bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corticosterone, adrenal and spleen weight in mice after tail bleeding, and its effect on nearby animals
Authors: Tuli J. S. , Smith J. A. , Morton D. B.
Published: May 2007

Experiments were performed in mice to study if stress was involved in tail bleeding and to investigate any transmittable signal at killing. A second study looked at the time taken to recover from stress elicited by these procedures. Corticosterone levels were significantly higher in mice immediately after the completion of tail bleeding than in control mice ( P<0.05) suggesting that tail bleeding in mice was stressful. This study did not show any evidence for an odour or sound being released during killing or tail bleeding as there was no significant effect on corticosterone levels in mice present in the same room at the time these procedures were carried out. Corticosterone levels in mice killed on days 1, 3, and 7 after tail bleeding were significantly lower ( P<0.05) than the average corticosterone level in tail blood on day 1, indicating that mice recovered within 24 h from the stress of tail bleeding.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for monitoring antibodies to SP group Pasteurellaceae in guineapigs
Authors: Boot R. , Thuis H. , Bakker R. H. G. , Veenema J. L.
Published: May 2007

Cross-reactivity studies with Pasteurellaceae from guineapigs revealed 5 serologically distinct groups, comprising Pasteurella multocida, Sp group bacteria, SP-like bacteria, Pasteurella pneumotropica and an actinobacillus-like bacterium. Guineapig Pasteurellaceae differed serologically from mouse-derived P. pneumotropica NCTC 8284. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using SP group antigen, developed to monitor 'natural' infections by SP group Pasteurellaceae in guineapigs, detected significantly more infection than did cultivation, and was found superior to an ELISA performed with P. pneumotropica NCTC 8284.
Antibiotic therapeutics in laboratory animals
Authors: Morris T. H.
Published: May 2007

Information on antibiotic therapeutics in laboratory species, especially in rodents and rabbits, is reviewed. A number of areas are considered: interference by antibiotics with an experiment, antibiotic toxicity, routes of administration, effects of formulation on bioavailability, antibiotic prophylaxis, use of combinations of antibiotics, misuse of antibiotics, regulatory approval for antibiotic use in animals, sources of information on antibiotic indications and dose, and extrapolation of dose information from other species.
Sex differences in age development of a mouse inbred strain: body composition, adipocyte size and organ weights of liver, heart and muscles
Authors: Bergmann P. , Militzer K. , Schmidt P. , Büttner D.
Published: May 2007

The mouse inbred strain HLG has only recently been submitted for international registration. It has been widely used in radiological studies. Since these mice tend to become obese, they may be of interest for studies concerning fat metabolism. Therefore, the present ageing study examines the sex-specific development of body weight, body composition, adipocyte size as well as the organ weight of liver, heart and thigh muscles of the inbred strain HLG (54 males/53 virgin females) between day 40 and 360 of life.

The body weight development showed a distinct sexual dimorphism, quickly increasing in the case of males but comparatively protracted in females until maturity. Significantly higher values for body and fat-free dry weight as well as body water were found in males of all ages. Body fat and adipocyte diameter were only higher in the 80 and 120 day-old males. Thus, the increase in female body weight resulted largely through a rise in body fat as additionally evidenced by the sex-specific correlation of characteristics. A 2-fold analysis of variance showed sex differences in the relative weights of liver and muscle, but not of the heart. A sex-specific close correlation was observed between body and liver weights in males until day 180. Correlations between body fat and other characteristics were only rarely found. Differences in coefficients of variation largely depended on the characteristics. A higher variability was also found for some characteristics in the youngest groups (40 days). A sex-specific difference was only seen in the case of body fat content for 60 day-old mice (female>male).
A technique for studying the function of an isolated, perfused and ventilated lung in a rat model
Authors: Hopkinson D. N. , Odom N. J. , Eloakley R. M. , Au J. , Hooper T. L.
Published: May 2007

We describe a technique which allows perfusion of an isolated, ventilated rat lung with an extracorporeal veno-venous circuit from a support animal. This model provides stable and reliable function of the isolated lung for up to 3 h, thus overcoming some of the disadvantages of previous models. It may prove a potentially useful model for assessing ischaemic lung injury.
Para-chloroamphetamine (PCA)-induced ejaculation in aged rats, semen analysis and artificial insemination
Authors: Saito Toru R. , Hokao Ryoji , Wakafuji Yasumasa , Igarashi Noriyuki , Agematsu Yoshio , Takahashi Kazuaki W.
Published: May 2007

The present study was undertaken to determine sperm motility and counts in semen yielded by para-chloroamphetamine (PCA)-induced ejaculation of aged rats which had lost their reproductive ability, and to attempt artificial insemination with suspensions of spermatozoa obtained in this way. The semen yielded by PCA-induced ejaculation from aged (75-week-old) rats had average sperm counts of 0.82±0.69 × 107, which were much lower than the average counts (9.42±1.65 × 107) for semen spontaneously ejaculated by young adult rats (14 weeks old). However, 77.5% of the spermatozoa contained in the PCA-induced semen were rated as showing the most active movement. Spermatozoa collected in this way were injected into the upper parts of both uterine horns or into both ovarian bursae. Both methods made the females pregnant, but the results were better after injection into the ovarian bursae. The offspring born to these females showed no abnormalities.
Gastric trichobezoar in a banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis)
Authors: Suckow M. A. , Terril-Robb L. A. , Grigdesby C. F.
Published: May 2007

A male, wild-caught kangaroo rat developed anorexia and wasting. The animal was euthanized and a gastric trichobezoar found at necropsy. The paucity of information regarding the clinical medicine of this species is a hindrance to those charged with the care of kangaroo rats. Gastric trichobezoar should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of anorexia in kangaroo rats.
The influence of body weight on open field and swimming maze performance during the post-weaning period in the rat
Authors: Barrow Paul , Leconte Isabelle
Published: May 2007

The open field and swimming maze tests are frequently used as part of a behavioural assessment battery in reproduction or developmental toxicology studies in the rat. Interpretation of the results of these tests is very difficult when the body weight of the rats is not similar in the various treatment groups. In order to better understand this problem, data from approximately 500 untreated rats tested under identical conditions were analysed with respect to body weight. No correlation was found in water maze performance or open field motor activity. A very slight but significant correlation was identified, however, in the time spent by female rats in various regions of the open field, with the smaller rats spending more time in the corners of the testing arena.
Induction of anaesthesia with halothane and isoflurane in the rabbit: a comparison of the use of a face-mask or an anaesthetic chamber
Authors: Flecknell P. A. , Cruz I. J. , Liles J. H. , Whelan G.
Published: May 2007

The effects of induction of anaesthesia with halothane or isoflurane were studied in rabbits. The anaesthetic agents were delivered either via a face-mask, or the animals were placed in an anaesthetic induction chamber. All rabbits had periods of apnoea during induction, lasting 30-120s, resulting in moderate hypercapnia and acidosis. Periods of apnoea were associated with a marked bradycardia. The combination of bradycardia and hypercapnia during induction may represent an increased risk of anaesthetic associated mortality. Animals in all groups tried to avoid inhaling anaesthetic vapour, and this behaviour, together with the occurrence of breath-holding suggests that induction was aversive.
Mutual viral and bacterial infections after housing rats of various breeders within an experimental unit
Authors: Boot R. , van Herck H. , van der Logt J.
Published: May 2007

Fifteen athymic rat strains from 11 breeding colonies were housed within an experimental facility for an immunological study. Health status records supplied with 14 of the strains listed infections by Kilham's rat virus (KRV), Clostridium piliforme ( Bacillus piliformis) and Pasteurella pneumotropica for 2, 2 and 1 colonies respectively.

In sera taken previous to the study from euthymic rats of 10 strains, antibodies to KRV were detected in 3 strains, to Pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), Rat corona virus (RCV) and Sendai virus in one strain each and to P. pneumotropica in 2 strains. Only 2 of the KRV infections had been reported by the supplier.

During the study rats of all 10 strains developed antibodies to 2-4 of viral antigens. Eight out of 10 rat strains seroconverted to 1-5 of the antigens C. piliforme (B. piliformisl, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Haemophilus spp., P. pneumotropica and Streptobacillus moniliformis. Two rat strains housed in filtertop cages did not develop antibodies to bacterial antigens.

The potential detrimental effects of intercurrent infections on the outcome of the comparative immunological study are discussed.
A new system for continuous intravenous infusion of pigs
Authors: van Kleef D. J.
Published: May 2007

The swivel system described has been used by ILOB-TNO for prolonged periods of continuous infusion. It allows for less restricted movement of animals. The swivel prevents the infusion tube from twisting. The swivel system is simple, safe to operate and cost-effective. Animals have greater movement, can stretch and turn around. The physical discomfort and psychological stress of restricted movement are greatly reduced. The potentially complicating/confusing effects on the measurements taken during an experiment are reduced.
The use of a novel operant test to determine the strength of preference for flooring in laboratory rats
Authors: Manser C. E. , Elliott H. , Morris T. H. , Broom D. M.
Published: May 2007

A previous study showed that laboratory rats preferred to dwell on a solid floor rather than a grid one, particularly when resting (Manser et al. 1995). The strength of this preference was investigated in an operant trial using a novel test apparatus, which consisted of a grid-floored cage and a solid-floored cage, joined via a central box containing a barrier whose weight was adjustable. Trials in which rats had to lift the barrier in order to explore the whole apparatus were alternated with those in which the rats were confined on the grid floor and then had to lift the barrier in order to reach the solid floor. The latter trials were carried out at the beginning of the light period when the rats were seeking a resting place. In both trials, the weight of the barrier was progressively increased for each rat, until a maximum weight was found which it would lift either to explore its environment (weight A) or to reach the solid floor (weight B). No significant differences were found between weights A and B, showing that rats would work as hard to reach a solid floor to rest on as they would to explore a novel environment. The apparatus used could, with some modifications, be appropriate for use in other operant studies in laboratory rats.
Organizational interventions to promote risk management in primary care: the experience in Warwickshire, England
Authors: Wallace Louise M , Boxall Matthew , Spurgeon Peter , Barwell Fred
Published: May 2007

Primary care organizations are under-represented in research on quality improvement and risk management (RM), yet the potential for improving patient safety is possibly greater given the extent that clinical judgement is required to achieve a service tailored to the individual's personal health and lifestyle. This paper examines how a health authority in England promoted interventions to improve RM in General Practice that included the practices' own initiatives, significant event audit (SEA) and the Medical Defence Union's workshops which included SEA. All 75 practices were approached before the programmes and when they were finished, eight months later. The practice manager from each practice completed an audit of RM activities, from which a RM competence score was derived. Up to six staff per practice completed the Learning organization Culture Questionnaire (LCQ) at both times. There was evidence of improved competence in RM over the period of the study, particularly through a widening breadth of staff involved and in formal recording systems. There was little evidence that these improvements were mediated by organizational culture. It is argued that future interventions should more closely target specific competences (e.g. recording systems for adverse events, root cause analysis to understand error generation) and enable staff to see tangible personal and organizational benefits for the extra effort involved.
Impact of open-access scheduling on realized access
Authors: Rohrer James E , Bernard Matthew , Naessens James , Furst Joseph , Kircher Kyle , Adamson Steven
Published: May 2007

Open-access or advanced-access scheduling, which opens the clinic calendar to patients without requiring them to schedule far in advance of the visit, is being introduced in primary care for the purpose of improving access. None of the evaluations reported to date have measured differences in actual visits that might be associated with different scheduling systems. The purpose of this study was to compare utilization of visits to primary care providers for patients served by an open-access clinic with utilization patterns of patients served at clinics not using open-access scheduling. We hypothesized that the odds that a continuing patient received more than one primary care visit would be greater in the clinic where open-access scheduling was in use than in comparison clinics. Our study provides mixed support for the hypotheses. After adjustment for case mix, stable chronic patients treated in open-access clinics may sometimes have greater odds of receiving two or more preventive care visits. However, these effects do not occur in all clinics, suggesting that other clinic characteristics may overcome the effects of open-access scheduling.
The hierarchy of work pursuits of public health managers
Authors: Braithwaite Jeffrey , Luft Sabine , Bender Wolfgang , Callen Joanne , Westbrook Johanna I , Westbrook Mary T , Mallock Nadine A , Iedema Rick , Hindle Donald , Jochelson Tanya
Published: May 2007

How public health is managed in various settings is an important but under-examined issue. We examine themes in the management literature, contextualize issues facing public health managers and investigate the relative importance placed on their various work pursuits using a 14-activity management model empirically derived from studies of clinician-managers in hospitals. Ethnographic case studies of 10 managers in nine diverse public health settings were conducted. The case study accounts of managers' activities were content analysed, and substantive words encapsulating their work were categorized using the model. Managerial activities of the nine public health managers were ranked according to the number of words describing each activity. Kendall's coefficient of concordance yielded W = 0.710, P < 0.000, revealing significant similarity between the activity patterns of the public health managers. A rank order correlation between the activity patterns of the average ranks for the public health sample and for the hospital clinician-managers ( n = 52) was R = 0.420, P = 0.131, indicating no significant relationship between relative activity priorities of the two groups. Public health managers put less emphasis on pursuits associated with structure, hierarchy and education, and more on external relations and decision-making. The model of hospital clinician-managers' managerial activities is applicable to public health managers while identifying differences in the way the two groups manage. The findings suggest that public health management work is more managerialist than previously thought.
Less Than Full-time Training in Surgery: Where are We Now?
Authors: Walls Janet
Published: May 2007

As the Medical Training Application Service (MTAS) selection and recruitment process marches on, where do the surgical trainees who wish to train at less than full time (LTFT) find themselves? There has been no provision for them within Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) and the historical 60% of a full timetable is going to become a distant memory as it becomes increasingly difficult to accommodate requests for placements.
Developing the College's international role
Authors: Thomas Bill , Kelly Andrea
Published: May 2007

The College's international office was established by Council in 1997 under the directorship of Professor Jack Hardcastle, to coordinate and promote the College's international activities. Over the last decade it has developed a particularly strong role in respect of education, training and examinations that includes:
The United Nations, Counter Terrorism and Human Rights: Institutional Adaptation and Embedded Ideas
Authors: Foot Rosemary
Published: May 2007

How resilient is the human rights norm in the counter-terrorist era? This question is explored through examining the record of two of the UN Security Council's counter-terrorist committees. The article argues that, initially, the procedures of these two committees damaged human rights protections, an outcome criticized by UN officials, human rights NGOs, and certain, mainly middle-power, states. Using the UN as a platform, they made the argument that a failure to ensure that anti-terrorist measures were in accordance with human rights standards would be counter-productive. As a result, Committee procedures have evolved and now give greater attention to the human rights consequences of counter-terrorist action.
The Rhetoric of Historical Writing: Documentary Sources in Histories of Worms, c. 1300
Authors: Bachrach David Steward
Published: May 2007

One of the most hotly contested debates concerning medieval historiography concerns the question of whether medieval authors viewed "what really happened", in a positivist sense, as the object of their inquiry, or whether they were concerned with writing the past as "it should have been". This study examines that question with relation to two historical narratives composed at the city of Worms during the final decade of the thirteenth century. The thesis of this article is that the authors of these two texts were concerned to describe the past as it actually happened, in a positivist sense, and that they relied on written documents, which they considered to be reliable, to write their texts.
Stefano Porcari's Conspiracy against Pope Nicholas V in 1453 and Republican Culture in Papal Rome
Authors: D'Elia Anthony F.
Published: May 2007

This article examines humanist works written in the immediate aftermath of Stefano Porcari's failed conspiracy against Pope Nicholas V. While they were designed to flatter the pope and support papal claims to temporal power, these works use images and adopt rhetorical startegies that are republican and not, as one would expect, imperial in origin. The humanists were so devoted not only to classical form, but also to Roman republican ideals that they sometimes present Porcari positively, have heroes of the Roman republic comment on the modern papacy, and construct a strained theory of papal liberty.
Georgia v. Ashcroft, the Voting Rights Act and Narratives of Change and Continuity in the American South
Authors: Moore Toby
Published: May 2007

In 2003 the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Georgia v. Ashcroft, a case involving the redistricting of Georgia's state Senate under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. This paper traces the course of the Georgia litigation from the legislature through the Supreme Court, examining its impact on the future of retrogression analysis under Section 5 and its impact on the future of the section itself. In addition, it looks at the opinion by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in the context of competing claims regarding the progress, or lack of progress, in the racial politics of the South, claims which arose again and again in the course of the litigation. The author concludes that O'Connor's re-working of the Section 5 standards was an attempt, whether successful or not, to overcome an inherent paradox of minority voting rights in the contemporary South.
The Civil Rights Movement and Recent Electoral Realignment in the South
Authors: Shelley Fred M. , Zerr Kimberly J , Proffer Adrienne M
Published: May 2007

The enactment and implementation of the Voting Rights Act enfranchised millions of African Americans who had been denied the franchise as a result of "Jim Crow" laws in the South. Newly enfranchised African American voters cast ballots in large numbers for Democratic presidential nominees. At the same time, the South began to undergo a shift from Democratic to Republican dominance in presidential elections. Since 1968, only two Democrats—southerners Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton—have won electoral votes in the South. Was this shift to the Republicans caused by the enfranchisement of African Americans, or were these events coincidental? In this paper, cartographic and statistical analysis is undertaken in order to shed light on this question. The results suggest that the linkage between the Voting Rights Act and a shift to Republican dominance was strong in the Deep South, but weak or absent in other parts of the South.
Research on the Political Geography of the South, 1980-2005
Authors: Webster Gerald R , Bowman Jerrod , McGowin Daniel , Robinson Heath
Published: May 2007

The American South has undergone tremendous change in the past quarter century. No where is this change more apparent than on the region's political landscape. Today minority voters are participating at all levels in the South's political processes. The region has also continued its movement from the Democratic to Republican parties. Have these changes received adequate attention in the political geography literature? This paper attempts to identify all articles, book chapters and books on the political geography of the South published in the past quarter century. It ﬁnds that there has been a signiﬁcant increase in the rate of published work on the region's changing political landscape, and that these efforts have appeared in a wide array of outlets. The paper concludes by identifying areas in which additional work would be helpful to fully understanding the South's political landscape.
Optimal Markers for Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells from Melanoma, Breast, Colon, Esophageal, Head and Neck, and Lung Cancers
Authors: Xi Liqiang , Nicastri Daniel G , El-Hefnawy Talal , Hughes Steven J , Luketich James D , Godfrey Tony E
Published: May 2007

Background: The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may prove useful for screening, prognostication, and monitoring of response to therapy. However, given the large background of circulating cells, it is probably necessary to detect 1 cancer cell in >106 leukocytes. Although reverse transcription (RT)-PCR is potentially sensitive and specific enough to achieve this goal, success will require the use of appropriate mRNA markers. The goal of this study was to identify optimal marker combinations for detection of CTCs.

Methods: An extensive literature and internet database survey was conducted to identify potential markers. We then used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to test for expression of selected potential markers in tissue samples from primary tumors of breast, colon, esophagus, head and neck, lung, and melanoma and normal blood samples. Markers with high expression in tumors and a median 1000-fold lower expression in normal blood were considered potentially useful for CTC detection and were tested further in an expanded sample set.

Results: A total of 52 potential markers were screened, and 3–8 potentially useful markers were identified for each tumor type. The mRNAs for all but 2 markers were found in normal blood. Marker combinations were identified for each tumor type that had a minimum 1000-fold higher expression in tumors than in normal blood.

Conclusions: Several mRNA markers may be useful for RT-PCR–based detection of CTCs from each of 6 cancer types. Quantification of these mRNAs is essential to distinguish normal expression in blood from that due to the presence of CTCs. Few markers provide adequate sensitivity individually, but combinations of markers may produce good sensitivity for detection of the presence of these 6 neoplasms.
Maintained Attitudinal Changes in Nursing Personnel After a Brief Training on Suicide Prevention
Authors: Botega Neury J. , Silva Sidney V. , Reginato Diogo G. , Rapeli Claudemir B. , Cais Carlos F. S. , Mauro Marisa L. F. , Stefanello Sabrina , Cecconi Janaína P.
Published: May 2007

Nursing personnel (N = 317) working at a general hospital attended a 6‐hour training program on suicide prevention. They answered anonymously pre‐and post‐training the Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire (SBAQ), which comprises 21 visual analogue scale items divided in three factorial subscales. The results indicated there were positive changes in the attitudes and these gains were significantly maintained at the 6‐month follow‐up evaluation. Improvement was in the Feelings and Professional Capacity subscales (ANOVA; p = 0.0001 and 0.01, respectively). There was no change on the Right to Suicide subscale. Because attitudes influence the effectiveness of health care personnel interventions, our findings may have important implications for the development of suicide prevention programs.
Association of A1C With Cardiovascular Disease and Metabolic Syndrome in Asian Indians With Normal Glucose Tolerance
Authors: Dilley James , Ganesan Anbazhagan , Deepa Raj , Deepa Mohan , Sharada Gopalakrishnan , Williams O. Dale , Mohan Viswanathan
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVE—This study examines the association of A1C with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, coronary artery disease (CAD), and metabolic syndrome in Asian Indians with normal glucose tolerance (NGT).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—This cross-sectional study recruited subjects from phase III of the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES), an epidemiological study in a representative population of Chennai (formerly Madras) in South India, conducted between January 2003 and June 2004. Included were 1,644 subjects with NGT, i.e., fasting plasma glucose <100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/l) and 2-h postload plasma glucose <140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l). A1C was measured using the Biorad Variant machine. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on modified Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.

RESULTS—The mean ± SD A1C value in the study cohort was 5.5 ± 0.4%. A1C showed a significant association with BMI (β = 0.017, P < 0.001), systolic (β = 0.002, P = 0.028) and diastolic (β = 0.202, P = 0.017) blood pressure, waist circumference (β = 0.007, P < 0.001), serum cholesterol (β = 0.002, P < 0.001), triglycerides (β = 0.001, P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (β = 0.002, P < 0.001), fasting insulin (β = 0.009, P < 0.001), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (β = 0.047, P < 0.001) after adjusting for age and sex. Regression analysis showed that A1C had a strong association with metabolic syndrome that persisted after adjusting for age and sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.9 [95% CI 2.08–4.00]; P < 0.001). A1C also had a strong association with CAD (2.6 [1.23–5.63]; P = 0.01), but the significance was lost when adjusted for age and sex.

CONCLUSIONS—There is a strong association of A1C with prevalent CVD risk factors in Asian-Indian subjects with NGT.
Stand, Ziele und Planungen auf dem Gebiet der Forstkartographie in der Bayerischen Staatsforstverwaltung | Status, Objectives and Planifications in Forest Cartography in the Bavarian Forest Administration
Authors: Lother Georg , Rottmann Michael
Published: May 2007

In 1991 the Bavarian Forest Administration decided to develop and introduce a Geographical Information System (FORST-GIS), with the purpose of automated and computer-based rationalized production of forest maps and the multiple use of processed digital data for various forest applications. The development and installation of FORST-GIS was achieved in 1993. The FORST-GIS has been operating for six years now. During the first years of its use it was possible to work off the backlog of map production. Besides the continuous increase of production capacity it was planned to reduce map production costs and staff. These goals have been achieved. In addition, the GIS database can be linked with forest office data, forest valuation data or inventory data. Nowadays FORST-GIS is more and more used for making the data available for more common applications, such as decisions on silviculture or for providing argumentary data in forest policy and for private forest promotion. Meanwhile FORST-GIS has become a large GIS database for forest applications. The article gives a survey concerning application targets, concepts, main database, data digitization, map production and the actual status of FORST-GIS.
Zur Waldinventur gehört die Überwachung der Vitalität | Monitoring vitality is an important task for forest inventories
Authors: Schmid-Haas Paul
Published: May 2007

We are interested in a continuous and healthy forest cover. Therefore vitality and stability of trees should be taken into account in most inventories. These factors influence the future development of the forest and are indispensable for economical as well as ecological planning. Forecasts on the basis of models that do not make use of this information are not always reliable.

Increment is one of the best indicators of vitality. In addition,crown defoliation should be estimated, even though this estimator has a large random error and it is well known that only heavy crown defoliations cause an essential loss of productivity. On the other hand, it has also been known for some time that even small crown defoliation rates are correlated with subsequent mortality. Moreover, for Norway spruce and silver fir in the range 0–25% crown defoliation is strongly correlated with diameter increment, if trees are compared strictly within sample plots. Surprisingly, crown defoliation is also an indicator of diminished storm stability. No other quantitative estimator for crowns is as reliable and, despite the initial difficulties in its estimation,crown defoliation is an important indicator for vitality. Changes over time are even more valuable than the absolute value. It is alarming that the number of trees with crown defoliation of more than 25% tripled in Switzerland between 1985 and 2000 – a statistically highly significant increase.

Storm damage analysis has shown that infections in butt and roots considerably increase future storm risk. A relatively simple examination of the supporting roots for infections now turns out to be an efficient method to assess tree stability. Further investigation shows strong correlations between infections in the supporting roots of Norway spruce and silver fir and increment and crown defoliation. Evidently, infections in the roots may show the cause of the correlations of crown defoliation and the rate of mortality, increment and storm stability.

It is, of course, not possible to monitor vitality and stability in a comprehensive way. However, decisive information on the sustainability of the growing stock can be gained with clearly justifiable costs. These possibilities have not been fully exploited.
Will more complete inhibition of the RAAS with angiotensin receptor blockade improve survival following myocardial infarction?
Authors: Pfeffer Marc A
Published: May 2007

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have a well-established role in the management of patients with hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and myocardial infarction (MI). ACE inhibitors have been particularly well studied in acute and chronic MI with consistent and substantial survival benefits demonstrated, particularly in the higher risk groups. The recent development of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blockers (ARBs) as a well tolerated pharmacological therapy to more completely inhibit the actions of Ang II at the AT1-receptor level raises questions concerning comparative efficacy with the proven ACE inhibitor experience. Two major trials will provide a direct comparison of ARBs with an ACE inhibitor. The Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction (VALIANT) trial is specifically designed to compare and contrast the ARB, valsartan, used both alone as well as in combination with a proven ACE inhibitor regimen, in a high risk MI population. VALIANT, with its three arms targetting 14,500 patients, is uniquely poised to determine whether the pharmacological advance in the development of ARBs confers additional clinical (survival) value in high risk MI patients.
The effect of angiotensin II on mitogen-activated protein kinase in human cardiomyocytes
Authors: Chiming Wei  , Cardarelli Marcelo G , Downing Stephen W , McLaughlin Joseph S
Published: May 2007

The role of angiotensin II (Ang II)-receptors on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in cardiomyocytes remains controversial. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the actions of AT1- and AT2-receptors on Ang II-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK activities in human cardiomyocytes. Human cardiac tissue was obtained from open-heart surgery (n=6). The cardiac tissue was minced and incubated in the special tissue culture system for 24 hours in the absence or presence of Ang II (10-7 M). These studies were repeated with the AT1-receptor antagonist losartan (10-6 M) or the AT2-receptor antagonist PD-123319 (10-6 M). Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis with phospho-antibodies were performed to determine ERK, JNK and p38 activities. Ang II increased ERK and p38 activities in human cardiomyocytes. The effects of Ang II were abolished by losartan and enhanced by PD-123319. Co-incubation with both losartan and PD-123319 resulted in a decrease of ERK and p38 activities in cardiomyocytes. The immunohistochemical staining of JNK showed no significant differences between Ang II alone, Ang II plus losartan and Ang II plus PD-123319 groups. In conclusion, Ang II has a potent effect on ERK and p38 MAPK activities in cardiomyocytes, by acting through AT1-receptors. This effect of Ang II is modified by AT2-receptors. Therefore, Ang II, via AT1- and AT2-receptor stimulation, has a distinct effect on MAPK activity in cardiomyocytes.
Discordant responses to two classes of drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system
Authors: Sever Peter S , Limmie Chang C.
Published: May 2007

Introduction

Marked heterogeneity characterises blood pressure (BP) responses to antihypertensive drugs. The efficacy of drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is predicted (albeit weakly) by plasma renin activity (PRA) and it has been assumed that, within individuals, there would be concordance in efficacy between drugs acting at different sites to block the RAAS.

Design

The present study was a randomised, double-blind, two-way, crossover study designed to evaluate intra-individual BP responses to an angiotensin II AT1receptor blocker (ARB), candesartan cilexetil, and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I), lisinopril, and to identify potential phenotypic characteristics of patients' responses to the drugs.

Methods

92 patients with essential hypertension, (mean systolic/diastolic BP 160/101 mmHg) entered the trial, of whom 76 patients completed both treatments.

Results

There was marked heterogeneity in response to the two drugs. 50% of patients responded (fall in diastolic BP of >10 mmHg or achieved diastolic pressure <90 mmHg) to both drugs; 16% were non-responders to both drugs; 20% responded to the ACE-I but not the ARB and 15% responded to the ARB but not to the ACE-I. Individual responses to the two drugs were poorly correlated (for diastolic pressure: r=0.19, p=0.11; for systolic pressure: r=-0.01, p=0.92). For the ACE-I, the fall in both systolic and diastolic BP was related to pretreatment PRA (for diastolic pressure: r=0.31, p=0.008; for systolic pressure: r=0.24, p=0.04). In the case of the ARB, no relationship between the fall in BP and PRA was observed.

These observations suggest that more complex mechanisms may be involved in BP reduction with ARBs than with ACE-I.
The influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on the aorta elastin metabolism in diet-induced hypercholesterolaemia in rabbits
Authors: Wojakowski Wojciech , Gminski Jan , Siemianowicz Krzysztof , Goss Malgorzata , Machalski Marek
Published: May 2007

Aortic elastin turnover is significantly accelerated in atherosclerosis, partly because of activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system caused by hypercholesterolaemia. We postulated that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) prevent the aortic elastin loss in experimental hypercholesterolaemia. Two doses of ACE-I (captopril, enalapril and quinapril) were used: a dose equivalent to that applied to human subjects and a dose 10 times higher. We found that the increase in serum and aortic elastolytic activity in cholesterol-fed rabbits was prevented by high-dose captopril. The elastin content in aorta homogenates from cholesterol-fed rabbits was significantly decreased. The higher dose of captopril, but no other ACE-I, prevented this decrease in aortic elastin content. In cholesterol-fed rabbits the elastin-bound calcium content was significantly elevated. The higher doses of captopril and enalapril lowered the elastin-bound calcium content. In serum and aortic homogenates of cholesterol-fed rabbits, ACE activity was elevated by 15% and 77%, respectively. Both doses of captopril, enalapril and quinapril prevented this cholesterol-induced increase in serum and aortic ACE activity. We conclude that: 1) administration of captopril at doses 10 times higher than those used in humans prevents hypercholesterolaemia increased aortic elastin loss. 2) higher doses of captopril and enalapril prevent the hypercholesterolaemia-induced increase in aortic elastin-bound calcium.
Losartan may modulate erythropoietin production
Authors: Donnelly Sandra M , Miller Judith A
Published: May 2007

Erythropoietin (Epo) is distinct amongst haematopoietic hormones, in that it is produced remote from the bone marrow. The tissue oxygen pressure required to trigger the Epo gene under physiological conditions is uniquely sited at a restricted area in the kidney termed the critmeter. Angiotensin II (Ang II) increases sodium reabsorption and hence oxygen consumption at any given blood flow rate; therefore, it may affect the balance of renal oxygen supply vs. demand and hence Epo production. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Epo production is modulated by the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Twenty normal subjects on a controlled sodium and protein diet had glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) assessed by standard methods of inulin and para-aminohippurate clearance, respectively, at baseline, hourly after the administration of losartan (25 mg) and after each 30 minute period of the infusion of Ang II at doses of 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 ng/kg/minute. The baseline GFR was 115±4.0 ml/minute/1.73 m2, RPF 650±29 ml/minute/1.73 m2 and Epo 12.4±0.8 U/L. In spite of a marked increase in filtration fraction (FF) with Ang II, no changes in serum Epo levels were observed at two hours (11.7±1.3 U/L, p=n.s. compared with baseline). After the administration of losartan, there was a variable effect on FF, but a strong correlation of the change in serum Epo concentration and the change in FF (r=0.648, p=0.002), suggesting that the RAS may modulate Epo production.
Nephrectomy and peritoneal dialysis eliminates circulating renin and controls uraemia in the rat
Authors: Pedersen Trine Fischer , Nielsen Arne Høj , Strandgaard Svend , Paulson Olaf B
Published: May 2007

Objective

The aim of the present study was to develop a rat model for in vivo studies of the local effects of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) following elimination of circulating renin.

Methods

Sprague Dawley rats were bilaterally nephrectomised and had a peritoneal dialysis catheter implanted. The rats were maintained on dialysis continuously for 48 hours, using Dianeal PD4 3.86% glucose dialysis solution. The peritoneal catheter and an automated system for dialysate exchange were made in our laboratory. A sham nephrectomised control group of rats was also dialysed.

Results

Nephrectomised and sham-operated rats remained active and in good general condition during peritoneal dialysis. At 48 hours, in nephrectomised, dialysed rats, peritoneal urea clearance was 4.14±0.52 ml/hour, plasma urea was 40.0±7.7 mmol/L, plasma creatinine was 0.423±0.070 mmol/L and plasma renin was below the limit of detection.

Conclusions

In conclusion, it was possible to sustain bilaterally-nephrectomised rats on continuous peritoneal dialysis for 48 hours, pending elimination of renin from the circulation. The nephrectomised dialysed rat model should be useful for investigation of the physiological effects of the circulating versus the local RAS.
Review: Calcium channel blockade in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition or angiotensin II (AT1-receptor) antagonism in hypertensive diabetics and patients with renal disease and hypertension
Authors: Swales Philip , Williams Bryan
Published: May 2007

Effective reduction in blood pressure (BP) improves survival and morbidity in hypertensive patients. Combination therapy with multiple antihypertensive agents is frequently required in clinical practice and therapeutic trials to achieve target BP. Patients at elevated cardiovascular risk achieve the greatest benefit from equivalent reduction in BP and also require more stringent BP control. In patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus or renal disease, BP control is of primary importance and blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) should be the initial therapeutic intervention. Choice of combination therapy has been insufficiently studied in major clinical cardiovascular endpoint trials. Diuretic therapy remains the logical addition to RAS blockade. Despite previous debate, the available evidence suggests long-acting calcium-channel blockers are also a safe and very effective addition to improve BP control further. The choice of antihypertensive combination therapy should not override the fundamental necessity of lowering BP to target levels.
The elderly hypertensive population: what lies ahead of us?
Authors: Bobrie Guillaume , Potter John F
Published: May 2007

In the next 25 years, the population aged 65 years and over will increase by 88%. Thus, postponing the adverse effects of old age for as long as possible will be a major social and economic issue. Hypertension is common in older people, with a prevalence rate of up to 60%, the majority having isolated systolic hypertension. Both isolated systolic hypertension and increased pulse pressure (PP) are associated with a high cardiovascular (CV) risk, and hypertension remains the biggest treatable risk factor for CV disease in the elderly and in the very old. Randomised, controlled trials have demonstrated the benefit of the treatment of hypertension in this population, such that treating just 43 subjects (95% CI: 31–69) for five years would prevent one cerebro-vascular event and treating 61 (95% CI: 39–141) would prevent one coronary event. It should be stressed that antihypertensive treatment reduces both fatal and nonfatal events and will probably prevent the onset of dementia. In other words, it reduces events that represent a major source of disability and handicap in old age and allows healthy ageing. Ongoing trials, which are addressing the preventive effect of treatment in the very elderly hypertensive, will provide further evidence as to the risk/benefit ratio in this ever increasing age group.
Review: ACE inhibition or angiotensin receptor blockade: which should we use in diabetic patients?
Authors: Ruilope Luis M , Segura Julian , Schiffrin Ernesto L
Published: May 2007

Blockade of the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) by using an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor has been proven to be of value in Type 1 diabetic nephropathy and in non-diabetic renal disease. Evidence in favour of Ang II blockade in Type 2 diabetic patients with renal damage is still lacking for ACE inhibitors (ACE-Is), while recent data indicate that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) could be the drugs of choice in this situation. On the other hand, renal damage from the onset of disease is accompanied by a very significant increment in global cardiovascular risk. This fact, as well as that of simultaneous renal and cardiovascular protection, have to be considered for drug selection. In this sense, ACE-Is have been shown to be the drugs of choice when secondary cardiovascular prevention is required, while the evidence in primary prevention in hypertensive patients has been shown with losartan in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study. All these facts led to the conclusion that both ACE-Is and ARBs can be considered when both renal and cardiovascular protection are aimed for in Type 2 diabetic patients.
Dual blockade with candesartan cilexetil and lisinopril in hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus: rationale and design
Authors: Andersen Niels H , Knudsen Søren T , Poulsen Per L , Poulsen Steen H , Helleberg Kjeld , Eiskjær Hans , Hansen Klaus W , Bek Toke , Mogensen Carl E
Published: May 2007

Background

Blood pressure (BP) reduction is the key to risk reduction of cardiovascular disease or renal failure in hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus. Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system by an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) provides efficient BP reduction and renal protection in hypertensive diabetes patients. But, despite this, the recommended BP levels can be difficult to achieve and dual blockade therapy might be a possible way of obtaining efficient BP reduction in hypertensive patients with diabetes.

Dual blockade treatment is based on a principle of obtaining the broadest and most efficient blockade of angiotensin II, by using the combination of an ACE-inhibitor and an ARB.

Methods

The Candesartan And Lisinopril Microalbuminuria (CALM II) study is a one centre, one observer, double-blind, randomised, active-controlled, parallel-group study, investigating the efficacy and tolerability of candesartan cilexetil in combination with lisinopril, compared with the maximum recommended dose of lisinopril in hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus.

The study design consists of two treatment arms with either 16 mg candesartan cilexetil or 20 mg lisinopril added to concomitant treatment with 20 mg lisinopril. It comprises 80 patients with a minimum of 35 patients in each group and statistical power of 90% to detect a difference in systolic BP reduction of 6.5 mmHg.

Conclusion

The CALM II study aims to investigate the effects of dual blockade on systolic BP, albuminuria, left ventricular mass and function, and retinopathy in hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus.