Editorial.

Neurosciences continues to be the leading journal for Neurosciences in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. In January 2007, Neurosciences was indexed by Thomson ISI in Science Citation Index Expanded online at ISI Web of KnowledgeSM and Neurosciences Citation Index. Since then a significantly increased volume of scientific articles continues to be submitted to the journal by enthusiastic authors, a fact that enriches the scientific contents of the journal.

Pentoxifylline ameliorates lithium-pilocarpine induced status epilepticus in young rats.

The neuroprotective effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) against lithium-pilocarpine (Li-Pc)-induced status epilepticus (SE) in young rats are described. Animals treated with PTX (0, 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg) before induction of SE were examined for latency to and frequency of SE, behavioral changes, oxidative stress, neurochemical alterations in the hippocampus and striatum, and histological abnormalities in the hippocampus. Treatment with PTX significantly ameliorated the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures in a dose-dependent manner.

Protective effect of hydrocortisone on iminodipropionitrile-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

Occupational and environmental exposure of synthetic nitriles is of potential relevance to human health. Iminodipropionitrile (IDPN), a prototype nitrile toxin, has been shown to produce dyskinetic syndrome in rodents. This study reports the effect of concomitant exposure of rats to hydrocortisone and IDPN on behavioural abnormalities namely excitation, circling and chorea (ECC) syndrome.

Neuroprotective effect of nicotine against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced experimental Huntington's disease in rats.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are regarded as potential therapeutic targets to control various neurodegenerative diseases. Owing to the relevance of cholinergic neurotransmission in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD) this investigation was aimed to study the effect of nicotine, a nAChR agonist, on 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced neurodegeneration in female Wistar rats. Systemic administration of 3-NP in rats serves as an important model of HD.

Exacerbation of harmaline-induced tremor by imipramine.

Imipramine is a well-established tricyclic antidepressant which was first approved for the treatment of depression in the late fifties. Antidepressant effect of imipramine is attributed to inhibition of serotonin (5HT) and noradrenaline (NA) reuptake in brain. These monoamines have been implicated in a variety of neurological disorders including tremor.

Metoclopramide attenuates iminodipropionitrile-induced oxidative stress and neurobehavioral toxicity in rats.

Metoclopramide (MET) has long been used as a neuroleptic and antiemetic drug in clinical practice. Motor impairment and dyskinesia have been reported in some patients following chronic treatment with MET. Occasionally, the adverse symptoms may appear even after acute exposure to MET in more susceptible population (such as elderly individual) or due to concomitant exposure to MET and certain neurotoxins.

Citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor augments harmaline-induced tremor in rats.

Citalopram, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is one of the widely used antidepressants. Apart from its antidepressant activity citalopram is also used for anxiety, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and behavioral disturbances of dementia. Tremor is the second most common neurological adverse effect in patients receiving treatment with SSRIs.

Influence of age on iminodipropionitrile-induced vestibular and neurobehavioral toxicities in rats.

A direct association between aging and drug-induced dyskinesia has been reported by several investigators. Iminiodipropionitrile (IDPN), a prototype nitrile compound produces a motor syndrome in rodents, which resembles neuroleptic drug induced dyskinesia. In this investigation attempt has been made to study the effect of age on IDPN induced vestibular hair cell degeneration and resulting dyskinetic syndrome.

Caffeine impairs short-term neurological outcome after concussive head injury in rats.

Objective: Adenosine is an endogenous neuroprotective agent that is released during ischemia, hypoxia, epilepsy, and ischemic brain injury. Caffeine is a receptor antagonist for adenosine that might interfere with the neuroprotective effect of adenosine in ischemic-hypoxic conditions. An investigation was undertaken to study the effect of caffeine on neurological function, edema formation, and blood-brain barrier permeability after experimental head injury in rats.

Response to beta interferon 1b among Saudi patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous beta interferon 1b (B1F1b) among Saudi patients with remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (R-R MS).

Methods: An open label study held at the Neurology Division of the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh from March 1997 until December 2001. Thirty-two consecutive patients below the age of 50 years with clinically definite R-R MS according to Poser's Criteria and expanded disability status scale below 5.

Response to beta interferon 1b among Saudi patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous beta interferon 1b (B1F1b) among Saudi patients with remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (R-R MS).

Methods: An open label study held at the Neurology Division of the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh from March 1997 until December 2001. Thirty-two consecutive patients below the age of 50 years with clinically definite R-R MS according to Poser`s Criteria and expanded disability status scale below 5.

Attenuation of iminodipropionitrile induced behavioral syndrome by sodium salicylate in rats.

Iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) produces irreversible behavioral abnormalities characterized by excitation with choreiform and circling movements (ECC) syndrome in rodents. Concomitant exposure to drugs or environmental chemicals has been shown to alter IDPN-induced neurobehavioral toxicity. This investigation was undertaken to study the effect of sodium salicylate (SS) on IDPN-induced behavioral abnormalities in rats.

2-deoxy-D-glucose attenuates harmaline induced tremors in rats.

Neuronal hyperactivity in essential tremor is accompanied by high energy demand in cerebellum, medulla and the thalamus. It has been suggested that brain regions that have increased metabolic demands are highly vulnerable to interruptions in glucose metabolism. In the present investigation attempt was made to study the effect of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) a glycolytic pathway inhibitor on harmaline induced tremor in rats.

Effect of acute caffeine on severity of harmaline induced tremor in rats.

Recent studies suggest an association between caffeine consumption and tremor. However, the available literature is scanty and inconclusive. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of acute caffeine treatment on harmaline induced tremors in the rat.

Neuromyelitis optica.

Neuromyelitis optica disease is characterized by simultaneous or successive attacks involving both the optics nerves and spinal cord without any evidence of the disease elsewhere. We report a 22-year-old Saudi woman with relapsing neuromyelitis optica disease. She had all the clinical, cerebrospinal fluid, and radiological features that differ from primary demyelinating disease.

Diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) impairs neuronal recovery following sciatic nerve injury in rats.

Purpose: Diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) is a substituted dithiocarbamate that is metabolically interconvertible with disulfiram (Ant-abuse). In recent years DEDC has received considerable attention because of its clinical applications and potential role in mediating both the toxic and therapeutic actions of disulfiram which is frequently used for alcohol aversion therapy. DEDC is known for its multiplicity of action that exerts both pro- and antioxidant effects.