Crystal Clear: Metal-Organic Frameworks Pioneering the Path to Future Drug Detox.

The growing number of acute drug abuse overdoses demands the development of innovative detoxification strategies for emergency purposes. In this study, an innovative approach for the application of porous Zr-based metal-organic frameworks for the treatment of acute overdoses of popular drugs of abuse including amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA is presented. A comprehensive approach determining the efficacy and the kinetics of drug removal, considering dosage, adsorption time, and adsorption mechanisms, was tested and corroborated with density functional theory (DFT) modeling. The experimental results showed high removal efficiency reaching up to 90% in the case of the application of the NU-1000 metal-organic framework. The difference Raman spectroscopy method presented in this study corroborated with DFT-based vibrational analysis allows the detection of drug adsorbed in the MOF framework even with as low a concentration as 5 mg/g. Additionally, the drug adsorption mechanisms were modeled with DFT, showing the π-π stacking in a vast majority of considered cases. The performance and influence on the living organisms were evaluated throughout the in vitro and in vivo experiments, indicating that Zr-based MOFs could serve as efficient, organic, safe drug adsorbents.

Pathogenesis and treatment of depression: Role of diet in prevention and therapy.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in depression, which is related to, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression can be fatal if not treated or if treated inappropriately. Depression is the leading cause of suicide attempts. The disease is multifactorial, and pharmacotherapy often fails to bring satisfactory results. Therefore, increasingly more importance is attached to the natural healing substances and nutrients in food, which can significantly affect the therapy process and prevention of depressive disorders. A proper diet is vital to preventing depression and can be a valuable addition to psychological and pharmacologic treatment. An inadequate diet may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants or increase their side effects, leading to life-threatening symptoms. This study aimed to review the literature on the pathogenesis of the development and treatment of depression, with particular emphasis on dietary supplements and the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders.

The Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Drug-Induced Reward-Implications for Social and Non-Social Factors.

Drug abuse is a worldwide problem that leads to negative physical, mental, and economic consequences. Although pharmacological strategies for drug addiction management have been widely studied, therapeutic options with high efficacy and a low side-effects profile are still limited. Recently, there has been a growing interest in oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of drug abuse. OT and AVP are hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in numerous physiological processes. Additionally, studies show that these neurohormones are highly implicated in the modulation of a wide range of behaviors. Interestingly, ample evidence has shown that both, OT and AVP are able to decrease the consumption of different drugs of abuse, as well as to ameliorate their rewarding and reinforcing effects. Furthermore, OT and AVP have been strongly involved in prosocial effects and social reward. In particular, OT has been shown to be able to shift drug-induced reward into social-induced reward, mainly due to its interaction with the dopaminergic system. This phenomenon is also reflected in the results of clinical trials where intranasal OT shows promising efficacy in managing substance use disorder. Therefore, the aim of this review is to comprehensively characterize the involvement of OT and AVP in the rewarding and other behavioral effects of drugs of abuse in animal models, with a particular highlight on the impact of social factors on the observed effects. Understanding this relationship may contribute to higher drug development success rates, as a result of a more profound and deliberate studies design.

Chronic Stress and Oxidative Stress as Common Factors of the Pathogenesis of Depression and Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Antioxidants in Prevention and Treatment.

There is a growing body of scientific research showing the link between depression and dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The chronic stress contributes to the formation of oxidative stress in the parts of the brain involved in the development of depression and AD. The scientific literature reports the significant role of antioxidants, which are highly effective in treating these diseases. In this review, we have summarized the relationship between chronic stress, oxidative stress, and the changes in the brain they cause occurring in the brain. Among all the compounds showing antioxidant properties, the most promising results in AD treatment were observed for Vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), melatonin, polyphenols, curcumin, and selenium. In case of depression treatment, the greatest potential was observed in curcumin, zinc, selenium, vitamin E, and saffron.