Search results for "Pathway"

Dissecting the molecular antifibrotic effect of the TGF-Beta(I) receptor kinase inhibitor galunisertib in precision-cut liver slices

2016

Functional brain imaging: a window into the visuo-vestibular systems

2007

Advances have been made in identifying how areas involved in processing vestibular, ocular motor, and visual information are represented in the human cortex as well as the cortical interaction between these systems in healthy subjects.While we know how some vestibular and ocular motor disorders modify visuo-vestibular interaction by changing the 'normal' cortical activation-deactivation patterns, it is still early days in functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of patients with specific disorders. Findings from current brain imaging studies of several vestibular, ocular motor, and cerebellar disorders are presented.The promise of more insights into the complex neuronal networks of the…

Antiproliferative effects of drugs affecting different signalling pathways on rat and human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

2015

Current treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) include pulmonary vasodilators which may also inhibit PASMC proliferation. The aim of this study was to compare the antiproliferative effects of multiple drugs on rat and human PASMC (rPASMC and hPMASC, respectively) in vitro. rPASMCs and hPASMC were starved for 24 h, then treated with different inhibitors and incubated for 48 h in 1% foetal calf serum plus endothelin-1, 5-HT and U46619. Cell number was estimated by the MTT test. Viable cells increased by 160-180% in 48 h. Activation of the cGMP pathway with the soluble guanylyl cyclase activators riociguat and YC-1 (≤ 10 µM) or the cAMP pathway by the adenylyl cyclase activator f…

Common etiological pathways between toxic substance use, Internet and cybersex addiction: The role of expectancies and antisocial deviance proneness

2016

This study examined Internet and cybersex addiction in adolescents and how such behaviour was associated with substance use (in particular, cigarettes, alcohol, and drug use). Participants were 312 adolescents, aged 14-16, who completed survey instruments. Study measures included demographic, toxic substance use, expectancies toward substances consumption, antisocial deviance proneness, Internet, and cybersex addiction variables. Descriptive, bivariate analyses, exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses, and structural Equation Modeling were performed. Nearly 60%, 26%, and 25% of adolescents reported having drunk alcohol, used drugs and smoked cigarettes respectively. Prevalence of Internet …

How acute physical and psychological stress differentially influence the kynurenine pathway: A randomized cross-over trial.

2021

Abstract Psychological stress is associated with the pathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric disorders. In contrast, physical stress, as provoked by exercise, counteracts symptoms and potentially also disease progression. The kynurenine pathway, which is imbalanced in neuropsychiatric disorders, responds to both psychological and physical stress. Here, we compared the acute effects of psychological versus physical stress on the kynurenine pathway and inflammatory mediators. Thirty-five healthy males (mean age: 24.09±3.39 years) underwent both the Trier Social Stress Test (psychological stressor) and the Wingate-Test (physical stressor). The kinetics of tryptophan and its metabolites as wel…

L-cysteine and glutathione metabolism are impaired in premature infants due to cystathionase deficiency.

1995

There are conflicting reports in the literature as to whether L-cysteine is an essential amino acid in premature infants as the result of the absence of hepatic cystathionase activity. To analyze the physiological importance of the cystathionase deficiency, we studied sulfur amino acid metabolism in human neonates of different gestational ages. Plasma cystathionine concentrations are higher in premature infants < or = 32 wk gestation (group 1) than in premature infants of 33-36 wk gestational age (group 2) or in full-term infants (group 3), whereas plasma cysteine concentrations are much lower in group 1 and 2 premature infants than in mature infants. Furthermore, erythrocytes from group 1 …

Perturbed Glucose Metabolism: Insights into Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis

2014

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex debilitating disease of the central nervous system perceived to result from the autoimmune effect of T cells in damaging myelin sheath. However, the exact pathogenesis of the disease remains elusive. Initial studies describing the possibility of defective pyruvate metabolism in MS were performed in 1950s. The group observed elevated blood pyruvate level in both fasting and postprandial times in MS patients with relapse. Similarly, other investigators also reported increased fasting pyruvate level in this disease. These reports hint to a possible abnormality of pyruvate metabolism in MS patients. In addition, increase in levels of Krebs cycle acids like a…

Molecular anatomy of the neuro-immune connection.

1991

Light microscopic immunohistochemistry was employed to elucidate and compare the presence, distribution, and coexistence of various peptides, neuroendocrine markers and enzymes of the catecholamine pathway in nerves supplying lymphoid tissues in a variety of mammalian species. All lymphoid organs and tissues receive innervation by fibers containing dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and/or tyrosine hydroxylase, neural markers like protein gene product 9.5, synaptophysin and neurofilament and a varied spectrum of peptides. The prominent peptides were tachykinins (substance P, neurokinin A), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/peptide his…

Study and modulation of human cortical excitability with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

1998

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be applied in different paradigms to obtain a measure of various aspects of cortical excitability. These different TMS paradigms provide information about different neurotransmitter systems, enhance our understanding about the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric conditions, and in the future may be helpful as a guide for pharmacological interventions. In addition, repetitive TMS (rTMS) modulates cortical excitability beyond the duration of the rTMS trains themselves. Depending on rTMS parameters, a lasting inhibition or facilitation of cortical excitability can be induced. These effects can be demonstrated neurophysiologically or by combining rTMS…

Studies on the mechanism of PMN activation II. by triggering the alternative pathway of complement activation

1982

By means of cobra venom factor (CVF) it is demonstrated that the stimulation of hexosemonophosphate shunt (HMPS) of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) by zymosan (Z) and dextran sulfate (DS) is caused by at least two modes of activation: (a) via activation caused by phagocytosis, (b) via activated alternative pathway of complement activation (APC). Active factors of APC presented with phagocytizable objects strongly enhance activation of PMN. The effect of APC can be observed in serum-containing as well as in serum-free cultures. It can be demonstrated that in serum-free cultures the factors of APC participating in the activation of PMN are supplied by monocytes. By the use of synthet…