Norway Background Research Articles

Hard drug use in Norway

E.J. Amundsen & A. Bretteville-Jensen: Hard drug use in Norway Background Hard drug use has a variety of heavy personal, social and economic costs. Knowing the size of the hard drug use population, the types of drugs consumed and modes of consumption can help policy makers design better policies and facilitate decision making. Intravenous drug users constitute one subgroup of hard drug users. The aim of this article is to describe 1) how the prevalence of intravenous drug use is estimated in Norway and 2) how available data sources give insight about other types of hard drug use even though we can not estimate the true extent of such use. Some policy consequences are outlined. Methods/Materials Overdose deaths and the mortality multiplier method were used to estimate the prevalence of intravenous drug users. Other materials were used to supply the picture of hard drug use in Norway. Results/Findings The prevalence of intravenous drug users in Norway increased steadily from the early 1980s, peaked in 2001, decreased until 2003 and then stabilized. Heroin is the substance of choice of most hard drug users in Norway and injection is the preferred means of intake. Amphetamines are also injected or consumed in other ways, while heavy use of cocaine in the treatment population is low. The use of more than one substance is common. Conclusion Preventing and reducing heroin injection is the main challenge facing Norwegian policy makers. Other drugs pose a problem as well. Wide availability of substitution treatment has a successful record of helping many former heroin users avoid heroin. The risk of relapsing remains high, however, and of dying after drop out or completion. Current knowledge of hard drug use is fragmented and improved monitoring of this high risk group should be prioritized.

Qualitative and quantitative differences between social and non-social cognition.

Event Abstract Back to Event Qualitative and quantitative differences between social and non-social cognition. Dar Meshi1, 2*, Hauke R. Heekeren2, 3 and Guido Biele4 1 Humboldt Universität Berlin, Center for Integrative Life Sciences, Germany 2 Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Education and Psychology, Germany 3 Max Planck Institute, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany 4 University of Oslo, Department of Psychology, Norway Background: Are there dedicated neural substrates for cognitive processes related to social interaction with other humans? To answer this question, researchers have employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare brain activity during social and non-social interaction (Adolphs, 2010). For example, interaction with humans can be contrasted with similar interaction with non-human machines like computers. This research has demonstrated differences in the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal between the two conditions. However, the categorical type of change seen in brain activity has not been clearly delineated in the literature. This is important, because qualitative BOLD differences provide the clearest evidence for dedicated neural substrates of social cognition. Thus, we set out to categorize the observed BOLD differences as either quantitative or qualitative. Method: We conducted an exhaustive pubmed search to find and then review fMRI papers that reported finding a difference in brain activation between interaction with humans and interaction with computers. Based on criteria proposed by Henson (2006) we classified results as showing no difference, a quantitative difference, or a qualitative difference between the two modes of interaction. The criteria for a quantitative difference consisted of a significant change in the BOLD signal in the same brain area between the human and non-human conditions. The criterion for a qualitative difference consisted of a significant interaction between experimental conditions and brain regions. Specifically, for two conditions (C1, C2) and two brain regions (R1, R2), three conditions needed to be met: (1) C1 and C2 must lead to significant activation both in R1 and R2. (2) C1 must lead to greater activation than C2 in R1. (3) C2 must lead to greater activation than C1 in R2. Result: This review found ample evidence for quantitative differences between the two modes; many papers reported significant differences in the same brain regions between the social and non-social conditions. However, we could not identify a single paper that demonstrated a qualitative difference in brain activation between social and non-social interaction. One caveat to our finding is that given the limited temporal and spatial resolution of fMRI, different neural substrates may actually appear as activation in the same region. Thus, a qualitative difference may appear as a quantitative one. Nevertheless, our analysis is valid given the current state of technology. We conclude our assessment by outlining an analysis strategy to identify qualitative differences between the neural substrates of interaction with humans and computers. References Adolphs, R. (2010) Conceptual challenges and directions for social neuroscience. Neuron. Mar 25;65(6):752-67. Henson, R. (2006) Forward inference using functional neuroimaging: dissociations versus associations. Trends Cogn Sci. Feb;10(2):64-9. Keywords: computer, fMRI analysis, social cognition Conference: Decision Neuroscience From Neurons to Societies, Berlin, Germany, 23 Sep - 25 Sep, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Abstracts Citation: Meshi D, Heekeren HR and Biele G (2010). Qualitative and quantitative differences between social and non-social cognition.. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: Decision Neuroscience From Neurons to Societies. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.82.00036 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 19 Aug 2010; Published Online: 07 Sep 2010. * Correspondence: Dr. Dar Meshi, Humboldt Universität Berlin, Center for Integrative Life Sciences, Berlin, Germany, darmeshi@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Dar Meshi Hauke R Heekeren Guido Biele Google Dar Meshi Hauke R Heekeren Guido Biele Google Scholar Dar Meshi Hauke R Heekeren Guido Biele PubMed Dar Meshi Hauke R Heekeren Guido Biele Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Altered emotional behaviors in the diabetes mellitus OLETF type 1 congenic rat

GPR10 is a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed in thalamic and hypothalamic brain regions, including the reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN) and periventricular nucleus (Pev), and the endogenous ligand for this receptor, prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP), has demonstrated regulatory effects on the stress response. We produced a congenic rat by introducing the Dmo1 allele from the OLETF rat which encodes the amino acid sequences of GPR10 with a truncated NH 2-terminus, into the Brown–Norway background. Using receptor autoradiography, we determined a lack of specific [ 125I]PrRP binding in the RTN and Pev of these mutant rats compared to the control rats. Furthermore, intracerebroventricular injection of PrRP did not induce a significant increase of c- fos-like immunoreactivity in the paraventricular nucleus of the mutant rats compared to the control rats. The mutant rats also displayed a less anxious-like phenotype in three behavioral-based models of anxiety-like behavior (open field, elevated plus maze and defensive withdrawal test). These data show the mutant congenic rat, of which GPR10 neither binds nor responds to PrRP, expresses less anxious-like phenotypes. On the basis of these observations, the GPR10 might be a novel target for the developing new drugs against anxiety and/or other stress-related diseases.

736 Mechanism behind pre- and postejection velocity spikes in normal left ventricular myocardium

s S123 Eur J Echocardiography Abstracts Supplement, December 2006 736 Mechanism behind preand postejection velocity spikes in normal left ventricular myocardium E.W. Remme 1 ; O.A. Smiseth 1 ; T. Helle-Valle 1 ; A. Opdahl 1 ; E. Pettersen 1 ; T. Vartdal 1 ; T. Edvardsen 1 ; E. Lyseggen 1 1Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Center, Cardiology (Ifkf) Dept., Oslo, Norway Background: The velocity trace of normal left ventricular (LV) wall motion has distinct waves corresponding to the different phases of the cardiac cycle. However, there are two unexplained velocity spikes in the trace one just before and one just after the ejection wave. We hypothesize that the preand postejection velocity spikes are due to early-systolic shortening and late-systolic lengthening that is interrupted by mitral (MVC) and aortic valve closure (AVC), respectively. Methods and results: LV longand short-axis diameters were measured by sonomicrometry in 11 anesthetised dogs. Myocardial shortening started prior to MVC (21±10 ms). There was excellent agreement between MVC and interruption of the initial shortening during early systole (4±7 ms) where the interruption was defined as peak deceleration of shortening. Onset of lengthening preceded AVC by (31±15 ms). Interruption of the late systolic lengthening, defined as peak deceleration of lengthening, corresponded (0±3 ms) to AVC. We further investigated if abolishing aortic and mitral valve closure by stenting the valves would eliminate the preand postejection velocity spikes in separate experiments. Stenting of the mitral valve essentially abolished the preejection velocity spike, and stenting the aortic valve essentially abolished the postejection velocity spike. In a group of 10 healthy individuals LV longitudinal and radial shortening were measured by speckle tracking echocardiography. Peak deceleration of the early systolic shortening coincided (2±14 ms) with MVC, while peak deceleration of late systolic lengthening coincided (5±12 ms) with AVC. Conclusion: This study support the hypothesis that the normal LV preand postejection velocity spikes are attributed to mitral and aortic valve closure that temporarily interrupt early systolic shortening and late systolic lengthening, respectively.

Further studies on the latitudinal and temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants in Norwegian and U.K. background air.

Data are presented for PBDEs, PCBs, and selected organochlorine compounds, measured at background locations by passive air samplers (semipermeable membrane devices, SPMDs) along a latitudinal transect from the south of the U.K. to the north of Norway during 2000-2002. This work is part of an ongoing air sampling campaign in which PCB data were previously obtained in 1994-1996 and 1998-2000. Comparisons of the masses of chemicals sequestered by the SPMDs during these different time intervals are used to investigate spatial and temporal trends. The study yielded examples of compounds that increase, decrease, or remain uniform with latitude, suggestive of differences in the relative importance of deposition versus atmospheric reaction in controlling their long-range atmospheric transport potential. The main constituents of the penta-BDE product were detected at amounts equivalent to 2.0 (range 1.1-2.5) and 1.1 (0.8-1.6) pg m(-3) for the U.K. and Norway background sites, respectively. Fractionation of PBDEs was observed, because the amounts of lighter BDEs decreased with latitude, while the heavier molecular weight congeners were quite uniformly distributed. In contrast, the sequestered amounts of the lighter PCBs were uniformly distributed with latitude, with heavier PCBs decreasing. Sequestered amounts of hexachlorobenzene increased with latitude. Preliminary PCB atmospheric clearance rates were derived using the 1994-1996, 1998-2000, and 2000-2002 data. They averaged ca. 3.5 years for all congeners/locations. No systematic differences in congeners or locations were noted, supporting the hypothesis that the underlying trends in European background air are still controlled by primary, rather than secondary, sources.