Some activities of PorphyChem illustrated by the applications of porphyrinoids in PDT, PIT and PDI.

Photodynamic therapy is an innovative approach to treat diverse cancers and diseases that involves the use of photosensitizing agents along with light of an appropriate wavelength to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species. Among the collection of potential dye candidates, porphyrinoids (i.e. porphyrins, chlorins, and phthalocyanines) are probably the most promising photosensitizers for PDT applications. This review shows the great potential of these derivatives for their industrial development in the field of health through different applications in photodynamic therapy (PDT), photoimmunotherapy (PIT), ophthalmology, dermatology and photodynamic inactivation (PDI). The purpose of this survey is also to show the new trends and evolutions in these fields.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder due to neuroacanthocytosis treated with citalopram. A case report.

Neuroacanthocytois is a rare hereditary disease, which causes a degeneration of the striatum. Patients develop a choreatic movement disorder and also complex psychiatric symptoms, such as psychosis or Tourette's syndrome. We report a case of obsessive-compulsive disorder due to neuroacanthocytosis. The striatum plays an important role in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In Huntington's disease we also find obsessive-compulsive disorders, due to impairment of the fronto-striatal loop. Encouraged by similar pathophysiology and promising reports of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in this disease, we started a treatment with citalopram to which the patient responded very well.

[Glutamate antagonists for treatment of neuropathic pain]. / Glutamatantagonisten bei neuropathischen Schmerzen.

An altered glutamatergic transmission within the central nervous system is supposed to be involved in the generation and propagation of neuropathic pain. Results from experimental studies with animal models of neuropathic pain demonstrate that glutamate antagonists have a positive effect on various parameters. Clinical studies with the NMDA-receptor antagonists ketamine, amantadine, memantine and dextromethorphan and with the antiepileptics gabapentin and lamotrigine, which reduce presynaptic release of glutamate,have been performed. They have shown that most of these substances can reduce neuropathic pain. Important side effects of the NMDA receptor antagonists are hallucination and agitation, whereas tiredness and dizziness are the ones of the antiepileptics. Till now, glutamate antagonists are not drugs of first choice for the treatment of neuropathic pain. However, they are an effective alternative in case the established drugs are not helpful or are not tolerated well.