Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
March 19, 2004
Rafael de la Torre, Magı́ Farré, Pere N. Roset et al.
445 citations
MDMA (ecstasy) is a widely misused psychostimulant that increases energy, euphoria, and sociability while also producing distinctive 'entactogen' effects such as feeling close to others and increased empathy. It works by promoting the release and blocking the reuptake of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Acute toxic effects include serotonin syndrome, characterized by muscle rigidity, hyperreflexia, and hyperthermia. MDMA metabolism involves two main pathways; one is partially regulated by the polymorphic enzyme CYP2D6, but mechanism-based inhibition after two consecutive doses limits the impact of CYP2D6 genetics on acute toxicity. Metabolism may also contribute to long-term neurotoxic effects through progressive degeneration of the serotonergic system.
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.
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.