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Communication Pathways (communication + pathway)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling female puberty: new approaches, new concepts

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Sergio R. Ojeda
Summary Sexual development and mature reproductive function are controlled by a handful of neurones that, located in the basal forebrain, produce the decapeptide luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). LHRH is released into the portal system that connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland and act on the latter to stimulate the synthesis and release of gonadotrophin hormones. The pubertal activation of LHRH release requires coordinated changes in excitatory and inhibitory inputs to LHRH-secreting neurones. These inputs are provided by both transsynaptic and glia-to-neurone communication pathways. Using cellular and molecular approaches, in combination with transgenic animal models and high-throughput procedures for gene discovery, we are gaining new insight into the basic mechanisms underlying this dual control of LHRH secretion and, hence, the initiation of mammalian puberty. Our results suggest that the initiation of puberty requires reciprocal neurone-glia communication involving excitatory amino acids and growth factors, and the coordinated actions of a group of transcriptional regulators that appear to represent a higher level of control governing the pubertal process. [source]

An integrative review and meta-synthesis of the scope and impact of intensive care liaison and outreach services

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 23 2009
Ruth Endacott
Aim., To determine activities and outcomes of intensive care unit Liaison Nurse/Outreach services. The review comprised two stages: (1) integrative review of qualitative and quantitative studies examining intensive care liaison/outreach services in the UK and Australia and (2) meta-synthesis using the Nursing Role Effectiveness Model as an a priori model. Background., Acute ward patients are at risk of adverse events and patients recovering from critical illness are vulnerable to deterioration. Proactive and reactive strategies have been implemented to facilitate timely identification of patients at risk. Design., Systematic review. Methods., A range of data bases was searched from 2000,2008. Studies were eligible for review if they included adults in any setting where intensive care unit Liaison Nurse or Outreach services were provided. From 1423 citations and 65 abstracts, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results., Intensive care liaison/outreach services had a beneficial impact on intensive care mortality, hospital mortality, unplanned intensive care admissions/re-admissions, discharge delay and rates of adverse events. A range of research methods were used; however, it was not possible to conclude unequivocally that the intensive care liaison/outreach service had resulted in improved outcomes. The major unmeasured benefit across all studies was improved communication pathways between critical care and ward staff. Outcomes for nurses in the form of improved confidence, knowledge and critical care skills were identified in qualitative studies but not measured. Conclusion., The varied nature of the intensive care liaison/outreach services reviewed in these studies suggests that they should be treated as bundled interventions, delivering a treatment package of care. Further studies should examine the impact of critical care support on the confidence and skills of ward nurses. Relevance to clinical practice., Advanced nursing roles can improve outcomes for patients who are vulnerable to deterioration. The Nursing Role Effectiveness Model provides a useful framework for evaluating the impact of these roles. [source]

Genetics and genomics of Candida albicans biofilm formation

CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 9 2006
Clarissa J. Nobile
Summary Biofilm formation by the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans is a complex process with significant consequences for human health: it contributes to implanted medical device-associated infections. Recent advances in gene expression profiling and genetic analysis have begun to clarify the mechanisms that govern C. albicans biofilm development and acquisition of unique biofilm phenotypes. Such studies have identified candidate adhesin genes, and have revealed that biofilm drug resistance is multifactorial. Newly defined cell,cell communication pathways also have profound effects on biofilm formation. Future challenges include the elucidation of the structure and function of the extracellular exopolymeric substance that surrounds biofilm cells, and the extension of in vitro biofilm observations to newly developed in vivo biofilm models. [source]

Engineering Allosteric Regulation into Biological Catalysts

CHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 18 2009
Jacques Fastrez Prof.
Abstract Enzymes and ribozymes constitute two classes of biological catalysts. The activity of many natural enzymes is regulated by the binding of ligands that have different structures than their substrates; these ligands are consequently called allosteric effectors. In most allosteric enzymes, the allosteric binding site lies far away from the active site. This implies that communication pathways must exist between these sites. While mechanisms of allosteric regulation were developed more than forty years ago, they continue to be revisited regularly. The improved understanding of these mechanisms has led in the past two decades to projects to transform several unregulated enzymes into allosterically regulated ones either by rational design or directed evolution techniques. More recently, ribozymes have also been the object of similar successful engineering efforts. In this review, after briefly summarising recent progress in the theories of allosteric regulation, several strategies to engineer allosteric regulations in enzymes and ribozymes are described and compared. These redesigned biological catalysts find applications in a variety of areas. [source]