Restless Leg Syndrome in Neurologic and Medical Disorders.

Adopting prior models of sleep-wake transitions, a flip-flop switch in synchronized neurotransmitter activity is proposed to underlie restless leg syndrome onset. In this model, leg quiescence homeostasis sustained through concerted activities of several neurotransmitters in basal ganglia is perturbed and produces striatal motor activity along sensory activity associated with thalamocortical circuits (conscious urge and discomfort). This model explains the association of restless leg syndrome with a wide variety of associated pathologies emphasizing that perturbed function and imbalance may occur under different steady states of neurotransmitter levels.

Consciousness, brain, neuroplasticity.

Subjectivity, intentionality, self-awareness and will are major components of consciousness in human beings. Changes in consciousness and its content following different brain processes and malfunction have long been studied. Cognitive sciences assume that brain activities have an infrastructure, but there is also evidence that consciousness itself may change this infrastructure.

Does lymphopenia preclude restoration of immune homeostasis? The particular case of type 1 diabetes.

Induction of hematopoietic chimerism initiates tolerizing processes that often restore control over autoimmune reactions: graft versus autoimmunity reaction. In view of the limited capacity of autologous bone marrow transplants and some cases of persistent autoimmune diabetes after allogeneic transplants, we hypothesize that the preparative conditioning regimens adopted from the oncological setting are suboptimal approaches to rebooting the immune system. In general, homeostatic expansion under lymphopenic conditions favors the recovery and development of cytotoxic T cells.