Frontiers in Neurotherapeutics Series – Serie

Understanding and addressing the current opioid crisis requires knowledge of endogenous opioids (endorphins and enkephalins), but there is now evidence for a benzodiazepine crisis. Are there endogenous benzodiazepine-like substances—and what do they do? How do they affect antianxiety drugs and their adverse effects? Do they explain enigmatic prolonged benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome? This book raises important questions about the clinical consequences of ignoring the existence of or understanding the potential influence of endogenous benzodiazepines on the therapeutic effect of benzodiazepines, their adverse effects, and the problems of withdrawal from them and other benzodiazepine receptor agonists.FEATURESDiscusses endogenous benzodiazepine-like substances—what do they do, and do they affect antianxiety drugs and their adverse effects?Presents information on enigmatic prolonged benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromeDescribes the compounds acting at the BDZ binding sites, both exogenous (classical BDZ drugs and BDZ from food and plants) and endogenous (endozepines)Assesses the putative interactions in physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of the compounds acting at the BDZ binding sitesDr. Raffa is Adjunct Professor at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy and Professor Emeritus at Temple University School of Pharmacy. He has co-authored or edited several books on pharmacology and thermodynamics, is a co-editor of two journals, is a past president of the Mid-Atlantic Pharmacology Society, and is the recipient of research and teaching awards. Dr. Amantea is Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences of the University of Calabria (Italy), where she is the leader of the Stroke Research Unit at the Section of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology operating in the frame of the Italian Stroke Organization (ISO) Basic Science. She is a member of the Editorial Board and the Guest Editor of the 2016 Neuroscience section of Current Opinion in Pharmacology (Elsevier), and the founder and the editor of the CRC Press Frontiers in Neurotherapeutics series.

Nervous system diseases represent a major health concern worldwide. Although important financial and professional investment, their etiology and pathophysiology still remain mostly elusive. Moreover, the clinical need of disease-modifying therapies is still unmet.In the last decades, traditional R&D has failed in identifying new effective therapies in many medical areas and drug repositioning has recently emerged as a promising alternative strategy to de novo drug discovery to improve and accelerate therapeutic development.For the first time, Drug Repositioning: Approaches and Applications for Neurotherapeutics reviews history and advances in drug repositioning, with a special focus on therapeutics for nervous system diseases. International experts from Academia, Industry and Non-profit organisations will provide different views on drug repositioning advantages, challenges and specific applications, which will be covered for nervous system diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's diseases, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, ischemic stroke, and psychiatric disorders.This book provides a balanced overview and synthesis of drug repositioning concept, methods and applications for neurotherapeutics. It represents a valuable resource for students, scientists and clinicians working in academic settings, industry and government agencies within the fields of neuroscience, pharmacology, neurology, pharmaceutical sciences, drug discovery and development.

In recent years, understanding of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, the molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate gene expression, and the functional roles of miRNAs has expanded. Mapping of Nervous System Diseases via MicroRNAs provides an up-to-date review on the function of miRNA in neurological diseases as well as advancements in technology for therapeutic modulation of miRNA activity.MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. A growing body of evidence suggests that miRNAs are dysregulated in several neurological disorders. In addition to reviewing general concepts and novel insights on brain function in relation to miRNA, this book also examines the role of miRNA in:Neurological diseasesNeurodegenerative diseasesNeuropsychiatric diseasesNeurodevelopmental diseasesThe book also discusses the significance of miRNAs as diagnostic tools, biomarkers, agents, and targets in the detection and treatment of neurological diseases. Each chapter contains material regarding future diagnostic and therapeutic advances.Molecular and cellular neurobiological studies of miRNA-mediated gene silencing in the nervous system have opened new frontiers for the development of new diagnostic tests and genetic therapies for neurological diseases. Covering the full range of relevant concepts and giving a look into present and future possibilities, Mapping of Nervous System Diseases via MicroRNAs is a necessary cutting-edge reference for neurologists, neuropathologists, and researchers and practitioners in a wide range of related fields.

Understanding and addressing the current opioid crisis requires knowledge of endogenous opioids (endorphins and enkephalins), but there is now evidence for a benzodiazepine crisis. Are there endogenous benzodiazepine-like substances—and what do they do? How do they affect antianxiety drugs and their adverse effects? Do they explain enigmatic prolonged benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome? This book raises important questions about the clinical consequences of ignoring the existence of or understanding the potential influence of endogenous benzodiazepines on the therapeutic effect of benzodiazepines, their adverse effects, and the problems of withdrawal from them and other benzodiazepine receptor agonists.FEATURESDiscusses endogenous benzodiazepine-like substances—what do they do, and do they affect antianxiety drugs and their adverse effects?Presents information on enigmatic prolonged benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromeDescribes the compounds acting at the BDZ binding sites, both exogenous (classical BDZ drugs and BDZ from food and plants) and endogenous (endozepines)Assesses the putative interactions in physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of the compounds acting at the BDZ binding sitesDr. Raffa is Adjunct Professor at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy and Professor Emeritus at Temple University School of Pharmacy. He has co-authored or edited several books on pharmacology and thermodynamics, is a co-editor of two journals, is a past president of the Mid-Atlantic Pharmacology Society, and is the recipient of research and teaching awards. Dr. Amantea is Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences of the University of Calabria (Italy), where she is the leader of the Stroke Research Unit at the Section of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology operating in the frame of the Italian Stroke Organization (ISO) Basic Science. She is a member of the Editorial Board and the Guest Editor of the 2016 Neuroscience section of Current Opinion in Pharmacology (Elsevier), and the founder and the editor of the CRC Press Frontiers in Neurotherapeutics series.

Stroke remains one of the major causes of death and long-term disability worldwide. Currently, the only approved therapy for the acute treatment of this disease is thrombolysis, a strategy that can only be applied to a small percentage of patients due to its narrow therapeutic window. Unfortunately, during the last years numerous promising drugs that showed neuroprotection in the experimental setting failed to translate into the clinic because of their toxicity or lack of efficacy.Researchers in the field now face the crucial need to develop effective stroke therapies and successfully translate novel strategies into the clinical setting. Rational Basis for Clinical Translation in Stroke Therapy presents the most recent promising preclinical approaches and the most updated clinical evidence for treating stroke patients. By bringing together the experience of accomplished stroke researchers and clinicians, the book is a useful tool for improving the treatment and management of stroke patients.The book describes current approaches for the management of stroke patients including thrombolysis and mechanical recanalization procedures as well as other clinically relevant topics such as diagnosis, imaging, risk factors, and prevention. Also described are emerging interventions based on the use of stem cells, botulinum toxin, and antidepressants which complement emergency stroke treatment and conventional rehabilitation procedures. Clinical approaches are integrated with the most promising therapeutic opportunities based on targeting the immune system, hypothermia, and postconditioning. The book also covers issues related to the improvement of R&D strategies in stroke therapeutics, aimed at the implementation of preclinical approaches with stroke model guidelines and at the optimization of clinical trial design. This volume is a reference for all those interested in the rational development of novel stroke therapeutics.

Stroke remains one of the major causes of death and long-term disability worldwide. Currently, the only approved therapy for the acute treatment of this disease is thrombolysis, a strategy that can only be applied to a small percentage of patients due to its narrow therapeutic window. Unfortunately, during the last years numerous promising drugs that showed neuroprotection in the experimental setting failed to translate into the clinic because of their toxicity or lack of efficacy.Researchers in the field now face the crucial need to develop effective stroke therapies and successfully translate novel strategies into the clinical setting. Rational Basis for Clinical Translation in Stroke Therapy presents the most recent promising preclinical approaches and the most updated clinical evidence for treating stroke patients. By bringing together the experience of accomplished stroke researchers and clinicians, the book is a useful tool for improving the treatment and management of stroke patients.The book describes current approaches for the management of stroke patients including thrombolysis and mechanical recanalization procedures as well as other clinically relevant topics such as diagnosis, imaging, risk factors, and prevention. Also described are emerging interventions based on the use of stem cells, botulinum toxin, and antidepressants which complement emergency stroke treatment and conventional rehabilitation procedures. Clinical approaches are integrated with the most promising therapeutic opportunities based on targeting the immune system, hypothermia, and postconditioning. The book also covers issues related to the improvement of R&D strategies in stroke therapeutics, aimed at the implementation of preclinical approaches with stroke model guidelines and at the optimization of clinical trial design. This volume is a reference for all those interested in the rational development of novel stroke therapeutics.

Nervous system diseases represent a major health concern worldwide. Although important financial and professional investment, their etiology and pathophysiology still remain mostly elusive. Moreover, the clinical need of disease-modifying therapies is still unmet.In the last decades, traditional R&D has failed in identifying new effective therapies in many medical areas and drug repositioning has recently emerged as a promising alternative strategy to de novo drug discovery to improve and accelerate therapeutic development.For the first time, Drug Repositioning: Approaches and Applications for Neurotherapeutics reviews history and advances in drug repositioning, with a special focus on therapeutics for nervous system diseases. International experts from Academia, Industry and Non-profit organisations will provide different views on drug repositioning advantages, challenges and specific applications, which will be covered for nervous system diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's diseases, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, ischemic stroke, and psychiatric disorders.This book provides a balanced overview and synthesis of drug repositioning concept, methods and applications for neurotherapeutics. It represents a valuable resource for students, scientists and clinicians working in academic settings, industry and government agencies within the fields of neuroscience, pharmacology, neurology, pharmaceutical sciences, drug discovery and development.