Restor Neurol Neuros
-
Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2007
The novel antiepileptic agent RWJ-333369-A, but not its analog RWJ-333369, reduces regional cerebral edema without affecting neurobehavioral outcome or cell death following experimental traumatic brain injury.
To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of two antiepileptic compounds, RWJ-333369 and RWJ-333369-A in a well-established experimental model of lateral fluid percussion (FP) traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the rat. ⋯ These results indicate that the novel antiepileptic compound RWJ-333369-A reduces post-traumatic hippocampal edema without affecting neurobehavioral or histological outcome. It remains unclear whether this small effect on hippocampal edema ie related to the ability of this compound to attenuate seizure activity.
-
Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2007
Cerebrolysin enhances functional recovery following focal cerebral infarction in rats.
Cerebrolysin, a preparation derived from porcine brain, contains a mixture of neurotrophic peptides. We tested the effects of Cerebrolysin in a model of stroke recovery in rats. ⋯ These results suggest that Cerebrolysin may be a useful treatment for enhancing neurological recovery after stroke.
-
Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2007
Lentiviral vector-mediated reporter gene expression in avulsed spinal ventral root is short-term, but is prolonged using an immune "stealth" transgene.
Spinal root avulsions result in paralysis of the upper and/or lower extremities. Implanting a peripheral nerve bridge or reinsertion of the avulsed roots in the spinal cord are surgical strategies that lead to some degree of functional recovery. In the current study lentiviral (LV) vector-mediated gene transfer of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene was used to study the feasibility of gene therapy in the reimplanted root to further promote regeneration of motor axons. ⋯ Thus persistent transgene expression can be achieved with non-immunogenic transgene products in reimplanted ventral roots. This demonstrates the feasibility of combining neurosurgical repair with LV vector-mediated gene therapy. The current approach will be used in future experiments with LV vectors encoding neurotrophic factors to enhance the regeneration of spinal motor neurons after traumatic avulsion of spinal nerve roots.
-
Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyImpact of creatine kinase correction on the predictive value of S-100B after mild traumatic brain injury.
To validate a correction factor for the extracranial release of the astroglial protein, S-100B, based on concomitant creatine kinase (CK) levels. ⋯ Although S-100B is overall poorly predictive of outcome, a correction factor using CK is a valid means of accounting for extracranial release. By increasing the proportion of mild TBI patients correctly categorized as low risk for abnormal head CT, CK-corrected S100-B can further reduce the number of unnecessary brain CT scans performed after this injury.
-
Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2006
ReviewStatin-mediated protective effects in the central nervous system: general mechanisms and putative role of stress proteins.
The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or "statins", are used as cholesterol-lowering agents worldwide. This review, focused on recent experimental and clinical data, summarizes general mechanisms of statin actions underlying neuroprotective effects in the central nervous system (CNS) and presents evidence for putative mechanisms involving heat shock proteins and the survival-related PI-3K/Akt pathway that may be beneficial for the treatment of neurological disorders. ⋯ Available data suggest that statins may be of potential therapeutic use in a variety of diseases of the CNS including ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and some forms of retinal and eye diseases. Before general recommendations can be made and specific therapeutic approaches can be developed, more reliable clinical data and studies are required, and possible side effects must be carefully evaluated.