Relationship between plasma concentrations of the l-enantiomer of methadone and response to methadone maintenance treatment.

This study evaluated the relationship between the plasma concentration of l-methadone and response to methadone in real-world patients, in order to identify a minimum plasma concentration above which methadone treatment is effective. Ninety-four patients with opioid dependence under maintenance methadone treatment were consecutively recruited. Response was defined as negative urine analyses in the three weeks prior to the blood sampling.

High-sensitivity γ-glutamyltransferase fraction pattern in alcohol addicts and abstainers.

Background: Four fractions of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) with different molecular weight (b-, m-, s-, and f-GGT) are present in human plasma. Differential GGT fraction pattern is found in non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic viral hepatitis, characterized by normal or decreased b-GGT/s-GGT (b/s) ratio, respectively.

Methods: Chromatographic fractional GGT analysis was performed on plasma obtained from 51 subjects: 27 alcoholics (mean (SD), age 45 (9) years; 23 males; 14 positive for viral infection), 24 abstinents from at least 1 month (43 (12) years; 20 males; 6 positive for viral infection).

Silent myocardial damage in cocaine addicts.

Background: Cocaine addiction is associated with either ischaemic or non-ischaemic cardiac complications. The prevalence of myocardial damage in asymptomatic addicts has never been evaluated by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), which allows non-invasive detection of myocardial oedema and fibrosis.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the prevalence of myocardial damage in cocaine addicts with no history of cardiac disease by CMR.