Pharmacology of MDMA- and Amphetamine-Like New Psychoactive Substances

New psychoactive substances (NPS) with amphetamine-, aminoindan-, and benzofuran basic chemical structures have recently emerged for recreational drug use. Detailed information about their psychotropic effects and health risks is often limited. At the same time, it emerged that the pharmacological profiles of these NPS resemble those of amphetamine or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Amphetamine-like NPS induce psychostimulation and euphoria mediated predominantly by norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) transporter (NET and DAT) inhibition and transporter-mediated release of NE and DA, thus showing a more catecholamine-selective profile. MDMA-like NPS frequently induce well-being, empathy, and prosocial effects and have only moderate psychostimulant properties. These MDMA-like substances primarily act by inhibiting the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) and NET, also inducing 5-HT and NE release. Monoamine receptor interactions vary considerably among amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS. Clinically, amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS can induce sympathomimetic toxicity. The aim of this chapter is to review the state of knowledge regarding these substances with a focus on the description of the in vitro pharmacology of selected amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS. In addition, it is aimed to provide links between pharmacological profiles and in vivo effects and toxicity, which leads to the conclusion that abuse liability for amphetamine-like NPS may be higher than for MDMA-like NPS, but that the risk for developing the life-threatening serotonin syndrome may be increased for MDMA-like NPS

PCR Based Diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase Gene Defects in Slovak Patients with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Objective. To analyse 21-hydroxylase gene for 8 most common mutations in patients with saltwasting type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Methods. Allele specific PCR performed on 8 salt-wasting CAH patients and their 23 healthy relatives. Results. Two patients were homozygous for 8 bp deletion in exon 3, while 6 patients were homozygous for intron 2 splice mutation. Mutant allele for splice mutation was find also in both parents of patients with this type of mutation. Conclusions. These preliminary results show that only two mutations, 8 bp deletion in exon 3 and splice mutation in intron 2, were present in this group of Slovak patients with salt-wasting type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia