Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
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Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Jan 2010
ReviewREM sleep behavior disorder: Updated review of the core features, the REM sleep behavior disorder-neurodegenerative disease association, evolving concepts, controversies, and future directions.
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia manifested by vivid, often frightening dreams associated with simple or complex motor behavior during REM sleep. The polysomnographic features of RBD include increased electromyographic tone +/- dream enactment behavior during REM sleep. Management with counseling and pharmacologic measures is usually straightforward and effective. ⋯ The literature and our institutional experience on RBD are next discussed, with an emphasis on the RBD-neurodegenerative disease association and particularly the RBD-synucleinopathy association. Several issues relating to evolving concepts, controversies, and future directions are then reviewed, with an emphasis on idiopathic RBD representing an early feature of a neurodegenerative disease and particularly an evolving synucleinopathy. Planning for future therapies that impact patients with idiopathic RBD is reviewed in detail.
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Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Jan 2010
ReviewFamilial pain syndromes from mutations of the NaV1.7 sodium channel.
The literature currently suggests that voltage-gated sodium channels play a major role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Alterations in the expression and targeting of specific sodium channels within injured dorsal root ganglia neurons appear to predispose the neurons to abnormal firing properties, allowing for the development of neuropathic pain. Mutations of one particular sodium channel (Na(v)1.7) have been shown to cause inherited neuropathic pain in humans, specifically in erythromelalgia and paroxysmal extreme pain disorder. ⋯ Conversely, a loss-of-function of the Na(v)1.7 channel can produce channelopathy-associated insensitivity to pain. Therefore, the Na(v)1.7 channel may provide a unique target for the pharmacotherapy of pain in humans. In this review article we summarize current knowledge regarding several different disease manifestations arising from changes within the Na(v)1.7 channel.
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Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Oct 2009
AddNeuroMed--the European collaboration for the discovery of novel biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
There is an urgent need for Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers-especially in the context of clinical trials. Biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease progression, and prediction are most critical, and disease-modification therapy development may depend on the discovery and validation of such markers. AddNeuroMed is a cross European, public/private consortium developed for AD biomarker discovery. ⋯ Second, design is paramount and combining modalities, such as imaging and proteomics, may be informative. Third, animal models are valuable in biomarker research. Most importantly, we have learned that plasma markers are feasible.
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Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Sep 2009
Clinical TrialAn open-label study adding creatine monohydrate to ongoing medical regimens in patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome.
Fibromyalgia is an ill-defined condition that causes pain and disability but still lacks effective treatment. The aim of this open-label study was to assess the efficacy of administering a food supplement, creatine monohydrate, in an "add on" to existing therapies in patients with fibromyalgia. ⋯ These results deteriorated 4 weeks after stopping creatine therapy. The findings of this study are preliminary and limited due to the small sample and relatively high rate of dropouts.
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Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. · Aug 2009
Involvement of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in apoptosis induced by genistein in human cervical cancer cells.
Genistein, a naturally occurring isoflavonoid abundant in soy products, has anticancer activity in multiple tumor cells. In this study, we evaluated the apoptotic effect of genistein on cervical cancer cells and its mechanism of apoptosis. Genistein inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer cells (HeLa, CaSki, and C33A). ⋯ Interestingly, inhibition of caspase-8 resulted in remarkable reduction of genistein-induced apoptosis. Bax expression was increased and total bid decreased, whereas bcl-2 level was not changed by genistein. Taken together, these results suggest that genistein could induce apoptosis through both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways in human cervical cancer cells.