The importance of targeting certain stages in the life cycle of the virus for antiviral therapy is discussed with reference to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1. Research conducted on a core antigen, p24, is described. (MSE)

Discusses the findings of a study that involves the testing of the pharmaceutical Ampakines on laboratory rats. Rats administered Ampakines learn remarkably quickly to navigate new mazes. The question now is does the drug make the rats alert or memory enhanced. Implications for treatment in humans is discussed. (ZWH)

Fourteen autistic children (ages 5-13) were administered Org 2766 (a synthetic analog of the adrenocorticotrophic hormone 4-9) or a placebo for 4 weeks. The hormone appeared to decrease stereotypic behavior and increase such behaviors as "change toys,""locomote," and "talk," though Aberrant Behavior Checklist ratings…

Use of lithium with mentally retarded individuals with psychiatric conditions and/or behavior disturbances is discussed. The paper describes components of an adequate clinical trial and reviews case studies and double-blind cases. The paper concludes that aggression is the best indicator for lithium use, and reviews treatment parameters and…

Summarizes data pertaining to separate and combined effects of cognitive-behavioral and psychopharmacologic treatments for obesity and bulimia nervosa. Anorexiant medication appears to enhance restraint and facilitates weight loss with behavioral interventions in the treatment of obesity, but relapse occurs once medication is withdrawn.…

An algorithm presenting questions allowing prediction of the major type of biological activity elicited by a steroid hormone structure is designed to help students organize their approach to the interpretation of the complex structures and permit independent application of logical thought processes in pharmacological identification of other drug…

Presents a case study on a 19-year-old seaman, without previous psychiatric difficulty, who ingested fifty 500 mg tablets of acetaminophen so as to avoid a frightening event. Two medical doctors comment on the case and suggest appropriate reactions to such events. Includes a discussion on terminology involving the word "suicide." (RJM)

Uses an interdisciplinary approach in an organic chemistry course which integrates a pharmacology framework to incorporate meaningful connections between biology and chemistry. (YDS)

Examined the relationship between therapeutic alliance and treatment outcome for depressed outpatients who received interpersonal psychotherapy, imipramine with clinical management, or placebo with clinical management. Clinical raters scored videotapes of early, middle, and late therapy sessions for 225 cases (619 sessions). Results indicate the…

This article reviews basic literature on behavioral pharmacology and integrates these findings with existing applied research regarding psychotropic medication. Suggestions are provided for improving research practices, increasing the diversity of people in decision-making regarding medication use, and developing consumer-friendly strategies for…

Marion D. Francis and Rosemary L. Centner tell the story of a special group of compounds, developments at their home company, Procter and Gamble, and contributions by researchers in Europe and the U.S., in "The Development of Diphosphonates as Significant Health Care Products."

The use of computational chemistry and the protein data bank (PDB) to understand and predict the chemical and molecular basis involved in the drug-receptor interactions is discussed. A geometrical and chemical overview of the great structural similarity in the substrate and inhibitor is provided.

The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) is one of the most widely used measures in psychiatric outcome and clinical psychopharmacology research. To date, however, research on the psychometric properties of the expanded version of the BPRS (BPRS-E) has been limited. An exploratory factor analysis (n = 360) using maximum likelihood extraction with…

A 12-year-old boy with no psychiatric history and no evidence of substance use presents with his first manic episode. Throughout the past 4 weeks, his family, school, and friends have noted distinct changes in his mood and behavior. His mood has oscillated between euphoria and severe irritability, with little or no provocation. He has been awake…

Aminoglycoside antibiotics, commonly prescribed for adults and children to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, are potentially ototoxic, often causing irreversible damage to the auditory and vestibular systems. Ototoxic hearing loss usually begins at the higher frequencies and can progress to lower frequencies necessary for understanding…