Neurocognitive Characteristics of Patients Who Visited a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Requesting Treatment for Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective: This study investigated the neurocognitive characteristics of patients who visited an outpatient clinic requesting diagnosis and treatment for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: The patients' electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Neurocognitive test results were compared using Student's t-test according to their chief complaint, depressive symptoms, childhood history, and intelligence quotient (IQ).

Region-specific alterations in the expression and phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunits in the rat prefrontal cortex and dorsal striatum accompanying behavioral sensitization induced by cocaine and ethanol.

Behavioral sensitization is defined as the enhanced behavioral response to drugs of abuse after repeated exposure, which can serve as a behavioral model of addiction. Our previous study demonstrated that behavioral cross-sensitization occurs between cocaine and ethanol, suggesting commonalities between these drugs. N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play important roles in synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and addiction-associated behaviors.

Behavioral and transcriptional effects of repeated electroconvulsive seizures in the neonatal MK-801-treated rat model of schizophrenia.

Rationale: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment modality for schizophrenia. However, its antipsychotic-like mechanism remains unclear.

Objectives: To gain insight into the antipsychotic-like actions of ECT, this study investigated how repeated treatments of electroconvulsive seizure (ECS), an animal model for ECT, affect the behavioral and transcriptomic profile of a neurodevelopmental animal model of schizophrenia.

Characteristics of MK-801-induced locomotor sensitization.

Repeated administration of drugs of abuse leads to progressively greater behavioral responses; this phenomenon is referred to as behavioral sensitization. MK-801 blocks the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and elicits behavioral sensitization. Ketamine and phencyclidine, are also NMDA antagonists and have well-documented abuse potential.

Relationship between Resting-State Alpha Coherence and Cognitive Control in Individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder: A Multimodal Approach Based on Resting-State Electroencephalography and Event-Related Potentials.

The human brain is constantly active, even at rest. Alpha coherence is an electroencephalography (EEG) rhythm that regulates functional connectivity between different brain regions. However, the relationships between resting-state alpha coherence and N2/P3 components associated with response inhibition and cognitive processes have not been investigated in addictive disorders.

Electroconvulsive seizure inhibits the mTOR signaling pathway via AMPK in the rat frontal cortex.

Rationale: Accumulating evidence indicates critical involvement of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the treatment of depressive disorders, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative disorders through its signal transduction mechanisms related to protein translation, autophagy, and synaptic remodeling. Electroconvulsive seizure (ECS) treatment is a potent antidepressive, anti-convulsive, and neuroprotective therapeutic modality; however, its effects on mTOR signaling have not yet been clarified.

Methods: The effect of ECS on the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway was investigated in the rat frontal cortex.

Problematic Use of Alcohol and Online Gaming as Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has dramatically changed our daily lives and activities, including those originally intended to serve for leisure and pleasure. Drinking and online gaming became coping behaviors used to rescue ourselves from the stress and restricted lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, frequent drinking and gaming can result in the pathological consequences of addiction.

Event-related brain response to visual cues in individuals with Internet gaming disorder: relevance to attentional bias and decision-making.

This study investigated attentional bias toward game-related cues in Internet gaming disorder (IGD) using electrophysiological markers of late positive potential (LPP) and identifying the sources of LPP. In addition, the association between LPP and decision-making ability was investigated. The IGD (n = 40) and healthy control (HC; n = 39) participants viewed a series of game-related and neutral pictures, while their event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded.

Comparison of the sensitizing effects of cocaine and ethanol on histone deacetylase isoforms in the rat brain.

Behavioral sensitization, an animal model of drug addiction, persists for a prolonged period after repeated exposure to drugs of abuse. The persistence of an addiction behavioral phenotype suggests long-lasting changes in gene regulation at the epigenetic level. We measured the expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) isoforms in the prefrontal cortex and dorsal striatum following the development of sensitization to cocaine (15 mg/kg, administered five times) and ethanol (0.

Repeated ethanol exposure influences key enzymes in cholesterol and lipid homeostasis via the AMPK pathway in the rat prefrontal cortex.

Cholesterol homeostasis has been proposed to be implicated in the development of addiction. However, the effects of ethanol on cholesterol homeostasis within the brain are not well understood. One of the most important regulators of cholesterol homeostasis is HMG-CoA reductase (HMG-CoAR), the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis.

Electroconvulsive Seizures Induce Autophagy by Activating the AMPK Signaling Pathway in the Rat Frontal Cortex.

Background: It is uncertain how electroconvulsive therapy-induced generalized seizures exert their potent therapeutic effects on various neuropsychiatric disorders. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a major role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and activates autophagic processes via unc-51-like kinase (ULK1). Evidence supports the involvement of autophagy system in the action mechanisms of antidepressants and antipsychotics.

Behavioral cross-sensitization between cocaine and ethanol is accompanied by parallel changes in the activity of AMPK system.

Behavioral sensitization is thought to be relevant to the psychopathology of drug addiction. A previous study from our research group demonstrated cross-sensitization between cocaine and ethanol. Although these findings suggest a common mechanism of action between these two drugs, little is known about the molecular or cellular aspects of this commonality.

Electroconvulsive Seizure Alters the Expression and Daily Oscillation of Circadian Genes in the Rat Frontal Cortex.

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for mood disorders. Accumulating evidence has suggested the important role of circadian genes in mood disorders. However, the effects of ECT on circadian genes have not been systemically investigated.

Long-Term Evolution of Metabolic Status in Patients with Schizophrenia Stably Maintained on Second-Generation Antipsychotics.

Objective: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) increase the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Despite the risk of MetS, SGAs may have to be continued with change in some patients. The aim of this study was to trace the evolution of MetS in these patients.

Reduction in Alpha Peak Frequency and Coherence on Quantitative Electroencephalography in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Background: The aim of the study was to examine the characteristics of alpha wave peak frequency, power, and coherence in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Thirty-one patients with schizophrenia and age- and sex-matched subjects with no psychopathology were enrolled. All study participants underwent quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG).

Characteristics of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in rats: Molecular mediators and cross-sensitization between ethanol and cocaine.

Repeated exposure to drugs of abuse can induce a progressive increase in locomotor activity, known as behavioral sensitization. However, little is known about behavioral sensitization to ethanol. We examined whether ethanol could induce behavioral sensitization and investigated several molecular changes accompanying sensitization.

Clinical Usefulness of Long-term Application of Fentanyl Matrix in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Improvement of Pain and Physical and Emotional Functions.

Background: Opioids are recently recommended for those who do not gain adequate pain relief from the use of acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medical opioids are administered in various routes, and transdermal opioid products that can make up for the weaknesses of the oral or intravenous products have been developed. This study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of fentanyl matrix in terms of the long-term improvement in pain and physical and mental functions.

Region-specific activation of the AMPK system by cocaine: The role of D1 and D2 receptors.

The 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as an intracellular energy sensor that regulates and maintains energy balance. The psychostimulant drug cocaine has profound effects on behavior that are accentuated with repeated use, which is a process termed sensitization. Thus, the present study examined whether the sensitizing effects of cocaine could be observed in the AMPK system and aimed to determine whether these effects were mediated by dopamine (DA) D1 or D2 receptors.

How delusion is formed?

Traditionally, delusions have been considered to be the products of misinterpretation and irrationality. However, some theorists have argued that delusions are normal or rational cognitive responses to abnormal experiences. That is, when a recently experienced peculiar event is more plausibly explained by an extraordinary hypothesis, confidence in the veracity of this extraordinary explanation is reinforced.

Effects of clozapine, haloperidol, and fluoxetine on the reversal of cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization.

Objective: Repeated treatment with psychostimulants induces sensitization of the dopaminergic system in the brain. Dopaminergic sensitization has been proposed as a mechanism of psychosis. Although antipsychotics block the expression of sensitized behavior, they are ineffective for reversing the sensitized state.

Cocaine induces ubiquitination of Egr-1 in the rat dorsal striatum.

Early growth response (Egr) is a member of the zinc finger family of transcription factors that reflects neuronal activity induced by various stimuli. Acute cocaine administration elicits rapid and transient induction of several immediate early genes in brain neurons. However, the mechanism regulating the degradation of the Egr-1 protein is not clearly understood.