Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
August 1, 2006
Sergio Abanades, Magı́ Farré, Mireia Segura et al.
124 citations
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) produces dose-related changes in subjective effects, showing a mixed stimulant-sedative pattern: initial feelings of euphoria, high, and liking, followed by mild-to-moderate sedation with impaired performance and balance. Single oral doses of 40, 50, 60, and 72 mg/kg were given to eight volunteers. Mean peak plasma concentrations ranged from 79.1 to 130.1 μg/L. Physiological and subjective effects were dose-dependent and related to plasma concentrations. Urinary excretion was mainly related to dose. The results suggest high abuse liability at the doses typically consumed.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
February 1, 2007
Sergio Abanades, Magı́ Farré, Mireia Segura et al.
66 citations
After a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg sodium GHB, mean peak plasma concentrations reached 83.1 μg/mL at 30 minutes, then declined to 0.9 μg/mL at 6 hours. GHB appeared in oral fluid at levels one-third to one-fourth of plasma concentrations, with a half-life of about 1.2 hours compared to 0.7 hour in plasma. Less than 2% of the dose was excreted in urine, and sweat contained only low concentrations. Subjective effects followed a mixed sedative-stimulant pattern, peaking between 1 and 1.5 hours and lasting 2 hours, and were related to plasma concentrations. Oral fluid and sweat were not suitable for monitoring GHB consumption.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
July 1, 2003
Simona Pichini, M.d. Sánchez Navarro, Roberta Pacifici et al.
66 citations
After a single 100-mg dose of MDMA, the drug appears in sweat within 1.5 hours and peaks at 24 hours, but the amount varies up to 30-fold between individuals, ranging from 3.2 to 1326.1 ng per patch. Only traces of the metabolite MDA are detected. An onsite sweat strip test is positive at 1.5 hours, though 18% false-negative results occur in the first 6 hours. Sweat patch and onsite strip testing offer noninvasive ways to monitor MDMA use.
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
June 9, 2008
Simona Pichini, Mitona Pujadas, Emilia Marchei et al.
59 citations
A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was developed to measure ten designer drugs—including MDMA, several 2C-series phenethylamines, m-CPP, and tryptamines—in urine samples from 32 consumers. Solid-phase extraction at pH 6 was applied to both non-hydrolyzed and enzymatically hydrolyzed urine, with 3,4-methylendioxypropylamphetamine (MDPA) as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation used a C18 column with a gradient of ammonium bicarbonate and acetonitrile, and detection was performed in single ion monitoring mode with electrospray ionization. Limits of quantification ranged from 20 to 60 ng/mL, calibration curves were linear to 2000 ng/mL, and mean recoveries were 55.4–95.6%. Higher analyte concentrations in hydrolyzed samples indicated the presence of conjugated compounds.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
January 21, 2008
Susana de Sola Llopis, Mónica Miguélez-Pan, Jordi Peña‐Casanova et al.
58 citations
Recreational ecstasy use, often alongside cannabis, is linked to lasting cognitive deficits. Over two years, regular ecstasy users performed worse than cannabis-only users and non-users on tests of verbal fluency, working memory, and processing speed. Heavier users (more than 100 tablets) also showed impairments in episodic memory. These deficits persisted across the study period. The findings suggest that ecstasy, possibly combined with cannabis, causes subtle but lasting cognitive harm, though pre-existing differences between groups cannot be ruled out.
Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM
January 1, 2005
Simona Pichini, Sergio Abanades, Magí Farré et al.
58 citations
A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to measure Salvinorin A, the main active compound in the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum, in plasma, urine, saliva, and sweat. The method uses 17-alpha-methyltestosterone as an internal standard and extracts the compound with a chloroform/isopropanol mixture. It was validated over a concentration range of 0.015–5 microg/mL for plasma, urine, and saliva, and 0.01–5 microg/patch for sweat, with mean recoveries of 77.1–92.7% and precision and accuracy better than 15%. When applied to two consumers after smoking 75 mg of plant leaves, Salvinorin A was detected in urine (2.4 and 10.9 ng/mL) and saliva (11.1 and 25.0 ng/mL), but not in sweat patches.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
June 1, 2002
Roberta Pacifici, P. Zuccaro, Magı́ Farré et al.
58 citations
Repeated use of MDMA ('ecstasy') causes time-dependent immune dysfunction similar to a single dose, but the second dose extends the period of impaired immunocompetence. The drug decreases CD4 T-helper cells, increases natural killer (NK) cells, and reduces lymphocyte responsiveness to stimulation. In poor metabolizers, MDMA accumulation produces greater immunomodulatory effects, including significant differences in NK cell function. Recreational MDMA users show long-term alterations: reduced lymphocytes, T cells, and CD4 cells (though within normal limits), and NK cells reduced to one-third of healthy levels. Over two years, a subgroup showed statistically significant decreases in immune parameters, potentially increasing susceptibility to infection and immune disorders.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
March 1, 2001
Roberta Pacifici, Magı́ Farré, Simona Pichini et al.
50 citations
After a single 100 mg oral dose of MDMA, the Drugwipe immunochemical strip test detected the drug in sweat from two volunteers as early as 2 hours and up to 12 hours later. However, one volunteer showed a faint positive result before dosing, when plasma and urine were negative, and this persisted beyond 48 hours. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry measured peak plasma concentrations of MDMA and its metabolite HMMA at 2-4 hours, with levels above 20 ng/mL and 40 ng/mL respectively still present at 24 hours. Urine remained positive for both substances over 48 hours. These results suggest sweat testing with Drugwipe may be useful for monitoring MDMA use.
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
November 1, 2014
Simona Pichini, Emilia Marchei, Oscar García-algar et al.
44 citations
A new laboratory method using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry can detect and measure mescaline, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, psilocin, psilocybin, and salvinorin A in hair from people who use psychedelic plants such as peyote, trichocereus cacti, psilocybe mushrooms, Salvia divinorum, or the beverage ayahuasca. The method is accurate and precise, with detection limits as low as 0.03–0.05 nanograms per milligram of hair. Testing on actual users found mescaline at 0.08–0.13 ng/mg in peyote smokers, 3.2 ng/mg salvinorin A in a Salvia divinorum smoker, 5.6 ng/mg N,N-dimethyltryptamine in an ayahuasca user, and 0.8 ng/mg psilocybin in a psilocybe consumer.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
September 1, 2000
Roberta Pacifici, P. Zuccaro, Magı́ Farré et al.
44 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) use produces neurochemical, behavioral, and endocrine changes similar to acute stress, acting as a chemical stressor. In rats, MDMA rapidly suppressed lymphocyte proliferation, decreased circulating lymphocytes, and increased plasma corticosterone. In humans, acute MDMA caused time-dependent immune dysfunction: CD4+ T-cells and lymphocyte responsiveness to stimulation decreased, while natural killer cells increased; total leukocyte count remained unchanged. Cortisol rose similarly to the rat model, suggesting MDMA triggers corticotrophin-releasing factor release from the hypothalamus, activating the HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system. These findings indicate MDMA ingestion may increase risk for immune system-related diseases.
Addiction
May 22, 2007
Roberta Pacifici, Piergiorgio Zuccaro, Magı́ Farré et al.
39 citations
People who use both MDMA (ecstasy) and cannabis show long-term changes in immune function, including lower levels of interleukin-2 and higher levels of anti-inflammatory transforming growth factor beta-1, along with fewer total lymphocytes, CD4 cells, and natural killer cells. These immune alterations persisted over one year. Regular users of both drugs had a higher rate of mild infections compared to occasional users and those who used only cannabis or neither drug. Cannabis-only users showed intermediate immune changes. The findings suggest that sustained disruption of immune balance may lead to poorer general health and greater susceptibility to infections.
Drug Testing and Analysis
August 9, 2012
Manuela Pellegrini, Maria Concetta Rotolo, Emilia Marchei et al.
21 citations
A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to rapidly measure psilocybin and psilocin in Psilocybe sclerotia, known as magic truffles. After a simple methanol extraction, the alkaloids were separated on a reversed-phase column and detected using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The method was linear over the calibration range with correlation coefficients above 0.99, detection limits of 0.3 µg per 100 mg, and quantification limits of 1 µg per 100 mg. Only psilocybin was found in the examined sclerotia, with concentrations ranging from 59.3 to 167.8 µg per 100 mg of fresh material.
Biology
March 24, 2021
Nunzia la Maida, Esther Papaseit, Lucía Martínez de Soto et al.
14 citations
Synthetic cannabinoid UR-144, monitored by the EU Early Warning System since 2012 for severe adverse effects, shows a similar cardiovascular profile to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but with less intense subjective effects. In an observational study, 16 volunteers smoked joints containing either UR-144 (1 or 1.5 mg) or cannabis (10 or 20 mg THC). Both substances significantly increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. UR-144 produced lower scores on visual analog scales for stimulant-like and high effects compared to cannabis, and no hallucinogenic effects were observed. UR-144 was detectable in oral fluid, peaking at 20 minutes after smoking, offering a non-invasive biomarker of consumption. These preliminary findings require confirmation in larger samples.