Palmitate treatment causes a significant increase in NPY mRNA levels and significantly alters the phase of rhythmic expression. We explored the link between AMPK and the expression of neuropeptide Y using the AMPK inhibitor compound C and the AMP analog AICAR. AMPK inhibition decreased NPY mRNA. AICAR also elevated basal compound screening assay NPY, but prevented the palmitate-mediated increase in NPY mRNA levels. We postulate that this palmitate-mediated increase in NPY and AgRP synthesis may initiate a detrimental positive feedback loop leading to increased energy consumption. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose of review\n\nThe microbial composition

of the vagina of healthy and infected women is becoming more fully elucidated with molecular techniques. The purpose of this review is to examine our current understanding of the vaginal microbiota and assess how probiotic bacteria might reduce infectivity.\n\nRecent findings\n\nIt appears that there are some remarkable similarities in the bacterial species that inhabit the vagina check details of women from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Yet, distinct outliers exist in which a small portion of apparently healthy

women have extremely complex microbiota, whereas most have a relatively simple microbiota. Bacterial vaginosis is the most common aberrant condition in women, yet its pathogenesis is poorly understood and it is often asymptomatic. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is better known, yet many women self-treat with antifungals when in fact they have bacterial vaginosis. Urinary tract infection (UTI) remains extremely common, buy Dinaciclib with no real breakthrough treatment or prevention strategy developed in the past 30 or more years. The ability of lactobacilli probiotic interventions to prevent, treat and improve the cure of these infections has long been considered and is now supported by some clinical evidence.\n\nSummary\n\nThe

mechanisms whereby certain probiotic lactobacilli improve urogenital health include immune modulation, pathogen displacement and creation of a niche less conducive to proliferation of pathogens and their virulence factors. Probiotics offer a potential new means to prevent urogenital infections and help maintain a healthy vaginal ecosystem.”
“In adult rodents, endocannabinoids (eCBs) regulate fast glucocorticoid (GC) feedback in the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, acting as retrograde messengers that bind to cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) and inhibit glutamate release from presynaptic CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). During the first two weeks of life, rat pups exhibit significant CRH and ACTH responses to stress although the adrenal GC output remains reduced.