bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
E-079 Redefining endovascular access for treatment of intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Grobelny T 
Published: July 2012

Introduction/PurposeThe Penumbra Coil 400 (PC 400) is a new generation of platinum coils with a larger primary diameter (0.020″) than conventional embolic coils (0.010″–0.015″), requiring a larger diameter microcatheter for delivery. The Penumbra PX 400 Microcatheter has a 0.025″ ID lumen and 2.8F distal OD. This is somewhat larger than microcatheters that have been conventionally used to access aneurysms and deliver embolic coils (up to 0.021″ ID lumen and 2.3F distal OD). Compared with conventional microcatheters which use stainless steel reinforcement, the PX400 has a Nitinol coil reinforcement and, in addition, has a softer polymer construction at the distal tip. The PX400 takes advantage of the softness of Nitinol. These innovations combine to produce a catheter which is very soft yet very stable within an aneurysm. The goal of this investigation was to compare the properties of the PX 400 with conventional microcatheters for embolization of intracranial aneurysms.Materials and MethodsThe PX 400 Microcatheter was used in eight endovascular cases for Penumbra coil delivery for treatment of intracranial vascular lesions by a single operator with 15 years of neuroendovascular experience. This includes one post-traumatic CCF and seven brain aneurysms. In the aneurysm group, there were two basilar aneurysms, one vertebral aneurysm, two A-comm aneurysms, one MCA aneurysm, and one P-comm aneurysm. In our series, balloon remodeling was used in one case; two cases required a Neuroform stent used with a microcatheter being advanced through the stent, and in two cases an Enterprise stent was used with a PX 400 catheter being jailed. The standard 014 wire was used for all cases, SilverSpeed (ev3/Covidien) or Syncro2wire (Boston Scientific). A two-guide support system was used, a 6F Chaperon (Microvention) and an 8F Neuron MAX (Penumbra).ResultsIn all cases, the PX 400 Microcatheter reached its intended target, and the coil delivery was uneventful. The catheter crossed a Neuroform stent without difficulty. Jailing technique with an Enterprise stent was favored, but a Neuron Max had to be used to fit a Prowler Plus and a PX 400 together. The overall responsiveness and tractability as well as stability of the new catheter are excellent even in a very tortuous anatomy.ConclusionResults confirmed that the larger PX 400 microcatheter had tracking, aneurysm entry, coil delivery, stability, and safety characteristics very similar to conventional microcatheters used for the embolization of intracranial aneurysms. Thus, the technology and material engineering represented in the PX 400 redefines microcatheters for treatment of aneurysms and may enable a significant advancement not previously possible with conventional coil treatment.Competing interestsNone.
Acute effects of Achilles tendon vibration on soleus and tibialis anterior spinal and cortical excitability
Authors: Lapole Thomas , Deroussen François , Pérot Chantal , Petitjean Michel 
Published: July 2012

Prolonged vibration is known to alter muscle performance. Attenuation of Ia afferent efficacy is the main mechanism suggested. However, changes in motor cortex excitability could also be hypothesized. The purpose of the present study was therefore to analyze the acute and outlasting effects of 1 h of Achilles tendon vibration (frequency, 50 Hz) on the soleus (SOL) and tibialis anterior (TA) neuromuscular excitability. Spinal excitability was investigated by means of H-reflexes and F-waves while cortical excitability was characterized by motor evoked potentials (MEPs) obtained by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Twelve subjects performed the experimental procedures 3 times: at the beginning of the testing session (PRE), immediately after 1 h of Achilles tendon vibration (POST), and 1 h after the end of vibration (POST-1H). Prolonged vibration led to acute reduced H-reflex amplitudes for SOL only (46.9% ± 7.7% vs. 32.8% ± 7%; p = 0.006). Mainly presynaptic inhibition mechanisms were thought to be involved because of unchanged F-wave persistence and amplitude mean values, suggesting unaffected motoneuronal excitability. While no acute effects were reported for SOL and TA cortical excitability, both muscles were characterized by an outlasting increase in their MEP amplitude (0.64 ± 0.2 mV vs. 0.43 ± 0.18 mV and 2.17 ± 0.56 mV vs. 1.26 ± 0.36 mV, respectively; p < 0.05). The high modulation of Ia afferent input by vibration led to changes in motor cortex excitability that could contribute to the enhancement in muscular activation capacities reported after chronic use of tendon vibration.
Effect of aerobic training status on both maximal lactate steady state and critical power
Authors: Greco Camila Coelho , Caritá Renato Aparecido Corrêa , Dekerle Jeanne , Denadai Benedito Sérgio 
Published: July 2012

This study aimed at assessing the sensitivity of both maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) and critical power (CP) in populations of different aerobic training status to ascertain whether CP is as sensitive as MLSS to a change in aerobic fitness. Seven untrained subjects (UT) (maximal oxygen uptake = 37.4 ± 6.5 mL·kg–1·min–1) and 7 endurance cyclists (T) (maximal oxygen uptake = 62.4 ± 5.2 mL·kg–1·min–1) performed an incremental test for maximal oxygen uptake estimation and several constant work rate tests for MLSS and CP determination. MLSS, whether expressed in mL·kg–1·min–1 (T: 51.8 ± 5.7 vs. UT: 29.0 ± 6.1) or % maximal oxygen uptake (T: 83.1 ± 6.8 vs. UT: 77.1 ± 4.5), was significantly higher in the T group. CP expressed in mL·kg–1·min–1 (T: 56.8 ± 5.1 vs. UT: 33.1 ± 6.3) was significantly higher in the T group as well but no difference was found when expressed in % maximal oxygen uptake (T: 91.1 ± 4.8 vs. UT: 88.3 ± 3.6). Whether expressed in absolute or relative values, MLSS is sensitive to aerobic training status and a good measure of aerobic endurance. Conversely, the improvement in CP with years of training is proportional to those of maximal oxygen uptake. Thus, CP might be less sensitive than MLSS for depicting an enhancement in aerobic fitness.
Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in the early years (aged 0–4 years)
Authors: LeBlanc Allana G. , Spence John C. , Carson Valerie , Connor Gorber Sarah , Dillman Carrie , Janssen Ian , Kho Michelle E. , Stearns Jodie A. , Timmons Brian W. , Tremblay Mark S. 
Published: July 2012

Accumulating evidence suggests that young children spend excessive time being sedentary. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the relationship between sedentary behaviours and health indicators during the early years (ages 0–4 years). Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, this review aimed to present the best available evidence on the threshold of sedentary behaviour associated with healthy measures of adiposity, bone health, motor skill development, psychosocial health, cognitive development, and cardiometabolic health indicators in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Online databases, personal libraries, and government documents were searched for relevant studies. Studies that included an intervention (or experimental) group or prospective analysis were included. Twenty-one unique studies, representing 23 papers and 22 417 participants, met inclusion criteria; 7 studies included information on infants, 13 on toddlers, and 10 on preschoolers. Of these, 11, 6, and 8 studies reported data on adiposity, psychosocial health, and cognitive development, respectively. No included study reported on motor skill development, bone, or cardiometabolic health indicators. In conclusion, this review found low- to moderate-quality evidence to suggest that increased television viewing is associated with unfavourable measures of adiposity and decreased scores on measures of psychosocial health and cognitive development. No evidence existed to indicate that television viewing is beneficial for improving psychosocial health or cognitive development. In several instances a dose–response relationship was evident between increased time spent watching television and decreased psychosocial health or cognitive development. This work may be used as evidence to inform public health guidelines. (PROSPERO registration: CRD4011001280.)
Cell-to-cell contact dependence and junctional protein content are correlated with in vivo maturation of pancreatic beta cells
Authors: Santos-Silva Junia Carolina , Carvalho Carolina Prado de França , de Oliveira Ricardo Beltrame , Boschero Antonio Carlos , Collares-Buzato Carla Beatriz 
Published: July 2012

In this study, we investigated the cellular distribution of junctional proteins and the dependence on cell–cell contacts of pancreatic beta cells during animal development. Fetus and newborn rat islets, which display a relatively poor insulin secretory response to glucose, present an immature morphology and cytoarchitecture when compared with young and adult islets that are responsive to glucose. At the perinatal stage, beta cells display a low junctional content of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), α- and β-catenins, ZO-1, and F-actin, while a differential distribution of N-CAM and Pan-cadherin was seen in beta cells and nonbeta cells only from young and adult islets. In the absence of intercellular contacts, the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was completely blocked in adult beta cells, but after reaggregation they partially reestablished the secretory response to glucose. By contrast, neonatal beta cells were poorly responsive to sugar, regardless of whether they were arranged as intact islets or as isolated cells. Interestingly, after 10 days of culturing, neonatal beta cells, known to display increased junctional protein content in vitro, became responsive to glucose and concomitantly dependent on cell–cell contacts. Therefore, our data suggest that the developmental acquisition of an adult-like insulin secretory pattern is paralleled by a dependence on direct cell–cell interactions.
Mepivacaine-induced contraction is attenuated by endothelial nitric oxide release in isolated rat aorta
Authors: Sung Hui-Jin , Choi Mun-Jeoung , Ok Seong-Ho , Lee Soo Hee , Hwang Il Jeong , Kim Hee Sook , Chang Ki Churl , Shin Il-Woo , Lee Heon-Keun , Park Kyeong-Eon , Chung Young-Kyun , Sohn Ju-Tae 
Published: July 2012

Mepivacaine is an aminoamide-linked local anesthetic with an intermediate duration that intrinsically produces vasoconstriction both in vivo and in vitro. The aims of this in-vitro study were to examine the direct effect of mepivacaine in isolated rat aortic rings and to determine the associated cellular mechanism with a particular focus on endothelium-derived vasodilators, which modulate vascular tone. In the aortic rings with or without endothelium, cumulative mepivacaine concentration–response curves were generated in the presence or absence of the following antagonists: Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester [l-NAME], indomethacin, fluconazole, methylene blue, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one [ODQ], verapamil, and calcium-free Krebs solution. Mepivacaine produced vasoconstriction at low concentrations (1 × 10−3 and 3 × 10−3 mol/L) followed by vasodilation at a high concentration (1 × 10−2 mol/L). The mepivacaine-induced contraction was higher in endothelium-denuded aortae than in endothelium-intact aortae. Pretreatment with l-NAME, ODQ, and methylene blue enhanced mepivacaine-induced contraction in the endothelium-intact rings, whereas fluconazole had no effect. Indomethacin slightly attenuated mepivacaine-induced contraction, whereas verapamil and calcium-free Krebs solution more strongly attenuated this contraction. The vasoconstriction induced by mepivacaine is attenuated mainly by the endothelial nitric oxide – cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway. In addition, mepivacaine-induced contraction involves cyclooxygenase pathway activation and extracellular calcium influx via voltage-operated calcium channels.
Activation of Ca2+-activated Cl–channels by store-operated Ca2+entry in arterial smooth muscle cells does not require reverse-mode Na+/Ca2+exchange
Authors: Angermann Jeff E. , Forrest Abigail S. , Greenwood Iain A. , Leblanc Normand 
Published: July 2012

The main purpose of this study was to characterize the stimulation of Ca2+-activated Cl–(ClCa) by store-operated Ca2+entry (SOCE) channels in rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and determine if this process requires reverse-mode Na+/Ca2+exchange (NCX). In whole-cell voltage clamped PASMCs incubated with 1 μmol/L nifedipine (Nif) to inhibit Ca2+channels, 30 μmol/L cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), a SERCA pump inhibitor, activated a nonselective cation conductance permeable to Na+(ISOC) during an initial 1–3 s step, ranging from–120 to +60 mV, and Ca2+-activated Cl–current (ICl(Ca)) during a second step to +90 mV that increased with the level of the preceding hyperpolarizing step. Niflumic acid (100 μmol/L), a ClCachannel blocker, abolished ICl(Ca)but had no effect on ISOC, whereas the ISOCblocker SKF-96365 (50 μmol/L) suppressed both currents. Dual patch clamp and Fluo-4 fluorescence measurements revealed the appearance of CPA-induced Ca2+transients of increasing magnitude with increasing hyperpolarizing steps, which correlated with ICl(Ca)amplitude. The absence of Ca2+transients at positive potentials following a hyperpolarizing step combined with the observation that SOCE-stimulated ICl(Ca)was unaffected by the NCX blocker KB-R7943 (1 μmol/L) suggest that the SOCE/ClCainteraction does not require reverse-mode NCX in our conditions.
Effect of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-γ inhibitor CAY10505 in hypertension, and its associated vascular endothelium dysfunction in rats
Authors: Tyagi Sandeep , Sharma Saurabh , Budhiraja Ramji Dass 
Published: July 2012

This study has been designed to investigate the role of phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase-γ (PI3Kγ) in deoxycorticosterone acetate salt (DOCA) hypertension induced vascular endothelium dysfunction. Wistar rats were uninephrectomised and DOCA (40 mg·(kg body mass)−1, subcutaneous injection) was administered twice weekly for 6 weeks to produce hypertension. Rats with mean arterial blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 133.322 Pa) were selected as hypertensive. Vascular endothelium dysfunction was assessed in terms of attenuation of acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (isolated aortic ring preparation), decrease in serum nitrate and (or) nitrite level, as well as reduced level of glutathione and disruption of integrity of vascular endothelium (histopathology). Five weeks of DOCA administration were followed by 7 days of daily administration of PI3Kγ inhibitor (5-[[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-furanyl]methylene]-2,4-thiazolidinedione (CAY10505), 0.6 mg·kg−1, per os (p.o.)), atorvastatin (30 mg·kg−1, p.o.), and losartan (25 mg·kg−1, p.o.) (positive control of hypertension), which significantly improved acetylcholine-induced endothelium dependent relaxation, serum nitrate and (or) nitrite level, glutathione level, and the vascular endothelial lining in hypertensive rats.Therefore, it may be concluded that CAY10505, a specific inhibitor of PI3Kγ, improves hypertension-associated vascular endothelial dysfunction. Thus, inhibition of PI3Kγ might be a useful approach in the therapeutics of vascular endothelium dysfunction.
Effects of an aqueous extract of North American ginseng on MOG(35–55)-induced EAE in mice
Authors: Bowie Laura E. , Roscoe Wendi A. , Lui Ed M.K. , Smith Robin , Karlik Stephen J. 
Published: July 2012

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, in which the release of reactive oxygen species by infiltrating immune cells contributes to demyelination. American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius ) is a natural health product with numerous beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ginseng could influence the course of the disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. C57BL/6J mice were immunized with MOG(35–55) peptide to induce EAE. After clinical disease appeared, mice received either oral doses of an aqueous extract of ginseng (150 mg/kg body mass), or the vehicle. Clinical symptoms were recorded, and spinal cord tissue samples were analyzed for pathological signs of disease. The aqueous extract of ginseng significantly decreased (i) clinical signs of EAE, (ii) levels of circulating TNF-α, and (iii) central nervous system immunoreactive iNOS and demyelination scores, without a change in other neuropathological measures. This study shows that an aqueous extract of ginseng may be able to attenuate certain signs of EAE, suggesting that it may be a useful adjuvant therapy for MS.
Bone morphogenetic protein 7 polarizes THP-1 cells into M2 macrophages
Authors: Rocher Crystal , Singla Reetu , Singal Pawan K. , Parthasarathy Sampath , Singla Dinender K. 
Published: July 2012

It was hypothesized that monocyte treatment with bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) would significantly enhance monocyte polarization into M2 macrophages as well as increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. In a cell culture system using monocytes (human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1), we studied the effects of BMP7 on monocytes polarizing into M2 macrophages. The data demonstrate that THP-1 cells contain a BMP type II receptor (BMPR2), and that its activation is significantly (p < 0.05) increased following treatment with BMP7. Furthermore, there was an increase of M2 macrophages, BMPR2, and anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-1ra compared with the respective controls. Moreover, treatment with BMP7 caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), compared with the controls. In conclusion, we suggest for the first time that BMP7 has a unique potential to polarize monocytes into M2 macrophages, required for tissue repair, which will have significant applications for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Genetic Variants in Platelet Factor 4 Modulate Inflammatory and Platelet Activation Biomarkers
Authors: Bhatnagar Pallav , Lu Xiaochun , Evans Michele K. , LaVeist Thomas A. , Zonderman Alan B. , Carter Darryl L. , Arking Dan E. , Fletcher Craig A. 
Published: July 2012

Background—
African Americans suffer from higher prevalence and severity of atherosclerosis compared with whites, highlighting racial and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have pointed to the role of vascular inflammation and platelet activation in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions.

Methods and Results—

We explored the role of genetic variation in 4 chemokine/chemokine receptor genes (
CX3CR1
,
CX3CL1
,
CXCR3
, and
PF4
) on systemic inflammation and platelet activation serum biomarkers (fractalkine, platelet P-selectin, platelet factor 4 [PF4], and tumor necrosis factor-
α
). In total, 110 single nucleotide polymorphisms were tested among 1042 African Americans and 763 whites. The strongest association with serum PF4 levels was observed for rs168449, which was significant in both racial groups (
P
value: African Americans=0.0017, whites=0.014, combined=1.2 × 10
−4
), and remained significant after permutation-based multiple corrections (
P

c

value: combined=0.0013). After accounting for the effect of rs168449, we identified another significant single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1435520), suggesting a second independent signal regulating serum PF4 levels (conditional
P
value: African Americans=0.02, whites=0.02). Together, these single nucleotide polymorphisms explained 0.98% and 1.23% of serum PF4 variance in African Americans and whites, respectively. Additionally, in African Americans, we found an additional
PF4
variant (rs8180167), uncorrelated with rs168449 and rs1435520, associated with serum tumor necrosis factor-
α
levels (
P
=0.008,
P
c
=0.048).

Conclusions—

Our study highlights the importance of
PF4
variants in the regulation of platelet activation (PF4) and systemic inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-
α
) serum biomarkers.
An analysis of the geographic distribution of recently graduated dentists from the University of Western Australia: The world’s most isolated dental school
Authors: Gurbuxani Amit , Kruger Estie , Tennant Marc 
Published: July 2012

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the geographic distribution of all new dentists who graduated over a period of six years. Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, is one of the world’s most isolated cities, with a population of approximately 1.6 million people, situated over 2000km from its nearest next major capital city. It has a single dental school graduating between 25 and 50 graduates per year. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Western Australia. Method: Using data from open access sources, the practice locations of dental graduates from 2004–2009 were located. All practice locations were mapped against variables such as entry type (standard and non-standard) and year of graduation using ArcGIS, and the distribution was analyzed based on a concentric boundary approach, using the dental school as the centre point. Results: Over the period of six years, there were 228 graduates with an almost equal proportion of males (49%) and females. In total, 83% of all local graduates continue to practice in the state of Western Australia. Around 15% of recent graduates (last two years) and 35% of experienced graduates (five and six years post-graduation) work within the 10km radius of their dental school. Over a period of six years, approximately 20% of the non-standard graduates and 30% of the standard graduates practice dentistry in more urbanized areas associated with the place of graduation. Conclusion: An apparent association exists between graduation year, type of enrollment and practice location, with a larger proportion of standard graduates working in urbanized areas than their non-standard counterparts.
Attitudes of school administrators and teachers towards the ‘smoke-free air zone’ policy in Turkish schools
Authors: Banoğlu Köksal 
Published: July 2012

Objective: Schools are likely to be better able to achieve compliance with smoke-free regulations if principals and teachers perceive the importance of a smoke-free policy. The purpose of this study was to measure teacher and administrator attitudes towards the smoke-free policy in Turkish schools, which promotes a total smoking ban. Method: The target population of the study was from primary and high schools on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. Data were collected from 373 teachers and administrators from 134 schools. Variance and discriminant analyses were used to examine the data for associations of attitude with gender, occupation, smoking status, and other characteristics. Results: It was found that overall teacher and administrator attitudes towards the ban on smoking in schools fell in the ‘undecided’ range. Smokers and those with a high level of nicotine addiction had less positive attitudes towards the smoke-free regulation compared to nonsmokers and those with a lower level of nicotine addiction. It was determined that the most discriminative items in the questionnaire for teacher and administrator attitudes had to do with strict implementation of the regulation and enforcement with fines. Regardless of smoking status and nicotine addiction, teachers and administrators affirmed that ‘it is needed to allow an open area for smokers’. Conclusions: In light of these results, it appears the smoke-free policy is viewed not only in terms of teachers’ behaviour as role models but also in terms of their personal rights.