Publications by authors named "Lucas Lebovitz"
Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective treatment for refractory depression, but it may also cause cognitive side effects. Despite decades of use, the mechanisms by which ECT exerts both its antidepressant and cognitive effects are still poorly understood, with the latter substantially limiting referral and adherence to therapy. ECT induces changes in correlated neural activity-functional connectivity-across various brain networks, which may underlie both its clinical efficacy and associated cognitive side effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA genetic association study of tobacco withdrawal endophenotypes in African Americans.
Exp Clin Psychopharmacol
October 2022
Article Synopsis
- Genome-wide association studies have found some genetic variants linked to smoking behaviors, but mostly in European Americans, leaving a gap in research for African Americans who face higher smoking-related health issues.
- This study focused on non-Hispanic African American smokers, testing 89 genetic variants against different tobacco withdrawal symptoms in a controlled setting involving both deprivation and ad libitum smoking.
- Results showed two notable associations with genetic variations affecting impulsivity and confusion during withdrawal, but these findings contradicted earlier studies, suggesting that further research with larger African American samples is necessary to understand these genetic influences better.
Importance: Alkaline free-base nicotine is bitter and a respiratory irritant. High-nicotine electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) products contain acid additives that change nicotine from a free-base to a protonated salt chemical form, which could improve the sensory experience of vaping, particularly among never smokers unaccustomed to inhaling free-base nicotine.
Objective: To determine whether exposure to e-cigarettes with salt vs free-base nicotine formulations improves the appeal and sensory experience of vaping e-cigarettes and whether nicotine formulation effects differ by e-cigarette flavor and ever combustible cigarette smoking status.