Biological implications of genes differentially expressed in human hippocampus and spinal cord.

The hippocampus is involved in learning and memory of intellectual functions whereas the spinal cord carries sensory impulses from the trunk and limbs to the brain and it returns commands from the brain to the muscles and glands. The relative expression levels of genes in human hippocampus and spinal cord were determined using high-density cDNA-arrays. Validations by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Northern, and Western analyses show good agreement with cDNA-array results.

Dehydroepiandrosterone, an endogenous immune modulator, after traumatic shock.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an endogenous immune modulator, reduces mortality after endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) administration in rodents. However, there have been no studies in clinically relevant large-animal models. A unique experimental model is used to study the effects of DHEA in resuscitated trauma and to evaluate the protective effect of DHEA on the systemic inflammatory response induced by a delayed LPS challenge.