Our results suggest that PONV treatment with ondansetron could be improved by basic, widely available and inexpensive PCR-RFLP genetic tests.

Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a drug with a long history of medical use; it is helpful in treating symptoms of the common cold and flu, sinusitis, asthma, and bronchitis. Due to its central nervous system (CNS) stimulant properties and structural similarity to amphetamine, it is also used for non-medical purposes. The substance is taken as an appetite reducer, an agent which eliminates drowsiness and fatigue, to improve concentration and as a doping agent. Due to its easier availability, it is sometimes used as a substitute for amphetamine or methamphetamine. Pseudoephedrine is also a substrate (precursor) used in the production of these drugs. Time will tell whether legal restrictions on the sale of this drug will reduce the scale of the problem associated with its misuse.

Depression is a mental health disorder that develops as a result of complex psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinological disturbances. This disease presents with mood disturbances, persistent sadness, loss of interest and impaired cognition, which causes distress to the patient and significantly affects the ability to function and have a satisfying family, social and professional life. Depression requires comprehensive management, including pharmacological treatment. Because pharmacotherapy of depression is a long-term process associated with the risk of numerous adverse drug effects, much attention is paid to alternative therapy methods, including phytopharmacotherapy, especially in treating mild or moderate depression. Preclinical studies and previous clinical studies confirm the antidepressant activity of active compounds in plants, such as St. John’s wort, saffron crocus, lemon balm and lavender, or less known in European ethnopharmacology, roseroot, ginkgo, Korean ginseng, borage, brahmi, mimosa tree and magnolia bark. The active compounds in these plants exert antidepressive effects in similar mechanisms to those found in synthetic antidepressants. The description of phytopharmacodynamics includes inhibiting monoamine reuptake and monoamine oxidase activity and complex, agonistic or antagonistic effects on multiple central nervous system (CNS) receptors. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the anti-inflammatory effect is also important to the antidepressant activity of the plants mentioned above in light of the hypothesis that immunological disorders of the CNS are a significant pathogenetic factor of depression. This narrative review results from a traditional, non-systematic literature review. It briefly discusses the pathophysiology, symptomatology and treatment of depression, with a particular focus on the role of phytopharmacology in its treatment. It provides the mechanisms of action revealed in experimental studies of active ingredients isolated from herbal antidepressants and presents the results of selected clinical studies confirming their antidepressant effectiveness.

Tumescent local anesthesia is based upon the infusion of large volumes of neutralized anesthetic solutions, mainly lidocaine, at very low concentrations. This results in the paralysis of sensory nerve endings and minute nerve twigs, leading to a reduction in pain. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of lidocaine application in tumescent local anesthesia on different regions of patient's bodies. Measures of safety included the analysis of lidocaine concentrations and its pharmacokinetic parameters. In total, 48 patients were infused with tumescent anesthesia in the hypogastrium, buttocks and thighs, axillae, breasts, trunk, and face and neck areas. Lidocaine was infused in doses ranging from 5.2-40 mg/kg b.w., and in concentrations of 0.05% (hypogastrium, buttocks, thighs) or 0.1-0.15% (axillae, breasts, trunk, face, neck), using a total amount of 300-3200 mg. As the peak lidocaine concentration did not exceed 5 microg/ml (commonly known as the toxic threshold), the results of our study indicate that the doses used (not exceeding 40 mg/kg b.w.) are completely safe for patients undergoing tumescent anesthesia in different body areas. The observation of statistically significant correlations between both the dose and the total amount of lidocaine administered and its peak plasma concentration, together with the lack of correlations between the dose and the amount and the time taken to reach peak concentration, allows the safety of each anesthetic dose to be predicted. An analysis of the heterogeneous dynamics of lidocaine plasma concentration changes in tumescent anesthesia in different body areas indicates that both the rates and the degrees of absorption and elimination depend on the area of infiltration; this is in turn related to the vascularization of any given area. The study of lidocaine concentration and pharmacokinetic parameters also showed that there may potentially be a higher risk of a large anesthetic concentration developing within a short period of time during anesthesia of the upper parts of the body. During tumescent anesthesia, significantly higher plasma concentrations of lidocaine were observed in the face and neck than in the hypogastrium, buttocks and thighs, axillae, breast and trunk 0.5 to 4 h after its infusion. This indicates the need for carefully conducted patient observations immediately after infiltration into the aforementioned areas.

Frequency distributions of C3435T genotype and of 3435T or 3435C gene alleles of IBD, CD or UC patients were compared to control group; each treated as a whole or split further by gender. The statistically significant correlation was discovered between gender and C3435T genotype both for IBD and CD patients, with 3435CT heterozygote prevailing in IBD and CD males. Odds ratio calculations revealed statistically significant difference for the 3435CT genotype between control and: IBD group considered as a whole; IBD males; CD males; and for 3435TT variant between control and IBD males. Conclusions. The 3435CT genotype could be a risk factor for IBD and CD in men. The 3435TT genotype in males seems to be associated with the lower chance of IBD presence.