Simple ammonium salts acting on sigma-1 receptors yield potential treatments for cancer and depression.

Sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors are emerging therapeutic targets. We have identified that simple ammonium salts bind to these receptors and are effective in vivo. Radioligand binding assays were used to obtain structure-activity relationships of these salts.

Effect of spinal flexion and extension in the lateral decubitus position on the unilaterality of spinal anesthesia using hyperbaric bupivacaine.

Background And Aims: Many unilateral lower limb orthopedic surgeries are conducted under unilateral spinal anesthesia with full flexion of spine and immediate extension after local anesthetic administration into the subarachnoid space. Studies have shown that extension of the spine in lateral decubitous position makes cauda equina to sink to the dependent side due to gravity. Continuous flexion of the spine causes sunken cauda equina to be suspended in the middle of the subarachnoid space increasing the possibility of unilateralization of the block.

Bringing the visible universe into focus with Robo-AO.

The angular resolution of ground-based optical telescopes is limited by the degrading effects of the turbulent atmosphere. In the absence of an atmosphere, the angular resolution of a typical telescope is limited only by diffraction, i.e.

An activity model for novel antidepressants that interact with the serotonin transporter (SERT).

Dysfunction of serotoninergic neurotransmission is known to be involved in the pathophysiology of major depression. The molecules that enhance the level of serotonin either via blocking serotonin reuptake or through inhibition of its metabolism are effective antidepressants. With this as the basis, a group of new molecules that supposedly effect serotoninergic neurotransmission were designed and tested.

Animal models of tardive dyskinesia.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a complex hyperkinetic syndrome characterized by choriform, athetoid, and rhythmic abnormal involuntary movements. Even though various neuroprotective strategies have been explored for the management of TD, nevertheless, the condition is difficult to treat. Various homologous, analogous, and correlational animal models have been standardized to understand the complex neurobiology of TD.

Minocycline attenuates the development of diabetic neuropathic pain: possible anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant mechanisms.

Painful neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes mellitus is characterized by allodynia and hyperalgesia. Recent studies emphasized on the role of non-neuronal cells, particularly microglia in the development of neuronal hypersensitivity. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effect of minocyline, a selective inhibitor of microglial activation to define the role of neuroimmune activation in experimental diabetic neuropathy.

Protective effect of curcumin and its combination with piperine (bioavailability enhancer) against haloperidol-associated neurotoxicity: cellular and neurochemical evidence.

Long-term treatment with haloperidol is associated with a number of extrapyramidal side effects, particularly the irregular movements of chorionic type. This limitation presents a marked therapeutic challenge. The present study investigates the molecular etiology of haloperidol neurotoxicity and the role of curcumin, a well-known anti-oxidant, in ameliorating these adverse effects.

Curcumin pretreatment protects against acute acrylonitrile-induced oxidative damage in rats.

Acrylonitrile (AN) is widely used in the manufacturing of fibers, plastics and pharmaceuticals. Free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation is implicated in the toxicity of AN. The present study was designed to examine the ability of curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound, to attenuate acute AN-induced lipid peroxidation in the brain and liver of rats.

Potentials of curcumin as an antidepressant.

Major depression, a debilitating psychiatric disorder, is predicted to be the second most prevalent human illness by the year 2020. Various antidepressants, ranging from monoamine oxidase inhibitors to recently developed dual reuptake inhibitors, are prescribed for alleviating the symptoms of depression. Despite the availability of these blockbuster molecules, approximately 30% of depressed patients do not respond to the existing drug therapies and the remaining 70% fails to achieve complete remission.

sigma-1 receptors in major depression and anxiety.

Major depression and anxiety are two of the major psychiatric disorders that have some overlapping pathophysiologies, the most significant being the dysfunction in the monoaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic systems. A large number of drugs that alter these neurotransmitter levels/systems are effective in the treatment of major depression and anxiety. However, full remission of the clinical symptoms has not been achieved, perhaps owing to the complex pathophysiology of the diseases.

Current investigational drugs for major depression.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) report has predicted that major depression will become a key cause of illness-induced disability by the year 2020, second only to ischemic heart diseases.

Objectives/methods: Although a large number of antidepressant drugs (from monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants to dual reuptake inhibitors) are available for treatment of the disease, approximately 30% of patients failed to respond to this therapy. Therefore, the search for newer or novel drug targets for the treatment of major depression continues.

In vivo microdialysis studies of striatal level of neurotransmitters after haloperidol and chlorpromazine administration.

Therapeutic success of atypical antipsychotics has focused the attention on the role of receptor systems other than dopaminergic system in the pathophysiology of neuroleptics-associated acute (Parkinson's like syndrome) and chronic (tardive dyskinesia) extrapyramidal side effects. This study was planned to investigate changes in striatal levels of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin after acute and chronic administration of classical neuroleptics (haloperidol and chlorpromazine). These changes were correlated with behavioural alterations in rats.

Effect of Surfactants on the Structure and Morphology of Magnesium Borate Hydroxide Nanowhiskers Synthesized by Hydrothermal Route.

Magnesium borate hydroxide (MBH) nanowhiskers were synthesized using a one step hydrothermal process with different surfactants. The effect surfactants have on the structure and morphology of the MBH nanowhiskers has been investigated. The X-ray diffraction profile confirms that the as-synthesized material is of single phase, monoclinic MgBO(2)(OH).

Minocycline prevents the development of neuropathic pain, but not acute pain: possible anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.

Glia, particularly astrocytes and microglia, are known to play an important role in central sensitization and are strongly implicated in the exaggerated pain states. In the present study, we determined the effect of minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, in acute nociception, peritonitis, and the development and maintenance of hypersensitivity following chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in rats. A single dose of minocycline (30 or 100 mg/kg, i.

Comparative behavioural profile of newer antianxiety drugs on different mazes.

Anxiety is associated with diverse range of psychiatric conditions. In the present study, antianxiety effect of fluoxetine, citalopram (SSRI's), gabapentin (antiepileptic drugs), venlafaxine (SNRI), clozapine and resperidone (atypical antipsychotics) and a herbal preparation ashwagandha on elevated zero maze and elevated plus maze paradigms was examined. Anti-anxiety potentials of these drugs were compared with diazepam.

Co-administration of nitric oxide (NO) donors prevents haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia, oxidative damage and change in striatal dopamine levels.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) has been considered as a major clinical issue in the treatment of schizophrenia. Various animal studies have indicated the role of oxidative stress and nitric oxide pathway in haloperidol-induced TD. The present study investigated the effect of NO donors (molsidomine and l-arginine) in haloperidol-induced TD in rats.

Development and validation of an RP-HPLC method for the estimation of adenosine and related purines in brain tissues of rats.

A new, rapid and sensitive RP-HPLC method with UV spectrophotometric detection was developed and validated for the concomitant estimation of adenosine and related purines in rat brain tissue preparations. The HPLC system consisted of C-18 column with UV-photodiode-array detection ranging from 210 to 400 nm, facilitating the online confirmation of peak purity. The column temperature was maintained at 30 degrees C and the injection volume was 20 muL.

Activation of striatal inflammatory mediators and caspase-3 is central to haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia.

The undesired extrapyramidal movement disorders observed with long term treatment with haloperidol have been associated with striatal neurodegeneration. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of prolonged haloperidol treatment on striatal levels of inflammatory mediators and caspase-3 and to correlate it with orofacial dyskinesia, a movement disorder observed with long term haloperidol treatment. Prolonged administration of haloperidol (1, 2, 5 mg/kg) to rats produced dose-dependent increase in the orofacial dyskinetic movements and induced a marked oxidative stress in the striatum.

On the mechanism of antidepressant-like action of berberine chloride.

Berberine, an alkaloid isolated from Berberis aristata Linn. has been used in the Indian system of medicines as a stomachic, bitter tonic, antiamoebic and also in the treatment of oriental sores. Evidences have demonstrated that berberine possesses central nervous system activities, particularly the ability to inhibit monoamine oxidase-A, an enzyme involved in the degradation of norepinephrine and serotonin (5-HT).

Differential striatal levels of TNF-alpha, NFkappaB p65 subunit and dopamine with chronic typical and atypical neuroleptic treatment: role in orofacial dyskinesia.

Long term use of typical neuroleptics such as haloperidol may be limited by unwanted motor side effects like tardive dyskinesia characterized by repetitive involuntary movements, involving the mouth, face and trunk. Atypical neuroleptics, such as clozapine and risperidone are devoid of these side effects. However the precise mechanisms of the neuronal toxicity induced by haloperidol are poorly understood.

Licofelone: the answer to unmet needs in osteoarthritis therapy?

Licofelone, a competitive inhibitor of cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 and 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, is under clinical evaluation for its effectiveness in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Licofelone decreases the production of both prostaglandins and leukotrienes and has been shown to possess a combination of analgesic or anti-inflammatory effects with a promising gastrotolerability profile. Available clinical data have shown that licofelone is at least as effective as the conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or coxibs in ameliorating the symptoms of OA, but it may offer the advantage of improved gastrotolerability and fewer or no incidences of worsened peripheral edema.

Protective effect of L-type calcium channel blockers against haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia: a behavioural, biochemical and neurochemical study.

Haloperidol is a classical neuroleptic drug that is still in use and can lead to abnormal motor activity such as tardive dyskinesia (TD) following repeated administration. TD has no effective therapy yet. There is involvement of calcium in triggering the oxidative damage and excitotoxicity, both of which play central role in haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia and associated alterations.

Protective effect of Curcumin, the active principle of turmeric (Curcuma longa) in haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia and associated behavioural, biochemical and neurochemical changes in rat brain.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a motor disorder of the orofacial region resulting from chronic neuroleptic treatment. A high incidence and irreversibility of this hyperkinetic disorder has been considered a major clinical issue in the treatment of schizophrenia. The molecular mechanism related to the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia is not completely known.