The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is a complex system of neuroendocrine pathways
and feedback loops that function to maintain physiological homeostasis. Abnormal …

Hepatocyte differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis are affected by growth factors
produced in liver. Insulin-like growth factor 1 and 2 (IGF1 and IGF2) act in response to …

Estradiol and testosterone are powerful steroid hormones that impact brain function in
numerous ways. During development, these hormones can act to program the adult brain in …

Major depressive disorder topped ischemic heart disease as the number one cause of
disability worldwide in 2012, and women have twice the risk of men. Further, the comorbidity …

Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response due to persistent liver damage and it may
progress to cirrhosis and even liver cancer if no intervention is given. In the current …

Prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) induces dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia in fetus and adult
offspring. However, whether PEE increases the susceptibility to non-alcoholic fatty liver …

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the number one cause of disability worldwide and is
comorbid with many chronic diseases, including obesity/metabolic syndrome (MetS) …

The neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is recognized as a key
component in the regulation of CNS ontogeny, homeostasis and adult neuroplasticity. The …

Adverse environments during pregnancy can increase susceptibility to chronic diseases in
adult offspring. The occurrence and development of fetal-originated diseases were …

Early-life exposures to environmental insults can misprogram development and increase
metabolic disease risk in a sex-dependent manner by mechanisms that remain poorly …