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Ketamine is a non-competitive N-methyl-D: -aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist which interferes with the action of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) including glutamate and aspartate. The use of ketamine at subanaesthetic doses has increased because of its psychotomimetic properties. However, long-term ketamine abuse may interfere with memory processes and inhibit the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus, an effect probably mediated by its NMDA antagonist action. Neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) serve as survival factors for selected populations of central nervous system neurons, including cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons. In addition, neurotrophins, particularly BDNF, may regulate LTP in the hippocampus and influence synaptic plasticity.The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ketamine use in humans is associated with altered serum levels of neurotrophins.We measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay the NGF and BDNF serum levels in two groups of subjects: frequent ketamine users and healthy subjects.Our data show that BDNF serum levels were increased in chronic ketamine users as compared to healthy subjects, while NGF levels were not affected by ketamine use.These findings suggest that chronic ketamine intake is associated with increases in BDNF serum levels in humans. Other studies are needed to explore the pharmacological and molecular mechanism by which ketamine, and/or other NMDA antagonists, may induce modification in the production and utilization of BDNF and alter normal brain function.

IntroductionThis issue of the Journal of Public Health presents articlesrelating to different fields in public health research, fromthe organization of humanitarian aid action to the preven-tion of infectious diseases, the diffusion of problematicbehaviors, and the management of chronic conditions. Mostof the contributors underline the importance of the diffusionof knowledge and information among the general popula-tion for the primary prevention of diseases, and the role ofcommunication and patient education in the management ofchronic conditions.Human behavior can in fact influence the spread ofinfectious diseases, and it is based on the individuals’knowledge as well as on the information received aboutsuch conditions (Funk et al. 2010). In turn, a correctevaluation of the benefits obtained from immunization, andof the risks and the adverse effects related to the vaccineswould facilitate a wider diffusion of vaccinations (Baejens2010). Some of the papers in this issue are in line with theafore-mentioned hypotheses: Al-lela et al., who developed aquestionnaire on knowledge, attitude and practice aboutimmunization among Iraqi parents, suggest that parentswho have adequate information on this field also have apositive attitude and practices towards immunization;Kamal et al. assessed the knowledge, attitude and practicetowards the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus among El-MiniaUniversity students in Egypt, and maintain that adequateacquaintance with the problem is associated with a betterwillingness to comply with preventive measures; Naing andTan focused on the knowledge of pandemic influenza A andon the willingness to be vaccinated among a sample of 264medical students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and underlinethenecessitytostrengthenevidence-basedhealtheducationinorder to help people adopting effective preventive behaviorsand vaccination.One of the main factors contributing to the spread ofbacterial resistance is the misuse of antibiotics. Educationalprograms for both health professionals and the generalpopulation are strongly needed: reducing misconceptionsabout the utility of antibiotics in minor ailments andimprovingthegeneralpublicawarenessoftheriskscorrelatedwiththeirimproperusewouldbeakeycomponentonpoliticsaimed to control the diffusion of antibiotic resistance(Grigoryan et al. 2010). Two studies focus respectively onthe topic of the diffusion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria andon the knowledge of MRSA in both medical students and thegeneral population: Sathiamoorthi et al. describe the preva-lence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica typhi andparatyphi among 368 human cases of typhoid and paraty-phoid fever from the Tiruchirappalli district in India, whileDe Giusti et al. report a survey conducted on a sample ofstudents attending an Italian Faculty of Medicine and ontheir cohabitants, focusing on their knowledge on MRSA, its