On-site scratching

excited neurons, followed by a significant post-scratch decrease in 5-HT-evoked firing. Most neurons additionally responded to mustard oil (allyl isothiocyanate). Off-site scratching had no effect, while EPZ004777 on-site scratching excited the neurons. These results indicate that scratching exerts a state-dependent inhibitory effect on responses of spinal neurons to pruritic but not algesic stimuli. Moreover, on-site scratching first excited neurons followed by inhibition, while off-site scratching immediately evoked the inhibition of pruritogen-evoked activity. This accounts for the suppression of itch by scratching at a distance from the site of the itchy stimulus. (c) 2013 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Metabolism inhibitor Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A common polymorphism of the mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) gene has been associated with cortisol levels after dexamethasone. However, if and how this MR gene variant affects basal cortisol secretion throughout the day is unknown. The aim of our study was to examine the association between the MR gene polymorphism -2G/C (rs2070951) and salivary cortisol measured

at four time points during the day in the Stress, Atherosclerosis, and ECG Study (STRATEGY). We recruited healthy adults from the general population (n = 133, distributed equally across four age groups, 30-70 years). Salivary cortisol was assessed at

0800, 1200, 1600 and 2200 h. We found a significant effect of genotype FRAX597 chemical structure indicating that homozygous G allele carriers had higher overall salivary cortisol levels (F = 4.5, p = 0.01). Furthermore, we found a significant time x group interaction indicating that the group effect was predominantly driven by higher 0800 h salivary cortisol levels in G/G homozygotes (F = 2.9, p = 0.02). Participants homozygous for the G allele also had greater area under the curve (AUC) cortisol secretion compared to C allele carriers (F = 6.4, p = 0.01). Our findings suggest that being homozygous for the G allele of the MR gene polymorphism -2G/G is associated with higher cortisol levels in healthy adults, especially in the morning during peak cortisol secretion. This polymorphism may contribute to the interindividual variability in stress responsiveness and might be involved in stress-related disorders. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is a ubiquitous transcription factor that regulates immune and cell-survival signaling pathways. NF-kappa B has been reported to be present in neurons wherein it reportedly responds to immune and toxic stimuli, glutamate, and synaptic activity. However, because the brain contains many cell types, assays specifically measuring neuronal NF-kappa B activity are difficult to perform and interpret.