Most Popular Books by David FRENCH

The dysregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines as a result of stress exposure has become widely implicated in the complex etiology of depression. Patients with depression have been shown to have elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines both in plasma and cerebral spinal fluid. During times of stress pro-inflammatory cytokines are primarily regulated by glucocorticoids and catecholamines that work in opposition to one another to inhibit (glucocorticoid receptor) or stimulate (beta-adrenergic receptor) pro-inflammatory cytokine production. While chronic stress can lead to heightened levels of both glucocorticoids and catecholamines, it is not known how the dysregulation of these systems affect the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This dissertation focused its work through three aims. Aim 1 explored norepinephrine's regulation of microglial pro-inflammatory cytokines. Aim 2 examined sex differences in the regulation of brain IL-1 beta by glucocorticoids and catecholamines following chronic stress. Finally, aim 3 sought to uncover glucocorticoids effect on norepinephrine turnover. Together, these aims help to better understand how chronic stress alters the regulation of brain pro-inflammatory cytokines with implications for depression.

ABSTRACT: Root, crown, and fruit rot, as well as foliar blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora capsici L., are limiting factors for vegetable production in Florida. Although P. capsici has been reported since 1931, relatively minor damage had been observed until 1982 when this pathogen caused devastating losses to bell pepper, eggplant, and squash. Although it is assumed that rainfall was responsible for the worst disease outbreaks caused by this pathogen in Florida, the incidence of this disease has increased dramatically where other factors may be important. Such factors may include survival of inoculum in soil and weeds, increase in fungicide resistance, sexual recombination, and the introduction of new pathogen populations.