Estradiol does not affect spasms in the betamethasone-NMDA rat model of infantile spasms.

Objective: This study attempted to validate the effects of neonatal estradiol in ameliorating the spasms in the prenatally betamethasone-primed N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) model of infantile spasms in rats as shown previously in a mouse Arx gene knock-in expansion model of infantile spasms.

Methods: Neonatal rats prenatally exposed to betamethasone (on day 15 of pregnancy) were treated with subcutaneous 40 ng/g estradiol benzoate (EB) between postnatal days (P)3-P10 or P0-P5. A synthetic estrogen analogue, diethylstilbestrol, was used between P0 and P5 (2 μg per rat, s.

Drosophila insulin and target of rapamycin (TOR) pathways regulate GSK3 beta activity to control Myc stability and determine Myc expression in vivo.

Background: Genetic studies in Drosophila melanogaster reveal an important role for Myc in controlling growth. Similar studies have also shown how components of the insulin and target of rapamycin (TOR) pathways are key regulators of growth. Despite a few suggestions that Myc transcriptional activity lies downstream of these pathways, a molecular mechanism linking these signaling pathways to Myc has not been clearly described.

Taking it to the streets: responses of African American young adults to internal tobacco industry documents.

Since the Master Settlement Agreement of 1998 between 46 states and the major tobacco companies forced the release of over 30 million pages of previously secret internal tobacco industry documents, researchers have been exploring how information in the documents can be useful for advancing public health efforts. Previous research shows that the tobacco industry has made massive efforts to target marginalized communities, not only through typical advertising channels but also through establishing financial and other ties with influential leadership groups. However, no previous studies have explored how members of targeted groups might respond at the grassroots level to actual internal tobacco industry documents about such targeting.