bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Concentration of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in muscle, fat and bone tissue of lambs of the breed German Merino Landsheep in the course of the growing period and different feeding intensities
Authors: Bellof G. , Most E. , Pallauf J. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryA growth experiment with 108 lambs (breed German Merino Landsheep) was carried out in order to examine how gender, body weight and feeding intensity affect trace element concentrations in tissues and carcass. The lambs (50% male and 50% female) were fattened at three levels of feeding intensity (‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ by varying daily amounts of concentrate and hay) and slaughtered at different final body weights (30, 45 or 55 kg). Six male and six female animals were sacrificed at 18 kg live weight at the beginning of the comparative slaughter experiment. The left half carcass of each animal was divided into muscle tissue, fat tissue as well as bones and sinews and analysed for the trace elements copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) as well as zinc (Zn). The body weight level influenced the Zn concentrations significantly in all tissues. In addition, the Fe concentration in the fat tissue was influenced by the body weight as well as the Cu content in the bone tissue. An influence due to gender could be seen for the Zn concentration in the muscle and fat tissue and for the Fe content in the fat and bone tissue as well as for the Cu concentration in the bones. The feeding intensity affected the Cu content in the muscle and bone tissue and also the Zn content in the muscle tissue. In the present study with lambs at body weight range from 18 to 55 kg on an average, 127 mg Fe, 87 mg Zn, 1.5 mg Cu as well as 1.1 mg Mn per kilogram dry matter were found in the bone tissue. In lamb muscle tissue combined from all parts (body weight range from 18 to 45 kg, both genders) the highest concentrations were for Zn and Fe [3.42 and 1.31 mg/100 g meat (wet weight basis)], while Cu remained far below these levels (0.08 mg/100 g meat and Mn was even below the detection limit of 0.025 mg/kg). Lamb muscle is a valuable source for highly available haem‐Fe as well as for Zn and Cu in human nutrition.
Effect of lactoferrin on selected immune system parameters and the gastrointestinal morphology in growing calves
Authors: Prgomet C. , Prenner M. L. , Schwarz F. J. , Pfaffl M. W. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryLactoferrin (LF) is a cationic iron‐binding glycoprotein that is abundantly expressed and secreted from glandular epithelial cells and a prominent component of the secondary granules of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Variousin vitroandin vivoexperiments demonstrate anti‐microbial, ‐viral, ‐mycotic and ‐inflammatory effects of LF, associated with modulations of the immune system. Effects of oral administered LF on selected immune system parameters were studied in calves. Five calves were fed LF beginning on day 3 of life with colostral milk and starting on day 6 of life milk replacer enriched with 0.16 % LF was fed. The average daily intake of LF per calf was 1.5–1.6 g/day. Additional five calves served as control group with identical treatment except for the LF supplementation. At the end of the study (day 61 of life), all calves were slaughtered and various tissues were sampled for histological and gene‐expression studies. LF given orally was shown to act as an immunomodulatory agent by enhancing the size of Peyer's patches in the ileum and increasing blood serum immunoglobulin G levels. In addition, the number of peripheral blood leucocytes increased and mRNA levels of various interleukins (IL) such as IL‐1β, IL‐8, IL‐10 and interferon gamma (IFNγ) in those cells in response to LF treatment were enhanced. In blood, the mRNA expression of the pro‐inflammatory marker genes IL‐1βand IFNγdecreased over 10‐week treatment. Additionally, LF feeding decreased villus sizes in the jejunum. Together these findings emphasize the ability of LF to stimulate prominent immune system parameters and that it has the capacity to modulate the immune responses in a positive way.
CO‐alkene polymers are biocompatible scaffolds for primary urothelial cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Bartsch Georg C. , Malinova Violeta , Volkmer Bjoern E. , Hautmann Richard E. , Rieger Bernhard 
Published: November 2006

OBJECTIVETo investigate CO‐alkene polymers, novel synthetic nonbiodegradable polymers, as a potential biomaterial for urological applications.MATERIALS AND METHODSPorcine urothelial cells were seeded on cover glasses (96 wells; 10 000 cells/well) coated with CO‐alkene polymers [propylene/N‐Acetyl‐O′‐(hex‐5‐enyl)‐l‐tyrosine ethyl ester/CO (PTCO) and hexene‐CO (HxCO)]. The following conditions were investigated: cells seeded; (i) on PTCO, (ii) on HxCO, (iii) in PTCO‐conditioned medium, (iv) in HxCO‐conditioned medium, (v) on glass without polymers, (vi) on polystyrene, and (vii) on polystyrene treated with 1.25% NaCl (toxic control). Cell counts, cell death detection assay, and a cell activity assay (XTT, a tetrazolium‐based colorimetric assay) were performed after 3, 6 and 9 days. Urothelial‐cell seeded‐PTCO films (0.5 × 106 cells/cm2) were implanted into the subcutaneous space of athymic mice for up to 12 weeks and unseeded PTCO polymers were implanted as a negative control.RESULTSThe urothelial cell adherence rates on the polymers were similar to those for glass and polystyrene. The cell activity (XTT assay) was higher in cells seeded on the polymers than in cells seeded on polystyrene and glass after 3 and 6 days. There were no significant differences between the apoptosis rates of all groups at the given sample times, except for the high levels in the toxic control. In vivo the urothelial cells survived on the polymers for 12 weeks with no adverse reactions in any of the mice.CONCLUSIONSCO‐alkene polymers are biocompatible materials for urothelial cells in vitro and in vivo, and thus are potential biomaterials for the urogenital tract.
The significance of the expression of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase in prostate cancer
Authors: Li Yongnan , Mizutani Yoichi , Shiraishi Takumi , Nakamura Terukazu , Mikami Kazuya , Takaha Natsuki , Okihara Koji , Kawauchi Akihiro , Sakai Toshiyuki , Miki Tsuneharu 
Published: November 2006

OBJECTIVETo measure dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), an enzyme involved in the metabolism of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), expression in prostate cancer and determine whether 5‐chloro‐2,4‐dihydroxypyridine (CDHP), a potent inhibitor of DPD, enhances the antitumoral activity of 5‐FU against prostate cancer.PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODSIn all, 44 prostate tissue specimens were obtained from men who had a radical prostatectomy alone for prostate cancer, and 38 specimens from men who had had neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. We analysed the cancerous tissue and normal prostate tissue for DPD expression using immunohistochemistry, and determined its prognostic significance. In cultured human prostate cancer lines (DU145 and LNCaP), we compared the cytotoxicity of 5‐FU/CDHP with that of 5‐FU alone. Finally, in experiments on immunodeficient mice, we studied the effect of oral administration of tegafur, a pro‐drug for 5‐FU, with or without CDHP on the growth of tumours introduced by injection of DU145 cells.RESULTSThe expression of DPD was significantly higher in cancerous than normal prostate tissue; 36 of 44 (82%) specimens of prostate cancer expressed DPD, whereas only 25 of 44 (57%) specimens of normal prostate tissue expressed DPD. For men with prostate cancer who had radical prostatectomy alone, men with negative DPD expression tended to have a longer recurrence‐free survival than those with positive expression; there were no recurrences in men with prostate cancer and negative DPD expression in the 5‐year follow‐up. DPD expression was significantly lower in men with prostate cancer who received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. In vitro treatment of human prostate cancer cell lines with 5‐FU/CDHP showed more cytotoxicity than with 5‐FU treatment alone. Finally, DU145 tumours in mice treated with tegafur and CDHP were significantly smaller than in mice given tegafur alone.CONCLUSIONThe present study showed that DPD expression is elevated in prostate cancer, and indicate that DPD inhibitors might enhance the antitumour activity of 5‐FU against prostate cancer.
Ecological factors explaining the location of the boundary between the mixedwood and coniferous bioclimatic zones in the boreal biome of eastern North America
Authors: Messaoud Yassine , Bergeron Yves , Leduc Alain 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTAim Climate is often regarded as the primary control determining the location of an ecotone between two vegetation zones. However, other ecological factors may also be important, especially when the northern limit of the dominant species of a vegetation zone extends further than the limit of the zone itself. This study aimed to identify the ecological variables explaining the transition between two zones within the boreal biome in Quebec (eastern Canada): the southern mixedwood forests dominated by balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and white birch (Betula papyrifera), and the northern coniferous forests dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana).Location Quebec (eastern Canada).Methods Data from 5023 sampling plots from the ecological inventory of the Québec Ministry of Natural Resources distributed throughout the two bioclimatic zones were used in logistic regressions to determine the relationships between the presence or absence of balsam fir stands and different abiotic and biotic variables, at both stand and landscape scales.Results The presence of balsam fir stands was negatively related to the thick organic horizons, coarse xeric deposits and low positions on the slope, whereas stands were favoured by high elevations, steep slopes and moderate drainage. These results defined the suitable conditions for the development of balsam fir stands. In the coniferous zone these suitable conditions were less abundant. Furthermore, the saturation level of suitable sites was lower, as well as the incidence of balsam fir stands in unsuitable sites (overflow). Balsam fir stands were mostly located near lakes and rivers. All significant variables at both the stand and landscape scales explained between 34 and 42% of the location of the potential northern distribution limit of the mixedwood zone.Main conclusions Our results suggest the important role of historical factors related to post‐glacial vegetation and past disturbances in determining the relative abundance of balsam fir in both zones of the boreal biome.
The endothelin‐1 receptor‐mediated pathway is not involved in the endothelin‐1‐induced defenestration of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells
Authors: Yokomori Hiroaki , Yoshimura Kazunori , Ohshima Susumu , Nagai Toshihiro , Fujimaki Kayo , Nomura Masahiko , Oda Masaya , Hibi Toshifumi 
Published: November 2006

Abstract: Background/Aims: We previously reported that endothelin (ET)‐1 may be involved in the contraction of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial fenestrae (SEF). Rho has emerged as an important regulator of the actin cytoskeleton and consequently cell morphology. To clarify the role of ET receptors [endothelin A receptor (ETAR) and endothelin B receptor (ETBR)] in ET‐1‐induced defenestration, we studied the size of hepatic SEF under various experimental conditions.Methods: Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) isolated from rat livers by collagenase perfusion were cultured and divided into four groups: control, ET‐1 (10−6–10−10 M)‐treated, ET‐1+selective ETAR antagonist (BQ610)‐treated and ET‐1+ETBR antagonist (BQ788)‐treated groups. SEF morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Protein expressions of ETAR and ETBR, Rho A and phosphorylated myosin light‐chain kinase were analyzed by Western blotting. F‐actin stress fiber formation was observed by confocal microscopy. Active Rho was measured by Ren's modification. Intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured by fluorescence digital imaging using fura‐2 AM by Aqua cosmos.Results: ET‐1 induced a reduction in the number and size of SEF. ETAR antagonist pretreatment inhibited defenestration induced by low ET‐1 concentrations (10−8–10−10 M), whereas ETBR antagonist pretreatment did not block defenestration at low to high ET‐1 concentrations (10−6–10−10 M). F‐actin stress fibers, Rho A levels and phosphorylated myosin light‐chain kinase levels remained the same in various treatments. Active Rho was not detected in control and various treatments. ET‐1 did not increase [Ca2+]i. Western blot showed prominent ETBR but scarce ETAR protein expression in LSECs.Conclusions: The present findings demonstrated that ETBR‐ and ETAR‐induced contractile mechanisms are not involved in ET‐1‐induced defenestration, and that Rho is also not activated. Therefore, ET‐1 induces hepatic defenestration by mechanisms other than receptor‐mediated contraction.
The Effects of Pulmonary Vein Isolation on the Dominant Frequency and Organization of Coronary Sinus Electrical Activity During Permanent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: RAZAVI MEHDI , ZHANG SHULONG , DELAPASSE SCOTT , YANG DONGHUI , AI TOMOHIKO , KAR BISWAJIT , YOUNIS GEORGE , RASEKH ABDI , CHENG JIE 
Published: November 2006

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been shown to suppress atrial fibrillation (AF). We examined the effects of PVI on disorganization and dominant frequencies (DF) in patients with permanent AF.
Methods and results: Twenty‐eight patients with permanent AF (>6 months) who failed ≥1 antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) and ≥2 cardioversions (CV) with AF reversion <30 minutes after CV were included. PVI and isolation of DFs in pulmonary veins (PVs) was performed during AF. Fast Fourier transformations of atrial electrograms were performed. Disorganization index (DI) was defined as the percentage of time spent in type III AF during 1‐minute continuous recordings. The temporal stability and reproducibility of DIs from the same sites were verified over time prior to ablation. Highly disorganized AF activity concentrated in the posterior left atrium (PLA) including sites at the left atrial (PV‐LA) junction (55.7% of sites in PLA, 32.9% in septum, and 11.4% in other sites). DF and DI from the coronary sinus (CS) before and after PVI were analyzed. PVI reduced the DI (14.3 ± 25.0% before PVI vs 4.6 ± 8.6% after PVI; P < 0.02). There was significant reduction of DI in 26 of 28 patients. The DF remained unchanged (5.6 ± 1.3 Hz before PVI vs 5.9 ± 0.9 Hz after PVI; P = 0.31). After a follow‐up of 30 ± 11 months, 15 (54%) of patients are free of symptomatic AF, 3 (10%) in sinus rhythm on AAD, 5 (18%) with paroxysmal AF, 4 (14%) in chronic AF, and 1 (4%) with atypical flutter.
Conclusions: In the vast majority of patients with chronic AF, PVI reduces AF disorganization without affecting the DF as measured in the CS.
Friedrich Nietzsche's mental illness – general paralysis of the insane vs. frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Orth M. , Trimble M. R. 
Published: November 2006

Objective:  For a long time it was thought that Nietzsche suffered from general paralysis of the insane (GPI). However, this diagnosis has been questioned recently, and alternative diagnoses have been proposed.Method:  We have charted Friedrich Nietzsche's final fatal illness, and viewed the differential diagnosis in the light of recent neurological understandings of dementia syndromes.Results:  It is unclear that Nietzsche ever had syphilis. He lacked progressive motor and other neurological features of a progressive syphilitic central nervous system (CNS) infection and lived at least 12 years following the onset of his CNS signs, which would be extremely rare for patients with untreated GPI. Finally, his flourish of productivity in 1888 would be quite uncharacteristic of GPI, but in keeping with reports of burgeoning creativity at some point in the progression of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).Conclusion:  We suggest that Nietzsche did not have GPI, but died from a chronic dementia, namely FTD.
Cost–utility of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression in primary care in Catalonia
Authors: Serrano‐Blanco A. , Pinto‐Meza A. , Suárez D. , Peñarrubia M. T. , Haro J. M. ,   the ETAPS Group (Efectivitat del Tractament antidepressiu en Atenció Primària de Salut)
Published: November 2006

Objective: To determine the cost–utility of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for treating depressive disorders prescribed in primary care (PC).Method: A total of 301 participants beginning antidepressant treatment with an SSRI were enrolled in a prospective 6‐month follow‐up naturalistic study. Incremental cost–utility ratios (ICUR) were obtained for several comparisons among different SSRIs. To address uncertainty in the ICUR's sampling distribution, non‐parametric bootstrapping was carried out.Results: Taking into account adjusted total costs and incremental quality of life gained, fluoxetine dominated paroxetine and citalopram with 63.4% and 79.3% of the bootstrap replications in the dominance quadrant, respectively. Additionally, fluoxetine was cost‐effective over sertraline with 83.4% of the bootstrap replications below the threshold of 33,936 US$/quality‐adjusted life year (30,000 €/QALY).Conclusion: Fluoxetine seems to be a better cost–utility SSRI option for treating depressive disorders in PC.
Modeling of the buccal and lingual bone walls of fresh extraction sites following implant installation
Authors: Araújo Mauricio G. , Wennström Jan L. , Lindhe Jan 
Published: November 2006

AbstractObjective: To determine whether the reduction of the alveolar ridge that occurs following tooth extraction and implant placement is influenced by the size of the hard tissue walls of the socket.Material and methods: Six beagle dogs were used. The third premolar and first molar in both quadrants of the mandible were used. Mucoperiostal flaps were elevated and the distal roots were removed. Implants were installed in the fresh extraction socket in one side of the mandible. The flaps were replaced to allow a semi‐submerged healing. The procedure was repeated in the contra later side of the mandible after 2 months. The animals were sacrificed 1 month after the final implant installation. The mandibles were dissected, and each implant site was removed and processed for ground sectioning.Results: Marked hard tissue alterations occurred during healing following tooth extraction and implant installation in the socket. The marginal gap that was present between the implant and the walls of the socket at implantation disappeared as a result of bone fill and resorption of the bone crest. The modeling in the marginal defect region was accompanied by marked attenuation of the dimensions of both the delicate buccal and the wider lingual bone wall. Bone loss at molar sites was more pronounced than at the premolar locations.Conclusion: Implant placement failed to preserve the hard tissue dimension of the ridge following tooth extraction. The buccal as well as the lingual bone walls were resorbed. At the buccal aspect, this resulted in some marginal loss of osseointegration.
Exploring factors that influence child use of dental services and toothbrushing in New Zealand
Authors: Jamieson Lisa M. , Koopu Pauline I. 
Published: November 2006

Abstract –  Objectives:  To explore factors contributing to dental service use and toothbrushing among Mäori, Pacific and New Zealand European or Other (NZEO) children in New Zealand.Methods:  Data were obtained from the 2002 National Child Nutrition Survey. Models representing demographic, socio‐economic status (SES), lifestyle, dietary, food security and oral health paradigms were tested using logistic regression.Results:  Mäori and Pacific children were more likely to not attend for dental care (OR: 1.99 and 2.05 respectively) than NZEO children when age, sex and time lived in New Zealand were accounted for. The addition of household (OR: 1.93 and 2.05 respectively) or lifestyle (OR: 1.95 and 1.81 respectively) factors resulted in minimal OR changes for Mäori or Pacific child dental attendance, whereas addition of dietary (OR: 1.44 and 1.23 respectively) and food security (OR: 1.43 and 1.32 respectively) items reduced the ORs of Mäori and Pacific child dental attendance so they no longer differed significantly to NZEO children. Addition of dental factors increased the ORs of Mäori and Pacific children not utilizing dental services compared with NZEO children (OR: 2.30 and 2.13 respectively). Mäori and Pacific children were more likely to not brush teeth (OR: 3.86 and 1.49 respectively) than NZEO children when age, sex and time lived in New Zealand were accounted for. Addition of dietary factors resulted in a 36% OR reduction of Mäori children not brushing (OR: 2.57), while addition of household SES (OR: 1.06), lifestyle (OR: 1.14), dietary (OR: 0.71) or food security factors (OR: 1.19) reduced the ORs of Pacific children so they were no longer significantly different to NZEO children.Conclusions:  Mäori and Pacific children were more likely to have not received dental care (variance largely explained by dietary and food security factors) and Mäori children were more likely to not brush their teeth (variance largely explained by dietary items) than NZEO children.
8‐methoxypsoralen cream plus targeted narrowband ultraviolet B for psoriasis
Authors: Amornpinyokeit Noppadol , Asawanonda Pravit 
Published: November 2006

Background: Targeted ultraviolet (UV) phototherapy is a recent addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of localized psoriasis. Topical psoralens enhance the therapeutic effects of UV‐based treatment for various dermatoses, but have never been used in conjunction with targeted UVB.Purpose: To compare the efficacy of targeted narrowband UVB phototherapy (NB‐UVB) alone with that of the combination of 0.1% 8‐methoxypsoralen cream and targeted NB‐UVB phototherapy (8‐MOP/NB‐UVB) for the treatment of plaque‐type psoriasis.Methods: Two areas within the same lesion of stable psoriasis were randomized to receive either targeted NB‐UVB alone or 8‐MOP/NB‐UVB. Fluences of UVB delivered were held constant at four minimal erythema doses. The treatments were continued until lesions cleared or 12 treatments. Follow‐ups were done until lesional scores returned to 50% of the baseline values.Results: Ten patients completed this study. Four lesions were cleared by 8‐MOP/NB‐UVB while three were cleared by NB‐UVB alone. The improvement in disease activity as reflected by psoriasis severity index score during treatment was statistically significantly better in the combination group (P=0.005). Mean remission time of lesions which were cleared by 8‐MOP/NB‐UVB was 8 weeks while that for lesions that were cleared by NB‐UVB alone was 4.67 weeks.Conclusion: We concluded that addition of 0.1% 8‐MOP cream to targeted narrowband UVB significantly enhances the therapeutic effects of the light treatment without increasing the incidence of adverse effects.