bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
α2AAdrenoceptors Contribute to Feedback Inhibition of Capsaicin-induced Hyperalgesia
Authors: Mansikka Heikki , Lähdesmäki Janne , Scheinin Mika , Pertovaara Antti 
Published: June 2004

Background
Studies on receptor knockout mice have so far shown that of the three alpha2-adrenoceptor subtypes, the alpha(2A) adrenoceptor has a major role in mediating the powerful central analgesia induced by synthetic alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists. However, because a knockout of the gene for the alpha(2A) adrenoceptor has produced only little if any change in the pain sensitivity of control, nerve-injured, or inflamed animals, it has not been clear whether activation of alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors by endogenous ligands has a significant pain regulatory role.

Methods
The authors assessed spontaneous pain behavior and mechanical hypersensitivity induced by administration of capsaicin in the colon or paw of alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor knockout mice versus their wild-type controls.

Results
Enhanced pain hypersensitivity was observed in alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor knockout mice 20 min or more after administration of capsaicin, but before, hypersensitivity and spontaneous pain were of equal magnitude in alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor knockout and wild-type mice. When wild-type mice were pretreated with an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, capsaicin-induced pain hypersensitivity increased to a level equal to that in alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor knockout mice. Capsaicin-induced hypersensitivity was suppressed in wild-type but not alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor knockout mice by a centrally acting alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, whereas a peripherally acting alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist was without effect on hypersensitivity, although it attenuated capsaicin-induced spontaneous pain behavior in wild-type mice.

Conclusions
This study shows that central alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors contribute to feedback inhibition of pain hypersensitivity. Also, alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors are critical for not only somatic but also visceral antinociceptive effects induced by synthetic alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists.
Effects of Laparotomy on Spontaneous Exploratory Activity and Conditioned Operant Responding in the Rat
Authors: Martin Thomas J. , Buechler Nancy L. , Kahn William , Crews James C. , Eisenach James C. 
Published: June 2004

Background
Treatment of postsurgical pain is a major use of analgesics, particularly after abdominal surgery. Analgesics display a number of limiting side effects, including sedation, cognitive impairment, and ileus. Although several postoperative rodent models have been developed, these models do not address these concerns.

Methods
A model is presented in the rat in which a subcostal incision is performed, penetrating into the peritoneal cavity. The behavioral effects of this surgical procedure are assessed using exploratory locomotor activity and conditioned operant responding. The effects of morphine and ketorolac were assessed in both behavioral paradigms.

Results
Laparotomy decreased ambulation and rearing by approximately 50% 24 h after surgery, and stereotypy (small confined movements) was affected to a lesser degree. The effects of laparotomy on conditioned operant responding were more complex. Total number of sucrose pellets earned was decreased for 2-3 days after laparotomy; however, the amount of time required was increased for up to 2 weeks. Morphine reversed the effects of surgery on ambulation and stereotypy but not rearing, and the dose-effect curve for morphine was shifted to the left by 5 mg/kg ketorolac. Ketorolac produced significant improvement in operant responding after laparotomy, and coadministration of ineffective doses of morphine and ketorolac produced a positive response.

Conclusion
The current model is consistent with behavioral aspects of postoperative pain seen clinically. The effects of morphine and ketorolac alone and in combination were consistent with the reported analgesic efficacy and occurrence of side effects found with these agents clinically.
Differential impairment of working memory performance in first-degree relatives of individuals with schizophrenia
Authors: Kent Aaron R. , Fox Allison M. , Michie Patricia T. , Jablensky Assen V. 
Published: June 2004

Background:Numerous studies have reported neuropsychological impairment in schizophrenia and increasing evidence suggests that individuals with schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum disorders and their unaffected first-degree family members exhibit similar deficits in some neuropsychological domains. Substantial modifications to the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) have resulted in more sensitive and reliable indicators of various aspects of memory functioning in the WMS-III, which enables generation of auditory, visual and working memory indices.Objective:The aim of the present study was to examine the memory profile of individuals with schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum disorder (n = 19), their unaffected first-degree family members (n = 11), and healthy controls (n = 9).Methods:The study involved neuropsychological testing, including the immediate and working memory subtests of the WMS-III, utilizing both auditory and visual domains. Symptom assessment was performed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), version 2.0. Two multivariate analyses of covariance (mancova) were conducted: (i) comparing patients, relatives and controls; and (ii) comparing relatives and controls only.Results:The first analysis indicated that the patient group obtained significantly lower index scores than both relatives and controls on all three indices. The second analysis indicated that the performance of relatives was significantly lower than controls on the working memory index, although there were no significant differences on the auditory and visual immediate index scores.Conclusions:The differential impairment in working memory performance in clinically asymptomatic family members suggests that the WMS-III working memory index score may be a potential phenotypic marker of schizophrenia.
Abnormal speech perception in schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations
Authors: Lee Seung-Hwan , Chung Young-Cho , Yang Jong-Chul , Kim Yong-Ku , Suh Kwang-Yoon 
Published: June 2004

Background:The neurobiological mechanism of auditory hallucination (AH) in schizophrenia remains elusive, but AH can be caused by the abnormality in the speech perception system based on the speech perception neural network model.Objectives:The purpose of this study was to investigate whether schizophrenic patients with AH have the speech processing impairment as compared with schizophrenic patients without AH, and whether the speech perception ability could be improved after AH had subsided.Methods:Twenty-four schizophrenic patients with AH were compared with 25 schizophrenic patients without AH. Narrative speech perception was assessed using a masked speech tracking (MST) task with three levels of superimposed phonetic noise. Sentence repetition task (SRT) and auditory continuous performance task (CPT) were used to assess grammar-dependent verbal working memory and non-language attention, respectively. These tests were measured before and after treatment in both groups.Results:Before treatment, schizophrenic patients with AH showed significant impairments in MST compared with those without AH. There were no significant differences in SRT and CPT correct (CPT-C) rates between both groups, but CPT incorrect (CPT-I) rate showed a significant difference. The low-score CPI-I group showed a significant difference in MST performance between the two groups, while the high-score CPI-I group did not. After treatment (after AH subsided), the hallucinating schizophrenic patients still had significant impairment in MST performance compared with non-hallucinating schizophrenic patients.Conclusions:Our results support the claim that schizophrenic patients with AH are likely to have a disturbance of the speech perception system. Moreover, our data suggest that non-language attention might be a key factor influencing speech perception ability and that speech perception dysfunction might be a trait marker in schizophrenia with AH.
Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Rybakowski Filip , Slopien Agnieszka , Zakrzewska Marzena , Hornowska Elzbieta , Rajewski Andrzej 
Published: June 2004

Background:Female patients with anorexia nervosa differ significantly from the control women in various dimensions of personality.Objective:To investigate the personality dimensions measured with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in adolescent patients with restrictive-type and bulimic/purging-type anorexia nervosa (ANR and ANB, respectively), and contrast them with the results of control females.Methods:Sixty-one patients with anorexia nervosa (36 ANR and 25 ANB) and 60 controls were tested with the TCI. A concomitant assessment of depression, body mass index and age was made to evaluate the possible correlation with personality dimensions.Results:Adolescent ANR patients scored higher in persistence, harm avoidance and cooperativeness, and lower in novelty seeking and self-transcendence than control women. ANB patients scored in the middle between ANR and control females, but differences did not reach the significance level with either group, except for the self-transcendence dimension where they scored significantly higher than those with ANR.Conclusions:The deviations in temperamental profile of adolescent ANR are similar to those reported in adult patients. The ANB adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa show less prominent deviations from the personality of control women. With regard to the character dimension of cooperativeness, adolescents with ANR scored higher than controls, in contrast to the observations in adult patients. This may reflect the effect of illness on the development of character.
Increasing prevalence of obesity in South Australian 4‐year‐olds: 1995−2002
Authors: Vaska VL , Volkmer R 
Published: June 2004

Objective:  To determine prevalence of, and trends in, overweight and obesity in South Australian children aged 4 years during the period 1995−2002.Methods:  Data from 114 669 children collected as part of Child and Youth Health ‘preschool health assessments’ of 4‐year‐olds throughout the state in the years 1995−2002 were analysed. Body mass index was calculated from height and weight data and prevalence of overweight and obesity for males and females determined using a standard world‐wide definition. Yearly prevalence rates were compared for changes over time.Results:  Rates of overweight and obesity have increased over the period 1995−2002. In 1995, of females 12.8% were overweight or obese (obese 3.5%). Of males 10.2% were overweight or obese (obese 3.2%). The equivalent figures in 2002 were for females 21.4% (obese 5.8%) and males 17.3% (obese 4.1%). Rates of overweight and obesity were greater in females than males in all years (except obesity rate in 1995).Conclusion:  Data from this large, consecutive yearly dataset of South Australian 4‐year‐old children show a significant increase in the rates of overweight and obesity. Much of this increase appears to have occurred in the mid‐to‐late 1990s. It is uncertain if these changes have plateaued at this time. These results reinforce rising obesity prevalence as a significant child health issue. They also indicate that obesity is seen as early as the preschool years; with implications for theories of causation and for prevention and treatment strategies.
Circulating immunoglobulins that inhibit the binding of follicle‐stimulating hormone to its receptor: a putative diagnostic role in resistant ovary syndrome?
Authors: Chiauzzi Violeta A. , Bussmann Leonardo , Calvo Juan Carlos , Sundblad Victoria , Charreau Eduardo H. 
Published: June 2004

objective  To evaluate the presence of circulating immunoglobulins that inhibit FSH binding to its receptor (Ig‐FSHR) in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF).design  Non‐randomized study. Blood sampling for determination of circulating immunoglobulins.patients  Two hundred and forty‐seven patients with POF and 60 normally menstruating women (controls).measurements  Circulating immunoglobulins that inhibit FSH binding to its receptor were assessed by FSH‐binding inhibition assay.results  Twenty‐three out of 247 women with POF presented circulating immunoglobulins that inhibit FSH binding to its receptor. These patients had been previously diagnosed as ROS. Sixty control subjects proved negative.conclusion  Determination of the presence of circulating immunoglobulins that inhibit FSH binding to its receptor could be instrumental in diagnosing the gonadotropin resistance ovary syndrome.
Preoperative identification of clearly separated double pituitary adenomas
Authors: Kim Kyongsong , Yamada Shozo , Usui Masaaki , Sano Toshiaki 
Published: June 2004

objective  Double pituitary adenomas are extremely rare. They can be divided into contiguous and clearly separated types. Most contiguous tumours are surgically removed as one tumour and the co‐existence of different adenoma types can be confirmed by histological methods. In contrast, detailed preoperative neuroimaging studies can suggest the co‐existence of separated multiple adenomas. In patients with multiple adenomas, surgical failure may result when one adenoma is missed during surgery. Among 600 surgical cases we encountered four patients with clearly separated double pituitary adenomas; all were highly suspect on preoperative MRI studies.patients and results  All four patients manifested acromegalic symptoms; one patient also exhibited hyperprolactinemia and two had familial pituitary adenomas unrelated to multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN‐1). All underwent transsphenoidal surgery and histology confirmed the diagnosis of GH‐producing plus gonadotroph adenoma in two cases and of two GH‐producing adenomas each in the other two patients.conclusion  Although the pathogenesis of our double adenomas remains unknown, genetic abnormalities may be involved because two patients had familial pituitary adenomas unrelated to MEN‐1. When preoperative MRI is suggestive of double adenomas, careful surgical exploration is necessary to avoid missing the other adenoma because the risk of surgical failure is high, especially in patients with functioning adenomas.
Serum adiponectin concentrations predict the developments of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in elderly Koreans
Authors: Choi K. M. , Lee J. , Lee K. W. , Seo J. A. , Oh J. H. , Kim S. G. , Kim N. H. , Choi D. S. , Baik S. H. 
Published: June 2004

Summaryobjective  To determine whether low serum adiponectin concentrations are able to predict the future developments of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome using the National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP) criteria. We also investigated the stability of adiponectin levels and the relationships between baseline adiponectin levels and changes in the parameters related to the metabolic syndrome over a period of 3 years.patients and measurements  This prospective cohort study included 372 elderly Koreans who participate in the SWS (South‐West Seoul) study, which was conducted in 1999 and 2002 in Seoul, Korea. Fasting and postchallenge 2‐h plasma glucose, body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, lipid profiles and serum adiponectin data obtained in 1999 and 2002 were examined.results  The within‐person variation between 1999 and 2002 of serum adiponectin was not significant (P = 0·61). Serum adiponectin was closely correlated with the risks factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), that is negatively with BMI, WHR, blood pressure, triglyceride and blood glucose levels, and positively with high density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol levels. Subjects with the metabolic syndrome showed lower serum adiponectin concentrations than those without the metabolic syndrome (P < 0·0001). Baseline adiponectin levels were found to be correlated with subsequent changes in WHR, low density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol, fasting and postload 2‐h glucose over the 3‐year period, after adjusting for baseline values. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that lower baseline serum adiponectin concentrations were significantly associated with the developments of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome after adjusting for age, sex, obesity, history of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), hypertension and dyslipidaemia.conclusions  Reduced concentrations of adiponectin were found to be independently associated with increased risk of both type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in elderly Koreans.
Assessment of disease activity in acromegaly by means of a single blood sample: comparison of the 120th minute postglucose value with spontaneous GH secretion and with the IGF system
Authors: Minuto Francesco , Resmini Eugenia , Boschetti Mara , Arvigo Marica , Sormani Maria Pia , Giusti Massimo , Ferone Diego , Barreca Antonina 
Published: June 2004

Summaryobjective  It has been suggested that the threshold of 1 µg/l of GH nadir after glucose load for definition of controlled acromegalic disease proposed in the 2000 consensus statement should be lowered to 0·30. We evaluated these two cut‐off values in comparison with IGF‐I, ALS and IGFBP‐3 in a group of acromegalic patients. With the aim of simplifying the follow‐up protocol in these patients we also tested if one single sample taken after glucose load could replace the nadir value.design and measurements  GH secretion was evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and by studying spontaneous secretion (GH day curve) with sampling at hourly intervals from 08·00 to 18·00 h; from the day curve, mean (MGHDC) and minimum (TRGH) values were considered. IGF‐I, ALS, and IGFBP‐3 were measured in the basal state at the first testing.patients  Fifty acromegalic patients (26–83 years, 31 females, 19 males) in various phases of disease activity. Forty‐two patients had previously undergone pituitary surgery (10 also radiotherapy), 23 were treated with SMS analogues and three with dopamine agonist drugs.results  The nadir GH value after glucose load correlated most significantly with the 120th‐minute sample (R = 0·95). Comparison of the postglucose 120th minute at the two cut‐off values with IGF‐I, IGFBP‐3 and ALS showed higher concordance of postglucose level at 0·3 with IGF‐I, while concordance was similar for the two cut‐off values with ALS and IGFBP‐3. When the 120th minute postglucose GH value is lower than 1 µg/l and IGF‐I is within 2SD for age nearly all other parameters are normal. IGF‐I correlated more with ALS (R = 0·78) than with IGFBP‐3 (R = 0·50) and the latter was less concordant with GH secretion parameters than the previous two.conclusions  A sample taken at the 120th minute after glucose load, together with IGF‐I and/or ALS evaluation can give sufficient information for a routine assessment of disease activity, both in the diagnosis and in the follow‐up to treatment. If GH is lower than 1 µg/l and IGF‐I/ALS are normal, then the patient can be classified as ‘nonactive’ or ‘controlled’; a pathological IGF‐I and/or ALS value is a sign of disease activity irrespective of the GH values, while normal IGF‐I/ALS with an elevated GH requires further assessment.
Different effects of short‐ and long‐term recombinant hGH administration on ghrelin and adiponectin levels in GH‐deficient adults
Authors: Giavoli Claudia , Cappiello Vincenzo , Corbetta Sabrina , Ronchi Cristina L. , Morpurgo Paola S. , Ferrante Emanuele , Beck‐Peccoz Paolo , Spada Anna 
Published: June 2004

Summaryobjective  To evaluate circulating levels of ghrelin and adiponectin (ApN) in GH‐deficient (GHD) adults before and after short‐ and long‐term recombinant human GH (rhGH) administration.patients and methods  Twenty‐three patients were studied. Seventeen subjects (Group A, 12 men, five women) were evaluated at baseline and after 1 year rhGH therapy (dose mean ± SD: 0·3 ± 0·1 mg/day) with the assessment of serum IGF‐I, ghrelin, ApN, leptin, insulin and glucose levels, percentage of body fat (BF%), HOMA‐IR and QUICKI. Seventeen age‐, sex‐ and body mass index (BMI)‐matched healthy subjects were recruited for comparisons. Six patients (Group B, three men, three women) underwent IGF‐I generation test (rhGH 0·025 mg/kg/day for 7 days), blood sampled at baseline and on day 8 for determination of IGF‐I, ghrelin and ApN levels.results  Group A: at baseline GHD patients showed low IGF‐I levels and BF% significantly higher than controls (31·4 ± 2·5 vs. 26·4 ± 1·3, P < 0·05). Glucose, insulin, leptin, tryglicerides, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, as well as HOMA‐IR and QUICKI values were similar in the two series, while total cholesterol levels were higher in GHD. In GHD, ghrelin levels were significantly lower than in controls (193·9 ± 27·1 vs. 298·1 ± 32·5 pmol/l, respectively, P = 0·02), while ApN levels were similar (10·2 ± 1·1 and 9 ± 1 mg/l, respectively, P = ns). After 1 year of rhGH therapy, BF%, BMI, serum total and LDL cholesterol significantly decreased, serum leptin levels showed a trend to decrease, while HOMA‐IR and QUICKI did not change. Ghrelin and ApN levels significantly increased from 193·9 ± 27·1 to 232·4 ± 26·3 pmol/l (P < 0·01) and from 8·6 ± 0·8 to 10·3 ± 1·1 mg/l (P < 0·05), respectively. In group B, the expected increase in IGF‐I levels was associated with a significant decrease in ghrelin levels, while ApN did not change.conclusion  GHD patients showed serum ghrelin lower than controls, probably due to the higher BF%. No difference in ApN was observed. Ghrelin and ApN increments induced by long‐term treatment may be related to the significant BMI and BF% reduction that is the predominant metabolic effect of rhGH therapy. Conversely, the decrease in ghrelin levels observed after short‐term rhGH administration may be consistent with an inhibitory feedback of GH and/or IGF‐I on ghrelin release.
Glucocorticoids contribute to the heritability of leptin in Scottish adult female twins
Authors: Wallace A. M. , Banfield E. , Ingram M. , Fraser R. , Swan L. , Hillis W. S. , Connell J. M. C. 
Published: June 2004

Summaryobjective  The precise interactions between glucocorticoids and leptin are complex and poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the glucocorticoid/leptin interaction is influenced by shared environmental or genetic factors.design  We investigated the heritability of body mass index (BMI), circulating leptin and urinary glucocorticoid metabolites [tetrahydrocortisol (THF), alloTHF and tetrahydrocortisone (THE)] in 54 monozygotic (MZ) and 39 dizygotic (DZ) female twins. Analysis was performed using a structural equation modelling package Mx, developed by Neale.results  Leptin and BMI showed substantial heritability (68·3% and 71·3%, respectively). Bivariate analysis indicated that the genetic determinants of BMI and leptin are partly shared. Total cortisol metabolites (THF + alloTHF + THE), the (THE + alloTHF)/THE ratio [a marker of 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11HSD) activity] and the alloTHF/THF ratio (marker for 5α‐reductase activity) followed an environmental pattern. The heritability of leptin was significantly lowered to 63·8% (P = 0·012) when values were corrected for the influence of total cortisol metabolites but unaffected by markers of 11HSD and 5α‐reductase activity.conclusions  We confirm that the genetic influence on both BMI and the circulating leptin concentration is substantial and show that these genetic determinants are highly correlated. These genetic factors, which are more likely to be dominant than additive, can be modestly but significantly modified by urinary total cortisol metabolites implying an adrenal influence.