Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Aug 2019
Influence of early adversity on cortisol reactivity, SLC6A4 methylation and externalizing behavior in children of alcoholics.
Children of parents with alcoholism face considerable stress, and often have externalizing behaviors. Early adversity is known to affect DNA methylation and the functioning of the HPA axis. We investigated the association of early adversity with cortisol reactivity, 5HTTLPR genotype, site specific DNA methylation in the SLC6A4 gene and externalizing behavior in children of alcoholics (COA), and a matched sample of control children. ⋯ Our study provides further evidence that early adversity is associated with blunted cortisol reactivity, increased site-specific CpG DNA methylation at the SLC6A4 gene, and high externalizing behavior.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Aug 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialNeurocognitive performance under combined regimens of ketamine-dexmedetomidine and ketamine-fentanyl in healthy adults: A randomised trial.
Analgesic doses of ketamine affects neurocognition; however, deficits under co-administration regimens are unknown. This study evaluated the effects of ketamine, alone and in combination with dexmedetomidine or fentanyl on neurocognition. Using a randomised, within-subjects gender stratified design, 39 participants (mean age = 28.4, SD ± 5.8) received a ketamine bolus of 0.3 mg/kg followed by 0.15 mg/kg/h infusion of ketamine (3 h duration). ⋯ Ketamine, norketamine and dexmedetomidine concentrations were modestly associated with reduced psychomotor speed and accuracy (all p < .05), and an inverse relationship was found between blood concentrations of ketamine, norketamine and dexmedetomidine and performance on memory tasks. Co-administration of ketamine with dexmedetomidine but not with fentanyl exerts synergistic effects on psychomotor performance and memory without executive dysfunction. Assessment of these effects in clinical groups is warranted.