Correlates of the use of electronic devices to vape cannabis in a cohort of young Swiss male reporting current cannabis use.

Information about correlates of cannabis vaping in Europe is scarce. In a cohort of 1613 Swiss young males currently using cannabis, we used logistic regression, adjusting for age, linguistic region and education to assess the association between sensation seeking, substance use and sociodemographic variables with cannabis vaping. Mean age was 25.38 years, 60.4% had post-secondary education and 57.3% lived in French-speaking cantons; 26.3% met criteria for nicotine dependence, 16.0% met criteria for alcohol use disorder and 34.9% used illicit drugs other than cannabis; 27.4% used cannabis at least twice a week and 27.8% met criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Ninety-four participants (5.8%) reported cannabis vaping (of them 87.4% reported infrequent cannabis vaping). In the adjusted analysis, using joints with no tobacco {adjusted odds ratio (aOR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1.45 (1.02-1.76)}, water pipe with [aOR (95% CI) = 1.70 (1.29-2.24)] and without tobacco [aOR (95% CI) = 2.15 (1.60-2.87)], cannabis mixed with food [aOR (95% CI) = 1.61 (1.29-2.02)], using cannabis >2 times a week [aOR (95% CI) = 3.73 (2.40-5.81)], meeting criteria for CUD [aOR (95% CI) = 4.19 (2.70-6.50)], using illicit drugs other than cannabis [aOR (95% CI) = 1.88 (1.23-2.87)], weekly number of alcohol drinks [aOR (95% CI) = 1.01 (1.00-1.03)] and living in the German-speaking area of Switzerland [aOR (95% CI) = 2.70 (1.71-4.25)] were associated with higher odds of cannabis vaping; post-secondary schooling [aOR (95% CI) = 0.37 (0.16-0.86)] and vocational training [aOR (95% CI) = 0.41 (0.17-0.99)] (as opposed to primary schooling) were associated with lower odds of cannabis vaping. Cannabis vaping might be a marker of riskier behaviours among cannabis users

Expression of 22 serotonin-related genes in rat brain after sub-acute serotonin depletion or reuptake inhibition

Objective: Although the assessment of expression of serotonin-related genes in experimental animals has become a common strategy to shed light on variations in brain serotonergic function, it remains largely unknown to what extent the manipulation of serotonin levels causes detectable changes in gene expression. We therefore chose to investigate how sub-acute depletion or elevation of brain serotonin influences the expression of a number of serotonin-related genes in six brain areas. Methods: Male Wistar rats were administered a serotonin synthesis inhibitor, para-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA), or a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, paroxetine, for 3 days and then sacrificed. The expression of a number of serotonin-related genes in the raphe nuclei, hypothalamus, amygdala, striatum, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex was investigated using real-time quantitative PCR (rt-qPCR). Results: While most of the studied genes were uninfluenced by paroxetine treatment, we could observe a robust downregulation of tryptophan hydroxylase-2 in the brain region where the serotonergic cell bodies reside, that is, the raphe nuclei. p-CPA induced a significant increase in the expression of Htr1b and Htr2a in amygdala and of Htr2c in the striatum and a marked reduction in the expression of Htr6 in prefrontal cortex; it also enhanced the expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) in raphe and hippocampus. Conclusion: With some notable exceptions, the expression of most of the studied genes is left unchanged by short-term modulation of extracellular levels of serotonin

Outcome in recurrent head neck cancer treated with salvage-IMRT

BACKGROUND: Recurrent head neck cancer (rHNC) is a known unfavourable prognostic condition. The purpose of this work was to analyse our rHNC subgroup treated with salvage-intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for curable recurrence after initial surgery alone. Patients Between 4/2003-9/2008, 44 patients with squamous cell rHNC were referred for IMRT, mean/median 33/21 (3-144) months after initial surgery. None had prior head neck radiation. 41% underwent definitive, 59% postoperative IMRT (66-72.6Gy). 70% had simultaneous chemotherapy. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the outcome following salvage IMRT in rHNC patients was performed. RESULTS: After mean/median 25/21 months (3-67), 22/44 (50%) patients were alive with no disease; 4 (9%) were alive with disease. 18 patients (41%) died of disease. Kaplan Meier 2-year disease specific survival (DSS), disease free survival (DFS), local and nodal control rates of the cohort were 59/49/56 and 68%, respectively. Known risk factors (advanced initial pTN, marginal initial resection, multiple recurrences) showed no significant outcome differences. Risk factors and the presence of macroscopic recurrence gross tumor volume (rGTV) in oral cavity patients vs others resulted in statistically significantly lower DSS (30 vs 70% at 2 years, p=0.03). With respect to the assessed unfavourable outcome following salvage treatment, numbers needed to treat to avoid one recurrence with initial postoperative IMRT have, in addition, been calculated. CONCLUSION: A low salvage rate of only ~50% at 2 years was found. Calculated numbers of patients needed to treat with postoperative radiation after initial surgery, in order to avoid recurrence and tumor-specific death, suggest a rather generous use of adjuvant irradiation, usually with simultaneous chemotherapy

Consciousness alterations in a cohort of young Swiss men: Associations with substance use and personality traits.

Substance-induced consciousness alterations (CA) have mainly been studied among users of psychedelics but not among people using street drugs. Explore occurrences of three different types of substance-induced CA [ego dissolution (ED), visual pseudo-hallucinations (VPH), anxiety/paranoia (A/P)] and their perceived influences on life, together with their associations with substance use and personality correlates in a general population sample of 25-year-old men. 2,796 young Swiss men lifetime substance users completed a self-report questionnaire including history of use (never, former, and current) of different substances categories (psychedelics, cocaine, psychostimulants, ecstasy, MDMA, and other drugs), substance-induced ego dissolution (ED), visual pseudo-hallucinations (VPH) and anxiety/paranoia (A/P), the influence of these CA experiences on life, and personality traits (sensation seeking, sociability, anxiety-neuroticism, and aggression-hostility). 32.2% reported at least one CA (i.e., ED, VPH or A/P), with 20.5% reporting ED, 16.7% VPH, and 14.6% A/P. Former and current use of psychedelics and ketamine was significantly associated with occurrences of all three types of CAs and with a positive influence of CA on life. Associations between the former and current use of other substances and the different types of CA were less consistent, and perceived influences on life were not statistically significant. Sociability was negatively associated with occurrences of all three types of CA. Positive associations were found between anxiety-neuroticism and ED and A/P, between aggression-hostility and A/P, and between sensation seeking and ED and VPH. This study supports the potential for psychedelics to induce CAs perceived as beneficial to life among people using street drugs, possibly reflecting the mechanism underlying the therapeutic potential of psychedelics

Spin-gap opening accompanied by a strong magnetoelastic response in the S=1 magnetic dimer system Ba3BiRu2O9

Neutron diffraction, magnetization, resistivity, and heat capacity measurements on the 6H-perovskite Ba3BiRu2O9 reveal simultaneous magnetic and structural dimerization driven by strong magnetoelastic coupling. An isostructural but strongly displacive first-order transition on cooling through T*=176 K is associated with a change in the nature of direct Ru-Ru bonds within Ru2O9 face-sharing octahedra. Above T*, Ba3BiRu2O9 is an S=1 magnetic dimer system with intradimer exchange interactions J0/kB=320 K and interdimer exchange interactions J'/kB=-160 K. Below T*, a spin-gapped state emerges with \Delta\approx220 K. Ab initio calculations confirm antiferromagnetic exchange within dimers, but the transition is not accompanied by long range-magnetic order.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Physical Review

Earthquake Resistance of a Rockfill Dam

The paper describes the investigation of the seismic safety of a 131 m high rock fill dam presently under construction across the Rio Chixoy in Guatemala. The dam is located in a region of high seismicity the recently active Motagua fault being only 40 km distant. Due to the possibility of high peak ground accelerations it was considered necessary to conduct a full dynamic analysis, which was carried out in stages following the Seed-Lee-Idriss method, the latter being modified where it was deemed necessary

Recent aspects on outcomes in geriatric fracture patients

As the population ages, the number of fragility fractures is expected to increase dramatically. These injuries are frequently associated with less than satisfactory outcomes. Many of the patients experience adverse events or death, and few regain their pre-injury functional status. Many also lose their independence as a result of their fracture. This manuscript will explore problems and some potential solutions to evaluate the outcomes of geriatric fracture care. Specific, system-wide, and societal concerns will be discussed. Limited suggestions will be made for future steps to improve outcomes assessment

Postoperative IMRT in head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND: Aim of this work was to assess loco-regional disease control in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with postoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy (pIMRT). For comparative purposes, risk features of our series have been analysed with respect to histopathologic adverse factors. Results were compared with an own historic conventional radiation (3DCRT) series, and with 3DCRT and pIMRT data from other centres. Between January 2002 and August 2006, 71 patients were consecutively treated with pIMRT for a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx (32), oral cavity (22), hypopharynx (7), larynx (6), paranasal sinus (3), and an unknown primary, respectively. Mean and median follow up was 19 months (2–48), and 17.6 months. 83% were treated with IMRT-chemotherapy. Mean prescribed dose was 66.3 Gy (60–70), delivered with doses per fraction of 2–2.3 Gy, respectively. RESULTS: 2-year local, nodal, and distant control rates were 95%, 91%, and 96%, disease free and overall survival 90% and 83%, respectively. The corresponding survival rates for the subgroup of patients with a follow up time >12 months (n = 43) were 98%, 95%, 98%, 93%, and 88%, respectively. Distribution according to histopathologic risk features revealed 15% and 85% patients with intermediate and high risk, respectively. All loco-regional events occurred in the high risk subgroup. CONCLUSION: Surgery followed by postoperative IMRT in patients with substantial risk for recurrence resulted in high loco-regional tumor control rates compared with large prospective 3DCRT trials

Unique versus shared associations between self-reported behavioral addictions and substance use disorders and mental health problems: A commonality analysis in a large sample of young Swiss men.

Behavioral addictions (BAs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) tend to co-occur; both are associated with mental health problems (MHPs). This study aimed to estimate the proportion of variance in the severity of MHPs explained by BAs and SUDs, individually and shared between addictions. A sample of 5,516 young Swiss men (mean = 25.47 years old; SD = 1.26) completed a self-reporting questionnaire assessing alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use disorders, illicit drug use other than cannabis, six BAs (Internet, gaming, smartphone, Internet sex, gambling, and work) and four MHPs (major depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, social anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder). Commonality analysis was used to decompose the variance in the severity of MHPs explained (R <sup>2</sup> ) by BAs and SUDs into independent commonality coefficients. These were calculated for unique BA and SUD contributions and for all types of shared contributions. BAs and SUDs explained between a fifth and a quarter of the variance in severity of MHPs, but individual addictions explained only about half of this explained variance uniquely; the other half was shared between addictions. A greater proportion of variance was explained uniquely or shared within BAs compared to SUDs, especially for social anxiety disorder. The interactions of a broad range of addictions should be considered when investigating their associations with MHPs. BAs explain a larger part of the variance in MHPs than do SUDs and therefore play an important role in their interaction with MHPs

Nonlinear electrochemical relaxation around conductors

We analyze the simplest problem of electrochemical relaxation in more than one dimension - the response of an uncharged, ideally polarizable metallic sphere (or cylinder) in a symmetric, binary electrolyte to a uniform electric field. In order to go beyond the circuit approximation for thin double layers, our analysis is based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations of dilute solution theory. Unlike most previous studies, however, we focus on the nonlinear regime, where the applied voltage across the conductor is larger than the thermal voltage. In such strong electric fields, the classical model predicts that the double layer adsorbs enough ions to produce bulk concentration gradients and surface conduction. Our analysis begins with a general derivation of surface conservation laws in the thin double-layer limit, which provide effective boundary conditions on the quasi-neutral bulk. We solve the resulting nonlinear partial differential equations numerically for strong fields and also perform a time-dependent asymptotic analysis for weaker fields, where bulk diffusion and surface conduction arise as first-order corrections. We also derive various dimensionless parameters comparing surface to bulk transport processes, which generalize the Bikerman-Dukhin number. Our results have basic relevance for double-layer charging dynamics and nonlinear electrokinetics in the ubiquitous PNP approximation.Comment: 25 pages, 17 figures, 4 table