Many cigarette smokers express a desire to quit smoking, but ~85% of cessation attempts fail. In our attempt to delineate genetic modulators of smoking persistence, we have earlier shown that a locus within an ~250 kb haplotype block spanning the 5' untranslated region region of insulin-degrading enzyme is associated with serum cotinine levels; the study's measure of smoking quantity. Based on our findings, and coupled with recent preclinical studies showing the importance of multiple neuropeptides in reinstatement of drug use, we formulated intranasal insulin to evaluate its efficacy during acute abstinence from smoking. Our original study was a crossover trial including 19 otherwise healthy smokers who abstained from smoking for 36 h. The morning following their second night of abstinence, in random order, study participants received intranasal insulin (60 IU) or placebo (8.7% sodium chloride). The goal of our second study was to replicate the craving findings from the original trial and expand this research by including additional stress-related measures. Thirty-seven study participants abstained from smoking overnight. The next day, they were administered either intranasal insulin (60 IU) or placebo, following which they participated in the Trier Social Stress Test Task. This was a parallel design study focusing on the standard stress subjective, hormonal and cardiovascular measures. We also evaluated any changes in circulating glucose, insulin and c-peptide (a marker of endogenous insulin). In the original study, intranasal insulin significantly reduced morning nicotine craving (b=3.65, P⩽0.05). Similarly, in the second study, intranasal insulin reduced nicotine cravings over time (b=0.065, P⩽0.05) and the effect lasted through the psychosocial stress period. Intranasal insulin also increased circulating cortisol levels (F=12.78, P⩽0.001). No changes in insulin or c-peptide were detected. A significant treatment × time interaction (P⩽0.05) was detected for glucose, but subjects remained well within the euglycemic range. Previous studies have shown that heightened nicotine cravings and blunted response to stress are independent and significant predictors of relapse to smoking. In our study, intranasal insulin normalized the subjective and hormonal response to stress. As such, intranasal insulin should further be studied in a larger clinical trial of smoking cessation. In support of this, we provide evidence that the treatment is safe and effective and, based on absence of peripheral insulin changes, conclude that the pharmacodynamic effect is centrally driven.

Objectives The presence of a deep brain stimulator (DBS) in a patient who develops neuropsychiatric symptoms poses unique diagnostic challenges and questions for the treating psychiatrist. Catatonia has been described only once, during DBS implantation, but has not been reported in a successfully implanted DBS patient. Materials/Methods We present a case of a patient with bipolar disorder and renal transplant who developed catatonia after DBS for essential tremor. Results The patient was successfully treated for catatonia with lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) after careful diagnostic workup. ECT has been successfully used with DBS in a handful of cases and certain precautions may help reduce potential risk. Conclusions Catatonia is a rare occurrence after DBS, but when present may be safely treated with standard therapies such as lorazepam and ECT.

Objectives Methohexital, a barbiturate anesthetic commonly used for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), possesses dose-dependent anticonvulsant properties, and its use can interfere with effective seizure therapy in patients with high seizure thresholds. Ketamine, a NMDA-antagonist with epileptogenic properties not broadly used for ECT inductions, is a commonly used induction agent for general anesthesia. Recent studies suggest that the use of ketamine is effective in allowing successful ECT treatment in patients with high seizure thresholds without an increase in side-effects. In this preliminary study, we directly compared the recovery and re-orientation times of subjects receiving ketamine and methohexital for ECTs. Methods Twenty patients were randomized in a cross-over design to receive methohexital and ketamine for ECT inductions in alternating fashion for six trials. Primary outcome measures were recovery time (voluntary movement, respiratory effort, blood pressure, consciousness, and O2 saturation) and re-orientation time. Secondary outcome measures were individual recovery variables, side-effect occurrence, and seizure duration. Results: Overall recovery time was not significantly different between the two treatment arms (F(1,17) = 0.72, P = 0.41). Re-orientation time was faster in the methohexital arm (F(1,17) = 9.23, P = 0.007). Conclusion Ketamine inductions resulted in higher number of side-effects, higher subject dropout rates, and a longer reorientation time with respect to methohexital inductions. No significant difference in post-anesthesia recovery time was found between the ketamine and methohexital arms. Intolerability to ketamine affected a significant proportion of subjects, and suggests that ketamine should remain as an alternative or adjunctive agent for patients with high seizure thresholds.

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