Thesis (M. Ed. (Educational Management)) --University of Limpopo, 2011

Chronic pain is a major healthcare concern that directly affects over one hundred million people in the United States alone. While current treatment options like opioids and NSAIDs are effective, they are with significant drawbacks that prevent long term use. It is important to identify and understand new druggable targets for the treatment of pain. Recent findings have demonstrated substance P functions in the RVM to maintain hypersensitivity to noxious heat stimuli in models of persistent peripheral inflammatory injury in a manner dependent on presynaptic NMDA receptors. What remains unclear is how substance P assumes this pronociceptive role following peripheral inflammatory injury. The experiments detailed in this thesis investigated whether the levels and or release of substance P in the RVM was altered following peripheral inflammatory injury. The effect of peripheral inflammatory injury on levels of substance P in the RVM was tested at several time points. The data show that there were no changes in substance P levels in the ipsilateral or contralateral RVM of CFA injected rats compared to their saline controls at any of the time points tested. To assess whether changes in substance P levels occurred in a subset of neurons within the RVM, computer aided densitometry analysis was used to measure substance P immunoreactivity in sections from the RVM of rats treated with CFA or saline. Substance P immunoreactivity was increased in the ipsilateral RVM of the CFA group compared to the corresponding saline sections at the 4 day, but not the 2 week time point. No other changes were observed. Electron microscopy was used to demonstrate the presence of the NMDA receptor and substance P on the same axon terminals within the RVMs of rats treated with either CFA or saline. This colocalization is significant because it identifies NMDA receptors in position to regulate the release of substance P from axon terminals in the RVM. There were no obvious differences in the degree of colocalization between CFA and saline groups. Functional experiments were devised that tested whether substance P release (basal and evoked) in the RVM was increased following peripheral inflammatory injury, and whether said release was regulated by NMDA receptors. The data show that neither basal nor evoked (potassium or veratridine) release was increased following peripheral inflammatory injury. NMDA was able to facilitate the release of substance P in both the CFA and saline treatment groups, but the facilitation was not different between groups. In the absence of any depolarization stimulus, NMDA was unable to elicit any release of substance P beyond basal values. All told, the data show substance P levels in the RVM are not altered by peripheral inflammatory injury. Additionally, neither basal nor evoked release of substance P is altered by peripheral inflammatory injury. The data provide functional and anatomical evidence for modulation of substance P release by glutamate acting at presynaptic NMDA receptors, but do not support the idea of differential modulation of substance P release following peripheral inflammatory injury.

Bibliography: leaves 180-199. / xvii, 199, [68] leaves, [1] leaf of plates : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Primary aim was to determine whether levels of the endogenous peptide substance P (SP) would parallel and reflect the reported increased levels of the trophic agent nerve growth factor which is associated with the development of sympathetic hyperinnervation (and ultimately hypertension) in the genetic animal model for hypertension, the spontaneously hypertensive rat. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, 1995

The status of athletic department ATOD policies has received limited attention. Few studies have examined the extent to which athletic trainers are currently involved in developing and revising their drug education and prevention policies. This study compared the perceptions of head athletic trainers from NCAA member Divisions I, II and III toward the status of their current ATOD policies and what they would ideally like to see in their athletic departments. Policy issues were related to each of the following four domains, 1) policy implementation; 2) educational programs; 3) ATOD policy enforcement; 4) athletic trainer participation in developing and evaluating ATOD policies. A web-based questionnaire was designed to collect data. Responses were collected from (353) head athletic trainers at three NCAA member institutions. Conveying ATOD policies to visiting student athletes related to the use of drugs banned by the NCAA during recruitment visits was the highest priority among HATS in three NCAA divisions. Athletic trainers from all divisions wanted to see ATOD education programs scheduled closer to athletic events when the potential for drug use could increase. Drug enforcement policies related to the consequences of testing positive for using a banned drug after a second or a third time by athletes was a high priority for Division I and III HATS. Division II trainers reported that mandatory drug testing was also a high priority. More Division I NCAA member institutions had evaluated their ATOD policies during the past year compared to Division I and III members. Participation in developing and revising athletic department and team ATOD policies was an important priority for head athletic trainers. HATS who were more involved in developing ATOD policies mentioned that they gained a better understanding of drug abuse and drug testing issues when they were part of their athletic departments' policy making process. / Graduation date: 2004

The subject of drug and alcohol abuse on college campuses across the country is the concern of many college administrators. There exists a relatively high consumption pattern of drug and alcohol abuse among college students when compared to the general population. This pattern of alcohol abuse has remained stable despite the presence of substance abuse programs on campuses that are specifically targeted toward the student population. There exists little research on how these programs operate and how they address the problem of substance abuse on campuses. Most of the research that exists is of survey design. This study examined through a descriptive case study, the substance abuse programs in three public universities in Oregon. The study used descriptive case study to describe what components comprised the programs as well as how the programs functioned under the various organizational structures. Three organizational structures were identified. The first university's organizational structure was under the health center, both administratively and physically. The second university studied had part of the program under the counseling center and other components under the athletic department and the health center. The third university had what was termed as a de-centralized structure, with the treatment component under the health center, the prevention component under an academic department, and the peer education component under the health center. The various organizational structures were also examined for their influence on the respective program. The 1989 Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act Amendment, required institutions of higher education receiving federal funds to have programs. The impact of the Act on both the program and the organizational structure of the program was also examined. The study demonstrated an impact of the legislation on the programs in the form of funding that made possible new services. The study also suggested an influence of the organizational structure on the programs in the form of the funding of new program components that changed the organizational structure. Implications for programming as well as research as a result of this study's findings are presented. Recommendations for program models are also presented. / Graduation date: 1994

This investigation assessed the effectiveness of an adolescent substance abuse treatment program that incorporated "Rites of Passage." Named Gender Based Treatment (GBT), the treatment program sought to address the adolescents' developmental needs through the use of rituals, myth and story telling, and rites of initiation. Employing quantitative and qualitative analysis, this investigation assessed and described the GBT program over a nine month period. The quantitative data analysis revealed a change in the positive direction after the treatment for most of the subjects. Of the subjects who met the Follow-up Structured Interview criteria, six out of eight reported being alcohol and drug free 30 days following treatment. Two subjects reported relapses and one subject reported a minor incident with the legal system. The qualitative data collected raised concerns regarding (a) the "common vision" of the staff; (b) the awareness level of the staff regarding the cultural assumptions and the moral/political implications of the GBT; (c) the contradictory messages being sent regarding smoking, gender relations, power, and sexism; and (d) the interest, engagement, and impact of the GBT on the subjects. This investigation revealed the accuracy in which the GBT matched the recommendations made in the substance abuse literature. It is speculated that an interaction effect between the traditional form of treatment and the new GBT, positively influenced subjects' abstinence and relapse rate, illegal behavior, self-esteem and coping behaviors. Further speculation regarding the theoretical implications for this study point to Social Learning Theory, or modeling as a potent variable. It is hypothesized that the staff members' involvement in the planning and implementing this new form of treatment had a positive influence on the staff as a whole and thereby positively influenced the adolescents in treatment. / Graduation date: 1993

Alcohol and drug abuse are strong predictors of suicide. While screening methods have proven effective at identifying and treating substance abuse in non-treatment-seeking users (e.g., screening and brief intervention [SBI]), less attention has been given to the co-occurrence of suicidality among this population, including its correlates and etiology. The current study addresses this gap by presenting data from early adult emergency department (ED) patients (mean age = 27; N = 505), screened for substance abuse and suicidal ideation. Prevalence of past year ideation was high (15%). Results demonstrated a significant and positive indirect effect of cocaine use severity on likelihood of suicidal ideation, mediated through family support. The implications for SBI practices in the ED and suicide etiology among non-treatment-seeking substance abusers are discussed.

Texte remanié de : PhD Dissertation : Philosophie ancienne : Pisa, Scuola normale superiore : 2004. / Seule la deuxième partie de l'ouvrage constitue la version remaniée de la thèse de Gabriele Galluzzo. Table des matières. Bibliogr. p. [213]-230.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-64).

South Africa is one of the six southern African countries where the HIV levels for childbearing women are 20% or higher. In South Africa, like most countries, behaviours such as multiple sexual partners, unprotected sex and drug use expose individuals to the risk of HIV infection and drive the HIV epidemic. Thus, research on sexual risk behaviours associated with HIV/AIDS is vital in identifying target groups at risk for HIV. Previous research has shown a link between substance use and sexual risk behaviour however in South Africa research within this field is still evolving. Furthermore, research on substance abuse among women in South Africa is limited. In the light of increasing HIV infection in women and the possible influence substance use has on sexual risk behaviours including HIV, exploring the association between substance use and sexual risk behaviours among women would provide valuable information. Socio-cultural and situational factors are explored within substance use and sexual risk behaviours as women's lives occur with realm of individual, family and community. The sample was drawn from an Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centre situated in the Durban area. Study participants included Black/African, White, Indian and Coloured women who were admitted to the treatment centre for alcohol abuse. One focus group discussion and six in-depth interviews were conducted with women to understand the socio-cultural and situational context of substance abuse and sexual risk-taking behaviours (including HIV/AIDS). Substance abuse emerged from women's lack of coping mechanisms to deal with poor relationships and lack of employment which led to financial dependence on their partners. Women reported that within their settings, alcohol can be related to sexual risk behaviours because alcohol tends to lead to unsafe sexual behaviours. Women reported that alcohol use facilitates intimacy and rapport between couples thus some women tended to consume alcohol. Women reported that knowledge of safe and unsafe sex is known however implementation is difficult because condom use requires her partner's co-operation. Women were financially and emotionally dependent on their partners, social norms which determine women's role in society and sexual relationships governed their behaviour. Partner violence was a common feature among women which impacted on women's ability to negotiate condom use. The paper discusses the intrapersonal, interpersonal and contextuall situational factors that influence substance use and sexual risk behaviours in these women's lives. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.