CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders) - Volume 11, Issue 1, 2012

In 2012 CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets will enter its 11th year of publication. This year will also mark my third year as Editor-in-Chief. Since taking the helm of the journal a number of changes have been introduced, one of my first having been to renew and expand our Editorial Advisory Board to include a broader base of expertise in this incredibly fast-moving area of science. Starting last year, and continuing in Read More

The Italian Society of Neurology (SIN), founded in 1907, held its 42nd national meeting in Turin, Italy during October 2011. The Society, currently numbering more than 3000 members, represents the largest gathering of clinical-oriented neurological sciences in Italy. This SIN meeting coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Unity of Italy, in a city that once served as the country's capital. The meeting offered a number of wor Read More

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the principal cause of dementia, which is characterized by gradual onset of and progression of deficits in cognition and memory. The neuropathological hallmarks of AD are β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of the protein tau in a hyperphosphorylated state. The amyloid cascade hypothesis, which posits that deposition of Aβ in the brain parenchyma initiate Read More

Recent developments in nanoparticle research have resulted in new opportunities to target drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) for treating various brain diseases [1-3]. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery is generally considered to be innocuous in reaching the CNS targets across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) without damaging it [3, 4]. However, new data emerging in the field suggests that neurotoxicity of nanopar Read More

In recent years, the incidence of heat stroke and associated brain pathology are increasing Worldwide. More than half of the world’s population are living in areas associated with high environmental heat especially during the summer seasons. Thus, new research is needed using novel drug targets to achieve neuroprotection in heat-induced brain pathology. Previous research from our laboratory showed that the pathophysio Read More

Long term exposure of nanoparticles e.g., silica dust (SiO2) from desert environments, or engineered nanoparticles from metals viz., Cu, Al or Ag from industry, ammunition, military equipment and related products may lead to adverse effects on mental health. However, it is unclear whether these nanoparticles may further adversely affect human health in cardiovascular or metabolic diseases e.g., hypertension or diabetes. It Read More

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is the world’s most disastrous disease for which there is no effective treatment till today. Several studies suggest that nanoparticles could adversely influence the pathology of SCI and thereby alter the efficacy of many neuroprotective agents. Thus, there is an urgent need to find suitable therapeutic agents that could minimize cord pathology following trauma upon nanoparticle intoxication. Our Read More

Nanoparticles from the environment or through industrial sources can induce profound alterations in human health, often leading to brain dysfunction. However, it is still unclear whether nanoparticle intoxication could also alter the physiological or pathological responses of additional brain injury, stress response or disease processes. Military personals engaged in combat or peacekeeping operations are often exposed Read More

Human exposure to metal nanoparticles such as silver (Ag), copper (Cu) or aluminum (Al) is very common at work places involving automobile, aerospace industry, gun factories or defense related explosives making. Additional sources of exposure to engineered nanoparticles affecting human health are chemical, electronics and communication industries. The nanoparticles (ca. 20 to 120 nm) easily enter the body throu Read More

The pathological lesions typical of Alzheimer disease (AD) are sites of significant and abnormal metal accumulation. Metal chelation therapy, therefore, provides a very attractive therapeutic measure for the neuronal deterioration of AD, though its institution suffers fundamental deficiencies. Namely, chelating agents, which bind to and remove excess transition metals from the body, must penetrate the blood-brai Read More

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious clinical situation for which no suitable drug therapy exists. SCI often results in paraplegia or quadriplegia and, apart from the personal trauma leads to huge costs to society for rehabilitation or day-to-day life support. Sensory motor dysfunction following SCI is mainly a consequence of the slowly progressing cord pathology after primary injury that worsens over tine. Thus, almost all sensory a Read More

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