New Insights Into the Role of Inflammation in the Brain in Heart Failure.

Heart failure is a growing medical problem. Although the underlying aetiology of heart failure differs according to the phenotype, there are some common characteristics observed in patients with heart failure. These include an increased sympathetic nerve activity, an activated renin-angiotensin system, and inflammation.

The Enigma of the Adrenarche: Identifying the Early Life Mechanisms and Possible Role in Postnatal Brain Development.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated metabolite (DHEAS) are dynamically regulated before birth and the onset of puberty. Yet, the origins and purpose of increasing DHEA[S] in postnatal development remain elusive. Here, we draw attention to this pre-pubertal surge from the adrenal gland-the adrenarche-and discuss whether this is the result of intra-adrenal gene expression specifically affecting the zona reticularis (ZR), if the ZR is influenced by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and the possible role of spino-sympathetic innervation in prompting increased ZR activity.

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Crosstalk in the Brain: Leptin and Resistin.

Leptin and resistin are cytokines whose plasma levels correlate with adiposity. Leptin is a hormone synthesised and released from adipocytes and can be transported into the brain. Resistin is produced in adipocytes in rodents and in macrophages in humans, particularly macrophages that have infiltrated adipose tissue.

Students from a large Australian university use Twitter to identify difficult course concepts to review during face-to-face lectorial sessions.

Engaging undergraduate students in large classes is a constant challenge for many lecturers, as student participation and engagement can be limited. This is a concern since there is a positive correlation between increased engagement and student success. The lack of student feedback on content delivery prevents lecturers from identifying topics that would benefit students if reviewed.

The Carotid Body a Common Denominator for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Dysfunction?

The carotid body is a highly vascularized organ designed to monitor oxygen levels. Reducing oxygen levels in blood results in increased activity of the carotid body cells and reflex increases in sympathetic nerve activity. A key contributor to elevated sympathetic nerve activity in neurogenic forms of hypertension is enhanced peripheral chemoreceptor activity.