bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis of sub‐clinical hepatic encephalopathy by Neuropsychological Tests (NP‐tests)
Authors: Kato Akinobu , Watanabe Yuki , Sawara Kei , Suzuki Kazuyuki 
Published: December 2008

Aim:  At present, there are no generally accepted diagnostic criteria or methods for sub‐clinical hepatic encephalopathy (SHE) associated with liver cirrhosis. We therefore developed an easily conducted computer‐aided quantitative neuropsychological function test system for use in routine medical practice.Methods:  The system was used prepare basic values according to age in 542 healthy subjects, and the results were compared with 292 liver cirrhosis patients. The software is composed of eight tests: NCT‐A, NCT‐B, Figure Design Test, Digit Symbol Test, Block Design Test, and the Reaction Time‐A, Reaction Time‐B, and Reaction Time‐C.Results:  Performance time is approximately 15 to 20 min. There is no need to select a specific test location and it is convenient to use even without a professional examiner. When the top and bottom 10%, which correspond to the outlier values statistically in the healthy subjects, were used as the cutoff values abnormal results were observed in approximately 25% of the liver cirrhosis patients. Moreover, 58% of the patients had abnormal values according to the results of at least one of the tests.Conclusion:  It is expected that this test will be used to further assess the diagnosis and pathology of SHE and that it will be utilized as a routine method of diagnosis.
A new gene for resistance to Dysaphis pyri in pear and identification of flanking microsatellite markers
Authors: Evans Kate M. , Govan Ceri L. , Fernández-Fernández Felicidad 
Published: December 2008

Dysaphis pyri is an important aphid pest of European pear ( Pyrus communis ) cultivars, none of which are currently reported to be resistant. In this study, we produced a progeny of the European pear Comice crossed with an accession of snow pear (Pyrus nivalis) that segregated for resistance to D. pyri in a Mendelian fashion, indicating the presence of a major gene, Dp-1. Following screening of the parents and seedlings with microsatellite markers, cosegregation analysis indicated that Dp-1 is flanked by NH006b and NH014a on linkage group 17, 2.3 and 3.6 cM away, respectively. Evidence is also presented for the duplication of linkage groups 9 and 17, which is a consequence of the allopolyploid origin of pear.
Plasma deuterium oxide accumulation following ingestion of different carbohydrate beverages
Authors: Currell Kevin , Urch Joanna , Cerri Erika , Jentjens Roy L.P. , Blannin Andy K. , Jeukendrup Asker E. 
Published: December 2008

Optimal fluid delivery from carbohydrate solutions such as oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks is essential. The aim of the study was to investigate whether a beverage containing glucose and fructose would result in greater fluid delivery than a beverage containing glucose alone. Six male subjects were recruited (average age (±SD): 22 ± 2 y). Subjects entered the laboratory between 0700h and 0900h after an overnight fast. A 600 mL bolus of 1 of the 3 experimental beverages was then given. The experimental beverages were water (W), 75 g glucose (G), or 50 g glucose and 25 g fructose (GF); each beverage also contained 3.00 g of D2O. Following administration of the experimental beverage subjects remained in a seated position for 180 min. Blood and saliva samples were then taken every 5 min in the first hour and every 15 min thereafter. Plasma and saliva samples were analyzed for deuterium enrichment by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Deuterium oxide enrichments were compared using a 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance. The water trial (33 ± 3 min) showed a significantly shorter time to peak than either G (82 ± 40 min) or GF (59 ± 25 min), but the difference between G and GF did not reach statistical significance. There was a significantly greater AUC for GF (55 673 ± 10 020 δ‰ vs. Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW).180min) and W (60 497 ± 9864 δ‰ vs. VSMOW.180min) compared with G (46 290 ± 9622 δ‰ vs. VSMOW.180min); W and GF were not significantly different from each other. These data suggest that a 12.5% carbohydrate beverage containing glucose and fructose results in more rapid fluid delivery in the first 75 min than a beverage containing glucose alone.
Obésité et modernité : l’émergence de nouveaux stimuli nous amène-t-elle à redéfinir la notion de sédentarité?
Authors: Chaput Jean-Philippe 
Published: December 2008

La mondialisation des marchés impose une pression accrue envers la performance, la productivité et la profitabilité des entreprises. Cette nouvelle réalité se traduit, entre autres, par une accentuation du travail du savoir ainsi que par une diminution du temps passé au lit. De plus, l’activité physique peut être considérée à juste titre comme une composante du mode de vie qui a été malheureusement laissée de côté et qui doit être minimalement réinsérée dans les activités de tous les jours. En effet, l’activité physique est porteuse d’une stimulation corporelle qui affecte significativement le bilan d’énergie et qui favorise sa bonne régulation. De leur côté, le travail mental et le manque de sommeil ont le potentiel de favoriser le surpoids. En effet, les résultats présentés dans cette thèse montrent que le manque de sommeil est prédicteur du surpoids et du gain de poids à long terme et est associé au diabète de type 2 chez les adultes. De plus, nous avons observé que le travail mental est déstabilisant pour l’homéostasie hormonale et peut être considéré comme un stimulus aux propriétés hyperphagiantes. Or, le manque de sommeil et le travail du savoir, deux modalités qui sont l’apanage du monde moderne, soulèvent de nombreuses questions face à notre compréhension de l’étiologie de l’obésité. En effet, leurs caractéristiques biologiques propres nous amènent non seulement à redéfinir la notion de sédentarité, mais à reconsidérer nos valeurs sociétales dans un contexte où l’aspect pécunier a primauté sur la santé. En outre, nos recherches ont montré que la perte pondérale dépassant 10 % du poids initial a le potentiel d’affecter négativement la santé mentale, compliquant ainsi la prise en charge de l’obésité. À la lumière de ces recherches doctorales, il apparaît évident que l’obésité est une condition complexe de par son caractère multifactoriel qui complique sa prévention et son traitement. De plus, la notion « d’équilibre » semble être une des clefs du succès, alors qu’une dominance de facteurs « obésogènes » caractérise le quotidien des individus, altérant ainsi la bonne régulation du bilan d’énergie. Cette nouvelle réalité peut également faire en sorte que le gain de graisse devienne nécessaire afin de maintenir l’homéostasie psychobiologique dans pareil contexte, considérant que le gain de graisse a le potentiel de restaurer l’équilibre hormonal qui a été déstabilisé par les stimuli de l’ère moderne.
High-intensity aerobic interval training increases fat and carbohydrate metabolic capacities in human skeletal muscle
Authors: Perry Christopher G.R. , Heigenhauser George J.F. , Bonen Arend , Spriet Lawrence L. 
Published: December 2008

High-intensity aerobic interval training (HIIT) is a compromise between time-consuming moderate-intensity training and sprint-interval training requiring all-out efforts. However, there are few data regarding the ability of HIIT to increase the capacities of fat and carbohydrate oxidation in skeletal muscle. Using untrained recreationally active individuals, we investigated skeletal muscle and whole-body metabolic adaptations that occurred following 6 weeks of HIIT (~1 h of 10 × 4 min intervals at ~90% of peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), separated by 2 min rest, 3 d·week–1). A VO2 peaktest, a test to exhaustion (TE) at 90% of pre-training VO2 peak, and a 1 h cycle at 60% of pre-training VO2 peakwere performed pre- and post-HIIT. Muscle biopsies were sampled during the TE at rest, after 5 min, and at exhaustion. Training power output increased by 21%, and VO2 peakincreased by 9% following HIIT. Muscle adaptations at rest included the following: (i) increased cytochrome c oxidase IV content (18%) and maximal activities of the mitochondrial enzymes citrate synthase (26%), β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (29%), aspartate-amino transferase (26%), and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH; 21%); (ii) increased FAT/CD36, FABPpm, GLUT 4, and MCT 1 and 4 transport proteins (14%–30%); and (iii) increased glycogen content (59%). Major adaptations during exercise included the following: (i) reduced glycogenolysis, lactate accumulation, and substrate phosphorylation (0–5 min of TE); (ii) unchanged PDH activation (carbohydrate oxidation; 0–5 min of TE); (iii) ~2-fold greater time during the TE; and (iv) increased fat oxidation at 60% of pre-training VO2 peak. This study demonstrated that 18 h of repeated high-intensity exercise sessions over 6 weeks (3 d·week–1) is a powerful method to increase whole-body and skeletal muscle capacities to oxidize fat and carbohydrate in previously untrained individuals.
Validation of the Kenz Lifecorder EX and ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers for walking and running in adults
Authors: Abel Mark G. , Hannon James C. , Sell Katie , Lillie Tia , Conlin Geri , Anderson David 
Published: December 2008

Accelerometer-based activity monitors are commonly used by researchers and clinicians to assess physical activity. Recently, the Kenz Lifecorder EX (KL) and ActiGraph GT1M (AG) accelerometers have been made commercially available, but there is limited research on the validity of these devices. Therefore, we sought to validate step count, activity energy expenditure (EE), and total EE output from the KL and AG during treadmill walking and running. Ten male and 10 female participants performed 10 min treadmill walking and running trials, at speeds of 54, 80, 107, 134, 161, and 188 m·min–1. Step counts were hand tallied by 2 observers, and indirect calorimetry was used to validate the accelerometers’ estimates of EE. AG total EE was calculated using the Freedson equation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s correlations were used to analyze the data. At the slowest walking speed, the AG and KL counted 64% ± 15% and 92% ± 6% of the observed steps, respectively. At all other treadmill speeds, both activity monitors undercounted, compared with observed steps, by ≤3%. The KL underestimated activity EE at faster running speeds (p < 0.01), overestimated total EE at some walking speeds, and underestimated total EE at some running speeds (p < 0.01). The Freedson equation inaccurately measured total EE at most walking and running speeds. The KL and the AG are moderately priced accelerometers that provide researchers and clinicians with accurate estimates of step counts and activity EE at most walking and running speeds.
Progesterone and estrogen influence postexercise leukocyte infiltration in overiectomized female rats
Authors: Iqbal Sobia , Thomas Amy , Bunyan Kareem , Tiidus Peter M. 
Published: December 2008

Limited research has been conducted on the effects of progesterone alone, or in combination with estrogen, on leukocyte infiltration in skeletal muscle following exercise. To investigate the effects of these female sex hormones, ovariectomized female rats were divided into 4 exercise and 4 control groups: sham, estrogen, progesterone, and a combination of estrogen plus progesterone. Following 8 days of hormone replacement and 24 h postexercise, soleus (red) and superficial (white) vastus muscles were removed and immunostained for His48 (neutrophil)- and ED1 (macrophage)-positive cells. The postexercise increase in leukocyte infiltration was completely (p < 0.05) attenuated with estrogen supplementation alone in both muscle types, relative to sham. Progesterone treatment alone also resulted in a smaller (20%–30%) but significant (p < 0.05) attenuation of postexercise muscle leukocyte infiltration. The combination of estrogen and progesterone treatment did not significantly alter the attenuation seen with estrogen supplementation alone. Hence, progesterone can independently attenuate postexercise muscle leukocyte infiltration, albeit to a lesser degree than estrogen, and it will not negate or accentuate the effect of estrogen.
Adaptive stretch-shortening contractions: diminished regenerative capacity with aging
Authors: Baker Brent A. , Hollander Melinda S. , Mercer Robert R. , Kashon Michael L. , Cutlip Robert G. 
Published: December 2008

This study determined the age-related changes in acute events responsible for initiating skeletal muscle remodeling and (or) regeneration in the tibialis anterior muscle following a bout of stretch-shortening contractions (SSCs). Changes in muscle performance and morphology were quantified in young and old rats, following an acute exposure to adaptive SSCs at 6, 24, 48, 72, and 120 h postexposure (n = 6 for each age at each recovery period). Following SSC exposure, all performance measures were decreased in old rats throughout the 120 h acute phase. Estimates of edema were increased in the old vs. young exposed muscle at 120 h recovery. Both young and old rats displayed an increase in developmental myosin heavy chain (MHCdev+) labeling in the exposed muscle, indicating muscle regeneration. However, old rats displayed diminished MHCdev+ labeling, compared with young rats, suggesting limited remodeling and (or) regenerative capacity. Based on these data, diminished local muscle remodeling and (or) regeneration with aging may limit skeletal muscle adaptation following mechanical loading.
Improved estimation of energy expenditure by artificial neural network modeling
Authors: Hay Dean Charles , Wakayama Akinobu , Sakamura Ken , Fukashiro Senshi 
Published: December 2008

Estimation of energy expenditure in daily living conditions can be a tool for clinical assessment of health status, as well as a self-measure of lifestyle and general activity levels. Criterion measures are either prohibitively expensive or restricted to laboratory settings. Portable devices (heart rate monitors, pedometers) have gained recent popularity, but accuracy of the prediction equations remains questionable. This study applied an artificial neural network modeling approach to the problem of estimating energy expenditure with different dynamic inputs (accelerometry, heart rate above resting (HRar), and electromyography (EMG)). Nine feed-forward back-propagation models were trained, with the goal of minimizing the mean squared error (MSE) of the training datasets. Model 1 (accelerometry only) and model 2 (HRar only) performed poorly and had significantly greater MSE than all other models (p < 0.001). Model 3 (combined accelerometry and HRar) had overall performance similar to EMG models. Validation of all models was performed by simulating untrained datasets. MSE of all models increased when tested with validation data. While models 1 and 2 again performed poorly, model 3 MSE was lower than all but 2 EMG models. Squared correlation coefficients of measured and predicted energy expenditure for models 3 to 9 ranged from 0.745 to 0.817. Analysis of mean error within specific movement categories indicates that EMG models may be better at predicting higher-intensity energy expenditure, but combined accelerometry and HRar provides an economical solution, with sufficient accuracy.
Consumption of dietary caffeine and coffee in physically active populations: physiological interactions
Authors: Tunnicliffe Jasmine M. , Erdman Kelly Anne , Reimer Raylene A. , Lun Victor , Shearer Jane 
Published: December 2008

Caffeine is a proven ergogenic aid, increasing athletic performance, endurance, and mental chronometry at doses as low as 1–3 mg·kg–1. As coffee is a readily available and commonly ingested form of caffeine, the two are often equated. However, coffee also contains hundreds of other biologically active compounds, many of which are metabolically distinct from caffeine. The purpose of this review was to examine the prevalence of coffee and (or) caffeine consumption among elite Canadian athletes, and to delineate the effects of coffee and caffeine on physical activity, weight maintenance, performance, and metabolism. A total of 270 self-reported 3-day food records were examined for caffeine intake from athletes registered with Canadian Sport Centres in 2005 and 2006. Athletes ranged in age from 16–45 years, and competed in 38 different sports. Results showed that 30% of athletes ingested >1 mg·kg–1·day–1from a variety of sources. Average daily intake was 0.85 ± 13 mg·kg–1. Caffeine intake was not correlated with any 1 sport; the 10 highest caffeine users were athletes from 9 different sports, including skill, endurance, and power sports. No differences were noted for average caffeine ingestion between summer and winter sports. High caffeine intakes corresponded to coffee ingestion, with the 25 highest individual intakes (193–895 mg·day–1) from coffee drinkers. In summary, it can be concluded that the majority of high-level Canadian athletes consume dietary caffeine primarily in the form of coffee. However, levels consumed are insufficient to elicit performance enhancement. Potential detrimental effects of caffeine consumption on exercise performance include gastric upset, withdrawal, sleep disturbance, and interactions with other dietary supplements.
Does caffeine alter muscle carbohydrate and fat metabolism during exercise?
Authors: Graham Terry E. , Battram Danielle S. , Dela Flemming , El-Sohemy Ahmed , Thong Farah S.L. 
Published: December 2008

Caffeine, an adenosine receptor antagonist, has been studied for decades as a putative ergogenic aid. In the past 2 decades, the information has overwhelmingly demonstrated that it indeed is a powerful ergogenic aid, and frequently theories have been proposed that this is due to alterations in fat and carbohydrate metabolism. While caffeine certainly mobilizes fatty acids from adipose tissue, rarely have measures of the respiratory exchange ratio indicated an increase in fat oxidation. However, this is a difficult measure to perform accurately during exercise, and small changes could be physiologically important. The few studies examining human muscle metabolism directly have also supported the fact that there is no change in fat or carbohydrate metabolism, but these usually have had a small sample size. We combined the data from muscle biopsy analyses of several similar studies to generate a sample size of 16–44, depending on the measure. We examined muscle glycogen, citrate, acetyl-CoA, glucose-6-phosphate, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in resting samples and in those obtained after 10–15 min of exercise at 70%–85% maximal oxygen consumption. Exercise decreased (p < 0.05) glycogen and increased (p < 0.05) citrate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate. The only effects of caffeine were to increase (p < 0.05) citrate in resting muscle and cAMP in exercise. There is very little evidence to support the hypothesis that caffeine has ergogenic effects as a result of enhanced fat oxidation. Individuals may, however, respond differently to the effects of caffeine, and there is growing evidence that this could be explained by common genetic variations.
Diastolic calcium is elevated in metabolic recovery of cardiomyocytes expressing elevated levels of the Na+/H+exchanger
Authors: Baczkó István , Mraiche Fatima , Light Peter E. , Fliegel Larry 
Published: December 2008

In the myocardium, the Na+/H+exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) plays a pivotal role in mediating ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury by causing intracellular Na+accumulation that results in a subsequent increase in intracellular calcium (Ca2+overload). One of the major clinical correlates of I/R injury is contractile dysfunction, in which Ca2+overload via increased Na+/Ca2+exchange is a major contributor. To better understand the cellular role of NHE1 during I/R injury, contractile function and calcium transients were measured during metabolic inhibition and recovery in single ventricular myocytes from transgenic mice with elevated NHE1 expression. During normoxic conditions, no differences were seen between NHE1-overexpressing cardiomyocytes and wild-type (WT) cardiomyocytes with respect to fractional cell shortening (FCS), rate of shortening (+dL/dt), and rate of relaxation (–dL/dt). When metabolic recovery followed metabolic inhibition, NHE1-overexpressing ventricular myocytes exhibited a significant increase in FCS (130.2% ± 11.77% baseline) and ±dL/dt (146.93% ± 12.27% baseline). This correlated with a significant increase in the concentration of diastolic intracellular calcium, which was attenuated by the NHE1 inhibitor HOE694. These results indicate that in normoxic conditions, elevated NHE1 expression does not alter contractile function. During metabolic recovery, however, elevated NHE1 expression increased diastolic Ca2+loading that led to augmented cell contractility.
Myocardial protection with enalaprilat in patients unresponsive to ischemic preconditioning during percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Ungi Imre , Pálinkás Attila , Nemes Attila , Ungi Tamás , Thury Attila , Sepp Róbert , Horváth Tamás , Forster Tamás , Végh Ágnes 
Published: December 2008

Cardioprotection due to angiotensin enzyme inhibitors is attributed, at least in part, to the inhibition of bradykinin breakdown and the preconditioning effect of the elevated endogenous bradykinin level. We have previously shown that in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, one 120-second balloon inflation is insufficient to precondition the heart. The objective of the present study was to examine whether the administration of enalaprilat to these patients results in protection. Twenty patients underwent two 120-second coronary artery occlusions separated by a reperfusion interval of 10 min. Ten patients were given 50 µg·min–1 enalaprilat in an intracoronary infusion between the balloon inflations, whereas the others received an infusion of saline. In the latter control patients, there were no significant differences in ST-segment elevation between the consecutive occlusions (peak ST: 1.61 ± 0.17 vs. 1.61 ± 0.16 mV; time to reach 0.5 mV ST elevation: 16 ± 4 vs. 22 ± 7 s; mean ST: 1.03 ± 0.12 vs. 1.02 ± 0.11 mV). In the patients who received enalaprilat before the second balloon inflation, the ST-segment elevation was significantly less pronounced and slower during the second inflation than during the first (peak ST: 1.80 ± 0.18 vs. 1.41 ± 0.19 mV; time to reach 0.5 mV ST elevation: 18 ± 4 vs. 30 ± 4 s; mean ST: 1.04 ± 0.11 vs. 0.85 ± 0.14 mV). We conclude that enalaprilat administered during percutaneous coronary intervention provides protection to patients who do not have a protective response to the initial balloon inflation.
Demography of the lizard Sceloporus grammicus: exploring temporal variation in population dynamics
Authors: Zúñiga-Vega J. J. , Méndez-de la Cruz F. R. , Cuellar O. 
Published: December 2008

We conducted a 5 year demographic study in one population of the viviparous lizard Sceloporus grammicus Wiegmann, 1828 in central México. The population was structured in three size classes (juveniles, small adults, and asymptotic adults) for which we estimated annual survival and fecundity rates. A population projection matrix was constructed for each annual transition. All of them resulted in finite rates of population growth (λ) that, although variable from year to year (from 0.808 to 1.065), were not significantly different than unity, indicating population stability. Elasticity analysis revealed that survival staying in the same size class was the demographic process that made the greatest contribution to λ values in most years. Similarly, the stasis of large adults was the vital rate with the highest relative importance for population persistence. To incorporate the observed yearly variation in long-term population projections, we used a mean matrix, a stochastic simulation, and a resampling procedure. All these resulted in long-term population growth rates that were not significantly different than unity. Our results indicate overall demographic stability for the studied population of S. grammicus.