Two persons are described who demonstrated prolonged neuropsychiatric syndromes after the ingestion of large doses of (+-)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a recreationally used amphetamine analog. These cases suggest that MDMA, known to be neurotoxic to serotonin neurons in several experimental animals, may also produce untoward effects in humans. In addition, they provide evidence th...

Aim 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is one of the most widespread illegal drugs, used particularly by young people in the 15-34 age group. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously synthesized, non-coding and small RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate their target genes’ expression by inhibiting protein translation or degradation. miRNAs are increasingly implicated in drug-related...

The authors further investigated the functional consequences of continued neurotoxicity of (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use. Fifteen participants who were previously given a brief neuropsychological battery were tested for a third time 2 years after baseline. At 2 years, seven participants were still using MDMA, whereas eight participants had become abstinent from MDMA since 1-...

In several countries, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is currently the most abundant psychoactive recreational drug. MDMA induces numerous neuropsychiatric behaviors, serotonergic neuron degeneration, programmed death of cultured cells, hyperthermia and occasional fatality. Using gene expression analysis in MDMA-treated mice, we identified changes in gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) tra...

Introduction: 3-4, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) causes apoptosis in nervous system and several studies suggest that oxidative stress contributes to MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of N-acetyl-L-Cystein (NAC) as an antioxidant on MDMA-induced apoptosis. Methods: 21 Sprague dawley male rats (200-250mg) were treated with MDMA (2×0,5mg/kg) or MDMA...

A comparison of the use of aqueous and nonaqueous buffers in association with beta-CD for the chiral separation of (R)- and (S)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and related compounds is described. The (R)- and (S)-isomers of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its major metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) were prepared. Under aqueous and nonaqueous buffer conditions and bas...

The use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as MDMA or ecstasy, has been associated with vascular and end-organ damage. This case report describes, with histological evidence, the development renal venous thrombosis presenting with acute kidney injury following oral ingestion of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy).

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an amphetamine analogue that preferentially stimulates the release of serotonin (5HT) and results in relatively small increases synaptic dopamine (DA). The ratio drug-stimulated DA, relative to 5HT, predicts abuse liability; drugs with higher DA:5HT ratios are more likely be abused. Nonetheless, MDMA a drug misused. Clinical preclinical studies have sugge...