In this chapter we review the existing literature regarding the interactions between stress and the mechanisms that maintain balance. Evidence suggests that the interplay between neuro-endocrine and psychological factors may have a significant role in balance function. For example, in healthy individuals vestibular stimulation has been shown to trigger the stress response as indicated by increased blood cortisol levels, whereas in patients with vestibular pathology factors such as resilience and anxiety may be the key focus of interactions with stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Evidence is emerging for a significant clinical and neuroanatomical relationship between balance and anxiety. Research has suggested a potentially priming effect with anxiety symptoms predicting a worsening of balance function in patients with underlying balance dysfunction. We propose to show that a vestibular stimulus is responsible for an increase in state anxiety, and there is a relationship between increased state anxiety and worsening balance function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRationale: Modulation of breathing by hypoxia accommodates variations in oxygen demand and supply during, for example, sleep and ascent to altitude, but the precise molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon remain controversial. Among the genes influenced by natural selection in high-altitude populations is one for the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α1-catalytic subunit, which governs cell-autonomous adaptations during metabolic stress.
Objectives: We investigated whether AMPK-α1 and/or AMPK-α2 are required for the hypoxic ventilatory response and the mechanism of ventilatory dysfunctions arising from AMPK deficiency.
An acute unilateral vestibular lesion leads to a vestibular tone imbalance with nystagmus, head roll tilt and postural imbalance. These deficits gradually decrease over days to weeks due to central vestibular compensation (VC). This study investigated the effects of i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This phase I study examined the toxicity and tolerability of pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid malignancies.
Experimental Design: Eligible patients had histologically proven advanced solid malignancies, with any number of prior therapies, Zubrod performance status 0-2, and adequate organ function. Patients received ADI-PEG 20 weekly intramuscular injection ranging from 4.