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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by teejay on November 17, 2005, at 18:38:59
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists may have found a gene for fear -- a gene that controls production of a protein in the region of the brain linked with fearful responses.
Their finding, published on Thursday, could lead to new treatments for mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety.
The gene, known as stathmin or oncoprotein 18, is highly concentrated in the amygdala, a region of the brain associated with fear and anxiety, the researchers report in Thursday's issue of the journal Cell.
"This is a major advance in the field of learning and memory that will allow for a better understanding of post- traumatic stress disorder, phobias, borderline personality disorder and other human anxiety diseases," said Gleb Shumyatsky of Rutgers University in New Jersey, who worked on the study.
"It will provide important information on how learned and innate fear is experienced and processed, and may point the way to apply new therapies."
Mice genetically engineered so they would not produce stathmin had brain irregularities and were less able to remember fear-conditioned responses, the researchers reported.
Learned fear develops after conditioning -- as when a person is stung by a wasp and fears the insects afterward. These memories are formed in the amygdala.
"This is the first time it has been shown that the protein called stathmin -- the product of the stathmin gene -- is linked to fear conditioning pathways," said Vadim Bolshakov, director of the Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory at Harvard University's McLean Hospital, who also worked on the study.
Also, the mice showed unusual behavior. Mice instinctively avoid open spaces, but the stathmin-free mice showed no fear and often explored more open areas than normal mice, the researchers found.
So the gene may control both learned and innate fear, the researchers said.
The mice might be useful for testing drugs and other treatments of anxiety disorders, they said.
Posted by nolvas on November 17, 2005, at 19:02:32
In reply to A piece in the news today which may be of interest, posted by teejay on November 17, 2005, at 18:38:59
Here's the acutally study, this is definitely a step in the right direction :)
Posted by FireBreather on November 17, 2005, at 21:07:56
In reply to A piece in the news today which may be of interest, posted by teejay on November 17, 2005, at 18:38:59
I posted about the amygdala 6 weeks ago about how my hot peppers are affecting the amygdala, nobody wanted to take me seriously. Chronic consumption of HOT peppers will down-regulate the stress response a la reduced amygdala firing, BANK ON IT. LATERNo Pain, No Gain.
> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists may have found a gene for fear -- a gene that controls production of a protein in the region of the brain linked with fearful responses.
>
> Their finding, published on Thursday, could lead to new treatments for mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety.
>
> The gene, known as stathmin or oncoprotein 18, is highly concentrated in the amygdala, a region of the brain associated with fear and anxiety, the researchers report in Thursday's issue of the journal Cell.
>
> "This is a major advance in the field of learning and memory that will allow for a better understanding of post- traumatic stress disorder, phobias, borderline personality disorder and other human anxiety diseases," said Gleb Shumyatsky of Rutgers University in New Jersey, who worked on the study.
>
> "It will provide important information on how learned and innate fear is experienced and processed, and may point the way to apply new therapies."
>
> Mice genetically engineered so they would not produce stathmin had brain irregularities and were less able to remember fear-conditioned responses, the researchers reported.
>
> Learned fear develops after conditioning -- as when a person is stung by a wasp and fears the insects afterward. These memories are formed in the amygdala.
>
> "This is the first time it has been shown that the protein called stathmin -- the product of the stathmin gene -- is linked to fear conditioning pathways," said Vadim Bolshakov, director of the Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory at Harvard University's McLean Hospital, who also worked on the study.
>
> Also, the mice showed unusual behavior. Mice instinctively avoid open spaces, but the stathmin-free mice showed no fear and often explored more open areas than normal mice, the researchers found.
>
> So the gene may control both learned and innate fear, the researchers said.
>
> The mice might be useful for testing drugs and other treatments of anxiety disorders, they said.
Posted by teejay on November 17, 2005, at 21:23:57
In reply to I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A WHILE, posted by FireBreather on November 17, 2005, at 21:07:56
Go on then ya nutter, you've sold me on your "hot" theory.........what do I buy and where do I buy it from? :-)
I'll give anything a try to ditch this damn uncontrollable neurosis/fear/anxiety!
The worst that could happen is it fails after all.
Posted by tealady on November 17, 2005, at 23:21:55
In reply to Re: I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A WHILE, posted by teejay on November 17, 2005, at 21:23:57
Has anyone got any good recipes using chillies or similar ?
From a worry guts.. who maybe has too much of this
stathmin? I suspect its genetic, but would have been reasonable in the right environment.I do eat curries and capsicum (bell peppers in US I think?) and cayenne pepper?
Don't think I could come at raw chillies though?Jan
Posted by nolvas on November 18, 2005, at 7:16:52
In reply to has anyone got any good recipes for hot chillies ?, posted by tealady on November 17, 2005, at 23:21:55
I'm also concerned as well. I'm worryng about how many scoville heat units we should be consuming, am I getting enough I wonder? So much to worry about and so little time ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale
Stop press :
http://www.primidi.com/2005/05/09.html
I think we're fine now :)
Posted by linkadge on November 19, 2005, at 15:35:18
In reply to Re: has anyone got any good recipes for hot chilli, posted by nolvas on November 18, 2005, at 7:16:52
Sorry, I didn't quite catch the conntection between hot peppers and this fear gene.
Linkadge
Posted by tealady on November 19, 2005, at 16:47:03
In reply to Re: has anyone got any good recipes for hot chilli, posted by nolvas on November 18, 2005, at 7:16:52
> I'm also concerned as well. I'm worryng about how many scoville heat units we should be consuming, am I getting enough I wonder? So much to worry about and so little time ;)
>LOL :)
Great links Thanks! This one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale
gives a great "hotness" scale & gave a link to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsicum
which explains what is called what in different parts of the world down in "Synonyms and common names".
I always thought the non-hot type were capsicuns :), although they are a tiny bit hot to me.Strange that cayenne pepper never seems as hot as they indicate.. bet the supermarket type is not pure.
another link from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsicum#Capsaicin
(bottom of page Capsicum pepper factsheet )http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/factsheets/CAPSICUM_PEPPER.html
cautions against excessive use.
"Prolonged contact with the skin may cause dermatitis and blisters, while excessive consumption can cause gastroenteritis and kidney damage (11.1-101). Paprika and cayenne pepper may be cytotoxic to mammalian cells in vitro (7.8-25). Consumption of red pepper may aggravate symptons of duodenal ulcers (7.8-55). High levels of ground hot pepper have induced stomach ulcers and cirrhosis of the liver in laboratory animals (6.1-65). Body temperature, flow of saliva, and gastric juices may be stimulated by capsicum peppers (14.1-35)."
I like the colour scheme of this site
http://www.thescarms.com/hotstuff/pepperfacts.htmI dn't think I'll be buying some of thi stuff you mention.. interesting though :)
Jan :)
Posted by teejay on November 19, 2005, at 20:25:13
In reply to Re: has anyone got any good recipes for hot chilli, posted by linkadge on November 19, 2005, at 15:35:18
If you saw firebreather walking toward you with his cookbook, your fear gene would probably switch on linkadge ;-)
Posted by Jakeman on November 21, 2005, at 20:47:07
In reply to Re: has anyone got any good recipes for hot chilli, posted by linkadge on November 19, 2005, at 15:35:18
> Sorry, I didn't quite catch the conntection between hot peppers and this fear gene.
>
> Linkadgeme too...
Posted by teejay on November 22, 2005, at 7:55:50
In reply to Re: has anyone got any good recipes for hot chilli, posted by Jakeman on November 21, 2005, at 20:47:07
Fear seems to stem from the amygdala and the peppers appear to downregulate the amygdala.
Thats how I read it anyway......as to whether it works or not, I dunno. You'll have to start fire eating to find out I guess!
don't forget to let the board know how you get on though ;-)
TJ
Posted by Declan on November 22, 2005, at 14:38:52
In reply to has anyone got any good recipes for hot chillies ?, posted by tealady on November 17, 2005, at 23:21:55
This is the best cookbook I've ever had and maybe it's still available. Madhur Jaffrey's "A Taste of India".
It has some hot recipes and you could always add more chiili.
Declan
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 23, 2005, at 20:07:33
In reply to Re: has anyone got any good recipes for hot chillies ? » tealady, posted by Declan on November 22, 2005, at 14:38:52
> This is the best cookbook I've ever had and maybe it's still available...
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding hot chilli to Psycho-Babble Social. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20051120/msgs/581685.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by teejay on November 24, 2005, at 6:49:50
In reply to Redirect: hot chilli, posted by Dr. Bob on November 23, 2005, at 20:07:33
Not keen on hunting around other boards for stuff on alternative treatments Dr Bob.
This is the end of the thread.
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