Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Tina Tomazic, Anita Kovacic Celofiga
Summary: This study investigated the use of pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers (PCEs) among students at the Slovenian Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, as well as their behavioral and psychosocial factors. The research found that good grades and parental opinions are important factors associated with PCE misuse.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Massimiliano Esposito, Giuseppe Cocimano, Federica Ministrieri, Giuseppe Li Rosi, Nunzio Di Nunno, Giovanni Messina, Francesco Sessa, Monica Salerno
Summary: Smart drugs are commonly used by students, especially school or university students, for reasons such as better concentration, neuro enhancement, stress reduction, and time optimization. The actual functioning and benefit of smart drugs are still controversial, with uncertainty whether reported benefits are due to the drugs, the placebo effect, or a combination of both. There is a need for further studies, including on animal models, to validate the efficacy of smart drugs.
FRONTIERS IN BIOSCIENCE-LANDMARK
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Gayatri Bhatia, Ragul Ganesh, Alok Kulkarni
Summary: Opioid use disorders (OUDs) are linked to cognitive impairments and increased risk of relapse. Current treatments do not effectively address these cognitive deficits, so exploring other options, such as cognition enhancing drugs, is important. Certain prescription drugs used for dementia have shown promise in reversing opioid-induced cognitive impairments, and the potential role of nootropics in improving OUD-related cognitive decline is worth investigating.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Matej Malik, Pavel Tlustos
Summary: This review provides an up-to-date overview of nootropics, discussing their classification, uses, dosage, side effects, and contraindications. It also briefly describes the plant extracts with nootropic effects and provides recommendations for the use of nootropics by both ill and healthy individuals.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Varun Santosh Gupta, Pravin Popatrao Kale
Summary: The objective of this paper is to explore the potential of combining natural medicines with sildenafil, a popular erectile dysfunction medicine, to improve cognition and memory. Developing new treatment strategies for early stages of cognitive impairments is necessary due to multiple contributing factors and long-term complications. This review discusses the combination of treatments targeting these pathologies and highlights their potential benefits for managing cognitive impairments. The effectiveness of natural drugs and sildenafil is mentioned, emphasizing the need for further preclinical and clinical trials to explore their medicinal potential.
CURRENT DRUG TARGETS
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Michael B. La Monica, Betsy Raub, Keeley Malone, Shelley Hartshorn, Jodi Grdic, Ashley Gustat, Jennifer Sandrock
Summary: This study examined the acute effects of oral methylliberine supplementation on cognitive function and well-being. The results showed that methylliberine improved concentration, motivation, mood, and well-being, with no significant effects on cognitive function.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lorenza S. Colzato, Bernhard Hommel, Christian Beste
Summary: Cognitive enhancement is increasingly popular as a subject of scientific research and public interest, but a stronger emphasis on mechanistic theorizing is needed to understand both the benefits and risks associated with enhancing human cognition. The downsides of cognitive enhancement and the importance of following basic principles such as the neuro-competition principle and nonlinearity principle need to be considered in guiding future research efforts.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Tyler Etheridge, Brandon Kennedy, Morgan M. Millar, Ben J. Brintz, Chaorong Wu, Jeff Pettey
Summary: The use of cognitive-enhancing medications and supplements is common among resident physicians, regardless of a related medical diagnosis. This study highlights the increasing pressure in competitive residency environments to use these substances, despite their potential side effects.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Social Issues
Henri Huttunen, Oskari Sivula
Summary: The possibility of employing human enhancement interventions for future space missions, especially biomedical moral enhancements, is receiving attention. This paper focuses on exploring the types and effects of biomedical moral enhancements and suggests a grounded understanding of moral enhancement as a form of cognitive enhancement that also helps individuals act according to their own moral code. In the context of space missions, the authors argue that making biomedical enhancements mandatory for early-phase long-distance space travel is justified due to the high-stakes nature of such missions and the potential advantages that enhancements can provide.
TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Pieter A. Cohen, Bharathi Avula, Ikhlas Khan
Summary: This study found that centrophenoxine is present in dietary supplements sold over-the-counter in the US, with varying dosages and discrepancies between declared amounts and actual content. Clinicians should be aware that cognitive enhancement supplements may contain unapproved and prohibited drugs and should advise patients accordingly.
CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Cristina Lorca, Maria Mulet, Catalina Arevalo-Caro, M. Angeles Sanchez, Ainhoa Perez, Maria Perrino, Anna Bach-Faig, Alicia Aguilar-Martinez, Elisabet Vilella, Xavier Gallart-Palau, Aida Serra Maqueda
Summary: This systematic review provides state-of-the-art information on the proven and unproven effects of plant-derived nootropics (PDNs) on human cognition in conditions of health and disease. The findings suggest that Ginkgo biloba is most relevant to perceptual and motor functions, Bacopa monnieri improves language, learning, and memory, Withania somnifera modulates anxiety and social-related cognitions, and caffeine enhances attention and executive functions.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Emilian Mihailov, Blanca Rodriguez Lopez, Florian Cova, Ivar R. Hannikainen
Summary: The study found that attitudes towards cognitive enhancement are influenced by fairness and moral values, leading to ethical concerns. Competitive use of enhancement drugs diminishes the perceived causal role of the winner's skill, especially among those who value fairness. The normalization of enhancement practices reduces fairness-based concerns, but purity-based concerns remain unaffected in both recreational and competitive contexts.
CONSCIOUSNESS AND COGNITION
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria D. Auxtero, Susana Chalante, Mario R. Abade, Rui Jorge, Ana Fernandes
Summary: Late-life mild cognitive impairment and dementia pose a significant burden on healthcare systems with limited treatment options. Plant phytochemicals are being considered for alternative or complementary strategies, but caution is needed due to potential adverse effects and pharmacological interactions. Understanding and preventing these risks is crucial, especially for aged, polymedicated individuals.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
G. Biggio, I Di Fazio, C. Martini
Summary: Nootropics modulate specific brain pathways involving neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, with L-alpha GPE targeting neural stem cell aging, cholinergic depletion, oxidative stress, microglia activation, loss of entorhinal cortex neurons, and reduced hippocampal volume through its action as a phospholipid precursor and acetylcholine donor.
EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Andrea Brioschi Guevara, Melanie Bieler, Daniele Altomare, Marcelo Berthier, Chantal Csajka, Sophie Dautricourt, Jean-Francois Demonet, Alessandra Dodich, Giovanni B. Frisoni, Carlo Miniussi, Jose Luis Molinuevo, Federica Ribaldi, Philip Scheltens, Gael Chetelat
Summary: Cognitive complaints in the absence of objective cognitive impairment, observed in patients with subjective cognitive decline, are common in old age. Cognitive enhancement techniques, such as cognitive, mental, or physical training, have clinically relevant effects on cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes. Non-invasive brain stimulations show potential in improving memory performance, but more studies are needed to provide clear recommendations, while pharmacological cognitive enhancement drugs and herbal extracts do not have sufficient evidence to be recommended for individuals without cognitive impairment.
ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Filippo Gibelli, Giovanna Ricci, Ascanio Sirignano, Stefania Turrina, Domenico De Leo
Summary: The healthcare industry is undergoing a significant shift towards technology-driven care during the fourth industrial revolution. Robots are increasingly playing a decisive role in healthcare delivery, particularly in countries like Japan, raising ethical concerns. The short-term trend in healthcare is expected to involve the use of robots in nursing care.
JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sara Malaca, Francesco P. Busardo, Giulio Nittari, Ascanio Sirignano, Giovanna Ricci
Summary: New psychoactive substances (NPSs), with synthetic cannabinoids being among the most abused, have entered the illicit market. The latest generation of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) have increased affinity and potency, leading to potential adverse reactions and health threats for consumers.
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giovanna Ricci, Francesco Paolo Busardo, Filippo Gibelli, Ascanio Sirignano, Pietro Brunetti
Summary: This article provides an overview of the risks associated with the recreational consumption of GHB and its analogues, including pharmaceuticals mostly encountered in GHB-related emergency department admissions and postmortem investigations. A literature search was performed to identify scientific reports concerning the recreational use of GHB and analogs with prescribed drugs. Due to its dual nature, interpreting and distinguishing GHB concentrations in biological fluid represents a challenge in forensic toxicology.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG METABOLISM & TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paolo Bailo, Filippo Gibelli, Alberto Blandino, Andrea Piccinini, Giovanna Ricci, Ascanio Sirignano, Riccardo Zoja
Summary: Telemedicine enables effective healthcare delivery to patients at a distance, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telesurgery, a growing application in telemedicine, offers numerous benefits in quality and cost containment. However, legal and technical challenges need to be addressed to ensure safe and secure implementation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Filippo Gibelli, Giovanna Ricci, Ascanio Sirignano, Domenico De Leo
Summary: The imposition of compulsory health treatments has always been a controversial topic in legal and ethical debates, involving conflicting interests of individual self-determination and collective safety. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate on the legitimacy of mandatory vaccination, with some countries implementing compulsory vaccination while others target specific groups. This article aims to provide a concise and comprehensive overview of the ethical and legal issues surrounding compulsory COVID-19 vaccination, focusing on Italy and the international context, particularly Europe.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Filippo Gibelli, Giovanna Ricci, Ascanio Sirignano, Paolo Bailo, Domenico De Leo
Summary: Accidental femoral nerve injury is a well-known iatrogenic complication of various surgeries, with mostly transitory symptoms often underestimating its true incidence. This study conducted a Scoping Review of literature between 2000 and 2021, identifying surgical contexts and favorable long-term prognostic outcomes associated with iatrogenic femoral nerve injuries. Due to its frequent iatrogenic genesis, accurate evaluation methodologies are required for the intense medico-legal interest surrounding femoral nerve injury.
ANNALS OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria Rosaria Vari, Giovanna Ricci, Marco Cavallo, Simona Pichini, Ascanio Sirignano, Silvia Graziano
Summary: Ketamine, discovered in the USA in the 1960s, was initially used as an anesthetic but later gained popularity among recreational users. It has become a global phenomenon with significant increases in seizures and clinical cases worldwide. Despite its affordability and accessibility, ketamine use is associated with acute intoxication and deaths.
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Giuliano Pesel, Giovanna Ricci, Filippo Gibelli, Ascanio Sirignano
Summary: Although the digitization of health records is still struggling in the Italian healthcare context, the preliminary results of applying a computerized medical record model in two private hospitals in Northern Italy are encouraging. The benefits of digitizing drug records include increased accuracy and adequacy of prescriptions, reduced workload for nurses, and optimized drug management by hospital pharmacies.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Giulio Nittari, Filippo Gibelli, Paolo Bailo, Ascanio Sirignano, Giovanna Ricci
Summary: This systematic review identifies the main causes of mood disorders among seafarers and their impact on health. It found that social isolation, distance from families, fatigue, stress, and long work shifts are the main causes of mood disorders among seafarers. Strategies aimed at improving living conditions on board and greater consideration of these problems are key to improving the mental health of seafarers.
REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laura Leondina Campanozzi, Filippo Gibelli, Paolo Bailo, Giulio Nittari, Ascanio Sirignano, Giovanna Ricci
Summary: Healthcare in the third millennium relies heavily on technological devices and services, especially telemedicine. To effectively deliver digital medicine services, users need to be digitally literate. Through a literature review, we found that digital literacy is crucial in determining the effectiveness of telemedicine and digital medicine services, but with certain limitations.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Giovanna Ricci, Filippo Gibelli, Paolo Bailo, Anna Maria Caraffa, Giulio Nittari, Ascanio Sirignano
Summary: The importance of informed consent in medical practice is essential, but collecting consent from underage patients is challenging as they often need parental or legal guardian approval. This challenge is amplified in telemedicine contexts. This study uses a scoping review of the literature to examine the practices and solutions for obtaining informed consent from children in telemedicine. The results indicate that delivering adequate information to children is complex, but telemedicine offers opportunities for improved communication with child patients.
Editorial Material
Health Care Sciences & Services
Giovanna Ricci, Anna Maria Caraffa, Filippo Gibelli
Review
Environmental Sciences
Paolo Bailo, Filippo Gibelli, Giovanna Ricci, Ascanio Sirignano
Summary: Autopsy examination is difficult to apply in certain healthcare settings, especially in developing countries. Verbal autopsy, an alternative method that involves structured interviews with deceased's family members, has potential but its validity is still in question. Only two research articles have compared verbal autopsy with conventional autopsy, with conflicting conclusions. While verbal autopsy has potential in health and demographic surveillance, there is currently a lack of solid data to support its reliability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Filippo Gibelli, Paolo Bailo, Ascanio Sirignano, Giovanna Ricci
Summary: This paper investigates the medico-legal issues related to the development of pressure injuries through the analysis of a medico-legal litigation case and a literature review. The study identifies the increasing patient expectations and the automatic attribution of responsibility as the primary reasons for the rise in litigation. The suggested corrective measures include strict adherence to guidelines, documentation of preventive measures, risk assessment, family involvement, and collaboration between physicians and government institutions.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Renata Solimini, Francesco Paolo Busardo, Filippo Gibelli, Ascanio Sirignano, Giovanna Ricci
Summary: Telemedicine plays a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are still legal and ethical issues that need to be addressed, including informed consent, patient privacy, and data protection. Currently, telemedicine services can only be used as supplementary tools to traditional healthcare services.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2021)