bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CLUSTERING-BASED, LOAD BALANCED SOURCE SELECTION FOR CBIR IN P2P NETWORKS
Authors: EISENHARDT MARTIN , MÜLLER WOLFGANG , BLANK DANIEL , EL ALLALI SOUFYANE , HENRICH ANDREAS
Published: November 2008

In peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, computers with equal rights form a logical (overlay) network in order to provide a common service that lies beyond the capacity of every single participant. Efficient similarity search is generally recognized as a frontier in research about P2P systems. One way to address this issue is using data source selection based approaches where peers summarize the data they contribute to the network, generating typically one summary per peer. When processing queries, these summaries are used to choose the peers (data sources) that are most likely to contribute to the query result. Only those data sources are contacted.

There are several contributions of this article. We extend earlier work, adding a data source selection method for high-dimensional vector data, comparing different peer ranking schemes. Furthermore, we present two methods that use progressive stepwise data exchange between peers to better each peer's summary and therefore improve the system's performance. We finally examine the effect of these data exchange methods with respect to load balancing.
CLOSING THE VOCABULARY GAP FOR COMPUTING TEXT SIMILARITY AND INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
Authors: MÜLLER CHRISTOF , GUREVYCH IRYNA , MÜHLHÄUSER MAX
Published: November 2008

This paper studies the integration of lexical semantic knowledge in two related semantic computing tasks: ad-hoc information retrieval and computing text similarity. For this purpose, we compare the performance of two algorithms: (i) using semantic relatedness, and (ii) using a conventional extended Boolean model [13] with additional query expansion. For the evaluation, we use two different test collections in the German language especially suitable to study the vocabulary gap problem: (i) GIRT [5] for the information retrieval task, and (ii) a collection of descriptions of professions built to evaluate a system for electronic career guidance in the information retrieval and text similarity tasks. We found that integrating lexical semantic knowledge increases the performance for both tasks. On the GIRT corpus, the performance is improved only for short queries. The performance on the collection of professional descriptions is improved, but crucially depends on the accurate preprocessing of the natural language essays employed as topics.
USING SCDL FOR INTEGRATING TOOLS AND DATA FOR COMPLEX BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Authors: WANG SHU , HU ROUH-MEI , HSIAO HAN C. W. , HECHT DAVID A. , NG KA-LOK , CHEN RONG-MING , SHEU PHILLIP C.-Y. , TSAI JEFFREY J. P.
Published: November 2008

Current bioinformatics tools or databases are very heterogeneous in terms of data formats, database schema, and terminologies. Additionally, most biomedical databases and analysis tools are scattered across different web sites making interoperability across such different services more difficult. It is desired that these diverse databases and analysis tools be normalized, integrated and encompassed with a semantic interface such that users of biological data and tools could communicate with the system in natural language and a workflow could be automatically generated and distributed into appropriate tools. In this paper, the BioSemantic System is presented to bridge complex biological/biomedical research problems and computational solutions via semantic computing. Due to the diversity of problems in various research fields, the semantic capability description language (SCDL) plays an important role as a common language and generic form for problem formalization. Several queries as well as their corresponding SCDL descriptions are provided as examples. For complex applications, multiple SCDL queries may be connected via control structures. For these cases, we present an algorithm to map a user request to one or more existing services if they exist.
Creatine synthesis: hepatic metabolism of guanidinoacetate and creatine in the rat in vitro and in vivo
Authors: da Silva Robin P. , Nissim Itzhak , Brosnan Margaret E. , Brosnan John T.
Published: November 2008

Since creatinine excretion reflects a continuous loss of creatine and creatine phosphate, there is a need for creatine replacement, from the diet and/or by de novo synthesis. Creatine synthesis requires three amino acids, methionine, glycine, and arginine, and two enzymes, l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT), which produces guanidinoacetate acid (GAA), and guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT), which methylates GAA to produce creatine. In the rat, high activities of AGAT are found in the kidney, whereas high activities of GAMT occur in the liver. Rat hepatocytes readily convert GAA to creatine; this synthesis is stimulated by the addition of methionine, which increases cellular S-adenosylmethionine concentrations. These same hepatocytes are unable to produce creatine from methionine, arginine, and glycine.15N from15NH4Cl is readily incorporated into urea but not into creatine. Hepatic uptake of GAA is evident in vivo by livers of rats fed a creatine-free diet but not when rats were fed a creatine-supplemented diet. Rats fed the creatine-supplemented diet had greatly decreased renal AGAT activity and greatly decreased plasma [GAA] but no decrease in hepatic GAMT or in the capacity of hepatocytes to produce creatine from GAA. These studies indicate that hepatocytes are incapable of the entire synthesis of creatine but are capable of producing it from GAA. They also illustrate the interplay between the dietary provision of creatine and its de novo synthesis and point to the crucial role of renal AGAT expression in regulating creatine synthesis in the rat.
Hyperbaric oxygen stimulates vasculogenic stem cell growth and differentiation in vivo
Authors: Milovanova Tatyana N. , Bhopale Veena M. , Sorokina Elena M. , Moore Jonni S. , Hunt Thomas K. , Hauer-Jensen Martin , Velazquez Omaida C. , Thom Stephen R.
Published: November 2008

We hypothesized that oxidative stress from hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2, 2.8 ATA for 90 min daily) exerts a trophic effect on vasculogenic stem cells. In a mouse model, circulating stem/progenitor cell (SPC) recruitment and differentiation in subcutaneous Matrigel were stimulated by HBO2and by a physiological oxidative stressor, lactate. In combination, HBO2and lactate had additive effects. Vascular channels lined by CD34+SPCs were identified. HBO2and lactate accelerated channel development, cell differentiation based on surface marker expression, and cell cycle entry. CD34+SPCs exhibited increases in thioredoxin-1 (Trx1), Trx reductase, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF)-1, -2, and -3, phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases, vascular endothelial growth factor, and stromal cell-derived factor-1. Cell recruitment to Matrigel and protein synthesis responses were abrogated by N-acetyl cysteine, dithioerythritol, oxamate, apocynin, U-0126, neutralizing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, or anti-stromal cell-derived factor-1 antibodies, and small inhibitory RNA to Trx reductase, lactate dehydrogenase, gp91phox, HIF-1 or -2, and in mice conditionally null for HIF-1 in myeloid cells. By causing an oxidative stress, HBO2activates a physiological redox-active autocrine loop in SPCs that stimulates vasculogenesis. Thioredoxin system activation leads to elevations in HIF-1 and -2, followed by synthesis of HIF-dependent growth factors. HIF-3 has a negative impact on SPCs.
Cardiorespiratory interactions in patients with atrial flutter
Authors: Masè Michela , Disertori Marcello , Ravelli Flavia
Published: November 2008

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is generally known as the autonomically mediated modulation of the sinus node pacemaker frequency in synchrony with respiration. Cardiorespiratory interactions have been largely investigated during sinus rhythm, whereas little is known about interactions during reentrant arrhythmias. In this study, cardiorespiratory interactions at the atrial and ventricular level were investigated during atrial flutter (AFL), a supraventricular arrhythmia based on a reentry, by using cross-spectral analysis and computer modeling. The coherence and phase between respiration and atrial (γ[Formula: see text], φAA) and ventricular (γ[Formula: see text], φRR) interval series were estimated in 20 patients with typical AFL (68.0 ± 8.8 yr) and some degree of atrioventricular (AV) conduction block. In all patients, atrial intervals displayed oscillations strongly coupled and in phase with respiration (γ[Formula: see text]= 0.97 ± 0.05, φAA = 0.71 ± 0.31 rad), corresponding to a paradoxical lengthening of intervals during inspiration. The modulation pattern was frequency independent, with in-phase oscillations and short time delays (0.40 ± 0.15 s) for respiratory frequencies in the range 0.1–0.4 Hz. Ventricular patterns were affected by AV conduction type. In patients with fixed AV conduction, ventricular intervals displayed oscillations strongly coupled (γ[Formula: see text]= 0.97 ± 0.03) and in phase with respiration (φRR = 1.08 ± 0.80 rad). Differently, in patients with variable AV conduction, respiratory oscillations were secondary to Wencheback rhythmicity, resulting in a decreased level of coupling (γ[Formula: see text]= 0.50 ± 0.21). Simulations with a simplified model of AV conduction showed ventricular patterns to originate from the combination of a respiratory modulated atrial input with the functional properties of the AV node. The paradoxical frequency-independent modulation pattern of atrial interval, the short time delays, and the complexity of ventricular rhythm characterize respiratory arrhythmia during AFL and distinguish it from normal RSA. These peculiar features can be explained by assuming a direct mechanical action of respiration on AFL reentrant circuit.
Persistent fetal infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus differentially affects maternal blood cell signal transduction pathways
Authors: Smirnova Natalia P. , Ptitsyn Andrey A. , Austin Kathleen J. , Bielefeldt-Ohmann Helle , Van Campen Hana , Han Hyungchul , van Olphen Alberto L. , Hansen Thomas R.
Published: November 2008

The consequences of viral infection during pregnancy include impact on fetal and maternal immune responses and on fetal development. Transplacental infection in cattle with noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (ncpBVDV) during early gestation results in persistently infected (PI) fetuses with life-long viremia and susceptibility to infections. Infection of the fetus during the third trimester or after birth leads to a transient infection cleared by a competent immune system. We hypothesized that ncpBVDV infection and presence of an infected fetus would alter immune response and lead to downregulation of proinflammatory processes in pregnant dams. Naïve pregnant heifers were challenged with ncpBVDV2 on day 75 (PI fetus) and day 175 [transiently infected (TI) fetus] or kept uninfected (healthy control fetus). Maternal blood samples were collected up to day 190 of gestation. Genome-wide microarray analysis of gene expression in maternal peripheral white blood cells, performed on days 160 and 190 of gestation, revealed multiple signal transduction pathways affected by ncpBVDV infection. Acute infection and presence of a TI fetus caused upregulation of the type I interferon (IFN) pathway genes, including dsRNA sensors and IFN-stimulated genes. The presence of a PI fetus caused prolonged downregulation of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and T cell receptor (TCR) signaling in maternal blood cells. We conclude that: 1) infection with ncpBVDV induces a vigorous type I IFN response, and 2) presence of a PI fetus causes downregulation of important signaling pathways in the blood of the dam, which could have deleterious consequences on fetal development and the immune response.
Analytic Solution of Multipantograph Equation
Authors: Awawdeh Fadi , Adawi Ahmad , Al-Shara' Safwan
Published: November 2008

We apply the homotopy analysis method (HAM) for solving the
multipantograph equation. The analytical results have been obtained
in terms of convergent series with easily computable components. Several
examples are given to illustrate the efficiency and implementation
of the homotopy analysis method. Comparisons are made to confirm
the reliability of the homotopy analysis method.
Severity of Bulimia Nervosa
Authors: Hartmann A. , Zeeck A. , van der Kooij A.J.
Published: November 2008

Aims: In order to identify the most important components of the severity of bulimia nervosa (as well as identifying clinical cases), we explored the relation between dimensional and categorical assessment. This was achieved by studying the performance of variables from standard instruments (measuring specific and general psychopathology) in predicting an expert rating of overall syndrome severity. Method: In total, 213 cases were selected (across the whole range of severity). We applied regression with optimal scaling to model nonlinear relations in the data, and the lasso method with bootstrapping for predictor selection. The best model contained 2 scales of the Eating Disorders Inventory (‘bulimia’ and ‘drive for thinness’) and the frequency of the binges. The sensitivity and specificity of case classification using the obtained model was determined. Results: The model can predict the probability of being a clinical case at a rate of 88%. The presented statistical methods are innovative and promising approaches that can help researchers and clinicians to better define sets of variables for treatment evaluation and outcome studies. Conclusion: The results indicate that severity and outcome in bulimia nervosa should be determined by measuring both cognitive and behavioral aspects of the symptoms.
Discovery of Sympatric Dwarf Lemur Species in the High-Altitude Rain Forest of Tsinjoarivo, Eastern Madagascar: Implications for Biogeography and Conservation
Authors: Blanco Marina B. , Godfrey Laurie R. , Rakotondratsima Mamihasimbola , Rahalinarivo Vololonirina , Samonds Karen E. , Raharison Jean-Luc , Irwin Mitchell T.
Published: November 2008

The number of species within the Malagasy lemur genus Cheirogaleus is currently under debate. Museum collections are spotty, and field work, supplemented by morphometric and genetic analysis, is essential for documenting geographic distributions, ecological characteristics and species boundaries. We report here field evidence for 2 dwarf lemur species at Tsinjoarivo, an eastern-central high-altitude rain forest: one, from a forest fragment, displaying coat and dental characteristics similar to C. sibreei (previously described only from museum specimens) and the other, from the continuous forest, resembling individuals of Cheirogaleus found today at Ranomafana National Park, further to the south. This study represents the first confirmation of a living population of grey-fawn, C.-sibreei -like, dwarf lemurs in Madagascar.
Physical Performance and Physical Activity in Older People: Are Developmental Influences Important?
Authors: Martin H.J. , Syddall H.E. , Dennison E.M. , Cooper C. , Aihie Sayer A.
Published: November 2008

Background: Reduced physical performance and physical activity have serious health consequences, but adult determinants do not fully explain variation in older people. Objective: Our objective was to investigate the relationship between early growth, physical performance and physical activity in older people. Methods: We studied 349 men and 280 women born 1931–1939 with known birth weight and weight at 1 year who were taking part in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, UK. Physical performance was measured (3-m walk, chair rises and standing balance) and physical activity was assessed by questionnaire and converted to estimated energy expenditure. Results: Poor balance was associated with lower birth weight (odds ratio [OR] for poor balance per standard deviation [SD] increase in birth weight = 0.68, p = 0.01) and weight at 1 year (OR for poor balance per SD increase in weight at 1 year = 0.67, p = 0.03) after adjustment for age and current size in men, but not in women. There were no significant positive relationships between early size and growth and the other measures of physical performance or physical activity in men or women. Conclusion: Current lifestyle factors, particularly those affecting adult weight, may be more important than developmental influences on most measures of physical performance and physical activity in older people.
Self-Assessed Health Status, Walking Speed and Mortality in Older Mexican-Americans
Authors: Cesari Matteo , Pahor Marco , Marzetti Emanuele , Zamboni Valentina , Colloca Giuseppe , Tosato Matteo , Patel Kushang V. , Tovar Jennifer J. , Markides Kyriakos
Published: November 2008

Background: Self-assessed health status (SAHS) and physical performance measures (in particular, walking speed) are strong predictors of health-related events. Nevertheless, the possible interaction between them in predicting major outcomes has not been clearly explored. Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the predictive and additive value for mortality of a SAHS measure and a walking speed test. Methods: Data are from 2,139 Mexican-Americans aged ≥65 years enrolled in the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly, and followed for 5.8 years. At the baseline visit, participants were asked to answer to the question ‘How is your health in general?’ presented as a four-level Likert item (i.e., poor, fair, good, excellent). They were also asked to ‘walk down and back as fast as it felt safe and comfortable’ along an 8-ft track. Cox proportional hazard models, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and specificity/sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of SAHS and walking speed for mortality. Results: The mean age of the sample was 72.1 years. Participants reporting ‘poor’ SAHS were more likely to die compared to those with ‘excellent’ SAHS, even after adjustment for potential confounders (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.10–2.10). Similar results were obtained for participants with slow walking speed (<0.29 m/s; HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.27–2.24; reference group: walking speed ≥0.81 m/s). A statistically significant, but weak, correlation between SAHS and walking speed was observed (Pearson’s r = 0.069, p = 0.001). No significant differences in areas under curves from ROC analyses were reported for the prediction of mortality when the SAHS and walking speed were tested (alone or in combination). Both tests presented high specificity (≥80%) for the prediction of mortality. Conclusion: SAHS and walking speed are not only significant and independent predictors of mortality in older Mexican-Americans, but also present a similar predictive value. The additive prognostic value of the two measures is limited.
Distribution of Nitrogen and Composition of Nitrogen Compounds in Food, Urine and Faeces in Habitual Consumers of Sweet Potato and Taro
Authors: Oomen H.A.P.C.
Published: November 2008

Nitrogen balance studies were performed in normal adults and in children subsisting on typical New Guinea highland tuber diets. Only 3.5-5% of the total calories were derived from protein. Two adult groups, at a food-N intake of, respectively, 3.1 and 4.3 g N/d, and 3 child groups at intakes of 1.4, 1.6 and 2.3 g N/d, mainly from sweet potato, showed a marked negative N balance. One taro-eating child group, at an intake of 2.4 g N/d, was near equilibrium and one child group consuming sweet potato with skim-milk supplement, having 3.9 g N/d, showed retention. Faecal N, expressed as a fraction of food N, was always paradoxically high: 54-63% in the adult groups, 77-115% in the sweet-potato-eating child groups and 40% in the milk-supplemented group. In the adult groups, urine N was, respectively, 83 and 89% of food N. In the child groups, it was less: 53% in one taro-eating group and 40% in the milk-supplemented group. Despite a higher N intake in the taro-eaters, the utilization, as expressed in urine-N quantity, was less. Endogenous urine N (creatinine and uric acid) was about normal for body size. All sweet-potato-eaters excreted much hippuric acid. Urea N in the child groups was only 267-940 mg/d; in the adults, 1.8-3.2 g/d. The composition of faecal N was determined in one taro- and in one sweet-potato-eating group. A 22-24 kg boy, at intakes between 10-15 g protein (N × 6.25), produced daily 11-12 g crude protein in his stools, of which 8-11% was non-protein nitrogen. Most of the amino compounds in faeces emulsions were contained in fibrous, though digested, particles of over 500 µmdiameter, whereas 4-10% were present in the supernatant fluid. A comparison of the amino acids in taro and sweet potato and in the faeces of the consumers suggests that, on such diets, 60-80% of the amino acids in food are normally present again in the stools. This presupposes a particular autonomy of the intestinal flora in N metabolism, the significance of which for human nutrition is discussed.
The Effects of 14C Xylitol, Given Intravenously on the Serum-Glucose, Insulin and Lipid Concentrations of Male and Female Baboons
Authors: Jourdan M.H. , Macdonald I. , Henderson J.R.
Published: November 2008

When xylitol-U 14C is given intravenously to baboons, the incorporation of 14C into the serum glycerides is equal in the two sexes, and is of the same order as that found when fructose-U 14C is given intravenously to male baboons. Following xylitol injection, there is: (a) a marked rise in the serum insulin concentrations, these values being significantly greater in the male baboons than in the females; and (b) a fall in serum glucose concentration, which is of the same magnitude in both sexes. It is suggested that xylitol is converted to serum glyceride via the same metabolic pathways as glucose, and that the kinetics of this pathway are not sex-dependent.
Influence of Fatty-Acid Composition of Infant Formulas on the Development of Arteriosclerosis and on the Lipid Composition of Blood and Tissues
Authors: Greenberg L.D. , Wheeler Priscilla
Published: November 2008

Six liquid diets, widely varying in linoleate content, were fed to 50 infant rhesus monkeys. Some were transferred to monkey chow, and some of these to a high hydrogenated fat plus 2% corn oil diet. Our results confirm the previously reported hypercholesterolemic effect of bovine butterfat and the protective effect of linoleate against such hypercholesterolemia. Animals given large amounts of linoleate in their diets reflected this in the pattern of their blood and tissue fatty acids. However, judging by the erythrocyte and tissue levels of arachidonic acid, they tended to convert a smaller percentage of the total linoleate to arachidonate than animals reveiving considerably smaller amounts of linoleate. This was true whether the animals were infants, adolescents, or approaching sexual maturity.
The Influence of Dietary Purines and Pyrimidines on Purine and Pyrimidine Biosynthesis in Man
Authors: Gröbner W. , Zöllner N.
Published: November 2008

Allopurinol-induced orotaciduria is reduced by dietary ribonucleic acid (RNA), RNA hydrolysate and different nucleotides. These findings are compatible with feedback regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis by dietary nucleotides. Serum uric acid and urinary uric acid excretion on a purine-free isoenergetic diet reach a minimum after about 10 days and remain constant thereafter. When purines from different biochemical sources are added to such a diet there is always a linear relationship between dietary purines and serum uric acid level and urinary uric acid excretion. The findings suggest that dietary purines play a minor role if any in the regulation of purine biosynthesis in man.
The Nutritional Significance of Inborn Errors of Amino Acid Metabolism
Authors: Jonxis J.H.P.
Published: November 2008

Inborn errors of metabolism affect the metabolism of 7 out of 8 essential amino acids and a number of non-essential ones. Dietary treatment has been applied with varying success. The wide variations in the severity of symptoms in this group of diseases are discussed. Dietary treatment opens the possibility to collect information about the minimal requirements of most essential amino acids. These requirements are likely to be still lower than those mentioned in the WHO Report No. 522, 1973. Children who for years have lived on one of these restricted diets, provide the possibility to compare the effect of such a diet on their nutritional status with that of children living on a normal diet.
Undernutrition and Retarded Growth before and after Birth
Authors: Widdowson Elsie M.
Published: November 2008

Animals undernourished before birth and therefore born small are not particularly hungry and do not take enough food to enable them to catch up their larger fellows after birth even when there is a plentiful supply of milk. Animals and children undernourished after birth are very hungry and they eat far more per unit body weight than well-nourished individuals as soon as food is available. They gain weight rapidly for a time, and the ‘catch-up’ may or may not be complete depending on the severity and duration of the undernutrition. This difference in response to rehabilitation after undernutrition at different ages is attributed to the stage of development the appetite centres in the hypothalamus have reached when the undernutrition was imposed. Whether the animals undernourished after birth catch up in weight or not, they deposit more fat than normal, suggesting that appetite has outrun the ability to lay down lean tissue.
Neuropsychiatric Disorders of Alcoholism
Authors: Feuerlein Wilhelm
Published: November 2008

The following neuropsychiatric disorders have been briefly described: alcohol withdrawal syndrome, delirium tremens, alcohol hallucinosis, Wernicke-Korsakow syndrome, seizures, tremor, Marchiafava-Bignami disease, central pontine myelinol·ysis, alcoholic ambl·yopia, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration, cerebral atrophy, alterations of personality in chronic alcoholics, alcoholic polyneuropathy. The pathogenetical aspects as well as the pathological findings have been reviewed with special emphasis on nutritional factors.
Alcohol Consumption and Diseases of the Liver
Authors: Thaler H.
Published: November 2008

Alcoholic liver damage is only produced by constant alcohol intake. Close dose and time relationships are apparent. For many years, alcoholic fatty liver is the only noticeable alteration. It is completely reversible in 2–4 weeks when ethanol intake is stopped. After about 6 years of chronic abuse alcoholic hepatitis may develop. Once established it progresses within weeks or months to cirrhosis if ethanol intake is not discontinued. On the other hand, alcoholic hepatitis heals under complete abstinence from alcohol with unimportant fibrosis. After over-indulgence in alcohol over a period of 22 years, there is a 50 % probability of cirrhosis. This shows clearly that the resistance of the liver to alcohol varies considerably in different individuals. Even in early stages of alcoholic cirrhosis the prognosis is reasonable. If these patients observe complete abstinence from ethanol, their life expectation is only slightly different from the average of the population. The extent of the consumption of alcohol is of decisive importance for the development of cirrhosis. New and very careful investigations reveal that the susceptibility to alcohol is different in both sexes. For men the danger level would thus appear to be around 60 g and for women around 20 g of pure alcohol a day. Beyond these critical levels the morbidity of cirrhosis multiplies almost in geometric progression with increasing amounts of ethanol.
Symptoms of Gastroparesis: Use of the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index in Symptomatic Patients Referred for Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy
Authors: Cassilly Daniel W. , Wang Y. Richard , Friedenberg Frank K. , Nelson Deborah B. , Maurer Alan H. , Parkman Henry P.
Published: November 2008

Background/Aim: The Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI) was developed to assess symptoms of gastroparesis. The aim of this study was to correlate symptoms using the GCSI with delayed gastric emptying (DGE) in symptomatic patients referred for gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES). Methods: A total of 226 consecutive symptomatic patients referred for GES completed the 9-question GCSI. GES was performed using a 99Tc-labeled egg meal. Gastroparesis was defined as DGE at 2 h and/or 4 h. Results: Using linear regression, nausea (p = 0.09), not able to finish a normal-size meal (p = 0.005), postprandial fullness subscore (p = 0.01), and total GCSI score (p = 0.06) were predictors of the gastric retention values at 2 h, but not at 4 h. Patients with gastroparesis had significant higher symptom scores for nausea (p = 0.035) and vomiting (p = 0.040) compared to patients with normal gastric emptying. The positive predictive value varied between 51 and 61% for total GCSI scores between 20 and 35, respectively. Conclusion: The individual symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and early satiety were associated with DGE at 2 h but not at 4 h. In contrast, the total or average GCSI score did not reliably predict the diagnosis of gastroparesis in symptomatic patients referred for GES.
The Failure of the Cat to Desaturate Linoleic Acid; Its Nutritional Implications
Authors: Hassam A.G. , Rivers J.P.W. , Crawford M.A.
Published: November 2008

In vivo administration of 1-14C-linoleic acid to domestic cats demonstrated that these animals are unable to convert this essential fatty acid to its physiologically active metabolites. This experiment confirms the absence of both the Δ6 and △8 desaturases in the cat, and suggests that this species has a dietary requirement for polyunsaturated fatty acids of animal origin.
Effets conjugés de l’acide linolénique et de l’acide érucique sur les lipides du foie et du myocarde du rat
Authors: Rocquelin G.
Published: November 2008

Cardiac and liver lipids (triglycerides and phospholipids) were analyzed in weanling rats fed for 8 days diets containing 15% by weight of four different lipid mixtures: trierucin and peanut oil (1/1), trierucin and linseed oil (1/1), triolein and peanut oil (1/1), triolein and linseed oil (1/1). Linolenic acid (8 cal·% of the diet) does not influence the steatogenic effect of erucic acid (15 cal% of the diet) on the myocardium but seems to increase the hepatic conversion of erucic acid into shorter monoenes (C 18:1 mainly). The (n-6), (n-3) fatty acid spectra in heart and liver phospholipids are strongly affected when linolenic acid is added to the diet whereas erucic acid has little effect.
Role of Nutrition in the Development of Osteomalacia in the Elderly
Authors: Pittet P.G. , Davie M. , Lawson D.E.M.
Published: November 2008

A dietary survey has been carried out of elderly people with osteomalacia. The commonest type of osteomalacia was that associated with partial gastrectomy. Although a dietary deficiency of vitamin D has been suggested as a cause of the osteomalacia the intake of this substance was not significantly different from that in controls to explain the development of the disease. It was found, however, that patients with osteomalacia went outside much less than controls and given the contribution of sunlight to meeting vitamin D requirements it is suggested that further consideration should be given to this factor in the aetiology of post-gastrectomy osteomalacia.
Glucose and Insulin Homeostasis during Postoperative Carbohydrate Infusions
Authors: Rowlands Brian.J.
Published: November 2008

Hypertonic fructose and sorbitol solutions are claimed to have advantages over glucose in nutritional regimen due to their rapid hepatic metabolism. Insulin is essential for the extrahepatic metabolism of all three carbohydrates. At therapeutic rates (0.5 g/kg body weight/h) in the postoperative period they produce hyperglycaemia and an insulin response, not previously evident and similar to that of glucose. These changes are probably related to their intracellular metabolism and may explain the similar nitrogen-sparing capabilities of each carbohydrate following operative trauma.
Fatty Acid Composition of Cerebrosides and Phospholipids in Brains of Undernourished Rats
Authors: Rao Srinivasa
Published: November 2008

The effect of undernutrition on the fatty acid profiles of cerebrosides and phospholipids in the developing rat brain has been investigated. Undernutrition was imposed post-natally in pups by the method of large litter size and feeding a protein-deficient diet during the post-weaning period. The results showed that lignoceric (24:0) and nervonic (24:1) acids of cerebrosides, which are marker fatty acids of myelin, were significantly lower in 5 0-day-old undernourished rats than in well-nourished controls. Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids the contribution of arachidonic acid (20:4) to the total fatty acids was lower in 10- and 21-day-old as well as 50-day-old rats. Altered fatty acid pattern of lipid classes might be the result of impaired myelination of brain due to nutritional stress.
Effects of Protein Deficiency and Food Restriction during Gestation in Rats on Maternal and Fetal Plasma and Pituitary Thyrotropin Levels
Authors: Hastings-Roberts Mary.M. , Zeman Frances.J.
Published: November 2008

The effects of protein deficiency and food restriction during pregnancy on maternal and fetal plasma and pituitary thyrotropin (TSH) levels were investigated on day 20 of gestation. The same parameters were also determined following administration of exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). Maternal plasma and pituitary basal TSH concentrations were significantly elevated in protein deficiency. TRH injection to protein-deficient dams caused a marked reduction in pituitary TSH concentration, suggesting that the elevated plasma TSH seen in uninjected dams might be due to decreased metabolic clearance rather than to hypersecretion by the pituitary. Food restriction resulted in significant lowering of plasma TSH, but did not alter pituitary TSH in comparison to that of control dams. TRH administration had no effect on pituitary TSH concentration in food-restricted and control dams. Pituitaries of fetal young of protein-deprived dams were significantly smaller and contained significantly less total TSH, accompanied by a slight reduction in circulating plasma TSH. These observations are suggestive of developmental and functional retardatation of the fetal pituitary. Fetal pituitary TSH was unaffected by TRH administration to control and food-restricted dams whereas, in young of protein-deprived females, total gland TSH was reduced.
Some Biochemical Observations on Biotin Deficiency in the Rat as a Model for Human Pyruvate Carboxylase Deficiency
Authors: Schrijver J. , Dias T. , Hommes F.A.
Published: November 2008

Biotin deficiency was induced in newborn rats by feeding pregnant rats a biotin-deficient, avidin-rich diet. Signs typical of biotin deficiency are seen as soon as the young rat develops its fur. Deficiency of pyruvate carboxylase (PC) activity in the brains of the young animals (70%) is higher than has been reported before. The highest PC activity is found in the brain stem of control and biotin-deficient rats. Normally fed rats show, shortly after birth, a maximum in liver PC activity, which is absent in biotin-deficient animals. The biochemical changes observed in these rats seem to indicate that a specific deficiency of PC activity was induced as exemplified by hyperlactatemia and hypoglycemia and the absence of increased plasma concentrations of propionic acid and β-methylcrotonic acid. This offers the possibility to use biotin deficiency in the rat as an animal model for patients with lactic acidosis in whom PC deficiency has been postulated.
Effect of Animal Proteins on the Absorption of Food Iron in Man
Authors: Björn-Rasmussen Erik , Hallberg Leif
Published: November 2008

The way in which meat and fish act to promote the absorption of nonheme iron in food is not known. The present paper is a report of the results of a series of studies aimed at obtaining some insight into the mechanism of action of meat and other animal proteins on the absorption of food iron. Beef, fish, chicken and calf thymus all increased the iron absorption to about the same extent. Neither egg albumin, cysteine or a water extract of beef did, however, affect the absorption of food iron. Beef increased the absorption of a solution of inorganic iron given without food only when the iron salt was trivalent or when sodium phytate was added to the solution. It was concluded that meat acts by counteracting luminal factors that inhibit iron absorption. The most probable mechanism for this action is formation of a luminal carrier which transports the iron to the mucosal cell membrane.
Effect of Raw Field Bean (Vicia faba) on Amino-Acid-Degrading Enzymes in Rats and Chicks
Authors: Cenarruzabeitia M.N. , Santidrian S. , Bello J. , Larralde J.
Published: November 2008

The effects of Vicia faba diet on urinary nitrogenous compounds and on enzyme activities of pathways directly associated with amino acid metabolism were studied in rats and chicks. The urea and creatinine excretion of rats fed on V. faba was approximately 90% more than that of control rats. The V.-faba-fed rats had increased activities of liver arginase (EC 3.5.3.1), argininosuccinate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.5) and alanine aminotrans-ferase (EC 2.6.1.2). The chicks fed on V. faba also showed increased activity of xanthine dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.3.2). The possible nature of these altered amino-acid-degrading enzyme activities is discussed.
Influence of Norepinephrine and Fasting on the Oxygen Consumption of Genetically-Obese Mice
Authors: Macdonald I.A. , Stock M.J.
Published: November 2008

Oxygen consumption was monitored in fed and fasted, lean and obese mice of the ob/ob strain before and after subcutaneous injections of norepinephrine (NE). The increase in oxygen consumption after NE was of a similar magnitude in both lean and obese fed mice, but of a longer duration in the obese. Prior fasting caused a diminution of the response in the lean but was associated with an enhanced response in the obese mice. Fasting also resulted in a significant depression of the resting oxygen consumption of the obese mice but not of the lean. The relevance of these findings to the inability of the obese mouse to withstand cold exposure and to the maintenance of the obese state is discussed.
Effect of Zinc on Some Biochemical Indices of Metabolism
Authors: Hartoma Riitta , Sotaniemi E.A. , Määttänen J.
Published: November 2008

The role of zinc in some metabolic functions in man was investigated in 14 healthy male volunteers with primarily high or low serum zinc. In all the subjects, results of laboratory tests reflecting blood picture, metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins and thyroid function as well as serum calcium and phosphate levels varied within the normal range. Significant differences between the subjects classified by serum zinc were found in α1-globulins. Serum thyroxine, effective thyroxine ratio and the immunoglobulins IgA showed a tendency to lower levels in subjects with low serum zinc. Substitution with zinc sulphate resulted in an increase of α1 -globulins, serum thyroxine and effective thyroxine ratio, and a decrease of albumin. Other tests remained unchanged by the therapy. The results suggest that there is a relationship between zinc and some metabolic functions in healthy subjects without symptoms of zinc deficiency.
24-Hour Patterns of Blood Sugar, Plasma Insulin and Free Fatty Acids in Patients with Primary Endogenous Hyperlipoproteinemia on Isocaloric Diets Containing 30, 43 and 79 cal% Carbohydrates
Authors: Schellenberg B. , Oster P. , Vogel G. , Heuck C.C. , Schlierf G.
Published: November 2008

10 patients with primary, endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (type IV hyperlipoproteinemia) underwent three different isocaloric dietary regimes of 10 days duration each. The diets contained either 30, 43 or 79% of calories as carbohydrate with 20% of calories from protein. Analyses of insulin, blood sugar and free fatty acids were conducted on the last day of each dietary period, at frequent intervals. There were no differences in either fasting or diurnal blood sugars with the different diets. Insulin levels were positively correlated with the amount of carbohydrate in the diet and there was an inverse correlation between the carbohydrate contents of the diets and circulating free fatty acid levels during waking hours. Since glucose tolerance is maintained, and diurnal plasma lipid levels are lowest with the low fat regime, such diets may be advantageously used for patients with endogenous hypertriglyceridemia.
Effect of Calcium and Copper on Zinc Absorption in the Rat
Authors: Adham N.F. , Song M.K.
Published: November 2008

The effect of cupric and calcium ions on zinc absorption was examined in Sprague-Dawley rats. In in vivo studies test solutions containing 7.5 mM 65ZnCl2 alone or in combination with 500 mM of either CuSO4 or CaCl2 were administered intraduodenally to three groups of rats. 2 h later the animals were sacrificed and their organ 65Zn content was determined. The results of these studies revealed that excess cupric ions had no effect on the 65 Zn content of rat internal organs, whereas excess calcium ions decreased organs 65Zn content to 40%. Similar results were obtained in in vitro studies using three sets of ratjeju-nal sacs each filled with one of the above test solutions and incubated in oxygenated Eagle’s medium. To investigate the reason(s) for the observed decreased rate of zinc absorption in the presence of excess luminal calcium, we examined zinc transport in 6 sets of jejunal sacs using six test solutions, each containing 7.5 mM 65ZnCl2 with 0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, 50, or 62.5 mM CaCl2. These experiments showed that 65Zn transport from mucosa to serosa was decreased by 40% in the presence of 25.0 mM CaCl2 but lower calcium concentrations had no effect on zinc transport. Increasing the luminal calcium concentration from 25 to 62.5 mM did not cause a further significant decrease in the rate of zinc transport. These results strongly suggest that zinc absorption in the rat is mediated by a transcellular transport process different from that which mediates copper and calcium absorption. The fact that calcium has been shown to reduce passive cation movements via shunt pathways in the gallbladder mucosa suggests the possibility that calcium in high luminal concentration may depress zinc absorption by reducing the passive component of jejunal zinc absorption.
Energy Balances in Obese Mice
Authors: Djazayery A. , Miller D.S. , Stock M.J.
Published: November 2008

According to most existing theories, the regulation of energy balance is achieved by control of energy intake. This study was undertaken to find out whether there was control of energy output as well. Food intake, energy balance and the feed efficiency of weanling female mice made obese with injections of gold-thioglucose and monosodium glutamate indicate that the obesity is primarily due to an increased energetic efficiency, and suggest that the hypothalamus plays a role in controlling energy output. In the case of treatment with MSG, a relative obesity was observed, i.e. an increase in body fat without any change in body weight. This indicates that the CNS centres for the regulation of body weight and body fat are probably not the same. It is suggested that MSG obesity will be a suitable model for comparative studies of body weight and the regulation of fat content. It is concluded that chemically induced obesity is due more to a lower metabolic rate than to an elevated food intake.
Adenine Nucleotide Translocation in Liver Mitochondria Isolated from Rats Deficient in Essential Fatty Acids
Authors: Böhles H. , Heird W.C. , Nicholson J.F.
Published: November 2008

Adenine nucleotide content and adenine nucleotide transport were evaluated in rats deficient in essential fatty acids (EFA) and in control rats. ADP uptake by EFA-deficient mitochondria was altered in a manner similar to the alteration produced by treatment of normal mitochondria with uncoupler. The uptake of ATP by EFA-deficient mitochondria was more rapid than that of normal mitochondria, but similar to that of normal mitochondria treated with uncoupler (DNP). Both uptake of ADP and uptake of ATP by EFA-deficient mitochondria were atractyloside sensitive. Total adenine nucleotide content of liver mitochondria from EFA-deficient rats was similar to that of liver mitochondria from control animals, but the content of ATP in EFA-deficient mitochondria was significantly higher than that of normal mitochondria. There was a negative correlation between the concentration of linoleic acid in total mitochondria lipids and ATP content of mitochondria.
Effect of Undernutrition on Lipid Metabolism of Brain. In vivo Incorporation of Labelled Acetate and Palmitate into Lipids
Authors: Chauhan † S. , Jailkhani R. , Subrahmanyam D.
Published: November 2008

Albino rats were malnourished from neonatal to weanling stage by increasing the litter size. The in vivo incorporation of (1-14C)-acetate, (1-14C)-palmitate into the lipid classes was examined in the animals. A stimulated incorporation of the label was observed in total lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, cerebrosides and sulfatides of the brain of malnourished animals compared to controls.
Effect of Dietary Sucrose in Humans on Blood Uric Acid, Phosphorus, Fructose, and Lactic Acid Responses to a Sucrose Load
Authors: Solyst Joy T. , Michaelis, IV Orho E. , Reiser Sheldon , Ellwood Kathleen C. , Prather Elizabeth S.
Published: November 2008

10 men and 9 women consumed diets that were identical, except for the 30% of the calories derived from either starch or sucrose, for 6 weeks in a crossover design. Of the total calories, 10% were given at breakfast and 90% at dinner. A sucrose load of 2 g/kg body weight was administered 1 week before and during the last week of both dietary periods. Blood was drawn before (fasting) and 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 h after the sucrose load. Serum uric acid was significantly higher (p < 0.01) and blood fructose significantly lower (p < 0.05) before and at all times after the sucrose load when subjects consumed the sucrose versus the starch diet. Levels of serum inorganic phosphorus and blood lactic acid were not affected by kind of carbohydrate in the diet.
Studies on Interrelationship between Vitamins E and B-Complex
Authors: Nadiger H.A.
Published: November 2008

16 normal male adult volunteers belonging to the low socioeconomic class were investigated to study the interrelationship between vitamins E and B-complex. Vitamin E in the form of dl-α-tocopherylacetate at a dose of 100 mg thrice daily was administered either singly or in combination with B-complex, pyridoxine or riboflavin. Results of the study have shown that the increase in plasma tocopherol level in the group receiving vitamin E alone was significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared to the groups receiving vitamin E along with B-complex or pyridoxine or riboflavin.
Urea Synthesis by Perfused Rat Liver in Experimental Uremia
Authors: Perez Guido , Rietberg Barbara , Owens Barbara , Parker Tally , Obaya Hilda , Schiff Eugene
Published: November 2008

Urea synthesis was examined in experimental uremia using the isolated perfused rat liver in order to assure strict control of substrate (NH4Cl) presented to the liver. Acute uremia was created in female Sprague-Dawley rats by bilateral nephrectomy (n = 7) 48 h prior to studies. Chronic uremia (8–14 weeks) was produced by right nephrectomy and segmental infarction of the left kidney in 7 rats. At infusion rates of NH4Cl (8.3 µmol/ min) which resulted in prehepatic perfusate ammonia levels approximately twice the previously described Km value, livers of chronically uremic rats had slightly higher rates of urea production than controls (controls: 0.41 ± 0.03; chronic uremia: 0.54 ± 0.04 µmol/ min/g of wet liver weight; p < 0.02). In acute uremia, urea production was higher (0.66 ± 0.05 µmol/min/g) than in sham-operated rats (0.59 ± 0.05 µmol/min/g) but the differences did not achieve statistical significance. Simultaneously performed taurocholate transport studies did not reveal significant functional differences between the livers of uremic and control animals. The data suggest that urea production by livers of uremic rats is increased when compared to that of control animals.