Clinical neuropharmacology
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Clin Neuropharmacol · May 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyCombination treatment with aripiprazole and valproic acid for acute mania: an 8-week, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.
Despite the fact that combination treatment for patients with acute bipolar is prevalent in clinical practice, the outcomes of adjunct treatment with aripiprazole and a mood stabilizer have rarely been reported. The aim of this single-blind, randomized, controlled trial was to investigate treatment efficacy and safety of aripiprazole as an adjunct to valproic acid (Ari+Val), compared with haloperidol plus valproic acid (Hal+Val), in acute manic patients. ⋯ Our findings suggest that both combination strategies with Ari+Val and Hal+Val are beneficial for acute manic episode. Although patients receiving Ari+Val showed fewer extrapyramidal symptoms than those taking Hal+Val, careful consideration of adverse events such as weight gain and sedation is warranted.
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Lennox Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is an epileptic encephalopathy characterized by tonic, atonic, and atypical absence seizures usually refractory to pharmacological treatment. Patients generally continue with seizures despite treatment with the commercially available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Lacosamide (LCM) is a new AED recently approved for treatment of partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization. Lacosamide has a novel mechanism of action that seems to be different in relation to other conventional AEDs. ⋯ Lennox Gastaut syndrome may exacerbate tonic seizures and electrical pattern of patients with LGS.
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B lymphocytes seem to have a fundamental role in multiple sclerosis, acting as sensors, coordinators, and regulators of the immune response. Furthermore, they are important in activating T cells and they can mediate tissue injury through diverse mechanisms. Such findings have important therapeutic implications in autoimmune central nervous system diseases in a fashion similar to other autoimmune processes. ⋯ This review summarizes the available data on the role of B cell in multiple sclerosis and further reports on current knowledge on the B-cell-depleting monoclonal antibody rituximab, its mechanism of action, and its efficacy on multiple sclerosis. Data presented were categorized in 3 groups based on the nature of data presented (radiological, clinical, and immunological data). Both case-control studies and case reports were included, while table classification was in chronological order.
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Mar 2012
Comparative StudyPitolisant, an inverse agonist of the histamine H3 receptor: an alternative stimulant for narcolepsy-cataplexy in teenagers with refractory sleepiness.
Narcolepsy is a rare disabling sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone). Drugs such as pitolisant, which block histamine H3 autoreceptors, constitute a newly identified class of stimulants because they increase brain histamine and enhance wakefulness in animal and human adult narcolepsy. ⋯ Pitolisant could constitute an acceptable alternative for the treatment of refractory sleepiness in teenagers with narcolepsy.
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Jan 2012
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of the amyloid β monoclonal antibody solanezumab in Japanese and white patients with mild to moderate alzheimer disease.
Solanezumab is a humanized anti-amyloid β monoclonal antibody being developed as a passive immunization treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). Pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability after a single dose of solanezumab were compared between Japanese and white patients with AD. ⋯ When administered as a per-kilogram single dose of solanezumab, PK and pharmacodynamics (plasma total Aβ1-40 concentration) in the Japanese patients with AD were comparable with those in the white patients with AD. In addition, solanezumab was generally well tolerated in both Japanese and white patients at all dose levels.