Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Diogo A. Fonseca, Daniel M. Ribeiro, Margarida Tapadas, Maria Dulce Cotrim
Summary: MDMA, a popular recreational drug with potential therapeutic effects, has various cardiovascular implications, including effects on both the cardiac and vascular levels. These effects may involve different mechanisms and require further investigation to fully understand the risk/benefit ratio of its therapeutic use.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Legal
Ian R. R. McGrane, Nathan C. C. Ramsbacher, William C. C. Rook, Faddy A. A. Omar
Summary: This systematic review examines the effects of METH and MDMA on driving performance. The study finds that experimental studies often show no significant safety signals, while observational studies highlight the safety risks associated with METH and MDMA use during driving. Common driving behaviors while using these drugs include errors in judgment, high-speed driving, failure to stop, inappropriate merging, lane weaving, and crashes.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hanna Molla, Royce Lee, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Harriet de Wit
Summary: This study demonstrates that both MDMA and MA can increase feelings of connectedness with an unfamiliar partner during casual conversations. These findings extend our understanding of the social effects of these drugs and highlight a sensitive method for assessing pro-social effects during face-to-face interactions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Raul Lopez-Arnau, Jordi Camarasa, Marcel Li Carbo, Nuria Nadal-Gratacos, Pol Puigseslloses, Maria Espinosa-Velasco, Edurne Urquizu, Elena Escubedo, David Pubill
Summary: The utility of classical drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders is often limited, and psychoactive substances have shown potential as alternative treatments for certain disorders. The use of new psychoactive substances has expanded the options for treating these disorders.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Joachim Neumann, Karyna Azatsian, Christian Hoehm, Britt Hofmann, Ulrich Gergs
Summary: This study measured the inotropic effects of different hallucinogenic drugs in isolated mouse and human atrial preparations. The results showed that ephedrine, norephedrine, and MDMA increased force of contraction and protein phosphorylation, while mescaline did not have this effect.
NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERGS ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Soojin Jang, Seong Uk Son, Byunghoon Kang, Junseok Kim, Jaewoo Lim, Seungbeom Seo, Taejoon Kang, Juyeon Jung, Kyu-Sun Lee, Hyungjun Kim, Eun-Kyung Lim
Summary: With the growth of drug-facilitated crimes, prevention has become increasingly important. A drug screening kit (DSK) has been developed for the simple and immediate detection of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) in drinks. The color change of the DSK indicates the presence of ATSs, and the result can be confirmed by the naked eye without any analytical instrumentation.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Dario A. A. Dornbierer, Niklaus Zolch, Diego M. M. Baur, Andreas Hock, Benjamin Stucky, Boris B. B. Quednow, Thomas Kraemer, Erich Seifritz, Oliver G. G. Bosch, Hans-Peter Landolt
Summary: In a randomized controlled trial, researchers found that the level of glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex significantly increased after enhanced sleep, which could be one of the mechanisms of action of sodium oxybate (SXB) in the treatment of insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness.
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Yotvarit Charunyanont, Apinya Tubtimrattana, Nat Tansrisawad, Parath Thirati
Summary: This study examined the effect of body refrigeration during body storage on postmortem formation of GHB in blood samples. The results showed that further formation of GHB is not expected once the plateau of postmortem GHB formation is reached in a refrigerated body. Early body refrigeration can minimize postmortem GHB production.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ibtihal M. Alattas, Sultan A. Alwajeeh, Osama O. Alamoudi, Abdulmajeed H. Alzahrani, Badria A. Alhatali
Summary: This article reports a case of GHB misuse in a patient presenting with agitation and delirium, highlighting the need for clinicians to be vigilant of GHB misuse in Saudi Arabia.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Annie Regan, Seth Margolis, Harriet de Wit, Sonja Lyubomirsky
Summary: This study conducted a multilevel meta-analysis on 27 studies with 592 participants to quantify the strength of MDMA's effects on self-reported social connection. The results revealed a moderate-to-large effect of MDMA on sociability-related outcomes, suggesting its potential implications for social contexts and clinical settings. The study also discussed potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between MDMA and sociability-related feelings.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ben Sessa, Laurie Higbed, Steve O'Brien, Claire Durant, Chloe Sakal, Daniel Titheradge, Tim M. Williams, Anna Rose-Morris, Elsa Brew-Girard, Sam Burrows, Chantelle Wiseman, Sue Wilson, James Rickard, David J. Nutt
Summary: The study is the first exploration of the feasibility and efficacy of MDMA therapy in patients with alcohol use disorder. The results show that MDMA treatment is safe and well tolerated in patients with AUD, with improvement in psychosocial functioning and significant reduction in drinking behavior.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Florina Maria Truta, Alvaro Garcia Cruz, Ana-Maria Dragan, Mihaela Tertis, Todd Cowen, Maria-Geogia Stefan, Tamara Topala, Amorn Slosse, Elena Piletska, Filip Van Durme, Bela Kiss, Karolien De Wael, Sergey A. Piletsky, Cecilia Cristea
Summary: A portable and highly sensitive sensor has been developed for the specific detection of MDMA in street samples. The sensor uses electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles to recognize MDMA, and is immobilized on screen-printed carbon electrodes with chitosan and graphene. The sensor shows good sensitivity and satisfactory recoveries (92-99%), which are confirmed with UPLC-MS/MS validation. This technology has the potential to be used in forensic analysis.
DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Tingting Zeng, Shida Li, Li Wu, Zuxing Feng, Xinxin Fan, Jing Yuan, Xin Wang, Junyu Meng, Huan Ma, Guanyong Zeng, Chuanyuan Kang, Jianzhong Yang
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare impulsiveness, negative emotions, cognitive function, and P300 components among different types of addicts. The results showed that GHB addicts had the highest levels of impulsiveness and the most severe impairment in cognitive function, as indicated by abnormalities in BJ-MoCA, response time, and P300 components.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Junghyun Ryu, Youngmi Kim
Summary: This study reports a BODIPY-metal complex as a colorimetric and fluorimetric indicator for the rapid detection of GHB. The complex can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis in a broad range of beverages.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Adam Bernstein
Summary: GHB, commonly abused in club and among men who have sex with men, is difficult to detect through traditional urine drug testing due to its low dosage and rapid metabolism. Treatment for GHB intoxication and withdrawal is mainly supportive, with challenges in determining if GHB is the cause of a patient's symptoms.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anastasia Suraev, Ronald R. Grunstein, Nathaniel S. Marshall, Angela L. D'Rozario, Christopher J. Gordon, Delwyn J. Bartlett, Keith Wong, Brendon J. Yee, Ryan Vandrey, Chris Irwin, Jonathon C. Arnold, Iain S. McGregor, Camilla M. Hoyos
Article
Oncology
P. Grimison, A. Mersiades, A. Kirby, N. Lintzeris, R. Morton, P. Haber, I Olver, A. Walsh, I McGregor, Y. Cheung, A. Tognela, C. Hahn, K. Briscoe, M. Aghmesheh, P. Fox, E. Abdi, S. Clarke, S. Della-Fiorentina, J. Shannon, C. Gedye, S. Begbie, J. Simes, M. Stockler
ANNALS OF ONCOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lyndsey L. Anderson, Ivan K. Low, Iain S. McGregor, Jonathon C. Arnold
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Danielle McCartney, Melissa J. Benson, Anastasia S. Suraev, Christopher Irwin, Thomas R. Arkell, Ronald R. Grunstein, Camilla M. Hoyos, Iain S. McGregor
HUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
(2020)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Thomas F. Gamage, Daniel G. Barrus, Richard C. Kevin, David B. Finlay, Timothy W. Lefever, Purvi R. Patel, Megan A. Grabenauer, Michelle Glass, Iain S. McGregor, Jenny L. Wiley, Brian F. Thomas
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Article
Substance Abuse
Nicholas Lintzeris, Llewellyn Mills, Adrian Dunlop, Jan Copeland, Iain Mcgregor, Raimondo Bruno, Adrienne Kirby, Mark Montebello, Michelle Hall, Meryem Jefferies, Richard Kevin, Anjali Bhardwaj
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2020)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Danielle McCartney, Ashling D. Isik, Kieron Rooney, Jonathon C. Arnold, Delwyn J. Bartlett, Bridin Murnion, Elisha Richards, Thomas R. Arkell, Nicholas Lintzeris, Iain S. McGregor
Summary: During cannabis withdrawal, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may help alleviate sleep disturbances. Cycling exercise can improve sleep duration and efficiency compared to the control stretching routine.
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Miguel A. Bedoya-Perez, Michael P. Ward, Max Loomes, Iain S. McGregor, Mathew S. Crowther
Summary: The study found that during the COVID-19 lockdown period, both rodent captures and activity increased in the City of Sydney, Australia, while there was no significant change in complaint frequency. It is hypothesized that rodents redistributed in response to resource scarcity. These findings suggest that the onset of COVID-19 may have disrupted commensal rodent populations, with potential implications for future management.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas R. Arkell, Richard C. Kevin, Frederick Vinckenbosch, Nicholas Lintzeris, Eef Theunissen, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Iain S. McGregor
Summary: The study found that males performed better on a divided attention task and had higher peak plasma concentrations of 11-COOH-THC compared to females, but there were no significant differences between sexes in subjective drug effects and cardiovascular measures regarding cannabis effects.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Isobel Lavender, Iain S. McGregor, Anastasia Suraev, Ronald R. Grunstein, Camilla M. Hoyos
Summary: Sleep disturbances have been cited as a common reason for using medicinal cannabis, and there is increasing clinical interest in its potential in treating sleep disorders. However, the current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, lack of controlled study designs, and high risk of bias. This review summarizes the current evidence and discusses practical considerations for clinicians regarding the use of cannabinoids for sleep disorders.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jonathon C. Arnold, Danielle McCartney, Anastasia Suraev, Iain S. McGregor
Summary: Global interest in CBD is increasing, with clinical trial evidence supporting high doses for treating childhood epilepsies. However, the therapeutic benefits of low-dose CBD products are still being debated. This review evaluated the efficacy and safety of low oral doses of CBD and found that doses of 300 mg or higher showed evidence of reducing anxiety and anti-addiction effects, but the effects on insomnia, neurological disorders, and chronic pain were limited and inconsistent.
CTS-CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zeeta Bawa, Bandana Saini, Danielle McCartney, Miguel Bedoya-Perez, Andrew J. McLachlan, Iain S. McGregor
Summary: This study examined Australian pharmacists' experience, knowledge, and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis and low-dose cannabidiol products supplied without a prescription. The results showed that pharmacists supported improved access to cannabis products but highlighted the need for better training and education in this area.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Iain S. McGregor, Elizabeth A. Cairns, Sarah Abelev, Rhys Cohen, Mat Henderson, Daniel Couch, Jonathon C. Arnold, Natalie Gauld
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2020)
Review
Sport Sciences
Danielle McCartney, Melissa J. Benson, Ben Desbrow, Christopher Irwin, Anastasia Suraev, Iain S. McGregor
SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN
(2020)
Article
Substance Abuse
Nicholas Lintzeris, Llewellyn Mills, Anastasia Suraev, Maria Bravo, Thomas Arkell, Jonathon C. Arnold, Melissa J. Benson, Iain S. McGregor
HARM REDUCTION JOURNAL
(2020)