bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Eicosapentaenoic acid actions on adiposity and insulin resistance in control and high-fat-fed rats: role of apoptosis, adiponectin and tumour necrosis factor-α
Authors: Pérez-Matute Patricia , Pérez-Echarri Nerea , Martínez J. Alfredo , Marti Amelia , Moreno-Aliaga María J. 
Published: February 2007

n-3 PUFA have shown potential anti-obesity and insulin-sensitising properties. However, the mechanisms involved are not clearly established. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of EPA administration, one of then-3 PUFA, on body-weight gain and adiposity in rats fed on a standard or a high-fat (cafeteria) diet. The actions on white adipose tissue lipolysis, apoptosis and on several genes related to obesity and insulin resistance were also studied. Control and cafeteria-induced overweight male Wistar rats were assigned into two subgroups, one of them daily received EPA ethyl ester (1 g/kg) for 5 weeks by oral administration. The high-fat diet induced a very significant increase in both body weight and fat mass. Rats fed with the cafeteria diet and orally treated with EPA showed a marginally lower body-weight gain (P = 0·09), a decrease in food intake (P < 0·01) and an increase in leptin production (P < 0·05). EPA administration reduced retroperitoneal adipose tissue weight (P < 0·05) which could be secondary to the inhibition of the adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ gene expression (P < 0·001), and also to the increase in apoptosis (P < 0·05) found in rats fed with a control diet. TNFα gene expression was significantly increased (P < 0·05) by the cafeteria diet, while EPA treatment was able to prevent (P < 0·01) the rise in this inflammatory cytokine. Adiposity-corrected adiponectin plasma levels were increased by EPA. These actions on both TNFα and adiponectin could explain the beneficial effects of EPA on insulin resistance induced by the cafeteria diet.
Supplementation with vitamin A reduces watery diarrhoea and respiratory infections in Mexican children
Authors: Long Kurt Z. , Rosado Jorge L. , DuPont Herbert L. , Hertzmark Ellen , Santos Jose Ignacio 
Published: February 2007

Previous clinical vitamin A trials have found no consistent effect on diarrhoeal disease and respiratory tract infection. These inconsistent results may be due to the distinct effects vitamin A supplementation has among children stratified by factors related to socio-economic status, nutritional status and season. We evaluated the effect of supplementation on the overall incidence of diarrhoeal disease and respiratory tract infections and on the incidence among children stratified by these factors. A total of 188 children, aged 6–15 months, from periurban, marginalized communities of Mexico City were assigned to receive vitamin A ( < 12 months of age, 20 000 IU retinol; ≥ 12 months, 45 000 IU retinol) or a placebo every 2 months, and were followed for up to 15 months. Project personnel visited households twice a week to determine the onset and duration of diarrhoeal disease and respiratory tract infections. Vitamin A supplementation had no significant effect on risk of overall diarrhoeal disease but reduced mild watery diarrhoea (incidence rate ratio (RR) 0·69; 95 % CI 0·50, 0·93) and cough with fever (RR 0·69; 95 % CI 0·48, 0·98). Vitamin A supplementation decreased diarrhoeal disease during the summer (RR 0·74; 95 % CI 0·57, 0·94), among non-stunted children (RR 0·69; 95 % CI 0·52, 0·93) and among children from households with better socio-economic measures. Heterogeneity in the response to vitamin A supplementation may reflect heterogeneity in the aetiology and epidemiology of diarrhoeal disease and respiratory tract infections and the impact that supplementation has on the immune response.
Comparison of the absorption efficiency of α- and β-cryptoxanthin in female Wistar rats
Authors: Breithaupt Dietmar E. , Yahia Elhadi M. , Velázquez Francisco J. Valdés 
Published: February 2007

Xanthophylls, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, have received increasing interest in recent years because of positive correlations between their consumption and the prevention of eye diseases. Numerous human intervention studies have been conducted with lutein to estimate the bioavailability from different formulations. The present study was designed to obtain basic data on the absorbance efficiency of the monohydroxylated counterparts of lutein and zeaxanthin: α- and β-cryptoxanthin. A corn-oil-based diet comprising ß-cryptoxanthin from papaya purée and α-cryptoxanthin from green carrot leaves was fed to five female Wistar rats for 8 consecutive days at a rate of 17·3 nmol/d and 9·2 nmol/d, respectively. The identity of the xanthophylls in the supplement was ascertained by LC-(APCI)MS analyses, and xanthophylls present in liver and plasma samples were determined by HPLC/diode array detector (DAD). The β-cryptoxanthin concentrations of rat livers in the treatment group were statistically distinguishable (P < 0·01) from those present in the livers of the control group that were fed a basic diet. α-Cryptoxanthin, the second xanthophyll present in the supplement, was not found in rat livers in the treatment group. Plasma samples were free of xanthophylls. This is the first report proving that β-cryptoxanthin has a higher absorption efficiency than α-cryptoxanthin in rats, at least from a minimally processed oil-based xanthophyll supplement.
Conjugated linoleic acid in diets for large-size rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): effects on growth, chemical composition and sensory attributes
Authors: Valente L. M. P. , Bandarra N. M. , Figueiredo-Silva A. C. , Rema P. , Vaz-Pires P. , Martins S. , Prates J. A. M. , Nunes M. L. 
Published: February 2007

The effects of graded levels (0 %, 0·5 %, 0·75 and 1 %) of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were assessed on 97 g rainbow trout. Fish were fed to satiation twice a day for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, all groups of fish weighed more than 250 g and no significant differences were detected in growth performance, feed conversion, nutrient or energy utilisation or body composition between treatments. A decrease in liver lipid content resulted from including CLA and was accompanied by a reduction in malic enzyme activity. The muscle saturated acid and PUFA content did not vary between dietary treatments, despite the increasing concentration of stearic acid and CLA. In the liver, however, both fractions increased significantly with dietary CLA. Moreover, the MUFA decreased significantly in both muscle and liver. CLA was incorporated into tissue lipids, with levels in flesh (2·1–4·2 %) being 2-fold higher than in liver (0·8–1·9 %). In muscle, the percentage of cis-9, trans-11 isomer ranged from 39·5 % to 41·8 % and that of trans-10, cis-12 isomer from 31·4 % to 33·4 % of total CLA. The incorporation of CLA isomers in the liver varied with dietary treatment, and the cis-9, trans-11 isomer seemed to be more efficiently incorporated than trans-10, cis-12. Sensory data indicated slight-to-moderate differences between the trout fed with and without CLA. The present results suggest that 250 g rainbow trout can incorporate CLA in both muscle and liver, contributing to the production of a functional food.
Inbreeding depression in two seed-feeding beetles, Callosobruchus maculatus and Stator limbatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Fox C.W. , Scheibly K.L. , Smith B.P. , Wallin W.G. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractInbreeding depression is well documented in insects but the degree to which inbreeding depression varies among populations within species, and among traits within populations, is poorly studied in insects other than Drosophila. Inbreeding depression was examined in two long-term laboratory colonies of the seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), which are used frequently as models for experiments in ecology, evolution and behaviour. Inbreeding depression in these laboratory colonies are compared with one recently field-collected population of a different seed beetle, Stator limbatus Horn. Inbreeding reduced embryogenesis, egg hatch and larval survival in both species, such that eggs produced by sib matings were >17% less likely to produce an adult offspring. Inbred larvae also took 4–6% longer to develop to emergence in both species. Inbreeding depression varied among the measured traits but did not differ between the two populations of C. maculatus for any trait, despite the large geographic distance between source populations (western Africa vs. southern India). Inbreeding depression was similar in magnitude between C. maculatus and S. limbatus. This study demonstrates that these laboratory populations of C. maculatus harbour substantial genetic loads, similar to the genetic load of populations of S. limbatus recently collected from the field.
Feeding and foraging behaviour of a generalist caterpillar: are third instars just bigger versions of firsts?
Authors: Johnson M.-L. , Zalucki M.P. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSimilarities and differences in foraging behaviour between first and third instar Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek (Fabaceae) (mung bean) were determined by frequent, repeated observation of insects on whole plants. The time apportioned to feeding, resting and searching by these two larval instars differed. Third instars were often found feeding on exposed areas of the plant and, if in the terminal parts, would leave these areas more frequently than first instars. Third instars fed at fewer sites and spent less time searching and resting, fed in longer bouts and spent 20% more time feeding than first instars. Although both instars tended to move upwards to the top of the plant, this applied to approximately half of the third instars observed compared to all of the first instars. First instars were found to have a higher relative growth rate than third instars. The results show that it cannot be assumed that first instars are just smaller versions of late instars.
Kinematic and dynamic model-based control of wheeled mobile manipulators: a unified framework for reactive approaches
Authors: Padois V. , Fourquet J.-Y. , Chiron P. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYThe work presented in this paper aims at providing a unified modelling framework for the reactive control of wheeled mobile manipulators (WMM). Where most work in the literature often provides models, sometimes simplified, of a given type of WMM, an extensive description of obtaining explicit kinematic and dynamic models of those systems is given. This modelling framework is particularly well suited for reactive control approaches, which, in the case of mobile manipulation missions, are often necessary to handle the complexity of the tasks to be fulfilled, the dynamic aspect of the extended workspace and the uncertainties on the knowledge of the environment. A flexible reactive framework is thus also provided, allowing the sequencing of operational tasks (in our case, tasks described in the end-effector frame) whose natures are different but also an on-line switching mechanism between constraints that are to be satisfied using the system redundancy. This framework has been successfully implemented in simulation and on a real robot. Some of the obtained results are presented.
Accurate automated clustering of two-dimensional data for single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping by a combination of clustering methods: evaluation by large-scale real data
Authors: Takitoh Shuichi , Fujii Shogo , Mase Yoichi , Takasaki Junichi , Yamazaki Toshimasa , Ohnishi Yozo , Yanagisawa Masao , Nakamura Yusuke , Kamatani Naoyuki 
Published: February 2007

AbstractMotivation: The Invader assay is a fluorescence-based high-throughput genotyping technology. If the output data from the Invader assay were classified automatically, then genotypes for individuals would be determined efficiently. However, existing classification methods do not necessarily yield results with the same accuracy as can be achieved by technicians. Our clustering algorithm, Genocluster, is intended to increase the proportion of data points that need not be manually corrected by technicians.Results: Genocluster worked well even when the number of clusters was unknown in advance and when there were only a few points in a cluster. The use of Genocluster enabled us to achieve an acceptance rate (proportion of assay results that did not need to be corrected by expert technicians) of 84.4% and a proportion of uncorrected points of 95.8%, as determined using the data from over 31 million points.Availability: Information for obtaining the executable code, example data and example analysis are available atContact: kamatani@ior.twmu.ac.jp
Epidural ropivacaine – where are the benefits? A prospective, randomized, double‐blind trial in patients with retropubic prostatectomy
Authors: Heid F. , Schmidt‐Glintzer A. , Piepho T. , Jage J. 
Published: February 2007

Background:  In comparison with bupivacaine, ropivacaine exhibits comparable anaesthetic effects but with less motor impairment and systemic toxicity. However, the analgesic potency may differ. For example, ropivacaine during obstetric epidural analgesia provides an approximately 40% lower analgesic potency than bupivacaine. Equal visual analogue pain scores require significantly higher dosages of ropivacaine, and general statements about a favourable benefit–risk profile relative to that of bupivacaine may therefore have limited clinical impact. We addressed this topic in a male pain model by evaluating the analgesic efficacy of epidural ropivacaine 0.2% vs. bupivacaine 0.125% after retropubic prostatectomy.Methods:  Forty patients scheduled for retropubic prostatectomy were randomly assigned to two groups (20 patients per group). In a double‐blind prospective design, patient‐controlled lumbar epidural analgesia was provided by ropivacaine 0.2% in the ropivacaine group and by bupivacaine 0.125% in the bupivacaine group. The primary endpoint was the total amount of local anaesthetic consumption. The secondary endpoints were the numeric rating scale scores for rest and dynamic pain and the degree of motor impairment.Results:  Ropivacaine consumption was 60% higher (mean ± standard deviation, 1372.5 ± 108.3 mg) than that of bupivacaine (852 ± 75.2 mg) (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the numeric rating scale scores and motor impairment.Conclusions:  In male patients, lumbar epidural administration of ropivacaine 0.2% after retropubic prostatectomy does not appear to provide benefits over bupivacaine 0.125%. Moreover, in view of the significantly higher drug requirements, general statements focusing on the favourable therapeutic index of ropivacaine may require critical analysis, at least during epidural administration.
Prospective randomized controlled study of Hydrofiber® dressing containing ionic silver or calcium alginate dressings in non‐ischaemic diabetic foot ulcers
Authors: Jude E. B. , Apelqvist J. , Spraul M. , Martini J. ,   the Silver Dressing Study Group
Published: February 2007

AbstractAims  Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are at risk of infection and impaired healing, placing patients at risk of lower extremity amputation. DFU care requires debridement and dressings. A prospective, multicentre study compared clinical efficacy and safety of AQUACEL® Hydrofiber® dressings containing ionic silver (AQAg) with those of Algosteril® calcium alginate (CA) dressings in managing out‐patients with Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus and non‐ischaemic Wagner Grade 1 or 2 DFUs.Methods  Patients stratified by antibiotic use on enrolment were randomly assigned to similar protocols including off‐loading, AQAg (n = 67) or CA (n = 67) primary dressings and secondary foam dressings for 8 weeks or until healing. Clinical efficacy measures were healing outcomes and primarily healing speed. Adverse events were recorded.Results  AQAg and CA groups were comparable at baseline. All ulcer healing outcomes improved in both groups. The mean time to healing was 53 days for AQAg ulcers and 58 days for CA ulcers (P = 0.34). AQAg‐treated ulcers reduced in depth nearly twice as much as CA‐treated ulcers (0.25 cm vs. 0.13 cm; P = 0.04). There was more overall ulcer improvement and less deterioration in AQAg subjects (P = 0.058), particularly in the subset initially using antibiotics (P = 0.02). Safety profiles of both groups were similar.Conclusion  When added to standard care with appropriate off‐loading, AQAg silver dressings were associated with favourable clinical outcomes compared with CA dressings, specifically in ulcer depth reduction and in infected ulcers requiring antibiotic treatment. This study reports the first significant clinical effects of a primary wound dressing containing silver on DFU healing.
Is Headache Related to Asthma, Hay Fever, and Chronic Bronchitis? The Head‐HUNT Study
Authors: Aamodt Anne H. , Stovner Lars J. , Langhammer Arnulf , Hagen Knut , Zwart John‐Anker 
Published: February 2007

Objectives.—To examine the relationship between migraine and nonmigrainous headache and asthma, hay fever, and chronic bronchitis in a large cross‐sectional population‐based study.Background.—Associations between prevalence of migraine and asthma or allergy have been demonstrated in clinic‐based and epidemiologic studies whereas studies on chronic bronchitis are scarce.Methods.—A total of 51,383 subjects completed a headache questionnaire and constituted the “Head‐HUNT” Study. Of these 50,401 (98.1%) answered the questions about asthma and chronic bronchitis, and 47,029 (91.5%) answered the question about hay fever. Associations were assessed in multivariate analyses, estimating prevalence odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results.—Both migraine and nonmigrainous headache were approximately 1.5 times more likely among those with current asthma, asthma related symptoms, hay fever, and chronic bronchitis than those without. The association increased with increasing headache frequency.Conclusions.—This large questionnaire‐based study confirms that migraine and other headaches are associated with respiratory and allergic disorders. The magnitude of the association between headache and asthma, hay fever, and chronic bronchitis tended to be in the same order. Headache frequency seems to have a greater impact on the association with respiratory or allergic conditions than headache diagnoses. Whether it is a causal relationship is uncertain, but the results underline the importance of considering comorbid disorders among patients with frequent headache.
Early Intervention With Almotriptan: Results of the AEGIS Trial (AXERT® Early Migraine Intervention Study)
Authors: Mathew Ninan T. , Finlayson Gary , Smith Timothy R. , Cady Roger K. , Adelman James , Mao Lian , Wright Pamela , Greenberg Steven J. ,   on behalf of the AEGIS Investigator Study Group
Published: February 2007

Objective.—To evaluate prospectively the efficacy and safety of almotriptan 12.5 mg as compared to placebo when administered within 1 hour of headache pain onset for the acute treatment of 3 migraine headaches.Background.—Although clinical trials have reported improved outcomes when triptans were used early or to treat mild pain, acceptance of this treatment strategy has been hampered by both efficacy and tolerability issues.Methods.—In this multicenter, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group trial, patients with IHS‐migraine were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to treat 3 consecutive migraine attacks with either almotriptan 12.5 mg or placebo. Patients were instructed to take their study medication at the first sign of headache pain of any intensity, within 1 hour of onset, and to record their symptoms at multiple time points during their headaches using a personal digital assistant. Clinical trial efficacy results for the first study headache and safety data for the entire study are presented.Results.—A total of 378 patients were randomized, 189 to each group; 162 almotriptan‐treated patients, and 155 placebo‐treated patients were evaluable for efficacy. Almotriptan treatment, compared to placebo, resulted in a significantly greater proportion of patients achieving 2‐hour pain free (37.0% vs 23.9%, P= .010), 2‐hour pain relief (72.3% vs 48.4%, P < .001) and sustained pain free (24.7% vs 16.1%, P= .040). Significant differences in pain free (P= .026) and pain relief (P= .019) between almotriptan and placebo also were observed at 1 hour. At 2 to 4 hours and 4 to 24 hours after treatment, the mean intensity of phonophobia and photophobia were significantly lower in the patients treated with almotriptan compared to the placebo‐treated patients. A greater proportion of patients treating with almotriptan versus placebo reported normal functionality within 2 hours postdose (54.4% vs 38.1%, P= .007) and 4 hours postdose (74.5% vs 54.3%, P < .001). The percentage of patients experiencing 1 or more treatment‐emergent adverse events (AE) was 9.8% for almotriptan and 6.4% for placebo. The only treatment‐emergent AEs that occurred with a frequency of at least 1% (equivalent to 2 or more patients) in the almotriptan and placebo groups, respectively, were somnolence (1.1% and 2.3%), nausea (1.1% and 1.7%), vomiting (1.1% and 0.6%), and fatigue (1.1% and 0%).Conclusion.—Treatment with almotriptan within 1 hour of migraine onset resulted in significantly better clinical outcomes than placebo and tolerability similar to placebo. Acute medications, such as almotriptan, that are both effective and well tolerated may encourage patients to access acute treatment earlier.
Atypical Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension (SIH) With Nonorthostatic Headache
Authors: Kong Doo‐Sik , Park Kwan , Nam Do‐Hyun , Lee Jung‐Il , Kim Eun‐Sang , Kim Jong Soo , Hong Seung‐Chyul , Shin Hyung Jin , Eoh Whan , Kim Jong Hyun 
Published: February 2007

Background.—Some patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) often do not demonstrate typical orthostatic headache, which is contrary to the typical SIH syndrome. They usually have an obscure and intermittent headache, regardless of their positional change.Object.—The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical course of atypical SIH that manifests with diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement, but no orthostatic headaches.Methods.—Between January 1997 and December 2005, we observed a total of 6 patients who revealed atypical presentations including nonpostural headaches and normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, despite the diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement seen on their MR images. For a comparison of the clinical features and the disease course, 13 other SIH patients with typical clinical manifestations were selected as a control group.Results.—Cerebrospinal fluid leakage sites were confirmed in only one patient through a variety of diagnostic tools; in contrast, definite focal CSF leakage sites were found in 12 of 13 patients with typical SIH. The 6 atypical SIH patients were treated with conservative treatment, including strict bed rest and intravenous hydration for 2 to 3 weeks. After a mean follow‐up of 12 months, their headaches were gradually relieved after 2 to 3 weeks of conservative treatment only.Conclusions.—All SIHs do not necessarily show the typical clinical manifestations. The atypical finding of SIH such as nonorthostatic headache or normal CSF pressure may be the result of a normal physiologic response to the typical SIH as a compensatory reaction. Therefore, when faced with patients showing findings compatible with SIH on the brain MR images, regardless of nonpostural headache, atypical SIH should be suspected.