The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
Cerebral ischemia initiates a cascade of molecular events that leads to infarction by necrosis and apoptosis (Ginsberg and Pulsinelli 1994; Dirnagl et al. 1999; Graham and Chen 2000). Neurons and astrocytes are affected early, while blood vessels are more resistant to hypoxia. However, when the vasculature begins to break down, vasogenic edema and hemorrhage result (Klatzo 1967). Since first observed...
Homeostasis of the neural microenvironment of the central nervous system (CNS) is essential for the normal function of neuronal networks and is protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is formed by highly specialized capillary endothelial cells, which inhibit transendothelial passage of molecules from blood to brain by an extremely low pinocytotic activity and the lack of fenestrae, and...
Cerebral ischaemia (‘stroke’) is an acute neurodegenerative disease that is one of the leading causes of death and disability in developed countries. As such it has enormous social as well as financial implications for our society and, despite intense research effort, there is as yet no effective therapy.
Functions of the complement system include the recognition and killing of invading pathogens (e.g., bacteria, virus-infected cells, parasites) while preserving normal “self cell”. The complement system also contributes through its activation to the release of inflammatory mediators, promoting potential tissue injury at sites of inflammation (Frank and Fries 1991).
It has been known for a very long time (Spielmeyer 1922) that in ‘apoplectic’ brains the hallmarks of inflammation may be found, including pus-filled cavities. Until very recently it was generally believed that brain inflammation following stroke is a secondary reaction to the destruction of brain tissue, which is cleared by invading leukocytes, in particular macrophages (Manoonkitiwongsa et al. 2001)...
Tetracyclines are well-known bacteriostatic drugs with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The first tetracycline was isolated more than 50 years ago, reaching the market in 1953. The widely used semisynthetic tetracycline derivatives, doxycycline and minocycline (Fig. 1), were synthesized in 1966 and 1972, respectively (Sande and Mandel 1985). Today, minocycline is the most widely prescribed...
Inflammatory and immune reactions at blood vessel segments that lead to local release of proinflammatory cytokines and local activation of luminal endothelium can initiate stroke (Hallenbeck et al. 1988; Libby et al. 1995). These multipotent autocrine or paracrine mediators can regulate expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules, production of other cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines, and production...
Inflammation, although generally accepted as the body’s defense mechanism, has received a bad reputation in regard to the central nervous system (CNS). It should be stressed, however, that inflammation is not a single process, but involves cascades of processes mediated by numerous compounds and factors (Hauben et al. 2002; Hauben and Schwartz 2003; Schwartz and Hauben 2003). The function of inflammation...
Recent experimental work supports the thesis that inflammation is a pervasive and multifaceted accompaniment of focal brain ischemia. Whether it is a beneficial process meant to promote recovery and tissue healing, or detrimental, serving to increase an initially limited ischemic insult has been debated (del Zoppo et al. 2001). On the premise that both humoral and cellular inflammation contributes...
Stroke represents worldwide one of the leading medical problems but the acute treatment of this condition remains challenging as no single drug has unequivocally demonstrated to be effective (Adams et al. 1994; The European Ad Hoc Consensus Group 1996). Intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA is the only FDA-approved therapy for stroke during the first 3 h after clinical onset. Recently, European health...
The basic science of cerebral ischemia is complex and involves multiple systems. As reviewed elsewhere, hypoperfusion, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and apoptosis are the main disease mechanisms that are tackled by pharmacological interventions. A large number of agents and strategies has been developed to change the pathophysiological cascade. While it has been a rather easy task to find agents that...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.