The absolute bioavailability of racemic ketamine from a novel sublingual formulation.

Aim: The principal study objective was to investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of a new sublingual ketamine wafer and to establish its absolute bioavailability and local tolerability.

Methods: The study was of open label, two way randomized crossover design in eight healthy male volunteers. Each participant received either a single 10 mg intravenous dose as a constant rate 30 min infusion or a 25mg sublingual dose of ketamine wafer in two treatment periods with a 7 day wash out.

Thrombosis preventive potential of chicory coffee consumption: a clinical study.

The protective effects of plant polyphenol intake on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are widely acknowledged. Caffeine-free chicory coffee is a rich source of plant phenolics, including caffeic acid, which inhibits in vitro platelet aggregation, and also phenylpyruvate tautomerase enzymatic activity of the proinflammatory cytokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). To assess whether chicory coffee consumption might confer cardiovascular benefits a clinical intervention study was performed with 27 healthy volunteers, who consumed 300 mL chicory coffee every day for 1 week.

Kinetics of inflammatory markers following cancer-related bowel and liver resection.

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was originally described as a cytokine that inhibits migration of macrophages at the site of inflammation. Subsequently it was also identified as a stress-induced hormone released from the anterior pituitary lobe in response to some pro-inflammatory stimuli like endotoxins and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α).

Aim: To compare postoperative changes in serum MIF levels of patients undergoing bowel and liver resections.

MIF tautomerase inhibitor potency of alpha,beta-unsaturated cyclic ketones.

The pro-inflammatory cytokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), is currently enjoying a renewed interest owing to its recently revealed functions. Among these its enzymatic tautomerase activity remains the most perplexing. There is a notion that some aspects of MIF signaling might involve its catalytic action.

Endometriosis: harmful survival of an ectopic tissue.

Endometriosis results from implantation of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Endometriosis might remain asymptomatic and discovered accidentally. However, it may cause symptoms, which include chronic pelvic pain, bleeding, infertility, and increases susceptibility to development of adenocarcinoma.

Ketone bodies affect the enzymatic activity of macrophage migration inhibitory factor.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a long known proinflammatory cytokine exhibits perplexing enzymatic activities: tautomeric conversion of D-dopachrome and phenylpyruvate. Whether these catalytic activities bear functional relevance regarding MIF's multifaceted roles is under current scrutiny. Nevertheless, intense search has already started for pharmacological agents that target MIF's tautomerase activity.

Plant-derived anti-inflammatory compounds affect MIF tautomerase activity.

The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has recently emerged as a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is debated whether the MIF mediated tautomeric conversion of either phenylpyruvate or of its other phenolic substrates is implicated in the pro-inflammatory action of this cytokine. Traditional herbal remedies have been used for centuries to alleviate inflammatory ailments of many kinds including arthritis.

Ropivacaine in neonates and infants: a population pharmacokinetic evaluation following single caudal block.

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of ropivacaine in infants aged 0-12 months following a single caudal injection.

Methods: Term ASA I-III patients, scheduled for surgery, with a body weight of > or = 2500 g received a caudal block with ropivacaine 2 mg x ml(-1), 1.0 ml x kg(-1).