bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐lasting infiltration anaesthesia by lidocaine‐loaded biodegradable nanoparticles in hydrogel in rats
Authors: YIN Q.‐Q. , WU L. , GOU M.‐L. , QIAN Z.‐Y. , ZHANG W.‐S. , LIU J. 
Published: July 2009

Background: Infiltration of a long‐lasting anaesthetic is helpful during the post‐operative period. The recently developed local drug delivery system, biodegradable nanoparticles in a thermo‐sensitive hydrogel (nanogel system), may possibly provide an extended duration of drugs. Therefore, we evaluated whether prolonged infiltration anaesthesia could be achieved by loading lidocaine into this delivery system.Methods: Thirty male rats were randomized into five groups of six rats each: saline; 2% hydrochloride lidocaine solution; lidocaine‐loaded nanogel system and its compositing formulations, namely lido–nano gel; lido–nano; and lidogel. Durations of local anaesthesia with subcutaneously injected agents were measured by tail flick latency tests in a randomized, blind fashion.Results: Lido–nano gel produced effective anaesthesia for 360±113 min, compared with 150±33 min by lidogel, 180±37 min by lido–nano, and 110±45 min by lidocaine solution (P<0.001, means±SD), and elicited complete sensory blockade for 300±114 min, compared with 75±37 min by lidogel, 105±53 min by lido–nano, and 60±33 min by lidocaine solution (P<0.001, means±SD) without severe skin/systemic toxicity.Conclusion: Lidocaine‐loaded biodegradable nanoparticles in hydrogel produced prolonged infiltration anaesthesia in rats without severe toxicity, indicating a possible way to develop long‐lasting local anaesthetics.
The Effect of Late‐terminal Drought Stress on Yield Components of Four Barley Cultivars
Authors: Samarah N. H. , Alqudah A. M. , Amayreh J. A. , McAndrews G. M. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBarley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important winter cereal crop grown in the semiarid Mediterranean, where late‐terminal drought stress during grain filling has recently become more common. The objectives of this study were to investigate the growth performance and grain yield of four barley cultivars under late‐terminal drought stress under both glasshouse and field conditions. At grain filling, four barley cultivars (Rum, ACSAD176, Athroh and Yarmouk) were exposed to three watering treatments: (1) well‐watered [soil maintained at 75 % field capacity (FC)], (2) mild drought stress at 50 % FC, (3) severe drought stress at 25 % FC in the glasshouse experiment and (1) well‐watered (irrigated once a week), (2) mild drought (irrigated once every 2 weeks), (3) severe drought (non‐irrigated; rainfed) in the field. As drought stress severity increased, gross photosynthetic rate, water potential, plant height, grain filling duration, spike number per plant, grain number per spike, 1000‐grain weight, straw yield, grain yield and harvest index decreased. In the glasshouse experiment, the six‐row barley cultivars (Rum, ACSAD176, and Athroh) had higher grain yield than the two‐row barley cultivar (Yarmouk), but the difference was not significant among the six‐row cultivars under all treatments. In the field experiment, Rum had the highest grain yield among all cultivars under the mild drought stress treatment. The two‐row cultivar (Yarmouk) had the lowest grain yield. In general, the traditional cultivar Rum had either similar or higher grain yield than the other three cultivars under all treatments. However, the yield response to drought differed between the cultivars. Those, Rum and ACSAD176, that were capable of maintaining a higher proportion of their spikes and grains per spike during drought also maintained a higher proportion of their yield compared with those in well‐watered treatment. In conclusion, cultivar differences in grain yield were related to spike number per plant and grain number per spike, but not days to heading or grain filling duration.
Relationships of PpACS1 and PpACS2 genotypes, internal ethylene concentration and fruit softening in European (Pyrus communis) and Japanese (Pyrus pyrifolia) pears during cold air storage
Authors: Oraguzie N. C. , Whitworth C. J. , Brewer L. , Hall A. , Volz R. K. , Bassett H. , Gardiner S. E. 
Published: July 2009

With 3 figures and 3 tables AbstractPrevious studies have demonstrated that genotypes of PpACS1 and PpACS2 genes are associated with certain levels of ethylene production in Japanese pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai). This study was undertaken to examine further the relationships of PpACS1 and PpACS2 genotypes and internal ethylene concentration (IEC) with fruit firmness/softening in both European (P. communis L.) and Japanese pears (P. pyrifolia Nakai). Our data showed that P. communis L. lacked genotypes ‘AB’/‘Ab’ and ‘aB’, for high and medium IEC respectively, irrespective of high levels of IEC found in the European pear cultivars/selections. PpACS1 and PpACS2 genotypes were related to IEC at 20 days after harvest (DAH) in P. pyrifolia Nakai but IEC did not have any significant relationship with fruit firmness at 50DAH in either P. communis L. or P. pyrifolia Nakai. Harvest firmness was a better predictor of postharvest firmness than IEC across both species and genotypes, explaining 46% of the variation in fruit firmness at 50DAH. We recommend breeding for higher harvest firmness within low ethylene cultivars in order to extend the shelf life/storage potential of Japanese pears.
A model of the genetic differences in malting quality between European and North American barley cultivars based on a QTL study of the cross Triumph × Morex
Authors: Elía M. , Swanston J. S. , Moralejo M. , Casas A. , Pérez‐Vendrell A.‐M. , Ciudad F. J. , Thomas W. T. B. , Smith P. L. , Ullrich S. E. , Molina‐Cano J.‐L. 
Published: July 2009

With 2 figures and 2 tables AbstractTo study the genetic control of malting quality, in North American and European barley varieties, over five contrasting environments, 106 doubled haploid (DH) lines, from the cross ‘Triumph’ × ‘Morex’, were grown at Pullman (Washington State, USA) in 2002, Dundee (Scotland) in 2003 and 2005 and Lleida and Valladolid (Northern Spain) in 2006. The vrs locus, associated with two‐row vs. six‐row ear type, had a significant effect, as two‐row lines had higher grain protein content at all sites. This had variable effects on other malting parameters, but hot water extract (EXT) was not significantly affected at the two Spanish sites. Quantitative trait loci associated with malting characters were distributed across all seven chromosomes, but the most influential, with effects on EXT and alcohol yield, at more than one site, were on 1H, with ‘Morex’ providing the increasing allele and 5H, with the increasing allele from ‘Triumph’. Transgressive segregation, in both directions, occurred at all sites. It was concluded that crosses between European and North American germplasm could enhance quality attributes in barley cultivated across diverse environments.
Time to death and mast cell degranulation in fatal asthma
Authors: ELLIOT John G. , ABRAMSON Michael J. , DRUMMER Olaf H. , WALTERS E. Haydn , JAMES Alan L. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Attacks of fatal asthma have been shown to be either of short duration or long duration and associated with differing degrees of smooth muscle contraction, luminal mucus deposition and ratios of eosinophils to neutrophils in the airway wall. We hypothesized that this bimodal distribution might be related to airway mast cell degranulation.Methods:  Airway sections from cases of fatal asthma in the second Victorian asthma mortality study and from cases coming to coronial autopsy in Perth were examined. Tryptase‐positive mast cells, numbers of intact and degranulated mast cells, post‐mortem blood salbutamol levels and airway dimensions were measured.Results:  Although the total number of mast cells were similar, the ratio of degranulated to intact mast cells (D/I) was significantly increased in the smooth muscle (P < 0.05) and outer airway wall (P < 0.001), in short‐duration cases compared with long‐duration cases. Proportional muscle shortening was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in short‐duration cases (17 ± 7%) compared with long‐duration cases (11 ± 7%). Blood salbutamol levels were related to the total airway wall mast cell D/I ratio for all cases combined (r = 0.57, P = 0.01).Conclusions:  The duration of a fatal attack of asthma may be partly determined by the degranulation of mast cells.
Choice of spirometric reference values for compensation assessment
Authors: LEUNG Chi Chiu , YEW Wing Wai , LAW Wing Sze , WONG Man Yee , TAM Cheuk Ming , LEUNG Simon K.F. , TSUI Dennis P.W. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Two sets of local reference values are available for spirometry in Hong Kong, but it is uncertain how well they work in the assessment of occupational lung diseases. This study examined their relative performance in the compensational assessment of silicosis.Methods:  Local reference values published in 1982 and 2006 were compared in two different populations comprising normal construction/quarry workers and silicosis patients. Only men aged 20–74 years were included.Results:  The FVC results of 93 normal workers were significantly higher than those predicted by either the 1982 or the 2006 reference values. Compared with the 1982 reference values, the mean FEV1% or FVC% was age‐dependent and 5.2% higher in the normal workers. Smoking decreased the forced expiratory ratio, but did not show a major effect on FEV1 or FVC among asymptomatic subjects. Despite their derivation largely from never‐smokers, the 2006 reference values better predicted FEV1 and FVC among all smoking categories. Among the 357 silicosis patients, the 1982 reference values also gave 8.8% higher FEV1% and 7.4% higher FVC%. These spirometric values differed by more than 10% in patients aged 60 years or more. Despite the presence of disease, the mean FVC% was still significantly above 100%.Conclusions:  Both the 1982 and 2006 local reference values underestimated the FVC of normal construction and quarry workers, reflecting possible occupational selection factors. The 2006 reference values outperformed the 1982 ones, especially among older subjects. Careful calibration with similar occupational groups in the same laboratory is highly desirable in the choice of spirometric reference values for compensation assessment. Smoking does not appear to affect this choice.
Severe bullous emphysema and hypercapnia successfully treated by bronchoscopic lung volume reduction
Authors: TSUJINO Kazuyuki , SASADA Shinji , KODAMA Masami , ISHIHARA Hideki , KAWASE Ichiro 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTPatients with severe COPD may develop hypercapnic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and are at risk of becoming ventilator‐dependent. We describe a patient with uncontrollable hypercapnic respiratory failure on mechanical ventilation whose respiratory condition and life were improved after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction. Further discussion of the possibility of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction in patients who require mechanical ventilation due to hypercapnic respiratory failure is warranted.
Panax notoginseng saponins attenuate acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion in rats
Authors: RONG Ling , CHEN Yuqing , HE Mudan , ZHOU Xin 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Acute lung injury remains a challenge for both clinicians and scientists. The effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on acute lung injury induced by intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion (II/R) were studied in rats.Methods:  Forty‐eight Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (1) a sham‐operated group that received laparotomy without II/R (n= 12); (2) a sham + PNS group, which was identical to group 1 except for PNS treatment (n= 12); (3) an II/R group that had 1 h of intestinal ischaemia followed by 3 h of reperfusion (n= 12); and (4) an II/R + PNS group that received 100 mg/kg of PNS, i.v., 15 min before reperfusion (n= 12). The effects of PNS administration on lung tissue histology, activities of oxidant and antioxidant enzymes, levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity were examined. Levels of surfactant protein B, cell numbers in BAL fluid and plasma levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines were also examined.Results:  Compared with the II/R group, pulmonary parenchymal damage, activities of oxidant enzymes, levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase activity in lung tissue, and plasma levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced by PNS treatment. In addition, the decreases in antioxidant enzyme activities were prevented in the II/R + PNS group. Total leukocyte and neutrophil counts were significantly decreased by PNS treatment. The decline in surfactant protein B levels in BAL fluid was reduced in the II/R + PNS group compared with the II/R group.Conclusions:  Administration of PNS before reperfusion injury alleviates acute lung injury induced by II/R, and this is attributable to the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects of PNS.
Transoesophageal needle aspiration using a convex probe ultrasonic bronchoscope
Authors: HWANGBO Bin , LEE Hee Seok , LEE Geon‐Kook , LIM Kun‐Young , LEE Soo‐Hyun , KIM Hyae‐Young , LEE Jong‐Yeul , ZO Jae Ill 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Although endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration can be helpful when combined with bronchoscopic procedures, endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration is not available as a conjunctive procedure with bronchoscopy at many institutions. This study evaluated the feasibility and the additional role of transoesophageal fine needle aspiration using a convex probe ultrasonic bronchoscope (EUS‐B‐FNA).Methods:  We analysed 84 patients who underwent EUS‐B‐FNA between Oct 2007 and May 2008. Bronchoscopy and/or endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration was performed on 83 patients prior to EUS‐B‐FNA.Results:  EUS‐B‐FNA was performed on 89 lesions (1.7 aspirations/lesion) including three lung masses and 86 lymph nodes (nodal stations 1, 3P, 4L, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10L) without complication. Sample adequacy was 95.4% for each aspiration and 100% for each lesion. Of the 89 lesions, 39 malignant lesions were confirmed by EUS‐B‐FNA. EUS‐B‐FNA provided additional diagnostic gain to bronchoscopic procedures in 16 patients (19.0%): 3 lung cancers were upstaged, 11 lung cancers were pathologically confirmed, and 2 patients were diagnosed with mediastinal metastasis from an extrathoracic malignancy. This gain was obtained by the sampling of inaccessible (n = 4) or difficult lesions by endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (n = 2) or when bronchoscopy was difficult due to dyspnoea, cough, brain metastasis or other conditions (n = 10).Conclusions:  EUS‐B‐FNA is a technically feasible and safe procedure, which may be an alternative to endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration as a procedure that complements bronchoscopy. Additional diagnostic yield can be obtained by combining EUS‐B‐FNA with bronchoscopic procedures.
Identification of the target neuronal elements in electrical deep brain stimulation
Authors: Holsheimer Jan , Demeulemeester Hilde , Nuttin Bart , De Sutter Paul 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe aim of this study is to identify the primary neuronal target elements in electrical deep‐brain stimulation, taking advantage of the difference in strength–duration time constant (τsd) of large myelinated axons (≈ 30–200 µs), small axons (≈ 200–700 µs) and cell bodies and dendrites (≈ 1–10 ms). Strength–duration data were measured in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or essential tremor and treated by high‐frequency stimulation in the ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus or the internal pallidum. Threshold voltages for the elimination of tremor were determined at various pulsewidths and a pulse rate of 130 pulses per second. The τsd was calculated using Weiss's linear approximation. Its mean value was 64.6 ± 25.4 µs (SD) for the thalamic nucleus and 75.3 ± 25.5 µs for the internal pallidum. Corrections to the mean values were made because the τsd values were based on voltage–duration measurements using polarizable electrodes. Apart from this systematic error, a resolution error, due to the relatively large increment steps of the pulse amplitude, was taken into account, resulting in mean τsd estimates of 129 and 151 µs for the thalamic nucleus and the internal pallidum, respectively. It is concluded that the primary targets of stimulation in both nuclei are most probably large myelinated axons.
Vitamin E supplementation prevents spatial learning deficits and dendritic alterations in aged apolipoproteinE‐deficient mice
Authors: Veinbergs Isaac , Mallory Margaret , Sagara Yutaka , Masliah Eliezer 
Published: July 2009

AbstractRecent studies have suggested that altered function of apolipoprotein E might lead to Alzheimer's disease via oxidative stress. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine if antioxidative treatment with vitamin E was neuroprotective in apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice. For this purpose, 1‐month‐old control and apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice received dietary vitamin E for 12 months. We showed that, compared to apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice who received a regular diet, mice treated with vitamin E displayed a significantly improved behavioural performance in the Morris water maze. This improved performance was associated with preservation of the dendritic structure in vitamin E‐treated apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice. In addition, whilst untreated apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice displayed increased levels of lipid peroxidation and glutathione, vitamin E‐treated mice showed near normal levels of both lipid peroxidation and glutathione. These results support the contention that vitamin E prevents the age‐related neurodegenerative alterations in apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice.
Distribution of glycine receptor subunits on primate retinal ganglion cells: a quantitative analysis
Authors: Lin Bin , Martin Paul R. , Solomon Samuel G. , Grünert Ulrike 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThis study investigates the distribution of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors on sensory neurons. Ganglion cells in the retina of a New World monkey, the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus, were injected with Lucifer yellow and Neurobiotin and subsequently processed with antibodies against one (α1), or against all subunits, of the glycine receptor, or against the anchoring protein gephyrin. Immunoreactive (IR) puncta representing glycine receptor or gephyrin clusters were found on the proximal and the distal dendrites of all ganglion cell types investigated. For both parasol and midget cells, the density of receptor clusters was greater on distal than proximal dendrites for all antibodies tested. In parasol cells the average density for the α1 subunit of the glycine receptor was 0.087 IR puncta/µm of dendrite, and for all subunits it was 0.119 IR puncta/µm of dendrite. Thus, the majority of glycine receptors on parasol cells contain the α1 subunit. For parasol cells, we estimated an average of 1.5 glycinergic synapses/100 µm2 dendritic membrane on proximal dendrites and about 9.4 glycinergic synapses/100 µm2 on distal dendrites. The segregation of receptors to the distal dendrites appears to be a common feature of inhibitory neurotransmitter input to parasol and midget cells, and might be associated with the receptive field surround mechanism.
Clock genes outside the suprachiasmatic nucleus involved in manifestation of locomotor activity rhythm in rats
Authors: Masubuchi Satoru , Honma Sato , Abe Hiroshi , Ishizaki Kouji , Namihira Masakazu , Ikeda Masaaki , Honma Ken‐ichi 
Published: July 2009

AbstractChronic treatment of methamphetamine (MAP) in rats desynchronized the locomotor activity rhythm from the light–dark cycle. When the activity rhythm was completely phase‐reversed with respect to a light dark‐cycle, 24 h profiles were examined for the clock gene (rPer1,rPer2,rBMAL1,rClock) expressions in several brain structures byin situhybridization, and for the pineal as well as plasma melatonin levels. In the MAP‐treated rats, therPer1expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) showed a robust circadian rhythm which was essentially identical to that in the control rats. Circadian rhythms in pineal as well as plasma melatonin were not changed significantly in the MAP‐treated rats. However, robust circadian rhythms in therPer1,rPer2 and rBMAL1expressions detected in the caudate‐putamen (CPU) and parietal cortex were completely phase‐reversed in the MAP‐treated rats, compared with those in the control rats, indicating desynchronization from the SCN rhythm. Such desynchronization was not observed in the circadian rhythms of clock gene expression in the nucleus accumbens and cingulate cortex. The circadianrClockexpression rhythm in the MAP‐treated rats was not phase‐reversed in the CPU and parietal cortex. These findings indicate that the locomotor activity rhythm in rats is directly driven by the pacemaker outside the SCN, in whichrPer1,rPer2 and rBMAL1in the CPU and parietal cortex are involved.
Parkin expression in the adult mouse brain
Authors: Stichel Christine C. , Augustin Martin , Kühn Kati , Zhu Xin‐Ran , Engels Peter , Ullmer Christoph , Lübbert Hermann 
Published: July 2009

AbstractMutations in a protein designated Parkin were shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism. Nothing is known about its regional and subcellular distribution in the mouse. In order to elucidate the Parkin mRNA and protein distribution in the adult mouse, the mouse cDNA was cloned and polyclonal antisera were generated against the N‐terminal part of mouse Parkin. The antibodies were shown to be specific using Western blot analysis, immunostaining of cells transfected with mouse Parkin and pre‐absorption tests. The Parkin protein expression profile was studied using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis and was compared with that of the mRNA yielded by in situ hybridization and RT‐PCR analysis. Parkin protein was widely distributed in all subdivisions of the mouse brain. Low levels were found in the telencephalon and diencephalon, while the brainstem contained a large number of cells heavily expressing Parkin. Ultrastructural analysis and double immunohistochemistry revealed that the majority of Parkin‐expressing cells were neurons, while only single glial cells exhibited immunostaining. The protein was distributed nonhomogeneously throughout the entire cytoplasm. A subpopulation of Parkin‐immunopositive cells displayed speckled immunodeposits in the nucleus. Dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra pars compacta exhibited high levels of Parkin mRNA but no Parkin protein, while the striatum contained immunopositive profiles but no mRNA signals. Our data indicate that Parkin is neither restricted to a single functional system nor associated with a particular transmitter system. The speckled nuclear distribution of Parkin immunoreactivity strongly suggests a role for Parkin in gene expression.