Abstract: A novel nanoparticle drug composition and method of use thereof is presented herein. The nanoparticle drug composition is comprised of at least one nanoparticle carrier, formed from the conjugation of PLGA and PEG, which encapsulates a drug such as afobazole and its derivatives, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The nanoparticle drug composition may be used to treat various diseases of the central nervous system involving excessive neuronal activity and inflammation such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and anxiety.

Abstract: A novel nanoparticle drug composition and method of use thereof is presented herein. The nanoparticle drug composition is comprised of at least one nanoparticle carrier, formed from the conjugation of PLGA and. PEG, which encapsulates a drug such as afobazole and its derivatives, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The nanoparticle drug composition may be used to treat various diseases of the central nervous system involving excessive neuronal activity and inflammation such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and anxiety.

Abstract: A method of treating stroke by administration of a novel sigma agonist is presented. Twenty-four hours after MCAO, systemic administration of several novel sigma agonists including: Bromo-DTG; Chloro-DTG; N,N?-di-1-Naphthylguanidine hydrochloride (NAGH); N,N?-di-p-Nitrophenylguanidine HCL (NAD) or vehicle were injected subcutaneously daily for 3 days. Rats treated with Bromo-DTG and Chloro-DTG had no significant improvements in any of the motor or cognitive tests while NAGH treated rats showed improved vertical movement and had significantly less motor asymmetry and bias than vehicle treated rats. Sigma receptor agonist NAGH also was found to exert its long-term neuroprotective effects by preserving both gray matter and white matter tracts. Both NAD and NAGH, when administered 24 hours after experimental stroke, reduced neural damage and enhanced behavioral recovery thirty days later which suggests that NAGH and NAD potentially extend the therapeutic window of stroke several fold over the current treatments.

Abstract: This application provides devices for modeling ischemic stroke conditions. The devices can be used to culture neurons and to subject a first population of the neurons to low-oxygen conditions and a second population of neurons to normoxic conditions. The neurons are cultured on a porous barrier, and on the other side of the barrier run one or more fluid-filled channels. By flowing fluid with different oxygen levels through the channels, one can deliver desired oxygen concentrations to the cells nearest those channels.

Abstract: A method of treating stroke by administration of a novel sigma agonist is presented. Twenty-four hours after MCAO, systemic administration of several novel sigma agonists including: Bromo-DTG; Chloro-DTG; N,N?-di-1-Naphthylguanidine hydrochloride (NAGH); N,N?-di-p-Nitrophenylguanidine HCL (NAD) or vehicle were injected subcutaneously daily for 3 days. Rats treated with Bromo-DTG and Chloro-DTG had no significant improvements in any of the motor or cognitive tests while NAGH treated rats showed improved vertical movement and had significantly less motor asymmetry and bias than vehicle treated rats. Sigma receptor agonist NAGH also was found to exert its long-term neuroprotective effects by preserving both gray matter and white matter tracts. Both NAD and NAGH, when administered 24 hours after experimental stroke, reduced neural damage and enhanced behavioral recovery thirty days later which suggests that NAGH and NAD potentially extend the therapeutic window of stroke several fold over the current treatments.

Abstract: This application provides devices for modeling ischemic stroke conditions. The devices can be used to culture neurons and to subject a first population of the neurons to low-oxygen conditions and a second population of neurons to normoxic conditions. The neurons are cultured on a porous barrier, and on the other side of the barrier run one or more fluid-filled channels. By flowing fluid with different oxygen levels through the channels, one can deliver desired oxygen concentrations to the cells nearest those channels.

Abstract: A composition and method of treating stroke by administration of a novel sigma agonist is presented. Twenty-four hours after MCAO, systemic administration of several novel sigma agonists including: Bromo-DTG; Chloro-DTG; N,N?-di-1-Naphthylguanidine hydrochloride (NAGH); N,N?-di-p-Nitrophenylguanidine HCL (NAD) or vehicle were injected subcutaneously daily for 3 days. Rats treated with Bromo-DTG and Chloro-DTG had no significant improvements in any of the motor or cognitive tests while NAGH treated rats showed improved vertical movement and had significantly less motor asymmetry and bias than vehicle treated rats. Sigma receptor agonist NAGH also was found to exert its long-term neuroprotective effects by preserving both gray matter and white matter tracts.

Abstract: This application provides devices for modeling ischemic stroke conditions. The devices can be used to culture neurons and to subject a first population of the neurons to low-oxygen conditions and a second population of neurons to normoxic conditions. The neurons are cultured on a porous barrier, and on the other side of the barrier run one or more fluid-filled channels. By flowing fluid with different oxygen levels through the channels, one can deliver desired oxygen concentrations to the cells nearest those channels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel composition and method for chemotherapy in leukemia. Activation of the calcium ion channel by tipifarnib increases intracellular calcium and triggers cell death in leukemia cell lines. Increasing the activity of this channel with 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) enhances both the intracellular calcium elevations and cell death, whereas decreasing the activity of the channel with gadolinium or lanthanum blocks the calcium increases and promotes cell survival. The protein target was able to overcome cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance, which often limits the usefulness of other targets. This protein is expressed in other immortalized cell lines, but has limited expression in normal native cell types in humans. Such limited expression would reduce the likelihood of adverse side effects associated with the targeting of this protein.

Abstract: 1,3 di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG) was examined as anti-stroke drug with a broad therapeutic window. DTG activates sigma 1 and 2 receptors. Administration of DTG at 24 hours post-stroke to rats reduces neurodegeneration by 85%; this is the only pharmacological agent that has been used successfully at this delayed timepoint. Treatment with DTG provides protection of neurons exposed to hypoxia and blocks activation of immune cells that are responsible for delayed neurodegeneration associated with stroke. Disclosed is an altered DTG structure, placing a bromide at the para position to increase tissue penetrance and efficacy. Results show that N,N?-di-p-bromophenyl guanidine protects cultured neurons under hypoxic conditions but is more potent than DTG. Moreover, N,N?-di-p-bromophenyl guanidine is as least as efficacious as DTG in treating rats 24 hours after experimental stroke.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel ?7 nicotinic receptor subunit isoform, ?7-2. The ?7-2 isoform contributes to novel acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) with pharmacological and biophysical properties distinct from those of wild-type ?7-1-nAChRs and closely resembling those of ?7-nAChRs found in intrinsic cardiac neurons and Type II ?7-nAChRs of superior cervical ganglion neurons. Polynucleotides encoding the ?7-2 isoform, vectors and genetically modified cells containing such polynucleotides are also provided. In addition, methods are provided for producing the ?7-2 isoform as are methods of using such isoforms for screening compounds for activity at the nAChR.

Abstract: A method of in vitro screening for compounds for treating strokes at delayed timepoints of administration following the onset of stroke. In a first aspect the method includes the step of contacting neurons with azide/deoxyglucose to induce ischemia, contacting with a compound of interest at a later timepoint and assessing neuronal death. A reduction in neuronal death at the later timepoint relative to one or more controls indicates the compound of interest is a candidate for stroke treatment in vivo at delayed timepoints. In another aspect the method includes the step of contacting neurons with an inflammatory agent, such as a lipopolysaccharide, contacting with a compound of interest and assessing the inflammatory response. The methods allow for screening of compounds at higher throughput and lower cost than in vivo methods currently used. Compounds exhibiting promise in the in vitro system can be further characterized by traditional in vivo screening.

Abstract: A method of post-stroke treatment at delayed timepoints with sigma receptor agonists. Sigma receptors are promising targets for neuroprotection following ischemia. One of the key components in the demise of neurons following ischemic injury is the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis. The sigma receptor agonist, DTG, was shown to depress [Ca2+]i elevations observed in response to ischemia induced by sodium azide and glucose deprivation. Two sigma receptor antagonists, metaphit and BD-1047, were shown to blunt the ability of DTG to inhibit ischemia-evoked increases in [Ca2+]i. DTG inhibition of ischemia-induced increases in [Ca2+]i was mimicked by the sigma-1 receptor-selective agonists, carbetapentane, (+)-pentazocine and PRE-084, but not by the sigma-2 selective agonist, ibogaine, showing that activation of sigma-1 receptors is responsible for the effects.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel &agr;7 nicotinic receptor subunit isoform, &agr;7-2. The &agr;7-2 isoform contributes to novel acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) with pharmacological and biophysical properties distinct from those of wild-type &agr;7-1-nAChRs and closely resembling those of (&agr;7-nAChRs found in intrinsic cardiac neurons and Type II &agr;7-nAChRs of superior cervical ganglion neurons. Polynucleotides encoding the &agr;7-2 isoform, vectors and genetically modified cells containing such polynucleotides are also provided. In addition, methods are provided for producing the &agr;7-2 isoform as are methods of using such isoforms for screening compounds for activity at the nAChR.