Publications by authors named "Zaynab Shakkour"

Neuroproteomics, an emerging field at the intersection of neuroscience and proteomics, has garnered significant attention in the context of neurotrauma research. Neuroproteomics involves the quantitative and qualitative analysis of nervous system components, essential for understanding the dynamic events involved in the vast areas of neuroscience, including, but not limited to, neuropsychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, mental illness, traumatic brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and other neurodegenerative diseases. With advancements in mass spectrometry coupled with bioinformatics and systems biology, neuroproteomics has led to the development of innovative techniques such as microproteomics, single-cell proteomics, and imaging mass spectrometry, which have significantly impacted neuronal biomarker research.

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Given the ambiguity surrounding traumatic brain injury (TBI) pathophysiology and the lack of any Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved neurotherapeutic drugs, there is an increasing need to better understand the mechanisms of TBI. Recently, the roles of inflammasomes have been highlighted as both potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers in different neurodegenerative disorders. Indeed, inflammasome activation plays a pivotal function in the central nervous system (CNS) response to many neurological conditions, as well as to several neurodegenerative disorders, specifically, TBI.

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Synaptic dysregulations often result in damaging effects on the central nervous system, resulting in a wide range of brain and neurodevelopment disorders that are caused by mutations disrupting synaptic proteins. SYT1, an identified synaptotagmin protein, plays an essential role in mediating the release of calcium-triggered neurotransmitters (NT) involved in regular synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Considering the significant role of SYT1 in the physiology of synaptic neurotransmission, dysfunction and degeneration of this protein can result in a severe neurological impairment.

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a heterogeneous disease in its origin, neuropathology, and prognosis, with no FDA-approved treatments. The pathology of TBI is complicated and not sufficiently understood, which is the reason why more than 30 clinical trials in the past three decades turned out unsuccessful in phase III. The multifaceted pathophysiology of TBI involves a cascade of metabolic and molecular events including inflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

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Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and play a crucial role in housekeeping and maintaining homeostasis of the brain microenvironment. Upon injury or disease, microglial cells become activated, at least partly, via signals initiated by injured neurons. Activated microglia, thereby, contribute to both neuroprotection and neuroinflammation.

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As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread globally, it became evident that the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects multiple organs including the brain. Several clinical studies revealed that patients with COVID-19 infection experience an array of neurological signs ranging in severity from headaches to life-threatening strokes. Although the exact mechanism by which the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly impacts the brain is not fully understood, several theories have been suggested including direct and indirect pathways induced by the virus.

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The use of methamphetamine (METH) is a growing worldwide epidemic that bears grave societal implications. METH is known to exert its neurotoxic effects on the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems of the brain. In addition to this classical studied mechanism of damage, findings from our laboratory and others have shown that acute METH treatment and mechanical injury, i.

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major health concern affecting the neuropsychological health; TBI is accompanied by drastic long-term adverse complications that can influence many aspects of the life of affected individuals. A substantial number of studies have shown that mood disorders, particularly depression, are the most frequent complications encountered in individuals with TBI. Post-traumatic depression (P-TD) is present in approximately 30% of individuals with TBI, with the majority of individuals experiencing symptoms of depression during the first year following head injury.

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity affecting all ages. It remains to be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, in which, to date, there is no Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for treating patients suffering from TBI. The heterogeneity of the disease and the associated complex pathophysiology make it difficult to assess the level of the trauma and to predict the clinical outcome.

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Article Synopsis
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global cause of death and disability, yet no FDA-approved drugs effectively treat it.
  • Due to the challenges in developing new drugs, there's a growing interest in repurposing existing, safer medications as a more efficient alternative for TBI treatment.
  • The review discusses several FDA-approved drugs, like edaravone and progesterone, that show potential in providing neuroprotection for TBI, supported by recent studies on their effectiveness.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health concern worldwide and is classified based on severity into mild, moderate, and severe. The mechanical injury in TBI leads to a metabolic and ionic imbalance, which eventually leads to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a state of oxidative stress. To date, no drug has been approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) for the treatment of TBI.

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Article Synopsis
  • * It not only reduces oxidative stress but also has good effects on inflammation, nitric oxide production, and cell death, showing promise in various neurological conditions beyond just stroke.
  • * The review discusses the potential for repurposing edaravone for treating traumatic brain injury (TBI), focusing on its biochemical properties and its positive impact on neurological disorders.
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