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21 pages, 2789 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of an Oral Fluid Collection Device and a Solid-Phase Extraction Method for the Determination of Coca Leaf Alkaloids by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

by Pamela Cabarcos-Fernández, Ivan Álvarez-Freire, Nelida Cristina Rubio, Ana Maria Bermejo-Barrera, Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro, Ines Sánchez-Sellero and Maria Jesus Tabernero-Duque

Molecules 2024, 29(3), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030592 - 25 Jan 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2010

Abstract

Some South American countries have ancient traditions that may pose legal problems, such as the consumption of coca leaves, as this can provide positive results for cocaine use after the analysis of biological samples. For this reason, it is necessary to find specific markers that help differentiate legal from illegal consumption, such as tropacocaine, cinnamoylcocaine, and especially hygrine and cuscohygrine. In this work, two techniques for collecting biological samples are compared: the Quantisal^® Oral Fluid collection device and passive drooling. Once the samples were collected, they were subjected to solid-phase extraction for subsequent injection into GC-MS. Different validation parameters included in international guides have been studied to evaluate whether the proposed method is valid for the defined purpose, placing special emphasis on the study of the matrix effect and little value on GC-MS analyses. With respect to this parameter, an increase in the signal was found for CUS and t-CIN, but it was not significant for the rest of the substances studied. The recoveries have varied significantly depending on the way of working, being higher when working with standardized areas. After carrying out work with the oral fluid samples collected from laboratory volunteers, the method was applied to two real samples. The results obtained support the need for further research to overcome certain limitations presented by the device. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Progress in Analytical Chemistry in Materials and Food and Environmental Samples)

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21 pages, 2723 KB

Open AccessReview

Psychodynamic Therapies for the Treatment of Substance Addictions: A PRISMA Meta-Analysis

by Marco Zuccon, Eleonora Topino, Alessandro Musetti and Alessio Gori

J. Pers. Med. 2023, 13(10), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm13101469 - 7 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5075

Abstract

The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare psychodynamic with other treatments in studies of substance addiction. The literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, Cohcrane library, SCOPUS, and Onesearch databases. All studies comparing psychodynamic therapy with other types of psychological interventions for Substance Use Disorder were eligible. Three outcomes were considered to compare intervention performance: substance use, participation in treatment and other symptomatic conditions (OSCs). Hedges’ G was used to measure effect size. The Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials was used to assess quality of evidence and possible bias, Egger regression analyses for publication bias, and Q and I-square statistics were used to assess heterogeneity. The alcohol group showed no differences between treatments on the three outcomes. The cocaine group showed no significant differences in the two outcomes, while for OSCs, available data was insufficient. The opioids group showed small but significant differences regarding participation in favor of non-psychodynamic interventions and no significant results for other outcomes. Based on the three measures of recovery considered in this meta-analysis, psychodynamic interventions were shown to be as effective as other psychological treatments in treating substance dependence and proved to be an empirically-supported treatment for the above addictions. Full article

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27 pages, 986 KB

Open AccessReview

Sex Differences in Psychostimulant Abuse: Implications for Estrogen Receptors and Histone Deacetylases

by Oscar V. Torres

Genes 2022, 13(5), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13050892 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3926

Abstract

Substance abuse is a chronic pathological disorder that negatively affects many health and neurological processes. A growing body of literature has revealed gender differences in substance use. Compared to men, women display distinct drug-use phenotypes accompanied by recovery and rehabilitation disparities. These observations have led to the notion that sex-dependent susceptibilities exist along the progression to addiction. Within this scope, neuroadaptations following psychostimulant exposure are thought to be distinct for each sex. This review summarizes clinical findings and animal research reporting sex differences in the subjective and behavioral responses to cocaine, methamphetamine, and nicotine. This discussion is followed by an examination of epigenetic and molecular alterations implicated in the addiction process. Special consideration is given to histone deacetylases and estrogen receptor-mediated gene expression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gene Expression and Chromatin Modification in the Brain)

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11 pages, 1278 KB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Prenatal Substance Exposure Using Meconium and Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

by Atakan Hernandez, Valerie Lacroze, Natalia Doudka, Jenny Becam, Carole Pourriere-Fabiani, Bruno Lacarelle, Caroline Solas and Nicolas Fabresse

Toxics 2022, 10(2), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10020055 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5922

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop and to validate a toxicological untargeted screening relying on LC-HRMS in meconium including the detection of the four main classes of drugs of abuse (DoA; amphetamines, cannabinoids, opioids and cocaine). The method was then applied to 29 real samples. Analyses were performed with a liquid chromatography system coupled to a benchtop Orbitrap operating in a data-dependent analysis. The sample amount was 300 mg of meconium extracted twice by solid phase extraction following two distinct procedures. Raw data were processed using the Compound Discoverer 3.2 software (Thermo). The method was evaluated and validated on 15 compounds (6-MAM, morphine, buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, methadone, EDDP, amphetamine, MDA, MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, THC, 11-OH-THC, THC-COOH). Limits of detection were between 0.5 and 5 pg/mg and limits of identification between 5 and 50 pg/mg. Mean matrix effect was between −79 and −19% (n = 6) and mean overall recovery between 18 and 73% (n = 6) at 100 pg/mg. The application allows the detection of 88 substances, including 47 pharmaceuticals and 15 pharmaceutical metabolites, cocaine and its metabolites, THC and its metabolites, and natural (morphine, codeine) and synthetic (methadone, buprenorphine, tramadol, norfentanyl) opioids. This method is now used routinely for toxicological screening in high-risk pregnancies Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Identification of Drug Abuse)

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12 pages, 453 KB

Open AccessArticle

Remarkable Reduction of Cocaine Use in Dual Disorder (Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder/Cocaine Use Disorder) Patients Treated with Medications for ADHD

by Corrado Manni, Giada Cipollone, Alessandro Pallucchini, Angelo G. I. Maremmani, Giulio Perugi and Icro Maremmani

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(20), 3911; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16203911 - 15 Oct 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 9691

Abstract

Background: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a growing public health concern, but so far no effective pharmacotherapies have been demonstrated. Stimulant medications have proved to be promising in CUD treatment. The self-medication hypothesis (SMH) can help to explain this phenomenon better, especially in cases where CUD co-occurs with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (A-ADHD). Methods: In the present retrospective study, a sample of 20 consecutive patients (aged from 18 to 65 years) with dual disorder (A-ADHD/CUD), under treatment with methylphenidate (MPH) or atomoxetine (ATM) medications, was followed to study the effects of A-ADHD treatment on cocaine use. Patients were followed for a mean period of 7 months (minimum 1, maximum 30 months). All individuals were assessed with standardized questionnaires to evaluate diagnosis, treatment efficacy, and clinical improvement. Results: the results showed that behaviors reflecting cocaine addiction were sharply reduced during the stimulant treatment of A-ADHD, and were not correlated with age, gender, familiarity, length of treatment, or medication used. CUD improvement was closely correlated with the A-ADHD improvement. This study supports the validity of the SMH in ADHD patients with co-occurring CUD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)

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