Current Neuropharmacology - Volume 19, Issue 10, 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a clinically heterogeneous disorder with a multi-factorial pathology. Various molecular mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of PD, converging to oxidative stress and proteinopathy. The accumulation of reactive aldehydes (i.e., the dopamine metabolite DOPAL, lipid-peroxidation products, and advanced glycation end-products) has been reported in PD patients’ brains. Aldehydes easily re Read More

Adult neurogenesis consists in the generation of newborn neurons from neural stem cells taking place in the adult brain. In mammals, this process is limited to very few areas of the brain, and one of these neurogenic niches is the subgranular layer of the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. Adult newborn neurons are generated from quiescent neural progenitors (QNPs), which differentiate through different steps into mature Read More

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability and death worldwide. The initial mechanical insult results in tissue and vascular disruption with hemorrhages and cellular necrosis that is followed by dynamic secondary brain damage that presumably results in additional destruction of the brain. In order to minimize deleterious consequences of the secondary brain damage- such as inflammation, bleeding or reduced ox Read More

COVID-19 is a global pandemic, primarily affecting the pulmonary system but its effects on other systems are not certain. Coronavirus, the causative organism, binds with angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors in the lungs and produces pneumonia-like symptoms. Other than lungs, ACE2 receptors are also seen in the endothelium of blood vessels. Therefore, viruses can bind to the ACE2 that is present in the e Read More

Background: Glioma is the primary cancer of the central nervous system in adults. Among gliomas, glioblastoma is the most deadly and aggressive form, with an average life span of 1 to 2 years. Despite implementing the rigorous standard care involving maximal surgical removal followed by concomitant radiation and chemotherapy, the patient prognosis remains poor. Due to the infiltrative nature of glioblastoma, chemo- an Read More

Sleep-wake disturbances (SWD) are one of the most common non-motor symptoms in the Parkinson's disease (PD) and can appear in the early stage, even before the onset of motor symptoms. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for the motor symptoms in patients with advanced PD. However, the effect of DBS on SWD and its specific mechanisms are not widely understood and remain controversial. Read More

Background: Both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs recently emerged among novel psychoactive substances (NPS) being reported as ingested for recreational purposes. Among them, benzydamine (BZY), normally prescribed as an OTC anti-inflammatory drug, is reportedly being diverted and recreationally used. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how the misuse of BZY has been reported, illustrati Read More

Background: Neural cells undergo functional or sensory loss due to neurological disorders. In addition to environmental or genetic factors, oxidative stress is a major contributor to neurodegeneration. In this context, there has been a growing interest in investigating the effects of EOs (EOs) in recent years, especially in the treatment of neuropathologies. The chemical and biological effects of EOs have led to important treatme Read More

Background: Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) manifest affective and behavioral symptoms causing personal distress, relationship difficulties, and reduced quality of life with global functioning impairment, mainly when the disease takes an unfavorable course. A substantial amount of healthcare costs is dedicated to addressing these issues. Many BPD patients receive medications, mostly those who do not re Read More

Background: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) contributes to the control of synaptic dopamine (DA) transmission by catalyzing DA degradation in the presynaptic space. The COMT Val158Met polymorphism (rs4680) substantially alters enzymatic activity and consequently synaptic DA concentration in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The COMT genotype could, therefore, exert a major influence on antipsychotic Read More