bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 in the pathogenesis of cutaneous lichen planus
Authors: El-Rifaie A. A. , Rashed L. A. , Doss R. W. 
Published: May 2015

Summary

Background
Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Autoimmunity has been suggested as a possible cause of this disease. The cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1, COX-2) are the key enzymes in the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a key product of COX-2, has an immunomodulatory role.

Aim
To map levels of COX-2 and PGE2 in cutaneous LP lesions and evaluate their role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Methods
In total, 31 patients with classic cutaneous LP and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Skin biopsies were taken from the lesional and nonlesional skin of patients, and from the normal skin of controls. COX-2 mRNA expression was detected by real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR, and PGE2 was detected by ELISA in skin biopsies from patients and controls.

Results
Our analysis revealed a significantly higher expression of COX-2 mRNA and PGE2 in the LP skin biopsies compared with the control biopsies (P &lt; 0.001 and P &lt; 0.001, respectively). Lesional biopsies showed significantly higher expression of COX-2 mRNA and PGE2 compared with nonlesional biopsies. The levels of COX-2 and PGE2 were not found to be correlated with age, sex or disease duration.

Conclusions
COX-2 and its product PGE2 are strongly expressed in LP skin lesions, indicating that they have a role in the pathogenesis of LP through their immunomodulatory effects.
Feeding wild birds in gardens: A test of water versus food
Authors: Miller Kelly K. , Blaszczynski Veronika N. , Weston Michael A. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryBird feeding in residential gardens is an increasingly popular human–wildlife interaction. In Australia, the practice is discouraged by most government and nongovernment wildlife conservation agencies, although advice varies and the most common recommendation is to provide water and habitat for birds rather than supplementary food. This study compares bird abundance and diversity when residents in a Melbourne municipality provide water for birds versus food. Bird abundance was greater when food was provided compared with water, but avian assemblages did not differ.
The resilience of migrant money: how gender, generation and class shape family remittances in Peruvian migration
Authors: PAERREGAARD KARSTEN 
Published: May 2015

AbstractScholars and policy makers have argued that because altruism drives remittance sending, migrant money is more resilient to uncertainty than other capital flows. In this article, I question this assumption through ethnographic examination of remittance sending by Peruvian migrant families. When in their lives do Peruvian migrants start to remit? Who are the recipients? What is the purpose of their remittances? How long do they last and why do they stop? I argue that, to answer these questions, we need to investigate how migrants make remittance commitments to different household members, how these attribute value to the remittances and how this value becomes the object of negotiation and contestation. The findings indicate that remittances reinforce existing relations of gender, generation and class in Peruvian society and suggest that while short‐lived remittances are based on contractual commitments and driven by altruism, long‐term remittances are based on emotional commitments and driven by both non‐utilitarian and utilitarian motives.
Monitoring and evaluation of patient involvement in clinical practice guideline development: lessons from the Multidisciplinary Guideline for Employment and Severe Mental Illness, the Netherlands
Authors: van der Ham Alida J. , van Erp Nicole , Broerse Jacqueline E.W. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to gain better insight into the quality of patient participation in the development of clinical practice guidelines and to contribute to approaches for the monitoring and evaluation of such initiatives. In addition, we explore the potential of a dialogue‐based approach for reconciliation of preferences of patients and professionals in the guideline development processes.MethodsThe development of the Multidisciplinary Guideline for Employment and Severe Mental Illness in the Netherlands served as a case study. Methods for patient involvement in guideline development included the following: four patient representatives in the development group and advisory committee, two focus group discussions with patients, a dialogue session and eight case studies. To evaluate the quality of patient involvement, we developed a monitoring and evaluation framework including both process and outcome criteria. Data collection included observations, document analysis and semi‐structured interviews (n = 26).ResultsThe quality of patient involvement was enhanced using different methods, reflection of patient input in the guideline text, a supportive attitude among professionals and attention to patient involvement throughout the process. The quality was lower with respect to representing the diversity of the target group, articulation of the patient perspective in the GDG, and clarity and transparency concerning methods of involvement.ConclusionsThe monitoring and evaluation framework was useful in providing detailed insights into patient involvement in guideline development. Patient involvement was evaluated as being of good quality. The dialogue‐based approach appears to be a promising method for obtaining integrated stakeholder input in a multidisciplinary setting.
Studies on renal vasomotion
Authors: CONCHA J. , NORRIS BERYL 
Published: May 2015

The present investigation was made on the left kidney of the dog. The animals were anaesthetized intravenously with pentobarbitone (30 mg/kg) and the kidneys were perfused with saline at room temperature (20°–22° C). The renal innervation was untouched.
Stimulation of the left splanchnic major nerve at T10‐T12, and of the renal nerves, consistently caused renal vasoconstriction.
Repeated stimulation of both supradiaphragmatic vagi failed to induce any vasomotion in the kidney.
The vasoconstrictor effect was not blocked by either nicotine or hexamethonium even in enormous doses (30,000 μg). This may indicate that renal ganglia do not exist, for these ganglion blockers would prevent transmission across the ganglia.
Kidney perfusate, re‐injected into the kidney after vasoconstriction induced by stimulation of the renal nerves, brought about a notable reduction in outflow. This effect was not observed when perfusate from a non‐stimulated kidney was used. This points to the release of a vasoconstrictor substance after nervous stimulation.
Acetylcholine (ACh) in concentrations ranging from 0.001 μg/ml. caused a reduction in renal outflow. Thresholds were extremely variable. Higher concentrations of ACh (100–1,000 μg/ml.) often induced vasodilatation. The vasoconstrictor effect of ACh was not blocked by atropine.
Nicotine and hexamethonium (10,000–30,000 μg) induced blockade which elevated the threshold for ACh to values of 1,000 μg/ml.
Noradrenaline (0.0001 μg/ml.) induced a strong renal vasoconstriction.
Hydergine (5–10 ml. solutions in concentrations ranging from 15 to 30 μg/ml.) blocked the renal response to nerve stimulation. This suggests that the nature of the renal innervation is adrenergic.
In diseased kidneys which show reduction of the lumen of the arterioles, the thresholds for ACh, nicotine and noradrenaline are greatly increased, which might explain why we failed to show any effect of these drugs on renal vasomotion in several kidneys, many of which were not examined histologically.
The collision technique was applied in an attempt to discover the nature of the fibres activated by ACh. It was found that ACh greatly reduced the size of the action potentials generated by splanchnic stimulation. This would seem to indicate that these impulses are conducted antidromically by sympathetic postganglionic fibres.
These findings are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that the renal innervation is chiefly adrenergic and that ACh acts as a sympathetic transmitter, liberating noradrenaline, and that this effect is blocked at postganglionic endings, or at some structure intervening between adrenergic nerve endings and the effector cells, or at sensory nerve endings.
The actions of caerulein on gastric secretion of the dog and the rat
Authors: BERTACCINI G. , ENDEAN R. , ERSPAMER V. , IMPICCIATORE M. 
Published: May 2015

Caerulein, as expected from its amino‐acid composition and sequence, has a potent stimulant action on gastric secretion in the dog, the rat and the frog.
In the denervated fundic pouch of the dog, caerulein increases the rate of flow of gastric juice and the outputs of acid and pepsin. Acid concentration and pepsin concentration in caerulein‐produced juice are generally greater than in control juice. The threshold subcutaneous dose of caerulein is 0.15–0.5 μg/kg and the threshold rate of intravenous infusion 0.25–0.5 μg/kg per hr. Rapid intravenous injection is ineffective. On a molar basis, caerulein is approximately twice as active as human gastrin I on volume and acid output of the gastric pouch and 4 times as active on pepsin output.
Sustained acid secretion of the fundic pouch produced by histamine infusion is inhibited by caerulein, administered either intravenously or subcutaneously. In turn, acid secretion elicited by caerulein is inhibited by atropine.
In the rat, the activity ratio of caerulein to human gastrin I is 7–30, calculated on a molar basis, and is thus considerably greater than in the dog. Further, caerulein is 3 times more active than cholecystokinin‐pancreozymin. Tested on the perfused stomach preparation of the rat, the threshold dose of caerulein by rapid intravenous injection is 25 ng/kg, by intravenous infusion 0.25 μg/kg per hr, and by subcutaneous injection 0.25 to 0.5 μg/kg.
The activity of caerulein is sharply reduced by pretreatment of the rats with the histamine liberator 48/80 and potentiated by pretreatment with the diamine oxidase inhibitor aminoguanidine. When caerulein is given by rapid intravenous injection during a priming infusion of histamine its effect is enhanced and considerably prolonged.
The isolated mucosa of the frog stomach is extremely sensitive to caerulein which, in a concentration of a few pg/ml., stimulates active transport of chloride.
Qualitative and quantitative differences in the action of gastrin and caerulein are pointed out, and particular emphasis is laid on the importance of esterification of the tyrosyl residue for the biological activity of caerulein.
The cholinergic properties of some amino‐acid esters and amides
Authors: BARRASS B. C. , BRIMBLECOMBE R. W. , PARKES D. C. , RICH P. 
Published: May 2015

Several amino‐acid esters and amides have been prepared and their toxicological and pharmacological properties have been investigated. Some of the quaternary esters and amides were lethal to mice at doses below 1 mg/kg; this lethality was usually associated with high nicotinic activity. None of the compounds showed high muscarinic activity.
The cause of death was asphyxia due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles, but at higher doses there was also failure of the medullary respiratory centre.
Administration of sub‐lethal doses of nicotine to mice was shown to protect the animals from subsequent lethal doses of nicotine. The amino‐acid esters did not share this property, nor was there any cross‐protection between nicotine and these esters.
The possible nature of the nicotinic receptor is discussed with reference to these compounds and other known nicotinic agents. A tentative suggestion is made that nicotinic activity can result from a two‐point interaction between the drug and the receptor.
A comparison of the haemodynamic effects of propranolol, 4‐hydroxypropranolol and practolol in anaesthetized dogs
Authors: FITZGERALD J. D. , O'DONNELL STELLA R. ,   WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OF MARILYN AUSTIN
Published: May 2015

Summary
The haemodynamic effects of propranolol, practolol and 4‐hydroxypropranolol have been compared in anaesthetized dogs both at free heart rates and at heart rates fixed by electrical pacing. All three drugs produced a fall in heart rate at the lowest dose of 009 mg/kg.
Practolol caused less change in dP/dt, cardiac output and blood pressure than did propranolol. 4‐Hydroxypropranolol had intermediate effects. Since the changes in dP/dt caused by these three drugs were still present when the heart rate was fixed by pacing, it is concluded that these were independent of changes in heart rate.
The fact that practolol and 4‐hydroxypropranolol cause less change in haemodynamic function than propranolol may be associated with the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity possessed by the first two of these drugs.
THE INTERACTION OF NEUROLEPTIC AND MUSCARINIC AGENTS WITH CENTRAL DOPAMINERGIC SYSTEMS
Authors: KELLY P.H. , MILLER R.J. 
Published: May 2015

The effect of muscarinic and neuroleptic agents on the turning behaviour induced by methamphetamine and apomorphine in rats with unilateral lesions of the substantia nigra induced by 6‐hydroxydopamine has been examined.
Turning towards the side of the lesion induced by (+)‐methamphetamine (5 mg/kg) was inhibited by α‐flupenthixol (1 mg/kg) and α‐clopenthixol (8 mg/kg) but not by high doses of their β‐isomers.
Turning was inhibited by chlorpromazine (4 mg/kg) and pimozide (0.2 mg/kg). Thioridazine and clozapine (16 mg/kg) were ineffective. Turning in the same direction produced by scopolamine (10 mg/kg) was also inhibited by α‐flupenthixol (1 mg/kg) and pimozide (0.25 mg/kg).
Turning produced by methamphetamine (5 mg/kg) was inhibited by oxotremorine (0.75 mg/kg) even in the presence of methylatropine (5 mg/kg).
Turning away from the side of the lesion induced by apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg) was inhibited by oxotremorine (0.75 mg/kg) but not by thioridazine or clozapine (16 mg/kg).
These results are discussed with regard to the mode of action of neuroleptic drugs in producing anti‐psychotic effects and drug‐induced Parkinsonism.
[3H]‐CLONIDINE BINDING TO α‐ADRENOCEPTORS IN MEMBRANES PREPARED FROM REGIONS OF GUINEA‐PIG KIDNEY: ALTERATION BY MONOVALENT AND DIVALENT CATIONS
Authors: SUMMERS R.J. 
Published: May 2015

[3H]‐clonidine binds reversibly to membranes prepared from regions of guinea‐pig kidney.
Higher levels of binding were obtained in the membranes prepared from renal cortex (2.15 ± 0.27 pmol/g wet wt.) than renal medulla (0.53 ± 0.07 pmol/g wet wt.) or papilla (0.14 ± 0.06 pmol/g wet wt.; n = 4).
Scatchard analysis performed by addition of unlabelled clonidine (1 to 30 pmol) gave figures for the dissociation constant (Kd) for the binding of [3H]‐clonidine to renal cortical membranes of 9.0 ± 0.8 nm and Bmax of 21.6 ± 1.7 pmol/g wet wt. (n = 4). Hill plots of these data gave gradients close to unity, indicating a lack of co‐operative site interactions.
The monovalent cations, sodium and potassium, and the divalent cation, calcium, produced concentration‐dependent decreases in [3H]‐clonidine binding to membranes prepared from renal cortex, the EC50s being respectively 25 mm, 37 mm and 23 mm.
At low concentrations the divalent cations, magnesium (1 mm) and manganese (0.1 mm), produced enhancement of [3H]‐clonidine binding. At higher concentrations (> 10 mm) both divalent cations inhibited binding.
Scatchard analysis of [3H]‐clonidine binding performed in the presence of sodium (100 mm), magnesium (1 mm) or manganese (0.1 mm) revealed that the alterations in binding are primarily due to changes in apparent affinity rather than a change in the number of binding sites. Sodium (100 mm) produced a change in the Kd from 7.0 ± 0.4 nm (n = 8) to 42.3 ± 27.5 nm (n = 3), whereas magnesium (1 mm) decreased the Kd to 6.0 ± 0.9 nm and manganese (0.1 mm) to 4.0 ± 1.0 nm (n = 3).
The results indicate that [3H]‐clonidine labels a binding site that has properties resembling an α2‐adrenoceptor, located in the renal cortex. The changes produced by the addition of monovalent and divalent cations are entirely due to changes in the apparent affinity of [3H]‐clonidine binding.
EVIDENCE FOR THE METABOLIC ACTIVATION OF NON‐STEROIDAL ANTIOESTROGENS: A STUDY OF STRUCTURE‐ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS
Authors: ALLEN KAREN E. , CLARK E.R. , JORDAN V.C. 
Published: May 2015

The oestrogenic and antioestrogenic activities of tamoxifen and monohydroxytamoxifen have been compared with those of para‐methoxy, ‐methyl, ‐fluoro, and ‐chloro tamoxifen in the 3 day immature rat uterine weight test.
The oestrogenic activity of mestranol, a steroid with low oestrogen receptor binding affinity which is believed to be demethylated to ethinyl oestradiol before exerting its effects, was less potent than ethinyl oestradiol when assayed in the 3 day immature rat uterine weight test. Similarly, para‐methoxytamoxifen was less active than monohydroxytamoxifen in oestrogenic and antioestrogenic tests.
The introduction of a para‐methoxy group into tamoxifen did not affect oestrogenic or antioestrogenic activity.
All the derivatives of tamoxifen were partial oestrogen agonists when compared with oestradiol benzoate in the 3 d immature rat uterine weight test. All test compounds inhibited the uterotrophic activity of oestradiol benzoate (0.16 μg daily) in a dose‐related manner. The order of potency was: monohydroxytamoxifen > tamoxifen ≡ methoxytamoxifen > p‐fluoro ≡ p‐chloro ≡ p‐methyltamoxifen.
Tamoxifen was approximately equiactive with its p‐methyl, p‐fluoro and p‐chloro derivatives in the ability to inhibit [3H]‐oestradiol binding to rat uterine oestrogen receptors in vitro.
Tamoxifen was approximately equiactive with its p‐methyl and p‐fluoro derivatives in the ability to inhibit vaginal cornification of ovariectomized rats upon intravaginal administration with oestradiol (3.2 ng total dose).
Since tamoxifen in vivo was more active as a partial oestrogen agonist and antagonist than the para substituted fluoro, chloro and methyl derivatives that cannot undergo metabolic hydroxylation to monohydroxytamoxifen, whereas the antioestrogenic activity of the compounds upon local application in the vaginal cornification test was equivalent as was their ability to inhibit [3H]‐oestradiol‐17 β binding to the oestrogen receptor in vitro, it is suggested that at low doses; i.e. over the range of the partial agonist dose‐response curve, the biological activity of tamoxifen is the net result of the activities of the parent compound and its metabolites.
The results demonstrate that metabolic activation of non‐steroidal antioestrogens is only an advantage and not a requirement for antioestrogenic activity.
INTERACTION OF SELECTIVE α‐ADRENOCEPTOR AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS WITH HUMAN AND RABBIT BLOOD PLATELETS
Authors: GRANT JACQUELINE A. , SCRUTTON MICHAEL C. 
Published: May 2015

The selectivity of α‐adrenoceptors mediating the pro‐aggregatory response of human and rabbit platelets to adrenaline and the conditions required to permit expression of an aggregatory response to partial agonists at these α‐adrenoceptors have been studied.
Yohimbine causes effective blockade of the pro‐aggregatory responses whereas indoramin and prazosin are ineffective.
The clonidine analogue, UK‐14304, is nearly as effective as adrenaline in inducing an aggregatory response in human platelets and a pro‐aggregatory response in rabbit platelets. Cross‐tachyphylaxis between adrenaline and UK‐14304 has been demonstrated.
Clonidine is a weak agonist for the pro‐aggregatory response of rabbit platelets and in some donors for the aggregatory response of human platelets.
Methoxamine induces a pro‐aggregatory response in human platelets which is blocked by indoramin or prazosin but not by yohimbine. No such response to methoxamine is observed in rabbit platelets.
The divalent cation ionophore, A‐23187, induces an aggregatory response to clonidine (in platelets from a non‐responsive donor), phenylephrine and methoxamine in human platelets and to adrenaline, UK‐14304 and clonidine in rabbit platelets. A secretory response to clonidine is also induced by A‐23187 in human platelets.
The adenylate cyclase inhibitor, SQ‐22536, is ineffective in either inducing a response to the α‐agonists or potentiating the effect of A‐23187.
The aggregatory responses to adrenaline and UK‐14304 in rabbit platelets and to clonidine in human and rabbit platelets, which can be induced by A‐23187, are blocked by yohimbine but not by prazosin or indoramin.
From these studies we conclude that the pro‐aggregatory responses of human and rabbit platelets to adrenaline are mediated primarily by α2‐adrenoceptors. The presence of α1‐adrenoceptors on human platelets is confirmed but these receptors do not appear to be present on rabbit platelets. The conditions required for expression of an aggregatory response to partial agonists at the human and rabbit platelet α‐adrenoceptors implicate an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration as a key event in stimulus‐response coupling but do not indicate such a role for depression of cyclic adenosine‐3′,5′‐monophosphate concentration.
A MODEL OF IRRITANT‐INDUCED BRONCHOCONSTRICTION IN THE SPONTANEOUSLY BREATHING GUINEA‐PIG
Authors: ALLOTT C.P. , EVANS D.P. , MARSHALL P.W. 
Published: May 2015

Inhalation of an aqueous aerosol of citric acid caused bronchoconstriction in anaesthetized guinea‐pigs which was abolished by bilateral vagal section.
Conscious guinea‐pigs developed slow, laboured breathing within 90 s of exposure to citric acid aerosol. The onset of this pattern of breathing was delayed by prior aerosol administration of atropine, ipratropium bromide, isoprenaline and tetracaine.
The data suggest that exposure of guinea‐pigs to citric acid may be a useful model of reflex bronchoconstriction.
INHIBITION OF MONOAMINE OXIDASE BY FURAZOLIDONE IN THE CHICKEN AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE ALIMENTARY FLORA THEREON
Authors: ALI B.H. , BARTLET A.L. 
Published: May 2015

The addition of furazolidone to the feed at the therapeutic level (0.04% w/w, 10 days) inhibited monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity by 47 to 72% in chicken duodenal mucosa, heart and brain, but in the liver the enzyme activity was unaffected by the treatment.
Furazolidone (200 mg/kg) administered by crop tube inhibited MAO activities in duodenal mucosa, liver, heart and brain.
Furazolidone (200 mg/kg) injected intramuscularly did not inhibit MAO activity in the chicken.
Pretreatment of the chickens with intramuscular neomycin did not antagonize the inhibition of MAO activity produced by furazolidone (200 mg/kg, crop tube).
Pretreatment with neomycin by crop tube to suppress the alimentary flora significantly reduced the effect of furazolidone on MAO activity, suggesting that the drug was transformed by the alimentary flora to an active metabolite which subsequently inhibited MAO activity in other organs.
Furazolidone in the feed (0.04% w/w, 10 days) or administered by crop tube (200 mg/kg) had no effect on the activity of aminopyrine demethylase in chicken liver.
The activity of aspartate transaminase in plasma was unaffected by the addition of furazolidone to the feed (0.04% w/w, 10 days).
A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF PANCURONIUM BROMIDE AND ITS MONOQUATERNARY ANALOGUE, ORG NC 45, ON AUTONOMIC AND SOMATIC NEUROTRANSMISSION IN THE RAT
Authors: DOCHERTY J.R. , McGRATH J.C. 
Published: May 2015

Potentiation by pancuronium of the effects of adrenergic nerve stimulation, previously shown in cardiovascular tissues, was also found in rat anococcygeus and vas deferens, in vitro or in vivo.
In the pithed rat, in the presence of pancuronium, pre‐junctional α‐adrenoceptor‐mediated feedback inhibition of cardiac sympathetic transmission was uncovered at relatively low stimulation frequencies by phentolamine or yohimbine.
The effects of pancuronium and its mono‐quaternary analogue Org NC 45 on autonomic and somatic neuromuscular transmission were compared, in the pithed rat. Org NC 45 was less potent than pancuronium at blocking somatic neuromuscular transmission by a factor of 2.1, at blocking cardiac, parasympathetic transmission by a factor of 538 and at potentiating sympathetic transmission by a factor of 33.