Ketamine pharmacokinetics and metabolism after bolus injection of X-ray contrast agents in roentgeno-endovascular interventions in children

The study was carried out on 13 children (2-12 years) subjected to abdominal aortography. The children were divided into 2 groups. Changes in plasma concentrations of ketamine and its metabolism were evaluated during anesthesia after bolus injection of ionic highly osmolar and nonionic low-osmolar x-ray contrast agents (RCA). Injection of an RCA bolus was associated with a 2-fold more rapid drop of the anesthetic concentration in the blood, increase of renal clearance of ketamine and its metabolites; the osmotic effect of ionic highly osmolar and nonionic low-osmolar RCA on ketamine pharmacokinetics virtually did not differ.     

Similar causes of various reproductive disorders in early life

During the past few decades, scientific evidence has been accumulated concerning the possible adverse effects of the exposure to environmental chemicals on the well-being of wildlife and human populations. One large and growing group of such compounds of anthropogenic or natural origin is referred to as endocrine-disrupting chemicals （EDCs）, due to their deleterious action on the endocrine system. This concern was first focused on the control of reproductive function particularly in males, but has later been expanded to include all possible endocrine functions. The present review describes the underlying physiology behind the cascade of developmental events that occur during sexual differentiation of males and the specific role of androgen in the masculinization process and proper organogenesis of the external male genitalia. The impact of the genetic background, environmental exposures and lifestyle factors in the etiology of hypospadias, cryptorchidism and testicular cancer are reviewed and the possible role of EDCs in the development of these reproductive disorders is discussed critically. Finally, the possible direct and programming effects of exposures in utero to widely use therapeutic compounds, environmental estrogens and other chemicals on the incidence of reproductive abnormalities and poor semen quality in humans are also highlighted.     

CRISPR/Cas9 Editing of Glia Maturation Factor Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics by Attenuation of the NRF2/HO-1 Dependent Ferritin Activation in Glial Cells

Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology - Microglial cells are brain specific professional phagocytic immune cells that play a crucial role in the inflammation- mediated neurodegeneration especially in...     

Next Generation Precision Medicine: CRISPR-mediated Genome Editing for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology - Despite significant advancements in the field of molecular neurobiology especially neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, the highly complex molecular...     

De Novo and Depot-Specific Androgen Production in Human Adipose Tissue: A Source of Hyperandrogenism in Women with Obesity

IntroductionObesity in women is often associated with hyperandrogenism, but the role of adipose tissue (AT) in androgen synthesis remains unclear. Therefore, we studied whether AT could be a source of androgens promoting hyperandrogenism.MethodsSubcutaneous and visceral (visc) AT was collected from lean and obese women. Androgen levels were evaluated in serum, AT, and cell-culture supernatant. Gene and protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes were determined.ResultsObese subjects had elevated serum androgen levels, which reduced after weight loss. Androgens were measurable in AT and in cell-culture supernatants of adipocytes. Steroids were higher in AT from obese women, with the highest difference for testosterone in visc AT (+7.9-fold, p = 0.032). Steroidogenic enzymes were expressed in human AT with depot-specific differences. Obese women showed a significantly higher expression of genes of the backdoor pathway and of CYP19 in visc AT.ConclusionThe whole steroidogenic machinery of the classical and backdoor pathways of steroidogenesis, and the capacity for androgen biosynthesis, were found in both AT depots and cultured adipocytes. Therefore, we hypothesize that AT is a de novo site of androgen production and the backdoor pathway of steroidogenesis might be a new pathomechanism for hyperandrogenism in women with obesity.