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Neurotoxicology 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address:

4,4'-Dimethylaminorex (4,4'-DMAR) is a novel psychoactive substance (NPS) that appeared on the illicit drug market in addition to the psychostimulant 4-methylaminorex (4-MAR). Both substances are methylated derivatives of aminorex, an amphetamine-like anorectic used in the 1960ies and withdrawn from the marked due to severe cardiovascular toxicity. The aim of the present study was to characterize the in vitro pharmacological profiles of 4-MAR, 4,4'-DMAR, and 3,4-dimethylaminorex (3,4-DMAR, direx). Read More

J Appl Toxicol 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal.

Benzofurans, also known by users as benzo fury or benzofury, are synthetic phenethylamines and constitute the third most prominent group of new psychoactive substances (NPS). As the use of these substances has been spread as an alternative to the classic illicit psychostimulants, such as amphetamines, their legal status was reviewed, resulting in an utter prohibition of these NPS in many countries worldwide. Herein, the prevalence of abuse, chemistry, biological effects, metabolism, and the potential harms and risky behaviors associated with the abuse of benzofurans are reviewed. Read More

Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2019 Jan 30:1-9. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

a Emergency Department , Hospital Clínic, Barcelona; IDIBAPS , Barcelona , Spain.

Objective: To analyse the epidemiology, clinical picture and emergency department (ED) management of a large series of patients who presented to European EDs after cocaine consumption, comparing data from powder (C group) and crack (C group) consumers.

Methods: Between October 2013 and December 2016, the Euro-DEN Plus Registry recorded 17,371 consecutive acute recreational drug toxicity presentations to 22 EDs in 14 European countries. Epidemiological and demographic data, co-ingestion of alcohol and other drugs, clinical features, ED management and outcome (death) were analysed for cocaine cases, and comparison of clinical picture in C and C patients were performed adjusting for alcohol and other drug co-ingestion. Read More

Neurochem Int 2019 Mar 14;124:162-170. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

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

The abuse of methamphetamine (MA), an amphetamine (AMPH)-type stimulant, has been demonstrated to be associated with various neuropsychotoxicity, including memory impairment, psychiatric morbidity, and dopaminergic toxicity. Compelling evidence from preclinical studies has indicated that protein kinase C (PKC), a large family of serine/threonine protein kinases, plays an important role in MA-induced neuropsychotoxicity. PKC-mediated N-terminal phosphorylation of dopamine transporter has been identified as one of the prerequisites for MA-induced synaptic dopamine release. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 29;2018:6124745. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Human Anatomy, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa 56126, Italy.

Methamphetamine (METH) is abused worldwide, and it represents a threat for public health. METH exposure induces a variety of detrimental effects. In fact, METH produces a number of oxidative species, which lead to lipid peroxidation, protein misfolding, and nuclear damage. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2019 Jan 6. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

Department of Emergency Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre Antipoison Du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Département d'urgence, Hôpital Charles-Lemoyne, Greenfield Park, Qc, Canada.

Objective: Benzodiazepines are often recommended first-line for management of cocaine and amphetamine toxicity while antipsychotic treatment is discouraged due to the potential for lowering seizure threshold, prolonging the QT interval, and decreasing heat dissipation. We performed a systematic review including animal and human studies to elucidate the efficacy and safety of antipsychotics in managing sympathomimetic toxicity specifically evaluating the effect of treatment on mortality, seizures, hyperthermia, and cardiovascular effects.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, BIOSIS Previews, Web of Science, Scopus, CENTRAL and gray literature from inception to 31 May 2017 to answer: Can antipsychotics be used safely and effectively to treat cocaine or amphetamine toxicity? Citations were screened by title and abstract. Read More

Drug Chem Toxicol 2019 Jan 7:1-4. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

c Safety Pharmacology , Collegeville , PA , USA.

Phenylethylamine's acute toxic effects in a population of adult (10 to 12 weeks old; ∼30 g) Swiss male albino mice are significantly increased by para-position aromatic ring halogenation. LD, LD, and LD values (mg/kg; x ± SEM) for p-F- (116.7 ± 3. Read More

Toxicol Rep 2019 1;6:26-33. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

EuSci LLC, Gretna, NE, USA.

Sympathomimetic amine compounds are often pooled together and incorrectly assumed to be interchangeable with respect to potential adverse effects. A brief and specific review of sympathomimetic compounds and one instance (i.e. Read More

Bioinform Biol Insights 2018 11;12:1177932218815152. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.

The psychostimulant amphetamine can be prescribed to ameliorate the symptoms of narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and to facilitate weight loss. This stimulant can also have negative effects including toxicity and addiction risk. The impact of amphetamine on gene networks is partially understood and this study addresses this gap in consideration of the physical activity. Read More

J Mol Neurosci 2019 Jan 23;67(1):1-15. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Toledo, Health Science Campus, 3000 Arlington Avenue, HEB 282G, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.

Evidence demonstrated that the glutamatergic system is implicated in mediating relapse to several drugs of abuse, including methamphetamine (METH). Glutamate homeostasis is maintained by a number of glutamate transporters, such as glutamate transporter type 1 (GLT-1), cystine/glutamate transporter (xCT), and glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST). In addition, group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) were found to be implicated in relapse-seeking behavior. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2019 Feb 19;301:79-89. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany. Electronic address:

New psychoactive substances (NPS) are still an emerging issue in clinical and forensic toxicology. Information about their cytotoxic potential is limited or even unavailable before distribution and thus their intake can be of high risk for consumers. The aim of the presented study was to develop a strategy to identify cytotoxic potential of NPS based on a high content screening assay (HCSA) using HepG2 cell line and four fluorescent dyes, namely Hoechst33342, TMRM, CAL-520, and TOTO-3. Read More

J Mol Neurosci 2019 Jan 19;67(1):133-141. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran.

Methamphetamine (METH) known as a highly neurotoxic compound associated with irreversible brain cell damage that results in neurological and psychiatric abnormalities. The mechanisms of METH intoxication mainly involve intraneuronal events including oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and dopamine oxidation. Based on recent studies, HS can protect neurons through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic mechanisms. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Nov 10;19(11). Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea.

We demonstrated that capsaicin (CAP), an agonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1), inhibits microglia activation and microglia-derived oxidative stress in the substantia nigra (SN) of MPP⁺-lesioned rat. However, the detailed mechanisms how microglia-derived oxidative stress is regulated by CAP remain to be determined. Here we report that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) endogenously produced by CAP-activated astrocytes through TRPV1, but not microglia, inhibits microglial activation and microglia-derived oxidative stress, as assessed by OX-6 and OX-42 immunostaining and hydroethidine staining, respectively, resulting in neuroprotection. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2019 Feb 28;301:53-63. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Institute of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address:

Nod-like Receptor Protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is known to lead to microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Methamphetamine is known to induce microglial activation. However, whether NLRP3 inflammasome activation contributes to the microglial activation induced by methamphetamine remains elusive. Read More

Toxicol In Vitro 2019 Feb 24;54:304-309. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Key Lab of Modern Toxicology (NJMU), Ministry of Education, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, China. Electronic address:

Methamphetamine (METH) abusing contributes to dopaminergic neurons degeneration, resulting inParkinson's disease (PD)-like changes. More recently, the association between METH exposure and the Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like changes gained more attention, however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether METH exposure promotes the formation of Aβ, one of the key AD-like pathological proteins. Read More

Pharmacol Rep 2018 Dec 29;70(6):1097-1104. Epub 2018 May 29.

Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland. Electronic address:

Background: Mephedrone is a recreationally used synthetic cathinone, relatively new abusive substances with molecular structure similar to amphetamine. As there is still lack of scientific data regarding mechanisms of action as well as metabolism of mephedrone, especially in aspects other than neurotoxicity, addiction or behavioral changes, therefore we aimed, for the first time, to investigate potential pro-oxidative actions of a single dose of mephedrone in organs other than brain and its structures, i.e. Read More

Int J Med Sci 2018 10;15(12):1349-1354. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), GABA-A receptors and GABA transporter 1 (GAT1) were reported to be involved in the proliferation of Leydig cells, testosterone production and spermatogenesis. Since methamphetamine (METH) has been reported to have adverse effects on testis and its functions, the aim of this study was therefore to determine the changes of GABAergic activity in testis after METH exposure. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, acute binge (AB-METH), escalating dose (ED METH) and escalating dose-binge (ED-binge METH) groups. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2018 Dec 24;299:159-171. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

CUHK-SDU Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address:

Methamphetamine (Meth) is an addictive psychostimulant whose abuse is intimately linked to increased risks for HIV-1 infection. Converging lines of evidence indicate that Meth also aggravates the symptoms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), though the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. By using the lipophilic antioxidant N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) as an interventional agent, we examined the roles of oxidative stress in autophagy and apoptosis induced by HIV-Tat (the transactivator of transcription), Meth or their combined treatment in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and in the rat striatum. Read More

J Neuroinflammation 2018 Aug 31;15(1):246. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410007, People's Republic of China.

Background: Chronic persistent airway inflammation has been associated with the comorbidity of asthma and bipolar disorder (BD). However, the direct relevance between airway inflammation and BD-like psychiatric comorbidity is almost unknown. Integrin β4 (ITGB4) is downregulated on the airway epithelial of asthma patients, which might play a critical role in the parthenogenesis of airway inflammation. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 22;2018:4982453. Epub 2018 Jul 22.

Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, Italy.

Methamphetamine is a widely abused drug, which possesses neurotoxic activity and powerful addictive effects. Understanding methamphetamine toxicity is key beyond the field of drug abuse since it allows getting an insight into the molecular mechanisms which operate in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. In fact, key alterations produced by methamphetamine involve dopamine neurotransmission in a way, which is reminiscent of spontaneous neurodegeneration and psychiatric schizophrenia. Read More

J Natl Med Assoc 2018 Dec 3;110(6):624-634. Epub 2018 May 3.

Department of Oral Biology/Pharmacology, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University Augusta, GA 30912-1128, USA. Electronic address:

The growing global availability of the stimulant shrub, khat, has aroused widespread concern. This paper is a review of possible adverse interactions between khat and conventional drugs. Khat chewing has been shown to reduce the bioavailabilities of orally co-administered antibiotics, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephradine and tetracyclineHCl, and the antimalarial drug, chloroquine. Read More

Handb Exp Pharmacol 2018 Aug 14. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Linköping, Sweden.

This chapter describes how new psychoactive substances (NPS) have been involved in fatal intoxications from 2010 and onwards. It summarizes the circumstances, antemortem symptoms, and adverse effects that have led to death after ingestion of one or more NPS and tabulates concentrations, and postmortem findings from these intoxications.Consumption of NPS exerts health problems and unknown risks for the users. Read More

Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018 Oct 27;235(10):2897-2913. Epub 2018 Jul 27.

Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna St, 31-343, Kraków, Poland.

Rationale: Metabotropic glutamate receptors and muscarinic M receptors have been proposed as novel targets for various brain disorders, including schizophrenia. Both receptors are coupled to G proteins and are expressed in brain circuits that are important in schizophrenia. Therefore, their mutual activation may be an effective treatment and allow minimizing the doses of ligands required for optimal activity. Read More

Vet Med (Auckl) 2017 30;8:77-85. Epub 2017 Oct 30.

Emergency and Critical Care, Animal Specialty Group, Los Angeles, CA, USA,

The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the responses to treatment with intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) and the outcomes for a variety of severe intoxications. This case series includes 10 client-owned animals, 9 dogs and 1 cat, that underwent treatment with ILE for a variety of severe intoxications over a 4-year period. History, physical examination findings, clinical signs, clinicopathological test results, treatment, response to treatment, and outcome were recorded. Read More

J Emerg Med 2018 09 21;55(3):411-414. Epub 2018 Jul 21.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Cell Prolif 2018 Oct 28;51(5):e12476. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Objectives: Methamphetamine (MA) abuse evokes pulmonary toxicity. The aim of our study is to investigate if autophagy is induced by MA and if autophagy-initiated apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells is involved in MA-induced chronic pulmonary toxicity.

Materials And Methods: The rats in Control group and MA group were tested by Doppler and HE staining. Read More

J Anal Toxicol 2018 Nov;42(9):655-660

Forensic Science SA (Toxicology), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

The number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) available is constantly increasing, making it difficult for toxicology laboratories to keep screening methods up to date. Full scan high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a versatile technique which allows for progressive updating of spectral databases to increase the scope of screening. It also allows for retrospective screening of data-specifically, reprocessing of data files using an updated spectral database without the need for re-extraction or reanalysis. Read More

Drug Metab Dispos 2018 09 18;46(9):1277-1284. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Departments of Pharmaceutics (D.J.W., L.M.S., D.D.S., J.W.) and Pharmacy (S.A.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

Methamphetamine is one of the most widely abused illicit drugs. Although human intoxication and multiple tissue toxicities frequently occur in abusers, little is known about the distribution of methamphetamine or its primary metabolites, amphetamine and -hydroxymethamphetamine (-OHMA), to their sites of toxicity. This study determined the pharmacokinetics, tissue exposure, and partition ratios of methamphetamine and major metabolites in various mouse tissues and investigated the impact of organic cation transporter 3 (Oct3) following i. Read More

Neuropharmacology 2018 08 23;138:282-291. Epub 2018 Jun 23.

Medical University of Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Währingerstraße 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Center for Addiction Research and Science, Medical University Vienna, Waehringerstrasse 13A, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address:

(±)-cis-4,4'-Dimethylaminorex (4,4'-DMAR) is a new psychoactive substance (NPS) that has been associated with 31 fatalities and other adverse events in Europe between June 2013 and February 2014. We used in vitro uptake inhibition and transporter release assays to determine the effects of 4,4'-DMAR on human high-affinity transporters for dopamine (DAT), norepinephrine (NET) and serotonin (SERT). In addition, we assessed its binding affinities to monoamine receptors and transporters. Read More

Int J Pharm 2018 Sep 7;548(1):1-14. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Department of Morphology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil; Post-Graduation Programme in Structural and Functional Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil; Post-Graduation Programme in Health Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil. Electronic address:

This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and antifibrotic effects of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in rats subjected to liver injury with ethanol and Methamphetamine (METH). The liver injury was induced by gavage administrations of 30% alcoholic solution (7 g/kg) once a day during 28 days, followed by METH (10 mg/kg) on the 20th and 28th days of treatment. GNPs treatment (724. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2018 Sep 12;294:156-165. Epub 2018 May 12.

Key Lab of Modern Toxicology (NJMU), Ministry of Education, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 818 Tian Yuan East Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China. Electronic address:

Methamphetamine (METH) is a commonly abused psychostimulant that can induce severe neurotoxicity. Cardiovascular injury caused by METH has recently gained increasing attention; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. As autophagy has been shown to be associated with cell injury, the association between autophagy and METH-mediated cell apoptosis was investigated in the present study. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2018 24;9:144. Epub 2018 Apr 24.

Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia.

3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a potent pyrovalerone cathinone that is substituted for amphetamines by recreational users. We report a comprehensive and detailed description of the effects of subcutaneous MDPV (1-4 mg/kg) on pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and metabolism, acute effects on thermoregulation under isolated and aggregated conditions, locomotion (open field) and sensory gating (prepulse inhibition, PPI). All studies used male Wistar rats. Read More

ACS Chem Neurosci 2018 Oct 11;9(10):2379-2394. Epub 2018 May 11.

Department of Psychology , Arizona State University , Tempe , Arizona 85281 , United States.

Cathinone is a plant alkaloid found in khat leaves of perennial shrubs grown in East Africa. Similar to cocaine, cathinone elicits psychostimulant effects which are in part attributed to its amphetamine-like structure. Around 2010, home laboratories began altering the parent structure of cathinone to synthesize derivatives with mechanisms of action, potencies, and pharmacokinetics permitting high abuse potential and toxicity. Read More

Neurotox Res 2018 Oct 30;34(3):525-537. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna, 31-343, Kraków, Poland.

According to the European Drug Report (2016), the use of synthetic cathinones, such as mephedrone, among young people has rapidly increased in the last years. Studies in humans indicate that psychostimulant drug use in adolescence increases risk of drug abuse in adulthood. Mephedrone by its interaction with transporters for dopamine (DAT) and serotonin (SERT) stimulates their release to the synaptic cleft. Read More

Behav Brain Res 2018 09 27;349:73-79. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Mild neurocognitive impairments are common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV-encoded proteins, such as trans-activator of transcription (TAT), contribute to neuropathology and cognitive function in medicated subjects. The combination of TAT and comorbid methamphetamine use may further impair neurocognitive function in HIV-positive individuals by affecting dopaminergic systems in the brain. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2018 Aug 26;292:97-107. Epub 2018 Apr 26.

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

Overexposure to methamphetamine (METH) causes apoptosis in a number of cell types, particularly neuronal cells. However, the underlying mechanisms of METH-induced neuronal apoptosis remain to be elucidated. Accumulation of microtubule-associated protein Tau can lead to activation of multiple neurotoxic pathways, which is closely correlated with neuronal apoptosis. Read More

Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2018 ;19(2):163-174

Drug Testing Consultants, #801 265 Russell Hill Road, Toronto, ON, M4V2T3, Canada.

Background: Methamphetamine misuse represents an increasing global public health problem. Its consumption during pregnancy becomes a relevant issue, since it has clinical consequences for the child's health and the pregnant woman. Despite this, there are only few data in the literature that include analytical results in the matrices used to detect prenatal exposure. Read More

Am J Chin Med 2018 ;46(3):551-566

† School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P. R. China.

Although antiretroviral therapy has helped to improve the lives of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), these patients are often still afflicted with HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders, which can lead to neurocognitive impairment and even dementia, and continue to hamper their quality of life. Methamphetamine abuse in HIV-1 patients poses a potential risk for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, because methamphetamine and HIV-1 proteins such as transactivator of transcription can synergistically damage the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of methamphetamine and HIV-1 Tat protein on the blood-brain barrier function and to determine whether ginsenoside Rb1 (GsRb1) plays a role in protecting the BBB. Read More

Neurochem Res 2018 May 23;43(5):1118-1135. Epub 2018 Apr 23.

Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.

Evidence indicates that stress conditions might lead to drug dependence. Recently, we have demonstrated that exposure to far infrared ray (FIR) attenuates acute restraint stress via induction of glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) gene. We investigated whether FIR affects methamphetamine (MA)-induced behavioral sensitization and whether FIR-mediated pharmacological activity requires interaction between dopamine receptor and GPx-1 gene. Read More

Handb Exp Pharmacol 2018 Apr 10. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

New psychoactive substances (NPS) with amphetamine-, aminoindan-, and benzofuran basic chemical structures have recently emerged for recreational drug use. Detailed information about their psychotropic effects and health risks is often limited. At the same time, it emerged that the pharmacological profiles of these NPS resemble those of amphetamine or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Read More

Neurotox Res 2018 Nov 9;34(4):763-768. Epub 2018 Apr 9.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Building A, Monserrato University Campus, SP 8, Km 0.700, 09042, Monserrato, Italy.

Previous studies have consistently demonstrated that the amphetamine-related drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) induces dopaminergic damage in the mouse brain, and that this effect is most marked in the nigrostriatal system. Moreover, it has been suggested that the overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) may participate in the dopaminergic damage induced by MDMA. To further elucidate this issue, we evaluated the levels of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), which catalyzes the production of NO, in mice treated with regimens of MDMA that induce progressive and persistent neurotoxicity in the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system. Read More

Neurosci Lett 2018 05 5;676:66-70. Epub 2018 Apr 5.

Pharmacological Research Division, Toxicological Evaluation and Research Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 187 Osong Saengmyeong 2-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Chungju-shi 28159, Republic of Korea.

New psychoactive substances (NPSs), i.e., newly designed substances with chemical residues that are slightly different from those of known psychoactive substances, have been emerging since the late 2000s, and social problems related to the use of these substances are increasing globally. Read More

Drug Alcohol Depend 2018 05 27;186:219-225. Epub 2018 Mar 27.

Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

Background: Methamphetamine (Meth), a neurotoxin, induces inflammation, oxidative stress, and triggers endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease which is the second cause of death among individuals with Meth-use disorder. Oxidative stress and inflammation trigger the microparticle (MP) release. These are extracellular vesicles extracted from cell surface and identified in biological fluids. Read More

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018 07 28;85:46-53. Epub 2018 Mar 28.

Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute,USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. Electronic address:

The detrimental effects of amphetamines on developmental stages of NPCs are limited to rodent brain and it is not known if these effects occur in nonhuman primates which are the focus of the current investigation. Young adult rhesus macaques either experienced MDMA only, a combination of amphetamines (MDMA, MDA and methamphetamine) or no amphetamines (controls) and hippocampal tissue was processed for immunohistochemical analysis.Quantitative stereological analysis showed that intermittent exposure to MDMA or the three amphetamines over 9. Read More

Int J Dev Neurosci 2018 Jun 20;67:37-45. Epub 2018 Mar 20.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.

Modafinil is a psychostimulant drug prescribed for treatment of narcolepsy. However, it is used as a "smart drug" especially by young adults to increase wakefulness, concentration and mental performance. Therefore, it can also be used by women with childbearing potential and its developmental effects can become a concern. Read More

PLoS One 2018 22;13(3):e0194442. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Introduction: Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression could be discussed as an adaption that promotes repair and counteracts cell damage. Myoglobin is released upon muscle damage of several pathways. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the expression of HSP70 in kidney, heart and brain and of myoglobin in the kidney were associated with the cause of death and the survival times after lethal intoxications with three of the drugs most widely used in our local area (Saxony, Germany) as well as after fatal traumatic brain injury (TBI). Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Mar 20;19(3). Epub 2018 Mar 20.

Department of Clinical Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego Str. 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.

Bisphenol A, used in the production of plastic, is able to leach from containers into food and cause multidirectional adverse effects in living organisms, including neurodegeneration and metabolic disorders. Knowledge of the impact of BPA on enteric neurons is practically non-existent. The destination of this study was to investigate the influence of BPA at a specific dose (0. Read More

J Anal Toxicol 2018 Sep;42(7):437-445

Center for Forensic Science Research and Education at the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation, 2300 Stratford Ave, Willow Grove, PA, USA.

The number of emerging novel stimulants modified based on beta-keto variations of amphetamine-like substances continues to rise. Dibutylone reports described in the medical and toxicological literature are limited, therefore little information is available in terms of quantitative confirmation or metabolism. During this study, authentic human specimens, including blood, urine, vitreous humor, oral fluid and liver were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed for the presence of dibutylone and butylone, with paired case history and demographic information. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2018 Jun 14;289:107-113. Epub 2018 Mar 14.

Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 North Guangzhou Road, 510515 Guangzhou, China. Electronic address:

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused psychostimulant. Lactulose is a non-absorbable sugar, which effectively decreases METH-induced neurotoxicity in rat. However, the exact mechanisms need further investigation. Read More