Current opinion in neurology
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For many cancers, survival depends on aggressive combined therapies, but treatment comes at a price. Children and adults who receive radiotherapy involving the brain frequently experience a progressive cognitive decline. The overt pathologies of radiation injury such as white matter necrosis or vasculopathy are the obvious "smoking guns" of dysfunction. However, many patients exhibit severe learning and memory deficits with no overt pathologic changes. This is especially true when the radiation field involves the temporal lobes. The cause of this debilitating dysfunction is currently unknown and untreatable. ⋯ Progressive learning and memory deficits following irradiation may be caused by the accumulating hippocampal dysfunction that results from a long-term absence of normal stem/progenitor activity. Here, the authors describe the nature of this stem cell dysfunction and contemplate how restoration of stem/progenitor cell activity might be approached in experimental models and, eventually, the clinic.
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To assess selected papers on surgery for glioma for their impact on clinical practice. ⋯ Despite amazing technical advances in the investigation, assessment and surgical management of patients with glioma, the lack of an evidence basis for 'aggressive' resective management continues to pose dilemmas for surgeons.
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Curr. Opin. Neurol. · Dec 2002
ReviewNeuroprotection and traumatic brain injury: theoretical option or realistic proposition.
Preclinical studies have shown that treatment to limit secondary cell damage can significantly improve outcome after traumatic brain injury. In contrast, neuroprotection trials in human traumatic brain injury have failed to convincingly demonstrate therapeutic benefit. Recent literature has begun to address this discrepancy between preclinical and clinical trials. ⋯ Recognition of these methodological differences between animal and human studies has led to new trial design proposals. For clinical studies, there should be better stratification of patients, a focus on moderate injury and earlier treatment, and larger sample sizes. Animal experiments should better parallel clinical studies and address therapeutic window and treatment optimization. Recognition of multiple cell death pathways should lead to new treatment strategies--including both combination drug treatment and drugs that affect multiple components of the secondary injury cascade.
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Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurotoxic effect of medications. When medications are used to treat life-threatening illnesses, balancing the toxic effects of peripheral neuropathy with the therapeutic benefits of the drug can be difficult. This article examines recent research into the cellular mechanisms associated with neuropathy after treatment with medications to treat cancer, and HIV, and to prevent transplant rejection. ⋯ Improved understanding of neurotoxic mechanisms in the peripheral nervous system associated with chemotherapeutic and anti-HIV medications, coupled with early improved diagnosis, promises to help limit neurotoxicity associated with these medications.