bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consistent, High‐Level Ethanol Consumption in Pig‐Tailed Macaques via a Multiple‐Session, Limited‐Intake, Oral Self‐Dosing Procedure
Authors: Weed Michael R. , Wilcox Kristin M. , Ator Nancy A. , Hienz Robert D. 
Published: April 2008

Background: Alcohol abuse is a major public health burden that can lead to many adverse health effects such as impaired hepatic, gastrointestinal, central nervous system and immune system function. Preclinical animal models of alcohol abuse allow for experimental control over variables often difficult to control in human clinical studies (e.g., ethanol exposure before or during the study, history of other drug use, access to medical care, nutritional status, etc). Nonhuman primate models in particular provide increased genetic, anatomic and physiologic similarity to humans, relative to rodent models. A small percentage of macaques will spontaneously consume large quantities of ethanol; however, most nonhuman primate models of “voluntary” ethanol intake produce relatively low daily ethanol intake in the majority of monkeys.Methods: To facilitate study of chronic exposure to high levels of ethanol intake, a macaque model has been developed that induces consistent, daily high‐level ethanol consumption. This multiple‐session procedure employed 4 drinking sessions per day, with sessions occurring once every 6 hours.Results: The group average alcohol consumption was 4.6 g/kg/d (SEM 0.4), roughly twice the group average consumption of previous reports. Ethanol drinking sessions produced group mean blood ethanol levels of 95 mg/dl after 60 minutes, and fine motor control was impaired up to 90 minutes after a drinking session.Conclusion: This model of multiple‐session, limited access, oral ethanol self‐dosing produced consistent, high‐level ethanol consumption with each session qualifying as a “binge” drinking session using the definition of “binge” provided by the NIAAA (>80 mg/dl/session). This model of ethanol drinking in macaques will be of great utility in the study of immunological, physiological and behavioral effects of ethanol in nonhuman primates.
No Role of Matrixmetalloproteinase‐3 Genetic Promoter Polymorphism 1171 as a Risk Factor for Cirrhosis in Alcoholic Liver Disease
Authors: Stickel Felix , Österreicher Christoph H. , Halangk Juliane , Berg Thomas , Homann Nils , Hellerbrand Claus , Patsenker Eleonora , Schneider Vreni , Kolb Armin , Friess Helmut , Schuppan Detlef , Puhl Gero , Seitz Helmut K. , Leathart Julian L. B. , Day Christopher P. 
Published: April 2008

Background:  As only a minority of alcoholics develop cirrhosis, polymorphic genes, whose products are involved in fibrosis development were suggested to confer individual susceptibility. We tested whether a functional promoter polymorphism in the gene encoding matrix metalloproteinase‐3 (MMP‐3; 1171 5A/6A) was associated liver cirrhosis in alcoholics.Methods:  Independent cohorts from the UK and Germany were studied. (i) UK cohort: 320 alcoholic cirrhotics and 183 heavy drinkers without liver damage and (ii) German cohort: 149 alcoholic cirrhotics, 220 alcoholic cirrhotics who underwent liver transplantation and 151 alcoholics without liver disease. Patients were genotyped for MMP‐3 variants by restriction fragment length polymorphism, single strand confirmation polymorphism, and direct sequencing. In addition, MMP‐3 transcript levels were correlated with MMP‐3 genotype in normal liver tissues.Results:  Matrix metalloproteinase‐3 genotype and allele distribution in all 1023 alcoholic patients were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. No significant differences in MMP‐3 genotype and allele frequencies were observed either between alcoholics with or without cirrhosis. There were no differences in hepatic mRNA transcription levels according to MMP‐3 genotype.Conclusions:  Matrix metalloproteinase‐3 1171 promoter polymorphism plays no role in the genetic predisposition for liver cirrhosis in alcoholics. Stringently designed candidate gene association studies are required to exclude chance observations.
Tolerance to Disulfiram Induced by Chronic Alcohol Intake in the Rat
Authors: Tampier Lutske , Quintanilla María Elena , Israel Yedy 
Published: April 2008

Background:  Disulfiram, an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase used in the treatment of alcoholism, is an effective medication when its intake is supervised by a third person. However, its therapeutic efficacy varies widely, in part due to the fact that disulfiram is a pro‐drug that requires its transformation into an active form and because it shows a wide range of secondary effects which often prevent the use of doses that ensure full therapeutic effectiveness. In this preclinical study in rats we report the development of tolerance to disulfiram induced by the chronic ingestion of ethanol, an additional source of variation for the actions of disulfiram with possible therapeutic significance, We also addresses the likely mechanism of this effect.Methods:  Wistar‐derived rats bred for generations as high ethanol drinkers (UChB) were trained for either 3 days (Group A) or 30 days (Group B) to choose between ethanol (10% v/v) or water, which were freely available from 2 bottles on a 24‐hour basis. Subsequently, animals in both groups were administered disulfiram or cyanamide (another inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase) and ethanol intake in this free choice paradigm was determined. Animals were also administered a standard dose of 1 g ethanol/kg (i.p) and arterial blood acetaldehyde was measured.Results:  Disulfiram (12.5 and 25 mg/kg) and cyanamide (10 mg/kg) markedly inhibited ethanol intake (up to 60 to 70%) in animals that had ethanol access for only 3 days (Group A). However both drugs were inactive in inhibiting ethanol intake in animals that had consumed ethanol for 30 days (Group B). Following the injection of 1 g ethanol/kg, arterial blood acetaldehyde levels reached levels of 150 and 300 μM for disulfiram and cyanamide respectively, values which were virtually identical regardless of the length of prior ethanol intake of the animals.Conclusions:  Chronic ethanol intake in high‐drinker rats leads to marked tolerance to the aversive effects of disulfiram and cyanamide on ethanol intake despite the presence of consistently high levels of blood acetaldehyde. These findings may have implications for the use of disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism in humans.
Validity of the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale in a Heavy Drinking Population
Authors: Connor Jason P. , Jack Alyssa , Feeney Gerald F.X. , Young Ross McD. 
Published: April 2008

Background:  The Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale [OCDS; Anton et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res 19 (1995), 92] is the most widely used measure of alcohol craving. There are no studies which comprehensively investigate the construct and concurrent validity of the OCDS in a severe alcohol dependent population.Methods:  Three hundred and seventy alcohol‐dependent patients were referred to a hospital‐based alcohol treatment program. All participants completed the OCDS, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT; Saunders et al., Addiction 88 (1993), 791] and provided demographic and alcohol consumption data.Results:  The sample was randomly split into 2. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted on these subsamples. Both analyses identified a 4‐factor solution (compulsions, interference, obsessions and resisting obsessions). All factors showed sound internal consistency. Neither the factor scores nor the total OCDS score was related to baseline alcohol problems (AUDIT) or consumption.Conclusions:  There was some support for the construct validity of the OCDS in this clinical group. Concurrent validity of the scale was not supported by these cross‐sectional data. Future research should examine the predictive utility of the OCDS over time.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Alcohol Outlet Density and Assault
Authors: Livingston Michael 
Published: April 2008

Background:  The majority of studies that have examined the local‐level relationship between alcohol outlet density and violence have utilized cross‐sectional data. These studies have consistently demonstrated that there is a spatial link between outlets and violence, but because of their design they have not been able to determine whether changes in outlet density result in changes in rates of violence. The few studies that have examined this question over time have found that the violence rates are related to changes in outlet density. This study provides further evidence of this link and examines the characteristics of regions in which changes in outlet density are most strongly associated with changes in violence rates.Methods:  The study examined 9 years of data measuring alcohol outlet density (using liquor licensing records) and alcohol‐related violence (using police recorded night‐time assaults) from 186 postcodes in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Australia. The relationships between 3 types of alcohol outlet density and alcohol‐related violence were assessed using fixed‐effects models. The postcodes were then grouped into 5 clusters based on their socio‐demographic profile and separate fixed‐effects models were fitted to assess whether the relationships between outlets and violence differed based on the type of region being examined.Results:  The initial models found overall positive relationships between all 3 types of alcohol outlets and violence. When separate models were developed for postcode clusters, they demonstrated that the link between outlet density and violence was significant in all neighborhood types, but the specific relationships varied substantially.Conclusions:  Changes in the number of alcohol outlets in a community are linked to changes in the amount of violence the community experiences. This relationship varies across the clusters of suburbs examined, with packaged liquor outlets consistently associated with violence in suburban areas and general (hotel) and on‐premise (nightclubs, restaurants, and bars) licenses associated with violence in inner‐city and inner‐suburban areas.
Elevated Cerebrospinal Fluid Tau Protein Levels in Wernicke’s Encephalopathy
Authors: Matsushita Sachio , Miyakawa Tomohiro , Maesato Hitoshi , Matsui Toshifumi , Yokoyama Akira , Arai Hiroyuki , Higuchi Susumu , Kashima Haruo 
Published: April 2008

Objective:  Limited neuronal cell loss is seen in the neuropathology of Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE), but the extent of neuronal damage has not been well studied. Moreover, there is still a debate as to whether alcohol itself causes brain damage in humans. Although, it is difficult to examine the extent of neuronal damage in living patients, recent studies have revealed that total tau protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reflect the rate of neuronal degeneration. Therefore, we hypothesized that the elevated CSF total tau in patients with WE was due to neuronal damage and thus we examined CSF total tau protein in patients with WE, as well as in those with alcohol withdrawal delirium (WD) and Korsakoff syndrome (KS). We also examined CSF total tau in nonalcohol dependent patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as a disease control.Methods:  CSF samples were obtained from 13 acute WE patients with alcohol dependence, 9 WD patients with alcohol dependence and 16 KS patients with alcohol dependence, and from 20 nonalcohol dependent AD patients. CSF was also obtained from 10 of the WE patients after their disease had progressed to the chronic stage. CSF tau protein levels in all samples were determined by sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p‐tau181) and amyloid β‐protein ending at amino acid 42 (Aβ42) in CSF were also determined for comparison between acute WE with AD.Results:  Total tau was significantly elevated in acute WE and decreased on long‐term follow‐up, but was not elevated in WD or KS. The patterns of p‐tau181 and Aβ42 differed between acute WE and AD.Conclusions:  Intense neuronal cell death occurs transiently in WE, and the mechanism differs from that in AD. Neuronal damage is generally unaccompanied in WD. These results suggest that CSF total tau is a useful biological marker for WE.
The Subjective, Rather Than the Disinhibiting, Effects of Alcohol Are Related to Binge Drinking
Authors: Rose Abigail Katherine , Grunsell Laura 
Published: April 2008

Background:  Evidence suggests that alcohol‐related problems are associated with impulsivity and disinhibited behavior. Less certain is whether disinhibited behavior is due to an impulsive disposition or alcohol’s ability to disinhibit some people more than others. There are a range of disinhibited behaviors associated with alcohol, including excessive alcohol consumption, bingeing. The study tested whether nondependent alcohol bingers showed more disinhibition after placebo and/or alcohol relative to nonbingers and whether this was related to enhanced motivation to drink following a priming dose of alcohol.Methods:  Twenty participants (10 bingers) attended the laboratory twice. Baseline measures included impulsivity, alcohol‐related cognitions, alcohol urge, and mood. Participants were preloaded with alcohol (male: 0.6 g/kg, female: 0.5 g/kg) and placebo (counterbalanced). After a 20‐minute rest, participants completed 2 impulsivity tasks (Two Choice & Time Estimation) separated by second urge and mood ratings.Results:  Bingers did not show greater impulsivity characteristics but were more concerned about their drinking (p = 0.02) and ability to control drinking (p = 0.04). A priming effect was found: alcohol urge increased after alcohol but not placebo (p = 0.006). Bingers reported greater tolerance to the sedative (p = 0.05) and lightheaded (p = 0.04) effects of alcohol, relative to nonbingers. Binge status was not associated with impulsivity task performance, while preload type (alcohol/placebo) supported only marginal associations.Conclusions:  Risk of binge drinking in nondependent individuals is not strongly affected by impulsive personality characteristics or alcohol’s ability to induce behavioral disinhibition. However, alcohol did lead to a priming effect and bingers were more tolerant to the sedative and lightheaded effects of alcohol relative to placebo. Risk of binge drinking is associated with the subjective effects of a priming dose of alcohol.
Quantitative analysis of association between herpesviruses and bacterial pathogens in periodontitis
Authors: Saygun I. , Kubar A. , Şahin S. , Şener K. , Slots J. 
Published: April 2008

Background and Objective:  The development of human periodontitis may depend upon cooperative interactions among herpesviruses, specific pathogenic bacteria and tissue‐destructive inflammatory mediators. This study sought to identify associations among human cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus and six putative periodontopathic bacteria in periodontitis lesions.Material and Methods:  Fifteen periodontitis patients (nine with aggressive periodontitis and six with chronic periodontitis) and 15 periodontally normal subjects were included in the study. In each study subject, a microbiological sample was collected, using a curette, from the deepest periodontal probing depth of the dentition. A real‐time TaqMan® polymerase chain reaction assay was employed to determine the subgingival counts of human cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Campylobacter rectus. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t‐test, the Pearson correlation coefficient test and the single variable logistic regression test for odds ratio‐based risk calculation.Results:  Human cytomegalovirus was detected in eight periodontitis lesions and in one normal periodontal site, Epstein–Barr virus was detected in nine periodontitis lesions and in two normal periodontal sites, and the study bacteria were detected in 6–15 periodontitis lesions and in 1–11 normal periodontal sites. Correlations were found between counts of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus, between counts of human cytomegalovirus and P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and C. rectus, and between counts of Epstein–Barr virus and P. gingivalis and T. forsythia. Human cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus counts were also positively associated with the level of periodontal attachment loss, probing pocket depth and gingival bleeding on probing.Conclusion:  This study confirmed that periodontal human cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus are associated with major periodontopathic bacteria and with the severity of periodontal disease. The finding of abundant herpesviruses in periodontitis lesions redefines the pathogenic paradigm of the disease. Understanding the interplay between herpesviruses and specific bacterial species in the pathogenesis of periodontitis may form the basis for new approaches to preventing, reducing or delaying tissue breakdown from periodontal infections.
Effects of Population Size on Reproductive Success of the Endangered and Endemic Species Primula merrilliana
Authors: Shao Jian‐Wen , Zhang Xiao‐Ping , Zhang Zhong‐Xing , Zhu Guo‐Ping 
Published: April 2008

Abstract The reproductive ability related to the population size of the endangered and endemic species Primula merrilliana Schltr. was investigated. In 26 populations observed, only four contain more than 500 flowering individuals, whereas most of them (53.8%) consist of less than 100 flowering individuals. Though the ratio of pin and thrum plants keeps its balance at 1:1 for all populations, the frequency of pin and thrum flowers was significantly biased in most small populations. Population size strongly affected reproductive success; plants in small populations produced significantly fewer flowers and fruits per plant and fewer seeds per fruit, and therefore fewer seeds per plant. The floral density was another important factor that influenced the reproductive success of P. merrilliana, because four main reproductive success parameters (fruits per plant, seeds per fruit, seeds per plant, and the proportion of flowers setting fruit) were all positively correlated with floral density. The size of plants and the number of leaves per plant (measure of habitat quality) were not influenced by the variation of population size, suggesting that the reduced fecundity in small populations may not be a consequence of lower habitat quality. Inbreeding depression and pollen limitation as a result of less attractiveness in small populations are therefore likely explanations for these patterns.
Does Education Still Pay Off in Rural China: Revisit the Impact of Education on Off‐farm Employment and Wages
Authors: Zhang Haiqing , Zhang Linxiu , Luo Renfu , Li Qiang 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe present study considers how education affects off‐farm job participation and wages. We use a nationally representative dataset from a survey conducted in 5 provinces, 101 villages and 808 households by the authors in early 2005. The empirical results show that educational attainment, skill training and years of experience of rural residents have positive, statistically significant effects on off‐farm employment. The average return to a year of education is 7 percent, which is higher than those observed in previous studies. We also find the return to an additional year of schooling to be higher for post‐junior high schooling than for junior high and below schooling: 11.8 versus 3.2 percent. We conclude that not only does education still pays off in rural China, but also the rate of return to education is increasing over time.
Estimating Trade Mis‐invoicing from China: 2000–2005
Authors: Beja Edsel L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAn examination of available data reveals large trade misinvoicing between China and its trade partners. The analysis finds a net trade misinvoicing of US$287.6bn between 2000 and 2005, while the full magnitude of unrecorded trade is estimated at US$1.4tn. China needs to establish more effective management of its international trade flows. At the same time, the international community needs to provide more effective governance mechanisms to address trade misinvoicing.
Factors Influencing FDI Location Choice in China's Inland Areas
Authors: Luo Laijun , Brennan Louis , Liu Chang , Luo Yuze 
Published: April 2008

AbstractSince 1978, the bulk of foreign direct investment (FDI) has gone to the south‐eastern coastal areas in China, with only a small portion received inland. With the launch of the Western Development Strategy in 2000 and the Central China Rising Strategy in 2004, the choice of investment locations has expanded to inland areas. Based on panel data covering 98 inland cities from 1999 to 2005, this study identifies location preference variables for FDI invested in China's inland areas, and finds that well‐established factors such as natural resources and low labor costs are not important factors in determining FDI locations within China's inland. Instead, policy incentives and industrial agglomeration are the most important factors. The findings of the present study have policy implications for both host country authorities and multinational corporations.
Evolutionary history of Pacific salmon in dynamic environments
Authors: Waples Robin S. , Pess George R. , Beechie Tim 
Published: April 2008

AbstractContemporary evolution of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) is best viewed in the context of the evolutionary history of the species and the dynamic ecosystems they inhabit. Speciation was complete by the late Miocene, leaving c. six million years for intraspecific diversification. Following the most recent glacial maximum, large areas became available for recolonization. Current intraspecific diversity is thus the product of recent evolution overlaid onto divergent historical lineages forged during recurrent episodes of Pleistocene glaciation. In northwestern North America, dominant habitat features have been relatively stable for the past 5000 years, but salmon ecosystems remain dynamic because of disturbance regimes (volcanic eruptions, landslides, wildfires, floods, variations in marine and freshwater productivity) that occur on a variety of temporal and spatial scales. These disturbances both create selective pressures for adaptive responses by salmon and inhibit long‐term divergence by periodically extirpating local populations and creating episodic dispersal events that erode emerging differences. Recent anthropogenic changes are replicated pervasively across the landscape and interrupt processes that allow natural habitat recovery. If anthropogenic changes can be shaped to produce disturbance regimes that more closely mimic (in both space and time) those under which the species evolved, Pacific salmon should be well‐equipped to deal with future challenges, just as they have throughout their evolutionary history.