bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Melatonin treatment protects against ischemia/reperfusion‐induced functional and biochemical changes in rat urinary bladder
Authors: Şener Göksel , Şehirli Ahmet Özer , Paskaloğlu Kübra , Dülger Gül Ayanoğlu , Alican İnci 
Published: March 2003

Abstract: Reactive oxygen metabolites play important roles in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in several systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of melatonin against I/R injury of the rat urinary bladder. The abdominal aorta was clamped to induce ischemia for 30 min, then the animals were subjected to 60 min of reperfusion. Melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or the vehicle (control 1% alcohol i.p.) was administered before I/R. After decapitation, the bladder was removed and the tissue was either used for functional studies or stored for measurement of products of lipid peroxidation (LP), glutathione (GSH) levels and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Bladder strips were suspended in oxygenated Tyrode's buffer at 37°C and isometric contractions to carbachol (CCh; 10−8–10−4 m) were recorded.In the I/R group, the contractile responses of the bladder strips were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01–0.001) and were reversed by treatment with melatonin (P < 0.05–0.001). LP which was higher in I/R group compared with control (27.68 ± 1.69 and 10.59 ± 1.27 nmol/g, respectively; P < 0.001) was partially reversed by melatonin (19.01 ± 1.85 nmol/g; P < 0.01). Similarly, GSH showed a decrease in the I/R group compared with controls (0.27 ± 0.03 and 0.43 ± 0.04 μmol/g, respectively; P < 0.05) and melatonin prevented this effect completely (0.45 ± 0.04 μ mol/g; P < 0.05). MPO activity in the I/R group (4.19 ± 0.08 U/g) was significantly higher than that of the control group (1.41 ± 0.08 U/g; P < 0.001) and melatonin treatment reduced MPO levels compared with I/R alone (3.16 ± 0.07; P < 0.001). Melatonin almost completely reversed the low contractile responses of rat urinary bladder strips to CCh and prevented oxidative tissue damage following I/R.
A high exercise load is linked to pathological weight control behavior and eating disorders in female fitness instructors
Authors: Höglund K. , Normén L. 
Published: March 2003

Demographic data, exercise habits, weight control behavior, attitudes towards body shape, eating disorder (ED) experience, and menstrual regularity among female fitness instructors were descriptively assessed. A 60‐item questionnaire was sent to 295 female fitness instructors at eight fitness centers. Responders (57%) reported a mean weekly exercise load of 5.5 h week‐‐1 (SD 2.6), which indicates frequent training, however, less than that of athletes. Overall, 35% reported ED experience (DSM‐IV criteria), with an onset at 15–17 years of age. The problems had lasted 5–7 years, and 20% of the entire group reported recovery, however, 11% still had EDs. For the entire group, it was found that a high weekly exercise load was linked to a pathological weight control behavior. Fitness instructors with an active ED exercised more than instructors who never had an ED or who had a past ED. Menstrual irregularity was more common among instructors who did not use contraceptives (14%), compared to those who did (5%). As ED experience and pathological weight control behavior were common in the studied group, the importance of guidelines regarding communication from female fitness instructors about healthy training habits to regular exercisers is discussed in the article.
Degreasing method for the seborrheic areas with respect to regaining sebum excretion rate to casual level
Authors: Rode Birgitte , Ivens Ulla , Serup Jørgen 
Published: March 2003

Background/aims: Sebum excreted from the seborrheic glands keeps the skin surface subtle and moist. Before determining the activity of seborrheic glands, the skin surface must be degreased to remove contamination but without provoking sebum excretion. The purpose of this study was to set up a standardised degreasing procedure for various seborrheic areas in different skin types. The method will take day‐to‐day variations into account with respect to the kinetics of refatting.Methods: The Sebumeter® from Courage+Khazaka is used to quantify the sebum excretion. Day‐to‐day variations were measured on the forehead in groups of 12 volunteers on 2 consecutive days. The degreasing procedure was investigated by individual cleaning with alcohol compared to washing with a mild detergent followed by wipes with alcohol on the forehead. The degree of refatting was monitored until 3 h after defatting on seborrheic areas: the forehead, cheek, nose, chin and upper back.Results: There was no statistical significant difference in the variation from day to day (P<0.05), although a change in the individual skin types was observed. An individual difference in the number of alcoholic wipes needed to degrease the forehead was seen. Washing followed by several repetitions of alcoholic wipes was not sufficient for the forehead, chin and nose (P>0.05). For the cheek and upper back, it was sufficient to wash with soap (P<0.05). The time from degreasing the skin until the sebum output reached the casual level was 2 h (P>0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) indicates that individual skin types return to casual level after defatting.Conclusion: There was no statistically significant day‐to‐day variation using the Sebumeter®. We ended up with different degreasing procedures in different seborrheic areas. Washing gently with a detergent solution and then performing three wipes with alcohol was optimal for degreasing the forehead, nose and chin. For the cheek and upper back, it was sufficient to use a mild soap. Casual level was reached after 2 h in all seborrheic areas, irrespective of level of oiliness.
Surfactant irritation: in vitro corneosurfametry and in vivo bioengineering
Authors: Gabard Bernard , Chatelain Eric , Bieli Elsbeth , Haas Stephan 
Published: March 2003

Background/aims: Irritant reactions to surfactants, cleansing products, soaps and detergents are common in clinical and occupational dermatology. Mildness has become a major benefit claimed, and testing for mildness now ranks among the first concerns of the manufacturing industry. A wealth of publications deals with this problem, trying to improve the methodology, reduce the costs of testing and facilitate decision‐making. Differences in vivo can be measured clinically and/or instrumentally. This is difficult, as commercially available products are generally safe to use and none are harsh in the absolute sense.Methods: Nineteen different products (syndets, shampoos, personal cleansers), all claiming to be mild, were tested in vitro by a newly introduced method, corneosurfametry. For evaluating the aggressiveness of the products, the calculation of an index of irritation (IOI) was proposed. A concentration‐effect curve of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as standard and model surfactant was obtained. Some of the products were further tested in vivo with a flex wash test and with a soap chamber test and compared to SLS. Bioengineering methods (transepidermal water loss TEWL, skin color) were used to evaluate the results.Results and Conclusions:The results of the corneosurfametry allowed us to classify the products in three categories, with increasing aggressiveness towards the stratum corneum, according to their IOIs. The in vivo tests were not able to discriminate between the products, but ranks from the results of the bioengineering measurements showed a good correlation between TEWL changes, but not between colour changes, and IOIs from corneosurfametry. Corneosurfametry emerged as a simple, low‐cost and fast method for ranking commercial products according to their mildness. However, the skin bioengineering techniques showed that some products could lead to skin reactions, such as erythema, that could not be detected by the in vitro technique.
Development of a new test for mechanical irritation:behind the knee as a test site
Authors: Farage Miranda A. , Gilpin Debbie A. , Enane Ninah A. , Baldwin Sue 
Published: March 2003

Background/aims: Certain consumer products, such as feminine hygiene products, and baby and adult diapers, are worn for prolonged periods of time in close proximity to the skin. A sensitive test method was needed to evaluate these products and their components for the potential to cause mechanical irritation during use.Methods: We investigated several test sites on the body where normal, daily activities provided the opportunity for movement and, therefore, friction. These test sites were: the back of the knee, the axilla, and the wrist. Three exposure regimens were tested: 6‐h daily for 4 days, 24‐h daily for 3 days, and 24‐h daily for 4 days. Controls consisted of satin fabric (a non‐irritating material) or burlap (an irritating material). Test materials were secured to the test sites using an Ace® elastic bandage (on the back of the knee), a snug fitting garment (on the axilla), or an athletic band (on the wrist). Test sites were scored for irritation on a visual scale prior to the initial application and 30–60 min after removal each day. Data were evaluated for the ability to reliably detect irritating materials, and for the ability to consistently differentiate between irritating and non‐irritating materials. Quantitative measures of these abilities were used to rank the overall effectiveness of various test protocols as a model for mechanical irritation.Results/Conclusion: The results of these studies indicated that a protocol using the back of the knee as a test site with an exposure regimen of 6‐h daily for 4 days, best met the success criteria for an effective test system for evaluating mechanical irritation.
Automation of a series of cutaneous topography measurements from silicon rubber replicas
Authors: Nardin P. , Nita D. , Mignot J. 
Published: March 2003

Background/Aims Skin relief is a matter of interest for dermatologists and surgeons. One of the methods available for surface topography measurement is based on 3D profilometry using skin surface replicas. and most studies use statistical results obtained from a large number of skin replica samples.The advent of optical profilometers (without contact) made it possible to remove the solid positive replica and to reduce the duration of the profilometric data acquisition. Nevertheless this saving of time, to be really interesting, needs to automate the data acquisition on a series of negative replicas.Methods/Results By adding a video camera to the optical profilometer and then by processing the resulting images, we have conceived a system able to carry out topographic measurements on a series of replicas loosely organized on a sample holder, without any human intervention. The silicon replicas in use have a very light colour: nearly white, sometimes slightly blue or green. The laser spot of the profilometer is so luminous that its red colour looks white through the camera. When choosing a replica holder with a matt dark colour and marking the left upper corner of the study area on the replica in black ink, the colours to be differentiated on the image are then close to the black one and the white one.We accordingly change the colour camera image into a black and white image (with 256 grey levels) and then carry out thresholdings to separate the different objects or information included in this image. With the use of a perfectly circular replica, of an accurately known size, laid on the sample holder at the center of the area filmed by the camera, we adjust the threshold level, which allows separation of the replica from its holder. We then move this calibrated replica in order to find the relationship between the size in pixels and the real size on the sample holder, in various positions of the video image.The software has four main built‐in stages:

Moving the sample holder beneath the sensor until a part of a replica is detected in the field of view of the camera;
Moving the sample holder until this replica lies just in the middle of the image given by the camera;
Recognition of the mark of the upper left corner of the surface area to be measured out inside this replica; and
Moving the sample holder until the laser spot of the profilometer coincides with the origin of the surface area to be measured out, then carrying out this measurement.

From the upper left corner of the sample holder, a scanning, line‐by‐line or column‐by‐column (according to the selected priority direction), is carried out until the successive replicas are found, and is stopped as soon as the number of replicas entered by the operator is reached.Conclusion The simplicity of the algorithms used makes it possible to distinguish the next measurement area from the preceding one in a few seconds.
Effect of exposure of human skin to a dry environment
Authors: Egawa Mariko , Oguri Motoki , Kuwahara Tomohiro , Takahashi Motoji 
Published: March 2003

Background/aims: Changes in the skin conditions after exposure to low humidity have been generally experienced in everyday life, but there have been few reports to approach it—especially in healthy skin. We have examined the effect of low humidity on healthy human skin by using noninvasive measurement devices.Methods: Skin conditions on the ventral forearm and the cheek before and after 3 or 6 h exposure to low humidity were evaluated by measuring skin surface conductance, skin surface capacitance and transepidermal water loss. Skin surface replicas were also taken before and after exposure and analysed for roughness parameters—Ra (arithmetic mean roughness value), Rz (10‐point height), Sm (mean value of the profile element) and VC1 (anisotropy of skin furrows).Results: There was a significant decrease of water content of stratum corneum at both test sites from the time points 0 h to 3 h and 6 h (P < 0.01) and transepidermal water loss from the time point 0 h to 6 h (P < 0.05). Regarding the roughness parameters, a significant increase of Rz in the directions of 45°/225° and 90°/270° to the body axis and Sm in the directions of 0°/180° (P < 0.05) on the forearm and VC1 (P < 0.05) on the cheek. The parameter Rz also showed a tendency to increase in the directions of 45°/225° (P = 0.06) on the cheek. A specific pattern of the changes to be related to the Langer's lines in the surface morphology was observed. The changes of skin surface pattern in our experiment lead us to consider that exposure to low humidity even in such a short period would be related to inducing aggravation of skin texture and the formation of fine wrinkles.Conclusion: A short exposure of skin to a low‐humidity environment induced changes in the moisture contents in the stratum corneum and skin surface pattern, which lead us to assume that a dry environment in our daily life would make fine wrinkles related to lack of water in the stratum corneum.
A case of complex odontoma associated with an impacted lower deciduous second molar and analysis of the 107 odontomas
Authors: Hisatomi M , Asaumi J‐i , Konouchi H , Honda Y , Wakasa T , Kishi K 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: Odontoma is a comparatively common odontogenic tumor, and it may lead to interference with the eruption of its associated tooth. Odontomas are mostly associated with permanent teeth, and they are rarely associated with deciduous teeth. The purpose of this report is to analyze 107 odontomas and to present a case of complex odontoma associated with a lower deciduous second molar.SUBJECT AND METHODS: The 106 cases were analyzed with regard to the following parameters: age, gender, location, erupted teeth, congenital missing teeth, radiological features, histopathological features and prognosis.RESULTS: Of the 106 cases, 41 were complex odontoma, 62 were compound odontoma, and three were immature odontoma. Compound odontoma had a predilection for the anterior. Complex odontoma occurred more often at the mandible.CONCLUSION: Odontoma located above the tooth crown of lower deciduous molar did not behave clinically different from that associated with permanent tooth. An odontoma could be related with a supernumerary tooth or a missing tooth. If odontomas, which interfered with tooth eruption, were extirpated early, the impacted teeth would probably erupt normally and be normal in shape.
Salivary IgA and IgG subclasses in oral mucosal diseases
Authors: Sistig S , Vučićević‐Boras V , Lukač J , Kusić Z 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: It was hypothesized that serum levels of immunoglobulins may play a role in the pathogenesis of oral mucosal diseases, or reflect clinical changes in these conditions, but little is known about the role of salivary immunoglobulins in the pathogenesis of these diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate possible alterations in salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG subclasses in patients with oral mucosal inflammatory diseases.SUBJECTS and METHODS: Levels of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and IgA1 and IgA2 by radial immunodiffusion in the resting whole saliva of 31 patients with acute recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) (and followed in remission), 11 patients with chronic hyperplastic candidal infection (CHC), 12 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), six patients with oral lichen planus (OLP), and 18 healthy volunteers using the normal saliva as a comparison point for all.RESULTS: IgG and IgA subclasses were increased in OLP. In CHC all IgG subclasses were increased while IgA1 was decreased, IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 levels were increased in SS, while all IgG subclasses as well as IgA2 were increased in acute RAU in comparison with healthy controls. No differences in any immunoglobulin subclasses between major and minor acute RAU were found. In remission, IgG1 and IgG4 returned to normal values while IgG2, IgG3, and IgA2 remained increased in patients with RAU.CONCLUSION: Salivary immunoglobulin subclasses vary in different oral mucosal conditions and may play a role in oral mucosal inflammatory diseases and/or reflect clinical changes in these conditions.
Chronic Pain, Chronic Stress and Depression: Coincidence or Consequence?
Authors: Blackburn‐Munro G. , Blackburn‐Munro R. E. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractChronic pain and depressive illness are debilitating disease states that are variably resistant to currently available therapeutic agents. Animal models of chronic pain are associated with activation of the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis, upon which chronic pain acts as an inescapable stressor. Inescapable stress is also associated with ‘depressive‐like’ symptoms in experimental animals. Based on reports of the comorbidity between chronic pain and depressive illness in human patients, it is possible that these disease states are linked, via chronic stress‐induced HPA dysfunction. Here, we discuss the possible involvement of the HPA axis in the aetiology of both chronic pain and clinical depression, and suggest a strategy for the development of novel pharmacotherapies.
Calcium transients in response to salinity and osmotic stress in the nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120, expressing cytosolic apoaequorin
Authors: Torrecilla I. , Leganés F. , Bonilla I. , Fernández‐Piñas F. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe show here that both salinity and osmotic stress trigger transient increases in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cells of the nitrogen‐fixing filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120, which constitutively expresses apoaequorin. Isoosmolar concentrations of salt (NaCl) and osmoticum (sucrose) induced calcium transients of similar magnitude and shape, suggesting that cells sense, via Ca2+ signalling, mostly osmotic stress. The Ca2+ transients induced by NaCl and sucrose were completely blocked by the calcium chelator ethylene glycol‐bis(b‐aminoethylether)N,N,N¢,N¢‐tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and were partially inhibited by the calcium channel blocker verapamil. Increased external Ca2+ and the Ca2+ ionophore calcimycin (compound A23187) enhanced Ca2+ influx further, suggesting the involvement of extracellular Ca2+ in the observed response to salinity and osmotic stress. However, the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) did not provoke any effect on the Ca2+ transients induced by both stresses, indicating that it may not be acting upstream of Ca2+ in the signalling of salinity and/or osmotic stress in Anabaena sp. PCC7120.
Acid invertase is predominantly localized to cell walls of both the practically symplasmically isolated sieve element/companion cell complex and parenchyma cells in developing apple fruits
Authors: Zhang D. P. , Lu Y. M. , Wang Y. Z. , Duan C. Q. , Yan H. Y. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe acid invertase (β‐fructosidase, EC 3·2·1·26) was localized at subcellular level via immunogold electron microscopy in the phloem‐unloading zone of developing apple fruit. The enzyme (immunogold particles) was found to reside predominantly in the cell walls of the sieve element/companion cell (SE/CC) complex, phloem parenchyma cells and other parenchyma cells. There was almost no gold particle found in cytoplasm and vacuole. This distribution pattern remained unchanged throughout the growing season, but the enzyme numbers varied. The density of immunogold particles increased during fruit development. The immunoblotting of soluble and insoluble acid invertases provided a supporting proof for the assays of immunolocalization. The biochemical analysis showed a predominantly cell‐wall‐distributed activity of acid invertase that corresponds essentially with its amount distribution. The ultrastructural observations showed that there were numerous plasmodesmata between the parenchyma cells, but almost no plasmodesmium between the SE/CC complex and its surrounding parenchyma cells, practically resulting in the symplasmic isolation of the SE/CC complex. It is therefore suggested that the unloading pathway of sucrose from the SE/CC complex may be predominantly apoplasmic in the developing apple fruit, and that the unloaded sucrose may be hydrolysed by the functional acid invertase localized in the cell wall before it is loaded in sink cells.
Effects of mycorrhizal infection, soil phosphorus availability and fruit production on the male function in two cultivars of Lycopersicon esculentum
Authors: Poulton J. L. , Koide R. T. , Stephenson A. G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe effects of mycorrhizal infection, soil P availability and fruit production on the male function of reproduction were examined in two cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse under three treatment combinations: non‐mycorrhizal, low P (NMPO); non‐mycorrhizal, high P (NMP3); and mycorrhizal, low P (MPO). In addition, all treatment combinations were grown both with and without fruit. Fruit production decreased final leaf biomass, flower production and in vitro pollen tube growth rates, often reducing the beneficial effects of increased P uptake. Thus, fruit production diverted resources from subsequent vegetative growth, flower production and pollen development. As the growing season progressed, mean pollen production per flower and in vitro germination and tube growth decreased. Mycorrhizal infection and high soil P conditions increased final leaf biomass, flower production, mean pollen production per flower (in one cultivar) and in vitro pollen tube growth rates. Thus, mycorrhizal infection and high soil P conditions increased pollen quantity and quality, thereby enhancing fitness through the male function. Similar trends in these treatments suggested that mycorrhizal effects on the male function were largely the result of improved P acquisition.