bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peripherally Circulating Ghrelin Does Not Mediate Alcohol‐Induced Reward and Alcohol Intake in Rodents
Authors: Jerlhag Elisabet , Ivanoff Lisa , Vater Axel , Engel Jörgen A. 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundDevelopment of alcohol dependence, a chronic and relapsing disease, largely depends on the effects of alcohol on the brain reward systems. By elucidating the mechanisms involved in alcohol use disorder, novel treatment strategies may be developed. Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1A, acts as an important regulator of energy balance. Recently ghrelin and its receptor were shown to mediate alcohol reward and to control alcohol consumption in rodents. However, the role of central versus peripheral ghrelin for alcohol reward needs to be elucidated.MethodsGiven that ghrelin mainly is produced by peripheral organs, the present study was designed to investigate the role of circulating endogenous ghelin for alcohol reward and for alcohol intake in rodents.ResultsWe showed that the Spiegelmer NOX‐B11‐2, which binds and neutralizes acylated ghrelin in the periphery with high affinity and thus prevents its brain access, does not attenuate the alcohol‐induced locomotor activity, accumbal dopamine release and expression of conditioned place preference in mice. Moreover, NOX‐B11‐2 does not affect alcohol intake using the intermittent access 20% alcohol 2‐bottle‐choice drinking paradigm in rats, suggesting that circulating ghrelin does not regulate alcohol intake or the rewarding properties of alcohol. In the present study, we showed however, that NOX‐B11‐2 reduced food intake in rats supporting a role for circulating ghrelin as physiological regulators of food intake. Moreover, NOX‐B11‐2 did not affect the blood alcohol concentration in mice.ConclusionsCollectively, the past and present studies suggest that central, rather than peripheral, ghrelin signaling may be a potential target for pharmacological treatment of alcohol dependence.
Live weight and relative faecal production of Hylamorpha elegans (Burm.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae fed on soils with different particulate organic matter content
Authors: Millas Paz , Carrillo Roberto 
Published: January 2014

AbstractPrevious studies using white grub larvae have not found a relationship between scarabaeid larval growth and the quantity of total organic matter (OM) in the feeding soil. This is probably because it is the type or quality of the OM that is more important to larval nutritional requirements. The aim of this research was to study, under laboratory conditions, how the quality of OM, measured as the percentage of particulate OM (POM), affected the live weight and faecal production of Hylamorpha elegans (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae. Results showed that live weight gain of second and third instar larvae increased with an increase in the amount of POM. The faecal production showed no differences. Therefore, the effect on second and third instar larvae was related to the quality of the resource and not to an increase in the quantity of soil ingested. Better understanding of the dynamics of POM and other labile fractions of the soil OM as microbial biomass could be fundamental to assessing and implementing out agricultural practices that can ameliorate the impact of this pest.
Androgen deprivation therapy improves pneumoperitoneum time during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in Japanese patients with enlarged prostates
Authors: Takeda Toshikazu , Miyajima Akira , Kaneko Gou , Kikuchi Eiji , Nakagawa Ken , Oya Mototsugu 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate if neoadjuvant hormone therapy (NHT) is associated with surgical outcomes of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.MethodsA total of 286 patients with organ‐confined prostate cancer and a preoperative prostate volume that could be estimated by transrectal ultrasound underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy between 2006 and 2011 at our institution. We examined whether NHT was associated with pneumoperitoneum time (PT) or estimated blood loss during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.ResultsNHT was performed in 80 patients; the mean duration of NHT was 5.2 ± 0.2 months. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that history of NHT and no NHT were not independent predictors of prolonged PT or higher estimated blood loss. Next, we evaluated 57 patients whose estimated preoperative baseline prostate volume was over 50 mL. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that no history of NHT (P = 0.011) was an independent predictor of prolonged PT. PT was significantly shorter in the NHT group (164.5 ± 39.0 min, n = 26) than in the non‐NHT group (184.0 ± 36.7 min, n = 31) (P = 0.048). In the NHT group, mean prostate volume was reduced from 63.7 ± 16.0 mL to 42.1 ± 18.6 mL (33.9% reduction) by NHT.ConclusionNHT shortened the PT of the patients whose preoperative baseline prostate volume was over 50 mL. This suggests NHT downsized prostate volume, resulting in greater working space and shorter PT.
Nutrient pulses after prescribed winter fires and preferential patterns of N uptake may contribute to the expansion of Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) P. Beauv. in highland grasslands
Authors: Canals Rosa‐Maria , Pedro Javier , Rupérez Esther , San‐Emeterio Leticia 
Published: January 2014

AbstractQuestionDo prescribed winter fires – authorized to prevent shrub encroachment and control necromass accumulation in protected grassland communities – promote significant changes in soils and in the pool of nutrients available to plants? Does Brachypodium pinnatum, an expanding native grass, take better advantage of the most dynamic nutrient pulse, that of N, than other dominant native grasses?LocationAezkoa commons, western Pyrenees.MethodsWe scheduled experimental winter burnings in three semi‐natural grasslands with incipient shrub encroachment and tracked the short‐term physical–chemical changes produced in the soil. During the peak biomass period, we performed a stable isotope field experiment in order to follow the fate of three different chemical forms of labelled N (15, 15 and 13C2‐15N‐glycine) in 48 undisturbed stands of B. pinnatum and Festuca gr. rubra.ResultsThe soil pools of available phosphorus, potassium and ammonium significantly increased after the fire. Four months later, a pulse of nitrate was also recorded. The isotopic labelling experiment revealed that, although the three forms of N were absorbed by the grasses, significant differences in 15N tissue enrichment appeared after 48 h. Altogether, the results indicated a higher response of B. pinnatum to the pulse than F. rubra, although the latter was able to absorb intact glycine, unlike B. pinnatum.ConclusionsControlled winter burnings, despite being low intensity, cause a significant release of the main nutrients associated with plant growth. This makes the plant community more susceptible to floristic changes. The field experiment suggests that B. pinnatum may make better use of the post‐fire pulse than F. rubra. This preferential uptake, together with other competing mechanisms of the species, may trigger the expansion of B. pinnatum in burned areas.
On the Use of In Silico Tools for Prioritising Toxicity Testing of the Low‐Volume Industrial Chemicals in REACH
Authors: Rybacka Aleksandra , Rudén Christina , Andersson Patrik L. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis study was conducted to evaluate the utility of a selection of commercially and freely available non‐testing tools and to analyse how REACH registrants can apply these as prioritisation tool for low‐volume chemicals. The analysis was performed on a set of organic industrial chemicals and pesticides with extensive peer‐reviewed risk assessment data. Analysed in silico model systems included Derek Nexus, Toxtree, QSAR Toolbox, LAZAR, TEST and VEGA, and results from these were compared with expert‐judged risk classification according to the classifying, labelling and packaging (CLP) regulation. The most reliable results were obtained for carcinogenicity; however, less reliable predictions were derived for mutagenicity and reproductive toxicity. A group of compounds frequently predicted as false negatives was identified. These were relatively small molecules with low structural complexity, for example benzene derivatives with hydroxyl‐, amino‐ or aniline‐substituents. A rat liver S9 metabolite simulator was applied to illustrate the importance of considering metabolism in the risk assessment procedure. We also discuss outcome of combining predictions from multiple model systems and advise how to apply in silico tools. These models are proposed to be used to prioritise low‐volume chemicals for testing within the REACH legislation, and we conclude that further guidance is needed so that industry can select and apply models in a reliable, systematic and transparent way.
Preventative Effect of Zingiber officinale on Insulin Resistance in a High‐Fat High‐Carbohydrate Diet‐Fed Rat Model and its Mechanism of Action
Authors: Li Yiming , Tran Van H. , Kota Bhavani P. , Nammi Srinivas , Duke Colin C. , Roufogalis Basil D. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractInsulin resistance is a core component of metabolic syndrome and usually precedes the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We have examined the preventative effect of an ethanol extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale, Zingiberaceae) on insulin resistance in a high‐fat high‐carbohydrate (HFHC) diet‐fed rat model of metabolic syndrome. The HFHC control rats displayed severe insulin resistance, whilst rats treated with ginger extract (200 mg/kg) during HFHC diet feeding showed a significant improvement of insulin sensitivity using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) after 10 weeks (p < 0.01). An in vitro mechanistic study showed that (S)‐[6]‐gingerol, the major pungent phenolic principle in ginger, dose‐dependently (from 50 to 150 μM) increased AMPK α‐subunit phosphorylation in L6 skeletal muscle cells. This was accompanied by a time‐dependent marked increment of PGC‐1α mRNA expression and mitochondrial content in L6 skeletal muscle cells. These results suggest that the protection from HFHC diet‐induced insulin resistance by ginger is likely associated with the increased capacity of energy metabolism by its major active component (S)‐[6]‐gingerol.
Blood oxidative stress markers and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in non‐immune African children
Authors: Aguilar Ruth , Marrocco Tiziana , Skorokhod Oleksii A. , Barbosa Arnoldo , Nhabomba Augusto , Manaca Maria N. , Guinovart Caterina , Quintó Llorenç , Arese Paolo , Alonso Pedro L. , Dobaño Carlota , Schwarzer Evelin 
Published: January 2014

SummaryConverging in vitro evidence and clinical data indicate that oxidative stress may play important roles in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, notably in the pathogenesis of severe anaemia. However, oxidative modifications of the red blood cell (RBC)‐membrane by 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE) and haemoglobin‐binding, previously hypothesized to contribute mechanistically to the pathogenesis of clinical malaria, have not yet been tested for clinical significance. In 349 non‐immune Mozambican newborns recruited in a double‐blind placebo‐controlled chemoprophylaxis trial, oxidative markers including 4‐HNE‐conjugates and membrane‐bound haemoglobin were longitudinally assessed from 2·5 to 24 months of age, at first acute malaria episode and in convalescence. During acute malaria, 4‐HNE‐conjugates were shown to increase significantly in parasitized and non‐parasitized RBCs. In parallel, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) rose in plasma. 4‐HNE‐conjugates correlated with AOPP and established plasma but not with RBC oxidative markers. High individual levels of 4‐HNE‐conjugates were predictive for increased malaria incidence rates in children until 2 years of life and elevated 4‐HNE‐conjugates in convalescence accompanied sustained anaemia after a malaria episode, indicating 4‐HNE‐conjugates as a novel patho‐mechanistic factor in malaria. A second oxidative marker, haemoglobin binding to RBC‐membranes, hypothesized to induce clearing of RBCs from circulation, was predictive for lower malaria incidence rates. Further studies will show whether or not higher membrane‐haemoglobin values at the first malaria episode may provide protection against malaria.
Seeking help because of others' drinking
Authors: Mugavin Janette , Livingston Michael , Laslett Anne‐Marie 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIntroduction and AimsMany individuals contact and are assisted by community and emergency services because of someone else's drinking. Previous studies have focused on family members accessing services, such as Alcoholics Anonymous due to significant others' drinking; however, little is known about service use in the broad community. This paper aims to estimate the prevalence of contacting the police and seeking help from health services because of others' drinking and to compare the profiles of individuals seeking services with those who did not contact a service.Design and MethodsA total of 2649 adult Australians were surveyed about their experience of harm from others' drinking, including use of emergency and community services.ResultsIn the 12 months prior to the survey, 13% of respondents had contacted the police and 5% had sought help from a health‐related service. Using logistic regression, being older and having a secondary school education were associated with a decreased likelihood of contacting police because of others' drinking, whereas residing in a non‐metropolitan location was positively associated with using health‐related services. Having a partner was negatively associated with use of health‐related services. The extent of self‐reported harm from others' drinking was the only factor associated with use of both police and health‐related services.Discussion and ConclusionResults suggest differences in the profile of respondents who call the police and those who seek health‐related services due to others' drinking. This supports the need for tailored services to support and address the needs of people experiencing harm from others' drinking. [Mugavin J, Livingston M, Laslett A‐M. Seeking help because of others' drinking. Drug Alcohol Rev 2014;33:161–168]
Homocysteine levels are inversely associated with capillary density in men, not in premenopausal women
Authors: Hornstra Jacqueline M. , Hoekstra Trynke , Serné Erik H. , Eringa Ed C. , Wijnstok Nienke J. , Blom Henk J. , Twisk Jos W. R. , Smulders Yvo M. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundHomocysteine is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. The mechanisms underlying this link are not fully elucidated. Whereas the role of vascular dysfunction in conduit arteries is extensively studied, the role of the microcirculation in this relationship is largely unexplored. We assessed the relationship between homocysteine levels and microvascular structure and function in a healthy, population‐based cohort.Materials and methodsWe cross‐sectionally studied 260 participants (aged 42 years, 47% men) of the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy was used to assess capillary density at baseline, during venous occlusion and during peak reactive hyperaemia. The relationship between tertiles of homocysteine and microvascular outcomes was evaluated using linear regression analyses, with adjustment for BMI and blood pressure. Stratified analyses were performed for men and women.ResultsIn men, we observed a negative, nonlinear relationship between homocysteine and baseline capillary density, showing a lower capillary density in the highest tertile of homocysteine [adjusted B −8·65 capillaries/mm2 (95%‐CI: −16·05 to −1·25); P = 0·02]. In women, no significant associations were found between homocysteine and microvascular outcomes.ConclusionsIn men, higher homocysteine levels are associated with a reduction in basal perfusion of skin capillaries. This finding provides a novel potential explanation for how homocysteine influences cardiovascular disease risk.
Historical comparisons reveal altered competitive interactions in a guild of crustose coralline algae
Authors: McCoy S. J. , Pfister C. A. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAs the ocean environment changes over time, a paucity of long‐term data sets and historical comparisons limits the exploration of community dynamics over time in natural systems. Here, we used a long‐term experimental data set to present evidence for a reversal of competitive dominance within a group of crustose coralline algae (CCA) from the 1980s to present time in the northeast Pacific Ocean. CCA are cosmopolitan species distributed globally, and dominant space holders in intertidal and subtidal systems. Competition experiments showed a markedly lower competitive ability of the previous competitively dominant species and a decreased response of competitive dynamics to grazer presence. Competitive networks obtained from survey data showed concordance between the 1980s and 2013, yet also revealed reductions in interaction strengths across the assemblage. We discuss the potential role of environmental change, including ocean acidification, in altered ecological dynamics in this system.
A review of approaches to assessing equine welfare
Authors: Hockenhull J. , Whay H. R. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryVeterinary surgeons are required to assess an animal's welfare in a range of different circumstances in the course of their daily work. These assessments may relate to the long‐term welfare of an individual animal under their care, or the current welfare of a population of animals that are unfamiliar to them as individuals. The welfare assessment made may subsequently have implications for the treatment that an animal receives or for the decision of whether or not an animal should remain in its current home. Yet welfare assessment is not straightforward. Here we review the challenges that welfare assessment presents and review the tools currently available to meet them. Lastly, we look towards the future of equine welfare assessment, with examples of current research to develop tools and optimise welfare assessment.
N‐butylscopolammonium bromide causes fewer side effects than atropine when assessing bronchoconstriction reversibility in horses with heaves
Authors: de Lagarde M. , Rodrigues N. , Chevigny M. , Beauchamp G. , Albrecht B. , Lavoie J. P. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryReasons for performing studyBronchospasm results in airway obstruction in horses with heaves. Atropine is the most potent bronchodilator drug currently available for horses, but is associated with side effects that limit its use. Like atropine,N‐butylscopolammonium bromide (NBB) is an anticholinergic agent with bronchodilatory properties.ObjectivesTo compare the bronchodilating effects and side effects of atropine andNBBin horses with heaves.Study designCross‐over experiment using horses with heaves.MethodsEight horses with heaves were administered atropine andNBB, using a cross‐over design. Heart rate, pupillary dilatation, transrectal palpation, lung mechanics (maximal changes in transpulmonary pressure, pulmonary resistance and elastance) and arterial blood gases were assessed before and 10 and 30 min after drug administration.ResultsOne horse treated with atropine developed colic. Significant pupillary dilatation was observed only with atropine. Tachycardia developed in all horses, but was more marked with atropine. Lung function improved with both drugs, but elastance values had returned to baseline at 30 min withNBB. There was no improvement in arterial hypoxaemia with either drug.ConclusionsThe study indicated that the bronchodilatory properties ofNBBwere not statistically different from those of atropine, but were of shorter duration.N‐butylscopolammonium bromide was associated with fewer systemic side effects, and thereforeNBBshould be preferred over atropine when assessing the reversibility of airway obstruction in horses.
A dual‐tree complex wavelet transform‐based approach for recognition of power system transients
Authors: Chakraborty Soumi , Chatterjee Amitava , Goswami Swapan Kumar 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe present paper proposes a dual‐tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT) based approach for recognition of power system transients. Several researchers, all over the world, have so far attempted to solve the problems of recognition of power system transients, hybridizing transform‐based techniques with popular computational intelligence based tools, for example, using wavelet transform and S‐transform for feature extraction, followed by artificial neural networks (ANN) or fuzzy logic‐based classifiers. The proposed method of hybridizing DTCWT‐based feature extraction with ANN‐based classification could efficiently detect several commonly occurring power quality (PQ) disturbance events. The PQ disturbance events considered include four different transient conditions, namely transients due to capacitor switching, transformer inrush currents, transients due to motor switching and transients due to short circuit faults. A detailed performance comparison with several contemporary, competing methods existing in the literatures for similar problems aptly demonstrates the suitability of the proposed method.
Fluorescence resonance energy transfer based on interaction of PII and PipX proteins provides a robust and specific biosensor for 2‐oxoglutarate, a central metabolite and a signalling molecule
Authors: Chen Hai‐Lin , Bernard Christophe S. , Hubert Pierre , My Laetitia , Zhang Cheng‐Cai 
Published: January 2014

2‐Oxoglutarate is a central metabolite and a signalling molecule in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The cellular levels of 2‐oxoglutarate vary rapidly in response to environmental changes, but an easy and reliable approach is lacking for the measurement of 2‐oxoglutarate. Here we report a biosensor of 2‐oxoglutarate based on the 2‐oxoglutarate‐dependent dissociation of the PII–PipX protein complex from cyanobacteria. Fusions of PII and PipX to either cyan or yellow fluorescent protein can form a complex and their interaction can be detected by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Mutations in PII or PipX that affect their interaction strongly decrease the FRET signal. Furthermore, the FRET signal is negatively affected, in a specific and concentration‐dependent manner, by the presence of 2‐oxoglutarate. This 2‐oxoglutarate biosensor responds specifically and rapidly to a large range of 2‐oxoglutarate levels and is highly robust under different conditions, including in bacterial cell extracts. We further used this biosensor to study the interaction between PII and its effectors, and our data indicate that excess of Mg2+ ions is a key factor for PII to respond efficiently to an increase in 2‐oxoglutarate levels. This study paves the way for probing the dynamics of 2‐oxoglutarate in various organisms and provides a valuable tool for the understanding of the molecular mechanism in metabolic regulation.Structured digital abstractPipX binds to PII by fluorescent resonance energy transfer (1, 2, 3)