Sex differences in empathy for pain: What is the role of autonomic regulation?

Empathy involves both affective and cognitive components whereby we understand, and express concerns for, the experiences of others. Women typically have superior trait empathy compared with men, which seems to have a neurological basis with sex differences in the structure and function of neural networks involved in empathy. This study investigated sex differences in empathy for pain using the Empathy for Pain Scale, and examined whether these trait differences were associated with disruptions in autonomic regulation, specifically via the parasympathetic nervous system (measured through the square root of the mean squared differences of successive R‐R intervals; RMSSD) both at rest and during a socioevaluative stress task (i.e., the serial sevens task). Compared with men, women reported higher empathic concern (Cohen's r = .25) and affective distress (Cohen's d = 0.65) toward another in pain. In both men and women, there was a decrease in lnRMSSD in the stress task compared to rest. Sex moderated the relationship between resting lnRMSSD and self‐reported empathic concern. Specifically, there was no clear association between empathic concern and lnRMSSD in men whereas in women there was a negative relationship, with lower resting lnRMSSD associated with higher empathic concern, and higher lnRMSSD associated with lower levels of empathic concern that were similar to men. These findings suggest that empathic feelings may result from poorer psychophysiological regulation, and concur with previous research displaying sex‐specific relationships between resting heart rate variability and emotion regulation abilities.     

Management of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with mechanical circulatory support: a role for low-molecular-weight heparins?

Patients on mechanical circulatory support are at high risk of bleeding, particularly intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). The management of ICH in patients needing anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapies remains a challenge. We report our initial experience of ICH management with low-molecular-weight heparin in patients with mechanical circulatory support, without bleeding or thromboembolic complications.     

Ontogeny of spatial navigation in rats: a role for response requirements?

Three experiments investigated the role of response requirements in the Morris water maze for pre- and postweanling rats. Fischer-344N pups were required to locate a hidden platform using extramaze cues in a tank modified for the pups' immature response repertoire. Weanlings (20-22 days) displayed spatial learning in a pool 1/2 the size of the adults' (Experiment 1); by 26-28 days of age, probe performance was comparable to adults' on quadrant preference and platform-crossing measures. Preweanlings (17 days), in a pool 1/3 the original size, significantly reduced escape latencies and displayed quadrant preference and platform-crossing scores indicative of spatial navigation. These results suggest that despite its protracted postnatal development, the preweanling hippocampus allows neural integration of visual-spatial information; however, the capacity to demonstrate such learning is dependent on task parameters and the pup's response repertoire.     

Regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein with a role in male reproduction?

Regucalcin (RGN) is a calcium (Ca(2+))-binding protein which plays an important role in the regulation of Ca(2+) homeostasis and has been shown to catalyse an important step in L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis. It is encoded by an X-linked gene and differs from other Ca(2+)-binding proteins by lacking the typical EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding domain. RGN controls intracellular Ca(2+) concentration by regulating the activity of membrane Ca(2+) pumps. Moreover, RGN has been indicated to regulate the activity of numerous enzymes and to act in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. The importance of Ca(2+) homeostasis in spermatogenesis has been demonstrated by several studies, and its disruption has been shown to cause reversible male infertility. Recently, the expression of RGN in male reproductive tissues has been described and its localization in all testicular cell types was demonstrated. In addition, RGN expression is regulated by androgens, a class of steroid hormones recognized as male germ cell survival factors and of uttermost importance for spermatogenesis. Altogether, available information suggests the hypothesis that RGN might play a role in spermatogenesis, directly or as a mediator of androgen action. This review discusses this hypothesis presenting novel data about RGN expression in human testis.     

Sorting DNA with asymmetry: a new player in gene regulation?

In recent years, our views on how DNA and genes are organised and regulated have evolved significantly. One example is provided by reports that single DNA strands in the double helix could carry distinct forms of information. That chromatids carrying old and nascently replicated DNA strands are recognised by the mitotic machinery, then segregated in a concerted way to distinct daughter cells after cell division is remarkable. Notably, this phenomenon in several cases has been associated with the cell fate choice of resulting daughter cells. Here, we review the evidence for asymmetric or template DNA strand segregation in mammals with a focus on skeletal muscle.     

The role of the mast cell in asthma: induction of airway hyperresponsiveness by interaction with smooth muscle?

In a recent study, the difference between asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis (a condition characterized by cough but not airway hyperresponsiveness or airflow obstruction) was infiltration of airway smooth muscle (ASM) by mast cells. Mast cells produce a variety of lipid mediators, chemokines, cytokines, and enzymes that may interact with ASM cells to cause hyperreactivity to constrictive stimuli and proliferation, and activated ASM can produce stem cell factor and other chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors that may act in recruitment, differentiation, and retention of mast cells. Mast cell infiltration of the airways in asthma is T-cell-dependent, and TH2 cytokines from T cells and other sources act in mast cell expansion from circulating and tissue precursors. The recent data on interactions of mast cells and ASM suggest that this could be an important contributor to airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Why this occurs in asthma and how it is sustained remain to be established.     

Hypersociability in Williams syndrome: a role for the amygdala?

We read with great interest the paper of Riby et al. regarding atypical, unfamiliar face processing in Williams syndrome (WS; Riby, Doherty-Sneddon, & Bruce, 2008a). It offers considerable insight into the mechanism of facial perception in humans and a further elaboration of the hypersociability observed in patients with Williams syndrome. We would like to suggest that the neurologic mechanisms underlying the hypersociability in WS may be attributable to an impaired recognition of facial expressions of threat, a feature that localises to the amygdala.     

Post-translational control of chemokines: a role for decoy receptors?

It is well-established that chemokines play a critical role in the orchestration of inflammation and immunity. Interactions between chemokines and their receptors are essential for the homing of specific subsets of leukocytes to their functional microenvironments. They also influence other diverse biological processes such as development, leukocyte activation, Th1/Th2 polarisation, tumour metastasis, angiogenesis, and HIV pathogenesis. However, despite their importance, only now are we beginning to understand the complex regulation brought to bear on these molecules. In this review, we discuss a number of these key chemokine regulators that exert their influence once these proteins have been synthesised. We examine (i) chemokine storage, release, and presentation, (ii) protease regulation, (iii) viral manipulation of host chemokines, and (iv) natural mammalian receptor antagonists. Principally, the growing evidence for a role for decoy receptors in the chemokine system is discussed. In particular, the potential decoy function of the 'silent' pro-inflammatory chemokine receptor D6 is described alongside two other candidate decoy receptor molecules, DARC, and CCX-CKR. Dissecting the biological and pathological function of these chemokine controllers will lead to a deeper understanding of chemokine regulation, and may reveal novel strategies to therapeutically modify the chemokine system.     

Is there a role for palmitoylethanolamide in the treatment of depression?

Depression is a common brain disorder affecting about 350 million people worldwide. Although the pharmacological treatment currently available can produce benefits in the majority of cases, residual depressive symptoms, cognitive deficits, functional impairment, and increase in frequency of relapses are frequently present in unipolar and bipolar depressed patients correctly treated. In the last years, numerous evidences have demonstrated the involvement of endocannabinoid system in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Considering the recent findings about the antidepressant effect of palmitoylethanolamide in animal model, we have hypothesized the potential antidepressant effect of this fatty acid amide in unipolar and bipolar depressed patients.     

Knee osteoarthritis: a role for bradykinin?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and degenerating progressive disease of the joints which affects millions of patients worldwide. The cause of OA is largely unknown. Among the potential therapies for the symptomatic treatment of OA, the intra-articular administration of a specific bradykinin (BK) B(2) receptor antagonist has been reported to produce a long lasting analgesic effect in patients affected by knee OA. BK is a vasodilator and inflammatory nonapeptide which is generated in OA synovium. It contributes to the initiation and maintenance of inflammation, to exciting and sensitizing sensory nerve fibres, thus producing pain, and to activating synoviocytes and chondrocytes which are the main cells involved in the homeostasis of synovial fluid and cartilage, respectively. Moreover, BK synergistically potentiates the effects produced by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Biochemical and preclinical evidence supporting the therapeutic relevance of B(2) receptor blockade in OA pathophysiology are reviewed in this publication.     

Is acne really a disease?: a theory of acne as an evolutionarily significant, high-order psychoneuroimmune interaction timed to cortical development with a crucial role in mate choice

Adolescent acne is considered from the perspective of evolutionary psychology with an emphasis on a role in mate choice. The fact that acne, which is almost universal and not a true infection, is (1) initiated at puberty by the action of pubertal hormones on likely distinct, pro-acne follices, and (2) typically resolves in one's early twenties when prefrontal cortex development is complete, suggests that the condition's timeframe is meaningful. Acne's conspicuous localization on the face, and its ability to elicit reflexive disgust and avoidance in observers, suggests a possible role in sexual selection. The pathophysiology of acne is reviewed, and the suggestion made that, far from being a disease, adolescent acne is a normal physiological process - a high-order psychoneuroimmune interaction - that functions to ward off potential mates until the afflicted individual is some years past the age of reproductive maturity, and thus emotionally, intellectually, and physically fit to be a parent.     

Skeletal disorders associated with skin pigmentation: a role of melatonin?

Although frequently encountered, no available consensus about the association between skeletal abnormalities and skin pigmentation. Several syndromes are characterized by the presence of skin pigmentation in association with skeletal disorders like neurofibroamtosis 1, McCune-Albright Syndrome, Jaffe-Campanacci Syndrome and Jaffe-Lichtenstein Syndrome. Even in the absence of these syndromes, skeletal abnormalities were detected in all radiologically examined patients having patterned skin pigmentation. Although skin pigmentation is controlled by several factors, melatonin is the most reliable factor to have relation to development of skeletal abnormalities. Recent research works support that melatonin might play a role in bone development and several hypotheses link melatonin with some bone diseases associated with skin pigmentation. It seems that melatonin deficiency is a probable operating co-factor in a lot of clinical situations characterized by skin pigmentation and skeletal disorders. This would explain some of the un-explained observations related to these syndromes and research works along these lines might lead to the development of efficient treatment for these diseases.