Search

A series of novel benzimidazoles are discussed as NR2B-selective N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. High throughput screening (HTS) efforts identified a number of potent and selective NR2B antagonists such as 1. Exploration of the substituents around the core of this template identified a number of compounds with high potency for NR2B (pIC(50) >7) and good selectivity against the NR2A subunit (pIC(50) <4.3) as defined by FLIPR-Ca(2+) and radioligand binding studies. These agents offer potential for the development of therapeutics for a range of nervous system disorders including chronic pain, neurodegeneration, migraine and major depression., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major burden throughout the world. It is associated with a significantly increased incidence of lung cancer and may influence treatment options and outcome. Impaired lung function confirming COPD is an independent risk factor for lung cancer. Oxidative stress and inflammation may be a key link between COPD and lung cancer, with numerous molecular markers being analysed to attempt to understand the pathway of lung cancer development. COPD negatively influences the ability to deliver radical treatment options, so attempts must be made to look for alternative methods of treating lung cancer, while aiming to manage the underlying COPD. Detailed assessment and management plans utilising the multidisciplinary team must be made for all lung cancer patients with COPD to provide the best care possible. Journal of Comorbidity 2011;1:45-50., Competing Interests: None declared.

Introduction: Treatment and survival rates for patients with lung cancer in Scotland appear lower than in many other European countries. Five-year survival is quoted at 6% to 7% compared with 8% to 15% in other European countries and America. There also appear to be variations in treatment rates within Scotland. Although this variation in treatment and survival is popularly interpreted as evidence of variation in facilities, access to care, and clinical practice, it is possible that the increased comorbidity and poor performance status of the Scottish population may contribute to the observed disparities in treatment and outcomes, although this has never been proven. The demonstration that comorbidity influences treatment and survival rates will have important implications for the targeting of health services resources, screening, interpretation of cancer statistics, and the assessment and management of patients with lung cancer., Methods: In this article we have reviewed the tools currently available for assessing comorbidity and in addition have identified published works which study the effect of comorbidity in lung cancer., Conclusion: There is no currently validated measurement tool applicable specifically to lung cancer and thus there remains a significant need for further work in this important area. STATEMENT OF SEARCH STRATEGIES USED AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Literature searches were undertaken via PubMed and Google Scholar using various arrays of the following keywords: cancer, comorbidity, lung lancer, performance status, survival, and tools. The search was limited to articles published in peer-review journals with English as the language., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Depersonalization occurs in many psychiatric states but its origins are unknown. It is suggested that feelings of unreality may be unusually common in adolescents. Certain speculations are offered concerning the genesis of a sense of unreality. The neurophysiological mechanisms governing the perception of 'familiar' or 'strange' are seen to be the key to this experience. They involve the matching of events in the outer world against inner organizations of previous experience. These mechanisms are likely to be disturbed through epilepsy or other disorders of the temporal lobe, in which abnormal perceptions of strangeness and familiarity are frequently found. It is suggested that the matching process extends to include social situations, and that where an individual's identity is undeveloped or fragmented a sense of strangeness may result. The concept of identity is briefly discussed in order to distinguish it from 'self' and 'ego', and to intimate its possible fragmentation in adolescence. Finally, some reference is made to management and, in particular, to the use of the peer group.