Natural Radiosensitizers in Radiotherapy: Cancer Treatment by Combining Ionizing Radiation with Resveratrol.

Conventional cancer treatment is mainly based on the surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. When surgical removal is not possible, radiotherapy and, less often, chemotherapy is the only way to treat patients. However, despite significant progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and developments in modern radiotherapy techniques, radiotherapy (alone or in combination) does not always guarantee treatment success.

Time-space trade-offs in population protocols for the majority problem.

Population protocols are a model for distributed computing that is focused on simplicity and robustness. A system of identical agents (finite state machines) performs a global task like electing a unique leader or determining the majority opinion when each agent has one of two opinions. Agents communicate in pairwise interactions with randomly assigned communication partners.

Calcium-Involved Action of Phytochemicals: Carotenoids and Monoterpenes in the Brain.

Background: Neurodegenerative and mood disorders represent growing medical and social problems, many of which are provoked by oxidative stress, disruption in the metabolism of various neurotransmitters, and disturbances in calcium homeostasis. Biologically active plant compounds have been shown to exert a positive impact on the function of calcium in the central nervous system.

Methods: The present paper reviews studies of naturally occurring terpenes and derivatives and the calcium-based aspects of their mechanisms of action, as these are known to act upon a number of targets linked to neurological prophylaxis and therapy.

Neuroprotective Polyphenols: A Modulatory Action on Neurotransmitter Pathways.

Background: Balance in neurotransmission is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and even a small, but prolonged disturbance, can induce the negative feedback mechanisms leading to various neuropathologies. Neurodegenerative and mood disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or affective disorders are increasing medical and social problems. Among the wide spectrum of potentially destructive events, oxidative stress and disrupted metabolism of some neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, serotonin or dopamine appear to play a decisive role.

The Puzzling Role of Neuron-Specific PMCA Isoforms in the Aging Process.

The aging process is a physiological phenomenon associated with progressive changes in metabolism, genes expression, and cellular resistance to stress. In neurons, one of the hallmarks of senescence is a disturbance of calcium homeostasis that may have far-reaching detrimental consequences on neuronal physiology and function. Among several proteins involved in calcium handling, plasma membrane Ca-ATPase (PMCA) is the most sensitive calcium detector controlling calcium homeostasis.

[Biomarkers of intrauterine growth restriction].

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a serious clinical problem affecting about 10% of all pregnancies, and even up to 15% of all monochorionic twin pregnancies. This disorder is accompanied by strongly increased perinatal mortality. IUGR has multiple causes including maternal, fetal, placental, and environmental factors.

Calcium Dyshomeostasis Alters CCL5 Signaling in Differentiated PC12 Cells.

Background: Plasma membrane Ca-ATPase (PMCA) is the most sensitive cellular calcium detector. It exists in four main isoforms (PMCA1-4), among which PMCA2 and PMCA3 are considered as fast-acting neuron-specific forms. In the brain, PMCA function declines progressively during aging; thereby impaired calcium homeostasis may contribute to some neurodegenerative diseases.

Calcium-engaged Mechanisms of Nongenomic Action of Neurosteroids.

Background: Neurosteroids form the unique group because of their dual mechanism of action. Classically, they bind to specific intracellular and/or nuclear receptors, and next modify genes transcription. Another mode of action is linked with the rapid effects induced at the plasma membrane level within seconds or milliseconds.

[Chemokine CC receptors in the nervous system].

Chemoattractant cytokines (chemokines) are traditionally known as the important mediators of inflammatory processes, however, recently, is also given to their other functions in the body. Acting through specific receptors belonging to the G proteins they regulate immune processes in the body. About 20 chemokine receptors have been identified so far, and 10 of them bind chemokines CC, i.