This study highlights the compatibility of triazole-modified siRNAs within the RNAi pathway, and the modification’s potential to impart favorable properties to siRNAs designed to target other endogenous genes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Conventional treatment options, including corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, or plasma exchange, often fail to treat dysimmune Pfizer Licensed Compound Library chemical structure neuropathies, such as chronic

inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, multifocal motor neuropathy, and monoclonal gammopathy with its subtypes. Therefore, a significant percentage of patients require adjunctive immunosuppressive therapies. Considering that even immunosuppressive agents often are ineffective and/or associated with significant toxicities, the need for the development of safe and effective new treatment options is rising. Currently, several monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been tested in open-label small-sized studies or even in single

cases so as to establish future directions in the therapy of diseases of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Rituximab, an MAID targeting against the B cell surface membrane protein CD20, is the most widely used and promising MAb for the treatment of dysimmune neuropathies, especially for those in which immunoglobulin M (IgM) autoantibodies are pathogenetically involved. The efficacy of alemtuzumab, bevacizumab, and etanercept selleck chemicals to treat various forms of dysimmune neuropathies is currently under investigation. This review looks critically at recent developments in molecularly targeted therapies for dysimmune neuropathies and also highlights areas of future research to pursue. (C) 2009 The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, www.feinsteininstitute.org Online address: http://www.molmed.org doi: 10.2119/molmed.2009.00041″
“Social

isolation has been shown to modify behavioral patterns and neuroendocrine function in many species. In this study, we examined the influence of post-weaning social isolation on the behavioral development and fecal testosterone and corticosterone levels SBE-β-CD of male Mongolian gerbils. In Experiment 1, isolation-reared (IR) males spent more time engaged in social-sniffing. IR males also showed more aggressive and anxiety-related behaviors than group-reared males (GR; three animals per cage). In Experiment 2, a screen-divided-reared condition (SDR) was examined in addition to GR (two males per cage) and IR males. In the SDR group, two subjects were separated by a wire mesh screen allowing for sensory communication and limited physical contact but not direct social interactions. SDR males showed similar patterns in sniffing and anxiety-related behaviors to IR males; however, an increase in aggression was not observed. No differences in fecal testosterone and corticosterone levels were found among males in different rearing conditions.