Introduction: Current treatments for cocaine use disorder (CUD) are not very effective and better treatments are needed. This study investigates the effectiveness of a combined intervention that targets the assumed underlying glutamate pathology in cocaine users. To this end, the combined effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and working memory (WM) training on glutamate concentrations in the dorsal and rostral ACC were investigated in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled design.
Methods: In this study, 38 regular cocaine-using men were randomized to either 25-days with 2400 mg/day NAC and WM-training or 25 days with placebo with WM-training. Cocaine use, impulsivity, and glutamate concentrations in the dACC and rACC using proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy were assessed at baseline and after treatment.
Results: Twenty-four participants completed the study, of which 9 received NAC and 15 received placebo. There were no baseline correlations of glutamate concentrations in the dACC or rACC with cocaine use measures or impulsivity. Additionally, there were no effects of NAC, WM-training, or the combination thereof on (changes in) glutamate concentrations in the dACC or rACC.
Discussion: This randomized proof of concept study could not confirm our hypotheses. Possible explanations are insufficient power and the possible absence of deviant baseline glutamate concentrations in the included participants. Future studies should consider larger samples and a non-using control group to confirm baseline deviations in glutamate in cocaine users.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136146 | DOI Listing |
BMC Plant Biol
January 2025
Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China.
Background: Nitrogen (N) deposition has become a major driving factor affecting the balance of terrestrial ecosystems, changing the soil environment, element balance and species coexistence relationships, driving changes in biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function. Human-induced nitrogen input leads to a high NH/ NO ratio in soil. However, relatively few studies have investigated the effects of different nitrogen sources on forest plant-microbial symbionts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Microbiol
January 2025
Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Morelia, 58120, Morelia, Mexico.
The metabolites gluconic acid, 5-ketogluconic acid, proline, and glutamic acid, produced by Pseudomonas reptilivora B-6bs, are industrially important, particularly in food and pharmaceutical sectors. However, producing these metabolites involves biotin supplementation to enhance yields, which is an expensive additive, and reducing its use can significantly lower production costs. Thus, This study aimed to enhance the production of gluconic acid, 5-ketogluconic acid, proline, and glutamic acid without biotin supplementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFundam Clin Pharmacol
February 2025
CHU Saint-Étienne, Service de Rhumatologie, Mines Saint-Etienne, INSERM, SAINBIOSE U1059, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne, Saint-Etienne, France.
Background: Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), yet 30%-50% of RA patients develop resistance to MTX, which can manifest several years after treatment initiation.
Objective: This study investigates the relationship between erythrocyte methotrexate polyglutamates (MTX-PGs) subtype concentrations and clinical disease activity in RA patients undergoing long-term MTX treatment.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients on a stable dose of subcutaneous MTX for several years were included.
Cytotechnology
February 2025
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Türkiye.
S-Sulfocysteine (SSC) is a metabolite derived from the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids. It has been implicated in neurotoxicity observed in children with sulfite oxidase deficiency. The aim of our study was to confirm the neurotoxic effects of SSC using a mouse hippocampal cell line (HT-22) and to investigate the role of apoptosis in these effects, especially in terms of caspase-3 activation and genotoxicity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes has been associated with β-cell dysfunction, whereas its remission to normoglycemia has been related to improvement of insulin sensitivity. To understand the mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers related to prediabetes trajectories, we compared the proteomics and metabolomics profile of people with prediabetes progressing to diabetes or reversing to normoglycemia within 1 year.
Research Design And Methods: The fasting plasma concentrations of 1,389 proteins and the fasting, 30-min, and 120-min post-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) plasma concentrations of 152 metabolites were measured in up to 134 individuals with new-onset diabetes, prediabetes, or normal glucose tolerance.
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