MR spectroscopy glutamate measures reflect craving for heroin in addicts
New MR spectroscopy findings indicate that changes in brain glutamate levels reflect changes in heroin craving among addicts during methadone maintenance therapy. MRS may eventually help predict whether addicts will relapse after treatment.
New MR spectroscopy findings indicate that changes in brain glutamate levels reflect changes in heroin craving among addicts during methadone maintenance therapy. MRS may eventually help predict whether addicts will relapse after treatment.
Animal studies have previously shown that glutamate is involved in the development and expression of drug addiction. Drug exposure and withdrawal change the glutamate levels in the anterior cingulate cortex, ventral striatum, thalamus, and hippocampus.
Dr. Mark Greenwald and colleagues at Wayne State University established for the first time that glutamate changes can be measured in humans. Their data demonstrate a significant correlation between glutamate levels and heroin craving during methadone detoxification therapy.
Six heroin addicts aged 31 to 55 years and healthy age-matched controls participated in the study.
Baseline H-1 MR spectroscopic scans were completed several days after the start ofa methadone treatment regimen. Follow-up MRS evaluations were performed about one month after the baseline scan.All patients showed significantly lower glutamate levels in the anterior cingulate while they received the high methadone dosage than during lower dose administrations (p
Mammography Study Compares False Positives Between AI and Radiologists in DBT Screening
May 8th 2025For DBT breast cancer screening, 47 percent of radiologist-only flagged false positives involved mass presentations whereas 40 percent of AI-only flagged false positive cases involved benign calcifications, according to research presented at the recent American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) conference.
