bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of intramuscular connective tissue in meat texture
Authors: NISHIMURA Takanori 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTThe structure, composition and amount of intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) vary tremendously between muscles, species and breeds, and certainly contribute to meat texture. With animal growth, collagen crosslinks become more stable, and the structural integrity of IMCT increases. These changes increase the mechanical properties of IMCT, contributing to the toughening of meat. Intramuscular fat deposits, mainly in the perimysium between muscle fiber bundles, result in marbling. This causes the remodeling of IMCT structures and reduces the mechanical strength of IMCT, contributing to the tenderization of beef. The IMCT has been thought to be rather immutable compared to myofibrils during postmortem ageing of meat. However, recent studies have shown the disintegration of IMCT during postmortem ageing of meat and its relationship to tenderization of raw meat, although its contribution to cooked meat is still controversial. Given the large influence of IMCT on meat texture, further elucidations of molecular mechanisms which change the structural integrity of IMCT during chronological ageing of animals and postmortem ageing of meat are needed.
Interaction between myostatin and extracellular matrix components
Authors: MIURA Takayuki , KISHIOKA Yasuhiro , WAKAMATSU Jun‐ichi , HATTORI Akihito , NISHIMURA Takanori 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTMyostatin, a member of the TGF‐β superfamily, is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. We have recently demonstrated that decorin binds to myostatin in vitro, and that immobilized decorin within the collagen matrix prevents myostatin‐mediated inhibition of myoblast proliferation. However, little is known about other ECM molecules that bind to myostatin and modulate its activity. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the interaction of several other ECM molecules with myostatin. We here show that fibromodulin, fibronectin and laminin bind to myostatin in the presence of Zn2+ with a dissociation constant (KD) of 10−10∼10−8 mol/L. Fibromodulin shows the highest affinity for myostatin among them. These results suggest that these ECM molecules may modulate myostatin activity like decorin does.
Effects of high potassium chloride supplementation on water intake, urine volume and nitrogen balance in mice
Authors: MURAI Iori , SUGIMOTO Miki , IKEDA Shuntaro , KUME Shin‐ichi 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTSixteen ICR male mice were assigned to a control diet group or a KCl diet group in metabolic cages to clarify the effects of KCl supplementation on water intake, urine volume and N balance, and 5% of KCl was supplemented in KCl diets for 4 or 8 weeks. Bodyweight of KCl supplemented mice was significantly higher than that of control mice from 24 to 28 days after treatment. Feed intake, water intake and urine volume of KCl supplemented mice were significantly higher than those of control mice, and the increased water intake and urine volume in KCl supplemented mice were 4.49 and 4.15 g, respectively. Urinary N, K and Cl excretion were significantly higher in KCl supplemented mice. Although N retention was not significantly different between control and KCl supplemented mice, N retention in KCl supplemented mice tended to be lower. Serum creatinine concentration at 8 weeks after treatment was lower in KCl supplemented mice. Histological alteration using hematoxylin‐eosin and Sirius red staining was not found in the kidney of each mouse at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. These results suggest that high KCl supplementation increases water intake, urine volume and urinary N excretion in mice.
The T allele at the g.1471620G>T in the EDG1 gene associated with high marbling in Japanese Black cattle is at a low frequency in breeds not selected for marbling
Authors: WATANABE Naoto , YAMADA Takahisa , YOSHIOKA Sachiyo , ITOH Masayuki , SATOH Youichi , FURUTA Masako , KOMATSU Shigeki , SUMIO Yoshihiko , FUJITA Tatsuo , SASAKI Yoshiyuki 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTOur previous study detected a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), g.1471620G>T, in the 5′ flanking region of the endothelial differentiation sphingolipid G‐protein‐coupled receptor 1 (EDG1) gene, which has been considered as a positional functional candidate for the gene responsible for marbling, and showed association of the g.1471620G>T SNP with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle. In the present study, we investigated the allele frequency distribution of the g.1471620G>T SNP among the 5 cattle breeds, Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Short Horn, Holstein, and Brown Swiss breeds. The T allele at the g.1471620G>T SNP associated with high marbling was found at high frequency in Japanese Black breed that has been subjected to a strong selection for high marbling, while the allele was absent or at very low frequencies in the other breeds that have not been strongly selected for high marbling. Based on this finding, we hypothesized that the pressure of the strong selection for high marbling in Japanese Black breed has increased the frequency of the T allele at the g.1471620G>T SNP in the EDG1.
Prevalence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2 in piglets after weaning on a commercial pig farm in Japan
Authors: SASAKI Kenichi , TSUKAHARA Takamitsu , TAIRA Osamu , TSUCHIYA Kotaro , ITOH Mitsugi , USHIDA Kazunari 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTTo investigate the transition in concentration of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and antibody for these viruses in serum, serum samples were collected from 29 pigs on weaning day and at 7, 14, 21, 28, 53, 84, and 120 days after weaning. The concentration of circulated PRRSV and PCV2 in serum was measured by real‐time RT‐PCR and real‐time PCR, respectively. The specific antibody for PRRSV and PCV2 was measured using ELISA. PRRSV was not detected on 0 days post‐weaning (dpw). The specific antibody for PRRSV began to increase as the concentration of PRRSV in serum increased, and the level of PRRSV then tended to decrease. PCV2 was detected in 12 of 28 pigs on 0 dpw. The concentration of PCV2 and the specific antibody for PCV2 showed a similar tendency to those of PRRSV. The correlation analysis suggests that a decline in the daily weight gain coincided with an increase in the PRRSV concentration. Pigs with a higher antibody titer against PRRSV or PCV2 on 0 dpw showed the lower level of PRRSV or PCV2, respectively.
Protein Biomarker Analysis of Primary Peyronie’s Disease Cells
Authors: De Young Ling X. , Bella Anthony J. , O’Gorman David B. , Gan Bing S. , Lim Kok B. , Brock Gerald B. 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT

Introduction
The molecular pathogenesis of Peyronie’s Disease (PD) remains unclear more than 250 years after its initial description. Because of this, no test is currently available to accurately predict PD progression among those affected.

Aim
To investigate the expression of wound healing and fibrosis-associated proteins in primary cell cultures of PD fibroblasts to determine whether altered protein expression patterns can be used as predictors of clinical course and natural history.

Methods
Primary cell cultures derived from normal Tunica albuginea tissue and PD plaque tissue were examined by immuno-cytochemistry. Protein expression profiles were analyzed by Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) and Western immunoblotting.

Main Outcome Measures
Expression of wound healing and fibrosis-associated proteins and protein expression patterns were assessed.

Results
Statistically significant increases in smooth muscle α-actin, β-catenin, and Heat shock proteins (Hsp47) were identified in cells derived from PD relative to cells derived from normal Tunica albuginea tissue. Changes in TGFβ-1 receptor and Fibronectin were also observed. In addition, altered expression of additional as yet unidentified proteins at 4.7, 8.9, 10.8, 16.8, and 76.8 kDa were detected by complementary SELDI-TOF-MS approaches.

Conclusions
Primary cells derived from PD plaques display up-regulated expression of several proteins that are established components of fibrosis and wound healing. In addition, changes in other, as yet unidentified proteins were measured. It will be of interest to conduct further studies to see whether these dysregulated protein peaks represent potential biological markers of disease progression.
Immature Defense Mechanisms Are Associated with Lesser Vaginal Orgasm Consistency and Greater Alcohol Consumption before Sex
Authors: Costa Rui Miguel , Brody Stuart 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Disturbances of emotional and physical awareness can impair female sexual function. Previous research revealed that immature psychological defense mechanisms (impairing emotional awareness) are associated specifically with impaired vaginal orgasm (orgasm triggered solely by penile–vaginal stimulation). Alcohol consumed before sex (ACBS) might impair vaginal orgasm or lead to avoiding the opportunity for it, but research examining immature defenses, ACBS, and specific sexual behaviors has been lacking.

Aim
To test the hypothesis that greater use of immature defenses and greater ACBS are inversely associated with vaginal orgasm consistency, but unrelated or positively correlated with greater frequency of other sexual behaviors.

Methods
Three hundred twenty-three coitally experienced women (predominantly Scottish) responded to an online survey reporting their frequency of various sexual activities (and corresponding orgasms) and their ACBS, and completed the Defense Style Questionnaire DSQ-40.

Main Outcome Measures
Univariate and multivariate correlations of immature defenses, ACBS, and various sexual behaviors.

Results
Both immature defenses and ACBS were associated with less vaginal orgasm consistency, but unrelated or positively correlated with frequency of other sexual behaviors (including clitoral masturbation during penile–vaginal intercourse). Immature defenses were associated with more ACBS. Immature defenses explained the association between ACBS and both lack of vaginal orgasm and greater frequency of other sexual behaviors.

Conclusions
The results provide further evidence that difficulty in having a vaginal orgasm is associated with immature defenses (and associated disturbances of sensibility), among other indicators of poorer health and relatedness. ACBS might impair vaginal orgasm or increase the likelihood of choosing other sexual activities, but this effect might be somewhat contingent on immature defenses. Based on various empirical studies, we call for examination of the possibility that lack of vaginal orgasm (given an adequate man) should qualify as a female sexual dysfunction.
Application of Direct Push Methods to Investigate Uranium Distribution in an Alluvial Aquifer
Authors: McCall Wesley , Christy Thomas M. , Christopherson Thomas , Issacs Howard 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe U.S. EPA 2000 Radionuclide Rule established a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for uranium of 30 µg/L. Many small community water supplies are struggling to comply with this new regulation. At one such community, direct push (DP) methods were applied to obtain hydraulic profiling tool (HPT) logs and install small diameter wells in a section of alluvial deposits located along the Platte River. This work was conducted to evaluate potential sources of elevated uranium in the Clarks, Nebraska drinking water supply. HPT logs were used to understand the hydrostratigraphy of a portion of the aquifer and guide placement of small diameter wells at selected depth intervals. Low‐flow sampling of the wells provided water quality parameters and samples for analysis to study the distribution of uranium and variations in aquifer chemistry. Contrary to expectations, the aquifer chemistry revealed that uranium was being mobilized under anoxic and reducing conditions. Review of the test well and new public water supply well construction details revealed that filter packs extended significantly above the screened intervals of the wells. These filter packs were providing a conduit for the movement of groundwater with elevated concentrations of uranium into the supply wells and the community drinking water supply. The methods applied and lessons learned here may be useful for the assessment of unconsolidated aquifers for uranium, arsenic, and many other drinking water supply contaminants.
Polar Compounds from the Dissolution of Weathered Diesel
Authors: Lang Dale A. , Bastow Trevor P. , Van Aarssen Ben G.K. , Warton Ben , Davis Greg B. , Johnston Colin D. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractHydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon components dissolving in water from fresh diesel and field samples of highly weathered diesel (spilled up to 50 years ago) from two sites were investigated. The fresh and weathered diesels were equilibrated with water using a slow‐stirring method, and the product and equilibrated aqueous water samples analyzed by a range of analytical procedures. The water phase equilibrated with weathered diesels had higher total dissolved organics concentrations (96 and 8.6 mg/L at the two sites) compared to the water phase equilibrated with fresh diesel (average of 3.4 mg/L). Compound class characterization of dissolved organics in water from the weathered diesel showed that polar components were a significant compound class (98% and 42% at the two sites) and appeared largely as an unresolved complex mixture (UCM) in the total ion chromatograms (TICs). Identification of 1‐adamantanol in the polar fraction of both weathered diesel samples (3.6 and 0.3 μg/L at the two sites) suggested that at least some of the associated polar components are from a petroleum source. The analysis of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) is aimed at measuring only dissolved carbon and hydrogen‐containing compounds, and dissolved polar compounds present as a UCM are often assumed to be from natural organic matter (NOM) and removed. This may result in a gross underestimation of the total soluble organic material in water associated with weathered diesels. In addition, the risk posed by these fuel‐derived polar compounds is unknown.
Alzheimer's disease: Seeing the signs early
Authors: Leifer Bennett P. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractPurpose: Many patients with early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) first seek help from their primary care providers (PCPs). PCPs must therefore be watchful for signs and symptoms of AD, and should screen elderly patients who complain of memory and cognitive problems for dementia.Data sources: Published literature on case detection, diagnosis, and treatment of AD.Conclusions: There are a number of simple, accurate, and fast tools to facilitate case detection, including the Mini‐Mental State Examination. Once a diagnosis has been made, healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers can evaluate treatment options. Several medications are available for symptomatic treatment of AD, including the cholinesterase inhibitors donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine, and for later stage disease, the N‐methyl D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine.Implications for Practice: Early intervention is critical because a delay in treatment is associated with nonreversible symptom progression. Realistic treatment expectations include reduction in symptom severity and slowed decline in cognition, function, and behavior. Treatment may allow patients to retain independence longer and reduce the burden that advanced AD places on caregivers.
Patient satisfaction with nurse practitioner‐delivered primary healthcare services
Authors: Agosta Lucie J. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractPurpose: To identify levels of satisfaction with nurse practitioner (NP)‐delivered primary healthcare services and to determine demographic differences in degrees of general satisfaction reported by patients.Data sources: The Nurse Practitioner Satisfaction Survey (NPSS), a 28‐item, 5‐point, Likert‐type survey instrument was developed; data from 300 female and male clients over 18 years of age presenting for primary healthcare visits at the employee health department of a not‐for‐profit hospital in the Southern United States were analyzed.Conclusions: Although many studies using a variety of healthcare‐related patient satisfaction instruments have demonstrated acceptable patient satisfaction with NPs, few have investigated patient satisfaction with NPs in the outpatient primary care occupational health arena. Overall the population seeking health care was satisfied with NP services. In particular, married or cohabitating subjects reported general satisfaction scores that were statistically significantly higher than those who were single and never married. No other differences were found.Implications for practice: The provision of on‐site, employer‐sponsored NP primary healthcare services that are perceived as acceptable and satisfactory to employees and families affords significant opportunity and advantage to both employee and employer. Such benefits include enhanced employee and family wellness, facilitated health promotion, enhanced access to care, reduced illness related to time away from work, improved employee productivity, and reduced overall organizational healthcare costs. Knowledge regarding those characteristics contributing to general satisfaction with NP‐delivered care serves to facilitate practice pattern changes within the profession that further enhances the visibility, utilization, and acceptability of NPs as primary care providers.
Understanding, recognizing, and managing chronic critical illness syndrome
Authors: Bellar Ann , Kunkler Kathleen , Burkett Mary 
Published: November 2009

AbstractPurpose: No evidence‐based guidelines exist for the care of patients with chronic critical illness syndrome (CCIS), a growing population of patients being cared for by nurse practitioners (NPs). The purpose of this article is to provide NPs with a beginning physiological framework, allostasis, to guide their understanding and management of patients with CCIS.Data sources: Scientific publications, related clinical guidelines.Conclusions: Patients with CCIS are a distinct group of critically ill patients whose care needs are different from those of patients who are acutely critically ill. These patients demonstrate widespread tissue and organ damage. The widespread tissue and organ damage results in a syndrome of interrelated elements, which include neuroendocrine problems, severe malnutrition, wounds, infections, bone loss, polyneuropathy and myopathy, delirium and depression, and suffering.Implications for practice: In caring for patients with CCIS, NPs need to focus on treating the elements of the syndrome as a cohort of interrelated elements and on re‐establishing normalcy for the patient.
Incretin‐based therapies: Therapeutic rationale and pharmacological promise for type 2 diabetes
Authors: Wick Allison , Newlin Kelley 
Published: November 2009

AbstractPurpose: To highlight the therapeutic promise of the incretin hormone glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), the consequent rationale for therapies acting through GLP‐1‐mediated pathways in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the emerging clinical role of the dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors and GLP‐1 receptor agonists.Data sources: The PubMed database was searched (using terms including incretins, GLP‐1, GIP, DPP‐4), along with recent ADA and EASD abstracts.Conclusions: Many traditional drugs used for T2DM fail to achieve and maintain glycemic control, and possess limitations such as risk for hypoglycemia and weight gain. GLP‐1 is a gut‐derived hormone that glucose‐dependently stimulates insulin secretion while simultaneously reducing gastric emptying and appetite. Other physiological actions of GLP‐1 may benefit the cardiovascular system and beta‐cell function. Recently developed drug therapies that mimic or prolong the action of this hormone, therefore, have great promise in the treatment of T2DM.Implications for practice: The GLP‐1 receptor agonists and DPP‐4 inhibitors are incretin‐based therapies that are now becoming established as effective therapies for T2DM to be used either as monotherapy or added to other antidiabetes drugs. They enable improvements to be made in glycemic control without weight gain, with a low risk for hypoglycemia, and with potential additional clinical benefits.
Fellowship in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Authors: Hicks Rodney W. , Bray Christell O. , Green Roger , Olson Karen Koozer 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe purpose of this column is to describe the process of application and selection for fellowship in the Fellows of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP). Fellows are invited and selected based on their accomplishments in four priority areas: research, practice, education, and policy. Based on the 10‐year history of the FAANP, current members provide guidance for potential applicants on the steps necessary for making a successful application.
Multidrug‐resistant and extensively drug‐resistant tuberculosis: The new face of an old disease
Authors: Ferguson Laurie Anne , Rhoads Jacqueline 
Published: November 2009

AbstractPurpose: To provide an overview of tuberculosis (TB), especially the persistent threat of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) and extensively drug‐resistant (XDR), and the role of the nurse practitioner (NP) in diagnosis, treatment, and public health surveillance.Data sources: Public health sources such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control as well as current literature.Conclusions: One hundred twenty‐five years after the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the disease remains a persistent threat and a leading cause of death worldwide. Medication adherence and prevention are critical to successfully treating and ultimately eradicating this killer disease. Healthcare providers need to be knowledgeable in the detection and diagnosis of TB and to understand that they assume responsibility for public health by monitoring treatment adherence and/or appropriate referral.Implications for practice: The persistent and increasing threat of MDR‐TB and XDR‐TB is a significant public health threat. Healthcare providers need to be knowledgeable and vigilant in diagnosing and treating this disease.