bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IDENTIFICATION OF LIGANDS BINDING SPECIFICALLY TO INFLAMMATORY INTESTINAL MUCOSA USING PHAGE DISPLAY
Authors: Takagi Tamaki , Arisawa Tomiyasu , Yamamoto Kazumasa , Hirata Ichiro , Nakano Hiroshi , Sawada Makoto 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARY

Even though current treatments for inflammatory bowel disease are effective, adverse reactions remain a problem. With the intention of developing a new drug delivery system, we attempted to identify molecules that are selectively adsorbed to inflamed bowel.
The PhD‐C7C phage display peptide library was used for biopanning against mouse isolated bowel, either untreated (control) or with inflammation caused by ischaemia–reperfusion injury. One hundred clones were selected from among those obtained by two biopanning procedures and the amino acid sequences of these clones were identified by determination of the base sequences.
Then, 20 clones were selected by an alignment process, after which the three clones with the highest affinity for inflammatory bowel were identified. One of these three clones had significantly higher affinity for inflammatory bowel than for normal bowel.
In conclusion, biopanning against isolated bowel samples identified an amino acid sequence (SQSHPRH) with a specific high affinity for inflammatory bowel.
AGE‐RELATED CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF SKELETAL MUSCLES
Authors: Faulkner John A , Larkin Lisa M , Claflin Dennis R , Brooks Susan V 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARY

For animals of all ages, during activation of skeletal muscles and the subsequent contraction, the balance between the force developed by the muscle and the external load determines whether the muscle shortens, remains at fixed length (isometric) or is lengthened. With maximum activation, the force developed is least during shortening, intermediate when muscle length is fixed and greatest during lengthening contractions. During lengthening contractions, when force is high, muscles may be injured by the contractions.
‘Frailty’ and ‘failure to thrive’ are most frequently observed in elderly, physically inactive people. A ‘frail’ person is defined as one of small stature, with muscles that are atrophied, weak and easily fatigued. The condition of ‘failure to thrive’ is typified by a lack of response to well‐designed programmes of nutrition and physical activity.
With ageing, skeletal muscle atrophy in humans appears to be inevitable. A gradual loss of muscle fibres begins at approximately 50 years of age and continues such that by 80 years of age, approximately 50% of the fibres are lost from the limb muscles that have been studied. For both humans and rats, the observation that the timing and magnitude of the loss of motor units is similar to that for muscle fibres suggests that the mechanism responsible for the loss of fibres and the loss of whole motor units is the same. The degree of atrophy of the fibres that remain is largely dependent on the habitual level of physical activity of the individual.
‘Master athletes’ maintain a high level of fitness throughout their lifespan. Even among master athletes, performance of marathon runners and weight lifters declines after approximately 40 years of age, with peak levels of performance decreased by approximately 50% by 80 years of age. The success of the master athletes and of previously sedentary elderly who undertake well‐designed, carefully administered training programmes provide dramatic evidence that age‐associated atrophy, weakness and fatigability can be slowed, but not halted.
EARLY RENAL DENERVATION PREVENTS DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN GROWTH‐RESTRICTED OFFSPRING
Authors: Ojeda Norma B , Johnson W Russell , Dwyer Terry M , Alexander Barbara T 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARY

Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk for the development of hypertension. Our laboratory uses a model of reduced uterine perfusion in the pregnant rat that results in intrauterine growth‐restricted (IUGR) offspring that develop hypertension at a prepubertal age. Although hypertension develops in both prepubertal male and female IUGR offspring, only male IUGR offspring remain hypertensive after puberty. We reported previously that bilateral renal denervation abolishes hypertension in adult male IUGR offspring, indicating an important role for the renal nerves in the maintenance of established IUGR‐induced hypertension. We also reported that angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibition abolishes hypertension in adult male IUGR offspring. However, activation of the renin–angiotensin system does not occur in male IUGR offspring until after puberty, or after the development of established IUGR‐induced hypertension. Therefore, the mechanisms involved in the development of IUGR‐induced hypertension may differ from those involved in the maintenance of established IUGR‐induced hypertension. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to determine whether the renal nerves play a causative role in the early development of IUGR‐induced hypertension in prepubertal IUGR offspring.
Intrauterine growth‐restricted and control offspring were subjected to either bilateral renal denervation or sham denervation, respectively, at 4 weeks of age. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was determined at 6 weeks of age in conscious, chronically instrumented animals. Adequacy of renal denervation was verified by renal noradrenaline content.
Whereas renal denervation had no effect on MAP in control offspring (103 ± 2 vs 102 ± 3 mmHg for sham vs denervated, respectively), it reduced blood pressure in growth‐restricted offspring (114 ± 3 vs 104 ± 1 mmHg for sham vs denervated, respectively; P < 0.01). Renal noradrenaline content was significantly reduced in denervated animals relative to sham operated rats.
Thus, the data indicate a role for the renal nerves in the aetiology of IUGR‐induced hypertension and suggest that the renal nerves may participate in the early development of hypertension in IUGR offspring in addition to established hypertension observed in adult male IUGR offspring.
Evolution of Mount Fuji, Japan: Inference from drilling into the subaerial oldest volcano, pre‐Komitake
Authors: Yoshimoto Mitsuhiro , Fujii Toshitsugu , Kaneko Takayuki , Yasuda Atsushi , Nakada Setsuya , Matsumoto Akikazu 
Published: August 2010

AbstractA buried, old volcanic body (pre‐Komitake Volcano) was discovered during drilling into the northeastern flank of Mount Fuji. The pre‐Komitake Volcano is characterized by hornblende‐bearing andesite and dacite, in contrast to the porphyritic basaltic rocks of Komitake Volcano and to the olivine‐bearing basaltic rocks of Fuji Volcano. K‐Ar age determinations and geological analysis of drilling cores suggest that the pre‐Komitake Volcano began with effusion of basaltic lava flows around 260 ka and ended with explosive eruptions of basaltic andesite and dacite magma around 160 ka. After deposition of a thin soil layer on the pre‐Komitake volcanic rocks, successive effusions of lava flows occurred at Komitake Volcano until 100 ka. Explosive eruptions of Fuji Volcano followed shortly after the activity of Komitake. The long‐term eruption rate of about 3 km3/ka or more for Fuji Volcano is much higher than that estimated for pre‐Komitake and Komitake. The chemical variation within Fuji Volcano, represented by an increase in incompatible elements at nearly constant SiO2, differs from that within pre‐Komitake and other volcanoes in the northern Izu‐Bonin arc, where incompatible elements increase with increasing SiO2. These changes in the volcanism in Mount Fuji may have occurred due to a change in regional tectonics around 150 ka, although this remains unproven.
Temporal variations in channel patterns and facies architecture in a gravelly fluvial system: The Paleogene Iwaki Formation on the Joban Coalfield, a forearc basin in Northeast Japan
Authors: Shibata Kenichiro , Ito Makoto , Nemoto Nagayuki , O'Hara Sakae 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThis paper examined sequence‐stratigraphic features of a gravelly fluvial system of the Iwaki Formation, which developed in a forearc‐basin setting in Northeast Japan during the Eocene through Oligocene. On the basis of three‐dimensional architectural element analysis, we discriminated three major cycles of channel complexes, which contain ten component channel deposits in total in the fluvial succession. Component channel deposits in the uppermost part of each cycle are sandier and associated with overbank muddy deposits and coal beds as compared with those in the lower part of the cycle. Mean clast‐size also decreases upsection in the entire gravelly fluvial deposits. The fluvial succession is interpreted to have been deposited in response to an overall rise in relative sea level that was superimposed by three short‐term relative sea‐level rises on the basis of vertical stacking patterns and component lithofacies features of channel deposits, and of correlation of the fluvial succession with an age‐equivalent marine succession in an area about 50 km offshore. However, geometry and stacking patterns of the channel complexes do not exhibit any distinct temporal variation and amalgamated channel and bar deposits are dominant throughout the transgressive fluvial succession. On the other hand, an overall fining‐upward pattern of the entire Iwaki Formation fluvial deposits in association with three component fining‐upward patterns is distinct, and is interpreted to be consistent with the tenet of the standard fluvial sequence‐stratigraphic models. This indicates that the present example represents one type of variation in the standard fluvial sequence‐stratigraphic models, possibly reflecting the forearc‐basin setting, which is generally represented by higher valley slope, higher shedding of coarse‐grained sediments, and shorter longitudinal profiles to the coastal area as compared with a passive‐continental‐margin setting.
Inundation flow velocity of tsunami on land
Authors: Matsutomi Hideo , Okamoto Kensuke 
Published: August 2010

AbstractAn estimation of tsunami inundation flow velocity is one of the most challenging issues among tsunami research. Based on field data of inundation depth and inundation flow velocity u estimated using Bernoulli's theorem and inundation depth, fundamental characteristics of the relationship between inundation flow velocity and inundation depth are examined. Fundamental characteristics of the velocity coefficient where g is gravitational acceleration, hf and hr are inundation depths at the front and the back of structures such as a rectangular building with vertical walls, respectively) implicitly included in the relationship are examined through hydraulic experiments. As a result, Cv = 0.6 is recommended as its simple and practical value. It is confirmed through these examinations that the Froude number, defined by where , ranges 0.7–2.0, and when Cv = 0.6 is adopted this Froude number ranges 0.42–1.2. By using the relationship and Cv = 0.6, two simple and practical relationships are presented for two cases where inundation flow velocity exerts the largest or the smallest fluid force on structures. These relationships can be used to roughly grasp the practical side of tsunami damage, and estimate fluid force acting on individual structures, moving velocity and collision force of floating objects and sediment transport such as boulder and sand. Fundamental characteristics of the waterline (tsunami trace) distribution around/on the typical object model (square pillar, corn and column) are also examined through steady flow experiments, and it is confirmed that the maximum and the minimum values of hf/h0 in the full type model of the square pillar are almost the same as those of hf/hr obtained by field surveys where h0 is uniform flow depth. It is also confirmed that hr ≅ h0 when the Froude number, defined by where u0 is uniform flow velocity, is much less than 1.0. Using a newly defined velocity coefficient, tsunami inundation flow velocity on land can be estimated practically and would be useful for checking proposed sediment transport models that are now being developed by tsunami geologists.
Stratigraphy of the mid‐ to upper‐Cretaceous System in the Aridagawa area, Wakayama, Southwest Japan
Authors: Misaki Akihiro , Maeda Haruyoshi 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe litho‐ and biostratigraphy of the mid‐ to upper‐Cretaceous System around the Yagumaike Pond in the Aridagawa area, Wakayama, Southwest Japan, were investigated. Many Middle to Late Albian megafossils were found in the strata of a block bounded by faults. It was also revealed that the Upper Cretaceous System of other blocks ranges from the Middle Turonian to Santonian. The Albian megafossil assemblage contains few benthic organisms, in contrast with the abundance of nektons found (e.g. cephalopods). Sedimentological observations of the mudstone profiles also indicate that scarcely or weakly bioturbated, well‐laminated mudstone is dominant among the Albian deposits. These results suggest deposition of the Albian mudstone under a dysaerobic to anoxic environment. It is comparable to the extended oceanic anoxia (OAEs) in mid‐Cretaceous time. Albian deposits with similar characteristics are also known to exist in Shikoku, Southwest Japan. A wide sedimentary basin that was directly affected by global environmental events, such as OAEs, seemed to be formed on the Chichibu Belt in the Albian. The Upper Cretaceous strata in the study area are extremely thin, similar to the coeval deposits on the Chichibu Belt in Shikoku. It is suggested that the sedimentation rate in the sedimentary basin on the Chichibu Belt was extremely low during early Late Cretaceous time.
Changing prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux with changing time: Longitudinal study in an Asian population
Authors: LIM SHEN L , GOH WEE TECK , LEE JEN‐MAI J , NG TZE PIN , HO KHEK‐YU ,   CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY MEDICINE GI STUDY GROUP
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground:  The purpose of the present paper was to study previously obtained population‐based data on the prevalence of reflux symptoms in a random sample of community adults in Singapore. This sample was re‐investigated 5 years later to determine changes in the prevalence of reflux symptoms.Methods:  In 1999, 237 (34%) of the original cohort of 696 persons who were interviewed in 1994, were re‐interviewed using a validated Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire. The original cohort was a race‐stratified random sample of residents in a Singaporean town. Reflux was defined as heartburn and/or acid regurgitation occurring at least once a month.Results:  Among the 237 respondents (aged 25–89 years; male : female, 49:51; Chinese n = 106, 45%; Malay n = 69, 29%; Indian n = 60, 25%), reflux was reported by 25 respondents, giving a prevalence of 10.5 ± 2.0%. This compared with the prevalence of 5.5 ± 1.5% (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0–5.2; P = 0.05) among the same 237 respondents in the 1994 survey. Of the 25 subjects who reported reflux in the current survey, 22 (88.0%) did not complain of reflux symptoms in the 1994 survey. The ethnic‐adjusted prevalence of reflux in 1999 was estimated to be 9.9 ± 1.9%. This was an increase above the prevalence in 1994 of 1.6 ± 1.0% (P = 0.051). The upward trend in the prevalence of reflux was not related to age, smoking, alcohol consumption, or increase in bodyweight.Conclusions:  There is a rising trend of reflux symptoms frequency in the general population of Singapore over a 5‐year period.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Enteral nutrition via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and nutritional status of patients: Five‐year prospective study
Authors: ERDIL AHMET , SAKA MENDANE , ATES YUKSEL , TUZUN AHMET , BAGCI SAIT , UYGUN AHMET , YESILOVA ZEKI , GULSEN MUSTAFA , KARAEREN NECMETTIN , DAGALP KEMAL 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground:  Since it was described in 1980, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has been a widely used method for insertion of a gastrostomy tube in patients who are unable to swallow or maintain adequate nutrition. The aim of the present paper was to determine the complications of PEG insertion and to study pre‐ and post‐procedural nutritional status.Methods:  During the period of March 1999–September 2004, placement of PEG tube was performed in 85 patients (22 women and 63 men). Patient nutritional status was assessed before and after PEG insertion via anthropometric measurements.Results:  The most frequent indication for PEG insertion was neurological disorders (65.9%). Thirty patients died due to primary disease and two patients due to PEG‐related complications within 5 years. There were 14 early complications in 10 patients (15.2%; <30 days), and 18 late complications in 12 patients (19.6%). Total mortality was 37.6%. All complications other than four were minor. Before PEG insertion, patients were assessed with subjective global assessment and it was determined that 43.2% of them had severe, and 41.9% of them had mild malnutrition. After PEG insertion, significant improvements on patient nutrition levels was observed.Conclusion:  Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a minimally invasive gastrostomy method with low morbidity and mortality rates, is easy to follow up and easy to replace when clogged.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Brain natriuretic peptide and severity of disease in non‐alcoholic cirrhotic patients
Authors: YILDIZ RAMAZAN , YILDIRIM BULENT , KARINCAOGLU MELIH , HARPUTLUOGLU MURAT , HILMIOGLU FATIH 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground:  Cirrhotic patients have a hyperdynamic systemic circulation. They have insidious cardiac problems besides well‐known complications. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) relaxes vascular smooth muscle and has a portal hypotensive action. The relations between BNP levels and severity of disease, cardiac dysfunction and esophageal varices were studied in non‐alcoholic cirrhotic patients.Methods:  Fifty‐two non‐alcoholic cirrhotic patients were evaluated for decompensation component of cirrhosis. The BNP concentration of echocardiographically examined patients was determined.Results:  The BNP levels were significantly higher in ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatic encephalopathy history group (P = 0.033, P < 0.001, P = 0.014, respectively), but no significant difference were observed for presence of esophageal varices and bleeding history (P = 0.267, P = 0.429). A significant correlation was observed between BNP concentration and Child score (r = 0.427, P = 0.012), interventricular septal thickness (r = 0.497, P < 0.001) and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (r = 0.526, P < 0.001). According to Child–Pugh classification there were no significant difference between groups for echocardiographic measurements and blood pressure (P > 0.05), but plasma BNP levels were significantly higher in Child class B and C patients compared with class A patients (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  Increased levels of BNP are more likely related to the severity of disease in non‐alcoholic cirrhotic patients. The advanced cirrhosis is associated with more advanced cardiac dysfunction and BNP has prognostic value in progression of cirrhosis.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Genetic alterations of Wnt signaling pathway–associated genes in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kim Young‐Dae , Park Chang‐Hwan , Kim Hyun‐Soo , Choi Sung‐Kyu , Rew Jong‐Sun , Kim Dong‐Yi , Koh Yang‐Suk , Jeung Kyung‐Woon , Lee Kyung‐Hwa , Lee Ji‐Shin , Juhng Sang‐Woo , Lee Jae‐Hyuk 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Recently, abnormal activation of the Wnt pathway has been found to be involved in the carcinogenesis of HCC. However, the relationship between genetic changes in the Wnt pathway–associated genes and its protein expression has not been studied in patients with HCC and cirrhotic nodules. The purpose of this study is to explore the contribution of inappropriate activation of the Wnt pathway in liver carcinogenesis.Methods:  Somatic mutation in exons 3–5 of AXIN1 and exon 3 of β‐catenin were analyzed by direct sequencing and expression of axin and β‐catenin proteins by immunohistochemistry in a series of 36 patients with HCC and cirrhosis.Results:  The AXIN1 and β‐catenin gene mutations were observed in 25% (9/36) and 2.8% (1/36) of HCCs, respectively. All mutations detected in AXIN1 and β‐catenin genes were missense point mutations. Abnormal nuclear expression of β‐catenin was observed in 11 of 36 cases of HCCs (30.6%), but not in cirrhotic nodules. Reduced or absent expression of axin was seen in 24 of 36 HCCs (66.7%). The abnormal expression of β‐catenin and axin proteins was closely correlated with mutations of AXIN1 and β‐catenin (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.008, respectively).Conclusions:  These data suggest that mutation of AXIN1 gene is a frequent and late event for HCC associated with cirrhosis, and is correlated significantly with abnormal expression of axin and β‐catenin. Therefore, activation of Wnt signaling through AXIN1 rather than β‐catenin mutation might play an important role in liver carcinogenesis.
Community‐based screening for hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly residents in a hepatitis B‐ and C‐endemic area
Authors: Huang Yen‐Chieh , Huang Chih‐Fang , Chang Kuo‐Chin , Hung Shu‐Fen , Wang Jing‐Houng , Hung Chao‐Hung , Chen Chien‐Hung , Tseng Po‐Lin , Kee Kwong‐Ming , Yen Yi‐Hao , Tsai Pei‐Shan , Tsai Chin‐Chen , Lu Sheng‐Nan 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The aim of the present study was to elucidate a reasonable model and the efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening on an elderly population.Methods:  Two‐stage HCC screening was conducted in a hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐endemic area. First, participants underwent blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti‐HCV antibody, serum α‐fetoprotein (AFP), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and platelet count. Patients who were abnormal for any of the six markers were enrolled for second‐stage ultrasonography. Suspected cases were referred for confirmation. HCC cases were followed for 4 years. All patients were linked to national mortality and cancer register databases to identify newly‐developed HCC, 30 months after screening.Results:  A total of 461 males and 541 females were screened for HCC, with 15.1% testing positive for HBsAg and 44.3% positive for anti‐HCV. Among them, 619 (61.8%) met the criteria of ultrasonographic screening; 527 (85.1%) responded, and 16 confirmed HCC (male/female = 8/8, 68.8 ± 8 years) cases were detected. All tumor diameters were less than 5 cm, and six were less than 2 cm. AFP and thrombocytopenia were two independent predictive factors of HCC. The overall survival rates of detected cases were 93.8% and 56.3% was 1 and 4 years, respectively. The only good prognostic predictor was “underwent curative treatment”. Another seven non‐HCC residents developed HCC after screening, and five of these were with either thrombocytopenia or AFP elevation.Conclusion:  Under economical consideration, AFP and platelet count should be feasible screening markers of risk identification. Early detection and prompt treatment results in good prognosis in an aged population.