This is the RSS news feed of one of our preset news channels on LSIS - The Life Science Infromation Service. Please visit us to find a current view of this one and many more channels via our alerting push services: http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 http://www.lsis.com/goto/r12/rss 2012-05-21T11:10:12+01:00 text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 19, 2012) Preliminary results from an ongoing, large-scale study by Yale School of Medicine researchers shows that oxytocin - a naturally occurring substance produced in the brain and throughout the body - increased brain function in regions that are known to process social information in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). See Also: Health & Medicine Birth Defects Psychology Research Children's Health Mind & Brain Autism Psychology Disorders and (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 20, 2012) To learn its signature melody, the male songbird uses a trial-and-error process to mimic the song of its father, singing the tune over and over again, hundreds of times a day, making subtle changes in the pitch of the notes. For the male Bengalese finch, this rigorous training process begins around the age of 40 days and is completed about day 90, just as he becomes sexually mature and ready to use his song to woo females. See Also: Mind & Brain Neuroscience (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 18, 2012) Pregnant women, including those who are obese or overweight, should be encouraged to minimise weight gain through diet, according to major new research from Queen Mary, University of London. See Also: Health & Medicine Diet and Weight Loss Obesity Fitness Mind & Brain Dieting and Weight Control Nutrition Research Obstructive Sleep Apnea Reference General fitness training Nutrition and pregnancy Stretch marks Birth weight Piling on excess weight during pregnancy (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 20, 2012) A new study led by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery identifies the mechanism by which a cell signaling pathway contributes to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, the study provides evidence that drugs under development for diseases such as cancer could potentially be used to treat RA. Rheumatoid arthritis, a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that can be crippling, impacts over a million adults in the United States. See Also: (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 16, 2012) Star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes are found to bridge the gap between global brain activity and localized circuits. Global network activity in the brain modulates local neural circuitry via calcium signaling in non-neuronal cells called astrocytes, according to research led by Hajime Hirase of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. See Also: Mind & Brain Neuroscience Brain Injury Intelligence Plants & Animals Mice Molecular Biology Biology Reference Functional (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 20, 2012) For the first time, scientists at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute have shown that an experimental bariatric surgery can lower blood sugar levels in rats with type 1 diabetes. See Also: Health & Medicine Diabetes Diet and Weight Loss Wounds and Healing Hypertension Obesity Hormone Disorders Reference Blood sugar Hyperglycemia Glycemic index Diabetic diet A team led by Dr. Tony Lam and Dr. Danna Breen, a post- doctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Lam, (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 20, 2012) Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children normalizes disturbances in the neuronal network responsible for attention and executive function, according to a new study. See Also: Health & Medicine Attention Deficit Disorder Sleep Disorder Research Children's Health Nervous System Psychology Research Infant's Health Reference Obstructive sleep apnea Sleep deprivation Dementia Nasal congestion OSA is known to be associated with deficits in attention, (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 We have characterized the expression of doublecortin-like (DCL), a microtubule associated protein involved in embryonic neurogenesis that is highly homologous to doublecortin (DCX), in the adult mouse brain. To this end, we developed a DCL-specific antibody and used this to compare DCL expression with DCX. In the neurogenic regions of the adult brain like the subventricular zone (SVZ), the rostral migratory stream (RMS), the olfactory bulb (OB) and the hippocampus, DCL co-localizes with DCX in (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 The Herb Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz, which is native to Thailand and Southeast Asia, has become known for its antioxidant properties. Neuronal loss in a number of diseases including Alzheimer's disease is thought to result, in part, from oxidative stress. Glutamate causes cell death in the mouse hippocampal cell line, HT-22, by unbalancing redox homeostasis, brought about by a reduction in glutathione levels, and amyloid-? has been shown to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Introduction: Clinical evidence indicates that acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are not efficacious to treat frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The British Association for Psychopharmacology recommends avoiding the use of AChEI and memantine in patients with FTLD. Methods: Cross-sectional design using 1092 cases with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 64 cases with FTLD registered by the Registry of Dementias of Girona. Bivariate analyses were performed, and binary logistic (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 The authors present a 76-year-old female with high blood pressure and hypercholesterolaemia as cerebrovascular risk factors, who received intravenous thrombolysis for an ischaemic stroke with a progressive neurological improvement. She was asymptomatic at 48 h and she was transferred to the neurology department where antithrombotic treatment was initiated. She began to sit the following day when she suffered a massive pulmonary embolism (PE). Cardiological study showed patent foramen oval (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have potential therapeutic benefit for the treatment of neurological diseases and injury. MSCs interact with and alter brain parenchymal cells by direct cell-cell communication and/or by indirect secretion of factors and thereby promote functional recovery. In this study, we found that MSC treatment of rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) significantly increased microRNA 133b (miR-133b) level in the ipsilateral hemisphere. In (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 The authors present the case of a 73-year-old lady presenting with weight loss, personality changes, transient confusion and visual loss, 38 years after initial surgical excision of a melanoma of the neck. CT and MRI of the brain showed cerebral metastases and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT showed an additional fludeoxyglucose avid lesion in the lung, which was biopsied. Histology confirmed metastatic malignant melanoma. She declined whole brain radiotherapy in favour of best supportive (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Tension pneumocephalus is the presence of air or gas in the cranium that is under pressure. It occurs due to disruption of the skull, including trauma to the head or face, after neurosurgical procedures and occasionally, spontaneously (Schirmer et al., 2010). Patients typically present with headache but can also have neurological deficits such as decreased mental status, numbness, and weakness (Schirmer et al., 2010). It is diagnosed by computerized tomography (CT) scan (Michel, 2010). The (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 BACKGROUND: Human fetal midbrain-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) may deliver a tissue source for drug screening and regenerative cell therapy to treat Parkinson's disease. While glutamate and GABA(A) receptors play an important role in neurogenesis, the involvement of glycine receptors during human neurogenesis and dopaminergic differentiation as well as their molecular and functional characteristics in NPCs are largely unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we investigated NPCs (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 BACKGROUND A phase 2a, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study was conducted to evaluate safety, tolerability, and pilot efficacy of immunization with ?-amyloid(1-42) in patients with Alzheimer disease. Six immunizations were planned but were halted when meningoencephalitis was recognized as an adverse event in 6% of immunized patients. OBJECTIVE To identify biomarkers associated with both the risk of meningoencephalitis and antibody responsiveness. PARTICIPANTS One hundred (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 35-year-old male presented with multiple swellings in left leg, headache, weakness of limbs for 4 months, and blurring of vision for the last 15 days. On examination, he was pale, cachexic with generalized lymphadenopathy and lower motor neuron type weakness of limbs sparing right upper limb. Blood investigations showed anemia with high alkaline phosphatase. Chest radiograph revealed osteosclerotic metastatic lesion in humerus. Biopsy of leg lesion revealed atypical neurofibroma. Computed (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 In the adult rodent brain, neural progenitor cells migrate from the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle towards the olfactory bulb in a track known as the rostral migratory stream (RMS). To facilitate the study of neural progenitor cells and stem cell therapy in large animal models of CNS disease, we now report the location and characteristics of the normal canine and feline RMS. The RMS was found in Nissl-stained sagittal sections of adult canine and feline brains as a prominent, (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 BACKGROUND: About one third of patients with epilepsy become refractory to therapy despite receiving adequate medical treatment, possibly from multidrug resistance. P-glycoprotein, encoded by multidrug resistance protein-1 (MDR1) gene, at the blood brain barrier is considered as a major factor mediating drug efflux and contributing to resistance. Given that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) express MDR1, we investigated a MDR1 status of PBMNCs in various subsets of epilepsy patients (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 The first edition of this book became available in 1981, followed by the second edition in 1987. Now the revised and updated third edition is available. The book is divided into the following 10 units, each of which contains 2 or more chapters: "Human Brain Development," "Neurological Evaluation," "Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy," "Intracranial Hemorrhage," "Metabolic Encephalopathies," "Disorders of the Motor System," "Intracranial Infections," "Perinatal Trauma," "Intracranial Mass (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 INTRODUCTION. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequent neurodevelopmental problem in childhood, with significant repercussions that continue into adulthood. This means that an appropriate therapeutic intervention is vital to improve its prognosis. AIMS. To identify the ideal pharmacological options according to the characteristics of the patient and to report on the new drugs. DEVELOPMENT. The work analyses how therapeutic interventions can be conditioned by the (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Aim:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of donepezil plus natural hirudin in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's Disease. Methods: In the 20-week, randomized, open-label and controlled study, 84 patients received either donepezil (5 mg/day for the first 4 weeks and 10 mg/day thereafter) or donepezil plus natural hirudin (3 g/day) treatment. Efficacy was reflected by the change of the total scores of Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), Activities of Daily (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 In our previous study, we found that trans-2-decenoic acid ethyl ester (DAEE), a derivative of a medium-chain fatty acid, elicits neurotrophin-like signals including the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in cultured mouse cortical neurons. Here, we examined the efficacy of intraperitoneal administration of DAEE on the treatment of a mouse model of the cerebral infarction caused by unilateral permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (PMCAO). DAEE-treatment (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 According to the literature data, the prevalence of restenosis after carotid endarterectomy ranges between 6 and 36%. The etiological factor is intimal hyperplasia for early period, whereas it is atherosclerosis for late period. A 67-year-old male patient admitted to our clinic with a history of headache and minor stroke. His medical history was significant for right carotid endarterectomy 8 years ago. Recent Doppler ultrasound and digital substraction angiography revealed 75% stenosis and (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway contributes to human cancer progression. Antagonists that interfere with Wnt ligand/receptor interactions can be useful in cancer treatments. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of a soluble Wnt receptor decoy in cancer gene therapy. We designed a Wnt antagonist sLRP6E1E2, and generated a replication-incompetent adenovirus (Ad), dE1-k35/sLRP6E1E2, and a replication-competent oncolytic Ad, RdB-k35/sLRP6E1E2, both expressing sLRP6E1E2. (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 At their third international symposium, the Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes in conjunction with SNZB (Maastricht) will present "Brain and Behaviour: The Mechanisms of Expression of Behavioural Phenotypes" at Congrescentrum Rolduc, the Netherlands, November 23-26, 1994.The main focus of the society's interest is the specific behavioral attributes of different genetically determined mentally handicapping disorders and their definition, determination, and treatment. In addition to (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Acute ischaemic stroke has significant attendant morbidity and is one of the top ten causes of childhood death. It requires prompt investigation and management, however little is known about the safety and efficacy of acute thrombolytic therapies in childhood arterial ischaemic stroke. The authors report a case of a 13-year-old girl with an acute basilar thrombosis, successfully treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and discuss the management of paediatric arterial (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 No symptom causes more concern in parents than fever. It prompts innumerable telephone calls and office visits and interventions ranging from intensive procedures and radiological studies to antibiotics. It is appropriate that a book dedicated to the "science" of temperature be written from a pediatric standpoint. Fever in Pediatric Practice covers a broad range of aspects of temperature regulation and dysregulation. The history of fever, from its place in the Bible and ancient civilizations, (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Glutamate neurotoxicity has been implicated in stroke, head trauma, multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders. Search for herbal remedies that may possibly act as therapeutic agents is an active area of research to combat these diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective role of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), also known as Indian ginseng, against glutamate induced toxicity in the retinoic acid differentiated rat glioma (C6) and human neuroblastoma (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Tuberous sclerosis complex is an autosomal dominant disease, with variable expressivity and multisystemic involvement, which is characterised by the growth of benign tumours called hamartomas. The organs that are most commonly affected are the brain, skin, kidneys, eyes, heart and lungs. Of all the children with this disease, 85% present neurological manifestations that, due to their severity, are the main cause of morbidity and mortality. The most significant neurological manifestations are (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Introduction. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is known as "the great imitator" due to its wide variety of clinical presentations, including ocular disorders. There has been an increase in the rate of syphilis in the United States, especially in persons with HIV. We report a case of optic perineuritis in an asymptomatic male secondary to central nervous system (CNS) syphilis. Case Report. A 41-year-old man was found to have bilateral disc edema on a routine exam. Brain MRI was (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Urate is a major antioxidant as well as the enzymatic end product of purine metabolism in humans. Higher levels correlate with a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD) and with a slower rate of PD progression. In this study we investigated the effects of modulating intracellular urate concentration on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP(+)-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in cultures of mouse ventral mesencephalon prepared to contain low (neuron-enriched cultures) or (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 In vitro-differentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells comprise a useful source for cell replacement therapy, but the efficiency and safety of a translational approach are highly dependent on optimized protocols for directed differentiation of ES cells into the desired cell types in vitro. Furthermore, the transplantation of three-dimensional ES cell-derived structures instead of a single-cell suspension may improve graft survival and function by providing a beneficial microenvironment for (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 A 69-year-old man with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) was on amblatory oxygen inhalation therapy (3?L/min) and scheduled for percutaneous transluminal pulmonary angioplasty (PTPA). The patient's New York Heart Association functional status was class III with recent worsening of dyspnea and apparent leg edema. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed right ventricular enlargement with mean pulmonary artery pressure of 42?mmHg. After PTPA, he was complicated with (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 BACKGROUND: The Special Interest Group of the Canadian Pain Society has produced consensus-based guidelines for the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain. The society aimed to generate an additional guideline for other forms of neuropathic pain treatments. OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based recommendations for neuropathic pain interventional treatments. METHODS: A task force was created and engaged the Institute of Health Economics in Edmonton, Alberta, to survey the literature (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Autoimmune encephalitis related to voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibodies can occur as a complication of cancer but, more frequently, as a non-paraneoplastic disorder. The prompt recognition and treatment could mitigate the morbidity associated with this entity, but the broad-spectrum of neurological manifestations often makes the diagnosis a challenge. The authors describe, here, a unique case of autoimmune encephalitis related to VGKC antibodies preceded by an ischaemic stroke. (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 19, 2012) Older adults who drank coffee - caffeinated or decaffeinated - had a lower risk of death overall than others who did not drink coffee, according a study by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and AARP. See Also: Health & Medicine Staying Healthy Diseases and Conditions Asthma Plants & Animals Food Beer and Wine Invasive Species Reference Health benefits of tea Herbal tea Heartburn Soft drink Coffee (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 18, 2012) It has been known for years that eating too many foods containing bad fats, such as saturated fats or trans fats, isn't healthy for your heart. However, according to new research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), one bad fat - saturated fat - was found to be associated with worse overall cognitive function and memory in women over time. By contrast, a good fat - mono-unsaturated fat was associated with better overall cognitive function and memory. See (…) text/html http://www.sciencedaily.com ScienceDaily http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 ScienceDaily (May 18, 2012) Scientists at Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) led by Vladimir Serikov, MD, PhD, and Frans Kuypers, PhD, report in the current Epub issue of Stem Cells Translational Medicine that placental stem cells with important therapeutic properties can be harvested in large quantities from the fetal side of human term placentas (called the chorion). See Also: Health & Medicine Stem Cells Prostate Cancer Skin Cancer Science & Society Bioethics Ethics (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Autonomic disorders (AD) are one of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of AD in PD patients and their relationship with age, gender, disease duration, treatment duration, L-dopa dose, and disease severity. |-| Ann Acad Med Stetin. |-| Go?ab-Janowska M, Budzianowska A, Honczarenko K. |-| Katedra i Klinika Neurologii Pomorskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Szczecinie, ul. Unii Lubelskiej 1, 71-252 Szczecin. text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administered within 4.5h of symptom onset restores cerebral blood flow (CBF) and promotes neurological recovery of stroke patients. However, the narrow therapeutic time window and the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage after tPA treatment pose major hurdles to its clinical usage. In light of the failures of neuroprotective therapies in clinical trials, emerging concepts suggest that neuroprotection alone without restoration of tissue perfusion and vascular (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 We describe a 76-year-old man with herpes encephalitis whose symptom of severe apathy was improved by the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist ropinirole. Brain magnetic resonance imaging had shown lesions in the patient's right mesial temporal cortex, right insula, and bilateral medial frontal regions. During treatment with acyclovir, he had developed severe apathy and depression. On neuropsychological assessment, he scored 21/30 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination, 30/42 on the Starkstein (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Purpose: Phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) inhibitors improve functional recovery in experimental models of stroke in rats when treatment is delayed and without effect on infarct volume. PDE5A is expressed to only a very limited extent in forebrain tissues, raising the possibility that the locus of effect for the inhibitors is outside the brain. To start to address this question, we determined whether PDE5A inhibitors must have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier to improve recovery. (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL), a rare variant of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, may cause various neurological symptoms and signs. The best therapeutic strategy is still a matter of debate. High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is the most active compound and should be used as the backbone for any chemotherapy applied. Several other chemotherapeutic drugs have been assessed in combination with HD-MTX, but no standard has yet been defined. Whole-brain radiotherapy is active against PCNSL, but (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 To investigate the safety and efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using talaporfin sodium in patients with surgically, completely unresectable malignant gliomas with invasion into the eloquent areas of the brain associated with language and motor functions. |-| Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. |-| Akimoto J, Haraoka J, Aizawa K. |-| Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical University, Japan. text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 The objective of the present study was to investigate the involvement of dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptors of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell in the anxiogenic-like effect of intra-central amygdala (CeA) nicotine administration. Male Wistar rats with cannula implants in the left CeA and the left shell of NAc were submitted to the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Intra-CeA injections of nicotine (1?g/rat) decreased % open arm time spent (%OAT) but not % open arm entries (%OAE) and locomotor (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Using molecular phylogeny has accelerated the discovery of peptidic ligands targeted to ion channels and receptors. One clade of venomous cone snails, Asprella, appears to be significantly enriched in conantokins, antagonists of N-Methyl D-Asparate receptors (NMDARs). Here, we describe the characterization of two novel conantokins from Conus rolani, including conantokin conRl-B that has shown an unprecedented selectivity for blocking NMDARs that contain NR2B subunits. ConRl-B shares only some (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 We previously identified a number of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)-responsive transcripts in developing rat brains using microarray analysis. However, the underlying mechanisms and functional consequences remain unclear. We hypothesized that microRNAs (miRNAs), which have emerged as powerful negative regulators of mRNA and protein levels, might be responsible for PFOS-induced mRNA changes and consequent neural dysfunctions. We used eight miRNA arrays to profile the expression of brain (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 Staphylococcus lugdunensis, a species of coagulase-negative staphylococci is associated with a wide variety of infections ranging from mild skin and soft tissue infections to serious infections which include brain abscess, chronic osteomyelitis and infective endocarditis. The aim of this study was to review cases of S. lugdunensis bacteraemia isolated from a New Zealand tertiary institution and describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of the patients. |-| N Z Med J. |-| (…) text/html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov NCBI PubMed http://www.lsis.com/channels/?query=12 The WHO has listed Alzheimer's disease among the major neurological disorders with an estimated 35 million people affected worldwide. Amyloid-? is mostly believed to be the causative factor in Alzheimer's disease and the severity of the disease correlates with the tendency of amyloid-? to form aggregation patterns-plaques. Lacking effective medication, the identification of any underlying mechanistic principles regarding plaque formation appears to be crucial. Here we carry out computer (…)