bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of low dose immunotherapy in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: a prospective, double‐blinded, clinical study
Authors: COLOMBO SILVIA , HILL PETER B. , SHAW DARREN J. , THODAY KEITH L. 
Published: June 2005

Abstract  There are anecdotal reports of increased effectiveness of allergen‐specific immunotherapy (ASIT) in dogs with doses of vaccine lower than that recommended by the manufacturers. However, no controlled studies have been carried out. The aim of this prospective, double‐blinded study was to evaluate whether induction and maintenance with low dose (LD) ASIT resulted in a different success rate compared with the standard dose (SD). Twenty‐seven dogs with confirmed atopic dermatitis were allocated by block randomization to two groups. One group (n = 13) received SD ASIT; the other group (n = 14) received LD ASIT (1/10 of the SD) following the same frequency protocol. Cases were graded at 0, 3, 6 and 9 months for clinical signs using a modified canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (mCADESI) and for pruritus using a 0–5 descriptor scale. There were no significant differences between the groups in the pruritus and mCADESI scores (P > 0.155) at the end of the study, and the changes in pruritus (P > 0.920) and mCADESI (P > 0.296) scores from the beginning to the end of the study were similar in both groups. Pruritus scores in both groups did not change during the study (P > 0.052). However, significant reductions in mCADESI scores were seen in both groups (P < 0.032). Six dogs achieved a final pruritus score of 0, six achieved a reduction in pruritus score and 15 did not improve or worsened. There was, therefore, no evidence that LD ASIT is more effective than the standard protocol.
Interleukin‐1β exacerbates and interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist attenuates neuronal injury and microglial activation after excitotoxic damage in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures
Authors: Hailer Nils P. , Vogt Cornelia , Korf Horst‐Werner , Dehghani Faramarz 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThe effects of interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra) on neurons and microglial cells were investigated in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSCs). OHSCs obtained from rats were excitotoxically lesioned after 6 days in vitro by application of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) and treated with IL‐1β (6 ng/mL) or IL‐1ra (40, 100 or 500 ng/mL) for up to 10 days. OHSCs were then analysed by bright field microscopy after hematoxylin staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy after labeling of damaged neurons with propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescent staining of microglial cells. The specificity of PI labeling of damaged neurons was validated by triple staining with neuronal and glial markers and it was observed that PI accumulated in damaged neurons only but not in microglial cells or astrocytes. Treatment of unlesioned OHSCs with IL‐1β did not induce neuronal damage but caused an increase in the number of microglial cells. NMDA lesioning alone resulted in a massive increase in the number of microglial cells and degenerating neurons. Treatment of NMDA‐lesioned OHSCs with IL‐1β exacerbated neuronal cell death and further enhanced microglial cell numbers. Treatment of NMDA‐lesioned cultures with IL‐1ra significantly attenuated NMDA‐induced neuronal damage and reduced the number of microglial cells, whereas application of IL‐1ra in unlesioned OHSCs did not induce significant changes in either cell population. Our findings indicate that: (i) IL‐1β directly affects the central nervous system and acts independently of infiltrating hematogenous cells; (ii) IL‐1β induces microglial activation but is not neurotoxic per se; (iii) IL‐1β enhances excitotoxic neuronal damage and microglial activation and (iv) IL‐1ra, even when applied for only 4 h, reduces neuronal cell death and the number of microglial cells after excitotoxic damage.
Modulations in the degree of synchronization during ongoing oscillatory activity in the human brain
Authors: Kilner James , Bott Lewis , Posada Andres 
Published: June 2005

AbstractWhen a subject is asked to respond as quickly as possible to a stimulus he/she responds much faster if this stimulus is preceded by a warning cue. This cue enables the subject to anticipate the forthcoming stimulus, initiating neural processes subserving the future perception and processing of the target stimulus and the motor preparation of the associated response action. It has recently been suggested that neuronal activity before such an anticipated target stimulus could be associated with modulations in neuronal synchronization and oscillatory activity. Here we recorded electrical brain activity whilst subjects performed a choice reaction time task, in which one of the stimuli could be predicted with 90% certainty. We show that the prediction of a forthcoming stimulus was associated with an increase in gamma oscillations overlying occipital areas and a decrease in beta oscillations overlying sensorimotor cortex before the stimulus was presented. We suggest that these regionally specific modulations in oscillatory activity reflect the establishment of neural networks that are ‘primed’ for the future processing of the forthcoming predictable visual stimulus.
Glutamate receptor 1‐immunopositive neurons in the gliotic CA1 area of the mouse hippocampus after pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus
Authors: Tang Feng Ru , Chia Shwn Chin , Zhang Si , Chen Peng Min , Gao Hong , Liu Chun Ping , Khanna Sanjay , Lee Wei Ling 
Published: June 2005

AbstractSignificant reduction in glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1)‐ and GluR2/3‐immunopositive neurons was demonstrated in the hilus of the dentate gyrus in mice killed on days 1, 7 and 60 after pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus (PISE). In addition, GluR1 and GluR2/3 immunostaining in the strata oriens, radiatum and lacunosum moleculare of areas CA1–3 decreased drastically on days 7 and 60 after PISE. Neuronal loss observed in the above regions may account, at least in part, for a decrease in GluR immunoreactivity. By contrast, many GluR1‐immunopositive neurons were observed in the gliotic area of CA1. Of these, about 42.8% were immunopositive for markers for hippocampal interneurons, namely calretinin (7.6%), calbindin (12.8%) and parvalbumin (22.4%). GluR1 or GluR2/3 and BrdU double‐labelling showed that the GluR1‐ and GluR2/3‐immunopositive neurons at 60 days after PISE were neurons that had survived rather than newly generated neurons. Furthermore, anterograde tracer and double‐labelling studies performed on animals at 60 days after PISE indicated a projection from the hilus of the dentate gyrus to gliotic areas in both CA3 and CA1, where the projecting fibres apparently established connections with GluR1‐immunopositive neurons. The projection to CA1 was unexpected. These novel findings suggest that the intrinsic hippocampal neuronal network is altered after PISE. We speculate that GluR1‐immunopositive neurons in gliotic CA1 act as a bridge between dentate gyrus and subiculum contributing towards epileptogenesis.
Changes in reelin expression in the mouse olfactory bulb after chemical lesion to the olfactory epithelium
Authors: Okuyama‐Yamamoto Ayako , Yamamoto Tatsuro , Miki Akinori , Terashima Toshio 
Published: June 2005

AbstractTo explore the functional roles of Reelin in the adult olfactory system, we examined changes in the expression of reelin mRNA and Reelin protein in the olfactory bulb (OB) of adult mice after a chemical lesion to the olfactory epithelium. Following intranasal irrigation with 2% zinc sulphate solution, animals were perfused at various times between 5 and 40 days post‐lesion. The expression of reelin mRNA in mitral cells in the OB was slightly reduced at 5 days post‐lesion, completely abolished by 20 days, but restored almost to the normal level at 40 days post‐lesion. Similarly, the expression of Reelin protein in mitral cells of the deafferented OB also recovered, although not to the normal level. No recovery of either reelin mRNA or Reelin immunoreactivity was seen in the periglomerular cells and external tufted cells. The expression profile of reelin mRNA and Reelin protein in the OB coincided with the time course of degeneration and regeneration of olfactory nerves, as indicated by anterograde labeling of olfactory nerves with WGA‐HRP. These results suggest that expression of reelin mRNA in the adult OB is regulated by olfactory inputs.
Species richness changes across two trophic levels simultaneously affect prey and consumer biomass
Authors: Gamfeldt L. , Hillebrand H. , Jonsson P. R. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractIncreasing species richness of primary producers or consumers is proposed to increase primary and secondary production; however, the consequences of biodiversity change across trophic levels has been poorly investigated. We used a controlled marine microbial system to investigate the effects of simultaneous changes in biodiversity of consumer and prey species. Consumer (ciliates) and prey (algae) richness and identity were manipulated independently in a complete factorial design. The results showed clear biodiversity effects of both consumers and prey, within and across trophic levels. We found reduced prey and increased consumer biomass with increased consumer richness, with the most diverse prey assemblage supporting the highest biomass of consumers at the highest richness of consumers. Increasing prey richness did not increase resistance to consumption when consumers were present. Instead, our results indicated enhanced energy transfer with simultaneous increasing richness of consumers and prey.
Fire and the Miocene expansion of C4 grasslands
Authors: Keeley Jon E. , Rundel Philip W. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractC4 photosynthesis had a mid‐Tertiary origin that was tied to declining atmospheric CO2, but C4‐dominated grasslands did not appear until late Tertiary. According to the ‘CO2‐threshold’ model, these C4 grasslands owe their origin to a further late Miocene decline in CO2 that gave C4 grasses a photosynthetic advantage. This model is most appropriate for explaining replacement of C3 grasslands by C4 grasslands, however, fossil evidence shows C4 grasslands replaced woodlands. An additional weakness in the threshold model is that recent estimates do not support a late Miocene drop in pCO2. We hypothesize that late Miocene climate changes created a fire climate capable of replacing woodlands with C4 grasslands. Critical elements were seasonality that sustained high biomass production part of year, followed by a dry season that greatly reduced fuel moisture, coupled with a monsoon climate that generated abundant lightning‐igniting fires. As woodlands became more open from burning, the high light conditions favoured C4 grasses over C3 grasses, and in a feedback process, the elevated productivity of C4 grasses increased highly combustible fuel loads that further increased fire activity. This hypothesis is supported by paleosol data that indicate the late Miocene expansion of C4 grasslands was the result of grassland expansion into more mesic environments and by charcoal sediment profiles that parallel the late Miocene expansion of C4 grasslands. Many contemporary C4 grasslands are fire dependent and are invaded by woodlands upon cessation of burning. Thus, we maintain that the factors driving the late Miocene expansion of C4 were the same as those responsible for maintenance of C4 grasslands today.
Randomised controlled trial of LigaSure versus conventional suture ligature for abdominal hysterectomy
Authors: Hagen Bjørn , Eriksson Nils , Sundset Marit 
Published: June 2005

Objective  To compare the use of LigaSure with conventional suture ligature in abdominal hysterectomy.Design  Pilot randomised controlled unblinded trial with block randomisation according to three operating surgeons.Setting  One Norwegian teaching hospital, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.Sample  Thirty women who underwent total or subtotal abdominal hysterectomy.Methods  Data, with regard to operation time expenditure and the occurrence of peri‐ and post‐operative complications, were collected and compared between the two techniques.Main outcome measures  Operation time, peri‐ and post‐operative complications.Results  Mean operation duration was 61.7 minutes with LigaSure and 54.5 minutes with conventional suture ligature. The corresponding operative blood loss was 303 and 298 mL, respectively. Occurrence of complications was few and not significantly different between the two techniques. Mean hospital stay was longer following LigaSure operations (10 vs 6 days), probably due to a certain age imbalance between the study groups.Conclusions  Within the limitation of this pilot study, we did not uncover a time sparing effect from the use of LigaSure or any difference in the occurrence of blood loss and complications.
The relationship of vaginal prolapse severity tosymptoms and quality of life
Authors: Digesu G. Alessandro , Chaliha Charlotte , Salvatore Stefano , Hutchings Anna , Khullar Vik 
Published: June 2005

Objective  To assess the relationship and location of vaginal prolapse severity to symptoms and quality of life.Design  A prospective observational study.Setting  Urogynaecology Unit, Imperial College, St Mary's Hospital, London.Population  Women with and without symptoms of vaginal prolapse.Methods  All women completed a validated Prolapse Quality of Life (P‐QOL) questionnaire. This included a urinary, bowel and sexual symptom questionnaire. All women were examined using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system (POP‐Q). POP‐Q scores in those with and without prolapse symptoms were compared. Urinary and bowel symptoms and sexual function were compared and related to prolapse severity and location.Main outcome measures  POP‐Q scores, P‐QOL scores, urinary and bowel symptoms and sexual function.Results  Three hundred and fifty‐five women were recruited—233 symptomatic and 122 asymptomatic of prolapse. The median P‐QOL domain scores ranged between 42–100 in symptomatic women and 0–25 in those who were asymptomatic. The stage of prolapse was significantly higher in those symptomatic of prolapse (P < 0.001) except for perineal body (PB) measurement. Urinary symptoms were not correlated with uterovaginal prolapse severity whereas bowel symptoms were strongly associated with posterior vaginal wall prolapse. Cervical descent was found to have a relationship with sexual dysfunction symptoms.Conclusions  Women who present with symptoms specific to pelvic organ prolapse demonstrate greater degrees of pelvic relaxation than women who present without symptoms. Prolapse severity and quality of life scores are significantly different in those women symptomatic of prolapse. There was a stronger relationship between posterior prolapse and bowel symptoms than anterior prolapse and urinary symptoms. Sexual dysfunction was related to cervical descent.
Increasing likelihood of further live births in HIV‐infected women in recent years
Authors:   European Collaborative Study
Published: June 2005

Objective  To examine how the subsequent childbearing of HIV‐infected mothers enrolled in the European Collaborative Study (ECS) has changed over time and identify factors predictive of further childbearing.Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  Centres in nine European countries included in the ECS, enrolled between end 1986 and November 2003.Population  HIV‐infected women (3911): 3693 with only one and 218 with subsequent live births.Methods  Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Kaplan–Meier (KM) analyses to estimate cumulative proportions of women having a subsequent live birth.Main outcome measures  Subsequent live birth.Results  In multivariable analysis adjusting for time period, ethnicity, maternal age and parity, black women were more likely [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.45; 95% CI, 1.75–3.43], and women >30 years less likely (AOR 0.54, 0.37–0.80), to have a subsequent live birth. Time to subsequent live birth significantly shortened over time, with an estimated 2% of women having a subsequent live birth within 24 months of enrolment pre‐1989 versus 14% in 2000–2003 (P < 0.001). Estimated time to subsequent live birth was shorter for black than for white women (P < 0.001).Conclusions  The likelihood of subsequent live births substantially increased after 1995 and birth intervals were shorter in women on HAART and among black women. Numbers are currently too small to address the issue of advantages and disadvantages in the management of subsequent deliveries.
The effects of pregnancy on the cardiovascular response to acute systemic isocapnic hypoxia in conscious sheep
Authors: Jellyman J.K. , Gardner D.S. , Edwards C.M.B. , Fowden A.L. , Giussani D.A. 
Published: June 2005

Objective This study tested the hypothesis that pregnancy affects the cardiovascular responses to hypoxia by altering the outputs of the peripheral components of the stress system and independent of changes inPaCO2.Design Comparison of cardiovascular and endocrine responses to acute isocapnic hypoxia between pregnant and non‐pregnant ewes.Setting Experimental laboratory.Sample Fifteen pregnant (118 days of gestation; term isca. 145 days) and 8 non‐pregnant sheep.Methods Chronically instrumented pregnant and non‐pregnant ewes were subjected to 1 hour normoxia, 1 hour of acute systemic isocapnic hypoxia and 1 hour recovery.Main outcome measures Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, femoral blood flow and femoral vascular conductance were recorded continuously throughout and arterial blood samples were taken during normoxia, hypoxia and recovery for the measurement of blood gas, metabolic and endocrine status.Results Basal blood pressure and blood glucose and lactate concentrations were lower in pregnant animals (P< 0.05). In contrast, basal cardiovascular variables and plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline, neuropeptide Y, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol were similar in pregnant and non‐pregnant ewes. During hypoxia similar reductions inPaO2occurred in pregnant and non‐pregnant animals, without alterations inPaCO2or pHa. In non‐pregnant ewes, acute hypoxia induced a transient increase in arterial pressure and sustained tachycardia without significant changes in femoral haemodynamics. Pregnancy attenuated the cardiovascular response, significantly diminishing the magnitude of the increment in heart rate throughout the hypoxic challenge (P< 0.001). However, hypoxia did not induce significant changes in blood metabolites or in plasma concentrations of any stress hormone measured in either pregnant or non‐pregnant animals.Conclusion Pregnancy not only affects basal but also stimulated cardiovascular function in the mother. The diminished chronotropic response to hypoxia in pregnancy is mediated via mechanisms independent of changes inPaCO2or in plasma concentrations of hormones or metabolites associated with activation of the stress system.
The expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 in human follicular fluid is associated with in vitro fertilisation pregnancy
Authors: Lee Dong‐Mok , Lee Tae‐Kyun , Song Hai‐Bum , Kim Cheorl‐Ho 
Published: June 2005

Objective  To investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) in the pre‐ovulatory follicular fluid and culture media during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle and to develop the zymographic pre‐diagnosis marker for successful implantation and pregnancy in human IVF.Design  Controlled clinical study.Setting  IVF Laboratory, Women's Hospital Infertility Clinic and Dongguk University, Korea.Sample  Women undergoing in vitro fertilisation treatment.Methods  Experiments were designed for controlled clinical study with women undergoing IVF treatment. MMP‐9 expressions in follicular fluid and culture media samples that had been collected during transvaginal oocyte retrieval were measured using zymography. MMP‐9 activities and expressions were strongly correlated to a higher rate of fertilisation and pregnancy.Main outcome measures  Fertilisation rates and ultrasonic evidence of intrauterine pregnancy by four weeks after embryo transfer.Result  MMP‐9 activity was significantly higher in the pregnant group than in the non‐pregnant group (P < 0.01). In contrast, MMP‐2 activity was present in the follicular fluid and culture media of all women, and no difference in its expressions was found between the pregnant and non‐pregnant groups. No correlation was found between the MMP‐9 expression in follicular fluid and culture media and the fertilisation rates.Conclusion  The expression of MMP‐9 in the follicular fluid and culture media is a prerequisite for successful pregnancy in IVF cycle. The zymography of MMP‐9 activity in follicular fluids of human and culture media was developed as a pre‐diagnostic method and zymographic diagnosis marker for successful fertilisation, implantation and pregnancy in human IVF.
Pregnancy outcome after maternal organ transplantation in Sweden
Authors: Källén Bengt , Westgren Magnus , Åberg Anders , Olausson Petra Otterblad 
Published: June 2005

Objective  To study pregnancy outcome before and after organ transplantation.Design  Registry study.Setting  Swedish Health Registers.Population  All births in Sweden 1973–2002.Methods  Women who had organ transplantation were identified from the Hospital Discharge Register and their deliveries before and after the transplantation were identified from the Medical Birth Register. Abortions requiring hospitalisation were identified from the Hospital Discharge Register. Outcomes were compared with those in the total population. Adjustments were made for maternal age, parity and smoking habits.Main outcome measures  Miscarriage, preterm delivery, low birthweight, small for gestational age, congenital malformations, infant death, pre‐eclampsia and placental abruption.Results  A total of 980 infants born before and 152 born after transplantation were identified. A high frequency of pre‐eclampsia (22%), preterm birth (46%), low birthweight (41%), small for gestational age (16%) and infant death (5% before the age of one) were found for deliveries after transplantation but similar frequencies were found also among deliveries a few years before transplantation. No significant increase in congenital malformation rate was seen. Among 15 infants born after liver transplantation, 2 were malformed.Conclusions  Pregnancies after organ transplantation have an increased risk of complications but this is similar to pregnancies occurring before the transplantation.