The dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) is a Gα-coupled GPCR that is expressed in the midbrain and forebrain, regulating motor behavior, reward, motivational states, and cognitive processes. Although the D1R was initially identified as a promising drug target almost 40 years ago, the development of clinically useful ligands has until recently been hampered by a lack of suitable candidate molecules. The emergence of new non-catechol D1R agonists, biased agonists, and allosteric modulators has renewed clinical interest in drugs targeting this receptor, specifically for the treatment of motor impairment in Parkinson's Disease, and cognitive impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenetically encoded fluorescent biosensors allow intracellular signaling dynamics to be tracked in live cells and tissues using optical detection. Many such biosensors are based on the principle of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), and we have recently developed a simple approach for in vivo detection of FRET-based biosensor signals using fiber photometry. By combining fiber photometry with FRET-based biosensors, we were able to track GPCR-dependent signaling pathways over time, and in response to drug treatments in freely-moving adult rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndian J Hematol Blood Transfus
January 2020
Cluster of differentiation 96 (CD96) is an important leukemic stem cells (LSCs) surface marker. We evaluated CD96 expression in children with acute leukemia (AL) and described its relation with treatment response. We conducted a prospective cohort study in Mansoura University Children's Hospital, Egypt during the period from 2014 to 2016.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE), which results in the development of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs) activates glutamatergic receptors that contribute to seizure sustenance and neuronal cell death. In the current study, we evaluate whether the exposure to perampanel, an α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor blocker, or amantadine, a N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor blocker would reduce the SE-induced long-term consequences. SE was induced in adult male Sprague Dawley rats with pilocarpine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To study the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its association with risk factors in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients in two primary care diabetic clinics in Kuwait.
Subjects And Methods: All newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending Ferdous and Yarmouk Health Care Diabetic Clinics in Farwaniya and Asma Health Areas, respectively, during the period of January 2002 to July 2004 were examined for the presence of diabetic retinopathy by color fundus photographs. Risk factors such as sex, age, hypertension, nephropathy, hyperglycemia, level of glycated hemoglobin, microalbuminuria and hyperlipidemia were evaluated by statistical analysis for their possible association with the presence of diabetic retinopathy at the time of diagnosis of diabetes.