Association of serum cortisol and cortisone levels and risk of recurrence after endocrine treatment in breast cancer.

Metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer involves changes in steroid hormone synthesis and metabolism. Alterations in estrogen levels in both breast tissue and blood may influence carcinogenesis, breast cancer growth, and response to therapy. Our aim was to examine whether serum steroid hormone concentrations could predict the risk of recurrence and treatment-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer.

The pharmacokinetic interaction between nasally administered naloxone and the opioid remifentanil in human volunteers.

Purpose: Remifentanil has been shown to increase the bioavailability of nasally administered naloxone. The aim of this study was to explore the nature of this observation.

Methods: We analysed samples from three pharmacokinetic studies to determine the serum concentrations of naloxone-3-glucuronide (N3G), the main metabolite of naloxone, with or without exposure to remifentanil.

Naloxone nasal spray - bioavailability and absorption pattern in a phase 1 study.

Background: Bystander administration with naloxone nasal spray can prevent deaths from opioid overdose. To achieve optimal nasal absorption of naloxone, the spray must be administered at low volume with high concentration of the drug. The study aimed to investigate the bioavailability and absorption pattern for a new naloxone nasal spray.

Pharmacodynamics and arteriovenous difference of intravenous naloxone in healthy volunteers exposed to remifentanil.

Purpose: Pharmacodynamic studies of naloxone require opioid agonism. Steady state condition may be achieved by remifentanil TCI (target controlled infusion). Opioid agonism can be measured by pupillometry.

Pharmacokinetics and -dynamics of intramuscular and intranasal naloxone: an explorative study in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a model for pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies of naloxone antagonism under steady-state opioid agonism and to compare a high-concentration/low-volume intranasal naloxone formulation 8 mg/ml to intramuscular 0.8 mg.

Methods: Two-way crossover in 12 healthy volunteers receiving naloxone while receiving remifentanil by a target-controlled infusion for 102 min.

Pharmacokinetics of a new, nasal formulation of naloxone.

Purpose: Nasal naloxone is wanted for bystander administration in opioid overdose and as a needle-free alternative for emergency medical personnel. Epidemiologic studies have indicated a therapeutic effect of bystander administration of low-concentration/high-volume formulations. The objective for this study was to describe the nasal pharmacokinetics of a new high-concentration/low-volume nasal formulation of naloxone.

Oxidative stress during coronary artery bypass operations: importance of surgical trauma and drug treatment.

Objective: To investigate oxidative stress and myocardial injury at different stages of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Design: Twenty patients underwent CABG with use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and with intermittent sampling of plasma and urine. Main markers were: 8-iso-PGF2alpha (oxidative stress); troponin T (myocardial injury); and 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2alpha and hsCRP (inflammation).

Oxidative stress and inflammatory response during and following coronary interventions for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: In acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), myocardial injury results from complex processes during both ischemia and reperfusion. Release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may contribute to the accumulated myocardial damage.

Aims: To examine by frequent sampling of peripheral blood oxidative stress and early inflammation in patients undergoing primary PCI for AMI.

Intracellular manganese ions provide strong T1 relaxation in rat myocardium.

The efficacy of manganese ions (Mn2+) as intracellular (ic) contrast agents was assessed in rat myocardium. T1 and T2 and Mn content were measured in ventricular tissue excised from isolated perfused hearts in which a 5-min wash-in with 0, 30, 100, 300, or 1000 microM of Mn dipyridoxyl diphosphate (MnDPDP) was followed by a 15-min wash-out to remove extracellular (ec) Mn2+. An inversion recovery (IR) analysis at 20 MHz revealed two T1 components: an ic and short T1-1 (650-251 ms), and an ec and longer T1-2 (2712-1042 ms).

Oxidative stress and myocardial damage during elective percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary angiography. A comparison of blood-borne isoprostane and troponin release.

The role of oxidative stress in clinical cardiology is still controversial. The aims of the present study were to examine if minor ischaemic episodes as may occur during elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) induce oxidative stress and, eventually, if oxygen stress correlates with myocardial injury. Thirty eight and nine patients underwent PCI and diagnostic coronary angiography, respectively.