CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders) - Volume 15, Issue 1, 2016

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in humans, and the role of cerebellum in its physiopathology remains the subject of study. Bergmann glia in the cerebellar cortex regulates the homeostasis of Purkinje cells, the axons of which target the dentate and interpositus nuclei, which form the main cerebellar output to other structures in the central nervous system involved in Epilepsy. Sox-1 is a transcript Read More

Painful peripheral neuropathies resulting from cancer chemotherapy treatment is frequently dose-dependent and may diminish following dose reduction or termination of chemotherapy. However, dose reduction or treatment termination could lead to reemergence of the cancer. In addition, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) may persist long after termination of chemotherapy. Thus, there is a nee Read More

The development and evolution of targeted therapy to any disease require the identification of targets amenable to treatment of patients. Here the pathogenetic signalling systems involved in multiple sclerosis are scrutinised to locate nodes of deregulation and dysfunction in order to devise strategies of drug development for targeted intervention. Oliogoclonal bands (OCB) are isoelectric focusing profiles of immunoglobulins Read More

Objective. To review the antidepressant efficacy of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) both in monotherapy and/or in augmentation with antidepressants to better understand its potential role in the treatment of patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). Data Sources: A MEDLINE/PubMed search was carried out by using the following set of keywords: ((SAMe OR SAdenos Read More

Introduction: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant that enhances the activity of complex I and II in the Electron Transport Chain. Many preclinical and clinical studies evaluated CoQ10 for neuroprotection against Parkinson disease (PD). The aim of this study is to synthesize evidence from published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the benefit of CoQ10 supplementation for patients with Parkinson disease. Met Read More

Gliomas are often recognized as highly heterogeneous cancerous phenotype. They are perpetually recurrent, obstinately resistant to treatment and hence almost incurable. Drug development studies to date have revealed only modest effect in attenuating growth of these tumors. The present study was aimed at elucidating the potential of targeting glioma through a novel combination of drugs in comparison to single a Read More

Recent findings have demonstrated a dual effect of the folic acid (FA) supplementation on the nervous system of rats. We found that FA treatment prevented memory impairment and Na+, K+- ATPase inhibition in the striatum and cortex in adult rats that suffered neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). However, spatial memory deficit has been associated with FA supplementation. In the present study we investigated the role of FA s Read More

The transcription factor Pax6 is a well-accepted neurogenic determinant during development, in adult neural progenitor cells and in acute brain injury models. In the adult brain Pax6 is expressed in selective populations of dopaminergic neurons, and thus may have a role to play in Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study looked at post-mortem tissue from patients with PD and in particular the substantia nigra which sho Read More

Background: Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Although, atorvastatin is a well-accepted lipid-lowering agent, the benefits of atorvastatin treatment through an anti-inflammatory mechanism are still unclear. Objective: The present study was designed to examine changes in inflammatory markers following administration of atorvastatin in dyslipidemic patients with a parental history of Alz Read More

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading neurodegenerative disorder affecting the world’s elderly population. Most experimental models of AD are transgenic or pharmacological in nature, and do not simulate the entire pathophysiology. In the present study, we developed a pharmacologically induced AD using the zebrafish, a species that can recapitulate most of the phenotypes of the disease. The pharmacological agent being Read More

Dystonia is a hyperkinetic disabling movement disorder. In the dtsz hamster, a model of paroxysmal dystonia, pronounced antidystonic effects of the KV7.2-5 potassium channel opener retigabine and aggravation of dystonia by a selective KV7.2-5 blocker indicated a pathophysiological role of an abnormal expression of KV7 channels. We therefore investigated the expression of KV7 subunits in brains of dystonic hamsters. Whil Read More

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial disturbances are the common and important causative factors of aging, and play an important role in the late onset of sporadic neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD). Furthermore, emerging evidence from in vitro and in vivo disease models suggests that oxidative stress and increased vulnerability to induction of mitochondrial permeability transition leads to the patho Read More

Objective: Determine if donepezil will raise the insulin-like growth factor-1 levels of patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Design: In an outpatient setting, recruit amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease patients who were to start treatment with donepezil. Measure total serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels before and after 3-6 months of treatment. Results: Twe Read More

Alzheimer disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders widely occurring among the elderly. The pathogenic mechanisms involved in the development of this disease are still unknown. In AD, in addition to brain, a number of peripheral tissues and cells are affected, including erythrocytes. In this study, we analyzed glycolytic energy metabolism, antioxidant status, glutathione, adenylate and proteolyti Read More