Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
April 2018
Mercedes Martín-López, Ana T Muela, María Cavas et al.
Para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) is a synthetic drug chemically similar to the recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy") and often replaces MDMA in tablets that show an "ecstasy" logo. PMA displays a higher toxic potential than MDMA, but the behavioral profile of PMA has been scarcely studied in animal models. Here we evaluated the effects of PMA (2, 4, 8, and 12...
Prehospital and disaster medicine
April 2018
Matt Luther, Fergus Gardiner, Shane Lenson et al.
Specific Event Identifiers a. Event type: Outdoor music festival. b. Event onset date: December 3, 2016. c. Location of event: Regatta Point, Commonwealth Park. d. Geographical coordinates: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia (-35.289002, 149.131957, 600m). e. Dates and times of observation in latitude, longitude, and elevation: December 3, 2016, 11:00-23:00. f. Response...
The FASEB Journal
April 1, 2018
Matthias E. Liechti, Dino Luethi
Objective Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) or “bath salts” are increasingly sold over the Internet and used as substitutes for classic recreational substances. Previous studies showed that classic amphetamine‐type stimulants most potently act on the norepinephrine (NE) compared to the dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5‐HT) system and NE activation correlated with the subjective effects across...
Neuropsychopharmacology
March 2018
Manoj K. Doss, Jessica Weafer, David A Gallo et al.
The psychoactive drug ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is increasingly used for its perceived emotional effects (eg, prosociality, empathy, psychotherapy), but surprisingly little research has been aimed at identifying the effect of the drug on emotional episodic memory in humans. Here, we report the first double-blind placebo-controlled study to examine the effects of MDMA on...
Hippocampus
March 2018
Boris Mlinar, Renato Corradetti
The hippocampus is functionally differentiated along its longitudinal axis, with the dorsal and ventral segments preferentially involved in cognitive and emotional processing, respectively. Serotonergic modulation of hippocampal function has been extensively studied, but its relation to the dorsoventral axis has remained largely unknown. To examine the modulation of hippocampal output along the...
Journal of Substance Use
February 20, 2018
Khary K. Rigg, Amanda Sharp
42 citations
Recent data show that MDMA (3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) related deaths (MRDs) are on the rise in several countries. This rise in MRDs has caught the attention of public health officials and treatment practitioners. Although MDMA is not a new drug, misinformation regarding the root causes of MRDs is still widespread. For example, MRDs continue to be reported as “overdoses” in the media...
Drug and Alcohol Review
February 2018
Monica J Barratt, Raimondo Bruno, Nadine Ezard et al.
This study aimed to determine design features of a drug-checking service that would be feasible, attractive and likely to be used by Australian festival and nightlife attendees. Web survey of 851 Australians reporting use of psychostimulants and/or hallucinogens and attendance at licensed venues past midnight and/or festivals in the past year (70% male; median age 23 years). A drug-checking...
Psychopharmacology
February 2018
Elizabeth G Pitts, Daniel W Curry, Karly N Hampshire et al.
The use of (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ((±)-MDMA) as an adjunct to psychotherapy in the treatment of psychiatric and behavioral disorders dates back over 50 years. Only in recent years have controlled and peer-reviewed preclinical and clinical studies lent support to (±)-MDMA's hypothesized clinical utility. However, the clinical utility of (±)-MDMA is potentially mitigated by a range...
Journal of Applied Toxicology
February 2018
Yoshio Nakagawa, Toshinari Suzuki, Akiko Inomata
Psychoactive compounds, N-methyl-5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (5-MAPB) and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA), are known to be hepatotoxic in humans and/or experimental animals. As previous studies suggested that these compounds elicited cytotoxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction and/or oxidative stress in rat hepatocytes, the protective effects of fructose and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC)...
Neuropharmacology
January 31, 2018
Sean B. Dolan, Zhenglan Chen, Renqi Huang et al.
ABSTRACT This study aimed to address the mechanisms and reinforcing effects of three synthetic cathinone analogs of MDMA commonly reported in “Ecstasy” formulations: methylone, butylone, and pentylone. Whole‐cell patch clamp techniques were used to assess the mechanism of each compound at the dopamine and serotonin transporters. Separate groups of rats were trained to discriminate...
Medicine
January 31, 2018
Evangelia Liakoni, Chris Yates, Alison M. Dines et al.
38 citations
The aim of the study was to compare self-reported and analytically confirmed substance use in cases of acute recreational drug toxicity.We performed a retrospective analysis of emergency department presentations of acute recreational drug toxicity over 2 years (October 2013 to September 2015) within the European Drug Emergencies Network Plus project.Among the 10,956 cases of acute recreational...
Scientific Reports
January 12, 2018
Kim P. C. Kuypers, Rafael de la Torre, Magı́ Farré et al.
12 citations
Abstract MDMA exerts its main effects via the serotonergic system and the serotonin transporter. The gene coding for this transporter determines the expression rate of the transporter. Previously it was shown that healthy individuals with the short allelic variant (‘ s -group’) of the 5-HTTLPR-polymorphism displayed more anxiety and negative mood, and had a lower transcriptional efficiency...
Alone at the Altar
January 9, 2018
Brianna Leavitt-Alcántara
Chapter 5 explores the devotion and controversy surrounding Sor María Teresa Aycinena, a Carmelite nun, who in 1816 in the midst of the Independence wars, reportedly began to experience the stigmata, visions, mystical crucifixions, and miraculous images formed with the blood of her wounds. The powerful archbishop, priests, and lay devotees, many of them women, supported the Carmelite nun as a...
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
January 6, 2018
Sascha Thal, Miriam J. J. Lommen
59 citations
The present paper discusses the current literature with regard to substance-assisted psychotherapy with Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of the paper is to give a comprehensive overview of the development from MDMA's early application in psychotherapy to its present and future role in the treatment of PTSD. It is further attempted to...
Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology
January 5, 2018
Esther Papaseit, Marta Torrens, Clara Pérez‐mañá et al.
20 citations
MDMA, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a synthetic phenethylamine derivative with structural and pharmacological similarities to both amphetamines and mescaline. MDMA produces characteristic amphetamine-like actions (euphoria, well-being), increases empathy, and induces pro-social effects that seem to motivate its recreational consumption and provide a basis for its potential therapeutic...
Drug Science, Policy and Law
2018
Timothy Amoroso
There is growing concern that the majority of modern research may be comprised of false findings, which is partly attributed to unacceptable flexibility in data analyses. Here this issue is considered in the literature suggesting that MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) may be associated with neurocognitive deficits. Research suggests that increased exposure to ecstasy is associated with...
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
2018
Sascha Thal, Miriam J. J. Lommen
correction
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s10879-017-9379-2.].
Psychology and sexuality
2018
Joseph J Palamar, Marybec Griffin-Tomas, Patricia Acosta et al.
Alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA], 'Molly') are among the most prevalent substances used by young adults; however, few studies have focused on the specific sexual effects associated with use. Examining subjective sexual effects (e.g. increased libido) associated with use can inform prevention efforts. Data were analysed from 679 nightclub and dance...
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
2018
A Özge Sungur, Tobias M Redecker, Elena Andres et al.
Genetic defects in the three SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains (SHANK) genes (SHANK1, SHANK2, and SHANK3) are associated with multiple major neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and bipolar disorder (BPD). Psychostimulant-induced hyperactivity is a commonly applied paradigm to assess behavioral phenotypes related to BPD and considered...
Frontiers in Pharmacology
2018
Peter Petschner, Noemi Balogh, Csaba Ádori et al.
The active ingredient of ecstasy, ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), in addition to its initial reinforcing effects, induces selective and non-selective brain damage. Evidences suggest that the hippocampus (HC), a central region for cognition, may be especially vulnerable to impairments on the long-run, nevertheless, transcription factors that may precede and regulate such chronic...