Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The present study evaluated smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) function in 36 cocaine-dependent patients, with or without a paternal history of alcoholism, and 12 nondrug-dependent normal volunteers. None of the subjects in either group met DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, or delusional, major affective, or schizotypal personality disorders. None possessed a history of seizures, significant head injury, HIV-1 infection, or regular medication use. SPEMs were elicited by a pendulum, oscillated at 0.5 Hz, and recorded using electro-oculographic techniques. Tracking accuracy was estimated by the power of the horizontal electro-oculograph at the stimulus oscillation frequency. Analyses revealed that the SPEM tracking accuracy of cocaine-dependent patients without a paternal history of alcoholism was superior to that of the normal control group. SPEM tracking in these patients correlated positively with years of cocaine and polysubstance abuse. In contrast, patients with a paternal history of alcoholism exhibited subnormal SPEM tracking performance. These differences could not be explained by other family history, demographic, or drug use variables.
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PMID:Smooth pursuit eye movement dysfunction in abstinent cocaine abusers: effects of a paternal history of alcoholism. 926 43

Isopropanol, a known central nervous system depressant has been reported to cause toxicity via multiple routes including ingestion, inhalation and dermal exposure. We present a case of transplacental isopropanol exposure in a neonate. A woman reported polysubstance abuse in the 1 to 2 days before precipitously delivering a newborn infant. The neonate developed hypotension, hypotonia and seizure activity within the first few hours of life. Blood samples from the infant revealed toxic levels of isopropanol. Similar symptoms have been reported in infants with isopropanol toxicity from other routes of exposure.
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PMID:Transplacental isopropanol exposure: case report and review of metabolic principles. 1731 88

The alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a common management problem in hospital practice for neurologists, psychiatrists and general physicians alike. Although some patients have mild symptoms and may even be managed in the outpatient setting, others have more severe symptoms or a history of adverse outcomes that requires close inpatient supervision and benzodiazepine therapy. Many patients with AWS have multiple management issues (withdrawal symptoms, delirium tremens, the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, seizures, depression, polysubstance abuse, electrolyte disturbances and liver disease), which requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach. Although AWS may be complex, careful evaluation and available treatments should ensure safe detoxification for most patients.
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PMID:The alcohol withdrawal syndrome. 1798 99

Heroin continues to be the main drug used in Malaysia, while amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) have been recently identified as a growing problem. A cumulative total of 300,241 drug users were detected between 1988 and 2006. It is also estimated that Malaysia has 170,000 injecting drug users. HIV prevalence among drug users in the country ranges from 25% to 45%. Currently, there are approximately 380 general medical practice offices that offer agonist maintenance treatments for approximately 10,000 patients. There are 27,756 active patients in 333 general medical practice offices and government-run methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) centers. The Needle Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) reached out to 34,244 injection drug users (IDUs) in 2011. In the last 2 years (2011 and 2012) the number of detected drug addicts decreased from 11,194 to 9015. The arrests made by the police related to opiate and cannabis use increased from 41,363 to 63,466 between the years 2008 and 2010, but decreased since 2010. An almost four-fold increase in the number of ATS and ketamine users was detected from 2006 (21,653 users) 2012 (76,812). Between 2004 and 2010, the yearly seizures for heroin ranged between 156 to 270 kg. However, in 2010 and 2011, heroin seizures showed a significant increase of 445kg and 410.02 kg, respectively. There has been a seizure of between 600 to 1000kg of syabu yearly from 2009 to 2012. Similar to heroin, increased seizures for Yaba have also been observed over the last 2 years. A significant increase has also been recorded for the seizures of ecstasy pills from 2011 (47,761 pills) to 2012 (634,573 pills). The cumulative number of reported HIV infections since 1986 is 94,841. In 2011, sexual activity superseded injection drug use as the main transmission factor for the epidemic. HIV in the country mainly involves males, as they constitute 90% of cumulative HIV cases and a majority of those individuals are IDUs. However, HIV infection trends are shifting from males to females. There are 37,306 people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are eligible for treatment, and 14,002 PLHIV were receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) in 2011. The decreasing trend of heroin users who have been detected and arrested could be due to the introduction of medical treatments and harm reduction approaches for drug users, resulting in fewer drug users being arrested. However, we are unable to say with certainty why there has been an increase in heroin seizures in the country. There has been an increasing trend in both ATS users and seizures. A new trend of co-occurring opiate dependence and ATS underscores the need to develop and implement effective treatments for ATS, co-occurring opiate and ATS, and polysubstance abuse disorders. The low numbers of NSEP clients being tested for HIV underscores our caution in interpreting the decline of HIV infections among drug users and the importance of focusing on providing education, prevention, treatment, and outreach to those who are not in treatment.
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PMID:Substance Abuse and the HIV Situation in Malaysia. 2527 37

Synthetic cannabinoid abuse can manifest with an array of unpredictable reactions ranging from sedation to hallucinations, psychosis, and seizures. Acute liver injury associated with the synthetic cannabinoid use is a rare complication. We present a case of a 22-year-old homeless male presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. He admitted regular synthetic cannabinoid use, and binge alcohol use once a week. Physical examination was remarkable only for mild icterus. The laboratory result shows abnormal liver functions tests. Viral, autoimmune, metabolic and other toxic etiologies of liver injury were ruled out. The acute liver injury was deemed to be secondary to synthetic cannabinoids toxicity. Spice-induced liver injury remains a diagnosis of exclusion after all other identifiable causes ruled out. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for synthetic cannabinoid abuse in a patient with acute hepatotoxicity who had a history of polysubstance abuse.
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PMID:Acute Liver Injury Induced by Synthetic Cannabinoid Abuse. 3041 7

The prevalence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) on the illicit drug market continues to grow, with new analogs being routinely synthesized. Routes of administration for these compounds are also diversifying, and recent research has shown an increase in the incorporation of NPS into vaping liquids. Among the most commonly encountered NPS are the cathinone and fentanyl analogs. Fentanyl analogs in particular have been implicated in a significant number of deaths, usually in combination with other prescription and illicit drugs. We report the case of a 44-year-old male with a history of polysubstance abuse found deceased at his home address. Items located within the vicinity of the deceased were found to contain furanylfentanyl and 2-methyl-4'-(methylthio)-2-morpholinopropiophenone (MMMP also known as MTMP, MMTMP, Irgacure 907 and Caccure 907). Both of these compounds were detected in the post-mortem peripheral blood of the deceased: furanylfentanyl at 1.6 ng/mL and MMMP at 6.7 ng/mL. MMMP is an unrestricted, commercially available photo-initiator used in the printing and polymer industry, which structurally can be classed as a highly modified cathinone. Although MMMP has been found previously in drug seizures, this is the first fatality in which MMMP has been detected. A number of other prescription and illicit drugs were also detected in the blood. MMMP was not detected in the post-mortem urine; however three metabolites, beta-hydroxy-MMMP, beta-hydroxy-MMMP-sulfoxide and beta-hydroxy-MMMP-sulfone, were presumptively identified. The significance of MMMP to the cause of death is uncertain as its pharmacological and toxicological profile is unclear.
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PMID:A Fatality Involving Furanylfentanyl and MMMP, with Presumptive Identification of Three MMMP Metabolites in Urine. 3056 82

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication with an indication from the US Food and Drug Administration for use in partial onset seizures and postherpetic neuralgia in the United States. Currently, gabapentin is only classified as a controlled substance subject to stricter prescribing and distributing regulations in certain states, as opposed to pregabalin, an anticonvulsant with a similar mechanism of action which is a considered a Schedule V medication under federal law. Gabapentin shares a structural similarity to pregabalin, and several case reports have suggested that gabapentin has a similar propensity for abuse. The mechanisms of the gabapentin reward pathway, addiction, and withdrawal, however, are not well known. This case report describes a patient with long-term polysubstance abuse and new onset gabapentin dependence and demonstrates the need for increased surveillance of gabapentin prescribing.
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PMID:Commentary on "A Call for Caution in Prescribing Gabapentin to Individuals with Concurrent Polysubstance Abuse: A Case Report". 3129 Dec 12

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication with an indication from the US Food and Drug Administration for use in partial onset seizures and postherpetic neuralgia in the United States. Currently, gabapentin is only classified as a controlled substance subject to stricter prescribing and distributing regulations in certain states, as opposed to pregabalin, an anticonvulsant with a similar mechanism of action which is a considered a Schedule V medication under federal law. Gabapentin shares a structural similarity to pregabalin, and several case reports have suggested that gabapentin has a similar propensity for abuse. The mechanisms of the gabapentin reward pathway, addiction, and withdrawal, however, are not well known. This case report describes a patient with long-term polysubstance abuse and new onset gabapentin dependence and demonstrates the need for increased surveillance of gabapentin prescribing.
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PMID:A Call for Caution in Prescribing Gabapentin to Individuals With Concurrent Polysubstance Abuse: A Case Report. 3129 Dec 13