Stigma: many mechanisms require multifaceted responses

Stigma: many mechanisms require multifaceted responses.

Intense attention to the problem of stigma in mental illness is emerging around the world. The fruits of this burst of attention will be wide ranging and deep to the extent that our efforts are sustained and address fundamental stigma processes. In this commentary I set forth a definition of stigma that is derived from thinking about many different stigmatizing circumstances. Then in light of t...

The Many Roles of Galectin-3, a Multifaceted Molecule, in Innate Immune Responses against Pathogens

Galectins are a group of evolutionarily conserved proteins with the ability to bind β-galactosides through characteristic carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRD). Galectin-3 is structurally unique among all galectins as it contains a C-terminal CRD linked to an N-terminal protein-binding domain, being the only chimeric galectin. Galectin-3 participates in many functions, both intra- and extracel...

Multiple etiologies of tumor hypoxia require multifaceted solutions.

In this issue of Clinical Cancer Research , Crokart et al. (1) report that glucocorticoids increase tumor oxygenation by decreasing oxygen consumption rate. The magnitude of the improvement in pO2 is sufficient to cause a 70% prolongation of tumor growth time when given before a single large dose of 25 Gy. This effect occurs despite the fact that this treatment decreases perfusion. The results ...

Insulators: many functions, many mechanisms.

S- and C-start escape responses of the muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) require alternative neuromotor mechanisms.

The startle response is a model system for examining the neural basis of behavior because of its relatively simple neural circuit organization and kinematic pattern. In fishes, the two primary types of startle behavior differ in their initial movements. In the C-start type of startle, the fish bends into a C shape, while the S-start involves an S-shaped body bend. Although considerable research...