Depressive symptoms and readiness to quit smoking among cigarette smokers in outpatient alcohol treatment.

The authors examined whether length of alcohol abstinence and depressive symptoms were related to motivational readiness to consider smoking cessation among patients in alcohol treatment. Participants were adults (N = 253) enrolled in a smoking cessation trial. Controlling for gender, depressive symptoms, and nicotine dependence, hierarchical regression analysis of readiness scores revealed a significant interaction of days since last drink and depressive symptoms. It was found that a greater number of days since last drink was associated with greater readiness, but only among patients with low scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (L. S. Radloff, 1977). The findings suggest that alcoholic smokers with low depressive symptoms are more receptive to quitting smoking after sustained alcohol abstinence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of motivation to change after medical treatment for drinking-related events in adolescents.

Characteristics associated with intention to change drinking were examined in 254 adolescents treated in an emergency department for alcohol. Younger age, living at home, lower baseline level of drinking and drinking problems, greater depression, having penalties for breaking family drinking rules, higher injury severity, being frightened, and being admitted to the hospital predicted greater intention to change drinking at the time of the event. Baseline characteristics related to being in the action stage of change 3 months later were younger age; lower drinking; having penalties for breaking family drinking rules; injury severity; and number of anticipated consequences, including being in trouble with parents. This study has implications for brief interventions that capitalize on potential teachable moments with problem-drinking adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of a mathematical model for chemical peeling of peaches (Prunus persica l.) variety Amarillo Jarillo

A previous model developed by the authors for chemical peeling of spherical foods was applied to peaches, which were assimilated to that geometry. Equations for the prediction of chemical peeling time as a function of temperature; alkali concentration and peeled thickness; and texture changes due to the cooking effect during peeling were established. Likewise, weight loss associated to peeling was determined. A total of 128 experiments were performed, involving caustic soda concentration of 1.6, 3.2, 5.6 and 7.3 (g/100 ml) and temperatures of 70, 80, 90 and 97 °C for peeling times from 0 to 8 min at 1-min intervals. Peeling maps to estimate peeling time for practical peeling conditions, including alkali temperature (70-97 °C), alkali concentration (1.6-7.3 g/100 ml), and peel thickness (0.02-0.05 cm) were developed.     

Cue reactivity as a predictor of drinking among male alcoholics.

Social learning theories suggest that conditioned responses may increase the risk for relapse. Responses to alcohol use cues (cue reactivity) are associated with variables suggestive of risk but little research exists on the relationship of cue reactivity to treatment outcome. Alcoholic men admitted for detoxification to a treatment program (n?=?45) underwent a cue reactivity assessment protocol, and 91% received 3-mo follow-up interviews. Greater salivary reactivity predicted greater frequency of drinking during follow-up. Attentional factors added independent variance to the prediction of drinking outcome, with greater attention to stimulus or to response predicting less drinking. Cue reactivity did not predict length of hospital stay or latency to first drink. Results are discussed in the context of information processing, social learning theories, and clinical implications for relapse prevention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Brief coping skills treatment for cocaine abuse: 12-month substance use outcomes.

Patients (N?=?108) in a study of cocaine-specific coping skills training (CST), which was found to reduce cocaine use during a 3-month follow-up, were followed for an additional 9 months. CST involved coping skills training in the context of high-risk situations. Control treatment used meditation-relaxation. Both were added to comprehensive private substance abuse treatment. Patients in CST who relapsed had significantly fewer cocaine use days than did the control group during the first 6 months, then both conditions did equally well. Patients in CST also drank alcohol more frequently in the last 6 months than did contrast patients but did not differ in heavy drinking days. For cocaine use outcomes, no interaction of treatment was found with gender, education, route of administration, drug use severity, sociopathy, or depression. Implications include the need to investigate different lengths and combinations of treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vitamin A deficiency among preschool children: a re-emerging problem in Costa Rica?

Based on the 1996 National Nutrition Survey, this study shows the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among 567 Costa Rican urban and rural 12-83 months old-children. In overall, the prevalence of VAD (plasma retinol < or = 20 micrograms/dl) was 8.8%. No difference was found even when data were analyzed by area and gender. Around 30% of preschool children were at risk of VAD (plasma retinol between 20.1-30 micrograms/dl). The proportion of children at risk for retinol deficiency was significantly higher in rural area in comparison with urban area (38.9% and 28.0% respectively, p < 0.05). Lineal regression analysis showed that plasma retinol levels were negatively related to the number of family members and positively related to mother's schooling. Our results suggest a possible impairment in vitamin A status of preschool children.     

Cue exposure with coping skills treatment for male alcoholics: A preliminary investigation.

Although early investigations were promising, no controlled follow-up studies have investigated the effectiveness of cue exposure treatment for alcoholics. In this study, inpatient alcoholics received either cue exposure integrated with urge coping skills training (CET; n?=?22) or a contrast condition (CC) involving daily contact with assessment only (n?=?18) in addition to standard treatment. Comprehensive assessment measures were used to investigate change in process and outcome variables. In the 2nd 3 mo after treatment, the CET group included more patients who were completely abstinent, had a higher percentage of abstinent days, and tended to report fewer drinks per day than did patients in the contrast condition. The significantly greater use of coping skills during follow-up by the CET group and the significant relationship of these coping skills to decreased drinking suggest that treatment effects were due, at least in part, to the coping skills training, consistent with recent formulations. Theoretical and treatment implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Naltrexone's effects on reactivity to alcohol cues among alcoholic men.

The mechanisms of naltrexone's effects on urges to drink during abstinence are unclear. Naltrexone may suppress either urges to drink specifically or appetitive responses in general. The effects of naltrexone on cue reactivity to alcoholic and sweet nonalcoholic beverages were investigated. Alcohol-dependent men (N ?=?53) in treatment received naltrexone (50 mg) or placebo. Four hours later, they received baseline assessment, exposure to fruit juice, and exposure to their usual alcoholic beverage in 3-min trials. Naltrexone reduced urge to drink and self-reported attention to the alcohol cues, not at the initial exposure but after repeated exposures to alcohol cues. Naltrexone reduced negative affect across baseline and alcohol trials. No effects of naltrexone on responses to the nonalcoholic appetitive beverage cues were found, suggesting that general appetite suppression does not mediate the effects of naltrexone on urges. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Olanzapine reduces urge to smoke and nicotine withdrawal symptoms in community smokers.

Olanzapine (OLAN), an atypical antipsychotic medication with mixed 5-HT2/DA antagonist properties, was predicted to dose-dependently decrease urge to smoke, withdrawal, and cigarette reinforcement in smokers without psychosis. A double-blind placebo-controlled within-subjects cross-over trial investigated the acute effects of OLAN (0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg; counterbalanced order) in 24 community smokers who underwent 10-hr smoking deprivation. Urge to smoke, tobacco withdrawal, and cigarette reinforcement were assessed with cue reactivity and behavioral choice procedures. OLAN (2.5 mg) reduced withdrawal symptoms before and during cue exposure and decreased urge associated with anticipated positive affect from smoking before and during cue exposure; 5.0 mg OLAN decreased withdrawal only when cues were included. OLAN did not affect preference for cigarette puffs versus money, smoke intake, or urge to smoke associated with negative affect relief. The results indicate a potentially beneficial effect of 2.5 mg OLAN on tobacco withdrawal and urge to smoke. Combined 5HT/DA antagonists should be considered for future development of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of smoking abstinence, smoking cues and nicotine replacement in smokers with schizophrenia and controls.

The mechanisms underlying the low smoking cessation rates among smokers with schizophrenia (SS) are unknown. In this laboratory study, we compared the responses of 21 SS and 21 non-psychiatric controls (CS) to manipulations of 5-hour smoking abstinence, transdermal nicotine replacement (0 mg, 21 mg and 42 mg), and in vivo smoking cues. Results indicate that SS were more sensitive than CS to the effects of acute abstinence on carbon monoxide (CO) boost, but not more sensitive to the effects of abstinence on urge levels or withdrawal symptoms. SS and CS did not differ in urge response to in vivo smoking cues, but SS were less consistent in their reactions. These findings suggest that heightened sensitivity to the effects of abstinence on smoke intake may partially account for the low cessation rates experienced by SS, but other potential mechanisms should be explored using behavioral laboratory models.