bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of the Donor Male on the Fertility of Frozen‐Thawed Rabbit Sperm after Artificial Insemination of Females of Different Genotypes
Authors: Mocé E , Lavara R , Vicente JS 
Published: November 2005

ContentsIn this work, the influence of the donor male on the fertility of cryopreserved rabbit sperm after artificial insemination into females from different genotypes was evaluated. Females belonged to three lines selected for maternal characteristics (A, V and H) and all the possible crosses between them. Sperm from five males from the line selected for one of the maternal characteristics (line V) was frozen individually in a Tris–citric acid–glucose diluent with 1.75 mof DMSO and 0.05 mof sucrose (final concentrations). After artificial insemination of the cryopreserved sperm, fertility rates and prolificacy were similar for all groups of females (56% of fertility rate and 7.2 total born). Significant differences between males were observed for both fertility (p < 0.05) and kindling (p < 0.01) rate. These differences could be because of differences in the freezing resistance of sperm from the different males.
Establishment of a Pregnancy Following Intravaginal Insemination with Epididymal Semen from a Dog Castrated due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Klinc P , Majdic G , Sterbenc N , Cebulj‐Kadunc N , Butinar J , Kosec M 
Published: November 2005

ContentsBenign prostatic hyperplasia was diagnosed in an American Staffordshire Terrier of high breeding value presenting concurrent haematuria. Castration as a treatment was synchronized with the oestrus cycle of a bitch selected for insemination. After castration the cauda epididymis was flushed with Gent®semen extender and collected spermatozoa were filtered and analysed by Hamilton Thorn computer assisted sperm analysis®. A total of 7 ml semen containing 742 × 106spermatozoa with 76.5% mean motility was used for insemination. Intravaginal insemination of the bitch was performed with an insemination catheter for dogs (Kruuse, Marslev, Denmark) on the day when plasma progesterone levels reached 9.9 ng/ml. Normal pregnancy without complications resulted in eight live‐born puppies 63 days after insemination. This is the first report of a normal pregnancy and birth of puppies from a bitch inseminated with epididymal semen obtained from a dog affected by benign prostate hyperplasia.
Factors Affecting Pregnancy Rate in Artificial Insemination with Frozen Semen During Non‐Breeding Season in Murciano–Granadina Goats: a Field Assay
Authors: Salvador I , Viudes‐de‐Castro MP , Bernacer J , Gómez EA , Silvestre MA 
Published: November 2005

ContentsAn artificial insemination programme was carried out to study the effect of factors such as depth of semen deposition, inseminator skill, farm, sire and expression of oestrus on pregnancy rate in Murciano–Granadina (MG) goats during non‐breeding season and using frozen semen. Frozen‐thawed semen from six males was applied by three technicians to inseminate a total of 551 goats in 17 farms distributed throughout the Mediterranean area of Spain. Pregnancy rate was determined at 6 weeks after insemination by transabdominal ecography. Overall pregnancy rate was 57%. Farm and depth of semen deposition affected pregnancy rate, whereas the sire and the technician had no effect. The deeper the semen was deposited in the genital tract, the higher was the rate of pregnancy obtained, being greater when the catheter reached the uterus. In spite of the relevant difference observed (48.2% vs 59.0%), pregnancy rate of females not coming into oestrus until 30 h after sponge removal was not significantly different, compared with those showing oestrus during the OD procedure. In conclusion, our field assay data on AI in MG goat with frozen‐thawed semen showed that post‐cervical insemination presented significantly greater pregnancy rate in comparison to when semen is deposited in the vagina or in the caudal part of the cervix.
Distribution of Eosinophils and Mast Cells in the Cervical Tissue of Non‐Gravid Mares during Dioestrus
Authors: Wehrend A , Huchzermeyer S , Bostedt H 
Published: November 2005

ContentsLittle is known about the local cellular immune system of the equine cervix. In this study we characterize the distribution of eosinophilic granulocytes and mast cells in the cervical tissue of non‐gravid mares during dioestrus. For this purpose cervices of 10 mares were histologically examined after Sirius red and Toluidine blue staining. Both cell types could be found in the lamina propria mucosae. In the tunica muscularis the two cell populations were only rarely detected. No cells could be found in the epithelium mucosae. There was a decreasing cell density from the vaginal to uterine side of the cervix (p < 0.01). Therefore, eosinophils might be a part of the local cellular immune system of the equine cervix during dioestrus, unlike in animals studied so far as cows and rats.
Do Computer‐Assisted, Morphometric‐Derived Sperm Characteristics Reflect DNA Status in Canine Spermatozoa?
Authors: Núñez‐Martinez I , Moran JM , Peña FJ 
Published: November 2005

ContentsIt is widely accepted that sperm morphology is a strong indicator of semen quality. As the sperm head mainly comprises the sperm DNA, it is have been proposed that subtle changes in sperm morphology may be related to abnormal DNA content. Semen from four mongrel dogs was used to investigate DNA quality by means of the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), and for computerized sperm morphometry (CASMA). Each sperm head was measured for nine primary parameters [head area (A), head perimeter (P), head length (L), head width (W), midpiece width (w), midpiece area (a), distance (d) between the major axes of the head and midpiece, angle (θ) of divergence of the midpiece from the head axis] and four parameters of head shape [FUN1,L/W; FUN2, 4πA/P2; FUN3, (L − W)/(L + W); FUN4,πLW/4A]. Significant differences were found in all CASMA‐derived parameters among dogs (p < 0.001). Linear regression models including sperm head shape factors 1, 3 and 4 predicted the extent of DNA denaturation (p < 0.001). We conclude that the CASMA analysis can be considered a powerful tool to improve the spermiogram.
Seasonal Effect on Zebu Embryo Quality as Determined by Their Degree of Apoptosis and Resistance to Cryopreservation
Authors: Marquez YC , Galina CS , Moreno N , Ruiz H , Ruiz A , Merchant H 
Published: November 2005

ContentsIn order to optimize the production of embryos under tropical conditions and to test a possible seasonal effect on embryo quality, 40 Zebu cows were superovulated during the dry season (April to May) and during the rainy season (July to August). A total of 116 (average 2.7/cow) and 83 embryos (3.5 average/cow) were obtained during the respective seasons. After classification as good, fair or poor quality, embryos were tested based on their ultrastructural differences (n = 53 dry season 16 good, 20 fair and 17 poor and n = 61 rainy season 21 good, 20 fair and 20 poor) and their degree of apoptosis using the TUNEL technique (n = 30 during the dry season and n = 55 in the rainy season). Structural characteristics determining embryo quality varied between good and fair quality embryos. No difference, however, was observed between good, fair and poor quality embryos from the two seasons. The number of TUNEL‐positive cells was different among embryos (p < 0.001), being lower in labelled cells of good quality embryos regardless of the season. Fewer apoptotic cells were observed in embryos assigned in all three quality levels during the rainy season (p < 0.001). Ultrastructural evaluations confirmed the results obtained by TUNEL. Cryopreserved embryos of good (n = 25 in each season) and fair quality (n = 11 dry season; n = 17 rainy season) showed a significant decrease of TUNEL‐positive cells during the rainy season (p < 0.05). Results suggest that embryos collected in the dry season have more cellular damage in contrast; embryos cryopreserved in the rainy season appeared morphologically better equipped to result in a pregnancy following transfer.
Normal and modified urinary nucleosides represent novel biomarkers for colorectal cancer diagnosis and surgery monitoring
Authors: FENG BO , ZHENG MIN‐HUA , ZHENG YU‐FANG , LU AI‐GUO , LI JIAN‐WEN , WANG MING‐LIANG , MA JUN‐JUN , XU GUO‐WANG , LIU BING‐YA , ZHU ZHENG‐GANG 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground: Up to now, there is still no ideal tumor marker in early diagnosis and effective monitoring, especially for surgical resection of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the application of urinary normal and modified nucleosides in diagnosis and surgery monitoring of CRC.Methods: Between October 2002 and July 2003, 52 consecutive patients with pathological confirmed CRC were enrolled. Spontaneous urine samples were collected 1 day before surgery and on day 8 postoperatively, and 14 urinary nucleosides were determined by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC). Another 62 healthy people were also studied as control. The clinical routine tumor markers, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA)199, CA125, and α‐fetoprotein (AFP) of CRC patients, were correspondingly evaluated by elecctrochemiluminescent immunoassay.Results: The levels of 11 out of 14 of the determined urinary nucleosides in the CRC group were much higher than those of normal controls. Through the principal component analysis of these 14 nucleosides, 76.9% of CRC patients were correctly classified. The sensitivity of this analysis was much higher than that of CEA (38.5%), CA199 (40.4%), CA125 (15.4%), and AFP (17.3%; P < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of 1‐methylguanosine (m1G) and pseudouridine (Pseu) showed good sensitivity–specificity profiles of the diagnosis of CRC. The elevated levels of the nine nucleosides significantly decreased after curative resection of 40 CRC cases. The data also showed that the preoperative levels of some nucleosides were positively related with tumor size and Dukes staging of CRC.Conclusion: The evaluation of normal and modified urinary nucleosides might become novel tumor markers, which will be facilitated in the clinical setting and helpful in the diagnosis, management and follow up of CRC. Pseu and m1G may be more promising for clinical use and be worthy of further studies in the near future.
Impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the anti‐secretory efficacy of lansoprazole in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients
Authors: GIRAL ADNAN , ÇELIKEL ÇIGDEM A , ÖZDOGAN OSMAN , TÖZÜN NURDAN , ULUSOY NEFISE B , KALAYCI CEM 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground:  Helicobacter pylori eradication was recommended for the prevention of atrophic gastritis in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients on long‐term omeprazole treatment. It has been also shown that the treatment with proton pump inhibitors produces lower intragastric pH after H. pylori eradication in subjects with peptic ulcer and healthy individuals. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis of whether the efficacy of lansoprazole is reduced after the eradication of H. pylori in GERD patients with peptic esophagitis.Methods:  Eight‐hour intragastric pH recordings were performed before and after an 8‐day course of lansoprazole (30 mg once daily) in 10 H. pylori‐positive male patients with reflux esophagitis and were repeated after the H. pylori eradication. Intragastric acidity was measured by using an antimony electrode placed 10 cm below the cardia.Results:  Baseline median preprandial, post‐prandial, total intragastric pH and the percentage of time with pH < 3 were not different before and after H. pylori eradication without lansoprazole treatment. During lansoprazole treatment, median post‐prandial intragastric pH was lower (4 vs 2.7; P < 0.05) and the percentage of time with pH < 3 was longer (3.4%vs 41.8%; P < 0.05) after H. pylori eradication. Median total intragastric pH tended to be lower after eradication but no difference was found in preprandial median pH.Conclusions:  In patients with reflux esophagitis treated with lansoprazole, intragastric pH increased significantly when H. pylori was present, especially in the post‐prandial period, whereas baseline pH remained unchanged after H. pylori eradication.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Clinical application of Carlsson's questionnaire to predict erosive GERD among healthy Chinese
Authors: HUNG CHIH‐SHENG , LEE CHIA‐LONG , YANG JUI‐NENG , LIAO PEN‐TE , TU TIEN‐CHIEN , CHEN TZEN‐KWAN , WU CHI‐HWA 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground:  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disease, yet there is no definitive gold standard to describe and diagnose it.Aim:  We used endoscopic examination and Carlsson's questionnaire to evaluate the prevalence of erosive esophagitis during health examinations of individuals in Taiwan.Methods:  From October 2001 to March 2002, 778 people underwent self‐paid health examinations including esophagogastroduodenoscopic examinations. All subjects completed Carlsson's questionnaire before endoscopy. We determined the positive predict rate, negative predict rate, sensitivity, and specificity of the Carlsson's score for predicting esophagitis and relationships of the score (score ≥4 vs score <4) and esophagitis based on sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, peptic ulcer and drinking habits.Results:  One hundred and thirty‐one people with scores ≥4 were highly suspected to have GERD. Of them, 21 were diagnosed as having reflux erosive esophagitis (16.0%) on endoscopic examination. Of 647 people whose scores were <4, 49 were diagnosed with having reflux erosive esophagitis (7.6%). Thus, 70 people were diagnosed as having erosive esophagitis for a prevalence of 9% (70 of 778). The difference between scores ≥4 and <4 to detect esophagitis differed significantly (P < 0.001). Total esophagitis differed significantly according to BMI, drinking habit and sex.Conclusion:  The prevalence of reflux esophagitis is 9.00% at a single medical center in Taiwan. Esophagitis is positively related to higher BMI, alcohol consumption and being of male sex. Predicting the prevalence of esophagitis in a general population by using Carlsson's questionnaire was unsatisfactory.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Ferroportin (Q248H) mutations in African families with dietary iron overload
Authors: MCNAMARA LYNNE , GORDEUK VICTOR R , MACPHAIL A PATRICK 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground:  Dietary iron overload found in sub‐Saharan Africa might be caused by an interaction between dietary iron and an iron‐loading gene. Caucasian people with ferroportin gene mutations have iron overload histologically similar to that found in African patients with iron overload. Ferroportin is also implicated in the hypoferremic response to inflammation. The prevalence of the ferroportin Q248H mutation, unique to African people, and its association with dietary iron overload, mean cell volume (MCV) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were examined in 19 southern African families.Methods:  Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme digestion were used to identify the Q248H mutation. Statistical analysis was carried out to correlate the presence of the mutation with markers of iron overload and inflammation.Results:  We identified three (1.4%) Q248H homozygotes and 53 (24.1%) heterozygotes in the families examined in the present study. There was no increased prevalence of the mutation in index subjects or their families. Logistic regression showed significantly higher serum ferritin concentrations with the mutation. The mean cell volume (MCV) was significantly lower, and the serum CRP significantly higher in subjects who carried the mutation.Conclusions:  The present study of 19 families with African iron overload failed to show evidence that the ferroportin (Q248H) mutation is responsible for the condition. Logistic regression, correcting for factors influencing iron status, did show increased ferritin levels in individuals with the mutation. The strong association with low MCV suggests the possibility that the ferroportin (Q248H) mutation might interfere with iron supply, whereas the elevated serum CRP might indicate that the ferroportin mutation influences the inflammatory response in African populations.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Clinical predictors for delirium tremens in alcohol dependence
Authors: LEE JUN HO , JANG MYOUNG KUK , LEE JA YOUNG , KIM SEONG MAN , KIM KYUNG HO , PARK JOON YONG , LEE JIN HEON , KIM HAK YANG , YOO JAE YOUNG 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground and Aims:  This study was aimed to find clinical predictors for developing delirium tremens (DT) in alcohol dependence.Methods:  This cohort study was retrospectively carried out among patients who were diagnosed as having alcohol dependence between January 2001 and July 2004. Fifteen parameters were compared between patients who developed DT and ones who did not. We identified clinical predictors for DT by using multivariate analysis.Results:  A total of one hundred and seventy‐eight consecutive admission cases from 147 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 47.8 years, and 95.5% were male. Delirium tremens developed in 59 cases (33%) during hospitalization. On multiple logistic regression analysis, a previous history of DT (odds ratio (OR) 3.990; 95% CI 1.631, 9.759) and high pulse rate above 100 b.p.m. (OR 4.158; 95% CI 2.032, 8.511) were significant predictors for developing DT. When combined, DT developed in just 20.4% of cases without any predictors; however, if one predictor was present, DT developed in 45.6%, and if two predictors were present, DT developed in all cases (100%).Conclusions:  A simple assessment using the past history of DT and the pulse rate, which may be easily evaluated in clinical settings, can allow physicians to readily identify the patients who are at a high risk of developing DT during an alcohol dependence period and reserve more intensive therapies for the selected cases.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
CpG island methylation as an early event during adenoma progression in carcinogenesis of sporadic colorectal cancer
Authors: KIM HEE CHEOL , ROH SUN AE , GA IN HWA , KIM JUNG‐SUN , YU CHANG SIK , KIM JIN CHEON 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground and Aims:  CpG island methylation is present in various tumors, including colorectal carcinomas, and is thought to be an important mechanism in carcinogenesis. We evaluated the methylation status of primary colorectal tumors to determine its role in the adenoma to carcinoma sequence.Methods:  The methylation status of APC, THBS1, MGMT, hMLH1 and GSTP1, as determined by methylation specific PCR (MSP), and microsatellite instability (MSI) using three mononucleotide markers were assessed in 40 colorectal adenomas and 36 adenocarcinomas. The correlations of methylation status and MSI with the clinicopathologic parameters of the tumors were determined.Results:  Of the 40 adenomas, 24 (60%) were methylated at one or more loci, and 12 (30%) at two or more loci (CpG island methylation phenotype‐high, CIMP‐H). Of 36 carcinomas, 27 (75%) were methylated at one or more loci and 11 (30.5%) at two or more loci (CIMP‐H). THBSI was the most frequently methylated locus in both adenomas (n = 19, 47.5%) and carcinomas (n = 16, 44.4%). Overall, methylation status of adenomas and carcinomas did not differ significantly (P = 0.53), nor did the methylation status of individual genes. For adenomas, size (P = 0.049) and histologic classification of the villous components (P = 0.018) were each associated with methylation status. For carcinomas, however, no clinicopathologic variable was related to methylation status. MSI was detected in three adenomas (7.5%) and five carcinomas (13.9%), and was closely correlated with hMLH1 methylation (P < 0.001).Conclusions:  In colorectal tumors, CpG island methylation of tumor suppressor genes appears to be common and may be involved in the progression of adenomas.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Factors related to post‐treatment relapse in chronic hepatitis B patients who lost HBeAg after lamivudine therapy
Authors: BYUN KWAN SOO , KWON OH SANG , KIM JU HYUN , YIM HYUNG JOON , CHANG YUN JUNG , KIM JIN YONG , YEON JONG EUN , PARK JONG JAE , KIM JAE SEON , BAK YOUNG TAE , LEE CHANG HONG 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground and Aim:  It is uncertain if a patient's lamivudine response after HBeAg loss is durable. In Korean chronic hepatitis B patients, the relapse rate is high after termination of lamivudine therapy for patients with HBeAg loss. We evaluated the factors related to relapse in chronic hepatitis B patients with HBeAg loss after lamivudine therapy.Methods:  A total of 132 chronic hepatitis B patients, who initially had HBeAg and did not have decompensated features, were analyzed in this study. These patients lost the HBeAg after lamivudine therapy and then their therapy was stopped. Post‐treatment serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBeAg, anti‐HBe and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were monitored until relapse.Results:  Seventy‐five patients relapsed (cumulative relapse rate: 56% at 6 months). Upon univariate analysis, the factors of age, serum total bilirubin, presence of anti‐HBe after HBeAg loss, and the duration of additional lamivudine therapy after HBeAg loss were associated with relapse. Upon multivariate analysis, older age, a higher serum total bilirubin and the shorter duration of additional lamivudine therapy were significant risk factors for relapse. Patterns of relapse were the re‐elevation of ALT, re‐emergence of HBV DNA (69 patients) and reappearance of HBeAg (55 patients).Conclusions:  To prevent relapse in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection after lamivudine therapy, age and serum bilirubin level of patients as well as a prolonged duration of additional lamivudine therapy should be considered.
Liver support systems: Promise and reality
Authors: WIGG ALAN J , PADBURY ROBERT T 
Published: November 2005

AbstractEffective liver support is needed for a variety of indications. A large number of both biological (containing hepatocytes) and non‐biological extracorporeal liver support systems have been described in the literature over the last 50 years. Despite this, there is a paucity of good quality randomized control data examining the effectiveness of these therapies in human liver failure. In this review article, we examine the available data, with particular emphasis on the current front runners, the MARS® and HepatAssist® systems. Other problems associated with the development of these liver support systems are also discussed. Although promising in animal studies, we conclude that the use of these technologies is not supported currently by a sufficient evidence base to recommend them for routine clinical use and that a lack of understanding about the critical functions required of a liver support system is retarding a more rational approach to the design of these systems.© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd