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Biomedical subjects

A M Persico

Publications and source records attributed to A M Persico.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Genetic vulnerability to drug abuse. The D2 dopamine receptor Taq I B1 restriction fragment length polymorphism appears more frequently in polysubstance abusers.

Alcoholics are more likely than nonalcoholics to display the Taq I A1 restriction fragment length polymorphism of the D2 dopamine receptor gene, according to four of six studies that examined alcoholics and controls. The current study examines whether the association observed in alcoholism might extend to other addictive substances by examining D2 dopamine receptor Taq I A and B restriction fragment length polymorphisms in polysubstance users and controls free of significant substance use. We hypothesized a stronger association for the B1 restriction fragment length polymorphism since it lies closer to dopamine receptor protein coding and 5' regulatory regions. Heavy polysubstance users and subjects with DSM-III-R psychoactive substance use diagnoses displayed significantly higher Taq I B1 frequencies than control subjects; Taq I A1 results for these comparisons were less robust. These results are consistent with a role for a D2 dopamine receptor gene variant marked by these restriction fragment length polymorphisms in enhanced substance abuse vulnerability.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1992

Persistent decrease in heart rate after smoking cessation: a 1-year follow-up study.

The heart rate of 11 smokers was collected throughout their first year of abstinence. One day after smoking cessation, we recorded a significant mean heart rate drop of 9.07 beats per min, from 74.18 to 65.11 beats per min. No significant variation was afterwards detected at any chosen time point (week 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, month 3, 6, 12). In fact, 1 year after cessation the mean heart rate was still 66.36 beats per min, well below initial baseline values. These data indicate that the decrease in heart rate following smoking cessation mostly represents a permanent return to individual normal values in the absence of nicotine self-administration. Nonetheless, three subjects did show a trend toward the recovery of their precessation heart rate and one subject fully recovered it between months 3 and 6 of abstinence. This trend suggests that, while heart rate adaptation to nicotine is largely of an acute nature, there may also be a chronic component. Its role, though usually minor, should become detectable in a few subjects, because of wide interindividual variability.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A human dopamine transporter cDNA predicts reduced glycosylation, displays a novel repetitive element and provides racially-dimorphic TaqI RFLPs.

We describe a cDNA for the human dopamine transporter, which has been implicated in several human disorders linked to dopaminergic function. The cDNA predicts reduced glycosylation of the protein with respect to the rat transporter, as well as a novel repetitive element in the 3' untranslated region of the cDNA. A TaqI RFLP is also reported that shows a race-specific difference in allelic frequencies.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1992

Human dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) maps to chromosome 5p15.3 and displays a VNTR.

The human dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene is localized to chromosome 5p15.3 by in situ hybridization and PCR amplification of rodent somatic cell hybrid DNA. Analysis of a 40-bp repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the message revealed variable numbers of the repeat ranging from 3 to 11 copies. These results will aid in the investigation of a role for this gene in genetic disorders of the dopaminergic system in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Predictors of smoking cessation in a sample of Italian smokers.

In this study we identify several pretreatment characteristics which predict abstinence at 6 months. Moreover, the persistence of withdrawal discomfort and of an increased frequency of night awakenings during the first month of abstinence, together with a tendency to "slip" during Weeks II-IV, strongly predicted relapse. Our results suggest that: 1) Predictors of outcome cannot be automatically extended from one cultural context to another; 2) a careful assessment of certain variables, made while the patient is still under treatment, provides significant prognostic hints; 3) ex-smokers' sleeping and dreaming function has been ignored by the literature, whereas they may well be involved into the maintenance of the drug-free state.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Zipeprol is a newly abused antitussive with an opioid spectrum and hallucinogenic effects.

Zipeprol is a non-opioid cough suppressor agent recently abused in Italy. Clinical reports from 30 street abusers show that the drug in high doses has a definite abuse liability and dependence potential. Many of its effects were identical to those induced by opiates, although specific dysperceptive symptoms were commonly reported by patients. Spontaneous withdrawal symptoms were similar to those of opiates. Withdrawal could be also precipitated by naloxone. It is concluded that zipeprol can induce dependence with a mechanism which may be mediated by some types of opioid receptors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A prospective assessment of opiate addiction treatment protocols for inpatients with HIV-related syndromes.

A sample of 114 intravenous drug abusers hospitalized for HIV-spectrum diseases, was allowed to choose between methadone maintenance, partial or complete withdrawal as inpatient programs and was reassessed 4 days after discharge. One third of the patients had relapsed into heroin abuse. Rates of early relapse were significantly lower in the partial withdrawal group and higher in the methadone maintenance group. Patients with longer hospitalization and more severe HIV-related syndromes were particularly at risk of early relapse. Also, 45 former intravenous drug abusers were reassessed. Relapses were even more frequent than among active abusers, especially if the drug-free period before admission had been shorter than 1 year.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Dual effects of lephetamine on spontaneous and evoked neuronal firing in the somatosensory cortex of the rat.

Lephetamine is a central analgesic, recently shown to be abused by drug addicts and to induce dependence in humans. The drug was applied microiontophoretically on single neurones of the somatosensory cortex of the rat in vivo. Its activity on the spontaneous and evoked firing rate was recorded. Morphine and naloxone were employed to verify the hypothesis that a mu-opiate mechanism of action could be involved. The most frequent response evoked by lephetamine was a dose-dependent excitation non-reversible by naloxone. On the other hand, units inhibited or apparently unaffected by the drug, showed a selective anti-glutamate (and partly anti-acetylcholine) effect, which was reversed by either systemically- or iontophoretically-administered naloxone. Long-lasting (8-12 min) applications of lephetamine caused a progressive desensitization of cortical neurones to the inhibitory and anti-glutamate effect. The inhibitory activity of lephetamine and morphine was additive and an increased neuronal excitability was shown by a post-inhibitory rebound of glutamate-induced neuronal activity. The action exerted by lephetamine on glutamate-induced excitations and on postsynaptic excitability, its reversibility by naloxone and the occurrence of acute tolerance allow the conclusion that only the inhibitory effect of lephetamine is mediated by an opioid mechanism. The lephetamine-induced excitations, not reversed by naloxone, are difficult to interpret as opioid-mediated.

Acetylcholine↗