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Amend N, Thiermann H, Worek F, Wille T. A pharmacologically pre-contracted smooth muscle bowel model for the study of highly-potent opioid receptor agonists and antagonists. Toxicol Lett 2023:S0378-4274(23)00187-X. [PMID: 37245850 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2023.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Isolated organ models are a versatile tool for pharmacological and toxicological research. Small bowel has been used to assess the inhibition of smooth muscle contraction by opioids. In the present study, we set out to establish a pharmacologically stimulated rat bowel model. The effects of carfentanil, remifentanil and the new synthetic opioid U-48800 and their respective antagonists naloxone, nalmefene and naltrexone were studied in a small bowel model in rats. The IC50 values of the tested opioids were as follows: carfentanil (IC50 = 0.02 µmol/L, CI 0.02-0.03 µmol/L) ≫ remifentanil (IC50 = 0.51 µmol/L, CI 0.40-0.66 µmol/L) ≫ U-48800 (IC50 = 1.36 µmol/L, CI 1.20-1.54 µmol/L). The administration of the opioid receptor antagonists naloxone, naltrexone and nalmefene led to progressive, parallel rightward shifts of the dose-response curves. Naltrexone was most potent in antagonizing the effects of U-48800, whereas naltrexone and nalmefene were most effective in antagonizing the effects of carfentanil. In summary, the current model seems to be a robust tool to study opioid effects in a small bowel model without the necessity of using electrical stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko Amend
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
| | - Horst Thiermann
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Franz Worek
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Timo Wille
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937 Munich, Germany
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Balcaen M, Ventura M, Gil C, Luf A, Martins D, Cunha M, Tögel-Lins K, Wolf D, Blanckaert P, Deconinck E. Challenges in Drug Surveillance: Strengthening the Analysis of New Psychoactive Substances by Harmonizing Drug Checking Services in Proficiency Testing. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4628. [PMID: 36901637 PMCID: PMC10002093 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug checking is a proven harm reduction strategy and provides real-time information on the market of new psychoactive substances (NPS). It combines chemical analysis of samples with direct engagement with people who use drugs (PWUD), giving the ability to increase preparedness and responsiveness towards NPS. Next to that, it supports rapid identification of potential unwitting consumption. However, NPS cause a toxicological battle for the researchers, as factors such as the unpredictability and quick shift of the market complicate the detection. METHODS To evaluate challenges posed towards drug checking services, proficiency testing was set up to evaluate existing analytical techniques and investigate the capability to correctly identify circulating NPS. Twenty blind substances, covering the most common categories of substances, were analyzed according to the existing protocols of the existing drug checking services, including several analytical methods such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography with diode array detector (LC-DAD). RESULTS The proficiency test scores range from 80 to 97.5% accuracy. The most common issues and errors are mainly unidentified compounds, presumably due to no up-to-date libraries, and/ or confusion between structural isomers, such as 3- and 4-chloroethcathinone, or structural analogs, such as MIPLA (N-methyl-N-isopropyl lysergamide) and LSD (D-lysergic acid diethylamide). CONCLUSIONS The participating drug checking services have access to adequate analytical tools to provide feedback to drug users and provide up-to-date information on NPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot Balcaen
- Unit Illicit Drugs, Lifestyle and Chronic Diseases, Scientific Direction Epidemiology, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mireia Ventura
- Energy Control, Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Gil
- Energy Control, Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anton Luf
- Clinical Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mar Cunha
- Kosmicare, 1170-283 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Danny Wolf
- Legal-high-Inhaltsstoffe, 60439 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Peter Blanckaert
- Unit Illicit Drugs, Lifestyle and Chronic Diseases, Scientific Direction Epidemiology, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eric Deconinck
- Service Medicines and Health Products, Scientific Direction Physical and Chemical Health Risks, Sciensano, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Love JS, Levine M, Aldy K, Brent J, Krotulski AJ, Logan BK, Vargas-Torres C, Walton SE, Amaducci A, Calello D, Hendrickson R, Hughes A, Kurt A, Judge B, Pizon A, Schwarz E, Shulman J, Wiegan T, Wax P, Manini AF. Opioid overdoses involving xylazine in emergency department patients: a multicenter study. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2023; 61:173-180. [PMID: 37014353 PMCID: PMC10074294 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2159427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Illicit opioids, consisting largely of fentanyl, novel synthetic opioids, and adulterants, are the primary cause of drug overdose fatality in the United States. Xylazine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist and veterinary tranquilizer, is being increasingly detected among decedents following illicit opioid overdose. Clinical outcomes in non-fatal overdose involving xylazine are unexplored. Therefore, among emergency department patients with illicit opioid overdose, we evaluated clinical outcome differences for patients with and without xylazine exposures. METHODS This multicenter, prospective cohort study enrolled adult patients with opioid overdose who presented to one of nine United States emergency departments between 21 September 2020, and 17 August 2021. Patients with opioid overdose were screened and included if they tested positive for an illicit opioid (heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl analog, or novel synthetic opioid) or xylazine. Patient serum was analyzed via liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy to detect current illicit opioids, novel synthetic opioids, xylazine and adulterants. Overdose severity surrogate outcomes were: (a) cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (primary); and (b) coma within 4 h of arrival (secondary). RESULTS Three hundred and twenty-one patients met inclusion criteria: 90 tested positive for xylazine and 231 were negative. The primary outcome occurred in 37 patients, and the secondary outcome occurred in 111 patients. Using multivariable regression analysis, patients positive for xylazine had significantly lower adjusted odds of cardiac arrest (adjusted OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.92) and coma (adjusted OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.29-0.94). CONCLUSIONS In this large multicenter cohort, cardiac arrest and coma in emergency department patients with illicit opioid overdose were significantly less severe in those testing positive for xylazine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S Love
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Levine
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kim Aldy
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- American College of Medical Toxicology, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Jeffrey Brent
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Alex J Krotulski
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Fredric Rieders Family Foundation Willow Grove, Willow Grove, PA, USA
| | - Barry K Logan
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Fredric Rieders Family Foundation Willow Grove, Willow Grove, PA, USA
| | - Carmen Vargas-Torres
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sara E Walton
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Fredric Rieders Family Foundation Willow Grove, Willow Grove, PA, USA
| | | | - Diane Calello
- Rutgers New Jersey School of Medicine, Newark, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Anita Kurt
- Lehigh Valley Health Network, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | | | - Anthony Pizon
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Evan Schwarz
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joshua Shulman
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Timothy Wiegan
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Paul Wax
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- American College of Medical Toxicology, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Alex F Manini
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- David Love
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, USA
| | - Nicole S. Jones
- RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA,70113th Street, N.W., Suite 750, Washington, DC, 20005-3967, USA,Corresponding author. RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA.
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Hasegawa K, Minakata K, Suzuki M, Suzuki O. Non-fentanyl-derived synthetic opioids emerging during recent years. Forensic Toxicol 2022; 40:234-243. [PMID: 35528111 PMCID: PMC9052731 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-022-00624-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Since the appearance of fentanyl followed by its many kinds of analogues around 1988, North America has been exposed to fierce synthetic opioid pandemic resulting in more than 130,000 deaths due to their overdoses until May 2019, when China declared to prohibit the licit fentanyl analog production. However, the Chinese announcement did not go into force in USA due to the adroit strategies of tough traffickers. Thus, contrary to the expectation, the number of synthetic opioid products and their poisoning cases in USA has increased by about 30%; especially, various benzimidazole synthetic opioids have revived on the illicit drug market during a recent few years. In this article, the recent abrupt changes in the situations of illicit synthetic opioid market and their current abuses are described. Methods Various databases, such as SciFinder, Google, and Google Scholar, were utilized to collect relevant reports referring old but newly appearing synthetic opioids. Results At the present time, there are several families of new synthetic opioids, which are not fentanyl derivatives; MT-45 and its analogs, benzamide and 2-phenylacetamide opioids (U-series opioids), and benzimidazole opioids. Most of the above substances had been developed in 1950s to 1970s, but had never been used as analgesic medicines, because of their severe adverse effects, such as respiratory depression, physical dependence, and resulting deaths. However, there is possibility that these drugs will become main illicit synthetic opioids in place of the fentanyl analogs during coming several years from this time. Conclusions All of the above non-fentanyl-derived families had been developed 50-70 years ago to establish them as analgesic medicines, but had been unsuccessful. These drugs largely appeared in the illicit drug markets in North America, Europe, and Australia, during recent years. Pharmacological, toxicological, and metabolic studies are insufficient for benzamide and 2-phenylacetamide opioids, and are very scant especially for benzimidazole opioids. This time we should start studying pharmacotoxicology of the newly emerging synthetic opioids to alert forensic toxicologists in the world and to suppress their rapid and wide spread in the world. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11419-022-00624-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koutaro Hasegawa
- Department of Legal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, 431-3192 Japan
| | - Kayoko Minakata
- Department of Legal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, 431-3192 Japan
| | - Masako Suzuki
- Department of Legal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, 431-3192 Japan
| | - Osamu Suzuki
- Department of Legal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, 431-3192 Japan
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Mohr ALA, Logan BK, Fogarty MF, Krotulski AJ, Papsun DM, Kacinko SL, Huestis MA, Ropero-Miller JD. Reports of Adverse Events Associated with Use of Novel Psychoactive Substances, 2017-2020: A Review. J Anal Toxicol 2022; 46:e116-e185. [PMID: 35445267 PMCID: PMC9282356 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
An important role of modern forensic and clinical toxicologists is to monitor the adverse events of novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Following a prior review from 2013 to 2016, this critical literature review analyzes and evaluates published case reports for NPS from January 2017 through December 2020. The primary objective of this study is to assist in the assessment and interpretation of these cases as well as provide references for confirmation methods. Chemistry, pharmacology, adverse events and user profiles (e.g., polypharmacy) for NPS are provided including case history, clinical symptoms, autopsy findings and analytical results. Literature reviews were performed in PubMed and Google Scholar for publications using search terms such as NPS specific names, general terms (e.g., ‘designer drugs’ and ‘novel psychoactive substances’), drug classes (e.g., ‘designer stimulants’) and outcome-based terms (e.g., ‘overdose’ and ‘death’). Government and website drug surveillance databases and abstracts published by professional forensic science organizations were also searched. Toxicological data and detailed case information were extracted, tabulated, analyzed and organized by drug category. Case reports included overdose fatalities (378 cases), clinical treatment and hospitalization (771 cases) and driving under the influence of drugs (170 cases) for a total of 1,319 cases providing details of adverse events associated with NPS. Confirmed adverse events with associated toxidromes of more than 60 NPS were reported including synthetic cannabinoid, NPS stimulant, NPS hallucinogen, NPS benzodiazepine and NPS opioid cases. Fifty of these NPS were reported for the first time in January 2017 through December 2020 as compared to the previous 4 years surveyed. This study provides insight and context of case findings described in the literature and in digital government surveillance databases and websites during a recent 4-year period. This review will increase the awareness of adverse events associated with NPS use to better characterize international emerging drug threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L A Mohr
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education at the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation, 2300 Stratford Ave, Willow Grove, PA, 19090, USA
| | - Barry K Logan
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education at the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation, 2300 Stratford Ave, Willow Grove, PA, 19090, USA.,NMS Labs, 200 Welsh Rd, Horsham, PA, 19044, USA
| | - Melissa F Fogarty
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education at the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation, 2300 Stratford Ave, Willow Grove, PA, 19090, USA
| | - Alex J Krotulski
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education at the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation, 2300 Stratford Ave, Willow Grove, PA, 19090, USA
| | | | | | - Marilyn A Huestis
- Center for Forensic Science Research and Education at the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation, 2300 Stratford Ave, Willow Grove, PA, 19090, USA.,Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Jeri D Ropero-Miller
- RTI International, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 East Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
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Adamowicz P, Nowak K. Blood concentrations of new synthetic opioids. Int J Legal Med 2021; 136:107-122. [PMID: 34676457 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02729-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Over the last decade, there has been a significant growth in the market and number of new psychoactive substances (NPS). One of the NPS groups that has grown rapidly in recent years, bringing a new set of problems, consists of new synthetic opioids. The extreme potency of these compounds poses a high risk of acute poisoning, as an overdose can cause respiratory depression. Most of the information regarding human pharmacokinetics of new opioids is based on toxicological case reports and the data on concentrations of new opioids in human blood are scarce. The interpretation of results usually requires a comparison to previously published cases; therefore, a referenced compilation of previously published concentration data would be useful. METHODS The data were collected by searching the PubMed and Scopus databases and by using the Google search engine. All the available data from articles and reports that measured new opioid concentrations in plasma, serum, or whole blood were included in the data analysis. RESULTS The presented tables list the observed concentrations in fatal and nonfatal cases involving 37 novel synthetic opioids. CONCLUSIONS Blood levels of new opioids are extremely difficult to interpret. Low blood concentrations of these substances do not rule out acute poisoning as their high potency creates a risk of respiratory depression even at low doses. Opioid tolerance, frequent presence of other drugs, and additional diseases make it impossible to define concentration ranges, especially the minimum fatal concentrations. This report provides quick access to the source articles quantifying novel synthetic opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Adamowicz
- Institute of Forensic Research, Westerplatte 9, 31-033, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Karolina Nowak
- Institute of Toxicology Research, Kasztanowa 45, 55-093, Borowa, Poland
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