Neural Substrates Underlying Eyeblink Classical Conditioning in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Excessive alcohol consumption produces changes in the brain that often lead to cognitive impairments. One fundamental form of learning, eyeblink classical conditioning (EBC), has been widely used to study the neurobiology of learning and memory. Participants with alcohol use disorders (AUD) have consistently shown a behavioral deficit in EBC. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study is the first to examine brain function during conditioning in abstinent AUD participants and healthy participants. METHODS: AUD participants met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence, had at least a 10-year history of heavy drinking, and were abstinent from alcohol for at least 30 days. During fMRI, participants received auditory tones that predicted the occurrence of corneal airpuffs. Anticipatory eyeblink responses to these tones were monitored during the experiment to assess learning-related changes. RESULTS: Behavioral results indicate that AUD participants showed significant conditioning deficits and that their history of lifetime drinks corresponded to these deficits. Despite this learning impairment, AUD participants showed hyperactivation in several key cerebellar structures (including lobule VI) during conditioning. For all participants, history of lifetime drinks corresponded with their lobule VI activity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that excessive alcohol consumption is associated with abnormal cerebellar hyperactivation and conditioning impairments.

Marijuana use and HIV treatment outcomes among PWH receiving care at an urban HIV clinic.

BACKGROUND: While marijuana use is prevalent among persons with HIV (PWH), few studies have examined the relationship between marijuana use and HIV treatment outcomes independent of alcohol and other drug use. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study to examine the relationships between frequency of marijuana use and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression in patients enrolled in the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinical Cohort between September 2013 through November 2015 (N=1377). We categorized marijuana use as no use, none in the last 3months, monthly use or less, weekly/daily. Our outcomes of interest were use of ART, ≥90 ART adherence, and viral suppression (HIV1-RNA<200 copies). We conducted multivariable analyses to examine associations between the frequency of marijuana use and our treatment outcomes, using generalized estimating equations to account for repeated measures. Other independent variables of interest included alcohol use, other drug use, and depressive symptoms. Analyses were adjusted for age, race, sex and HIV acquisition risk factor. RESULTS: In multivariable analyses we found no statistically significant association between frequency of marijuana use and our treatment outcomes. Alcohol use, other drug use and depressive symptoms were associated with lower odds of ART adherence and viral suppression. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of PWH in care, frequency of marijuana use independent of other substance use does not appear to be associated with negative HIV treatment outcomes. Our results indicate that unlike alcohol, other substances and depression, marijuana use may not be a barrier to the effective treatment of HIV.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Persons Living with HIV Across the US in the Current Era of Antiretroviral Treatment.

Hazardous alcohol use is associated with detrimental health outcomes among persons living with HIV (PLWH). We examined the prevalence and factors associated with hazardous alcohol use in the current era using several hazardous drinking definitions and binge drinking defined as ≥5 drinks for men versus ≥4 for women. We included 8567 PLWH from 7 U.S. sites from 2013 to 2015. Current hazardous alcohol use was reported by 27% and 34% reported binge drinking. In adjusted analyses, current and past cocaine/crack (odd ratio [OR] 4.1:3.3-5.1, p < 0.001 and OR 1.3:1.1-1.5, p < 0.001 respectively), marijuana (OR 2.5:2.2-2.9, p < 0.001 and OR 1.4:1.2-1.6, p < 0.001), and cigarette use (OR 1.4:1.2-1.6, p < 0.001 and OR 1.3:1.2-1.5, p < 0.001) were associated with increased hazardous alcohol use. The prevalence of hazardous alcohol use remains high in the current era, particularly among younger men. Routine screening and targeted interventions for hazardous alcohol use, potentially bundled with interventions for other drugs, remain a key aspect of HIV care.