European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
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Eur Neuropsychopharmacol · Sep 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialSafety and pharmacokinetics of oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy older subjects: a randomized controlled trial.
There is a great concern about the safety of THC-based drugs in older people (≥65 years), as most of THC-trials did not include such group. In this phase 1, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial, we evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of three oral doses of Namisol(®), a novel THC in tablet form, in older subjects. Twelve healthy older subjects (6 male; mean age 72±5 years) randomly received a single oral dose of 3mg, 5mg, or 6.5mg of THC or matching placebo, in a crossover manner, on each intervention day. ⋯ Overall, the pharmacodynamic effects of THC were smaller than effects previously reported in young adults. In conclusion, THC appeared to be safe and well tolerated by healthy older individuals. Data on safety and effectiveness of THC in frail older persons are urgently required, as this population could benefit from the therapeutic applications of THC.
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Eur Neuropsychopharmacol · Aug 2014
The effects of acute and repeated administration of ketamine on attentional performance in the five-choice serial reaction time task in rats.
Ketamine, the non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, is used in clinical and preclinical studies to produce schizophrenia-like cognitive impairments. However, the impact of ketamine on attentional functions remains poorly characterised. In the present study, we further examine the effects of ketamine on attentional processes assessed in the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) in rats. ⋯ Specifically, repeated drug administration evoked an increase in omissions toward the end of the session, and this effect was not secondary to the reduced motivation. Ketamine affected performance during the withdrawal period only when testing with variable inter-trial intervals. The repeated administration of ketamine can impair rats' ability to sustain attention over the course of session, suggesting some utility for modelling attentional disturbances.
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Eur Neuropsychopharmacol · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudySodium valproate in migraine without aura and medication overuse headache: a randomized controlled trial.
To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of sodium valproate (800mg/die) compared with placebo in medication-overuse headache patients with a history of migraine without aura. ⋯ The present study supports the efficacy and safety of sodium valproate in the treatment of medication overuse headache with history of migraine after detoxification.
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Eur Neuropsychopharmacol · Aug 2014
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialLimbic versus cognitive target for deep brain stimulation in treatment-resistant depression: accumbens more promising than caudate.
High-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) represents a major stake for treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We describe a preliminary trial of DBS of two potential brain targets in chronic TRD: the nucleus accumbens (Acb) and, in the event of failure, the caudate nucleus. Patients were followed for 6 months before surgery (M0). ⋯ An increase in metabolism was observed in the bilateral frontal lobe (superior gyrus), left frontal lobe (medial gyrus), and right limbic lobe (anterior cingulate gyrus). The results of this trial suggest that Acb is a more promising target than the caudate. NCT01569711.
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Eur Neuropsychopharmacol · Aug 2014
The ApoE4 genotype modifies the relationship of long-term glycemic control with cognitive functioning in elderly with type 2 diabetes.
To assess whether the APOE4 genotype affects the relationship of long-term glycemic control with cognitive function in elderly with type 2 diabetes (T2D). ⋯ In this cross-sectional study of cognitively normal T2D subjects, higher mean HbA1c levels were generally associated with lower cognitive performance in ApoE4 carriers, but not in non-carriers, suggesting that ApoE4 affects the relationship between long-term glycemic control and cognition, so APOE4 carriers may be more vulnerable to the insults of poor glycemic control.