1,721,076 research outputs found
Betaine: Chemistry, Analysis, Function and Effects (Food and Nutritional Components in Focus)
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A review of instruments for screening and diagnosis of cocaine use
No full textItem does not contain fulltextCocaine is the second most used illicit drug worldwide. Identification of cocaine use disorders (CUD) and related aspects such as craving and CUD severity are relevant for clinical practice, public health programs, and research. There are a wide variety of instruments available for assessing CUD, showing different reliability, validity, and applicability in different subpopulations. For screening and diagnosis, the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), and the Drug Use Disorder Identification Test stand out among the many present in the field. Among the severity tests, the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), the Substance Dependence Severity Scale (SDSS), and the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) are the most relevant. Finally, for craving assessment, the Obsessive-Compulsive Cocaine Scale (OCCS), the Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale-Cocaine Version (OCDUS-C), the Desires for Drug Questionnaire-Cocaine Version (DDQ-C), and the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Now (CCQ-Now) are the most frequently employed. This chapter aims at the description of its psychometric properties and most fundamental characteristics
Minerals in beer
No full textThe principal ions in beer are the cations – calcium, magnesium,
sodium, and potassium – and the anions – sulfate,
nitrate, phosphate, chlorides, and silicate. The minor ions are
iron, copper, zinc and manganese. Cereals, water, hops and
adjuncts are the main sources of the minerals present in beer,
while in yeast, industrial processing and the containers contribute
to a lesser extent. The mineral content of the brewing
water is particularly important for the brewing process and
hence for the quality and fl avor of the fi nal beer. In beer most
of the minerals originate from the barley. About 75% derives
from the malt, while the remaining 25% originates from the
water. The mineral composition of the malt depends on the
variety, place where it was grown, atmospheric condition,
growing techniques, harvesting, storage, and malting system.
Hops contribute a negligible amount of the minerals in beer
because of the small quantities used (200 g to produce 100 l
beer). However hops make a notable contribution of nitrate
to the beer wort. In many countries a part of the malt can be
substituted with other cereals like maize grits and rice. These
cereal matrices normally contain fewer minerals than malt
and so the metal level is less than an all-malt wort. The large
amount of minerals from the raw materials decreases during
the brewing process due to some minerals being removed
through precipitations
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate abuse and dependence
No full textItem does not contain fulltextGamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a short-chain fatty acid that naturally occurs in the brain, where it acts as a neurotransmitter and as a neuromodulator. GHB is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue that passes the blood–brain barrier. GHB exerts its actions by binding to the GHB receptor in the brain, and in supraphysiologic concentrations, by binding to the GABAB receptor. Pharmaceutical GHB has a limited clinical use, e.g., in narcolepsy, but is nowadays well known as a party drug. Due to the narrow window of safety, GHB intoxications frequently occur, characterized by sudden coma, hypoventilation, and bradycardia. After weeks of repeated exposure, tolerance and dependence may occur. GHB-dependent patients use GHB "around the clock", to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Abrupt cessation of intensive GHB use may result in a severe GHB withdrawal syndrome, with delirium and agitation
Recommended resources for oxidative stress and dietary antioxidants in neurological diseases
No full textNeurological diseases impose substantial socioeconomic burden on the society. These diseases are characterized by damage to specific populations of cells within specific areas of the nervous system. The extremely high metabolic demands of neuronal tissue result in high oxygen consumption and energy production. Neurological tissue is particularly high risk of oxidative damage from reactive oxygen species. As a result, oxidative stress has implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s. Antioxidant compounds that inhibit oxidation are required to prevent oxidative damage in vivo. Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between the systemic manifestation of ROS and the ability to detoxify the ROS or repair the resulting damage. In the 1920s and 1930s, the isolation of vitamins C and E and their identification as dietary antioxidants revolutionized the field. Since then the knowledge and understanding of oxidative stress and antioxidants has increased exponentially. It is now difficult even for experienced scientists to remain up to date. To assist colleagues who are interested in understanding more about this field, we have, therefore, produced tables containing up-to-date resources on the regulatory and professional bodies, journals, books, and websites that are relevant to the study of oxidative stress and dietary antioxidants in neurological disease
Recommended resources on the neuroscience of depression: Genetics, cell biology, neurology, behavior, and diet
No full textHippocrates used “mania” and “melancholia” to describe depression around 400 BC. So, clinicians, researchers, and philosophers have been challenged by depression for over a 1000 years. Yet, while diagnostic criteria for depression are available, there is still an ongoing debate about this definition. However, the true enigma of depression lies not within the inability to define it, but lies in its etiology. Some potential causes of depression have been identified, yet the precise etiology remains unclear. Genetics, changes in neurotransmitters, diet, and psychosocial factors are only some of the plethora of potential causes of depression. Indeed, in recent years, there has been an explosion in the understanding of the neuroscience of depression and the complex interactions between genetics, behavior, and the environment in this disease. The widely publicized, high profile, cases of depression in celebrities have aroused international interest; fueling research in this rapidly developing field. It is now difficult even for experienced scientists to remain up to date. To assist colleagues who are interested in understanding more about this field, we have therefore produced tables containing up-to-date resources in this chapter
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