bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Premotor sympathetic neurons of conditioned fear in the rat
Authors: Carrive Pascal , Gorissen Marika 
Published: July 2008

AbstractConditioned fear to context, a pure form of psychological stress, is associated with sympathetically mediated changes including a marked hypertension. To identify the possible premotor sympathetic neurons mediating these changes, we conducted double‐immunolabelling experiments combining fear‐induced Fos with retrograde tracing from the thoracic cord (T2‐L1). Presympathetic groups showing the greatest increase in the proportion of spinally projecting cells double‐labelled with Fos compared with resting controls were the perifornical area (PeF; 22.7% vs. 0.4%) and paraventricular nucleus (Pa; 10.5% vs. 0.2%) in the hypothalamus, and the A5 noradrenergic group (33.6% vs. 0.2%) in the pons. In contrast, there was only a small increase in the presympathetic groups of the rostral ventral medulla, including the lateral paragigantocellular group (LPGi; 4.3% vs. 0.5%), raphe magnus and pallidus (1.1% vs. 0.6% and 1.8% vs. 0.5%), and the vasopressor group of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM; 1.9% vs. 0.8%). PeF, Pa, A5 and LPGi accounted for 21, 15, 16 and 6% of all the double‐labelled cells, respectively, and RVLM for only 1%. Double‐immunolabelling of Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase confirmed that many A5 neurons were activated (19%) and that practically no C1 neurons in RVLM were (1.3%). The results suggest that the main premotor sympathetic drive of the fear response comes from hypothalamic (PeF and Pa) and A5 neurons that project directly to the thoracic cord and bypass medullary presympathetic groups, and that the vasopressor premotor sympathetic neurons of the RVLM are unlikely to mediate the hypertensive pressure response of contextual fear.
Spatial coordinate systems for tactile spatial attention depend on developmental vision: evidence from event‐related potentials in sighted and congenitally blind adult humans
Authors: Röder Brigitte , Föcker Julia , Hötting Kirsten , Spence Charles 
Published: July 2008

AbstractChanges in limb posture (such as crossing the hands) can impair people’s performance in tasks such as those involving temporal order judgements, when one tactile stimulus is presented to either hand. This crossed hands deficit has been attributed to a conflict between externally and anatomically anchored reference systems when people localize tactile stimuli. Interestingly, however, the performance of congenitally blind adults does not seem to be affected by crossing the hands, suggesting a default use of an anatomically rather than an externally anchored reference system for tactile localization. In the present study, 12 congenitally blind and 12 sighted adults were instructed to attend to either the left or the right hand on a trial‐by‐trial basis in order to detect rare deviants (consisting of a double touch) at that hand, while ignoring both deviants at the other hand and frequent standard stimuli (consisting of a single touch) presented to either hand. Only the sighted participants performed less accurately when they crossed their hands. Concurrent electroencephalogram recordings revealed an early contralateral attention positivity, followed by an attention negativity in the sighted group when they adopted the uncrossed hands posture. For the crossed hand posture, only the attention negativity was observed with reduced amplitude in the sighted group. By contrast, the congenitally blind group displayed an event‐related potential attention negativity that did not vary when the posture of their hands was changed. These results demonstrate that the default use of an external frame of reference for tactile localization seems to depend on developmental vision.
Dopamine release in organotypic cultures of foetal mouse mesencephalon: effects of depolarizing agents, pargyline, nomifensine, tetrodotoxin and calcium
Authors: Larsen Trine R. , Rossen Sine , Gramsbergen Jan B. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractOrganotypic mesencephalic cultures provide an attractivein vitroalternative to study development of the nigrostriatal system and pathophysiological mechanisms related to Parkinson’s disease. However, dopamine (DA) release mechanisms have been poorly characterized in such cultures. We report here endogenous DA release (assessed by high‐performance liquid chromatography) in organotypic cultures of foetal mouse (E12) midbrain following single or multiple challenges (1‐h incubations) with high K+or veratridine in the presence or absence of pargyline, nomifensine, calcium and/or tetrodotoxin (TTX). Basal (i.e. spontaneous) DA release was only detected in the presence of pargyline and nomifensine (PN), and was highly dependent on calcium and sensitive to TTX. Basal DA release increased 2.4‐fold between week 3 (1st DA release experiment) and week 4in vitro(3rd DA release experiment), DA tissue levels increased 1.6‐fold and DA release expressed as a percentage of total DA (medium + tissue contents) increased from 20% to 34% during this growth periodin vitro. Co‐treatments with high K+or veratridine did not cause major changes in percentages of DA release. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased by high K+, but not by the other drug treatments. The acute (single or multiple) treatments with depolarizing agents did not affect the survival of dopaminergic neurons, but chronic low‐level veratridine treatments were toxic.
Comparison of spatial integration and surround suppression characteristics in spiking activity and the local field potential in macaque V1
Authors: Gieselmann M. A. , Thiele A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractNeurons in primary visual cortex exhibit well documented centre–surround receptive field organization, whereby the centre is dominated by excitatory influences and the surround is generally dominated by inhibitory influences. These effects have largely been established by measuring the output of neurons, i.e. their spiking activity. How excitation and inhibition are reflected in the local field potential (LFP) is little understood. As this can bear on the interpretation of human fMRI BOLD data and on our understanding of the mechanisms of local field potential oscillations, we measured spatial integration and centre–surround properties in single‐ and multiunit recordings of V1 in the awake fixating macaque monkey, and compared these to spectral power in different frequency bands of simultaneously recorded LFPs. We quantified centre–surround organization by determining the size of the summation and suppression area in spiking activity as well as in different frequency bands of the LFP, with the main focus on the gamma band. Gratings extending beyond the summation area usually inhibited spiking activity while the LFP gamma‐band activity increased monotonically for all grating sizes. This increase was maximal for stimuli infringing upon the near classical receptive field surround, where suppression started to dominate spiking activity. Thus, suppressive influences in primary cortex can be inferred from spiking activity, but they also seem to affect specific features of gamma‐band LFP activity.
Nociceptive spinothalamic tract and postsynaptic dorsal column neurons are modulated by paraventricular hypothalamic activation
Authors: Rojas‐Piloni Gerardo , Martínez‐Lorenzana Guadalupe , DelaTorre Salvador , Condés‐Lara Miguel 
Published: July 2008

AbstractPreviously, we demonstrated that stimulation of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus diminishes the nociceptive dorsal horn neuronal responses, and this decrease was mediated by oxytocin in the rat. In addition, we have proposed that oxytocin indirectly inhibits sensory transmission in dorsal horn neurons by exciting spinal inhibitory GABAergic interneurons. The main purpose of the present study was to identify which of the neurons projecting to supraspinal structures to transmit somatic information are modulated by the hypothalamic‐spinal descending activation. In anaesthetized rats, single‐unit extracellular and juxtacellular recordings were made from dorsal horn lumbar segments, which receive afferent input from the toe and hind‐paw regions. The projecting spinothalamic tract and postsynaptic dorsal column system were identified antidromically. Additionally, in order to label the projecting dorsal horn neurons, we injected fluorescent retrograde neuronal tracers into the ipsilateral gracilis nucleus and contralateral ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus. Hence, juxtacellular recordings were made to iontophoretically label the recorded neurons with a fluorescent dye and identify the recorded projecting cells. We found that only nociceptive evoked responses in spinothalamic tract and postsynaptic dorsal column neurons were significantly inhibited (48.1 ± 4.6 and 47.7 ± 8.2%, respectively) and non‐nociceptive responses were not affected by paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus stimulation. We conclude that the hypothalamic‐spinal system selectively affects the transmission of nociceptive information of projecting spinal cord cells.
The Association of Different Right Atrium Anatomical‐Functional Characteristics Correlates with the Risk of Paradoxical Stroke: An Intracardiac Echocardiographic Study
Authors: RIGATELLI GIANLUCA , CARDAIOLI PAOLO , DELL'AVVOCATA FABIO , GIORDAN MASSIMO , BRAGGION GABRIELE , AGGIO SILVIO , CHINAGLIA MAURO , RONCON LORIS 
Published: July 2008

Background:

The contribution of different right atrium anatomical‐functional characteristics to the risk of paradoxical stroke has not been extensively investigated, probably in part because of the limits of standard echocardiography.
Objective:

We sought to assess, using intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), the right atrium anatomical‐functional characteristics and their role in the pathophysiology of paradoxical embolism in a sample of patent foramen ovale (PFO) patients undergoing transcatheter PFO closure.
Methods:

Over a 36‐month period, we prospectively enrolled 114 consecutive patients (mean age 38+/− 10.5 years, 67 female) referred to our center for PFO catheter‐based closure. On ICE study, all sensible characteristics other than PFO and mild ASA were recorded, including prominent EV or large CN, basal shunt without Valsalva maneuver, moderate to severe ASA, and multiperforated fossa ovalis.
Results:

After TEE and ICE study and measurements, a prominent EV or CN was diagnosed on ICE in 73%, a basal shunt was present in 48%, a moderate to severe ASA in 47%, and a multiperforated FO in 24% of patients. A tight correlation between number of concurrent factors and proportion of patients with curtain pattern on TC Doppler, larger right‐to‐left shunt, recurrent cerebral paradoxical embolism before closure, and migraine with aura was clearly evident (r ≥= 0.97). Basal shunt and concurrent ≥= 3 anatomical functional right atrium characteristics resulted as independent predictors of recurrent paradoxical embolisms.
Conclusions:

Our data suggest that right atrium anatomical‐functional characteristics other than PFO and mild ASA as assessed by ICE deeply affect the pathophysiology of paradoxical stroke.
Long‐Term Clinical Outcomes of the Drug‐Eluting Stents in the Real World (DESIRE) Registry
Authors: SOUSA AMANDA , COSTA, Jr J. RIBAMAR , MOREIRA ADRIANA C. , CANO MANUEL , MALDONADO GALO , COSTA RICARDO A. , PAVANELLO RICARDO , ROMANO EDSON R. , CAMPOS CANTIDIO , HADDAD NAGIB , ABIZAID ALEXANDRE , FERES FAUSTO , MATTOS LUIZ ALBERTO , STAICO RODOLFO , SOUSA J. EDUARDO 
Published: July 2008

Background: Recently, cardiologists have treated more complex patients and lesions with drug‐eluting stents (DES). However, long‐term efficacy and safety of the off‐label use of these new devices is yet to be demonstrated.
Methods: The Drug‐Eluting Stents in the Real World (DESIRE) registry is a prospective, nonrandomized single‐center registry with consecutive patients treated solely with DES between May 2002 and May 2007. The primary end‐point was long‐term occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Patients were clinically evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months and then annually up to 5 years.
Results: A total of 2,084 patients (2,864 lesions and 3,120 DES) were included. The mean age was 63.8 ± 11.5 years. Diabetes was detected in 28.9% and 40.7% presented with acute coronary syndrome. Cypher™ was the predominant DES in this registry (83.5%). Mean follow‐up time was 2.6 ± 1.2 years and was obtained in 96.5% of the eligible patients. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) was performed in 3.3% of the patients. Q wave myocardial infarction (MI) occurred in only 0.7% of these patients and total stent thrombosis rate was 1.6% (n = 33). Independent predictors of thrombosis were PCI in the setting of MI (HR 11.2; 95% CI, 9.6–12.4, P = 0.001), lesion length (HR 4.6; 95% CI, 3.2–5.3, P = 0.031), moderate to severe calcification at lesion site (HR 13.1; 95% CI, 12.1–16.7, P < 0.001), and in‐stent residual stenosis (HR 14.5; 95% CI, 10.2–17.6, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The use of DES in unselected population is associated with long‐term safety and effectiveness with acceptable low rates of adverse clinical events.
Clinical Outcomes Following Drug‐Eluting versus Bare Metal Stent Implantation for Lesion Subsets Excluded from Pivotal Clinical Trials: Findings from the GHOST Study (Guthrie Health System Off‐Label StenT Study)
Authors: HARJAI KISHORE J. , ORSHAW PAMELA , SHENOY CHETAN , ACHARJI SUBASIT , SPORN DANIEL , ABOUFARES ALI , STAPLETON DWIGHT 
Published: July 2008

Objectives: We assessed outcomes of patients undergoing drug‐eluting stent (DES) vs. bare metal stent (BMS) implantation for complex lesions excluded from pivotal clinical trials of DES.
Background: Although DES improve target vessel revascularization (TVR) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to BMS in randomized trials, data on safety and efficacy of DES in complex lesions are insufficient.
Methods: In a single‐center registry of 1,354 patients who underwent stent implantation for complex lesions between July 2001 and December 2005, we compared the incidence of death, death or myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis [definite or probable by the Academic Research Consortium (ARC) criteria], TVR, and MACE between patients who received DES (n = 483) versus those who received BMS (n = 871). Mean duration of follow‐up was 494 versus 838 days in DES and BMS groups, respectively.
Results: Clinical outcomes in DES versus BMS groups were as follows: death 5.2% versus 11.5% (log‐rank P = 0.042); death/MI 11.2% versus 16.7% (P = 0.47), stent thrombosis 2.9% versus 2.6% (P = 0.61), TVR 6.6 versus 18.5% (P < 0.0001), MACE 14.9% versus 29.7% (P = 0.0002), respectively. After adjustment for baseline differences, DES implantation was associated with lower TVR (adjusted hazards ratio HR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.26–0.56, P < 0.0001) and MACE (HR = 0.56, CI 0.42–0.74, P < 0.0001) without significant impact on other outcomes. In 933 patients who underwent DES (n = 483) or BMS (n = 450) implantation in the year 2003 or later, DES implantation similarly lowered TVR and MACE without affecting other outcomes.
Conclusions: Our findings support the safety and efficacy of DES in patient subsets excluded from pivotal randomized clinical trials of DES.
Protective effect of the Baicalin against DNA damage induced by ultraviolet B irradiation to mouse epidermis
Authors: Bing‐Rong Zhou , Song‐Liang Jin , Xiao‐E Chen , Xiang‐Fei Lin , Bao‐Xiang Cai , Jie Gao , Dan Luo 
Published: July 2008

Purpose: To investigate whether topical application of Baicalin affords protecting Balb/C mice epidermis from ultraviolet (UV)B‐induced DNA damage and its underlying mechanisms.Methods: A DNA damage model of UVB irradiation‐induced mice epidermis was established. The immunohistochemical staining, Southwestern dot‐blotting were used for cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) detection; Western blotting was used for p53 detection; reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to detect the mRNA level of Bcl‐2 and Bax; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptotic cells.Results: Topical application of Baicalin on Balb/C mice skin significantly decreased the amount of epidermal CPDs 1, 24 and 48 h after 180 mJ/cm2 of UVB irradiation as compared with untreated mice. UVB‐induced apoptosis was less pronounced in Baicalin‐treated mice epidermis, which was accompanied by less p53 accumulation and higher Bcl‐2/Bax ratio compared with that of untreated mice.Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that topical Baicalin application mitigates DNA photo‐damage. Baicalin is therefore a promising protective substance against UVB radiation.
Regeneration of dentine/pulp‐like tissue using a dental pulp stem cell/poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid scaffold construct in New Zealand white rabbits
Authors: El‐Backly Rania M. , Massoud Ahmed G. , El‐Badry Azza M. , Sherif Raef A. , Marei Mona K. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWith the expanding knowledge of tooth regeneration and biological mechanisms of functional dental tissue repair, current treatment strategies are beginning to give way to evolving fields such as tissue engineering and biomimetics. Dental pulp stem cells were isolated from rabbit teeth and seeded onto scaffolds prepared from 50/50 poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) polymers using two different porogen particle sizes. These cell/scaffold constructs were then transplanted subcutaneously in the rabbits. The expanded rabbit dental pulp stem cells showed high proliferative and clonogenic capacities as well as the ability to give rise to mineralised‐like tissues in vitro in culture flasks and after seeding them onto the scaffolds for 12 days. Histological evaluation of transplanted samples revealed the formation of osteodentine‐like structures as well as tubular bilayered structures of vertically aligned parallel tubules resembling tubular‐like dentine. Using a tissue engineering approach yielded tissues quite similar to normal dentine/pulp‐like tissues that can perhaps be used later on for regenerative endodontic or operative procedures.
Response of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus, to Different Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels in Practical Diets
Authors: Ahmad Mohammad H. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract This study was conducted to find the optimum level of dietary protein and lipid that could produce the highest growth, best feed utilization, and body composition of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (9.5–10.3 g). Nine diets (three protein levels × three lipid levels) containing 25, 30, or 35% crude protein (CP) with 6, 9, and 12% lipids were formulated. Fish were fed one of the tested diets at the rate of 5% of body weight for the first 8 wk and 3% for the rest of the study. Diets were offered 6 d a week, twice a day (900 and 1400 h) for 13 wk. Fish growth increased significantly with increasing either protein or lipid levels, and the maximum growth was obtained in fish fed diets containing 30% CP with 12% lipid or 35% CP with 9% lipid. The lowest fish growth was obtained at 25% CP with 6% lipid. The optimum feed intake, feed conversion ratio, energy utilization, protein efficiency ratio, and protein growth rate were also recognized in fish fed the above diets. No significant differences in moisture and ash contents in fish fed diets containing different protein and lipid levels were recorded. The protein and lipid contents in the fish body tended to increase with increasing protein and lipid levels in diets. However, the higher protein contents were obtained in fish fed diets containing 35% CP with 6 or 9% lipid, while the lowest ones were obtained at 25% CP with 6 or 9% lipid. The higher lipid contents were obtained at 30 or 35% CP with 12% lipid, while the lowest ones were obtained at 25 or 35% CP with 6% lipid. The present study indicates that the increase of dietary lipid level has a protein‐sparing effect, and the diet containing 30% CP with 12% lipid would be suitable for the optimum growth and effective protein utilization of fingerling African catfish.
Impact of Long‐term Training and Extension Support on Small‐scale Carp Polyculture Farms of Bangladesh
Authors: Murshed‐E‐Jahan Khondker , Beveridge Malcolm C. M. , Brooks Alan C. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractOne of the unique features of the Development of Sustainable Aquaculture Project of the WorldFish Center, Bangladesh, was the provision of 3 y of continuous training and extension in support of the fish farmers involved. It was expected that the long‐term support would make a significant contribution to boosting production and incomes as well as sustainability. The article demonstrates the impact of the training and extension support to small‐scale carp polyculture farmers in terms of productivity, profitability, and efficiency. The study used data collected from 225 project farmers and 123 control farmers during 2002/2003 to 2005/2006. The results show that the project farmers achieved an average growth rate in productivity terms (kg/ha) of about 23% per annum compared with only 3.8% among control farmers. Estimated annual return on investment per demonstration farm exhibits 52% higher return over the 3‐y intervention period. During 2002/2003 to 2005/2006, the average technical efficiency score of project farmers increased from 0.55 to 0.86 compared with an average increase from 0.67 to 0.78 among control farmers over the same time period. The results showed that the efficiency gains and resulting increased productivity came from the development of human capital through long‐term efficient and effective training and extension support.
Characterization of Small‐size Egg‐bearing Thai ss‐strain Rotifers Brachionus rotundiformis and Their First Offspring
Authors: Somamihardja Agus , Bart Amrit 
Published: July 2008

Abstract This study selected small (100–120 μm) egg‐bearing females from a local Thai ss population and characterized their first offspring‘s life history in an attempt to produce small‐size rotifers. Mean lorica length of selected small adult females was 120 ± 6 μm at the time of collection, and this mean length did not increase over their lifetime. While their first offspring life span was only 5.11 ± 0.35 d, the reference population longevity was higher, 9.65 ± 0.4 d. The length of reproductive period of offspring from the small‐size egg‐bearing female was 2.58 ± 0.38 d, shorter than that of reference population 6.83 ± 0.58 d. Although the rate of egg production was not different between small egg‐bearing female and reference population, the total number of eggs produced by the small egg‐bearing female’s first offspring was lower (4.78 ± 0.60) compared to the reference population (11.83 ± 1.26). The small egg‐bearing female’s first offspring had a higher egg to lorica length ratio (76.1 ± 1.64%) than the reference population (56.6 ± 1.3%), indicating a relatively high investment in reproduction. The small egg‐bearing female’s first offspring reached only 125 ± 6 μm in 36 h, and further culture of their offspring over 35 d resulted in a mean offspring size, 163 ± 11 μm, similar to the reference population (159 ± 16 μm). This shows that population mean size reduction is not likely to result from selecting small egg‐bearing females within a single generation. The unique reproductive characteristics of small egg‐bearing female place it in its own category.