Test, the Subjective High Assessment Scale Expectation Version (SHAS-E) and the Maudsley Personality Inventory.

Decreases in energy and increases in phase locking of event-related oscillations to auditory stimuli occur during adolescence in human and rodent brain.

Synchrony of phase (phase locking) of event-related oscillations (EROs) within and between different brain areas has been suggested to reflect communication exchange between neural networks and as such may be a sensitive and translational measure of changes in brain remodeling that occur during adolescence. This study sought to investigate developmental changes in EROs using a similar auditory event-related potential (ERP) paradigm in both rats and humans. Energy and phase variability of EROs collected from 38 young adult men (aged 18-25 years), 33 periadolescent boys (aged 10-14 years), 15 male periadolescent rats [at postnatal day (PD) 36] and 19 male adult rats (at PD103) were investigated.

N4 component responses to pre-pulse startle stimuli in young adults: relationship to alcohol dependence.

Both physiological and behavioral studies provide evidence to suggest that deficits in frontal cortical control circuits may contribute to the risk for developing alcohol dependence. Event-related potential (ERP) and eye blink responses to startle and short delay prepulse-plus-startle stimuli, and psychiatric diagnoses were investigated in young adult (age 18-30 years) men (n=135) and women (n=205) Mexican Americans. Women displayed a significant increase in the amplitude of the eye blink response to both the startle and pre-pulse-plus-startle stimuli.

A case study of participatory action research in a public new England middle school: empowerment, constraints and challenges.

PAR recognizes teachers and students as co-creators in a learning process that builds self-efficacy essential to long-term educational success. In enabling contexts, PAR projects also allow teachers to critically deconstruct societal power, examine how these dynamics are reproduced in the classroom, and work against the silencing of student voices. This case study describes the process of implementing an inquiry-based PAR model into a formal urban middle school program intended to reduce drop out rates.

EEG alpha phenotypes: linkage analyses and relation to alcohol dependence in an American Indian community study.

Background: Evidence for a high degree of heritability of EEG alpha phenotypes has been demonstrated in twin and family studies in a number of populations. However, information on linkage of this phenotype to specific chromosome locations is still limited. This study's aims were to map loci linked to EEG alpha phenotypes and to determine if there was overlap with loci previously mapped for alcohol dependence in an American Indian community at high risk for substance dependence.

EEG spectral phenotypes: heritability and association with marijuana and alcohol dependence in an American Indian community study.

Native Americans have some of the highest rates of marijuana and alcohol use and abuse, yet neurobiological measures associated with dependence on these substances in this population remain unknown. The present investigation evaluated the heritability of spectral characteristics of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and their correlation with marijuana and alcohol dependence in an American Indian community. Participants (n=626) were evaluated for marijuana (MJ) and alcohol (ALC) dependence, as well as other psychiatric disorders.

P3 components of the event-related potential and marijuana dependence in Southwest California Indians.

Native Americans have some of the highest rates of marijuana use and abuse, yet neurobiological measures associated with addiction to marijuana in this population remain unknown. The present investigation evaluated associations between the P350 and P450 components of the event-related potential (ERP) elicited by affective stimuli, and marijuana dependence in a population of Southwest California (SWC) Indian adults. Three hundred and seventeen participants with a mean age of 30 years who were free of major Axis I and psychiatric diagnoses and antisocial personality disorder were categorized as: (1) no marijuana use disorders or other drug dependence diagnoses; (2) marijuana dependence and no other drug dependence diagnoses; and (3) marijuana dependence and other drug dependence diagnoses.

Association of EEG alpha variants and alpha power with alcohol dependence in Mexican American young adults.

Several studies support an association between electroencephalogram (EEG) voltage and alcohol dependence. However, the distribution of EEG variants also appears to differ depending on an individual's ethnic heritage, suggesting significant genetic stratification of this EEG phenotype. The present study's aims were to investigate the incidence of EEG alpha variants and spectral power in the alpha frequency range in Mexican American young adults based on gender, and personal and family history of alcohol dependence.

P3 components and adolescent binge drinking in Southwest California Indians.

In adolescence, consuming a large number of drinks over a short interval of time (e.g. binging) is not an uncommon occurrence.

Co-morbidity of select anxiety, affective, and psychotic disorders with cannabis dependence in Southwest California Indians.

Cannabis dependence is co-morbid with psychiatric disorders in general population surveys, but whether co-morbidity exists in American Indian populations is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess co-morbidity between cannabis dependence and psychiatric disorders in a community sample of Southwest California (SWC) Indians. Demographic information and DSMIII- R diagnoses, including differentiation of independent and cannabis-induced psychiatric disorders, were obtained using the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) developed for the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) from 513 SWC Indian adults residing on contiguous reservations.

Electrophysiological responses to affective stimuli in American Indians experiencing trauma with and without PTSD.

American Indians are at high risk for exposure to violence and other traumatic events, yet few studies have investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or its neurobiological consequences in Indian communities. In the present study, a sample of American Indians (n = 146) were given a structured diagnostic interview that additionally indexed traumatic life events and symptoms emerging following those events. Electroencephalogram (EEG) spectra and visual event-related potentials (ERPs) to happy, sad, and neutral faces were also recorded from each participant.

Randomized controlled clinical trial of surgery versus no surgery in patients with mild asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism.

Parathyroidectomy is the definitive therapy for patients with symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism. However, the role of surgery in mild asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism remains controversial. Accordingly, we conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial of parathyroidectomy to determine the benefits of surgery vs.

EEG alpha variants and alpha power in Hispanic American and white non-Hispanic American young adults with a family history of alcohol dependence.

Results from several studies support associations among variants in electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha voltage, alcohol dependence, ethnic heritage, and a family history of alcohol dependence, although no studies have as yet been conducted in individuals of Hispanic ethnicity. Categorization of EEG, by using spectral analyses, into high-, medium-, and low-voltage alpha, as well as absolute EEG power in alpha and beta frequency ranges, was carried out for Hispanic American (n=108) and white non-Hispanic American (n=269) young adult men and women (age range, 18 to 25 years) who had a family history, but no personal history, of alcohol dependence. Eighteen percent (n=70) of the participants were categorized as having a low-voltage alpha EEG, 16% had high-voltage alpha, and 64% had medium-voltage alpha.

Genomic screen for loci associated with alcohol dependence in Mission Indians.

Alcohol dependence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Native Americans, yet biological factors underlying the disorder in this ethnic group remain elusive. This study's aims were to map susceptibility loci for DSM-III-R alcohol dependence and two narrower alcohol-related phenotypes in Mission Indian families. Each participant gave a blood sample and completed an interview using the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) that was used to make alcohol dependence diagnoses and the narrower phenotypes of withdrawal, and drinking severity.

EEG alpha and level of response to alcohol in Hispanic- and non-Hispanic-American young adults with a family history of alcoholism.

Objective: A person's level of response to alcohol is associated with family history of alcoholism, ethnic heritage and electroencephalogram (EEG) phenotype. The present study's aims were to investigate EEG alpha and response to alcohol in Hispanic-American and non-Hispanic-American young adults.

Method: EEG power in the slow and fast alpha frequency ranges (7.

Event-related potential responses to alcohol-related stimuli in African-American young adults: relation to family history of alcoholism and drug usage.

Aims: To use event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate the response to alcohol-related stimuli in African-American young adults.

Methods: ERPs to an object recognition task, that included pictures of objects, food and alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related drinks as stimuli, were obtained in 81 African-American young adult men and women (18-25 years old) without a personal history of alcohol dependence. Information on: psychiatric diagnoses, personal drinking and drug use history, and familial history of alcoholism was also obtained.

EEG low-voltage alpha and alpha power in African American young adults: relation to family history of alcoholism.

Background: Several studies support an association between having a low-voltage EEG and alcohol dependence; however, it is not clear whether this measure represents a risk marker or is a result of years of heavy drinking. The present study's aims were to investigate the prevalence of low-voltage alpha EEG variants in African American young adults who have not yet developed alcohol dependence and to test for associations between low-voltage alpha (LVA) EEG, alpha power, and a family history of alcohol dependence.

Methods: Clinical ratings and spectral characteristics of the EEG, collected using bipolar recordings, were investigated in 81 African American young adult men and women (18-25 years old) who had no personal history of alcohol dependence.

Role of vitamin D and calcium nutrition in disease expression and parathyroid tumor growth in primary hyperparathyroidism: a global perspective.

Since the classic description by Fuller Albright in the 1940s, primary hyperparathyroidism has evolved from a disease with classic signs and symptoms to a disease in search of symptoms! Since that time, two major events have occurred. First, in the United States, United Kingdom, and in most European countries, there has been a steady rise in the apparent incidence of the disease. Second, there has been a dramatic shift in the pattern of presentation.