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Neumann J, Azatsian K, Höhm C, Hofmann B, Gergs U. Cardiac effects of ephedrine, norephedrine, mescaline, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in mouse and human atrial preparations. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:275-287. [PMID: 36319858 PMCID: PMC9831963 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02315-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The use of recreational drugs like ephedrine, norephedrine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and mescaline can lead to intoxication and, at worst, to death. One reason for a fatal course of intoxication with these drugs might lie in cardiac arrhythmias. To the best of our knowledge, their inotropic effects have not yet been studied in isolated human cardiac preparations. Therefore, we measured inotropic effects of the hallucinogenic drugs ephedrine, norephedrine, mescaline, and MDMA in isolated mouse left atrial (mLA) and right atrial (mRA) preparations as well as in human right atrial (hRA) preparations obtained during cardiac surgery. Under these experimental conditions, ephedrine, norephedrine, and MDMA increased force of contraction (mLA, hRA) and beating rate (mRA) in a time- and concentration-dependent way, starting at 1-3 µM but these drugs were less effective than isoprenaline. Mescaline alone or in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors did not increase force in mLA or hRA. The positive inotropic effects of ephedrine, norephedrine, or MDMA were accompanied by increases in the rate of tension and relaxation and by shortening of time of relaxation and, moreover, by an augmented phosphorylation state of the inhibitory subunit of troponin in hRA. All effects were greatly attenuated by cocaine (10 µM) or propranolol (10 µM) treatment. In summary, the hallucinogenic drugs ephedrine, norephedrine, and MDMA, but not mescaline, increased force of contraction and increased protein phosphorylation presumably, in part, by a release of noradrenaline in isolated human atrial preparations and thus can be regarded as indirect sympathomimetic drugs in the human atrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Neumann
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 4, D-06097, Halle, Germany
| | - Karyna Azatsian
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 4, D-06097, Halle, Germany
| | - Christian Höhm
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 4, D-06097, Halle, Germany
| | - Britt Hofmann
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Mid-German Heart Center, University Hospital Halle, D-06097, Halle, Germany
| | - Ulrich Gergs
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 4, D-06097, Halle, Germany.
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2
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Söderberg C, Rodushkin L, Johansson A, Kugelberg FC. Postmortem reference concentrations of 68 elements in blood and urine. Int J Legal Med 2023; 137:655-669. [PMID: 36715753 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-02952-z] [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: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fatal intoxications, both accidental and intentional, are a global issue. In the Western world, intoxications with pharmaceuticals dominate, but in other parts of the world, other substances are more common. In a forensic setting, elemental intoxications are of great importance when investigating both accidental, suicidal, and homicidal deaths. The current study presents normal postmortem reference concentrations of 68 elements in femoral blood and urine. In addition, possible sources of error such as contamination from sample tubes, preservative potassium fluoride (KF) solution, and storage time are evaluated. METHODS Paired femoral blood and urine samples from 120 cases of death by suicidal hanging in Sweden were collected. Additionally, multiple batches of sample tubes and multiple batches of KF solution were also analyzed. Concentrations of elements were determined by double focusing sector field ICP-MS. RESULTS Key descriptive statistics for 68 elements are provided in blood and urine. Contamination from sample tubes was minor compared to the overall mean elemental concentrations in both blood and urine. KF solution contained a large assortment of elements, but the overall contribution is relatively minor for most elements given the small amounts of solution added to samples. There were significant differences for 22 elements in blood and 17 elements in urine between samples with short and long storage time. CONCLUSION The present study provides an important tool when evaluating postmortem elemental concentrations. It fills a needed gap between large antemortem population studies and postmortem case reports or small case series of elemental intoxications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Söderberg
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Artillerigatan 12, 587 58, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Llia Rodushkin
- Division of Geosciences, Luleå University of Technology, 971 87, Luleå, Sweden.,ALS Scandinavia AB, 971 87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Anna Johansson
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Artillerigatan 12, 587 58, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Fredrik C Kugelberg
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Artillerigatan 12, 587 58, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
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3
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Hansen SL, Nielsen MKK, Linnet K, Rasmussen BS. Suitability of cardiac blood, brain tissue, and muscle tissue as alternative matrices for toxicological evaluation in postmortem cases. Drug Test Anal 2023; 15:529-538. [PMID: 36611280 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3439] [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: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Drug concentrations in peripheral blood are often used to evaluate whether death was caused by drug intoxication. In some cases, peripheral blood is not available, and analytical results of alternative matrices should instead be used in the toxicological evaluation. However, reference concentrations of alternative matrices are few, which makes interpretation of results a challenge. In this study, concentrations of selected benzodiazepines, opioids, illicit drugs, and other commonly used drugs in postmortem femoral blood, cardiac blood, brain tissue, and muscle tissue are presented. Alternative matrix-to-femoral blood drug concentration ratios and correlations of blood and alternative matrix drug concentrations were calculated to examine which of the investigated alternative matrices were most suited to use for toxicological evaluation in cases where peripheral blood is not available. The results showed that concentrations in cardiac blood, brain tissue, and muscle tissue could be useful in the postmortem evaluation of most of the 19 selected analytes. In most cases, analytes were detected in all the alternative matrices. The median concentration ratios for the selected analytes in brain tissue, cardiac blood, and muscle tissue relative to femoral blood ranged from 0.57 to 3.42, 0.59 to 1.87, and 0.67 to 7.04, respectively. Overall, cardiac blood provided the concentrations most comparable with femoral blood concentrations, indicating that cardiac blood can be useful in cases where femoral blood is not available. However, the measured concentrations should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Lund Hansen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marie Katrine Klose Nielsen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Linnet
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brian Schou Rasmussen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Anier K, Somelar K, Jaako K, Alttoa M, Sikk K, Kokassaar R, Kisand K, Kalda A. Psychostimulant-induced aberrant DNA methylation in an in vitro model of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:89. [PMID: 35842682 PMCID: PMC9288712 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01303-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several reports have provided crucial evidence in animal models that epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, may be involved in psychostimulant-induced stable changes at the cellular level in the brain. Epigenetic editors DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and ten-eleven translocation enzymes (TETs) coordinate expression of gene networks, which then manifest as long-term behavioural changes. However, the extent to which aberrant DNA methylation is involved in the mechanisms of substance use disorder in humans is unclear. We previously demonstrated that cocaine modifies gene transcription, via DNA methylation, throughout the brain and in peripheral blood cells in mice. Results We treated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy male donors (n = 18) in vitro with psychostimulants (amphetamine, cocaine). After treatment, we assessed mRNA levels and enzymatic activities of TETs and DNMTs, conducted genome-wide DNA methylation assays and next-generation sequencing. We found that repeated exposure to psychostimulants decreased mRNA levels and enzymatic activity of TETs and 5-hydroxymethylation levels in PBMCs. These data were in line with observed hyper- and hypomethylation and mRNA expression of marker genes (IL-10, ATP2B4). Additionally, we evaluated whether the effects of cocaine on epigenetic editors (DNMTs and TETs) and cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 could be reversed by the DNMT inhibitor decitabine. Indeed, decitabine eliminated cocaine’s effect on the activity of TETs and DNMTs and decreased cytokine levels, whereas cocaine increased IL-6 and decreased IL-10. Conclusions Our data suggest that repeated psychostimulant exposure decreases TETs’ enzymatic activity in PBMCs. Co-treatment with decitabine reversed TETs’ levels and modulated immune response after repeated cocaine exposure. Further investigation is needed to clarify if TET could represent a putative biomarker of psychostimulant use and if DNMT inhibition could have therapeutic potential. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-022-01303-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Anier
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kelli Somelar
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Külli Jaako
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Margret Alttoa
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kerli Sikk
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Raul Kokassaar
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anti Kalda
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
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Sabbe M, Sawchik J, Gräfe M, Wuillaume F, De Bruyn S, Van Antwerpen P, Van Hal G, Desseilles M, Hamdani J, Malonne H. Use and misuse of prescription stimulants by university students: a cross-sectional survey in the french-speaking community of Belgium, 2018. Arch Public Health 2022; 80:54. [PMID: 35168683 PMCID: PMC8848864 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-022-00816-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Misuse of prescription stimulants (PS) has been reported among students to enhance academic performance in Flanders (Belgium). However, PS misuse among students in the French-speaking community is unknown. The main purpose of the study was to estimate the prevalence of medical use and misuse of PS by university students in the French-speaking community (Belgium), and to investigate the reasons and sources associated with PS misuse. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was performed in 2018. All university students 18 years and older were invited to participate and asked about PS use, including medical (i.e., used for therapeutic purposes) and nonmedical reasons and sources of PS. Results In total, 12 144 students participated in the survey (median age = 21 years, 65.5% female). The estimated prevalence of PS use was 6.9% (ever use) and 5.5% (past-year). Among ever users, 34.7% were classified as medical users and 65.3% as misusers. Lifetime prevalence of misuse was estimated at 4.5%. The most common reason for medical use was treatment of attention disorder (85.9%). Reasons for misuse were mainly to improve concentration (76.1%) or to stay awake and study longer (50.7%). Friends or acquaintances inside the student community and general practitioners were the main sources of PS for misuse (41.5% and 23.5%, respectively). Conclusions This study found that rates of misuse of PS in French-speaking universities in Belgium were in line with studies conducted in Flanders and Europe. Academic institutions can use these results to tailor their drug prevention campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Sabbe
- Scientific Directorate of Epidemiology and public health - Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium. .,DG Post authorisation - Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Javier Sawchik
- DG Post authorisation - Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mégane Gräfe
- Unit of Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Françoise Wuillaume
- DG Post authorisation - Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sara De Bruyn
- Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pierre Van Antwerpen
- RD3-Pharmacognosy, Bioanalysis and Drug Discovery- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guido Van Hal
- Unit of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Jamila Hamdani
- DG Post authorisation - Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hugues Malonne
- DG Post authorisation - Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Brussels, Belgium.,Unit of Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
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Sachkova A, Doetsch DA, Jensen O, Brockmöller J, Ansari S. How do psychostimulants enter the human brain? Analysis of the role of the proton-organic cation antiporter. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 192:114751. [PMID: 34464621 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although psychostimulants apparently do cross the BBB, it is poorly understood how these hydrophilic and positively charged molecules can pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB). That may be mediated by a genetically still uncharacterized H+/OC antiporter with high activity at the BBB. METHODS We studied the uptake of 16 psychostimulants and hallucinogens with hCMEC/D3 cells using the prototypic inhibitor imipramine (cis-inhibition), exchange transport with diphenhydramine and clonidine (trans-stimulation), proton dependency of the uptake, and we characterized the concentration-dependent uptake. RESULTS Cell uptake of methylenedioxyamphetamines, amphetamines and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) were strongly inhibited (to about 10% of the controls) by imipramine and diphenhydramine, whereas uptake of cathine was only weakly inhibited and mescaline not significantly. Amphetamine, methylamphetamine, para-Methoxy-N-methylamphetamine (PMMA), Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), phentermine and DMT exhibited the highest exchange after preloading with diphenhydramine with only 5.5%, 5.2%, 7.8%, 6%, 1.9%, 7.6% remaining in the cells. Less and no exchange were seen with cathine and mescaline, respectively. Dependence on intracellular pH was most pronounced with the methylendioxyamphetamines while uptake of cathine, DOI and cocaine were only moderately affected and mescaline not at all. CONCLUSION Except for mescaline, all psychostimulants studied here were substrates of the H+/OC antiporter, implicating a strong need for a better characterization of this transport protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Sachkova
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany.
| | - David Alexander Doetsch
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ole Jensen
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Brockmöller
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Salim Ansari
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
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Chan WS, Wong GF, Hung CW, Wong YN, Fung KM, Lee WK, Dao KL, Leung CW, Lo KM, Lee WM, Cheung BKK. Interpol review of toxicology 2016-2019. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2020; 2:563-607. [PMID: 33385147 PMCID: PMC7770452 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in toxicology from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20.Papers%202019.pdf.
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