| VOL. 26, NO. 1 | October, 1999 |
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ABOUT ISGIDAR: |
ABOUT ISGIDAR NEWSLETTER: |
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| James P. Zacny, Ph.D. Dept. of Anesthesia & Critical Care MC4028 The University of Chicago 5841 S. Maryland Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 tel: (773) 702-9920 email: zacn@airway2.uchicago.edu |
John R. Glowa, Ph.D. Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics LSU Medical Center 1501 Kings Highway Shreveport, LA 71132 tel: (318) 675-4803 email: jglowa@lsumc.edu |
ISGIDAR e-mail address: ISGIDAR@venus.vcu.edu
| PRESIDENT'S NOTE |
| ISGIDAR DISCUSSION LIST |
| RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS |
| POSITIONS AVAILABLE |
Prepared by Jim Zacny, 1999 ISGIDAR Secretary
1. Jim Woods thanked Patrick Beardsley and Jim Zacny for organizing an excellent program this year.
2. Patrick Beardsley discussed the finances of ISGIDAR and explained why the meeting fees had to increase from $35 to $50. For the past several years, our costs for the meeting have exceeded the fees paid by registrants. For example, last year’s Scottsdale meeting expenses were close to $4000, which exceeded the income brought in from the meeting. Given we had a balance of only $1500 prior to the meeting, there was concern that we would be running in the "red" in the very near future if we kept meeting fees at $35.
3. The following members were elected to two-year terms of office: Jim Zacny, President; John Glowa, Secretary; Marilyn Carroll, Treasurer; and Gerald Zernig, Vice President for International Affairs.
4. Jim Zacny thanked Patrick Beardsley for his excellent job as President over the last two years. One innovation of his which has worked out extremely well during the last two meetings has been the mini-symposiums he has developed with other ISGIDAR members. It is hoped that these symposiums will be a regular component of the meeting in years to come.
5. Jim Woods talked a bit about ASPET and how it is has become rejuvenated and is enthusiastically encompassing behavioral pharmacology in its scope. ASPET now has a Division of Behavioral Pharmacology. Dr. Woods encouraged people to attend and submit papers for next spring’s annual meeting in Boston (June 5-8, 2000). Travel Awards will be available for young scientists, and information regarding how to apply for these awards can be obtained by contacting Dr. Woods (e-mail address: jhwoods.umich.edu). Membership information is available via e-mail (aspetinfo@faseb.org) or the web (www.faseb.org/aspet).
5. Jonathan Kamien discussed the three internet resources ISGIDAR members now have at their disposal: the Web Site, The Internet Discussion List, and the drug self-administration data base prepared by Dick Meisch (on the internet). There was some discussion on placing the past meetings’ programs on the Web page, as this would be an ideal spot to archive this material.
6. Marilyn Carroll provided the following figures regarding expenses of the meeting, what we came in with and what we have left. Pre-meeting balance: $1523.03; income from the meeting: $4068.00; expenses of the meeting including $500 travel award: $1998.80; post-meeting balance: $3592.23. There were approximately 70 people who attended ISGIDAR this year.
One issue not discussed at the Business Meeting was the process of becoming an ISGIDAR member. Things have gotten a bit murky as of late in that there is no official membership list of ISGIDAR. Further, there seems to be no consistent manner of electing members, and the last ballot I sent out to members containing the names of potential nominees was confusing (i.e., if you did not vote for a person because you were not familiar with that person’s research, was that a vote against that person or merely an abstention, how were abstentions counted in the voting process).
This is what the Bylaws say about electing new members:
Application for membership: Full members will send nominations for membership to the president. The list of nominations and a mail ballot will be mailed to the membership at least 60 days before a business meeting.
Election to Membership: Election to membership will be by a yes vote of 90% of those voting. The results of the election for membership shall be announced at the next business meeting.
I propose the following and would invite you to get in touch with me by e-mail or phone regarding the proposals:
1. Consider at this time that everybody on the mailing list for the Newsletter is a member of ISGIDAR (that’s the closest thing we have right now to a membership list).
2. In the future, new names will be added to the membership only if nominees are voted in by the ISGIDAR membership. On the ballot, the ISGIDAR member who is the nominator will be asked to provide a 3-4 sentence synopsis of the academic qualifications of the nominee (the nominee’s current academic address, highest degree attained, area of research, relationship of nominator to nominee [e.g., mentor, fellow colleague], and any supportive statements the nominator may wish to add). Instructions on the ballot will be as follows: "the nominees below have been recommended for membership into ISGIDAR. A brief description about them along with the name of the ISGIDAR member who nominated them is provided. You are asked to place a check mark next to one of the two voting options, YES or NO. Not checking off either one of these options will count as a NO vote. A nominee must get a yes vote of 90% of those voting in order to become a member of ISGIDAR."
I do not believe these proposals necessitate changes in the bylaws. Anyway, please give me feedback on these proposals, and if I do not hear anything negative the next ballot you receive in the mail should be constructed along the lines I have described. To that end, please feel free to send me your nominations for potential ISGIDAR members. At that time, also provide to me the 4-5 sentence blurb regarding the qualifications of the nominee.
Our ISGIDAR Discussion/News Group is again active. The past President of ISGIDAR had sent the invitation below, via email, to all members of ISGIDAR given the addresses available in the ISGIDAR database at the time. Many of these addresses were incorrect as numerous LISTSERVER error messages were returned. If you wish to join this discussion group please follow the directions below contained in a copy of the original email invitation. We're sorry if you didn't receive this original invitation.
Through the able assistance of Jonathan Kamien we have reestablished the ISGIDAR Discussion List. You are being contacted because you were either a previous subscriber to this newsgroup, you are an ISGIDAR member, or you have attended a recent ISGIDAR meeting. We apologize if you have received this message more than once. If you are interested in subscribing to the new ISGIDAR Discussion List, please send an email message to the following address: listserv@lists.vcu.edu with the following one line in the body of the message:
SUBSCRIBE ISGIDAR-L <your name>
Even if you were a previous subscriber you will have to subscribe now as directed. We were unable to send this message to several people who should also have received it; because we were lacking their email address. Also, there are likely some to whom we sent this message but an out-of-date email address was used. Please pass the word on to interested folks that if they did not receive this email and want to subscribe to the news group they can do so as directed above. We apologize to those whom we failed to contact. I am looking forward to an active newsgroup. In the past, this news group has provided subscribers helpful suggestions to those in need of assistance as well as having served as a medium for advertising open positions in labs, etc. I look forward to its rebirth.
William L. Woolverton, Ph.D.
Woolverton, W.L. and Rowlett, J.K.: Choice maintained by cocaine or food in rhesus monkeys: Effects of varying probability of reinforcement. Psychopharmacology 138: 102-106, 1998.
Rowlett, J.K., Wilcox, K.M. and Woolverton, W.L.: Self-administration of cocaine-heroin combinations by rhesus monkeys: antagonism by naltrexone. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 286: 61-69, 1998.
Weed, M.R., Woolverton, W.L. and Paul, I.A.: Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor selectivities of phenyl-benzazepines in rhesus monkey striata. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 361: 129-142, 1998.
Woolverton, W.L. and Alling, K.: Choice under concurrent VI schedules: Comparison of behavior maintained by cocaine or food. Psychopharmacology 141: 47-56, 1999.
Wilcox, K.M., Paul, I.A. and Woolverton, W.L. Comparison between dopamine transporter affinity and self-administration potency of local anesthetics in rhesus monkeys. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 367: 175-181, 1999.
Rowlett, J.K., Winger, G., Carter, R.B., Wood, P.L., Woods, J.H. and Woolverton, W.L.: Reinforcing and discriminative stimulus effects of the neuroactive steroids pregnanolone and Co 8-7071 in rhesus monkeys. Psychopharmacology 145:205-212, 1999.
Woolverton, W.L., Rowlett, J.K., Wilcox, K.M., Paul, I.A., Kline, R.H., Newman, A.H. and Katz, J.L.: 3'- and 4'-chloro-substituted analogs of benztropine: intravenous self-administration and in vitro radioligand binding studies in rhesus monkeys. Psychopharmacology, in press.
For Reprints, call/send to:
William L. Woolverton, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Chairman for Research
Dept. of Psychiatry & Human Behavior
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS 39216
phone: 601-984-5898
FAX: 601-984-5899
James P. Zacny, Ph.D
Janiszewski, D.J., Galinkin, J.L., Klock, P.A.,Coalson, D.W., Pardo, H., & Zacny, J.P. (1999). The effects of subanesthetic concentrations of sevoflurane and nitrous oxide, alone and in combination, on analgesia, mood, and psychomotor performance in healthy volunteers. Anesth Analg 88:1149-1154.
Walker, D.J. & Zacny, J.P. (1999). Subjective, psychomotor, and physiological effects of cumulative doses of opioid mu agonists in healthy volunteers. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 289:1454-64.
Black, M.L., Hill, J.L., & Zacny, J.P. (1999). Behavioral and physiological effects of remifentanil and alfentanil in healthy volunteers. Anesthesiology 90:718-26.
Zacny, J. P., & Galinkin, J. L. (1999). Psychotropic drugs used in anesthesia practice: abuse liability and epidemiology of abuse. Anesthesiology 90:269-88.
Zacny, J.P., Conran, A., Pardo, H., Coalson, D.W., Black, M., Klock, P.A., Klafta, J.M. Lack of opioidergic involvement in the analgesic, subjective, and psychomotor effects of nitrous oxide in healthy volunteers. (Pain, in press)
Zacny, J. P. Janiszewski, D., Sadegi, P., & Black, M.L. Reinforcing and other behavioral effects of sevoflurane and nitrous oxide in moderate-drinking healthy volunteers (Addiction, in press)
Sadeghi, P., & Zacny, J. P. Anesthesia is a risk factor for drug and alcohol craving and relapse in ex-abusers: a hypothesis. (Medical Hypotheses, in press)
For Reprints, call/send to:
James P. Zacny, Ph.D
Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care
University of Chicago
5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
phone: (773) 702-9920
jzacny@airway2.bsd.uchicago.edu
LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, SHREVEPORT, LA. DEPT OF PHARMACOLOGY
Postdoctoral research positions are available in laboratory animal behavioral pharmacology. Ongoing studies utilize mice, rats, and rhesus monkeys in locomotor activity, drug discrimination, self-administration, and other operant and respondent procedures to study drug effects on behaviors associated with drug abuse, learning and memory, anxiety and other psychiatric diseases. Current emphases are on studies involving the effects of drugs on drug self-administration and the pharmacology of inhalants.
A research technician position to conduct animal studies of the effects of drugs on behavior. Experience in behavioral analysis, behavioral pharmacology, small animal surgery, and computer programming is preferred. The applicant will work with primates, rats or mice. Salary is commensurate with experience. A bachelors degree is required.
Send vita, letter of interest, and names and telephone numbers of references to: John R. Glowa, Ph.D., Professor, DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS, LSU H EALTH SCIENCES CENTER SHREVEPORT, 1501 King Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130 (318) 675-4803 E-mail jglowa@lsumc.edu.
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA, DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Postdoctoral research positions are available in preclinical behavioral pharmacology. Positions are possible utilizing a wide range of behavioral pharmacological approaches to the study of the behavioral and/or neurochemical mechanisms mediating the activity of drugs of abuse. Ongoing studies utilize mice, rats, and rhesus monkeys in locomotor activity, discrimination, self-administration, and other operant and respondent procedures involving systemic and central drug administration. Of particular current emphasis are studies involving the:
o pharmacology of dopamine D3 receptor ligands
o pharmacology of excitatory amino acid agents
o development of medications for the treatment of drug-dependency disorders
o pharmacology of behaviorally-active inhalation agents
o development of drug i.v. rat and monkey self-administration relapse procedures
o studies of nicotine dependence
Many opportunities exist for collaborating with other researchers in the department who have major research foci upon the stimulants and hallucinogens, cannabinoids, nicotine, and the opiates. Send vita, letter of interest, and names and telephone numbers of 2 references to: Patrick M. Beardsley, Ph.D. OR Robert L. Balster, Ph.D.; Medical College of Virginia, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, P.O. Box 980613, Richmond, VA 23298-0613. (804) 828-5185 (email: pbeardsl@hsc.vcu.edu or balster@hsc.vcu.edu).
Laboratory Technician Position:
Laboratory technicians are needed in behavioral pharmacology at the Medical College of Virginia. The responsibilities entail setting up menu-driven computer-controlled equipment prior to testing, preparing drug solutions for injection, handling, weighing, injecting, and feeding of mouse and rat subjects, and maintaining the orderliness of the laboratory. Also required is the careful recording of data and the input of data into spreadsheets and other computer programs. The individual would occasionally be required to use statistical software to analyze data and graphical software to generate graphs and figures for scientific reports. Occasional library and internet literature searches and input of references into bibliographic databases would be requested. These positions offer excellent learning possibilities for those anticipating subsequent application to graduate school.
Qualifications desired or preferred of applicant:
Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a life or behavioral science is required (e.g., biology, psychology, zoology, etc.). Applicants must also have had some animal handling experience (e.g., laboratory animals, pets, or veterinary clinic animals). Experience with either Macintosh or PC-based software (e.g., word processors, spreadsheets, statistical software, or graphical software) is required. Send resume, letter of interest, and names and telephone numbers of at least two references to: Patrick M. Beardsley, Ph.D.; Medical College of Virginia, Department of Pharmacology, P.O. Box 980613, Richmond, VA 23298-0613. (804) 828-5185 or email: pbeardsl@hsc.vcu.edu.