bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison between spectral analysis and the phenylephrine method for the assessment of baroreflex sensitivity in chronic heart failure
Authors: COLOMBO Roberto , MAZZUERO Giorgio , SPINATONDA Gianluca , LANFRANCHI Paola , GIANNUZZI Pantaleo , PONIKOWSKI Piotr , COATS Andrew J. S. , MINUCO Giuseppe 
Published: August 2015

Baroreflex sensitivity assessed by means of the phenylephrine test plays a prognostic role in patients with previous myocardial infarction, but the need for drug injection limits the use of this technique. Recently, several non-invasive methods based on spectral analysis of systolic arterial pressure and heart period have been proposed, but their agreement with the phenylephrine test has not been investigated in patients with heart failure. The two methods (phenylephrine test and spectral analysis) were compared in a group of 49 patients with chronic congestive heart failure both at rest and during controlled breathing. The linear correlation and the limits of agreement between the phenylephrine test slope and the α-index [αc; corrected by the coherence function between the interbeat interval (RR interval) and systolic arterial pressure] were evaluated. Only 16 patients had a measurable α-index at rest in both the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) bands; the αc-index allowed measurements in all patients. It correlated moderately with the phenylephrine test slope at rest (r = 0.71 and P< 0.001 in LF; r = 0.57 and P< 0.001 in HF) and during controlled breathing (r = 0.51 and P< 0.001 in LF; r = 0.63 and P< 0.001 in HF). Multivariate regression analysis showed that only αcLF during rest and αcHF during controlled breathing contributed significantly to baroreflex gain estimation. However, the agreement between methods was weak; the normalized limits of agreement and bias were -162 to 243% (0.46 ms/mmHg) for αcLF and -185 to 151% (-0.99 ms/mmHg) for αcHF. Thus the comparison between baroreflex sensitivity measurements obtained by the phenylephrine test and spectral analysis showed a moderate correlation between the two methods; however, despite the linear association, a consistent lack of agreement between the two techniques was found. Because both systematic and random factors contribute to the difference, these two techniques cannot be considered as alternatives for the assessment of heart failure.
Determinants of the acetate recovery factor: implications for estimation of [13C]substrate oxidation
Authors: SCHRAUWEN Patrick , BLAAK Ellen E. , AGGEL-LEIJSSEN Dorien P. C. van , BORGHOUTS Lars B. , WAGENMAKERS Anton J. M. 
Published: August 2015

When using 13C or 14C tracers to study substrate metabolism, an acetate correction factor should be applied to correct for loss of label in the exchange pathways of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. We have shown recently that the [13C]acetate recovery factor has a high inter-individual variability and should therefore be determined in every subject. In the present study we examined the factors that might explain some of the variability between subjects in acetate recovery factor. Data were pooled from four different studies with identical protocols, in which the acetate recovery factor was measured, prior to an intervention, to correct plasma fatty acid oxidation rates. Acetate recovery was measured after 2 h of [1,2-13C]acetate infusion at rest followed by 1 h of cycling exercise at 40–50% of maximal oxygen uptake. Inter-individual variance in acetate recovery was 12.0% at rest and 16.1% during exercise. Stepwise regression revealed that, at rest, 37.1% of the acetate recovery could be accounted for by basal metabolic rate adjusted for fat-free mass, percentage body fat and respiratory quotient (RQ). During exercise, 69.1% of the variance in acetate recovery could be accounted for by energy expenditure adjusted for fat-free mass, % body fat and RQ. In conclusion, we show that the acetate recovery factor has a high inter-individual variability, both at rest and during exercise, which can partly be accounted for by metabolic rate, RQ and % body fat. These data indicate that the acetate recovery factor needs to be determined in every subject, under similar conditions as used for the tracer-derived determination of substrate oxidation. Failure to do this might result in large under- or over-estimation of plasma substrate oxidation, and hence to artificial differences between groups.
Influence of age and dietary fish oil on plasma soluble adhesion molecule concentrations
Authors: MILES Elizabeth A. , THIES Frank , WALLACE Fiona A. , POWELL Jonathan R. , HURST Tina L. , NEWSHOLME Eric A. , CALDER Philip C. 
Published: August 2015

Soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin (termed sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin respectively) are found in the plasma, and are elevated during inflammatory conditions in which there is increased expression of the cellular forms of the molecules on endothelial and other cells. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin concentrations were measured in the plasma of 140 healthy Caucasian subjects aged between 18 and 75 years (100 males/40 females). sICAM-1 concentrations varied between 59.9 and 299.7 ng/ml (median 150 ng/ml), sVCAM-1 concentrations varied between 222.8 and 1672.9 ng/ml (median 662 ng/ml) and sE-selectin concentrations varied between 12.4 and 90.3 ng/ml (median 45.5 ng/ml). There were significant positive linear correlations between age and the plasma concentrations of sICAM-1 (r = 0.580; P < 0.001) and sVCAM-1 (r = 0.392; P < 0.001), which were retained when the effects of gender, body mass index and fasting plasma triacylglycerol and total cholesterol concentrations were controlled for. The significant positive linear correlation between age and the plasma concentration of sE-selectin (r = 0.234; P = 0.027) was lost when other variables were controlled for. Male subjects < 40 years of age had significantly lower plasma concentrations of both sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 than males > 55 years of age (both P < 0.001), but the difference in plasma sE-selectin concentrations between the age groups did not reach significance (P = 0.073). Subgroups of 16 males aged < 40 years and 12 elderly subjects (> 55 years of age) participated in a doubled-blind, placebo-controlled study of fish oil supplementation over 12 weeks. The level of eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma phospholipids did not change with placebo supplementation, but was significantly increased with fish oil supplementation in both young male and elderly subjects (median increase 200%). sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin concentrations were unaffected by supplementation with placebo in either young male or elderly subjects. sICAM-1 concentrations were unaffected by fish oil supplementation. sE-selectin concentrations were significantly increased by fish oil supplementation in young males (P = 0.043; median increase 38%), but fish oil tended to decrease plasma sE-selectin concentrations in the elderly subjects (P = 0.075), with a median decrease of 11%. sVCAM-1 concentrations were unaffected by fish oil supplementation in young males. Fish oil supplementation significantly decreased plasma sVCAM-1 concentrations in the elderly subjects (P = 0.043), with a median decrease of 20% (range 16–60%). These observations suggest that fish oil decreases endothelial activation in elderly subjects.
Protein and energy metabolism in chronic bacterial infection: studies in melioidosis
Authors: PATON Nicholas I. , ANGUS Brian , CHAOWAGUL Wipada , SIMPSON Andrew J. , SUPUTTAMONGKOL Yupin , ELIA Marinos , CALDER Graham , MILNE Eric , WHITE Nicholas J. , GRIFFIN George E. 
Published: August 2015

Chronic infection is often accompanied by a wasting process, the metabolic basis of which is not fully understood. The aims of the present study were to measure protein and energy metabolism in patients with melioidosis (a serious and antibiotic-refractory Gram-negative bacterial infection which is endemic in South-East Asia) in order to define the metabolic abnormalities that might contribute to wasting. Whole-body protein turnover was measured using the [13C]leucine technique, both in the fasted state and while consuming a high-energy meal. Resting energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry, and total energy expenditure by the bicarbonate/urea method. Results were normalized for fat-free mass, as estimated from skinfold thickness. Protein turnover was increased in melioidosis patients compared with healthy controls during fasting (170.9 compared with 124.1 µmol·kg-1·h-1; P = 0.04), but the net rate of catabolism (22.2 compared with 20.5 µmol·kg-1·h-1; P = 0.77) and the anabolic response to feeding were similar in the two groups. Resting energy expenditure was higher in melioidosis patients compared with controls (191.4 and 157.3 kJ·kg-1·day-1 respectively; P = 0.04), but total energy expenditure (measured in a separate group of eight patients with melioidosis) was low (192.1 kJ·kg-1·day-1). In conclusion, this study found no evidence of metabolic causative factors, such as accelerated net protein catabolism during fasting, a blunted anabolic response to feeding or increased daily energy expenditure, and therefore suggests that reduced energy intake is the prime cause of wasting. The observed normal response to feeding should encourage nutritional approaches to prevent wasting.
Post-transcriptional effects of extracellular pH on tumour necrosis factor-α production in RAW 246.7 and J774 A.1 cells
Authors: HEMING Thomas A. , TUAZON Divina M. , DAVÉ Sanat K. , CHOPRA Ashok K. , PETERSON Johnny W. , BIDANI Akhil 
Published: August 2015

The present studies determined the effects of extracellular pH (pHo) on the production of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the macrophage-like cell lines RAW 246.7 and J774 A.1. The cells were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at pHo 5.5, 6.5 or 7.4. TNF-α gene transcription was monitored by Northern blot analysis. Synthesis of the cytokine was monitored by ELISA measurements of the TNF-α content of cell-conditioned media (extracellularly released TNF-α) and cell lysates (cytosolic TNF-α). The magnitude of the TNF-α response differed markedly between the two cell lines. RAW cells were more responsive to LPS than were J774 cells. However, the effects of pHo on TNF-α production were similar in the two cell lines. TNF-α gene transcription was insensitive to experimental pHo. The pHo had no effect on the abundance of TNF-α mRNA at 2, 4 or 18 h. Nonetheless, synthesis of TNF-α was affected significantly by pHo. The TNF-α contents of cell-conditioned medium and cell lysate at 18 h were reduced progressively at lower pHo values. The data indicate that pHo alters TNF-α production in RAW and J774 cells at a post-transcriptional level. These findings suggest that pHo influences the phenotypic responses of macrophages to activating stimuli and modifies the role that macrophages play in inflammatory and immune actions.
Cardiac peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor expression in hypertension co-existing with diabetes
Authors: Lee Ting-I , Kao Yu-Hsun , Chen Yao-Chang , Pan Nan-Hung , Lin Yung-Kuo , Chen Yi-Jen 
Published: August 2015

Hypertension and DM (diabetes mellitus) are common chronic disorders that often co-exist. DM and PPAR (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor)-γ agonists may directly impair heart function. However, the effects of DM and PPAR-γ agonists on hypertensive myocardium are not known. Hence the aim of the present study was to investigate whether DM and a PPAR-γ agonist [RGZ (rosiglitazone)] modulated the effects of hypertension on myocardial expression of PPAR isoforms. Cardiac PPAR isoforms, TNF (tumour necrosis factor)-α and IL (interleukin)-6 were evaluated by real-time PCR and Western blotting in SHRs (spontaneously hypertensive rats), diabetic SHRs, diabetic SHRs treated with RGZ (5 mg/kg of body weight) and control WKY (Wistar–Kyoto) rats. Cardiac NADPH oxidase activity was quantified using a SOD (superoxide dismutase)-sensitive cytochrome c reduction assay. When compared with hearts from control WKY rats, hearts from SHRs had decreased PPAR-α and PPAR-δ mRNA and protein levels (39 and 44% respectively for PPAR-α, and 37 and 42% respectively for PPAR-δ), but had increased PPAR-γ mRNA and protein levels (1.9- and 1.4-fold respectively). The hypertension-induced changes in mRNA and protein of cardiac PPAR isoforms were enhanced in diabetic SHRs, which were attenuated in diabetic SHRs treated with RGZ. Cardiac TNF-α and IL-6 protein levels and NADPH oxidase activities were increased in SHRs and were increased further in diabetic SHRs. RGZ treatment decreased TNF-α and IL-6 protein levels and NADPH oxidase activities in hearts from diabetic SHRs. In conclusion, these findings suggest that DM and the PPAR-γ agonist modulated the hypertensive effects on cardiac PPAR isoform expression.
Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 up-regulation by PPAR-β/δ prevents lipid-induced endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Toral Marta , Romero Miguel , Jiménez Rosario , Mahmoud Ayman Moawad , Barroso Emma , Gómez-Guzmán Manuel , Sánchez Manuel , Cogolludo Ángel , García-Redondo Ana B. , Briones Ana M. , Vázquez-Carrera Manuel , Pérez-Vizcaíno Francisco , Duarte Juan 
Published: August 2015

Fatty acids cause endothelial dysfunction involving increased ROS (reactive oxygen species) and reduced NO (nitric oxide) bioavailability. We show that in MAECs (mouse aortic endothelial cells), the PPARβ/δ (peroxisome- proliferator-activated receptor β/δ) agonist GW0742 prevented the decreased A23187-stimulated NO production, phosphorylation of eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) at Ser1177 and increased intracellular ROS levels caused by exposure to palmitate in vitro. The impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine in mouse aorta induced by palmitate was restored by GW0742. In vivo, GW0742 treatment prevented the reduced aortic relaxation, phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser1177, and increased ROS production and NADPH oxidase in mice fed on a high-fat diet. The PPARβ/δ antagonist GSK0660 abolished all of these protective effects induced by GW0742. This agonist enhanced the expression of CPT (carnitine palmitoyltransferase)-1. The effects of GW0742 on acetylcholine- induced relaxation in aorta and on NO and ROS production in MAECs exposed to palmitate were abolished by the CPT-1 inhibitor etomoxir or by siRNA targeting CPT-1. GW0742 also inhibited the increase in DAG (diacylglycerol), PKCα/βII (protein kinase Cα/βII) activation, and phosphorylation of eNOS at Thr495 induced by palmitate in MAECs, which were abolished by etomoxir. In conclusion, PPARβ/δ activation restored the lipid-induced endothelial dysfunction by up-regulation of CPT-1, thus reducing DAG accumulation and the subsequent PKC-mediated ROS production and eNOS inhibition.
The Process of Developing an Internet-Based Support System for Audiologists and First-Time Hearing Aid Clients
Authors: Brännström K. Jonas , Öberg Marie , Ingo Elisabeth , Månsson Kristoffer N. T. , Andersson Gerhard , Lunner Thomas , Laplante-Lévesque Ariane 
Published: August 2015

Background
In audiologic practice, complementary information sources and access to the clinician between appointments improve information retention and facilitate adjustment behaviors. An Internet-based support system is a novel way to support information sharing and clinician access.

Purpose
This research forum article describes the process of developing an Internet-based support system for audiologists and their first-time hearing aid clients.

Method
The iterative development process, including revisions by 4 research audiologists and 4 clinical audiologists, is described. The final system is exemplified.

Conclusion
An Internet-based support system was successfully developed for audiologic practice.
Silicon‐based, low‐g microelectromechanical systems inertial switch for linear acceleration sensing application
Authors: Xiong Zhuang , Zhang Fengtian , Pu Yingdong , Tang Bin , Yang Jie , Wang Chao 
Published: August 2015

Most of the microelectromechanical systems inertial switches developed in recent years are intended for shock and impact sensing above 40 g. These switches are fabricated based on non‐silicon surface micromachining with multiple steps of electroplating. In this reported work, a silicon‐based low‐g inertial switch typically used for linear acceleration sensing was conceived, designed and fabricated. The developed inertial switch consists of a high volume proof mass and low stiffness spiral spring, and is fabricated in a specially designed double‐buried layer silicon‐on‐insulator wafer, with standard silicon micromachining. The measurement results show that the threshold value is about 7.42 g and the stiffness is about 1.5 N/m, in accordance with the finite element method calculation.
Prevalence of Marijuana and other Substance use before and after Washington State's Change from Legal Medical Marijuana to Legal Medical and Nonmedical Marijuana: Cohort Comparisons in a Sample of Adolescents
Authors: Mason W. Alex , Fleming Charles B. , Ringle Jay L. , Hanson Koren , Gross Thomas J. , Haggerty Kevin P. 
Published: August 2015

Background A growing number of states have new legislation extending prior legalization of medical marijuana by allowing nonmedical marijuana use for adults. The potential influence of this change in legislation on adolescent marijuana and other substance use (e.g., spillover or substitution effects) is uncertain. We capitalize on an ongoing study to explore the prevalence of marijuana and other substance use in 2 cohorts of adolescents who experienced the nonmedical marijuana law change in Washington State at different ages. Methods Participants were 8th graders enrolled in targeted Tacoma, Washington public schools and recruited in 2 consecutive annual cohorts. The analysis sample was 238 students who completed a baseline survey in the 8th grade and a follow-up survey after the 9th grade. Between the 2 assessments, the second cohort experienced the Washington State nonmedical marijuana law change, whereas the first cohort did not. Self-report survey data on lifetime and past-month marijuana, cigarette, and alcohol use were collected. Results Multivariate multilevel modeling showed that cohort differences in the likelihood of marijuana use were significantly different from those for cigarette and alcohol use at follow-up (adjusting for baseline substance initiation). Marijuana use was higher for the second cohort than the first cohort, but this difference was not statistically significant. Rates of cigarette and alcohol use were slightly lower in the second cohort than in the first cohort. Conclusions This exploratory study found that marijuana use was more prevalent among teens shortly after the transition from medical marijuana legalization only to medical and nonmedical marijuana legalization, although the difference between cohorts was not statistically significant. The findings also provided some evidence of substitution effects. The analytic technique used here may be useful for examining potential long-term effects of nonmedical marijuana laws on adolescent marijuana use and substitution or spillover effects in future studies.
Manifestations of Cow's‐Milk Protein Intolerance in Preterm Infants
Authors: Cordova Jonathan , Sriram Sudhir , Patton Tiffany , Jericho Hillary , Gokhale Ranjana , Weinstein Dana , Sentongo Timothy 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTObjectives:Cow's‐milk protein intolerance (CMPI) is poorly recognized in preterm infants. This study examined the clinical events that preceded the diagnosis of CMPI in preterm infants.Methods:This was a retrospective study of infants in a level‐III neonatal intensive care unit of those who received parenteral nutrition (PN) support during a 12‐month period. Parameters assessed included birth weight (g), diagnosis, duration and frequency on PN, type of enteral feeds at initiation, and achievement of enteral autonomy. CMPI was diagnosed based on persistent feeding intolerance that resolved after change of feeds from intact protein to a protein hydrolysate or crystalline amino acid formula.Results:Three hundred forty‐eight infants with birth weight (median/range) 1618 g (425–5110) received PN. Fifty‐one (14%) infants required multiple courses of PN, and 19 of 348 (5%) were diagnosed with CMPI. The requirement for multiple courses on PN versus single course was associated with a high likelihood of CMPI: 14 of 51 versus 5 of 297, P < 0.001. Nine of the 14 infants identified with CMPI were initially diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after a median duration of 22 days (19–57) on intact protein feeds. After recovery from NEC, they had persistent feeding intolerance including recurrence of “NEC‐like illness” (N = 3) that resolved after change of feeds to a protein hydrolysate or crystalline amino acid formula.Conclusions:The requirement for multiple courses of PN because of persistent feeding intolerance after recovery from NEC and recurrence of “NEC‐like illness” may be a manifestation of CMPI in preterm infants.
Factors Determining Optimal Fatty Acid Absorption in Preterm Infants
Authors: Martin Camilia R. , Cheesman Antonio , Brown Joanne , Makda Meher , Kutner Allison J. , DaSilva Deborah , Zaman Munir , Freedman Steven D. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTObjectives:The aim of the present study was to quantify absorption coefficients of specific fatty acids in preterm infants as a function of diet, formula or breast milk (BM), and postnatal age; to identify the fatty acid structural characteristics that determine optimal fatty acid absorption.Methods:Fatty acids from dietary and fecal samples were extracted and quantified by gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy. Fatty acid absorption coefficients (FA‐CFAs) were calculated by comparing the total amount of fatty acids supplied by the diet to the amount quantified in the total fecal output during a 3‐day period.Results:A total of 18 infants (BM 8, formula 10) were studied at 2 weeks of age, and 20 infants (BM 10, formula 10) were studied at 6 weeks of age. FA‐CFAs decreased with increasing carbon length in formula‐fed infants at 2 and 6 weeks. Results were similar but less in magnitude in BM‐fed infants at 2 weeks with no difference at 6 weeks.Conclusions:Preterm infants fed formula demonstrated lower FA‐CFAs as a function of increasing carbon length. This is consistent with limited pancreatic lipase production and with lipase being present in BM but not in formula. The fact that this pattern was seen in BM‐fed infants at 2 weeks but not 6 weeks of age suggests that intestinal immaturity may also play a role in impaired fatty acid absorption. These data highlight principles that need to be considered to optimize delivery and absorption of dietary long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in preterm infants.