Subtyping patients with heroin addiction at treatment entry: factor derived from the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SCL-90)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Addiction is a relapsing chronic condition in which psychiatric phenomena play a crucial role. Psychopathological symptoms in patients with heroin addiction are generally considered to be part of the drug addict's personality, or else to be related to the presence of psychiatric comorbidity, raising doubts about whether patients with long-term abuse of opioids actually possess specific psychopathological dimensions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SCL-90), we studied the psychopathological dimensions of 1,055 patients with heroin addiction (884 males and 171 females) aged between 16 and 59 years at the beginning of treatment, and their relationship to age, sex and duration of dependence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 150 (14.2%) patients with heroin addiction showed depressive symptomatology characterised by feelings of worthlessness and being trapped or caught; 257 (24.4%) had somatisation symptoms, 205 (19.4%) interpersonal sensitivity and psychotic symptoms, 235 (22.3%) panic symptomatology, 208 (19.7%) violence and self-aggression. These dimensions were not correlated with sex or duration of dependence. Younger patients with heroin addiction were characterised by higher scores for violence-suicide, sensitivity and panic anxiety symptomatology. Older patients with heroin addiction showed higher scores for somatisation and worthlessness-being trapped symptomatology.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study supports the hypothesis that mood, anxiety and impulse-control dysregulation are the core of the clinical phenomenology of addiction and should be incorporated into its nosology.</p

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of DOPA peptidomimetics by a novel IBX mediated aromatic oxidative functionalization

DOPA peptidomimetics with stable O-C and N-C covalent bonds between amino acid residues have been prepared by aromatic oxidative functionalization of tyrosine with 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX). The reaction involves the Michael-like nucleophilic addition of different oxygen and nitrogen protected amino acids on a reactive DOPA quinone intermediate. Similar results were obtained in heterogeneous conditions using supported IBX-amide for more runs. Among the novel derivatives, compounds containing glycine residues showed a more pronounced antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging cell free assay. Instead, valine derivatives showed the highest biological effect in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells, by assessing the ability to reduce H2O2 induced DNA breakage in the alkaline comet assay

Tyrosinase mediated oxidative functionalization in the synthesis of DOPA-derived peptidomimetics with anti-Parkinson activity

DOPA-derived peptidomimetics are an attractive therapeutic tool for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Compounds with unusual O-C and N-C covalent bonds between amino acids have been prepared by selective oxidative functionalization of tyrosine residues with tyrosinase from Agaricus bisporus. The reaction proceeded through a Michael-like nucleophilic addition of amino acids on the DOPA quinone intermediate initially produced by tyrosinase oxidation. The reaction was effective under heterogeneous conditions by immobilization of tyrosinase on multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The anti-Parkinson activity of novel DOPA-derived peptidomimetics was evaluated by electrophysiological techniques on individual dopaminergic neurons in rat ex vivo midbrain slices. Gly-N-C-DOPA and Val-N-C-DOPA-derived peptidomimetics inhibited neuronal firing and evoked outward currents via activation of the D2 receptors in most dopamine-sensitive neurons. In a subset of neurons which displayed low dopamine sensitivity, Gly-N-C-DOPA also caused significative effect

Carbon nanotubes supported tyrosinase in the synthesis of lipophilic hydroxytyrosol and dihydrocaffeoyl catechols with antiviral activity against DNA and RNA viruses.

Hydroxytyrosol and dihydrocaffeoyl catechols with lipophilic properties have been synthesized in high yield using tyrosinase immobilized on multi-walled carbon nanotubes by the Layer-by-Layer technique. All synthesized catechols were evaluated against a large panel of DNA and RNA viruses, including Poliovirus type 1, Echovirus type 9, Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), Coxsackievirus type B3 (Cox B3), Adenovirus type 2 and type 5 and Cytomegalovirus (CMV). A significant antiviral activity was observed in the inhibition of HSV-1, HSV-2, Cox B3 and CMV. The mechanism of action of the most active dihydrocaffeoyl derivative was investigated against a model of HSV-1 infection