bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activities Stimulated with Interleukin-1-Beta and Mechanism(s) of the Kinase Signaling Pathways in Rat Gastric Epithelial Cells
Authors: Tominaga Kazunari , Arakawa Tetsuo , Tsuno Miho , Kim Shokei , Iwao Hiroshi , Kuroki Tetsuo 
Published: April 2003

Interleukin (IL)-1β, a multifunctional cytokine, is associated with inflammatory gastric mucosa, but the responses of gastric epithelial cells stimulated by IL-1β are not known. We determined whether IL-1β activates the two subfamilies of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and c-Jun NH<sub>2</sub>-terminal kinases (JNKs), in rat gastric epithelial cells (RGM1) using in-gel kinase assays. In addition, we examined the mechanism(s) underlying their signaling pathways and the effect on proliferation of these cells. IL-1β (0–5 × 10<sup>3</sup> pg/ml) dose dependently induced activation of ERKs (p44ERK and p42ERK) and JNKs (p46JNK and p55JNK) in RGM1 cells; maximal activities were attained with 1,000 pg/ml of IL-1β. These activities were increased with time, and were maximal 20 min after stimulation with IL-1β (100 pg/ml). Pretreatment with neutralizing antibody against IL-1β inhibited IL-1β-induced activation of ERKs and JNKs. Genistein (100 μ<i>M</i>), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and GF109203X (2 μ<i>M</i>), a protein kinase C inhibitor, inhibited the IL-1β-induced activation of ERKs and JNKs. Six- hour pre-incubation with IL-1β inhibited proliferation of these cells by 40% at 24 h of incubation, but the inhibition was recovered at 48 h. These findings suggest that IL-1β activated ERKs and JNKs in rat gastric epithelial cells and inhibited cell proliferation, possibly via the specific receptor for IL-1β. Activation of MAP kinases by IL-1β may be mediated by tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C.
COMT Inhibition by Tolcapone Further Improves Levodopa Pharmacokinetics when Combined with a Dual-Release Formulation of Levodopa/Benserazide
Authors: Gasser U.E. , Jorga K. , Crevoisier C. , Hovens S.E.L. , van Giersbergen P.L.M. 
Published: April 2003

The objective of the study reported here was the investigation of the effect of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibition by tolcapone on the pharmacokinetics of levodopa and 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) after administration of a new dual-release formulation (dual-RF) of levodopa/benserazide (200/50). The study had a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover design and was conducted in 18 healthy young subjects. On the 2 treatment days, separated by a washout period of 7 days, the dual-RF was administered in combination (blinded) with tolcapone (200 mg) or placebo. Both treatment combinations were well tolerated. Tolcapone increased the bioavailability (AUC<sub>0–∞</sub>) and apparent elimination half-life (t<sub>½</sub>) of levodopa by 80 and 40%, respectively, compared to placebo. The maximal plasma concentration (C<sub>max</sub>) was slightly elevated by tolcapone. In the presence of tolcapone, formation of 3-OMD was substantially reduced. In conclusion, the effect of tolcapone on levodopa pharmacokinetics after administration of the dual-RF is similar to the one observed after immediate- and slow-RFs and leads to a marked improvement in levodopa pharmacokinetics and subsequently to an optimization of levodopa therapy.
Augmentation of Mitochondrial Reduced Glutathione by S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Administration in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of the Rat Steatotic Liver Induced by Choline-Methionine-Deficient Diet
Authors: Kaneshiro Y. , Nakano H. , Kumada K. , Boudjema K. , Kitamura N. , Shimura H. , Barama A. , Kigawa G. , Tatsuno M. , Fujiwara Y. , Baek Y. , Sasaki J. , Nagasaki H. , Yamaguchi M. 
Published: April 2003

We examined whether warm ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) damage of the rat steatotic liver can be reduced by administration of S-adenosyl-<i>L</i>-methionine (SAMe). We examined the effect of SAMe on the mitochondrial reduced-glutathione (GSH) pool. Sixty minutes of partial left lobar vascular clamping followed by 2 h of reperfusion were employed for a model of hepatic warm ischemia. Either 5% dextrose or SAMe was injected intraperitoneally 2 h before I/R in steatotic rats (S-D5% or S-SAMe group). Serum liver enzyme concentrations 2 h after reperfusion were significantly lower in the S-SAMe group than in the S-D5% group. The cytosolic and mitochondrial GSH concentrations after I/R were significantly higher in the S-SAMe group than in the S-D5% group (p < 0.05). The cytosolic and mitochondrial oxidized-glutathione/GSH ratios after I/R were significantly greater in the S-D5% group than in the S-SAMe group (p < 0.01). The adenosine triphosphate concentration was higher in the S-SAMe group than in the S-D5% group (p = 0.0515). These results show that hepatocellular and mitochondrial oxidative stress after I/R in the steatotic liver can be reduced by administration of SAMe. The results also show that mitochondrial function and hepatocellular integrity can be restored by administration of SAMe in steatotic rats.
Effect of Surgery on Neutrophil Leukotriene B<sub>4</sub> Generation and Arachidonic Acid Content
Authors: Sane S. , Baba M. , Kusano C. , Shirao K. , Kamada T. , Aikou T. 
Published: April 2003

The effect of surgery on neutrophil leukotriene B<sub>4</sub> (LTB<sub>4</sub>) generation and arachidonic acid content was examined in 9 patients undergoing major surgery for esophageal cancer and 10 patients undergoing lesser surgery. Plasma IL-8 and neutrophil LTB<sub>4</sub> generation was increased significantly 6 h after surgery regardless of the extent of surgery. This finding was associated with a decrease in neutrophil arachidonate content. In patients who underwent major surgery, neutrophil LTB<sub>4</sub> generation decreased progressively on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th postoperative days, and this decrease paralleled a further decrease in neutrophil arachidonate content. These findings suggest that neutrophils are activated by surgery, thereby consuming their arachidonic acid, and that neutrophil LTB<sub>4</sub> generation is influenced by postoperative arachidonate levels.
Airway Anastomotic Healing in the Rat Tracheal Autograft
Authors: Hyytinen T. , Paavonen T. , Inkinen K. , Ahonen J. , Mattila S. 
Published: April 2003

The healing of airway anastomoses after tracheal autotransplantation was studied in a rat model. Tracheal autotransplantation in length of five tracheal cartilaginous rings was performed in 46 PVGr<sub>1</sub> female rats. The animals were sacrificed and divided into six groups as follows: 0-day control group, and 3-, 7-, 14-, 21- and 28-day study groups (n = 6–7/group). In laser Doppler measurements, blood flow was significantly increased in the lower anastomosis after day 7 and in the upper anastomosis after day 21 compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The breaking strength of the tracheal autograft increased after day 7 compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The total collagen content of the lower anastomosis was significantly decreased on days 3 and 7 compared with the control group (p < 0.05), but thereafter it increased constantly. In the upper anastomosis on days 3 and 7, there were significant histological alterations, especially in the tracheal epithelium, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Tracheal anastomosis is most vulnerable during the first 7 days.
Secretion of IL-6, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1α, and TNFα by Cultured Intact Human Peritoneum
Authors: Riese Jutta , Denzel C. , Zowe M. , Mehler C. , Hohenberger W. , Haupt W. 
Published: April 2003

The peritoneum is an important site of host defence. The mesothelial cells, lining the peritoneum, and the fibroblasts found in the layers below are potent sources of a variety of mediators. Furthermore, granulocytes, mast cells, and macrophages, either resident or attracted by inflammatory processes, are interspersed within the tissue. We investigated the production of mediators by samples of fresh human peritoneum. The method described here has the advantage that the cellular composition of the human peritoneum remains intact. Samples of peritoneum were excised at the beginning of elective abdominal operations in infection-free patients. The tissue was placed across the wells of a microtitre plate, fixed in place by the plate cover and incubated with culture medium with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for up to 5 h. The accumulation of IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) and TNFα in culture supernatants was measured by ELISA. Production of MCP-1 and IL-6 occurred spontaneously during incubation and was enhanced by as much as 4-fold in the presence of different concentrations of LPS (0.5–500 ng/ml) in a dose-dependent manner. MIP-1α and TNFα were detected in culture supernatants of LPS-stimulated samples with concentrations about 8 times as high as those of samples cultured with no such stimulus. The addition of IL-1β resulted in an increase in the release of IL-6 and MCP-1, similar to that observed with LPS stimulation, but failed to increase the production of TNFα. MIP-1α production was only marginally enhanced by IL-1β. In conclusion, our experimental system is suitable for the investigation of chemokine and cytokine production by the human peritoneum, with the aim of assessing aspects of local immunocompetence.
Endothelin-Induced Contraction of the Portal Vein in Cirrhosis
Authors: Petrowsky H. , Schmandra T. , Lorey T. , Hanisch E. , Herrmann G. 
Published: April 2003

Endothelin (ET) is one of the most potent vasoconstrictors known so far. It has been proposed that the ET-induced contraction of hepatic stellate cells (Ito, endothelial cells) is an important mechanism for the development of portal hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate in an in vitro model whether ET causes a contraction of the portal vein which can contribute to portal hypertension in cirrhosis. Portal veins from normal and cirrhotic rats were used for experiments. Measurements were performed in vitro for cumulative concentrations of ET-1 and ET-3 (1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 n<i>M</i>). Both ETs caused a dose-dependent increase in portal venous tension; the maximal tension (T<sub>max</sub>) was measured at 50 n<i>M</i>. The measured T<sub>max</sub> was higher for cirrhotic (ET-1: T<sub>max</sub> = 189%; ET-3: T<sub>max</sub> = 175%) than for normal rats (ET-1: T<sub>max</sub> = 130%; ET-3: T<sub>max</sub> = 151%). ET-3 produced a higher tension of portal veins in normal rats than ET-1. In conclusion, this study shows that portal veins from cirrhotic rats react more sensitively to ET than those from normal rats. Besides the ET-induced contraction of hepatic stellate cells, contraction of the portal vein and its intrahepatic branches, especially in cirrhotic individuals, has to be considered as a further mechanism of ET contributing to portal hypertension.
Pancreatic Regeneration after Subtotal Distal Resection in Rats
Authors: Bufalari A. , Ferri M. , Sidoni A. , Alberti P. , Giustozzi G. , Moggi L. 
Published: April 2003

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four treatment groups after 90% distal pancreatectomy: group A (control) received saline (0.5 ml subcutaneously); group B received bombesin (BBS; 10 μg/kg intraperitoneally); group C received octreotide (2.5 μg/kg subcutaneously), and group D received BBS and octreotide. All substances were injected three times a day until sacrifice after 28 days. BBS increased pancreas weight (p = 0.003) and DNA synthesis (p < 0.001), as measured by a bromodeoxyuridine nuclear-labeling index (BrdU LI). The simultaneous administration of octreotide significantly decreases the remnant pancreas weight (p = 0.016) as compared to group B rats; however the BrdU LI is not significantly reduced in group D as compared to group B. BBS administration promotes regeneration of the remnant pancreas in terms of hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Although octreotide appears to significantly reduce the pancreatic weight increase induced by BBS, it does not reduce DNA synthesis and cell proliferation.
Effect of Experimental Diabetes and Growth Hormone Administration on the Strength of Colonic Anastomoses in Rats
Authors: Seyer-Hansen M. , Andreassen T.T. , Christensen H. , Oxlund H. 
Published: April 2003

The influence of growth hormone (GH; 2 mg/kg/day) administration on the mechanical breaking strength of colonic anastomoses in diabetic rats has been investigated on the day of operation (suture binding capacity) and after 4 and 7 days of healing. In diabetic rats, the suture binding capacity was decreased by 26% in both ultimate load and relative failure energy. After 4 days of healing, no difference was observed between control and diabetic animals. After 7 days, relative failure energy in the diabetic animals was reduced by 33%. GH administration to diabetic animals did not alter strength during the first week of healing. We found an increased circumference (33%) and defatted dry weight (22%) of the colon in diabetic rats. In conclusion, diabetes impairs the suture-binding capacity of the colon in rats, while there is only little influence on healing in the following week. GH administration could not influence the strength of colonic anastomoses in diabetic animals.
Changes in Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes in the Vagina of Patients with Preterm Labor
Authors: Yamada Tetsuo , Minakami Hisanori , Matsubara Shigeki , Yatsuda Tomomi , Sato Ikuo 
Published: April 2003

To evaluate changes in vaginal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (vPMNL) in patients with preterm labor, we obtained vPMNL-rich suspensions from vaginal fluids of 77 women (21 with preterm labor and 56 control women with uncomplicated pregnancy). Total counts of vPMNL and % viability of vPMNL (viable vPMNL:total vPMNL) were significantly higher in patients with preterm labor (37 ± 92 × 10<sup>5</sup>, 23 ± 29%) vs. controls (11 ± 15 × 10<sup>5</sup>, 6.9 ± 8.3%). The concentration of granulocyte elastase in vaginal fluid diluted to 20 ml was also higher in patients with preterm labor than in controls (4,806 ± 3,818 vs. 2,739 ± 2,556 ng/ml). We conclude that PMNL and granulocyte elastase are abundant in the vagina in patients with preterm labor, which suggests that the PMNL may be involved in the pathogenesis of preterm labor.
Symptoms of Defective Emptying and Raised Residual Urine May Arise from Ligamentous Laxity in the Posterior Vaginal Fornix
Authors: Papa Petros P.E. 
Published: April 2003

<b>Objectives: </b>To prospectively test the hypothesis that laxity in the posterior ligaments of the vagina may cause raised residual urine and abnormal emptying symptoms. <b>Methods:</b> Eighteen patients, 16 multiparous, and 2 nulliparous, were referred with symptoms of abnormal bladder emptying. All were assessed with standard cystometry and standing resting and straining lateral X-ray films, with the bladder containing a Foley balloon catheter containing 10 ml of radio-opaque dye. Three patients were also assessed with videocystourethrograms, and these were compared to 4 normal controls. A posterior fornix repair was performed. A full thickness horizontal vaginal incision was made using a scalpel. The incision was stretched antero-posteriorly, and the utero-sacral and cardinal ligaments tightened by suturing them side to side. <b>Results:</b> Specific symptoms of defective opening were reduced from a total of 43 pre-operatively to 9 post-operatively. Mean residual urine was reduced from 98.7 to 31.7 ml (p ≤ 0.028). Peak flow increased from 29.7 to 34.2 ml/s, p ≤ 0.08. Mean flow pre-operative was 8.18 ml/s, and post-operative flow 8.6 ml/s (p ≤0.88). Mean emptying time decreased from 65.3 to 60.4 s. <b>Conclusions:</b> Reference to radiographs in normal patients demonstrates that bladder funnelling is associated with a powerful downward force transmitted to the coccyx via the utero-sacral ligaments. Correction of laxity in the utero-sacral ligaments, the effective insertion points of the downward force, improved bladder emptying. This appears to sustain the hypothesis that abnormal bladder emptying in the female may be at least partly caused by ineffectiveness of the opening muscles, because of laxity in their insertion points.
Local Application of Methotrexate for Ectopic Pregnancy with a Percutaneous Puncturing Technique
Authors: Mesogitis Spyros A. , Daskalakis George J. , Antsaklis Aristides J. , Papantoniou Nick E. , Papageorgiou John S. , Michalas Stylianos K. 
Published: April 2003

Management of ectopic pregnancy remains traditionally surgical. Early detection of unruptured ectopic pregnancies, using both ultrasound techniques and β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) assays, allows a more conservative treatment. Twenty-six tubal pregnancies, which were managed with local methotrexate (MTX) injection, are presented. A single dose of 10–12.5 mg of MTX was percutaneously injected into the gestational sac under abdominal sonographic control. Complete resolution was obtained in all our patients. Four of them required a second percutaneous administration 4 days after the first one. Negligible serum β-hCG levels (<10 mIU/ml) were reached within 42 days after treatment. No systemic side effects were observed. Local administration of MTX under abdominal sonographic control seems to be an effective alternative for the treatment of ectopic pregnancy. The main potential advantages of the method are (1) a greater antitrophoblastic effect; (2) a shorter treatment period; (3) reduced dosage, and (4) absence of side effects.
Disturbed Small Intestinal Motility in the Late Rat Pregnancy
Authors: Chang Full-Young , Lee Shou-Dong , Yeh Guey-Hwa , Lu Chien-Chen , Wang Paulus S. , Wang Shyi-Wu 
Published: April 2003

We investigated whether various periods of pregnancy might disturb rat gastrointestinal motility. When the proestrus of female rats occurred, they were housed with male rats. Motility studies were conducted on day 7 (first period), day 14 (second) and day 21 (third) of pregnancy, respectively. After the orogastric feeding of radiochromium marker, rats were sacrificed 15 min later. Gastric emptyings of pregnant rats measured at various periods did not differ from the nonpregnant diestrus controls. The geometric center represented intestinal transits in the first, second and third periods of pregnancy and controls were (mean ±SEM) 4.54 ± 0.25, 4.47 ± 0.17, 3.61 ± 0.27 and 4.98 ± 0.13, respectively (p < 0.01) while their plasma progesterone levels were 15.6 ± 2.6, 18 ± 1.4, 7.1 ± 0.5 and 8.6 ± 0.4 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.01). This shows that late pregnancy inhibits small intestinal transit, whereas gastric emptying remains unchanged. Altered progesterone during pregnancy is not a main mediator to disturb intestinal transit.
Compared Randomized Roles and Pain Factor by Vabra and Wallach Endocell in Endometrial Evaluation
Authors: Lambert Bernard , Gonthier Mariette , Dery Jean-Paul , Lepage Yves 
Published: April 2003

This randomized study was carried out to compare pain factors of Vabra and Endocell by an ordered classification of one to ten to evaluate the respective pathological yield and to establish the clinical acceptability. Patients had endometrial evaluation either for abnormal bleeding, abnormal endometrial line as demonstrated by echography or abnormal endometrial cells in the Pap smear. Age, gravidity, parity and hysterometry were similar in both groups, with abnormal bleeding being the most frequent indication (250/370 patients, 67.5%). Both techniques yielded equal results for insufficient tissue retrieval at 46/184 (25.0%) for Vabra and at 50/183 (27.3%) for Endocell. The pain score differed significantly in favor of Wallach Endocell at 4.36 ± 2.38 versus Vabra at 5.65 ± 2.41 (p = 0.001). Vabra and Endocell give similar pathological results; however, Endocell is significantly less painful and easier to manipulate and carry because of its weight (1.69 g vs. 37.80 g).
CT and MRI Findings in a Case of Pelvic Schwannoma
Authors: Nasu Kaei , Arima Kazuyo , Yoshimatsu Jun , Miyakawa Isao 
Published: April 2003

We compared the diagnostic utility of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a patient with a pelvic schwannoma. This 46-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of a retroperitoneal pelvic mass and myoma uteri. The retroperitoneal pelvic mass had been detected by a CT scan at a routine health examination. A CT scan revealed a well-circumscribed cystic tumor (4 × 3 cm) at the right internal obturator muscle portion. The CT number of the inner part of the tumor was 21. Only the cyst wall was enhanced by injection of a contrast medium. MRI showed a 4 × 3 × 3-cm retroperitoneal cystic tumor that demonstrated low-intensity signals on T1-weighted images and high-intensity signals on T2-weighted images. Small areas of low intensity inside the tumor were observed on T2-weighted images. Histological examination revealed a typical schwannoma of mixed Antoni type A and type B. These findings indicate that both MRI and CT are useful for diagnosis of retroperitoneal schwannomas.
Interstitial Pregnancy Treated with Local and Systemic Methotrexate
Authors: De Bruyne Filip , Tutschek Boris , Hucke Jürgen , Crombach Gerd 
Published: April 2003

We present a case of an intact interstitial pregnancy at 6 postmenstrual weeks and 4 days, which was successfully treated by combined local and systemic methotrexate administration. The embryonic cardiac activity stopped within 1 min after uneventful ultrasound-guided puncture and methotrexate instillation of the chorionic sac. While the β-hCG serum values returned to normal 59 days after local, and 52 days after systemic treatment, the echogenic lesion has reduced in size by 50%, but is still sonographically detectable 7 months after the procedure. This report shows that medical treatment of interstitial pregnancy may be an effective alternative to the surgical approach.
Transforming Growth Factor-β<sub>1</sub> in Hemangioma of the Ovary
Authors: Loverro Giuseppe , Cormio Gennaro , Perlino Elda , Vicino Mario , Cazzolla Ambrogio , Selvaggi Luigi 
Published: April 2003

Hemangioma of the ovary is extremely rare. We report the case of a 32-year-old woman who complained of pelvic pain due to a large right adnexal mass. On surgical exploration a 10 × 8 cm hemangioma of the ovary was resected. Expression of transforming growth factor-β<sub>1</sub> was studied, and the possible role of this molecule in the development of the tumor is discussed.
Spontaneous Pregnancy after 13 Years of Amenorrhea in aPatient with a Voluminous Ovarian Dysgerminoma and Submitted to Left Adnexectomy and Radiotherapy
Authors: Garcea Nicola , Campo Sebastiano , Marone Maria , Garcea Riccardo 
Published: April 2003

The authors illustrate the case of a 17-year-old patient who was submitted to left adnexectomy in view of an ovarian dysgerminoma 24 cm in diameter and weighing 2,800 g. She was subsequently submitted to two cycles of radiotherapy. Following a period of amenorrhea lasting 13 years and characterized by high serum levels of gonadotropins, the patient had a spontaneous pregnancy and at 33 weeks of gestation delivered a live and vital fetus. Therefore the occurrence of post-radiotherapy amenorrhea, characterized by high serum gonadotropin levels, should not always be considered pathognomonic of precocious menopause. The possibility that radiotherapy causes only a temporary alteration in ovarian activity should also be taken into consideration.