2^nd International Conference on Central Nervous System Disorders and Therapeutics December 05-07, 2016 Dubai, UAE

Biography:

Abstract:

N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play an important role in development, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory; however, abnormal activation of NMDA receptors has been shown to mediate neuronal degeneration/cell death. The NMDA receptor activity can be modulated by various ligands, including neurosteroids. To find novel potentially beneficial drugs to treat neurological damage/neurodegeneration is one of the most investigated areas in contemporary pharmacology and neuroscience. Therefore, we designed and synthesized SMART Steroids– Steroidal Molecules As Rapid-acting Therapeutics. SMART Steroids are neuroactive molecules, targeting primarily the NMDA receptors and show neuroprotective properties and minimal side effects in animal models. Our screening pipeline covers physicochemical and biological properties like: (i) Solubility (DLS); (ii) lipophilicity (logP, logD, ΔG_solv); (iii) patch-clamp recordings from HEK293 cells assessing NMDAR inhibition rates and IC₅₀ values; (iv) Caco-2 assay, (v) treatment of glutamate and NMDA-induced neurotoxicity (survival rate, caspase-3, intracellular calcium levels, ROS); (vi) in vitro growth of postnatal neurons after neurosteroid administration, (vii) models of animal behavior (open field, elevated plus maze, forced swim test, etc.); (viii) PTZ-induced seizures; (ix) paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy; and (x) pharmacokinetic properties. Our results indicate that these compounds may be beneficial in treatment of several neurological diseases like epilepsy, neuropathic pain, AD, PD and others.

Biography:

Wai Kwong Tang was appointed to Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2011. His main research areas are addictions and neuropsychiatry in stroke. He has published over 100 papers in renowned journals, and has also contributed to the peer review of 40 journals. He has secured over 20 major competitive research grants. He has served the editorial boards of five scientific journals. He was also a recipient of the Young Researcher Award in 2007, awarded by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Abstract:

Depression is common following an acute stroke. Post-stroke depressions (PSD) have notable impacts on the function recovery and quality of life of stroke survivors. Incidence decreased across time after stroke, but prevalence of PSD tend to be stable. Vascular factors such as diabetes, hypertension and smoking have been related to the development of PSD. Many studies have explored the association between lesion location and the incidence of PSD. For example, lesions in frontal lobe, basal ganglia and deep white matter have been related with PSD. Furthermore, cerebral microbleeds and functional changes in brain networks have also been implicated in the development of PSD. In this presentation, evidences of such association between the above structural and functional brain changes and PSD will be reviewed.