Twenty-six women (8 non-smokers, age 36.0 +/- 13.4 years;

19 smokers, age 34.6 +/- 8.9 years) and 25 men (8 non-smokers, age 37.9 +/- 13.8 years; 17 smokers, 34.1 +/- 12.4 years) were imaged using [123I]iomazenil and single-photon emission computed tomography. Smokers were imaged at baseline 7 hours after the last cigarette. A significantly great number of men were able to abstain from smoking for 1 week (P=0.003). There selleck inhibitor were no significant differences in nicotine dependence and cigarette craving, mood or pain sensitivity between male and female smokers. There was a significant effect of gender across all brain regions (frontal, parietal, anterior cingulate, temporal and occipital cortices, and cerebellum; P<0.05), with all women (smokers and non-smokers combined) having a higher GABAA-BZR availability than all men. There was a negative correlation between GABAA-BZR availability and craving (P0.02) and pain sensitivity (P=0.04) in female smokers but not male smokers. This study provides further evidence of a sex-specific regulation of GABAA-BZR availability in humans and

demonstrates the potential for GABAA-BZRs to mediate tobacco smoking craving and pain symptoms differentially in female and male smokers.”
“Background: Timing and type of chemoprophylaxis (CP) that should be used in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unclear. We reviewed our institutions experience with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated heparin (UFH) in TBI.

Methods: The charts of all TBI patients with a head abbreviated injury selleck products severity score > 2 (HAIS) and an intensive care unit length of stay > 48 hours admitted during a 42-month period between 2006 and 2009 were reviewed. CP was initiated after intracranial hemorrhage was considered stable. We reviewed all operative notes and radiologic reports in these patients

to analyze the rate of significant intracranial hemorrhagic complications, deep venous thrombosis, or pulmonary embolus.

Results: A total of 386 patients with TBI were identified; 158 were treated with LMWH and 171 were learn more treated with UFH. HAIS was significantly different between the LMWH (3.8 +/- 0.7) and UFH (4.1 +/- 0.7) groups; the time to initiation of CP was not. The UFH group had a significantly higher rate of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus. Progression of ICH that occurred after the initiation of CP was significantly higher in the UFH-treated patients (59%) when compared with those treated with LMWH (40%). Two patients in the UFH group required craniotomy after the initiation of CP.

Conclusion: LMWH is an effective method of CP in patients with TBI, providing a lower rate of venous thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications when compared with UFH.