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The term “aristolochic acid nephropathy” (AAN) is used to include any form of toxic interstitial nephropathy that is caused either by ingestion of plants containing aristolochic acids (AA) or by the environmental contaminants in food such as in Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). Aristolochic acid (AA) intoxication is strongly associated with the development of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC); however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be defined. MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate several biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. A unique miRNA expression profile suggested that miRNAs could function as regulators in UTUC developmental processes.

ABSTRACTAmino-amide type local anesthetics, which have been most frequently used in clinical anesthesia are lidocaine, prilocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine and mepivacaine. These drugs show different clinical properties depending on their structures. In clinical praxis bupivacaine and mepivacaine are used as racemic mixtures. The stereochemistry of these two local anesthetic affects considerably the pharmacological action and toxicity. R(+) bupivacaine is 7 times more potent in blocking the sodium channels than the S(-)-enantiomer. Levobupivacaine and ropivacaine provide nerve blocking characteristics similar to those of racemic bupivacaine in almost all regional anesthesia techniques. The potency of bupivacaine is proportional to the toxic effects on cardiovascular system and central nervous system. Since these local anesthetic compounds are toxic, causing cardiovacular and central-nervous disorders, the therapeutic blood-plasma/serum concentrations should not exceed certain limits.