Table of contents
September 2006 Volume 2 No 9
Editorial
Viewpoint
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and gene therapy
462As our understanding of the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases continues to improve, the prospect of using gene therapy to treat these conditions becomes increasingly realistic. This Viewpoint article discusses initial trials of an RNA interference gene-silencing strategy to modify the expression of mutant proteins in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and considers the hurdles that will need to be overcome to translate this approach into the clinic.
Research Highlights
Matrix metalloproteinase 9 as a marker of disease activity in multiple sclerosis
464Dystrophin expression in muscle after injection of donor myogenic cells
464Electrophysiological parameters might be useful markers of HD progression
464Promising long-term results of zolpidem treatment for the permanent vegetative state
465Initiation and progression phases of ALS involve SOD1 mutations in different cell types
465Increased common carotid artery stiffness is associated with ischemic stroke
466Caudal zona incerta stimulation improves contralateral parkinsonism
466Cystamine is neuroprotective in Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases
467An association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and multiple sclerosis
467Metabolic condition of brain tissue after ischemic stroke identifies the penumbra
468Disparities in stroke incidence and risk factors among elderly people in the US
468Diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis by noninvasive imaging
469Practice Points
What are the long-term effects of neural grafting in patients with Huntington's disease?
470Can somatosensory evoked potentials and neuron-specific enolase reliably predict outcome in postanoxic coma?
472How useful are currently available tools for pain evaluation in elderly people with dementia?
474Does natalizumab have a role in the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis?
476Is the anticonvulsant topiramate beneficial in essential tremor?
478Reviews
Wilson's disease: an update
482Wilson's disease is an inherited disorder of copper metabolism caused by a mutation in the copper-transporting gene ATP7B, and it results in excessive copper accumulation in the liver and brain. In this Review, the authors provide a comprehensive description of the disease's pathogenesis and neurological clinical presentation, and discuss the diagnosis and treatment options currently available.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0291 | Full Text | PDF (351K)
Epidemiology and molecular pathology of glioma
494Gliomas—tumors of glial cell origin—account for the majority of primary malignant brain tumors, and they are often associated with a very poor prognosis. It is hoped that by identifying genetic, behavioral, environmental and developmental contributors to glioma risk, and understanding how these various factors interact, the disease burden can ultimately be reduced.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0289 | Full Text | PDF (207K)
Drug Insight: adjunctive therapies in adults with bacterial meningitis
504Bacterial meningitis is associated with numerous complications, including meningoencephalitis, stroke and raised intracranial pressure. In this Review, van de Beek et al. discuss potential adjunctive therapies for managing these types of complications, citing data from both experimental and clinical studies. They also consider future adjunctive strategies that are currently being investigated in animal models.
doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0265 | Full Text | PDF (585K)
