Future therapeutic intervention that could effectively decelerate the rate of degeneration within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) could add years of mobility and reduce morbidity associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Neurodegenerative decline associated with PD is distinguished by extensive damage to SNc dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons and decay of the striatal tract. While genetic mutations or environmental toxins can precipitate pathology, progressive degenerative succession involves a gradual decline in DA neurotransmission/synaptic uptake, impaired oxidative glucose consumption, a rise in striatal lactate and chronic inflammation. Nutraceuticals play a fundamental role in energy metabolism and signaling transduction pathways that control neurotransmission and inflammation. However, the use of nutritional supplements to slow the progression of PD has met with considerable challenge and has thus far proven unsuccessful. This review re-examines precipitating factors and insults involved in PD and how nutraceuticals can affect each of these biological targets. Discussed are disease dynamics (Sections 1 and 2) and natural substances, vitamins and minerals that could impact disease processes (Section 3). Topics include nutritional influences on α-synuclein aggregation, ubiquitin proteasome function, mTOR signaling/lysosomal-autophagy, energy failure, faulty catecholamine trafficking, DA oxidation, synthesis of toxic DA-quinones, o-semiquinones, benzothiazolines, hyperhomocyseinemia, methylation, inflammation and irreversible oxidation of neuromelanin. In summary, it is clear that future research will be required to consider the multi-faceted nature of this disease and re-examine how and why the use of nutritional multi-vitamin-mineral and plant-based combinations could be used to slow the progression of PD, if possible.

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Dopamine (DA), a well-established inhibitor of prolactin (PRL) secretion, has also been shown to stimulate PRL secretion from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland of the rat. It has been reported that low doses of DA stimulate PRL whereas high doses inhibit PRL secretion. Our laboratory has previously reported that these PRL secretory responses are dependent upon the stages of the estrous cycle of the rat. The objective of the present study was to determine the steroid requirements for the differing PRL secretory responses to low and high doses of DA in perifusion. Animals were ovariectomized (OVX) and immediately given Silastic implants containing estradiol (E₂) which has previously been shown in our laboratory to produce blood levels of 70–100 pg/ml, progesterone which has previously been shown in our laboratory to produce blood levels of 30–40 ng/ml, or the combination. OVX rats served as controls. Ten days later, the anterior lobes of the pituitary glands were harvested and enzymatically dissociated. Cells were mixed with Sephadex G-10 and placed in six 0.5-ml perifusion chambers (1 × 10⁶ cells/chamber). Cells were perifused for 24 h with Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium containing 0.2% bovine serum albumin and 0.1 mM ascorbic acid. The PRL secretory pattern was characterized in response to the following treatment sequence: (1) 30 min media alone (maximally uninhibited); (2) 24 min 100 pM DA; (3) 30 min media alone (DA withdrawal); (4) 24 min 1 µM DA, and (5) 30 min media alone (DA withdrawal). PRL secretion in the presence of 100 pM DA was unchanged in cells obtained from OVX animals, but exposure to 1 µMDA inhibited PRL release in these cells. Subsequent withdrawal stimulated PRL secretion relative to that of the initial exposure to media alone. The responses of cells from OVX rats implanted with progesterone alone was indistinguishable from those of the OVX controls. In cells obtained from animals implanted with E₂ alone, 100 pM DA and its subsequent withdrawal neither stimulated nor inhibited PRL secretion. In contrast, 1 µM DA exposure initially stimulated and then inhibited PRL secretion in cells from E₂-treated animals. Here, subsequent withdrawal of DA enhanced PRL secretion. In cells obtained from E₂+progesterone-treated animals, 100 pM DA exposure robustly enhanced PRL secretory responses. Withdrawal of this dose of DA had no further effect on PRL secretion. However, exposure of E₂+progesterone-treated cells to 1 µM DA robustly stimulated and subsequently only slightly inhibited PRL secretion. The results of these studies suggest that inhibition of PRL secretion by DA is independent of ovarian steroids while E₂ and progesterone in combination favors stimulation of PRL secretion in response to DA. Taken together, these data suggest that PRL secretory responses in this system are determined by the ovarian steroid milieu.

Women who had been informed not to douche by a healthcare professional were less likely to have douched within the past 6 months than were women who were not given this information. Misconceptions about douching are common and should be addressed by healthcare professionals.

Infant mortality is a key public health concern in the United States. Although infant mortality rates (IMRs) have declined, the rates among blacks are more than twice those of other racial/ethnic groups. Some Florida counties have black IMR more than four times the white IMR. The purpose of this study was to explore community awareness and perceptions of the rising Black IMR in Gadsden County, Florida. Sixty-four black men and women participated in eight focus groups. Data were transcribed then analyzed using NVivo 8. Many of the respondents discussed issues dealing with access to health care services, trust in providers, and perceived differential treatment. Inequities in health care may contribute to a culture in which blacks are resistant to seek care thus resulting in poorer outcomes. Overall, participants identified awareness and education as the most effective ways to address the higher rates of infant mortality among Blacks.