Gene regulation clue found for bipolar disorder

By Shelby D Burns, Wed, December 14, 2011

Bipolar disorder is a complex and disabling psychiatric disease. It may be characterized by episodes of elevated energy with or without depression. Researchers have now found that low levels of a brain protein that regulates gene expression are present in people who suffered from bipolar disorder. Levels of SP4 were lower in two specific regions of the brain in postmortem samples of people who had diagnosed bipolar disorder. This seems to indicate that if levels of SP4 could be stabilized; there could be an effect on the disease. This discovery may create a new pharmacological strategy for treatment.

“We found that levels of SP4 protein in the brain’s prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum were lower in postmortem samples from control subjects who did not have the disease,” said co-senior author Grace Gill, PhD, an associate professor in the department of anatomy and cellular biology at Tufts University School of Medicine and a member of the faculty at Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts.

Brain imaging scans suggest that bipolar disorder is associated with changes in the structure of the prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum so the research team started looking there for differences in brain chemistry. Until now, little was known about cellular and molecular changes associated with bipolar disorder.

“Our findings suggest that reduced activity of the SP4 protein may be common in bipolar disorder,” stated co-senior author Belen Ramos, PhD, a researcher at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu and the Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental in Spain.

With this new evidence, there are new possibilities for drug treatment and a better idea of the causes of bipolar disease and other depressive disorders.

Source: Bipolar Disorders, ScienceDaily

Big Ben, Steelers' O more

Submitted by boke01882 on Sun, 01/08/2012 - 12:09am.

Big Ben, Steelers' O more dangerous than everBig Ben, Steelers' O more dangerous than everPosted along Ryan Wilson The Steelers may have annual issues along its combative line,only the passing game has been among the NFL's best during the Ben Roethlisberger era Since drafting him 11th overall surrounded 2004, Pittsburgh has ranked not worse than ninth among passing efficiency surrounded six of seven seasons (as determined according the friendly eggheads along FootballOusiders.com). But the outfit historically known as the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust approach to matriculating the pellet down the field has been a ordinary running crew over that phase (their average rushing efficiency rank since '04: 14th in the NFL). If the first three weeks of the preseason namely any indication, there's a large chance either units ambition edit within 2011,Pierre Thomas Jersey, which is macabre newspaper as the vacation of the AFC. Roethlisberger has been near-flawless amid three games that have not bearing on the standings but cater a glance of what's to come once the final scores calculate He's 21 of 31 (67.7%) for 361 yards and four touchdowns, hasn't come approach to darting an interception, and his passer rating namely an otherworldly 146.6 And meantime Ben's accustomed to showing well amid the preseason, and having it carry over to the customary season (notable exceptions: offseasons involving near-death motorcycle accidents and league-sanctioned four-game suspensions),wallace jersey, 2011 could be the anniversary he unanimously joins the conversation as one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 27: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates his touchdown opposition the Atlanta Falcons during a pre-season game aboard August 27, 2011 along Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) Part of it aspiration be because he's healthier than he was a annual antecedent while the Steelers worked 12-4 and lost to the Packers within the Super Bowl. But he also seems to be making better reads,throwing more accurately and playing with more balance Oh, and never only that this the best group of pass-catchers Roethlisberger's ever penetrated amid Pittsburgh,merely arguably the maximum complete broad receivers corps amid the alliance (In salutation to the former, the bar isn't primarily lofty -- this is a man whose three best wideouts during the 2005 Super Bowl season included Hines Ward, Cedrick Wilson and Antwaan Randle El. The latter demand requires some justification,however and that's what we intention to do.)Roethlisberger still has Ward,merely there's likewise the maximum explosive deep threat amid the game, Mike Wallace; two juvenile players who came out of nowhere to join depth as rookies last season among Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown; and recently signed Jerricho Cotchery. A yearly ago Wallace had 60 grabs as an,275 yards (a mind-blowing 21.0-yards-per-catch average) and 10 touchdowns. And meantime wards would admire to double- and triple-team him this season, they'll do so by their own risk because Brown has emerged as Wallace two.0,merely possibly more dynamic. He showed glimpses of ability during the second half of 2010,not movement more memorable than his arrest during the AFC Divisional Game opposition the Ravens, a 58-yarder on third and forever that sealed Baltimore's fate and Pittsburgh's zone surrounded the conference finals. Heading into last offseason, Sanders was at the outset Brown aboard the depth blueprint For the season, Sanders had 28 grabs as 376 yards and two touchdowns, and played well enough to take the No.3 WR job from Randle El. But a broken foot underwent during the Super Bowl, and a emphasize burst amid his other foot that required surgery earlier this month,Joe Flacco Jersey, has kept Sanders aboard the sidelines while Brown has played favor a Pro Bowler -- he has nine receptions for 230 yards (a 25.6 YPC average) and three touchdowns within the preseason, and he also ripped off a 51-yard kickoff return to start Saturday's game against the Falcons. Brown finished the evening with four arrests as 137 yards, including a couple of touchdown grabs,an for 77 yards, the other for 44 yards. More Steelers NewsPick-6 Podcast: Previewing the AFC NorthWilson: Cowher: 'Troy is going to finish a Steeler'Leftwich out for yearly Pouncey appealing for Week one?Timmons handle a absolute Steelers signingSteelers Rapid ReportsThree years ago shortly after the Steelers used their 1st two design picks aboard running behind Rashard Mendenhall and broad receiver Limas Sweed,head adviser Mike Tomlin was asked why the crew chose never to bolster the aggressive line to defend Roethlisberger. At the period his response might've sounded flippant,but among retrospect, the man knew what he was talking almost"There are two schools of thought to vindicate a quarterback," Tomlin said at the period"You can acquire linemen or you can win him weapons folk that folk must account for Obviously with [the Mendenhall] select weve gotten a weapon. So what he is able to do on a football field will support our quarterback and our football troop The Steelers have drafted provocative linemen among early rounds since -- hub Maurkice Pouncey made the Pro Bowl as a beginner last annual and because of injuries,newcomer tackle Marcus Gilbert has watched phase with the 1st crew this preseason. But Tomlin's larger point remains: wards can choose to blitz Roethlisberger foolish because of Pittsburgh's unexceptional provocative line,merely it'll come along a spent within the form of huge plays. On the other hand,wards can prefer to audience the line of scrimmage among the wishes that the Steelers run something they did with panicking frequency aboard 1st downs during the first half of 2010 (some of that can be attributed to a Roethlisberger-less offense during the 1st month of the season). But the Steelers swiftly have the weapons to do something other than flee Mendenhall into an eight-man wall But the running game, which has lagged afterward the passing game surrounded recent years, could likewise be efficacious this season. Part of the reason namely that Mendenhall and Isaac Redman continue to get better. But it's also because defenses can't equitable load up the carton to block the escape and double-team Wallace because Ward and Randle El couldn't knocked a linebacker surrounded a foot contest The emergence of Brown and Sanders, to work along with zone-busters Ward and Cotchery,build the sort of mismatches that guide to a lot of huge plays and a ton of points. It want likewise open up running lanes for Mendenhall and Redman. Teams aspiration continue to blitz Roethlisberger,by least early amid the season,equitable because he salutes contact and the line continues to be the offense's weakest link. But by some point within the coming months,sproles jersey,defenses might must rethink that strategy. Eight-man fronts and constant pressure could be a thing of the past,Vernon Davis Jersey, which that what happens while as Tomlin pointed out behind within 2008, you circle your quarterback with a bunch of weapons. For more NFL newspaper rumors and analysis,imitate @EyeOnNFL on Twitter and subscribe to our RSS Feed.Topics related to the article?