bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire used among 2-year-old Norwegian children
Authors: Andersen LF , Lande B , Trygg K , Hay G 
Published: September 2004

AbstractObjectives:An adequate diet is of profound importance in infancy and early childhood. To ensure an optimal diet, knowledge about actual intake must be obtained. The aims of this study were to assess the validity of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) applied in a large nation-wide survey among 2-year-old children and to examine the validity of the SFFQ in relation to different background parameters.Design:The SFFQ was administered to the parents close to the child's second birthday, and one to two weeks later they started to weigh and record the child's diet for 7 days.Subjects:One-hundred and eighty-seven families with a 2-year-old child completed both methods.Results:There were no differences between the intakes of protein, saturated fatty acids, total carbohydrates and calcium estimated from the two methods. The average intake of all micronutrients, except for calcium, was overestimated by the SFFQ. Bland–Altman plots showed a systematic increase in difference between the two methods with increasing intake for most nutrients. Spearman correlation coefficients between methods for nutrient intakes ranged from 0.26 to 0.50, the median correlation was 0.38. The correlations increased when estimates were adjusted for energy intake, the median correlation being 0.52. Differences in observed validity were found according to the number of siblings.Conclusions:This study indicates that the SFFQ may be a valuable tool for measuring average intakes of energy, macronutrients and several food items among a 2-year-old population in Norway. The ability of the questionnaire to rank children according to intakes of nutrients and food items was rather low.
Frequency of soy food consumption and serum isoflavone concentrations among Chinese women in Shanghai
Authors: Frankenfeld Cara L , Lampe Johanna W , Shannon Jackilen , Gao Dao L , Ray Roberta M , Prunty Joann , Kalhorn Thomas F , Wähälä Kristiina , Patterson Ruth E , Thomas David B 
Published: September 2004

AbstractObjective:The food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) can be an efficient tool to evaluate dietary intake in large, population-based studies, especially for specific foods. The objective of this study was to validate the assessment of soy and isoflavone (daidzein and genistein) intakes, measured by an FFQ, by comparing intakes with serum isoflavone concentrations.Design and setting:Soy and isoflavone intakes and serum isoflavone concentrations were determined as part of a case–control study of dietary factors and risks of benign breast disease and breast cancer. The FFQ, administered during an in-person interview, included six soy-specific line items. Blood was drawn within one week of FFQ completion.Subjects:In total, 1823 women living in Shanghai, People's Republic of China.Results:In this population, soybean milk, fresh bean curd and other bean foods were eaten once per week, and fermented bean curd, fried bean curd puff and soybeans were eaten less than once per week. A significant linear trend (P > 0.01) in serum isoflavone concentrations across increasing categories of soy and isoflavone intakes was observed, indicating that soy and isoflavone intakes, measured by the FFQ, well distinguished serum isoflavone concentrations. Linear trends were also observed in both case and control groups in stratified analyses, suggesting little differential bias by case–control status.Conclusions:The results suggest that the FFQ provides a useful marker of soy food consumption and isoflavone exposure in this population.
Some preliminary notes on actor–observer anthropology
Authors: Galibert Charlie 
Published: September 2004

The epistemic continuum of anthropology extends “ideally” from the position of a detached observer to that of an implicated actor. Yet this sketch raises questions. From the side of detached observation, do not structures and forms takes the place of the actor, who becomes, so to speak, the observer verifying his own models? Is not participant observation self‐limiting when it posits the ideal of fusion of consciousness, which forbids it from asking the question of otherness? Finally, when the actor assumes the status of observer, is there not the risk of seeing what one already believes, of failing to achieve detachment?The extreme position of objective observer comes up against the specific otherness (the identity) of a subjectivity that is out of reach, and the extreme position of subjective actor comes up against the impossibility of objectivation. An ideally theoretical ethnography is blocked by the actor's irreducible quiddity and an ideally naïve ethnography by the exoticism of theory. In one case, the approach comes down to “anthropology in the absence of Man”; in the other to “Man in the absence of anthropology”.The purpose of the article is to show that an anthropology that conjoins actor and observer is possible in an approach that combines a “state of the issue” and an essay in anthropological epistemology.
Metabolic cost of lengthening, isometric and shortening contractions in maximally stimulated rat skeletal muscle
Authors: Beltman J. G. M. , Van Der Vliet M. R. , Sargeant A. J. , De Haan A. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAim:  The present study investigated the energy cost of lengthening, isometric and shortening contractions in rat muscle (n = 19).Methods:  With electrical stimulation the rat medial gastrocnemius muscle was maximally stimulated to perform 10 lengthening, isometric and shortening contractions (velocity 25 mm s−1) under experimental conditions (e.g. temperature, movement velocity) that resemble conditions in human movement.Results:  Mean ± SD force–time‐integral of the first contraction was significantly different between the three protocols, 2.4 ± 0.2, 1.7 ± 0.2 and 1.0 ± 0.2 N s, respectively (P < 0.05). High‐energy phosphate consumption was not significantly different between the three modes of exercise but a trend could be observed from lengthening (7.7 ± 2.7 μmol ∼ P muscle−1) to isometric (8.9 ± 2.2 μmol ∼ P muscle−1) to shortening contractions (10.4 ± 1.6 μmol ∼ P muscle−1). The ratio of high‐energy phosphate consumption to force–time‐integral was significantly lower for lengthening [0.3 ± 0.1 μmol ∼ P (N s)−1] and isometric [0.6 ± 0.2 μmol ∼ P (N s)−1] contractions compared with shortening [1.2 ± 0.2 μmol ∼ P (N s)−1] contractions (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  The present results of maximally stimulated muscles are comparable with data in the literature for voluntary human exercise showing that the energy cost of force production during lengthening exercise is ∼30% of that in shortening exercise. The present study suggests that this finding in humans probably does reflect intrinsic muscle properties rather than effects of differential recruitment and/or coactivation.
Pressure‐independent cardiac effects of angiotensin II in pigs
Authors: Broomé M. , Haney M. , Häggmark S. , Johansson G. , Åneman A. , Biber B. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractBackground:  Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent vasoconstrictor with an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Earlier results have shown a positive acute inotropic effect of Ang II in anaesthetized pigs together with significant vasoconstriction. This investigation was designed to study cardiac effects of Ang II, when blood pressure was maintained constant by experimental means.Methods:  Ang II (200 μg h−1) was infused in anaesthetized pigs (n = 10) at two different arterial blood pressures, the first determined by the effects of Ang II alone, and the second maintained at baseline blood pressure with nitroprusside. Cardiac systolic and diastolic function was evaluated by analysis of left ventricular pressure–volume relationships.Results:  Heart rate, end‐systolic elastance (Ees) and pre‐load adjusted maximal power (PWRmax EDV−2) increased at both blood pressure levels, although less when blood pressure was kept constant with nitroprusside. The time constant for isovolumetric relaxation (τ1/2) was prolonged with Ang II alone and shortened with Ang II infused together with nitroprusside.Conclusion:  Ang II infusion in the pig has inotropic and chronotropic properties independent of arterial blood pressure levels, although the effects seem to be blunted by pharmacological actions of the nitric oxide donor nitroprusside.
Effects of acute moderate exercise on the phagocytosis of Kupffer cells in rats
Authors: Yano H. , Kinoshita S. , Kira S. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAim:  This study investigated the function of Kupffer cells, and particularly their role as immunocompetent cells that come into contact with gut‐derived endotoxin, in the acute exercise of rats.Methods:  Female Fischer 344 rats were run on a treadmill at 21 m min−1 for 60 min on a 15% grade.Results:  Afterwards, the number of latex particles in the liver was higher in the exercising rats than that in resting rats and an increase in the number of latex particles phagocytosed by each Kupffer cell was noted. The plasma endotoxin concentration was significantly higher in the exercise group than in the resting rats, and the small intestine was damaged by the exercise. Plasma corticosterone and thyroxine 4 levels were unchanged. Although the number of Kupffer cells was unchanged by acute exercise, the number of CD14‐positive Kupffer cells increased. Plasma liver enzyme activities were slightly increased by acute exercise, whereas plasma tumour necrosis factor‐α was not detected.Conclusion:  These results suggest that moderately intense exercise increases the phagocytosis of Kupffer cells, and that it might be induced by endotoxemia of portal blood caused by intestinal mucosal lesions resulting from acute exercise.
The stimulatory effect of α‐melanotropin on progesterone release from rat granulosa cells is inhibited by interleukin‐1β and by tumour necrosis factor‐α
Authors: Piatti V. , Celis M. E. , Durando P. E. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAim:  Several studies have shown that a variety of peptides and cytokines are involved in ovarian regulatory mechanisms; however, their exact function is still unclear. In this work we study whether the administration of peptide α‐melanotropin and the cytokines interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) on their own modify the release of progesterone in cultured granulosa cells (GC) from pro‐oestrous rats. We also investigate an interaction between these cytokines and α‐melanotropin in the modulation of progesterone secretion.Methods:  Granulosa cells were collected from the ovaries of female Wistar rats and cultured for up to 24 h in the presence of different concentrations of α‐melanotropin, cytokines or a combination of both. Progesterone concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay.Results:  The addition of α‐melanotropin in a dose of 0.01 and 0.1 mm had no effect on progesterone release, whereas a dose of 1 mm significantly increased progesterone release (P < 0.01) compared with the control culture. Progesterone release was not modified when different concentrations of interleukin‐1β or TNF‐α were added to the cell cultures. However, when interleukin‐1β or TNF‐α were added simultaneously with 1 μmα‐melanotropin, a significant reduction (P < 0.01 for interleukin‐1β and P < 0.05 for TNF‐α) of the steroid release was found with respect to the α‐melanotropin‐treated group.Conclusions:  These results lead us to suggest that, although α‐melanotropin stimulates progesterone release in pre‐ovulatory GC, this effect is blocked by the presence of interleukin‐1β or TNF‐α.
Control of breathing in newborn mice lacking the beta‐2 nAChR subunit
Authors: Dauger S. , Durand E. , Cohen G. , Lagercrantz H. , Changeux J.‐P. , Gaultier C. , Gallego J. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAim:  To study the ventilatory and arousal/defence responses to hypoxia in newborn mutant mice lacking the β2 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.Methods:  Breathing variables were measured non‐invasively in mutant (n =31) and wild‐type age‐matched mice (n = 57) at 2 and 8 days of age using flow barometric whole‐body plethysmography. The arousal/defence response to hypoxia was determined using behavioural criteria.Results:  On day 2, mutant pups had significantly greater baseline ventilation (16%) than wild‐type pups (P < 0.02). Mutant pups had a decreased hypoxic ventilatory declines. Arousal latency was significantly shorter in mutant than in wild‐type pups (133 ± 40 vs. 146 ± 20 s, respectively, P < 0.026). However, the duration of movement elicited by hypoxia was shorter in mutant than in wild‐type pups (14.7 ± 5.9 vs. 23.0 ± 10.7 s, respectively, P < 0.0005). Most differences disappeared on P8, suggesting a high degree of functional plasticity.Conclusion:  The blunted hypoxic ventilatory decline and the shorter arousal latency on day 2 suggested that disruption of the β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors impaired inhibitory processes affecting both the ventilatory and the arousal response to hypoxia during postnatal development.
Exercise and myocardial tolerance to ischaemia‐reperfusion
Authors: Lennon S. L. , Quindry J. C. , French J. P. , Kim S. , Mehta J. L. , Powers S. K. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractIt is well established that both short‐term (1–5 days) and long‐term (weeks to months) high intensity exercise (i.e. 70–75%VO2max) provides cardioprotection against ischaemia‐reperfusion injury. However, it is unclear if moderate intensity exercise will also provide cardioprotection.Aim:  Therefore, these experiments compared the protective effects of moderate vs. high intensity exercise in providing defense against ischaemia‐reperfusion injury.Methods:  Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of three‐experimental groups: (1) sedentary (control); (2) moderate intensity treadmill exercise (60 min day−1 at ∼55%VO2max); or (3) high intensity treadmill exercise (60 min day−1 at ∼75%VO2max). Hearts were exposed to 20 min of global ischaemia followed by 30 min reperfusion in an isolated working heart preparation.Results:  Compared with sedentary rats, both moderate and high intensity exercised rats maintained a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of pre‐ischaemia cardiac output and cardiac work (cardiac output × systolic blood pressure) during reperfusion. No differences in the percent recovery of cardiac output and heart work existed (P > 0.05) between the two exercise groups.Conclusions:  These data reveal that both moderate and high intensity exercise training provide equivalent protection against ischaemia‐reperfusion injury.
Evaluation of a triple sugar test of colonic permeability in humans
Authors: Anderson A. D. G. , Jain P. K. , Fleming S. , Poon P. , Mitchell C. J. , MacFie J. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAim:  Conventional dual sugar tests of intestinal permeability assess only the stomach and small intestine. A novel triple sugar method of assessing colonic permeability has recently been described in animals. This utilizes the non‐fermented sweetener sucralose, in addition to conventional sugars. It has been postulated that this test enables the simultaneous assessment of small‐intestinal and colonic barrier function in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the triple sugar test using healthy volunteers and ileostomists.Methods:  Twenty‐one healthy volunteers and 18 ileostomists underwent the triple sugar test. After an overnight fast, subjects drank a solution containing lactulose (5 g), rhamnose (1 g) and sucralose (5 g). Urine was collected for 0–5 h and 5–19 h. Urinary sugars were quantified using HPLC, and 5 and 24‐h excretion calculated. Nineteen control subjects and 16 ileostomists also underwent a 51Cr‐EDTA permeability test. Permeability data were presented as medians (IQR), and differences between groups analysed with Mann–Whitney U‐tests.Results:  Lactulose excretion and the 5‐h lactulose/rhamnose (L/R) ratio were similar in controls and ileostomists [L/R ratio 0.024 (0.022–0.034) vs. 0.025 (0.022–0.035), P = 0.955]. Twenty‐four hours excretion of sucralose was significantly higher in control subjects compared with ileostomists [1.41% (1.17–1.68) vs. 0.96% (0.64–1.2), P = 0.003]. The same pattern was seen with 51Cr‐EDTA [2.73% (2.06–3.76) vs. 2.06% (1.55–2.71), P = 0.037] and with lactulose [0.52% (0.42–0.60) vs. 0.25% (0.16–0.35), P = 0.002].Conclusions:  Both sucralose and 51Cr‐EDTA underwent significant colonic absorption. A significant amount of lactulose also appeared to be absorbed in the colon. This unexpected finding requires further study.
Human soleus muscle protein synthesis following resistance exercise
Authors: Trappe T. A. , Raue U. , Tesch P. A. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAim:  It is generally believed the calf muscles in humans are relatively unresponsive to resistance training when compared with other muscles of the body. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the muscle protein synthesis response of the soleus muscle following a standard high intensity bout of resistance exercise.Methods:  Eight recreationally active males (27 ± 4 years) completed three unilateral calf muscle exercises: standing calf press/heel raise, bent‐knee calf press/heel raise, and seated calf press/heel raise. Each exercise consisted of four sets of 15 repetitions (∼15 repetition maximum, RM, or ∼70% 1RM). Fractional rate of muscle protein synthesis (FSR) was determined with a primed constant infusion of [2H5]phenylalanine coupled with muscle biopsies immediately and 3 h following the exercise in both the exercise and non‐exercise (resting control) leg.Results:  FSR was elevated (P < 0.05) in the exercise (0.069 ± 0.010) vs. the control (0.051 ± 0.012) leg. Muscle glycogen concentration was lower (P < 0.05) in the exercise compared with the control leg (Decrease from control; immediate post‐exercise: 54 ± 5; 3 h post‐exercise: 36 ±4 mmol kg−1 wet wt.). This relatively high amount of glycogen use is comparable with previous studies of resistance exercise of the thigh (i.e. vastus lateralis; ∼41–49 mmol kg−1 wet wt.). However, the exercise‐induced increase in FSR that has been consistently reported for the vastus lateralis (∼0.045–0.060% h−1) is on average ∼200% higher than reported here for the soleus (0.019 ± 0.003% h−1).Conclusions:  These results suggest the relatively poor response of soleus muscle protein synthesis to an acute bout of resistance exercise may be the basis for the relative inability of the calf muscles to respond to resistance training programs.
Adenosine A1 receptors are necessary for protection of the murine heart by remote, delayed adaptation to ischaemia
Authors: Schulte G. , Sommerschild H. , Yang J. , Tokuno S. , Goiny M. , Lövdahl C. , Johansson B. , Fredholm B. B. , Valen G. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAims:  Adenosine is involved in classic pre‐conditioning (PC) in most species, acting through especially adenosine A1 and A3 receptors. We studied whether the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) was important for remote, delayed adaptation to ischaemia using a mouse with targeted deletion of the A1R gene.Methods:  Remote, delayed adaptation was evoked by brain ischaemia (BIPC) through bilateral ligation of the internal carotid arteries. Through microdialysis probes placed in the brain and the abdominal aorta, we found that plasma adenosine increased following carotid artery ligation. Twenty‐four hours after ligation, hearts were isolated, Langendorff perfused and subjected to 40 min global ischaemia and 60 min reperfusion. Hearts from sham operated and BIPC animals either with (A1R+/+) or without (A1R−/−) the gene for the adenosine A1R were compared with each other.Results:  In wild types, BIPC reduced infarct size and improved functional recovery during reperfusion, but BIPC did not protect hearts of A1R−/− mice. There were no significant differences between sham‐operated A1R+/+ and A1R−/− in recovery of function or infarct size. The mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 and c‐jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) were phosphorylated during reperfusion of sham treated hearts. The increase in ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation detected was attenuated in hearts of BIPC or A1R−/− animals.Conclusion:  During BIPC adenosine acting on the A1R appears necessary for myocardial protection. MAPK signalling may possibly be involved in organ protection during the delayed phase of remote, delayed adaptation.
The effect of AVP‐V1 receptor stimulation on local GFR in the rat kidney
Authors: Roald A. B. , Tenstad O. , Aukland K. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAim:  Arginine vasopressin (AVP) might influence urinary concentration ability by altering the intrarenal distribution of glomerular filtration rate (GFR).Methods:  To study this possibility we have measured the intracortical distribution of GFR following acute AVP‐V1 receptor stimulation in anaesthetized female Sprague–Dawley (SPD) rats during euvolemia and water diuresis by the aprotinin method, allowing two consecutive measurements of zonal GFR in the same kidney.Results:  Acute i.v. bolus injection of 50 ng V1 receptor agonist ([Phe2, Ile3, Orn8]‐vasopressin) followed by a continuous infusion of 5 ng min−1 in euvolemic rats reduced GFR by 25% in outer cortex (OC), 20% in middle cortex (MC) and 19% in inner cortex (IC) relative to vehicle infusion (all P < 0.05). In water diuretic rats V1 receptor agonist reduced GFR by 22% in OC, 10% in MC and 11% in IC relative to vehicle infusion (P < 0.05). GFR decreased slightly more in OC than in MC and IC in both euvolemic and water diuretic rats (P < 0.05) indicating a distribution of GFR towards MC and IC. Acute infusion of the selective non‐peptide V1 receptor antagonist OPC‐21268 in euvolemic rats reduced GFR by 14% in OC, 13% in MC and 11% in IC relative to vehicle infusion (P < 0.05), with no significant difference between the layers.Conclusions:  The change in distribution of GFR not only between OC and IC, but also between OC and MC suggests that the afferent/efferent arterioles and not the medullary vasa recta is the main site of resistance change. We conclude that acute i.v. infusion of V1 receptor agonist in high doses reduces GFR more in superficial than in deep cortex in both euvolemic and water diuretic rats and that this may be of some importance for water conservation, adding to the V2‐ receptor effect on water permeability of the collecting ducts.
‘New Green’ Pragmatism in Germany – Green Politics beyond the Social Democratic Embrace?
Authors: Blühdorn Ingolfur 
Published: September 2004

AbstractCoalitions with left-of-centre parties have traditionally been regarded as the only viable option for Green parties that have shed their stance of radical opposition. The German Greens are investigated as a case study putting this assumption into doubt. Historical analysis of their relationship with the Social Democratic Party reveals how they slipped into life-threatening dependency on the latter. A survey of consecutive reinterpretations of the positioning formula ‘Neither right, nor left but ahead’ maps the struggle for an independent Green identity. An appraisal of recent debates about Conservative– Green alliances investigates the basis for Green coalition politics beyond the Social Democratic embrace.