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Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jun 2021A recent surge in the use and abuse of diverse prescribed psychotic and illicit drugs necessitates the surveillance of drug residues in source water and the associated...
A recent surge in the use and abuse of diverse prescribed psychotic and illicit drugs necessitates the surveillance of drug residues in source water and the associated ecological impacts of chronic exposure to the aquatic organism. Thirty-six psychotic and illicit drug residues were determined in discharged wastewater from two centralized municipal wastewater treatment facilities and two wastewater receiving creeks for seven consecutive days in Kentucky. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae were exposed to the environmental relevant mixtures of all drug residues, all illicit drugs, and all prescribed psychotic drugs. The extracted RNA from fish homogenates was sequenced, and differentially expressed sequences were analyzed for known or predicted nervous system expression, and screened annotated protein-coding genes to the true environmental cocktail mixture. Illicit stimulant (cocaine and one metabolite), opioids (methadone, methadone metabolite, and oxycodone), hallucinogen (MDA), benzodiazepine (oxazepam and temazepam), carbamazepine, and all target selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors including sertraline, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, and citalopram were quantified in 100% of collected samples from both creeks. The high dose cocktail mixture exposure group revealed the largest group of differentially expressed genes: 100 upregulated and 77 downregulated (p ≤ 0.05; q ≤ 0.05). The top 20 differentially expressed sequences in each exposure group comprise 82 unique transcripts corresponding to 74% annotated genes, 7% non-coding sequences, and 19% uncharacterized sequences. Among 61 differentially expressed sequences that corresponded to annotated protein-coding genes, 23 (38%) genes or their homologs are known to be expressed in the nervous system of fish or other organisms. Several of the differentially expressed sequences are associated primarily with the immune system, including several major histocompatibility complex class I and interferon-induced proteins. Interleukin-1 beta (downregulated in this study) abnormalities are considered a risk factor for psychosis. This is the first study to assess the contributions of multiple classes of psychotic and illicit drugs in combination with developmental gene expression.
Topics: Animals; Fluoxetine; Larva; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zebrafish
PubMed: 33689951
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116777 -
Advanced Biomedical Research 2022This study aimed to compare the efficacy of gabapentin and oxazepam on sleep quality, the severity of anxiety, and pain level in patients admitted to the coronary care...
Comparison the Effects of Gabapentin and Oxazepam on Sleep Quality, Anxiety, and Pain in Unstable Angina Patients Admitted to Coronary Care Unit of Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to compare the efficacy of gabapentin and oxazepam on sleep quality, the severity of anxiety, and pain level in patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This double-blind randomized clinical trial was done on the patients with unstable angina (UA) admitted to the CCU of Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital in Tehran. A total of 56 patients were entered the study and randomly divided into two groups of 26. The first group was given a gabapentin capsule at a dose of 300-1200 mg/day, and the second group was given 10-20 mg of oxazepam tablets per day until hospitalization in the CCU. On the first and 4 days of hospitalization, Groningen sleep quality score (GSQS), Beck Anxiety Inventory, and severity of pain experienced by Visual Analogue Scale were recorded, and the mean frequency of chest pains was calculated in 24 h during the first 4 days. The amount of drug (morphine) prescription in CCU also compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in GSQS scores between both groups. The mean score of Beck's anxiety scale did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the incidence of chest pain was significantly lower in the gabapentin-receiving group than in the oxazepam-receiving group (<0.001). The days that the patients experienced chest pain were significantly less in the gabapentin-receiving group than in the oxazepam-receiving group (<0.001).
CONCLUSION
The results of our study showed that gabapentin compared to oxazepam could significantly reduce chest pain in patients with UA.
PubMed: 36124023
DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_154_20 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2021Partially and exhaustively methylated β-cyclodextrins [(2-methyl)-β-CD (MCD), heptakis-(2,6-di--methyl)-β-CD (DIMEB), and heptakis-(2,3,6-tri--methyl)-β-CD (TRIMEB)]...
Partially and exhaustively methylated β-cyclodextrins [(2-methyl)-β-CD (MCD), heptakis-(2,6-di--methyl)-β-CD (DIMEB), and heptakis-(2,3,6-tri--methyl)-β-CD (TRIMEB)] have been compared in the hydrolysis and enantiodiscrimination of benzodiazepine derivative ()- or ()-oxazepam hemisuccinate (OXEMIS), using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as an investigation tool. After 6 h, MCD induced an 11% hydrolysis of OXEMIS, remarkably lower in comparison with underivatized β-CD (48%), whereas no hydrolysis was detected in the presence of DIMEB or TRIMEB after 24 h. DIMEB showed greater ability to differentiate OXEMIS enantiomers in comparison to TRIMEB, by contrast MCD did not produce any splitting of racemic OXEMIS resonances. Both enantiomers of OXEMIS underwent deep inclusion of their phenyl pendant into cyclodextrins cavities from their wider rims, but tighter complexes were formed by DIMEB with respect to TRIMEB.
Topics: Hydrolysis; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Methylation; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Oxazepam; beta-Cyclodextrins
PubMed: 34770758
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216347 -
Pharmacological Research Feb 2022Various melatonin supplementations have been developed to improve health outcomes in various clinical conditions. Thus, we sought to evaluate and summarize the effect of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Various melatonin supplementations have been developed to improve health outcomes in various clinical conditions. Thus, we sought to evaluate and summarize the effect of melatonin treatments in clinical settings for health outcomes. We searched PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to 4 February 2021. We included meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials investigating the melatonin intervention for any health outcome. Based on the different effect sizes of each meta-analysis, we calculated random models' standardized mean differences or risk ratios. We observed robust evidence supported by statistical significance with non-considerable heterogeneity between studies for sleep-related problems, cancer, surgical patients, and pregnant women. Patients with sleep disorder, sleep onset latency (SMD 0.33, 95% CI: 0.10 - 0.56, P < 0.01) were significantly improved whereas no clear evidence was shown with sleep efficiency (1.10, 95% CI: -0.26 to 2.45). The first analgesic requirement time (SMD 5.81, 95% CI: 2.57-9.05, P < 0.001) of surgical patients was distinctly improved. Female patients under artificial reproductive technologies had significant increase in the top-quality embryos (SMD 0.53, 95% CI: 0.27 - 0.79, P < 0.001), but no statistically clear evidence was found in the live birth rate (SMD 1.20, 95% CI: 0.83 - 1.72). Survival at one year (RR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.28 - 2.83, P < 0.005) significantly increased with cancer patients. Research on melatonin interventions to treat clinical symptoms and sleep problems among diverse health conditions was identified and provided considerable evidence. Future well-designed randomized clinical trials of high quality and subgroup quantitative analyses are essential.
Topics: Humans; Melatonin; Mental Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Pain, Postoperative; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sleep Wake Disorders
PubMed: 34999224
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.106052 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Jun 2020Benzodiazepines are also used as intoxicants. This can be dangerous, particularly in multi-substance abuse. We describe cases of acute poisoning related to substance...
BACKGROUND
Benzodiazepines are also used as intoxicants. This can be dangerous, particularly in multi-substance abuse. We describe cases of acute poisoning related to substance abuse of benzodiazepines in patients at the main A&E clinic in Oslo.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
We included all patients treated for substance abuse poisoning with benzodiazepines and/or z-hypnotics at the Oslo Accident and Emergency Outpatient Clinic from 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2015. The patients were found through a retrospective review of the A&E clinic's registers. Data were taken from patient records. Diagnosis of the toxic agent was based on the attending doctor's recorded clinical evaluation.
RESULTS
Of 1 037 cases, 787 (76 %) were men. The median age was 36 (interquartile range 28-46, range 14-78). Clonazepam (Rivotril) was the most frequently occurring drug, with 575 cases (55 %), followed by diazepam (Stesolid, Valium, Vival) 158 (15 %), alprazolam (Xanor) 125 (12 %) and oxazepam (Sobril) 94 (9 %). Zopiclone (Imovane, Zopitin) and zolpidem (Stilnoct) occurred rarely, in 25 (2 %) and 11 (1 %) cases, respectively. Benzodiazepines were combined with other intoxicants in 936 (90 %) cases, most frequently heroin 484 (47 %), ethanol 321 (31 %) and amphetamine 199 (19 %).
INTERPRETATION
In substance abuse poisoning, benzodiazepines were very often combined with other intoxicants, most frequently opioids, ethanol and/or amphetamine.
Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Benzodiazepines; Female; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Male; Poisoning; Retrospective Studies; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 32602327
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.20.0035 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Dec 2014
Topics: Alcoholism; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Humans; Life Style; Oxazepam; Physician-Patient Relations
PubMed: 25492343
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.14.1288 -
International Journal of Legal Medicine Jan 2017Only sporadic data are available on hair concentrations of diazepam and some of its metabolites (nordazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam) following a single controlled dose....
Only sporadic data are available on hair concentrations of diazepam and some of its metabolites (nordazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam) following a single controlled dose. The aim of this study was to investigate the deposition of diazepam and its metabolites in human hair after eight healthy volunteers (four women and four men, ages 24-26, East Asian) consumed 10 mg of diazepam. Hair was collected from all volunteers 1 month after exposure, and also 2 months post-exposure from men and 10 months post-exposure from women. Diazepam and the complete metabolite profile, including oxazepam glucuronide and temazepam glucuronide, were measured by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) with limits of quantifications (LOQs) of 0.5-2.5 pg/mg for diazepam, nordazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam, and of 10 pg/mg for oxazepam glucuronide and temazepam glucuronide. There were no differences by gender in the amounts of diazepam or metabolites found. The concentration of the main metabolite nordazepam was consistently higher than that of diazepam at both 1 and 2 months after consumption. Oxazepam and temazepam traces were found in some volunteers' hair, but the glucuronides were not detected. Diazepam and nordazepam levels at 10 months post-exposure were extremely low (near the LOQ), indicating drug loss by personal hygiene and physical handling. To our knowledge, this is the first single-dose diazepam study using black hair and the first study to include measurements of oxazepam glucuronide and temazepam glucuronide in human hair.
Topics: Adult; Asian People; Chromatography, Liquid; Diazepam; Female; Hair; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Male; Nordazepam; Oxazepam; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Temazepam; Young Adult
PubMed: 27534563
DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1429-x -
The Medical Letter on Drugs and... Jun 2020
Topics: Humans; Orexin Receptor Antagonists; Pyridines; Pyrimidines; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
PubMed: 32724021
DOI: No ID Found -
Toxics Dec 2022Stimulants belonging to the amphetamine group nowadays pose an undeniable worldwide threat to the life and health of users. Intoxications of domestic animals also occur,...
Stimulants belonging to the amphetamine group nowadays pose an undeniable worldwide threat to the life and health of users. Intoxications of domestic animals also occur, which can either be accidental or related to intentional human action. This study presents the first ever reported case of a simultaneous amphetamine and methamphetamine intoxication of a cat, along with the results of toxicological studies. Blood, urine, vitreous humor and liver were collected during the cat's autopsy and analyzed by UHPLC─QqQ─MS/MS. The sample preparation technique was based on one-step precipitation of proteins with cold acetonitrile. The determined amphetamine concentrations in the collected biological materials were 93.4 ng/mL in blood, 496.6 ng/mL in urine, 589.2 ng/mL in the vitreous humor and 291.2 ng/g in liver, respectively. Methamphetamine concentrations were 45.5 ng/mL in blood, 263.1 ng/mL in urine, 351.2 ng/mL in vitreous humor, and 97.7 ng/g in liver. Other substances were also found in the biological material, i.e., diazepam, oxazepam and nordiazepam. Cases of intentional or accidental poisoning of pets with psychoactive substances are a serious problem, carrying the risk to the health and life of the animal. Therefore, it is important to increase awareness of the high risk of poisoning of domestic animals, as well as to learn about the incompletely understood mechanisms of pharmacokinetics of various drugs in animals, including cats.
PubMed: 36548582
DOI: 10.3390/toxics10120749 -
International Journal of Environmental... 2022'Voodoo' is a new substance of abuse that recently spread among youth in Egypt. It has numerous potentially dangerous effects on humans. However, to date the composition...
BACKGROUND
'Voodoo' is a new substance of abuse that recently spread among youth in Egypt. It has numerous potentially dangerous effects on humans. However, to date the composition of the main constituents of this compound is unknown.
PURPOSE
We sought to identify the active components of this unknown substance"voodoo".
METHODS
Three samples were collected and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PAD), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) using targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).
RESULTS
HPLC-PAD analysis showed that samples 1 and 2 had some common major peaks, the same retention time, and similar spectra, whereas sample 3 showed different peaks. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of various putatively identified bioactive compounds, including quinazolines, morphinan alkaloid, cannabinoids, penitrem A, and the well-known synthetic cannabinoid FUB-AMB (methyl(2S)-2-{[1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]indazole-3-carbonyl]amino}-3 methylbutanoate). UPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of common compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, tramadol, and oxazepam.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that Voodoo is a mixture of substances of abuse at varying concentrations.
PubMed: 35002018
DOI: 10.1080/03067319.2020.1715384