Measuring oxytocin release in response to gavage: Computational modelling and assay validation.

In the present experiments, we tested the conclusion from previous electrophysiological experiments that gavage of sweet food and systemically applied insulin both stimulate oxytocin secretion. To do so, we measured oxytocin secretion from urethane-anaesthetised male rats, and demonstrated a significant increase in secretion in response to gavage of sweetened condensed milk but not isocaloric cream, and a significant increase in response to intravenous injection of insulin. We compared the measurements made in response to sweetened condensed milk with the predictions from a computational model, which we used to predict plasma concentrations of oxytocin from the published electrophysiological responses of oxytocin cells.

The Perception of Disability Among Mothers Living With a Child With Cerebral Palsy in Saudi Arabia.

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of disability among Saudi mothers and to understand the implication of the meaning for the mothers of children with disability. A critical ethnographic approach was employed using focus groups and follow-up interviews with the mothers. Three primary themes were identified that specifically influenced and affected the mothers' experiences: (a) culture and religion, (b) motherhood and disability, and (c) community stigma and discrimination.

Neuroprotective effects of minocycline and progesterone on white matter injury after focal cerebral ischemia.

Stroke induced white matter injury can induce marked neurological deficits even after relatively small infarcts, due to the tightly packed nature of white matter tracts especially in certain areas in the brain. Many drugs which were successful in the pre-clinical trials failed in clinical trials, which was attributed in part to the focus on grey matter injury completely and ignoring their effect on white matter. In this work we selected two known neuroprotective drugs (minocycline and progesterone) and examined their effect on white matter injury after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Interleukin-1β mediates macrophage-induced impairment of insulin signaling in human primary adipocytes.

Adipose tissue expansion during obesity is associated with increased macrophage infiltration. Macrophage-derived factors significantly alter adipocyte function, inducing inflammatory responses and decreasing insulin sensitivity. Identification of the major factors that mediate detrimental effects of macrophages on adipocytes may offer potential therapeutic targets.