Viewpoints:

Dispatches from the Frontlines of Research - edited by John W. Nelson

Jin Mo Chung

The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Persistent Pain
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 248-250. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Sándor Damjanovich, Rezsó Gáspár, and György Panyi

An Alternative to Conventional Immunosuppression: Small-Molecule Inhibitors of K_v1.3 Channels
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 250-254. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Tomoshige Kino and George P. Chrousos

Combating Atherosclerosis With LXR And PPAR Agonists: Is Rational Multitargeted Polypharmacy the Future of Therapeutics in Complex Diseases?
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 254-257. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

R E V I E W S:

Jorge A. Quiroz, Todd D. Gould, and Husseini K. Manji

MOLECULAR EFFECTS of lithium
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 259-272. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Although the usefulness of lithium in the treatment of bipolar affective disorder was discovered over fifty years ago, only recently have many of the molecular targets for lithium’s action been identified, including glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and neurotrophic signaling cascades. These observations may lead to a new understanding of the underpinnings of bipolar disorder and will likely support the use of lithium in the management and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Multiple lines of investigation have established lithium’s direct effects on several phosphatases, kinases, and other enzymes, and have also indicated lithium’s indirect effects on downstream targets, including adenylate cyclase, the phosphoinositol cascade and protein kinase C, and arachidonic acid metabolism. There is also experimental momentum behind the hypothesis that lithium mediates neurotrophic effects.

C. Shun Wong and Albert J. Van der Kogel

MECHANISMS OF RADIATION INJURY TO THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: IMPLICATIONS FOR NEUROPROTECTION
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 273-284. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Owing to the difficulty of getting drugs across the blood–brain barrier, the treatment of various cancers of the brain range from tumor resection (where possible) to radiation therapy. Unfortunately, irradiation of tumors also involves the irradiation of surrounding normal brain tissue, and radiation injury of the central nervous system (CNS) has severe clinical consequences. Clonogenic apoptosis is not the only mode of cell death in the CNS after radiation therapy; secondary injury leading to neural cell death arises from alterations to the microenvironment as mediated by hypoxia/ischemia and inflammation. New research now raises the possibility of reversible components in the injury response and may lead the way to novel neuroprotective interventions. In particular, cytokine cascades and stress responses associated with radiation-associated damage provide important targets for further investigations.

Jerry J. Buccafusco

Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Subtypes: DEFINING THERAPEUTIC TARGETS
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 285-295. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Although neuropharmacologists have fervently sought ligands to target most classes of neuroreceptors, the cholinergic systems have for the past few decades been relatively exempt from therapeutically biased investigations. This unfortunate situation now seems to be improving, however, particularly with the discovery of multiple subtypes of nicotinic cholinergic receptors. Several nicotine-derived compounds have been synthesized, and their efficiency in modulating nicotinic receptor subtypes has led to the development of several experimental drugs for treatment of pain, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric conditions that involve cognitive impairment. Beyond the race that has been initiated to bring nicotinic drugs to market, these new compounds have in some instances established themselves as experimental tools in the study of cholinergic functions.

D E P A R T M E N T S:

Speaking of Pharmacology:

George J. Christ

Systems and Integrative Pharmacology: Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 240-242. [Full Text] [PDF]  

CrossTalk:

Interviews with people in the world of pharmacology

Nora Volkow: Motivated Neuroscientist
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 243-247. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Beyond the Bench:

Representations of pharmacology and science in the media

Christie Carrico

Island Lore
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 296-297. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Net Results:

Sites of interest on the World Wide Web

Sites of interest on the World Wide Web–edited by Rick Neubig and David Roman
Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 298. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Outliers:

Cartoon

Mol. Interv. 2004 4: 304. [Full Text] [PDF]  

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