Study fishes out new role for prostaglandins
...type." In another set of embryos, the researchers blocked prostaglandin receptors, EP2 and EP4. Blocking the EP4 receptor caused defects similar to those associated with blocking PGE2 synthesis. When the researchers analyzed cell movement, they found that the shapes and trajectories of embryonic cells were ...Brain activity, drugs could affect Alzheimer's progression
...els. Conversely, when they administered drugs that blocked neuronal activity, A levels dropped. Their studies also revealed that A appeared to be released from the same kinds of sac-like vesicles in neurons that transport the chemical signals called neurotransmitters that one neuron uses to triggers a nerve...Bare metal stents deliver gene therapy to heart vessels with less inflammation in animal studies
...e patients now by using stents to expand partially blocked blood vessels and improve blood flow. However, new obstructions may gradually form within the stents themselves and dangerously narrow the passageway. A newer generation of stents releases drugs to counteract this renarrowing process, called restenos...Fantastic voyage into the heart delivers a protector against heart failure
...the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Narrowed or blocked blood vessels are unable to deliver sufficient levels of oxygen to cardiomyocytes, which results in cardiomyocyte death, loss of the middle layer of the heart wall (the myocardium), and ultimately, heart failure. Therefore, therapies that protect car...JCI table of contents: December 15, 2005
...the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Narrowed or blocked blood vessels are unable to deliver sufficient levels of oxygen to cardiomyocytes, which results in cardiomyocyte death, loss of the middle layer of the heart wall (the myocardium), and ultimately, heart failure. Therefore, therapies that protect car...UF scientists find sugar may have a sour side
...dstream and developed insulin resistance. "When we blocked or lowered uric acid, we were able to largely prevent or reverse features of the metabolic syndrome," Johnson said. "We were able to significantly reduce weight gain, we were able to significantly reduce the rise in the triglycerides in the blood, th...Watch your step when the going gets rough
...ld step onto a target. In 50% of the attempts they blocked subjects' vision just at the point when they were ...step accurately on the target. "Because vision was blocked only after the foot had left the floor, this research shows that we use visual information to adjust...Enzyme may be target for new anti-inflammatory compounds
...r that induces inflammatory pathways such as those blocked by many allergy medications. "The inhibition of CERK would have the added benefit of shutting down the entire inflammatory pathway possibly alleviating side-effects caused by the medications such as Vioxx, which was recently withdrawn from the pharma...Gladstone researchers identify new drug target for Alzheimer's disease
...presence of resveratrol or of other molecules that blocked NF-kB, microglia were well behaved, and amyloid beta was unable to harm the neurons. The study thus pinpoints NF-B as an important contributor to the destructive power of amyloid beta, making it a key drug target, and it singles out resveratrol as ho...Genetic key to growth of new arteries is identified
...sm that causes new arteries to grow in response to blocked arteries. A team led by SFVAMC vascular surgeon Rajabrata Sarkar, MD, PhD, has demonstrated in mice that the MMP2 gene is essential for the growth of new arteries when the femoral (leg) artery is blocked. The team also identified and described, for ...Biotechnology's newest chemical tool
...n, the researchers modified DNA in a position that blocked another enzyme's ability to snip the molecule at its target site. "No one has really thought about possible applications [of this] before because no one thought it was possible,' said Klimasauskas. He predicts that DNA methyltranferases will become a...JCI table of contents: December 2005
...ed populations. The authors show that B. pertussis blocked both neutrophil migration and recruitment to the lungs during the first week of infection by a PTx-dependent mechanism. But a PTx mutant of B. pertussis induced neutrophil recruitment and was quickly cleared from the lungs by adoptively transferred a...Stress interferes with problem-solving; Beta-blocker may help
...ess hormone norepinephrine, the action of which is blocked by the propranolol. "Essentially, we propose that this state of arousal resulting from stress inhibits a person's ability to access mental resources to solve problems in a flexible manner under stressful circumstances, and that a specific system in ...Studies show apo A-I Milano gene transfer and antibody therapy cut atherosclerotic plaque
...d to plaque buildup and rupture, which can cause a blocked artery and heart attack or stroke. The researchers...the flow of blood, but the bloodstream also can be blocked by the formation of a blood clot the immune system's attempt to heal the rupture. With a growing u...Alcohol, stress, a family history of alcoholism, and the β-endorphin system
...aid Gianoulakis. "Thus, prior alcohol consumption blocked or decreased the β-endorphin response to stress regardless of family history of alcoholism and presence of alcohol dependence." Gianoulakis added it was important to note that stress dysfunction can both act as a mediator of alcohol dependence a...Chronic stress accelerates atherosclerosis following angioplasty procedure
...cle in the blood vessels and caused them to become blocked with lesions containing microphages, thrombus and lipid deposits. These lesions resembled plaques which develop in humans in a process of atherosclerosis and are the cause of vessel blocking after angioplasty. This process has never before been repr......ld happen if the activity of NF-kB in neurons were blocked after a stroke? To test this, genetic mouse models were required. The group of Manolis Pasparakis at EMBL's Mouse Biology Unit developed a strain of "conditional knockout" mouse in which a protein called IKK2, which activates NF-kB, can be controlled...An existing diuretic may suppress seizures in newborns
...rain," says Jensen. "We thought that perhaps if we blocked its inward transfer of chloride, we could get immature neurons to act like older neurons and give GABA a chance to do what it's supposed to do." The researchers knew that the diuretic bumetanide inhibits NKCC1 activity in the kidney, and reasoned tha...An essential regulator of body weight revealed
... protein, which is found only in NPY/AgRP neurons, blocked appetite-suppressing signals from POMC neurons suggesting it could stimulate appetite through a mechanism unique from that of NPY. It seemed to be the molecule they'd been searching for. "We thought, this is great: NPY is gone, AgRP takes over how ...Wnt signaling controls the fate of stem cells in adult brains
...neage decisions in many types of stem cells. "We blocked Wnt3 in the brain of mice with the help of molecular tools used for gene therapy, and neurogenesis decreased dramatically. When we added additional Wnt3, the number of neurons increased," explains Gage. "This increase proved to us that the Wnt signal...