Evaluation of the 5-HT2C receptor drugs RO 60-0175, WAY 161503 and mirtazepine in a preclinical model of comorbidity of depression and cocaine addiction

Effects and safety of Ginkgo biloba on depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Because depression is a major factor contributing to the global disease burden, we tried to analyze the effects and safety of Ginkgo biloba (GKB) on patients with depression. Methods: We conducted a literature search for articles published between January 2002 and May 2022 in seven online databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure). A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed to compare the effects and safety of GKB on patients with depression, including subjective and objective indicators of depression evaluation. Results: In total, 21 eligible articles with nine indicators among 2074 patients were included. Several outcomes showed a difference, and the GKB group had better results than the control group, including the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), after taking GKB for 4 weeks (MD = -2.86, 95%CI [-4.27, -1.46], p < 0.01), 6 weeks (mean difference (MD) = -3.36, 95%CI [-4.05, -2.67], p < 0.01), and 8 weeks (MD = -4.58, 95% CI [-6.11, -3.05], p < 0.01), modified Barthel index (MBI) (MD = 14.86, 95%CI [12.07, 17.64], p < 0.01), modified Edinburgh-Scandinavian stroke scale (MESSS) (MD = -4.57, 95%CI [-6.34, -2.79], p < 0.01), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (MD = 16.35, 95%CI [7.34, 25.36], p < 0.01), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (MD = 4.57, 95%CI [3.08, 6.05], p < 0.01), and clinical efficacy (risk ratio, RR = 1.24, 95%CI [1.17, 1.32], p < 0.01). However, there were no differences in adverse events between GKB and controls. Conclusion: In conclusion, the main finding was that patients treated with GKB had better MBI, MESSS, BDNF, 5-HT, and HAMD values after 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks than the control group. GKB might reduce the risk of depression or depressive symptoms with safe clinical efficacy. Systematic Review Registration: identifier (INPLASY2023100052).

Olfactory Bulbectomy Model of Depression Lowers Responding for Food in Male and Female Rats: The Modulating Role of Caloric Restriction and Response Requirement

Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a marked decrease in reward sensitivity. By using the olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) model of depression, it was shown that OBX rats display enhanced drug-taking and seeking behaviors in a self-administration paradigm than sham-operated (SHAM) controls, and sex is an important regulating factor. To reveal potential strain effects, we compared the operant behavior of male and female Sprague-Dawley and Wistar OBX and SHAM rats trained to self-administer palatable food pellets. Results showed that Sprague-Dawley OBX rats of both sexes exhibited lower operant responding rates and food intake than SHAM controls. Food restriction increased responding in both OBX and SHAM groups. Female rats responded more than males, but the OBX lesion abolished this effect. In Wistar rats, bulbectomy lowered food self-administration only during the last training days. Food self-administration was not significantly affected in Wistar rats by sex. In summary, this study showed that bulbectomy significantly reduces operant responding and food intake in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats while inducing a mild reducing effect only in the Wistar strain. Strain-dependent effects were also observed in the modulating role of sex and food restriction on operant responding and palatable food intake.

Stimulant and hallucinogenic novel psychoactive substances; an update

INTRODUCTION

The renewed interest in considering a range of stimulants, psychedelics and dissociatives as therapeutics emphasizes the need to draft an updated overview of these drugs' clinical and pharmacological issues.

AREAS COVERED

The focus here was on: stimulants (e.g. amphetamines, methamphetamine, and pseudoephedrine; phenethylamines; synthetic cathinones; benzofurans; piperazines; aminoindanes; aminorex derivatives; phenmetrazine derivatives; phenidates); classical (e.g. ergolines; tryptamines; psychedelic phenethylamines), and atypical (e.g. PCP/ketamine-like dissociatives) psychedelics.Stimulant and psychedelics are associated with: a) increased central DA levels (psychedelic phenethylamines, synthetic cathinones and stimulants); b) 5-HT receptor subtypes' activation (psychedelic phenethylamines; recent tryptamine and lysergamide derivatives); and c) antagonist activity at NMDA receptors, (phencyclidine-like dissociatives).

EXPERT OPINION

Clinicians should be regularly informed about the range of NPS and their medical, psychobiological and psychopathological risks both in the acute and long term. Future research should focus on an integrative model in which pro-drug websites' analyses are combined with advanced research approaches, including computational chemistry studies so that in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies of index novel psychoactives can be organized. The future of psychedelic research should focus on identifying robust study designs to convincingly assess the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, molecules likely to present with limited dependence liability levels.