bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in obese subjects
Authors: ROSSI Marco , Marti Giuliano , Ricordi Luigi , Fornasari Gabriele , Finardi Giorgio , Fratino Pietro , Bernardi Luciano 
Published: August 2015

1. The prevalence of cardiac autonomic alterations was evaluated in 23 obese subjects with body mass index 37.2 ± 3.03 kg/m2 (mean ± sd), compared with 78 controls with body mass index 22.5 ± 2.6 kg/m2 (P &lt; 0.001).
2. Cardiac autonomic function was assessed by four standard tests (heart rate response to deep breathing and to the Valsalva manoeuvre, systolic blood pressure fall after standing and diastolic pressure rise during handgrip) and by the cross-correlation test, a new method of computerized analysis of respiratory sinus arrhythmia based on spectral analysis of electrocardiographic and respiratory signals.
3. Considering tests indicative of parasympathetic function, only the heart rate response to the deep breathing and the cross-correlation test were significantly lower in the obese than in the control group [deep breathing = 13.95 ± 8.65 beats/min (mean ± sd) vs 24.5 ± 7.65, P &lt; 0.001; cross-correlation 4.28 ± 0.74 units vs 5.14 ± 0.63, P &lt; 0.001]. Deep breathing and/or cross-correlation were abnormal in 10 (43.5%) obese subjects (deep breathing: seven subjects, cross-correlation: eight subjects). No significant difference between groups was found for the response to the Valsalva manoeuvre: the Valsalva ratio was 1.69 ± 0.45 in obese subjects and 1.88 ± 0.33 in controls (P = NS). The Valsalva ratio was abnormal in three obese subjects.
4. No significant differences were found between groups for tests indicative of sympathetic function. The rise in diastolic blood pressure after handgrip was 12.6 ± 6.2 mmHg (1.67 ± 0.82 kPa) in obese subjects and 18.2 ± 4.9 mmHg (2.42 ± 0.65 kPa) in controls (P = NS), and the fall in systolic blood pressure after standing was −6.8 ± 8.6 mmHg (−0.90 ± 1.14 kPa) in obese subjects and −6.9 ± 10.4 mmHg (−0.91 ± 1.38 kPa) in controls (P = NS). The handgrip test was abnormal in four obese subjects, while no obese subject had an abnormal blood pressure response to standing.
5. Our findings suggest a high incidence of cardiac autonomic dysfunction in obese subjects. Since cardiac autonomic alterations have been shown to be involved in the mechanisms of cardiac sudden death, our data suggest a possible role of autonomic dysfunction in the increased risk for sudden death in obesity.
Effect of replacing glucose with lipid on the energy metabolism of newborn infants
Authors: van Aerde J. E. E. , Sauer P. J. J. , Pencharz P. B. , Smith J. M. , Swyer P. R. 
Published: August 2015

1. Indirect calorimetry and primed constant infusion of [U-13C]glucose were combined in 28 appropriate-for-gestational age newborn, parenterally fed infants, in order to measure glucose utilization and glucose oxidation and to estimate lipogenesis from glucose.
2. The infants were randomly allocated to either a group receiving glucose as the non-protein energy source or a group having one-quarter of the glucose energy replaced by intravenous fat. The energy intake (370 kJ day−1 kg−1) and protein intake (3.4 g day−1 kg−1) were similar in both groups.
3. Energy expenditure (P &lt; 0.005), non-protein carbon dioxide production (P &lt; 0.005) and non-protein oxygen consumption (P &lt; 0.05) were lower in the lipid-supple-mented group.
4. The significant excess of glucose utilization over oxidation (P &lt; 0.001) can be accounted for by lipid synthesis from glucose.
5. Fat synthesis from glucose was higher in the glucose/amino acid group (P &lt; 0.02), but total fat storage was higher in the lipid-supplemented group (P &lt; 0.02). Nitrogen balance was similar in both groups.
6. As lipogenesis from glucose is an energy- and oxygen-consuming and a carbon dioxide-producing process, the data suggest that the differences between the glucose-only group and the lipid-supplemented group are due to different rates of lipogenesis from glucose.
Somatostatin Analogue Improves Survival in Conscious Cirrhotic Rats Subjected to Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: Cerini Raimondo , Braillon Alain , Hadengue Antoine , Koshy Abraham , Lee Samuel S. , Lebrec Didier 
Published: August 2015

1. The continuing doubt concerning the value of vasoconstrictive therapy for gastrointestinal bleeding may be related to the complexity of clinical trials in such a situation.
2. The effect of SM 201–995, a somatostatin analogue, was investigated in conscious cirrhotic rats before, during and after experimental bleeding from the portal territory.
3. Before haemorrhage, somatostatin analogue (8 μg h−1 kg−1 body weight, intravenously) produced a significant decrease in portal pressure (17%), whereas a placebo (saline) lacked significant effect.
4. The rats were then subjected to spontaneous bleeding, by disconnection of the portal catheter from the pressure gauge, for a 5 min period. At the end of the haemorrhage, haemodynamic parameters did not significantly differ between the group receiving somatostatin analogue and that receiving placebo.
5. Fifteen minutes after the end of the bleeding period, portal pressure was significantly lower in rats receiving somatostatin analogue [8.5 ± 0.5 mmHg (1.13 ± 0.07 kPa), mean ± sem] than in rats receiving placebo [11.0 ± 1.1 mmHg (1.50 ± 0.15 kPa)].
6. The volume of blood lost and mortality were significantly lower in the group treated with somatostatin analogue (2.3 ± 0.1 ml/100 g body weight and 8%, respectively) than in the group receiving placebo (3.0 ± 0.1 ml/100 g body weight and 50%, respectively).
7. These results demonstrate, in an experimental model, the beneficial effect of somatostatin analogue for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension. They suggest that administration of this substance should be started as soon as possible after the beginning of haemorrhage and continued after the cessation of bleeding.
Chronobiological Study of the Relationship between Dyspnoea and Airway Obstruction in Symptomatic Asthmatic Subjects
Authors: Peiffer C. , Marsac J. , Lockhart A. 
Published: August 2015

1. We performed a chronobiological study of the relationship between peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and magnitude of dyspnoea in 35 symptomatic asthmatic patients to determine how accurately asthmatic subjects assess spontaneous airway obstruction and whether this accuracy varies throughout the 24 h period and depends on characteristics of the subjects or asthma.
2. At 07.00,11.00, 15.00, 19.00 and 23.00 hours on 8 consecutive days in their ordinary environment and under their usual drug regimen, the subjects first rated their dyspnoea with a visual analogue scale and immediately after recorded their PEFR.
3. The linear regression coefficients between dyspnoea score and PEFR for the 35 subjects were continuously distributed between −0.93 and +0.21, with most r values ranging from −0.9 to −0.5. The group median r values calculated at each time point showed that strongest correlation between dyspnoea score and PEFR occurred at 7 h, which coincided with the lowest PEFR values.
4. We chose r = −0.7 (r2 = 0.5) as a limit to distinguish good perceivers (−1 &lt; r ≤ −0.7) from bad perceivers of airway obstruction. These two populations differed only by a higher variability of both PEFR and dyspnoea score in good than in bad perceivers, but not for severity, duration or treatment of asthma, absolute value of dyspnoea score, age or sex.
5. Our study quantified an important intra- and between-subject variability in the accuracy of perception of spontaneous airway obstruction in asthmatic subjects which seems to be unrelated to most characteristics of asthma.
Effects of Meal Composition on the Postprandial Blood Pressure, Catecholamine and Insulin Changes in Elderly Subjects
Authors: Potter J. F. , Heseltine D. , Hartley G. , Matthews J. , Macdonald I. A. , James O. F. W. 
Published: August 2015

1. The effects of four meals of similar energy, but different nutritional, composition on postprandial blood pressure, heart rate, autonomic function, catecholamines, insulin and packed cell volume levels were studied in seven fit elderly subjects.
2. The high carbohydrate and high protein meals led to a significant overall fall in supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared either with no change or a rise after the normal (i.e. mixed) and high fat meals. Similar between-meal differences were seen with erect diastolic but not erect systolic blood pressure. No significant postural blood pressure fall occurred after any of the meals. Supine heart rate was unaffected by meal type or by time, and although erect heart rate showed a small increase during the study there was no between-meal difference.
3. Parasympathetic function was unaffected by meal type. Plasma noradrenaline rose after the high carbohydrate and mixed meals only, remaining elevated for 120 min after meal consumption. This increase was not related to the changes in blood pressure or plasma insulin levels.
4. Plasma insulin and glucose rose after the high carbohydrate and mixed meals, but were unchanged after the high protein and high fat meals. Packed cell volume showed a small decrease towards the end of the study, although there was no between-meal variation.
5. The differences in the cardiovascular changes after the different meals could not be ascribed to alterations in autonomic function, insulin release or fall in plasma volume. We propose that the postprandial changes in blood pressure are due to the nutrient composition of the meal rather than the actual energy load.
Measurement of the Rate of Protein Synthesis in Muscle of Postabsorptive Young Men by Injection of a ‘Flooding Dose’ of [1-13C]leucine
Authors: Garlick Peter J. , Wernerman Jan , McNurlan Margaret A. , Essen Pia , Lobley Gerald E. , Milne Eric , Calder Graham A. , Vinnars Eric 
Published: August 2015

1. The ‘flooding dose’ technique for measuring the rate of protein synthesis in tissues in vivo involves the injection of a large amount of unlabelled amino acid together with the tracer to minimize differences in isotopic enrichment of the free amino acid in plasma and tissue compartments. This approach has been investigated in human muscle by taking biopsies from postabsorptive male volunteers given [1-13C]leucine.
2. Intravenous injection of 4 g of unlabelled leucine resulted in a rapid rise in free leucine concentration of seven- to eleven-fold in plasma and five-fold in muscle. Values were still elevated by two-fold after 2 h.
3. Five minutes after injection of [1-13C]leucine (0.05 g/kg) the isotopic enrichment of plasma leucine was 82% that of the injected material, falling to 44% at 120 min. The enrichment of free leucine in sequential muscle biopsies was close to that in plasma and almost identical to that for plasma α-ketoisocaproate.
4. The rate of protein synthesis was determined from the increase in leucine enrichment in protein of muscle biopsies taken before and 90 min after injection of [1-13C]leucine (0.05 g/kg; 19 or 39 atom% excess) and the average plasma α-ketoisocaproate enrichment over this period (taken to represent muscle free leucine). The mean rate of muscle protein synthesis in 10 subjects was 1.95 (sem 0.12)%/day. Rates of protein synthesis calculated from plasma leucine as precursor enrichment were only 5% lower than those calculated from plasma α-ketoisocaproate.
5. It is concluded that a ‘flooding dose’ of 13C-labelled amino acid is a useful and convenient technique for determining the rate of protein synthesis in tissues of human volunteers and patients.
The E1 α and β Subunits of the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex are M2‘d’ and M2‘e’ Autoantigens in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Authors: Fussey Shelley P. M. , Bassendine Margaret F. , Fittes Dorothy , Turner Ian B. , James Oliver F. W. , Yeaman Stephen J. 
Published: August 2015

1. Sera from 76 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and 66 control subjects (53 with chronic liver disease and 13 healthy normal women) were immunoblotted against purified E1 component of bovine pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) and bacterial PDC.
2. Thirty-one out of seventy-six (41%) sera from PBC patients showed a positive response to bovine E1α, and five of these 31 (7% of total) reacted with bovine E1β. None of the control sera reacted with bovine E1 α or β.
3. None of the PBC sera that recognized bovine E1 subunits reacted with bacterial PDC E1.
4. In the PBC patients there was no correlation between presence of antibodies to E1α and β subunits and histological stage of the disease.
5. Our data demonstrate that the E1α and β components of mammalian PDC are the M2‘d’ and ‘e’ mitochondrial autoantigens, respectively.
Small-Intestinal Function during Enteral Feeding and Starvation in Man
Authors: Maxton D. G. , Menzies I. S. , Slavin B. , Thompson R. P. H. 
Published: August 2015

1. Small-intestinal absorption and permeability were measured in nine patients with malnutrition who were receiving liquid enteral nutrition after different periods of starvation, in five patients receiving enteral nutrition without starvation, in six healthy subjects after starvation for 36 h and in two obese subjects starved for 11 days.
2. Absorption, expressed by the plasma 60 min d-xylose level and the plasma 60 min d-xylose/3-O-methyl-d-glucose ratio, was greatly decreased (P &lt; 0.001) in the nine patients receiving enteral feeding after starvation, whereas permeability, denoted by the 5 h urinary lactulose/rhamnose ratio, was increased (P &lt; 0.05).
3. The five patients receiving enteral feeds without prior starvation had normal intestinal absorption and permeability.
4. Starvation of the healthy subjects reduced absorption (P &lt; 0.05) and this was detectable at 36 h. Permeability, however, was not increased by 36 h starvation. Starvation of the obese subjects also progressively reduced absorption, and this was reversed with refeeding.
5. Changes in intestinal function during enteral feeding are similar to those seen in intestinal diseases. They develop rapidly and are not caused or reversed by liquid enteral feeds. Starvation, before beginning feeding, may explain some of the changes found.
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Release during Sleep in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea before and during Treatment with Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Authors: Krieger J. , Laks L. , Wilcox I. , Grunstein R. R. , Costas L. J. V. , McDougall J. G. , Sullivan C. E. 
Published: August 2015

1. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured in seven patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) while they were awake, during repetitive apnoea and during treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
2. ANP levels in both pulmonary artery and peripheral venous samples were elevated during apnoeic sleep and reduced when apnoea was prevented by nasal CPAP. Mean values of pulmonary artery ANP were 116.3 ± 17.9 pg/ml during apnoea and 64.8 ± 15.2 pg/ml (P &lt; 0.05) on nasal CPAP.
3. It is concluded that there is increased ANP release during sleep in patients with OSA and that CPAP treatment normalizes ANP secretion. These findings may explain previously identified urinary abnormalities in OSA.
Evidence against a Role for Platelet-Activating Factor in Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction in the Rat
Authors: McCormack D. G. , Barnes P. J. , Evans T. W. 
Published: August 2015

1. The effect of two structurally different platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonists, WEB 2086({3-[4-(2-chlorophenyl)-9-methyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f]-[1,2,4]-treazolo-[4,3-a][1,4]-diazepine-2-yl]-1-(morpholinyl)-1-propanone}) and BN 52021, on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) was studied using an isolated rat lung preparation perfused with blood.
2. In lungs treated with WEB 2086 there was a dose-dependent attenuation of HPV, with complete abolition of HPV at the maximum dose.
3. Low doses of WEB 2086 caused only slight diminution of the pressor response to angiotensin II, although higher doses caused increasing attenuation of the angiotensin pressor response.
4. BN 52021 did not affect HPV.
5. Injection of PAF caused an increase in pulmonary artery pressure of 145%, a response abolished by pre-treatment of the lungs with either WEB 2086 or BN 52021.
6. These results suggest that PAF does not mediate HPV in the rat.
Trophic Effect of Efamol on the Rat Small-Intestinal Mucosa
Authors: Jenkins A. P. , Thompson R. P. H. 
Published: August 2015

1. The hypothesis that triacylglycerols are trophic to the small-intestinal mucosa of the rat was tested by comparing the action of the essential fatty acid-rich oil Efamol with that of glucose.
2. Two groups of nine female Wistar rats were pair-fed Vivonex HN with 50% calorie substitution by glucose or Efamol for 21 days.
3. Body weight gain was greater with glucose than with Efamol, but, despite this, whole gut weight, mucosal weight and mucosal protein were increased by Efamol in all small-intestinal segments. Total mucosal DNA was also increased with a significant change in the middle small-intestinal segment. These changes were associated with an increased crypt cell production rate.
4. Fasting plasma levels of peptidyltyrosyltyrosine (‘peptide YY’), but not of enteroglucagon, were significantly elevated in the Efamol-fed group.
5. The data show a trophic effect of Efamol on the rat small-intestinal mucosa. Possible mechanisms are discussed.
Stress Hormones Given to Healthy Volunteers Alter the Concentration and Configuration of Ribosomes in Skeletal Muscle, Reflecting Changes in Protein Synthesis
Authors: Wernerman Jan , Botta Danielle , Hammarqvist Folke , Thunell Stig , von der Decken Alexandra , Vinnars Erik 
Published: August 2015

1. The influence of elevated concentrations of stress hormones on the concentration of ribosomes and the relative proportion of polyribosomes, reflecting protein synthesis in vivo, in human skeletal muscle was investigated. Healthy volunteers were given a 6 h infusion of adrenaline (n = 8), Cortisol (n = 8), a triple-hormone combination of adrenaline, Cortisol and glucagon (n = 8), or saline (n = 8)
2. The total ribosome concentration declined by 30.4 ± 7.2% in the triple-hormone group (P &lt;0.01), by 26.9 ± 8.6% in the Cortisol group (P &lt;0.05) and by 24.8 ± 11.2% in the adrenaline group (P &lt;0.05). The proportion of polyribosomes to total ribosomes decreased by 8.5 ± 2.2% in the triple-hormone group (P &lt;0.05)
3. During hormone infusion the serum glucose levels were enhanced. The insulin concentrations in serum were elevated in the adrenaline group and the triple-hormone group, but not in the Cortisol group. Serum insulin decreased in the control group
4. The results indicate an effect of the combined stress hormone infusion on the total ribosome concentration as well as on the relative abundance of polyribosomes. The single hormones influenced the total ribosome concentration only. The results suggest a critical role for stress hormones in producing the decline in muscle protein synthesis seen after trauma.
Postural vasoconstriction in women during the normal menstrual cycle
Authors: Hassan Ahmad A. K. , Carter G. , Tooke J. E. 
Published: August 2015

1. Postural vasoconstriction in the foot was examined in 15 women during the menstrual, follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, and in 13 age-matched men on two separate occasions, in a constant-temperature environment (22°C).
2. Skin blood flow was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry with the subject lying down, first with the foot maintained at heart level, then with the foot lowered passively 50 cm below the heart. In six of the women, at the time of experiment, serum oestradiol and progesterone were determined by radioimmunoassay. In four women and three men, foot swelling rate was also measured in the dependent foot using a strain gauge plethysmograph in addition to the postural changes in flow. At each visit, in all subjects, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, foot skin temperature and body weight were also recorded.
3. The men showed no significant changes in all the variables assessed. In contrast, in women during the luteal phase diastolic and mean arterial pressures were significantly reduced, whereas heart rate, body temperature, foot skin temperature and body weight were significantly increased, as compared with the follicular and menstrual phases of the cycle.
4. During the follicular phase, when oestradiol concentration was high, there were significant reductions in dependent flow and foot swelling rate associated with a significantly augmented postural fall in flow, whereas during the luteal phase, when both oestradiol and progesterone levels were high, there were significant increases in dependent flow and foot swelling rate associated with a significantly impaired postural fall in flow. Four women who reported premenstrual ankle oedema showed significantly higher flow values during the luteal phase than the rest of women.
5. These results confirm the modulating influence of female sex hormones on peripheral blood flow and vascular tone. The partially impaired postural vasoconstrictor response during the luteal phase of the cycle might be partly implicated in the pathogenesis of premenstrual oedema in some women.
Assessment of broadband ultrasound attenuation in the os calcis in vitro
Authors: McCloskey E. V. , Murray S. A. , Charlesworth D. , Miller C. , Fordham J. , Clifford K. , Atkins R. , Kanis J. A. 
Published: August 2015

1. We have examined the relationship between the attenuation of broadband ultrasound in the os calcis in vitro and its bone mineral density measured by quantitative computed tomography and by physical density.
2. Broadband ultrasound attenuation was found to correlate closely with physical density (r = 0.85, P &lt; 0.0001), but the correlation was less than that observed between quantitative computed tomography and physical density (r = 0.92, P &lt; 0.0001). Measurements of broadband ultrasound attenuation and quantitative computed tomography were significantly correlated (r = 0.80, P &lt; 0.0001).
3. Partial correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between broadband ultrasound attenuation and bone density, but when the effect of physical density was taken into account no significant correlation was found between broadband ultrasound attenuation and quantitative computed tomography (r = 0.08, not significant).
4. Broadband ultrasound attenuation in three prospective amputees showed a high degree of concordance between measurements in vivo and in vitro, with no interference by surrounding soft tissues.
5. The correlation between physical density and broadband ultrasound attenuation was independent of quantitative computed tomography, suggesting that the technique measures aspects of density which differ from its mineral density. Broadband ultrasound attenuation holds promise as a reproducible, rapid, radiation-free assessment of skeletal status.
Relationship between inspiratory drive and perceived inspiratory effort in normal man
Authors: Clague J. E. , Carter J. , Pearson M. G. , Calverley P. M. A. 
Published: August 2015

1. To examine the relationship between the inspiratory effort sensation (IES) and respiratory drive as reflected by mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1) we have studied loaded and unloaded ventilatory responses to CO2 in 12 normal subjects.
2. The individual coefficient of variation of the effort sensation response to CO2 (IES/Pco2) between replicate studies was 21% and was similar to the variability of the ventilatory response (VE/Pco2) (18%) and the occlusion pressure response (P0.1/Pco2) (22%).
3. IES was well correlated with P0.1 (r &gt;0.9) for both free-breathing and loaded runs.
4. Resistive loading reduced the ventilatory response to hypercapnia from 19.3 1 min−1 kPa−1 (sd 7.5) to 12.6 1 min−1 kPa−1 (sd 3.9) (P &lt;0.01). IES and P0.1 responses increased with resistive loading from 2.28 (sd 0.9) to 3.15 (sd 1.1) units/kPa and 2.8 (sd 1.2) to 3.73 (sd 1.5) cmH2O/kPa, respectively (P &lt;0.01).
5. Experimentally induced changes in Pco2 and respiratory impedance were accompanied by increases in IES and P0.1. We found no evidence that CO2 increased IES independently of its effect on respiratory drive.