bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic strategies of meconium obstruction of the small bowel in very‐low‐birthweight neonates
Authors: Koshinaga Tsugumichi , Inoue Mikiya , Ohashi Kensuke , Sugito Kiminobu , Ikeda Taro , Tomita Ryouichi 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground:  Meconium obstruction without cystic fibrosis in low‐birthweight neonates is a distinct clinical entity. We aimed to determine what therapeutic strategies work best in very‐low‐birthweight neonates with meconium obstruction of the small bowel under varied clinical conditions caused by the associated diseases of prematurity.Methods:  Medical records of very‐low‐birthweight neonates with meconium obstruction of the small bowel treated from 1998 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Pre‐ and postnatal data, treatments, and clinical outcomes were assessed.Results:  Nine patients with perinatal complications were identified. Mean gestational age and birthweight were 26.9 weeks and 863 g, respectively. Abdominal distension developed from 1 to 7 days of life. Five patients were initially treated with Gastrografin enema, three of whom had successful outcomes. Two hemodynamically unstable patients failed to respond to Gastrografin treatment; they ultimately died of sepsis. The remaining four without Gastrografin treatment underwent enterostomy to resolve the obstructions with good results.Conclusions:  Gastrografin and surgical treatments should be appropriately selected based on the underlying pathologies of meconium obstruction of the small bowel. Therapeutic Gastrografin enema is effective, safe and repeatable; however, it is not recommended for hemodynamically unstable patients. Surgical intervention is reserved for those who develop rapid abdominal distension that risks perforation.
Characteristic alteration in the second derivative of photoplethysmogram in children
Authors: Hasegawa Satoshi , Sato Seiichi , Numano Fujito , Park Jiksoo , Hoshina Satoshi , Endoh Hikosato , Suzuki Hiroshi , Uchiyama Makoto 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground:  The second derivative of the photoplethysmogram (SDPTG) has been verified as a useful method for analyzing pulse wave form in adults; however, there have been few studies on the SDPTG in children.Methods:  We examined age‐related alteration of SDPTG (study 1) and the SDPTG response to a vasodilator (study 2). The subjects in study 1 were 36 healthy children aged 0.9–16.0 years. The subjects in study 2 were 13 children aged 5.4–18.9 years with a history of Kawasaki disease. Subjects received an i.v. infusion of 0.568 mg/kg dipyridamole. We assessed the SDPTG by d/a ratio, b/a ratio and aging index (AGI).Results:  The d/a ratio increased with advance of age (r= 0.636, P < 0.001), and the b/a ratio and AGI decreased with advance of age (r=−0.343, P < 0.05 and r=−0.678, P < 0.001, respectively). The d/a ratio and AGI were correlated with height (r= 0.523, P < 0.01 and r=−0.623, P < 0.001, respectively), but the b/a ratio was not significantly correlated with height. In study 2, the d/a ratio increased significantly (P≤ 0.05), but the b/a ratio and AGI did not alter.Conclusions:  The SDPTG indices in children show characteristic alterations with advance of age and react to a vasodilator.
Short‐term effects of crossover treatment with silodosin and tamsulosin hydrochloride for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Miyakita Hideshi , Yokoyama Eiji , Onodera Yasutada , Utsunomiya Takuji , Tokunaga Masatoshi , Tojo Takanori , Fujii Noriteru , Yanada Shuichi 
Published: August 2010

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of silodosin and tamsulosin in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by a randomized crossover method.Methods: BPH patients with the complaint of LUTS were included in this study, and were randomly divided into two groups: a silodosin‐preceding group (4 weeks of twice‐daily administration of silodosin at 4 mg, followed by 4 weeks of once‐daily administration of tamsulosin at 0.2 mg) or a tamsulosin‐preceding group (4 weeks' administration of tamsulosin, followed by 4 weeks' administration of silodosin). No drug withdrawal period was provided when switching the drug.Results: In the first treatment period, both drugs significantly improved the International Prostate Symptom Score total score, but the improvement by silodosin was significantly superior to that by tamsulosin. After crossover treatment, significant improvement was observed only with silodosin treatment. Moreover, intergroup comparison of changes revealed that silodosin showed significant improvement of straining and nocturia with first and crossover treatments, respectively, compared with tamsulosin. Silodosin also significantly improved quality of life (QOL) score in both treatment periods, while tamsulosin significantly improved QOL score only in the first treatment period. The most frequent adverse drug reaction was ejaculatory disorder with silodosin; however, the incidence of dizziness with silodosin was similar to that with tamsulosin.Conclusions: In BPH/LUTS patients, silodosin exhibits excellent efficacy in improving subjective symptoms in both initial and crossover treatment, and it appears to improve the QOL of patients.
Alternative antiandrogen therapy in patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer: A single‐center experience
Authors: Okegawa Takatsugu , Nutahara Kikuo , Higashihara Eiji 
Published: August 2010

AbstractOutcomes of alternative (second‐line) antiandrogen therapy in 112 patients with relapsing prostate cancer after first‐line hormonal therapy were analyzed. A good response (prostate‐specific antigen [PSA] decrease ≥50%) and a partial response (PSA decrease of 0–50%) by switching from bicalutamide (BCL) to flutamide (FLT) and from FLT to BCL were achieved in 35.4% (28/79) and 30.4% (24/79), and in 45.0% (9/20) and 20.0% (4/20) of cases, respectively. A good response and a partial response with the change from chlormadinone acetate (CMA) to a non‐steroidal antiandrogen (FLT or BCL) and from a non‐steroidal antiandrogen to CMA were obtained in 25.0% (2/8) and 37.5% (3/8), and in 20.0% (1/5) and 0% (0/5) of cases, respectively. In multivariate analyses, a second‐line good response was significantly predictive of cause‐specific survival from first therapy relapse to cancer death in all patients. Patients (52/112, 46.4%) with ≥30% decrease in PSA levels were associated with significantly better cause‐specific survival as measured from the start of first‐line treatment and first‐line relapse.
Reversible inactivation of the basolateral amygdala, but not the dorsolateral caudate putamen, attenuates consolidation of cocaine‐cue associative learning in a reinstatement model of drug‐seeking
Authors: Gabriele Amanda , See Ronald E. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractPrevious research has shown that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) mediates stimulus‐reward learning, including drug‐cue associations, whereas the dorsolateral caudate putamen (dlCPu) primarily mediates stimulus‐response (habit) learning. Recent evidence has indicated that the dlCPu may be critical in cocaine‐seeking following extended self‐administration, but it remains unknown whether the dlCPu plays a role in the early formation of drug‐cue associations. The current study used a model of Pavlovian learning to compare the roles of the BLA and dlCPu in the consolidation of cocaine‐cue associations that maintain cocaine‐seeking during cue‐induced reinstatement. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats self‐administered cocaine (0.2 mg/50 μL infusion, i.v.) in the absence of cues for 6 days (2 h/day). Immediately following a single 1‐h classical conditioning session in which passive cocaine infusions were paired with a light/tone cue, animals received bilateral infusions of the GABA receptor agonists, baclofen/muscimol (1.0/0.1 mm), or vehicle into the BLA or dlCPu. Following additional cocaine self‐administration (5 days) and subsequent extinction (no cocaine or cues, 7 days), the ability of the previously cocaine‐paired cues to reinstate cocaine‐seeking was assessed. Inactivation of the BLA, but not the dlCPu, immediately following the classical conditioning session impaired the consolidation of cocaine‐cue associations as seen by decreased cue‐induced reinstatement. These results extend previous findings that the BLA mediates the consolidation of learned associations that drive cocaine‐seeking during subsequent reinstatement and indicate that the dlCPu does not play a role during initial stimulus‐drug associative learning.
FMRFamide regulates oscillatory activity of the olfactory center in the slug
Authors: Kobayashi Suguru , Hattori Mariko , Elekes Károly , Ito Etsuro , Matsuo Ryota 
Published: August 2010

AbstractIn the olfactory center of terrestrial animals, changes in the oscillatory frequency of the local field potential (LFP) are thought to be involved in olfaction‐based behavior and olfactory memory. The terrestrial slug Limax has a highly developed olfactory center, the procerebrum, in which the LFP spontaneously oscillates. Although changes in the oscillatory frequency are thought to correspond to the preference for specific odors, our knowledge about the mechanism of this frequency regulation is limited. To clarify the mechanism of the bidirectional frequency changes in the procerebrum, we focused on the neuropeptide Phe‐Met‐Arg‐Phe‐NH2 (FMRFamide), which is known to have neuromodulatory functions in invertebrate nervous systems. Application of FMRFamide decreased the oscillatory frequency via G‐protein‐mediated cascades. Immunohistochemistry showed that FMRFamide‐like‐immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies are located in the cell mass layer of the procerebrum, projecting their neurites to the neuropile layers. The procerebrum was shown to also receive innervation from other regions of the cerebral ganglion. Furthermore, according to their morphological and projection characteristics, FMRFamide‐containing neurons belong to the subpopulations of both bursting and nonbursting neurons in the procerebrum. The mRNA splice variant encoding multiple copies of canonical FMRFamide was specifically expressed in the procerebrum. Taking into account previous results showing that serotonin increases the oscillatory frequency, our results indicate that FMRFamide and serotonin both regulate the LFP frequency but in exactly the opposite direction in the olfactory center of the terrestrial slug.
Oral bioavailability of clonidine in children
Authors: Larsson Peter , Nordlinder Anders , Bergendahl Henrik T.G. , Lönnqvist Per‐Arne , Eksborg Staffan , Almenrader Nicole , Anderson Brian J. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryBackground: Oral clonidine is used as premedication in children. The bioavailability of clonidine given orally in adults is 75–100% but is unknown in children.Methods: Children (3–10 years) undergoing adenotonsillectomy were administered oral clonidine 4 mcg·kg−1mixed with apple fruit drink as premedication. Intravenous plasma was assayed for clonidine concentration at 5, 15, 30, 45 min and 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 h after administration. Clonidine plasma concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography‐mass spectroscopy, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using nonlinear effects mixed‐effects models. Current data were pooled with published time–concentration profiles from children (n = 49) administered intravenous clonidine to determine oral bioavailability.Results: There were eight children studied (age 3–10 years, weight 10.5–36 kg). A two‐compartment model with first‐order absorption and elimination was used to describe time–concentration profiles. Population parameter estimates (CV%; 95% CI), standardized to a 70‐kg person, were absorption half‐life (Tabs), 0.45 (85.1; 0.221–0.884) h, absorption lag time (Tlag), 0.148 (91.2; 0.002–0.316) h, Clearance (CL) 17.9 (30.3; 16–20.3) l·h−1per 70 kg, between compartment clearance (Q) 121 (44.3; 80.1–165) l·h−1per 70 kg, central volume (V1) 81.2 (71.5; 60.7–105) l·70 kg−1, peripheral volume of distribution (V2) 113 (33.9; 91–131) l·70 kg−1. The oral bioavailability was 55.4% (CV 6.4%; 95% CI 0.469, 0.654).Conclusions: Clonidine administered with an apple fruit drink displays a variable and relatively slow absorption after oral administration (Tmax1.04 h,Cmax0.77 mcg·l−1). The oral bioavailability was 55.4%, which is less than reported in adults. Consequently, higher oral doses of clonidine (per kg) are required when this formulation is used to achieve concentrations similar to those reported in adults.
Metacommunity phylogenetics: separating the roles of environmental filters and historical biogeography
Authors: Leibold Mathew A. , Economo Evan P. , Peres‐Neto Pedro 
Published: August 2010

Ecology Letters(2010)AbstractBiogeographical, evolutionary and ecological processes interact to regulate patterns in metacommunities. However, as there are few quantitative methods for evaluating their joint effects, resolving this interaction is difficult. We develop a method that aims to evaluate the interaction between phylogenetic structure, historical biogeographic events and environmental filtering in driving species distributions in a large‐scale metacommunity. Using freshwater zooplankton as a case study, we contrast the phylogenetic metacommunity structure of calanoid copepods and an ecologically similar but more vagile group, daphniids, in the northeastern US. We find that legacies of historical biogeographical events have strongly constrained calanoid distributions within this area, but that adaptation to different water chemistry and lake morphology drives the metacommunity structure of daphniids. Our findings show that biogeographic history and metacommunity processes jointly regulate community structure in these lakes and suggest that this also depends on factors that affect the colonization rate of different types of organisms.
Positive diversity–stability relationships in forest herb populations during four decades of community assembly
Authors: Dovčiak Martin , Halpern Charles B. 
Published: August 2010

Ecology Letters (2010)AbstractIt is suggested that diversity destabilizes individual populations within communities; however, generalizations are problematic because effects of diversity can be confounded by variation attributable to community type, life history or successional stage. We examined these complexities using a 40‐year record of reassembly in forest herb communities in two clearcut watersheds in the Andrews Long‐term Ecological Research Site (Oregon, USA). Population stability was higher among forest than colonizing species and increased with successional stage. Thus, life history and successional stage may explain some of the variability in diversity–stability relationships found previously. However, population stability was positively related to diversity and this relationship held for different forest communities, for species with contrasting life histories, and for different successional stages. Positive relationships between diversity and population stability can arise if diversity has facilitative effects, or if stability is a precursor, rather than a response, to diversity.
Signatures of range expansion and erosion in eastern North American trees
Authors: Murphy Helen T. , VanDerWal Jeremy , Lovett‐Doust Jon 
Published: August 2010

Ecology Letters (2010)AbstractAbundance and occupancy of populations at high‐ and low‐latitude geographic range edges will be critically important in determining a species’ response to climate change. Low abundance and occupancy at expanding (high latitude) edges of the range may limit a species capacity to migrate, and at trailing (low latitude) edges, may result in range erosion and regional extinction. We examined abundance–occupancy distributions across the geographic ranges of 102 eastern North American trees and looked for signatures reflecting capacity to respond to climate change. We found that 62% of species display a signature consistent with higher climatic suitability in the northern latitudes of their range. However, our results suggest that the most common response is likely to involve range erosion in the south and limited range expansion in the north, possibly leading to an overall reduction in range size for many species. In particular, species with smaller ranges centred at lower latitudes may not have the capacity to successfully track the current rate of climate change.
Dimethoate, fenvalerate and their mixture affects Hylyphantes graminicola (Araneae: Linyphiidae) adults and their unexposed offspring
Authors: Peng Yu , Shao Xiao‐li , Hose Grant C. , Liu Feng‐xiang , Chen Jian 
Published: August 2010

Mixtures of organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides are widely used to combat resistance in agricultural pests, although few studies have been conducted on the effects of pesticide mixtures on beneficial nontarget organisms.
In the present study, we exposed adult females (F0) of Hylyphantes graminicola (Araneae: Linyphiidae) to fenvalerate, dimethoate and their commercially available 1 : 1 mixture (by mass). We investigated the acute toxicity of these pesticides to the exposed adults, as well as sublethal effects on reproduction and acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activity. We also studied the effects of parental exposure on the size, development and enzyme activity of unexposed offspring.
All three formulations were acutely toxic to H. graminicola, with synergism between dimethoate and fenvalerate leading to greater toxicity in the 1 : 1 mixture than for the two insecticides alone. The sublethal effects of direct pesticide exposure were a reduction in acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activity and a reduction in the number of egg sacs produced by exposed spiders relative to the control spiders. The unexposed offspring of the fenvalerate and mixture exposed spiders were smaller and took longer to mature than the control spiders. Offspring of all exposed spiders also had significantly reduced carboxylesterase activity relative to control spiders.
We concluded that the effects of parental exposure on the offspring were likely to increase their susceptibility to future pesticide exposures, and reduce the capacity of this spider to serve as a pest control agent.
Synergistic effects of ascorbic acid and thiazolidinedione on secretion of high molecular weight adiponectin from human adipocytes
Authors: Rose F. J. , Webster J. , Barry J. B. , Phillips L. K. , Richards A. A. , Whitehead J. P. 
Published: August 2010

Aim: To test the hypothesis that ascorbic acid (AA) and thiazolidinedione (TZD) would have additive effects on HMW adiponectin secretion by virtue of different modes of action. Methods: We determined the effects of supplementation of AA and/or TZD on expression and secretion of total and HMW adiponectin from human Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome (SGBS) adipocytes in the absence or presence of the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα. Results: AA supplementation significantly increased secretion of HMW adiponectin (1.7‐fold) without altering adiponectin expression or total adiponectin secretion. TZD significantly increased expression (3‐fold) and secretion of total (1.4‐fold) but not HMW adiponectin. Combined supplementation resulted in a significant increase in expression (3‐fold) and secretion of total (1.8‐fold) and HMW (5‐fold) adiponectin. Similar results were seen in cells co‐treated with TNFα. Conclusions: These data show that AA and TZD have synergistic rather than simple additive effects on secretion of HMW adiponectin from human adipocytes and raise the possibility that differences in AA levels may contribute to the variability in adiponectin multimer profiles and efficacy of TZD in humans. Our results also provide a rationale for longitudinal clinical trials investigating the effects of AA supplementation with or without TZD on adiponectin and metabolic profiles.
Beyond ONTARGET: angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibition and angiotensin II receptor blockade in combination, a lesser evil in some?
Authors: Wong J. , Molyneaux L. , Constantino M. , Twigg S. M. , Yue D. K. 
Published: August 2010

Aim: Following the recent Ongoing Telmistartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) finding of adverse renal outcomes, dual renin‐angiotensin blockade has fallen out of favour, despite antihypertensive and antiproteinuric efficacy. However, in high‐risk severe hypertension, not studied in ONTARGET, whether combination treatment should be withheld or withdrawn is not clear. We examine the renal effects of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE‐I) and angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) monotherapy versus combination therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and varying degrees of hypertension. Methods: Subjects attending a hospital diabetes centre were selected as case (combination therapy, n = 120) and control (monotherapy, n = 480). Subjects were matched for age, gender, ethnicity, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood pressure (BP) and study duration. Patients were stratified by BP, hypertension stage 1 (BP < 160/100, n = 506) and stage 2 (≥160/100, n = 94), and by treatment group. Data were analysed for the primary renal outcome of eGFR decline ≥20 ml/min, over a median of 3.7 years. Results: In keeping with the ONTARGET study, for stage 1 hypertension, combination treatment is significantly worse than monotherapy for the primary outcome of eGFR decline ≥20 ml/min (20 vs. 10.7%, p = 0.01). In contrast, for stage 2 hypertension, this endpoint was reached less often for combination versus monotherapy (12.0 vs. 23.2%, p = 0.2). Combination treatment was also not detrimental in patients with proteinuria or eGFR < 60 ml/min and was associated with fewer macrovascular events. Conclusion: Given that hypertension control is paramount and in the spirit of primum non nocere, these data are reassuring should clinicians choose to use ACE‐I and ARB combination therapy in the very hypertensive diabetic patient.
Late relapse (>2 years) on surveillance in stage I non‐seminomatous germ cell tumours; predominant seminoma only histology
Authors: Nolan Luke , Wheater Matthew , Kirby Julie , Simmonds Peter , Mead Graham 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVESSurveillance is a standard management approach following orchidectomy for stage I non‐seminomatous and mixed germ cell tumours. Patients who relapse following this approach are treated with cisplatin‐based chemotherapy, with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection considered for patients with post‐chemotherapy residual masses.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe reviewed the clinicopathological data for all patients who relapse greater than 24 months after commencing our surveillance programme.RESULTSBetween 1989 and 2008, 453 patients with a median age of 30 years were entered into our surveillance program for stage I non‐seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCTs) after orchidectomy alone. All primary tumour specimens contained NSGCT, with seminomatous elements identified in 168 cases (37%). One‐hundred patients (22%) relapsed and the majority of relapses occurred within the first 2 years (76 ≤ 12 months, 15 ≥ 12 months ≤ 2 years). Nine patients relapsed after more than 2 years of surveillance. We found a high incidence of pure seminoma (56%) at sites of metastatic disease in this group. All late‐relapsing patients were alive and disease free at a median follow up of 45 months from relapse.CONCLUSIONSWe recommend that late‐relapsing patients with normal serum alpha fetoprotein levels undergo biopsy to define histologically the nature of recurrent disease. In those with pure seminoma retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for post chemotherapy residual masses can be avoided.