News and Events
SmartTots and IARS News, Press Releases and EventsSmartTots – Perspectives from the Front Lines
Millions of children undergo surgery annually. Recent studies suggest there may be reason for concern. This video, featuring Dr. Dean Andropoulos, Dr. Peter Davis, and Dr. Caleb Ing, provides a summary as to why research is needed and the type that is needed.
SmartTots to Help Make Anesthetics and Sedatives Safer for Children
Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Michael Roizen, of the International Anesthesia Research Society, unveil a new partnership that aims to make anesthesia safer for children.
Pediatric Anesthesia Questions and Myths-Mayo Clinic
Dr. Randall Flick at Mayo Clinic “debunks myths” and answers common questions raised by parents in regard to anesthesia.
The Unspoken Question!
In this editorial, the authors suggest broadening the mandate of pediatric anesthesiologists to examine all aspects of pediatric care and determine ways that it can be improved. As the specialty that cares for children in the operating room, intensive care units, and pain clinics, anesthesiologists are uniquely positioned to take on the challenge of determining which factors are most important in assuring optimal care for patients.
Announcing the Appointment of Dr. Dean Andropoulos as the Medical Officer of SmartTots
The IARS announces the appointment of Dean Andropoulos, MD, M.H.C.M. as the Medical Officer of SmartTots. Dr. Andropoulos is an established clinical researcher, and a board-certified physician in Anesthesiology and Pediatric Anesthesiology. He is...
Neonatal Isoflurane Anesthesia or Disruption of Postsynaptic Density-95 Protein Interactions Change Dendritic Spine Densities and Cognitive Function in Juvenile Mice.
Experimental evidence shows postnatal exposure to anesthesia negatively affects brain development. The PDZ2 domain, mediating protein–protein interactions of the postsynaptic density-95 protein, serves as a molecular target for several inhaled anesthetics. The authors hypothesized that early postnatal disruption of postsynaptic density-95 PDZ2 domain interactions has persistent effects on dendritic spines and cognitive function.
Autophagic Network Analysis of the Dual Effect of Sevoflurane on Neurons Associated with GABARAPL1 and 2.
Sevoflurane is commonly used as a general anesthetic in neonates to aged patients. Preconditioning or postconditioning with sevoflurane protects neurons from excitotoxic injury. Conversely, sevoflurane exposure induces neurotoxicity during early or late life. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism of the dual effect of sevoflurane on neurons. Autophagy is believed to control neuronal homeostasis. We hypothesized that autophagy determined the dual effect of sevoflurane on neurons.
Effects of ketamine on neurogenesis, extracellular matrix homeostasis and proliferation in hypoxia-exposed HT22 murine hippocampal neurons.
Ketamine is a widely used drug in pediatric anesthesia, and both neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects have been associated with its use. There are only a few studies to date which have examined the effects of ketamine on neurons under hypoxic conditions, which may lead to severe brain damage and poor neurocognitive outcomes in neonates.
LncRNA Rik-203 Contributes to Sevoflurane Induced Neurotoxicity?
The anesthetics inhibit neural differentiation, induce neuron loss and cognitive impairment in young animals. However, the underlying mechanisms of anesthesia on neural differentiation are unknown.