bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of nitric oxide and guanosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate in mediating nonadrenergic, noncholinergic relaxation in guinea‐pig pulmonary arteries
Authors: Liu S.F. , Crawley D.E. , Rohde J.A.L. , Evans T.W. , Barnes P.J. 
Published: July 2012

Nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) nerves mediate vasodilatation in guinea‐pig pulmonary artery (PA) by both endothelium‐dependent and endothelium‐independent mechanisms. The transmitter(s) involved in the endothelium‐independent pathway have not yet been identified. We have therefore investigated the possibility that nitric oxide (NO) and guanosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) may mediate this neural vasodilator response in guinea‐pig branch PA rings denuded of endothelium.
Electric field stimulation (EFS, 50 V, 0.2 ms) induced a frequency‐dependent (1–24 Hz), tetrodotoxin‐sensitive relaxation of the U44069‐precontracted PA rings in the presence of adrenergic and cholinergic blockade.
The NO synthase inhibitors NG‐monomethyl l‐arginine (l‐NMMA, 100 μm) and NG‐nitro l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME, 30 μm), and the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (5 μm) inhibited the EFS (16 Hz)‐induced relaxation by 53 ± 5, 74 ± 9 and 82 ± 9% respectively (n = 5–7, P < 0.01, compared with control rings).
Excess concentrations of l‐, but not d‐arginine (300 μm) completely reversed the inhibitory effect of l‐NMMA.
The EFS‐elicited relaxation (4 Hz) was potentiated by 1 μm zaprinast, a type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor which inhibits guanosine 3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) degradation, but was unaffected by 0.1 μm zardaverine, a type III/IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor which inhibits cyclic AMP degradation.
EFS (50 V, 0.2 ms, 16 Hz) induced a 3 fold increase in tissue cyclic GMP content, an action which was inhibited by l‐NMMA (100 μm).
Pyrogallol (100 μm), a superoxide anion generator, also inhibited the EFS‐induced relaxation by 53 ± 9%, and this effect was prevented by superoxide dismutase.
Chemical sympathetic denervation with 6‐hydroxydopamine had no effect on the relaxant response to EFS in the endothelium‐denuded PA rings.
In endothelium‐denuded branch PA rings at resting tone, l‐NMMA (100 μm) significantly augmented the adrenergic contractile response, an effect which was completely reversed by l‐arginine, but not by d‐arginine. In the same groups of vessel rings, l‐NMMA had no significant effect on the matched contractile response to exogenous noradrenaline.
These results suggest that NO may be released from intramural nerve endings other than adrenergic nerves (probably NANC nerves), and this leads to vasodilatation via activation of guanylyl cyclase.
The effect of aliphatic alcohols on the transient potassium current in hippocampal neurones
Authors: Saint David A. 
Published: July 2012

The transient potassium current was recorded in single hippocampal CA1 neurones from the rat by use of the whole‐cell patch clamp technique. The effects on this current of a homologous series of aliphatic alcohols, ranging from butanol to octanol, were investigated.
The predominant effect of octanol (and the other alcohols) was to cause an increase in the initial rate of decay of the transient potassium current together with a slight decrease in the rate of decay of later phases of the current, such that the current decay became markedly non‐monotonic. The alcohols also caused a decrease in peak current amplitude which could not be accounted for soley by the change in current decay kinetics.
The effect of the alcohols was concentration‐dependent and readily reversible. Increasing chain length increased the potency of each alcohol by about 3 fold for each methylene group added. Other than a difference in potency, there appeared to be little difference in the action of aliphatic alcohols of different chain length on the transient current.
The alcohols did not appreciably change the voltage‐dependence of steady state inactivation or activation of the transient potassium current.
The rate of inactivation of the transient current in these cells was only weakly voltage‐dependent. This weak voltage‐dependence was not changed by the presence of aliphatic alcohols, neither was the effect of the alcohols themselves voltage‐dependent.
The potencies of each of the aliphatic alcohols were well correlated with their respective membrane/buffer partition coefficients, a finding which implies a hydrophobic locus of action.
The case for induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes in pharmacological screening
Authors: Khan Jaffar M , Lyon Alexander R , Harding Sian E 
Published: July 2012

The current drug screening models are deficient, particularly in detecting cardiac side effects. Human stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes could aid both early cardiotoxicity detection and novel drug discovery. Work over the last decade has generated human embryonic stem cells as potentially accurate sources of human cardiomyocytes, but ethical constraints and poor efficacy in establishing cell lines limit their use. Induced pluripotent stem cells do not require the use of human embryos and have the added advantage of producing patient‐specific cardiomyocytes, allowing both generic and disease‐ and patient‐specific pharmacological screening, as well as drug development through disease modelling. A critical question is whether sufficient standards have been achieved in the reliable and reproducible generation of ‘adult‐like’ cardiomyocytes from human fibroblast tissue to progress from validation to safe use in practice and drug discovery. This review will highlight the need for a new experimental system, assess the validity of human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes and explore what the future may hold for their use in pharmacology.LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Regenerative Medicine and Pharmacology: A Look to the Future. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.169.issue‐2
Commentary on Fitzpatrick and Colleagues (2012): Forecasting the Effect of the Amethyst Initiative on College Drinking
Authors: Voas Robert B. , Fell James C. 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundThere is considerable evidence that heavy episodic drinking (HED) is a serious problem among college students. Concern with this problem has led 135 college presidents to endorse the Amethyst Initiative, which promotes the lowering of the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) from 21 to 18. The Amethyst Initiative claims that the current MLDA of 21 encourages underage college students to drink in unsupervised locations where they adopt misconceptions regarding the normative level of student drinking that leads to excessive consumption or HED. The study by Fitzpatrick and colleagues (2012) in this issue challenges this hypothesis by contrasting the potential reduction in misapprehension of the drinking norm against the increase in consumption that would be expected if the MLDA was lowered to 18.MethodsThis commentary places the Fitzpatrick study within the larger context of the MLDA, noting that full consideration of the lowering the MLDA requires the inclusion of 18‐ to 20‐year‐old noncollege youths in the work force and 15‐ to 17‐year‐old high school students who will have increased access to alcohol through their 18‐year‐old peers.ResultsResearch suggests that alcohol consumption and its associated problems will increase for 15‐ to 20‐year‐olds if the MLDA was lowered. This commentary also identifies alternative strategies for reducing college student HED that do not require lowering the MLDA.ConclusionsAlthough college binge drinking is a significant problem, reducing the drinking age is unlikely to be effective. Instead, it will increase the risk of alcohol problems faced by even younger high school students.
The influence of adverse reactions, subjective distress, and anxiety on retention of first‐time blood donors
Authors: van Dongen Anne , Abraham Charles , Ruiter Robert A.C. , Veldhuizen Ingrid J.T. 
Published: July 2012

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of adverse events (i.e., needle reactions, fatigue, and vasovagal reactions) and feelings of distress and anxiety on retention of first‐time blood donors. All effects were explored separately for men and women.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: First‐time blood donors (n = 2438) received a questionnaire, asking them about their experience of adverse events, subjective distress, and anxiety at their first donation. Provision of a second donation was checked approximately 18 months later. After exclusion of nonresponders and donors who did not experience an adverse event, 1278 first‐time donors were included in the logistic regression analyses.RESULTS: Nine percent of donors who experienced an adverse event at their first donation did not return for a second donation. Vasovagal reactions decreased retention in both males and females (men—odds ratio [OR], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23‐0.89; women—OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51‐0.98). Fatigue decreased retention in males only (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.42‐0.91), and subjective distress decreased retention in females only (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65‐0.92).CONCLUSION: In addition to decreasing vasovagal reactions, retention interventions could productively target coping with fatigue and reducing subjective distress after adverse reactions.
Butyrate induces reactive oxygen species production and affects cell cycle progression in human gingival fibroblasts
Authors: Chang M.‐C. , Tsai Y.‐L. , Chen Y.‐W. , Chan C.‐P. , Huang C.‐F. , Lan W.‐C. , Lin C.‐C. , Lan W.‐H. , Jeng J.‐H. 
Published: July 2012

Background and Objective:  Short‐chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid and propionic acid, are metabolic by‐products generated by periodontal microflora such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, and contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontitis. However, the effects of butyrate on the biological activities of gingival fibroblasts (GFs) are not well elucidated.Material and Methods:  Human GFs were exposed to various concentrations of butyrate (0.5–16 mm) for 24 h. Viable cells that excluded trypan blue were counted. Cell cycle distribution of GFs was analyzed by propidium iodide‐staining flow cytometry. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured by flow cytometry using 2’,7’‐dichlorofluorescein (DCF). Total RNA and protein lysates were isolated and subjected to RT‐PCR using specific primers or to western blotting using specific antibodies, respectively.Results:  Butyrate inhibited the growth of GFs, as indicated by a decrease in the number of viable cells. This event was associated with an induction of G0/G1 and G2/M cell cycle arrest by butyrate (4–16 mm) in GFs. However, no marked apoptosis of GFs was noted in this experimental condition. Butyrate (> 2 mm) inhibited the expression of cdc2, cdc25C and cyclinB1 mRNAs and reduced the levels of Cdc2, Cdc25C and cyclinB1 proteins in GFs, as determined using RT‐PCR and western blotting, respectively. This toxic effect of butyrate was associated with the production of ROS.Conclusion:  These results suggest that butyrate generated by periodontal pathogens may be involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases via the induction of ROS production and the impairment of cell growth, cell cycle progression and expression of cell cycle‐related genes in GFs. These events are important in the initiation and prolongation of inflammatory processes in periodontal diseases.
Treatment satisfaction and health status in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Rehberger Philipp , Müller Hannah , Günther Claudia , Schmitt Jochen 
Published: July 2012

SummaryBackground: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease. Few data are available on treatment satisfaction, determinants of quality of life, and the health status of dermatology patients with SSc.Patients and methods: Cross‐sectional study based on 72 consecutive dermatological patients with SSc. Objective clinical data were collected with a physician's questionnaire and subjective data were collected with a patients’ questionnaire on disease characteristics, treatment satisfaction, quality of life, depressive symptoms, and Antonovsky's sense of coherence (SOC). We also tested the significance of possible determinants of treatment satisfaction.Results: Treatment satisfaction was 72.0 (± 22.2; VAS 1–100). The assessment of professional competence of the treating physician was the most important determinant of treatment satisfaction and was independent of the patient's age and sex. The assessment of physician empathy, information about the disease, and the patient's own evaluation of the severity of disease were also associated with treatment satisfaction. The mean health‐related quality of life (QoL; EQ‐5D) was 0.74 (± 0.28) and the mean SOC was 72.6 (± 10.6). 58 % of patients reported moderate to severe pain and 13 % were treated for pain symptoms. In 69 % there was evidence of probable depression (CES‐D $ 22); 8 % were on antidepressants.Conclusions: Treatment satisfaction was average and correlated especially with the sense of professional competence of the treating physician. In SSc patients, a diminished health‐related quality of life as well as pain and evidence of depression are common and seem to be inadequately treated. However, the SOC indicates a lower general vulnerability. In the future, screening for pain and symptoms of depression should part of routine practice in SSc patients and, if necessary, interdisciplinary care should be initiated.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children born 1982–2005 after in vitro fertilization
Authors: Åkefeldt Selma O , Finnström Orvar , Gavhed Désirée , Henter Jan‐Inge 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAim:  In a recent Swedish study, comparing data from the Swedish Cancer Register with the Medical Birth Register including data on IVF, an increased risk of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) was found in children born 1982–2005 after IVF. Here, we aimed to verify the LCH diagnoses and examine whether any special forms of the disease were overrepresented in this population.Methods:  Medical records for all children with LCH conceived by IVF were acquired and the diagnosis confirmed or discarded. Disease characteristics were compared with data from children diagnosed with LCH 1992–2001 in the Stockholm County.Results:  We verified LCH in seven children born after IVF, all born prior to 2002. These children did not have milder disease forms. The odds ratio (OR) to develop LCH for the whole group born after IVF was 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4–7.3] and for children born before 2002, 5.2 [95% CI, 2.3–11.9], compared with children in Stockholm County 1992–2001.Conclusion:  LCH was overrepresented in children born after IVF prior to 2002. Affected children did not have milder disease forms. These findings may be valuable to understand LCH aetiology. Additional studies on a putative correlation between IVF and LCH in the offspring are encouraged.
Contrasting reproductive traits in two species of mangrove‐dwelling littorinid snails in a seasonal tropical habitat
Authors: Ng Terence P. T. , Williams Gray A. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractPrevious studies on the reproductive biology of littorinid snails have focused on rocky shore species, investigating how these gastropods can achieve maximal reproductive success, as well as on processes of sexual selection. This study documented differences in the reproductive traits of two mangrove‐dwelling littorinids,Littoraria ardouinianaandL. melanostoma,inHongKong. Reproductive activity of both species was most intense during the summer months. Mating pairs of the two species generally occurred in the tree canopies. Few false mating pairs (same sex or heterospecific pairs: <10%) were recorded, and members of both species showed size‐assortative mating.Littoraria ardouinianahad a shorter reproductive season but a higher intensity of mating and higher seasonal fecundity, than didL. melanostoma. Members of both species showed bi‐lunar periodicities of egg or larval release, synchronized with spring tides. Fecundity showed a strong positive relationship with body size inL. ardouiniana,but not inL. melanostoma. Females ofL. ardouinianareleased entire broods of larvae in a single brief event, whereas females ofL. melanostomareleased fewer eggs over 1–8 d. Release of larvae inL. ardouinianainvolved a series of short bursts and was much faster than the trickle release of eggs inL. melanostoma. The contrasting reproductive traits in these two species represent different strategies to optimize reproductive success in mangrove habitats.
Constraining stellar assembly and active galactic nucleus feedback at the peak epoch of star formation
Authors: Kimm T. , Kaviraj S. , Devriendt J. E. G. , Cohen S. H. , Windhorst R. A. , Dubois Y. , Slyz A. , Hathi N. P. , Ryan R. E. , O'Connell R. W. , Dopita M. A. , Silk J. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
We study stellar assembly and feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGN) around the epoch of peak star formation (1 ≲ z ≲ 2), by comparing hydrodynamic simulations to rest-frame UV-optical galaxy colours from the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) Early Release Science (ERS) programme. Our adaptive mesh refinement simulations include metal-dependent radiative cooling, star formation, kinetic outflows due to supernova explosions and feedback from supermassive black holes. Our model assumes that when gas accretes on to black holes, a fraction of the energy is used to form either thermal winds or subrelativistic momentum-imparting collimated jets, depending on the accretion rate. We find that the predicted rest-frame UV-optical colours of galaxies in the model that includes AGN feedback are in broad agreement with the observed colours of the WFC3 ERS sample at 1 ≲ z ≲ 2. The predicted number of massive galaxies also matches well with observations in this redshift range. However, the massive galaxies are predicted to show higher levels of residual star formation activity than the observational estimates, suggesting the need for further suppression of star formation without significantly altering the stellar mass function. We discuss possible improvements, involving faster stellar assembly through enhanced star formation during galaxy mergers while star formation at the peak epoch is still modulated by the AGN feedback.
ANTIQUORUM SENSING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF NATURAL AGENTS WITH POTENTIAL USE IN FOOD
Authors: ALVAREZ MARíA V. , MOREIRA MARíA R. , PONCE ALEJANDRA 
Published: July 2012

AbstractQuorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial communication mechanism that depends on population density. QS inhibitory activity of four bioactive agents and two essential oils was evaluated using the bacteria model Chromobacterium violaceum. On the other hand, antimicrobial activity was tested using two foodborne pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. Agents were able to inhibit the violacein production, being tea tree and rosemary more effective than propolis and pollen, and resveratrol more effective than pomegranate. Tea tree and rosemary essential oils, applied at 0.5 μL/mL, reduced violacein production by more than 80%. In order to evaluate whether the inhibition of violacein production owed to the microbial growth reduction or acylated homoserine lactone inhibition, the antimicrobial activity was analyzed using C. violaceum as indicator. None of the tested agents showed antimicrobial activity at the minimal QS inhibitory concentration. Agents showed varying degrees of antibacterial activity against pathogens. Tea tree and rosemary resulted more effective than the others. These essential oils showed bacteriostatic effect on pathogen counts at low concentrations (0.5–1 μL/mL). When they were applied at concentrations higher than 2 μL/mL, bactericidal effect was observed against E. coli and L. monocytogenes. These findings strongly suggest that these agents have potential to be good preservatives because of anti‐QS capacity and antimicrobial properties.Practical ApplicationsFood spoilage is a complex process, and excessive amounts of foods are lost due to microbial spoilage even with modern day preservation techniques. Another problem related to public health is the contamination of foods with human pathogen microorganisms. Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell‐to‐cell communication mechanism by which bacterial population measures its cell density. Because many important animal and plant pathogens use QS to regulate virulence, the interruption of bacteria QS have broad applicability for biological control of disease‐causing organisms. It is considered a good strategy to reduce or prevent spoilage reaction in foods. In this work, we investigated antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens and anti‐QS activity (using Chromobacterium violaceum) of some bioactive extracts and essential oils. The results obtained from this study indicate that agents tested could potentially be used as natural preservatives to prolong shelf life and ensure safety of foods.
Enhanced chemiluminescence as an indicator of air pollution
Authors: Cartwright R.B. , Spindlow A.L. , Thorpe G.H.G. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractInvestigations were conducted to determine the pollution levels of air condensate and rain samples using the enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) reaction. Air condensate samples were initially collected from roadside sites, non‐roadside sites, smoking‐exposed sites and non‐smoking‐exposed sites using an automatic dew collector. Rainwater was also collected throughout the sampling period. Samples were subsequently analysed using the ECL reaction, and pollution levels (Eclox Units) were calculated. Air condensate samples collected from roadside‐ and smoking‐exposed sites generally had higher pollution levels than those from non‐roadside‐ and non‐smoking‐exposed sites. Samples from both smoking‐exposed and traffic‐exposed sites generally had higher pollution levels than rainwater. Finally, in samples collected from roadside‐exposed sites and rainwater, the main polluting constituents were determined to be cationic/anionic components. In samples collected from smoking‐exposed sites, the main polluting constituents were determined to be organic components.
Geriatric screening in first opinion practice – results from 45 dogs
Authors: Davies M. 
Published: July 2012

ObjectivesTo evaluate and report the results of screening geriatric dogs in a first opinion practice.MethodsA prospective health screen of dogs over nine‐years‐old involving history taking, physical examination and urinalysis.ResultsAt least one previously unrecognised problem was identified in 80% of 45 dogs and 353 findings (mean 7·8 per dog) were recorded. Owners often failed to recognise and report serious signs of age‐related disease. However, they most often reported increased sleeping (31%), loss of hearing (29%) or sight (20%), stiffness or lameness (22%) and “slowing down” (20%). Increased lens opacity (64%), increased thirst (58%), pain (24%), increased frequency of urination (24%), signs of osteoarthritis (24%) and dental disease (22%) were most frequently identified at the time of consultation. Potentially, life‐threatening findings included respiratory distress, palpable abdominal masses and metastatic lung disease. Screening resulted in 29 further diagnostic procedures, including 10 dental procedures, seven medical treatments, two surgical procedures and euthanasia of two dogs.Clinical SignificanceScreening elderly dogs identified unrecognised and unreported health risk factors resulting in lifestyle modification and ongoing monitoring, as well as signs of age‐related diseases resulting in diagnostic investigations, early diagnoses and surgical and medical interventions to improve quality of life.