The Science of the total environment
November 15, 2024
Ha Hyun Lim, Hye Jin Cha, Jeong-Eun Oh
7 citations
Over 21 days, wastewater from Seoul, South Korea, was analyzed to track 22 illicit drugs. Ten drugs were detected; methamphetamine appeared consistently. Ketamine showed the highest estimated consumption rate at 47.5 mg/day per 1,000 people, followed by methamphetamine at 12.5 mg/day per 1,000 people. Daily patterns for methamphetamine and MDMA were relatively stable, with coefficients of variation of 7.03% and 13.4%, respectively. No statistically significant differences in drug consumption were found between weekends and weekdays. However, significant regional differences emerged for methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine, linked to average annual income and education levels.
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
April 1, 2023
Aeseul Kim, Sun Mi Gu, Haemiru Lee et al.
5 citations
Prenatal exposure to NMDA receptor antagonists like ketamine and methoxetamine in pregnant rats leads to psychosis-like behaviors in their offspring, including hyperactivity and reduced prepulse inhibition (PPI), a measure of sensorimotor gating. These effects are linked to increased expression of the arginine vasopressin receptor 1A (Avpr1a) in the striatum, and artificially overexpressing Avpr1a in the striatum also impairs PPI. Additionally, the treatments raise levels of glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) and GABA in the striatum, indicating that prenatal NMDA receptor blockade disrupts GABAergic neuron function and sensorimotor gating through Avpr1a regulation.
Journal of veterinary science
September 1, 2024
Sun Mi Gu, Eunchong Hong, Sowoon Seo et al.
1 citation
Reducing levels of the GABA-synthesis enzyme GAD67 in the dorsal striatum of mice increased depression-like behavior but decreased anxiety. The reduction also heightened the rewarding effect of ketamine, measured by conditioned place preference, but did not alter the reward behavior triggered by the cannabinoid agonist JWH-018. The findings suggest that lower striatal GAD67 weakens GABAergic signaling, which may make the brain more vulnerable to ketamine's reward effects by enhancing NMDA receptor inhibition.
Water research
December 1, 2025
Yasar Arafath Sharfudeen, Minjin Kim, Donghyun Kim et al.
Methamphetamine was the most frequently detected drug in South Korean wastewater, with the highest consumption at a casino (18 mg/day/1000 people) and in certain rural areas with a high proportion of foreign residents (up to 32 mg/day/1000 people). Amphetamine was predominantly found in U.S. military areas (16 mg/day/1000 people), consistent with therapeutic use. The airport showed the greatest drug diversity, including elevated levels of MDMA, ketamine, and cocaine. Two novel psychoactive substances, 25D-NBOMe and 25E-NBOMe, were identified for the first time in South Korean wastewater, exclusively at the casino. These site-specific patterns highlight the value of wastewater-based epidemiology for targeted public health strategies.