bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of estradiol on mammary tumor collagen solubility in DMBA‐induced rat mammary tumors
Authors: Rajkumar L. , Balasubramanian K. , Arunakaran J. , Govindarajulu P. , Srinivasan N.
Published: January 2006

Estradiol plays a vital role in the growth and development of mammary glands. It is a potent stimulator of metabolic processes in normal and carcinoma breast. A critical factor in determining mammary glandular morphology is the stroma. Collagen is a predominant component of the extracellular matrix and cell—collagen interactions are essential carcinogenesis. The present investigation explored the influence of estradiol on collagen solubility and metabolism in mammary tumors during tumor progression and regression. A single injection of 20 mg of 9,10‐dimethyl‐1,2‐benzanthracene was given to rats at 7 weeks of age. With the appearance of the first palpable mammary tumor, the rats were treated with 0.5 μg estradiol or 50 μg tamoxifen daily for 30 days. The rats were sacrificed 24 h after 30 days of treatment. Estradiol appears to stimulate the synthesis of new collagens and thus contributes to the enlargement of the mammary tumors. This might have created a potential microenvironment by increasing the synthesis of suitable matrix that sustains the growth of the mammary tumors. In short, the present findings emphasize a definite mediatory role for collagen in estradiol promoted mammary tumor growth.
Patient satisfaction with psychotropic drugs: sensitivity to change and relationship to clinical status, quality-of-life, compliance and effectiveness of treatment. Results from a nation-wide 6-month prospective study
Authors: Gasquet Isabelle , Tcherny-Lessenot Stéphanie , Lépine Jean-Pierre , Falissard Bruno
Published: January 2006

Objective

To see if patient satisfaction with psychotropics (PSP) could be used as a patient-oriented outcome variable in the evaluation of PSP drugs in clinical epidemiological studies, relationships between PSP, clinical status, QoL, compliance and the type of antipsychotic were analyzed. Elements of validation of PSP were also assessed.

Method

In a 6-month prospective study, 933 schizophrenic outpatients with initiation or change to their antipsychotic treatment were enrolled. Psychiatrists completed five CGI-SCH scales (positive, negative, cognitive, depressive and global), hospitalization, compliance, and prescription variables. Patients completed PSP, EuroQoL scales, sexual function and compliance variables.

Results

A satisfactory structural equation model was obtained showing significant relationships PSP/compliance (coef. = 0.16), QoL/PSP (coef. = 0.37), clinical status/QoL (coef. = 0.61), clinical status/compliance (coef. = 0.09). Patients receiving olanzapine were more satisfied than patients receiving other atypicals (coef. =0 12) and had better clinical status than patients treated with typicals (coef. = 0.08). Evolution of PSP was related to clinical status, QoL, and continuation of treatment (all P < 001). Sensitivity to change of PSP was moderate (effect size = 0.2).

Conclusion

PSP produced consistent results in relation to validated outcome variables. However, a single-item measure was not sufficiently sensitive to change. Multi-item questionnaires evaluating different dimensions are needed.
Selective induction of cyclooxygenase‐2 plays a role in lysophosphatidic acid regulated Fas ligand cell surface presentation
Authors: Kang Shijun , Luo Rongcheng , Smicun Yoel , Fishman David A. , Meng Yuru
Published: December 2005

Previous studies found that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) upregulated Fas ligand (FasL) presentation on the ovarian cancer cell surface and lead to apoptosis of activated lymphocytes. In this report, we investigated the role of selective induction of cyclooxygenase‐2 (Cox‐2) in FasL cell surface presentation stimulated by LPA. Ovarian cancer cells pretreated with general aspirin derivative acetylsalicylic acid and specific Cox‐2 inhibitor (NS‐398) before stimulation with LPA, FasL cell surface presentation was significantly blocked, so was the apoptosis of activated lymphocytes mediated by increasing FasL on the ovarian cancer cell surface. Using the specific inhibitors PD98059, AG1478 or dominant‐negative epidermal‐growth‐factor receptor (EGFR‐DN) plasmid, we found that the activation of ERK1/2 played a role in Cox‐2 induction, and the transactivation of EGFR worked as an upstream signaling pathway in ERK1/2 phosphorylation. This study first revealed the selective induction of Cox‐2 by LPA led to FasL presentation on ovarian cancer cell surface and provide cancer cell immune privilege, and might provide important information of Cox‐2 in cancer progression and Cox‐2 inhibitors’ application in cancer chemoprevention.
Diet-induced differences in the essential fatty acid (EFA) compositions of larval Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) with reference to possible effects of dietary EFAs on larval performance
Authors: Cutts C.J. , Sawanboonchun J. , Mazorra de Quero C. , Bell J.G.
Published: January 2006

We studied the performance of cod rearing in which live feed was given under three different essential fatty acid (EFA) enrichment regimes, using commercially available live-feed enrichments. We assessed the fatty acid profile [docosahexaenoic (DHA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and arachidonic acid (AA)] in larval somatic tissue, relative to its amounts in both rotifers and Artemia as well as to larval performance. Overall, percentage lipid level of each experimental diet for the trial was approximately 50%. Further, there were no significant differences in total fatty acid levels of larvae from each treatment at the end of the trial (mean = 444.76 μg fatty acid per mg lipid). However, during the rotifer phase, larvae from each treatment were able to incorporate comparable levels of %DHA, irrespective of levels in the diet. Despite this, the rotifer diet with more %DHA still promoted better larval growth than other treatments. Conversely, larvae from two of the treatments did not exhibit any accumulation of AA, reflecting levels found in the diet instead. However, between-tank differences in larval %AA showed improved growth during the rotifer period when larval %AA was high. Low ratios of EPA had no effect. During the Artemia phase, percentage levels of larval DHA decreased; there was no accumulation of DHA relative to dietary levels, which in Artemia were significantly lower than in rotifers (6 cf. 20–30%). However, DHA levels in larvae at the end of the experiment correlated positively with survival. Artemia contained lower levels of AA than rotifers (1.5 cf. 3.0%), yet comparable levels of AA were found in rotifer-fed and Artemia-fed larvae. This also differed significantly between treatments, and correlated positively with survival.
The expression of wild‐type human amyloid precursor protein affects the dendritic phenotype of neocortical pyramidal neurons in transgenic mice
Authors: Alpár Alán , Ueberham Uwe , Brückner Martina K. , Arendt Thomas , Gärtner Ulrich
Published: December 2005

The current study addresses the morphoregulatory effects of human amyloid precursor protein expression on neocortical pyramidal cells in vivo. For this purpose, a transgenic mouse line was used that expresses wild‐type human amyloid precursor protein (APP) at levels similar to endogenous mouse APP [introduced by Lamb, B.T., Sisodia, S.S., Lawler, A.M., Slunt, H.H., Kitt, C.A., Kearns, W.G., Pearson, P.L., Price, D.L., Gearhart, J.D., 1993. Introduction and expression of the 400 kilobase amyloid precursor protein gene in transgenic mice. Nat. Genet. 5, 22–30]. This strain does not develop Alzheimer's disease‐related pathology which allowed to study effects of APP or APP cleavage products but excluded the influence of amyloid deposits. Commissural projecting pyramidal neurons of layers II/III within the primary somatosensory cortex were retrogradely labelled by injection of biotinylated dextran amine into the corpus callosum. In transgenic mice, computer‐aided morphometric analysis revealed an increase in the surface area of proximal and intermediate basal dendritic segments resulting from an enlarged diameter. On the other hand, the length of the same segments was reduced. Both basal and apical dendrites were characterized by a higher dendritic density within the proximal and intermediate fields. Although the total spatial extension of basal and apical dendrites remained unchanged, a moderate withdrawal of arbors is suggested. The results implicate a physiological function for APP in regulatory mechanisms of neuronal morphogenesis.
Effects of hypoglossal and facial nerve injuries on milk‐suckling
Authors: Fujita K. , Yokouchi K. , Fukuyama T. , Fukushima N. , Kawagishi K. , Moriizumi T.
Published: December 2005

Functional roles of the perioral anatomical structures involved in breastfeeding were examined in newborn rat pups in which the hypoglossal (XII) and facial (VII) nerves had been resected at the neonatal stage. The XII nerve controls tongue movement and is comprised of two functionally distinct branches: the medial branch related to protrusion of the tongue and the lateral branch related to its retraction. Newborn rat pups with bilateral resection of either of the XII nerve components (main trunk: XII‐trunk; medial branch: XII‐med; lateral branch: XII‐lat) failed to suckle milk and did not survive. Unilateral XII nerve‐resected neonates showed different milk‐suckling capabilities, which thus resulted in differences in survival rate (XII‐trunk: 38%; XII‐med: 24%; XII‐lat: 92%) and postnatal growth during the postnatal 3 weeks until P21. Unilateral and bilateral resections of the VII nerve innervating the buccolabial musculature produced lowered suckling capabilities and retarded postnatal growth, although all pups showed 100% survival. The results indicate a crucial role of the tongue, especially of protruding muscular elements innervated by the XII‐med nerve, in breastfeeding. The results also indicate differential effects of the VII and XII nerve components on suckling capability, survival, and postnatal growth of newborn rat pups.
The protective role of trait anxiety: a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: LEE W. E. , WADSWORTH M. E. J. , HOTOPF M.
Published: January 2006

Background. Most research has indicated that neuroticism (or trait anxiety) is associated with only negative outcomes. Such a common, heritable and variable trait is expected to have beneficial as well as detrimental effects. We tested the hypothesis that trait anxiety in childhood reduces the risk of dying from accidental causes in early adult life.

Method. A longitudinal, population-based, birth cohort study of 4070 men and women born in the UK in 1946. Trait anxiety as judged by teachers when the participants were 13 and 15 years old, and the neuroticism scale of a Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) when the participants were 16 years old. Outcomes were deaths, deaths from accidents, non-fatal accidents, and non-fatal accidents requiring medical intervention.

Results. Adolescents with low trait anxiety had higher rates of accident mortality to age 25 [low anxiety at 13, hazard ratio (HR) 5·9, low anxiety at 15, HR 1·8]. Low trait anxiety in adolescence was associated with decreased non-accidental mortality after age 25 (low anxiety at 13, HR 0; low anxiety at 15, HR 0·7; low neuroticism at 16, HR 0·7).

Conclusions. High trait anxiety measured in adolescence is associated with reduced accidents and accidental death in early adulthood but higher rates of non-accidental mortality in later life.
Ekalaka, Montana small watershed data set: Precipitation, runoff, air temperature, and soil water, 1968–1980
Authors: Hanson Clayton L. , Moffet Corey A. , Wight J. Ross , Mowbray James E.
Published: December 2005

A 12‐year (1968–1980) hydrologic database has been developed for three sets of watersheds on the frail land resource area located near Ekalaka in southeast Montana. These records contain daily maximum and minimum air temperature, precipitation, runoff, soil water measured monthly and more often during the growing season, and breakpoint precipitation and runoff for summer runoff events. These data can be accessed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Northwest Watershed Research Center, Boise, Idaho database through the anonymous ftp site ftp.nwrc.ars.usda.gov.
Hot recombination of photogenerated ion pairs
Authors: Gladkikh Vladislav , Burshtein Anatoly I. , Feskov Serguei V. , Ivanov Anatoly I. , Vauthey Eric
Published: December 2005

The recombination dynamics of ion pairs generated upon electron transfer quenching of perylene in the first singlet excited state by tetracyanoethylene in acetonitrile is quantitatively described by the extended unified theory of photoionization/recombination. The extension incorporates the hot recombination of the ion pair passing through the level-crossing point during its diffusive motion along the reaction coordinate down to the equilibrium state. The ultrafast hot recombination vastly reduces the yield of equilibrated ion pairs subjected to subsequent thermal charge recombination and separation into free ions. The relatively successful fit of the theory to the experimentally measured kinetics of ion accumulation/recombination and free ion yield represents a firm justification of hot recombination of about 90% of primary generated ion pairs.
Two-dimensional surrogate Hamiltonian investigation of laser-induced desorption of NO∕NiO(100)
Authors: Dittrich Sören , Freund Hans-Joachim , Koch Christiane P. , Kosloff Ronnie , Klüner Thorsten
Published: January 2006

The photodesorption of NO from NiO(100) is studied from first principles, with electronic relaxation treated by the use of the surrogate Hamiltonian approach. Two nuclear degrees of freedom of the adsorbate-substrate system are taken into account. To perform the quantum dynamical wave-packet calculations, a massively parallel implementation with a one-dimensional data decomposition had to be introduced. The calculated desorption probabilities and velocity distributions are in qualitative agreement with experimental data. The results are compared to those of stochastic wave-packet calculations where a sufficiently large number of quantum trajectories is propagated within a jumping wave-packet scenario.
Universal homogeneous causal sets
Authors: Droste Manfred
Published: December 2005

Causal sets are particular partially ordered sets which have been proposed as a basic model for discrete space-time in quantum gravity. We show that the class C of all countable past-finite causal sets contains a unique causal set (U,⩽) which is universal (i.e., any member of C can be embedded into (U,⩽)) and homogeneous (i.e., (U,⩽) has maximal degree of symmetry). Moreover, (U,⩽) can be constructed both probabilistically and explicitly.
Electronic anti-Stokes–Raman emission in quantum-cascade lasers
Authors: Gomez-Iglesias A. , Wasserman D. , Gmachl C. , Belyanin A. , Sivco D. L.
Published: December 2005

In this letter, the observation of electronic anti-Stokes–Raman emission in quantum-cascade lasers is reported. We present two distinct active region designs with enhanced anti-Stokes–Raman nonlinearity. The pump laser is monolithically integrated with the nonlinear region in a two-stack active core within the same waveguide. Electronic Raman emission was observed in both designs. Additionally, for the design with positive detuning, an incoherent upconversion signal resulting from optical pumping is detected.
Directional beaming of light from a nanoslit surrounded by metallic heterostructures
Authors: Wang Bing , Wang Guo Ping
Published: January 2006

By modulating the dielectric properties of metallic surfaces with different metal materials, we theoretically proposed and numerically demonstrated that a nanoslit surrounded by metallic heterostructures constructed with metals Al and Ag can realize directional beaming of light. The beaming is due to the electromagnetic surface resonances modulated by the dielectric properties of the output metallic surface. The structure would be interesting for a variety of optical devices and elements for nanophotonics.
Development of the lymphoid tissues of the tammar wallaby Macropus eugenii
Authors: Basden K. , Cooper D. W. , Deane E. M.
Published: January 2006

A study has been made of the development of four lymphoid tissues from birth
to maturity in the tammar wallaby Macropus eugenii
—the cervical and thoracic thymus, lymph nodes and gut-associated
lymphoid tissue (GALT). The development of these tissues in the tammar wallaby
is similar to that in two other marsupials, the quokka
Setonix brachyurus and the Virginian opossum
Didelphis virginiana. Lymphocytes were first detected in
the cervical thymus of the tammar at Day 2 post partum and in the thoracic
thymus at Day 6. They were subsequently detected in lymph nodes at Day 4 and
in the spleen by Day 12 but were not apparent in the GALT until around Day 90
post partum. By Day 21, the cervical thymus had developed distinct areas of
cortex and medulla and Hassall’s corpuscles were apparent. The
maturation of other tissues followed with Hassall’s corpuscles in the
thoracic thymus by Day 30 and nodules and germinal centres in the lymph nodes
by Day 90. Measurement of immunoglobulin G concentrations in the serum of
young animals indicated a rise in titre around Day 90 post partum, correlating
with the apparent maturation of the lymphoid tissues.
Effects of progesterone withdrawal on uterine secretion of prostaglandin F2α in response to oxytocin in ewes
Authors: Kaminski M. A. , Hayes S. H. , Silvia W. J.
Published: January 2006

Two experiments were conducted to determine if withdrawal of progesterone
during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle affected the ability of the
ovine uterus to secrete prostaglandin
F2α(PGF2α ) in
response to oxytocin. In Experiment 1, 18 ewes were ovariectomized on Day 9
and Day 12 after oestrus. Ewes were subdivided into three treatment groups
(n= 6 per group): Group-1 ewes underwent sham
surgery; Group-2 ewes received oestradiol (OVX + O); and Group-3 ewes
received oestradiol + progesterone (OVX + O,P). Oxytocin was
administered to each ewe on Days 10, 13 and 15 after oestrus. Concentrations
of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2α (PGFM) were
determined in samples of jugular venous blood for 2 h after oxytocin
challenge. The magnitude of the PGFM response 24 h after ovariectomy was
greater (P < 0·1) in ewes from which
progesterone had been withdrawn (OVX + O) than in ewes in which
progesterone was maintained (intact controls and OVX + O,P). Therefore,
progesterone appears to exert an inhibitory effect on uterine secretory
responsiveness to oxytocin which is removed by progesterone withdrawal. In
Experiment 2, ewes were ovariectomized on Day 11 and assigned to 1 of 4
treatment groups (n = 6 per group): Group 1, no
steroid replacement (OVX); Group 2, oestradiol replacement (OVX + O);
Group 3, progesterone replacement (OVX + P); or Group 4,
progesterone+oestradiol replacement (OVX + O,P). Ewes received
oxytocin on Day 12 and Day 15. On Day 12, uterine secretory responsiveness to
oxytocin was greatest in ewes in the OVX + O group
(P < 0 · 1). Responsiveness was low in ewes in
the OVX group, as it was in ewes in both groups that received progesterone
replacement. Therefore, the increase in uterine secretory responsiveness to
oxytocin following progesterone withdrawal is dependent on oestradiol
replacement.
Localization of endothelial nitric oxide synthase messenger ribonucleic acid by in situ hybridization in ectopic endometrial tissue in patients with adenomyosis
Authors: Hatazawa Junichi , Ota Hirotaka , Murata Masanori , Igarashi Shinichi , Tanaka Toshinobu
Published: January 2006

This study was undertaken to determine the expression of endothelial nitric
oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA in ectopic endometrium in adenomyosis. Endothelial
NOS mRNA expression was investigated by in situ
hybridization using a human endothelial NOS RNA probe. The subjects comprised
six cases of adenomyosis, and 14 women with normal fecundity as controls.
Specific expression of endothelial NOS mRNA was found in glandular and surface
epithelial cells in eutopic endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle in all
groups. It is noteworthy that the expression of endothelial NOS mRNA was
moderately positive in ectopic endometrial tissues in three of the six cases
of adenomyosis. In conclusion, the endothelial NOS mRNA expression seen in the
ectopic endometrium suggests a possible relationship with the various
pathologies associated with adenomyosis.
Peak occurrence of female sexual initiation predicts day of conception in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Zehr Julia L. , Tannenbaum Pamela L. , Jones Benjamin , Wallen Kim
Published: January 2006

The present study investigated whether peaks in female sexual initiation could
accurately predict conception in group-living female rhesus monkeys.
Behavioral observations, 4 or 5 days per week in large, stable, social groups
of monkeys, provided frequencies of female initiation of proximity, sexual
solicitation, mounts, and ejaculations. Since a preovulatory peak in female
sexual initiation is likely linked to the preovulatory oestradiol surge, we
used the third day after a peak in behavior as the behavioral estimate of
conception date. For each pregnancy, an independent estimate of conception
date was derived from ultrasound determination of fetal length. Estimates of
conception based on female initiation of proximity with adult males were
accurate for more than 90% of pregnancies, whereas observation of
ejaculations by males predicted conception in fewer than 60% of
pregnancies. Behavioral and ultrasound estimates of conception date were
highly correlated and differed by less than 1 day on average. Accordingly,
predictions of delivery date based on behavioral estimates of conception date
were as accurate as those based on ultrasound-derived estimates. These data
suggest that female-initiated sexual behavior can be used in rhesus monkeys as
a practical, non-invasive tool for producing timed matings in social groups of
monkeys, providing accurate estimates of conception date, gestational age, and
predicted date of birth.
Seasonal patterns of LH, testosterone and semen quality in the Northern pintail duck (Anas acuta)
Authors: Penfold L. M. , Wildt D. E. , Herzog T. L. , Lynch W. , Ware L. , Derrickson S. E. , Monfort S. L.
Published: January 2006

This study characterized seasonal changes in circulating LH and testosterone
and in semen production and quality in the Northern pintail duck. Plasma LH
and testosterone were measured in blood samples collected weekly throughout
the year from eight males exposed to natural fluctuations in day length and
temperature. Semen quality was evaluated weekly in these same males from
April–June, the months when spermatozoa were produced. Semen quality
(based on sperm concentration and normal morphology) peaked 0–2 weeks
after sperm production onset and decreased sharply before sperm production
cessation in late June. Nadir LH concentrations were measured in July and
August with peak LH observed in May and November. There were clear seasonal
patterns in circulating testosterone with July–September values being
less (P<0.05) than October–December which, in
turn, were less (P<0.05) than January–March.
Maximal circulating testosterone (P<0.05) occurred
during April–June, coincident with semen production. Weekly circulating
LH during the breeding season was directly related to testosterone
concentrations (P<0.01), but was not correlated to
any specific semen or sperm trait (P>0.05).
Testosterone concentrations throughout the breeding season were correlated
(P<0.05) to total numbers of spermatozoa produced
(volume cell concentration) and percent normal sperm morphology. In summary,
the Northern pintail experiences seasonal hormone fluctuations, with maximum
circulating testosterone coinciding with peak ejaculate quality reflected by
the production of high numbers of morphologically normal spermatozoa.
Fructose metabolism by mature boar spermatozoa
Authors: Jones A. R. , Connor D. E.
Published: January 2006

In 1945, Mann showed fructose to be the principal sugar in semen. For over
half a century the means by which fructose is metabolized by sperm has been
assumed to be by an initial phosphorylation catalysed by hexokinase, but this
has never been substantiated. In the present study, by comparing the
metabolism of glucose and fructose by both whole boar sperm and hypotonically
treated cells, it is confirmed that fructose is phosphorylated by hexokinase
to produce fructose 6-phosphate.
Births of kittens produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection of domestic cat oocytes matured in vitro
Authors: Gómez M. C. , Pope C. E. , Harris R. , Davis A. , Mikota S. , Dresser B. L.
Published: January 2006

In Experiment 1, cleavage frequency and
in vitrodevelopment of domestic cat embryos produced
after in vitro maturation of oocytes obtained from
ovaries after ovariohysterectomy (in vivo) with that of
oocytes retrieved from follicle-stimulating hormone-treated donors at 24 h
after administration of luteinizing hormone (in vivo)
and fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or IVF were
compared. In each group presumptive zygotes were assessed for cleavage on IVC
Days 1 and 4 and for development to blastocysts on IVC Day 7.
In vitro matured oocytes had lower frequencies of
meiotic maturation (59.2% v. 66.5%), cleavage at Day 1
(41.4% v. 64.9%) and development to the
morula stage at Day 4 (65.8% v. 87.9%)
than did in vivo matured oocytes, after ICSI and IVF.
Development to the blastocyst stage was lower in
in vitro matured oocytes (19.0%) than
in vivo matured oocytes (29.5%) after ICSI. In
Experiment 2, we evaluated the capacity of sperm injected oocytes without a
visible polar body to undergo cleavage and in vitro
development. More in vivo matured than
in vitro matured oocytes underwent cleavage at Day 1
(46.6% v. 12.6%) and developed to the
morula stage by Day 4 (66.7% v. 46.1%),
but no blastocysts were obtained at Day 7 in either group. In Experiment 3, we
evaluated the in vivo viability of domestic cat embryos
derived from ICSI of in vitro matured oocytes. Morula
stage embryos were transferred to 18 domestic cat recipients either on Day 4
or 5 after oocyte recovery. A total of 3 domestic cat recipients were pregnant
after transfer to recipients on Day 5. Two pregnant cats delivered two normal
and healthy live male kittens on Day 68 of gestation and the remaining cat
delivered a male kitten on Day 62 that died during the last two days of
gestation. These results demonstrate that: (1)
inadequate cytoplasmic maturation of in vitro matured
domestic cat oocytes is the main cause of deficient oocyte activation;
(2) the injection of oocytes without a visible polar
body is a useful technique to evaluate oocyte cytoplasmic maturation; and
(3) blastocysts obtained after ICSI of
in vitro matured oocytes are viable and not a result of
parthenogenesis.
Foreword to 'Estrogens and Male Health'
Authors: Risbridger Gail , Handelsman David , Jones Russell
Published: January 2006

Sulfamate substitution (-O-SO 2-NH
2) at carbon atom 3 of the steroid skeleton leads to
orally active prodrugs of estrogens with much higher systemic, but lower
hepatic, estrogenic activity than their parent steroids. This dissociation is
achieved by first passage through the liver in erythrocytes, followed by
systemic hydrolysis which releases the ‘parent’ estrogen. In the
rat, orally administered tritiated estradiol sulfamate, unlike estradiol,
appears in the circulation at high concentrations. At C
max , approximately one third of the administered dose
forms a depot in the circulation (98% in erythrocytes,
2% in plasma). Significant estradiol, estrone and estrone sulfate
concentrations were recorded in plasma during depletion of the red blood cell
pool. Estradiol sulfamate (J995) has no estrogen receptor affinity
per se or estrogenic activity
in vitro ( i.e. without hydrolysis). Its oral
uterotropic activity in rats is approximately 100 times greater than that of
estradiol, however, its hepatotropic activity is only marginally elevated.
These functions include bile secretion, the secretion of angiotensinogen,
lipoproteins (total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and insulin-like
growth factor I (IGF-I). Orally administred estradiol sulfamate led to
systemic estrogenic effects without significant hepatic responses, whereas
estradiol and other ‘conventional’ estrogens exerted parallel
systemic and hepatic estrogenic effects. Sulfamate technology represents an
approach to the use of natural estrogens for fertility control and hormone
replacement therapy in both genders. In this context, reduced effects on
hemostatic factors, angiotensinogen, bile and IGF-I secretion seem the most
important aspects. In addition, blood concentrations of estrogens are less
variable than with conventional estrogens.
Australasian truffle-like fungi. IX. History and current trends in the study of the taxonomy of sequestrate macrofungi from Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Lebel Teresa , Castellano Michael A.
Published: January 2006

Australian sequestrate macrofungi have not been studied extensively until
recently, even though their presence in Australia was recognised over 120
years ago by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller in connection with mycophagy by
marsupials. The early mycological history in Australia is linked to the first
expeditions and collections of plant material by naturalists from 1790 to
1830. These collections were sent to, and described by, foreign mycologists
such as the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, the Rev. C. Kalchbrenner and E. M. Fries. M.
C. Cooke's (1892) Handbook of Australian Fungi was
the first attempt at compiling an Australian mycoflora. D. McAlpine and L.
Rodway were the first resident collectors to expand on the information
collated by Cooke. Later, G. H. Cunningham (1944) wrote
The Gasteromycetes of New Zealand and Australia,
bringing together the taxonomy of all known sequestrate macrofungi in the
region. By 1895 approximately 2000 species of fungi had been recorded from
Australia, 32 of them sequestrate. Recent intensive efforts in limited
habitats have expanded our knowledge considerably, with more than 600 new
species of sequestrate fungi recorded over the past 7 years. Many more remain
to be discovered in Australia and New Zealand and knowledge of their biology
and ecology needs to be developed.
Rytidosperma vickeryae — a new danthonioid grass from Kosciuszko (New South Wales, Australia): Morphology, phylogeny and biogeography
Authors: Linder H. Peter
Published: January 2006

Rytidosperma vickeryae, a new species of danthonioid
grass, is described, and detailed information on the morphology, anatomy,
cytology and embryology of the species is provided. The phylogenetic
relationships among the Australasian species of
Rytidosperma s.s. are analysed, by parsimony-based
methods. The new species is shown to be the sister species of
R. thomsonii from New Zealand. The phytogeographical
implications of this are analysed, by area-optimisation methods as well as
methods which search for area relationships. This suggests that the
Australasian species of Rytidosperma radiated from an
ancestral area in Tasmania, followed by dispersal to New Zealand, and repeated
dispersal northwards to Kosciuszko and New Guinea.
R. vickeryae appears to have originated as the result of
a dispersal event from New Zealand to Kosciuszko.
New species of Russula (Basidiomycotina) associated with Anisoptera (Dipterocarpaceae) in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Buyck B. , Horak E.
Published: January 2006

Russula cingulata sp. nov.,
R. anisopterae sp. nov.,
R. hysgina sp. nov. and
R. perelegans sp. nov. are reported from tropical
lowland forest near Lae (Morobe District, Papua New Guinea) where these
agarics have been found in association with
Anisoptera polyandra Bl. (Dipterocarpaceae). The four
new taxa are described, illustrated and compared with allied
Russula species.
Dietary phyto-oestrogens: molecular mechanisms, bioavailability and importance to menopausal health
Authors: Cassidy Aedín
Published: December 2005

Following the high-profile studies on hormone replacement therapy which provided little evidence in support of the drug therapy improving future health, there remains a growing demand for dietary solutions for maintaining health and preventing disease as women age. Although interest in the relative importance of phyto-oestrogens to human health has increased dramatically over the last decade, the effective dose for health benefits and hypothetical issues on safety remain to be resolved. Plausible mechanisms and epidemiological data are available to support the concept that phyto-oestrogen-rich diets exert physiological effects, but optimal doses and sources of these compounds have still not been elucidated for specific health benefits. In addition, much of the current mechanistic data are difficult to interpret as the experiments have incorporated levels of phyto-oestrogens that may not be achievablein vivoand have to date only used aglycones and glycosides of the pure compounds rather than examining the biological effects of gut and liver metabolites. The present review will concentrate on the isoflavone subclass of phyto-oestrogens, as, to date, these compounds have received most attention from both a commercial and research perspective.
A role of vitamin D in low-intensity chronic inflammation and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus?
Authors: Flores Mario
Published: December 2005

Evidence from different directions, including observational and experimental studies, points to a role of vitamin D status in low-intensity chronic inflammation and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It has been recognised that insulin resistance and low-intensity chronic inflammation are risk factors for T2DM. Thus, vitamin D status can be implicated in the aetiology of TD2M. It is suggested that the relationship between vitamin D and low-intensity chronic inflammation and insulin resistance in T2DM can be mediated in part by the immune-modulating properties of the active form of vitamin D (1-α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; 1,25(OH)2D3), which is able to down regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines – particularly TNF-α, and IL-6. However, an association between vitamin D status and these features, which is independent of BMI, has been also reported. Non-calcaemic effects of vitamin D can be associated with health outcomes other than those traditionally attributed to the vitamin.
Therapeutic potential of curcumin in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Shapiro Haim , Bruck Rafael
Published: December 2005

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may be associated with a number of clinical conditions, but it occurs most commonly in patients with insulin resistance. There is as yet no established disease-modifying treatment, and a safe and broadly available agent that targets hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, inflammation and fibrosis is necessary. The polyphenolic compound curcumin exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, inhibits NF-κB and activates PPAR-γ. In rodents, curcumin prevents dietary-induced hepatic steatosis, hepatic stellate cell activation and production of fibrotic proteins, and ameliorates steatohepatitis induced by the intake of alcohol or a methionine–choline-deficient diet. Indirect evidence suggests that curcumin may improve insulin sensitivity in diabetes and inflammatory states. The present paper reviews the numerous cellular and animal studies indicating that curcumin attenuates many of the pathophysiological processes involved in the development and progression of NASH. It is suggested that basic and clinical studies on curcumin in the development and progression of NASH are indicated.
Can dietary patterns help us detect diet–disease associations?
Authors: Michels Karin B. , Schulze Matthias B.
Published: December 2005

The role of diet in promoting health and preventing disease is difficult to elucidate due to its complex network of foods and nutrients. Besides total energy intake, dietary composition is probably the most important discriminator within and between populations. Dietary composition is reflected in dietary patterns, which have recently gained popularity. The present paper reviews the most commonly applied methods to identify dietary patterns, data-driven methods such as factor and cluster analysis, investigator-driven methods such as indices and score, and methods combining the two, namely reduced rank regression. We describe the techniques and their application, discuss strengths and limitations, and discuss the usefulness of dietary pattern analyses.
A systematic review of nutritional risk factors of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Ishihara Lianna , Brayne Carol
Published: December 2005

A wide variety of nutritional exposures have been proposed as possible risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD) with plausible biological hypotheses. Many studies have explored these hypotheses, but as yet no comprehensive systematic review of the literature has been available. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases were searched for existing systematic reviews or meta-analyses of nutrition and PD, and one meta-analysis of coffee drinking and one meta-analysis of antioxidants were identified. The databases were searched for primary research articles, and articles without robust methodology were excluded by specified criteria. Seven cohort studies and thirty-three case–control (CC) studies are included in the present systematic review. The majority of studies did not find significant associations between nutritional factors and PD. Coffee drinking and alcohol intake were the only exposures with a relatively large number of studies, and meta-analyses of each supported inverse associations with PD. Factors that were reported by at least one CC study to have significantly increased consumption among cases compared with controls were: vegetables, lutein, xanthophylls, xanthins, carbohydrates, monosaccharides, junk food, refined sugar, lactose, animal fat, total fat, nuts and seeds, tea, Fe, and total energy. Factors consumed significantly less often among cases were: fish, egg, potatoes, bread, alcohol, coffee, tea, niacin, pantothenic acid, folate and pyridoxine. In three cohort studies, two reported borderline decreased relative risks and one a significant increased risk with vitamin C intake. One cohort reported an inverse association between caffeine intake and PD. Three cohorts reported significant positive association in men between dairy products and PD.
Determining the relationship between dietary carbohydrate intake and insulin resistance
Authors: McClenaghan Neville H.
Published: December 2005

Insulin resistance underlies type 2 diabetes, CVD and the metabolic syndrome, driven by changes in diet, lifestyle, energy over–consumption and obesity. Nutritional recommendations for insulin resistance remain an area of controversy, particularly the quantity and types of dietary carbohydrate. The present review gives an overview of insulin resistance, its relationship to impaired insulin secretion and the metabolic syndrome, research methodologies used to measure insulin action and the epidemiological and intervention studies on the relationship between dietary carbohydrate and insulin resistance. Epidemiological studies provide little evidence to suggest that total dietary carbohydrate predicts risk of type 2 diabetes, and high–carbohydrate, high–fibre diets with low–glycaemic index (GI) may even contribute to diabetes prevention. Despite inherent limitations associated with techniques used to measure insulin resistance and dietary assessment, most intervention studies reveal an increase in glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity with high–carbohydrate, low–fat diets in non–diabetic and diabetic individuals. When energy is restricted the source or reduced content of carbohydrate does not appear to be as important as fat for body weight. Thus, low energy intake is key to weight loss and augmentation of insulin sensitivity. Given this, widespread adoption of popular low–carbohydrate high–fat diets highlights the necessity to evaluate dietary interventions regarding safety and metabolic effects. While current evidence supports FAO/WHO recommendations to maintain a high–carbohydrate diet with low–GI foods, the relationships between carbohydrate and insulin sensitivity remains an important research area. Emerging technologies should further enhance understanding of gene–diet interactions in insulin resistance, providing useful information for future nutrition policy decisions.
Dietary soya isoflavones and breast carcinogenesis: a perspective from a cell-culture model
Authors: Leung Lai K. , Yuen Yee Man , Leung Hau Yi , Wang Yun
Published: December 2005

Southeast Asian women have a lower incidence of breast cancer than their counterparts in the West. Epidemiological studies have indicated that soya consumption may be a contributing factor. Carcinogenesis is a process involving multiple stages. The present review attempts to fit the cellular mechanisms attributed to soya isoflavones into these different stages. Many cell-culture studies have reported the growth-inhibitory effect of soya isoflavones; however, with the non-physiological concentrations employed in these studies it would be difficult to explain the protection mechanisms observed in epidemiological studies. Our laboratory has previously found that genistein inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1 and CYP1B1. The inhibition implies that soya consumption may have the potential to prevent chemical carcinogenesis. The preferential inhibition of CYP1B1 may also block the oestrogen-initiated carcinogenesis. The antagonism of oestrogen receptor (ER) binding can affect the cell-proliferative phase, which is likely to be important in the promotion stage of breast cancer. Since our laboratory and others have indicated that genistein at physiological concentrations has no effect on the downstream activities of ER binding, the antagonism of ER is not likely to be a contributing factor in the disease prevention. Moreover, soya isoflavones cannot inhibit aromatase (CYP19), which is the enzyme responsible for oestrogen synthesis. In the present review various cellular activities altered by soya isoflavones are discussed
Factors determining the nutrition transition in two Mediterranean islands: Sardinia and Malta
Authors: Tessier Sophie , Gerber Mariette
Published: December 2005

Objective

To examine and analyse consumption changes over time of 24 food items between Sardinia and Malta.

Setting

The data were collected in 2001 in Sardinia and 2002 in Malta.

Design

A structured qualitative questionnaire, articulated around four main themes: food supply, transformation, preparation and consumption habits, was administered by face-to-face interviews with the help of a local person. It encompassed mainly open-ended questions, which allowed us to measure factors contributing to change.

Subjects

Thirty mother–daughter pairs were interviewed in each insular territory.

Results

Despite a common trend revealing a shift away from cereals, pulses and potatoes to the benefit of meat products, fats and sugar, our results showed contrasting evolutions in food consumption between both insular societies. Fruit and vegetables, olive oil and fish, which are part of the main features of the Mediterranean diet, were among the top foods for which consumption frequency has increased in Sardinia. In Malta, besides an increase in olive oil and vegetable consumption, cheeses and desserts showed the highest increase. Along with modernity and improved living conditions, enhanced commercial availability and increased diversity of food preparation were also identified as factors contributing to food consumption changes.

Conclusions

Although the Sardo-Mediterranean model is evolving under the impact of modernisation, it is not disappearing. In Malta, however, modernity has led to a more sudden shift from a state of food shortage to one of affluence, but in a cultural context where the identity is no longer Mediterranean but Anglo-Saxon.
Sources of variation in nutrient intakes among men in Shanghai, China
Authors: Cai Hui , Yang Gong , Xiang Yong-Bing , Hebert James R , Liu Da-Ke , Zheng Wei , Shu Xiao-Ou
Published: December 2005

Background and objective

Random errors, from any source, will attenuate epidemiological risk estimates. Before we launched the Shanghai Men's Health Study (SMHS), a large population-based cohort study investigating the diet–cancer association among Chinese men, a dietary calibration study was conducted among 96 men aged 40–75 years (mean age 56.5 years), with biweekly 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs) implemented over a 1-year period. Data from this study were analysed to evaluate the nature and magnitude of variances for intake of 26 nutrients among SMHS participants, to compare variance ratios of 26 nutrients among Chinese men and women and individuals in other studies, and to estimate the number of 24HDRs required for future dietary calibration studies in similar populations.

Design

Ninety-six healthy, free-living men in Shanghai were administered biweekly 24HDR interviews 24 times over a 1-year period. To assess between-individual and within-individual contributions to variance, a mixed effects model was fitted and ratios of within-individual to between-individualdietary intake variances were computed.

Setting

Shanghai, China.

Results

In agreement with reports from studies conducted in the USA and many other countries, we found that within-individual variances were usually larger than between-individual variances in dietary intake for all nutrients. The sum of all other variation (e.g. weekday and weekend, seasonal, interviewer) accounted for less than 5% of total variation. Ratios of within- to between-individual variances (for log-transformed data) ranged from 1.25 for carbohydrate intake to near 8 for δ-tocopherol intake.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that among middle-aged and elderly Chinese men in Shanghai, within- and between-individual variation account for more than 95% of the total variation for 26 nutrients. Further dietary validation studies in the same population could be adequately carried out with only 12 days of dietary recalls, if 100 participants were enrolled.
Can adverse effects of dietary fat intake be overestimated as a consequence of dietary fat underreporting?
Authors: Heitmann Berit Lilienthal , Lissner Lauren
Published: December 2005

Objective

To describe the consequences of systematic reporting bias by the obese for diet–disease relationships.

Design

The present report used 24-hour urinary nitrogen and estimates of 24-hour energy expenditure to assess error in diet reporting, and examined the consequence of accounting for this error for associations between dietary fat intake and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol.

Setting

Sub-study to the Danish MONICA (Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease) project, carried out in 1987–1988.

Subjects

A random sub-sample of the adult Danish male population (n = 152).

Results

Correcting dietary fat for underreporting error weakened, rather than strengthened, the association between dietary fat intake and LDL-cholesterol by reducing the slope of the regression from β = 3.4, P = 0.02 to β = 2.7, P = 0.04.

Conclusion

This example illustrates that systematic underreporting of dietary fat by high-risk groups such as the obese may produce an overestimated association. These results imply that previous epidemiological studies showing a positive association between percentage of energy from fat and other health outcomes, e.g. cancer and heart disease, may have overestimated the negative effects of a high-fat diet. If we were able to correctly assess dietary fat intake in general populations, recommendations for fat intake may be more liberal than the 30% suggested today. Improved assessment of fat intake in epidemiological studies is necessary for future development of evidence-based recommendations for diet and health.