Scientific Letters

Editorial Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Scientific Letters in 2024

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On behalf of the Editorial Team of Scientific Letters, I would like to express our gratitude to the dedicated reviewers who have contributed to the success of the journal throughout 2024. Their unwavering commitment to ensuring the high quality of the articles published in Scientific Letters has been invaluable. This year, as in previous ones, we have been impressed by the consistent quality of the reviews, which reflect the dedication and professionalism of our reviewers. We are particularly grateful for the fact that many reviewers submitted their evaluations within the requested timeframes, ensuring that the peer review process remains efficient and fair. We deeply appreciate the time and effort invested by each reviewer in helping authors improve their manuscripts. Their contributions are central to the continued success and growth of Scientific Letters. On behalf of the entire Editorial Team, I would like to express our sincere thanks and look forward to continued collaboration in 2025!

Alexandra Maia

Ana Isabel Carvalho Teixeira

Ana Mota

Ana Sofia Vinhas

Andrea Cunha

Arthur R. G. Cortes

Célia Fortuna Rodrigues

Cláudia Ribeiro

Daniel Barbosa

Daniel Folha

Hassan Bousbaa

José Manuel Mendes

Karl Goodkin

Luís M. C. Monteiro

Manuel Garabal

Odília Queirós

Paulo Rompante

Rita Fidalgo Pereira

Roberto Markarian

Sara Matos

Sónia Alves

Teresa Pinho

Tony Weir

Exploring Innovations and Key Insights in Healthcare

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On behalf of the Editorial Team of Scientific Letters, we are pleased to announce the publication of the third issue. The 2024 edition of Scientific Letters presents a diverse array of research that highlights significant advancements in health, dentistry, and clinical treatments.

MDMA and tramadol or tapentadol co-administration causes serotonin-independent neurological damage

Juliana Faria, Joana Barbosa, Odília Queirós , Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The simultaneous consumption and misuse of different drugs, including 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) and opioids, raise concerns about fatal intoxications, as a result of increased serotonin levels. However, research on the simultaneous consumption of MDMA and opioids is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the toxic effect of the simultaneous exposure of the undifferentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line to MDMA and tramadol or MDMA and tapentadol, focusing on serotonin toxicity. After a 48-hour exposure to the mixtures, there was a significant decrease in cell viability linked to an increase in oxidative stress, alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential, and an increase in caspase-3 activity. Additionally, increased intracellular glucose levels and changes in the expression of enzymes involved in energetic metabolism were observed. However, serotonin levels did not significantly increase compared with the exposure to MDMA alone. Tramadol or tapentadol exposure did not cause a significant increase in serotonin levels compared with non-treated cells. Then, serotonergic toxicity may not be associated with the damage observed. Further studies are needed to better understand the toxicity deriving from the simultaneous exposure to these drugs. The results additionally underlined the need for a careful prescription of tramadol and tapentadol.

Enzyme activities of brown trout liver and kidney peroxisomes after paraquat exposure

Albina Dolores Resende, Alexandre Lobo-da-Cunha, Eduardo Rocha — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Paraquat, a potent herbicide, can be highly toxic to fish, causing morphological and biochemical alterations in several organs, including induction of oxidative stress that may result in cellular damage. Since peroxisomes are vital regulators of reactive oxygen species, it was hypothesized that a subacute exposure of brown trout – a sensitive bioindicator – to a waterborne environmentally relevant concentration (0.3 mg L^-1) of paraquat may impact some liver and kidney peroxisomal enzyme activities. Spectrophotometric measurements of urate oxidase, catalase, and d-amino acid oxidase activities were assayed in liver and renal homogenates from immature trout, control and exposed, at 0, 7, and 15 days. In the liver, none of those enzymes showed significant differences between the control and exposed fish at 7 and 15 days. In the kidney, urate oxidase activity was not detectable, and no significant statistical difference was found for the other enzymatic activities between groups. However, an increase in catalase and a simultaneous decrease in d-amino acid oxidase activities were detected during the experiment. At the concentration tested, paraquat did not affect the targeted hepatic and renal peroxisomal enzymes. Additionally, the study revealed changes over time, warning that captivity or experimental stress influenced the enzyme activities.