CNS neuroscience & therapeutics
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This review highlights the recent clinical research that supports the therapeutic utility of ketamine as a multifaceted drug. After long-term use as a dissociative anesthetic, it has re-emerged as a useful agent for ameliorating pain, asthmaticus, and depression. ⋯ Chronic ketamine abuse over prolonged periods (weeks, months, and years) can produce toxicity to the gastrointestinal and urinary tract. In this review, we described the recent progress on its clinical uses and abuses.
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A basal level of mitophagy is essential in mitochondrial quality control in physiological conditions, while excessive mitophagy contributes to cell death in a number of diseases including ischemic stroke. Signals regulating this process remain unknown. BNIP3, a pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein, has been implicated as a regulator of mitophagy. ⋯ NIX primarily regulates basal level of mitophagy in physiological conditions, whereas BNIP3 exclusively activates excessive mitophagy leading to cell death.