Diagnosing Adolescent Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders Using the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Quick Version-4.

Objective: Early identification of substance use during adolescence is imperative to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs-Quick Version 4 (GAIN-Q4) at diagnosing substance use disorders (SUDs) in adolescents.

Methods: The GAIN-Q4 was developed from the GAIN-Quick Version 3 by adding items from the original measure (GAIN-I) to diagnose SUDs and provide level of care recommendations.

Single-Molecule FRET Analyses of NMDA Receptors.

Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) enables the real-time observation of conformational changes in a single protein molecule of interest. These observations are achieved by attaching fluorophores to proteins of interest in a site-specific manner and investigating the FRET between the fluorophores. Here we describe the method wherein the FRET is studied by adhering the protein molecules to a slide using affinity-based interactions and measuring the fluorophores' fluorescence intensity from a single molecule over time.

Bi-directional allosteric pathway in NMDA receptor activation and modulation.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors involved in learning and memory. NMDA receptors primarily comprise two GluN1 and two GluN2 subunits. The GluN2 subunit dictates biophysical receptor properties, including the extent of receptor activation and desensitization.

Narrative review: Revised Principles and Practice Recommendations for Adolescent Substance Use Treatment and Policy.

Objective: In 2014, the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse released the "Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment," summarizing previously established evidence and outlining principles of effective assessment, treatment, and aftercare for substance use disorders (SUD).