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Mar Environ Res 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749 016, Lisboa, Portugal.

Antidepressants such as fluoxetine are frequently detected in estuaries and can have profound effects on non-target organisms by interfering with the neural system and affecting essential physiological processes and behaviours. In this context, short-term effects of fluoxetine exposure were analysed in the common goby Pomatoschistus microps, an estuarine resident fish species. Two experiments were conducted with fish exposed to: i) fluoxetine concentrations within the μg/L range for 96 h (0. Read More

Mol Neurobiol 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Animal Physiology and Reproduction, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Rzeszow, Werynia 502, 36-100, Kolbuszowa, Poland.

Amitriptyline, antidepressant frequently prescribed for treatment of depressive disorders and several neuropathic and inflammatory diseases, has been shown to cause neurotoxic effects. This effect has been partially linked with increased oxidative stress and apoptosis initiation; however, the exact mechanism is still unknown. Klotho protein due to its neuroprotective characteristics seems to be involved in the amitriptyline-mediated neurotoxicity. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2019 19;10:242. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Agomelatine (AGO) is a new type of antidepressant with demonstrated antidepressant effects and a unique modulating circadian rhythm action. However, AGO has hepatotoxicity, which limits its clinical application. In order to develop new drugs that cause less liver injury than AGO, a series of derivatives were synthesized; compound GW117 was screened from derivatives due to its high receptor affinity. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2019 Mar 26;114:108784. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. Electronic address:

Background: The novel antidepressant drug agomelatine has been observed to cause adverse effect of hepatotoxicity in clinical applications. This study was designed to explore protective agents and investigated the underlying mechanism on L02 cells.

Method: L02 cells were treated with agomelatine and oxymatrine (OMT) and cell apoptosis were analyzed through flow cytometric analysis, CCK-8 assay and TUNEL assay. Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2019 Mar 19;853:129-135. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University, 7-2-1 Kamiohno, Himeji 670-8524, Japan. Electronic address:

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluvoxamine and sertraline show a high affinity for sigma-1 receptors. Fluvoxamine enhances nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells via a sigma-1 receptor-mediated mechanism, which suggests that neurogenesis may be involved in the antidepressant action of fluvoxamine. However, the effects of sertraline on neurite outgrowth remain unclear. Read More

Chem Biol Interact 2019 May 8;304:139-147. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Electronic address:

Phenelzine (β-phenylethylhydrazine) is a monoamine oxidase (MAO)-inhibiting antidepressant with anxiolytic properties. It possesses a number of important pharmacological properties which may alter the effects of oxidative stress. After conducting a comprehensive literature search, the authors of this review paper aim to provide an overview and discussion of the mechanisms by which phenelzine may attenuate oxidative stress. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2019 Apr 27;168:491-514. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Chemistry, University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, 500 03, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Electronic address:

A combination of tacrine and tryptophan led to the development of a new family of heterodimers as multi-target agents with potential to treat Alzheimer's disease. Based on the in vitro biological profile, compound S-K1035 was found to be the most potent inhibitor of human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and human butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE), demonstrating balanced IC values of 6.3 and 9. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Apr 23;26(11):11326-11335. Epub 2019 Feb 23.

Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.

Increasing salinity levels in freshwaters due to natural and anthropogenic sources pose risk to exposed aquatic organisms. However, there is a paucity of information on how salinity may influence the effects of other chemical stressors especially psychiatric pharmaceuticals. Freshwater planarians which have been suggested as bioindicator species in aquatic habitats were used in this study to evaluate toxic effects of sodium chloride (NaCl) used here as a surrogate for increasing salinity, and its influence on the effects of the antidepressant, fluoxetine. Read More

Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019 Apr 17;179:63-72. Epub 2019 Feb 17.

Laboratório de Avaliação de Substâncias Bioativas, Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, CEP 89030-903 Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Depression is a neuropsychiatry medical condition with high prevalence, in which the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction has been postulated as the main cause. The glucocorticoids can be harmful to the brain, particularly by induction of oxidative stress and glutamatergic damage, therefore antioxidants or neuroprotective agents could have beneficial effects. Lutein (LUT) is a dietary xanthophyll able to arrive in the brain that has been used for therapy of macular degeneration. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2019 31;14:901-911. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran,

Background: Nanoparticles (NPs) when injected into the body can reach target tissues like nervous system and interact with tau proteins and neurons. This can trigger conformational changes of tau and may affect NP toxicity.

Methods: In this study, we used several biophysical techniques (extrinsic and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies, and cellular assays [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry) to reveal how structural changes of tau protein can change the cytotoxicity of titanium dioxide (TiO) NPs against neuron-like cells (SH-SY5Y) cells. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 May 6;664:915-926. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.

There is concern that psychoactive drugs present in the aquatic environment could affect the behaviour of fish, and other organisms, adversely. There is considerable experimental support for this concern, although the literature is not consistent. To investigate why, fish were exposed to three concentrations of the synthetic opiate tramadol for 23-24 days, and their anxiolytic behaviour in a novel tank diving test was assessed both before and after exposure. Read More

Pestic Biochem Physiol 2019 Feb 4;154:1-6. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Agriculture, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address:

Ten putative resistant and two susceptible Rapistrum rugosum populations originating from Greece were studied for resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides, using dose-response assays, sequencing of als gene and in vitro ALS activity assays. The dose-response assays showed that one (P1) out of ten putative resistant populations was cross-resistant to tribenuron and imazamox, while another population (P4) was resistant to tribenuron only. All populations were susceptible to MCPA at the recommended rate. Read More

Chem Commun (Camb) 2019 Feb;55(17):2477-2480

State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, P. R. China.

A series of near-infrared fluorescent probes based on inhibitor (clorgyline) structure-guided design were synthesized for the specific detection of MAO-A in cells and in vivo. Moreover, we have successfully used the high specificity of one of the probes to visualize MAO-A activity in zebrafish and tumor tissue for the first time. Read More

J Forensic Sci 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Forensic Sciences, Commonwealth of Virginia, 500 North 7th Street, Richmond, VA.

Gabapentin, a GABA analogue, is a nonopioid prescribed for seizure control and neuralgic pain. Its abuse for recreational purposes has been increasing in recent years as the number of prescriptions also increases. In our series, we review 104 cases of decedents who tested positive for gabapentin in postmortem blood samples and an additional 53 nonfatal cases of motor vehicle drivers suspected of driving under the influence. Read More

PLoS One 2019 6;14(2):e0211077. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In the current study, we have examined the interaction amongst an antidepressant drug amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMH) and ethane-1, 2-diyl bis(N,N-dimethyl-N-cetylammoniumacetoxy) dichloride (16-E2-16, a green gemini surfactant) through tensiometric and fluorimetric techniques in aqueous/electrolyte/urea solutions. Significant variations are observed in the various evaluated parameters in the present study. Gemini 16-E2-16 has outstanding surface properties along with a much lower cmc value, demonstrating very little toxicity as well as considerable antimicrobial activity. Read More

Drug Des Devel Ther 2019 21;13:387-396. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Neurology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China,

Purpose: As a novel antidepressant drug, agomelatine has good therapeutic effect on the mood disorder and insomnia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have shown the neuroprotective function of agomelatine, including anti-oxidative and anti-apoptosis effect. However, it remains unclear whether agomelatine exerts neuroprotection in AD. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 May 25;222:175-183. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Departamento de Genética e Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, UnB, 70910-900, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. Electronic address:

Psychiatric pharmaceuticals are one of the most prescribed active substances globally. Bupropion (BPP) is an antidepressant that acts via inhibition of norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake. It has been found in various water matrices, and thus its effects on aquatic organisms must be studied. Read More

Molecules 2019 Jan 30;24(3). Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.

To improve the in vivo antidepressant activity of previously reported serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) dual reuptake inhibitors, three series of arylamidine derivatives were designed and synthesized. The in vitro 5-HT and NE reuptake inhibitory activities of these compounds were evaluated, and compound was identified as the most potent 5-HT (IC = 620 nM) and NE (IC = 10 nM) dual reuptake inhibitor. Compound exhibited potent antidepressant activity in the rat tail suspension test and showed an acceptable safety profile in a preliminary acute toxicity test in mice. Read More

Pharmacology 2019 29;103(3-4):189-201. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Funabashi, Japan,

Background: A report examining whether clinically available antidepressants increase urethral smooth muscle contraction via antagonistic effects on the α2-adrenoceptor (α2-AR) is lacking.

Objectives: The present study was performed to evaluate the potential of clinically available antidepressants to reverse α2-AR-mediated contractile inhibition in rat vas deferens, in order to predict whether they can induce voiding impairment.

Method: The effects of 18 antidepressants of different classes on electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contractions suppressed by 10-8 mol/L clonidine (a selective α2-AR agonist) in isolated rat vas deferens were investigated and related to their respective clinical blood concentrations. Read More

Pharmacology 2019 23;103(3-4):151-158. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary,

The endocannabinoid and serotonin (5-HT) systems have key roles in the regulation of several physiological functions such as motor activity and food intake but also in the development of psychiatric disorders. Here we tested the hypothesis, whether blockade of serotonin 2C (5-HT2C) receptors prevents the reduced locomotor activity and other behavioral effects caused by a cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist. As a pretreatment, we administered SB-242084 (1 mg/kg, ip. Read More

Med Res Rev 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.

Rhodiola species, belonging to the family Crassulaceae, have long been used as an adaptogen, tonic, antidepressant, and antistress medicine or functional food in Asia and Europe. Due to the valuable application, the growing demand of Rhodiola species has led to a rapid decrease in resource content. This review aims to summarize the integrated research progress of seven mainstream Rhodiola species. Read More

J Mol Neurosci 2019 Mar 14;67(3):364-372. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Physiology, Luohe Medical College, Luohe, 462000, China.

High level of corticosterone (CORT) is toxic to neurons and plays an important role in depression-like behavior and chronic stress. Our previous study showed that TPPU, a soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor (sEHI), induces an antidepressant effect in animal models. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Read More

Neurol Res 2019 Apr 24;41(4):298-305. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

b Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine , Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University , Tokat , Turkey.

Aim: Previous studies showed the existence of a relationship between epilepsy and depression. Duloxetine is a potent and selective inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake (SNRI) used in the treatment of the major depressive disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of duloxetine on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in an experimental rat model of acute partial epilepsy. Read More

Endokrynol Pol 2018 ;69(5):536-544

Bogomolets National Medical University, T. Shevchenko boulevard, 13, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Wstęp: Badanie przeprowadzono w celu wyjaśnienia wpływu Z56822977 na biosyntezę serotoniny w mózgu szczurów z otyłością wy-wołaną podawaniem glutaminianu sodu (monosodium glutamate, MSG). Materiał i metody: W badaniu wykorzystano 18 samców szczura. Zwierzęta podzielono na trzy grupy: 1 - grupa kontrolna, 2 - grupa MSG, 3 - grupa MSG + Z56822977. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 12 19;12:CD013230. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Centre for Evidence-Based Practice (CEBaP), Belgian Red Cross, Motstraat 42, Mechelen, Belgium, 2800.

Background: Oral poisoning is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide, with estimates of over 100,000 deaths due to unintentional poisoning each year and an overrepresentation of children below five years of age. Any effective intervention that laypeople can apply to limit or delay uptake or to evacuate, dilute or neutralize the poison before professional help arrives may limit toxicity and save lives.

Objectives: To assess the effects of pre-hospital interventions (alone or in combination) for treating acute oral poisoning, available to and feasible for laypeople before the arrival of professional help. Read More

Molecules 2018 Dec 14;23(12). Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Biology, Changhua University of Education, 1 Jin-De Road, Changhua, Taiwan 50007.

Metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually unrecognized before any pathological examination, resulting in time-taking treatment and poor prognosis. As a consequence, HCC patients usually show symptoms of depression. In order to suppress such psychiatric disorders and to facilitate better treatment outcome, antidepressants are prescribed. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2019 Jan 27;109:2173-2181. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Institute of Biology and Ecology, Department of Cellular Biology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, 041 54 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address:

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) belongs to the family of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, overexpression of which can confer a multidrug-resistant phenotype in cancer cells and tumors. BCRP mediates efflux of numerous xenobiotics, including various chemotherapeutic agents and photosensitizers. Hypericin (HY) is a naturally-occurring photosensitizer synthesized by plants of the genus Hypericum. Read More

PLoS Comput Biol 2018 12 10;14(12):e1006672. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

Kynurenines, the products of tryptophan oxidative degradation, are involved in multiple neuropathologies, such as Huntington's chorea, Parkinson's disease, senile dementia, etc. The major cause for hydroxykynurenines's neurotoxicity is the oxidative stress induced by the reactive oxygen species (ROS), the by-products of L-3-hydroxykynurenine (L-3HOK) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) oxidative self-dimerization. 2-aminophenol (2AP), a structural precursor of L-3HOK and 3HAA, undergoes the oxidative conjugation to form 2-aminophenoxazinone. Read More

Microb Pathog 2019 Feb 7;127:335-340. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection in Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address:

Emergence of methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains is a major cause of infirmity worldwide and has limited our therapeutic options against these pathogens. In this regard, the search for candidates with an antimicrobial activity, with a greater efficacy and a lower toxicity, is necessary. As a result, there is greater need to search for resistance modifying agents which, in combination with existing drugs, will restore the efficacy of these drugs. Read More

J Neuroinflammation 2018 Dec 8;15(1):338. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxilu Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.

Background: Neuroinflammation has recently emerged as a critical risk factor in the pathophysiology of depression. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and the development of novel therapeutic strategies as means to target these inflammatory pathways for use in the treatment of depression remain unresolved. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the molecular events of neuroinflammation as related to its induction of depression-like behaviors. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Feb 4;26(4):3479-3491. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

School of Geography, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, UK.

Only a small proportion of pharmaceuticals available for commercial use have been monitored in the aquatic environment, and even less is known about the effects on organisms. With thousands of pharmaceuticals in use, it is not feasible to monitor or assess the effects of all of these compounds. Prioritisation schemes allow the ranking of pharmaceuticals based on their potential as environmental contaminants, allowing resources to be appropriately used on those which are most likely to enter the environment and cause greatest harm. Read More

Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2019 03 29;15(1):110-113. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 1301 N. Columbia Rd (Room W430), Grand Forks, ND, 58203, USA.

Kratom is a plant with dose-dependent mixed stimulant and opioid properties whose pharmacologic characteristics and social impact continue to be described. The main active isolate of kratom is mitragynine, an indole-containing alkaloid with opioid-like effects. Kratom toxicity and kratom-associated fatalities have been described, including those in association with additional drugs. Read More

J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Objective: To examine the prospective relationship between vitamin D status and incident depression in a large cohort of nondepressed community-dwelling older people.

Design: Longitudinal study examining the relationship between vitamin D levels at baseline (wave 1) and incident depression at 2 and 4 years (waves 2 and 3), embedded within the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging. Participants with depression at wave 1 were excluded. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2019 Feb 20;110:145-154. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. Electronic address:

Background And Purpose: Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity predispose diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Beta-caryophyllene (BCP), a natural sesquiterpene, exerts neuroprotective, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects via its selective agonism to cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R). BCP was shown to have an anti-diabetic effect, however, the implication of CB2R is yet to be elucidated. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Feb 5;217:858-868. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.

The objective of this study was to identify transformation products (TPs) of citalopram (CIT), an antidepressant drug, in laboratory experiments. Moreover, toxicity predictions and analyzes in wastewater samples were performed. For the formation of TPs, raw water was used for the processes of hydrolysis; photodegradation under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and chlorination. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Mar 12;654:129-134. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Bioremediation, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China. Electronic address:

Sertraline hydrochloride (Ser-HCl), a widely used antidepressant, becomes an aquatic contaminant via metabolic excretion and improper disposal; however, it is unknown how Ser-HCl affects aquatic microbial communities. The present study investigated the effects of Ser on the structures of aquatic microbial communities via high-throughput sequencing analyses. Ser-HCl treatment inhibited the growth of two model algae (the green alga, Chlorella vulgaris, and the cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa) and decreased the chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration in the microcosm to reduce the photosynthetic efficiency. Read More

Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao 2018 Sep;29(9):3058-3066

Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.

We examined the effects of binary mixture of two different pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) on aquatic organisms. The topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, native to northeast China, was used to study the combined effects of fluoxetine (FLX) and triclosan (TCS) on its different organs. After acute (4 h) and chronic (42 d) treatments, the combined effects of FLX/TCS on phase I and phase II detoxification enzymes, nervous system, digestive system and antioxidant system were evaluated. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Jan 8;26(1):600-616. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources - Biological Research Laboratory, Goiano Federal Institute-Urutaí Campus, Urutaí, GO, Brazil.

The increasing consumption of medications by humans has negative effects such as the increased disposal of these compounds in the environment. Little is known about how the disposal of a "drug mix" (DM) in aquatic ecosystems can affect their biota. Thus, we evaluated whether the exposure of Lithobates casteibeianus tadpoles to a DM composed of different medication classes (antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anxiolytic, analgesic, and antacid drugs)-at environmentally relevant concentrations-may change their oral morphology, trigger behavioral disorders, and have mutagenic effects on erythrocyte cells. Read More

Aquat Toxicol 2018 Dec 30;205:204-212. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

School of Hydraulic and Ecological Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang, 330099, China.

Studies on the bioavailability of organic contaminants adsorbed to nanomaterials are increasing. In this study, we investigated the interaction between fluoxetine (FLX) and three multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different functional groups in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, focusing on the FLX accumulation, the formation of the metabolite norfluoxetine (NFLX), and the active defence system responses. The accumulation of FLX in zebrafish was intensified by MWCNTs (46-99%), which simultaneously facilitated the formation of the metabolite NFLX by 23-167%. Read More

Environ Res 2019 Feb 26;169:7-25. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.

Pharmaceuticals, such as the antidepressant venlafaxine (VFX), have been frequently detected in coastal waters and marine biota, and there is a growing body of evidence that these pollutants can be toxic to non-target marine biota, even at low concentrations. Alongside, climate change effects (e.g. Read More

Molecules 2018 Oct 31;23(11). Epub 2018 Oct 31.

School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.

Tiansi Liquid is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used to treat depression; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we examined the effect of Tiansi Liquid in a rat model of hydrocortisone-induced depression using behavioral testing, 16S rRNA high-throughput pyrosequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics of the tryptophan (TRP)⁻kynurenine (KYN) pathway. Tiansi Liquid significantly improved the sucrose preference and exploratory behavior of the depressive rats. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 30;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

We report a case of a hospitalised patient who developed probable serotonin toxicity shortly after the initiation of linezolid in whom the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram had been recently discontinued. On day 2 of linezolid administration, the patient reported severe anxiety and was observed to have full body jerking and twitching motions without mental status change. Notably, the patient was concomitantly receiving the antidepressant, trazodone and the benzodiazepine, clonazepam possibly affecting the severity and manifestations of serotonin toxicity. Read More

Neurochem Int 2019 Jan 24;122:1-7. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, 815 Hwarangro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Methoxetamine (MXE) is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that is chemically and pharmacologically similar to other dissociative substances, such as ketamine and phencyclidine. There are reports on the misuse of MXE, which sometimes resulted in adverse consequences and death. Studies have also shown that MXE has abuse liability and stimulates dopamine neurotransmission in the mesolimbic reward pathway in the brain. Read More

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2018 Dec 23;100:45-51. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Yantai University, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China. Electronic address:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have developed as novel antidepressants and have been determined to possess higher efficacy and less adverse effects compared to other antidepressants. Our previous studies have showed that LPM570065, a new potent TRI, is relatively nontoxic in acute, subchronic toxicity and genotoxicity evaluations. In the current study, toxicity of LPM570065 was further evaluated on the fertility and early embryonic development in Sprague-Dawley rats. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2018 Oct 23. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.

Purpose: Gastrointestinal mucositis (GIM) is one of the most debilitating side effects of the chemotherapy agent, irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11). The toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway is a key mediator implicated in the pathophysiology underlying GIM. The tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline has been shown to inhibit TLR2 and TLR4 activity in in vitro models. Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2018 Dec 16;841:113-121. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Laboratory of Biochemistry, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu 501-1196, Japan. Electronic address:

Sibutramine had been prescribed as an oral anorexiant that reduces dietary intake, but was withdrawn from the market due to frequent occurrence of severe cardiovascular events including hypertension. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of hypertension, we here investigated whether sibutramine facilitates damage and contraction of human aortic smooth muscle (HASM) cells or not. Treatment with sibutramine provoked HASM cell apoptosis, which was attributed to production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria dysfunction. Read More

Pharmacol Rep 2018 Dec 21;70(6):1173-1179. Epub 2018 Jul 21.

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background: The use of antidepressants in combination is common practice following non-response to single antidepressant agents. Nevertheless, the scientific literature lacks preclinical studies regarding the combined administration of antidepressants across multiple behavioral measures including, but not limited to, cognition. Hence, we aimed to determine the effects of paroxetine (PAR), venlafaxine (VEN) and bupropion (BUP) alone or combined (PAR+BUP or VEN+BUP) on spatial and affective memory tasks to advance the knowledge about the combined use of antidepressants in cognition. Read More