bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of periodontopathic bacteria in gingival tissue of Japanese periodontitis patients
Authors: Thiha K. , Takeuchi Y. , Umeda M. , Huang Y. , Ohnishi M. , Ishikawa I. 
Published: May 2007

Introduction:  The identification of invading periodontopathic bacteria in tissues is important to determine their role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The objective of this study was to identify periodontopathic bacteria in diseased gingival tissue of periodontitis patients.Methods:  Subgingival plaque and gingival tissue were collected from 32 generalized chronic periodontitis (CP), 16 generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) and eight localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP) patients. Detection frequencies and quantities of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Tannerella forsythensis were investigated by polymerase chain reaction. The prevalences of Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus sobrinus were also examined and the distribution of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes was observed.Results:  P. gingivalis and T. forsythensis were detected in approximately 70% of tissue samples and 50% of plaque samples in the three periodontitis groups. Prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans in tissue samples was higher in the LAgP (63%) group than in either the CP (16%) or the GAgP (38%) group. A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype c was detected in 50% of LAgP patients. Detection frequencies of S. oralis and S. sobrinus were markedly low in both plaque and tissue samples from all three periodontitis groups. Amounts of P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans and T. forsythensis in the tissue samples were not different among the three periodontitis groups.Conclusion:  P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans and T. forsythensis can localize in diseased gingival tissue and may be involved in periodontal tissue destruction. Serotype c is the predominant serotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans in Japanese LAgP patients.
Effects of Exogenous Glutathione on the Quality of Chilled Bull Semen
Authors: Munsi MN , Bhuiyan MMU , Majumder S , Alam MGS 
Published: May 2007

ContentsGlutathione (GSH) at concentrations of 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mM was added to chilled bull semen to determine its effects on the keeping quality of semen used for artificial insemination (AI). The semen was preserved with egg yolk citrate extender. All samples were stored at 4–8°C for 5 days. Sperm motility and proportion of abnormal acrosome were assessed daily. Sperm motility was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the semen treated with 0.5 mM glutathione than in untreated semen on each day. The optimum sperm motility (≥50%) for AI was retained significantly (p < 0.01) for 3 days in 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM glutathione treated semen, whereas in 0.3 mM glutathione‐treated semen, sperm motility was 46.8% for 3 days. Acrosomal damage was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced after addition of 0.5 mM GSH in the preserved semen. Bull semen can be preserved in chilled condition for 5 days with 0.5 mM GSH with sperm motility above 40% and 12% acrosome abnormality.
Superovulatory Ovarian Response in Mangalica Gilts is Not Influenced by Feeding Level
Authors: Egerszegi I , Hazeleger W , Rátky J , Sarlós P , Kemp B , Bouwman E , Solti L , Brüssow K‐P 
Published: May 2007

ContentsThe aim of the study was to compare how different feeding levels affect the ovarian potential of follicular development and oocyte maturation in response to superovulatory treatment in native Mangalica (M, n = 17) compared with Landrace (L, n = 20) pigs. Gilts of both breeds were fed high‐energy (HI–2.5 kg) or low‐energy (LO – 1.25 kg) feed during oestrus synchronization (15 days of Regumate® feeding) till the time of oocyte aspiration (Day 6 after Regumate®). Follicular growth was stimulated by the administration of 1000 IU equiue choriou gonadotropiu (eCG) 24 h after Regumate® treatment, and ovulation was induced by injection of 750 IU human choriou gonadotropiu (hCG) 80 h after eCG adminstration. Ultrasound (US) investigation was done three times (4–10 h before, and 40–44 and 72–74 h after eCG administration) for the observation of follicular development. Oocyte and follicular fluid (FF) were collected endoscopically 34 h after hCG injection. Cumulus–oocyte complexes were evaluated, their morphology determined, and thereafter fixed and stained for chromatin evaluation. Oocytes were classified as meiosis‐resumed (germinal vesicle breakdown, diakinesis, metaphase I to anaphase I) or matured (telophase I and metaphase II). FF concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone were measured by validated radioimmunoassays. In L gilts, differences were observed between HI and LO in the number of preovulatory follicles (32.3 ± 10.5 vs 17.1 ± 12.3, p < 0.05), but not in M (25.3 ± 2.9 vs 28.8 ± 7.3, p > 0.05). Initial follicular growth was not affected by feeding levels; however, preovulatory follicle size was larger in M (7.1 ± 0.9 and 6.9 ± 1.1 mm vs 5.7 ± 0.7 and 5.5 ± 0.8 mm; p < 0.05). No differences were obtained with relation to mature chromatin configuration in both breeds (L gilts: HI – 70% and LO–67% vs M gilts: HI – 67% and LO – 63%). A twofold higher oestradiol concentration was detected in FF of HI‐M and LO‐M (29.6 ± 6.8 and 30.9 ± 10.3 ng/ml respectively) compared with that of L (16.9 ± 9.7 and 17.9 ± 3.6 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.05). The mean FF progesterone level was nearly fivefold higher in M (2020.4 ± 1056 and 1512.2 ± 1121.8 ng/ml) compared with L (386.2 ± 113.7 and 298.8 ± 125.9 ng/ml, p < 0.05). The results indicate an influence of the feeding of altered energy on the number of recruitable preovulatory follicles in modern Landrace but not in native Mangalica breed. Moreover, the follicular steroid hormone milieu differs between Landrace and Mangalica gilts but not depending on feeding levels. Oocyte maturation was not affected by diet.
Ultrasonographic Characteristics of Ovulatory Follicles and Associated Endocrine Changes in Cyclic Ewes Treated with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MAP)‐releasing Intravaginal Sponges and Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG)
Authors: Liu X , Dai Q , Hart EJ , Barrett DMW , Rawlings NC , Pierson RA , Bartlewski PM 
Published: May 2007

ContentsThe aim of this study was to assess the ultrasonographic characteristics of ovulatory follicles in cyclic Western White Face ewes (December) that had received intravaginal sponges containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP; 60 mg) for 12 days, with or without an injection of 500 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) at sponge removal. We hypothesized that quantitative echotextural attributes of the follicles in ewes treated only with MAP would differ from those in MAP/eCG‐treated ewes, reflecting the increased antral follicular growth and secretory function under eCG influence. Digital images of ovulatory follicles obtained at 0 and 24 h after MAP sponge removal and at 24 h before ovulation in the eCG‐treated (five ewes, 13 follicles) and control (six ewes, 9 follicles) animals, were subjected to computerized analyses. The mean diameter of ovulatory follicles increased (p < 0.001) 24 h after eCG treatment. The mean pixel intensity and heterogeneity of the follicular antrum (p < 0.001), as well as mean pixel intensity of the follicular wall and perifollicular ovarian stroma (p < 0.05), were greater in eCG‐treated animals compared with control ewes 24 h after sponge removal and at 24 h before ovulation. Mean serum concentrations of oestradiol‐17β tended to increase (p = 0.06) 24 h after eCG treatment and the eCG‐treated ewes exceeded (p < 0.05) control animals in progesterone concentrations from days 9–15 after ovulation. Our results support the hypothesis that large antral follicles in eCG‐treated ewes exhibit distinctive echotextural characteristics. Follicular image attributes in eCG‐treated ewes appear to be indicative of the changes in follicular morphology and secretory activity caused by the administration of the exogenous gonadotropin, which has both FSH‐ and LH‐like activities.
Antioxidants in Bovine Colostrum
Authors: Przybylska J , Albera E , Kankofer M 
Published: May 2007

ContentsQuality, content and properties of colostrum are crucial for the neonate and its further development. Due to essential differences between intrauterine and extrauterine environment, the neonate is exposed to oxidative stress conditions. Colostrum apart from nutrient and immunological components should contain antioxidative systems necessary for the protection against reactive oxygen species. This review describes available data on enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants in colostrum. Due to the fact that the literature concerning bovine colostrum is scanty, the information based on bovine mature milk determinations as well as other species is provided. Bovine colostrum is used not only by calves, but also for the production of hyperimmunized colostrum, medicines or feed supplements. Quality of colostrum influences quality of mature milk. This is another reason, except from health of neonate, why antioxidative properties of bovine colostrum are of special importance and require further detailed elucidation.
Synchrony of Ovulation and Follicular Dynamics in Merino Ewes Treated with GnRH in the Breeding and Non‐breeding Seasons
Authors: Reyna J , Thomson PC , Evans G , Maxwell WMC 
Published: May 2007

ContentsThe effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment on the time of ovulation and the occurrence of follicular dominance during the non‐breeding and breeding seasons (experiment 1), and on fertility after artificial insemination (AI) in the non‐breeding season (experiment 2), was examined in Merino ewes. Oestrus was synchronized in 40 nulliparous ewes (experiment 1; n = 20, in the non‐breeding and breeding seasons) and in 79 multiparous ewes (experiment 2) using intravaginal sponges and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin. Thirty six hours after sponge removal (SR), half the ewes were injected (i.m.) with 40 μg of synthetic GnRH and the remainder used as controls. GnRH improved the synchrony of ovulation compared with the controls in the breeding (SD = 2.8 vs 5.7 days, p = 0.04) but not the non‐breeding season (SD = 3.8 vs 4.4 days, p = 0.69), with ewes ovulating from 42 to 54 h (mean 50.4 ± 4.08 h) and 42–60 h (mean 54.4 ± 5.47 h) after SR for GnRH and control, respectively. For both treated and control ewes, ovulation occurred earlier in the non‐breeding than the breeding season (50.1 vs 54.6 h; p = 0.002). GnRH had no effect on follicular dominance, as assessed by divergence (D: the time the ovulatory follicle exceeded the average size of the other non‐ovulating follicles) or on the interval from D to ovulation (IDO). However, follicular dynamics differed between seasons. The mean follicle diameter increased at a faster rate up to 36 h after SR in the non‐breeding compared with the breeding season and then rapidly declined, compared with a later peak (42 h after SR) in mean follicular size during the breeding season. IDO was shorter in the non‐breeding than in the breeding season (26.7 ± 4.30 h vs 39.6 ± 4.53 h; p = 0.05). In experiment 2, ewes (n = 38 GnRH‐treated, n = 40 controls) were inseminated in the uterus by laparoscopy 42 h or 48 h after SR with frozen‐thawed sperm. The fertility of ewes treated with GnRH (nine of 39, 23%) was not different to the controls (eight of 38, 21%; p = 0.01). In conclusion the application of GnRH improved synchronization of ovulation but did not improve fertility rates after AI.
Effect of Insemination–Ovulation Interval and Addition of Seminal Plasma on Sow Fertility to Insemination of Cryopreserved Sperm
Authors: Abad M , Garcia JC , Sprecher DJ , Cassar G , Friendship RM , Buhr MM , Kirkwood RN 
Published: May 2007

ContentsIn swine, the use of frozen‐thawed (FT) sperm for artificial insemination (AI) is limited because of poor sow fertility, possibly associated with a post‐thaw capacitation‐like status resulting in fewer fully viable sperm. Sow fertility to AI with FT sperm may improve with deeper deposition of sperm within the female tract, insemination very close to ovulation, or reversal of cryocapacitation by seminal plasma (SP). We performed two experiments to examine these suggestions. In experiment 1, 122 multiparous Yorkshire sows received 600 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin at weaning and 5 mg pLH 80 h later to control time of ovulation. The predicted time of ovulation (PTO) was 38 h after pLH injection. Thereafter, sows were assigned on the basis of parity to a single AI of FT sperm at 2 h before PTO, or at 12 h before PTO, or FT sperm supplemented with 10% SP at 12 h before PTO. Control sows received fresh semen at 12 h before PTO. All semen doses were adjusted to 3 × 109live cells and deposited into the cervix. Experiment 2 employed 99 multiparous crossbred sows and repeated the treatments of experiment 1 except that all FT inseminations were intrauterine. In both experiments, farrowing rates were lower (p < 0.01) following FT inseminations with no effect of time of insemination or of supplemental SP. In experiment 1, litter size was smaller following FT insemination (p < 0.05), but no effect on litter size was evident in experiment 2. Supplemental SP had no effect on litter size in either experiment. The lack of effect of either SP or timing of FT insemination on sow fertility suggests that the non‐lethal sperm cryoinjury affecting fertility involves more than just cryocapacitation.
Comparison of Five Radioimmunoassay Systems for PAG Measurement: Ability to Detect Early Pregnancy in Cows
Authors: Ayad A , Sousa NM , Sulon J , Iguer‐Ouada M , Beckers JF 
Published: May 2007

ContentsThis study was conducted to describe the minimum detection limit, reproducibility, accuracy, specificity and parallelism of different pregnancy‐associated glycoprotein radioimmunoassay (PAG‐RIA) systems: RIA‐497, RIA‐706, RIA‐780, RIA‐809 and RIA‐Pool. Their ability to distinguish between non‐pregnant and pregnant females at day 30 after artificial insemination (AI) was investigated. The antisera were raised in rabbits against different PAG preparations. All RIA systems proved to be sensitive, repeatable and accurate for measuring PAG concentrations. The dilutions of plasma samples taken at an early stage of pregnancy were found to be parallel to the standard curves. No cross‐reaction was observed with different carbohydrates, either with Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) or human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). The concentrations of PAG in pregnant females at day 30 after AI were shown to be higher with the use of antisera R#706, R#780, R#809 and Pool when compared with antiserum R#497. All the RIA systems gave 100% sensitivity and negative predictive values. On the other hand, the use of antisera R#780 and R#809 resulted in lower specificity and positive predictive values. The present study clearly shows that the ability of PAG‐RIA systems to diagnose pregnancy specifically at day 30 after AI can be improved by using a combination of antisera raised against different forms of PAG.
NBS1, the Nijmegen breakage syndrome gene product, regulates neuronal proliferation and differentiation
Authors: Lee Wang‐Tso , Chang Wen‐Hsin , Huang Chi‐Hung , Wu Kou‐Juey 
Published: May 2007

AbstractNijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is an autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by progressive microcephaly, growth retardation, immunodeficiency, and pre‐disposition to tumor formation. To investigate the functions of the NBS gene product, NBS1, on neurons, PC12 cells overexpressing NBS1 and related mutants and primary cortical neuronal culture were used in the present study. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was applied to repress the expression of endogenous Nbs1 in PC12 cells and primary cortical neurons. We demonstrated that overexpression of NBS1 increases cellular proliferation and decreases the apoptosis of PC12 cells in serum withdrawal and ionizing irradiation, through the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI 3‐kinase)/Akt pathway. Overexpression of NBS1 also decreases neurite elongation on PC12 cells under nerve growth factor stimulation. Transfection of NBS1‐overexpressing PC12 cells with a dominant negative Akt mutant attenuates the neuroprotection and cellular proliferation effects of NBS1 while having no effect on neurite elongation. PC12 cells overexpressing NBS657del5 and NBS653 mutants, in which the major NBS1 protein in cells are truncated proteins, have decreased cellular proliferation, increased cell death, and decreased neurite elongation compared with those of control PC12 cells. Repression of Nbs1 by siRNA decreases the PI 3‐kinase activity and Akt phosphorylation levels, and induces neurite elongation in PC12 cells even without nerve growth factor stimulation. Repression of Nbs1 by siRNA in primary cortical neurons also increased neurite elongation, but increased neuronal death. We conclude that NBS1 can regulate neuronal proliferation and neuroprotection via PI 3‐kinase/Akt pathway while regulating neuronal differentiation in a different pathway. Excessive accumulation of truncated protein secondary to 657del5 mutation may be detrimental to neurons, leading to defective neuronal proliferation and differentiation.
Neurochemical, morphological, and neurophysiological abnormalities in retinas of Sandhoff and GM1 gangliosidosis mice
Authors: Denny Christine A. , Alroy Joseph , Pawlyk Basil S. , Sandberg Michael A. , D’Azzo Alessandra , Seyfried Thomas N. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractRetinal abnormalities are well documented in patients with ganglioside storage diseases. The total content and distribution of retinal glycosphingolipids was studied for the first time in control mice and in Sandhoff disease (SD) and GM1 gangliosidosis mice. Light and electron microscopy of the SD and the GM1 retinas revealed storage in ganglion cells. Similar to previous findings in rat retina, GD3 was the major ganglioside in mouse retina, while GM2 and GM1 were minor species. Total ganglioside content was 44% and 40% higher in the SD and the GM1 retinas, respectively, than in the control retinas. Furthermore, GM2 and GM1 content were 11‐fold and 51‐fold higher in the SD and the GM1 retinas than in the control retinas, respectively. High concentrations of asialo‐GM2 and asialo‐GM1 were found in the SD and the GM1 retinas, respectively, but were undetectable in the control retinas. The GSL abnormalities in the SD and the GM1 retinas reflect significant reductions in β‐hexosaminidase and β‐galactosidase enzyme activities, respectively. Although electroretinograms appeared normal in the SD and the GM1 mice, visual evoked potentials were subnormal in both mutants, indicating visual impairments. Our findings present a model system for assessing retinal pathobiology and therapies for the gangliosidoses.
Mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphatase‐1 (MKP‐1) preferentially dephosphorylates p42/44MAPK but not p38MAPK in rat pinealocytes
Authors: Price Donald M. , Wloka Martin T. , Chik Constance L. , Ho Anthony K. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractWe recently reported a diurnal and norepinephrine (NE) ‐induced expression of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase‐1 (MKP‐1) in the rat pineal gland and postulated that this MKP‐1 expression might impact adrenergic‐regulated arylalkylamine‐N‐acetyltransferase (AA‐NAT) activity via modulation of MAPKs. In this study, we investigated the effect of depletion of MKP‐1 expression by using doxorubicin, a topoisomerase inhibitor that suppresses the expression of MKP‐1 in other cell types and small interfering RNA targeted against Mkp1 in NE‐stimulated pinealocytes. We found that both treatments were effective in inhibiting NE induction of MKP‐1 expression. Moreover, both treatments also resulted in a prolonged activation of p42/44MAPK and an increase in AA‐NAT induction by NE. In contrast, treatment of pinealocytes with PD98059, an inhibitor of MAPK kinase, reduced NE‐stimulated AA‐NAT activity. Interestingly, suppressing MKP‐1 expression had no effect on the time profile of NE‐stimulated p38MAPK activation. These results indicate that MKP‐1 modulates the profile of AA‐NAT activity by selectively shaping the activation profile of p42/44MAPK but not that of p38MAPK.
Nicotine induces tyrosine hydroxylase plasticity in the neurodegenerating striatum
Authors: Urbanavicius Jessika , Ferreira Margot , Costa Gustavo , Abin‐Carriquiry Juan Andrés , Wonnacott Susan , Dajas Federico 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIt has been shown that nicotine prevents the loss of dopamine (DA) in the corpus striatum (CS) after 6‐hydroxydopamine injection in the substantia nigra. To study the role of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; EC 1.14.16.2) in this experimental paradigm, we have examined its activity by assessing the accumulation of l‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine after inhibiting the subsequent enzyme in the DA synthetic pathway, aromatic l‐amino acid decarboxylase, with 3‐hydroxybenzylhydrazine. In addition the amount of TH protein was assessed by western blotting and its distribution in the CS was examined using immunohistochemical methods. 6‐hydroxydopamine injection produced a significant decrease in DA levels and l‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine accumulation, as well as decreases in TH protein and TH immunoreactive fibres in the CS. After nicotine treatment, the decrease in TH protein in the CS was significantly reduced, with a concomitant preservation of TH activity, but nicotine did not alter the number of TH immunoreactive fibres. The activity and amount of TH did not change in the contralateral (intact) CS. Thus, nicotine induces long lasting TH plasticity in the degenerating CS. A synergistic action of nicotine‐activated and lesion‐originated signals appears necessary for the expression of this neuronal molecular plasticity.
Atorvastatin partially prevents an inflammatory barrier breakdown of cultured human brain endothelial cells at a pharmacologically relevant concentration
Authors: Buttmann Mathias , Lorenz Alexander , Weishaupt Andreas , Rieckmann Peter 
Published: May 2007

Abstract3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (i.e. statins) are currently under clinical investigation as a prophylactic immunomodulatory treatment for neurological diseases where an inflammatory disruption of the blood–brain barrier plays a pathogenic role. Here, we investigated whether atorvastatin pre‐treatment modulates inflammatory‐induced barrier dysfunction of cultured human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). Pre‐treatment of immortalized HBMEC with atorvastatin (50 nmol/L to 1 μmol/L) dose‐dependently prevented an inflammatory up‐regulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1/CCL2 but not of interleukin‐8/CXCL8 and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 expression by tumor necrosis factor‐α or interleukin‐1β. It antagonized an inflammatory up‐regulation of claudin‐3 expression while zonula occludens‐1 and occludin protein levels remained unaltered. Like immortalized HBMEC, primary HBMEC also showed a reduction of claudin‐3 and of inducible CCL2 expression following atorvastatin pre‐treatment. On a functional level, atorvastatin pre‐treatment of HBMEC strongly and dose‐dependently reduced adhesion of activated T lymphocytes to pre‐activated primary endothelium. Atorvastatin effects could partially be abolished by parallel mevalonate treatment. These anti‐inflammatory effects of atorvastatin were observed already at a pharmacologically relevant concentration of 50 nmol/L. Our results obtained with human brain endothelial cells demonstrate how statins may partially prevent an inflammatory‐mediated blood–brain barrier breakdown in humans.