The Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Cytokine Alarmins to Treat Allergic Airway Inflammation.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disorder that results in recurrent attacks of breathlessness, coughing, and wheezing that affects millions of people worldwide. Although the precise causes of asthma are unclear, studies suggest that a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposure to various allergens and pathogens contribute to its development. Currently, the most common treatment to control asthma is a dual combination of β2-adrenergic receptor agonists and corticosteroids.

Effects of Ncl. Basalis Meynert volume on the Trail-Making-Test are restricted to the left hemisphere.

Background: Cortical acetylcholine released from cells in the basal forebrain facilitates cue detection and improves attentional performance. Cholinergic fibres to the cortex originate from the CH4 cell group, sometimes referred to as the Nucleus basalis of Meynert and the Nucleus subputaminalis of Ayala. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of volumes of cholinergic nuclei on attention and executive function.

Regulation of gap junction channels by infectious agents and inflammation in the CNS.

Gap junctions (GJs) are conglomerates of intercellular channels that connect the cytoplasm of two or more cells, and facilitate the transfer of ions and small molecules, including second messengers, resulting in metabolic and electrical coordination. In general, loss of gap junctional communication (GJC) has been associated with cellular damage and inflammation resulting in compromise of physiological functions. Recently, it has become evident that GJ channels also play a critical role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and associated inflammation.

Role of Pannexin-1 hemichannels and purinergic receptors in the pathogenesis of human diseases.

In the last decade several groups have determined the key role of hemichannels formed by pannexins or connexins, extracellular ATP and purinergic receptors in physiological and pathological conditions. Our work and the work of others, indicate that the opening of Pannexin-1 hemichannels and activation of purinergic receptors by extracellular ATP is essential for HIV infection, cellular migration, inflammation, atherosclerosis, stroke, and apoptosis. Thus, this review discusses the importance of purinergic receptors, Panx-1 hemichannels and extracellular ATP in the pathogenesis of several human diseases and their potential use to design novel therapeutic approaches.

Developmental trajectories of regulating attentional selection over time.

Adaptive behavior in learning environments requires both the maintenance of an attentional focus on a task-set and suppression of distracting stimuli. This may be especially difficult when the competing information is more appealing than the target event. The aptitude to "pay attention" and resist distraction has often been noted as an important prerequisite of successful acquisition of intellectual abilities in children.