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Dysfunctional cortico-limbic brain activity associated with anger may be normalized by nicotine. Cortico-limbic brain activity associated with anger may be susceptible to nicotine and, thus, may contribute to smoking initiation and nicotine addiction. Functional imaging studies on regional brain activity in response to nicotine and smoking have documented the involvement of cortico-limbic structures such as the prefrontal cortex (including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal, medial frontal, and orbitofrontal gyri), cingulate, thalamus, and amygdala

Study provides the first evidence of a direct relationship between the depression of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle by PIF and Ang II, through activation of PKR, and eIF2{alpha} phosphorylation, and the enhanced degradation of the myofibrillar protein myosin, through activation of NF-{kappa}B resulting in an increased expression and activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway. This suggests that agents that target PKR may be effective in the treatment of muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia or other wasting conditions.

Journal of Skin CancerVolume 2011 (2011), Article ID 571734, 6 pagesdoi:10.1155/2011/571734 © 2011 Mary H. Lien and Vernon K. Sondak.

New findings in rodents and human brain shed light on the mechanisms of major depressive disorder (MDD), uncovering over-expression of MKP-1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK] phosphatase-1)...and identifying a new therapeutic target. MKP-1, also known as dual-specificity phosphatase-1 (DUSP1), is a member of a family of proteins that dephosphorylate both threonine and tyrosine residues and thereby serves as a key negative regulator of the MAPK cascade4, a major signaling pathway involved in neuronal plasticity, function and survival This study identifies MKP-1 as a key factor in MDD pathophysiology, and as a new target for therapeutic interventions.f Here we use whole-genome expression profiling of postmortem tissue and show significantly increased expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP-1, encoded by DUSP1, but hereafter called MKP-1) in the hippocampal subfields of subjects with MDD compared to matched controls. MKP-1, also known as dual-specificity phosphatase-1 (DUSP1), is a member of a family of proteins that dephosphorylate both threonine and tyrosine residues and thereby serves as a key negative regulator of the MAPK cascade4, a major signaling pathway involved in neuronal plasticity, function and survival. We tested the role of altered MKP-1 expression in rat and mouse models of depression and found that increased hippocampal MKP-1 expression, as a result of stress or viral-mediated gene transfer, causes depressive behaviors. Conversely, chronic antidepressant treatment normalizes stress-induced MKP-1 expression and behavior, and mice lacking MKP-1 are resilient to stress. These postmortem and preclinical studies identify MKP-1 as a key factor in MDD pathophysiology and as a new target for therapeutic interventions.

Jonathan D. Smith, Department of Cell Biology, NC10, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland OH 44195. E-mail smithj4@ccf.org -----     -----     -----     ----- HDL-cholesterol is the "good cholesterol" because of its reverse cholesterol transport and antiinflammatory activities. However, HDL and apolipoprotein A-I can lose their protective activities through changes in protein or lipid composition as well as protein modifications. Assays for dysfunctional HDL could potentially be used as a criterion for preventative therapy.

J Ethnopharmacology. 65:13-19. 1997. Singh, S. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of fatty acids of Ocimum sanctum fixed oil. Ind J Exp Biol. 35:380-383. || Int J Clin Pharm and Ther: 34(9): 406-409. 2001. Devi, U. Radioprotective, anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties of the Indian Holy Basil, Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi). Ind J Exp Biol. 39:185-190. 1999. Singh, S. Evaluation of the gastric antiulcer activity of fixed oil of Ocimum sanctum (Holy Basil). "

Vitamin D, nervous system and aging.\nP. Tuohimaa, T. Keisala, A. Minasyan, J. Cachat and A. Kalueff. .\nPsychoneuroendocrinology, Volume 34, Supplement 1, December 2009, Pages S278-S286\n NEUROACTIVE STEROIDS: EFFECTS and MECHANISMS ofACTION\n \n\nReview of vitamin D3, its active metabolites, and their functioning in the central nervous system (CNS), especially in relation to nervous system pathologies and aging. The vitamin D3 endocrine system consists of 3 active calcipherol hormones: calcidiol (25OHD3), 1α-calcitriol (1α,25(OH)2D3) and 24-calcitriol (24,25(OH)2D3). The impact of the calcipherol hormone system on aging, health and disease is discussed. Low serum calcidiol concentrations are associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases including osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and muscle weakness ~ all of which can be considered aging-related diseases. The relationship of many of these diseases and aging-related changes in physiology show a U-shaped response curve to serum calcidiol concentrations. Clinical data suggest that vitamin D3 insufficiency is associated with an increased risk of several CNS diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and schizophrenia. In line with this, recent animal and human studies suggest that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with abnormal development and functioning of the CNS. * Overall, imbalances in the calcipherol system appear to cause abnormal function, including premature aging, of the CNS. *

"According to a small German study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), researchers found that DHEA improved sexuality and well-being in 24 women diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency. The double-blind study found that women who took 50 mg of DHEA daily reported significant increases in how often they thought about sex, how interested they were in sexual activity, and their levels of both mental and physical sexual satisfaction. These women also reported improvement in mental health issues such as obsessive-compulsive traits, depression, anxiety, and other psychological conditions. The most significant improvements were seen four months after treatment began. "

"ScienceDaily ( 2010) : For those who choose not to obtain anti-inflammatory resveratrol from grapes or wine, researchers have found that carvacrol, derived from six essential oils (thyme, clove, rose, eucalyptus, fennel, bergamot) can suppress inflammatory COX-2 enzyme activity in a similar manner to that of resveratrol.

The precise mechanism of the anti-tumor effect of imiquimod in BCC is not known. It has been postulated that ultraviolet radiation induces mutations in the tumor-suppressor genes and alters the immuno-surveillance, so that tumor cells escape from cytotoxic T cells and apoptosis.[1] Th-2 cytokines, that downregulate tumor surveillance, are raised in BCC.[1],[5] Imiquimod acts on toll-like receptor-7 (TLR-7) present on dendritic cells, macrophages and monocytes and induces expression of interferons, Th-1 cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-a and G-CSF, thereby counteracting Th2 cytokines and promoting tumor surveillance.[1],[5] It also enhances the activity of natural killer cells and epidermal Langerhans' cells. The tumor regression is achieved probably by induction of Fas receptors on the tumor cells resulting in their apoptosis.[10]

Medicine has increased the ranks of the elderly. Can it make old age any easier? The job of any doctor, Bludau later told me, is to support quality of life, by which he meant two things: as much freedom from the ravages of disease as possible, and the retention of enough function for active engagement in the world. Most doctors treat disease, and figure that the rest will take care of itself. And if it doesn't-if a patient is becoming infirm and heading toward a nursing home-well, that isn't really a medical problem, is it?

The cellular and extracellular matrix accumulations that comprise the lesions of atherosclerosis are driven by local release of cytokines at sites of predilection for lesion formation, and by the specific attraction and activation of cells expressing rece

Liver disease can decrease clearance of activated coagulation factors...It is often difficult to differentiate DIC from liver disease as cause of coagulation disorders...

Mice fed fish oil and curcumin showed a significantly reduced tumor volume, 25% (P < 0.04) and 43% (P < 0.005), respectively, and importantly, a combination of curcumin and fish oil diet showed > 72% (P < 0.0001) tumor volume reduction. Expression and activity of iNOS, COX-2, and 5-LOX are downregulated, and p21 is upregulated in tumor xenograft fed curcumin combined with fish oil diet when compared to individual diets. The preceding results evidence for the first time that curcumin combined with omega-3 fatty acids provide synergistic pancreatic tumor inhibitory properties. \n\nPrevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer by curcumin in combination with omega-3 fatty acids.\nSwamy MV, Citineni B, Patlolla JM, Mohammed A, Zhang Y, Rao CV. \nNutr Cancer. 2008;60 Suppl 1:81-9. \nPMID: 19003584

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is a condition in which a sexually active man finds trouble in getting or maintaining a long lasting and stable erection.One of the effective and popular oral prescription medications for treating impotence is Levitra.

Atherosclerosis is the predominant underlying pathology of cardiovascular disease...atherosclerotic lesions are characterized by abundance of immune cells and their effector molecules, eventually leading to unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or strok