CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders) - Volume 14, Issue 1, 2015

Perinatal asphyxia (PA) still constitutes a common complication involving a large number of infants with or without congenital heart diseases (CHD). PA affects 0.2-0.6% of full-term neonates, 20% of which suffer mortal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and among survivors 25% exhibit permanent consequences at neuropsychological level. Each year, about one third of 1000 live births underwent to surgical intervention i Read More

Herein, we assessed the expression of transglutaminase-2 (TG2) during in vitro neural differentiation of human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) induced by some Growth Factors (GFs). The amount and distribution of mRNAs for some transglutaminase (TGs) isoforms (TG1, TG2, TG3, TG5) were also evaluated. In addition, we tested some neural lineage markers (Glial Acid Fibrillary Protein, GFAP; Neurofilament Protein, NF; N Read More

Hypoxic-ischemic preconditioning is an endogenous mechanism in which exposure to a sublethal episode of hypoxia-ischemia protects against a subsequent more severe episode. Although several postnatal models of hypoxic-ischemic preconditioning have been established, hardly any perinatal models exist. Therefore, the objective of this study is to validate a new rodent model. We investigate whether mild fetal asphyx Read More

The induction of heme oxygenase (HO), the rate-limiting enzyme in heme degradation, occurs as an adaptative response to oxidative stress and is consequent to decrease in cellular glutathione levels. Our previous studies demonstrated significant increase in survival rates of rats treated with glutathione depletors and submitted to transient cerebral ischemia. The aim of the present research was to test the effects of L-Buthioni Read More

Introduction: Antidepressant treatment during pregnancy is speedily increasing in developed countries and this phenomenon has occurred without firm evidence on safety and/or efficacy. Aims: The present study investigated from mid-trimester of pregnancy up to 24 hours after birth the pattern of a brain damage marker, namely S100B, in maternal fetal and neonatal biological fluids of pregnant women and their newbor Read More

Transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) is a nuclear DNA/RNA-binding protein involved in gene transcription and mRNA processing. Recently, TDP-43 has been found in the cytoplasmic inclusions observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Substantial attention has been devoted to the toxic effects of the cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregates, whereas the functional role of this protein remains poorly investigate Read More

Hypoxic-ischemic preconditioning (HIPC) has a neuroprotective effect against a subsequent, more severe perinatal hypoxic-ischemic episode. The protective processes of preconditioning (PC) in the immature brain remain undefined but are most likely related to the immune cells of the central nervous system. To determine the role of astrocytes in HIPC, we initially exposed primary rat astrocytes to oxygen-glucose deprivation ( Read More

A peculiar population of glial cells, Olfactory Ensheathing Cells (OECs), are able to support the continuous neuronal turn-over and sheathe olfactory axons. In vitro, they stimulate axonal growth, as produce several neurotrophic factors (GFs); in vivo they promote remyelination of damaged axons. In this in vitro study, OEC effects on survival of cortical neurons exposed to hypoxia were examined. Rat co-cultures of OECs and cortical Read More

Objective: To better understand the inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS) after lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chorioamnionitis. Study Design: Fetal sheep were exposed to intra-amniotic LPS 2 or 14 days before preterm delivery at 125 days of gestation. mRNA levels of cytokines, TLRs and anti-oxidants were determined in different CNS regions. Results: Interleukin 1β levels increased in hi Read More

S100B protein has been recently proposed as a consolidated marker of brain damage and death in adult, children and newborn patients. The present study evaluates whether the longitudinal measurement of S100B at different perioperative time-points may be a useful tool to identify the occurrence of perioperative early death in congenital heart disease (CHD) newborns. We conducted a case-control study in 88 CHD infa Read More

Therapeutic hypothermia has become a standard neuroprotective treatment in term newborn infants following perinatal asphyxia. Hypothermia-induced changes in the reactivity of the vessels supplying the brain might play a role in its therapeutic or side effects. We investigated the putative age-related changes and the effect of clinically relevant cooling (33°C) on the reactivity of the newborn rat carotid artery. Carotid artery Read More

Objective: To compare the quality of life (QoL) of 8-18 year old children with cerebral palsy (CP) in the Southern part of The Netherlands to a sample of European children from the general population and to investigate factors associated with possible differences. Design: A cross-sectional KIDSCREEN-52 (by-proxy version) study. Subjects/Patients: The parents of 80 out of 81 children (mean age 13.4 years, SD 2.98; 49 boys, Read More

The non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder which is very common world wide. The human gut harbors microbiota which has a wide variety of microbial organisms; they are mainly symbiotic and important for well being. However, “dysbiosis” - i.e. an alteration in normal commensal gut microbiome with an increase in pathogenic microbes, impacts homeostasis/health. Dysbiosis in NCG Read More

Ginkgo biloba extract 761 (EGb 761) is a well-defined extract obtained from Ginkgo biloba leaves according to a standardized method. It has been used extensively for the treatment of diseases related to the central nervous system including neurosensory disturbances, cerebrovascular insufficiency, peripheral vascular disturbances, and degenerative dementia. The potential use of EGb 761 has also been suggested for th Read More