CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders) - Volume 14, Issue 3, 2015

Psychological stress leads to activation and proliferation of microglial cells in different brain regions. These effects are mediated by inflammatory cytokines, as well as stress hormones including glucocorticoids and norepinephrine. Eliminating microglia from the nervous system or blocking their activation prevented the stress-induced impairments on brain cognitive functions. We conclude that microglial cells are important medit Read More

A 41-year-old woman with Major Depressive Disorder-Recurrent was treated with topiramate at 150 mg/day. After this administration, she developed intense pruritus and skin lesions due to scratching. Consequently, she was weaned off topiramate and the lesions regressed. Pruritus and cutaneous lesions are extremely rare side effects of topiramate, so we report an interesting case of skin reaction to this drug.

Evidence has been accumulated showing that inflammatory and cell death pathways are altered both in brain and periphery during Parkinson disease (PD). Neuronal loss in PD is associated with chronic neuroinflammation characterized by microglia activation through the release of reactive oxygen radicals, cytokines, and Prostaglandin E2. The release of these inflammatory mediators in addition to deprivation in gro Read More

Understanding the pathogenesis of non-iatrogenic comorbidities of schizophrenia may provide insights into the pathogenesis of schizophrenia itself. First-episode, drug-naïve schizophrenia patients are at high risk of thromboembolic events, diseases related to substance abuse, sexual dysfunction, reproductive disorders, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as complications of hyperinsulinemia or hyperhom Read More

Compulsions, like pathological gambling, binge-eating disorder, alcohol, tobacco or cocaine abuse and compulsive shopping have similar neurophysiological processing. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in improving patient control over compulsive behavior. The rTMS modulatory role in cortical mesolimbic pathways possibly implies improvement of the inhibit Read More

Problematic Internet use is a worldwide social issue and it can be found in any age, social, educational, or economic range. In some countries like China and South Korea internet addiction (IA) is considered a public health condition and this governments support research, education and treatment. Internet addiction has been associated with others psychiatric disorders. Panic disorder (PD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disor Read More

Background: Results of several studies suggest that serum amino acids monitoring in migraine might be useful as an objective measurement of the disease status. Objective: The aim of the present work was to analyze the profile of aliphatic and aromatic amino acids in blood serum of migraine patients without and with aura between attacks. Methods: A total number of 37 migraine patients (26 with migraine without aura and 11 Read More

Probenecid has been widely used in the treatment of gout, but evidence suggests that it may also have antinociceptive effects in different inflammatory and pain conditions. We examined the potential modulatory effects of probenecid on behavioural and morphological markers in the orofacial formalin test of the rat. One hour after pre-treatment with vehicle or probenecid (1 mmol/kg body weight) intraperitoneally, 50 Read More

Notoginsenoside R1 (NTR1) is the main active ingredient of the well-known traditional Chinese herbal medicine Panax notoginseng, the root of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen. Studies demonstrated that NTR1 may have some neuronal protective effects. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by β -amyloid protein (Aβ) deposition, neurofibrillary tangle formation and neuronal loss. This Read More

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) plays an essential role in both the degradation and its activity of β-amyloid (Aβ). Therefore, the regulation of IDE expression and/or modification of IDE-dependent actions are two emerging strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We previously observed that geniposide, a novel agonist of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor ( Read More

Drug resistance in epilepsy is considered as a complicated and multifactorial problem. Poor penetration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) across blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the brain, which results in insufficient level of the drugs at the targeted brain region, has been discussed as one mechanism contributing to pharmacoresistance of epilepsies. Therefore, modulating permeability of BBB is the effective treatment strategy since it Read More

We have shown previously that heat stroke produced by whole body hyperthermia (WBH) for 4 h at 38°C in diabetic rats exacerbates blood-brain barrier breakdown, brain edema formation and neuronal cell injury as compared to healthy animals after identical heat exposure. In this combination of diabetes and WBH, normal therapeutic measures do not induce sufficient neuroprotection. Thus, we investigated whethe Read More

Transient, global cerebral ischemia (TGCI) causes hippocampal/cortical damage and the persistent loss of welltrained, long-term memory (retrograde amnesia). Fish oil (FO), a rich source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, abolishes such amnesia in the absence of neurohistological protection. The present study investigated whether FO prevents ischemia-induced oxidative stress and whether such a Read More

Acori graminei Rhizoma (AGR), the dry rhizoma of Acorus gramineus Soland (Araceae), has been used as an Asian traditional herbal medicine against senile dementia, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have revealed neuroprotective effects of AGR on neuronal damage and learning impairment, while mostly focused on the effect of volatile oil fraction of AGR. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprot Read More

Cholinergic precursors increasing choline availability and acetylcholine synthesis/release may represent a therapeutic approach for countering cognitive impairment occurring in adult-onset dementia disorders. Choline alphoscerate (alpha-gliceryl-phosphoryl-choline, GPC) is among cholinergic precursors the most effective in enhancing acetylcholine biosynthesis and release in animal models. This study was designed Read More