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Immunocal® and preservation of glutathione as a novel neuroprotective strategy for degenerative disorders of the nervous system.
Authors: Ross EK, Gray JJ, Winter AN, Linseman DA Abstract Oxidative stress and glutathione (GSH) depletion are both recognized as significant contributors to the pathogenesis of many devastating neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, mitochondrial dysfunction leads to the aberrant production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are capable of oxidizing key cellular proteins, lipids, and DNA, ultimately triggering cell death. In addition to other roles that it plays in the cell, GSH functions as a critical scavenger of these ROS. Therefore, GSH depletion exacerbates cell damage due ...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Therapeutic antioxidants for neurodegenerative disease.
Authors: Linseman DA PMID: 22857712 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery)
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Postnatal neurogenesis and dopamine alterations in early psychosis.
Authors: Inta D, Lima-Ojeda JM, Gass P, Fusar-Poli P Abstract Schizophrenia is most likely a neurodevelopmental disorder with a characteristic delayed onset of symptoms occurring usually during transition from adolescence to adulthood. Recent studies revealed that both genetic and environmental risk factors for the disease disturb not only embryonic, but also postnatal neurogenesis, possible contributing to neurochemical alterations associated with schizophrenia. Several recent patents proposed therapeutic interventions in schizophrenia by increasing postnatal neurogenesis. It remains, however, unclear, ho...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Astrocytic 5-HT(2B) receptor as in vitro and in vivo target of SSRIs.
Authors: Peng L, Huang J Abstract Most studies in this journal describe recent patents. The present study only has one such reference. Instead, we hope that its contents will trigger investigation of antidepressant drugs along the suggested lines and lead to ensuing patent applications - first and foremost by more focus on astrocytes. Clinical research has already pointed towards the importance of these cells, which account for one quarter of brain cortical volume and at least as much of its oxidative metabolism. Astrocytes express a multitude of receptors, including 5-HT(2B) receptors. In cultured astrocy...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

The role of stem cell factor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in treatment of stroke.
This article summarizes the discovery of new routes of treatment for acute and chronic stroke using two hematopoietic growth factors, stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). In a study of acute stroke, SCF and G-CSF alone or in combination displays neuroprotective effects in an animal model of stroke. SCF appears to be the optimal treatment for acute stroke as the functional outcome is superior to G-CSF alone or in combination (SCF+G-CSF); however, SCF+G-CSF does show better functional recovery than G-CSF. In a chronic stroke study, the therapeutic effects of SCF and G-CSF alone or in comb...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

D-Arginine: A Functionally Neutralizing D-Amino Acid against Glucocorticoids Neurotoxic Effects in the Hippocampus: Promising Outcome for Neurological Diseases.
Authors: Canteros MG, Ponce A, Torner L Abstract Glucocorticoids (GC) are essential to maintain normal life. They are important for the healthy development of the unborn and also in adult human to confront physiological life stress. But, when GC rise over physiological concentrations for a long period of time, the Central Nervous System (CNS) is predisposed to develop psychiatric disorders and neurological diseases. GC deleterious effects in the CNS are partially mediated through the activation of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS). This GC effect leads to a strong involvement with the nitric oxide ...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

The potential for substance P antagonists as anti-cancer agents in brain tumours.
Authors: Harford-Wright E, Lewis KM, Vink R Abstract Despite recent advances in cancer treatment and diagnosis, the prognosis for patients with CNS tumours remains extremely poor. This is, in part, due to the difficulty in completely removing tumours surgically, and also because of the presence of the blood brain barrier, which can prevent the entry of chemotherapeutic agents typically used in cancer treatment. Despite the presence of the blood brain barrier, tumour cells are capable of entering and colonising the brain to form secondary brain tumours. Additionally, tumour related disruption of the blood b...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Anti-seizure medications and estradiol for neuroprotection in epilepsy: the 2013 update.
Authors: Velisek L, Nebieridze N, Chachua T, Veliskova J Abstract Current epilepsy therapy is still symptomatic using anti-seizure, rather than anti-epileptic, medications. This therapy may control the seizure activity but does not prevent or even cure epilepsy. Treatment strategies that could interfere with the process leading to epilepsy (epileptogenesis) would have significant benefits over the current approaches. Neuronal damage contributing to remodeling of the neuronal networks (such as in the hippocampus during temporal lobe epilepsy) is one of the significant components of ongoing epileptogenesis. ...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Different classes of CB2 ligands potentially useful in the treatment of pain.
Authors: Murineddu G, Deligia F, Dore A, Pinna G, Asproni B, Pinna GA Abstract The search of new drugs and targets to treat the pain is an intriguing challenge both for several companies and researchers from academia. In this context, since the modulation of the endocannabinoid system with the non selective phytocannabinoid Δ9-THC produces analgesia and potentiates opioid analgesia in animal models, CB2 ligands studies aimed to explore the involvement of endocannabinoid system in management of pain were started. Several selective CB2 receptor agonists exhibited analgesic activity in preclinical models of ...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

The role of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. where are we now?
Authors: Papaliagkas VT Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a rapidly growing disease that is estimated to affect about 36 million people worldwide, therefore there is an immediate need for its' early diagnosis and treatment. A number of research studies are performed on possible accurate and reliable diagnostic biomarkers of AD. This review study provides an update on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins that are being currently used in clinical practice and studied as biomarkers for early AD diagnosis and their future prospects, as well as relevant patents. PMID: 23489287 [PubMed - indexed for...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Targets of anti-glucocorticoid therapy for stress-related diseases.
Authors: Martocchia A, Stefanelli M, Falaschi GM, Toussan L, Rocchietti March M, Raja S, Romano G, Falaschi P Abstract The stress response during chronic conditions increases vulnerability to diseases through the activation of adaptive systems, in particular, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Dysregulation in HPA activity (central and peripheral) has been reported in chronic diseases, like metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis-related disease, essential hypertension, dementia, depression, particularly during comorbid conditions. Different targets of anti-glucocorticoid ...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Different targets of anti-glucocorticoid treatment have been proposed, acting at supra-hypothalamic, HPA axis, glucocorticoid receptor and post-receptor levels.
Authors: Di Marzo V PMID: 23565885 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery)
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

New pharmacological approaches to the cholinergic system: an overview on muscarinic receptor ligands and cholinesterase inhibitors.
Authors: Greig NH, Reale M, Tata AM Abstract The cholinergic system is expressed in neuronal and in non-neuronal tissues. Acetylcholine (ACh), synthesized in and out of the nervous system can locally contribute to modulation of various cell functions (e.g. survival, proliferation). Considering that the cholinergic system and its functions are impaired in a number of disorders, the identification of new pharmacological approaches to regulate cholinergic system components appears of great relevance. The present review focuses on recent pharmacological drugs able to modulate the activity of cholinergic recept...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Insulin-like growth factor-1 and its derivatives: potential pharmaceutical application for treating neurological conditions.
Authors: Guan J, Mathai S, Liang HP, Gunn AJ Abstract Ischemic brain damage remains a major cause of disability at all ages. This review examines the efficacy, mode of action and mechanisms of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and its derivatives in animal models of acute brain injury and neurodegenerative conditions, their potential in pharmaceutical developments. IGF-1 reduces cell loss and improves long-term neurological function in animal models. IGF-1 needs to be given within a few hours of the insult. However, the therapeutic window can be extended by mild hypothermia, likely by delaying apoptosis. ...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research

Transglutaminase inhibition as a possible therapeutical approach to protect cells from death in neurodegenerative diseases.
Authors: Iannaccone M, Serretiello E, De Vivo G, Martin A, Stefanile A, Titta F, Gentile V Abstract Transglutaminases are ubiquitous enzymes which catalyze post-translational modifications of proteins. The main activity of these enzymes is the cross-linking of glutaminyl residues of a protein/peptide substrate to lysyl residues of a protein/peptide co-substrate. In addition to lysyl residues, other second nucleophilic co-substrates may include monoamines or polyamines (to form mono- or bi-substituted /crosslinked adducts) or -OH groups (to form ester linkages). In absence of co-substrates, the nucleophile ...
Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery - November 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov Source Type: research