Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Allergy Agents) - Volume 8, Issue 2, 2009

Welcome to the 2009 Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (HOT TOPIC) Vol. 8, June 2009. The topic we have chosen for this volume is the treatment of HIV-infection, antiretroviral as well as anti-inflammatory and dopaminergic. We highlight the current therapeutic state-of-the-art as well as future therapeutic options. In particular, Arendt and Nolting analyse the current knowledge on the role of inter Read More

Introduction: HIV-1 is regarded most responsible for a neurodegenerative disease, called HIV-associated dementia (HAD). The pathogenic trait of this severe complication of HIV-infection is still unclear, but disturbed systemic and central nervous system immune function seem to be an important component. Cytokines are important mediators of the human immune system. The review focusses on major cytokines and r Read More

Viral penetration into the central nervous system (CNS) is an early event in the course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pathogenesis and occurs in the vast majority of the infected individuals. Consequences are diverse symptoms of neurological dysfunction in a substantial proportion of patients, as well as the establishment of a lifelong viral reservoir. The severity of symptoms ranges from subclinical alterations in mot Read More

Glutamate-mediated neurodysfunction plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) encephalitis. The regulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission in inflammation is a complex interaction between activation of immune mediators and adaptive changes in the functional elements of the glutamatergic synapse. Our studies in simian im Read More

Pharmacogenomics is a relatively new field in HIV-research, especially when neurological issues are concerned. Influence of polymorphisms in CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2D6, ABCB1, ABCG2, ABCC4, SLC22, SLC28, SLC29 and MMP9-genes on pharmacokinetic data is discussed in the article. Due to the lack of published studies, but promising results in the few existing publications, scientists should be encouraged to integrate neuro Read More

Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has markedly reduced morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected individuals but not the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Several conditions may be responsible for the high prevalence of cognitive impairment, including incomplete suppression of HIV in nervous system by some antiretrovirals. Since individuals with HAND have a lower quality of life, worse Read More

The use of methamphetamine is steadily increasing worldwide. Its use is associated with high-risk sexual behavior and subsequent infection with HIV. Methamphetamine has profound effects on the brain both as an acute intoxicant and following chronic exposure. The combined effects of HIV and methamphetamine appear to result in widespread neuronal and white matter injury. These changes are most prominent in the basa Read More

Highly active antiretroviral therapy [HAART] has increased the mean survival time in the AIDS stage by up to more than 10 years. Five different groups of antiretroviral medications are known, of which integrase and entry inhibitors represent the latest and most modern substances. The long survival time in the AIDS stage means that side effects and interactions become of greater relevance and have to be differentiated from Read More