By Ed Cara Published April 2, 2025 | Comments (2) | Over 10 million Americans misused stimulants like cocaine in 2022. photopixel via Shutterstock Theres new hope for people struggling with an addiction to cocaine. In clinical trial results released today, an experimental drug developed by Novartis was found to reduce cocaine use in people with cocaine use disorder. Scientists at Novartis led the research, a Phase II trial of 68 people with diagnosed cocaine use disorder. Compared to those on a placebo, people taking the experimental treatmentcalled mavoglurantused cocaine and also drank alcohol less often over the following three months. The findings require further validation, but mavoglurant could eventually become the first approved drug intended to treat cocaine use disorder. Cocaine and similar drugs like methamphetamine or prescription stimulants are frequently abused. In the U.S., its estimated that 10.2 million Americans over the age of 12 misused stimulants in 2022, while about 4.5 million people met the criteria for a stimulant use disorder (continued long-term use even when its actively harming a persons health and relationships). Stimulant misuse also appears to be rising, and these drugs are contributing to growing overdose deaths as well, particularly when combined with other drugs like opioids. Currently, the only widely recommended treatments available for helping people with stimulant misuse are psychosocial, such as counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy. There are no approved medications for reducing peoples urges to use cocaine, and off-label options like disulfiram have shown limited effectiveness overall. So theres an urgent need to fill this treatment gapone that could possibly be filled with mavoglurant. Mavoglurant was originally developed to treat the genetic condition Fragile X, though it ultimately failed to do so in large clinical trials. The drug is known to block a receptor called mGluR5, which some studies have suggested plays a role in regulating our reward response to stimulants. Novartis researchers hoped that mavoglurant could be retrofitted into a treatment for stimulant use disorder.In this latest trial, the researchers randomized people with cocaine use disorder to either receive a placebo or mavoglurant (taken as a pill) twice a day for 98 days. Cocaine use was measured through self-reported use as well as urine and hair tests that looked for known byproducts of the drug in the body. Overall, the researchers found that mavoglurant significantly reduced cocaine use compared to placebo, which was supported by urine tests. They also found evidence, though not as clear, that it reduced peoples alcohol use as well. The drug seemed to be generally safe and tolerated, with common adverse events including headache, dizziness, and nausea.In this small and short trial, mavoglurant reduced cocaine and alcohol use in patients with chronic cocaine use disorder, the researchers wrote in their paper, published in Science Translational Medicine. As the authors note, this is only one small trial. So larger, more diverse, and longer-lasting trials will be needed to confirm the findings. Given the current lack of options, however, this research could be an important step forward for the treatment of stimulant use disorder. The potential effects it may have on peoples alcohol use also suggest that mGluR5 might also play a larger role in regulating how we respond to alcohol, which could open a new avenue of research.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Ed Cara Published March 31, 2025 By Ed Cara Published March 19, 2025 By Ed Cara Published March 17, 2025 By Ed Cara Published March 16, 2025 By Ed Cara Published March 2, 2025 By Ed Cara Published February 19, 2025

A skull of Buettnererpeton bakeri 'sees' the light for the first time in 230 million years. This side of the specimen was uncovered in the fossil preparation lab at the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum. Credit: Dave LovelaceA fossil trove uncovered in Wyoming is providing some of the best examples yet of an ancient species of alligator-sized amphibians. But while paleontologists describe the specimens as exquisitely preserved, the reason behind their rapid die-off remains a mystery. The find is detailed in a study published April 2 in the journal PLOS One.Metoposaurid tenospondyls are some of the earliest ancestors of todays frogs, toads, and salamanders. The oldest known species in North America, Buettnererpeton bakeri, existed exclusively on the continent during the Triassic era around 230 million years ago. The squat, four-legged animal lurked in freshwater ponds, rivers, and lakes, where it fed on essentially anything it could fit into its mouth.Like other metoposaurids, it probably spent most, if not all, of its life in the water eating fish, other amphibians, or anything unfortunate enough to venture too far into the water, University of Wisconsin-Madison paleolontologists and study co-authors Dave Lovelace and Aaron Kufner told Popular Science.Beyond that, not much is known about Buettnererpeton due to the scarcity of fossils. But according to Lovelace and Kufner, that may soon change thanks to their excavation work on the ancient floodplain site Nobby Knob in Dubois, Wyoming. There, paleontologists found dozens of fossilized Buettnererpeton remainsmore than doubling the total number of known specimens. But these Triassic age amphibian fossils didnt accumulate over decades or centuries. Instead, they appear to have died during a single mass mortality event.Dozens of specimens were discovered in Wyoming. Credit: Lovelace, Kufner, et al. It was a local die-off like we see when rivers dry up, or when lakes have influxes of nutrients that cause algae blooms, both of which can kill off aquatic life like fish, Lovelace and Kufner explained.This particular die-off evidence stands out from others due to the rock in which it was found. The fine-grained soil and layered sediments indicate a low energy or calm depositional environment, meaning a lack of strong currents. Thanks to this, many of the skeletons are largely intact and well-preserved.There are some articulated bones that are nearly absent in other metoposaurid bone beds in North America, and completely unknown for Buettnererpeton, said the paleontologists.New details include the discovery of articulated toothy plates that were embedded in the soft tissue of Buettnererpetons mouth, as well as the unique way other fossils formed.They all lack any evidence of the calcium carbonate that would have formed most of their [fossil] shell What seems to have happened is that the calcium carbonate dissolved after they were buried, and the outer organic layer (which helps prevent the shell from dissolving in freshwater during life) left an impression as the mud turned to rock then was later lost, they explained.According to the studys authors, the mass burial was likely due to the existence of a nearby Buettnererpeton breeding colony, or a drought-induced restricted waterway that concentrated them together before they died.This assemblage is a snapshot of a single population rather than an accumulation over time, Kufner said in a separate statement.The research team hopes their excavation work and taphonomic analysis (the study of an organisms death and subsequent preservation) will lead to future examinations of the site. Further studies may also increase our understanding of Buettnererpeton and the environment in which it lived.Taphonomic studies are commonplace today and much more common than they were over 50 years ago thanks to the work of dozens if not hundreds of geologists and paleontologists, said Kufner and Lovelace, adding, There is plenty still to be done!

Nature, Published online: 02 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08813-6A pyramidal cell type and the 5-HT2A receptor in the medial frontal cortex have essential roles in psilocybins long-term drug action.

Nature, Published online: 02 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08804-7In thromboinflammation, early tissue plasminogen activator administration directly improves endothelial barrier function, prophylactic defibrotide and enoxaparin suppress microvascular thromboinflammation through endothelium-mediated mechanisms and combining enoxaparin with crizanlizumab reduces microvascular occlusion and protects endothelial function in sickle cell disease.

Under extreme metabolic conditions, like a marathon, the brain may turn to cellular fat stores to maintain function, according to a new study.

Forecasters have warned of historic flooding in the central US this week, anticipating multiple bouts of heavy rainfall and extreme thunderstorms.

OctaneRender 2025.1 is now available, featuring support for rest attributes for improved texture projection on animated meshes, native decal support, a realistic lens camera, and more.Details: https://80.lv/articles/octanerender-2025-1-is-now-available/

Knights in Tight Spaces is a newly released turn-based tactical game featuring stylish battles, action-movie visual effects and animations, and electronic soundtracks.Try the demo: https://80.lv/articles/a-new-turn-based-tactical-game-with-stylish-battles-action-movie-visual-effects/@GroundShatter

RTInsurrection BarbieAccuse your opponent of what you are doing to confuse and divide them. - Saul Alinsky

RTRapid Response 47 Valor CEO and DOGE volunteer Antonio Gracias says that they found 5 million+ non-citizens with Social Security numbers -- and that "thousands" of them were registered to vote and that "many of them had voted."