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Anti-Inflammatory
& Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
(Formerly 'Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Allergy Agents')
ISSN: 1871-5230 - Volume 10, 6 Issues, 2011
OPEN ACCESS PLUS
Contents
Neuropeptides and Other Chemical Mediators, and the
Role of Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Primary Headaches 2010,
9, 170-188
M. Samsam, R. Covenas, R. Ahangari and
J. Yajeya
[Abstract] [Full
Text Article]
Methamphetamine and HIV Infection, Role in Neurocognitive
Dysfunction, 2009, 8, 184-191
Katherine Conant, Arun Venkatesan and Avindra Nath
[Abstract]
[Full
Text Article]
Abstracts
[Back to top]
Neuropeptides and Other Chemical Mediators, and the
Role of Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Primary Headaches
M. Samsam, R. Covenas, R. Ahangari and
J. Yajeya
[Full
Text Article]
Primary headaches including the migraine, cluster, and tension
headaches are common neurological disorders which cause pain
and disability to the patients. The pathomechanism of migraine
is not very well understood however, current clinical findings
indicate a possible primary brain disorder due to activation
of the brain and brainstem as triggers for migraine. The headache
phase of migraine may be due to activation of the peripheral
nerves including the trigeminal nerve and others innervating
the cranial blood vessels and release of vasoactive substances
including the calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP), possibly
leading to vasodilation and brainstem activation. Several
of our studies in an experimental model of pain using electrical
stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion in rats focused on
various neuropeptides release from the peripheral and central
trigeminal nerve terminals, however, clinically only the CGRP
in migraine and CGRP and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
in cluster headache were found in patient’s blood. Although
several drugs are used in the treatment of migraine, the non-steroid
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the triptan family of
drugs are the first choice drugs recommended for the treatment
of acute migraine headache. Although clinically very few studies
detected other vasoactive/inflammatory molecules in the blood
of migraine patients, sensitization of peripheral axons can
involve many inflammatory mediators affecting the peripheral
tissue substrates of pain. Moreover, central sensitization
in the trigeminal nucleus can also contribute to additional
pain responses. This article reviews neuropeptides and other
molecules involved in primary headaches and major drugs proposed
for their treatment in recent years.
[Back to top]
Methamphetamine and HIV Infection, Role in Neurocognitive
Dysfunction
Katherine Conant, Arun Venkatesan and Avindra
Nath
[Full
Text Article]
The use of methamphetamine is steadily increasing
worldwide. Its use is associated with high-risk sexual behavior
and subsequent infection with HIV. Methamphetamine has profound
effects on the brain both as an acute intoxicant and following
chronic exposure. The combined effects of HIV and methamphetamine
appear to result in widespread neuronal and white matter injury.
These changes are most prominent in the basal ganglia and
frontal lobe, and are not restricted to dopaminergic neurons.
Additionally, methamphetamine and HIV proteins disrupt the
blood brain barrier, cause glial cell activation and impair
the function of neural progenitor cells. Methamphetamine also
results in increased HIV replication via activation of chemokine
receptors involved in HIV entry. Common pathways in several
of these effects seem to involve induction of oxidative stress.
Characterization of these subcellular pathways and identification
of common targets is essential for development of therapeutic
strategies for HIV-infected methamphetamine abusers.
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