Combined NK1 receptor antagonism/5-HT reuptake inhibition may offer advantages in the management of depressed and anxious states.”
“This review elucidates the roles of capillary haemodynamics, nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the remodelling of skeletal muscle microcirculation in response to increased (electrical stimulation) or decreased (chronic ischaemia) blood flow. During early stages of stimulation-induced angiogenesis, up-regulation of VEGF and its receptor VEGF receptor 2 is dependent on shear stress and NO release, whereas later, involvement of NO in the expanding capillary bed appears to be VEGF/VEGF receptor 2 independent. Arteriolar growth most likely relies on mechanical wall

stresses while growth factor involvement is less clear. By contrast, in muscles with restricted blood flow, increased VEGF/VEGF receptor 2 Tariquidar expression after ischaemia onset is not associated with changes in shear stress or hypoxia, or capillary growth. After several weeks, VEGF protein levels are lower than normal while modest angiogenesis takes place, a temporal mismatch that limits the utility of using growth factor levels during ischaemia AG-014699 datasheet to assess angiogenic potential. Chronic stimulation of ischaemic muscles restores their depressed endothelial-dependent

arteriolar dilatation, increases capillary shear stress and VEGF receptor 2 and promotes capillary growth. In patients with peripheral vascular disease, electrical stimulation of ischaemic calf muscles

increases blood flow, capillary surface area and muscle performance, offering an alternative ‘endogenous’ treatment to gene or cell therapy. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Depressive disorders affect approximately 5% of the population selleckchem in any given year. Antidepressants may require several weeks to produce their clinical effects. Despite progress being made in this area there is still room and a need to explore additional therapeutic modes to increase treatment effectiveness and responsiveness. Herein, we examined a new method for intervention in depressive states based on deep brain stimulation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) as a source of incentive motivation and hedonia, in comparison to chemical antidepressants. The pattern of stimulation was fashioned to mimic the firing pattern of VTA neurons in the normal rat. Behavioral manifestations of depression were then monitored weekly using a battery of behavioral tests. The results suggest that treatment with programmed acute electrical stimulation of the VTA substantially alleviates depressive behavior, as compared to chemical antidepressants or electroconvulsive therapy, both in onset time and longitudinal effect. These results were also highly correlated with increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex.”
“The metabolic syndrome of vascular risk is threatening large numbers of ever-younger people.