bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Probucol, An Oral Hypocholesterolaemic Agent, on Acute Tobacco Smoke Inhalation in Rats
Authors: Ishizaki Takeshi , Kishi Youichi , Sasaki Fumihiko , Ameshima Shingo , Nakai Tsuguhiko , Miyabo Susumu 
Published: August 2015

1. We hypothesized that probucol, an oral hypocholesterolaemic agent, can suppress the oxidant stress induced by acute tobacco smoke inhalation in rats. We determined lung tissue glutathione (reduced and oxidized), lipid peroxide, tocopherol and plasma elastase inhibitory capacity, ferroxidase activity and lipid peroxide in rats after inhalation of tobacco smoke.
2. Rats treated with the probucol diet for 3 days or 4 weeks equally showed no suppression of plasma elastase inhibitory capacity and ferroxidase activity compared with control rats after acute tobacco smoke inhalation, although both animals treated with probucol for 3 days or 4 weeks had pharmacologically effective concentrations of probucol to lower plasma cholesterol but plasma cholesterol in rats treated with probucol for 3 days was still in the normal range.
3. Probucol treatment for 4 weeks lessened tobacco smoke-induced suppression of lung tissue glutathione, attenuated tobacco smoke-induced increases in lung tissue lipid peroxide and did not alter lung tissue tocopherol compared with control (lungs).
4. These findings demonstrate that probucol, via its antioxidant ability, confers a protective effect on lung exposed to acute tobacco smoke inhalation.
Ambulatory Monitoring of Blood Pressure Disturbs Sleep and Raises Systolic Pressure at Night in Patients Suspected of Suffering from Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Authors: Heude E. , Bourgin P. , Feigel P. , Escourrou P. 
Published: August 2015

1. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure on sleep and on blood pressure in middle-aged patients.
2. Nine consecutive patients (seven men, two women; mean age 57 years) complaining of snoring and various degrees of excessive daytime somnolence were studied. Five patients were normotensive and four were being treated for hypertension. During one night standard laboratory polysomnography was performed with monitoring of blood pressure by a silent ambulatory monitor and continuous infrared blood pressure by photoplethysmography.
3. Ambulatory blood pressure significantly disturbs sleep architecture, causing EEG arousals in 64% of measurements, and induces a significant rise in blood pressure during systolic pressure measurement by the ambulatory monitor (rise in systolic pressure, 13.7 ± 15.9 mmHg, P &gt; 0.001; rise in diastolic pressure, 3.7 ± 8.2 mmHg, P &gt; 0.01). At the time of diastolic measurement, blood pressure had returned to the preinflation value. The rise in systolic blood pressure was higher when an arousal was associated with cuff inflation (P &gt; 0.001). This rise in blood pressure is probably the consequence of sympathetic nervous system activation.
4. We conclude that ambulatory blood pressure recordings of systolic blood pressure during sleep should be interpreted with caution as systolic blood pressure may be significantly increased in patients suspected of suffering from sleep-disordered breathing.
High-Performance Capillary Electrophoresis-Pure Creatine Monohydrate Reduces Blood Lipids in Men and Women
Authors: Earnest Conrad P. , Almada Anthony L. , Mitchell Tedd L. 
Published: August 2015

1. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial utilizing creatine as a potential lipid-lowering agent was conducted to determine plasma lipid, lipoprotein, glucose, urea nitrogen and creatinine profiles in men and women ranging in age from 32 to 70 years.
2. Thirty-four subjects (18 men and 16 women) with total cholesterol concentrations exceeding 200 mg/dl received either a creatine supplement (5 g of creatine plus 1 g of glucose) or a glucose placebo (6 g of glucose) for 56 days. Creatine and placebo were taken orally four times a day for 5 days and then twice a day for 51 days. Plasma analyses were measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, and at 4 weeks after cessation of treatment (week 12).
3. Significant reductions in plasma total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and very-low-density lipoprotein-C occurred within the creatine monohydrate group. Minor reductions in plasma total cholesterol from baseline (233 ± 9 mg/dl) of 6% and 5% occurred at weeks 4 and 8, respectively, before returning to baseline at week 12. Baseline triacylglycerols (194 ± 21 mg/dl) and very-low-density lipoprotein-C (39 ± 4 mg/dl) were reduced by 23% and 22% at weeks 4 and 8, respectively, and remained attenuated by 26% at week 12. These results remained consistent when data were separated and analysed by gender. Finally, a small, but statistically significant increase in urea nitrogen was observed in women between baseline (11.8 ± 0.7 mg/dl) and week 8 (13.8 ± 0.7 mg/dl, P &gt; 0.05). No significant differences were noted for low-density lipoprotein-C, high-density lipoprotein-C, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio, glucose, creatinine, body mass, body mass index or physical activity within or between the experimental and placebo groups. However, a trend towards reduced blood glucose levels was present in males given creatine monohydrate (P = 0.051).
4. These preliminary data suggest that creatine monohydrate may modulate lipid metabolism in certain individuals. These observations may demonstrate practical efficacy to the hyperlipidaemic patient as well as providing possible new mechanistic insights into the cellular regulation of blood lipid concentrations.
Isolation and Characterization of Human Epidermal Stem Cells
Authors: Jones P. H. 
Published: August 2015

1. The keratinocytes in human epidermis are constantly turned over and replaced by a population of stem cells located in the basal epidermal layer. Until recently there were no markers allowing the isolation of viable epidermal stem cells. However, it has now been shown that epidermal stem cells can be isolated both in vitro and direct from the epidermis as they express high levels of functional β1 integrin family receptors for extracellular matrix proteins.
2. The evidence for integrins as stem cell markers and the insights that have been gained into stem cell behaviour are reviewed.
Fluid, Ionic and Hormonal Changes Induced by High Salt Intake in Salt-Sensitive and Salt-Resistant Hypertensive Patients
Authors: De La Sierra Alejandro , Lluch María Del Mar , Coca Antonio , Aguilera María Teresa , Giner Vicente , Bragulat Ernesto , Urbano-Márquez Alvaro 
Published: August 2015

1. The aim of the study was to detect differences between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant hypertensive patients in the response of the renin—aldosterone axis, plasma noradrenaline and atrial natriuretic peptide to high salt intake.
2. Fifty essential hypertensive patients followed 2 weeks of a standard diet with 20 mmol of NaCl daily, supplemented by placebo tablets for the first 7 days and by NaCl tablets for the last 7 days, in a single-blind fashion. Salt sensitivity was defined as a significant rise (P &lt; 0.05) in 24 h mean blood pressure obtained by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring from the low- to the high-salt period. Biochemical and hormonal measurements were performed on the last day of both periods.
3. Twenty-two (44%) patients fulfilled criteria of salt-sensitive hypertension, whereas the remaining 28 (56%) were considered salt-resistant. High salt intake promoted a significant decrease (P &lt; 0.05) in plasma creatinine, potassium, glucose, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, uric acid and plasma renin activity, and a significant increase in plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and 24 h urinary calcium excretion. The direction of these changes did not differ between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant patients. Salt-resistant hypertensive patients exhibited a significant decrease in plasma aldosterone induced by high salt intake (from 446 ∓ 35 to 226 ± 35 pmol/l; P &lt; 0.001), whereas this parameter was not significantly modified in salt-sensitive patients (from 485 ± 76 to 364 ± 83 pmol/l; P not significant). Salt-sensitive patients showed an increase in plasma noradrenaline after high salt intake (from 1.15 ± 0.11 to 1.56 ± 0.14 nmol/l; P &lt; 0.05), whereas salt-resistant patients presented a decrease in this parameter (from 1.48 ± 0.08 to 1.12 ± 0.08 nmol/l; P &lt; 0.05). The change in plasma noradrenaline was directly correlated with the change in mean blood pressure induced by high salt intake (r = 0.479; P = 0.003).
4. We conclude that the increase in blood pressure induced by high salt intake in salt-sensitive patients is associated with a stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and a blunted decrease in plasma aldosterone. Conversely, changes in renal function, electrolyte excretion and plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide induced by high salt intake seem to be similar in both salt-sensitive and salt-resistant patients.
Human Fetal Kidney Morphometry during Gestation and the Relationship between Weight, Kidney Morphometry and Plasma Active Renin Concentration at Birth
Authors: Konje Justin C. , Bell Stephen C. , Morton James J. , De Chazal Richard , Taylor David J. 
Published: August 2015

1. This study was designed to examine the changes in kidney morphometry during gestation in fetuses that were either appropriate or small for gestational age and the relationship between umbilical vein plasma active renin and kidney morphometry.
2. Serial ultrasound measurements of various morphometric and renal indices were performed in a cohort of 87 singleton fetuses from 22 to 38 weeks gestation. Blood was collected from the umbilical vein at delivery and active renin was measured from the plasma based on angiotensinogen I generated during incubation with plasma and ox renin substrate.
3. Growth in the longitudinal plane of fetal kidneys was similar in the small- and appropriate-for-gestational age groups; however, growth in the anterio-posterior, transverse and circumference planes of the kidneys was significantly slower in the small-for-gestational-age group after 26 weeks gestation. Differences in growth rate in the two groups were most marked between 26 and 34 weeks and persisted until delivery when the anterior-posterior diameter was significantly larger (P &lt; 0.00001) in the appropriate-for-gestational-age group (26.1 ± 2.5 mm compared with 19.8 ± 2.6 mm). The mean umbilical vein active plasma renin concentration at delivery was significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) in the small-for-gestational-age group (274.4 ± 32.9 μ-units/ml plasma) than in the appropriate-for-gestational-age group (164.9 ± 28.3 μ-units/ml plasma). In addition, there were statistically significant inverse correlations between renin concentration and birthweight (r = − 0.55, P &lt; 0.001) and between renin concentration and kidney anterior-posterior diameter (r = −0.67, P &lt; 0.001).
4. Fetal renal growth was slower in small than in appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses. The period of 26–34 weeks gestation was that during which maximum fetal renal growth occurred. Umbilical vein plasma renin levels were higher in small-for-gestational-age fetuses. The findings of slow fetal renal growth rate and associated high renin concentrations seen in small-for-gestational-age fetuses could be implicated in an irreversible reno-vascular pathology leading to adult hypertension. We suggest that 26 to 34 weeks could be the ‘critical period’ during which the insult that leads to in-utero programming for the development of adult hypertension occurs.
Renal Metabolism and Effects of the Glutamyl Derivatives of l-Dopa and 5-Hydroxytryptophan in Man
Authors: Wa T. C. Li Kam , Freestone S. , Samson R. R. , Johnston N. R. , Lee M. R. 
Published: August 2015

1. Equimolar amounts of y-l-glutamyl-l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (gludopa) and γ-l-glutamyl-5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan were infused separately and together in eight healthy, salt-replete male subjects in a placebo-controlled, cross-over study to investigate whether the administration of one amine precursor affects the renal metabolism of the other and to determine whether dopamine or 5-hydroxytryptamine would be generated preferentially. The overall effect on sodium excretion was also measured when both precursors were administered simultaneously.
2. Administration of gludopa was associated with marked increases in the urinary excretion of l-dopa, dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, together with a rise in the urinary excretion of sodium. γ-l-Glutamyl-5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan, on the other hand, produced marked increases in the urinary excretion of 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and this was accompanied by a slight, but non-significant, reduction in sodium excretion. About 27% of the infused dose of gludopa (on a molar basis) was recovered in the urine as dopamine whereas 15% of the given dose of γ-l-glutamyl-5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan was excreted as 5-hydroxytryptamine.
3. The urinary excretion values of l-dopa, dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid after the simultaneous infusion of gludopa and γ-l-glutamyl-5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan were not significantly different from those observed after infusion of gludopa only. Similarly, the urinary excretion values of 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid during the co-infusion were similar to those measured after administration of γ-l-glutamyl-5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan only. The net effect of the concomitant infusion of both glutamyl derivatives was an increase in urinary sodium excretion.
4. Our study in salt-replete individuals suggests that dopamine rather than 5-hydroxytryptamine was preferentially produced when equimolar amounts of their precursors were provided and that the natriuretic effect of dopamine, generated intrarenally from gludopa, was greater than the sodium retaining action of 5-hydroxytryptamine derived from γ-l-glutamyl-5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan. Comparison of the urinary metabolite data after the separate and concomitant infusion of the two glutamyl compounds provided no evidence of competitive inhibition of synthesis of either amine.
Presence of the NHE3 Isoform of the Na+/H+ Exchanger in Human Gallbladder
Authors: Colombani V. , Silviani V. , Marteau C. , Lerique B. , Cartouzou G. , Gerolami A. 
Published: August 2015

1. In man and in various animal species, absorption of NaCl from bile by the gallbladder mucosa is associated with luminal proton secretion. A similar absorption of NaCl in small intestine, colon and renal tubule is related, at least in part, to the presence of the NHE3 isoform of the Na+/H+ exchanger. This work was designed to find out whether NHE3 is also present in human gallbladder.
2. At surgery, 100–200 mg of the gallbladder wall was obtained from patients treated by cholecystectomy for gallstones. After isolation of the mucosa, total RNA was extracted and submitted to reverse transcription—polymerase chain reaction with two primers: 5′-AAGCCICTGGTGCAGTGGCTGAAGG-3′ and 5′-GGAGTCCTTIAAGTCGGCIAAGCTGGGC-3′, designed to amplify a sequence of 645 bp of rabbit NHE3 mRNA (642 bp in man). RNA from human liver and from rabbit heart, neither of which contain NHE3, and human ileal RNA, which does contain NHE3, were used as controls.
3. RNA extracted from the mucosal moiety of the gallbladder wall gave an amplification product of about 645 nucleotides. Controls gave the expected negative or positive results. Sequencing of the amplified RNA showed it was almost identical to previously determined sequences of NHE3 in other human tissues.
4. It is concluded that the mucosa of human gallbladder contains the mRNA of NHE3 isoform. This isoform could therefore play a role in sodium absorption from bile.
Regulation of Pancreatitis-Associated Protein (HIP/PAP) mRNA Levels in Mouse Pancreas and Small Intestine
Authors: McKie Andrew T. , Simpson Robert J. , Ghosh Simon , Peters Timothy J. , Farzaneh Farzin 
Published: August 2015

1. In the present study we have examined the expression of pancreatitis-associated protein mRNA in mouse pancreas and small intestine and determined the effect of a number of factors on the steady-state level of the RNA.
2. The normally low level of pancreatitis-associated protein mRNA in pancreas increased severalfold after 6 h of hypoxia, reaching peak levels (approximately 10-fold greater than normal) after 24 h hypoxia. After 3 days' hypoxia pancreatitis-associated protein mRNA levels were again undetectable.
3. In the pancreas the level of pancreatitis-associated protein mRNA was also increased by alcohol and iron overload, but not by paracetamol.
4. In the small intestine expression of pancreatitis-associated protein mRNA was higher in normal ileum than in duodenum. In the ileum pancreatitis-associated protein mRNA levels were increased 7 to 15-fold after 6 h hypoxia, reaching peak levels by 24 h. Levels declined after 3 days' hypoxia, but remained higher than normal.
5. In the ileum long-term (4 weeks) dietary iron deficiency reduced pancreatitis-associated protein mRNA levels compared with control fed mice, whereas parenteral iron overload increased pancreatitis-associated protein mRNA levels.
6. The data presented suggest regulation of pancreatitis-associated protein gene expression by both oxygen tension and iron status.
Total Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity Measured with the Bicarbonate-Urea Method in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Authors: Paton N. I. J. , Elia M. , Jebb S. A. , Jennings G. , MacAllan D. C. , Griffin G. E. 
Published: August 2015

1. Our objectives were to measure total energy expenditure, the daily variation in total energy expenditure and the physical activity level in a group of HIV-positive subjects using the bicarbonate-urea method. The study also aimed to assess the practicalities of using the bicarbonate-urea technique in free-living conditions.
2. Total energy expenditure was measured with the bicarbonate-urea method over 2 consecutive days (1 day in one subject) in 10 male patients with HIV infection (median CD4 count = 30). Resting energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry. Physical activity level (total energy expenditure/resting energy expenditure) was calculated from these measurements and from activity diaries.
3. Resting energy expenditure was found to be 7.46 ± 0.87 MJ/day, 5% higher than predicted values. Total energy expenditure was 10.69 ± 1.95 MJ/day with an intra-individual day-to-day variation of 6 ± 6%. The measured physical activity level was 1.42 ± 0.14, higher than the diary estimate of 1.34 ± 0.16 (P = 0.029), and there were large inter-method differences in individual values. The subcutaneous infusion of bicarbonate was well tolerated and did not seem to restrict normal activities.
4. Total energy expenditure was not elevated in the group of HIV-positive subjects when compared with reference values for normal subjects. The physical activity level of the patients in this study was lower than that measured using other techniques in healthy young men, but was compatible with that expected for people leading a sedentary lifestyle. Reductions in physical activity in patients with HIV are likely to contribute to the wasting process and physical activity level may thus be a clinically useful measure. This study has also provided the first tracer estimate of the day-to-day variation in total energy expenditure. The bicarbonate-urea method represents an important new investigative tool for measuring total energy expenditure which has previously only been possible within the confines of a whole-body calorimeter or using the expensive doubly labelled water method.
Rates of Bone Loss in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: A 4 Year, Prospective, Population-Based Study
Authors: Young R. , May H. , Murphy S. , Grey C. , Compston J. E. 
Published: August 2015

1. Age-related bone loss is well established but reported rates of bone loss in the spine and femur vary widely. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and proximal femur in healthy postmenopausal women.
2. One hundred and thirty-eight population-based women, aged 45–65 years, recruited from general practice registers in 1990, were assessed at baseline; 108 returned for repeat assessment 4 years later, of whom 31 had taken hormone replacement therapy for 12 months or more of the 4-year study period. Bone densitometry of the lumbar spine and proximal femur was performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and oestradiol were measured by RIA and serum intact parathyroid hormone by radio-immunometric assay.
3. The mean age at follow-up was 62 years (mean of 13.6 years after menopause). Lumbar spine bone mineral density was significantly higher in women who had received hormone replacement therapy for more than 12 months during the study period than in those who had not (P &lt; 0.01). There was no difference between these two groups in the femoral neck or trochanteric bone mineral density. In the lumbar spine, the annual change in bone mass in untreated women was −0.39% (95% confidence intervals −0.60 to −0.09; P &lt; 0.02) whereas there was a small gain in women receiving hormone replacement therapy [+0.36% (−0.12 to 0.84; P not significant)]. The annual change in bone mass in the femoral neck and trochanter was −0.51 and −0.45 respectively in untreated women (P &lt; 0.01 and P &lt; 0.02), and −0.16 and −0.15 in those receiving hormone replacement therapy (P not significant).
4. Our results demonstrate relatively low rates of bone loss in the spine and proximal femur in these healthy, population-based peri- and postmenopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy appeared to be associated with a significant protective effect on spinal, but not femoral, bone mineral density.
Plasma Ionized Magnesium during Acute Hyperventilation in Humans
Authors: Hafen Gaudenz , Laux-End Regula , Truttmann Anita C. , Schibler Andreas , McGuigan John A. S. , Peheim Edgar , Bianchetti Mario G. 
Published: August 2015

1. Respiratory alkalosis accompanies the clinical syndrome of tetany, precipitates cardiac arrhythmias and predisposes to coronary vasoconstriction. Magnesium plays a critical role in the maintenance of membrane function, and magnesium depletion is often associated with cardiac arrhythmias or vasoconstriction.
2. As technology for detecting circulating ionized magnesium (the most interesting form with respect to physiological and biological properties) is now available in the form of new magnesium-selective electrodes, the effect of respiratory alkalosis induced by voluntary overbreathing for 30 min on circulating ionized magnesium was studied in eight healthy subjects.
3. The total plasma magnesium concentration was not modified by hyperventilation. On the contrary, hyperventilation was associated with a significant reduction in the ionized magnesium concentration of 0.05 (0.02–0.15) mmol/l (median and range) and in the free magnesium fraction of 0.06 (0.01–0.19). During hyperventilation the relative intravascular magnesium mass, calculated from changes in total plasma magnesium concentration and haematocrit, decreased significantly.
4. It is concluded that acute overbreathing reduces the circulating ionized magnesium concentration and the intravascular magnesium mass. It is therefore conceivable that extracellular magnesium deficiency is at least a subsidiary cause of the syndrome of tetany and the cardiac complications that are precipitated by hyperventilation.