Systemic and local inflammatory processes have a key, mainly detrimental role in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. Currently, little is known about endogenous counterregulatory immune mechanisms. We examined the role of the key immunomodulators CD4+CD25+ forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cells), after experimental brain ischemia. Depletion of Treg cells profoundly in...

We recently reported that Wuzhi tablet (WZ; Schisandra sphenanthera extract) can inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp)–mediated efflux and CYP3Amediated metabolism of tacrolimus (FK506) and thus increase the blood concentrations of FK506. Major active lignans of WZ include schisandrin A, schisandrin B, schisandrin C, schisandrol A, schisandrol B, and schisantherin A. Whether and how these six lignans a...

This paper aims to describe different approaches for studying the overall diet with advantages and limitations. Studies of the overall diet have emerged because the relationship between dietary intake and health is very complex with all kinds of interactions. These cannot be captured well by studying single dietary components. Three main approaches to study the overall diet can be distinguished...

Membrane transporters P-glycoprotein [P-gp; multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1)], multidrug resistance–associated protein (MRP) 2, and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) affect drug absorption and disposition and can also mediate drug-drug interactions leading to safety/toxicity concerns in the clinic. Challenges arise with interpreting cell-based transporter assays when substrates or inhibitors...

A fundamental aspect of human intelligence is the ability to represent and reason relations. Examples of relational thinking include our ability to appreciate analogies between diVerent objects or events (Gentner, 1983; Holyoak & Thagard, 1995); our ability to apply abstract rules in novel situations (e.g., Smith, Langston, & Nisbett, 1992); our ability to understand and learn language (e.g., K...

Many amyloid inhibitors resemble molecules that form chemical aggregates, which are known to inhibit many proteins. Eight known chemical aggregators inhibited amyloid formation of the yeast and mouse prion proteins Sup35 and recMoPrP in a manner characteristic of colloidal inhibition. Similarly, three known anti-amyloid molecules inhibited b-lactamase in a detergent-dependent manner, which sugg...

1997 Vitamin D is converted in the liver by a vitamin D-25-hydroxylase (25-OHase) to form the major circulating form of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. There have been at least four different 25-OHases identified both in mitochrondia and in microsomes. 25(OH)D is, however, biologically inert and requires hydroxylation in the kidneys on carbon 1 by the CYP27B mitrochondrial enzyme 25-h...