Functional connectivity, behavioral and dopaminergic alterations 24 hours following acute exposure to synthetic bath salt drug methylenedioxypyrovalerone.

Among cathinone drugs known as bath salts, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) exerts its potent actions via the dopamine (DA) system, and at intoxicating doses may produce adverse behavioral effects. Previous work by our group suggests that prolonged alterations in correlated neural activity between cortical and striatal areas could underlie, at least in part, the adverse reactions to this bath salt drug. In the present study, we assessed the effect of acute MDPV administration on brain functional connectivity at 1 and 24 h in rats.

Withdrawn, apathetic geriatric patients responsive to methylphenidate.

A double-blind randomized study showed that methylphenidate, as compared to placebo, was singularly effective in 44 withdrawn, apathetic geriatric patients. Study selection and exclusion criteria were rigidly enforced. Patients receiving methylphenidate in a dosage of 20 mg daily improved significantly over a period of six weeks as measured by results of tests for mental status, ward behavior (nursis' rating), target-symptom response, and physician's and nurses' global evaluations.