Neuroprotection: new pharmacological targets

Recent advances in pharmacological neuroprotection

Treatment of brain ischaemic remains a challenging issue. During the last decade there has been much interest in the development of drugs with signifi cant neuroprotective effects against ischaemic injury in stroke patients. However, clinical trials have been disappointing as, so far, they all have failed to provide evidence for neuroprotection. Several reasons including lack of convincing expe...

New drugs in psychiatry: focus on new pharmacological targets

The approval of psychotropic drugs with novel mechanisms of action has been rare in recent years. To address this issue, further analysis of the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders is essential for identifying new pharmacological targets for psychotropic medications. In this report, we detail drug candidates being examined as treatments for psychiatric disorders. Particular emphasis i...

Novel mitochondrial targets for neuroprotection.

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of acute neurologic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Bioenergetic failure is the primary cause of acute neuronal necrosis, and involves excitotoxicity-associated mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload, resulting in opening of the inner membrane permeability transition pore and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondrial ene...

Cellular Caspases: New Targets for the Action of Pharmacological Agents

Stress-induced neuroinflammation: mechanisms and new pharmacological targets.

Stress is triggered by numerous unexpected environmental, social or pathological stimuli occurring during the life of animals, including humans, which determine changes in all of their systems. Although acute stress is essential for survival, chronic, long-lasting stress can be detrimental. In this review, we present data supporting the hypothesis that stress-related events are characterized by...