Pharmacological research
November 22, 2025
Zhuo-Ning Zhang, Xin-Yu Hao, Chen Cai et al.
5 citations
A single low dose of esketamine given at the start of cardiac valve surgery reduced rates of depression and anxiety one week after surgery. Among 142 patients, those receiving esketamine had a depression rate of 7.0% compared to 31.0% in the placebo group, and an anxiety rate of 11.3% versus 35.2%. Esketamine also lowered delirium incidence, improved pain, sleep, and recovery quality, and reduced inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP) and a neuronal injury marker (S100β) while increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Side effects did not differ between groups.
Frontiers in pharmacology
January 1, 2024
Ruixue Liu, Chunxiao Liu, Dianwei Feng et al.
5 citations
An analysis of adverse event reports from the FDA adverse event reporting system between 2019 and 2023 identified 14,606 reports in which esketamine nasal spray was the primary suspected drug. Psychiatric disorders accounted for 33.20% of the 518 distinct adverse event signals, followed by nervous system disorders (16.67%) and general disorders (14.21%). Dissociation was the most frequent and intense signal, reported 1,093 times. Uncommon but strong signals included hand-eye coordination impaired, feeling guilty, and feelings of worthlessness. Dissociative disorder, not listed in the product's summary of product characteristics, also showed a strong signal. Close clinical attention to psychiatric and nervous system adverse events is warranted.
Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services
May 14, 2025
Jiaoling Du, Rumei Sha, Ying Wang
2 citations
A meta-analysis of ten randomized controlled trials involving 912 nurses found that mindfulness-based training (MBT) reduces stress and job burnout. MBT lowered stress levels and job burnout. The analysis found no evidence of publication bias. The results suggest MBT is a promising short-term strategy for alleviating stress and burnout among nursing professionals, but further research is needed to assess the durability of its effects.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
March 1, 2024
Ruichen Hu, Shuo Li, Peijun Yuan et al.
1 citation
Structured visual streams containing regularities—whether perceptual (shape, motion) or semantic (idioms)—dominate over unstructured streams in the competition for visual awareness during binocular rivalry. Perceptual- and semantic-level regularities produce rivalry advantages that dissociate: perceptual regularities operate via nonconscious temporal integration and are vulnerable to disruptions of the spatiotemporal integration window, whereas semantic regularities operate via conscious temporal integration and are not. These findings indicate that structure-guided information integration across time contributes to visual awareness through at least two distinct mechanisms, supporting theories that link integration to conscious experience.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Congyi Li, Zhihui Wang, Xinman Ye et al.
Several anesthetic agents—ketamine, propofol, nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, and isoflurane—show promise as rapid antidepressants, especially for treatment-resistant depression. Their effects appear to involve modulation of glutamate and GABA signaling, interactions with serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, activation of BDNF and VGF pathways, regulation of the HPA axis, and suppression of inflammation. These mechanisms overlap with core depression-related changes. While traditional antidepressants have limited efficacy and delayed onset, anesthetics offer faster alternatives. However, their precise mechanisms, long-term safety, and optimal clinical use remain unclear. This review summarizes recent experimental and clinical research on these agents, highlighting molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and current limitations.