OPEN Foundation

Day: 1 January 2016

Psychedelic Medicine: Is it a False Dawn or a Renaissance?

January 1, 2016 / Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Other substances, Papers, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Publications / By /

Abstract

Aim: There has been renewed interest in “psychedelics” in the last 10 years and their usefulness in Psychiatric treatment explored. The aim of the article is to highlight current controversies surrounding psychedelics medicinal uses and address imminent international legislation changes and the effects these will have in the face of new evidence showing their efficacy in some resistant mental health diagnoses.
Conclusion: Possession and use of drugs that fall under the category of psychedelics is criminalized universally. They are considered to have no medical use and high potential for abuse. The dissensus about their use in treatment of mental disorders continues and there is a lack of compelling evidence proving their efficacy. Their use has far been limited to a handful of research centers, due to their criminalization, but the evidence is building and becoming very hard to ignore.
Ali, A. Y. (2016). Psychedelic Medicine: Is it a False Dawn or a Renaissance?. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, 2016.
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Genotoxic evaluations in Wistar rats of the hallucinogenic plant extract ayahuasca

January 1, 2016 / Ayahuasca, Neuroscience, Other subjects, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By / , , , ,

Abstract

Ayahuasca, a psychoactive infusion, is a sacrament used by indigenous and non-indigenous communities in Brazil and other countries. This beverage has vaunted healing properties; however, its use in a therapeutic context still lacks preclinical data to certify its safety and effectiveness. This study evaluated the genotoxic, mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of ayahuasca in Wistar rats after a single oral dose. Rats of both sexes were randomly distributed into five experimental groups (n=10): negative control that received filtered water, positive control that received doxorubicin and treated groups that received ayahuasca at 1, 5 and 15 times the usual dose taken in human religious rituals. The rats were euthanized 30 hours after dosage. Genotoxicity was evaluated by flow cytometry, comet assay and micronucleus test. Renal, hepatic and pancreatic functions were evaluated by serum analysis. Ayahuasca showed low genotoxicity, with an increased frequency of micronuclei only at the highest exposure level, and a non-observed-adverse-effect-level established at 5X the dose, or 1.5 mg/kg bw N,N-dimethyltryptamine a major component of the infusion. No cytotoxic effects were observed in the tested conditions. Furthermore, hepatic, renal and pancreatic functions remained without significant changes for all treated groups.

Pic-Taylor, A., Junior, W. M., Souza-Filho, J., Grisolia, C. K., & Caldas, E. D. (2016). Genotoxic evaluations in Wistar rats of the hallucinogenic plant extract ayahuasca. International Journal of Phytomedicine, 8(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.5138/ijpm.v8i2.1828
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As Molly Takes The Party Toll: MDMA Toxicity Presenting With Pulmonary Hemorrhage

January 1, 2016 / MDMA, Medicine, Other subjects, Papers, Publications / By / , , ,

Khalid, F., Kowsika, S., Ghobrial, I., & Rehman, S. (2016). As Molly Takes The Party Toll: MDMA Toxicity Presenting With Pulmonary Hemorrhage. In A46. LUNG DISEASE DUE TO OTC AND ILLICITS: CASE REPORTS (pp. A1616-A1616). American Thoracic Society.
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Influence of caffeine on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neuron degeneration and neuroinflammation is age-dependent

January 1, 2016 / MDMA, Neuroscience, Other subjects, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications, Safety / By / , , , , , ,

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that caffeine administration to adult mice potentiates glial activation induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). As neuroinflammatory response seems to correlate with neurodegeneration, and the young brain is particularly vulnerable to neurotoxicity, we evaluated dopamine neuron degeneration and glial activation in the caudate-putamen (CPu) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of adolescent and adult mice. Mice were treated with MDMA (4 × 20 mg/kg), alone or with caffeine (10 mg/kg). Interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were evaluated in CPu, whereas tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), glial fibrillary acidic protein, and CD11b were evaluated in CPu and SNc by immunohistochemistry. MDMA decreased TH in SNc of both adolescent and adult mice, whereas TH-positive fibers in CPu were only decreased in adults. In CPu of adolescent mice, caffeine potentiated MDMA-induced glial fibrillary acidic protein without altering CD11b, whereas in SNc caffeine did not influence MDMA-induced glial activation. nNOS, IL-1β, and TNF-α were increased by MDMA in CPu of adults, whereas in adolescents, levels were only elevated after combined MDMA plus caffeine. Caffeine alone modified only nNOS. Results suggest that the use of MDMA in association with caffeine during adolescence may exacerbate the neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation elicited by MDMA. Previous studies have demonstrated that caffeine potentiated glial activation induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in adult mice. In this study, caffeine was shown to potentiate MDMA-induced dopamine neuron degeneration in substantia nigra pars compacta, astrogliosis, and TNF-α levels in caudate-putamen of adolescent mice. Results suggest that combined use of MDMA plus caffeine during adolescence may worsen the neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation elicited by MDMA.

Frau, L., Costa, G., Porceddu, P. F., Khairnar, A., Castelli, M. P., Ennas, M. G., … & Morelli, M. (2016). Influence of caffeine on 3, 4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine‐induced dopaminergic neuron degeneration and neuroinflammation is age‐dependent. Journal of neurochemistry, 136(1), 148-162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jnc.13377

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30 April - Q&A with Rick Strassman

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