It is becoming increasingly clear that there are unique sets of miRNAs that have distinct governing roles in several aspects of both innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition, new tools allow selective modulation of the expression of individual miRNAs, both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of how miRNAs drive the activity of immune cells, and...

Echinacea preparations are widely used herbal medicines for the prevention and treatment of colds and minor infections. There is little evidence for the individual components in Echinacea that contribute to immune regulatory activity. Activity of an ethanolic Echinacea extract and several constituents, including cichoric acid, have been examined using three in vitro measures of macrophage immun...

Studies on the effects of marijuana smoking have evolved into the discovery and description of the endocannabinoid system. To date, this system is composed of two receptors, CB1 and CB2, and endogenous ligands including anandamide, 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, and others. CB1 receptors and ligands are found in the brain as well as immune and other peripheral tissues. Conversely, CB2 receptors and l...

Heart failure remains a critical target to improve the health of the US population. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.1 Heart failure is a result of acute or chronic injury followed by healing and remodeling that are insufficient to maintain or restore function. Myocardial infarction (MI) is the major cause of heart dysfunction, but other more chronic injuries,...

Acute pancreatitis (AP) Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common gastrointestinal causes for hospital admission. AP can develop in response to various factors e.g., gallstones, excessive alcohol consumption, viral infections, as well as strong reactions to certain medications. Initiating events for the acinar cell injury take place locally. Premature enzyme activation and abnormal exoc...

Evidence is rapidly accumulating as to the beneficial effects of foods. However, it is not always clear whether the information is based on data evaluated impartially in a scientific fashion. Human research into whether foods modulate immune functions in either intervention studies or randomized controlled trials can be classified into three categories according to the physical state of subject...

Tachykinins represent a family of peptides which have significant effects on such diverse physiological responses as gut peristalsis, vascular permeability, and the transmission of pain. Traditionally, neurons have been identified as the major source of tachykinin peptides in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system, resulting in their classification as neuropeptides or, more specif...

Human milk contains a substantial number of hormones and growth factors. Studies in animal models show that some of these peptides (e.g. insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, IGF-1, epidermal growth factors) have an effect on the small intestine after orogastric administration. Recently, two efforts were made to incorporate growth factors into infant formulas. One of these efforts included the...

The notion that inflammation plays a role in atherosclerosis dates to separate observations by Virchow and von Rokitansky in the middle of the 19 century that atherosclerotic blood vessels contained evidence of cellular inflammation. This concept remained stagnant until the 1970s, when Russell Ross demonstrated that monocyte adhesion to the endothelial surface was an early and essential feature...

Since Roentgens discovery of the X-rays 1895, radiation therapy (RT) has been one of the most successful modalities used to treat cancer (Rontgen 1995). The experimental radiation treatment of glioma, however, took place first in 1938 (Bailey & Brunschwig 1938). Since then advances in radiation technology have expanded the role and value of using ionizing radiation in diagnosis, imaging and the...