bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of alcoholism severity and smoking on executive neurocognitive function
Authors: Glass Jennifer M. , Buu Anne , Adams Kenneth M. , Nigg Joel T. , Puttler Leon I. , Jester Jennifer M. , Zucker Robert A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTAims  Neurocognitive deficits in chronic alcoholic men are well documented. Impairments include memory, visual–spatial processing, problem solving and executive function. The cause of impairment could include direct effects of alcohol toxicity, pre‐existing cognitive deficits that predispose towards substance abuse, comorbid psychiatric disorders and abuse of substances other than alcohol. Cigarette smoking occurs at higher rates in alcoholism and has been linked to poor cognitive performance, yet the effects of smoking on cognitive function in alcoholism are often ignored. We examined whether chronic alcoholism and chronic smoking have effects on executive function.Methods  Alcoholism and smoking were examined in a community‐recruited sample of alcoholic and non‐alcoholic men (n = 240) using standard neuropsychological and reaction‐time measures of executive function. Alcoholism was measured as the average level of alcoholism diagnoses across the study duration (12 years). Smoking was measured in pack‐years.Results  Both alcoholism and smoking were correlated negatively with a composite executive function score. For component measures, alcoholism was correlated negatively with a broad range of measures, whereas smoking was correlated negatively with measures that emphasize response speed. In regression analyses, both smoking and alcoholism were significant predictors of executive function composite. However, when IQ is included in the regression analyses, alcoholism severity is no longer significant.Conclusions  Both smoking and alcoholism were related to executive function. However, the effect of alcoholism was not independent of IQ, suggesting a generalized effect, perhaps affecting a wide range of cognitive abilities of which executive function is a component. On the other hand, the effect of smoking on measures relying on response speed were independent of IQ, suggesting a more specific processing speed deficit associated with chronic smoking.
Hospitalizations for opioid poisoning: a nation‐wide population‐based study in Denmark, 1998–2004
Authors: Bjørn Anne‐Mette Bay , Jepsen Peter , Larsson Heidi Jeanet , Thomsen Henrik Frederik , Kieler Helle , Ehrenstein Vera , Christensen Steffen 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTAims  To assess hospitalization rates (HR) for poisoning with heroin, methadone or strong analgesics and relate them to quantities of prescribed methadone and strong analgesics in Denmark between 1998 and 2004.Design  Population‐based ecological study.Settings  We extracted data on all emergency department visits and hospital admissions registered in the Danish National Patient Registry with a diagnosis of poisoning with heroin (n = 1688), methadone (n = 173) or strong analgesics (n = 384). To ascertain sale of prescribed medications we used data from the Danish Medicines Agency.Measurements  Age‐ and gender‐standardized HR and defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 people per day.Findings  HR for heroin poisoning was 4.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8–4.9] per 100 000 person‐years (p‐y) in 1998 and 4.6 (CI: 4.0–5.2) per 100 000 p‐y in 2004. HR for methadone poisoning increased from 0.1 (CI: 0.0–0.2) per 100 000 p‐y in 1998 to 1.1 (CI: 0.8–1.4) per 100 000 p‐y in 2004. HR for poisoning with strong analgesics increased from 0.6 (CI: 0.4–0.9) per 100 000 p‐y in 1998 to 2.1 (CI: 1.8–2.6) per 100 000 p‐y in 2004. The sale of prescribed strong analgesics (5.0 DDD per 1000 people per day in 1998 to 5.9 DDD in 2004) and methadone (3.0 DDD per 1000 people per day in 1998 to 3.4 DDD in 2004) increased slightly between 1998 and 2004.Conclusion  Increasing sale of prescribed methadone and strong analgesics coincided with increasing HRs of poisoning with these drugs, whereas HR of heroin poisoning varied. Further longitudinal studies are important for the guidance of future policy making.
Amitriptyline modifies the visceral hypersensitivity response to acute stress in the irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: THOUA N. M. , MURRAY C. D. R. , WINCHESTER W. J. , ROY A. J. , PITCHER M. C. L. , KAMM M. A. , EMMANUEL A. V. 
Published: December 2008

SummaryBackground  Acute physical stress causes alteration in gut autonomic function and visceral hypersensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We have developed a model to measure this stress response.Aim  To assess whether treatment with a drug effective in treating IBS (amitriptyline) alters the response to acute stress in IBS patients.Methods  Nineteen patients with IBS were given amitriptyline 25–50 mg. Patients underwent physical stress (cold pressor) test at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Physiological parameters measured were: stress perception; systemic autonomic tone [heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP)]; gut specific autonomic innervation [rectal mucosal blood flow (RMBF)] and visceral sensitivity (rectal electrosensitivity).Results  Fourteen of 19 (74%) patients improved symptomatically after 3 months of amitriptyline. Acute stress induced increased perception of stress and systemic autonomic tone and reduced RMBF in symptomatic responders and nonresponders (P > 0.05 for all). All nonresponders but only 3 of 14 responders continued to exhibit stress‐induced reduced pain threshold at 3 months (change from baseline −31% vs. +2%, P < 0.03 respectively).Conclusion  In this open study, amitriptyline appears to decrease stress‐induced electrical hypersensitivity; this effect is independent of autonomic tone. The gut response to acute stress deserves further study as a model to study drug efficacy in IBS.
Genetic diversity of captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) inferred from the mitochondrial DNA control region
Authors: Peng H. , Liu S. , Zou F. , Zeng B. , Yue B. 
Published: December 2008

SummaryForest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) were once distributed widely in China. However, wild populations have declined dramatically because of poaching and habitat loss. Captive breeding populations have been established for several decades, but the genetic backgrounds of most captive populations were unclear and the population sizes increased very slowly. To provide useful information for conservation and management of this species, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of forest musk deer by analysing a 582‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (CR) in three captive breeding populations in Sichuan Province, China. Ninety‐four variable sites and 27 haplotypes were observed in 109 individuals, and the nucleotide and haplotype diversities were relatively high compared with those of other endangered mammals. Of the three investigated populations, the Maerkang population had the highest nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0568), haplotype diversity (h = 0.836) and average intra‐population genetic distance (0.062). The analysis of molecular variance demonstrated that most variation occurred within samples and that there was significant differentiation of the three populations. Estimates of gene flow indicated that there were few genetic exchanges among the three populations. Building pedigree records and increasing gene flow between populations will be helpful for conserving these populations and this species.
Controls on early post‐rift physiography and stratigraphy, lower to mid‐Cretaceous, North Viking Graben, Norwegian North Sea
Authors: Zachariah A.‐J. , Gawthorpe R. , Dreyer T. , Corfield S. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThe transition from syn‐ to post‐rift is often poorly constrained and in contrast to syn‐rift systems, the controls on the development of post‐rift systems are poorly understood. This paper documents the timing of the post‐rift onset and discusses the controls that affected the subsequent development of the post‐rift infill of the North Viking Graben using an integration of seismic and well data. The study enhances our understanding of post‐rift system development in general and provides an analogue for other post‐rift systems. Within the early post‐rift infill of the North Viking Graben five key seismic surfaces were mapped [Base Cretaceous Unconformity (BCU), Intra‐Aptian, Top Albian, Top Cenomanian and Top Turonian], which divide the post‐rift interval into four key seismic stratigraphic units (K1–K4). The BCU has an intra‐Volgian age on the basin slopes and shelfal and terrace areas and is interpreted to mark the end of rifting in the study area. On the footwall crests adjacent to the graben the BCU represents a complex unconformity from the syn‐ and post‐rift combined, and in the graben it forms a conformable contact. Therefore, the BCU could not be used to date the onset of the post‐rift in these locations. The thickness variations and age relationships between the syn‐rift stratigraphy and the K‐units reveal that the early post‐rift infill of the North Viking Graben was dominantly controlled by the significant local syn‐rift topography, especially in the K1 and K2 stages. The Cretaceous post‐rift stratigraphy was also influenced by relative base level, which controlled the sediment source areas, the development of the basin geometry itself and subsequently the style of sediment deposition in the study area. Regional variations are also recognised in the post‐rift stratigraphy although these variances are strongly influenced by the local basin physiography.
Consequences of climate variability for the performance of bison in tallgrass prairie
Authors: CRAINE JOSEPH M. , TOWNE E. GENE , JOERN ANTHONY , HAMILTON ROBERT G. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractClimate variability is a major structuring factor in grassland ecosystems, yet there is great uncertainty in how changes in precipitation affect grazing herbivores. We determined how interannual variation in the timing and magnitude of precipitation affected the weight gain of free‐roaming bison in their first and second year. Bison weights were analyzed for 14 years for Konza Prairie, Kansas, and 12 years for Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Oklahoma. Greater late‐summer precipitation increased bison weight gain. For every 100 mm precipitation, weight gain increased 6.4–15.3 kg depending on age classes and site. In contrast, greater midsummer precipitation decreased weight gain. For every additional 100 mm precipitation, weight decreased 9.7–17.3 kg depending on age class and site. The decreased weight gain of bison with greater midsummer precipitation was associated with increased grass stem production during the period for each of three dominant grasses at Konza Prairie. Although greater stem production increases the quantity of aboveground biomass, it should decrease the overall nutritional quality of biomass to grazers, which would reduce weight gain. With offsetting effects of mid‐ and late‐summer precipitation on weight gain, these results show that predicting the effects of climate change on grazers must incorporate both the timing and magnitude of changes in precipitation and their effects on both the quantity and quality of biomass.
Community participation of people with an intellectual disability: a review of empirical findings
Authors: Verdonschot M. M. L. , De Witte L. P. , Reichrath E. , Buntinx W. H. E. , Curfs L. M. G. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractStudy design  A systematic review of the literature.Objectives  To investigate community participation of persons with an intellectual disability (ID) as reported in empirical research studies.Method  A systematic literature search was conducted for the period of 1996–2006 on PubMed, CINAHL and PSYCINFO. Search terms were derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Three investigators assessed the relevance of the initially identified studies using predefined content and methodological selection criteria. Included domains of community participation were: (1) domestic life; (2) interpersonal interactions and relationships; (3) major life areas; and (4) community, civic and social life.Results  Of 2936 initial hits, 23 quantitative studies eventually met the selection criteria and were included in the study. Only two studies are based on a theoretical framework. Research instruments were various and were most often ad hoc and not validated. The average number of persons in the social network of people with ID appears to be 3.1, one of them usually being a professional service staff member. People with ID are 3–4 times less employed than non‐disabled peers; they are less likely to be employed competitively and are more likely to work in sheltered workshops or in segregated settings than those with other disabilities. People with ID are less likely to be involved in community groups, and leisure activities are mostly solitary and passive in nature. Most of the people with ID had been accompanied in an activity by training/therapeutic staff.Conclusion  It can be concluded that on the basis of empirical evidence, within the time frame of this literature search, little is known about community participation of people with ID. Many researchers did not clearly define community participation and were concerned with limited areas of community participation; research is seldom based on a theoretical framework. Most studies focus on people with mild ID, and there are few reports of the subjects' sample. However, one conclusion can consistently be drawn from the review: people with ID living in community settings participate more than people living in a segregated setting, but their participation level is still much lower than non‐disabled and other disability groups.
PRECLINICAL STUDY: Conditioned cues and yohimbine induce reinstatement of beer and near‐beer seeking in Long‐Evans rats
Authors: Richards Jemma K. , Simms Jeffrey A. , Bartlett Selena E. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTAlcohol use disorders (AUDs) impact millions of individuals, yet there are few effective treatments. One major problem in treating AUDs is the high rate of relapse to drinking often induced by stress and/or anxiety states. Although beer accounts for over 81% of all alcohol consumed in hazardous amounts in the United States, the use of beer in pre‐clinical research has been limited. It has been shown that rats will self‐administer beer and near‐beer using a standard operant self‐administration paradigm; however, there have been few studies examining reinstatement of beer and near‐beer seeking. We have determined that reward‐associated cues and/or yohimbine will induce reinstatement of beer and near‐beer seeking in a similar manner to that seen for 10% ethanol and sucrose seeking using standard operant self‐administration and reinstatement paradigms. We show that rats will self‐administer beer, near‐beer and 4.5% ethanol using an operant self‐administration paradigm and both conditioned cues, and yohimbine will induce reinstatement of beer, near‐beer and 4.5% ethanol seeking in previously extinguished animals. This demonstrates that both environmental cues and yohimbine‐stress will reinstate beer and near‐beer seeking, as previously shown for both 10% ethanol and sucrose seeking.
PRECLINICAL STUDY: Effects of concurrent access to multiple ethanol concentrations and repeated deprivations on alcohol intake of high‐alcohol‐drinking (HAD) rats
Authors: Rodd Zachary A. , Bell Richard L. , Kuc Kelly A. , Murphy James M. , Lumeng Lawrence , McBride William J. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTHigh‐alcohol‐drinking rats, given access to 10% ethanol, expressed an alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) only after multiple deprivations. In alcohol‐preferring (P) rats, concurrent access to multiple ethanol concentrations combined with repeated cycles of EtOH access and deprivation produced excessive ethanol drinking. The current study was undertaken to examine the effects of repeated alcohol deprivations with concurrent access to multiple concentrations of ethanol on ethanol intake of HAD replicate lines of rats. HAD‐1 and HAD‐2 rats received access to 10, 20 and 30% (v/v) ethanol for 6 weeks. Rats from each replicate line were assigned to: (1) a non‐deprived group; (2) a group initially deprived of ethanol for 2 weeks; or (3) a group initially deprived for 8 weeks. Following the restoration of the ethanol solutions, cycle of 2 weeks of ethanol exposure and 2 weeks of alcohol deprivation was repeated three times for a total of four deprivations. Following the initial ethanol deprivation period, deprived groups significantly increased ethanol intakes during the initial 24‐hour re‐exposure period. Multiple deprivations increased ethanol intakes, shifted preference to higher ethanol concentrations and prolonged the duration of the elevated ethanol intakes for up to 5 days. In addition, repeated deprivations increased ethanol intake in the first 2‐hour re‐exposure period as high as 5–7 g/kg (which are equivalent to amounts consumed in 24 hours by HAD rats), and produced blood ethanol levels in excess of 150 mg%. The results indicate that HAD rats exhibit ‘loss‐of‐control’ of alcohol drinking with repeated deprivations when multiple ethanol concentrations are available.
PRECLINICAL STUDY: Ecstasy‐induced oxidative stress to adolescent rat brain mitochondriain vivo: influence of monoamine oxidase type A
Authors: Alves Ema , Summavielle Teresa , Alves Cecília Juliana , Custódio José Barata Antunes , Fernandes Eduarda , De Lourdes Bastos Maria , Tavares Maria Amélia , Carvalho Félix 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThe administration of a neurotoxic dose of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) to the rat results in mitochondrial oxidative damage in the central nervous system, namely lipid and protein oxidation and mitochondrial DNA deletions with subsequent impairment of the correspondent protein expression. Although these toxic effects were shown to be prevented by monoamine oxidase B inhibition, the role of monoamine oxidase A (MAO‐A) in MDMA‐mediated mitochondrial damage remains to be evaluated. Thus, the aim of the present study was to clarify the potential interference of a specific inhibition of MAO‐A by clorgyline, on the deleterious effects produced by a binge administration of a neurotoxic dose of MDMA (10 mg MDMA/kg of body weight, intraperitoneally, every 2 hours in a total of four administrations) to an adolescent rat model. The parameters evaluated were mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and expression of the respiratory chain protein subunits II of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (NDII) and I of cytochrome oxidase (COXI). Considering that hyperthermia has been shown to contribute to the neurotoxic effects of MDMA, another objective of the present study was to evaluate the body temperature changes mediated by MDMA with a MAO‐A selective inhibition by clorgyline. The obtained results demonstrated that the administration of a neurotoxic binge dose of MDMA to an adolescent rat model previously treated with the specific MAO‐A inhibitor, clorgyline, resulted in synergistic effects on serotonin‐ (5‐HT) mediated behaviour and body temperature, provoking high mortality. Inhibition of MAO‐A by clorgyline administration had no protective effect on MDMA‐induced alterations on brain mitochondria (increased lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and decrease in the expression of the respiratory chain subunits NDII and COXI), although it aggravated MDMA‐induced decrease in the expression of COXI. These results reinforce the notion that the concomitant use of MAO‐A inhibitors and MDMA is counter indicated because of the resulting severe synergic toxicity.
Mechanical strain increases cytokine and chemokine production in bronchial fibroblasts from asthmatic patients
Authors: Le Bellego F. , Perera H. , Plante S. , Chakir J. , Hamid Q. , Ludwig M. S. 
Published: December 2008

Background: Mechanical strain and cytokine stimulation are two important mechanisms leading to airway remodeling in asthma. The effect of mechanical strain on cytokine secretion in airway fibroblasts is not known. The aim of this study was to determine whether bronchial and nasal fibroblasts differentially alter cytokine secretion in response to mechanical strain.Methods: We measured secretion of the pro‐fibrotic cytokine, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and the pro‐inflammatory cytokines, IL‐8 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1, before and after mechanical strain in bronchial fibroblasts obtained from asthmatic patients [asthmatic bronchial fibroblasts (BAF)] and normal volunteers [normal bronchial fibroblasts (BNF)], and in nasal fibroblasts (NF) obtained from nasal polyps. Cells were grown on flexible membranes and a mechanical strain of 30% amplitude, 1 Hz frequency was applied for 3, 6 and 24 h. Control cells were unstrained. IL‐6, IL‐8 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 was measured after 24 h strain using enzyme‐linked immunoassay; mRNA was measured by real time polymerase chain reaction. We also measured mRNA for versican, a matrix proteoglycan, known to be upregulated in the asthmatic airway wall.Results: In unstrained conditions, no differences in cytokine secretion were observed. After 24 h strain, BAF secreted more IL‐6 than BNF. Mechanical strain increased IL‐8 mRNA in BAF, BNF and NF; and IL‐6 and versican mRNA, in BAF, only.Conclusions: Cytokine responses to mechanical strain varied in different airway fibroblast populations, and depended on the site of origin, and the underlying inflammatory state. Strain resulted in IL‐6 upregulation and increased message for extracellular matrix protein in bronchial fibroblasts from asthmatic patients only, and may reflect these patients’ propensity for airway remodeling.
Nerve growth factor localization in the nasal mucosa of patients with persistent allergic rhinitis
Authors: Bresciani M. , Lalibertè F. , Lalibertè M. F. , Gramiccioni C. , Bonini S. 
Published: December 2008

Background and objectives:  Nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF receptors have been shown to be expressed by structural and infiltrating inflammatory cells in the human allergic bronchial mucosa and conjunctiva. In the nose, a positive immunostaining for NGF was recently reported in biopsies of subjects undergoing surgery for refractory nasal obstruction. This study was aimed at studying by immunohistochemistry NGF expression and localization in the nasal mucosa from subjects with moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis and natural allergen exposure.Methods:  Immunostaining for NGF, tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein was performed in human nasal turbinate sections of 25 patients affected by persistent allergic rhinitis and sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.Results:  NGF was consistently expressed in the epithelium and in the submucosa of allergic rhinitic subjects, preferentially localized in eosinophils and mast cells. A strong NGF immunostaining was found in mucous cells of the epithelial lining and in the submucosal glands.Conclusions:  As previously shown for allergic asthma and allergic conjunctivitis, NGF is also detectable in the nasal mucosa of patients with persistent allergic rhinitis. The preferential NGF localization in mucous cells of the epithelial lining and in the submucosal glands suggests a possible role for NGF in modulating secretion in allergic rhinitis and possibly other allergic diseases.