Catechol-O-methyltransferase and dopamine receptor D4 gene variants: Possible association with substance abuse in Bangladeshi male

Genetic risk of substance abuse is encoded mainly by central neurochemical pathways(mostly dopaminergic system) related to reinforcement and reward. In this study a functionalpolymorphism in Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) (Val158Met) and the Dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) (120 bp tandem duplication) has been studied in substance abused subjects. The study was carried out with 183 substance abused subjects and 175 healthy persons with no history of substance abuse. DNA was extracted and polymorphisms were analyzed using allele-specific PCR. The impact of these two polymorphisms was also analyzed on addictive characteristics (age of starting abuse, a pattern of drug habit, and period of addiction). It was found that only the heterozygous variant of COMT polymorphism (Val/Met) (p<0.05, OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.044–2.658) and both homozygous (p<0.05, OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.193–0.937) and heterozygous (p<0.05, OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.172–0.826) derived variants of DRD4 120 bp tandem duplication were significantly associated with risk of substance abuse compared to controls. In case of association of these polymorphisms with an age of onset, no significant difference was found among three different genotypic groups of COMT polymorphism. Whereas, the homozygous derived variant (240 bp/240 bp) of DRD4 gene was found to have a later age of onset (20.5±0.8) for substance abuse compared to heterozygous (120 bp/240 bp) (19.1±0.8) and wild type homozygous variant (120 bp/120 bp) (16.0±0.5), which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Again, in the case of the pattern of drug habit, the frequency of the Val/Val genotype is higher in polysubstance abused (>2 drugs) subjects (p<0.05) compared to the heterozygous Val/Met containing variants. An association of period of addiction was analyzed with an individual type of substance abuse and found that heroin abused subjects have a significantly higher period of addiction (11.6±1.0) compared to other abusers (p<0.01). Further, it was found that Met/Met containing variants of COMT polymorphism has a more extended period of addiction than other genetic variants in heroin abused subjects. These results indicate that genetic variability may influence the susceptibility to the risk of substance abuse and addictive characteristics.

The Out Chorus

Johnny Hodges’s final days and his death are recounted, his life and influence is summed up, and his impact on jazz compared to that of other alto saxophonists is assessed. The details of his death, supplemented by a first-ever review of his death certificate, are described, along with those of his funeral, at which a moving eulogy by Duke Ellington was read. Hodges’s financial success at the end of his long career is calculated by value of the estate he left. The number of references to him in popular culture is small compared to Charlie Parker, his successor on the alto throne, whose membership in the eccentric fraternity of beboppers and drug habit made him more newsworthy than the stolid but dependable Hodges. Hodges is compared to several altos who followed him and is found to be sui generis, a testimony to his unique sound.

The Rabbit Strays

The chapter describes Johnny Hodges’s break with the Ellington orchestra in the early 1950s. He had occasionally threatened to leave the band, and in early 1951 he did so with the encouragement of record producer Norman Granz, who signed him to a recording contract and financed his break. Hodges took two Ellingtonians with him, and among other noteworthy musicians who joined was a young John Coltrane, whom Hodges had to fire because of his drug habit. Hodges said he and his co-conspirators made the break because they wanted to return to simpler music than the ambitious works that Ellington would sometimes write. The economic reasons for the break are also discussed. The big bands were suffering, and Ellington had announced a pay cut. Ultimately Hodges found that he was not suited to be a bandleader; he disbanded the group and returned to Ellington in 1955.

PENENTUAN TINGKAT AKTIFITAS CHOLINESTERASE DARAH YANG KEBIASAAN MENGGUNAKAN OBAT ANTINYAMUK BAKAR PADA PENDUDUK KELURAHAN JATI PADANG

ABSTRACTThis study aims to determine the level of blood cholinesterase activity using a drug habit antinyamuk fuel (OANB), in Kelurahan Jati Padang and analyzed at the Laboratory of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine in April-November 2010. The population is all residents Jati Padang village. The sample is using drugs antinyamuk fuel that is 30 people with sampling techniques eccidental sampling, as control is a resident who does not use drugs antinyamuk (Joan). The results showed: the population of 74 people who came, in getting 30 people to use OANB, 39 people who do not use OANB (liquid and lotion), 5 people who did not use Joan (as control). The average level of blood cholinesterase activity using OANB is 7294.79 u / l, and that does not use Joan is 7645.97 u / l. In conclusion, the average level of blood cholinesterase activity in the population there is a tendency Kelurahan Jati Padang cholinesterase activity levels decreased when compared to controls. Decrease in the average value of cholinesterase activity and a decrease of 5% is still within normal limits. Keywords: drug antinyamuk fuel, cholinesterase

Sex-habit and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs) Among The Drug Abusers Undergoing Detoxification

Drug abuse is increasing alarmingly with time among the young-adults in Bangladesh. The objective of the study was to investigate sex-habit and STIs of the drug abusers. A total of 1076 drug abusers undergoing detoxification voluntarily at the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Centre (CTC), Tejgaon, Dhaka were investigated from September 2010 to August 2011. They were selected consecutively on the basis of defined selection criteria. Research instrument was an interviewer questionnaire and blood specimen. Results showed that 82.1% (n=883) were heterosexual and 16.2% (n=174) had no sex. The majority of them (55.3%, n=595) had enjoyed sex with multiple partners. They enjoyed sex with commercial sex sellers (11.1%, n=119) but majority of them (34.2%, n=368) had sex with all categories including spouse. Results also showed that majority of them had unethical sex, of which 24.9%(n=268) had experience about extramarital sex and 30.4%(n=327) premarital sex respectively. Around 55.0%(n=594) of them did not use condom during sex and 21.9%(n=236) used it occasionally. The 14.5%(n=156) of them had signsymptoms of gonorrhea and syphilis, of which 1.8%(n=19) had genital ulcer, 3.7%(n=40) genital discharge and 9.0%(n=97) had both ulcer and discharge respectively. In laboratory analysis, 16.3%(n=175) had STIs positive results, of which 9.9%(n=107) were RPR reactive, 1.8%(n=19) URS reactive and 4.6%(n=49) both RPR and URS reactive respectively. In drug habit, results also showed that 82.6% (n=889) of them had been using heroin and the rests used cannabis (8.6%, n=93), phensedyl (5.4%, n=58) and injections (3.3%, n=25) respectively. Forty two percent (n=455) of them had been abusing it for 1-5 years, 31.4% (n=338) for 6-10 years and 26.3%(n=283) for 11-20 years. Most of them (91.1%, n=980) used multiple illicit drugs and their ultimate choice of drug was heroin (77.3%, n=832). About 22.6%(n=243) addicts abused injection drugs in their lifetime. Altering behaviors, especially their drug habit and sexual lifestyle are still the only applicable ways to stop this human catastrophe. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v14i1.14529 J MEDICINE 2013; 14 : 5-10