bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlates of the Intention to Remain Sexually Inactive Among Male Adolescents in an Islamic Country: Case of the Republic of Iran
Authors: Mohtasham Ghaffari , Shamsaddin Niknami , Bazargan Mohsen , Anosheravan Kazemnejad , Elaheh Mirzaee , Fazlolah Ghofranipour
Published: February 2009

BACKGROUND:  There are very few studies that have examined sexual intentions and behaviors of adolescents in Islamic countries. This study employs the Health Belief Model to assess the correlates of the intention to remain sexually inactive among male adolescents in the Republic of Iran.

METHODS:  This cross‐sectional study was performed with a sample of 314 adolescents recruited from 3 high schools from Tehran, Iran.

RESULTS:  Fifty‐seven percent of this sample planned to remain abstinent until marriage. Another 23% rejected the notion of remaining abstinent and 20% were uncertain. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that students whose mothers were employed and who received a higher daily allowance were more likely to report that they would not remain abstinent. No significant independent relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome‐related knowledge and an intention to remain abstinent was detected. However, consistent with previous studies conducted in Asia, Africa, and in Western countries, we documented that (1) perceived subjective norms, (2) self‐efficacy, (3) and perceived susceptibility to contracting the HIV virus all are associated with the intention to remain sexually inactive among adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS:  It seems abstinence until marriage is more likely to be practiced in traditional families. However, Iranian society is changing rapidly and traditional family structures, values, and norms may not sufficiently protect adolescents from HIV infection. The data from this study support previous studies conducted in Western countries, which found that intervention programs that focus on knowledge alone are ineffective in their ability to alter adolescents’ intentions to postpone sexual activity.
Bullying and Symptoms of Depression in Chilean Middle School Students
Authors: Fleming Lila C. , Jacobsen Kathryn H.
Published: February 2009

BACKGROUND:  The goal of this study was to assess the association between bullying and symptoms of depression among middle school students in Chile.

METHODS:  Secondary data analysis of Chile’s 2004 Global School‐Based Health Survey.

RESULTS:  A total of 8131 middle school students participated in the study. Forty‐seven percent of students reported having been bullied in the past month and 30% reported having been sad and hopeless for 2 or more weeks in the past year. Students in the seventh and eighth grades were more likely to report having been bullied in the past month than students in ninth grade. Ninth grade students reported higher levels of loneliness, difficulty sleeping, and suicidal thoughts than students in the seventh and eighth grades. Boys were more likely than girls to report being bullied in the past month, but girls were more likely than boys to report symptoms of depression, such as prolonged feelings of sadness and hopelessness, loneliness, difficulty sleeping, and suicidal thoughts. Students who reported being bullied in the past month were more likely than nonbullied students to report symptoms of depression. A higher number of days of being bullied in the past month was associated with a statistically significant increase in reported rates of sadness and hopelessness (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:  Bullying is common among middle school children in Chile, and bullying and symptoms of depression are strongly linked. This finding is consistent with studies of bullying and depression in adolescents from other parts of the world.
Cost–benefit analysis of constructing a filtration plant for the National Water Carrier in Israel
Authors: Lavee Doron
Published: February 2009

The paper presents an economic cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of the construction of a filtration plant for the Israeli National Water Carrier (NWC). Its main contribution lies in the comparison between the costs and the benefits of filtration in the context of a concrete policy choice. The first part of the paper presents a cost analysis of two alternative engineering systems: central filtration and localized filtration. The analysis shows that the costs of constructing and operating a central filtration plant are significantly lower than those of a system of local plants. The second part of the paper presents a two‐stage method for assessing the benefits of filtration. First, we valuate the damages caused by consumption of unfiltered water; then we estimate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for improved water quality, taking into account households' potential risk aversion. The main result is that total WTP significantly outweighs the costs of constructing and operating the plant.
Intracellular Molecular Signaling
Authors: Liberman Ana C. , Druker Jimena , Garcia Fernando Aprile , Holsboer Florian , Arzt Eduardo
Published: February 2009

The molecular interaction between hormonal and cytokine signals is crucial for providing specificity to their actions and represents a key step for understanding, at the molecular level, the ultimate response of physiological neuroendocrine‐immune interactions. In this article we will describe new insights into the mechanisms underlying glucocorticoid‐mediated anti‐inflammatory action, focused on the regulation of immune–cytokine pathways. There are different levels of interaction between intracellular signals elicited by glucocorticoids and cytokines, with the final outcome being regulation of gene expression. One such interaction involves the molecular cross‐talk between the activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and transcription factors implicated in the regulation of cytokine synthesis and function. This interaction results in the regulation of gene transcription, as we will illustrate with the helper T (Th)1 and Th2 transcription factors T‐bet and GATA‐3, respectively, implicated in the outcome of specific adaptive immune responses. A further level of mutual regulation is the posttranslational modification of GR by the ubiquitin–proteasome and sumoylation systems. These posttranslational modifications regulate GR activity and will be discussed for the small ubiquitin‐related modifier (SUMO) pathway and its enhancer RWD RING finger‐containing proteins, WD‐repeat‐containing proteins, and yeast DEAD (DEXD)‐like helicases‐containing sumoylation enhancer (RSUME). The impact of posttranslational modifications on inflammatory pathways, such as nuclear factor‐κβ and regulated cytokines, will also be discussed.
Behavior and Stress Reactivity in Mouse Strains with Mitochondrial DNA Variations
Authors: Gimsa Ulrike , Kanitz Ellen , Otten Winfried , Ibrahim Saleh M.
Published: February 2009

We studied the behavior and neuroendocrine regulation under social disruption stress of C57BL/6J mice in which mitochondria were substituted by mitochondria from AKR/J or FVB/N strains. C57BL/6J‐mtFVB/N mice were significantly more anxious in the elevated plus‐maze test than C57BL/6J‐mtAKR/J and C57BL/6J mice at base line. In addition, they showed a reduced corticosterone response and an activation of serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems after repeated challenge, i.e., social defeat and elevated plus‐maze test. Our findings suggest that mitochondrial variations could affect anxiety‐like behavior as well as corticosterone and neurotransmitter response to psychological stress.
Behavior: A Relevant Tool for Brain‐immune System Interaction Studies
Authors: Costa‐Pinto Frederico Azevedo , Cohn Daniel Wagner Hamada , Sa‐Rocha Vanessa Moura , Sa‐Rocha Luiz Carlos , Palermo‐Neto Joao
Published: February 2009

Neuroimmunomodulation describes the field focused on understanding the mechanisms by which the central nervous system interacts with the immune system, potentially leading to changes in animal behavior. Nonetheless, not many articles dealing with neuroimmunomodulation employ behavior as an analytical endpoint. Even fewer papers deal with social status as a possible modifier of neuroimmune phenomena. In the described sets of experiments, we tackle both, using a paradigm of social dominance and subordination. We first review data on the effects of different ranks within a stable hierarchical relationship. Submissive mice in this condition display more anxiety‐like behaviors, have decreased innate immunity, and show a decreased resistance to implantation and development of melanoma metastases in their lungs. This suggests that even in a stable, social, hierarchical rank, submissive animals may be subjected to higher levels of stress, with putative biological relevance to host susceptibility to disease. Second, we review data on how dominant and submissive mice respond differentially to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), employing a motivational perspective to sickness behavior. Dominant animals display decreased number and frequency in several aspects of behavior, particularly agonistic social interaction, that is, directed toward the submissive cage mate. This was not observed in submissive mice that maintained the required behavior expected by its dominant mate. Expression of sickness behavior relies on motivational reorganization of priorities, which are different along different social ranks, leading to diverse outcomes. We suggest thatin vitroassessment of neuroimmune phenomena can only be understood based on the behavioral context in which they occur.
Cytokine‐induced Suppression of Medial Preoptic Neurons
Authors: Katafuchi Toshihiko , Duan Shumin , Take Sachiko , Yoshimura Megumu
Published: February 2009

We have shown that the medial preoptic area (MPO) in the hypothalamus is a major site where interferon (IFN)‐α acts to induce suppression of splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity through an activation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in rats. Here, we discuss the hypothalamic mechanisms of the cytokine action using in vivo and in vitro preparations in rats. Lesion of the MPO activated the SNS and suppressed splenic NK cell activity in anesthetized rats, suggesting that the MPO had an inhibitory influence on nerve activity. Since both IFN‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β are known to suppress MPO neuron activity, it is suggested that the suppression/loss of the MPO caused by cytokine actions/lesions disinhibits the hypothalamic–sympathetic pathway, thereby resulting in an increase in the splenic SNS and reduction of NK activity. To explore the cellular mechanisms of the suppression of MPO neurons, the effects of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), one of the major mediators of cytokine action in the brain, on the glutamate‐induced membrane currents were examined using the perforated patch‐clamp method in mechanically dissociated MPO neurons. Patch‐clamp analysis revealed that PGE2 potentiated the Ca2+‐dependent K+ current (KCa) stimulated by Ca2+ entry through N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate channels. We suggest that the cytokine‐induced decrease in the firing rates of MPO neurons may be a result of an increase in interspike intervals caused by PGE2‐induced enhancement of KCa in the presence of glutamatergic inputs.
The Thymus–Neuroendocrine Axis
Authors: Reggiani Paula C. , Morel Gustavo R. , Cónsole Gloria M. , Barbeito Claudio G. , Rodriguez Silvia S. , Brown Oscar A. , Bellini Maria Jose , Pléau Jean‐Marie , Dardenne Mireille , Goya Rodolfo G.
Published: February 2009

Thymulin is a thymic hormone exclusively produced by the thymic epithelial cells. It consists of a nonapeptide component coupled to the ion zinc, which confers biological activity to the molecule. After its discovery in the early 1970s, thymulin was characterized as a thymic hormone involved in several aspects of intrathymic and extrathymic T cell differentiation. Subsequently, it was demonstrated that thymulin production and secretion is strongly influenced by the neuroendocrine system. Conversely, a growing core of information, to be reviewed here, points to thymulin as a hypophysotropic peptide. In recent years, interest has arisen in the potential use of thymulin as a therapeutic agent. Thymulin was shown to possess anti‐inflammatory and analgesic properties in the brain. Furthermore, an adenoviral vector harboring a synthetic gene for thymulin, stereotaxically injected in the rat brain, achieved a much longer expression than the adenovirally mediated expression in the brain of other genes, thus suggesting that an anti‐inflammatory activity of thymulin prevents the immune system from destroying virus‐transduced brain cells. Other studies suggest that thymulin gene therapy may also be a suitable therapeutic strategy to prevent some of the endocrine and metabolic alterations that typically appear in thymus‐deficient animal models. The present article briefly reviews the literature on the physiology, molecular biology, and therapeutic potential of thymulin.
Nitric Oxide at the Crossroad of Immunoneuroendocrine Interactions
Authors: Rettori Valeria , Fernandez‐Solari Javier , Mohn Claudia , Zubilete María A. Zorrilla , De La Cal Carolina , Prestifilippo Juan Pablo , De Laurentiis Andrea
Published: February 2009

Nitric oxide (NO) was initially described as a mediator of endothelial relaxation, and now its participation is recognized in numerous physiological and pathological processes. It was demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated corticotropin‐releasing factor release involves NO production. Furthermore, it has been shown that interleukin (IL)‐1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐2 can stimulate adrenocorticotropic hormone release from anterior pituitary via NO. Also, we found that NO released from hypothalamic NOergic neurons in response to norepinephrine diffuses to luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons that activate cyclooxygenase and guanylate cyclase. This activation results in an increase in prostaglandin E2 and cyclic guanosine monophosphate, respectively, which leads to the exocytosis of LHRH granules. During pathological conditions, such as manganese intoxication, NO production is increased, leading to an increase in LHRH secretion that can advance puberty. In another study we demonstrated that NO reduces oxytocin as well as vasopressin secretion from the posterior pituitary, suggesting it has a modulatory role during dehydration. An increase in NO synthase (NOS) activity and protein in the hippocampus and cerebellum was found in offspring of rats that were subjected to prenatal stress, and this was correlated with behavioral changes in adults. Also NO participates in signal transduction pathways in peripheral tissue in physiological processes, such as in corticosterone release from the adrenal gland. Pathological conditions, such as tumors of the head and neck, that are treated with radiation are followed by xerostomy. In a rat model, radiation diminished NOS activity in the submandibulary gland, and this was followed by inhibition in salivary secretion. In summary, this review describes the wide participation of NO in the cross‐talk between neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems in physiological and pathological processes.
Neuroimmune Regulation in Immunocompetence, Acute Illness, and Healing
Authors: Berczi Istvan , Quintanar‐Stephano Andres , Kovacs Kalman
Published: February 2009

Adaptive immunocompetence is maintained by growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and vasopressin (VP). Innate or natural immunocompetence depends on cytokines, hormones (especially of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis), and catecholamines. The acute phase response (APR, or acute febrile illness) is an emergency defense reaction whereby the adaptive, T cell–dependent, immune reactions are suppressed and the innate immune function is dramatically amplified. Infection and various forms of injury induce APR. Cytokines [interleukin (IL)‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and IL‐6] stimulate corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) and VP secretion and cause a “sympathetic outflow.” Colony‐stimulating factors activate leukocytes. CRH is a powerful activator of the pituitary adrenocortical axis and elevates glucocorticoid (GC) levels. Cytokines, GCs, and catecholamines play fundamental roles in the amplification of natural immune defense mechanisms. VP supports the APR at this stage. However, VP remains active and is elevated for a longer period than is CRH. VP, but not CRH, is elevated during chronic inflammatory diseases. VP controls adaptive immune function and stimulates adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and PRL secretion. PRL maintains the function of the thymus and of the T cell–dependent adaptive immune system. The ACTH–adrenal axis stimulates natural immunity and of suppressor/regulatory T cells, which suppress the adaptive immune system. VP also has a direct effect on lymphoid cells, the significance of which remains to be elucidated. It is suggested that VP regulates the process of recovery from acute illness.
Growth Hormone Modulates Migration of Developing T Cells
Authors: Dardenne Mireille , Smaniotto Salete , De Mello‐Coelho Valéria , Villa‐Verde Déa Maria Serra , Savino Wilson
Published: February 2009

In the context of the cross‐talk between the neuroendocrine and immune systems, it is well known that growth hormone (GH) exerts physiological effects in central as well as peripheral compartments of the immune system. GH modulates a variety of thymic functions. For example, GH upregulates proliferation of thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells. Accordingly, GH‐transgenic mice, as well as animals and humans treated with exogenous GH, exhibit an enhanced cellularity in the thymus organ. GH also stimulates the secretion of thymic hormones, cytokines, and chemokines by the thymic microenvironment as well as the production of extracellular matrix proteins. These effects lead to an increase in thymocyte migratory responses and intrathymic traffic of developing T cells, including the export of thymocytes from the thymus organ, as ascertained by experimental studies with intrathymic injection of GH in normal mice and with GH‐transgenic animals. Because GH promotes a replenishment of the thymus and an increase of thymocyte export, it has been applied as a potential adjuvant therapeutic agent in the treatment of immunodeficiencies associated with thymic atrophy.
Interleukin‐1β and Insulin Elicit Different Neuroendocrine Responses to Hypoglycemia
Authors: Ota Kazuki , Wildmann Johannes , Ota Taeko , Besedovsky Hugo O. , Del Rey Adriana
Published: February 2009

Interleukin (IL)‐1β induces a prolonged hypoglycemia in mice that is not caused by a reduction in food intake and is dissociable from insulin effects. There is a peripheral component in the hypoglycemia that the cytokine induces resulting from an increased glucose uptake, an effect that can be exerted in a paracrine fashion at the site where IL‐1 is locally produced. However, the maintenance of hypoglycemia is controlled at brain levels because the blockade of IL‐1 receptors in the central nervous system inhibits this effect to a large extent. Furthermore, there is evidence that the cytokine interferes with counter regulation to hypoglycemia. Here we report that administration of IL‐1 or long‐lasting insulin results in different changes in food intake and in neuroendocrine mechanisms 8 h following induction of the same degree of hypoglycemia (40–45% decrease in glucose blood levels). Insulin, but not IL‐1, caused an increase in food intake and an endocrine response that tends to reestablish euglycemia. Conversely, a decrease in noradrenergic and an increase in serotonergic activity in the hypothalamus occur in parallel with a reduction of glucose blood levels only in IL‐1‐treated mice, effects that can contribute to the maintenance of hypoglycemia. These results are compatible with the proposal that IL‐1 acting in the brain can reset glucose homeostasis at a lower level. The biologic significance of this effect is discussed.
Neuronal Plasticity and Antidepressants in the Diabetic Brain
Authors: Beauquis Juan , Roig Paulina , De Nicola Alejandro F. , Saravia Flavia
Published: February 2009

The hippocampus, a limbic structure linked to higher brain functions, appears vulnerable in diabetic subjects that have a higher risk of stroke, dementia, and cognitive decline. The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is one of the limited neurogenic brain areas during adulthood; neurons born in the DG are involved in some types of learning and memory processes. We found a decrease in the ability for proliferation and neuronal differentiation of newborn cells, measured by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in the DG, from streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice. The hilar region, formed by mature neurons presenting higher sensitivity to brain damage, showed a reduced neuronal density in diabetic mice with respect to vehicle‐treated mice. Interestingly, in a spontaneous model of type 1 diabetes, we corroborated a decrease in the rate of neurogenesis in the nonobese diabetic mice compared to control strains, and this reduction was also found during the prediabetic stage. The antidepressant fluoxetine administered over a period of 10 days to diabetic mice was effective in preventing changes in proliferation and differentiation of new neurons. Confocal microscope studies, including using neuronal and glial markers, suggested that differentiation toward a neuronal phenotype was decreased in diabetic animals and was reversed by the antidepressant treatment. In addition, the loss of hilar neurons was avoided by fluoxetine treatment. Several reports have demonstrated that high susceptibility to stress and elevated corticosterone levels are detrimental to neurogenesis and contribute to neuronal loss. These features are common in some types of depression, diabetes, and aging processes, suggesting they participate in the reported hippocampal abnormalities present in these conditions.
Neuroimmune Interactions in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Welsh C. Jane , Steelman Andrew J. , Mi Wentao , Young Colin R. , Storts Ralph , Welsh, Jr Thomas H. , Meagher Mary W.
Published: February 2009

Psychological stress has been implicated in both the onset and exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS). Our research has focused on the role of stress at the onset of MS, using the mouse model Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus‐induced demyelination. Theiler's virus is a natural pathogen of mice that causes a persistent infection of the central nervous system (CNS) and inflammatory immune‐mediated demyelination that is very similar to MS. Our research has shown that restraint stress sufficiently increases corticosterone secretion to cause immunosuppression. Stressed mice develop decreased innate and adaptive immune responses, including decreased chemokine and cytokine responses, to virus, which leads to increased viral replication within the CNS. Higher levels of virus then cause increased later demyelinating disease. These findings may have important implications in our understanding of the interactions between stress and the development of autoimmune diseases induced by infectious agents.
The Inner City as Site of Cultural Productionsui generis: A Review Essay
Authors: Hutton Thomas A.
Published: February 2009

The creative sector within the inner city constitutes a defining spatial imprint of the cultural economy of the metropolis, and a motive force in the reconstruction of the urban core. The centerpieces of the cultural economy include galleries, museums, theatres, markets, exhibition spaces, and schools of art and design. But amid these institutions thrives a specialized production economy, including computer graphics and imaging, Internet design, software, and video game development, as well as creative industries such as architecture, industrial design, and advertising, complemented by local amenities. The growth trajectory of the cultural economy, the insertion of creative industries within the contested spaces of the inner city, and the rise of a putative creative class concentrated within gentrifying neighbourhoods have stimulated new scholarly discourses and debates, as well as media attention and a prominent place for contemporary culture and its signifiers within the public imagination. This essay traces the origins of cultural production in the central city, and more recent growth processes; examines the mix ofregenerationanddislocationeffects; and offers a synthesis of recent research drawn from instructive cities and sites.
Social Capital: The Panacea for Community?
Authors: Lovell Sarah A.
Published: February 2009

Social capital has captured an extraordinary amount of attention in recent decades, being posed as a cure‐all for society despite unresolved arguments over what exactly it is, how it is created, and why it is in decline in the West. This paper seeks to examine why we see differences of social capital, both within and across communities, and the avenues that exist to remedy these disparities. The major criticism facing social capital is a disconnect between social capital as a means of analysis and social capital as a policy goal. A review of the literature in the context of developed countries indicates that social capital is rarely as lucid or easily implemented at the community level as existing themes within the community development literature such as capacity building (Labonte 1999).
Inflammatory bowel disease: A survey of the epidemiology in Asia
Authors: GOH KL , XIAO Shu‐Dong
Published: February 2009

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has long been considered a disease that affects predominantly a Western population. The incidence and prevalence rates from Asian populations are much lower in comparison. More recent data, however, have shown significantly higher rates in Asians and time trend studies have shown an increase in the incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and a similar but lower rise in Crohn's disease (CD). The epidemiological changes that are taking place mirror that of the Western experience seen 50 years previously and seem to occur in parallel with the rapid socioeconomic development taking place in Asia. It appears that certain racial groups are more prone than others to develop IBD. For instance, Indians in South‐East Asia have higher rates compared to Chinese and Malays. While there is host genetic predisposition, environmental factor(s) may be responsible for this difference. Migrant studies of South Asians in the UK, where second‐generation immigrants have assumed incidence rates as high as the indigenous whites and Asian Jews who develop high incidence rates comparable to Jews from Europe or North America in Israel point to the role of environmental factors. It is unclear which specific factors are responsible. Studies have suggested a change in diet to a more Westernized one may underlie this epidemiological change in the Asian population. It is likely that there are racial groups amongst Asians who are more susceptible to IBD and who will demonstrate a higher frequency of IBD when exposed to putative environmental factors.
Demography and clinical course of ulcerative colitis in a multiracial Asian population: A nationwide study from Malaysia
Authors: HILMI I , SINGH R , GANESANANTHAN S , YATIM I , RADZI M , CHUA ABS , TAN HJ , HUANG S , CHIN KS , MENON J , GOH KL
Published: February 2009

OBJECTIVE:  To establish the clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) in the Malaysian population, comparing the three major ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese and Indian.

METHODS:  Patients who were diagnosed with UC from seven major medical referral centers in Malaysia were recruited. Their baseline characteristics, and the extent of the disease, its clinical course and complications were recorded.

RESULTS:  A total of 118 patients was included. The extent of disease was as follows: proctitis alone in 22 (18.6%), sigmoid colon in 23 (19.5%), descending colon in 16 (13.6%), transverse colon in 11 (9.3%), ascending colon and pancolitis 46 (39%). Most patients had chronic intermittent disease. Extra‐intestinal complications were seen in 27 (22.9%) patients and fulminant colitis was seen in four (3.4%). None developed colorectal cancer. The overall cumulative colectomy rates at 1, 5 and 10 years were 3.4% (CI: 0.9–8.5), 5.9% (CI: 1.9–13.2) and 15.6% (CI: 6.5–29.4), respectively. There was a higher prevalence of extra‐intestinal manifestations and a trend towards more extensive disease among Indian patients. However, no significant differences were seen in the age of onset, the severity of disease (fulminant colitis, refractory disease) and the colectomy rate.

CONCLUSION:  As in developed countries, most of our patients have a remitting and relapsing pattern of disease but the clinical course appears to be milder, with lower rates of colectomies. There are differences in clinical presentation among the three major ethnic groups, with Indians having a higher prevalence of extra‐intestinal manifestations and a trend towards more extensive disease.
The efficacy of Combizym in the treatment of Chinese patients with dyspepsia: a multicenter, randomized, placebo‐controlled and cross‐over study
Authors: RAN Zhi Hua , YUAN Yao Zong , LI Zhao Shen , WANG Ji Yao , ZONG Chun Hua , XIE Wei Fen , ZHENG Ping , CHEN Sheng Liang , ZHAN Xian Bao , CHEN Shi Yao , XIAO Shu Dong
Published: February 2009

OBJECTIVE:  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Combizym treatment in Chinese patients with dyspepsia.

METHODS:  In this multicenter, randomized, placebo‐controlled cross‐over study, a total of 151 patients (76 men and 75 women, mean age: 44.67 ± 6.46 years, range: 22–67 years) with dyspepsia whose symptoms were not relieved by placebos were recruited. They were randomly divided into group A (79 patients, 2 weeks of Combizym treatment, two tablets post‐meal, t.i.d.; then 1 week of wash‐out, followed by 2 weeks of placebo treatment, two tablets post‐meal, t.i.d.) or group B (72 patients, 2 weeks of placebo treatment, two tablets post‐meal, t.i.d. then one week of wash‐out, followed by 2 weeks of Combizym treatment, 2 tablets post‐meal, t.i.d.). The index of severity of the dyspepsia symptoms was evaluated before and after each treatment phase with Combizym or the placebo.

RESULTS:  Compared with the placebo, 2 weeks of Combizym treatment decreased the severity index of dyspepsia symptoms significantly (27.64 ± 1.77 to 9.72 ± 1.33 vs 23.99 ± 1.28 to 22.03 ± 1.40, P < 0.01). The efficacy rates of Combizym and the placebo on dyspepsia were 89.63% and 21.68%, respectively (P < 0.01). According to the improvement of symptoms index, individual dyspepsia symptoms that could be attenuated by Combizym therapy were anepithymia, abdominal distension, belching, diarrhea, abdominal pain, epigastric burning. None of patients reported adverse events during the study.

CONCLUSION:  Combizym treatment effectively ameliorates dyspepsia symptoms in Chinese patients, with satisfactory safety and compliance.
Fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium lactis DN‐173 010 improved self‐reported digestive comfort amongst a general population of adults. A randomized, open‐label, controlled, pilot study
Authors: GUYONNET Denis , WOODCOCK Alison , STEFANI Blandine , TREVISAN Cristina , HALL Claire
Published: February 2009

AIM:  Some probiotics improve digestive comfort of people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but this needs confirmation in a healthy population. The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of consuming fermented milk containing the probiotics Bifidobacterium lactis DN‐173010 and yoghourt strains (test product) on digestive comfort and symptoms amongst adults without diagnosed gastrointestinal disorders.

METHODS:  The study was designed to approximate a real‐life situation, by using a branded product in the intervention groups. In an open‐label, randomized, controlled trial, 371 adults reporting digestive discomfort were randomized into three groups who had a daily consumption of either one or two pots of test product over 2 weeks, or to follow their usual diet. Digestive comfort and bother from digestive symptoms were assessed by questionnaire at baseline and follow‐up (per protocol population n = 360). Self‐reported change in digestive comfort and computed change between baseline and follow‐up for each of 20 items were compared between groups (Cochran‐Mantel‐Haenszel test).

RESULTS:  A higher percentage of participants consuming the test product reported improved digestive comfort (1‐pot group 82.5%; 2‐pot group 84.3%), than controls (2.9%). Their self‐reported change scores differed significantly (P < 0.001). For both test product groups, almost all symptom scores improved significantly more than controls (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between 1‐pot and 2‐pot groups.

CONCLUSIONS:  This pilot study shows that daily consumption of a probiotic food in real‐life conditions may be useful in improving digestive comfort and symptom experience of adults from general population. Further double‐blind randomized controlled studies are required to confirm these health benefits.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci from Octodon degus
Authors: QUAN Y. F. , MACMANES M. D. , EBENSPERGER L. A. , LACEY E. A. , HAYES L. D.
Published: February 2009

Quantifying genetic kinship and parentage is critical to understanding the adaptive consequences of sociality. To measure fitness in a species with variable group structure, we isolated 14 microsatellite loci from Octodon degus, a semi‐fossorial rodent endemic to Chile. The number of alleles per locus ranged from four to 14. Thirteen loci were in Hardy–Weinberg proportions, with values of observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.550 to 0.950. These markers provide the basis for future studies of the direct fitness consequences of sociality in O. degus.
Generalized Obesity but not that Characterized by Raised Waist‐Hip Ratio Is Associated with Increased Perceived Breathlessness During Treadmill Exercise Testing
Authors: Goyal Deepak , Logie Ing‐Marie , Nadar Sunil K. , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Macfadyen Robert J.
Published: February 2009

The management of obesity is linked to defining its impact on exercise. One impact of obesity in coronary disease care is in the quantification of exercise limitation by treadmill protocols. In this study, we considered the impact of obesity as definition by body mass index (BMI) or waist‐hip ratio (WHR) on perceived exercise limiting symptoms, which are accepted and valuable targets for drug or lifestyle modification. We gathered morphometric data prospectively using bioimpedance (Bodystat® Quadscan 3000), BMI, and WHR in 228 unselected cardiac patients attending for diagnostic Bruce treadmill tests. The patients were categorized as obese (BMI >30 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2), or normal weight (BMI <25 kg/m2). A quantitative visual analog scale (10 cm) of perceived breathlessness was defined by the subjects at the end of each stage along with standard exercise data. In total, 188 patients were included for the final analysis excluding 12 patients with severe LV dysfunction and 10 patients with severe inducible ischemia necessitating an early termination of the test. There was no difference by obesity indices in the distribution of reasons for stopping the test (elective arrhythmia, inducible ischemia, or intolerable functional symptoms). Perceived symptom score on the visual analog scale were persistently higher at the end of stages 1, 2, and 3 of the Bruce protocol in obese individuals as compared with overweight and normal weight subjects. (P= 0.034, 0.003, and 0.042, respectively). Perceived symptoms during exercise when assessed by WHR did not show any statistical difference in severity. Generalized obesity associated with a high BMI is associated with increased perceived breathlessness during standard exercise testing regardless of ischemia or known left ventricular systolic function. This clearly indicates that perceived breathlessness does not correlate with obesity as defined by WHR, which is known to be a more sensitive marker of coronary disease. Therapeutic interventions in obesity should take into account the frame of reference of definition of obesity.
Effects of Quercetin on Gene and Protein Expression of NOX and NOS after Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion in Rabbit
Authors: Wan Li Li , Xia Jiahong , Ye Duoyun , Liu Jinping , Chen Jun , Wang Gang
Published: February 2009

Previous studies have suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS), endothelial nitricoxide synthase (eNOS), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are involved in the pathophysiology of myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion injury (MIRI). The NOX family of NADPH oxidases share the capacity to generate superoxide and ROS. Several studies have demonstrated that quercetin possesses a protective effect against MIRI. Our aim is to investigate the effects of quercetin on NOX2, eNOS, and iNOS after MIRI in rabbits. New Zealand rabbits were subjected to 30 min of myocardial ischemia followed by 12 h of reperfusion. They were then randomly assigned to four experimental groups: control, I/R (ischemia/reperfusion), quercetin (Que), I/R + Que. Gene and protein expression of NOX2, eNOS, and iNOS were compared. Both in real‐time PCR and in the Western blotting studies, myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion‐induced NOX2 and iNOS expression were enhanced (P < 0.01) but eNOS mRNA and protein expression in I/R hearts were not significantly different from those in control (P < 0.01). Administration of quercetin reduced NOX2, eNOS, and iNOS mRNA and protein expression both in control and in I/R heart (P < 0.01). Gene and protein expression of NOX2 and iNOS were increased after MIRI. Quercetin not only inhibited myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion‐induced NOX2 and iNOS mRNA and protein expression but also inhibited eNOS mRNA and protein expression.
Anthropology in the Postmodern Landscape: The Importance of Cultural Brokers and Their Trade
Authors: Peace Ade
Published: February 2009

This paper proposes that an anthropology of postmodern Australia should accord some priority to the analysis of cultural brokerage. In the first instance, cultural brokers are simply defined as those who trade in popular culture at a national/international level. They are located between the core areas of global production on the one hand and semi‐peripheral areas of popular consumption on the other. But brokers do much more than merely trade in culture. They define its meaning, they establish its significance in the overall order of things, they endow it with particular kinds of power. These points are briefly illustrated with reference to the Australian Grand Prix.
The Geist of Modern Anthropology
Authors: Yengoyan Aram
Published: February 2009

Book reviewed in this article:

John H. Zammito.
Kant, Herder and the Birth of Anthropology.

Andrew Zimmerman.
Anthropology and Antihumanism in Imperial Germany.
Neoliberalism, Mobility and Cook Islands Men in Transit
Authors: Alexeyeff Kalissa
Published: February 2009

From the 1990s, neoliberalism has been vigorously promoted by aid agencies operating in the Cook Islands. The solution to the country's economic problems has been sought in the privatisation of government assets and services and the development of free‐market principles. Social Impact Assessment reports of these reforms have included information on their effect on women and children under the heading of ‘gender’; men, however, are notably absent as a category of analysis. Building on recent work about men, masculinities and development, this paper begins to address this imbalance by examining how Cook Islands men have been effected by, and how they react to, neoliberalism in a series of gender specific ways. In particular, it explores the relationship between masculinity, class, status, and migration.
Elucidation in the rat of the role of adenosine and A2A‐receptors in the hyperaemia of twitch and tetanic contractions
Authors: Ray Clare J. , Marshall Janice M.
Published: February 2009

Adenosine is implicated in playing a role in blood flow responses to situations where O2deliveryis reduced (hypoxia) or O2consumptionis increased (exercise). Strong isometric contractions have been shown to limit vasodilatation, potentially leading to a greater mismatch betweenandthan during twitch contractions. Thus, we hypothesized that adenosine makes a greater contribution to the hyperaemia associated with isometric tetanic than isometric twitch contractions and aimed to elucidate the adenosine‐receptor subtypes involved in the response. In four groups of anaesthetized rats, arterial blood pressure (ABP), femoral blood flow (FBF) and tension in the extensor digitorum longus muscle were recorded; isometric twitch and tetanic contractions were evoked by stimulation of the sciatic nerve for 5 min at 4 Hz and 40 Hz, respectively. Groups 1 (twitch) and 3 (tetanic) were time controls for Groups 2 and 4, which received the selective A2A‐receptor antagonist ZM241385 before the third and 8‐sulphophenyltheophylline (8‐SPT; a non‐selective adenosine receptor antagonist) before the fourth contraction. Time controls showed consistent tension and hyperaemic responses: twitch and tetanic contractions were associated with a 3‐fold and 2.5‐fold increase in femoral vascular conductance (FVC, FBF/ABP) from baseline, respectively. ZM241385 reduced these responses by 14% and as much as 25%, respectively; 8‐SPT had no further effect. We propose that, while twitch contractions produce a larger hyperaemia, adenosine acting via A2A‐receptors plays a greater role in the hyperaemia associated with tetanic contraction. These results are considered in relation to the A1‐receptor‐mediated muscle dilatation evoked by systemic hypoxia.
Specific role of dopamine D1 receptors in spinal network activation and rhythmic movement induction in vertebrates
Authors: Lapointe Nicolas P. , Rouleau Pascal , Ung Roth‐Visal , Guertin Pierre A.
Published: February 2009

Dopamine (DA) is well‐recognized for its determinant role in the modulation of various brain functions. DA was also found in in vitro isolated invertebrate preparations to activate per se the central pattern generator for locomotion. However, it is less clear whether such a role as an activator of central neural circuitries exists in vertebrate species. Here, we studied in vivo the effects induced by selective DA receptor agonists and antagonists on hindlimb movement generation in mice completely spinal cord‐transected (Tx) at the low‐thoracic level (Th9/10). Administration of D1/D5 receptor agonists (0.5–2.5 mg kg−1, i.p.) was found to acutely elicit rhythmic locomotor‐like movements (LMs) and non‐locomotor movements (NLMs) in untrained and non‐sensory stimulated animals. Comparable effects were found in mice lacking the D5 receptor (D5KO) whereas D1/D5 receptor antagonist‐pretreated animals (wild‐type or D5KO) failed to display D1/D5 agonist‐induced LMs. In contrast, administration of broad spectrum or selective D2, D3 or D4 agonists consistently failed to elicit significant hindlimb movements. Overall, the results clearly show in mice the existence of a role for D1 receptors in spinal network activation and corresponding rhythmic movement generation.
NDRG2, a novel regulator of myoblast proliferation, is regulated by anabolic and catabolic factors
Authors: Foletta Victoria C. , Prior Matthew J. , Stupka Nicole , Carey Kate , Segal David H. , Jones Sharon , Swinton Courtney , Martin Sheree , Cameron‐Smith David , Walder Ken R.
Published: February 2009

Skeletal muscle tissue undergoes adaptive changes in response to stress and the genes that control these processes are incompletely characterised. NDRG2 (N‐myc downstream‐regulated gene 2), a stress‐ and growth‐related gene, was investigated in skeletal muscle growth and adaption. While NDRG2 expression levels were found to be up‐regulated in both differentiated human and mouse myotubes compared with undifferentiated myoblasts, the suppression of NDRG2 in C2C12 myoblasts resulted in slowed myoblast proliferation. The increased expression levels of the cell cycle inhibitors, p21 Waf1/Cip1 and p27 Kip1, and of various muscle differentiation markers in NDRG2‐deficient myoblasts indicate that a lack of NDRG2 promoted cell cycle exiting and the onset of myogenesis. Furthermore, the analysis of NDRG2 regulation in C2C12 myotubes treated with catabolic and anabolic agents and in skeletal muscle from human subjects following resistance exercise training revealed NDRG2 gene expression to be down‐regulated during hypertrophic conditions, and conversely, up‐regulated during muscle atrophy. Together, these data demonstrate that NDRG2 expression is highly responsive to different stress conditions in skeletal muscle and suggest that the level of NDRG2 expression may be critical to myoblast growth and differentiation.
TheToxoplasma gondii-Shuttling Function of Dendritic Cells Is Linked to the Parasite Genotype
Authors: Lambert Henrik , Vutova Polya P. , Adams William C. , Loré Karin , Barragan Antonio
Published: February 2009

Following intestinal invasion, the processes leading to systemic dissemination of the obligate intracellular protozoanToxoplasma gondiiremain poorly understood. Recently, tachyzoites representative of type I, II and IIIT. gondiipopulations were shown to differ with respect to their ability to transmigrate across cellular barriers. In this process of active parasite motility, type I strains exhibit a migratory capacity superior to those of the type II and type III strains. Data also suggest that tachyzoites rely on migrating dendritic cells (DC) as shuttling leukocytes to disseminate in tissue, e.g., the brain, where cysts develop. In this study,T. gondiitachyzoites sampled from the three populations were allowed to infect primary human blood DC, murine intestinal DC, or in vitro-derived DC and were compared for different phenotypic traits. All three archetypical lineages ofT. gondiiinduced a hypermigratory phenotype in DC shortly after infection in vitro. Type II (and III) strains induced higher migratory frequency and intensity in DC than type I strains did. Additionally, adoptive transfer of infected DC favored the dissemination of type II and type III parasites over that of type I parasites in syngeneic mice. Type II parasites exhibited stronger intracellular association with both CD11c+DC and other leukocytes in vivo than did type I parasites. Altogether, these findings suggest that infected DC contribute to parasite propagation in a strain type-specific manner and that the parasite genotype (type II) most frequently associated with toxoplasmosis in humans efficiently exploits DC migration for parasite dissemination.
Polymorphisms in Erythrocyte Binding Antigens 140 and 181 Affect Function and Binding but Not Receptor Specificity in
Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Maier Alexander G. , Baum Jake , Smith Brian , Conway David J. , Cowman Alan F.
Published: February 2009

Invasion of human erythrocytes by the malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
utilizes multiple ligand-receptor interactions involving erythrocyte receptors and parasite erythrocyte binding proteins of the Duffy binding-like family. Erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA-175) binds to glycophorin A, the most abundant protein on the human erythrocyte surface and EBA-140 (also known as BAEBL) binds to glycophorin C, while the receptor for EBA-181 (also known as JESEBL) remains unknown. EBA binding is mediated via region II, a highly structured extracellular domain that shows a degree of sequence variability between different laboratory strains/isolates. Here, we determined the influence of region II polymorphisms on host cell receptor binding and overall function during invasion of EBA-140, EBA-175, and EBA-181. Polymorphisms in the binding domains of EBA-140 and EBA-181 have been suggested previously to alter their respective receptor specificities. In our hands, these polymorphisms affected the levels of EBA-140 and EBA-181 binding to receptors but, critically, not the receptor specificities of these proteins. The degree of EBA-140 binding to glycophorin C correlates with the level of function for this ligand-receptor interaction in merozoite invasion. In contrast, EBA-175, which is highly polymorphic in region II, shows no variability in its ability to bind to its receptor, glycophorin A. Combined, these data highlight the importance of sequence variability in EBAs as driven by immune selection but not by receptor specificity.