Articles: brain.
-
Acta neurochirurgica · Oct 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyBrain metabolic and hemodynamic effects of cyclosporin A after human severe traumatic brain injury: a microdialysis study.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major limiting factor in neuronal recovery following traumatic brain injury. Cyclosporin A (CsA) has been recently proposed for use in the early phase after severe head injury, for its ability to preserve mitochondrial bioenergetic state, potentially exerting a neuroprotective effect. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the effect of CsA on brain energy metabolism, as measured by cerebral microdialysis, and on cerebral hemodynamics, in a group of severely head injured patients. ⋯ The administration of CsA in the early phase after head injury resulted in significantly higher extracellular fluid glucose and pyruvate, which may be evidence of a beneficial effect. The early administration of CsA was also associated with a significant increase in MAP and CPP and such a potentially beneficial hemodynamic effect might contribute to a neuroprotective effect.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Safety, efficacy, and biomarker findings of PBT2 in targeting Abeta as a modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease: a phase IIa, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
PBT2 is a metal-protein attenuating compound (MPAC) that affects the Cu2(+)-mediated and Zn2(+)-mediated toxic oligomerisation of Abeta seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Strong preclinical efficacy data and the completion of early, clinical safety studies have preceded this phase IIa study, the aim of which was to assess the effects of PBT2 on safety, efficacy, and biomarkers of AD. ⋯ The safety profile is favourable for the ongoing development of PBT2. The effect on putative biomarkers for AD in CSF but not in plasma is suggestive of a central effect of the drug on Abeta metabolism. Cognitive efficacy was restricted to two measures of executive function. Future trials that are larger and longer will establish if the effects of PBT2 on biomarkers and cognition that are reported here translate into clinical effectiveness.
-
Multicenter Study
The pilot European Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative of the European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium.
In North America, the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has established a platform to track the brain changes of Alzheimer's disease. A pilot study has been carried out in Europe to test the feasibility of the adoption of the ADNI platform (pilot E-ADNI). ⋯ Academic EADC centers can adopt the ADNI platform to enroll MCI and AD patients and older controls with global cognitive and structural imaging features remarkably similar to those of the US-ADNI.
-
J. Neurosci. Methods · Jun 2008
Multicenter StudyDefault mode network as revealed with multiple methods for resting-state functional MRI analysis.
Recently, human brain activity during a resting-state has attracted increasing attention. Several studies have found that there are two networks: the default mode network and its anti-correlation network. Some studies have subsequently showed that the functions of brain areas within the default mode network are crucial in human mental activity. ⋯ Our results showed the existence of these two networks prominently and consistently during a resting- and conscious-state across the three methods. This consistency was exhibited in four independent groups of normal adults. Moreover, the current results provided evidences that the brain areas within the two anti-correlated networks are highly integrated at both the intra- and inter-regional level.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of tarenflurbil in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a randomised phase II trial.
The amyloid-beta peptide Abeta(42) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to test the effects of tarenflurbil, a selective Abeta(42)-lowering agent (SALA), on cognition and function in patients with mild to moderate AD. ⋯ Myriad Pharmaceuticals.