Methadone Treatment: Analysis of Drugs of Forensic Interest With Capillary Zone Electrophoresis/time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Based on the Use of Non-Volatile Buffers.
Analysis of drugs of forensic interest with capillary zone electrophoresis/time-of-flight mass spectrometry based on the use of non-volatile buffers.
Filed under: Methadone Treatment
Electrophoresis. 2012 Feb; 33(4): 599-606
Gottardo R, Mikšík I, Aturki Z, Sorio D, Seri C, Fanali S, Tagliaro F
he present work is aimed at investigating the influence of the background electrolyte composition and concentration on the separation efficiency and resolution and mass spectrometric detection of illicit drugs in a capillary zone electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (CZE-ESI-TOF MS) system. The effect of phosphate, borate and Tris buffers on the separation and mass spectrometry response of a mixture of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methadone, cocaine, morphine, codeine and 6-monoacetylmorphine was studied, in comparison with a reference ammonium formate separation buffer. Inorganic non-volatile borate and Tris buffers proved hardly suitable for capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) analysis, but quite unexpectedly ammonium phosphate buffers showed good separation and ionization performances for all the analytes tested. Applications of this method to real samples of hair from drug addicts are also provided.
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Clinical and epidemiological assessment of substance misuse and psychiatric comorbidity.
Filed under: Methadone Treatment
Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2012 Mar 23;
Assanangkornchai S, Edwards JG
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of our review was to select, summarize and express opinions on a range of research studies published in 2011 on the clinical assessment, screening and monitoring of patients with substance use and psychiatric comorbidity, together with epidemiological and other relevant studies. RECENT FINDINGS: There was a wide range of publications on many aspects of comorbidity. The research was carried out on different populations in different treatment settings, including an alcohol and drug treatment centre, an emergency medical department, a community mental health centre, a methadone maintenance programme and inpatient unit, and in the community. Several structured or semi-structured interviews and self-administered instruments were used for the assessments of psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders and related problems. Each study has its strengths and weaknesses, with some studies reporting interesting new methodology or results, and others confirming what was already known about the subject. SUMMARY: The results of most studies support a high prevalence of substance misuse among individuals with psychiatric disorders and vice versa. Various aspects of the relationship between the two conditions are discussed.
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Agonist-antagonist combinations in opioid dependence: a translational approach.
Filed under: Methadone Treatment
Dipend Patologiche. 2010; 5(1): 17-24
Mannelli P
The potential therapeutic benefits of co-administering opiate agonist and antagonist agents remain largely to be investigated. This paper focuses on the mechanisms of very low doses of naltrexone that help modulate the effects of methadone withdrawal and review pharmacological properties of the buprenorphine/naltrexone combination that support its clinical investigation. The bench-to-bedside development of the very low dose naltrexone treatment can serve as a translational paradigm to investigate and treat drug addiction. Further research on putative mechanisms elicited by the use of opioid agonist-antagonist combinations may lead to effective pharmacological alternatives to the gold standard methadone treatment, also useful for the management of the abuse of non opioid drugs and alcohol.
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