Mine-like stimulants within the stimulant group. Spearman Rank Order correlation was used to investigate the relationship between area of substantia nigra echogenicity (largest side) and drug-use and neuropsychological parameters (SigmaPlot 11.0, Systat Software Inc, Chicago, USA). Inter-rater reliability was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha and Spearmann Rank Order correlation. Inter-rater reproducibility was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20, IBM, Armonk, New York, USA). Comparison of measurements obtained on machine 1 and 2 in the control group was made with unpaired Student’s t-test (SigmaPlot 11.0, Systat Software Inc, Chicago, USA). Significance was set at P,0.05.Transcranial ultrasoundThe maximum subjective rating of the bone window was calculated for each subject and the average was 1.660.8 (i.e. good to excellent; median = 1 excellent). The 374913-63-0 manufacturer Sudan I biological activity diameter of the 3rd ventricle was normal in all subjects (maximum diameter: 4.94 mm) and the average diameter (right, left) did 
not significantly differ between groups (control: 1.5160.08 mm, stimulant: 1.4460.07 mm; cannabis: 1.0460.03 mm). Figure 1A shows single subject images of the area of substantia nigra echogenicity in 1 control subject, 1 cannabis subject, and 1 stimulant subject. For a given side (right), the average area of substantia nigra echogenicity was 0.16360.044 cm2 for operator 1 and 0.16660.051 cm2 for operator 2. The area of substantia nigra echogenicity exhibited acceptable inter-rater reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.720; Spearman rank order correlation: r = 0.591, P = 0.005) with moderate to strong reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient; single measures = 0.577; average measures = 0.732). There was no significant difference between measurements obtained on machine 1 and 2 in the control group. Single subject data suggested that the area of substantia nigra echogenicity was greater in stimulant subjects than in control and cannabis subjects. Figure 2 shows group data for the area of substantia nigra echogenicity. 
In the control group, the average area of substantia nigra echogenicity was 0.18160.055 cm2 on the right sideResults Subject characteristicsTwo subjects were excluded due to insufficient bone window for transcranial sonography (1 control and 1 stimulant user). The characteristics of the remaining 77 subjects are presented in Table 1. There was a significant difference between the groups regarding age (F2,74 = 8.007, P,0.001) but not weight or height. The average age of subjects in the stimulant group was ,6.5 yrs older than subjects in the control (P = 0.001) and cannabis groups (P = 0.009). There was also a significant main effect of group on years of education (F2,74 = 3.268, P = 0.044) and a trend for a main effect of group on symptoms of depression (i.e. BDI-II score; F2,73 = 2.743, P = 0.071). Subjects in the stimulant group had undertaken ,1 less year of education compared to the control group (P = 0.041) and subjects in the stimulant and cannabis groups tended to have more symptoms of depression. Seven subjects in the stimulant group and 3 subjects in the cannabis group had received a formal diagnosis of depression (4 wereStimulant Drugs and Substantia Nigra MorphologyTable 1. Subject characteristics for the control, stimulant, and cannabis groups.Control (n = 29) Age (yrs) Gender Weight (kg) Height (cm) Handedness Education (yrs) BDI-II score Depression diagnosis Head injuries Drug overdose.Mine-like stimulants within the stimulant group. Spearman Rank Order correlation was used to investigate the relationship between area of substantia nigra echogenicity (largest side) and drug-use and neuropsychological parameters (SigmaPlot 11.0, Systat Software Inc, Chicago, USA). Inter-rater reliability was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha and Spearmann Rank Order correlation. Inter-rater reproducibility was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20, IBM, Armonk, New York, USA). Comparison of measurements obtained on machine 1 and 2 in the control group was made with unpaired Student’s t-test (SigmaPlot 11.0, Systat Software Inc, Chicago, USA). Significance was set at P,0.05.Transcranial ultrasoundThe maximum subjective rating of the bone window was calculated for each subject and the average was 1.660.8 (i.e. good to excellent; median = 1 excellent). The diameter of the 3rd ventricle was normal in all subjects (maximum diameter: 4.94 mm) and the average diameter (right, left) did not significantly differ between groups (control: 1.5160.08 mm, stimulant: 1.4460.07 mm; cannabis: 1.0460.03 mm). Figure 1A shows single subject images of the area of substantia nigra echogenicity in 1 control subject, 1 cannabis subject, and 1 stimulant subject. For a given side (right), the average area of substantia nigra echogenicity was 0.16360.044 cm2 for operator 1 and 0.16660.051 cm2 for operator 2. The area of substantia nigra echogenicity exhibited acceptable inter-rater reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.720; Spearman rank order correlation: r = 0.591, P = 0.005) with moderate to strong reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient; single measures = 0.577; average measures = 0.732). There was no significant difference between measurements obtained on machine 1 and 2 in the control group. Single subject data suggested that the area of substantia nigra echogenicity was greater in stimulant subjects than in control and cannabis subjects. Figure 2 shows group data for the area of substantia nigra echogenicity. In the control group, the average area of substantia nigra echogenicity was 0.18160.055 cm2 on the right sideResults Subject characteristicsTwo subjects were excluded due to insufficient bone window for transcranial sonography (1 control and 1 stimulant user). The characteristics of the remaining 77 subjects are presented in Table 1. There was a significant difference between the groups regarding age (F2,74 = 8.007, P,0.001) but not weight or height. The average age of subjects in the stimulant group was ,6.5 yrs older than subjects in the control (P = 0.001) and cannabis groups (P = 0.009). There was also a significant main effect of group on years of education (F2,74 = 3.268, P = 0.044) and a trend for a main effect of group on symptoms of depression (i.e. BDI-II score; F2,73 = 2.743, P = 0.071). Subjects in the stimulant group had undertaken ,1 less year of education compared to the control group (P = 0.041) and subjects in the stimulant and cannabis groups tended to have more symptoms of depression. Seven subjects in the stimulant group and 3 subjects in the cannabis group had received a formal diagnosis of depression (4 wereStimulant Drugs and Substantia Nigra MorphologyTable 1. Subject characteristics for the control, stimulant, and cannabis groups.Control (n = 29) Age (yrs) Gender Weight (kg) Height (cm) Handedness Education (yrs) BDI-II score Depression diagnosis Head injuries Drug overdose.