2021
Imaging brain cortisol regulation in PTSD with a target for 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1
Bhatt S, Hillmer AT, Rusowicz A, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Najafzadeh S, Kapinos M, Southwick SM, Krystal JH, Carson RE, Huang Y, Cosgrove KP. Imaging brain cortisol regulation in PTSD with a target for 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2021, 131: e150452. PMID: 34651587, PMCID: PMC8516462, DOI: 10.1172/jci150452.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPositron emission tomographyVolume of distributionDehydrogenase type 1Trauma-exposed controlsPTSD groupTranslocator proteinType 1Veterans Affairs (VA) National CenterOverall PTSD severityBrain glucocorticoidBrain immuneMethodsSixteen individualsPeripheral cortisolMicroglial markersImmune suppressionTranslational Science AwardsCortisol levelsNIH National CenterTC groupCortisol regulationEmission tomographyStress disorderLower PTSD symptomsPTSD symptoms
2020
Preliminary in vivo evidence of lower hippocampal synaptic density in cannabis use disorder
D’Souza D, Radhakrishnan R, Naganawa M, Ganesh S, Nabulsi N, Najafzadeh S, Ropchan J, Ranganathan M, Cortes-Briones J, Huang Y, Carson RE, Skosnik P. Preliminary in vivo evidence of lower hippocampal synaptic density in cannabis use disorder. Molecular Psychiatry 2020, 26: 3192-3200. PMID: 32973170, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00891-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHippocampal synaptic densityCannabis use disorderHealthy controlsSynaptic densityPositron emission tomographyUse disordersDSM-5 cannabis use disorderVivo evidenceAdministration of cannabinoidsHippocampal synaptic integrityVerbal memory taskSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AHuman cannabis usersEffects of cannabisWarrants further studyPlasma input functionMemory taskCentrum semiovaleAdult rodentsOne-tissue compartment modelSynaptic integrityHippocampal functionCannabis misuseArterial samplingEmission tomography
2019
The Kappa Opioid Receptor Is Associated With Naltrexone-Induced Reduction of Drinking and Craving
de Laat B, Goldberg A, Shi J, Tetrault JM, Nabulsi N, Zheng MQ, Najafzadeh S, Gao H, Kapinos M, Ropchan J, O'Malley SS, Huang Y, Morris ED, Krishnan-Sarin S. The Kappa Opioid Receptor Is Associated With Naltrexone-Induced Reduction of Drinking and Craving. Biological Psychiatry 2019, 86: 864-871. PMID: 31399255, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.05.021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKappa-opioid receptorsAlcohol use disorderOpioid receptorsUse disordersNonselective opioid receptor antagonistModest clinical effectsEfficacy of naltrexoneOpioid receptor antagonistDSM-IV criteriaPositron emission tomographyAlcohol Urge QuestionnaireNaltrexone initiationNaltrexone therapyClinical effectsReceptor antagonistTherapeutic effectCingulate cortexDrinking paradigmHeavy drinkersBilateral insulaNaltrexoneAlcohol dependenceBrain regionsEmission tomographyPrefrontal cortex
2013
Reductions in Brain 5-HT1B Receptor Availability in Primarily Cocaine-Dependent Humans
Matuskey D, Bhagwagar Z, Planeta B, Pittman B, Gallezot JD, Chen J, Wanyiri J, Najafzadeh S, Ropchan J, Geha P, Huang Y, Potenza MN, Neumeister A, Carson RE, Malison RT. Reductions in Brain 5-HT1B Receptor Availability in Primarily Cocaine-Dependent Humans. Biological Psychiatry 2013, 76: 816-822. PMID: 24433854, PMCID: PMC4037398, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.11.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRegional binding potentialPositron emission tomographyCocaine dependenceEmission tomographyFrontal cortexReceptor availabilityAge-matched healthy control subjectsSignificant gray matter reductionsYears of cocaineIllicit substance abuseHealthy control subjectsDaily tobacco useCocaine-dependent humansGray matter reductionsEffects of cocaineMagnetic resonance imagingSignificant reductionPreclinical evidenceControl subjectsPrimary addictionSerotonin receptorsHealthy subjectsTobacco useMedication developmentAnterior cingulateTracer Kinetic Modeling of [11C]AFM, a New PET Imaging Agent for the Serotonin Transporter
Naganawa M, Nabulsi N, Planeta B, Gallezot JD, Lin SF, Najafzadeh S, Williams W, Ropchan J, Labaree D, Neumeister A, Huang Y, Carson RE. Tracer Kinetic Modeling of [11C]AFM, a New PET Imaging Agent for the Serotonin Transporter. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2013, 33: 1886-1896. PMID: 23921898, PMCID: PMC3851894, DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2013.134.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographySerotonin transporterReference tissue modelArterial input functionOne-tissue modelMultilinear reference tissue modelNew PET imaging agentTwo-tissue modelPET imaging agentHealthy human brainSuitable PET radioligandNew positron emission tomographySERT densityRegional time-activity curvesTime-activity curvesEmission tomography dataRegional bindingEmission tomographyPET radioligandRoutine useInterest analysisNoninvasive methodPositron emission tomography dataImaging agentHuman brainElevated brain cannabinoid CB1 receptor availability in post-traumatic stress disorder: a positron emission tomography study
Neumeister A, Normandin MD, Pietrzak RH, Piomelli D, Zheng MQ, Gujarro-Anton A, Potenza MN, Bailey CR, Lin SF, Najafzadeh S, Ropchan J, Henry S, Corsi-Travali S, Carson RE, Huang Y. Elevated brain cannabinoid CB1 receptor availability in post-traumatic stress disorder: a positron emission tomography study. Molecular Psychiatry 2013, 18: 1034-1040. PMID: 23670490, PMCID: PMC3752332, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2013.61.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAmidesAnalysis of VarianceArachidonic AcidsBrainEndocannabinoidsEthanolaminesFemaleGlyceridesHumansHydrocortisoneImidazolesLogistic ModelsMalePalmitic AcidsPiperidinesPolyunsaturated AlkamidesPyrazolesRadionuclide ImagingReceptor, Cannabinoid, CB1Stress Disorders, Post-TraumaticYoung AdultConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderVolume of distributionCB1 receptor availabilityPositron emission tomographyHC groupReceptor availabilityTC groupCannabinoid type 1 receptorStress disorderPositron emission tomography studyEvidence-based pharmacotherapyEtiology of PTSDType 1 receptorEmission tomography studiesAnandamide concentrationsElevated brainPeripheral levelsHealthy controlsCB1 receptorsUntreated individualsPET scansAnimal modelsCortisol levelsLifetime historyEmission tomography