bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anaesthesiological considerations on tocolytic and uterotonic therapy in obstetrics
Authors: VERCAUTEREN M. , PALIT Ş. , SOETENS F. , JACQUEMYN Y. , ALAHUHTA S. 
Published: April 2009

Aim: Significant side effects of tocolytic and uterotonic substances may be of concern to the anaesthesiologist. Recently, new drugs have been introduced having less side effects for both the mother and the neonate.Methods: A literature search was undertaken mainly focusing on meta‐analyses, to review the possible side effects that might affect the course of anaesthesia and to suggest which precautions should be considered to prevent the occurrence of significant interactions with anaesthetic manipulations and drugs.Results: Magnesium sulphate has a proven benefit in lowering systolic blood pressure and preventing the occurrence of eclampsia, but not as a tocolytic. β‐adrenergic agonists are being abandoned due to the availability of tocolytic agents causing less side effects. Calcium channel blockers (CCB) are frequently used but can cause major maternal cardiovascular complications. Nitroglycerin seems to be appreciated as an acute tocolytic rather than a routine substance during pre‐term labour. Cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 inhibitors are still under investigation but their tocolytic benefit is questionable mainly due to foetal side effects. Atosiban is considered the first‐choice tocolytic. With respect to oxytocic drugs, oxytocine, prostaglandines and methylergometrine may all cause serious side effects especially when combined. The cardiovascular side effects of prostaglandins and methylergometrine can be life‐threatening. Both oxytocin and carbetocin have a rather low risk for maternal complications.Conclusion: Atosiban and CCB are at least as effective tocolytic agents as β‐mimetics but have significantly less side effects. Magnesium sulphate can cause neuromuscular blockade, especially when combined with CCB. Concerning oxytocic agents, short‐acting oxyctocin and long‐acting carbetocin have the least side effects as compared with prostaglandins and methylergometrine.
Sensory function and pain in a population of patients treated for breast cancer
Authors: VILHOLM O. J. , COLD S. , RASMUSSEN L. , SINDRUP S. H. 
Published: April 2009

Background: Chronic pain is often reported after surgery for breast cancer. This study examined pain and sensory abnormalities in women following breast cancer surgery.Methods: Sensory tests were carried out on the operated and contra‐lateral side in 55 women with chronic pain after breast cancer treatment and in a reference group of 27 pain‐free women, who had also undergone treatment for breast cancer. Testing included a numeric rating score of spontaneous pain, detection and pain threshold to thermal and dynamic mechanical stimuli and temporal summation to repetitive pinprick stimulation. The neuropathic pain symptom inventory was applied for participants with chronic pain.Results: The mean age was 58.6 years for the pain patients and 60.6 years for the pain‐free patients. Thermal thresholds were significantly higher on the operated side than on the contra‐lateral side in both groups and side difference in warmth detection threshold was significantly higher in the pain group than in the pain‐free group (mean 3.8 °C vs. 1.1 °C, P=0.01). The frequency of cold allodynia was higher in participants with pain than in pain‐free participants (15/53 vs. 1/25, P=0.01), and the frequency of temporal summation evoked by repetitive pinprick was higher in participants with pain than in pain‐free participants (23/53 vs. 2/25, P=0.0009). The frequency of dynamic mechanical allodynia did not differ significantly between the two groups.Conclusion: These findings suggest that chronic pain after surgery for breast cancer is associated with sensory hyperexcitability and is a neuropathic pain condition.
Pulse oximeter perfusion index as an early indicator of sympathectomy after epidural anesthesia
Authors: GINOSAR Y. , WEINIGER C. F. , MEROZ Y. , KURZ V. , BDOLAH‐ABRAM T. , BABCHENKO A. , NITZAN M. , DAVIDSON E. M. 
Published: April 2009

Background: The pulse oximeter perfusion index (PI) has been used to indicate sympathectomy‐induced vasodilatation. We hypothesized that pulse oximeter PI provides an earlier and clearer indication of sympathectomy following epidural anesthesia than skin temperature and arterial pressure.Methods: Forty patients received lumbar epidural catheters. Patients were randomized to receive either 10 ml 0.5% bupivacaine or 10 ml 0.25% bupivacaine. PI in the toe, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and toe temperature were all assessed at baseline and at 5, 10 and 20 min following epidural anesthesia. The effect of epidural anesthesia over time was assessed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Additionally, we defined clinically evident sympathectomy criteria (a 100% increase in the PI, a 15% decrease in MAP and a 1 °C increase in toe temperature). The numbers of patients demonstrating these changes for each test were compared using the McNemar test for each time point.Results: Twenty‐nine subjects had photoplethysmography signals that met a priori signal quality criteria for analysis. By 20 min, PI increased by 326%, compared with a 10% decrease and a 3% increase in MAP and toe temperature, respectively. For PI 15/29, 26/29 and 29/29 of the subjects met the sympathectomy criteria at 5, 10 and 20 min, respectively, compared with 4/29, 6/29 and 18/29 for MAP changes and 3/29, 8/29 and 14/29 for toe temperature changes.Conclusions: PI was an earlier, clearer and more sensitive indicator of the development of epidural‐induced sympathectomy than either skin temperature or MAP.
Genetic variability of heat tolerance, and its effect on yield and fibre quality traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Azhar F. M. , Ali Z. , Akhtar M. M. , Khan A. A. , Trethowan R. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractGlobal temperature is rising because of increasing concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (e.g. methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) in the atmosphere because of the excessive use of fossil fuels. High temperature causes heat stress which reduces crop productivity. The development of heat‐tolerant varieties is feasible and will help mitigate the effects of climate change. Fifty‐one cotton accessions were screened in heat‐stressed and non‐stressed conditions in the glasshouse and field. Relative cell injury percentage (RCI %), a measure of cell membrane thermostability (CMT), was used to assess heat tolerance. Heat‐tolerant accessions had more stable yield and yielded more seed cotton with better quality fibre than the heat‐intolerant accessions across four environments. The responses of the 51 accessions to all four environments for the measured traits were strongly associated. RCI % of the accessions and hybrids was strongly and negatively associated with yield and fibre traits. CMT was concluded to be a useful technique for identification of heat‐tolerant cotton.
Inhibitory effect of 1,8‐cineole on guinea‐pig airway challenged with ovalbumin involves a preferential action on electromechanical coupling
Authors: Bastos Vasco PD , Brito Teresinha S , Lima Francisco JB , Pinho João PM , Lahlou Saad , Abreu Matos Francisco J , Santos Armênio A , Caldas Magalhães Pedro J 
Published: April 2009

Summary1,8‐Cineole is a terpenoid constituent of essential oils with anti‐inflammatory properties. It reduces the neural excitability, functions as an antinociceptive agent and has myorelaxant actions in guinea‐pig airways. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the myorelaxant effects of 1,8‐cineole in guinea‐pig isolated trachea from either naïve guinea‐pigs or ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitized animals subjected to antigenic challenge.Isometric recordings were made of the tone of isolated tracheal rings. Rings with an intact epithelium relaxed beyond basal tone in the presence of 1,8‐cineole (6.5 × 10−6to 2 × 10−2 mol/L) in a concentration‐dependent manner (P < 0.001,anova) with a pD2value of 2.23 (95% confidence interval 2.10–2.37). Removal of the epithelium or pretreatment of intact tissue for 15 min with 50 µmol/LNG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester, 5 mmol/L tetraethylammonium, 0.5 µmol/L tetrodotoxin or 5 µmol/L propranolol did not alter the potency (pD2) or the maximal myorelaxant effect (Emax) of 1,8‐cineole.1,8‐Cineole also significantly decreased the Schultz‐Dale contraction induced by OVA, mainly in preparations from OVA‐sensitized animals submitted to antigen challenge. 1,8‐Cineole decreased tracheal hyperresponsiveness to KCl and carbachol caused by antigen challenge and almost abolished the concentration–response curves to KCl, whereas it had little effect on the concentration–response curves to carbachol. Under Ca2+‐free conditions and in the presence of 10−4 mol/L acetylcholine, neither 1,8‐cineole (6.5 × 10−3 mol/L) nor verapamil (1 × 10−5 mol/L) affected Ca2+‐induced contractions, but they almost abolished Ba2+‐induced contractions.In conclusion, the findings of the present study show that 1,8‐cineole is a tracheal myorelaxant that acts preferentially on contractile responses elicited electromechanically.
Non‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate glutamate receptors in the lateral hypothalamus modulate cardiac baroreflex responses in conscious rats
Authors: Crestani Carlos C , Deolindo Milena V , Alves Fernando HF , Resstel Leonardo BM , Correa Fernando MA 
Published: April 2009

SummaryIn the present study, we investigated the effects of inhibition of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) neurotransmission with bilateral microinjection of CoCl2, a non‐selective blocker of neurotransmission, on modulation of cardiac baroreflex responses in conscious rats as well as the involvement of LH glutamatergic neurotransmission in this modulation.Reflex bradycardiac and tachycardiac responses to blood pressure increases (following i.v. infusion of phenylephrine) or decreases (following i.v. infusion of sodium nitroprusside) were investigated in conscious male Wistar rats. Responses were evaluated before and after microinjection of 1 nmol/100 nL CoCl2, 2 nmol/100 nL 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐6‐nitro‐2,3‐dioxobenzoquinoxaline‐7‐sulphonamide (NBQX; a selective non‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist) or different doses (2, 4 or 8 nmol/100 nL) of the selective NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist LY235959.Microinjection of CoCl2into the LH had no effect on the tachycardiac baroreflex response, but did evoke a decrease in the reflex bradycardia caused by increases in blood pressure. Microinjection of NBQX into the LH had a similar effect on reflex bradycardia as CoCl2, but had no effect on the tachycardiac response. Microinjection of increasing doses of LY235959 into the LH had no effect on the cardiac baroreflex response.In conclusion, the data suggest that the LH has a tonic facilitatory influence on the parasympathetic component of the baroreflex. The results also indicate that this facilitatory influence is mediated by local LH glutamatergic neurotransmission through non‐NMDA glutamatergic receptors.
Longitudinal assessment of the effects of oestrogen on blood pressure and cardiovascular autonomic activity in female rats
Authors: El‐Mas Mahmoud M , Abdel‐Rahman Abdel A 
Published: April 2009

Summary

Published data concerning the effects of ovarian hormones on haemodynamic variability are contradictory. For the first time, the present study used radiotelemetric haemodynamic monitoring to investigate the long‐term effects of chronic oestrogen depletion and repletion on cardiovascular autonomic control and arterial baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in female rats.
Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and +dP/dtmax of arterial pressure (an estimate of myocardial contractility) were monitored in sham‐operated (SO), ovariectomized (OVX) and oestrogen‐replaced OVX rats (OVXE2) for 16 weeks. Cardiovascular autonomic control and baroreflexes were assessed by frequency domain analysis of interbeat intervals (IBI) and systolic BP (SBP).
Compared with SO rats, OVX rats exhibited no changes in BP, short‐lived decreases in HR and sustained reductions in +dP/dtmax of arterial pressure. The high‐ (HF; 0.75–3 Hz) and low‐frequency (LF; 0.25–0.75 Hz) components of spectral power of IBI were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, by ovariectomy. An increase in the IBILF/HF ratio in OVX rats suggests a shift in the cardiac sympathovagal balance towards sympathetic dominance. Index α, the spectral index of spontaneous BRS, was reduced by OVX.
Oestrogen replacement caused significant reductions in BP and HR and reversed OVX‐induced changes in +dP/dtmax of arterial pressure and cardiac autonomic activity. The LF oscillations of SBP were reduced in OVXE2 rats, suggesting a reduction in vascular sympathetic tone by oestrogen.
These findings highlight the importance of long‐term oestrogen therapy in rectifying the detrimental effects of depletion of ovarian hormones on the cardiovascular system and baroreflex.
p38 MITOGEN‐ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE (MAPK) IS ACTIVATED BY NORADRENALINE AND SERVES A CARDIOPROTECTIVE ROLE, WHEREAS ADRENALINE INDUCES p38 MAPK DEPHOSPHORYLATION
Authors: Tsang Michael YC , Rabkin Simon W 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYThe aim of the present study was to investigate the role of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) in mediating the effect of noradrenaline (NA) on cardiomyocyte cell viability.Cardiomyocytes from embryonic chick heart were treated with various concentrations of NA, phenylephrine or isoproterenol and p38 MAPK activation was determined by western blotting. Total cell death was assessed by the 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2 thiazoyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was determined by specific DNA fragmentation.At 100 µmol/L, NA produced a significant increase in cell death that was associated with microscopic changes and DNA fragmentation indicative of apoptosis. The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 (at 1 µmol/L beginning 1 h before NA), reduced NA‐induced p38 MAPK activation and significantly accentuated NA‐induced cell death. In contrast, the mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (at 1 µmol/L beginning 1 h before NA) did not significantly alter NA‐induced cell death. These effects of NA were mediated, in part, through α‐adrenoceptor because phenylephrine (100 µmol/L), like NA, also induced p38 MAPK activation. However, 100 µmol/L isoproterenol produced a sustained dephosphorylation of p38 MAPK.These data show that NA‐induced p38 MAPK activation, through α‐adrenoceptor, has a protective role in cardiomyocytes to antagonize NA‐induced cell death. In contrast, β‐adrenoceptor stimulation produces dephosphorylation of p38 MAPK.
Pirfenidone inhibits carbon tetrachloride‐ and albumin complex‐induced liver fibrosis in rodents by preventing activation of hepatic stellate cells
Authors: Zhao Xin‐Yan , Zeng Xin , Li Xin‐Min , Wang Tai‐Ling , Wang Bao‐En 
Published: April 2009

Summary

Pirfenidone (PFD; 5‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐2(1H)‐pyridone) is an effective and novel agent with antifibrotic and anti‐inflammatory properties. In the present study, we investigated the antifibrotic effects of PFD on experimental liver fibrosis models in rodents and the possible underlying molecular mechanisms.
Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in BALB/c mice. Pirfenidone (250 mg/kg) and silymarin (50 mg/kg) were given to different groups of rats by gastric gavage for 4 weeks. Pirfenidone significantly attenuated fibrosis severity, as determined by histopathological scores and hydroxyproline levels in liver tissue, by 49.8 and 44.9%, respectively, compared with the CCl4‐treated group. The antifibrotic effects of PFD were significantly greater than those of silymarin, as indicated by a decrease of 23.5 and 24.8% in histopathological scores and hydroxyproline levels, respectively.
Liver fibrosis was also induced by albumin antigen–antibody complex in Wistar rats, which were then treated with the same doses of PFD and silymarin for 8 weeks. Pirfenidone significantly reduced the degree of fibrosis compared with CCl4‐treated rats (by 45.0 and 51.0% as determined by histopathological scores and hydroxyproline levels in liver tissue, respectively). The antifibrotic effects of PFD were comparable to those of silymarin.
The effects of PFD on the expression of extracellular matrix‐associated genes in human hepatic stellate cells (the LX‐2 cell line) were measured by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. LX‐2 cells were treated with or without 100 μmol/L or 1 mmol/L PFD for 24 h. Pirfenidone significantly inhibited the expression of a‐smooth muscle actin and Type I collagen in 8 ng/mL transforming growth factor‐β1‐ or 5% fetal bovine serum‐activated LX‐2 cells in a dose‐dependent manner.
In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate that PFD is effective in ameliorating fibrogenesis induced by CCl4 in mice and by the albumin complex in rats. These effects were mediated mainly via inhibition of the activation of hepatic stellate cells, as well as antifibrotic actions (i.e. inhibition of collagen synthesis) of PFD.
A new method for assessing variability of 24 h blood pressure and its first application in 1526 elderly men
Authors: Duan Jun‐Li , Hao Chang‐Ning , Lu Wei , Han Li , Pan Zhi‐Hong , Gu Yi , Liu Pei‐Jing , Tao Rui , Shi Yi‐Qin , Du Ye‐Ye 
Published: April 2009

Summary

Blood pressure variability (BPV) includes physiological and random variations in blood pressure (BP). Commonly used approaches, such as standard deviation (SD) and weighted standard deviation (wSD) methods, do not efficiently assess random variation in BP. In the present study, we propose a novel method to assess individual BP variations, extracting random variation in BP by eliminating physiological variation mathematically. This novel assessment method furthers our understanding of the relationship between BP variation and lacunar infarction (LACI).
In the present study, we analysed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recordings taken from 1526 men aged 60–98 years of age. Individual curves were created using a mathematical method and the related BP variation calculated, namely the SD for individual BP variations. In addition, correlations between LACI and BP variations as determined by the classical SD method, wSD and our novel assessment method (SD′) were evaluated.
The results demonstrated that 24 h variations in systolic BP (SBP) were closely associated with LACI when the SD and wSD methods were used (P < 0.05), but the most significant correlations were observed when the SD′ method was used (P < 0.01). Furthermore, using SD′ yielded the lowest value of the parameter P among the three different methods used to analyse BPV. Using the SD′ method, a significant correlation was found between variations in SBP and the incidence of LACI (P < 0.05). It was found that the incidence of LACI increaesd by 2% with each 1 mmHg increase in SBP variation.
In conclusion, our novel assessment method enables mathematical removal of interference from physiological BP variation and the results show a better correlation with LACI. Thus, our novel method may be considered a simple index of 24 h BP variation that is superior to conventional SD and wSD methods.
Effects of the endocannabinoid transport inhibitors AM404 and UCM707 on diabetic neuropathy in rats
Authors: Hasanein Parisa , Soltani Nepton 
Published: April 2009

SummaryDiabetic rats display increased pain responses following injection of formalin into the paw, suggesting the presence of hyperalgesia. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of the systemic administration of the endocannabinoid transport inhibitors UCM707 and AM404 (1, 10 and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) on hyperalgesia during the formalin test in streptozocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats.Nociceptive testing was performed in male adult Wistar rats 4 weeks after the onset of hyperglycaemia. At the end of the experiment, all rats were weighed and then underwent plasma glucose measurements.Diabetes caused significant hyperalgesia during both phases of the formalin test. At 10 and 50 mg/kg, both UCM707 and AM404 reversed chemical hyperalgesia in diabetic rats. UCM707 (10 and 50 mg/kg) caused less intensive nociceptive behaviour during both phases of the test, whereas AM404 (10 and 50 mg/kg) only affected pain scores during Phase 1 of the formalin test. At 1 mg, neither drug had any effect on pain behaviour in control and diabetic groups compared with their respective controls. Neither UCM707 nor AM404 had any effect on bodyweight or plasma glucose levels of treated compared with non‐treated rats at any of the doses tested.The results of the present study indicate that systemic administration of UCM707 and AM404 is effective in ameliorating chemical hyperalgesia in STZ‐diabetic rats. Thus, endocannabinoid transport inhibitors may have potential in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.
Additive beneficial effects of amlodipine and atorvastatin in reversing advanced cardiac hypertrophy in elderly spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Lu Jing‐Chao , Cui Wei , Zhang Hai‐Lin , Liu Fan , Han Mei , Liu De‐Min , Yin Hong‐Ning , Zhang Kai , Du Jun 
Published: April 2009

Summary

Additive beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease have been reported for amlodipine and atorvastatin. However, it is still unclear whether the combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin has additive beneficial effects on the regression of advanced cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension. In the present study, the effects of the drug combination on advanced cardiac hypertrophy were investigated in elderly spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
Elderly SHR (36 weeks old) were randomly allocated into four groups of 12: (i) a vehicle‐treated control group; (ii) an amlodipine (10 mg/kg per day)‐treated group; (iii) an atorvastatin (10 mg/kg per day)‐treated group; and (iv) a group treated with a combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin (both at 10 mg/kg per day). Drugs were administered by oral gavage every morning for a period of 12 weeks before hearts were harvested for analysis.
Combined administration of amlodipine and atorvastatin significantly suppressed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis and upregulation of hypertrophic and profibrotic genes, and also improved left ventricular diastolic dysfunction to a greater extent than did amlodipine monotherapy. Further beneficial effects of combination therapy on advanced cardiac hypertrophy were associated with a greater reduction of NADPH oxidase‐mediated increases in cardiac reactive oxygen species (ROS), rather than decreased blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels.
To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we examined cardiovascular NADPH oxidase subunits and found that amlodipine clearly attenuated the expression of p47phox and p40phox and slightly but significantly reduced p22phox and Rac‐1 levels in heart tissue. Combination treatment with amlodipine plus atorvastatin led to a further reduction in p22phox, p47phox and Rac‐1 protein levels compared with amlodipine alone.
In conclusion, combined amlodipine and atorvastatin treatment has a greater beneficial effect on advanced cardiac hypertrophy compared with amlodipine monotherapy. The benefits are likely to be related to the additive effects of the drugs on the suppression of NADPH oxidase‐mediated ROS generation.