bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effects of different ATP‐sensitive potassium channel openers on electrically generated and carbachol‐induced contractions of porcine and human detrusor muscle
Authors: Badawi Jasmin Katrin , Ding Andrea , Bross Stephan 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe inhibitory effects of different potassium channel openers (PCOs) on electrically generated and carbachol‐induced contractions of porcine and human detrusor muscle were examined. PCOs could be an interesting substance class for treatment of detrusor overactivity. Experiments were performed on muscle strips suspended in a tissue bath. Human tissue originated from patients who underwent total cystectomy. The concentration–relaxation curves of the first‐generation PCOs cromakalim and pinacidil and the untypical PCO minoxidil were performed using carbachol‐precontracted detrusor muscle strips of pigs and humans. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of cromakalim, pinacidil and minoxidil on electrically generated contractions of porcine detrusor muscle were examined. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of the second‐generation, bladder‐selective PCO ZM 226600 on electrically generated contractions of the human detrusor muscle was determined. Frequency–response curves were performed before and after incubation with one PCO used in two different concentrations. In humans, cromakalim and pinacidil led to a maximum decrease of 73.5 and 68.4% and showed mean pD2 values of 6.65 and 5.5, respectively. In pigs, cromakalim and pinacidil led to a maximum decrease of 90.6 and 93.6% and showed mean pD2 values of 6.39 and 5.01, respectively. Minoxidil did not significantly decrease the precontraction at the highest used concentration in both species. Cromakalim exhibited the biggest inhibitory effect being significant at 10−5 and 10−6 m. Pinacidil showed only a significant inhibitory effect at 10−5 m which was smaller than that of cromakalim. At 3 × 10−6 m only a very small effect occurred at 1 Hz. Minoxidil did not inhibit the contractions at both examined concentrations except for a very small effect at 1 Hz. In humans, ZM 226600 exhibited at 10−6 and 10−5 m a significant inhibitory effect. At 10−7 m it was only significant at one frequency.
Comparative influence of propranolol and verapamil on glycemic control and histamine sensitivity associated with l‐thyroxine‐induced hyperthyroidism – an experimental study
Authors: Bhatt Parloop A. , Makwana Dharmesh 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe present investigation was undertaken to study the comparative effectiveness of beta‐adrenergic antagonist propranolol and calcium channel blocker verapamil on l‐thyroxine‐induced alteration on glycemic control and histamine sensitivity on rats and guinea pigs, respectively. Injection of l‐thyroxine sodium every alternate day for 3 weeks in guinea pigs (75 μg/kg, i.p.) and rats (75 mg/kg, s.c.) produced a condition similar to thyrotoxicosis. Verapamil and propranolol administered daily in the third week along with l‐thyroxine to two separate groups of hyperthyroid animals reversed thyroxine‐induced loss in body weight, reduction in serum TSH levels, and rise in body temperature. Effect on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity was studied on rats. Compared to normal rats, l‐thyroxine‐treated animals showed a state of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance. Propranolol (10 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment significantly decreased fasting serum glucose levels without affecting serum insulin levels, AUC glucose, and KITT values. Treatment with verapamil (5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced fasting serum glucose and insulin levels, AUC glucose, and significantly increased KITT values. Effect of propranolol (15 mg/kg, orally) and verapamil (20 mg/kg, orally) treatment on histamine sensitivity was studied on l‐thyroxine‐treated guinea pigs. Compared to normal guinea pigs, l‐thyroxine‐treated guinea pigs showed an increased sensitivity to histamine‐induced asphyxia. Verapamil treatment reversed this increased histamine sensitivity while propranolol aggravated it. In conclusion, compared to propranolol, verapamil has advantageous effects on glucose metabolism, insulin and histamine sensitivity and could therefore be a valuable addition as an adjunctive therapy option currently available for thyrotoxicosis associated with diabetes and/or anaphylaxis.
Gastrointestinal, selective airways and urinary bladder relaxant effects of Hyoscyamus niger are mediated through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca2+ channels
Authors: Gilani Anwarul Hassan , Khan Arif‐ullah , Raoof Mustafa , Ghayur Muhammad Nabeel , Siddiqui Bina S. , Vohra Waseem , Begum Sabira 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThis study describes the spasmolytic, antidiarrhoeal, antisecretory, bronchodilatory and urinary bladder relaxant properties of Hyoscyamus niger to rationalize some of its medicinal uses. The crude extract of H. niger seeds (Hn.Cr) caused a complete concentration‐dependent relaxation of spontaneous contractions of rabbit jejunum, similar to that caused by verapamil, whereas atropine produced partial inhibition. Hn.Cr inhibited contractions induced by carbachol (1 μm) and K+ (80 mm) in a pattern similar to that of dicyclomine, but different from verapamil and atropine. Hn.Cr shifted the Ca2+ concentration–response curves to the right, similar to that caused by verapamil and dicyclomine, suggesting a Ca2+ channel‐blocking mechanism in addition to an anticholinergic effect. In the guinea‐pig ileum, Hn.Cr produced a rightward parallel shift of the acetylcholine curves, followed by a non‐parallel shift with suppression of the maximum response at a higher concentration, similar to that caused by dicyclomine, but different from that of verapamil and atropine. Hn.Cr exhibited antidiarrhoeal and antisecretory effects against castor oil‐induced diarrhoea and intestinal fluid accumulation in mice. In guinea‐pig trachea and rabbit urinary bladder tissues, Hn.Cr caused relaxation of carbachol (1 μm) and K+ (80 mm) induced contractions at around 10 and 25 times lower concentrations than in gut, respectively, and shifted carbachol curves to the right. Only the organic fractions of the extract had a Ca2+ antagonist effect, whereas both organic and aqueous fractions had anticholinergic effect. A constituent, β‐sitosterol exhibited Ca2+ channel‐blocking action. These results suggest that the antispasmodic effect of H. niger is mediated through a combination of anticholinergic and Ca2+ antagonist mechanisms. The relaxant effects of Hn.Cr occur at much lower concentrations in the trachea and bladder. This study offers explanations for the medicinal use of H. niger in treating gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders and bladder hyperactivity.
Elevated Ras/protein kinase A activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reduces proliferation rate and lifespan by two different reactive oxygen species‐dependent routes
Authors: Hlavatá Lydie , Nachin Laurence , Ježek Petr , Nyström Thomas 
Published: January 2008

SummaryCells with overactive RAS/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling, such as RAS2Val19 cells, exhibit reduced proliferation rates and accelerated replicative senescence. We show here that the extended generation time of RAS2Val19cells is the result of abrogated ATP/ADP carrier activity of the mitochondria. Both PKA‐dependent and independent routes are responsible for inhibiting ATP/ADP exchange in the RAS‐overactive cells. The reduced carrier activity is due, at least in part, to elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which also cause a proteolysis‐dependent fragmentation of the Aac2p carrier both in vivo and on isolated mitochondria. Attenuated carrier activity is suppressed by overproducing the superoxide dismutase, Sod1p, and this enhances both the proliferation rate and the replicative longevity of RAS2Val19 cells. In contrast, overproducing functional Aac2p restored proliferation but not longevity of RAS2Val19 cells. Thus, Ras signaling affects proliferation rate and replicative lifespan by two different, ROS‐dependent, routes. While the reduction in generation time is linked to the inactivation, specifically, of the mitochondrial nucleotide carrier, longevity is affected by other, and hitherto unknown, target(s) of ROS attack.
Role of dFOXO in lifespan extension by dietary restriction in Drosophila melanogaster: not required, but its activity modulates the response
Authors: Giannakou Maria E. , Goss Martin , Partridge Linda 
Published: January 2008

SummaryDietary restriction (DR) increases lifespan in diverse organisms. However, the mechanisms by which DR increases survival are unclear. The insulin/IGF‐like signaling (IIS) pathway has been implicated in the response to DR in some studies, while in others it has appeared to play little or no role. We used the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the responses to DR of flies mutant for the transcription factor dFOXO, the main transcription factor target of IIS. We found that lifespan extension by DR does not require dFOXO. However, flies with dFOXO overexpressed in the adult fat body showed an altered response to DR and behaved as though partially dietarily restricted. These results suggest that, although DR extends lifespan of flies in the absence of dFOXO, the presence of active dFOXO modulates the response to DR, possibly by modifying expression of its target genes, and may therefore mediate the normal response to DR.
Plasticity of hippocampal stem/progenitor cells to enhance neurogenesis in response to kainate‐induced injury is lost by middle age
Authors: Hattiangady Bharathi , Rao Muddanna S. , Shetty Ashok K. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryA remarkable up‐regulation of neurogenesis through increased proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) is a well‐known plasticity displayed by the young dentate gyrus (DG) following brain injury. To ascertain whether this plasticity is preserved during aging, we quantified DG neurogenesis in the young adult, middle‐aged and aged F344 rats after kainic acid induced hippocampal injury. Measurement of new cells that are added to the dentate granule cell layer (GCL) between post‐injury days 4 and 15 using 5′‐bromodeoxyuridine labeling revealed an increased addition of new cells in the young DG but not in the middle‐aged and aged DG. Quantification of newly born neurons using doublecortin immunostaining also demonstrated a similar trend. Furthermore, the extent of ectopic migration of new neurons into the dentate hilus was dramatically increased in the young DG but was unaltered in the middle‐aged and aged DG. However, there was no change in neuronal fate‐choice decision of newly born cells following injury in all age groups. Similarly, comparable fractions of new cells that are added to the GCL after injury exhibited 5‐month survival and expressed the mature neuronal marker NeuN, regardless of age or injury at the time of their birth. Thus, hippocampal injury does not adequately stimulate NSCs in the middle‐aged and aged DG, resulting in no changes in neurogenesis after injury. Interestingly, rates of both neuronal fate‐choice decision and long‐term survival of newly born cells remain stable with injury in all age groups. These results underscore that the ability of the DG to increase neurogenesis after injury is lost as early as middle age.
Magnetic‐Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Enabled by Two‐Dimensional Guidewire Steering and Three‐Dimensional Virtual Angioscopy: Initial Experiences in Daily Clinical Practice
Authors: SCHNEIDER MICHAEL A. E. , HOCH FRANZ V. , NEUSER HANS , BRUNN JÜRGEN , KOLLER MARCUS L. , GIETZEN FRANK , SCHAMBERGER RAINER , KERBER SEBASTIAN , SCHUMACHER BURGHARD 
Published: January 2008

Aims:

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been broadly established and often includes highly complex stenoses that require difficult navigation. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of a new magnetic navigation system (MNS) to enable intracoronary guidewire deployment and PCI in daily clinical practice and to compare the 2D guidance to the virtual 3D angioscopy feature.
Methods and Results:

We included 30 consecutive patients (pt) in whom 36 coronary arteries were PCI targets. Patients were randomized to guidewire steering by either 2D guidance or virtual 3D angioscopy (33%). In 31/36 (86%) interventions the MNS guidewire successfully passed the culprit stenosis and the procedure was accomplished by PCI. In 5/30 pt an MNS multivessel intervention was performed. Three of 5 unsuccessful procedures failed due to an unsuccessful recanalization of a subtotal chronic occlusion including 1 pt who required surgical intervention. In 2/36 procedures the magnetic guided intervention was performed effectively after prior conventional failure related to complex anatomy. The contrast medium amount needed to position the magnetic guidewire was 60 ± 101 mL in 2D accomplished interventions vs. 14 ± 15 mL in 3D procedures (p < 0.05). In 3 pt the MNS did not harm the implanted pacemaker or defibrillator system.
Conclusion:

Magnetic guided PCI is useful in selected patients. In our experience, success is less likely in evidence of a subtotal occlusion.
Status of Physics‐Based Models in the Design of Food Products, Processes, and Equipment
Authors: Datta Ashim K. 
Published: January 2008

This article is part of a collection entitled “Models for Safety, Quality, and Competitiveness of the Food Processing Sector,” published in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. It has been peer‐reviewed and was written as a follow‐up of a pre‐IFT workshop, partially funded by the USDA NRI grant 2005‐35503‐16208.ABSTRACT:  Modeling, in particular physics‐based modeling, can be an important tool to food product, process, and equipment designers by reducing the amount of experimentation (thus reducing the time and expenses involved) and by providing a level of insight that is often not possible experimentally. Food processes involve unique physics and challenges compared to other types of materials processing such as polymers and ceramics. These include complex multiphase transport and multiphysics that are difficult to implement in the available software, and often drastic changes in material properties during processing for which data are unavailable. Such unique and challenging features have made it difficult to embrace modeling as a tool in the food industry. This article discusses, in the context of design use of models, the nature and the state of modeling of food processes, emphasizing the more complex scenarios in both modeling and material properties needed for the models.
Status of Observational Models Used in Design and Control of Products and Processes
Authors: Sablani Shyam S. 
Published: January 2008

This article is part of a collection entitled “Models for Safety, Quality, and Competitiveness of the Food Processing Sector,” published in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. It has been peer‐reviewed and was written as a follow‐up of a pre‐IFT workshop, partially funded by the USDA NRI grant 2005‐35503‐16208.ABSTRACT:  Modeling techniques can play a vital role in developing and characterizing food products and processes. Physical, chemical, and biological changes that take place during food and bioproduct processing are very complex and experimental investigation may not always be possible due to time, cost, effort, and skills needed. In some cases even experiments are not feasible to conduct. Often it is difficult to visualize the complex behavior of a data set. In addition, modeling is a must for process design, optimization, and control. With the rapid development of computer technology over the past few years, more and more food scientists have begun to use computer‐aided modeling techniques. Observation‐based modeling methods can be very useful where time and resources do not allow complete physics‐based understanding of the process. This review discusses the state of selected observation‐based modeling techniques in the context of industrial food processing.
P50 sensory gating deficit is a common marker of vulnerability to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Authors: Sánchez‐Morla E. M. , García‐Jiménez M. A. , Barabash A. , Martínez‐Vizcaíno V. , Mena J. , Cabranes‐Díaz J. A. , Baca‐Baldomero E. , Santos J. L. 
Published: January 2008

Objective:  P50 gating in schizophrenia has contributed much to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the illness. We examined euthymic bipolar patients to determine if they also have a P50 gating deficit.Method:  P50 gating was measured in 81 euthymic bipolar patients (50 with a lifetime history of psychotic symptoms), 92 stable schizophrenic patients, and 67 control subjects.Results:  P50 gating was significantly lower in control subjects than in bipolar patients with a lifetime history of psychosis (P = 0.001) and schizophrenic patients (P = 0.0001). In all patient groups, the percentage of patients with P50 gating was higher than in the control group (χ2 = 30.596; P < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant correlation between P50 gating and other clinical variables.Conclusion:  Our data suggest that P50 gating deficit is a neurobiological marker that is present in stable schizophrenic patients and euthymic bipolar patients.
Varicella‐related deaths in children and adolescents – Germany 2003–2004
Authors: Grote Veit , Von Kries Rüdiger , Springer Wolfgang , Hammersen Gerhard , Wolfgang Kreth Hans , Liese Johannes 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAim: Although varicella is acknowledged as a rare cause of death in children, there are few comprehensive data with respect to the clinical course leading to death.Methods: A nationwide, active surveillance was carried out in Germany for children up to age 17 years who were admitted to a paediatric hospital for varicella or associated complications, including deaths.Results: A total of 10 children with varicella‐associated death were reported over period of 2 years, yielding a mortality rate of 0.4/1 000 000 children per year. Three deaths occurred in children diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia and disseminated varicella, two shortly after diagnosis of leukaemia and therefore not preventable, and one during remission with an untypical presentation. Two children died with a congenital varicella syndrome. There was no death in children with neonatal varicella. Four other cases were related to varicella pneumonia or septicaemia and one to myocarditis.Conclusion: In a population with no general varicella vaccination programme, varicella accounted for a small but not negligible risk for death in immunocompetent and immunocompromised children. Together these data point to the importance of a thoroughly implemented, general varicella vaccination programme.
Violence against women and the risk of under‐five mortality: analysis of community‐based data from rural Bangladesh
Authors: Åsling‐Monemi Kajsa , Tabassum Naved Ruchira , Persson Lars Åke 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAim: To assess whether violence against women was associated with increased mortality risks for their daughters and sons before the age of 5.Methods: Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from rural Bangladesh of 2691 live‐born children in relation to their mother's experience of physical, sexual and emotional partner violence and level of controlling behaviour in marriage. Analyses were adjusted for potential confounders and stratified by gender.Result: Under five‐mortality was 88 per 1000 in this cohort. Overall, there was no association between different forms of violence against women and under‐five mortality. However, more educated women had an increased risk of under‐five deaths of their female offspring if ever exposed to severe physical violence (adjusted hazard ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.06–4.50) or to a high level of controlling behaviour in marriage (adjusted hazard ratio 2.5, 95% CI 1.30–4.90). Controlling behaviour in marriage increased the hazard ratios in a dose–response manner. Increased mortality risks were neither shown for offspring of women with low or no education nor for boys in any educational group.Conclusion: Severe physical violence and controlling behaviour in marriage were associated with higher under‐five mortality among daughters of educated mothers in rural Bangladesh, indicating gender‐biased consequences of partner violence for child mortality.
ADHD symptoms and maturity – a study in primary school children
Authors: Gustafsson P , Thernlund G , Besjakov J , Karlsson MK , Ericsson I , Svedin CG 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAim: To study if age and non‐behavioural measures of biological maturity have any associations with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods: Two hundred fifty‐one children 7 to 9 years of age in a Swedish school were screened for ADHD‐symptom. ADHD‐symptoms were estimated by Conners Abbreviated Questionnaire by both parents and teachers. Motor function, body weight and body height were measured. Skeletal age was estimated through hand radiographs.Results: Height, weight and skeletal bone‐age did correlate significantly with age (rs = 0.44–0.69, p < 0.001) but not with ADHD symptom scores. Motor dysfunction had a weak negative correlation with age (rs =−0.21, p < 0.05). Parent and teacher scores of ADHD‐symptoms did not correlate with age.Conclusion: This study showed that the variables measuring general biological maturity had a strong association with age, whereas motor dysfunction and ADHD symptoms had no significant association with age. ADHD symptoms did not correlate with the variables measuring general biological maturity. These results do not support the hypothesis that a general biological immaturity is an important etiologic factor for ADHD symptomatology.
Survival and neurodevelopmental morbidity at 1 year of age following extremely preterm delivery over a 20‐year period: a single centre cohort study
Authors: Riley K , Roth S , Sellwood M , Wyatt JS 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAim: To assess survival and neurodevelopmental outcome of extremely preterm infants over a 20‐year period at a single tertiary neonatal centre.Methods: All infants between 22 and 25+6 weeks of gestation admitted to a single UK neonatal centre between 1981 and 2000 were enrolled prospectively. Infants in the same gestational age range who were born alive at the hospital but not admitted to the neonatal unit were also identified over the period 1991–2000. All surviving infants received neurological and developmental assessment at a corrected age of 1 year.Results: There was a progressive increase in survival at all gestational ages over the 20‐year period. Overall survival rose from 32% to 71% as a proportion of all admissions. The proportion of survivors with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year of age showed no consistent change over the same period.Conclusion: In this single centre cohort study, marked improvements in survival over a 20‐year period were not accompanied by a significant increase in neurodevelopmental morbidity.
Application of Superposition with Nonlinear Head‐Dependent Fluxes
Authors: Durbin Timothy , Delemos David , Rajagopal‐Durbin Aparna 
Published: January 2008

AbstractWhile superposition is commonly used to address linear ground water problems, it can also be used to address certain nonlinear problems. In particular, it can be used to address problems with nonlinear head‐dependent fluxes, where the problem can be separated conveniently into steady‐state and transient‐state components. Superposition can be used to simulate the transient‐state head changes independently from the steady‐state heads. The problems addressable by superposition include phreatophyte discharges, stream‐aquifer interactions, spring discharges, and drain discharges. Each of these represents a nonlinear head‐dependent flux, where the flux depends on the elevation of the land surface or some other feature. Superposition is applied by referencing elevations to the local steady‐state water table and by imposing the negative of the steady‐state flux on the transient‐state problem.