Chapters authored
Ketamine: More than Just NMDA Blocker
Ketamine has been extensively used in the medical field for more than 50 years, but its exact mechanism of action remains unknown. It’s used to induce dissociative anesthesia (a state of profound analgesia, amnesia with light sleep, immobility, and a sense of disassociation from one’s own body and surroundings). Clinical studies on ketamine as a dissociative anesthetic, a model for psychosis, and as a rapidly acting antidepressant have sparked great interest in understanding its effects at the molecular and cellular level. It exerts uncompetitive inhibitory effects on NMDARs (N-Methyl-D-asperate) and may preferentially affect the function of NMDARs in interneurons. The hypnotic effects of this drug are attributed to its blocking action on NMDA and HCN1 receptors; however, both positive and negative modulation of choline, amine, and opioid systems appears to occur. It is likely that ketamine\'s effect on chronic pain and depression far outlasts its actual levels. This could be due to the hyperglutamatergic state induced by ketamine causing a secondary increase in structural synaptic connectivity. The authors of this review have attempted to highlight the action of ketamine not only on NMDA receptors but also on a variety of biochemical processes and functions found in intercellular environments, which may explain its diverse role in many diseases.
Part of the book: Ketamine Revisited
The Role of Vitamin D in the Restriction of the Progress and Severity of COVID-19 Infection
SARS-CoV-2 has affected socio-economic activity in every country around the world since its outbreak began in 2019. 3.5 million people have died worldwide as of now, including 3.2 lakh in India. The cytokine storm significantly contributes to COVID mortality. To put it simply, the virus causes an uncontrolled release of cytokines, which results in severe inflammation, multi-organ failure, and death. Vitamin D was discovered to be a significant risk factor for cytokine storm in COVID patients. Numerous studies have demonstrated that those with deficient serum vitamin D levels have a significant mortality rate. The current understanding of the role of vitamin D in immune modulation in the innate and adaptive immune systems and how this may relate to COVID-19 is discussed in this article. Additionally, we evaluated the most recent clinical information about vitamin D deficiency, cytokine storm, and COVID-19 mortality.
Part of the book: Vitamin D Deficiency