bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PLASMA MEMBRANE LIPIDS MODULATE THE RESPONSE TO WATER DEPRIVATION IN RAT KIDNEY
Authors: MOURELLE M. , REYES J.L. , MELÉNDEZ E. 
Published: August 2009

Summary— The lipid composition of biological membranes determines many of the cellular responses to stimuli such as hormones and drugs. It is known that the neonate has differences in renal function compared to the adult individual, which determine the characteristics of pharmacokinetics and pharma‐codynamics at this age. We studied the lipid composition of renal plasma membranes, the renal response to water deprivation, and the activity of plasma membrane gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) in newborn, 21‐d‐old, and adult rat. It was found that the cholesterol/phospholipid (CH/PL) ratio of new‐born membranes was significantly higher than that of membranes from 21‐d‐old and adult rats, which were similar. These findings paralleled low ability to concentrate urine in the newborn and higher sensitivity of the neonatal kidney to water deprivation. Kidney membranes from 21‐d‐old and adult rats showed similar lipid composition, and the response to water deprivation was also similar. The changes observed in GGTP activity at different ages varied with the cholesterol content of kidney plasma membranes.These findings suggest participation of the lipid composition of kidney membranes in modulation of the renal response to water deprivation.
EFFECTS OF CICLETANINE ON HISTAMINE‐INDUCED CONTRACTIONS OF ISOLATED RABBIT MESENTERIC ARTERIES
Authors: EBEIGBE A.B. , CABANIE M. , GODFRAIND T. 
Published: August 2009

Summary—The antagonism by cicletanine of contractile responses to histamine has been examinedin vitroon ring preparations of rabbit mesenteric arteries. Cicletanine (10‐8–10−6M) caused a parallel rightward shift of histamine concentration response curve, with a pA2value of 7.48 (slope = 0.89 ± 0.19, not significantly different from unity). Histamine‐induced contractions were nifedipine‐sensitive and associated with cicletanine‐sensitive increased45Ca uptake.Endothelium removal resulted in enhanced contractile responses to histamine, but did not significantly modify cicletanine‐induced antagonism: KB(dissociation constant) values for cicletanine antagonism in the presence or absence of endothelium were: 3.7 (± 0.1)x 10−8M and 3.6 (± 0.3)x 10−8M, respectively.Cicletanine (>10−4M) also significantly attenuated 10 mM caffeine‐induced contractions in rings exposed to Ca‐free 100 mM K+ depolarizing medium.The results suggest that cicletanine‐induced antagonims of histamine H1receptor‐mediated contractions of rabbit mesenteric arteries is associated with interference with calcium entry as well as at high concentrations, release from intracellular stores.
BLOOD DISTRIBUTION OF TENOXICAM IN HUMANS: A PARTICULAR HSA DRUG INTERACTION
Authors: BREE F. , NGUYEN P. , URIEN S. , RIANT P. , ALBENGRES E. , FENNER H. , TILLEMENT J.P. 
Published: August 2009

Summary—Blood binding of tenoxicam was studiedin vitroby equilibrium dialysis. Isolated human plasma proteins and blood cells were checked, and the distribution of the bound form was then calculated. The results showed that texoxicam is mainly bound to HSA and that binding percentages are not different when measured in plasma (98.4%) and in an HSA solution at physiological concentration (704 μM, 98.15%). In these conditions, within the range of 1–150μM, the tenoxicam binding percentage remained constant, evidence of a nonsaturable process.When a lower HSA concentration (10 μM) was used, the binding parameters of the tenoxicam interaction were calculated by using the same equilibrium dialysis data, by 3 methods of analysis‐ a stoichiometric method and site‐oriented methods, fixing or not the number of HSA binding sites (n) as integer values. The best fit was observed with the first method, suggesting that two main interactions occurred. The site‐oriented method gave lesser fits, the better being observed whennwas not fixed. Its value, 1.77, suggest the possibility of two binding sites, one of them not preformed.The effects of known markers of site I, warfarin and apazone, of site II, diazepam and ibuprofen and of palmitic acid showed that tenoxicam is bound simultaneously to both sites I and II. The binding capacity of site I for tenoxicam is enhanced by diazepam: as this compound alone is bound to site II, this result suggests that the two HSA binding sites are not independent.
EFFECTS OF ISOPROTERENOL AND PROPRANOLOL ON PHARMACOLOGICALLY INDUCED DEPRESSION OF INTRAVENTRICULAR CONDUCTION
Authors: LANG J. , TIMOUR Q. , LANCON J.P. , AUPETIT J.F. , BERTRIX L. , FAUCON G. 
Published: August 2009

Summary—The cardiac adrenergic system is known to have practically no influence on conduction velocity in the ventricles under normal conditions. The effects of isoproterenol and propranolol were investigated on depression of intraventricular conduction induced by a class IC antiarrhythmic drug, cibenzoline, in anaesthetized, closed‐chest dogs. In addition to electrocardiogram for measurement of QRS duration in sinus rhythm, conduction time was measured in the ventricular contractile tissue between an electrode advanced to the apex and a pacing electrode near the base, at 400‐ and 200‐ms pacing periods. Effective refractory period (ERP) was measured concurrently according to the extrastimulus method. After intraventricular conduction had been slowed down by cibenzoline IV administered (loading dose of 3 mg/kg plus infusion of 0.2 mg/kg/min over 15 min), isoproterenol was infused or propranolol injected by the intravenous route also (0.5 mn/μg/kg/min over 5 min and 0.4 mg/kg, respectively).When conduction time has been raised by 75/150% (depending on the pacing rate), isoproterenol appears to attenuate and propranolol to aggravate substantially the impairment of conduction, whereas the reduction undergone by ERP does not differ from usual. Thus, reentrant arrhythmias might be prevented by isoproterenol and triggered by propranolol. Intraventricular conduction, when depressed, therefore, is sensitive to adrenergic drugs, probably because of the enhanced influence of polarization of the fibres in the presence of a sodium conductance impairment.
THE EFFECTS OF CAPTOPRIL AND ENALAPRIL ON TISSUE LEVELS OF VARIOUS ELEMENTS IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS
Authors: ALLAIN P. , LEBLONDEL G. , GRANRY J.C. 
Published: August 2009

The effects of two inhibitors of angiotensin I converting enzyme, captopril and enalapril, on the concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, S, P, Sr, Mn, Cu and Zn ions in blood, plasma, heart, skeletal muscle, liver and kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied. Captopril and enalapril were given by the intraperitoneal route for 15 days, at 160 μmol/kg/d and 40 μmol/kg/d, respectively. Elements in tissues were determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry with a JY 48 instrument.The common changes produced with the two drugs were: a decrease of Na in muscle (‐ 10%), a decrease of Ca in plasma and kidney (< — 10%) and a decrease of Mn in liver (‐ 15%). The main effects observed with only one of the two drugs were: an increase of Cu in plasma (+ 26%) with captopril, and increases of Sr in heart (+ 56%), muscle (+ 79%) and liver (+ 74%) with enalapril. Zinc concentration in tissues was not modified, except for an increase in liver with captopril (+ 13%) and a decrease in heart with enalapril (‐ 11%).
DISOPYRAMIDE‐INDUCED HYPOGLYCEMIA: CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Authors: CACOUB P. , DERAY G. , BAUMELOU A. , GRIMALDI A. , SOUBRIE C. , JACOBS C. 
Published: August 2009

Summary—Disopyramide is a group I antiarrhythmic drug which is mainly used for the treatment of ventricular and supraventricular rhythm disturbances. Commonest side effects result from disopyramide's anticholinergic activity. Other side effects such as hypoglycemia have been reported less frequently. We report one observation of disopyramide induced hypoglycemia, and a review of the literature is presented.Including our observation, 14 cases (9 men and 5 women, aged from 41 to 88) have so far been reported. Doses of disopyramide ranged from 200 to 1 200 mg per day, administered from one day to one year. Symptomatology was mainly neurologic (12 patients) and two patients were clinically asymptomatic. The outcome was favorable in all but the 2 patients who died with persistent hypoglycemia after a single dose of 250 mg in one patient and after 400 mg daily during 4 days in the other (without stopping the drug). Renal function was markedly impaired in 9 patients, two of these patients being on a long term dialysis therapy. Blood levels of disopyramide were measured in 7 patients and ranged from 1 to 11.4 ng/ml. In five patients it was in the normal range (1–4 ng/ml). Three patients were rechallenged for disopyramide: hypoglycemia occured in all, without clinical symptoms in two of them. The main risk factors of disopyramide induced hypoglycemia are a preexisting chronic renal failure, advanced age, and malnutrition. In these patients normally non toxic disopyramide blood levels, as defined in normal subjects, seem to be inappropriately high. We suggest that in patients at risk, disopyramide blood levels should be maintained at the lower range of therapeutic level. The recommended daily dose is 400 mg/day. Thus, it appears appropriate not to exceed 2/3 of this dosage, and to be particularly caution when using this drug in patients at risk.
RESPIRATION AND BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY: MECHANICAL AND AUTONOMIC INFLUENCES
Authors: Saul J Philip 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe transfer function between broad‐band respiratory activity and the heart rate (HR) response can be used to elucidate the frequency dependent phase and magnitude characteristics of the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)1. To understand the complex links between respiratory activity and arterial blood pressure (ABP), the transfer functions between instantaneous lung volume (ILV), parameters of arterial pressure, and central venous pressure (CVP) were determined in healthy human volunteers during 6‐minute periods in which the respiratory rate was voluntarily controlled in a predetermined but erratic fashion, or CVP was perturbed with a similar pattern. Pharmacologic autonomic blockade was used to dissect the direct mechanical links between respiration and ABP from the effects of RSA on ABP. The results suggest that with HR fluctuations eliminated, respiration affects ABP in proportion to the rate of change of ILV; however, when neural control of HR remains intact, the RSA plays an important role in the genesis of ABP fluctuations.
Analysing Production Technology and Risk in Organic and Conventional Dutch Arable Farming using Panel Data
Authors: Gardebroek Cornelis , Chavez María Daniela , Lansink Alfons Oude 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis paper compares the production technology and production risk of organic and conventional arable farms in the Netherlands. Just–Pope production functions that explicitly account for output variability are estimated using panel data of Dutch organic and conventional farms. Prior investigation of the data indicates that within variation of output is significantly higher for organic farms, indicating that organic farms face more output variation than conventional farms. The estimation results indicate that in both types of farms, unobserved farm‐specific factors like management skills and soil quality are important in explaining output variability and production risk. The results further indicate that land has the highest elasticity of production for both farm types. Labour and other variable inputs have significant production elasticities in the case of conventional farms and other variable inputs in the case of organic farms. Manure and fertilisers are risk‐increasing inputs on organic farms and risk‐reducing inputs on conventional farms. Other variable inputs and labour are risk increasing on both farm types; capital and land are risk‐reducing inputs.
Do Nutrition Claims Matter to Consumers? An Empirical Analysis Considering European Requirements
Authors: Stranieri Stefanella , Baldi Lucia , Banterle Alessandro 
Published: August 2009

AbstractEU Regulation 1924/2006 introduced a European legal framework for nutrition messages for food product labels. The study analyses consumer interest towards nutrition labelling and claims, and examines the information consumers consider important during their purchasing decisions, and the main characteristics of those consumers interested in nutrition claims and nutrition labelling use. A total of 1,025 northern Italian consumers were surveyed. We estimate one binary logit model to investigate the use of nutrition labelling, and seven other ordinal regression models to analyse consumer interest towards nutrition claims and labelling. Consumers who use nutrition labelling have characteristics different from those who use nutrition claims. Consumers using nutrition labelling show a marked interest in food safety concerns, use experts as their source of information and have specific dietary habits. For consumers concerned about nutrition claims, the survey shows significant links with attributes influencing purchasing behaviour, such as price, brand, certification, etc. Socio‐demographic characteristics are statistically significant and show a positive link with age, gender and a negative linkage with income.
Inflammation, Immunity, and Vaccines for Helicobacter pylori
Authors: D’Elios Mario M. , Andersen Leif P. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract Helicobacter pylori infects almost half of the population worldwide and represents the major cause of gastroduodenal diseases, such as duodenal and gastric ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, autoimmune gastritis, and B‐cell lymphoma of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue. Helicobacter pylori induces the activation of a complex and fascinating cytokine and chemokine network in the gastric mucosa. Different bacterial and environmental factors, other concomitant infections, and host genetics may influence the balance between mucosal tolerance and inflammation in the course of H. pylori infection. An inverse association between H. pylori prevalence and the frequencies of asthma and allergies was demonstrated, and the neutrophil activating protein of H. pylori was shown to inhibit the allergic inflammation of bronchial asthma. During the last year, significant progress was made on the road to the first efficient vaccine for H. pylori that will represent a novel and very important bullet against both infection and gastric cancer.
Helicobacter pylori Infection in Pediatrics
Authors: Kindermann Angelika , Lopes Ana I. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis review summarizes the articles published on Helicobacter pylori infection in children between April 2008 and March 2009. Recent evidence highlights the decreasing prevalence trend of H. pylori infection and supports both intrafamilial and extrafamilial transmission. The association with various symptoms is still being debated. Interestingly, H. pylori infection seems inversely associated with allergic diseases. Monoclonal stool antigen tests are widely used and accurate for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection, but less accurate in young children. The new biprobe real‐time PCR assay applied to stools showed a poor sensitivity in children. Using the urea hydrolysis rate next to the delta over baseline values, the 13C‐urea breath test provides excellent results for all age children, even for young children. Treatment of H. pylori infection remains a challenge, considering suboptimal efficacy of current therapy. Among emerging alternatives, sequential treatment appears promising. The adjunction of probiotics to conventional regimens, although eliciting great interest, has shown limited therapeutic benefit.
Utilization, Diagnosis, Treatment and Cost of Migraine Treatment in the Emergency Department
Authors: Friedman Deborah , Feldon Steven , Holloway Robert , Fisher Susan 
Published: August 2009

Objective.— To determine the percentages of patients receiving migraine‐specific therapy and to estimate the rate of unnecessary neuroimaging studies in the emergency department (ED).Methods.— A retrospective study was conducted analyzing medical records and hospital charge data of ED visits for migraine during 2005 in 2 university‐affiliated hospitals. Following a preliminary review of 23 randomly selected ED charts selected to determine the reliability of the coding process, 172 other charts were selected to include 1 visit per patient with a primary discharge diagnosis code of 346.0, 346.1, or 346.9. The diagnosis of migraine was confirmed using predefined criteria. Demographic information, treatment strategies, laboratory and neuroimaging tests, response to therapy, discharge planning, and charge data were evaluated.Results.— Of 156 patients with completed visits, neuroimaging studies were performed in 36 patients (23%), and only 4 patients had no documented justification for obtaining imaging studies. Seventy‐eight patients (50%) had a potential contraindication to receiving migraine‐specific therapy. Nine patients (11.5% of eligible patients) received migraine‐specific therapy. Most patients were treated with a combination of parenteral antiemetics, narcotics, or ketorolac.Conclusion.— This analysis supports previous studies indicating the underutilization of migraine‐specific treatment in the ED, and suggests that the ED is generally used as a “last resort” when the patient's home medication fails. Because of various contraindications, migraine‐specific medications may not be a treatment option in up to 50% of patients seen in the ED. Although almost all of the neuroimaging studies were justified, the radiology charges were a major contributing factor to the overall financial burden of emergency migraine care.
Noninvasive CBV Measurements During Epilepsy Using Multichannel NIRS
Authors: Watanabe Eiju , Mayanagi Yoshiaki 
Published: August 2009

Purpose: Cerebral blood volume (CBV) was measured noninvasively during an epileptic seizure to localize the focus using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Methods: In nine patients with intractable epilepsy (eight temporal and one parietal lobe), seizures were induced by bemegride. CBV was measured with an 8‐channel NIRS (1 Hz). The ictal single‐photon‐emission computed tomography (SPECT) also was evaluated. Results: In all of the cases, CBV increased for 20–50 s on the same side as the focus within 2 s after the onset of seizures, compatible with the EEG and ictal SPECT findings. Conclusions: NIRS is valid for the localization of the focus in epilepsy.
Effects of Antiepileptie Drugs on Seizure Thresholds in the Rat Kindling Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Morimoto Kiyoshi , Sato Hitoshi , Watanabe Takemi , Hirao Toru , Sato Keiko , Sato Soichiro , Yamada Norihito 
Published: August 2009

Purpose: To determine the antiepileptic profiles of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), we compared the effects of various AEDs, including phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), valproate (VPA), and diazepam (DZP), on seizure thresholds in the rat kindling model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods: Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were used. A tripolar electrode was implanted into the amygdala under pentobarbital anesthesia. All rats underwent daily kindling stimulation (100 Hz, 2 s) until stable generalized seizures were induced. The generalized seizure‐triggering threshold (GST) was then determined for each rat by the application of stimulation, which increased in intensity by 50 μA steps at intervals of 15 min. After intraperitoneal administration of PHT (180 mg/kg), CBZ (40 mg/kg), VPA (200 mg/kg), or DZP (2 mg/kg), electrical stimulation at the intensity of the GST, or 2 or 3 times the GST, was delivered to the amygdala, and reversal of the anticonvulsant effects was measured. Results: All AEDs had potent anticonvulsant effects on amygdala‐kindled seizures induced by stimulation at the GST. After treatment with PHT and CBZ, when the stimulus intensity was increased to 2 or 3 times the GST, the anticonvulsant effects were completely eliminated. In contrast, the effects of VPA were partially reversed and those of DZP were only slightly reversed by increases in the stimulus intensity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the prinicipal mechanism for the anticonvulsant effects of PHT and CBZ, which act primarily on voltage‐sensitive Na+ channels, is the significant increase of seizure thresholds in epileptogenic foci. In our previous study, lamotrigine had the same effects as PHT and CBZ on seizure thresholds. In contrast, the fundamental profile of VPA and DZP, which enhance a‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)/benzodiazepine (BZD) systems, differs from that of PHT/CBZ‐type AEDs, and the main mechanism for the anticonvulsant effects of these two drugs is blockade of seizure propagation and generalization. This conclusion is consistent with our recent findings for tiagabine (a selective GABA uptake inhibitor) in the kindling model (Morimoto et al. Epilepsia 1997;38:966).
Development of Acoustic Priming‐Induced Abnormal Excitation in the Hippocampus of the Noda Epileptic Rat (NER)
Authors: Iida Koji , Sasa Masashi , Hanaya Ryosuke , Akimitsu Tomohide , Seri‐kawa Tadao , Noda Atsushi , Ishihara Kumatoshi , Arita Kazunori , Kurisu Kaoru 
Published: August 2009

Purpose: The Noda epileptic rat (NER), which was found in a colony of Crj:Wistar rats, shows spontaneous tonicxlonic convulsions at a frequency of approximately once per 30 h. However, weekly applied acoustic priming consistently induces tonic‐clonic convulsion with sound stimuli. When NERs were given sound stimuli (95 dB, 8 kHz, 30 s) weekly from age 3 weeks, the percentage of animals with audiogenic seizures increased with age and was 100% after age 9 weeks. The audiogenic‐response score to quantify the intensity of seizure responses also increased with age. Frontal cortical and hippocampal electroencephalograms (EEGs) showed low‐voltage spike‐and‐wave complexes during tonic convulsions, which evolved into high‐amplitude spike‐ or polyspike‐and‐wave complexes during clonic convulsion. Immediately after cessation of the seizures, the EEG showed a flattening or diffuse slowing. To elucidate the development of the seizure induction by acoustic priming, we examined the epileptiform discharges in the in‐terictal EEG as a function of age. Methods: The acoustic priming was applied to NERs from age 7 to 35 weeks. Cortical and hippocampal EEGs were recorded weekly during the interictal stage for 15 min after a 15‐min habituation by using implanted electrodes. Results: Sporadic spikes were observed predominantly in the hippocampus with age, although they were rarely synchronized in the cortex. Hippocampal spikes were observed in two (33.3%) of six animals at age 7–10 weeks, 23 (82.4%) of 28 animals at age 11–15 weeks, 12 (85.7%) of 14 animals at age 16–19 weeks, and 21 (100%) of 21 animals at age >20 weeks. This development of abnormal hippocampal discharges with acoustic priming was in line with the development of convulsive seizures. Conclusions: Development of hippocampal excitation induced by acoustic priming is thought to lead to the induction of convulsive seizures in the NERs.