Bogusław Brzuchalski’s research while affiliated with Pomeranian Medical University and other places

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), which refers to alcohol consumption by pregnant women, is associated with the risk of numerous severe complications during fetal development. The State Agency for Alcohol Problem Solving reports that the incidence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in Poland’s general population is over 1.7%, and the incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is estimated at more than 0.5%. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of alcohol exposure and focused on the pattern of alcohol intoxication exhibited by the mother during pregnancy and other environmental factors of the maternal environment contributing to the development of FASD. The study covered 554 subjects, including 251 mothers and 303 children (213 girls and 90 boys). The mother’s drinking problem was determined based on the information obtained from the case history. All children qualified for the study fulfilled the h-PAE (high alcohol exposure) criteria during their fetal life. The clinical diagnosis of FAS and pFAS (occurrence of morphological symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome) was made using a four-digit diagnostic questionnaire validated in the Polish version of the Washington Questionnaire for the assessment of the spectrum of alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders or alcohol-related cognitive impairment (ARND/C). Statistical analysis of the obtained research results was developed using statistical software–STATISTICA PL, version 13.1 (StatSoft, Inc., Szczecin, Poland 2016, STATISTICA–data analysis software system, version 13.1). The most destructive drinking behaviors are compulsive intoxication (BD, binge drinking) during the first 6 weeks of pregnancy and chronic addiction throughout its duration (CHD, chronic drinking). Chronic alcohol intoxication (CHD) leads to a poorer nutritional status in mothers, which is reflected in a lower body mass index (BMI) (<18 kg/m2).

Increasing alcohol consumption by women of childbearing age contributes to more frequent cases of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The cause of the syndrome is fetal alcohol exposure, particularly what is referred to as high prenatal alcohol exposure. Low metabolic activity of fetal enzymes shifts the burden of ethanol removal to maternal metabolism. One of the factors influencing the pathogenesis of FASD is the genetic background. It can determine the rate of elimination of ethanol, thus increasing or decreasing the time of fetal exposure to ethanol and also decreasing its concentration. Genetic polymorphisms could potentially play a significant role in these processes. In the present study, we considered three polymorphisms of genes implicated in the synthesis of enzymes involved in ethanol metabolism, i.e., ADH1b (rs1229984), ADH1b/c (rs1789891), and CYP2E1 (rs3813867). The studied group consisted of 303 children and 251 mothers. Both mothers’ and children’s genotypes were considered in our analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the respective groups of genotypes of the studied polymorphisms. However, the genetic background of FASD is still elusive.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in a course of high prenatal alcohol exposure (hPAE) are among the most common causes of developmental disorders. The main reason for pharmacological treatment of FASD children is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and methylphenidate (MPH) is the drug of choice. The aim of the study was to assess whether children born of hPAE with ADHD, with or without morphological FASD, differ in terms of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) gene polymorphisms, and if genetic predisposition affects response and safety of MPH treatment. The polymorphisms of COMT (rs4680) and DRD2 (rs1076560, rs1800497) were analyzed in DNA samples. A borderline significance was found for the correlation between MPH side effects and the G allele of COMT (rs4680) (p = 0.04994) in all ADHD children. No effect of COMT (rs4680) and DRD2 (rs1076560, rs1800497) polymorphisms and the treatment efficacy was observed. The analyzed DRD2 and COMT gene polymorphisms seem to play no role in MPH efficacy in ADHD children with hPAE, while low-activity COMT (Met158) variant carriers may be more intolerant to MPH. The MPH treatment is effective in ADHD independent of FASD, although the ADHD-FASD variant requires higher doses to be successful. These results may help in optimization and individualization in child psychiatry.

mephedrone In Szczecin, the first smart drugs store was opened in November 2008, then in the next few months, several hundred smart shops were opened in the city and in the whole region offering various, unknown psychoactive substances, among which the most popular herbal mixtures (primarily synthetic cannabis), and so-called "bath salts", "crystals" (stimulants). As the first of the legal transactions in Europe in 2009, mephedrone was withdrawn in 2009, despite that it enjoyed growing popularity on the black market. After numerous poisonings by young people around Poland, which was reported by the media, in October 2010 the decision was made to close the above stores. Nevertheless, the activity of these online merchants has flourished, including sales of mephedrone. Currently, according to clinical observations, patients from the West Pomeranian region are dependent on the so-called "Smart drugs", reported to outpatient psychiatric care, mainly due to affective and / or psychotic and suicidal symptoms, are dominated by users of mephedrone and its derivatives. The doubts that have existed recently, whether mephedrone may have an addictive action, are no longer controversial for clinicians and therapists. Rapid loss of control of the amount and frequency of intoxication, multi-month strings, disorganization of life and limitation of other activities, increased withdrawal symptoms, often difficult to reverse psychological damage, and health indicate a strong addictive potential of synthetic derivatives of cathinone. Patients who meet the axillary criteria of ICD dependence on stimulants, in the case of mephedrone and its derivatives describe and present symptoms that cause great suffering, discomfort not only associated with acute intoxication, but mainly with symptoms that "do not allow for further life without drug ". The study described in the following article was conducted on a group of 546 patients (women and men), aged from 16 to 43 years, treated psychiatry in the ambulatory due to complications related to addiction to mephedrone (F19.2) in 2010-2018. The group excluded persons diagnosed with: endogenous psychosis (Morbus Bleuleri), bipolar disorder, previous mood disorders (not related to

find methods to treat smart drugs addiction

mephedrone In Szczecin, the first smart drugs store was opened in November 2008, then in the next few months, several hundred smart shops were opened in the city and in the whole region offering various, unknown psychoactive substances, among which the most popular herbal mixtures (primarily synthetic cannabis), and so-called "bath salts", "crystals" (stimulants). As the first of the legal transactions in Europe in 2009, mephedrone was withdrawn in 2009, despite that it enjoyed growing popularity on the black market. After numerous poisonings by young people around Poland, which was reported by the media, in October 2010 the decision was made to close the above stores. Nevertheless, the activity of these online merchants has flourished, including sales of mephedrone. Currently, according to clinical observations, patients from the West Pomeranian region are dependent on the so-called "Smart drugs", reported to outpatient psychiatric care, mainly due to affective and / or psychotic and suicidal symptoms, are dominated by users of mephedrone and its derivatives. The doubts that have existed recently, whether mephedrone may have an addictive action, are no longer controversial for clinicians and therapists. Rapid loss of control of the amount and frequency of intoxication, multi-month strings, disorganization of life and limitation of other activities, increased withdrawal symptoms, often difficult to reverse psychological damage, and health indicate a strong addictive potential of synthetic derivatives of cathinone. Patients who meet the axillary criteria of ICD dependence on stimulants, in the case of mephedrone and its derivatives describe and present symptoms that cause great suffering, discomfort not only associated with acute intoxication, but mainly with symptoms that "do not allow for further life without drug ". The study described in the following article was conducted on a group of 546 patients (women and men), aged from 16 to 43 years, treated psychiatry in the ambulatory due to complications related to addiction to mephedrone (F19.2) in 2010-2018. The group excluded persons diagnosed with: endogenous psychosis (Morbus Bleuleri), bipolar disorder, previous mood disorders (not related to