This study investigated the effects of daily practice of DGB on (a) 24-h BP and breathing patterns in the natural environment, as well as (b) BP and breathing pattern

during clinic rest. Altogether, 40 participants with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension were trained to decrease breathing rate through DGB or to passively attend to breathing (control, CTL) during daily 15-min sessions. The participants practiced their breathing exercise at home for 4 weeks. The DGB (but not the CTL) intervention decreased clinic resting BP, mid-day ambulatory systolic BP (in women only) and resting breathing rate, and increased resting tidal volume. However, 24-h BP level was not changed by DGB or CTL interventions, nor was overnight breathing pattern. These findings are consistent with the conclusion Blasticidin S concentration that a short-term, autonomic mechanism mediated the observed changes in resting BP, but provided no

evidence that regular DGB affected factors involved in long-term BP regulation. Additional research will be needed to determine whether 24-h BP can be lowered by a more prolonged intervention. Journal of Human Hypertension (2010) 24, 807-813; doi:10.1038/jhh.2010.18; published online 4 March 2010″
“Background: Multiple substance use is a common problem among heroin users. This study aims to describe patterns of multiple substance use one PS-095760 year before and during attendance at methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs and associated variables of continued heroin use in MMT clinics in Yunnan, China.

Methods: The study was conducted among 168 heroin addicts who had received treatment for at least one year at two MMT clinics in Kunming city. A structured questionnaire, a medical record,

and computer database SCH727965 mouse were used to obtain history of substances use, significant clinical information, and treatment details, respectively.

Results: Heroin, tobacco, and alcohol were the most commonly used substances both before and during MMT. After one year in MMT, use of heroin, alcohol, tramadol, and triazolam significantly decreased whereas use of ephedrine increased. Simultaneous substance use was halved but the decrease was not statistically significant. The proportion of injecting users was reduced from 61% to 43%. History of heroin use in the preceding 6 months during MMT increased the odds of continued heroin use (OR = 5.8, 95% Cl =12.9-11.3]). An average 10 mg higher methadone dose increment was associated with a reduced odds of heroin use by 10%.

Conclusion: MMT did not reduce the number of substances used, but the number of injecting heroin users after the first year of treatment decreased. Heroin use in the preceding.6 months during MMT treatment and lower methadone dose were associated with continued heroin use in MMT. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.