A5047477416- Gastrointestinal Tumor Research and Treatment
- Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Renal cell carcinoma treatment
- Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
- Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Sphingolipid Metabolism and Signaling
- Neurofibromatosis and Schwannoma Cases
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Schizophrenia research and treatment
- ATP Synthase and ATPases Research
- Pregnancy and Medication Impact
- Methemoglobinemia and Tumor Lysis Syndrome
- Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling
- Poisoning and overdose treatments
- Galectins and Cancer Biology
- Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor
- Alkaline Phosphatase Research Studies
- Gastric Cancer Management and Outcomes
- Metastasis and carcinoma case studies
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
2015-2025
Mental Health Research Institute
2025
University of Toronto
2012-2024
Polytechnic University of Timişoara
2024
Military Hospital
2024
Victor (Japan)
2024
KU Leuven
1998-2011
University of Cagliari
2011
Infinity Pharmaceuticals (United States)
2009-2011
Weatherford College
2008
Sunitinib is approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and imatinib-resistant or -intolerant gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). Several studies have identified unexpected rates thyroid dysfunction with sunitinib treatment. We performed a prospective observational study aim more accurately defining incidence severity hypothyroidism in RCC GIST patients receiving sunitinib. Thyroid function was assessed at baseline on days 1 28 each cycle. antibodies were during...
Abstract Background The North American opioid overdose crisis is driven in large part by the presence of unknown psychoactive adulterants dynamic, unregulated drug supply. We herein report first detection veterinary compound xylazine Toronto, largest urban center Canada, city’s checking service. Methods Toronto’s Drug Checking Service launched October 2019. Between then and February 2021, 2263 samples were submitted for analysis. service offered voluntarily at harm reduction agencies that...
Autotaxin (NPP2) is an extracellular protein that upregulated in various malignancies, including breast and lung cancer. It potently stimulates cell proliferation, motility angiogenesis, which accounted for by its intrinsic lysophospholipase-D activity generates the lipid mediators lysophosphatidic acid sphingosine-1-phosphate. Based on structural similarities with better characterized nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase NPP1, it has always been assumed NPP2 also synthesized as a...
Abstract Background: The highly genetically variable enzyme CYP2A6 metabolizes nicotine to cotinine (COT) and COT trans-3′-hydroxycotinine (3HC). metabolite ratio (NMR, 3HC/COT) is commonly used as a biomarker of enzymatic activity, rate metabolism, total clearance; NMR associated with numerous smoking phenotypes, including cessation. Our objective was investigate the impact different measurement methods, at sites, on plasma urinary measures from ad libitum smokers. Methods: Plasma (n = 35)...
Abstract : The presence of a nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9) on the plasma membrane rat C6 glioma has been demonstrated by analysis hydrolysis ATP labeled in base and α‐and γ‐phosphates. enzyme degraded into AMP PP i and, depending concentration, accounted for ~50‐75% extracellular degradation ATP. association with was confirmed varying concentration pyridoxal phosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulfonic acid (PPADS), membrane‐impermeable inhibitor enzyme. PPADS above 20 μ M abolished . an...
Abstract Background The increasing incidence of fatal opioid overdose is a public health crisis in Canada. Given growing consensus that this related to the presence highly potent adulterants (e.g., fentanyl) unregulated drug supply, checking services (DCS) have emerged as part comprehensive approach prevention. In Canada’s largest city, Toronto, network DCS launched 2019 prevent and overdose-related risk behaviors. This employs mass spectrometry technologies, with intake sites co-located...
Abstract Background Aging makes older adults more susceptible to antidepressant-induced side effects due homeostatic reserve, comorbidity, poly-pharmacy, and age-related pharmacokinetic (PK) changes. Depression in is often treated with venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor metabolized by the enzyme CYP2D6. CYP2D6 highly genetically polymorphic thus might affect venlafaxine treatment outcomes affecting PK. Aims Objectives The study aims investigate whether metabolizers...
The nucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases NPP1 and NPP2/autotaxin are structurally related eukaryotic ecto-enzymes, but display a very different substrate specificity. releases nucleoside 5′-monophosphates from various nucleotides, whereas NPP2 mainly functions as lysophospholipase D. We have used domain-swapping approach to map substrate-specifying determinants of NPP2. catalytic domain fused the N- C-terminal domains was hyperactive phosphodiesterase, did not show any D activity....
Abstract Purpose: Histone deacetylase inhibitors have emerged as potent anticancer compounds. Using a nude-mouse xenograft model, for the first time we evaluated response of human gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) carrying different oncogenic KIT mutations to panobinostat (LBH589), administered single or in combination with imatinib. Experimental Design: We grafted GIST882 cell line exon 13 mutation and two biopsies from patients radiologically progressing under imatinib showing exon11...
Abstract Background The overdose crisis has generated innovative harm reduction and drug market monitoring strategies. In Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a multi-site checking service (DCS) pilot project was launched in October 2019. provides people who use drugs with information on the chemical composition of their substances, thereby increasing capacity to make more informed decisions about avoid overdose. DCS also real-time identify trends unregulated supply. Methods Sample data were obtained...
Abstract The activity of the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT is crucial for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) growth and survival. Imatinib sunitinib are very effective in advanced GIST, but have no curative potential. observation that heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibition results degradation prompted us to assess efficacy HSP90 inhibitor retaspimycin hydrochloride (IPI-504) alone or combination with imatinib two GIST xenografts distinctive mutations. Nude mice were grafted human...
Cognitive dysfunction affects 40-80% of patients with multiple sclerosis. Smoking cannabis may add to these deficits. It is unclear whether coming off results in cognitive improvement. To address this question, 40 sclerosis who started using after the onset and used it for at least 4 days a week over many years were divided by odd-even number selection into two groups: continuation withdrawal. Assessments took place baseline 28 included serial versions Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological...
Abstract Introduction Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are increasingly being consumed worldwide, with synthetic cannabinoids and opioids the second third most commonly used NPS, respectively. Certain can produce significant harms, particularly when opioids. The objective of this study was to characterise presence in unregulated drug supply three Canadian settings Methods In British Columbia setting, all samples were first analysed at point‐of‐care using combination Fourier‐transform...
Carfentanil is one of the most potent synthetic opioids ever developed, with an estimated analgesic potency approximately 20-100 times that fentanyl and 10,000 morphine. has been appearing in illicit drug supply many regions linked to fatal overdose events. A subset 59 street samples obtained Victoria, B.C., were confirmed contain carfentanil analyzed by mass spectrometry for this study. quantitation paper spray ranged from 0.05 2.95 w/w% (median = 0.32%) original sample. Paper analysis also...