The diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often sparks controversy when it comes to adults. While originally developed for children, the diagnostic criteria can be difficult to apply in grown-ups. This is partly because the criteria are based on child behavior, and when diagnosing adults, these criteria rely heavily on subjective experiences such as difficulty concentrating or being impulsive.

A recent study from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil shed light on this issue, examining how 292 credible studies on ADHD diagnosed their adult subjects. The researchers found that half of the studies did not ensure a thorough diagnostic assessment before the trial to rule out other disorders like depression or schizophrenia. This methodological shortfall is problematic because it makes it impossible to know which disorders and symptoms the treatment investigated in these trials potentially had an effect on.

Moreover, over half of the studies included subjects who had already been diagnosed with other mental disorders, making the diagnosis even more challenging. The researchers pointed out that this lack of consistency in diagnostic assessment can make research results from many clinical trials difficult to utilize. Despite being considered particularly trustworthy, the results of these trials may inform guidelines used to treat adult ADHD patients.

The study’s findings emphasize the need for consistent and robust diagnoses in psychiatric research. One of the problems with the diagnostic assessment in many of the clinical trials was that it seemed to have been carried out by individuals without proper training or using methods that were not thorough enough. In some cases, the assessment and diagnosis were made by the subject themselves, or even with the help of a computer.

As Julie Nordgaard highlighted, “In psychiatry, we really need all diagnoses, not just ADHD, to be made with the same uniform criteria and by trained professionals.” This is especially crucial in situations where a diagnosis like adult ADHD is increasing. Without thorough diagnostic assessments, people may receive incorrect diagnoses, and thus, ineffective or unnecessary treatment that can cause side effects.

The study’s conclusion serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous methodology and consistency in psychiatric research. By prioritizing accurate diagnoses and thorough assessments, researchers can ensure that their findings are reliable and useful for informing guidelines and treatments for patients with complex mental health conditions like adult ADHD.

Synthetic storm: The Alarming Rise of THC, CBD, and SCs Vaping Among US Adolescents

Research has revealed that adolescent vaping of current delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) has increased between 2021 and 2023. This trend is particularly alarming given the lack of understanding about the long-term health effects of cannabis vaping.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, analyzed national trends of adolescent cannabis vaping from the National Youth Tobacco Survey for 2021, 2022, and 2023, comprising a total of 69,899 US middle and high school students (aged 11 to 18 years).

Lead investigator Jack Chung, BApsych (Hons), National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, and School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, says, “We found a significant increase in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD, and SCs from 2021 to 2023. THC vaping peaked in 2022 while the use of SCs continued to increase. Adolescents increasingly expressed uncertainty about the substances they were vaping; for example, uncertain respondents answering ‘don’t know’ if they have vaped SCs tripled across the years.”

In 2023, it is estimated that 7.4% (or 2.55 million) of US adolescents were currently vaping THC, while 2.9% (or 999,000) were vaping CBD, and 1.8% (or 620,000) were vaping SCs.

Individuals who vape cannabis exhibit more mental health symptoms compared to those who use traditional combustion methods of dry herbs and flowers. SCs are typically lab-synthesized to mimic the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids and often bind more strongly to brain receptors, leading to more intense and unpredictable health consequences.

Mr. Chung remarks, “One of the most unexpected findings from our study was the continued rise in adolescent use of SCs. This trend is particularly alarming given that these substances are often accessed through unregulated, illicit markets, where there are no safety standards or quality controls.”

Co-investigator Gary C.K. Chan, PhD, National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, adds, “We still know very little about the long-term health effects of cannabis vaping, which makes it even more important to understand what’s in your vape.”

This study is one of the first to track national adolescent vaping prevalence of THC, CBD, and SCs independently, given that most recent studies categorized various cannabinoids vaping under the umbrella term “cannabis vaping,” despite their vastly different psychological and health effects.

Mr. Chung concludes, “Experimentation with substance use among teenagers is often driven by peer influence, curiosity, and a desire for social acceptance. This age group may also be increasingly exposed to cannabis-related marketing on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, as well as social media influencers and celebrities.”

The scientific community has made significant strides in recent years towards developing innovative methods for producing and analyzing complex molecules. In an exciting breakthrough, researchers from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, along with international collaborators, have successfully harnessed the potential of brewer’s yeast to create miniature factories that produce macrocyclic peptides – promising drugs with high therapeutic value.

Macrocyclic peptides are a class of molecules that offer precision targeting, stability, and safety, making them an attractive alternative to traditional drugs. However, conventional methods for discovering and testing these peptides have been complex, slow, and environmentally unfriendly. To overcome these limitations, the researchers engineered brewer’s yeast cells to individually produce different macrocyclic peptides.

Each yeast cell acts as a tiny factory that lights up when producing the compound, allowing scientists to swiftly identify promising peptides. Using advanced fluorescence-based techniques, the team screened billions of micro-factories in just a few hours – a process significantly faster and more ecofriendly than existing methods.

Lead author Sara Linciano explained the innovative approach: “We manipulated yeast cells so that each one functions as a ‘micro-factory’ that becomes fluorescent when producing a specific compound. This allowed us to analyze 100 million different peptides rapidly and effectively.”

The study’s co-leader, Ylenia Mazzocato, highlighted the sustainability of their approach: “By exploiting the natural machinery of yeast, we produce peptide molecules that are biocompatible and biodegradable, making them safe for health and the environment – a truly ‘green pharma’ approach.”

The researchers also demonstrated the excellent binding properties of these peptides using X-ray crystallography. This new method offers significant advancements for drug discovery, especially for challenging targets that conventional drugs cannot easily address.

As Alessandro Angelini, associate professor and study coordinator, emphasized: “We are pushing the boundaries of this technology to create macrocyclic peptides that can deliver advanced therapies directly to specific cells, potentially revolutionising treatments. This could greatly benefit patient health and have substantial scientific and economic impacts.”

This work was part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), supported by the European Union’s Next Generation EU initiative. The team involved multidisciplinary experts from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Padova, and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Part of this technology has already been patented by Ca’ Foscari and was recently acquired by the startup Arzanya S.r.l. As Angelini concluded: “Seeing our technology gain international recognition makes me proud. I hope Arzanya S.r.l. can provide our talented young researchers with the opportunity to pursue their passions here in Italy, without necessarily needing to move abroad.”