Nicotine is a well-known and highly addictive substance with complex effects on cognition, anxiety, and neurophysiology. Despite its short-term anxiolytic effects, this drug often exacerbates anxiety symptoms. It disrupts emotional regulation through its impact on the central nucleus of the amygdala …

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and its key role in modulating immune responses has been widely recognized as a therapeutic target for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Even though inhibition of TNF-α is beneficial for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases, total neutralization …

We applaud many of the sentiments put forward by Cohen et al in their critique of language and logic in pain medicine. 8 Pleas to avoid conflation between nociception and pain are not new - “The mislabelling of nociceptors as pain fibres was not an elegant simplification but a most unfortunate trivialisation …

Understanding taste is key for optimizing the palatability of seaweeds and other non-animal-based foods rich in protein. The lingual papillae in the mouth hold taste buds with taste receptors for the five gustatory taste qualities. Each taste bud contains three distinct cell types, of which Type II cells …

Understanding taste is key for optimizing the palatability of seaweeds and other non-animal-based foods rich in protein. The lingual papillae in the mouth hold taste buds with taste receptors for the five gustatory taste qualities. Each taste bud contains three distinct cell types, of which Type II cells …

IL22 is an important cytokine involved in the intestinal defense mechanisms against microbiome. By using ileum-derived organoids, we show that the expression of anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) and anti-viral peptides (AVPs) can be induced by IL22. In addition, we identified a bacterial and a viral route, …

The complex amino acid (l-threo)-3-[3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoylamino]benzyloxy]aspartate (l-TFB-TBOA) and its derivatives are privileged compounds for studying the roles of excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) in regulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission, animal behavior, and in the pathogenesis …

Glucocorticoids (GCs), such as prednisolone (PRED), are widely prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, but their use may induce glucose intolerance and diabetes. GC-induced beta cell dysfunction contributes to these diabetogenic effects through mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. In this study, we hypothesized …

Background: G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in many different physiological processes and their function can be modulated by small molecules which bind in the transmembrane (TM) domain. Because of their structural and sequence conservation, the TM domains are often used in bioinformatics …

BACKGROUND: Prednisolone and other glucocorticoids (GCs) are potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs. However, prolonged use at a medium or high dose is hampered by side effects of which the metabolic side effects are most evident. Relatively little is known about their effect on gene-expression …