bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reinstating effortful encoding operations at test enhances episodic remembering
Authors: Dewhurst Stephen A. , Brandt Karen R.
Published: May 2007

Two experiments investigated the effects of reinstating encoding operations on remember and know responses in recognition memory. Experiment 1 showed that reinstating an effortful encoding task (generating words from fragments) increased remember responses at test but reinstating an automatic encoding task (reading intact words) did not. This pattern was confirmed in Experiment 2 in which words were either read intact or generated from anagrams. These findings show that repeating effortful (but not automatic) encoding operations at test cues not only the recognition of the information that was acquired via those operations but also the conscious recollection of the encoding episode.
Age-related increase in top-down activation of visual features
Authors: Madden David J. , Spaniol Julia , Bucur Barbara , Whiting Wythe L.
Published: May 2007

Previous research suggests that, during visual search and discrimination tasks, older adults place greater emphasis than younger adults on top-down attention. This experiment investigated the relative contribution of target activation and distractor inhibition to this age difference. Younger and older adults performed a singleton discrimination task in which either an E or an R target (colour singleton) was present among distractor letters. Relative to a baseline condition in which the colours of the targets and distractors remained constant, an age-related slowing of performance was evident when either the colour of the target or that of the distractors varied across trials. The age-related slowing was more pronounced in response to target colour variation, suggesting that older adults place relatively greater emphasis on the top-down activation of target features.
The Cat in the Courtyard: The Performance of Sanskrit and the Religious Experience of Women
Authors: Patton Laurie L.
Published: May 2007

This chapter demonstrates how contemporary female Sanskritists in Maharashtra reconfigure Sanskrit, the “father language” of Brahminical Hinduism, as a “grandmother language” and how women engage in new ways to imbue the practices and activities of everyday life with religious meaning. Female Sanskritists unite their stridharma, or ritual duties as women, with the use of Sanskrit in everyday life, importing Sanskrit into everyday events and practices like childbirth, food preparation, and the feeding of family. In so doing, these women reconstitute Sanskrit as a domestic language of interpersonal care and personal transformation; they also reconfigure the “profane” moments of everyday life, imbuing them with religious meaning by sacralizing them with powerful religious mantras.
Vascular Remodeling in Experimental Hypertension
Authors: Risler Norma R. , Cruzado Montserrat C. , Miatello Roberto M.
Published: May 2007

The basic hemodynamic abnormality in hypertension is an increased peripheral resistance that is due mainly to a decreased vascular lumen derived from structural changes in the small arteries wall, named (as a whole) vascular remodeling. The vascular wall is an active, flexible, and integrated organ made up of cellular (endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, adventitia cells, and fibroblasts) and noncellular (extracellular matrix) components, which in a dynamic way change shape or number, or reorganize in response to physiological and pathological stimuli, maintaining the integrity of the vessel wall in physiological conditions or participating in the vascular changes in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. Research focused on new signaling pathways and molecules that can participate in the mechanisms of vascular remodeling has provided evidence showing that vascular structure is not only affected by blood pressure, but also by mechanisms that are independent of the increased pressure. This review will provide an overview of the evidence, explaining some of the pathophysiologic mechanisms participating in the development of the vascular remodeling, in experimental models of hypertension, with special reference to the findings in spontaneously hypertensive rats as a model of essential hypertension, and in fructose-fed rats as a model of secondary hypertension, in the context of the metabolic syndrome. The understanding of the mechanisms producing the vascular alterations will allow the development of novel pharmacological tools for vascular protection in hypertensive disease.
Prevalence of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Comorbidity in the Canadian Community Health Survey 20022003
Authors: Mo Frank , Pogany Lisa M. , Li Felix C.K. , Morrison Howard
Published: May 2007

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for heart disease (heart attack, angina, and heart failure), stroke, and hypertension, which shorten the average life expectancy. The main objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of heart disease, hypertension, and stroke among Canadians with diabetes compared to those without diabetes in the Canadian general population aged 12 years and over. It also estimated the strength of association between diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and other factors such as age, gender, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, education status, body mass index (BMI), and other socioeconomic factors. Descriptive statistics were used initially to estimate the prevalence of related comorbidities by age and gender. Logistic regression was then employed to determine the potential strength of association between various effects. Data included 127,610 individuals who participated in the 2.1 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) in 2002—2003. The prevalence of self-reported hypertension, heart disease, and stroke among individuals with diabetes were 51.9, 21.7, and 4.8%, respectively. By comparison, prevalence among those without diabetes was 12.7, 4.2, and 0.9%. Adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) were 4.15, 5.04, and 6.75 for males, and 4.10, 5.29, and 4.56 for females hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, respectively. Lower income (OR from 1.27—1.94) and lower education (OR from 1.23—1.86) were independently associated with a high prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke among diabetics. Alcohol consumption (OR from 1.06—1.38), high BMI (OR from 1.17—1.40), physical inactivity (OR from 1.21—2.45), ethnicity, and immigration status were also strongly associated with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. The adjusted prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke in the CCHS-2003 health survey in Canada was significantly higher among those with diabetes compared to those without. Other factors such as age, gender, BMI, lifestyle, family incomes, physical activity levels, and socioeconomic status also affected the strength of association between diabetes and resulting comorbidities.
Platelets as Modifiers of Clinical Phenotype in Hemophilia
Authors: Yee Donald L.
Published: May 2007

Platelets occupy a central role in the maintenance of hemostasis by adhering to sites of vascular injury and facilitating thrombin generation, which leads to the formation of a fibrin clot. Patients with hemophilia exhibit defective thrombin generation secondary to reduced plasma factor concentrations, which can lead to excessive and sometimes life-threatening bleeding. Individuals differ greatly with respect to platelet function and platelets from different individuals differ inherently in their ability to enact thrombin generation, the key coagulative process that is deficient in hemophilia. Similarly, some patients with hemophilia seem to bleed less often than others despite exhibiting similar plasma factor levels. The biologic factors that underlie this phenotypic variability remain poorly understood, but evidence is reviewed supporting a role for platelets and platelet-related factors in modifying bleeding tendency in patients with hemophilia and potential directions for further clinical research in this area are discussed.
Factors for Satisfaction Among Providers of Ancillary Health Services in a Community-Based Cancer Prevention Program: A Pilot Study in Nevada
Authors: Gorospe Emmanuel C. , Cochran Christopher R. , Cabb Elena E.
Published: May 2007

Providers of ancillary health services are essential members of any health care delivery system. They supply laboratory, radiology, and other diagnostic modalities necessary for quality medical care. Assessment of the providers' factors for satisfaction in participating in cancer prevention programs can contribute to better services and can serve as a model for other community-based health programs.We conducted a pilot survey of providers of ancillary services in the Nevada Women's Health Connection, a community breast and cervical cancer prevention program. Of the 93 participating providers, a total of 44 providers completed the survey. We subjected the survey data to factor analysis using iterative principal axis factoring with Varimax rotation. Three components of satisfaction were identified, comprising satisfaction with the (1) reimbursement process, (2) positive perception of the program, and (3) familiarity with program's requirements. All three components accounted for 72.08% of the total variance before the rotation. Amount of financial gain was not a significant factor for satisfaction among participating providers. Providers of ancillary health services were satisfied in their participation in this community-based cancer prevention program. There were three components of satisfaction identified. Further attention should be given on these issues as they have implications for quality improvement in health services for community-based programs dealing with low income and uninsured patients.
Diabetes, Inflammation, Proinflammatory Cytokines, and Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Navarro Juan F. , Mora Carmen
Published: May 2007

Diabetes and its complications have become a public health problem. Diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of renal failure. In spite of our higher knowledge on this complication, the intimate mechanisms leading to the development and progression of renal injury are not yet fully known. Activated innate immunity and inflammation are relevant factors in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Moreover, inflammation, and more specifically proinflammatory cytokines and other molecules with a relevant role within the inflammatory process, may be critical factors in the development of microvascular diabetic complications, including nephropathy. This new pathogenic perspective may lead to important new therapeutic considerations and new therapeutic goals for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Signal Transduction of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate G Protein—Coupled Receptors
Authors: Young Nicholas , Van Brocklyn James R.
Published: May 2007

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid capable of eliciting dramatic effects in a variety of cell types. Signaling by this molecule is by a family of five G protein—coupled receptors named S1P1–5that signal through a variety of pathways to regulate cell proliferation, migration, cytoskeletal organization, and differentiation. These receptors are expressed in a wide variety of tissues and cell types, and their cellular effects contribute to important biological and pathological functions of S1P in many processes, including angiogenesis, vascular development, lymphocyte trafficking, and cancer. This review will focus on the current progress in the field of S1P receptor signaling and biology.
Annexin 1 and Melanocortin Peptide Therapy for Protection Against Ischaemic-Reperfusion Damage in the Heart
Authors: Gavins F.N.E. , Leoni G. , Getting S.J.
Published: May 2007

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality within the western world affecting 2.7 million British people. This review highlights the beneficial effects of naturally occurring hormones and their peptides, in myocardial ischaemic-injury (MI) models, a disease pathology in which cytokines and neutrophils play a causal role. Here we discuss two distinct classes of endogenous peptides: the steroid inducible annexin 1 and the melanocortin peptides. Annexin 1 and the melanocortins counteract the most important part of the host inflammatory response, namely, the process of leukocyte extravasation, as well as release of proinflammatory mediators. Their biological effects are mediated via the seven transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors, the fMLP receptor family (or FPR), and the melanocortin receptors, respectively. Pharmacological analysis has demonstrated that the first 24 amino acids of the N-terminus (termed Ac2-26) are the most active region. Both exogenous annexin 1 and its peptides demonstrate cardioprotectiveness and continuing work is required to understand this annexin 1/FPR relationship fully. The melanocortin peptides are derived from a precursor molecule called the POMC protein. These peptides display potent anti-inflammatory effects in human and animal models of disease. In MI, the MC3R has been demonstrated to play an important role in mediating the protective effects of these peptides. The potential anti-inflammatory role for endogenous peptides in cardiac disease is in its infancy. The inhibition of cell migration and release of cytokines and other soluble mediators appears to play an important role in affording protection in ischaemic injury and thus may lead to potential therapeutic targets.
The Israeli Rett Syndrome Center. Evaluation and Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment
Authors: Lotan Meir , Manor-Binyamini Iris , Elefant Cochavit , Wine Judy , Saraf Einat , Yoshei Yael
Published: May 2007

Rett syndrome (RS) is a neuro-developmental syndrome of genetic origin, which mainly affects women. Individuals diagnosed with RS exhibit a variety of functional difficulties, which impair their quality of life. The variety of impairments and the differences between each child makes it necessary to administer skilled treatment, individually tailored to each client. Since the foundation of proper treatment is based on a structured, well administered, insightful assessment, the individual with RS with her complex array of difficulties should benefit from such a procedure. This notion has led to the establishment of the Israel Rett Syndrome Center. The center includes a medical branch located at the Safra Shildren's Medical Center at Tel Hashomer and an education/rehabilitation team, who performs assessments in special education facilities and residential settings throughout Israel. The assessment team works by means of arena assessment according to the concept of play-based assessment. This article presents the working model used by the education/rehabilitation team at the Israeli Rett Syndrome Center. The principles and working characteristics of the Israel Rett Syndrome Center team are suggested here as a potential model for establishing additional teams, presenting similar evaluation services for other individuals with RS as well as for analogous populations.
Electrochemical Study of Biotin-Modified Self-Assembled Monolayers: Recommendations for Robust Preparation
Authors: Brown Richard J.C. , Brett Dan J.L.
Published: May 2007

The development of the underpinning methodology for the production of robust, well-formed, and densely packed biotin-HPDP functionalised gold surfaces, the crucial first step in immobilising bimolecules on surfaces, is described. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with biotin end-groups were prepared on polycrystalline gold surfaces according to a published method. The layers formed were studied using cyclic voltammetry to determine the composition of the layer and its quality. Crystal impedance spectroscopy was also applied as a complimentary indicator of the composition of the layer.For the first time, the effect of assembly time on the properties of the layer was studied along with the composition of the layer and the ability of the precursor molecule to self-assemble by oxidative addition.
Aspects of Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Related to Neuroprotection, Regeneration, and Functional Plasticity in the Adult Brain
Authors: Åberg N. David , Brywe Katarina Gustafson , Isgaard Jörgen
Published: May 2007

Apart from regulating somatic growth and metabolic processes, accumulating evidence suggests that the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis is involved in the regulation of brain growth, development, and myelination. In addition, both GH and IGF-I affect cognition and biochemistry in the adult brain. Some of the effects of GH are attributable to circulating IGF-I, while others may be due to IGF-I produced locally within the brain. Some of the shared effects in common to GH and IGF-I may also be explained by cross-talk between the GH and IGF-I transduction pathways, as indicated by recent data from other cell systems. Otherwise, it also seems that GH may act directly without involving IGF-I (either circulating or locally). Plasticity in the central nervous system (CNS) may be viewed as changes in the functional interplay between the major cell types, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. GH and IGF-I affect all three of these cell types in several ways. Apart from the neuroprotective effects of GH and IGF-I posited in different experimental models of CNS injury, IGF-I has been found to increase progenitor cell proliferation and new neurons, oligodendrocytes, and blood vessels in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. It appears that the MAPK signaling pathway is required for IGF-Istimulated proliferationin vitro, whereas the PI3K/Akt or MAPK/Erk signaling pathway appears to mediate antiapoptotic effects. The increase of IGF-I on endothelial cell phenotype may explain the increase in cerebral arteriole density observed after GH treatment. The functional role of GH and IGF-I in the adult brain will be reviewed with reference to neurotransmitters, glucose metabolism, cerebral blood flow, gap junctional communication, dendritic arborization, exercise, enriched environment, depression, learning, memory, and aging.Briefly, these findings suggest that IGF-I functions as a putative regenerative agent in the adult CNS. Hitherto less studied regarding in these aspects, GH may have similar effects, especially as it is the main regulator of IGF-Iin vivo. Some of the positive cognitive features of GH treatment are likely attributable to the mechanisms reviewed here.
Infusion of Autologous Retrodifferentiated Stem Cells into Patients with Beta-Thalassemia
Authors: Abuljadayel Ilham Saleh , Ahsan Tasnim , Quereshi Huma , Rizvi Shakil , Ahmed Tamseela , Khan Sabiha Mirza , Akhtar Jawaid , Dhoot Ghazi
Published: May 2007

Beta-thalassemia is a genetic, red blood cell disorder affecting the beta-globin chain of the adult hemoglobin gene. This results in excess accumulation of unpaired alpha-chain gene products leading to reduced red blood cell life span and the development of severe anemia. Current treatment of this disease involves regular blood transfusion and adjunct chelation therapy to lower blood transfusion–induced iron overload. Fetal hemoglobin switching agents have been proposed to treat genetic blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia, in an effort to compensate for the dysfunctional form of the beta-globin chain in adult hemoglobin. The rationale behind this approach is to pair the excess normal alpha-globin chain with the alternative fetal gamma-chain to promote red blood cell survival and ameliorate the anemia. Reprogramming of differentiation in intact, mature, adult white blood cells in response to inclusion of monoclonal antibody CR3/43 has been described. This form of retrograde development has been termed “retrodifferentiation”, with the ability to re-express a variety of stem cell markers in a heterogeneous population of white blood cells. This form of reprogramming, or reontogeny, to a more pluripotent stem cell state ought to recapitulate early hematopoiesis and facilitate expression of a fetal and/or adult program of hemoglobin synthesis or regeneration on infusion and subsequent redifferentiation. Herein, the outcome of infusion of autologous retrodifferentiated stem cells (RSC) into 21 patients with beta-thalassemia is described. Over 6 months, Infusion of 3-h autologous RSC subjected to hematopoietic-conducive conditions into patients with beta-thalassemia reduced mean blood transfusion requirement, increased mean fetal hemoglobin synthesis, and significantly lowered mean serum ferritin. This was always accompanied by an increase in mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in such patients. No adverse side effects in response to the infusion of autologous RSC were noted.This novel clinical procedure may profoundly modify the devastating course of many genetic disorders in an autologous setting, thus paving the way to harnessing pluripotency from differentiated cells to regenerate transiently an otherwise genetically degenerate tissue such as thalassemic blood.
New Frontiers in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Hwang Janice Jin , Ghobrial Irene M. , Anderson Kenneth C.
Published: May 2007

Recent leaps in elucidating the biology of myeloma, particularly the intracellular pathways and the complex interaction with the bone marrow microenvironment, have resulted in an unprecedented surge of novel, targeted therapies and therapeutic regimens. There are currently over 30 new agents being tested in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Many of these are novel, targeted agents that have demonstrated significant efficacy and prolonged survival. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms of action of novel therapies being tested in the preclinical and clinical settings in MM. These include agents that act directly on the intracellular signaling pathways, cell maintenance processes, and cell surface receptors. Finally, we present the clinical responses to some of these agents when used alone or in combination in clinical trials of patients with MM. Indeed, MM has become a model disease for the development of novel, therapeutic agents.
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Infantile Nystagmus Syndrome (INS)
Authors: Khanna Sangeeta , Dell'Osso Louis F.
Published: May 2007

The successful treatment of infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) depends primarily on accurate and repeatable diagnosis of the type(s) of nystagmus present as well as their variation with gaze and convergence angles or fixating eye. Research over the past 40 years has demonstrated that the only way to achieve both is by making and analyzing ocular motility recordings. Determination of the direct effects of peripheral and central INS therapies can only be made by pre- and post-therapy comparisons of the nystagmus characteristics, specifically of the quality of the foveation periods within each cycle. If one is only interested in cosmetic improvements, diminution of the nystagmus amplitude is all that need be measured. However, if improvement of visual function is the primary goal of therapy, then measurement of the pre- and post-therapy foveation quality must be made, both in primary position and over a broad range of gaze angles. The use of the eXpanded Nystagmus Acuity Function (NAFX) on nystagmus data yields both an accurate measure of foveation quality and a prediction of maximum potential acuity for the patient's waveform. When used with the patient's measured, pre-therapy visual acuity, the NAFX demonstrates the amount of visual acuity loss that is due to sensory abnormalities, demonstrates the amount due to the nystagmus waveform, and estimates the measured post-therapy acuity for all values of improved NAFX and gaze angles measured. The ability to predict visual acuity improvement was not possible before the use of the NAFX. The failure to incorporate accurate measures of nystagmus waveform and foveation quality into their diagnostic evaluation continues to deprive patients of the best possible standard of care and results in mistaken diagnoses as well as inappropriate and, in some cases, unneeded multiple surgeries.
The Good Life: A Holistic Approach to the Health of the Population
Authors: Shahtahmasebi Said
Published: May 2007

The idea of a holistic approach towards public health planning presented itself through a food-related and trivial curiosity. It is, however, emphasized that food and nutrition are only one aspect of public health. The aim is to reintroduce a holistic approach to achieve sustainable public health with emphasis on the interpretation of the term “holistic”. Holistic decision making is not a new phenomenon and has historical basis. In line with shifts in social norms, decision making has evolved. In particular, various complex models for public health have been proposed to respond to ever-increasing health issues. The advancement in mathematical sciences and technology has led to the quantification of health models. However, mathematical representations pose a major limitation on the holistic approach. Due to its evolutionary nature, human health is dynamically related to social, environmental, and other processes. With the current knowledge, it is difficult to quantify the evolution and feedback effects in holistic models. In this paper, the individual's and public's health is viewed as a dynamic process, but not independent of other dynamic processes (e.g., agriculture, economy, politics) that are all part of a much bigger process. Furthermore, it is argued that it is not merely sufficient to account for all known factors to be holistic. In this paper, the holistic conceptual model is illustrated, using public health as the central issue. The application of the conceptual model is also discussed using two practical examples.
Ciliated Median Raphe Cyst of Perineum Presenting as Perianal Polyp: A Case Report with Immunohistochemical Study, Review of Literature, and Pathogenesis
Authors: Sagar Jayesh , Sagar Bethani , Patel Adam F. , Shak D.K.
Published: May 2007

Median raphe cyst is a very rare, benign congenital lesion occurring mainly on the ventral aspect of the penis, but can develop anywhere in the midline between the external urethral meatus and anus. We report a case of median raphe cyst in the perineum presenting as a perianal polyp in a 65-year-old, English white male with exceptionally rare ciliated epithelium. According to our knowledge, this is the third such case of ciliated median raphe cyst in the English literature. This case, also the first case of ciliated median raphe cyst in the perineum location, focuses on pathogenesis of median raphe cyst.
Right-Sided Intrarenal Splenosis Mimicking a Renal Carcinoma
Authors: Page Jay B. , Lenz Dean L. , Wong Carson
Published: May 2007

We describe a patient who underwent nephrectomy for an enhancing right renal mass that was subsequently pathologically confirmed as right renal splenosis. Since renal splenosis is quite rare and has previously been reported only in the left kidney, we did not consider splenosis in our differential diagnosis during the evaluation of the renal mass. Magnetic resonance imaging, as well as radionucleotide scan using 99mTc-labelled red blood cells, has been utilized for identifying ectopic splenic tissue. An elevated index of suspicion must be present in patients with a history of splenectomy or traumatic splenic rupture to avoid undue nephrectomy.
Amikacin Dosing and Monitoring in Spinal Cord Injury Patients: Variation in Clinical Practice Between Spinal Injury Units and Differences in Experts' Recommendations
Authors: Vaidyanathan Subramanian , Peloquin Charles , Wyndaele Jean-Jacques , Buczynski Andrew Z. , Almog Yaniv , Markantonis Sophia L. , Jayawardena Vidya , Soni Bakul M. , Cannon Joan , Vidal Joan
Published: May 2007

The objective of this article was to determine the current practice on amikacin dosing and monitoring in spinal cord injury patients from spinal cord physicians and experts. Physicians from spinal units and clinical pharmacologists were asked to provide protocol for dosing and monitoring of amikacin therapy in spinal cord injury patients. In a spinal unit in Poland, amikacin is administered usually 0.5 g twice daily. A once-daily regimen of amikacin is never used and amikacin concentrations are not determined. In Belgium, Southport (U.K.), Spain, and the VA McGuire Medical Center (Richmond, Virginia), amikacin is given once daily. Whereas peak and trough concentrations are determined in Belgium, only trough concentration is measured in Southport. In both these spinal units, modification of the dose is not routinely done with a nomogram. In Spain and the VA McGuire Medical Center, monitoring of serum amikacin concentration is not done unless a patient has renal impairment. In contrast, the dose/interval of amikacin is adjusted according to pharmacokinetic parameters at the Edward Hines VA Hospital (Hines, Illinois), where amikacin is administered q24h or q48h, depending on creatinine clearance. Spinal cord physicians from Denmark, Germany, and the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (West Orange, New Jersey) state that they do not use amikacin in spinal injury patients. An expert from Canada does not recommend determining serum concentrations of amikacin, but emphasizes the value of monitoring ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Experts from New Zealand recommend amikacin in conventionaltwice- orthrice-dailydosing because of the theoretical increased risk of neuromuscular blockade and apnea with larger daily doses in spinal cord injury patients. On the contrary, experts from Greece, Israel, and the U.S. recommend once-daily dosing and determining amikacin pharmacokinetic parameters for each patient. As there is considerable variation in clinical practice across spinal units and experts differ on ideal dosing and monitoring of amikacin therapy in spinal cord injury patients, there is an urgent need to develop best-practice guidelines.
Secondary Air Pollutants and Forests — New Perspectives
Authors: Cape J. Neil
Published: May 2007

Air pollution has been known to affect forests for over a century, and many of the mechanisms of pollutant deposition and effects have been established, at least for forest trees. Changes in air quality as a result of emission controls in Europe and North America, or as a result of rapid industrialisation in southern and eastern Asia, have highlighted new pollution problems. This paper, by reference to recent publications, highlights two areas where more research is required: the interactions of photochemical oxidants with biogenic emissions of volatile organic compounds, and their impact on ecological signalling; and the role of atmospheric particles in changing the leaf surface environments in forests.
Chronicvs.Short-Term Acute O3Exposure Effects on Nocturnal Transpiration in Two Californian Oaks
Authors: Grulke N. E. , Paoletti E. , Heath R. L.
Published: May 2007

We tested the effect of daytime chronic moderate ozone (O3) exposure, short-term acute exposure, and both chronic and acute O3exposure combined on nocturnal transpiration in California black oak and blue oak seedlings. Chronic O3exposure (70 ppb for 8 h/day) was implemented in open-top chambers for either 1 month (California black oak) or 2 months (blue oak). Acute O3exposure (~1 h in duration during the day, 120–220 ppb) was implemented in a novel gas exchange system that supplied and maintained known O3concentrations to a leaf cuvette. When exposed to chronic daytime O3exposure, both oaks exhibited increased nocturnal transpiration (without concurrent O3exposure) relative to unexposed control leaves (1.8× and 1.6×, black and blue oak, respectively). Short-term acute and chronic O3exposure did not further increase nocturnal transpiration in either species. In blue oak previously unexposed to O3, short-term acute O3exposure significantly enhanced nocturnal transpiration (2.0×) relative to leaves unexposed to O3. California black oak was unresponsive to (only) short-term acute O3exposure. Daytime chronic and/or acute O3exposures can increase foliar water loss at night in deciduous oak seedlings.
The Role of 5-Lipoxygenase and Leukotrienes in Shock and Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Rossi Antonietta , Pergola Carlo , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Sautebin Lidia
Published: May 2007

The leukotrienes (LTs) are metabolic products of arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway. The biological activities of LTs suggest that they are mediators of acute inflammatory and immediate hypersensitivity responses. In particular, the 5-LO activation has been proposed to be an important regulator for pathogenesis in multicellular organisms. The role of LTs in tissue damage, associated with septic and nonseptic shock and ischemia-reperfusion, has been extensively studied by the use of 5-LO inhibitors, receptor antagonists, and mice with a targeted disruption of the 5-LO gene (5-LOKO). In particular, several data indicate that LTs regulate neutrophil trafficking in damaged tissue in shock and ischemia-reperfusion, mainly through the modulation of adhesion molecule expression. This concept may provide new insights into the interpretation of the protective effect of 5-LO inhibition, which may be useful in the therapy of pathological conditions associated with septic and nonseptic shock and ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Atmospheric Heavy Metal Input to Forest Soils in Rural Areas of Denmark
Authors: Hovmand M. F. , Kemp Kaare
Published: May 2007

Atmospheric bulk deposition of heavy metals (HM) was measured from 1972/73 to the present time at five to ten forest sites in rural areas of Denmark. From 1979, HM in aerosols were measured at one to four forest sites. On the basis of these long-term continuous measurements, the atmospheric inputs to the forest floor have been calculated. Yearly HM emission estimates to the European atmosphere seems to correlate well with yearly average values of HM deposition, as well as with HM concentrations in the ambient atmosphere. HM emissions have been estimated since the 1950s. Using the correlation between emission and deposition, HM deposition values maybe extrapolated in reverse chronological order. The accumulated atmospheric HM deposition has been estimated in this way over a period of 50 years.
Air Pollution Distribution Patterns in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California: a 40-Year Perspective
Authors: Bytnerowicz Andrzej , Arbaugh Michael , Schilling Susan , Fraczek Witold , Alexander Diane , Dawson Philip
Published: May 2007

Since the mid-1950s, native pines in the San Bernardino Mountains (SBM) in southern California have shown symptoms of decline. Initial studies in 1963 showed that ozone (O3) generated in the upwind Los Angeles Basin was responsible for the injury and decline of sensitive trees. Ambient O3decreased significantly by the mid-1990s, resulting in decreased O3injury and improved tree growth. Increased growth of trees may also be attributed to elevated atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. Since most of the N deposition to mixed conifer forest stands in the SBM results from dry deposition of nitric acid vapor (HNO3) and ammonia (NH3), characterization of spatial and temporal distribution of these two pollutants has become essential. Although maximum daytime O3concentrations over last 40 years have significantly decreased (~3-fold), seasonal means have been reduced much less (~1.5-fold), with 2-week long means occasionally exceeding 100 ppb in the western part of the range. In the same area, significantly elevated concentrations of HNO3and NH3, up to 17.5 and 18.5 μg/m3as 2-week averages, respectively, have been determined. Elevated levels of O3and increased N deposition together with long-term drought predispose the SBM forests to massive bark beetle attacks making them susceptible to catastrophic fires.
Clinical Holistic Medicine (Mindful, Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Complemented with Bodywork) Improves Quality of Life, Health, and Ability by Induction of Antonovsky-Salutogenesis
Authors: Ventegodt Søren , Thegler Suzette , Andreasen Tove , Struve Flemming , Enevoldsen Lars , Bassaine Laila , Torp Margrethe , Merrick Joav
Published: May 2007

We had a success rate of treating low, self-assessed, global quality of life (measured by QOL1: How would you assess the quality of your life now?) with clinical holistic medicine of 56.4% (95% CI: 42.3–69.7%) and calculated from this the Number Needed to Treat (NNT) as 1.43–2.36. We found that during treatment, (in average 20 sessions of psychodynamic psychotherapy complemented with bodywork at a cost of 1600 EURO), the patients entered a state of Antonovsky-salutogenesis (holistic, existential healing), which also improved their self-assessed health and general ability one whole step up a 5-point Likert Scale. The treatment responders radically improved their self-assessed physical health (0.6 step), self-assessed mental health (1.6 step), their relation to self (1.2 step), friends (0.3 step), and partner (2.1 step on a 6-step scale), and their ability to love (1.2 step) and work (0.8 step), and to function socially (1.0 step) and sexually (0.8 step). It seems that treatment with clinical holistic medicine is the cure of choice when the patients (1) present the triad of low quality of life, poor self-assessed physical and/or mental health, and poor ability to function; and (2) are willing to suffer during the therapy by confronting and integrating old emotional problems and trauma(s) from the past. For these patients, the treatment provided lasting benefits, without the negative side effects of drugs. A lasting, positive effect might also prevent many different types of problems in the future. The therapy was “mindful” in its focus on existential and spiritual issues.
Environmental Behavior, Sources, and Effects of Chlorinated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Ohura Takeshi
Published: May 2007

The environmental sources and behaviors of chlorinated 2- to 5-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ClPAHs). ClPAHs are ubiquitous contaminants found in urban air, vehicle exhaust gas, snow, tap water, and sediments. The concentrations of ClPAHs in each of these environments are generally higher than those of dioxins but markedly lower than the concentrations of the parent compounds, PAHs. Environmental data and emission sources analysis for ClPAHs reveal that the dominant process of generation is by reaction of PAHs with chlorine in pyrosynthesis. This secondary reaction process also occurs in aquatic environments. Certain ClPAHs show greater toxicity, such as mutagenicity and aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity, than their corresponding parent PAHs. Investigation of the sources and environmental behavior of ClPAHs is of great importance in the assessment of human health risks.
Collagen Structure of Tendon Relates to Function
Authors: Franchi Marco , Trirè Alessandra , Quaranta Marilisa , Orsini Ester , Ottani Victoria
Published: May 2007

A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone, designed to transmit forces and withstand tension during muscle contraction. Tendon may be surrounded by different structures: 1) fibrous sheaths or retinaculae; 2) reflection pulleys; 3) synovial sheaths; 4) peritendon sheaths; 5) tendon bursae. Tendons contain a) few cells, mostly represented by tenoblasts along with endothelial cells and some chondrocytes; b) proteoglycans (PGs), mainly decorin and hyaluronan, and c) collagen, mostly type I. Tendon is a good example of a high ordered extracellular matrix in which collagen molecules assemble into filamentous collagen fibrils (formed by microfibrils) which aggregate to form collagen fibers, the main structural components. It represents a multihierarchical structure as it contains collagen molecules arranged in fibrils then grouped in fibril bundles, fascicles and fiber bundles that are almost parallel to the long axis of the tendon, named as primary, secondary and tertiary bundles. Collagen fibrils in tendons show prevalently large diameter, a D-period of about 67 nm and appear built of collagen molecules lying at a slight angle (< 5°). Under polarized light microscopy the collagen fiber bundles appear crimped with alternative dark and light transverse bands. In recent studies tendon crimps observed via SEM and TEM show that the single collagen fibrils suddenly changing their direction contain knots. These knots of collagen fibrils inside each tendon crimp have been termed “fibrillar crimps”, and even if they show different aspects they all may fulfil the same functional role. As integral component of musculoskeletal system, the tendon acts to transmit muscle forces to the skeletal system. There is no complete understanding of the mechanisms in transmitting/absorbing tensional forces within the tendon; however it seems likely that a flattening of tendon crimps may occur at a first stage of tendon stretching. Increasing stretching, other transmission mechanisms such as an interfibrillar coupling via PGs linkages and a molecular gliding within the fibrils structure may be involved.
Effects of fish farm effluents on egg‐to‐fry development and survival of brown trout in artificial redds
Authors: Dumas J. , Bassenave J. G. , Jarry M. , Barrière L. , Glise S.
Published: May 2007

Egg‐to‐fry development and survival of brown trout Salmo trutta were compared in two rivers of the Pyrenean piedmont, the Nive d’Arnéguy, with few human activities, and the Nive des Aldudes, with many anthropogenic activities including 11 fish farms and two sewage treatment plants (STPs). Survival was estimated between spawning (early December) and emergence time (early March) by means of capsules, 7 cm3 in volume, filled with green eggs then inserted into the gravel of artificial redds at spawning sites. In the Nive des Aldudes, three sets of conditions were studied: a fish farm near the springs, a fish farm and an STP in a village, and a series of fish farms and an STP in a village. In each situation, two artificial redds were created upstream and two others downstream from the fish farms. In the Nive d’Arnéguy, four sites were equipped: each of the two downstream sites with two artificial redds, and the two upstream sites with one redd. Substratum characteristics (proportion of fine particles) and the quality of surface and interstitial water (oxygen content, ammonia and nitrite nitrogen) were periodically measured. There was no redd substratum difference between sites upstream and downstream of fish farms. Survival to fry emergence was higher in the Nive d’Arnéguy (63·5%) than in the Nive des Aldudes (47·7%). In this latter river, the nitrogen released from the STPs was 0·5% that from fish farms. Fish farming impaired survival close to fish farm effluents (31·6%), as compared to survival upstream (63·6%), and induced a development delay during the yolk‐sac fry stage. These differences were mainly linked to a drop in the dissolved oxygen content in interstitial water induced by the nitrogen flow in surface and interstitial waters.
Sex change of primary males in a diandric labrid Halichoeres trimaculatus: coexistence of protandry and protogyny within a species
Authors: Kuwamura T. , Suzuki S. , Tanaka N. , Ouchi E. , Karino K. , Nakashima Y.
Published: May 2007

In the threespot wrasse Halichoeres trimaculatus, sex change of primary males was observed in the field and confirmed by aquarium experiments. In other words, protandry and protogyny coexisted within this species. Moreover, male‐to‐female‐to‐male sex change and female‐to‐male‐to‐female sex change were observed in aquarium experiments; i.e. reversed sex change occurred in both protandrous and protogynous hermaphrodites. These results suggest that only the direction of sex differentiation before maturation may differ between the two sexual types that have been regarded as a primary male and a protogynous hermaphrodite.
Effects of frusemide on the urinary excretion of dopamine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine in normal man
Authors: LI KAM WA T. C. , FREESTONE S. , McCRINDLE J. L. , SAMSON R. R. , JOHNSTON N. R. , LEE M. R.
Published: May 2007

The effects of frusemide on the urinary excretion of dopamine and 5hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) were investigated in eight healthy male subjects in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over study. Frusemide produced the expected rise in urinary dopamine excretion but it did not affect 5‐HT excretion when compared with placebo. The lack of an effect on 5‐HT excretion in man contrasts with studies in the rat which have reported a marked increase in 5‐HT excretion after administration of this loop diuretic.
The effect of single‐dose orlistat on postprandial serum glucose, insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels in nondiabetic obese patients
Authors: Sahin Mustafa , Tanaci Nedret , Yucel Muammer , Tutuncu Neslihan Bascil , Guvener Nilgun
Published: May 2007

Objective  Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 is an insulin secretion‐stimulating gut hormone that is produced in response to food intake. Orlistat (Xenical, F. Hoffman‐La Roche, Basel, Switzerland), which decreases fat absorption and increases intestinal fat content, may therefore affect the secretion of glucagon‐like peptide‐1. In this study we examined the immediate effects of orlistat on postprandial serum glucose, insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels prior to a change in body weight.

Design  Randomized, clinical study.

Patients  Sixteen nondiabetic obese patients (body mass index 35·7 ± 3·8 kg/m2, range 32·5–43·1) were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to either the group treated with orlistat (120 mg, single dose) or the control group. There were eight patients in each of the two groups. Orlistat was given before a standard 600‐kcal mixed meal containing 60% carbohydrates, 25% lipids and 15% protein. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 30‐min intervals for 180 min after the test meal. Graphical tendencies, peak value, time to reach the peak value, and area under the curve in the two groups were compared.

Measurements  Blood samples were obtained for the measurement of GLP‐1, glucose, insulin, high density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and triglycerides.

Results  We found no difference in sex distribution, mean age, anthropometric measurements, or baseline glucose, insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels between the orlistat and placebo groups. The peak insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels were determined at 60 min in the control group. Hourly changes in serum glucose and insulin levels were similar between the groups, although the peak insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels were reached at 120 min in the orlistat group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups.

Conclusions  A single dose of 120‐mg orlistat caused no change in postprandial serum glucose, insulin or glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels in nondiabetic obese patients. Although glucagon‐like peptide‐1 increases were delayed in the orlistat group, these changes were nonsignificant.