bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reversibility of endurance training‐induced changes on glucocorticoid sensitivity of monocytes by an acute exercise
Authors: Duclos M. , Minkhar M. , Sarrieau A. , Bonnemaison D. , Manier G. , Mormede P. 
Published: May 2003

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to address the effect of endurance training on monocyte glucocorticoid sensitivity in vitro.METHODSFor this purpose, in vitro dexamethasone inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) secretion in cultures of peripheral monocytes was compared in 6 untrained subjects (UT) and in 6 endurance‐trained (ET) men at 0800 h, 24 h after the end of the last session of exercise (ET men). Moreover, to test the plasticity of these monocytes glucocorticoid sensitivity in ET men, the effect of an acute bout of exercise was further studied 2 h after the end of a 2‐h run at 65–75% VO2max (1200 h) and compared to the results of UT after 4 h of rest.RESULTSAt 0800 h, monocytes from ET were more sensitive to LPS: lower LPS concentration in ET compared to UT men (0.003 vs. 0.03 μg/ml) induced similar IL‐6 concentrations in both ET and UT men (168.4 ± 29.9 pg/ml with 0.003 μg/ml LPS vs. 160.1 ± 34.4 pg/ml with 0.03 μg/ml LPS, ET vs. UT, respectively, P > 0.05 for IL‐6). No effect of sampling time was observed in UT subjects (0800 h vs. 1200 h). This was not the case for ET as at 1200 h, compared to pre‐exercise values, the LPS‐induced IL‐6 production was not significantly different from that obtained in UT. Moreover, when sensitivity to dexamethasone (Dex) was studied and expressed as the percent inhibition of stimulated IL‐6 production with 0.3 μg/ml LPS, at 0800 h the percent inhibition was lower in ET subjects compared to UT (P < 0.01 ET vs. UT men) for each Dex concentration used [10−11–10−8 M]. After exercise, the inhibitory effect of Dex on LPS‐induced IL‐6 production was restored in ET and was no longer significantly different from that obtained in UT.CONCLUSIONWe demonstrate in vitro plasticity of monocyte glucocorticoid sensitivity of endurance trained men, with training‐induced decreased glucocorticoid sensitivity and acute exercise‐induced return to the levels of the control untrained men.
The study of spontaneous GH secretion after 36‐h fasting distinguishes between GH‐deficient and normal adults
Authors: Aimaretti G. , Colao A. , Corneli G. , Pivonello R. , Maccario M. , Morrison K. , Pflaum C. D. , Strasburger C. J. , Lombardi G. , Ghigo E. 
Published: May 2003

OBJECTIVEWithin an appropriate clinical context, GH deficiency (GHD) in adults can only be diagnosed biochemically by provocative testing. The evaluation of IGF‐I, IGFBP‐3 and even of spontaneous GH secretion do not establish the diagnosis of adult GHD. In fact, remarkable overlaps between normal and GHD adults have been reported for all these parameters. On the other hand, it is well known that even short‐term fasting stimulates GH secretion in normal subjects. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of 36 h fasting on 8‐h diurnal GH, insulin and glucose levels as well as on basal IGF‐I, IGFBP‐3, acid‐labile subunit (ALS), IGFBP‐1, GHBP and free fatty acid (FFA) levels.SUBJECTSWe studied 9 GHD adults (GHD, 8 males, 1 female; age, mean ± SEM: 37.6 ± 2.3 years, body mass index (BMI): 24.5 ± 1.0 kg/m2) and 20 age‐matched normal subjects (NS) as controls (13 males, 7 females; age: 28.9 ± 0.6 years, BMI: 21.6 ± 0.4 kg/m2).STUDY DESIGNIn all subjects we studied the effects of 36 h fasting on 8‐h daytime GH, insulin and glucose levels (assay every 30 min from 0800 h to 1600 h) as well as on basal IGF‐I, IGFBP‐3, ALS, IGFBP‐1, GHBP and FFA levels.RESULTSBefore fasting, basal mean IGF‐I, IGFBP‐3 and ALS levels in GHD were lower (P < 0.0001) than in NS. IGFBP‐1, GHBP and FFA levels were similar in both groups. Before fasting mean GH concentration (mGHc) in GHD was lower (P < 0.05) than in NS (0.4 ± 0.2 vs. 2.2 ± 0.6 mu/l) but with a clear overlap between the 2 groups (range 0.4–0.8 vs. 0.4–6.8 mu/l). After fasting, both in GHD and NS basal IGF‐I, IGFBP‐3, ALS and GHBP levels did not change significantly. On the other hand, in both GHD and in NS IGFBP‐1 was increased (P < 0.0001) to a similar extent, while FFA increased in NS more (P < 0.01) than in GHD. Fasting significantly increased mGHc in NS (12.0 ± 1.2 mu/l, P < 0.0001) but not in GHD (0.6 ± 0.2 mu/l). After fasting, no overlap was present between GHD and NS (0.4–1.6 vs. 2.4–20.8 mu/l, respectively). Mean glucose and insulin concentrations over 8 h in GHD and NS in basal conditions were similar and were reduced to the same extent in both groups.CONCLUSIONSOur findings demonstrate that after short‐term fasting, the study of spontaneous GH secretion distinguishes between GH‐deficient adults and normal subjects; this phenomenon occurs before significant changes in IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 levels. These results suggest that the assessment of spontaneous GH secretion could be useful for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency only after short‐term fasting.
Activated Factor VIII inTherapeutic Preparations:Analysis by Ultracentrifugation
Authors: Aronson David L. , Chang Ping 
Published: May 2003

AbstractActivation of factor VIII is signaled by an increase in the 1‐stage factor VIII activity and release from von Willebrand factor. Ultracentrifugation in 10–40% sucrose gradients was used to identify such activation in therapeutic concentrates. Plasma‐derived factor VIII lots were examined and factor VIII sedimenting independently of von Willebrand factor was identified in some of the preparations. In addition there was slower sedimentation of factor VIII by the 1‐stage assay than by the chromogenic assay. These results are consistent with a factor VIII cleaved at residue 1689, a site important for von Willebrand binding. This activated form leads to some of the assay discrepancies between the 1‐stage assay and the chromogenic or the 2‐stage assay. There is more rapid sedimentation of the factor VIII measured by the chromogenic assay than the von Willebrand factor in some manufacturers' samples indicating that the method of fractionation may select a low molecular weight von Willebrand factor which does not bind factor VIII. Routine comparison between the 1‐stage and chromogenic assays during fractionation may be able to identify such activated preparations. Other assay discrepancies may be due to structural differences between the standards and the tested product.
A Prospective Study of the Incidence of Red Cell Allo‐Immunisation following Transfusion
Authors: Redman Martin , Regan Fiona , Contreras Marcela 
Published: May 2003

AbstractTo establish the incidence and timing of red cell allo‐immunisation following transfusion, pretransfusion and serial post‐transfusion samples were screened for allo‐antibodies in a total of 452 patients who had undergone elective surgery. Antibody screening was performed by 2‐stage papain, manual polybrene and indirect antiglobulin techniques (IAT). Red cell allo‐antibodies were found in 42 patients and 38 of these (8.4% overall) demonstrated antibodies only after transfusion; 76% of them had Rh specificity. This rate of red cell allo‐immunisation is higher than what would be expected if transfused patients were tested only once post‐transfusion, as has been the case in several previous studies. For the type of patients studied, this finding may not be of clinical relevance at present because most patients undergoing elective surgery do not require further transfusion in their lifetime. However, this is changing with the longer life expectancy of the population and the increased probability of repeat surgery. Twenty‐two (58%) of the antibodies were initially detected by the 2‐stage papain and/or polybrene techniques, when the IAT was negative, although later 19 became positive by IAT; this added sensitivity of techniques other than the IAT, to detect early allo‐immunisation may be relevant in pretransfusion testing to prevent haemolytic transfusion reactions in patients requiring repeated transfusions.
Sensitivity and Specificity of Standard and Rapid HIV‐Antibody Tests Evaluated by Seroconversion and Non‐Seroconversion Low‐Titre Panels
Authors: Kuun Eben , Brashaw Marion , Heyns Anthon du P. 
Published: May 2003

Abstract Background and objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the relative sensitivity and specificity of commercial HIV‐antibody assays using seroconversion, non‐seroconversion panels, and negative blood donor samples. Materials and methods: We evaluated the sensitivity of five standard ELISA HIV‐antibody assays: Vironostika HIV Uni‐Form II, Abbott recombinant HIV‐1/HIV‐2 third‐generation EIA, Biotest Anti‐HIV‐1/‐2 recombinant, Recombigen HIV‐1/HIV‐2 EIA and Wellcozyme HIV 1+2 (VK54/55), and three rapid screening tests, Capillus HIV‐1/HIV‐2, Abbott Test Pack HIV‐1/HIV‐2 third‐generation EIA, and Sensy‐Test HIV 1/2. All tests were assessed using four panels of plasma samples obtained from individuals who were seroconverting and a low‐titre HIV‐antibody panel of samples. Specificity of the standard screening tests was determined on 3,500 HIV‐antibody‐negative blood donor samples. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in sensitivity between the five standard ELISA tests. One of these tests was significantly less specific than the others. The standard ELISA tests detected all the low‐titre HIV‐antibody‐positive samples. Two of the rapid screening tests were significantly less sensitive on the seroconversion panels and all three tests failed to detect at least one of the positive samples in the low‐titre panel. Conclusions: The additional risk of using one or other of the standard ELISA tests under review of not detecting all HIV‐positive units of blood is not statistically significant. Using some of the rapid screening tests will, however, add a significant additional risk. A rapid screening test should therefore be adopted only after careful consideration of the effect of a possible lack of sensitivity on the safety of the blood supply.
Sterility Testing of Blood Products in 1994/1995 by Three Cooperating Blood Banks in The Netherlands
Authors: Soeterboek A. M. , Welle F. H. W. , Marcelis J. H. , van der Loop C. M. F. 
Published: May 2003

Abstract Background and objectives: Dutch regulations require blood banks to check the sterility of random blood components to detect contamination during preparation. Materials and methods: We reviewed the results of two years' testing, using standard bacteriologic methods. Results: Of all tested components, 0.5% were contaminated, with Staphylococcus epidermidis being the most frequently detected microorganism. Platelet concentrates showed higher rates of contamination, especially when pooled. Leukocyte‐depleted red cell concentrates showed much lower contamination than red cell concentrates that had not been leuko‐depleted. Conclusions: The rate of contamination compares well with that reported by others in the literature. Since most contamination occurs from the phlebotomy site, most of the bacteria detected were derived from the skin. Leukocyte reduction lowers the rate of contamination.
Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes – Mixed Infections
Authors: Poljak M. , Seme K. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractWe read with interest the recent letter to the editor by Soriano et al. [1] on circulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Spain. We were unpleasantly surprised when we ascertained that the study published in your journal by Soriano et al. [1] was identical to the study published by the same research group in the February issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases[2].
Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes 1a and 1b Mixed Infections
Authors: Soriano V. , Bravo R. , García‐Samaniego J. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractIn response to Poljak and Seme's letter, we would like to point out that the manuscript published in another journal [1], although based on the same study population, was only meant to discuss the results of Pawlotsky et al. [2], who claimed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3a was the predominant type among injecting drug users (IDUs) in France, and most likely, in Western Europe. In light of their results, the French authors suggested that HCV‐3a might have been introduced recently in Europe, most likely through IDUs, and that a potential source of infection in Central Asia e.g. (Nepal), where HCV‐3a is prevalent, could explain the linkage, since residence in this region was in vogue in the 1970s among young people with ‘alternative’ life styles. We did not confirm this observation since in Spain HCV‐1a was the predominant subtype found in IDUs.
Morphology of the Venous System of the Heart in the Van Cat
Authors: Aksoy G. , Karadag H. , Ozudogru Z. 
Published: May 2003

SummaryMorphology of the veins draining the heart was studied in the Van cat. Veins draining the heart were the great cardiac vein, the middle cardiac vein, the right cardiac veins and the smallest cardiac veins. No anastomosis was observed between the terminal branches of the paraconal interventricular vein and the subsinuosal interventricular vein. The coronary sinus was formed by the great cardiac vein and the middle cardiac vein. The origins of the right cardiac veins had significant variations. The right semicircumflex vein was observed in three (50%) cats, and it terminated at the middle cardiac vein.
Effect of dietary rare earth elements on growth performance and blood parameters of rats
Authors: He M. L. , Wang Y. Z. , Xu Z. R. , Chen M. L. , Rambeck W. A. 
Published: May 2003

SummaryRare earth elements (REE) have been shown to influence growth performance in animal production, especially in pigs. In the present study, the effect of oral administration of rare earth elements on growing rats was investigated. Pure LaCl3 or an REE mixture containing 38% of LaCl3, 52% of CeCl3, 3% of PrCl3 and 7% of chlorides of other REE were used at two different concentrations as supplements to the diets. Fifty male Wistar rats at 4 weeks of age were allotted to five experimental groups: a control group; a La‐low group and a La‐high group with 75 and 150 mg/kg LaCl3·6H2O, respectively; a REE‐low and an REE‐high group with 75 and 150 mg/kg REE mixture, respectively. The animals were housed in individual pens. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. After 18 days the oral supplementation of LaCl3·6H2O or of the REE mixture improved daily body weight gain (BWG) by up to 5 or 9% (p > 0.05), respectively. LaCl3·6H2O as well as the REE mixture had positive effects (p < 0.05) on feed conversion ratio (FCR) with a decreased ratio by up to 8 and 11%, respectively. Supplementation of REE also had clear effects on blood serum parameters. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) increased significantly (p < 0.05). At the same time, blood glucose level decreased and blood creatine level increased significantly (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in cholesterol, total protein, albumin and urea nitrogen among the groups. There was no significant difference in triglyceride level between the control and those REE groups, however, a significantly lower (p < 0.01) triglyceride level was found in the 150 mg/kg REE mixture group compared with that in 75 mg/kg REE mixture group and the 150 mg/kg LaCl3·6H2O group. The results suggest that oral supplementation of REE improves growth performance in rats as in pigs. In this respect, concentration and type of REE supplemented to the diets are two important factors herein.
An impressive therapeutic result of class III compression stockings in a patient with longstanding, extensive, combined leg ulcers
Authors: Van Geest Aj , Van Dooren‐Greebe Rj , Go Ih , Neumann Ham 
Published: May 2003

Abstract Background Only a few publications are available in the literature concerning the treatment of venous leg ulcers by means of medical compression stockings. Subject A 59‐year‐old female patient with longstanding, extensive bilateral leg ulcers due to venous insufficiency, arteriolosclerosis and secondary lymphoedema, was treated successfully by flat‐knitted medical compression stockings of compression‐class III. Conclusion The great advantage of this treatment is the fact that it is comfortable and easy to carry out at home. Furthermore, the costs of compression therapy with medical compression stockings are only a fraction of those of conventional therapy by means of compressive non‐elastic bandages. Once or twice weekly visits of the patient to the hospital are not necessary and less specialized dermatological nurses are needed.
Family–nurse co‐construction of meaning: a central phenomenon of family caring
Authors: Meiers Sonja J. , Tomlinson Patricia S. 
Published: May 2003

The purpose of the study was to understand and interpret caring in the family health experience by exploring the interactional phenomenon of family–nurse co‐construction of meaning in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A hermeneutic phenomenological method within a framework of existentialism and symbolic interactionism was used in the investigation. The convenience sample for this study was four family–nurse dyads, that is four families of critically ill children (all with positive outcomes) and the four nurses assigned to their care who were participating in a larger study. Data were derived from semi‐structured interviews regarding significant interactions throughout the child's illness and subsequent significant interactions of families with other nurses and nurses with other families. Trustworthiness of the study was addressed through the criteria of credibility, dependability, transferability and confirmability.Co‐construction of meaning in the family health experience was found to have two dimensions: interdependent and independent. Both families and nurses described being like family as an essential component of the interdependent experience. Independent dimensions for families were journeying through troubled waters of learning the meaning of the illness event and sensing family comfort through the nurse's care. Independent dimensions described by nurses were journeying through troubled waters of learning to care for families and living with another's fear.The family–nurse interaction, the relational connection and the evolution of meanings that families and nurses construct, was affirmed as the major vehicle in the co‐construction experience. Family caring is influenced by the existential meaning constructing, process‐oriented, interactional nature of the family health experience. Caring in the family health experience is enhanced through actions the nurse performs on behalf of, and with, the family while understanding the family's unique situation. Caring enacted by nurses in participation with families holds abundant potential for enhancing the family health experience and honor the ethic of caring as central to nursing.
Resolution of persistent oral papillomatosis in a dog after treatment with a recombinant canine oral papillomavirus vaccine
Authors: Kuntsi‐Vaattovaara H. , Verstraete F. J. M. , Newsome J. T. , Yuan H. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractThis report describes a 16‐month‐old female, otherwise seemingly healthy, Siberian husky dog with severe oral papillomatosis that did not regress spontaneously and was refractory to surgical treatment over a 6‐month period. Regression of the papillomas was achieved by administering a series of experimental vaccinations starting at the time of the last surgery. The vaccine consisted of systemically administered canine oral papillomavirus major coat protein L1 that has been shown to self‐assemble into virus‐like particles. They cause a humoral response that has been shown to prevent the onset and development of papillomas. In this case, however, following unsuccessful surgical treatment, the vaccine acted therapeutically, causing the papillomas that had regrown to shrink. No side‐effects were noted.
Quercetin induces structural chromosomal aberrations and uncommon rearrangements in bovine cells transformed by the E7 protein of bovine papillomavirus type 4
Authors: Leal A. M. , Ferraz O. P. , Carvalho C. , Freitas A. C. , Beniston R. G. , Beçak W. , Campo M. S. , Stocco dos Santos R. C. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractBovine papillomavirus type 4 (BPV‐4) and bracken fern are cofactors in the carcinogenesis of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract of cattle. An experimental in vitro model system has been developed to analyse the co‐operation between the viral transforming protein E7, the cellular ras oncogene and quercetin, one of the mutagens of bracken fern, during neoplastic progression of primary bovine cells. We now report cytogenetic studies of these cells at different stages of malignant transformation: parental primary non‐transformed PalF cells; E7R cells transformed by BPV‐4 E7 and activated ras but not tumorigenic, and tumorigenic E7Q cells derived from E7R cells after treatment with quercetin. All cell lines presented increased numbers of aneuploid cells. The rate of structural chromosomal aberrations observed was increased in transformed cells. In addition, E7Q cells showed chromosomes with peculiar rearrangements, which resulted in metacentric and submetacentric marker chromosomes, with an increase in the mean chromosome arm number. These markers were the products of possible centric fusions. These aberrations and rearrangements were distributed throughout the karyotype, no specific chromosome was involved and the heterochromatic centromeric regions appeared to be preserved.
Hessian eigenmaps: Locally linear embedding techniques for high-dimensional data
Authors: Donoho David L. , Grimes Carrie 
Published: May 2003

We describe a method for recovering the underlying parametrization of scattered data (

m
i

) lying on a manifold
M
embedded in high-dimensional Euclidean space. The method, Hessian-based locally linear embedding, derives from a conceptual framework of local isometry in which the manifold
M
, viewed as a Riemannian submanifold of the ambient Euclidean space ℝ

n

, is locally isometric to an open, connected subset Θ of Euclidean space ℝ

d

. Because Θ does not have to be convex, this framework is able to handle a significantly wider class of situations than the original ISOMAP algorithm. The theoretical framework revolves around a quadratic form ℋ(
f
) = ∫

M

∥

H
f

(
m
)∥

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\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation*}{\mathrm{_{{\mathit{F}}}^{2}}}\end{equation*}\end{document}

dm
defined on functions
f
:
M
↦ ℝ. Here
Hf
denotes the Hessian of
f
, and ℋ(
f
) averages the Frobenius norm of the Hessian over
M
. To define the Hessian, we use orthogonal coordinates on the tangent planes of
M
. The key observation is that, if
M
truly is locally isometric to an open, connected subset of ℝ

d

, then ℋ(
f
) has a (
d
+ 1)-dimensional null space consisting of the constant functions and a
d
-dimensional space of functions spanned by the original isometric coordinates. Hence, the isometric coordinates can be recovered up to a linear isometry. Our method may be viewed as a modification of locally linear embedding and our theoretical framework as a modification of the Laplacian eigenmaps framework, where we substitute a quadratic form based on the Hessian in place of one based on the Laplacian.