THE quantitative and serial changes that occur in serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) activity during the course of a myocardial infarction are well recognized. Changes in SGOT activity have been observed in other diseases such as hepatitis and pancreatitis (Wroblewski and LaDue, '955; Chinsky, Shmagranoff and Sherry, 1956) and after the administration of drugs such as chlorpromazine...

Opiates are indispensable for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the major victims of the undesired effects of opiates, because the enteric nervous system expresses all major subtypes of opioid receptors. As a result, propulsive motility and secretory processes in the gut are inhibited by opioid analgesics, and the ensuing constipation is one of the m...

Using Ridit analysis, a comparison was made of the overall effects of what are generally considered to be equianalgesic doses of sixteen opiates, with respect to their desired and toxic effects when given as premedication to a standard population. Four mixtures of opiates, the non-opiate diazepam and saline were also included in the analysis. Results with all individual drugs have been previous...

The aim of the present study has been to characterize the regulation by opiates of “Ca2+ influx in rat spinal cord-dorsal root ganglion cocultures. We have demonstrated that K*-induced depolarization, in the presence of the Ca” channel agonist Bay K8644, stimulated Ca” influx (3-4-fold) via the dihydropyridine class of voltage-dependent Ca” channels. While p and 6 opiates had no effect, K opiat...

LC/MS/MS is a very selective and sensitive analytical technique for detection and quantification of analytes in complex matrices. As a result, the use of LC/MS/MS in forensic toxicological applications has been significantly increasing over the past decade. The use of oral fluid as an alternative biological matrix for drug testing has also increased. However, the sample volume is usually much s...

Using the newly revised DSM-III-R criteria for substance-abuse diagnoses, we examined dependence syndrome elements among 83 psychiatric patients. The sample included 14 with no history of substance abuse. The remainder abused alcohol (52), sedatives (31), hallucinogens (12), stimulants (33), cannabis (44), cocaine (52), or opiates (47). Many patients (52) had abused more than one type of drug. ...

Human infants may be exposed to opiates through placental transfer from an opiate-using mother or through the direct administration of such drugs to relieve pain (e.g., due to illness or neonatal surgery). Infants of many species show physical dependence and tolerance to opiates. The magnitude of tolerance and the nature of withdrawal differ from those of the adult. Moreover, the mechanisms tha...

AIM To study the mechanism underlying the difference in physical dependence potential of morphine (Mor), methadone (Met), buprenorphine (Bup), etorphine (Eto), and dihydroetorphine (DHE). METHODS Adenylate cyclase of NG108-15 cells were used for studying the effects of different opiates on cAMP second messenger system. RESULTS Bup, DHE, and Eto were distinct from Mor in naloxone-precipitate...

INTRODUCTION Nowadays women constitute one third of all addicts. In the last decade, there has been a remarkable growth in scientific interest in biochemical and psychosocial aspects of women's addiction. Many researches point out the specific character of women's addiction. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to assess and compare psychosocial aspects, including the sociodemographic character...

A retrospective analysis of data from oral fluid specimens was conducted in order to identify a relevant cutoff concentration for opiates and/or synthetic opiates in oral fluid. Previously proposed regulations from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have recommended 40 μg/L as a cutoff concentration. In this study, data from oral fluid specimens collected usi...