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Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Substance addiction is a complex worldwide public health problem. It endangers both personal life and social stability, causing great loss on economy. Substance-related... (Review)
Review
Substance addiction is a complex worldwide public health problem. It endangers both personal life and social stability, causing great loss on economy. Substance-related disorder is considered to be a complicated chronic brain disorder. It resulted from interactions among pharmacological properties of addictive substances, individual susceptibility, and social-environmental factors. Unfortunately, there is still no ideal treatment for this disorder. Recent lines of evidence suggest that gut microbiome may play an important role in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders, including substance-related disorders. This review summarizes the research on the relationship between gut microbiome and substance-related disorders, including different types of substance, different individual susceptibility, and the occurrence and development of substance-induced mental disorders. We also discuss the potentiation of gut microbiome in the treatment of substance-related disorders, especially in the treatment of substance-induced mental disorders and manipulation on individuals' responsiveness to addictive substances.
PubMed: 34690981
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.738401 -
International Journal of Clinical... Jun 2021Peripheral nerve injuries are common and present with a broad spectrum of symptoms, some of which may be the cause of life-long disabilities. The peripheral nerves show... (Review)
Review
Peripheral nerve injuries are common and present with a broad spectrum of symptoms, some of which may be the cause of life-long disabilities. The peripheral nerves show a far greater capacity for regeneration than those in the central nervous system, and the process of nerve regeneration resembles developmental processes to a certain degree. The regeneration of peripheral nerves does not always lead to a full functional recovery. That is why surgical methods are still the most reliable therapeutic options after injuries of peripheral nerves. However, there is an array of potential pharmacological options that could enhance the repair processes after surgery. This review gives a summary of the recent literature relevant to different classes of pharmacologically active substances that are used either as supplements or off-label as potential enhancers of peripheral nerve repair. Antioxidants, vitamins, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressive drugs, growth factors, and neuroactive glycans are among the most researched in this field. More research is necessary to understand their mechanisms of action at the cellular and molecular level, and randomized clinical trials in order to establish their efficacy and safety, as well as possible synergistic or adverse interactions among them.
Topics: Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Nerve Regeneration; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Peripheral Nerves
PubMed: 33624582
DOI: 10.5414/CP203893 -
Addiction Biology Mar 2020With the development of the ICD-11, the debate about classifying certain psychoactive substances such as antidepressant medication and caffeine as drugs of dependence is... (Review)
Review
With the development of the ICD-11, the debate about classifying certain psychoactive substances such as antidepressant medication and caffeine as drugs of dependence is ignited again. We argue that any coherent theory of addiction needs to identify the neurobiological processes elicited by a potentially addictive substance and to clearly define the clinical symptoms associated with these processes, which can then be used to guide diagnosis. Tolerance development and withdrawal symptoms can occur with any pharmacologically active agent, and their presence is not a sufficient criterion for the clinical diagnosis of an addictive disorder. Drug craving, drug seeking, and drug consumption in spite of harmful consequences are further key criteria for the diagnosis of substance dependence. Even though these symptoms have been associated with dopamine release in the ventral striatum, ventral striatal dopamine release alone is not a sufficient criterion of the addictive property of a drug. For example, common reinforcers such as food and sex increase dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens, but unlike in addictive substances, their effect is regulated by reward predictability and habituation. We emphasize the importance to integrate neurobiological as well as behavioral and clinical effects of a substance to assess its addictive liability. We provide a number of widely discussed examples and a list of key criteria as a conceptual guideline for addiction research and clinical practice.
Topics: Antidepressive Agents; Caffeine; Craving; Humans; International Classification of Diseases; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 30896084
DOI: 10.1111/adb.12735 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jan 2023Accidents at work are a major concern because of their social and economic impact. The causes are highly variable and often linked to risk behaviors that could be... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Accidents at work are a major concern because of their social and economic impact. The causes are highly variable and often linked to risk behaviors that could be avoided, of which substance use is a prime example. The aim of this paper was to meta-analytically review the scientific literature on substance intake and its link to work-related accidents. From an initial pool of 19954 papers, we considered a final sample of 27 clustered in three groups according to substances class (alcohol, recreational drugs, medicines). Despite different pharmacological effects, substances consumed for recreational purposes significantly increased the risk of work-related accidents (odds ratio: alcohol 1.78, recreational drugs 1.47), whereas medicines did not: however, these results require caution due to the heterogeneity of the included studies and suspected publication bias. While bio-psycho-social factors could have helped to understand this association, selected studies neglected both the variegated effects and the root causes of recreational substance consumption. Future studies and interventions should consider these complexity factors to transcend the mere description of the phenomenon.
Topics: Humans; Social Factors; Accidents; Substance-Related Disorders; Illicit Drugs
PubMed: 36470326
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104987 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022In addition to wax, propolis is a mixture of resins, terpenes, and etheric and aromatic oils. This composition supports its very strong biochemical activity that affects... (Review)
Review
In addition to wax, propolis is a mixture of resins, terpenes, and etheric and aromatic oils. This composition supports its very strong biochemical activity that affects bee health. Bee colonies are externally exposed to the activity of other different pharmacologically active substances and toxic agents used in beekeeping procedures, veterinary interventions, and the environment. Even if free form common diseases, they may suffer from parasites or toxins. In any such case the abundance and variety of honeyflow, besides proper therapy, is crucial for the maintenance of bee health. Propolis itself cannot be considered as food but can be considered as micro-nutrients for bees. This is due to the fact that some of its compounds may penetrate different bee products, and this way be consumed by bees and their larvae, while stored in the hive. This perspective shows propolis as natural agent reducing the toxicity of pyrethroid acaricides, stimulating production of detoxification enzymes, enhancing the action of antibiotics, and increasing expression of genes that encode proteins responsible for detoxication. The aim of this review is to summarize current data on the possible impact on veterinary public health of the introduction into propolis of residues of pharmacological agents approved in the EU for use in the treatment of bee colonies and their environment.
Topics: Animals; Ascomycota; Beekeeping; Larva; Propolis; Pyrethrins
PubMed: 35956862
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154914 -
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science... 2020Extractables and leachables (E&L) are identified and quantified so that their impact on patient safety can be established and assessed. The uncertainty in the impact... (Review)
Review
Extractables and leachables (E&L) are identified and quantified so that their impact on patient safety can be established and assessed. The uncertainty in the impact assessment is affected by the uncertainty in the substance's experimentally determined identity and concentration. Thus, these experimentally determined quantities must be reported not only in terms of their absolute result but also in terms of the uncertainty in the result, which is based on the amount and rigor of the information on which the result is based. In this way, the impact assessment can be tempered to account for the uncertainty in its input data. To facilitate the assignment and reporting of uncertainty, classification hierarchies are proposed and discussed for both identification and quantitation. Both hierarchies establish levels or degrees of identification and quantitation based on the uncertainty of the result and contain descriptions of the quality and quantity of information required to achieve a certain level within the hierarchy. The minimal levels that must be achieved to support impact assessment are also established.
Topics: Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Drug Contamination; Drug Packaging; Humans; Patient Safety; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 31420509
DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2019.010538 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024This narrative review explores the efficacy and tolerability of third-generation antipsychotics (TGAs)-aripiprazole, cariprazine, brexpiprazole, and lurasidone-for the... (Review)
Review
This narrative review explores the efficacy and tolerability of third-generation antipsychotics (TGAs)-aripiprazole, cariprazine, brexpiprazole, and lurasidone-for the management of substance-induced psychosis (SIP). SIP is a psychiatric condition triggered by substance misuse or withdrawal, characterized by unique features distinct from those of primary psychotic disorders. These distinctive features include a heightened prevalence of positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, in addition to a spectrum of mood and cognitive disturbances. This review comprehensively investigates various substances, such as cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamines, and LSD, which exhibit a greater propensity for inducing psychosis. TGAs exhibit substantial promise in addressing both psychotic symptoms and issues related to substance misuse. This review elucidates the distinctive pharmacological properties of each TGA, their intricate interactions with neurotransmitters, and their potential utility in the treatment of SIP. We advocate for further research to delineate the long-term effects of TGAs in this context and underscore the necessity for adopting an integrated approach that combines pharmacological and psychological interventions. Our findings underscore the intricate and multifaceted nature of treating SIP, highlighting the potential role of TGAs within therapeutic strategies.
PubMed: 38338224
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12030339 -
The Permanente Journal Jun 2023Although inhalant abuse is common, it is one of the most neglected and overlooked forms of substance abuse. Inhalants refer to a wide variety of substances including...
Although inhalant abuse is common, it is one of the most neglected and overlooked forms of substance abuse. Inhalants refer to a wide variety of substances including volatile solvents, aerosols, gases, and nitrites. The mechanism of action of inhalants has not been fully defined. Several molecular targets contribute to the pharmacology, including ion-channel proteins that control neuronal excitability. These agents interact with various receptors and can cause changes in cell-membrane fluidity and nerve-membrane ion channels. Three main pharmacologic categories of inhalants, namely, volatile solvents and anesthetic gases, nitrous oxide, and volatile alkyl nitrites, have distinct pharmacologies, mechanisms of action, and toxicities. Inhalants are linked to multisystem damage affecting the pulmonary, cardiac, dermatologic, renal, hematologic, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and neurologic systems. Chronic inhalant abuse can also cause psychiatric, cognitive, behavioral, and anatomical deficits in humans, leading to reduced productivity and quality of life. Inhalant abuse during pregnancy is associated with fetal abnormalities. Clinical assessment for inhalant abuse should be done systematically. After decontamination and stabilization of the patient, further history and physical examination is necessary to establish an appropriate diagnosis based on the . Laboratory testing for inhalant abuse is very limited, and imaging studies may be helpful in certain situations. The treatment of inhalant use disorder is similar to that of other substance abuse disorders and includes supportive care, pharmacotherapy, and behavioral therapy. Preventive measures are essential.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Inhalant Abuse; Nitrites; Solvents; Quality of Life; Substance-Related Disorders; Chronic Disease
PubMed: 37078126
DOI: 10.7812/TPP/22.164 -
Neuropharmacology Feb 2023The efficacy of currently available medications for depression is unsatisfactory, and that has spurred the development of novel antidepressants based on a hypothesis... (Review)
Review
The efficacy of currently available medications for depression is unsatisfactory, and that has spurred the development of novel antidepressants based on a hypothesis other than the monoamine hypothesis. Recent studies have revealed the importance of the glutamatergic system as a drug target for depression, and the validity of this hypothesis has been underpinned by the discovery of the antidepressant effects of ketamine, leading to the market launch of Spravato® nasal spray which delivers (S)-ketamine (esketamine). However, both ketamine and esketamine have unwanted adverse effects that hinder their routine use in daily practice. Extensive studies have elucidated the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of ketamine, and that has encouraged numerous drug discovery activities to search for agents that retain a ketamine-like antidepressant profile but with lesser adverse effect liabilities. The discovery activities have included attempts to identify 1) the active substance(s) in the circulation after ketamine administration and 2) agents that act on the proposed mechanisms of action of ketamine. Clinical trials of agents discovered in the course of these activities are underway, and in 2022, AUVELITY™ (AXS-05; dextromethorphan with bupropion) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Drug development of post-ketamine agents should provide novel antidepressants that are safer, but as potent and rapidly acting as ketamine.
Topics: United States; Antidepressive Agents; Ketamine; Drug Discovery; Bupropion; Depression
PubMed: 36423706
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109348 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2020The modulation of neuronal cell firing is mediated by the release of the neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobuytric acid), which binds to two major families of receptors.... (Review)
Review
The modulation of neuronal cell firing is mediated by the release of the neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobuytric acid), which binds to two major families of receptors. The ionotropic GABAA receptors (GABARs) are composed of five distinct subunits that vary in expression by brain region and cell type. The action of GABA on GABARs is modulated by a variety of clinically and pharmacologically important drugs such as benzodiazepines and alcohol. Exposure to and abuse of these substances disrupts homeostasis and induces plasticity in GABAergic neurotransmission, often via the regulation of receptor expression. Here, we review the regulation of GABAR subunit expression in adaptive and pathological plasticity, with a focus on substance use. We examine the factors influencing the expression of GABAR subunit genes including the regulation of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions, variations in DNA methylation, immediate early genes and transcription factors that regulate subunit expression, translational and post-translational modifications, and other forms of receptor regulation beyond expression. Advancing our understanding of the factors regulating GABAR subunit expression during adaptive plasticity, as well as during substance use and withdrawal will provide insight into the role of GABAergic signaling in substance use disorders, and contribute to the development of novel targeted therapies.
Topics: Animals; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Protein Subunits; Receptors, GABA-A; Substance-Related Disorders; Synaptic Transmission; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 32580510
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124445