脑功能显像在药物滥用研究中的应用价值

药物滥用与中枢神经递质系统功能紊乱密切相关,放射性核素脑功能显像在研究滥用药物的成瘾与戒断机制中具有重要的应用价值。脑血流、脑葡萄糖代谢以及神经递质受体和转运体显像为人们提供了更多的中枢神经系统功能信息,同时也为人们寻找治疗药物滥用的方案奠定了基础。     

脑功能显像在药物滥用研究中的应用价值

药物滥用与中枢神经递质系统功能紊乱密切相关，放射性核素脑功能显在研究滥用药物的成瘾与戒断机制中具有重要的价值。脑血流、脑葡萄糖代谢以及神经递质受体和转运体显像为人们提供了更多的中枢神经系统功能也为人们寻找治疗药物滥用的方案奠定了基础。     

中药肾毒性的研究进展

目的研究中药肾毒性产生的原因、机制、肾损伤相关生物标志物及安全评价等,为中药肾毒性的相关研究提供参考信息。方法通过检索万方、维普及Pubmed等中外数据库中有关中药肾毒性的研究文献,对中药造成肾毒性的原因、机制进行深入分析,归纳了一些较新的肾损伤相关生物标志物以及中药肾毒性评价方法并指出了其优势及可行性。结果中药引发肾毒性的原因复杂,机制也不十分明确,可能与氧化损伤、诱导细胞凋亡等有关。结论近年来出现了一些新的肾损伤检测指标,因其特异性和敏感性而得到广泛应用;在安全评价方面,基于细胞的体外评价方法日趋成熟,代谢组学方法也以其独特的优势得到快速发展,加快了中药肾毒性的研究进程。     

T细胞的中枢神经保护作用与机制探讨进展

中枢神经系统(central nervous system,CNS)损伤通常导致灾难性的神经功能障碍,是目前研究的热点之一。近年来,免疫CNS抗原特异性T细胞明显改善了CNS损伤动物的神经功能。其机制可能包括T细胞产生细胞因子和神经营养因子,诱导小胶质细胞缓冲毒性物质、产生生长因子、消除生长抑制因子等,以及减少神经细胞的代谢,保护神经细胞。     

代谢组学及其在口腔研究中的应用

代谢组学主要研究参与生物体新陈代谢,维持生物体正常机能及生长发育的一系列代谢产物,是继蛋白质组学和基因组学之后兴起的一种新技术。随着代谢组学研究的深入,目前广泛应用于疾病的诊断与治疗,微生物的鉴定,药物的开发及应用等。在口腔医学的研究中,代谢组学也起着重要的作用。     

功能代谢组学在生物医药领域中的应用

功能代谢组学是代谢组学的延伸,即通过检测生物体受到特定刺激与干扰后内源性代谢物的变化,获取生物代谢标志物并进一步采用实验方法验证代谢标志物及其关联的酶、基因与蛋白等的功能,可从“代谢物-酶-基因-蛋白”角度系统揭示病理生理改变的分子机制,阐明代谢物关联的上下游生物机制。本文对目前功能代谢组学在生物医药领域中的常用方法和研究策略、疾病靶点及发病机制探索、药物作用机制分析等进行综述,同时对功能代谢组学与网络药理学、重编程代谢组学相结合的延伸研究进行总结,最后分析并展望功能代谢组学在生物医药领域的应用前景。     

毒性氧代谢产物的产生与清除

毒性氧代谢产物(toxic oxygen metabo lities,TOM)是分子氧参与机体代谢过程中产生的一系列对机体有毒性的产物的总称。在体内TOM参与介导多种病理过程,如化学因素对机体的损害、致癌作用、缺血—再灌流损伤、炎性反应、移植排斥反应等。此外,TOM还直接参与了衰老、糖尿病、心衰、呼衰及一些自身免疫疾病的发病过程。了解TOM的产生过程和清除机制,从而阻断其毒性作用,具有重要的临床意义。     

药物性肝损害的病因与临床特点分析

在药物治疗疾病的过程中,应用治疗剂量时,药物及其代谢产物的毒性作用或机体对药物产生的过敏反应,会对肝脏造成损害,引起肝组织发炎,这就是药物性肝损害（Drugin-duced-liver injury,DILI）,也称为药物性肝炎。药物性肝病占     

中药抗辐射作用的研究概况

放射线辐射可致机体突变、诱发肿瘤、造成早衰等多种损伤,由于已知的一些具有抗辐射作用的化学药物毒性较大,因此,对天然药物的抗辐射作用研究已成为重要领域。近年来,中药的抗辐射作用研究日益广泛,并且取得了一些进展,本文概述如下。1复方中药研究在传统方剂研究中,高月等[1]     

谷胱甘肽S转移酶的研究进展及其与肿瘤的相关性

药物代谢是细胞解毒机制的重要组成部分之一,其中主要涉及两种酶:Ⅰ和Ⅱ相药物代谢酶。谷胱甘肽S转移酶(GST)是一种重要的Ⅱ相药物代谢酶,可与Ⅰ相药物代谢酶一起催化药物形成高水溶性终产物。所以,GST能够抵御内源性和外源性亲电子物质的损害,并在抗肿瘤过程中发挥重要作用。编码GST的基因至少分布在7条染色体上,构成了一个超基因家族,编码具有GST活性的蛋白。GST有许多功能,传统观点认为,细胞中的GST可发挥防御内、外源性毒性化合物损害的作用。另外,GST在肿瘤细胞中高表达,可介导谷胱甘肽结合至大量抗癌药物底物上,导致肿瘤耐药的发生。     

Changes in the frequency and pattern of drugs detected among suspected drug users during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey

From March 13 until May 31, 2020, a complete lockdown in Turkey was planned and implemented by the government of Turkey. The vulnerable population with substance use disorders was affected more than others due to the social isolation measures meant to control the pandemic. This study presents detailed and broad data on drug abuse in suspected cases during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey and compares the frequencies and patterns of drug abuse before and during the pandemic. The samples were screened by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Blood and urine samples of suspected users (n = 9669) were analyzed for drugs of abuse during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and compared with their results (n = 8727) obtained just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of party drugs, such as MDMA and cocaine, and the classic illicit drug cannabis was significantly decreased and followed the same trend after complete lockdown was over. In contrast, methamphetamine use increased significantly during the lockdown period and continued after the lockdown. Interestingly, the number of tests that were positive for pregabalin as a misused licit drug increased, and this increase continued after the lockdown. The results showed a significant increase in drug abuse cases and changes in drug abuse trends, with an alteration toward more easily obtainable and lower-priced drugs. Using more dangerous and easily available licit and illicit drugs may cause serious health problems.

     

Drugs in athletics

Athletes are as likely as nonathletes to abuse recreational drugs. They are certainly more inclined to abuse drugs considered ergogenic aids. Accurate information is required when educating athletes regarding these drugs. Sports medicine specialists are being called on more frequently to provide this information. This article provides the basic information required to present accurate facts regarding drug abuse by athletes.     

Diagnostic yield of hair and urine toxicology testing in potential child abuse cases

Detection of drugs in a child may be the first objective finding that can be reported in cases of suspected child abuse. Hair and urine toxicology testing, when performed as part of the initial clinical evaluation for suspected child abuse or maltreatment, may serve to facilitate the identification of at-risk children. Furthermore, significant environmental exposure to a drug (considered by law to constitute child abuse in some states) may be identified by toxicology testing of unwashed hair specimens. In order to determine the clinical utility of hair and urine toxicology testing in this population we performed a retrospective chart review on all children for whom hair toxicology testing was ordered at our academic medical center between January 2004 and April 2014. The medical records of 616 children aged 0–17.5 years were reviewed for injury history, previous medication and illicit drug use by caregiver(s), urine drug screen result (if performed), hair toxicology result, medication list, and outcome of any child abuse evaluation. Hair toxicology testing was positive for at least one compound in 106 cases (17.2%), with unexplained drugs in 82 cases (13.3%). Of these, there were 48 cases in which multiple compounds (including combination of parent drugs and/or metabolites within the same drug class) were identified in the sample of one patient. The compounds most frequently identified in the hair of our study population included cocaine, benzoylecgonine, native (unmetabolized) tetrahydrocannabinol, and methamphetamine. There were 68 instances in which a parent drug was identified in the hair without any of its potential metabolites, suggesting environmental exposure. Among the 82 cases in which hair toxicology testing was positive for unexplained drugs, a change in clinical outcome was noted in 71 cases (86.5%). Urine drug screens (UDS) were performed in 457 of the 616 reviewed cases. Of these, over 95% of positive UDS results could be explained by iatrogenic drug administration. There were no cases in which a urine drug screen alone altered the outcome of a case. In summary, hair toxicology testing proved clinically useful in the evaluation of a child for suspected abuse; in contrast, urine drug testing showed low clinical yield.     

Telephone counseling of athletes abusing anabolic-androgenic steroids

AIM: Drug abuse, most notably anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use, in athletes is widespread. As a result, athletes and exercise enthusiasts who abuse these drugs are troubled by the side effects of these illicit drugs, especially AAS. In an attempt to improve this situation, since 1993, we have counseled athletes who abuse drugs and others with questions about AAS via telephone and tabulated the results. METHODS: Counseling sessions took place by telephone every Monday between 19:00-23:00 h. The number of cases was tabulated each year and the specific items discussed during each consultation were categorized by key words. Cases consisted of both drug abusers and athletes who did not abuse drugs and were concerned about the side effects or other various problems surrounding the use of AAS. RESULTS: From 1993 to 1996, there were about 50 cases yearly; thereafter, the number of consultations dropped to about 30 to 40 cases each year. In 2002, consultations with drug abusers accounted for 52.2% of all consultations, compared with 46% of all consultations from 1993 to 2002. CONCLUSION: We have found that abusers of endocrine agents exist in Japan, as well as elsewhere. We hope these results will demonstrate the necessity of employing public institutional counseling systems for athletes who are drug abusers in Japan, similar to the successful system instituted by the Swedish National Service.     

Cross-reactivities of 39 new amphetamine designer drugs on three abuse drugs urinary screening tests

The detection of illicit drugs is important both in the management of substance misuse and in the postmortem identification of drug abuse. Urinary screening assays have been available for many years, and have been successfully utilized for detecting misuse. Urine remains the biological tool of choice to verify drug-free behavior because of noninvasive sampling and high concentrations of drugs and metabolites. Herein we describe the cross-reactivities of 39 new amphetamine designer drugs on three different on-site abuse drugs urinary screening tests (Screen^®7, SureStep?, InstAlert?), which are commonly available in forensic laboratories and in the clinical environment. They are chromatographic immunoassay tests for the qualitative detection of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine at the recommended cutoff according to Italian legislation (500 ng/ml). The speed and sensitivity of these tests have made them the most widely accepted method to screen urine for drugs of abuse.     

A retrospective analysis of data from illicit drug abuse cases in Beijing between 2018 and 2020

The overall number of drug abuse cases has been on the rise around the world, causing it a disaster in many countries. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the characteristics of 11,903 drug abuse cases in Beijing, the capital of China, in the perspective of age, gender, nationality, region, season, type of specimens and various drugs, respectively. The case information was collected by the national-level forensic toxicology laboratory, which belongs to the China University of Political Science and Law. It was shown that the overall number of drug abuse cases had increased sharply from 2018 to 2019 and had a decrease of 25% in 2020. The incidence of drug abuse cases involving men was much higher than that of the cases involving women. The adolescents and young adults accounted for the largest share of drug abusers in our study. Haidian, as a national center of scientific and technological innovation with global influence, had the largest percentage of toxic substance-related cases, and the change was more pronounced than other districts during the 3-year-period. Chaoyang was second to Haidian in the number toxic substance-related cases. As a key window of economic, Chaoyang had the highest number of foreigner drug cases. June to August had the highest number of drug abuse cases, while amphetamines, opioids, cannabis and cocaine were the most common toxic substances involved in the cases we detected. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide an overall analysis of drug abuse cases in Beijing, China. The study indicated the presence of a wide number of drug abuse cases in the capital city and confirmed the threat for the public safety and health. Such forensic information can assist the government to devise intelligence-based preventive and repressive measures and policies.     

Drug abuse treatment at the San Martin General Hospital, Buenos Aires

The General Hospital facilitates the detection of users and abusers who seek care for other diseases. The research programme on drug abuse is operated at the Mental Health Department of the Hospital General San Martin, Medical School, Buenos Aires University. Characteristics of the population attended are described according to the age, sex, drugs of abuse, gateway drugs, places and ages, and other psychiatric diagnoses according to the DSM III. Finally, therapeutic resources are described: individual and family psychotherapies and family counselling.     

Concentrations of drugs determined in blood samples collected from suspected drugged drivers in England and Wales

This communication reports the blood concentrations of alcohol and drugs from 376 cases of alleged driving under the influence of drugs analysed at the Forensic Science Service Chorley and London laboratories between February 2010 and March 2011. The samples were analysed for alcohol, amphetamine, benzodiazepines, cocaine, MDMA, opiates, γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ketamine, methadone and methylmethcathinone (the 4-isomer of which is known as mephedrone). The results were interpreted with respect to the number and type of drugs of abuse detected and the concentrations measured. Alcohol was quantified in 113 cases (30%), and of these a level in excess of the prescribed UK limit for driving of 80 mg% was present in 90 cases. In 80 cases, only the concentration of alcohol was measured, the concentrations of both drugs and alcohol were measured in 33 cases. In the remaining 263 cases, only the concentrations of relevant drugs of abuse were measured. The most common drug of abuse quantified was cocaine which was detected in 92 cases, either as the active drug or as its major metabolite benzoylecgonine, followed by diazepam which was quantified in 76 cases. Concentrations of some new drugs, and drugs rarely reported in driving under the influence cases are also presented.     

An epidemiological survey of alcohol and drug abuse in the national capital district of Papua New Guinea

There is a dearth of publication on alcohol and drug abuse from Papua New Guinea in the international medical literature. This article is a report on a cross-sectional study of attitudes and problems related to alcohol and drug abuse in the NCD of Papua New Guinea. The instrument used is a questionnaire which was previously used by the author to study 'Attitudes of Nigerian Medical Students towards Use and Abuse of Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs'. A second instrument is the Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). The two questionnaires were administered to a cross-section of university students and office workers. The fifty completed questionnaires which were returned were statistically analyzed and the results form the basis of this article. The results showed that both the student and clerical groups were moderately involved in substance abuse (alcohol and drugs, especially cannabis).