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Esmaeilpour T, Lotfealian A, Anvari M, Namavar M, Karbalaei N, Shahedi A, Bokkon I, Salari V, Oblak D. Effect of methamphetamine on ultraweak photon emission and level of reactive oxygen species in male rat brain. Neurosci Lett 2023; 801:137136. [PMID: 36804571 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
All living cells, including neurons, generate ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) during biological activity, and in particular, in the brain, it has been shown that UPE is correlated with neuronal activity and associated metabolic processes. Various intracellular factors, as well as external factors, can reduce or increase the intensity of UPE. In this study, we have used Methamphetamine (METH) as one potentially effective external factor, which is a substance that has the property of stimulating the central nervous system. METH can impair mitochondrial function by causing toxicity via various pathways, including an increase in the number of mitochondria, hyperthermia, the increased metabolic activity of the brain, and the production of glutamate and excess calcium. In addition to mitochondrial dysfunction, METH alters cellular homeostasis, leading to cell damage and the production of excess ROS. The aim of this study is to measure and compare the UPE intensity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of the prefrontal, motor, and visual cortex before and after METH administration. Twenty male rats were randomly assigned to two groups, the control, and METH groups. In the control group, 2 h after injection of normal saline and without any intervention, and in the experimental group 2 h after IP injection of 20 mg/kg METH, sections were prepared from three areas: prefrontal, motor, and V1-V2 cortex, which were used to evaluate the emission of UPE using a photomultiplier tube (PMT) device and to evaluate the amount of ROS. The results showed that the amount of ROS and UPE in the experimental group in all three areas significantly increased compared to the control group. So, METH increases UPE and ROS in the prefrontal, motor, and visual regions, and there is a direct relationship between UPE intensity and ROS production. Therefore, UPE may be used as a dynamic reading tool to monitor oxidative metabolism in physiological processes related to ROS and METH research. Also, the results of this experiment may create a new avenue to test the hypothesis that the excess in UPE generation may lead to the phenomenon of phosphene and visual hallucinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Esmaeilpour
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Azam Lotfealian
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Morteza Anvari
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Namavar
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Narges Karbalaei
- Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abbas Shahedi
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Istvan Bokkon
- Psychosomatic Outpatient Clinics, Budapest, Hungary; Vision Research Institute, Neuroscience and Consciousness Research Department, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Vahid Salari
- Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Daniel Oblak
- Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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Eslami Shahrbabaki M, Barfehie D, Mazhari S, Ahmadi A, Shafiee S. Comparing Cognitive Functions in Patients with Schizophrenia and Methamphetamine-Induced Psychosis with Healthy Controls. ADDICTION & HEALTH 2022; 14:239-243. [PMID: 37559792 PMCID: PMC10408749 DOI: 10.34172/ahj.2022.1143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are similar findings about the similarities and differences of cognitive dysfunctions in patients with schizophrenia and methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MIP). This study aimed to compare cognitive functioning in schizophrenia and MIP patients, using a performance-based cognitive assessment battery and an interview-based assessment of cognition. METHODS Three groups participated in this study including, (a) 30 patients with MIP, (b) 30 patients with schizophrenia, and (c) 30 healthy individuals. All participants received the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), a standardized performance-based cognitive battery, the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS), and the interview-based assessment of cognition. FINDINGS Both groups of patients with schizophrenia and MIP performed poorly on all the BACS cognitive domains compared with the healthy controls. The two patient groups were significantly different on the three BACS subscales including verbal fluency, verbal memory, and speed of information processing. Schizophrenia patients performed worse than the MIP group concerning these three subscales. However, the two patient groups were similar in executive function, working memory, and motor speed. Moreover, the SCoRS-informant, SCoRS-global, and PANSS-negative significantly differed between schizophrenia and MIP patients. CONCLUSION Although cognitive dysfunctions are mostly similar in patients with MIP and schizophrenia, there are some differences especially in the functions related to prefrontal and temporal lobes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahin Eslami Shahrbabaki
- Neuroscience Research Center and Institute of Neuropharmacology, Psychiatry Department, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Delaram Barfehie
- Neurology Research Center, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Shahrzad Mazhari
- Neuroscience Research Center and Institute of Neuropharmacology, Psychiatry Department, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Atefeh Ahmadi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Department of Counselling in Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Shahideh Shafiee
- Psychiatry Department, Neurology Research Center, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Eslami-Shahrbabaki M, Barfehee D, Parvaresh N, Zamani E, Soltaninejad A, Ahmadi A. Investigating Cognitive Functions in Methadone Users in Comparison with Methadone and Methamphetamine Users and Control Group. ADDICTION & HEALTH 2022; 14:1-6. [PMID: 35573763 PMCID: PMC9057645 DOI: 10.22122/ahj.v14i1.292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Cognitive impairment in drug users is a marker for predicting recurrence and poorer adherence to treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare the cognitive function in three groups of methadone users methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), compared to methadone and methamphetamine (MAMP) users (MMT + MAMP) and healthy people (control group). Methods Three groups of 90 people including 30 users of MMT, 30 users of MMT + MAMP, and 30 healthy persons participated in this cross-sectional and purposeful study. The study was performed on outpatients of MMT Clinic of Psychiatric Hospital in Kerman, Iran. The demographic and related data questionnaire was filled out. In addition, Persian version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) was used to assess cognitive function. Findings The mean of total number of scores and all BACS subscales were significantly better in control group than the other two groups of patients. Moreover, not only the mean of total number of BACS was significantly different between two substance abuser groups, but also there was a significant difference between them on verbal memory, digit sequencing, and token motor test, with MMT + MAMP group performing worse than MMT group. Conclusion Concomitant use of opioids and stimulant substance such as MAMP results in cumulative toxic effect of them on brain and cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahin Eslami-Shahrbabaki
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology AND Department of Psychiatry, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Delaram Barfehee
- Neurology Research Center AND Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Nooshin Parvaresh
- Department of Psychiatry, Afzalipour School of Medicine AND Neurology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Elham Zamani
- Department of Psychiatry, Afzalipour School of Medicine AND Neurology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Soltaninejad
- Department of Psychiatry, Afzalipour School of Medicine AND Neurology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Atefeh Ahmadi
- Neurology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Foroughi K, Khaksari M, Rahmati M, Bitaraf FS, Shayannia A. Apelin-13 Protects PC12 Cells Against Methamphetamine-Induced Oxidative Stress, Autophagy and Apoptosis. Neurochem Res 2019; 44:2103-2112. [PMID: 31385138 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02847-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (METH) is a potent psychomotor stimulant that has a high potential for abuse in humans. In addition, it is neurotoxic, especially in dopaminergic neurons. Long-lasting exposure to METH causes psychosis and increases the risk of Parkinson's disease. Apelin-13 is a novel endogenous ligand which studies have shown that may have a neuroprotective effect. Therefore, we hypothesized that Apelin-13 might adequately prevent METH-induced neurotoxicity via the inhibition of apoptotic, autophagy, and ROS responses. In this study, PC12 cells were exposed to both METH (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 mmol/L) and Apelin-13 (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 μmol/L) in vitro for 24 h to measure determined dose, and then downstream pathways were measured to investigate apoptosis, autophagy, and ROS responses. The results have indicated that Apelin-13 decreased the apoptotic response post-METH exposure in PC12 cells by increasing cell viability, reducing apoptotic rates. In addition, the study has revealed Apelin-13 decreased gene expression of Beclin-1 by Real-Time PCR and LC3-II by western blotting in METH-induced PC12 cells, which demonstrated autophagy is reduced. In addition, this study has shown that Apelin-13 reduces intracellular ROS of METH-induced PC12 cells. These results support Apelin-13 to be investigated as a potential drug for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It is suggested that Apelin-13 is beneficial in reducing oxidative stress, which may also play an important role in the regulation of METH-triggered apoptotic response. Hence, these data indicate that Apelin-13 could potentially alleviate METH-induced neurotoxicity via the reduction of oxidative damages, apoptotic, and autophagy cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kobra Foroughi
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Mehdi Khaksari
- Addiction Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Majid Rahmati
- Cancer Prevention Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Fateme Sadat Bitaraf
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Asghar Shayannia
- Bahar Center for Education, Research and Treatment, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
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Ghouchani S, Molavi N, Massah O, Sadeghi M, Mousavi SH, Noroozi M, Sabri A, Farhoudian A. Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on aggression of patients with psychosis due to methamphetamine use: A pilot study. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2018.1436602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shaahin Ghouchani
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nader Molavi
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Massah
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mandana Sadeghi
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Hadi Mousavi
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Noroozi
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Armin Sabri
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Farhoudian
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Farnia V, Alikhani M, Jalali A, Golshani S, Salemi S, Hookari S, Moradi M, Juibari TA. The role of attachment styles and perceived social support in prediction of methamphetamine abuse. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2018.1436598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Farnia
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mostafa Alikhani
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Amir Jalali
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Sanobar Golshani
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Safora Salemi
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Sara Hookari
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Masuod Moradi
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Toraj Ahmadi Juibari
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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Shahmohammadi F, Golesorkhi M, Riahi Kashani MM, Sangi M, Yoonessi A, Yoonessi A. Neural Correlates of Craving in Methamphetamine Abuse. Basic Clin Neurosci 2016; 7:221-30. [PMID: 27563415 PMCID: PMC4981834 DOI: 10.15412/j.bcn.03070307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Methamphetamine is a powerful psychostimulant that causes significant neurological impairments with long-lasting effects and has provoked serious international concerns about public health. Denial of drug abuse and drug craving are two important factors that make the diagnosis and treatment extremely challenging. Here, we present a novel and rapid noninvasive method with potential application for differentiation and monitoring methamphetamine abuse. Methods: Visual stimuli comprised a series of images with neutral and methamphetamine-related content. A total of 10 methamphetamine abusers and 10 age-gender matched controls participated in the experiments. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded and compared using a time window analysis method. The ERPs were divided into 19 time windows of 100 ms with 50 ms overlaps. The area of positive sections below each window was calculated to measure the differences between the two groups. Results: Significant differences between two groups were observed from 250 to 500 ms (P300) in response to methamphetamine-related visual stimuli and 600 to 800 ms in response to neutral stimuli. Conclusion: This study presented a novel and noninvasive method based on neural correlates to discriminate healthy individuals from methamphetamine drug abusers. This method can be employed in treatment and monitoring of the methamphetamine abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanak Shahmohammadi
- Department of Computer Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Tehran North Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrshad Golesorkhi
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran.; Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mehrdad Sangi
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ahmad Yoonessi
- McGill Vision Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ali Yoonessi
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Brain Mapping Lab, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Ezzatpanah Z, Shariat SV, Tehrani-doost M. Cognitive functions in methamphetamine induced psychosis compared to schizophrenia and normal subjects. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2014; 9:152-7. [PMID: 25561956 PMCID: PMC4277805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this research was to study the cognitive functions in patients with methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MIP) in comparison with schizophrenia patients and normal subjects. METHOD This was a cross-sectional study, 30 patients with MIP, 30 patients with schizophrenia and 30 normal individuals were selected via convenient sampling and were matched on age, sex and education. Wisconsin Cards Sorting, Stroop, Visual Search and Attention and Wechsler Memory Tests were used to assess the subjects. RESULTS The study showed that patients with MIP and schizophrenia have more deficits in executive functions, selective attention, sustained attention and memory than normal subjects. There were no significant differences in cognitive functions between patients with MIP and schizophrenia except for visual search and attention that showed more impairment in patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION Although, cognitive dysfunctions of patients with MIP are mostly similar to patients with schizophrenia, some differences seem to exist, especially in those functions that are not primarily dependent on frontal lobe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seyed Vahid Shariat
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran,Mental Health Research Center and Department of Psychiatry, Tehran Institute of Psychiatry, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Tehrani-doost
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran,Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Alam Mehrjerdi Z, Barr AM, Noroozi A. Methamphetamine-associated psychosis: a new health challenge in Iran. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 21:30. [PMID: 23577655 PMCID: PMC3637332 DOI: 10.1186/2008-2231-21-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The rapidly growing popularity of methamphetamine use in Iran has posed a new health challenge to the Iranian health sector. Methamphetamine-associated psychosis (MAP) has been frequently reported in Iran in recent years. Although methamphetamine use and MAP are considerable health problems in Iran but there is still a need to conduct epidemiological studies on the prevalence of MAP and its health-related problems. The present paper emphasizes that health policy makers should consider the immediate needs of drug users, their families and the community to be informed about the detrimental health effects associated with MAP. Although MAP could be managed by prescribing benzodiazepines and psychiatric medications but the most effective regime for stabilizing patients with MAP still needs to be studied in Iran. Constant collaborations among psychiatric services and outpatient psychotherapeutic services should be established to successfully manage MAP in Iran. Iranian clinicians especially emergency medicine specialists should be informed about the differences between the two forms of transient and recurrent MAP in order to implement appropriate pharmacological therapies to manage MAP. It is hoped that special training courses are designed and implemented by health policy makers to inform clinicians, health providers and especially emergency medicine specialists to effectively deal with MAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Alam Mehrjerdi
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No,669, South Karegar Ave, Tehran, Iran.
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