bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing cell fate in the infarct rim
Authors: Yao Hang , Shu Yousheng , Wang Juan , Brinkman Brendan C. , Haddad Gabriel G. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIn focal ischemia, the fate of penumbral cells is closely linked to the infarcted tissue. Because of the release of cytosolic material from damaged cells, the biochemical and ionic alterations within the core are dramatic. Hence, adjacent cells ( infarct rim) are generally exposed to these changes and may be deleteriously affected. To mimic such conditions in vitro, we have employed a slice culture system and used an ischemic solution (IS) that resembles the milieu in the territory of infarct rim. In contrast to normal artificial cerebral spinal fluid, IS is characterized by low O2, glucose, pH; excitotoxic levels of glutamate; and ionic alterations. In organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, we examined cell injury/death using propidium iodide following exposure to IS. Our data show significant cell injury starting at ∼8 h following IS exposure with cell injury spreading as a function of exposure duration. We further studied the effect of each component in the IS separately, i.e., acidosis, hypoxia, ionic shifts or glutamate exitotoxicity and were able to isolate the contribution of each of these effectors to the IS‐induced cell death. Our results suggest that in IS, acidosis exacerbates the potential for injury while ionic shifts, especially those of K+ and Na+, alleviate the potential for cell death.
Neurochemical changes in Huntington R6/2 mouse striatum detected by in vivo1H NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Tkac Ivan , Dubinsky Janet M. , Keene C. Dirk , Gruetter Rolf , Low Walter C. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe neurochemical profile of the striatum of R6/2 Huntington’s disease mice was examined at different stages of pathogenesis using in vivo1H NMR spectroscopy at 9.4 T. Between 8 and 12 weeks, R6/2 mice exhibited distinct changes in a set of 17 quantifiable metabolites compared with littermate controls. Concentrations of creatine, glycerophosphorylcholine, glutamine and glutathione increased and N‐acetylaspartate decreased at 8 weeks. By 12 weeks, concentrations of phosphocreatine, taurine, ascorbate, glutamate, and myo‐inositol increased and phophorylethanolamine decreased. These metabolic changes probably reflected multiple processes, including compensatory processes to maintain homeostasis, active at different stages in the development of HD. The observed changes in concentrations suggested impairment of neurotransmission, neuronal integrity and energy demand, and increased membrane breakdown, gliosis, and osmotic and oxidative stress. Comparisons between metabolite concentrations from individual animals clearly distinguished HD transgenics from non‐diseased littermates and identified possible markers of disease progression. Metabolic changes in R6/2 striata were distinctly different from those observed previously in the quinolinic acid and 3NP models of HD. Longitudinal monitoring of changes in these metabolites may provide quantifiable measures of disease progression and treatment effects in both mouse models of HD and patients.
Hydrogen peroxide triggers the proteolytic cleavage and the inactivation of calcineurin
Authors: Lee Ji‐Eun , Kim Hyungsoo , Jang Hyonchol , Cho Eun‐Jung , Youn Hong‐Duk 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIncreases in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are correlated with a decrease in calcineurin (CN) activity under oxidative or neuropathological conditions. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this ROS‐mediated CN inactivation remains unclear. Here, we describe a mechanism for the inactivation of CN by hydrogen peroxide. The treatment of mouse primary cortical neuron cells with Aβ1–42 peptide and hydrogen peroxide triggered the proteolytic cleavage of CN and decreased its enzymatic activity. In addition, hydrogen peroxide was found to cleave CN in different types of cells. Calcium influx was not involved in CN inactivation during hydrogen peroxide‐mediated cleavage, but CN cleavage was partially blocked by chloroquine, indicating that an unidentified lysosomal protease is probably involved in its hydrogen peroxide‐mediated cleavage. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide triggered CN cleavage at a specific sequence within its catalytic domain, and the cleaved form of CN had no enzymatic ability to dephosphorylate nuclear factor in activated T cells. Thus, our findings suggest a molecular mechanism by which hydrogen peroxide inactivates CN by proteolysis in ROS‐related diseases.
Post‐trauma Lipitor treatment prevents endothelial dysfunction, facilitates neuroprotection, and promotes locomotor recovery following spinal cord injury
Authors: Pannu Ravinder , Christie Douglas K. , Barbosa Ernest , Singh Inderjit , Singh Avtar K. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractWe have previously reported neuroprotection in spinal cord injury (SCI) by Lipitor [atorvastatin (AT)]‐pre‐treatment. Though informative, pre‐treatment studies find only limited clinical application as trauma occurrence is unpredictable. Therefore, this study investigates the efficacy of AT treatment post‐SCI. In a rat model of contusion‐SCI resulting in complete hindlimb paralysis, AT treatment (5 mg/kg; gavage) was begun 2, 4, or 6 h post‐SCI followed by a once daily dose thereafter for 6 weeks. While the placebo vehicle (VHC)‐SCI rats showed substantial functional deficit, AT‐SCI animals exhibited significant functional recovery. AT diminished injury‐induced blood–spinal cord barrier (BSCB) dysfunction with significantly reduced infiltration and tumor necrosis factor‐α/interleukin‐1β/inducible nitric oxide synthase expression at site of injury. BSCB protection in AT‐SCI was attributable to attenuated matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP9) expression – a central player in BSCB disruption. Furthermore, endothelial MMP9 expression was found to be RhoA/ROCK pathway‐mediated and regulated by AT through an isoprenoid‐dependent mechanism. Attenuation of these early inflammatory events reduced secondary damage. Significant reduction in axonal degeneration, myelin degradation, gliosis, and neuronal apoptosis with resultant enhancement in tissue sparing was observed in AT‐SCI compared with VHC‐SCI. In summary, this novel report presenting the efficacy of post‐injury AT treatment might be of critical therapeutic value as effective treatments are currently unavailable for SCI.
Evidence for D2 receptor mediation of amphetamine‐induced normalization of locomotion and dopamine transporter function in hypoinsulinemic rats
Authors: Sevak Rajkumar J. , Owens W. Anthony , Koek Wouter , Galli Aurelio , Daws Lynette C. , France Charles P. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractDopamine (DA) D2 receptors regulate DA transporter (DAT) activity, and mediate some behavioral effects of amphetamine. DA clearance and amphetamine‐stimulated locomotion are reduced in hypoinsulinemic [streptozotocin (STZ)‐treated] rats, and these deficits are normalized by repeated treatment with amphetamine. Here, a role for D2 receptors in mediating amphetamine‐induced normalization of these parameters was investigated. One week after a saline or STZ injection (50 mg/kg), rats were treated with amphetamine (1.78 mg/kg), raclopride (0.056 mg/kg), saline, or combinations thereof, every‐other‐day for 8 days with locomotor activity measured following each treatment. Conditioned place preference (CPP) for amphetamine andin vivochronoamperometry to measure DA clearance were carried out on days 17 and 18, respectively, after STZ or saline. Baseline locomotion and DA clearance were significantly reduced in STZ‐treated rats compared with control rats. In STZ‐treated rats, amphetamine treatment normalized DA clearance, and restored the locomotor‐stimulating effects of amphetamine. Raclopride prevented normalization of these parameters. Amphetamine produced CPP in both STZ‐treated and control rats; raclopride significantly attenuated amphetamine‐induced CPP in control and not in STZ‐treated rats. These results support a role for D2 receptors in regulating DA transporter activity, and further demonstrate that D2 receptors contribute to changes in sensitivity to amphetamine in hypoinsulinemic rats.
Copper ions disrupt dopamine metabolism via inhibition of V‐H+‐ATPase: a possible contributing factor to neurotoxicity
Authors: Wimalasena D. Shyamali , Wiese Thomas J. , Wimalasena Kandatege 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe involvement of copper in the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration has been well documented but is not fully understood. Commonly, the effects are attributed to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production due to inherent redox properties of copper ions. Here we show copper can have physiological effects distinct from direct ROS production. First, we show that extragranular free copper inhibits the vesicular H+‐ATPase of resealed chromaffin granule ghosts. Extragranular ascorbate potentiates this inhibition. The inhibition is mixed type with Kis = 6.8 ± 2.8 µmol/L and Kii = 3.8 ± 0.6 µmol/L, with respect to ATP. Second, extracellular copper causes an inhibition of the generation of a pH‐gradient and rapid dissipation of pre‐generated pH and catecholamine gradients. Copper chelators and the ß‐amyloid peptide 1–42 were found to effectively prevent the inhibition. The inhibition is reversible and time‐independent suggesting the effects of extracellular copper on H+‐ATPase is direct, and not due to ROS. The physiological significance of these observations was shown by the demonstration that extracellular copper causes a dramatic perturbation of dopamine metabolism in SH‐SY5Y cells. Thus, we propose that the direct inhibition of the vesicular H+‐ATPase may also contribute to the neurotoxic effects of copper.
Transcription of rat TRPV1 utilizes a dual promoter system that is positively regulated by nerve growth factor
Authors: Xue Qing , Jong Beverly , Chen Tom , Schumacher Mark A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe capsaicin receptor, also known as ‘transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor subtype 1’ (TRPV1, VR1), is an ion channel subunit expressed in primary afferent nociceptors, which plays a critical role in pain transduction and thermal hyperalgesia. Increases in nociceptor TRPV1 mRNA and protein are associated with tissue injury–inflammation. As little is understood about what controls TRPV1 RNA transcription in nociceptors, we functionally characterized the upstream portion of the rat TRPV1 gene. Two functional rTRPV1 promoter regions and their transcription initiation sites were identified. Although both promoter regions directed transcriptional activity in nerve growth factor (NGF) treated rat sensory neurons, the upstream Core promoter was the most active in cultures enriched in sensory neurons. Because NGF is a key modulator of inflammatory pain, we examined the effect of NGF on rTRPV1 transcription in PC12 cells. NGF positively regulated transcriptional activity of both rTRPV1 promoter regions in PC12 cells. We propose that the upstream regulatory region of the rTRPV1 gene is composed of a dual promoter system that is regulated by NGF. These findings support the hypothesis that NGF produced under conditions of tissue injury and/or inflammation directs an increase of TRPV1 expression in nociceptors in part through a transcription‐dependent mechanism.
High tidal end expiratory flow – an index of dynamic hyperinflation?
Authors: Bake Björn , Houltz Birgitta , Sjölund Patrik 
Published: January 2007

SummaryDynamic hyperinflation is considered an important mechanism behind shortness of breath and reduced exercise capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Prevailing methods to assess dynamic hyperinflation are crude because of the large normal variation of both functional residual capacity and inspiratory capacity (IC). In the present study, we hypothesized that expiratory flow on a relatively high level near the end of tidal expiration is an indication of dynamic hyperinflation. A method to measure tidal end expiratory flow (TEEF), i.e. the flow between 0·6 s and 0·04 s before start of inspiration is presented and evaluated in 15 healthy subjects and 16 COPD patients. The COPD patients had more than twice as high TEEF values compared with the healthy subjects (45·4 ± 23·8 and 20·4 ± 7·3 ml s−1 respectively; mean ± SD; P = 0·0002, for TEEF at 0·4 s before start of inspiration). TEEF values correlated to IC, e.g. TEEF at 0·4 s before start of inspiration expressed as a fraction of mean expiratory flow, correlated to IC (% pred.) (r = 0·74; P<0·0001). These results justifies further testing of the relationship between TEEF and dynamic hyperinflation.
Lung protective ventilatory strategies in acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome: from experimental findings to clinical application
Authors: Verbrugge Serge J. C. , Lachmann Burkhard , Kesecioglu Jozef 
Published: January 2007

SummaryThis review addresses the physiological background and the current status of evidence regarding ventilator‐induced lung injury and lung protective strategies. Lung protective ventilatory strategies have been shown to reduce mortality from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We review the latest knowledge on the progression of lung injury by mechanical ventilation and correlate the findings of experimental work with results from clinical studies. We describe the experimental and clinical evidence of the effect of lung protective ventilatory strategies and open lung strategies on the progression of lung injury and current controversies surrounding these subjects. We describe a rational strategy, the open lung strategy, to accomplish an open lung, which may further prevent injury caused by mechanical ventilation. Finally, the clinician is offered directions on lung protective ventilation in the early phase of ARDS which can be applied on the intensive care unit.
Comparison of methods for editing of ectopic beats in measurements of short‐term non‐linear heart rate dynamics
Authors: Tarkiainen Tuula H. , Kuusela Tom A. , Tahvanainen Kari U. O. , Hartikainen Juha E. K. , Tiittanen Pekka , Timonen Kirsi L. , Vanninen Esko J. 
Published: January 2007

SummaryNon‐linear heart rate (HR) dynamics characterizes the fractal properties and complexity of the variations in HR. Ventricular and supraventricular ectopic beats might introduce a mathematical artefact to the analyses on sinus rhythm. We therefore evaluated the effects of different editing practices for ectopic beats such that 753 40‐min ECG recordings were (i) not edited for the ectopic beats, or the ectopic beats were edited with (ii) an interpolation or with (iii) a deletion method before the analyses of non‐linear HR dynamics. The non‐linear HR dynamics analyses included detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), approximate entropy, symbolic dynamics (SymDyn), fractal dimension and return map (RM). We found that the short‐term scaling exponent (α1) of DFA, forbidden words of SymDyn and RM were sensitive measurements to the ectopic beats and there were strong correlations between these measurements and the number of ectopic beats. In addition, the unedited ectopic beats significantly lowered the stability of these measurements. However, the editing either with interpolation or deletion method corrected the measurements for the bias caused by the ectopic beats. On the contrary, the entropy measurements were not as sensitive to the ectopic beats. In conclusion, the ectopic beats affect the non‐linear HR dynamics of sinus rhythm differently, causing a more marked bias in fractal than in complexity measurements of non‐linear HR dynamics. This erroneous effect of ectopic beats can be corrected with a proper editing of these measurements. Therefore, there is an obvious need for standardized editing practices for ectopic beats before the analysis of non‐linear HR dynamics.
Guest editorial: Notes on the macular pigment
Authors: Weale Robert A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPotential functions of the macular pigment are reviewed. Its role as a protector of the retina in respect of the blue‐light hazard, and its relation to the rods and the cones, are examined. It is tentatively suggested that its presence in the human retina originated in the wild as a result of diet and not as a special evolutionary process: the pigment does not appear to be able to offer any significant photic protection, and the effect on chromatic aberration, as recently reported, may be negligible. Its relation to the spectral placing of photopigments is also examined.
The Near Mallett Unit Foveal Suppression Test: a cross‐sectional study to establish test norms and relationship with other optometric tests
Authors: Tang Sosena T. W. , Evans Bruce J. W. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractWhen the binocular system comes under prolonged stress in decompensated heterophoria, a small suppression area can develop at the fovea. This foveal suppression (FS) may be an adaptation to eliminate symptoms. The near Mallett unit (NMU) is a hand‐held instrument that contains a binocular status test for detecting and quantifying FS. We measured FS in a cross‐sectional study of 131 patients to investigate the normal range of responses. A ratio scoring method was devised which considers the number of letters read with dichoptic viewing when binocularly fused (b) and under monocular (m) conditions, using the formula 100 × (m − b)/m. The 95th percentile value of the FS ratios was calculated as the limit of the normal range and this gave a value for the right eye (RE; 33%), left eye (LE; 43%) and total (38%). This result shows that statistically significant FS occurs when a patient can read approximately one line further in the test monocularly, compared to under fused dichoptic conditions. A statistically significant correlation was found between absolute values of horizontal aligning prism (associated heterophoria on the NMU) and FS ratio. Some limitations of the FS test and unexpected results became apparent during our research and an abnormal result on the test does not always indicate a binocular vision anomaly. Nonetheless, we feel that the test can provide useful information when the results are taken in the context of other clinical tests. Our results are used to develop recommendations and clinical guidelines for using the FS test, and to make suggestions for improvements in future designs of the test.
Functional outcome following hemilaminectomy without methylprednisolone sodium succinate for acute thoracolumbar disk disease in 51 non‐ambulatory dogs
Authors: Bush William W. , Tiches Deena M. , Kamprad Christina , Murtaugh Robert J. , Barr Christina S. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractObjective:To report the functional outcome of hemilaminectomy in dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) without the administration of a methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) protocol.Design:Prospective study.Setting:Private practice specialty hospital.Animals:Fifty‐one, client owned, non‐ambulatory dogs weighing less than 15 kg that had not been treated with MPSS.Interventions:Myelography and hemilaminectomyMeasurements and main results:Fifty‐one dogs met the inclusion criteria. Before surgery, all dogs were non‐ambulatory (26 paraplegic, 25 paraparetic), and 98% were painful. Preoperative incontinence was not assessed or unknown in most cases. Ten days following surgery, 90% were ambulatory, 98% were pain free, and 82% were fully continent. By 6 weeks, 100% were ambulatory, 94% were pain free, and 86% were fully continent. By 16 weeks, 96% were pain free, and 88% were fully continent.Conclusion:Hemilaminectomy is highly successful in returning non‐ambulatory, small breed dogs to full function and in these dogs MPSS may not be a necessary adjunct to surgery.
C‐reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin‐6 in dogs with pyometra and SIRS
Authors: Fransson Boel A. , Lagerstedt Anne‐Sofie , Bergstrom Annika , Hagman Ragnvi , Park Jean S. , Chew Boon P. , Evans Marc A. , Ragle Claude A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractObjective: To determine the frequency of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in canine pyometra and to evaluate the relationship between C‐reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and SIRS.Design: Prospective clinical study.Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital.Animals: Fifty‐three clinical cases of canine pyometra and 19 healthy control bitches.Interventions: Upon admission to the veterinary hospital, history and physical examination findings, including previously defined clinical SIRS parameters, were documented. Blood samples were obtained for hematology and biochemical tests and for CRP, TNFα, and IL‐6 analysis. The diagnosis of pyometra was confirmed by histopathology of the uterus after ovariohysterectomy. After surgery, clinical SIRS parameters, length of hospitalization, and mortality were recorded.Measurements and main results: Pyometra dogs were grouped as SIRS positive (30/53; 57%) or SIRS negative (23/53; 43%). Logistic regression showed that CRP was the only parameter that significantly related to SIRS apart from the clinical criteria that define this syndrome. The mortality rate was low (2/53; 3.8%), and conclusions regarding association with SIRS could not be drawn. A positive SIRS status, high plasma CRP concentration, and high body temperature were variables that related to increased morbidity reflected by the length of hospitalization.Conclusions: SIRS was seen in 57% of canine pyometra cases and a positive SIRS status showed a positive association with prolonged hospitalization. The mortality rate was low (3.3%) among SIRS positive dogs, indicating that progression to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) rarely occurs in surgically treated cases of pyometra. CRP was associated with SIRS and with prolonged hospitalization. Further studies of plasma CRP may be warranted in canine intensive care cases susceptible to development of SIRS and MODS.
Congregational Health Ministries: A National Study of Pastors' Views
Authors: Catanzaro Ana Maria , Meador Keith G. , Koenig Harold G. , Kuchibhatla Maragatha , Clipp Elizabeth C. 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACT
Objectives: Since the 1980s, there has been a growing, but little studied, movement that organizes church‐based health services under the direction of a coordinator, usually a registered nurse. These Congregational Health Ministries (CHMs) emphasize health promotion and disease prevention. We compared the perceptions of pastors with and without organized CHMs and the characteristics of their congregations' health ministries.Design: We used a quantitative, cross‐sectional survey design.Sample: We surveyed a national multidenominational sample of 349 pastors representing over 80 Christian denominations.Results: With limited resources, CHMs provide significant health promotion, disease prevention, and support services. Pastors with CHMs were significantly more involved in health promotion and disease prevention activities. Pastors without CHMs perceived a need for congregations to be involved in health‐related services and were willing to become involved if they have adequate resources.Conclusions: Because of long‐term trusting relationships that exist between congregants and those who minister to them, religious congregations may be ideally suited to provide cost‐effective, community‐based health promotion and disease prevention services as well as health‐supporting services to community‐dwelling elderly and persons with chronic illnesses.