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BMC Res Notes 2020 Jun 16;13(1):292. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue, Nigeria.

Objective: The assessment of clinical efficacy and toxicity is very important in pharmacology and toxicology. The effects of psychostimulants (e.g. Read More

Heart Fail Rev 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, 156124, Pisa, Italy.

The use of cocaine constitutes a major health problem. Cocaine use is associated with acute and chronic complications that might involve any system, the most common being the cardiovascular system. The precise incidence of cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy remains mysterious and probably underreported. Read More

Toxicology 2020 May 26;441:152503. Epub 2020 May 26.

UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa, Praça Nove de Abril, 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address:

3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is one of the most popular cathinone derivatives worldwide and has recently been associated with several intoxications and deaths, in which, similarly to amphetamines, hyperthermia appears to play a prominent role. However, there remains a huge information gap underlying the mechanisms associated with its hepatotoxicity, namely under hyperthermic conditions. Here, we use a sensitive untargeted metabolomic approach based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to investigate the effect of subtoxic and toxic concentrations of MDPV on the metabolic profile of primary mouse hepatocytes (PMH), under normothermic and hyperthermic conditions. Read More

Drug Alcohol Depend 2020 Jul 29;212:108045. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal. Electronic address:

Synthetic phenethylamines are widely abused drugs, comprising new psychoactive substances such as synthetic cathinones, but also well-known amphetamines such as methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy). Cathinones and amphetamines share many toxicodynamic mechanisms. One of their potentially life-threatening consequences, particularly of MDMA, is serotonin-mediated hyponatraemia. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2020 Jul 11;141:111395. Epub 2020 May 11.

Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, 24341, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

p-Chloroamphetamine (PCA), an amphetamine derivative, has been shown to induce serotonergic toxicity. However, the precise mechanism of serotonergic toxicity induced by PCA remains unclear. In this study, PCA treatment (20 mg/kg, i. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Apr 18;21(8). Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Halogenation of amphetamines and methcathinones has become a common method to obtain novel psychoactive substances (NPS) also called "legal highs". The -halogenated derivatives of amphetamine and methcathinone are available over the internet and have entered the illicit drug market but studies on their potential neurotoxic effects are rare. The primary aim of this study was to explore the neurotoxicity of amphetamine, methcathinone and their -halogenated derivatives 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA), 4-chloroamphetamine (PCA), 4-fluoromethcathinone (4-FMC), and 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) in undifferentiated and differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Read More

Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2020 May 12;16(5):357-369. Epub 2020 Apr 12.

Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol-IGTP, Badalona, Spain.

: MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), a synthetic ring-substituted amphetamine, has become one of the most widely used recreational psychostimulant drugs in the world. Among recreational ecstasy/MDMA users, polydrug use is a phenomenon whose common purpose is to experience the synergistic effect of the combined drugs, moderate MDMA effects, prevent potential toxicity, enhance a high or come down from a high from other drugs, or simply to treat existing medical conditions. Thus, MDMA-drug interactions (MDMA-DIs) lead to a higher risk of acute and life-threatening MDMA toxicity. Read More

3 Biotech 2020 Apr 6;10(4):162. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

4Laboratório Especial de Toxicologia Aplicada, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, São Paulo, 1500 Brazil.

The emergence of bacterial resistance due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics warrants the need for developing new bioactive agents. In this context, antimicrobial peptides are highly useful for managing resistant microbial strains. In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of peptides obtained from the venom of the toadfish . Read More

J Forensic Sci 2020 Jul 23;65(4):1376-1378. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Forensic Science SA, GPO Box 2790, Adelaide, 5001, South Australia, Australia.

Age and organ maturity can influence drug toxicity in children; however, most clinical data and literature are based on drug concentrations in adults. Therefore, the interpretation of drugs detected in children is often difficult or not possible. Retrospective reviewing of pathology and toxicology information from postmortem cases may assist in future interpretations or identify drug trends. Read More

Gene 2020 Jun 19;742:144601. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroendocrinology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Morphine is a natural alkaloid which derived from the opium poppy Papaver somniferum. Many studies have reported the effect of morphine on learning, memory and gene expression. CART (cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript)is an important neuropeptide which has a critical role in physiological processes including drug dependence and antioxidant activity. Read More

Bratisl Lek Listy 2020 ;121(3):225-229

Aim: Nicotine at high concentrations induces apoptosis in trophoblastic cells through induction of cell cytotoxicity and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Methamphetamine in low dose has pharmaceutical properties. It seems that this components in low dose can protect the trophoblastic cells from nicotine-induced cell death. Read More

Water Res 2020 May 4;174:115585. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China. Electronic address:

Ketamine (KET) and methamphetamine (METH) have been recognized as emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. This paper aimed to investigate the environmental behaviour, including the degradation, distribution, and bioaccumulation, of METH, KET, and their main metabolites (amphetamine (AMP) and norketamine (NorKET)). The changes in acute toxicity in the aqueous phase and in the bacterial community in sediment were determined to assess the associated eco-risk of the drug exposure. Read More

Case Rep Vet Med 2020 29;2020:2816373. Epub 2020 Jan 29.

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.

A 3-year-old female spayed rat terrier presented for hyperactivity and repetitive circling to the right of less than one-hour duration. On examination, the patient was dehydrated, hyperactive, and dysphoric. Laboratory tests initially revealed elevations in creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Read More

J Formos Med Assoc 2020 Feb 6. Epub 2020 Feb 6.

Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Forensic and Clinical Toxicology Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background/purpose: Although illicit substance use-induced toxicity or complication is a frequent cause of visit to the emergency department (ED), there are limited data on cases confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. This study aimed to describe clinical presentations of patients who visited the ED because of acute illicit substance-related complications.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study between May 2017 and August 2018 on patients presenting to the ED with positive urine illicit substance analysis by LC-MS/MS. Read More

Int J Drug Policy 2020 Mar 4;77:102672. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

Health Protection Research Unit for Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, United Kingdom.

Background: There have been recent increases in use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) associated with acute health harms including hospital presentations due to toxicity and increasing numbers of deaths. In response, the UK Government enacted generic legislation on 26th May 2016 (the Psychoactive Substances Act) making it an offence to produce, possess with intent to supply, supply, import or export, or possess within a custodial setting a psychoactive substance. We studied the impact of this Act on monthly frequency of enquiries made by health professionals to the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) about NPS. Read More

Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2020 Jan 8:1-6. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Maryland Poison Center, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Pediatric ingestions of amphetamines used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are on the rise. Little data provide an amphetamine dose at which to refer pediatric unintentional ingestions to a healthcare facility for monitoring. We studied the dose at which unintentional ingestions of amphetamines develop symptoms and receive benzodiazepines. Read More

Cell Tissue Res 2020 Apr 3;380(1):59-66. Epub 2020 Jan 3.

Unidad de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, E-38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.

We have tested whether the lack of chromogranins (Cgs) A and B could provoke CNS disorders when combined with an excess of dopamine. We chronically treated (over 6 months) mice lacking both chromogranins A and B (Cgs-KO) with a low oral dosage of L-DOPA/benserazide (10/2.5 mg/kg). Read More

Neurochem Res 2020 Jun 27;45(6):1399-1409. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, USA.

Amphetamine (AMPH) is a systemic stimulant used to treat a variety of diseases including Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, narcolepsy and obesity. Previous data showed that by binding to catecholamine transporters, AMPH prevents the reuptake of the neurotransmitters dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE). Because AMPH, either used therapeutically at final concentrations of 1-10 µM or abused as recreational drug (50-200 µM), is taken over long periods of time, we investigated the prolonged effects of this drug on the uptake of DA. Read More

Prehosp Disaster Med 2020 Feb 6;35(1):41-45. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.

Introduction: Serotonin and sympathomimetic toxicity (SST) after ingestion of amphetamine-based drugs can lead to severe morbidity and death. There have been evaluations of the safety and efficacy of on-site treatment protocols for SST at music festivals.

Problem: The study aimed to examine the safety and efficacy of treating patients with SST on-site at a music festival using a protocol adapted from hospital-based treatment of SST. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2020 Feb 26;319:213-224. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. Electronic address:

The upregulated α-synuclein (α-syn) and Tau co-occur in methamphetamine (METH) abusers' brains. Here, we designed experiments mainly to investigate whether α-syn and Tau interact in METH exposure. We detected the expression of α-syn, total Tau, and phosphorylation of Tau at Serine 396 (pSer396 Tau) under in vitro and in vivo conditions after METH exposure to determine the co-occurrence of α-syn and Tau. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 11 23;16(23). Epub 2019 Nov 23.

College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

Contamination of residential homes with methamphetamine is an emerging issue of significant concern to public health. Cooking or smoking methamphetamine in a residential property contaminates the house, furnishings and personal possessions within it, with subsequent exposure through ingestion, dermal absorption and/or inhalation causing adverse health effects. Current guidelines identifying levels of methamphetamine contamination that require remediation vary between countries. Read More

J Appl Toxicol 2020 Mar 22;40(3):363-372. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Piperazine designer drugs are a group of synthetic drugs of abuse that have appeared on the illicit market since the second half of the 1990s. The most common derivatives are 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP), 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (MeOPP) and 1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)piperazine (MDBP). They can be consumed as capsules, tablets, but also in powder or liquid forms. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2020 May;15(5):802-816

Department of Biomedical Sciences; National Institute of Neuroscience (INN), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that synthetic psychoactive substances, in addition to having abuse potential, may elicit toxic effects of varying severity at the peripheral and central levels. Nowadays, toxicity induced by synthetic psychoactive substances poses a serious harm for health, since recreational use of these substances is on the rise among young and adult people. The present review summarizes recent findings on the peripheral and central toxicity elicited by "old" and "new" synthetic psychoactive substances in humans and experimental animals, focusing on amphetamine derivatives, hallucinogen and dissociative drugs and synthetic cannabinoids. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2020 Jan 31;178:112944. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (NanoWS) Research Unit, University of South Africa, College of Science and Engineering and Technology (CSET), UNISA Science Campus, 1710 Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa. Electronic address:

Increased use of psychoactive drugs and their continuous release into the aquatic environment threatens the aquatic life, human and animal's life. As such this study was aimed at investigating the occurrence and the associated exposure human health risks of psychoactive drugs residues. The psychoactive drugs investigated include amphetamine, methylphenidate, heroin, cocaine and metabolites included are mainly morphine, 6-acetylmorphine and benzoylecgonine. Read More

Exp Neurol 2020 Jan 4;323:113089. Epub 2019 Nov 4.

The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe Street, 916 Hunterian Building, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address:

Serotonin axons in the adult rodent brain can regrow and recover their function following several forms of injury including controlled cortical impact (CCI), a neocortical stab wound, or systemic amphetamine toxicity. To assess whether this capacity for regrowth is unique to serotonergic fibers, we used CCI and stab injury models to assess whether fibers from other neuromodulatory systems can also regrow following injury. Using tyrosine-hydoxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry we measured the density of catecholaminergic axons before and at various time points after injury. Read More

Toxicol In Vitro 2020 Feb 16;62:104668. Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, PR China. Electronic address:

Methamphetamine (MA) has a high uptake in lung, but the precise mechanism of MA-induced lung toxicity remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of MA abuse in remodeling of pulmonary arteries and to explore the possible correlation of the association of the remodeling with the redox imbalance in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and MA group for the experimental study. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Nov 15;236:116790. Epub 2019 Oct 15.

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA. Electronic address:

Aims: Although the bulk of research into the biology of serotonin 5-HT receptors has focused on its role in the CNS, selective activation of these receptors in peripheral tissues can produce profound anti-inflammatory effects. We previously demonstrated that the small molecule 5-HT receptor agonist (R)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine [(R)-DOI] inhibits TNF-α-mediated proinflammatory signaling cascades and inflammation via 5-HT receptor activation and prevents the development of, and inflammation associated with, acute allergic asthma in a mouse ovalbumin (OVA) model. Here, we investigated the ability of (R)-DOI to reverse inflammation and symptoms associated with established asthma in a newly developed model of chronic asthma. Read More

N Z Med J 2019 09 20;132(1502):55-66. Epub 2019 Sep 20.

Department of Cardiology, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland.

Background: Methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy (MAC) is increasingly recognised as a serious consequence of chronic metamphetamine use. Evidence to guide management and prognostication of patients with MAC compared to other cardiomyopathies remain limited.

Methods: Clinical characteristics, in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes were collected in consecutive MAC patients at Middlemore Hospital from 2006-2018, and compared with a 1:1 age-range matched cohort with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NCM). Read More

Can J Surg 2019 10;62(5):356-357

From the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Que. (Carrier); and the Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Que. (Giraldeau, Parent, Ducharme).

Summary: Cardiac toxicity from recreational drug use remains difficult to establish. We report the cases of 3 young patients who were hospitalized for cardiogenic shock. All were bridged to transplantation with implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Read More

Klin Padiatr 2019 Sep 10;231(5):262-268. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Department of Neuropediatrics, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig.

Objective: The consumption of illegal substances during pregnancy is an increasing social and medical issue. Main substances of prenatal drug exposure are beside tehtrahydrocannabinol (THC), opioids and methamphetamine. The effect of these substances on the long-term development of children remains uncertain. Read More

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2019 Nov 3;103(5):710-716. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia.

The manufacturing and consumption of drugs of addiction has increased globally and their widespread occurrence in the environment is an emerging concern. This study evaluated the phytotoxicity of three compounds: methamphetamine, codeine and morphine; commonly reported in Australian urban water, to the aquatic plant Lemna minor under controlled conditions. L. Read More

J Neurochem 2019 12 15;151(6):749-763. Epub 2019 Oct 15.

Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

A significant comorbidity exists between alcohol and methamphetamine (Meth) abuse but the neurochemical consequences of this co-abuse are unknown. Alcohol and Meth independently and differentially affect glutamatergic transmission but the unique effects of their serial exposure on glutamate signaling in mediating damage to dopamine neurons are unknown. Sprague-Dawley rats had intermittent voluntary access to 10% ethanol (EtOH) every other day and water over 28 days and were then administered a binge injection regimen of Meth or saline. Read More

Neurotoxicology 2019 12 29;75:158-173. Epub 2019 Aug 29.

UCIBIO, REQUIMTE (Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Laboratório de Toxicologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; FP-ENAS (Unidade de Investigação UFP em Energia, Ambiente e Saúde), CEBIMED (Centro de Estudos em Biomedicina), Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Portugal. Electronic address:

Synthetic cathinones also known as β-keto amphetamines are a new group of recreational designer drugs. We aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of thirteen cathinones lacking the methylenedioxy ring and establish a putative structure-toxicity profile using differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, as well as to compare their toxicity to that of amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH). Cytotoxicity assays [mitochondrial 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction and lysosomal neutral red (NR) uptake] performed after a 24-h or a 48-h exposure revealed for all tested drugs a concentration-dependent toxicity. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Nov 6;690:1068-1088. Epub 2019 Jul 6.

Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Campus Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, CP 64849 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico. Electronic address:

Existence of anthropogenic contaminants (ACs) in different environmental matrices is a serious and unresolved concern. For instance, ACs from different sectors, such as industrial, agricultural, and pharmaceutical, are found in water bodies with considerable endocrine disruptors potency and can damage the biotic components of the environment. The continuous ACs exposure can cause cellular toxicity, apoptosis, genotoxicity, and alterations in sex ratios in human beings. Read More

AACN Adv Crit Care 2019 ;30(3):232-248

Ruff Joseph Macale Cajanding is Charge Nurse, Adult Critical Care Unit, 6th Floor, King George V Building, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, 2 King Edward Street, London EC1A 1HQ, United Kingdom

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) has become a popular recreational drug of abuse among young adults, partly because of the belief that it is relatively safe compared with other drugs with the same stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. However, MDMA use has been associated with a wide spectrum of organ toxicities, with the liver being severely affected by its deleterious effects. This article discusses the essential pharmacology of MDMA and describes the effects MDMA has on various organ systems of the body, with particular focus on the liver. Read More

J Clin Med 2019 Aug 23;8(9). Epub 2019 Aug 23.

Department of Immunology, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania.

Drugs of abuse are associated with stroke, especially in young individuals. The major classes of drugs linked to stroke are cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, morphine, cannabis, and new synthetic cannabinoids, along with androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs). Both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke have been reported due to drug abuse. Read More

Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2019 Dec 23;15(4):598-602. Epub 2019 Aug 23.

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, 276 Portage Street #200, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.

In this report, a pediatric case of bowel obstruction with sepsis complicated by methamphetamine toxicity is described. The decedent, an eleven-year-old female with a clinical history of pica, was found unresponsive in her home and pronounced dead following unsuccessful resuscitative efforts. Radiologic imaging showed multiple radio-opaque foreign objects in the stomach and bowel. Read More

Hum Psychopharmacol 2019 09 22;34(5):e2710. Epub 2019 Aug 22.

UMass Memorial Health Care, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.

Introduction: Methamphetamine associated psychosis (MAP) represents a mental disorder induced by chronic methamphetamine use in a subset of users. The prevalence of the disorder has increased in several countries in Europe and Asia where methamphetamine use has increased. MAP remains difficult to distinguish from primary psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, creating complications in prescribing treatment plans to patients. Read More

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2019 09 21;39(9):1739-1746. Epub 2019 Aug 21.

From the Departments of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology (C.G.K., M.S.B., G.K.K., J.G.T., A.W.O.), LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA.

While the opioid epidemic has garnered significant attention, the use of methamphetamines is growing worldwide independent of wealth or region. Following overdose and accidents, the leading cause of death in methamphetamine users is cardiovascular disease, because of significant effects of methamphetamine on vasoconstriction, pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerotic plaque formation, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy. In this review, we examine the current literature on methamphetamine-induced changes in cardiovascular health, discuss the potential mechanisms regulating these varied effects, and highlight our deficiencies in understanding how to treat methamphetamine-associated cardiovascular dysfunction. Read More

J Anal Toxicol 2019 Sep;43(8):666-672

Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, Toxicology Laboratory, 1851 NW 10th Ave., Miami, USA.

The (±)-threo-4-fluoromethylphenidate (4F-MPH) is a fluorinated analog of the prescription central nervous system stimulant medication, methylphenidate. This novel psychoactive substance was first detected in drug paraphernalia at the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department Toxicology Laboratory in 2016 but was not detected in a biological specimen until 2018. Limited literature is available on 4F-MPH, with predominate literature being published out of Europe, and no known toxicities reported in the USA. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2019 Nov 15;133:110761. Epub 2019 Aug 15.

Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, 24341, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

We previously demonstrated that activation of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) is critical for methamphetamine (MA)-induced dopaminergic toxicity. It was recognized that microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) also induces dopaminergic neurotoxicity. It was demonstrated that inhibition of PKC modulates the expression of mEH. Read More

Mol Pharmacol 2019 10 13;96(4):493-504. Epub 2019 Aug 13.

Research Service, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon (X.S., T.L.S., N.B.M., A.J.E., A.J.); and The Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center (X.S., A.J.) and Departments of Psychiatry (X.S., T.L.S., A.J.E., A.J.) and Behavioral Neuroscience (N.B.M., A.J.E., A.J.), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon

Methamphetamine (MA) is highly addictive and neurotoxic, causing cell death in humans and in rodent models. MA, along with many of its analogs, is an agonist at the G protein-coupled trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). TAAR1 activation protects against MA-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, suggesting that TAAR1 plays a role in regulating MA-induced neurotoxicity. Read More

J Anal Toxicol 2020 Mar;44(2):200-205

Service de Toxicologie, Hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP, 2 Rue Ambroise Paré, Paris 75010, France.

Amphetamines, frequently used recreational drugs with high risk of toxicity, are commonly included in urine drug screens. This screening is based on enzyme immunoassay, which is a quick and easy-to-perform technique, but may lack specificity resulting from cross-reactivity with other compounds, causing false positive results. We present two cases of presumed false positive MULTIGENT® amphetamine/methamphetamine and MULTIGENT® ecstasy (Abbott®) immunoassays with the beta-blocker metoprolol. Read More

BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2019 08 5;20(1):47. Epub 2019 Aug 5.

Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.

Background: MDMA causes serotonin (5-HT) syndrome immediately after administration and serotonergic injury in a few days or weeks. However, a serotonin syndrome is not always followed by serotonergic injury, indicating different mechanisms responsible for two adverse effects. The goal of present study was to determine causes for two adverse events and further test that dose and environment have a differential role in initiating and intensifying MDMA neurotoxicity. Read More

Am J Med 2020 02 29;133(2):207-213.e1. Epub 2019 Jul 29.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Electronic address:

Background: The burden of substance abuse among patients with heart failure and its association with subsequent emergency department visits and hospital admissions are poorly characterized.

Methods: We evaluated the medical records of patients with a diagnosis of heart failure treated at the University of California-San Diego from 2005 to 2016. We identified substance abuse via diagnosis codes or urine drug screens. Read More

Yakugaku Zasshi 2019 ;139(8):1063-1070

National Research Institute of Police Science.

The abuse of drugs has become a serious social problem worldwide. Amphetamine-type stimulants such as methamphetamine are recreationally abused and can cause toxic effects in the body. Unfortunately, death from drug poisoning can occur due to careless intake. Read More

Int Rev Neurobiol 2019 9;146:189-207. Epub 2019 Jul 9.

International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Methamphetamine (METH) is a potent CNS stimulant that is widely used as a recreational drug. Due to its ability to increase bodily heat production and diminish heat loss due to peripheral vasoconstriction, METH is able to increase brain and body temperature. The hyperthermic effects of METH are potentiated when the drug is used under conditions of psycho-physiological activation and in warm ambient temperatures. Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2019 09 23;30(10):1028-1030. Epub 2019 Jul 23.

1 Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain.

J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2019 10 18;371(1):36-44. Epub 2019 Jul 18.

Research Service, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon (N.B.M., T.J.P., A.J.); and Departments of Behavioral Neuroscience (N.B.M., T.J.P., A.J.) and Psychiatry (A.J.), and The Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center (T.J.P., A.J.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon

Methamphetamine (MA) impairs vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and dopamine transporter (DAT) function and expression, increasing intracellular DA levels that lead to neurotoxicity. The trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is activated by MA, but when the receptor is not activated, MA-induced neurotoxicity is increased. To investigate interactions among TAAR1, VMAT2, and DAT, transporter function and expression were measured in transgenic knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice 24 hours following a binge-like regimen (four intraperitoneal injections, 2 hours apart) of MA (5 mg/kg) or the same schedule of saline treatment. Read More

Molecules 2019 Jul 16;24(14). Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Unit of Research "Neurobehavioural mechanisms and endophenotypes of addictive behavior", Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Avda. Blasco Ibañez 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain.

Currently, there are no approved pharmacotherapies for addiction to cocaine and other psychostimulant drugs. Several studies have proposed that cannabidiol (CBD) could be a promising treatment for substance use disorders. In the present work, the authors describe the scarce preclinical and human research about the actions of CBD on the effects of stimulant drugs, mainly cocaine and methamphetamine (METH). Read More