bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Energy expenditure during level locomotion in large desert ungulates: the one‐humped camel and the domestic donkey
Authors: Maloiy G. M. O. , Rugangazi B. M. , Rowe M. F. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThis study sought to quantify the rate of energy expenditure (), the total cost of transport (COTtot) and the net cost of transport (COTnet) in camels Camelus dromedaries and donkeys Equus asinus during level locomotion. of camels and domestic donkeys were measured at exercise speeds between 0 and 4.17 m s−1. Resting for camels was significantly (P<0.05) lower than predicted, while donkeys exhibited resting values similar to mammals of the same body mass. In both camels and donkeys increased in a nearly linear fashion over the range of exercise speeds. The minimum COTtot of camels in the walking and pacing gaits were not significantly different (P=0.27). Similarly, donkeys exhibited no significant difference (P=0.09) in the minimum COTtot while walking and trotting. In both camels and donkeys, the minimum COTtot was significantly (P<0.05) lower than the predicted COTtot for mammals of the same body mass. The COTnet in both camels and donkeys was determined to be gait dependent and significantly (P<0.05) lower than the predicted minimum COTnet values for walking and running. The low COT seen in camels and donkeys results in energy and water savings.
Visual mismatch negativity: New evidence from the equiprobable paradigm
Authors: Kimura Motohiro , Katayama Jun'ichi , Ohira Hideki , Schröger Erich 
Published: January 2009

AbstractIn visual oddball studies, deviant compared to standard stimuli elicited a posterior negative ERP at around 100–250 ms. To determine the underlying processes of the negativity, we used the equiprobable sequence in which bar stimuli of five types of orientation were presented with equal probabilities (control 20% each) as well as the oddball sequence in which two stimuli with the closest orientation were presented with different probabilities (deviant 20% and standard 80%). Deviant compared to standard stimuli elicited two negativities at around 100–150 ms with no hemispheric dominance and 200–250 ms with right hemispheric dominance, while deviant compared to control stimuli elicited only a negativity at around 200–250 ms with right hemispheric dominance. These results suggest that the early negativity reflects refractory effect, while the late negativity reflects memory‐comparison‐based change detection effect (visual mismatch negativity).
Cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress and carotid intima‐media thickness in children
Authors: Roemmich James. N. , Lobarinas Christina L. , Joseph Parveen N. , Lambiase Maya J. , Archer, III Fred D. , Dorn Joan 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe relationship between cardiovascular stress reactivity and carotid artery intima‐media thickness (IMT) has been established in adults, but not yet studied in children. Cardiovascular reactivity to an ad lib speech was measured in 20 boys and 20 girls age 11.0 ± 1.4 years. Measures included heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure reactivity, and mean common carotid artery IMT. Sequential regression analyses were used to establish the incremental increase in R2 for the prediction of IMT due to cardiovascular reactivity independent of age, socioeconomic status, race, percentage body fat, and baseline BP or HR. SBP reactivity (β=0.002, , p<.05), but not DBP reactivity (p=.12) or HR reactivity (p=.82), independently predicted carotid artery IMT. This study provides initial evidence that SBP reactivity is associated with IMT and perhaps the early pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in childhood.
High maternal vitamin E intake by diet or supplements is associated with congenital heart defects in the offspring
Authors: Smedts HPM , de Vries JH , Rakhshandehroo M , Wildhagen MF , Verkleij‐Hagoort AC , Steegers EA , Steegers‐Theunissen RPM 
Published: January 2009

Objective  To study associations between maternal dietary and supplement intake of antioxidants vitamin E, retinol and congenital heart defects (CHDs).Design  Case–control study.Setting  Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Population  Participants were 276 case mothers of a child with CHD and 324 control mothers with their children.Methods  Food frequency questionnaires covering the intake of the previous 4 weeks were filled out at 16 months after the index pregnancy. Data were compared between cases and controls using the Mann–Whitney U test. Risk estimates for the association between CHD and dietary intake of vitamin E and retinol were estimated in a multivariable logistic regression model.Main outcome measures  Medians (5–95th percentile) and odds ratios with 95% CI.Results  Dietary vitamin E intake was higher in case mothers than in controls, 13.3 (8.1–20.4) and 12.6 (8.5–19.8) mg/day (P= 0.05). CHD risk increased with rising dietary vitamin E intakes (P‐trend = 0.01). Periconception use of vitamin E supplements in addition to a high dietary vitamin E intake above 14.9 mg/day up to nine‐fold increased CHD risk. Retinol intakes were not significantly different between the groups and not associated with CHD risk.Conclusions  High maternal vitamin E by diet and supplements is associated with an increased risk of CHD offspring.
Two mifepristone doses and two intervals of misoprostol administration for termination of early pregnancy: a randomised factorial controlled equivalence trial*
Authors: von Hertzen H , Piaggio G , Wojdyla D , Marions L , My Huong NT , Tang OS , Fang AH , Wu SC , Kalmar L , Mittal S , Erdenetungalag R , Horga M , Pretnar‐Darovec A , Kapamadzija A , Dickson K , Anh ND , Tai NV , Tuyet HTD , Peregoudov A ,   WHO Research Group on Post‐ovulatory Methods of Fertility Regulation
Published: January 2009

Objective  To compare the efficacy of 100 mg and 200 mg of mifepristone and 24‐ and 48‐hour intervals to administration of 800μg vaginal misoprostol for termination of early pregnancy.Design  Placebo‐controlled, randomized, equivalence trial, stratified by centre.Setting  13 departments of obstetrics and gynecology in nine countries.Population  2181 women with 63 days or less gestation requesting medical abortion.Methods  Two‐sided 95% CI for the risk differences of failure to complete abortion were calculated and compared with 5% equivalence margin between two doses of mifepristone and two intervals to misoprostol administration. Proportions of women with adverse effects were compared between the regimens using standard testes for proportions.Outcome measures  Rates of complete abortion without surgical intervention and adverse effects associated with the regimens.Results  Efficacy outcome was analysed for 2126 women (97.5%) excluding 55 lost to follow up. Both mifepristone doses were found to be similar in efficacy. The rate of complete abortion was 92.0% for women assigned 100 mg of mifepristone and 93.2% for women assigned 200 mg of mifepristone (difference 1.2%, 95% CI: –1.0 to 3.5). Equivalence was also evident for the two intervals of administration: the rate of complete abortion was 93.5% for 24‐hour interval and 91.7% for the 48‐hour interval (difference −1.8%, 95% CI: –4.0 to 0.5). Interaction between doses and interval to misoprostol administration was not significant (P = 0.92). Adverse effects related to treatments did not differ between the groups.Conclusions  Both the 100 and 200 mg doses of mifepristone and the 24‐ and 48‐hour intervals have a similar efficacy to achieve complete abortion in early pregnancy when mifepristone is followed by 800 micrograms of vaginally administered misoprostol.
The effect of maternal alcohol consumption on fetal growth and preterm birth
Authors: O’Leary CM , Nassar N , Kurinczuk JJ , Bower C 
Published: January 2009

Objective  To investigate the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal growth and preterm birth and to estimate the effect of dose and timing of alcohol exposure in pregnancy.Design  A population‐based cohort study linked to birth information on the Western Australian Midwives Notification System.Setting  Western Australia.Population  A 10% random sample of births restricted to nonindigenous women who had delivered a singleton infant (n= 4719) in 1995–1997.Methods  The impact of alcohol consumption in pregnancy on fetal growth (small‐for‐gestational‐age [SGA] and large‐for‐gestational‐age infants [LGA]) and preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis and adjusting for confounding factors.Main outcome measures  Odds ratios and 95% CI, attributable risk, and population attributable risk were calculated.Results  The percentage of SGA infants and preterm birth increased with higher levels of prenatal alcohol exposure; however, the association between alcohol intake and SGA infants was attenuated after adjustment for maternal smoking. Low levels of prenatal alcohol were not associated with preterm birth; however, binge drinking resulted in a nonsignificant increase in odds. Preterm birth was associated with moderate and higher levels of prenatal alcohol consumption for the group of women who ceased drinking before the second trimester. This group of women was significantly more likely to deliver a preterm infant than women who abstained from alcohol (adjusted OR 1.73 [95% CI 1.01–3.14]).Conclusions  Alcohol intake at higher levels, particularly heavy and binge drinking patterns, is associated with increased risk of preterm birth even when drinking is ceased before the second trimester. This finding, however, is based on small numbers and needs further investigation. Dose and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure appears to affect preterm delivery and should be considered in future research and health education.
Potent anti‐inflammatory effects of two quinolinedione compounds, OQ1 and OQ21, mediated by dual inhibition of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase‐2
Authors: Lim Kyung‐Min , Lee Joo‐Young , Lee Song‐Mi , Bae Ok‐Nam , Noh Ji‐Yoon , Kim Eun‐Jin , Chung Seung‐Min , Chung Jin‐Ho 
Published: January 2009

Background and purpose:  Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) have been suggested as key components in various inflammatory diseases. Here we examined the effects of new quinolinedione derivatives, 6‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐amino‐5,8‐quinolinedione (OQ1) and 6‐(2,3,4‐trifluorophenyl)‐amino‐5,8‐quinolinedione (OQ21) on activity and expression of iNOS and COX‐2 to explore their anti‐inflammatory properties.Experimental approach:  The effects of OQ1 and OQ21 were assessed on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced iNOS and COX‐2 in murine macrophage cell line (RAW264.7), along with isolated enzyme assays to measure enzyme inhibition. Nuclear factor‐κB (NFκB) activation pathways were investigated to elucidate mechanisms underlying OQ‐mediated suppression of the expression of iNOS and COX‐2. In vivo anti‐inflammatory activities of OQ compounds were evaluated in mouse ear oedema, induced by topical 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA).Key results:  LPS‐induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells was inhibited by OQ1 and OQ21 through the attenuation of iNOS expression as well as iNOS activity. Down‐regulation of iNOS followed blocking of NFκB activation, as assessed by inhibitory κB degradation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay for NFκB. Synthesis and accumulation of prostaglandin E2 were also suppressed by OQ1 and OQ21. LPS‐induced COX‐2 expression and cellular COX‐2 activities were attenuated by OQ1 and OQ21. Consistent with these results, OQ1 showed potent anti‐inflammatory effects in mouse ear oedema induced by TPA.Conclusions and implications:  The novel quinolinedione derivatives, OQ1 and OQ21, showed potent anti‐inflammatory activity through dual inhibitory effects on iNOS and COX‐2, suggesting that OQ derivatives might provide a new therapeutic modality for chronic inflammatory diseases, refractory to conventional drug therapies.
How to use virological tools for optimal management of chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Chevaliez Stéphane , Pawlotsky Jean‐Michel 
Published: January 2009

AbstractChronic hepatitis C is a global health problem that may cause cirrhosis and progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently available antiviral treatments are moderately effective. Several virological assays are available to help diagnose and manage patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These include the anti‐HCV antibody assays, measurement of HCV RNA viral load and HCV genotyping. HCV RNA can be assayed by two types of molecular biology‐based techniques: target amplification as in polymerase chain reaction methods and signal amplification such as the branched DNA assay. Monitoring of viral kinetics during the early phases of antiviral treatment is crucial in making treatment decisions such as early stopping rules and also in optimizing the length of treatment. The HCV genotype can be determined by several methods. Whatever the method, pretreatment determination allows treatment length and ribavirin dose to be optimized and also offers prognostic information on treatment outcomes as certain genotypes respond more favourably to treatment. Thus, virological assays are indispensable in the diagnosis and management of individuals infected with the HCV.
Treatment of HBeAg‐positive patients with nucleos/tide analogues
Authors: Coffin Carla S. , Lee Samuel S. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe two main goals of hepatitis B therapy are durable viral suppression and avoidance of antiviral resistance. Recent treatment guidelines now recognize the importance of these treatment endpoints in the prevention of end‐stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma rather then other surrogate markers such as HBeAg seroconversion and serum alanine aminotransferase normalization, especially in patients who acquired hepatitis B virus infection early in life. A variety of therapeutic options are now available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection, including four nucleos/tide analogues (i.e lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir and telbivudine), along with standard and pegylated interferon. Newer oral nucleos/tide analogues that include tenofovir, emtricitabine and clevudine are soon likely to be approved worldwide. Given the wide array of choices and the complex nature of chronic hepatitis B infection, selection of the appropriate therapeutic agent can be challenging for clinicians. Effective treatment decisions require an understanding of the natural history of hepatitis B and knowledge of its life cycle and molecular biology. This review includes the range of treatment options and criteria for determining when and how to most effectively intervene with antiviral therapy for chronically infected patients positive for the HBeAg.
What future for ribavirin?
Authors: Shiffman Mitchell L. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe optimal therapy for patients with the chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a combination of peginterferon and ribavirin. Treating HCV without ribavirin or prematurely discontinuing, frequently missing doses of ribavirin is associated with a significant decline in virological response, and an increase in both breakthrough viraemia and relapse. The major limitation of ribavirin is adverse events, the most common of which is haemolytic anaemia. Haemolysis is modest when ribavirin is utilized as monotherapy, but is significantly increased when combined with interferon or peginterferon. For these reasons, attempts to replace ribavirin with a less toxic alternative have been advanced. Unfortunately, even when ribavirin is replaced by a potent protease inhibitor, relapse is significantly increased and SVR is reduced. The future of HCV treatment is to combine peginterferon and ribavirin with several protease and/or polymerase inhibitors. Whether this strategy will allow ribavirin to be removed from the treatment paradigm remains to be proven. However, based on the results of clinical trials conducted to date, it is much more likely that peginterferon, not ribavirin, could be expendable.
Hepatitis D: the comeback?
Authors: Rizzetto Mario 
Published: January 2009

AbstractHepatitis D virus (HDV) infection has considerably diminished in Europe since the 1970–1980s. The prevalence rates of chronic hepatitis D in HBsAg carriers in Italy have declined from 25% at the beginning of the 1980s to 8% in the 1990s. Similar declines in prevalence have been reported in Spain, Taiwan and Turkey. Better public health standards, HBV vaccination and the effect of measures to control the spread of human immunodeficiency virus have brought about a decline in the numbers of HBsAg carriers and therefore a decline in the HBV‐dependent HDV. However, HDV has not declined further in Europe in the last decade, as the pool of fresh infections in migrants from HDV‐endemic areas is counterbalancing the shrinking cohort of long‐standing domestic infections acquired in the epidemic of the 1970–1980s. Hepatitis D remains an important health problem outside Europe, and new foci of infection continue to be identified in developing countries.
Screening and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Colombo Massimo 
Published: January 2009

AbstractEarly diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is feasible because HCC develops in the background of well‐known, readily identifiable and potentially avoidable environmental risk factors. According to the American Association for the Study of the Liver Diseases and the European Association for the Study of the Liver, patients with cirrhosis and carriers of chronic viral hepatitis are the target of surveillance to be investigated with abdominal ultrasounds (US) every 6 or 12 months. The diagnostic confirmation of a ≥2 cm nodule in patients with cirrhosis detected during surveillance is possible with any imaging technique among second‐generation contrast US, contrast computed tomography and gadolinium‐contrast magnetic resonance imaging. HCC shows an early hyperenhanced arterial vascularization, followed by enhanced hypoattenuation (wash‐out) in the late phase of imaging. In patients with a ≤2 cm nodule, two imaging techniques are required for the final diagnosis, which, however, have a relatively low diagnostic sensitivity (33%). Nodules with negative imaging findings need to be investigated further with an echo‐guided liver biopsy or enhanced follow‐up with imaging (every 3 months) to reach a final diagnosis. The cost‐effectiveness ratio of surveillance depends on multiple factors, like HCC incidence, the cost and accuracy of diagnostic tests and the costs and outcome of the therapeutic interventions.
What are the comorbidities influencing the management of patients and the response to therapy in chronic hepatitis C?
Authors: Alberti Alfredo 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe natural history of chronic hepatitis C has been defined in several retrospective and prospective studies conducted in the last 20 years. These studies have clearly demonstrated that the outcome of chronic hepatitis C virus infection is profoundly influenced by a variety of cofactors and comorbidities. Many of the cofactors that affect the course of liver disease in hepatitis C also have a significant influence on the result of antiviral therapy. Unfortunately, comorbidities that have been shown to negatively influence the course and outcome of liver disease often reduce the chance of achieving a sustained virological response with pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) and ribavirin treatment. The most important and frequent comorbidity influencing the course of chronic hepatitis C and the response to antiviral therapy is represented by the metabolic syndrome, and by the associated state of insulin resistance. Other comorbidities that have a negative influence on the progression of hepatitis C and on the response to antiviral therapy include excess alcohol intake, human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus co‐infection and a number of conditions that reduce the benefit of therapy by affecting negatively compliance and/or adherence to adequate PEG‐IFN or ribavirin doses.
Intrahippocampal infusion of botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNT/E) reduces spontaneous recurrent seizures in a mouse model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Antonucci Flavia , Bozzi Yuri , Caleo Matteo 
Published: January 2009

SummaryMesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is one of the most common forms of human epilepsy, and it is often resistant to conventional antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Here we tested whether a single intrahippocampal administration of the synaptic blocker botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNT/E) is effective in reducing spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) in a mouse model of MTLE. Unilateral intrahippocampal injection of kainic acid (KA) in mice was used as a model of MTLE. Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of SRS were performed during the chronic phase of epilepsy, before and after administration of either BoNT/E or vehicle. Frequency of SRS was significantly decreased for at least 5 days following BoNT/E, but not vehicle, infusion. Our findings demonstrate that BoNT/E can effectively reduce seizure incidence in a mouse model of MTLE.
Blood–brain barrier damage and brain penetration of antiepileptic drugs: Role of serum proteins and brain edema
Authors: Marchi Nicola , Betto Giulia , Fazio Vincent , Fan Quinyuan , Ghosh Chaitali , Machado Andre , Janigro Damir 
Published: January 2009

SummaryPurpose:  Increased blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability is radiologically detectable in regions affected by drug‐resistant epileptogenic lesions. Brain penetration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may be affected by BBB damage. We studied the effects of BBB damage on brain distribution of hydrophilic [deoxy‐glucose (DOG) and sucrose] and lipophilic (phenytoin and diazepam) molecules. We tested the hypothesis that lipophilic and hydrophilic drug distribution is differentially affected by BBB damage.Methods:  In vivo BBB disruption (BBBD) was performed in rats by intracarotid injection of hyperosmotic mannitol. Drugs (H3‐sucrose, 3H‐deoxy‐glucose, 14C‐phenytoin, and C14‐diazepam) or unlabeled phenytoin was measured and correlated to brain water content and protein extravasation. In vitro hippocampal slices were exposed to different osmolarities; drug penetration and water content were assessed by analytic and densitometric methods, respectively.Results:  BBBD resulted in extravasation of serum protein and radiolabeled drugs, but was associated with no significant change in brain water. Large shifts in water content in brain slices in vitro caused a small effect on drug penetration. In both cases, total drug permeability increase was greater for lipophilic than hydrophilic compounds. BBBD reduced the amount of free phenytoin in the brain.Discussion:  After BBBD, drug binding to protein is the main controller of total brain drug accumulation. Osmotic BBBD increased serum protein extravasation and reduced free phenytoin brain levels. These results underlie the importance of brain environment and BBB integrity in determining drug distribution to the brain. If confirmed in drug‐resistant models, these mechanisms could contribute to drug brain distribution in refractory epilepsies.