bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
NOVEL EVIDENCE SUGGESTING AN ANTI‐OXIDANT PROPERTY FOR ERYTHROPOIETIN ON VANCOMYCIN‐INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN A RAT MODEL
Authors: Cetin Hasan , Olgar şeref , Oktem Faruk , Ciris Metin , Uz Efkan , Aslan Çaǧatay , Ozguner Fehmi 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARY

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of oxidative stress in renal injury and to determine whether erythropoietin (EPO) acts as an anti‐oxidant in vancomycin (VCM)‐induced renal impairment.
Twenty‐four rats were divided into three groups as follows: (i) control (Group 1); (ii) VCM treated (Group 2); and (iii) VCM + EPO treated (Group 3). Vancomycin (200 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to Groups 2 and 3 for 7 days. Erythropoietin (150 IU/kg, i.p.) treatment was started 24 h before VCM and lasted for 7 days. On Day 8, renal tissues were excised and blood samples were collected. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were measured, along with renal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity and tissue VCM levels. The kidneys were examined for any histopathological changes.
Renal MDA levels were found to be increased, whereas SOD and CAT activity was decreased, in the VCM‐treated group compared with the control group. There was a marked decrease in MDA levels and an increase in SOD activity, but not CAT activity, after VCM + EPO treatment. Marked histopathological alterations, including interstitial oedema, tubular dilatation, tubular epithelial cell desquamation and vacuolization, were observed in VCM‐treated rats. Histopathological changes were significantly improved after EPO administration.
In conclusion, the present data suggest that oxidative stress plays an important role in VCM‐induced nephrotoxicity. Erythropoietin seems to act as an anti‐oxidant, diminishing the toxic oxidative effects of VCM on renal tissues.
REVERSAL OF CISPLATIN‐INDUCED CARNITINE DEFICIENCY AND ENERGY STARVATION BY PROPIONYL‐l‐CARNITINE IN RAT KIDNEY TISSUES
Authors: Aleisa Abdulaziz M , Al‐Majed Abdulhakeem A , Al‐Yahya Abdulaziz A , Al‐Rejaie Salim S , Bakheet Saleh A , Al‐Shabanah Othman A , Sayed‐Ahmed Mohamed M 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARY

The present study examined whether propionyl‐l‐carnitine (PLC) could prevent the development of cisplatin (CDDP)‐induced acute renal failure in rats.
Forty adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. Rats in the first group were injected daily with normal saline (2.5 mL/kg, i.p.) for 10 consecutive days, whereas the second group received PLC (250 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 consecutive days. Animals in the third group were injected daily with normal saline for 5 consecutive days before and after a single dose of CDDP (7 mg/kg, i.p.). Rats in the fourth group received a combination of PLC (250 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 consecutive days before and after a single dose of CDDP (7 mg/kg, i.p.). On Day 6 following CDDP treatment, animals were killed and serum and kidneys were isolated for analysis.
Injection of CDDP resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) and total nitrate/nitrite (NOx), as well as a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH), total carnitine, ATP and ATP/ADP in kidney tissues.
Administration of PLC significantly attenuated the nephrotoxic effects of CDDP, manifested as normalization of the CDDP‐induced increase in serum creatinine, BUN, TBARS and NOx and the CDDP‐induced decrease in total carnitine, GSH, ATP and ATP/ADP in kidney tissues.
Histopathological examination of kidney tissues from CDDP‐treated rats showed severe nephrotoxicity, in which 50–75% of glomeruli and renal tubules exhibited massive degenerative changes. Interestingly, administration of PLC to CDDP‐treated rats resulted in a significant improvement in glomeruli and renal tubules, in which less than 25% of glomeruli and renal tubules exhibited focal necrosis.
Data from the present study suggest that PLC prevents the development of CDDP‐induced acute renal injury by a mechanism related, at least in part, to the ability of PLC to increase intracellular carnitine content, with a consequent improvement in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and energy production, as well as its ability to decrease oxidative stress. This will open new perspectives for the use of PLC in the treatment of renal diseases associated with or secondary to carnitine deficiency.
Continuous monitoring of predator control operations at landscape scale
Authors: King Carolyn M. , McDonald Roderick M. , Martin Ross D. , MacKenzie Darryl I. , Tempero Grant W. , Holmes Selena J. 
Published: July 2007

Summary  Exotic predators are considered pests to wildlife and agriculture, requiring predator‐control programs. Effective monitoring of predator‐control operations is essential to justify their considerable cost, but often impossible in practice. The difficulties are especially severe if the target species is small and wide‐ranging, and the area to be protected is inaccessible and/or extensive. A convenient model predator of this type, the feral Ferret (Mustela furo), is subject to control on farmland in New Zealand. We monitored the distribution of Ferrets over 2400 ha in the central North Island, before and throughout a standard control operation by professional trappers. We used 24 units of a new automated monitoring device, the Scentinel, set in a grid at 1 per 100 ha. Over 11 weeks (11 February to 29 April 2005, 1718 trap nights), we recorded 1559 visits by small mammals, including 198 by Ferrets. By the end of the 4th week, Ferrets had been detected at 17 of 24 sites. Removal of Ferrets from the study area by contractors began during the 5th week, and was reflected in significant declines in the number of Ferret visits recorded per day (P = 0.008) and the number of sites visited (P = 0.021). Analysis of our extensive repeat‐survey data by site‐occupancy methods confirmed these trends in greater detail, while also allowing for variation in detectability.
Apparent climatically induced increase of tree mortality rates in a temperate forest
Authors: Van Mantgem Phillip J. , Stephenson Nathan L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe provide a first detailed analysis of long‐term, annual‐resolution demographic trends in a temperate forest. After tracking the fates of 21 338 trees in a network of old‐growth forest plots in the Sierra Nevada of California, we found that mortality rate, but not the recruitment rate, increased significantly over the 22 years of measurement (1983–2004). Mortality rates increased in both of two dominant taxonomic groups (Abies and Pinus) and in different forest types (different elevational zones). The increase in overall mortality rate resulted from an increase in tree deaths attributed to stress and biotic causes, and coincided with a temperature‐driven increase in an index of drought. Our findings suggest that these forests (and by implication, other water‐limited forests) may be sensitive to temperature‐driven drought stress, and may be poised for die‐back if future climates continue to feature rising temperatures without compensating increases in precipitation.
Elucidation of metabolic pathways in glycogen‐accumulating organisms with in vivo13C nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Lemos Paulo C. , Dai Yu , Yuan Zhiguo , Keller Jurg , Santos Helena , Reis Maria A. M. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryGlycogen‐accumulating organisms (GAOs) are found in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems where they compete with polyphosphate‐accumulating organisms for external carbon substrates. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C‐NMR) was used to elucidate the metabolic pathways operating in an enriched GAO culture dominated by two known GAOs (81.2%). The experiments consisted of adding 13C‐acetate (labelled on position 1 or 2) to the culture under anaerobic conditions, and operating the culture through a cycle consisting of an anaerobic, an aerobic and a further anaerobic phase. The carbon transformations over the cycle were monitored using in vivo13C‐NMR. The two‐carbon moieties in hydroxybutyrate and hydroxyvalerate were derived from acetate, while the propionyl precursor of hydroxyvalerate was primarily derived from glycogen, with only a small fraction originating from acetate. Comparison of the labelling patterns in hydroxyvalerate at the end of the first and the second anaerobic periods in pulse experiments with 2‐13C‐acetate showed that the Entner–Doudoroff (ED) pathway was used for the breakdown of glycogen. This conclusion was further supported by the labelling pattern on glycogen observed in the pulse experiments with 1‐13C‐acetate, which can only be explained by the operation of ED with recycling of pyruvate and glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate via gluconeogenesis. The activity of the ED pathway for glycogen degradation by GAOs is demonstrated here for the first time. In addition, the decarboxylating part of the tricarboxylic acid cycle was confirmed to operate also under anaerobic conditions.
Effects of age and sex on immunological and virological responses to initial highly active antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Patterson K , Napravnik S , Eron J , Keruly J , Moore R 
Published: July 2007

BackgroundHighly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has increased longevity. Currently, women comprise >50% of HIV‐infected individuals worldwide. It is not known if there are differences between the sexes in the immunological and virological responses to HAART across the age strata.MethodsImmunological reconstitution and virological response in the first 6 months of a first HAART regimen in two observational clinical HIV‐infected cohorts were compared by both sex and age (≥50 vs. <50 years old).ResultsA total of 246 individuals (28% women) were included in the study; 63 cases (≥50 years old) and 183 controls (<50 years old). Over two‐thirds of patients had HIV RNA levels <400 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL and CD4 count increases ≥50 cells/μL at 6 months from therapy initiation. There were no differences in immunological reconstitution across age and sex strata (P=0.81) and no differences in virological suppression, even after adjusting for type of HAART (P=0.68) or restricting the analysis to women only (P=0.81). These results suggest that younger and older women and men may have similar short‐term initial HAART outcomes.ConclusionsFurther evaluation of longer term clinical response to initial HAART regimen based on sex and age is indicated, especially with more efficacious and simplified antiretroviral regimens and the associated decrease in mortality.
Startle reflex modulation and autonomic responding during anxious apprehension in panic disorder patients
Authors: Melzig Christiane A. , Weike Almut I. , Zimmermann Jörg , Hamm Alfons O. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe present study explored anxious apprehension in panic disorder patients and controls in two threat conditions, darkness and threat of shock. Autonomic arousal and startle eyeblink reflexes were recorded in 26 panic disorder patients and 22 controls during adaptation, a safe condition, threat of shock, and darkness. Exposure to darkness resulted in a clear potentiation of the startle reflex. Panic patients but not controls responded with an increase in heart rate that was positively related to severity of agoraphobic avoidance. Threat of shock resulted in a startle potentiation that tended to be stronger in panic patients without comorbid depression than controls and attenuated in those patients who suffered from severe depression. These data suggest that only panic patients without depression belong to the fear disorders spectrum whereas panic patients with comorbid depression might rather belong to the distress disorders profile.
GETTING PRIMARY CARE ON THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
Authors: WOODS PHILIP , JONES KATHERINE 
Published: July 2007

As a result of a request from the Royal Commission on the NHS, the Welsh Consumer Council carried out a sample survey of two groups of people: parents of children under 10 and the elderly (aged 60 or over). The purpose of the study was to find out how accessible GPs, chemists, dentists, opticians and chiropodists were, and the two sampled groups were thought to consist of those likely to make the heaviest demands on these services.A higher proportion of the parents, compared with the elderly, experienced difficulties in getting to see the GP and obtaining treatment. The attitude and manner of doctors, the rushed nature of consultations, long waits for appointments and the response to requests for home visits were all criticized, albeit by a minority. Nearly half the parents asked the chemist for advice about minor ailments. Concerning dental and ophthalmic treatment, the main problem was cost. Some elderly people had long and painful waits between chiropody appointments and the chiropody service appears to be understaffed.
AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG WIFE'S EMPLOYMENT STATUS, STAGE IN THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE, MEAL PREPARATION TIME, AND EXPENDITURES FOR MEALS AWAY FROM HOME
Authors: GOEBEL KAREN P. , HENNON CHARLES B. 
Published: July 2007

The allocation of time is an ultimate reflection of quality of life choices. Since the current trend for increased proportions of dual wage earner families will probably continue, data on how they allocate and consume time will help in clarification of this dual wage earner lifestyle on future consumer decision making and behaviour.Role theory is used to organize data on the relationships between consumption of time in the wives’ provider and homemaker roles. The relationship between purchased services, i.e. meal preparation, and wives’ time use is explored. Employment is related to meal preparation time, but not to the substitution of buying meals away from home. The age of the youngest child is important in explaining out‐of‐home meals. Implications for research and future lifestyles are discussed.
Environmental education: a task for home economists
Authors: FEGEBANK BARBARA 
Published: July 2007

Environmental education, with its aims of promoting an awareness of and responsibility for the environment, should be a lifelong process in order to protect the environment now and in the future. As home economics education takes place at all levels and in all kinds of schools throughout the world it can be used to demonstrate practical consequences and to motivate personal responsibility. Multiplierc in home economics (professors, teachers, etc) therefore have to integrate environmental education into home economics education and training. It is very important not just to enter into the so called ‘technical protection’ of the environment (water cleaning, reduction of waste, etc.) but to integrate environmental issues into a global view based on a holistic concept.Environmental education in home economics in different countries will be analysed but the main example will be the environmental education in the Federal Republic of Germany (F. R. G.). At the same time questions of content and aims will be discussed.
Comparison of single vs. multiple administrations of the AMPA receptors modulator S 18986 in the object recognition task in rats
Authors: Bertaina‐Anglade V. , Drieu la Rochelle C. , Muñoz C. , Morain P. , Bernard K. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe present study aimed at defining the best scheme of administration of the α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor‐positive modulator (S)‐2,3‐dihydro‐[3,4]‐cyclopentano‐1,2,4‐benzothiadiazine‐1,1‐dioxide (S 18986) [once daily (o.d.) administration of 1 mg/kg for 3 days vs. three times daily (t.i.d.) administration of 0.3 mg/kg for 3 days] to get an optimal procognitive activity in the object recognition task in rats. Memory performance [Recognition Index (RI)] of rats was significantly improved 1 h (RI = 41%, P < 0.01) and 3 h (RI = 46%, P < 0.001) following oral administration of S 18986 (1 mg/kg, o.d.) when compared with animals receiving the vehicle (RI = 6%). When the interval between administration and testing was increased to 6 h and 9 h, no statistically significant improvement in memory performance was observed (RI = 42% for 6 h and RI = 18% for 9 h vs. 20% for the vehicle group). When S 18986 was administered at 0.3 mg/kg t.i.d., no statistically significant improvement in memory performance was observed (RI = 36%). These findings show a long‐lasting efficacy of the AMPA receptor allosteric modulator in the object recognition task despite a short half‐life in plasma and in brain (approximately 1 h). Accordingly, multiple administrations of S 18986 are not required to obtain a maximal efficacy in this paradigm, because a o.d. schedule of administration leads to a powerful procognitive activity.
Genetic polymorphisms of drug‐metabolizing enzymes CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 in the Greek population
Authors: Arvanitidis Kostas , Ragia Georgia , Iordanidou Maria , Kyriaki Sofia , Xanthi Athanasia , Tavridou Anna , Manolopoulos Vangelis G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of the most common allelic variants of the polymorphic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 and to predict the genotype frequency for each polymorphism in the Greek population. DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples derived from 283 non‐related Greek ethnic subjects was used to determine the frequency of CYP2D6*3, CYP2D6*4, CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3 and CYP3A5*3 allelic variants by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐restriction fragment length polymorphism method, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 with allelic specific amplification (PCR‐ASA), and CYP2D6*2 (gene duplications) by long PCR analysis. The allelic frequencies (out of a total of 566 alleles) for CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4, were 2.3% and 17.8%, respectively, while gene duplications (CYP2D6*2) were found in 7.4% of the subjects tested. For CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 polymorphisms the allelic frequencies were 12.9% and 8.13% respectively. For CYP2C19, the *2 polymorphism was present at an allelic frequency of 13.1%, while no subjects were found carrying the CYP2C19*3 allele. Finally, the CYP3A5*3 allele was abundantly present in the Greek population with an allelic frequency of 94.4%. Overall our results show that the frequencies of the common defective allelic variants of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 in Greek subjects are similar to those reported for several other Caucasian populations. Finally, a high prevalence of CYP2D6 gene duplication among Greeks was found, a finding that strengthens the idea that a South/North gradient exists in the occurrence of CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers in European populations.
Regulation of replicative senescence by insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 3 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
Authors: Kim Kwang Seok , Kim Min‐Sun , Seu Young Bae , Chung Hae Young , Kim Jung Hye , Kim Jae‐Ryong 
Published: July 2007

SummaryInsulin/insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathways are among the most conserved processes in aging in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals. Previously, using cDNA microarray technology, we reported that expression of IGF‐binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), one of the IGF‐binding proteins, was increased with age in human dermal fibroblasts. In this study, the role of IGFBP3 on cellular senescence was studied in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The expression levels of IGFBP3 mRNA and protein were increased in HUVECs with age. Knockdown of IGFBP3 in old cells with IGFBP3 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) retrovirus resulted in the partial reduction of a variety of senescent phenotypes, such as changes in cell morphology, and decreases in population doubling times and senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐β‐gal) staining. Down‐regulation of IGFBP3 rescued the growth arrest induced by p53 overexpression in young HUVECs. In contrast, up‐regulation of IGFBP3 in young cells and prolonged IGFBP3 treatment accelerated cellular senescence, confirmed by cell proliferation and SA‐β‐gal staining. The FOXO3a (forkhead box O3a) protein level was increased in old IGFBP3 shRNA cells. The treatment of young HUVECs with IGFBP3 repressed the levels of FOXO3a protein. Furthermore, calorie restriction reduced IGFBP3 protein levels, which were found to be increased with age in the rat liver and serum. These results suggest that IGFBP3 might play an important role in the cellular senescence of HUVECs as well as in vivo aging.
Epidermal stem cells are resistant to cellular aging
Authors: Stern Matthew M. , Bickenbach Jackie R. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryThe epidermis of the skin, acting as the primary physical barrier between self and environment, is a dynamic tissue whose maintenance is critical to the survival of an organism. Like most other tissues and organs, the epidermis is maintained and repaired by a population of resident somatic stem cells. The epidermal stem cells reside in the proliferative basal cell layer and are believed to persist for the lifetime of an individual. Acting through intermediaries known as transit amplifying cells, epidermal stem cells ensure that the enormous numbers of keratinocytes required for epidermal homeostasis to be maintained are generated. This continual demand for new cell production must be met over the entire lifetime of an individual. Breakdown of the epidermal barrier would have catastrophic consequences. This leads us to question whether or not epidermal stem cells represent a unique population of cells which, by necessity, might be resistant to cellular aging. We hypothesized that the full physiologic functional capacity of epidermal stem cells is maintained over an entire lifetime. Using murine skin epidermis as our model system, we compared several properties of young and old adult epidermal stem cells. We found that, over an average mouse's lifetime, there was no measurable loss in the physiologic functional capacity of epidermal stem cells, leading us to conclude that murine epidermal stem cells resist cellular aging.
The Credibility of Voluntary Disclosure and Insider Stock Transactions
Authors: GU FENG , LI JOHN Q. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTWe examine stock price reaction to voluntary disclosure of innovation strategy by high‐tech firms and its relation with insider stock transactions before the disclosure. We find that, despite the qualitative and subjective nature of strategy‐related disclosure, there is positive stock price reaction to the disclosure. The evidence suggests that investors view the disclosure as credible good news. We also find that the disclosure is associated with more positive stock price reaction when it is preceded by insider purchase transactions. This evidence is consistent with insider purchase enhancing the credibility of the disclosure. The credibility‐enhancing effect is found to be stronger for firms with higher degrees of information asymmetry (younger firms, firms with lower analyst following, loss firms, and firms with higher research and development (R&D) intensity). Our evidence also indicates that predisclosure insider purchase is associated with greater future abnormal returns, suggesting that managers are privy to good news shortly before the disclosure.