Regulation of the Endogenous Opiate Signaling Pathway against Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: A Considerable Approach for Exploring Preclinical Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

Introduction: Oxidative stress and inflammation are major factors contributing to the progressive death of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies have demonstrated that morphine's biosynthetic pathway, coupled with nitric oxide (NO) release, is evolutionarily conserved throughout animals and humans. Moreover, dopamine is a key precursor for morphine biosynthesis.

Influences of Taurine Pharmacodynamics and Sex on Active Avoidance Learning and Memory.

Researchers have begun to direct their research to focus on the use of taurine as a psychopharmacotherapeutic compound to treat a wide range of health- related conditions as well as neuropathological diseases. Moreover, taurine has been shown to improve emotional and cognitive declines associated with senescence in neurotypical animal models. However, despite these advances in the field of taurine therapeutics, much less is known regarding the effects of sex and taurine on neurotypical animal models that are then manipulated, modified, and/or mutated to study human diseases.

Cereal and Juice, Lead and Arsenic, Our Children at Risk: A Call for the FDA to Re-Evaluate the Allowable Limits of Lead and Arsenic That Children May Ingest.

Eliminating heavy metal contamination of foods is a goal yet to be achieved in the U.S. In recent months, efforts have been underway to have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) re-evaluate the permissible limits of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) allowable in cereals and juices aimed for consumption by children.