Publications by authors named "Karl Uwe Petersen"

Background: The ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine remimazolam, approved for procedural sedation and general anesthesia, is inactivated by carboxylesterase 1 (CES1).

Objective: Remimazolam´s involvement in CES1-mediated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) was investigated.

Methods: Possible interactions of remimazolam were studied in co-exposure experiments with eleven different drugs.

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Background: The ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, remimazolam, is a new treatment modality for procedural sedation and general anesthesia. Its activity is terminated by carboxylesterase 1 (CES1).

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the drug-drug interaction (DDI) potential of remimazolam through mechanisms unrelated to its metabolizing enzyme, CES1.

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Background: Remimazolam (RMZ) is a novel ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine used for sedation by intravenous administration. The pharmacophore of RMZ includes a carboxyl ester group sensitive to esterase- mediated hydrolysis, which is the primary path of metabolic elimination. However, for the sake of drug safety, a deeper and broader knowledge of the involved metabolic pathways and the evolving metabolites is required.

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While lipase content and appropriate acid protection of pancreatin preparations (PP) are well defined determinants of an effective therapy of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, the optimal sphere size of PP has remained a matter of discussion. We performed a systematic review to assess the optimal sphere size of enteric coated pancreatin products that may best guarantee coordinated delivery of PP and food to the duodenum. PubMed was searched for studies on gastric emptying of indigestible spheres in the digestive phase, using overlapping search algorithms; identified sources were searched for further leads, extending the investigation to Google Scholar.

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Article Synopsis
  • Remimazolam is a new fast-acting IV benzodiazepine that may lead to pharmacological tolerance during long-term use, particularly relevant for withdrawal syndrome in intensive care settings.
  • Current models for studying sedative tolerance are inadequate for remimazolam due to its quick metabolic clearance or unpredictable responses in animals like rodents and dogs.
  • Research using NIBS micropigs showed that tolerance development and recovery times from sedation with remimazolam were less severe compared to midazolam, suggesting remimazolam may be a better option for long-term sedation in humans.
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Drug-drug interactions can substantially change pharmacological effects of the individual substances involved. For the use of sedatives or anaesthetics, having knowledge of the extent and characteristics of such interactions is crucial for ensuring the proper protection of patients undergoing any kind of sedation. Remimazolam is a new ultra-short acting benzodiazepine that is currently under development for intravenous use in procedural sedation and general anaesthesia.

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Study Objective: To evaluate factors affecting variability in response to remimazolam in general anesthesia.

Design: Plasma concentration-time data from 11 Phase 1-3 clinical trials were pooled for the population pharmacokinetic (popPK) analysis and concentration-bispectral index (BIS) data were pooled from 8 trials for popPK-PD analysis. A 3-compartment model with allometric exponents on clearance and volume described remimazolam concentrations over time.

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Remimazolam is an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine being investigated for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia and for procedural sedation. This dose-response analysis of 4 phase 2-3 studies evaluated covariates that may impact the pharmacodynamic profile (based on theoretical pharmacokinetic principles) and require dose adjustments in subpopulations, particularly elderly, and if remimazolam has cumulative properties. Covariates affecting the time to loss of consciousness and time to extubation were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models.

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Background: Remimazolam is an ultra-short acting benzodiazepine under development for procedural sedation and general anesthesia. It is hydrolyzed by CES1 to an inactive metabolite (CNS7054).

Purpose: In this study, the effect of continuous remimazolam exposure on its metabolism and on expression was investigated in a dynamic 3-D bioreactor culture model inoculated with primary human hepatocytes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Functional dyspepsia is a complex condition with no clear treatment strategy, and past treatment efforts with pepsin products were generally dismissed despite potential benefits.
  • Current understanding highlights the role of pepsins in providing signaling amino acids like phenylalanine and tryptophan, which stimulate digestion and hormonal responses such as gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK).
  • Although more research is needed, pepsin could be a promising treatment option for functional dyspepsia due to its varied pro-digestive effects.
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  • Chronic constipation significantly impacts 30%-40% of individuals over 60, degrading their quality of life similarly to diabetes and osteoarthritis, yet lacks cohesive treatment guidelines in Europe.
  • A consensus among healthcare professionals highlighted that while common recommendations include dietary changes and exercise, many older adults cannot implement these, making osmotic laxatives a more suitable option.
  • There is a need for tailored guidelines for treating constipation in older populations, alongside increased awareness among healthcare providers and patients about the condition and available treatments.
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N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ion channels whose synaptic versus extrasynaptic localization critically influences their functions. This distribution of NMDARs is highly dependent on their lateral diffusion at the cell membrane. Each obligatory subunit of NMDARs (GluN1 and GluN2) contains two extracellular clamshell-like domains with an agonist-binding domain and a distal N-terminal domain (NTD).

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Intestinal radiation toxicity occurs during and after abdominopelvic radiotherapy. Endothelial cells play a significant role in modulating radiation-induced intestinal damage. We demonstrated that the endothelial cell surface receptor thrombomodulin (TM), a protein with anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, mitigates radiation-induced lethality in mice.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Hepatic encephalopathy occurs when the liver can't effectively remove ammonia, a harmful neurotoxin, leading to serious health problems.
  • - Treatment primarily involves medications like lactulose and rifaximin to lower ammonia levels, while other options like L-ornithine-L-aspartate (LOLA) help support ammonia elimination in the body.
  • - Although therapies like LOLA may be beneficial, their effectiveness is not consistently proven, so it's generally considered for patients who don't improve with standard treatments.
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  • The rising rates of bronchial asthma have sparked global research into its causes, with early childhood use of antibiotics and paracetamol being highlighted as potential factors, although confounding factors may play a larger role in these associations.!* -
  • A systematic review identified 64 studies, showing that many lacked controls for the reasons antibiotics or paracetamol were prescribed, which clouded their results and links to asthma.!* -
  • The evidence suggests that the supposed link between antibiotics, paracetamol, and childhood asthma may be biased, leading to the conclusion that necessary antibiotics should not be withheld from children, nor should paracetamol be avoided for pain and fever relief.!*
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Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes have different etiologies, but share some pathogenic mechanisms, including a pro-neurotoxic effect of endogenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) via N-methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Thus, in a model of intracerebral hemorrhage in rats, we investigated the therapeutic value of a strategy of immunotherapy (αATD-GluN1 antibody) preventing the interaction of tPA with NMDA receptors. We found that a single intravenous injection of αATD-GluN1 reduced brain edema, neuronal death, microglial activation and functional deficits following intracerebral hemorrhage, without affecting the hematoma volume.

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Tissue damage induced by ionizing radiation in the hematopoietic and gastrointestinal systems is the major cause of lethality in radiological emergency scenarios and underlies some deleterious side effects in patients undergoing radiation therapy. The identification of target-specific interventions that confer radiomitigating activity is an unmet challenge. Here we identify the thrombomodulin (Thbd)-activated protein C (aPC) pathway as a new mechanism for the mitigation of total body irradiation (TBI)-induced mortality.

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  • Solulin is a modified thrombomodulin that helps stabilize blood clots by working through a specific mechanism involving TAFIa, especially in patients with hemophilia.
  • Research showed that Solulin significantly increased clot stability in blood from humans and dogs with hemophilia without greatly impacting how long it takes for clots to break down.
  • The study concluded that Solulin has potential therapeutic benefits at low doses, as it enhances clot strength while favoring antifibrinolytic (clot-stabilizing) effects over anticoagulant (blood-thinning) effects.
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Background: Thrombolysis after acute ischemic stroke has only proven to be beneficial in a subset of patients. The soluble recombinant analogue of human thrombomodulin, Solulin, was studied in an in vivo rat model of acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: Male SD rats were subjected to 2 hrs of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO).

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  • The text discusses pharmacokinetic drug interactions, focusing on mechanisms beyond just liver reactions and specifically on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole, particularly their use as self-prescribed medications.
  • It highlights the potential seriousness of these interactions but indicates that they must show clinical evidence to be considered harmful, noting that laboratory findings often don't translate to real-world consequences—especially with clopidogrel.
  • While generally safe at recommended self-medication doses, the text warns that significant interactions could occur when combining PPIs with certain substances like St. John's wort, methotrexate, or certain HIV protease inhibitors.
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Background And Purpose: Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only drug approved for the acute treatment of ischemic stroke but with two faces in the disease: beneficial fibrinolysis in the vasculature and damaging effects on the neurovascular unit and brain parenchyma. To improve this profile, we developed a novel strategy, relying on antibodies targeting the proneurotoxic effects of tPA.

Methods: After production and characterization of antibodies (αATD-NR1) that specifically prevent the interaction of tPA with the ATD-NR1 of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, we have evaluated their efficacy in a model of murine thromboembolic stroke with or without recombinant tPA-induced reperfusion, coupled to MRI, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, and behavior assessments.

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