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The Map kinase Activating Death Domain containing protein (MADD) isoform of the IG20 gene is over-expressed in different types of cancer tissues and cell lines and it functions as a negative regulator of apoptosis. Therefore, we speculated that MADD might be over-expressed in human breast cancer tissues and that MADD knock-down might synergize with chemotherapeutic or TRAIL-induced apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Analyses of breast tissue microarrays revealed over-expression of MADD in ductal and invasive carcinomas relative to benign tissues. MADD knockdown resulted in enhanced spontaneous apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, MADD knockdown followed by treatment with TRAIL or doxorubicin resulted in increased cell death compared to either treatment alone. Enhanced cell death was found to be secondary to increased caspase-8 activation. These data indicate that strategies to decrease MADD expression or function in breast cancer may be utilized to increase tumor cell sensitivity to TRAIL and doxorubicin induced apoptosis.

Occupational therapy is beneficial among adults with chronic pain; however, occupational therapy interventions addressing earlier phases of pain have not been clearly explicated. This systematic review characterized acute and subacute interventions billable by occupational therapy after hip or knee replacement to improve pain and function. Seven articles met inclusion criteria. Six articles had a low risk of bias. Three intervention types were found: task-oriented exercise, water-based, and modalities. Only task-oriented interventions improved both pain and function one-year after surgery. There are long-term benefits to early task-oriented exercise. Further research is needed to contextualize occupational therapy's role in early pain interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Fifth- and sixth-grade girls identified by their teachers as having few friends participated in group treatment sessions consisting of a praise phase, interpersonal problem solving, and an activity phase. At posttest time, the treatment group spent less time alone, more time initiating conversations, and more time interacting with others. Offers suggestions for enhancing similar programs. (JDM)

The release of epinephrine from nonneural tissues such as the heart, lungs and splanchnic bed and the decrease in plasma clearance increases the amount of epinephrine present in the plasma in heart failure patients. Twenty-six percent of the additional epinephrine in heart failure patients may be due to this process. In normal patients, epinephrine comes mostly from the adrenal system. The rate of clearance of epinephrine from the plasma of heart failure patients is almost 34% less than normal.

Measurements of the fluxes of sympathetic neurotransmission-related neurochemicals to plasma in young and old healthy men using kinetic methods helped study the alterations in human sympathetic nervous function due to aging. Older men had a higher level of plasma norepinephrine and normal renal norepinephrine spillover. Reduced levels of tritiated norepinephrine extraction from plasma during transit through the heart in old men indicates a reduction in neuronal norepinephrine reuptake. Normal levels of norepinephrine precursor and metabolite overflow reveal that norepinephrine release and synthesis are not enhanced.