bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anatomical localization of protease‐activated receptor‐1 and protease‐mediated neuroglilal crosstalk on peri‐synaptic astrocytic endfeet
Authors: Shavit Efrat , Michaelson Daniel M. , Chapman Joab 
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 460–473.AbstractWe studied the localization, activation and function of protease‐activated receptor 1 (PAR‐1) at the CNS synapse utilizing rat brain synaptosomes and slices. Confocal immunofluoresence and transmission electron microscopy in brain slices with pre‐embedding diaminobenzidine (DAB) immunostaining found PAR‐1 predominantly localized to the peri‐synaptic astrocytic endfeet. Structural confocal immunofluorescence microscopy studies of isolated synaptosomes revealed spherical structures stained with anti‐PAR‐1 antibody which co‐stained mainly for glial‐filament acidic protein compared with the neuronal markers synaptophysin and PSD‐95. Immunoblot studies of synaptosomes demonstrated an appropriate major band corresponding to PAR‐1 and activation of the receptor by a specific agonist peptide (SFLLRN) significantly modulated phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase. A significant membrane potential depolarization was produced by thrombin (1 U/mL) and the PAR‐1 agonist (100 μM) and depolarization by high K+ elevated extracellular thrombin‐like activity in the synaptosomes preparation. The results indicate PAR‐1 localized to the peri‐synaptic astrocytic endfeet is most likely activated by synaptic proteases and induces cellular signaling and modulation of synaptic electrophysiology. A protease mediated neuron‐glia pathway may be important in both physiological and pathological regulation of the synapse.
Chronic psychosocial stress enhances long‐term depression in a subthreshold amyloid‐beta rat model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Tran Trinh T. , Srivareerat Marisa , Alhaider Ibrahim A. , Alkadhi Karim A. 
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 408–416.AbstractIn addition to genetic aspects, environmental factors such as stress may also play a critical role in the etiology of the late onset, sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The present study examined the effect of chronic psychosocial stress in a sub‐threshold Aβ (subAβ) rat model of AD on long‐term depression by two techniques: electrophysiological recordings of synaptic plasticity in anesthetized rats, and immunoblot analysis of memory‐ and AD‐related signaling molecules. Chronic psychosocial stress was induced using a rat intruder model. The subAβ rat model of AD, which was intended to represent outwardly normal individuals with a pre‐disposition to AD, was induced by continuous infusion of 160 pmol/day Aβ1‐42 via a 14‐day i.c.v. osmotic pump. Results from electrophysiological recordings showed that long‐term depression evoked in stress/subAβ animals was significantly enhanced compared with that in animals exposed to stress or subAβ infusion alone. Molecular analysis of various signaling molecules 1 h after induction of long‐term depression revealed an increase in the levels of calcineurin and phosphorylated CaMKII in groups exposed to stress compared with other groups. The levels of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were significantly decreased in stress/subAβ animals but not in stress or subAβ animals. In addition, the levels of beta‐site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme were markedly increased in stress/subAβ. These findings suggest that chronic stress may accelerate the impairment of synaptic plasticity and consequently cognition in individuals ‘at‐risk’ for AD.
Steroid receptor coactivator 2 modulates steroid‐dependent male sexual behavior and neuroplasticity in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)
Authors: Niessen Neville‐Andrew , Balthazart Jacques , Ball Gregory F. , Charlier Thierry D. 
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 579–593.AbstractSteroid receptor coactivators are necessary for efficient transcriptional regulation by ligand‐bound nuclear receptors, including estrogen and androgen receptors. Steroid receptor coactivator‐2 (SRC‐2) modulates estrogen‐ and progesterone‐dependent sexual behavior in female rats but its implication in the control of male sexual behavior has not been studied to our knowledge. We cloned and sequenced the complete quail SRC‐2 transcript and showed by semi‐quantitative PCR that SRC‐2 expression is nearly ubiquitous, with high levels of expression in the kidney, cerebellum and diencephalon. Real‐time quantitative PCR did not reveal any differences between intact males and females the medial preoptic nucleus (POM), optic lobes and cerebellum. We next investigated the physiological and behavioral role of this coactivator using in vivo antisense oligonucleotide techniques. Daily injections in the third ventricle at the level of the POM of locked nucleic acid antisense targeting SRC‐2 significantly reduced the expression of testosterone‐dependent male‐typical copulatory behavior but no inhibition of one aspect of the appetitive sexual behavior was observed. The volume of POM, defined by aromatase‐immunoreactive cells, was markedly decreased in animals treated with antisense as compared with controls. These results demonstrate that SRC‐2 plays a prominent role in the control of steroid‐dependent male sexual behavior and its associated neuroplasticity in Japanese quail.
In vitro and in vivo neuroprotective activity of the cardiac glycoside oleandrin from Nerium oleander in brain slice‐based stroke models
Authors: Dunn Denise E. , He Dong Ning , Yang Peiying , Johansen Mary , Newman Robert A. , Lo Donald C. 
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 805–814.AbstractThe principal active constituent of the botanical drug candidate PBI‐05204, a supercritical CO2 extract of Nerium oleander, is the cardiac glycoside oleandrin. PBI‐05204 shows potent anticancer activity and is currently in phase I clinical trial as a treatment for patients with solid tumors. We have previously shown that neriifolin, which is structurally related to oleandrin, provides robust neuroprotection in brain slice and whole animal models of ischemic injury. However, neriifolin itself is not a suitable drug development candidate and the FDA‐approved cardiac glycoside digoxin does not cross the blood–brain barrier. We report here that both oleandrin as well as the full PBI‐05204 extract can also provide significant neuroprotection to neural tissues damaged by oxygen and glucose deprivation as occurs in ischemic stroke. Critically, we show that the neuroprotective activity of PBI‐05204 is maintained for several hours of delay of administration after oxygen and glucose deprivation treatment. We provide evidence that the neuroprotective activity of PBI‐05204 is mediated through oleandrin and/or other cardiac glycoside constituents, but that additional, non‐cardiac glycoside components of PBI‐05204 may also contribute to the observed neuroprotective activity. Finally, we show directly that both oleandrin and the protective activity of PBI‐05204 are blood brain barrier penetrant in a novel model for in vivo neuroprotection. Together, these findings suggest clinical potential for PBI‐05204 in the treatment of ischemic stroke and prevention of associated neuronal death.
Role of vesicle pools in action potential pattern‐dependent dopamine overflow in rat striatum in vivo
Authors: Wang Shi‐Rong , Yao Wei , Huang Hong‐Ping , Zhang Bo , Zuo Pan‐Li , Sun Liang , Dou Hai‐Qiang , Li Qing , Kang Xin‐Jiang , Xu Hua‐Dong , Hu Mei‐Qin , Jin Mu , Zhang Lei , Mu Yu , Peng Ji‐Yun , Zhang Claire Xi , Ding Jiu‐Ping , Li Bao‐Ming , Zhou Zhuan 
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 342–353.AbstractAction potential (AP) patterns and dopamine (DA) release are known to correlate with rewarding behaviors, but how codes of AP bursts translate into DA release in vivo remains elusive. Here, a given AP pattern was defined by four codes, termed total AP number, frequency, number of AP bursts, and interburst time [N, f, b, i].. The ‘burst effect’ was calculated by the ratio (γ) of DA overflow by multiple bursts to that of a single burst when total AP number was fixed. By stimulating the medial forebrain bundle using AP codes at either physiological (20 Hz) or supraphysiological (80 Hz) frequencies, we found that DA was released from two kinetically distinct vesicle pools, the fast‐releasable pool (FRP) and prolonged‐releasable pool (PRP), in striatal dopaminergic terminals in vivo. We examined the effects of vesicle pools on AP‐pattern dependent DA overflow and found, with given ‘burst codes’ [b = 8, i = 0.5 s], a large total AP number [N = 768, f = 80 Hz] produced a facilitating burst‐effect (γ[b8/b1] = 126 ± 3%), while a small total AP number [N = 96, 80 Hz] triggered a depressing‐burst‐effect (γ[b8/b1] = 29 ± 4%). Furthermore, we found that the PRP (but not the FRP) predominantly contributed to the facilitating‐burst‐effect and the FRP played an important role in the depressing‐burst effect. Thus, our results suggest that striatal DA release captures pre‐synaptic AP pattern information through different releasable pools.
Approaches to Normalization of Spinal Cord Volume: Application to Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Healy Brian C. , Arora Ashish , Hayden Douglas L. , Ceccarelli Antonia , Tauhid Shahamat S. , Neema Mohit , Bakshi Rohit 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSETo determine the proper method for the normalization of spinal cord volume.MATERIALS AND METHODSA group of 34 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (28 relapsing and 6 progressive) and 15 healthy controls had whole spinal cord 3‐mm thick T2‐weighted axial fast spin‐echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images obtained at 3T. For each participant, four volumes were measured (C2‐3 volume, cervical cord volume, thoracic cord volume, and whole cord volume). The volumes were normalized by the number of slices and three potential measures of body size (intracranial volume [ICV], body mass index, and body surface area) using the proportional method.RESULTSAll raw volumes and volumes normalized by number of slices or ICV were significantly lower in progressive MS patients compared to relapsing MS patients/healthy controls (P < .05). In addition, C2‐3 volume and cervical cord volume were significantly correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale score (P < .05). All regional volumes showed high intercorrelation, and normalization by the number of slices significantly increased some correlations. Regarding reliability, whole cord volume regardless of normalization technique had lower coefficient of variation than C2‐3 volume.CONCLUSIONSSince normalization factor had limited impact on reliability and the ability to detect differences, normalization by the number of slices is recommended.
Evidence‐based Community Consultation for Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Lynch Catherine A. , Houry Debra E. , Dai Dajun , Wright David W. 
Published: August 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:972–976 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  The objective was to determine if geospatial techniques can be used to inform targeted community consultation (CC) and public disclosure (PD) for a clinical trial requiring emergency exception from informed consent (EFIC).Methods:  Data from January 2007 to December 2009 were extracted from a Level I trauma center’s trauma database using the National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeon (NTRACS). Injury details, demographics, geographic codes, and clinical data necessary to match core elements of the clinical trial inclusion criteria (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] 3–12 and blunt head injury) were collected on all patients. Patients’ home zip codes were geocoded to compare with population density and clustering analysis.Results:  Over a 2‐year period, 179 patients presented with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mapping the rate and frequency of TBI patients presenting to the trauma center delineated at‐risk populations for moderate to severe head injury. Four zip codes had higher incidences of TBI than the rest, with one zip code having a very high rate of 80 per 100,000 population.Conclusions:  Geospatial techniques and hospital data records can be used to characterize potential subjects and delineate a high‐risk population to inform directed CC and public disclosure strategies.
VeinViewer‐assisted Intravenous Catheter Placement in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Chapman Laura L. , Sullivan Brenna , Pacheco Amanda L. , Draleau Charlene P. , Becker Bruce M. 
Published: August 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:966–971 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIV) placement is a common, painful, and frequently difficult procedure in children. The VeinViewer is a device that delineates subcutaneous veins using near‐infrared light and video technology. To the best of our knowledge, the benefit of this device for PIV placement in children in the emergency department (ED) has not been studied.Methods:  The authors enrolled a prospective, randomized sample of children aged 0 to 17 years who required a nonemergent PIV in a tertiary care pediatric ED. Participants were randomized to standard PIV cannulation (SC) or PIV cannulation with the VeinViewer (VV). The primary outcome measure was time to PIV placement. Secondary outcome measures included number of PIV attempts and pain scores as reported by the child, parent or guardian, and nurse using a 100‐mm visual analog scale (VAS).Results:  A total of 323 patients completed the study: 174 boys and 149 girls. Age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were not different between groups. There were no differences in time to PIV placement, number of PIV attempts, or pain scores for the overall study group. However, a planned subgroup analysis of children age 0 to 2 years (n = 107) did yield significant results for the geometric mean time to place the PIV (121 seconds [VV] vs. 167 seconds [SC], p = 0.047) and for nurses’ perception of pain (median VAS 34 [VV] vs. 46 [SC], p = 0.01).Conclusions:  While no results were significant for the overall study group, subgroup analysis of children age 0 to 2 years suggests that the VeinViewer may decrease the time to PIV placement.
Robot‐assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy in obese and morbidly obese women: surgical technique and comparison with open surgery
Authors: GEPPERT BARBARA , LÖNNERFORS CELINE , PERSSON JAN 
Published: August 2011

AbstractObjective. Comparison of surgical results on obese patients undergoing hysterectomy by robot‐assisted laparoscopy or laparotomy. Setting. University hospital. Methods. All women (n=114) with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 who underwent a simple hysterectomy as the main surgical procedure between November 2005 and November 2009 were identified. Robot‐assisted procedures (n=50) were separated into an early (learning phase) and a late (consolidated phase) group; open hysterectomy was considered an established method. Relevant data was retrieved from prospective protocols (robot) or from computerized patient charts (laparotomy) until 12 months after surgery. Complications leading to prolonged hospital stay, readmission/reoperation, intravenous antibiotic treatment or blood transfusion were considered significant. The surgical technique used for morbidly obese patients is described. Results. Women in the late robot group (n=25) had shorter inpatient time (1.6 compared to 3.8 days, p<0.0001), less bleeding (100 compared to 300 mL, p<0.0001) and fewer complications (2/25 compared to 23/64, p=0.006) than women with open surgery (n=64) but a longer operating time (136 compared to 110 minutes, p=0.0004). For women with a BMI ≥35 kg/m2, surgical time in the late robot group and the laparotomy group was equal (136 compared to 128 minutes, p=0.31). Conclusions. Robot‐assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy in a consolidated phase in obese women is associated with shorter hospital stay, less bleeding and fewer complications compared to laparotomy but, apart from women with BMI ≥35, a longer operative time.
Maternal weight gain in twin–twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: MORIKAWA MAMORU , YAMADA TAKASHI , HIRAYAMA‐KATO EMI , YAMADA TAKAHIRO , OKUYAMA KAZUHIKO , MINAKAMI HISANORI 
Published: August 2011

AbstractObjective. To examine the association between maternal weight gain and twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Design. Retrospective observational study in two tertiary care centers. Population. All 124 women with monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies who gave birth at ≥16 gestational weeks between 2002 and 2010. Methods. Analysis of chronological relation between maternal weight gain per week (weekly gain) and the diagnosis of TTTS. Main outcome measure. Sonographic diagnosis of TTTS. Results. A weekly weight gain ≥1.4 kg occurred in 45 women, preceded the diagnosis of TTTS in 22 (78.6%) of the 28 women with TTTS, and was associated with TTTS [women with one weekly weight gain ≥1.4 kg vs. women with no weekly weight gains ≥1.4 kg who were diagnosed as having TTTS: 48.9% (22/45) vs. 7.6% (6/79); RR, 6.44; 95%CI, 2.82–14.69]. At given gestational weeks between 16 and 27, the mean (±SD) prospective risk of the development of TTTS within three weeks was 52.0±33.8% among women who showed a weekly weight gain ≥1.4 kg for the first time, whereas the risk of the development of TTTS within one week was 1.6±1.7% among women who never showed a weekly weight gain ≥1.4 kg. Conclusions. Excessive maternal weight gain ≥1.4 kg/week is likely to occur during the development of TTTS.
Investigation into the dosage of dietary sphingomyelin concentrate in relation to the improvement of epidermal function in hairless mice
Authors: HARUTA‐ONO Yuko , UENO Hiroshi , UEDA Noriko , KATO Ken , YOSHIOKA Toshimitsu 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTWe previously found that dietary sphingomyelin (SPM) concentrate from bovine milk improved epidermal function. In this study, we investigated the dosage of dietary SPM concentrate from bovine milk in relation to the improvement of epidermal function. Thirteen‐week‐old hairless male mice were separated into four experimental groups, each fed one of four types of experimental diet: the control group, the low SPM group, the medium SPM group and the high SPM group. The mice were each fed the experimental diet for 6 weeks. The stratum corneum hydration and the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured using a Corneometer and a Tewameter at 3 weeks and 6 weeks. After the feeding period, ceramides in the stratum corneum were analyzed. We found that the stratum corneum hydration in all the SPM groups was significantly higher than that in the control group, whereas TEWL in all the SPM groups was significantly lower than that in the control group. Ceramides increased significantly in mice fed the medium SPM diet and statistically tended to increase in mice fed the high SPM diet. Our results indicate that a daily intake of 17 mg SPM concentrate is enough to improve epidermal function in hairless mice.
Post‐operative pain following coblation or monopolar electrocautery tonsillectomy in children: a prospective, single‐blinded, randomised comparison
Authors: Parker N.P. , Walner D.L. 
Published: August 2011

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2011, 36, 468–474Objective:  To compare post‐operative pain following tonsillectomy by either coblation or monopolar electrocautery in children.Design:  A parallel‐designed, prospective, single‐blinded, randomised trial.Setting:  Ambulatory surgical facility.Study participants:  Eighty otherwise healthy paediatric patients undergoing coblation or electrocautery tonsillectomy by a fellowship‐trained paediatric otolaryngologist.Main outcome measures:  (i) The number of post‐operative days with severe pain based on subjective qualification by the caretaker, (ii) post‐operative days with pain rated ≥5 on a scale of 1–10, (iii) post‐operative days requiring oral paracetamol/acetaminophen with codeine solution and (iv) post‐operative days until resumption of a regular diet were assessed and recorded daily using a post‐operative pain survey as a form of daily diary that was returned at the 2‐week follow‐up visit.Results:  Patients were consecutively enrolled into two groups of 40 patients. Average ages were 5.2 years for coblation tonsillectomy and 6.0 years for electrocautery tonsillectomy. The average number of post‐operative days with severe pain was 4.2 for coblation and 5.9 for electrocautery (P = 0.006), days rating pain ≥5 were 3.6 for coblation and 4.8 for electrocautery (P = 0.037), days of codeine use were 2.5 for coblation and 2.9 for electrocautery (P = 0.324), and days until resumption of a regular diet were 5.2 for coblation and 6.2 for electrocautery (0.329).Conclusions:  Coblation tonsillectomy may reduce post‐operative pain and the time until resumption of a regular diet compared to electrocautery tonsillectomy.
Use of Staurenghi lens angiography in the management of posterior uveitis
Authors: Reeves Graham M. B. , Kumar Nishant , Beare Nicholas A. V. , Pearce Ian A. 
Published: August 2011

Abstract.Purpose:  Retinal vasculitis is an important component of posterior uveitis. It may be difficult to detect either clinically or with conventional angiography. We assessed the role of Staurenghi lens angiography (SLA) in the diagnosis and management of patients with posterior uveitis.Methods:  A total of 26 patients attending the St Paul’s Eye Unit uveitis clinic with posterior uveitis underwent wide‐angle (150 degree) retinal angiography with the Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope using the Staurenghi SLO 230 contact lens. We determined the percentage of patients in whom this imaging modality assisted in diagnosing and quantifying the extent of vasculitis, planning treatment or monitoring disease activity.Results:  Staurenghi lens angiography assisted in diagnosing and quantifying the extent of vasculitis in 62% of patients, and in planning laser photocoagulation or immunosuppression titration in 62% of patients and enhanced disease monitoring in 35% of patients. In 31% of cases, SLA revealed vasculitis that was not evident clinically.Conclusion:  Staurenghi lens angiography is a valuable tool in the management of patients with posterior uveitis and can be used for the diagnosis, treatment and follow‐up of these patients.
A novel molecular approach for rapid assessment of soil nematode assemblages – variation, validation and potential applications
Authors: Donn Suzanne , Neilson Roy , Griffiths Bryan S. , Daniell Tim J. 
Published: August 2011

Summary1.Nematode assemblages are commonly used as an indicator of ecosystem health; however, conventional approaches to assemblage analyses are restricted by time‐consuming processing and declining availability of expertise. Molecular methods offer a rapid and cost‐effective alternative.2.We have designed a molecular profiling system, using directed terminal‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (dT‐RFLP), to characterise nematode assemblages by relative abundance of feeding guilds.3.An arable soil was first characterised by cloning and sequencing of small subunit ribosomal DNA, and an enzyme digest selected to discriminate between feeding guilds. This yielded 14 different terminal‐restriction fragments (T‐RFs) from the sequence set, assigned to five nematode feeding guilds.4.Robustness of the dT‐RFLP methodology was tested. The greatest amount of variation between replicates occurred at the PCR stage, with little variability between replicate digests from the same PCR product or capillary runs.5.dT‐RFLP revealed changes in assemblage composition owing to organic amendments of dairy‐cattle slurry and municipal green compost. The proportion of microbial feeding nematodes was higher in compost and slurry plots than in the no amendment control in the first sampling after organic amendment. Plant feeding nematodes composed a significantly greater proportion of the control assemblage during the growing season and post‐harvest.6.The increased throughput of molecular analysis compared with microscopy increases the feasibility of studies involving large‐scale sampling and makes nematode assemblage analysis more attractive as an indicator of soil health for environmental assessment.