In Antenne Amsterdam wordt sinds 1993 jaarlijks het gebruik vanalcohol, tabak, cannabis en andere drugs in de hoofdstad in kaartgebracht. Dit gebeurt op basis van een combinatie van kwalitatieveen kwantitatieve methoden. In 2022 verzamelden we informatie via(1) interviews met een 24-koppig uitgaanspanel die vanuit insidersperspectief of vanuit hun rol als locatiemanager, organisator ofsecurity vertellen over het trendsettende uitgaansleven; (2) interviewsmet een panel kwetsbare jeugd waarin zes professionals zijnvertegenwoordigd die met buurtjongeren werken; (3) een anoniemesurvey (vragenlijsten) over middelengebruik bij 246 club- enfestivalbezoekers; en (4) analyse van testuitslagen van vijfduizendvrijwillig aangeleverde drugsmonsters bij de Amsterdamse testservices.Hoewel het jaar nog van start ging in een lockdown, werden demaatregelen in de loop van januari al versoepeld en in februarigrotendeels afgeschaft. Na twee zomers zonder festivals, draait hetgehele uitgaansleven in 2022 weer op volle toeren. Dit rapport schetstvanuit verschillende bronnen wat dat betekende voor gebruikspatronen en trends in de Amsterdamse wereld van genotmiddelen.Een wereld waarin alcohol alom aanwezig is, maar rokers in deminderheid raken. En waarin ecstasy weer favoriet is, maar nietiedereen feest met drugs.
The recreational use of nitrous oxide (N2O; laughing gas) has largely expanded in recent years. Although incidental use of nitrous oxide hardly causes any health damage, problematic or heavy use of nitrous oxide can lead to serious adverse effects. Amsterdam care centres noticed that Moroccan–Dutch young adults reported neurological symptoms, including severe paralysis, as a result of problematic nitrous oxide use. In this qualitative exploratory study, thirteen young adult Moroccan–Dutch excessive nitrous oxide users were interviewed. The determinants of problematic nitrous oxide use in this ethnic group are discussed, including their low treatment demand with respect to nitrous oxide abuse related medical–psychological problems. Motives for using nitrous oxide are to relieve boredom, to seek out relaxation with friends and to suppress psychosocial stress and negative thoughts. Other motives are depression, discrimination and conflict with friends or parents. The taboo culture surrounding substance use—mistrust, shame and macho culture—frustrates timely medical/psychological treatment of Moroccan–Dutch problematic nitrous oxide users. It is recommended to use influencers in media campaigns with the aim to decrease the risks of heavy nitrous oxide use and improve treatment access. Outreach youth workers can also play an important role in motivating socially isolated users to seek medical and or psychological help.
Background: Drug resistance is a major problem in ovarian cancer. Triggering apoptosis using death ligands such as tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) might overcome chemoresistance. Methods: We investigated whether acquired cisplatin resistance affects sensitivity to recombinant human (rh) TRAIL alone or in combination with cisplatin in an ovarian cancer cell line model consisting of A2780 and its cisplatin-resistant subline CP70. Results: Combining cisplatin and rhTRAIL strongly enhanced apoptosis in both cell lines. CP70 expressed less caspase 8 protein, whereas mRNA levels were similar compared with A2780. Pre-exposure of particularly CP70 to cisplatin resulted in strongly elevated caspase 8 protein and mRNA levels. Caspase 8 mRNA turnover and protein stability in the presence or absence of cisplatin did not differ between both cell lines. Cisplatin-induced caspase 8 protein levels were essential for the rhTRAIL-sensitising effect as demonstrated using caspase 8 small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and caspase-8 overexpressing constructs. Cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) and p53 siRNA experiments showed that neither an altered caspase 8/c-FLIP ratio nor a p53-dependent increase in DR5 membrane expression following cisplatin were involved in rhTRAIL sensitisation. Conclusion: Cisplatin enhances rhTRAIL-induced apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells, and induction of caspase 8 protein expression is the key factor of rhTRAIL sensitisation. © 2011 Cancer Research UK All rights reserved.