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Janet, I agree that the jargon in medical journals can get out of hand. I think it can be especially bad when the author's native language is not the language the article is published in In a lot of cases they have learned- in this case English- reading medical papers. At the same time jargon can also provide a shortcut that can be useful. I think in standard medical-scientific usage "MEDIATES" does not mean "reduces". It means to be in the middle position or to be a "medium" for bringing about a result. That can cause a whole different interpretation of the passage and unfortunately in this case the passage does not mean that apoptosis is reduced. I sure wish it did though. Charlie janet paterson wrote: > hi all > > "apoptosis" > is one of the first medical terms i learned in re pd > > it means "cell death" > which is what is happening in my and your substantia nigra > the cause of which is as yet unknown > > so if i see apoptosis mentioned in a medical abstract > i tend to sit up straight and pay attention > > "mediate" is not strictly a medical term > but plays a role in the jargon that fills the journals > it means "reduces" > > now, > when i see "apoptosis" and "mediates" in the same sentence > and that sentence is talking about dopamine and pd > no longer sitting, i am standing at attention! > > janet > > janet paterson > 52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset > snail-mail: PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada > website: a new voice <http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/6263/> > e-mail: <[log in to unmask]> -- ****************************************************************************************** Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************************************