bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics of triamcinolone acetonide following intramuscular and intra‐articular administration to exercisedThoroughbred horses
Authors: Knych H. K. , Vidal M. A. , Casbeer H. C. , McKemie D. S. 
Published: February 2013

SummaryReason for performing studyThe use of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in performance horses necessitates establishing appropriate withdrawal times prior to performance.ObjectivesTo describe the plasma pharmacokinetics ofTAand time‐related urine and synovial fluid concentrations following i.m. and intra‐articular administration to exercised Thoroughbred horses.Study designBlock design.MethodsTwelve racing fit adultThoroughbred horses received a single i.m. administration ofTA(0.1 mg/kg bwt). After an appropriate washout period, the same horses then received a single intra‐articularTAadministration (9 mg) into the right antebrachiocarpal joint. Blood, urine and synovial fluid samples were collected prior to, and at various times, up to 60 days post drug administration and analysed using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Plasma data were analysed using noncompartmental analysis.ResultsMaximum measured plasmaTAconcentrations were 0.996 ± 0.391 at 13.2 h and 1.27 ± 0.278 ng/ml at 6.5 h for i.m. and intra‐articular administration, respectively. The plasma terminal elimination half‐life was 11.4 ± 6.53 and 0.78 ± 1.00 days for i.m. and intra‐articular administration, respectively. Following i.m. administration,TAwas below the limit of detection (LOD) byDays 52 and 60 in plasma and urine, respectively. Following intra‐articular administrationTAwas undetectable byDay 7 in plasma andDay 8 in urine. Triamcinolone acetonide was also undetectable in any of the joints sampled following i.m. administration and remained above the limit of quantitation (LOQ) for 21 days following intra‐articular administration.Conclusions and potential relevanceThis study extends previous studies describing the pharmacokinetics ofTAfollowing i.m. and intra‐articular administration to the horse and suggests that plasma and urine concentrations are not a good indicator of synovial fluid concentrations. Furthermore, results of this study supports an extended withdrawal time forTAgiven i.m.TheSummary is available inChinese – seeSupporting information.
Innate immune signaling induces expression and shedding of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan‐4 in cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes, affecting inflammation in the pressure‐overloaded heart
Authors: Strand Mari E. , Herum Kate M. , Rana Zaheer A. , Skrbic Biljana , Askevold Erik T. , Dahl Christen P. , Vistnes Maria , Hasic Almira , Kvaløy Heidi , Sjaastad Ivar , Carlson Cathrine R. , Tønnessen Theis , Gullestad Lars , Christensen Geir , Lunde Ida G. 
Published: February 2013

Sustained pressure overload induces heart failure, the main cause of mortality in the Western world. Increased understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is essential to improve heart failure treatment. Despite important functions in other tissues, cardiac proteoglycans have received little attention. Syndecan‐4, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is essential for pathological remodeling, and we here investigated its expression and shedding during heart failure. Pressure overload induced by aortic banding for 24 h and 1 week in mice increased syndecan‐4 mRNA, which correlated with mRNA of inflammatory cytokines. In cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β and lipopolysaccharide through the toll‐like receptor‐4, induced syndecan‐4 mRNA. Bioinformatical and mutational analyses in HEK293 cells identified a functional site for the proinflammatory nuclear factor‐κB transcription factor in the syndecan‐4 promoter, and nuclear factor‐κB regulated syndecan‐4 mRNA in cardiac cells. Interestingly, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β and lipopolysaccharide induced nuclear factor‐κB‐dependent shedding of the syndecan‐4 ectodomain from cardiac cells. Overexpression of syndecan‐4 with mutated enzyme‐interacting domains suggested enzyme‐dependent heparan sulfate chains to regulate shedding. In cardiac fibroblasts, lipopolysaccharide reduced focal adhesion assembly, shown by immunohistochemistry, suggesting that inflammation‐induced shedding affects function. After aortic banding, a time‐dependent cardiac recruitment of T lymphocytes was observed by measuring CD3, CD4 and CD8 mRNA, which was reduced in syndecan‐4 knockout hearts. Finally, syndecan‐4 mRNA and shedding were upregulated in failing human hearts. Conclusively, our data suggest that syndecan‐4 plays an important role in the immune response of the heart to increased pressure, influencing cardiac remodeling and failure progression.
Effects of livestock breed and rearing experience on foraging behaviour of yearling beef cattle grazing unimproved grasslands
Authors: Orr R. J. , Tallowin J. R. B. , Griffith B. A. , Rutter S. M. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe relative importance of breed versus rearing experience on the grazing behaviour and diet selection of beef cattle when grazing unimproved grassland was examined over 4 years. Suckler‐reared calves of a traditional (T) breed (North Devon) or a commercial (C) breed (Simmental × Hereford Friesian) were cross‐fostered and then reared either extensively (E) on unimproved grassland or intensively (I) on agriculturally improved fertilized grassland. As yearlings, the four groups of calves (Traditional breed + Extensive rearing (TE); Traditional breed + Intensive rearing (TI); Commercial breed + Extensive rearing (CE) and Commercial breed + Intensive rearing (CI)) grazed unimproved grassland dominated by Molinia caerulea, for 2 months, and foraging behaviour was studied in a test phase. There was a breed effect on total (bites + chews; TJM) jaw movement rate (T, 78·2 vs. C, 76·5 min−1; F prob. = 0·041) during grazing and on the proportion of bites taken from plant communities with sward height ≥6 cm (T, 0·83 vs. C, 0·76; F prob. = 0·018). Rearing experience affected TJM rate in the first year in July (E, 80·0 vs. I, 76·8 min−1; F prob. = 0·015) and August (E, 78·5 vs. I, 75·5 min−1; F prob. = 0·046). The intensively reared animals grew less well on average during the test phase than those that had previous experience of the unimproved grassland as calves with their mothers (E, 0·16 vs. I, 0·09 kg day−1; F prob. = 0·033). Our findings indicate that the rearing experience of livestock appears to be as important as the breed when designing grazing managements for nature conservation areas.
Hydromechanical Heterogeneities of a Mature Fault Zone: Impacts on Fluid Flow
Authors: Jeanne Pierre , Guglielmi Yves , Cappa Frédéric 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIn this paper, fluid flow is examined for a mature strike‐slip fault zone with anisotropic permeability and internal heterogeneity. The hydraulic properties of the fault zone were first characterized in situ by microgeophysical (VP and σc) and rock‐quality measurements (Q‐value) performed along a 50‐m long profile perpendicular to the fault zone. Then, the local hydrogeological context of the fault was modified to conduct a water‐injection test. The resulting fluid pressures and flow rates through the different fault‐zone compartments were then analyzed with a two‐phase fluid‐flow numerical simulation. Fault hydraulic properties estimated from the injection test signals were compared to the properties estimated from the multiscale geological approach. We found that (1) the microgeophysical measurements that we made yield valuable information on the porosity and the specific storage coefficient within the fault zone and (2) the Q‐value method highlights significant contrasts in permeability. Fault hydrodynamic behavior can be modeled by a permeability tensor rotation across the fault zone and by a storativity increase. The permeability tensor rotation is linked to the modification of the preexisting fracture properties and to the development of new fractures during the faulting process, whereas the storativity increase results from the development of micro‐ and macrofractures that lower the fault‐zone stiffness and allows an increased extension of the pore space within the fault damage zone. Finally, heterogeneities internal to the fault zones create complex patterns of fluid flow that reflect the connections of paths with contrasting properties.
Cancer patient and clinician acceptability and feasibility of a supportive care screening and referral process
Authors: Ristevski Eli , Regan Melanie , Jones Rebecca , Breen Sibilah , Batson Angela , McGrail Matthew R. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundIncorporating supportive care into routine cancer care is an increasing priority for the multi‐disciplinary team with growing evidence of its importance to patient‐centred care. How to design and deliver a process which is appropriate for patients, clinicians and health services in rural areas needs further investigation.ObjectiveTo (i) examine the patient and clinician acceptability and feasibility of incorporating a supportive care screening and referral process into routine cancer care in a rural setting, and (ii) explore any potential influences of patient variables on the acceptability of the process.MethodsA total of 154 cancer patients and 36 cancer clinicians across two rural areas of Victoria, Australia participated. During treatment visits, patients and clinicians participated in a supportive care process involving screening, discussion of problems, and provision of information and referrals. Structured questionnaires with open and closed questions were used to measure patient and clinician acceptability and feasibility.ResultsPatients and clinicians found the supportive care process highly acceptable. Screening identified relevant patient problems (90%) and problems that may not have otherwise been identified (83%). The patient–clinician discussion helped patients realize help was available (87%) and enhanced clinician–patient rapport (72%). Patients received useful referrals to services (76%). Feasibility issues included timing of screening for newly diagnosed patients, privacy in discussing problems, clinician time and availability of referral options. No patient demographic or disease factors influenced acceptability or feasibility.ConclusionsPatients and clinicians reported high acceptability for the supportive care process, although mechanisms for incorporating the process into health care need to be further developed.
Expectations and values about expanded newborn screening: a public engagement study
Authors: Hayeems Robin Z. , Miller Fiona A. , Bombard Yvonne , Avard Denise , Carroll June , Wilson Brenda , Little Julian , Chakraborty Pranesh , Bytautas Jessica , Giguere Yves , Allanson Judith , Axler Renata 
Published: February 2013

AbstractObjectivesNewborn bloodspot screening (NBS) panels have expanded to include conditions for which treatment effects are less certain, creating debate about population‐based screening criteria. We investigated Canadian public expectations and values regarding the types of conditions that should be included in NBS and whether parents should provide consent.MethodsEight focus groups (FG; n = 60) included education, deliberative discussion and pre‐/post‐questionnaires. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.ResultsQuantitatively, the majority supported NBS for serious disorders for which treatment is not available (95–98, 82%). A majority endorsed screening without explicit consent (77–88%) for treatable disorders, but 62% supported unpressured choice for screening for untreatable disorders. Qualitatively, participants valued treatment‐related benefits for infants and informational benefits for families. Concern for anxiety, stigma and unwanted knowledge depended upon disease context and strength of countervailing benefits.ConclusionsAnticipated benefits of expanded infant screening were prioritized over harms, with information provision perceived as a mechanism for mitigating harms and enabling choice. However, we urge caution around the potential for public enthusiasm to foster unlimited uptake of infant screening technologies.
In vitro antimicrobial effects of two antihalitosis mouth rinses on oral pathogens and human tongue microbiota
Authors: Raangs GC , Winkel EG , van Winkelhoff AJ 
Published: February 2013

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of the study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of a mouth rinse containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride (MR1) with a stannous fluoride‐based mouth rinse (MR2) in vitro.Materials and methodsSamples of the tongues from 10 subjects with and 10 subjects without halitosis were inoculated on blood agar plates. The agar was perforated, and the cylindrical holes were filled either with mouth rinse MR1 or with mouth rinse MR2. After incubation, inhibition zones of the whole tongue microbiota and Fusobacterium nucleatum were measured. In addition, MR1 and MR2 were applied in a short interval killing test (SIKT) on four oral pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, F. nucleatum and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Total viable cell counts were made after two minutes of incubation with increasing concentrations of MR1 and MR2.ResultsMR1 showed a significantly higher in vitro antimicrobial activity against the whole tongue microbiota and F. nucleatum than MR2 in both groups of subjects. In the SIK test, MR1 showed a significantly greater killing capacity than MR2. The results show that a mouth rinse with low concentrations of chlorhexidine and 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride appears to be more effective in inhibiting growth of the human tongue microbiota in vitro than a fluoride/stannous fluoride‐containing mouth rinse.ConclusionThis in vitro observation supports the use of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride in the treatment of oral halitosis.
Changes of biogenic amines in Chinese low‐salt fermented fish pieces (Suan yu) inoculated with mixed starter cultures
Authors: Zeng Xuefeng , Xia Wenshui , Yang Fang , Jiang Qixing 
Published: February 2013

SummaryIn this study, two groups of mixed starter cultures (S1, S2), which were isolated from Suan yu, were inoculated for this experimental product, and a batch without starters was used as the control. The effect of the mixed starter cultures on the suppression of biogenic amine (BA) produced during the ripening of Suan yu was investigated. Changes in BA, pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB‐N), microbial counts and free amino acids (FAA) contents were detected during ripening. The results show that the mixed starter cultures rapidly decreased pH, inhibited the growth of contaminant microorganisms emerged in the sample and drastically reduced the accumulations of tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine. However, histamine and spermine were not produced in any batch. Besides, pH, FAA and BA production were not directly correlated. The study suggests that inoculation with S1 and S2 inhibited BA, thereby improving the product safety.
A simple preparative method for isolation and purification of polysaccharides from mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves
Authors: Jia Dongdong , Zhang Jun , Lan Rong , Yang Hongling , Sun Yongyue 
Published: February 2013

SummaryAn effective method for preparative extraction and purification of the polysaccharides from mulberry leaves was studied. Orthogonal experiment was carried out to get the optimal conditions (T = 70 °C, pH = 6, t = 60 min, D = 0.4 g g−1 material) of activated carbon decolorisation. The staged, isocratic and multiple ethanol precipitation procedures were also investigated. Through the activated carbon decolorisation and 20% ethanol precipitation procedure, the polysaccharides yield reached 2.91%, and the content of neutral sugar and uronic acid were improved to 21.87% and 57.43% respectively. This process was superior to the macroporous resin adsorption and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) methods. The structure analysis indicated that the purified mulberry leaves polysaccharide (MLP) was composed of Man, GalA and Rha in the ratio of 1.0:7.2:20.0. The molecular weight measured using GPC was approximately 557 062 D. The IR and 1H NMR spectra indicated that the MLP was mainly pectin, which was classified as high‐methoxyl pectin.
Difficulty and discrimination indices of multiple-choice examination items in a college of pharmacy therapeutics and pathophysiology course sequence
Authors: Caballero Joshua , Wolowich William R , Benavides Sandra , Marino Jehan 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Objective
The purpose of this study was to identify differences in difficulty and discrimination among multiple-choice examination items with regard to format and content in pharmacy therapeutics and pathophysiology (TP) courses.

Methods
Items from a TP course sequence were categorized by format and content by a faculty committee using the Delphi technique. Difficulty was not normally distributed; therefore, a logit transformation was employed. Difficulty and discrimination were analysed using one-way analysis of variance, with post hoc Bonferroni correction for pairs, to detect differences.

Key findings
A total of 516 items were included, with approximately 233 students answering each item. Case-based items were statistically more difficult than Standard (P = 0.0007) or Statement items (P = 0.001) and more discriminatory than Standard items (P = 0.015). Dosing items were more difficult (P = 0.013) and discriminating (P = 0.02) than therapeutics items.

Conclusions
Case-based items appear to have been more difficult than other items and may provide greater discrimination than Standard items.
Human metapneumovirus keeps dendritic cells from priming antigen‐specific naive T cells
Authors: Céspedes Pablo F. , Gonzalez Pablo A. , Kalergis Alexis M. 
Published: February 2013

SummaryHuman metapneumovirus (hMPV) is the second most common cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children, causing a significant public health burden worldwide. Given that hMPV can repeatedly infect the host without major antigenic changes, it has been suggested that hMPV may have evolved molecular mechanisms to impair host adaptive immunity and, more specifically, T‐cell memory. Recent studies have shown that hMPV can interfere with superantigen‐induced T‐cell activation by infecting conventional dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we show that hMPV infects mouse DCs in a restricted manner and induces moderate maturation. Nonetheless, hMPV‐infected DCs are rendered inefficient at activating naive antigen‐specific CD4+ T cells (OT‐II), which not only display reduced proliferation, but also show a marked reduction in surface activation markers and interleukin‐2 secretion. Decreased T‐cell activation was not mediated by interference with DC–T‐cell immunological synapse formation as recently described for the human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), but rather by soluble factors secreted by hMPV‐infected DCs. These data suggest that although hMPV infection is restricted within DCs, it is sufficient to interfere with their capacity to activate naive T cells. Altogether, by interfering with DC function and productive priming of antigen‐inexperienced T cells, hMPV could impair the generation of long‐term immunity.
HIV‐specific T‐cell responses detected in the genital tract of chronically HIV‐infected women are largely monofunctional
Authors: Bere Alfred , Denny Lynette , Naicker Prinola , Burgers Wendy A. , Passmore Jo‐Ann S. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractHIV‐specific T cells that produce interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) are present in the genital tract of HIV‐infected women although these do not provide protection against genital HIV shedding. Because polyfunctional HIV‐specific T cells have been implicated in better HIV control than those with a single function, this study aimed to investigate whether polyfunctional T cells were present at the female genital mucosa. Cervical cytobrush‐derived T cells were obtained from chronically HIV‐infected women and compared with blood. CD3+ T cells from both compartments were expanded with Dynal anti‐CD3/CD28 expander beads for 14 days and flow cytometry was used to evaluate four T‐cell functions (CD107a, IFN‐γ, tumour necrosis factor‐α and macrophage inflammatory protein‐1β) from 16 women. The majority of Gag‐specific T‐cell responses in the female genital tract were monofunctional, although low frequencies of HIV Gag‐specific polyfunctional CD8+ T cells were detected at the cervix in 81·3% (13/16) of women. The ability of CD8+ T cells at both the cervix and in blood to express CD107a and to exhibit polyfunctional responses (two or more functions) following Gag stimulation was inversely associated with plasma viral load and positively associated with blood CD4 counts, suggesting that clinical status impacted on the functionality of HIV‐specific T cells at the mucosa, in a similar way to blood. HIV Gag‐specific cervical T cells were largely monofunctional. Polyfunctional T cells were detected at the cervix in women with high blood CD4 count and low plasma viral load but these did not protect from HIV genital shedding.
The CRTH2 agonist Pyl A prevents lipopolysaccharide‐induced fetal death but induces preterm labour
Authors: Sykes Lynne , Herbert Bronwen R. , MacIntyre David A. , Hunte Emma , Ponnampalam Sathana , Johnson Mark R. , Teoh Tiong G. , Bennett Phillip R. 
Published: February 2013

SummaryWe have previously demonstrated that the anti‐inflammatory prostaglandin 15‐deoxy‐Δ 12,14‐prostaglandin J2 (15dPGJ2) delays inflammation‐induced preterm labour in the mouse and improves pup survival through the inhibition of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) by a mechanism yet to be elucidated. 15dPGJ2 is an agonist of the second prostaglandin D2 receptor, chemoattractant receptor homologous to the T helper 2 cell (CRTH2). In human T helper cells CRTH2 agonists induce the production of the anti‐inflammatory interleukins IL‐10 and IL‐4. We hypothesized that CRTH2 is involved in the protective effect of 15dPGJ2 in inflammation‐induced preterm labour in the murine model. We therefore studied the effects of a specific small molecule CRTH2 agonist on preterm labour and pup survival. An intrauterine injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered to CD1 mice at embryonic day 16, ± CRTH2 agonist/vehicle controls. Mice were killed at 4.5 hr to assess fetal wellbeing and to harvest myometrium and pup brain for analysis of NF‐κB, and T helper type 1/2 interleukins. To examine the effects of the CRTH2 agonist on LPS‐induced preterm labour, mice were allowed to labour spontaneously. Direct effects of the CRTH2 agonist on uterine contractility were examined ex vivo on contracting myometrial strips. The CRTH2 agonist increased fetal survival from 20 to 100% in LPS‐treated mice, and inhibited circular muscle contractility ex vivo. However, it augmented LPS‐induced labour and significantly increased myometrial NF‐κB, IL‐1β, KC‐GRO, interferon‐γ and tumour necrosis factor‐α. This suggests that the action of 15dPGJ2 is not via CRTH2 and therefore small molecule CRTH2 agonists are not likely to be beneficial for the prevention of inflammation‐induced preterm labour.