[Using of reamberin for correction of free radicals disturbances in patients with acute severe methadone poisonings].

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

Georgian Med News. 2012 Mar; 36-43
Shilov V, Vasilyev S, Batotsyrenov B, Loladze A, Kuznetsov O

The article deals with the materials, which have been received in the process of the examination and treatment of 44 patients with acute severe methadone poisonings. It has been revealed, that gravity of these patient’s condition depends on intensity of hypoxia due to breath deficiency because of the methadone. The development of hypoxia, in its turn, cause violations of antiradical protection system and intensification of processes of peroxide lipid oxidation. It has been registered that the including of reamberin into the complex program of the intensive therapy of acute severe methadone poisonings lead to a more rapid restoration of antiradical protection system and to a decrease of activity of processes of peroxide lipid oxidation. The correction of hypoxia and free-radical violations led to improvement of the acute poisonings clinic, what had been characterized by a decrease of coma-period duration, duration of treatment with artificial lung ventilation, a decrease of secondary lung complications and a decrease of lethality.
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Misuse of Medicines in the European Union: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

Eur Addict Res. 2012 May 4; 18(5): 228-245
Casati A, Sedefov R, Pfeiffer-Gerschel T

Background: Although awareness of the misuse of medicines is increasing, data on the extent of the problem in the European Union (EU) are lacking. Methods: In order to assess the magnitude and severity of the problem, a systematic review of the literature on the misuse of analgesics, opioid substitution medicines and sedatives/hypnotics (with the exception of benzodiazepines) was conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science databases. Relevant literature was identified between 2001 and 2011. Results: The main groups of misused medicines include opioid analgesics, methadone, buprenorphine and Z-drugs. Regional trends in medicine misuse indicate heterogeneity across the EU with respect to misused medicine types and research activities. Prevalence, high-risk populations and factors contributing to medicine misuse are discussed. Conclusion: The implications of these findings for prevention, treatment, and policy in the EU are considered.
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The stability of illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater, an important issue for sewage epidemiology?

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

J Hazard Mater. 2012 Apr 21;
van Nuijs AL, Abdellati K, Bervoets L, Blust R, Jorens PG, Neels H, Covaci A

The stability of nine illicit drugs and metabolites in influent wastewater at relevant conditions (20°C and at pH 7.5) was evaluated during 26h (in 1h intervals) to assess whether significant in-sewer processes of degradation or formation occur. This assessment is important for the sewage epidemiology approach, which uses concentrations of illicit drugs and metabolites in influent wastewater to back-calculate amounts of these substances used by a community or population. The results of this study showed that amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and EDDP (metabolite of methadone) are stable in wastewater for 12h and longer. For benzoylecgonine and methadone, a modest formation in the course of time was observed (0.2% per h and 0.4% per h, respectively), while for cocaine (40% degradation after 12h), ecgonine methylester (20% degradation after 12h), and 6-monoacetylmorphine (20% degradation after 12h), a clear decrease in concentrations in time was seen. These findings suggest that for compounds with a significant stability issue, it is important to take their behavior into account when performing back-calculations in sewage epidemiology. However, this study also highlights the need of future research regarding transformation pathways of the individual compounds.
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The Social Support and Social Network Characteristics of Smokers in Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2012 May 10;
de Dios MA, Stanton CA, Caviness CM, Niaura R, Stein M

Background: Previous studies have shown social support and social network variables to be important factors in smoking cessation treatment. Tobacco use is highly prevalent among individuals in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). However, smoking cessation treatment outcomes in this vulnerable subpopulation have been poor and social support and social network variables may contribute. Methods: The current study examined the social support and social network characteristics of 151 MMT smokers involved in a randomized clinical trial of smoking cessation treatments. Participants were 50% women and 78% Caucasian. A high proportion (57%) of MMT smokers had spouses or partners who smoke and over two-thirds of households (68.5%) included at least one smoker. Results: Our sample was characterized by relatively small social networks, but high levels of general social support and quitting support. The number of cigarettes per day was found to be positively associated with the number of smokers in the social network (r = .239, p < .05) and quitting self-efficacy was negatively associated with partner smoking (r = -.217, p < .001). Conclusions: Findings are discussed in the context of developing smoking cessation interventions that address the influential role of social support and social networks of smokers in MMT. Source

Long-term methadone treatment reduces phosphorylation of CaMKII in rat brain.

Filed under: Methadone Clinics

J Pharm Pharmacol. 2012 Jun; 64(6): 843-7
Andersen JM, Klykken C, Mørland J

Objectives? To reveal a possible relationship between a previously reported impairment of novelty seeking in rats exposed to methadone and changes in intracellular molecules related to learning and memory. Methods? Expression of phosphorylated Ca(2+) -calmodulin kinase II (pCaMKII), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 2 (pERK2) and cAMP-responsive element binding protein (pCREB), as well as protein kinase A (PKA), was investigated in rat hippocampus one hour, one day and one week after a three-week methadone administration regime. Studies after an equivalent exposure to morphine, and in the frontal pole, were included for comparison. Key findings? One day after the last methadone injection the hippocampal level of pCaMKII was significantly reduced. This coincides with a previously reported impairment of novelty seeking. At one hour and one week no significant changes were seen. There was no effect on the other proteins. Morphine affected pCaMKII similarly to methadone. Also in the frontal pole the two drugs reduced pCaMKII one day after the last injection. Conclusion? The impaired novelty seeking previously found in rats administered methadone for three weeks coincides with a reduced level of pCaMKII in the brain. This finding implies that methadone treatment may affect learning and memory processes, and should stimulate further studies in a field with important knowledge gaps.
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