bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular characterization of the capsule locus from non‐typeableStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Cocchiaro Jordan L. , Gomez Marisa I. , Risley Allison , Solinga Robert , Sordelli Daniel O. , Lee Jean C. 
Published: January 2006

SummaryMostStaphylococcus aureusexpress a serotype 5 or 8 capsular polysaccharide (CP). However, 20–25% of human isolates and up to 86% of bovine strains ofS. aureusare non‐typeable (NT), i.e. non‐reactive with antibodies to CP types 1, 2, 5 or 8. A vaccine that targets theS. aureusCP would not protect against NT strains. The aim of this study was to characterize NTS. aureusisolates at the molecular level to explain their lack of type 5 or 8 capsule production. Thecap5(8)locus was present in all 22 NT clinical isolates from humans, eight of 21 bovine isolates, and in all eight sequenced strains. NT strains positive for thecap5(8)transcript had mutations within essential capsule genes and could be complementedin trans.S. aureusstrains with reducedcap5(8)transcript had mutations within thecap5Apromoter, decreased RNAIII levels,or a truncatedarlRgene product. More than one mutation was identified in several isolates. Thecap5(8)locus was replaced by IS257in 13 of 21 NT bovine isolates ofS. aureus. Lack of capsule expression in NTS. aureuscan be explained by multiple mechanisms, and the data argue against the existence of capsule serotypes other than 1, 2, 5 and 8.
Clonidine premedication effects on inhaled induction with sevoflurane in adults: a prospective, double‐blind, randomized study
Authors: Watanabe T. , Inagaki Y. , Ishibe Y. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether oral clonidine premedication becomes an alternative to N2O in terms of shortening the induction time and attenuation of the adrenergic response to tracheal intubation during inhalation induction with sevoflurane, and to evaluate the quality of anesthetic induction according to the patient's satisfaction.Methods:  We studied 84 female patients who were randomly allocated into four study groups: Groups I and II received a placebo orally, and Groups III and IV received clonidine at 150 and 300 µg, respectively, 90 min before induction of anaesthesia. Patients were anesthetized using a triple‐deep‐breath technique with 5% sevoflurane in Groups I, III and IV, and with 60% N2O−5% sevoflurane in group II.Results:  Induction time was significantly longer (P < 0.05) in Group I. Increases in mean blood pressure and heart rate after tracheal intubation were significantly suppressed in Groups III and IV but not in Group II compared with Group I. Comfort and impression of anesthesia was better in Groups III and IV than in Groups I and II.Conclusion:  In volatile anesthetic induction, pre‐anesthetic clonidine may become an alternative to N2O and may provide more comfort than with N2O.
Suppression of the human spinal H‐reflex by propofol: a quantitative analysis
Authors: Baars J. H. , Dangel C. , Herold K. F. , Hadzidiakos D. A. , Rehberg B. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  The spinal cord is an important site of anaesthetic action because it mediates surgical immobility. During anaesthesia with volatile anaesthetics, it has been shown that the suppression of the spinal H‐reflex correlates with surgical immobility. To evaluate whether the H‐reflex could also be a possible candidate for monitoring immobility during propofol anaesthesia, this study assessed the concentration‐dependent suppression of the H‐reflex by propofol. To discriminate different effect sites, the individual concentration response‐curves and the t1/2ke0 of the H‐reflex have been compared with those of two EEG parameters.Methods:  In 18 patients, anaesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol infused using a target‐controlled infusion pump at stepwise increasing and decreasing plasma concentrations between 0.5 and 4.5 mg/l. The H‐reflex of the soleus muscle was recorded at a frequency of 0.1 Hz. Calculated propofol concentrations and H‐reflex amplitude were analysed in terms of a pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic (PKPD) model with a sigmoid concentration‐response function.Results:  For slowly increasing propofol concentrations, computer fits of the PKPD model for H‐reflex suppression by propofol yielded the following median parameters: EC50 1.1 (0.8–1.7) mg/l, slope parameter 2.4 (2.0–3.7), and a t1/2ke0 of 6.7 (2.8–7.5, 25–75% quantiles) min. For the bispectral index, the t1/2ke0 was 2.2 (1.8–3.1) min and for the spectral edge frequency at the 95th percentile of the power spectrum 2.8 (1.9–3.2) min.Conclusions:  Propofol, unlike sevoflurane, suppresses the spinal H‐reflex at concentrations far lower than the C50 skin incision. The differences in t1/2ke0‐values indicate the presence of different effect compartments for effects on the H‐reflex and the EEG.
Epidural morphine analgesia compared with intravenous morphine for oral cancer surgery with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction
Authors: Singhal A. K. , Mishra S. , Bhatnagar S. , Singh R. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  Oral cancer surgery with reconstruction is a complex operative procedure with morbidities such as respiratory complications and post‐operative pain. These morbidities may be reduced with appropriate operative and post‐operative pain management. Epidural analgesia provides better pain control than intravenous opioids after major thoraco‐abdominal surgical procedures. We planned to undertake a prospective study to compare the efficacy and side‐effects of epidural morphine analgesia vs. intravenous morphine in patients undergoing oral cancer surgery with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction.Methods:  Sixty patients undergoing a major surgical procedure for oral cancer with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction were prospectively randomized to receive either epidural morphine or intravenous morphine in the post‐operative period. The intensity of pain was assessed daily using a 100‐mm visual analogue scale. The post‐operative side‐effects, time to ambulation, time to tolerate first nasogastric feed, total length of hospital stay and global satisfaction score were recorded.Results:  The epidural morphine group had statistically significant lower pain scores at the three evaluation times through the post‐operative 48 h (P < 0.05). However, the mean visual analogue scores were always below 35 in the intravenous morphine group. Patients in the epidural morphine group ambulated and accepted nasogastric feed significantly earlier than those in the intravenous morphine group. The incidence of nausea/vomiting or pruritus, the length of hospital stay and the global satisfaction score were not statistically different between the groups.Conclusion:  This study illustrates that epidural morphine offers better pain control than intravenous morphine after oral cancer surgery with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction. Nevertheless, both methods appear to provide very good pain relief, and perhaps the extra risks inherent to epidural catheter insertion are not outweighed by the benefits in this type of surgery.
Effects of aprotinin on plasma coagulation kinetics determined by thrombelastography: role of Factor XI
Authors: Nielsen V. G. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  Aprotinin is commonly administered in settings involving cardiopulmonary bypass and liver transplantation to decrease peri‐operative bleeding. Thrombelastography has been utilized to monitor coagulation in these settings, and aprotinin delays clot initiation, presumably by inhibiting kallikrein; however, aprotinin also inhibits Factor XI (FXI), a contact system protein. Thus, it was hypothesized that celite‐activated thrombelastography coagulation kin‐etics would be decreased via aprotinin‐mediated FXI inhibition.Methods:  Citrated normal plasma and prekallikrein‐deficient (<1% normal activity) plasma were exposed to 0, 200, 400 or 800 kallikrein inhibitory units (KIU)/ml (n = 6 per condition). Samples were recalcified and celite‐activated in a thrombelastograph, with clot initiation (R, s) determined. To confirm contact system specificity, additional prekallikrein‐deficient samples with 0 or 800 KIU/ml aprotinin were activated with tissue factor (n = 4 per condition).Results:  Exposure of celite‐activated, normal plasma to aprotinin 0, 200, 400 or 800 KIU/ml resulted in R values of 167 ± 14, 253 ± 10, 293 ± 22 and 349 ± 21 s, respectively, which were significantly different from one another (P < 0.05). Exposure of celite‐activated, prekallikrein‐deficient plasma to aprotinin 0, 200, 400 or 800 KIU/ml resulted in R values of 366 ± 15, 630 ± 64, 698 ± 46 and 850 ± 47 s, respectively, which were significantly different from one another (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in R values between tissue factor‐activated, prekallikrein‐deficient plasma samples with 0 or 800 KIU/ml aprotinin.Conclusions:  These data support a role for the inhibition of FXI as the mechanism for aprotinin‐mediated delayed contact system clot initiation determined by thrombelastography.
Comparison of tracheal tube cuff diameters with internal transverse diameters of the trachea in children
Authors: Dullenkopf A. , Kretschmar O. , Knirsch W. , Tomaske M. , Hug M. , Stutz K. , Berger F. , Weiss M. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  In this study, we evaluated the ratio of the cuff diameters of the Microcuff paediatric tracheal tube (Microcuff PET, Weinheim, Germany) to fluoroscopically measured internal transverse tracheal diameters in children from birth to adolescence.Methods:  With Institutional Ethics Committee approval and parental consent, we measured the internal transverse tracheal diameters from fluoroscopy images in children undergoing cardiac catheterization requiring general anaesthesia with oro‐tracheal intubation. Minimal tracheal sealing pressures were assessed at standardized respirator settings. Internal transverse tracheal diameters were compared with cuff diameters at 20 cmH2O cuff pressure. Linear regression analysis was employed to assess the correlation of tracheal diameters with age, height and weight, and to assess the correlation of the cuff/tracheal diameter ratio with sealing pressures. For all tests, P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results:  One hundred and forty‐five patients were studied (62 girls; 83 boys). Transverse tracheal diameters correlated well with age (r = 0.890; P < 0.0001), height (r = 0.900; P < 0.0001) and weight (r = 0.882; P < 0.0001). Tracheal sealing pressures ranged from 4 to 18 cmH2O. The ratio of the tracheal tube cuff diameter to the internal transverse tracheal diameter ranged from 1.06 in tubes with internal diameters of 6.0 and 4.5 mm to 2.01 in a tube with an internal diameter of 3.5 mm (median, 1.43), and did not correlate with tracheal sealing pressures (r = 0.021, P = 0.7999).Conclusions:  The residual diameters of the Microcuff paediatric tracheal tube cuffs were sufficient to cover the measured internal transverse tracheal diameters of children from birth to adolescence. This allowed the internal tracheal mucosal surface to be draped and the trachea to be sealed at very low cuff pressures.
Factors associated with anaesthesia‐related maternal mortality in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria
Authors: Enohumah K. O. , Imarengiaye C. O. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  Maternal mortality related to anaesthesia is low compared with that resulting from obstetric factors in developed countries. The role of anaesthesia in maternal mortality in developing countries is obscure. The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of maternal mortality related to anaesthesia, to analyse the causes and to suggest measures to improve anaesthetic safety for parturients.Methods:  The hospital surgical registry was reviewed from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 2000 to identify patients who had undergone surgical procedures in pregnancy or puerperium. Data were obtained from the surgical registry in the Labour and Delivery Suite, Intensive Care Unit records and maternal mortality database to determine the demographic characteristics and anaesthetic technique. Maternal mortality after surgical procedures was further scrutinized to evaluate the anaesthetic care and the contribution of anaesthesia to mortality.Results:  A total of 12,394 deliveries occurred in the hospital during the period under review. Caesarean section accounted for 2323 deliveries (18.7%). Eighty‐four maternal mortalities were recorded, with a maternal mortality rate of 678 per 100,000 deliveries. Infection, haemorrhage, pre‐eclampsia/eclampsia and anaesthesia were the leading causes of maternal mortality. Anaesthesia was the sole cause of six maternal deaths. The patients received general anaesthesia for the surgical procedure.Conclusion:  Difficult airway management during general anaesthesia, inadequate supervision of trainee anaesthetists and a lack of appropriate monitors were the major anaesthetic reasons for maternal mortality. Recommendations have been made to ensure that parturients and the unborn child receive the best anaesthetic care attainable in the hospital.
Organ system dysfunction following open cholecystectomy for acute acalculous cholecystitis in critically ill patients
Authors: Laurila J. , Laurila P. A. , Saarnio J. , Koivukangas V. , Syrjälä H. , Ala‐Kokko T. I. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) refers to cholecystitis without gallstones and is a serious complication of critical illness. We describe the time course of organ system dysfunction associated with cholecystectomy in critically ill patients with AAC.Methods:  The data of all intensive care unit (ICU) patients who had operatively confirmed AAC during their ICU stay between 2003 and 2004 were analyzed. Patients who also had other intra‐abdominal pathologies were excluded. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were recorded 3 days before, on the day of operation and on the first, second, third and seventh post‐operative day after cholecystectomy. The impact of open cholecystectomy on organ dysfunction was evaluated on the basis of the change in the total and individual organ SOFA scores.Results:  Twenty‐four patients underwent open cholecystectomy for AAC with no other intra‐abdominal pathology. Sepsis was the most common admission diagnosis, followed by cardiovascular surgery. The mean (standard deviation, SD) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II and SOFA scores on admission were 24.7 (5.8), 44.3 (12.3) and 9.4 (3.2), respectively. The median (25th, 75th percentiles) total SOFA score 3 days before cholecystectomy was 7.5 (1.3, 8.0), which increased to 10.5 (8.3, 13.0) (P < 0.0001) by the day of cholecystectomy, indicating developing multiorgan dysfunction. After the operation, the score decreased to 5.5 (3.3, 10.8) (P = 0.004) by the seventh post‐operative day. The change was most obvious in cardiovascular and respiratory SOFA scores.Conclusions:  AAC is associated with multiorgan dysfunction in critically ill patients. Open cholecystectomy seems to alter the course of multiorgan dysfunction in these patients.
Chorotypes of seaweeds from the western Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea: An analysis based on the genera Audouinella (Rhodophyta), Cystoseira (Phaeophyceae) and Cladophora (Chlorophyta)
Authors: Báez José C. , Real Raimundo , Vargas J. Mario , Flores‐Moya Antonio 
Published: January 2006

SUMMARYThe aim of the present paper is to identify the possible existence of groups of species in the genera Audouinella (Rhodophyta), Cystoseira (Phaeophyceae) and Cladophora (Chloropyta) with significantly similar distribution patterns (chorotypes), in the western Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Of the 98 species studied, 59 were grouped into 11 chorotypes, whereas 39 species remained ungrouped. Thirty‐eight species were included in a generalist chorotype, whereas 6 chorotypes were monospecific. The relationships with the environmental factors that could explain the chorotypes are discussed.
Heterocapsa psammophila sp. nov. (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae), a new sand‐dwelling marine dinoflagellate
Authors: Tamura Maiko , Iwataki Mitsunori , Horiguchi Takeo 
Published: January 2006

SUMMARYA new armored dinoflagellate species, Heterocapsa psammophila Tamura, Iwataki et Horiguchi sp. nov. is described from Kenmin‐no‐hama beach, Hiroshima, Japan using light and electron microscopy. This dinoflagellate possesses the typical thecal plate arrangement of the genus Heterocapsa, Po, cp, 5′, 3a, 7′′, 6c, 5s, 5′′′, 2′′′′; and the 3‐D body scales of Heterocapsa on the plasma membrane. The cell shape is ovoidal. The spherical nucleus and the pyrenoid are situated in the hypotheca and the epitheca, respectively. The ultrastructure of H. psammophila is typical of dinoflagellates and the pyrenoid is invaginated by cytoplasmic tubules. H. psammophila is distinguished from all other hitherto‐described Heterocapsa species by the cell shape, the relative position of the nucleus and pyrenoid and the structure of the body scale. The habitat and behavior of this new species in culture suggest that the organism is truly a sand‐dwelling species.
Paradoxical effects of prodynorphin gene deletion on basal and cocaine‐evoked dopaminergic neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens
Authors: Chefer V. I. , Shippenberg T. S. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractQuantitative and conventional microdialysis were used to investigate the effects of constitutive deletion of the prodynorphin gene on basal dopamine (DA) dynamics in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the responsiveness of DA neurons to an acute cocaine challenge. Saline‐ and cocaine‐evoked locomotor activity were also assessed. Quantitative microdialysis revealed that basal extracellular DA levels were decreased, while the DA extraction fraction, an indirect measure of DA uptake, was unchanged in dynorphin (DYN) knockout (KO) mice. The ability of cocaine to increase NAc DA levels was reduced in KO. Similarly, cocaine‐evoked locomotor activity was decreased in KO. The selective kappa opioid receptor agonist U‐69593 decreased NAc dialysate DA levels in wildtype mice and this effect was enhanced in KO. Administration of the selective kappa opioid receptor (KOPr) antagonist nor‐binaltorphimine to KO mice attenuated the decrease in cocaine‐induced DA levels. However, it was ineffective in altering the decreased locomotor response to cocaine. These studies demonstrate that constitutive deletion of prodynorphin is associated with a reduction of extracellular NAc DA levels and a decreased responsiveness to acute cocaine. Data regarding the effects of U‐69593 and nor‐binaltorphimine in KO suggest that the kappa opioid receptor is up‐regulated as a consequence of prodynorphin gene deletion and that this adaptation underlies the decrease in basal DA dynamics and cocaine‐evoked DA levels observed in DYN KO mice. These findings suggest that the phenotype of DYN KO mice is not solely due to loss of endogenous opioid peptide but also reflects developmental compensations that occur at the level of the opioid receptor.
Neurons in dopamine‐rich areas of the rat medial midbrain predominantly encode the outcome‐related rather than behavioural switching properties of conditioned stimuli
Authors: Wilson David I. G. , Bowman E. M. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractMidbrain dopamine neurons are phasically activated by a variety of sensory stimuli. It has been hypothesized that these activations contribute to reward prediction or behavioural switching. To test the latter hypothesis we recorded from 131 single neurons in the ventral tegmental area and retrorubral field of thirsty rats responding during a modified go/no‐go task. One‐quarter (n = 33) of these neurons responded to conditioned stimuli in the task, which varied according to the outcome with which they were associated (saccharin or quinine solution) and according to whether they triggered a switch in the ongoing sequence of the animal's behaviour (‘behavioural switching’). Almost half the neurons (45%) responded differentially to saccharin‐ vs. quinine‐conditioned stimuli; the activity of a minority (15%) correlated with an aspect of behavioural switching (mostly exhibiting changes from baseline activity in the absence of a behavioural switch) and one‐third (33%) encoded various outcome–switch combinations. The strongest response was excitation to the saccharin‐conditioned stimulus. Additionally, a proportion (38%) of neurons responded during outcome delivery, typically exhibiting inhibition during saccharin consumption. The neurons sampled did not fall into distinct clusters on the basis of their electrophysiological characteristics. However, most neurons that responded to the outcome‐related properties of conditioned stimuli had long action potentials (> 1.2 ms), a reported characteristic of dopamine neurons. Moreover, responses to saccharin‐conditioned stimuli were functionally akin to dopamine responses found in the macaque and rat nucleus accumbens responses observed within the same task. In conclusion, our data are more consistent with the reward‐prediction than the behavioural switching hypothesis.
Neurogenic niche modulation by activated microglia: transforming growth factor β increases neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus
Authors: Battista Daniela , Ferrari Carina C. , Gage Fred H. , Pitossi Fernando J. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAdult neural stem cells (NSC) proliferate and differentiate depending on the composition of the cellular and molecular niche in which they are immersed. Until recently, microglial cells have been ignored as part of the neurogenic niche. We studied the dynamics of NSC proliferation and differentiation in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (DG) and characterized the changes of the neurogenic niche in adrenalectomized animals (ADX). At the cellular level, we found increased NSC proliferation and neurogenesis in the ADX animals. In addition, a morphologically distinct subpopulation of NSC (Nestin+/GFAP–) with increased proliferating profile was detected. Interestingly, the number of microglial cells at stages 2 and 3 of activation correlated with increased neurogenesis (r2 = 0.999) and the number of Nestin‐positive cells (r2 = 0.96). At the molecular level, transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) mRNA levels were increased 10‐fold in ADX animals. Interestingly, TGF‐β levels correlated with the amount of neurogenesis detected (r2 = 0.99) and the number of stage 2 and 3 microglial cells (r2 = 0.94). Furthermore, blockade of TGF‐β biological activity by administration of an anti‐TGF‐β type II receptor antibody diminished the percentage of 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU)/PSA‐NCAM‐positive cells in vivo. Moreover, TGF‐β was able to promote neurogenesis in NSC primary cultures. This work supports the idea that activated microglial cells are not pro‐ or anti‐neurogenic per se, but the balance between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory secreted molecules influences the final effect of this activation. Importantly, we identified an anti‐inflammatory cytokine, TGF‐β, with neurogenic potential in the adult brain.