bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics of thiopentone in the horse
Authors: ABASS B. T. , WEAVER B. M. Q. , STADDON G. E. , WATERMAN A. W. 
Published: April 2008

Abass, B.T., Weaver, B.M.Q., Staddon, G.E., Waterman, A.W. Pharmacokinetics of thiopentone in the horse. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 17, 331–338.The pharmacokinetics of thiopentone sodium administered intravenously as a single dose (11 mg/kg) were studied in acepromazine pre‐medicated horses and ponies in which anaesthesia was maintained with either halothane (Group 1) or isoflurane (Group 2). The results showed that the disposition kinetics of thiopentone in horses and ponies were best described by a three‐compartment open model. In plasma, a very short initial distribution phase in both horses and ponies, half‐life 1.4 ± 1.2 min (mean ± SD) and 1.3 ± 0.7 min, respectively, was obtained, which was followed by a second comparatively slower redistribution phase, half‐life 16 ± 12 min and 11 ± 5 min, respectively. The volume of distribution for the drug was large, especially in the ponies which received isoflurane (1127 ± 86 ml/kg). compared to the horses which received halothane (742 ± 89 ml/kg). The drug had a somewhat shorter elimination half‐life in the horses (147 ± 21 min) than in the ponies (222 ± 44 min), but no obvious difference in clearance of the drug was observed between the horses (3.5 ± 0.5 ml/min/kg) and ponies (3.6 ± 0.8 ml/min/kg).
An image analysis system: an objective and accurate alternative for reading the agar diffusion test
Authors: SCHOEVERS E. J. , TERLOU M. , PIJPERS A. , VERHEIJDEN J. H. M. 
Published: April 2008

Schoevers, E.J., Terlou, M., Pijpers, A., Verheijden, J.H.M. An image analysis system: an objective and accurate alternative for reading the agar diffusion test. J. vet. Pharmacol Therap. 17, 38–42.A computerized image analysis system (IAS) has been used to develop a new method for reading the agar diffusion test automatically. In four experiments a total of 88 porcine plasma and 95 urine samples were screened for oxytetra‐cycline by the agar diffusion test. The inhibition zones were measured by hand and by the IAS directly from the bioassay plate and by the IAS from the photonegative taken from the plate. Both methods were positively correlated with the hand method for plasma (0.9716, 0.9669) and urine (0.9878, 0.9731) in the range tested for 0.1 to 2.0 (&#x006d;̈/ml. Moreover, the coefficient of variation and the day‐to‐day‐variation amounted to 1,72% and 1.47% respectively, for the method by hand and 1.10, 1.54% and 0.27, 0.38% respectively, for the IAS methods. It is concluded that the IAS method is an objective and accurate alternative for reading the agar diffusion test.
Comparison of urinary and plasma cotinine levels during the three trimesters of pregnancy
Authors: Wu Fang Y. , Chiu Hsien T. , Wu Hong D. Isaac , Lin Chouh J. , Lai Jim S. , Kuo Hsien‐Wen 
Published: April 2008

SummaryAssays of metabolised cotinine are considered to be an accurate measure of exposure to cigarette smoke among pregnant women. We investigated the association and differences between the cotinine levels in maternal urine and blood, and the umbilical cord blood of three tobacco exposure groups at different stages of pregnancy. A prospective study was conducted among 398 pregnant women undergoing prenatal care in different trimesters at two medical centres and one regional hospital in central Taiwan. All 398 subjects (including 25 smokers, 191 passive smokers and 182 non‐smokers) remained in the study up to the time of delivery; 384 of them delivered singleton live births. Cotinine levels were assayed in the maternal plasma and urine of the mothers at each trimester and in the cord blood of the newborns. All specimens were measured using a sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography.Cotinine concentrations in plasma and urine showed a significant dose‐dependent difference among the three groups (non‐smoker, passive and active smoker) and a trend that increased with gestation among the pregnant women. Significant correlations between cotinine concentrations in plasma and urine among the pregnant women in each trimester were found. In addition, the level of cotinine in umbilical cord blood was significantly correlated with that in maternal blood at term (r = 0.89, P < 0.001). A pattern of elevated cotinine concentrations in the plasma and urine of pregnant women from the beginning to the end of pregnancy was found, and this correlated significantly with the cotinine levels in the umbilical cord blood.
Prenatal polychlorinated biphenyl exposures in eastern Slovakia modify effects of social factors on birthweight
Authors: Sonneborn Dean , Park Hye‐Youn , Petrik Jan , Kocan Anton , Palkovicova Lubica , Trnovec Tomas , Nguyen Danh , Hertz‐Picciotto Irva 
Published: April 2008

SummaryPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were widely used for industrial purposes and consumer products, but because of their toxicity, production was banned by most industrialised countries in the late 1970s. In eastern Slovakia, they were produced until 1985. During 2002–04, a birth cohort of mothers (n = 1057) residing in two Slovak districts was enrolled at delivery, and their specimens and information were collected after birth. Congeners of PCBs were measured in maternal serum by high‐resolution gas chromatography with electron capture detection. In this study, we used multiple linear regression to examine the effects of prenatal PCB exposure on birthweight adjusted for gestational age, controlling for inter‐pregnancy interval, and maternal smoking, age, education, ethnicity, pre‐pregnancy body mass index and height.The association between total maternal serum PCB levels and birthweight was not statistically significant. However, an interaction model indicated that maternal PCB concentrations were associated with lower birthweight in Romani boys. Based on the fitted regression model, the predicted birthweight of Romani boys at the 90th percentile of maternal PCBs (12.8 ng/mL) was 133 g lower than the predicted birthweight at the 10th percentile of maternal PCBs (1.6 ng/mL). This is a similar magnitude of effect to that observed for maternal smoking and birthweight. These results suggest that higher levels of PCBs in maternal blood sera may inhibit growth in boys, particularly in those already affected by social factors related to ethnicity. This study is consistent with previous findings that boys are more susceptible than girls to growth restriction induced by in utero organochlorine exposures, and further indicates that high PCBs may magnify the influence of social disadvantage in this vulnerable group of boys.
Overexpression of Arabidopsis thaliana tryptophan synthase beta 1 (AtTSB1) in Arabidopsis and tomato confers tolerance to cadmium stress
Authors: SANJAYA  , HSIAO PAO‐YUAN , SU RUEY‐CHIH , KO SWEE‐SUAK , TONG CHII‐GONG , YANG RAY‐YU , CHAN MING‐TSAIR 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTTryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid in humans, and in plants, it plays a major role in the regulation of plant development and defence responses. However, little is known about Trp‐mediated cadmium (Cd) tolerance. Gene expression analysis showed that Arabidopsis thaliana tryptophan synthase beta 1 (AtTSB1) is up‐regulated in plants treated with Cd; hence, we investigated whether this gene is involved in Cd tolerance. Exogenous application of Trp to wild‐type Arabidopsis enhances Cd tolerance. Cd tolerance in the Trp‐overproducing mutant trp5‐1 was associated with high chlorophyll levels and low lipid peroxidation, as indicated by malondialdehyde 4‐hydroxyalkenal level, whereas the wild‐type developed symptoms of severe chlorosis. Moreover, the Trp‐auxotroph mutant trp2‐1 was sensitive to Cd. CaMV 35S promoter‐driven AtTSB1 enhanced Trp accumulation and improved Cd tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis and tomato plants without increasing the level of Cd. Moreover, reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction confirmed that enhanced level of Trp in AtTSB1 transgenic Arabidopsis plants affected the expression of AtZIP4 and AtZIP9 metal transporters, which interfered with Cd ion trafficking, a mechanism of transcriptional regulation that does not exist in wild‐type plants. Overexpression of AtTSB1 in transgenic tomato also produced higher Trp synthase‐β enzyme activity than that in wild‐type plants. These results implicate that Trp could be involved in Cd defence.
Acremonium spp. peritonitis in an infant
Authors: Kendirli Tanıl , Çiftçi Ergin , Ekim Mesiha , Galip Nilüfer , Düzenli Filiz , Özçakar Zeynep Birsin , Tapısız Anıl , Uçar Tayfun , Tutar Ercan , Güriz Haluk , Atalay Semra 
Published: April 2008

SummaryFungal peritonitis is a rare but serious complication in children on peritoneal dialysis. Clinical presentation of fungal peritonitis is similar to bacterial peritonitis and Candida spp. are the most common agent. Fungal peritonitis has been usually associated with high morbidity, mortality and its treatment is difficult. In this report, we present an infant with Acremonium spp. peritonitis. A 7‐month‐old boy with Down syndrome, congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure required peritoneal dialysis for his persistent pulmonary oedema and symptomatic hyponatremia. Acremonium spp. peritonitis developed while he was on extended spectrum antibiotics and fluconazole. The patient was successfully treated with peritoneal dialysis catheter removal and liposomal amphotericin B. The case was presented to draw attention to a rare cause of peritonitis –Acremonium spp. – in a paediatric patient.
Research assessment of elder neglect and its risk factors in a hospital setting
Authors: Cohen M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground:  The aims of this experiment were to assess the rate of neglect in hospitalized patients and to identify risk factors for neglect.Methods:  During 2004–2006, patients aged 70 years and older hospitalized in internal departments were screened for signs of neglect. Principal caregivers were interviewed too.Results:  Signs of neglect were identified in 14.1% of the patients. Neglected patients differed from the non‐neglected in level of education and had poorer economic status and more frailty, lower albumin level, higher incontinence problem and higher subjective caregiving burden reported by their caregivers. Mean risk scores, based on patients’ and caregivers’ risk indicators, were higher in the neglect group.Conclusion:  Health, functional and psychosocial factors correlated to the presence of neglect. These factors should be used as warning signs to draw attention to professional help.
Utilization of allopurinol in the Australian community
Authors: Chung Y. , Lu C. Y. , Graham G. G. , Mant A. , Day R. O. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground:  International data suggest that suboptimal use of allopurinol is common. Allopurinol dose should be lower in renal impairment, but higher when gout is not controlled. The aim of the study was to examine trends in the usage of allopurinol in the Australian community.Methods:  Community dispensing data on the urate‐lowering drugs allopurinol and probenecid were obtained from databases kept by Medicare Australia and the Drug Utilization Sub‐Committee, for January 1992 to December 2005.Results:  Allopurinol comprised 98.4% of all prescriptions for urate‐lowering drugs dispensed during 2005. Most prescriptions were for allopurinol 300 mg, but there was a steady shift towards use of allopurinol 100 mg in all states and territories over the period of the study. There were marked variations in prescribing rates across the country. New South Wales had the highest rate of subsidized prescribing for allopurinol 300 mg (39.3 per 1000 population). Tasmania had the highest rate for allopurinol 100 mg (14.3 per 1000 population), which coincided with an educational programme to decrease allopurinol dose in patients with renal impairment. Prescribing rates in the Northern Territory were substantially lower than all other regions, at 10.8 and 3.3 prescriptions per 1000 population for allopurinol 300 and 100 mg, respectively.Conclusion:
The increased uptake of allopurinol 100 mg suggests greater adherence to dosing guidelines and that there is value in educational programmes to optimize drug usage. Variability in utilization rates across regions indicates the need for research on factors responsible. Precise understanding of dosing trends requires access to deidentified, individual dosing data.
Adverse effects of dipeptidyl peptidases 8 and 9 inhibition in rodents revisited
Authors: Burkey B. F. , Hoffmann P. K. , Hassiepen U. , Trappe J. , Juedes M. , Foley J. E. 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  To evaluate the association between inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)‐8 and/or DPP‐9 organ toxicities and mortality in rodents.Research Design and Methods:  The relative selectivity of the DPP‐4 inhibitor, vildagliptin, was determined by comparing its KI (concentration of compound yielding 50% inhibition of the enzyme) values for inhibition of recombinant human DPP‐4, DPP‐8 and DPP‐9 assessed in vitro. In experiments performed in vivo, vildagliptin was administered by gavage for 13 weeks, at doses up to 1500 mg/kg/day in CD‐1 mice and at doses up to 900 mg/kg/day in Wistar rats. Plasma concentrations of vildagliptin were assessed at week 12, and toxicities previously ascribed to inhibition of DPP‐8 and/or DPP‐9 were assessed at week 13.Results:  The KI values for vildagliptin‐induced inhibition of DPP‐4, DPP‐8 and DPP‐9 were 3, 810 and 95 nM respectively. The mean plasma concentration 24 h after dose after 12‐week daily dosing with 1500 mg/kg/day in mice was 2279 nM. The mean plasma drug level 24 h after dose after 12‐week daily dosing with 900 mg/kg/day in rats was 5729 nM. These high doses maintained plasma drug levels well above the KI values for DPP‐8 and DPP‐9 throughout a 24‐h period. At these high doses, the toxicities of a selective DPP‐8/DPP‐9 inhibitor that were reported previously (100% mortality in mice, alopecia, thrombocytopenia, reticulocytopenia, enlarged lymph nodes, splenomegaly and 20% mortality in rats) were not observed.Conclusions:  Inhibition of DPP‐8 and DPP‐9 per se does not lead to organ toxicities and mortality in rodents. Thus, a mechanism other than DPP‐8/DPP‐9 inhibition likely underlies the toxicity previously reported to be associated with a selective DPP‐8/DPP‐9 inhibitor.
Parental Depressive Symptoms, Children's Representations of Family Relationships, and Child Adjustment
Authors: Cummings E. Mark , Schermerhorn Alice C. , Keller Peggy S. , Davies Patrick T. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis study extends the investigation of family process models of parental dysphoria and child adjustment, by examining depressive symptoms in both fathers and mothers, and by examining children's representations of family relationships as possible explanatory mechanisms. Participants were 232 children (Time 1 mean age: 5.99; 105 boys, 127 girls) and their cohabiting parents, who participated for three consecutive years. Children's internal representations of multiple family relationships were assessed by means of a story stem completion task. Structural equation modeling indicated that children's inter‐parental and attachment representations are part of the process whereby parental depressive symptoms influence child externalizing symptoms. Maternal depressive symptoms also predicted changes in children's representations of marital and attachment relationships over time. The implications for family process models of relations between parental depressive symptoms in community samples and child development are discussed.
Family Relations and the Adjustment of Young Children of Mexican Descent: Do Family Cultural Values Moderate These Associations?
Authors: Gamble Wendy C. , Modry‐Mandell Kerri 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis study examined the role of family cultural values as moderators of the association between family relations and the adjustment of young children. Fifty‐five families of Mexican descent with young children enrolled in Head Start programs in the Southwest participated. Mothers provided information about closeness of the mother–child relationship, warmth in the sibling relationship, child behavior problems, and familism and simpatía, or two cultural values associated with families of Mexican origin. The children's preschool teachers provided information about child emotional adjustment and social functioning with peers six months later. Familism was found to act as a moderator, whereby warmth and closeness in family relationships coupled with the endorsement of a family cultural value that complements these relationship characteristics was associated with more optimal functioning in preschool classrooms. Results demonstrate the need to evaluate family cultural values or beliefs systems in conjunction with qualities of family relationships as determinants of children's developmental outcomes. Specifically, familism emerged as a family characteristic capable of promoting young children's adjustment within and beyond the family context.
Inhibition of MMP‐3 or ‐9 suppresses lipopolysaccharide‐induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and iNOS in microglia
Authors: Woo Moon‐Sook , Park Jin‐Sun , Choi In‐Young , Kim Won‐Ki , Kim Hee‐Sun 
Published: April 2008

AbstractRecently, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are emerging as important molecules in neuroinflammation as well as neuronal cell death. However, the role of MMPs in activated microglia remains unclear. In the present study, we found that expressions of MMP‐1, ‐3, ‐8 and ‐9 were significantly induced by single or combined treatment of immunostimulants lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in primary cultured microglia and BV2 microglial cells. Inhibition of MMP‐3 or ‐9 significantly suppressed the expression of iNOS and pro‐inflammatory cytokines and the activities of NF‐κB, AP‐1, and MAPK in LPS‐stimulated microglia. The results suggest that MMP‐3 and ‐9 both mediate LPS‐induced inflammatory reactions. Inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by N‐acetyl‐cysteine or diphenylene iodonium significantly suppressed the expression of MMP‐3, MMP‐9, NO and TNF‐α in LPS‐stimulated microglia, suggesting that ROS is an early signaling inducer in LPS‐stimulated microglial cells. MMP inhibitors also suppressed ROS production, suggesting a cross‐talk between ROS and MMPs. Collectively, the present study demonstrates that MMP‐3 and MMP‐9 play a role as inflammatory mediators in activated microglia. Pharmacological intervention of MMPs especially MMP‐3 and ‐9 would be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in the CNS caused by over‐activation of microglial cells.
Post‐endocytic fates of δ‐opioid receptor are regulated by GRK2‐mediated receptor phosphorylation and distinct β‐arrestin isoforms
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqing , Wang Feifei , Chen Xiaoqing , Chen Yuejun , Ma Lan 
Published: April 2008

AbstractOnce internalized, some G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) can recycle back to the cell surface, while some of them are delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Because recycling and degradation represent two opposing receptor fates, understanding the mechanisms that determine post‐endocytic fate of GPCRs is of great importance. Our recent work has verified that agonist‐induced internalization of δ‐opioid receptor (DOR) employs both phosphorylation‐dependent and ‐independent mechanisms in HEK293 cells. To investigate whether these two internalization mechanisms work differently in receptor regulation, we monitored receptor post‐endocytic fates using flow cytometry, surface receptor biotinylation and radioligand binding assays. Results showed that the internalized wild type DOR could either recycle to the cell surface or be degraded. Mutant DOR M4/5/6, which lacks all three G protein‐coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) phosphorylation sites, could also internalize upon agonist challenge although in a reduced level as compared with the wild type counterpart. However, the internalized mutant DOR could not recycle back to the cell surface and all mutant DOR was degraded after internalization. Inhibition of GRK2 expression by GRK2 RNAi also strongly attenuated recycling of DOR. Furthermore, overexpression of GRK2, which significantly increased receptor phosphorylation and internalization, also targeted more internalized receptors to the recycling pathway. These data suggest that GRK2‐catalyzed receptor phosphorylation is critically involved in DOR internalization and recycling, and the phosphorylation‐independent internalization leads to receptor degradation. Data obtained from β‐arrestin1 and β‐arrestin2 RNAi experiments indicated that both β‐arrestin1 and β‐arrestin2 participate in phosphorylation‐dependent internalization and the subsequent recycling of DOR. However, phosphorylation‐independent internalization and degradation of DOR were strongly blocked by β‐arrestin2 RNAi, but not β‐arrestin1 RNAi. Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time that GRK2 phosphorylation‐dependent internalization mediated by both β‐arrestin1 and β‐arrestin2 leads DOR to recycle, whereas GRK2‐independent internalization mediated by β‐arrestin2 alone leads to receptor degradation. Thus, the post‐endocytic fate of internalized DOR can be regulated by GRK2‐catalyzed receptor phosphorylation as well as distinct β‐arrestin isoforms.
Effects of Experimental Burning on Individual Performance and Population Structure of Two Rare Plants of Northcentral Washington
Authors: Harrod Richy J. , Halpern Charles B. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract Prescribed burning is used widely for ecological restoration but its consequences for rare plants are not well understood. We compared effects of experimental burning in spring and fall on survival, individual performance, and population structure of Long‐sepaled globe mallow (Iliamna longisepala (Torr.) Wiggins) and Thompson’s clover (Trifolium thompsonii (Morton)), two rare endemic forbs of eastern Washington. We sampled three populations of each species before and for 2 years after treatment. Survival of mature plants of both species was high. Trifolium seedlings that emerged after treatment showed greater survival in burned plots than in controls. For both species, changes in plant size, morphology, and reproductive allocation differed little among treatments. For Trifolium, plant density was largely unaffected by treatment, but for Iliamna, fall burning stimulated greater germination than did spring burning (although subsequent drought resulted in high mortality). Our results suggest that prescribed fire can be used with neutral or positive effects on both species. Season of burning has little influence on survival and performance of extant plants, but fall burning can increase population size in Iliamna by stimulating germination of buried seed. For Trifolium, frequent or more intense fire may be needed to reduce competition and maintain conditions for population persistence.