02). Female cocaine-dependent subjects

also had a lower odds of a positive cortisol response to the TRIER as compared to the other three groups (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = [0.02, 1.01]). During the CUE task, cocaine-dependent subjects had overall higher mean cortisol levels (p = 0.0001), and higher odds of demonstrating a positive cortisol response to the CUE (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = [1.11, 6.11]). No gender differences were found in ACTH responses to the CUE. The results are reviewed in the context of the existing literature on gender differences in cocaine dependence and potential implications for treatment are discussed. Published by Elsevier Ltd.”
“Although it is more common for drug abuse to progress from tobacco to cannabis, in many cases cannabis use develops before P505-15 molecular weight tobacco use. Epidemiological evidence indicates that prior cannabis use increases the likelihood of becoming dependent on tobacco. To determine whether this effect might be due to cannabis exposure per se, in addition to any genetic, social, or environmental factors that might contribute, we extended our series of studies on ‘gateway drug’ effects in animal models

of drug abuse. Rats were exposed to THC, the Selleckchem Silmitasertib main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, for 3 days (two intraperitoneal injections/day). Then, starting 1 week later, they were allowed to self-administer nicotine intravenously. THC exposure increased the likelihood of acquiring the nicotine self-administration response from 65% in vehicle-exposed rats to 94% in THC-exposed rats. When the price of nicotine was manipulated by increasing the response requirement, THC-exposed rats maintained higher levels of intake than vehicle-exposed rats, indicating that THC exposure increased the value of nicotine reward. These results contrast sharply with Baf-A1 datasheet our earlier findings that prior THC exposure did not increase

the likelihood of rats acquiring either heroin or cocaine self-administration, nor did it increase the reward value of these drugs. The findings obtained here suggest that a history of cannabis exposure might have lasting effects that increase the risk of becoming addicted to nicotine.”
“Human papillomaviruses (HPV) activate the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent DNA damage response to induce viral genome amplification upon epithelial differentiation. Our studies show that along with members of the ATM pathway, HPV proteins also localize factors involved in homologous DNA recombination to distinct nuclear foci that contain HPV genomes and cellular replication factors. These studies indicate that HPV activates the ATM pathway to recruit repair factors to viral genomes and allow for efficient replication.”
“Estrogen (E2) influences brain function to induce gender differences in neuronal processes. In contrast to its well-described effects on signaling systems and gene transcription factors, our knowledge of E2-regulated protein networks is rather limited.