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International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2022Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly debilitating fatal neurodegenerative disorder, causing muscle atrophy and weakness, which leads to paralysis and... (Review)
Review
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly debilitating fatal neurodegenerative disorder, causing muscle atrophy and weakness, which leads to paralysis and eventual death. ALS has a multifaceted nature affected by many pathological mechanisms, including oxidative stress (also via protein aggregation), mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, axonal degeneration, skeletal muscle deterioration and viruses. This complexity is a major obstacle in defeating ALS. At present, riluzole and edaravone are the only drugs that have passed clinical trials for the treatment of ALS, notwithstanding that they showed modest benefits in a limited population of ALS. A dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate combination was also approved to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA) in the course of ALS. Globally, there is a struggle to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of this neurodegenerative disease, including implementation of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), CRISPR-9/Cas technique, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) or ALS-on-a-chip technology. Additionally, researchers have synthesized and screened new compounds to be effective in ALS beyond the drug repurposing strategy. Despite all these efforts, ALS treatment is largely limited to palliative care, and there is a strong need for new therapeutics to be developed. This review focuses on and discusses which therapeutic strategies have been followed so far and what can be done in the future for the treatment of ALS.
Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Combined Modality Therapy; Deep Brain Stimulation; Drug Discovery; Edaravone; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Riluzole
PubMed: 35269543
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052400 -
CNS Spectrums Dec 2016Pseudobulbar affect, thought by many to be a relatively newly described condition, is in fact a very old one, described as early as the 19th century. It refers to those... (Review)
Review
Pseudobulbar affect, thought by many to be a relatively newly described condition, is in fact a very old one, described as early as the 19th century. It refers to those who experience inappropriate affect, disconnected from internal state, or mood, generally thought to be the result of an upper motor neuron injury or illness. One possible explanation for this condition's relative obscurity is the dearth of treatment options; clinical medicine is not typically in the habit of identifying conditions that cannot be modified. Now, however, there is good evidence for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect, and even a therapy approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, appropriate identification and subsequent management of pseudobulbar affect is more important than ever. This article purports to summarize the origins of pseudobulbar affect, most current hypotheses as to its physiopathology, clinical identification, and evidence for management.
Topics: Dextromethorphan; Drug Combinations; Early Diagnosis; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Humans; Pseudobulbar Palsy; Quinidine
PubMed: 28044945
DOI: 10.1017/S1092852916000791 -
Handbook of Clinical Neurology 2019Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is characterized by uncontrollable emotional episodes disconnected or disproportionate with mood, in association with an array of neurologic... (Review)
Review
Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is characterized by uncontrollable emotional episodes disconnected or disproportionate with mood, in association with an array of neurologic conditions. PBA is associated with disruption of descending control of brainstem motor circuitry and dysregulation of serotonergic and glutamatergic function. PBA has been historically under recognized, though advances resulting in more specific diagnostic criteria, validated rating scales, and an approved pharmacotherapy offer opportunities for improved treatment outcomes.
Topics: Affective Symptoms; Brain Stem; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Mood Disorders; Motor Cortex; Pseudobulbar Palsy; Psychopharmacology; Psychotropic Drugs
PubMed: 31727215
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-444-64012-3.00014-9