bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dihydrotestosterone Prevents Glucocorticoid-Negative Effects on Fetal Rat Metatarsal Bone in vitro
Authors: Picherit Christel , Coxam Véronique , Oudadesse Hassan , Martini Brigitte , Gaumet Nathalie , Davicco Marie-Jeanne , Lebecque Patrice , Miller Scott , Irrigaray Jean-Léon , Barlet Jean-Pierre 
Published: April 2003

The effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on glucocorticoid-pretreated fetal rat long bone were studied in an in vitro culture system. First, dose-response curves of corticosterone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone were studied at several concentrations. Then, hydrocortisone (H) at 10<sup>–5</sup> <i>M</i> was selected for the second part of the study, as it slackened rudiment mineralization (104 ± 16% of the initial dark zone vs. 141 ± 9% in control bones), as well as its lengthening (140 ± 4% of the harvesting day length vs. 160 ± 1% in control bones), by both inhibition of cell proliferation and stimulation of resorption. On the contrary, in H-pretreated metatarsal bones, DHT (10<sup>–7</sup> <i>M</i>) partly limited slackening of mineralization (124 ± 5%) and lengthening (153 ± 2%). Moreover, a control-like cell proliferation was re-established and resorption holes were filled in. Thus, in this study, DHT partly limited hydrocortisone-induced impairment of fetal rat metatarsal bone development.
Timing of Surfactant Administration Determines Its Physiologic Response in a Rabbit Model of Airway Lavage
Authors: Krause Martin F. , Hoehn Thomas 
Published: April 2003

Surfactant response depends on timing of surfactant administration in infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). We performed lung function studies in an animal model to describe the underlying differences in response related to gas exchange, lung volume and lung mechanics comparing early and late surfactant administration protocols. Young New Zealand rabbits were made surfactant deficient by repeated airway lavage with warm saline until the a/A O<sub>2</sub> ratio decreased to ≤0.12. A natural ovine surfactant was administered at 1 h (early intervention) or at 3 h (late intervention) after the last lavage. Functional residual capacity (FRC), a/A O<sub>2</sub> ratio, effective breath fraction (EBF = V<sub>A</sub>/V<sub>T</sub>), ventilation efficiency index (VEI), dynamic compliance (C<sub>rs</sub>), nitrogen clearing index (NCI) and specific (volumic) compliance (sC<sub>rs</sub> = C<sub>rs</sub>/FRC) were followed for 2 h after surfactant administration. FRC, a/A O<sub>2</sub> ratio, VEI, C<sub>rs</sub> and sC<sub>rs</sub> were all significantly different between the two intervention groups in favor of the surfactant administration protocol at 1 h after lavage. EBF and NCI were not affected by timing of surfactant administration. We conclude that early surfactant administration elicits a superior response related to gas exchange, lung volume and lung mechanics in this animal model. These findings are in line with the more pronounced surfactant effects in the clinical setting when premature infants with RDS are treated using early intervention protocols.
Bilirubin Oxidation by Brain Mitochondrial Membranes Is Not Affected by Hyperosmolality
Authors: Hansen Thor Willy Ruud , Allen Jeffrey W. 
Published: April 2003

Brain mitochondrial membranes oxidize bilirubin at a rate that may be biologically significant. Hyperosmolality delays clearance of bilirubin from rat brain. We hypothesized that this might be due to a decrease in brain bilirubin metabolism. Rats were anesthetized and infused with 75 m<i>M</i>/kg urea i.v. over 5 min (n = 7) and sacrificed at 1 h; control rats (n = 7) had no treatment. Crude mitochondrial membrane fractions (‘P2’) were produced by homogenization and differential centrifugation in sucrose. The change in optical density at 440 n<i>M</i> of a 10-μmol/l bilirubin solution was measured after 60 min incubation with mitochondrial membranes. Hyperosmolality did not affect bilirubin oxidation by brain mitochondrial membranes (t = 1.27, p = 0.23 by unpaired t-test). The lack of effect of hyperosmolality on bilirubin oxidation by brain mitochondrial membranes suggests that decreased clearance of bilirubin from brain in hyperosmolality may be related to changes in transfer of bilirubin across the blood-brain barrier.
Determination of Secretory IgA and Albumin in Saliva of Newborn Infants
Authors: Seidel Bastian Manfred , Schulze Birgit , Kiess Wieland , Vogtmann Christoph , Borte Michael 
Published: April 2003

As a first line of defence against microbial invasion, secretory IgA (sIgA) is the dominant immunoglobulin on all mucosal surfaces. In this study sIgA was determined by radial immunodiffusion in saliva samples of 63 newborn infants divided into the following age groups: (1) 1 day and younger, (2) 2–10 days. Concentrations of sIgA and albumin as well as their relation to age, postprandial time, gestational age and birth weight were analysed. sIgA could be detected in 75.0% (group 1) and 77.1% (group 2) of the saliva samples with a mean concentration of 190.2 mg/l (group 1) and 216.4 mg/l (group 2). Differences failed to reach significance. Concentration of sIgA was found to be independent of age but positively related to the concentration of albumin in the same saliva sample. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that high levels of sIgA are found in saliva of newborn infants, indicating the existence of a competent oral mucosal immune system as early as within the first 10 days of life.
Use of Erythropoietin and Its Effects on Blood Lactate and 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate in Premature Neonates
Authors: Soubasi Vassiliki , Kremenopoulos George , Tsantali Chaido , Savopoulou Persefoni , Mussafiris Constantine , Dimitriou Maria 
Published: April 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) on oxygen affinity and adequate oxygen delivery to the tissues of stable premature infants. 36 very-low-birth-weight infants were randomly assigned to either receive rHu-EPO (200 units/kg every other day) or not, and both groups were supplemented with iron, folic acid and vitamin E. Arterial blood gases, oxygen saturation, complete blood counts, fetal haemoglobin, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and blood lactate were analysed weekly, from the 1st week till discharge. Patients in the two groups were comparable. There was a trend in increasing lactate values towards the 4th to 5th weeks of life, which did not reach statistical significance. There was no correlation between lactate values and the studied variables (pH, BE, oxygen saturation). In 35 transfusions, pre- and 24 h post-transfusion blood lactate status was studied. In 23 of them, a decrease in post-transfusion lactate was noticed, whilst an increased post-transfusion level was shown in 10 cases and no change in 2 cases. The mean pre-transfusion lactate value was significantly higher than the post-transfusion one (24.04 ± 11.9 mg/dl before and 16.27 ± 8.5 mg/dl after transfusion; p = 0.0025). In both groups there was a steady rise in 2,3-DPG concentration over the period of study, and the 2,3-DPG values at the end of our study were significantly increased in the rHu-EPO group (rHu-EPO 5.98 ± 0.9, control 4.84 ± 0.7; p = 0.04). In conclusion, the use of rHu-EPO did not affect blood lactate levels compared to the control group. Regarding oxygen affinity, it seems that rHu-EPO causes a shift of the oxy-haemoglobin dissociation curve to the right. This is a previously unreported effect of rHu-EPO and its clinical use may, thus, confer to preterm babies an added advantage.
Transcutaneous Absorption of Vitamin A in Newborn Rats
Authors: Ashmeade T.L. , Wiener D. , Barness L.A. , Carver J.D. 
Published: April 2003

Very low birth weight neonates have low tissue concentrations of vitamin A, which may contribute to the development of lung disease. These infants, however, may not receive vitamin A supplementation for several days after birth. We determined if the relatively permeable skin of a newborn could be used to administer vitamin A. 25 control rat pups were killed and lungs and livers were collected. 20 μl (1,000 IU) of retinyl palmitate were applied to the skin surface of an additional 50 two-day-old pups. At 2.5 and 5 h after application, 25 pups were killed, and lungs and livers were collected. Concentrations of retinyl palmitate and retinol were significantly higher in the lungs of pups 5 h after administration of vitamin A compared with controls. There were no differences in concentrations of retinyl palmitate or retinol in livers. We conclude that transcutaneous administration may be an effective means of delivering vitamin A to the lungs of newborn rats.
Fitness of Biocompatible High-Flux Hemodiafiltration for Dialysis-Related Amyloidosis
Authors: Takenaka Tsuneo , Itaya Yoshiaki , Tsuchiya Yoshitsugu , Kobayashi Kenji , Suzuki Hiromichi 
Published: April 2003

<i>Aims:</i> In order to assess the long-term influence of high-flux hemodiafiltration (HDF) on hemodynamic stability in patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis. <i>Methods:</i> HDF with high-flux dialyzers was performed for a year in 11 patients who had undergone the surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients were divided into two groups, and for each group synthetic or cellulose membrane dialyzers were applied. <i>Results:</i> A year after the exchange from standard hemodialysis to HDF with cellulose high-flux dialyzers, β<sub>2</sub>-microglobulin was decreased (45 ± 3 to 28 ± 2 mg/l, n = 5, p < 0.05), but plasma non-refilling ratio was not altered. However, the continuance of synthetic high-flux HDF for a year decreased plasma non-refilling ratio (17 ± 5 to 7 ± 4%, p < 0.05), hypotensive episodes (4.3 ± 0.6 to 2.5 ± 0.4 sessions/month, p < 0.05) and muscle cramps (3.8 ± 0.5 to 1.8 ± 0.5 sessions/month, p < 0.01) in addition to the decrements in serum β<sub>2</sub>-microglobulin (45 ± 5 to 33 ± 2 mg/l, n = 6, p < 0.01). <i>Conclusions:</i> Although the study on a large number of patients may be required to draw a final conclusion, our present data suggest that biocompatible high-flux HDF is uniquely suited for dialysis-related amyloidosis.
Validation of a Simple Method for Assessing Sodium Intake in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Panzetta G. , Bianco F. , Ianche M. , Vianello S. , Vidi E. , Savoldi S. , Galli G. , Dal Moro A. , Klein P. , Zanchi R. , Cicinato P. 
Published: April 2003

It has been reported that sodium intake can be estimated in dialysis patients by the increment in the body sodium pool from the end of a dialysis session to the beginning of the following one. To verify the reliability of this method we compared the sodium intake, estimated by the interdialytic changes in plasma sodium concentration (C) and body water volume (V), to sodium removal during three consecutive sessions. For this purpose we investigated 9 nondiabetic patients, 5 females and 4 males, under chronic hemofiltration treatment. Sodium intake was estimated by the formula (C<sub>pre</sub> V<sub>pre</sub>) – (C<sub>post</sub> V<sub>post</sub>) using a flame photometer and electrical bioimpedance to determine the plasma sodium concentration and total body water, respectively. Sodium removal was calculated by the difference between sodium loss into the ultrafiltrate and sodium gain with the reinfusion fluid. The mean values of sodium intake calculated during the three intervals corresponded with the sodium losses measured during the three hemofiltration sessions in each patient (338 ± 55 vs. 329 ± 67 mEq; r = 0.92, p < 0.0001). A direct relationship was also observed between sodium intake and both interdialytic body weight increase (r = 0.89, p < 0.0001) and fluid loss during the sessions (r = 0.88, p < 0.0001). This data demonstrates that sodium intake can be properly estimated by the interdialytic changes in body water and plasma sodium concentrations. They also suggest that fluid intake may be influenced by sodium consumption and that sodium intake monitoring could be useful for the control of excessive interdialytic fluid gain.
Incidence of Space-Occupying Brain Edema following Systemic Thrombolysis of Acute Supratentorial Ischemia
Authors: Rudolf J. , Grond M. , Stenzel C. , Neveling M. , Heiss W.-D. 
Published: April 2003

Whether ‘malignant’ brain edema following ischemic stroke is due to or aggravated by reperfusion and therefore more frequent after thrombolytic therapy of stroke is still under debate. From 3/96 to 1/97, we treated 51 patients with acute supratentorial stroke within 3 h after symptom onset with rt-PA following a protocol similar to the NINDS study. The results of thrombolytic therapy were evaluated by repeated clinical examination and computed tomography (CT) during the first week after ictus. The incidence of space-occupying brain edema following intravenous thrombolytic therapy of acute ischemic stroke was lower than the edema frequency after conventional treatment, but mortality from ‘malignant’ edema was higher in the patients with thrombolysis. Thus, space-occupying edema after acute ischemic stroke may be aggravated by thrombolytic treatment. Forced reperfusion of already irreversibly damaged tissue increases edema formation and enlarges developing infarcts with a deleterious increase of intracranial pressure.
Multinational Randomised Controlled Trial of Lubeluzole in Acute Ischaemic Stroke
Authors: Diener Hans Christoph 
Published: April 2003

<b>Background and Purpose:</b> Lubeluzole is a benzothiazole derivative that has shown neuroprotective properties in different experimental models. This multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of lubeluzole in patients with an acute ischaemic stroke. <b>Methods:</b> Patients who presented with clinical signs and symptoms of acute cerebral hemispheric ischaemic stroke were randomised to intravenous therapy with placebo (n = 360) or lubeluzole 7.5 mg over 1 h followed by 10 mg/day for up to 5 days (n = 365). Treatment was initiated within 6 h of symptom onset. Mortality at 12 weeks was the primary end point. Secondary end points included neurological status (European Stroke Scale), functional outcome (Barthel Index), and disability level (Rankin Scale). The primary and secondary end points were all analysed using the protocol-defined Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel’s general association test. An additional analysis, the logistic regression approach, that included risk factors of age, baseline stroke severity and their interactions with treatment, was used to analyze outcome measures at 3 months. <b>Results:</b> In the total ischaemic stroke population, the overall mortality rate at 3 months was similar for lubeluzole (21.0%) and placebo (21.4%). The logistic regression model confirmed the effect of age on mortality risk, but showed that this was independent of treatment. Treatment benefit was related to stroke severity, as determined by the Clinical Global Impression rating, that is a pronounced clinically significant reduction in mortality was noted in the lubeluzole-treated patients for whom stroke severity was mild to moderate, but not in those for whom it was severe. This was found on the basis of a post hoc analysis not specified in the hypothesis. Lubeluzole did not increase morbidity among stroke survivors, as measured by the European Stroke Scale, Barthel Index and Rankin Scale. No safety concerns were seen with lubeluzole treatment. <b>Conclusions:</b> In the overall study population, treatment with intravenous lubeluzole within 6 h of the onset of ischaemic stroke did not affect mortality or clinical outcome. Among patients with mild to moderate ischaemic stroke, lubeluzole decreased mortality without increasing morbidity.
Predictive Value of <sup>99m</sup>Tc-HMPAO-SPECT for Neurological Outcome/Recovery at the Acute Stage of Stroke
Authors: Marchal Gilles , Bouvard Gérard , Iglesias Serge , Sebastien Bernard , Benali Karim , Defer Gilles , Viader Fausto , Baron Jean-Claude 
Published: April 2003

<i>Background and Purpose:</i> Combined perfusion and oxygen metabolism PET imaging is highly predictive of spontaneous outcome after middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke, independent of clinical scores, but whether the assessment of perfusion alone by SPECT provides similar information remains unclear. We have assessed the prognostic value of <sup>99m</sup>Tc-HMPAO-SPECT at the acute stage of stroke. <i>Methods:</i> Twenty-seven first-ever nonhemorrhagic MCA territory stroke patients were prospectively studied 4–20 h (mean: 12 h) after onset with <sup>99m</sup>Tc-HMPAO-SPECT. None was part of a therapeutic trial or received thrombolysis. Neurological deficits were quantified at admission and 2 months later with Orgogozo’s MCA scale. SPECT images were visually classified by 3 independent observers into one of three patterns, as follows: pattern I = marked and extensive tracer hypofixation; pattern II = moderate and/or focal hypofixation with or without combined hyperfixation, and pattern III = normal or increased uptake without hypofixation. In addition to this visual analysis, we also calculated a voxel-based ‘hypoperfusion score’, an index of severity × extent of hypofixation according to Mountz’s method. <i>Results:</i> There was a good intra- and interobserver agreement. After consensus, 9, 14 and 4 patients were classified in patterns I, II and III, respectively. These patterns had a significant predictive value for raw outcome but not for percentage recovery (p = 0.008 and p = 0.127, respectively). Thus, all patients in pattern III had a good outcome, while most (but not all) patients in pattern I had a poor or intermediate outcome; pattern II patients were more evenly distributed among outcomes. Hypoperfusion scores were highly significantly positively correlated with both 2-month outcomes and percentage recoveries, even after controlling the predictive value of day 0 MCA scores by partial correlations. <i>Comments:</i> We found that SPECT had a significant added predictive value even when compared to admission neurological scores. Although less accurate than PET, <sup>99m</sup>Tc-HMPAO-SPECT may help to predict spontaneous individual neurological evolution, especially whenever perfusion images are normal or show an increased tracer uptake without associated hypofixation.
Dynamic But Not Static Cerebral Autoregulation Is Impaired in Acute Ischaemic Stroke
Authors: Dawson Suzanne L. , Blake Melanie J. , Panerai Ronney B. , Potter John F. 
Published: April 2003

It remains unclear as to whether dynamic and static cerebral autoregulation (CA) are impaired in acute ischaemic stroke, and whether these changes are related to stroke subtype. This could have important implications with regard to post-stroke prognosis and the management of blood pressure (BP) in the acute post-ictal period. Using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and non-invasive manipulation of BP, we compared both mechanisms in 61 patients with ischaemic stroke within 96 h of ictus, and 54 age- and sex-matched controls. There was no difference in static and dynamic CA indices between the various stroke subtypes. Combining all stroke subtypes dynamic autoregulation, as measured using thigh cuff release, was significantly impaired in both the affected and non-affected stroke hemispheres compared to controls (mean autoregulation index 4.1 ± 3.3, 4.8 ± 3.1 and 6.2 ± 2.3, respectively, p < 0.05). By comparison static autoregulation, assessed using isometric hand grip and thigh cuff inflation, was not significantly different. In conclusion, dynamic but not static CA appears to be globally impaired in acute ischaemic stroke. This deserves further study and may identify possibilities for therapeutic intervention.
Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer: An Approach to the Selection of Candidates to Genetic TestingBased on Clinical and MolecularCharacteristics
Authors: Viel Alessandra , Genuardi Maurizio , Lucci-Cordisco Emanuela , Capozzi Eugenia , Rovella Valentina , Fornasarig Mara , Ponz de Leòn Maurizio , Anti Marcello , Pedroni Monica , Bellacosa Alfonso , Percesepe Antonio , Covino Marcello , Benatti Piero , Del Tin Laura , Roncucci Luca , Valentini Maurizio , Boiocchi Mauro , Neri Giovanni 
Published: April 2003

<b>Objective:</b> Identification of clinical and molecular characteristics associated with constitutional <i>MLH1</i> and <i>MSH2</i> mutations and definition of a stepwise strategy for the selection of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients amenable to <i>MLH1</i> and <i>MSH2</i> genetic testing. <b>Methods:</b> 90 unrelated CRC patients were initially selected on the basis of either familial or early onset occurrence of CRC. They were screened for the presence of constitutional <i>MLH1</i> and <i>MSH2</i> mutations and for microsatellite instability (MSI). <b>Results:</b> 16 pathogenetic mutations (9 <i>MLH1</i> and 7 <i>MSH2</i>) were identified in 41% of Amsterdam hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families, 5% of suspected HNPCC families, and 14% of sporadic early-onset CRC patients. The presence of the mutations correlated with MSI, with early age of onset and proximal location of the tumor, and with the presence of some extracolonic tumors of the HNPCC spectrum and/or multiple tumors in the family. <b>Conclusions:</b> Evaluation of clinical and molecular characteristics is useful for the identification of candidates to <i>MLH1</i> and <i>MSH2</i> mutational analysis and allows the application of a rational approach to genetic testing.
Serotonin Receptor Agonists That Increase Cyclic AMP Positively Regulate IGF-I in Mouse Mandibular Mesenchymal Cells
Authors: Lambert H. Wayne , Lauder Jean M. 
Published: April 2003

Evidence from the present study suggests that activation of both 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> and 5-HT<sub>4</sub> (5-hydroxytryptamine) receptor subtypes stimulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) synthesis in cultured embryonic mouse mandibular mesenchymal cells (micromass cultures). When these cells were grown in serum-free medium and treated with 10<sup>–8</sup> <i>M</i> agonist selective for either the 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> or 5-HT<sub>4</sub> receptor subtype (8-OH-DPAT and SC53116, respectively), this significantly stimulated cAMP synthesis and increased insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), but not IGF-II, protein levels compared to vehicle-treated controls, as measured by semi-quantitative immunobinding assays. Consistent with these results, IGF-I was significantly decreased when mandibular mesenchymal cells were grown in serum-containing medium (which contains micromolar amounts of 5-HT from fetal calf serum) and treated with 10<sup>–8</sup> <i>M</i> antagonist selective for the 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> or 5-HT<sub>4</sub> receptor subtype (NAN-190 on SDZ-205,557). Forskolin also stimulated cAMP and IGF-I (but not IGF-II) in both serum-containing and serum-free cultures. These results indicate that activation of 5-HT receptors that increase cAMP promotes synthesis of IGF-I. This may occur by activation of the cAMP response element sequence present in the IGF-I promoter region. Stimulation of the adenylyl cyclase pathway by activation of 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> or 5-HT<sub>4</sub> receptors may be one mechanism by which serotonin regulates IGF-I synthesis in developing craniofacial mesenchymal cells.