The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 2008
Eszter Kirilly, Eszter Molnár, Brigitta Balogh et al.
The recreational drug ecstasy [3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)], has been found to selectively damage brain serotonin neurons in experimental animals, and probably in human MDMA users, but detailed morphometric analyses and parallel functional measures during damage and recovery are missing. Since there is evidence that serotonin regulates sleep, we have compared serotonergic markers...
Cardiovascular research
September 1, 2008
Sylvia K Shenouda, Kevin C Lord, Elizabeth McIlwain et al.
Our aim was to determine whether the repeated, binge administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy; MDMA) produces structural and/or functional changes in the myocardium that are associated with oxidative stress. Echocardiography and pressure-volume conductance catheters were used to assess left ventricular (LV) structure and function in rats subjected to four ecstasy binges (9...
European Journal of Pediatrics
September 2008
Frank Eifinger, Bernhard Roth, Lars Kröner et al.
We report on an 8-month-old male infant who accidentally ingested an Ecstasy tablet (3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine, MDMA). Here we discuss, according to the available literature, the treatment, complications, and pharmacokinetics of MDMA intoxication in a young infant. Serum MDMA level 2 hours after ingestion was with 785 ng x mL(-1) above the dose considered lethal for adults (>500 ng x...
Journal of Neurochemistry
September 2008
Megumi Higuchi, Yuichi Suzuki, Yumi Yatani et al.
Several lines of evidence suggest the involvement of the raphe-serotonergic neurons in addiction to psychostimulants and some recreational drugs. In this study, we established rat organotypic mesencephalic slice cultures containing the raphe nuclei and examined the effects of sustained exposure to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (METH). Immunostaining for tryptophan...
Deutsches Ärzteblatt international
September 2008
Hilke Andresen, Thomas Stimpfl, Nadine Sprys et al.
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB, "liquid ecstasy") and its legal pro-drugs gamma-butyrolactone and 1,4-butanediol are gaining in importance as recreational drugs in Germany. The effects of these substances are comparable with those of alcohol or benzodiazepines. Because of the wide availability of GHB physicians are increasingly being confronted with cases of intoxication. This review is based...
Psychological Medicine
September 1, 2008
G. Bedi, J. Redman
68 citations
BackgroundAlthough there have been several reports linking ecstasy use with lowered cognitive function, much previous research suffers from substantial methodological limitations. The present study aimed to examine associations between ecstasy use and higher-level cognitive functions, using a larger sample size than most previous research and better controlling for a range of potential...
PROTEOMICS
September 1, 2008
Kwan–hoon Moon, Vijay Upreti, Li‐rong Yu et al.
62 citations
Abstract Despite numerous reports citing the acute hepatotoxicity caused by 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (ecstasy), the underlying mechanism of organ damage is poorly understood. We hypothesized that key mitochondrial proteins are oxidatively modified and inactivated in MDMA‐exposed tissues. The aim of this study was to identify and investigate the mechanism of inactivation of...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
September 1, 2008
José Carlos Bouso, Rick Doblin, Magı́ Farré et al.
206 citations
The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety of different doses of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy administered in a psychotherapeutic setting to women with chronic PTSD secondary to a sexual assault, and also to obtain preliminary data regarding efficacy. Although this study was originally planned to include 29 subjects, political pressures led to the closing of the study before it...
Brain Research
August 21, 2008
Daniel E. Rusyniak, Maria V Zaretskaia, Dmitry V Zaretsky et al.
When given systemically to rats and humans, the drug of abuse 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy, MDMA) elicits hyperthermia, hyperactivity, tachycardia, and hypertension. Chemically stimulating the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), a brain region known to be involved in thermoregulation and in stress responses, causes similar effects. We therefore tested the hypothesis that neuronal...
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
August 17, 2008
Effect of 8-hydroxy-2-(N,N-di-n-propylamino)tetralin and MDMA on the discriminative stimulus effects of the classical hallucinogen DOM in rats.