Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.1
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
New Advances in Drug Addiction
ijms-logo
Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

New Advances in Drug Addiction

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 8199

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Bernard Le Foll

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
Interests: the effect of cannabidiol in brain disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Substance use and substance use disorders are responsible for a considerable burden of disease on the human population. Those issues affect the individual, but also their family members and society at large. Multiple substances have addictive potential: nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, opioid, and psychostimulants, to name a few. Although those addictive drugs target different receptors to mediate their primary effects, it appears that their ability to affect various brain neurotransmitter systems and brain circuitry is key to understanding the mechanisms underlying addiction and to developing novel treatment strategies. In recent decades, a large body of work has elucidated some of the molecular/cellular changes that are critically involved in addiction processes. This Topic will cover some of those recent findings that have the potential to lead to novel treatment interventions in the future.

Prof. Dr. Bernard Le Foll
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • substance use 
  • addictive drugs 
  • addiction

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 3943 KiB  
Article
Clavulanic Acid Improves Memory Dysfunction and Anxiety Behaviors through Upregulating Glutamatergic Transporters in the Nucleus Accumbens of Mice Repeatedly Exposed to Khat Extract
by Amal O. Arab, Fawaz Alasmari, Awatif B. Albaker, Hassan A. Alhazmi, Alaa Alnoor Alameen, Naser M. Alagail, Saleh A. Alwaeli, Syed Rizwan Ahamad, Abdullah F. AlAsmari and Shakir D. AlSharari
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(21), 15657; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242115657 - 27 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1439
Abstract
Khat (Catha edulis) is an evergreen shrub whose buds and leaves give a state of delight and euphoria when chewed. Cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant that is among the active ingredients in khat, is able to downregulate glutamate transporter subtype I (GLT-1). [...] Read more.
Khat (Catha edulis) is an evergreen shrub whose buds and leaves give a state of delight and euphoria when chewed. Cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant that is among the active ingredients in khat, is able to downregulate glutamate transporter subtype I (GLT-1). Neurobehavioral dysfunctions such as altered locomotor activity, anorexia, and nociception have been observed in animals exposed to cathinone. Interestingly, treatment with a β-lactam antibiotic such as ceftriaxone, which upregulates GLT-1, normalizes cathinone-induced conditioned place preference, and alters repetitive movements in rats. However, little is known about the role of the glutamatergic system in memory dysfunction and anxiety-like behaviors in mice exposed to khat. We found here that clavulanic acid, a β-lactam-containing compound and GLT-1 upregulator, would modulate the neurobehavioral changes, including memory impairment and anxiety-like behaviors, associated with repeated exposure of mice to khat. Our data supported that clavulanic acid could improve memory impairment and anxiety-like behaviors through upregulating GLT-1 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), an effect abolished with a selective GLT-1 blocker. This upregulation was associated with restored glutamate/cystine antiporter expression in the NAc using a Western blotting assay. Cathine and cathinone were identified in khat extract using the gas chromatography technique. Our work provides preclinical insight into the efficacy of β-lactam-containing compounds for the attenuation of neurobehavioral changes induced by khat exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Drug Addiction)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1898 KiB  
Article
Chronic Voluntary Alcohol Consumption Alters Promoter Methylation and Expression of Fgf-2 and Fgfr1
by Leonie Herburg, Mathias Rhein, Sabrina Kubinski, Ekaterini Kefalakes, Matar Levin Greenwald, Simona Gielman, Segev Barak, Helge Frieling and Claudia Grothe
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3336; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043336 - 7 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1909
Abstract
Alcohol abuse accounts for 3.3 million deaths annually, rendering it a global health issue. Recently, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and its target, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), were discovered to positively regulate alcohol-drinking behaviors in mice. We tested whether alcohol intake [...] Read more.
Alcohol abuse accounts for 3.3 million deaths annually, rendering it a global health issue. Recently, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and its target, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), were discovered to positively regulate alcohol-drinking behaviors in mice. We tested whether alcohol intake and withdrawal alter DNA methylation of Fgf-2 and Fgfr1 and if there is a correlation regarding mRNA expression of these genes. Blood and brain tissues of mice receiving alcohol intermittently over a six-week period were analyzed using direct bisulfite sequencing and qRT-PCR analysis. Assessment of Fgf-2 and Fgfr1 promoter methylation revealed changes in the methylation of cytosines in the alcohol group compared with the control group. Moreover, we showed that the altered cytosines coincided with binding motives of several transcription factors. We also found that Fgf-2 and Fgfr1 gene expression was significantly decreased in alcohol-receiving mice compared with control littermates, and that this effect was specifically detected in the dorsomedial striatum, a brain region involved in the circuitry of the reward system. Overall, our data showed alcohol-induced alterations in both mRNA expression and methylation pattern of Fgf-2 and Fgfr1. Furthermore, these alterations showed a reward system regional specificity, therefore, resembling potential targets for future pharmacological interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Drug Addiction)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

32 pages, 476 KiB  
Review
Alcohol Withdrawal and the Associated Mood Disorders—A Review
by Helena Hui Lin Ngui, Audrey Siew Foong Kow, Sally Lai, Chau Ling Tham, Yu-Cheng Ho and Ming Tatt Lee
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 14912; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314912 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3959
Abstract
Recreational use of alcohol is a social norm in many communities worldwide. Alcohol use in moderation brings pleasure and may protect the cardiovascular system. However, excessive alcohol consumption or alcohol abuse are detrimental to one’s health. Three million deaths due to excessive alcohol [...] Read more.
Recreational use of alcohol is a social norm in many communities worldwide. Alcohol use in moderation brings pleasure and may protect the cardiovascular system. However, excessive alcohol consumption or alcohol abuse are detrimental to one’s health. Three million deaths due to excessive alcohol consumption were reported by the World Health Organization. Emerging evidence also revealed the danger of moderate consumption, which includes the increased risk to cancer. Alcohol abuse and periods of withdrawal have been linked to depression and anxiety. Here, we present the effects of alcohol consumption (acute and chronic) on important brain structures—the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the limbic system, and the cerebellum. Apart from this, we also present the link between alcohol abuse and withdrawal and mood disorders in this review, thus drawing a link to oxidative stress. In addition, we also discuss the positive impacts of some pharmacotherapies used. Due to the ever-rising demands of life, the cycle between alcohol abuse, withdrawal, and mood disorders may be a never-ending cycle of destruction. Hence, through this review, we hope that we can emphasise the importance and urgency of managing this issue with the appropriate approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Drug Addiction)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop