BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that local anesthetics may induce apoptosis in some cell types. In this study, we investigated the apoptotic effects of local anesthetics in human breast tumor cells. METHODS Human breast cancer (MCF-7) and mammary epithelial (MCF-10A) cell lines were treated with lidocaine and/or bupivacaine. Cell viability, DNA fragmentation, and annexin V immunofluore...

This article reviews mechanisms by which local anesthetics may compromise the fetus during conduction analgesia in obstetrics. In addition to presenting pertinent information about perinatal pharmacology of local anesthetics, the author discusses comparative effects of 2-chloroprocaine and amide-linked compounds. Recommendations are made for prevention of maternal hypotension and local anesthet...

BACKGROUND General and local anesthetics are used in various combinations during surgical procedures to repair damaged tissues and organs, which in almost all instances involve nervous system functions. Because synaptic transmission recovers rapidly from various inhalation anesthetics, it is generally assumed that their effects on nerve regeneration and synapse formation that precede injury or ...

Tertiary amine local anesthetics previously have been shown to influence some microtubule-dependent cellular functions. Since several cell secretion processes, including secretion of collagen, have been shown to be inhibited by microtubule-disrupting drugs such as colchicine, we determined whether local anesthetics affect collagen secretion. Six local anesthetics inhibited collagen and non-coll...

Renal cell apoptosis contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of acute renal failure. Local anesthetics induce apoptosis in neuronal and lymphocytic cell lines. We examined the effects of chronic (48 h) local anesthetic treatment (lidocaine, bupivacaine and tetracaine) on human proximal tubular (HK-2) cells. Apoptosis induction was assessed by detecting poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase fragment...

Pregnancy induces significant anatomical and physiological changes in the mother. Many pregnant women need dental treatment due to poor oral hygiene related to pregnancy. However, most dentists are reluctant to provide, and most pregnant women are reluctant to receive, dental treatment during pregnancy. Theoretically, maternally administered drugs are transferred to the fetus. Depending on the ...

Profound analgesia or pain control with local anesthetics is essential for most dental procedures in endodontic and restorative treatments, tooth extraction and minor oral surgery. However, dental clinicians frequently experience that it is difficult for infiltration and nerve block injections to achieve clinically acceptable local anesthesia in the presence of pupil and periapical inflammation...

Local anesthetics block sodium channels in a state-dependent fashion, binding with higher affinity to open and/or inactivated states. Gating current measurements show that local anesthetics immobilize a fraction of the gating charge, suggesting that the movement of voltage sensors is modified when a local anesthetic binds to the pore of the sodium channel. Here, using voltage clamp fluorescence...

According to recent studies, in opioid abusers, compared with non-addicts, spinal anesthesia with local anesthetics has been accompanied with shorter duration of action and lower level of sensory block.1-4 Thus, it seems that chronic opiate abuse can produce tolerance, or probably, crosstolerance to analgesic effects of local anesthetics. As yet, no clear explanation has been presented for this...

This article describes current concepts in the mechanism of action of local anaesthetic drugs and discusses recent advances in the equipment and drugs that may be used to provide intra-oral anaesthesia.