Evaluation of a new trauma-related drinking to cope measure: Latent structure and heritability

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co-occur, share latent genetic risk, and are associated with many negative public health outcomes. Via a self-medication framework, trauma-related drinking to cope (TRD), an unexplored phenotype to date, may help explain why these two disorders co-occur, thus serving as an essential target for treatment and prevention efforts. This study sought to create a novel measure of TRD and to investigate its indirect influences on the association between PTSD and AUD, as well as its potential shared molecular genetic risk with PTSD in a genetically-informative study of college students. A sample of 1,896 undergraduate students with a history of trauma and alcohol use provided genotypic data and completed an online assessment battery. The psychometric properties of TRD and how it relates to relevant constructs were examined using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. Results of a correlated multiple mediator model indicated that, while accounting for the effects of generalized drinking motives, TRD partially mediated the relation between PTSD and alcohol use problems (β = 0.213, p \u3c .001), consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, and that this relationship was stronger for males (β = 0.804, p \u3c .001) than for females (β = 0.463, p \u3c .001). Results were substantiated using longitudinal data. Genotypic analyses to be presented will include univariate genome wide complex trait analyses (GCTA) to establish SNP-based heritability associated with TRD and PTSD, separately, as well as bivariate GCTA to examine potential overlap in heritability between TRD and PTSD.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1047/thumbnail.jp

Trajectory of Substance Use Disorders and Collegiate Recovery in Emerging Adults

Abstract Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) provide services to support emerging adults achieve academic success, while maintaining substance use disorder recovery. College and university campuses can often be considered abstinence-hostile environments, giving rise to the need of support services for students in recovery. A nationwide survey to understand the efficacy of services provided by CRPs was conducted to assess the demographics and academic profiles of students involved with CRPs. Co-occurring disorders including mental health issues, criminal histories, utilizations of recovery services and 12-step groups, and work histories of students were also assessed. CRPs can provide services and an environment to students that increase recovery capital domains. Recovery capital domains such as spirituality, health and wellness, academics, critical thinking and discernment, personal achievement, and service opportunities may be related to metrics of academic success such as grade point average. However, measuring success for those in substance use disorder recovery through academics metrics alone could present a barrier to improving recovery services. Assessing the effectiveness of CRP programs through the lens of recovery capital offers a strengths-based, wholistic approach to improving services for students in recovery. Future directions include administering comprehensive measurements for recovery success, in addition to academic metrics, for students that are members of CRP. Keywords: Substance Use Recovery; Emerging Adults; Collegiate Recovery Program

Preclinical Ultra-High Dose Rate (FLASH) Proton Radiation Therapy System for Small Animal Studies

Purpose: Animal studies with ultrahigh dose-rate radiation therapy (FLASH, >40 Gy/s) preferentially spare normal tissues without sacrificing antitumor efficacy compared with conventional dose-rate radiation therapy (CONV). At the University of Washington, we developed a cyclotron-generated preclinical scattered proton beam with FLASH dose rates. We present the technical details of our FLASH radiation system and preliminary biologic results from whole pelvis radiation. Methods and Materials: A Scanditronix MC50 compact cyclotron beamline has been modified to produce a 48.7 MeV proton beam at dose rates between 0.1 and 150 Gy/s. The system produces a 6 cm diameter scattered proton beam (flat to ± 3%) at the target location. Female C57BL/6 mice 5 to 6 weeks old were used for all experiments. To study normal tissue effects in the distal colon, mice were irradiated using the entrance region of the proton beam to the whole pelvis, 18.5 Gy at different dose rates: control, CONV (0.6-1 Gy/s) and FLASH (50-80 Gy/s). Survival was monitored daily and EdU (5-ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine) staining was performed at 24- and 96-hours postradiation. Cleaved caspase-3 staining was performed 24-hours postradiation. To study tumor control, allograft B16F10 tumors were implanted in the right flank and received 18 Gy CONV or FLASH proton radiation. Tumor growth and survival were monitored. Results: After 18.5 Gy whole pelvis radiation, survival was 100% in the control group, 0% in the CONV group, and 44% in the FLASH group (P < .01). EdU staining showed cell proliferation was significantly higher in the FLASH versus CONV group at both 24-hours and 96-hours postradiation in the distal colon, although both radiation groups showed decreased proliferation compared with controls (P < .05). Lower cleaved caspase-3 staining was seen in the FLASH versus conventional group postradiation (P < .05). Comparable flank tumor control was observed in the CONV and FLASH groups. Conclusions: We present our preclinical FLASH proton radiation system and biologic results showing improved survival after whole pelvis radiation, with equivalent tumor control