Environmental science and ecotechnology
September 1, 2024
Zhenglu Wang, Jindong Xu, Wei Du
6 citations
Caffeine and ketamine, both found in surface waters across Asia, interact in a way that reduces caffeine's harmful effects on zebrafish larvae. Ketamine at concentrations of 10-250 ng L-1 counteracts the hyperactivity and disrupted daily rhythms caused by 2 mg L-1 of caffeine, with the effect depending on dose. Developmental abnormalities in larvae exposed to caffeine drop from 26.7% to 6.7% when ketamine is present. The two chemicals compete for binding sites on the GABA-A receptor, explaining their antagonistic relationship. After seven days of recovery, caffeine's adverse effects persist, while those in the caffeine-plus-ketamine groups lessen, especially at 10 ng L-1 of ketamine. The findings highlight the need to assess risks of co-pollution and suggest that nighttime fish behavior may serve as a sensitive toxicity biomarker.
BMC cancer
December 18, 2024
Xiaomin Zhang, Yanmei Zhang, Wei Du
5 citations
Ketamine suppresses breast cancer cell growth, spread, and the ability of those cells to promote bone-destroying osteoclast activity. In cell lines and a mouse model of bone metastasis, ketamine reduced tumor burden and pain. The drug works by inhibiting the SRC protein, which in turn restores the EGR1/CST6 signaling pathway. Overexpression of SRC blocked ketamine's effects, while restoring EGR1 or CST6 counteracted SRC's harmful actions. The findings indicate that ketamine alleviates bone metastasis and associated pain in breast cancer through this molecular mechanism.
Children
December 22, 2022
Saral Desai, Vidisha Jain, Sona Xavier et al.
Among a nationally representative sample of 125,550 US adolescents surveyed between 2001 and 2019, 8.4% reported using hallucinogens. The prevalence of hallucinogen use decreased from 13.3% in 2001 to 7.0% in 2019. Adolescents who used hallucinogens had higher odds of feeling sad and hopeless, considering suicide, and planning suicide. They also showed a higher prevalence of using other substances, including alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and cocaine. The findings indicate an association between adolescent hallucinogen use and increased hopelessness, suicidality, and co-occurring substance use.