• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aims to identify temperament and characteristics of cannabis and methamphetamine abusers for elucidating psycho-biological variables related to certain substance abuse. Methods : A total of 320 patients who registered in the 'Hepatitis C cohorts study of intravenous drug users' between March 2006 and March 2010 participated in this study. Data on demographic variables were obtained and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and measures for nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, depression and anxiety were assessed. After comparing TCI between cannabis, methamphetamine, and co-abusers, correlations between TCI and other clinical variables were examined. Results : The methamphetamine abuser group showed significantly higher scores in Novelty Seeking (NS2) and Harm Avoidance (HA3) in temperament than the cannabis abuser and co-abuser groups, whereas the cannabis abuser group had higher scores in purposefulness (SD2), congruent second nature (SD5), and self-directedness (SD) in character than the methamphetamine abuser group. In addition, temperaments and characters correlated with various psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions : We found the differences in temperament and characters among cannabis abusers, methamphetamine abusers. These findings might contribute to further understanding of mechanisms of cannabis and methamphetamine abuse.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.356-361
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• 1993

A sensitive method for the determination of methamphetamine(MA) and amphetamine(AM) in hair was developed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using stable isotope-labeled internal standards, amphetamine-d$_{5}$ and methamphetamine-d$_{5}$. Hair sample was washed with MeOH, incubated with MeOH(I% HCI) overnight at $37^{\circ}C$ while stirring and extracted using solid phase extraction column on a vacuum manifold. The extract obtained was pentafluoropropionated, and applied to GC/MS. The calibration curves of MA and AM were linear from 2.5 to 250 ng (r>0.99 for both). The limit of detection was 0.1 ng/mg in hair and cut-off level was set at 0.25 ng/mg for both. Hair samples of 27 MA abusers showed positive results in the range 0.7 to 106.8 ng/mg. AM, its metabolite, was detected in 20 out of 27 samples. The ratio of MA versus AM was 4.6~38.3 in specimens. Hair analysis for methamphetamine by GC/MS is an effective method for identifying long-term drug abusers.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.481-488
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• 2005

Purpose: Functional imaging of dopamine transporter (DAT) defines integrity of the dopaminergic system, and DAT is the target site of drugs of abuse such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Functional imaging the DAT may be a sensitive and selective indicator of neurotoxic change by the drug. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical implications of qualitative/quantitative analyses of dopamine transporter imaging in methamphetamine abusers. Materials and Methods: Six detoxified methamphetamine abusers (abuser group) and 4 volunteers (control group) were enrolled in this study. Brain MRI was performed in all of abuser group. Abuser group underwent psychiatric and depression assessment using brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD), respectively. All of the subjects underwent I-123 IPT SPECT (IPT SPECT). IPT SPECT image was analysed with visual qualitative method and quantitative method using basal ganglia dopamine transporter (DAT) specific/non-specific binding ratio (SBR). Comparison of DAT SBR between abuser and control groups was performed. We also performed correlation tests between psychiatric and depression assessment results and DAT SBR in abuser group. Results: All of abuser group showed normal MRI finding, but had residual psychiatric and depressive symptoms, and psychiatric and depressive symptom scores were exactly correlated (r=1.0, p=0.005) each other. Five of them showed abnormal finding on qualitative visual I-123 IPT SPECT Abuser group had lower basal ganglia DAT SBR than that of control ($2.38{\pm}0.20\;vs\;3.04{\pm}0.27$, p=0.000). Psychiatric and depressive symptoms were negatively well correlated with basal ganglia DAT SBR (r=-0.908, p=0.012, r=-0.924, p=0.009). Conclusion: These results suggest that dopamine transporter imaging using I-123 IPT SPECT may be used to evaluate dopaminergic system of the basal ganglia and the clinical status in methamphetamine abusers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.2 s.38
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• pp.172-179
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• 1992

The author investigated the zinc concentrations in sera of 110 methamphetaimine abusers (male 87, female 23) and of 41 healthy official workers(male 29, female 12) using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer. The serum zinc concentrations were analysed according to hepatitis C virus antibody(Anti HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) value in both groups. The analytical results were obtained as follows 1. The mean zinc concentration of MAP abuser group($298.5{\pm]246.9{\mu}g/100ml$) was 2.5 times higher than that of control group($118.8{\pm}25.4{\mu}g/100ml$). 2. The distributions of zinc concentration in both groups were skewed pattern. 3. The zinc concentrations were higher in Anti HCV-positive group and abnormal ALT value group than Anti HCV-negative group and normal ALT value group. But HBs-Ag positive group had lower zinc concentration than HBs-Ag negative group. 4. The number of anti HCV-positive subjects was increased and the zinc concentrations were decreasd in proportion to the abusing duration of MAP.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.275.1-275.1
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• 2003

Because people who take more than two drugs have increases, a simple and sensitive method for the simultaneous analysis of amphetamine, methamphetamine and nalbuphine in urine was developed. After alkalinization of the urine samples with 6 N-NaOH, the analytes were extracted using ethyl acetate, derivatized with MSTFA : TSIM : TMCS (= 100 : 2 : 5) prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) analysis with selected ion monitoring. (omitted)