bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vagus nerve stimulation decreases left ventricular contractility in vivo in the human and pig heart
Authors: Lewis M. E. , Al‐Khalidi A. H. , Bonser R. S. , Clutton‐Brock T. , Morton D. , Paterson D. , Townend J. N. , Coote J. H. 
Published: August 2004

Studies of the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on ventricular myocardial function in mammals are limited, particularly in the human.
The present study was designed to determine the effect of direct electrical stimulation of the left vagus nerve on left ventricular contractile state in hearts paced at 10 % above the natural rate, in anaesthetised pigs and anaesthetised human subjects undergoing open chest surgery for coronary artery bypass grafting.
Contractility of the left ventricle was determined from a series of pressure‐volume loops obtained from a combined pressure and conductance (volume) catheter placed in the left ventricle. From the measurements a regression slope of the end‐systolic pressure‐volume relationship was determined to give end‐systolic elastance (Ees), a load‐independent measure of contractility.
In six anaesthetised open chest pigs, stimulation of the peripheral cut end of the left cervical vagus nerve induced a significant decrease in Ees of 26 ± 14 %.
In nine patients electrical stimulation of the left thoracic vagus nerve close to its cardiac branch resulted in a significant drop in Ees of 38 ± 16 %.
The effects of vagal stimulation were blocked by the muscarinic antagonist glycopyrronium (5 mg kg−1).
Administration of the β‐adrenoreceptor antagonist esmolol (1 mg kg−1) also attenuated the effect of vagal stimulation, indicating a degree of interaction of vagal and sympathetic influences on contractility.
These studies show that in the human and pig heart the left vagus nerve can profoundly decrease the inotropic state of the left ventricular myocardium independent of its bradycardic effect.
Changes in respiratory sensations induced by lobeline after human bilateral lung transplantation
Authors: Butler J. E. , Anand A. , Crawford M. R. , Glanville A. R. , McKenzie D. K. , Paintal A. S. , Taylor J. L. , Gandevia S. C. 
Published: August 2004

The sensations evoked by the injection of lobeline into the right antecubital vein were studied in 8 subjects after bilateral lung transplantation and 10 control subjects. In control subjects, two distinct sensations were experienced. There was an early noxious sensation (onset ≈10 s) followed by a late sensation of breathlessness (onset ≈26 s) associated with involuntary hyperventilation. The early sensation was accompanied by respiratory and cardiovascular changes.
In contrast to control subjects, the early respiratory events and the noxious sensations evoked by injections of lobeline (18‐60 μg kg−1) did not occur in subjects with recent bilateral lung transplantation. This suggests that the early respiratory sensations are mediated by the discharge of receptors in the lungs.
The late hyperventilation and the accompanying sensation of breathlessness occurred in both transplant and control subjects and are therefore likely to be mediated by receptors elsewhere in the body, presumably systemic arterial chemoreceptors stimulated by lobeline.
In control subjects, but not transplant subjects, there was a consistent decrease in mean arterial pressure associated with the lobeline injection. This suggests that pulmonary afferents mediate the hypotension.
For transplant subjects studied more than a year after transplantation, there was some evidence that the noxious respiratory sensations evoked by lobeline had returned. This suggests that some functional reinnervation of pulmonary afferents may occur.
Repeated hypoxic exposures change respiratory chemoreflex control in humans
Authors: Mahamed Safraaz , Duffin James 
Published: August 2004

A group of seven volunteers (5 male, 2 female) were exposed to 20 min isocapnic (eucapnic) hypoxia once daily for 14 consecutive days. Their chemoreflexes were measured before and after each exposure. The same volunteers repeated the exposures with air substituted for the hypoxic gas mixture in a pseudorandom crossover design.
On day 1 an initial ventilatory response to hypoxia and subsequent decline was discernible in two volunteers, but the mean response for all volunteers at this stage was not significant. However, the response gradually increased, and by day 14 was discernible in six volunteers making the mean response for all volunteers significant. No change was observed over the 14 days of air exposure.
Only the chemoreflex threshold measured in iso‐oxic (hypoxic) modified rebreathing tests changed significantly, and only for the series of exposures to hypoxia.
Over 14 days, the mean ±s.e.m. threshold for all volunteers fell proportionately, from 42 ± 1.1 mmHg on day 1 to 39 ± 1.0 mmHg on day 14. By contrast, the mean ±s.e.m. threshold, for all volunteers and all days, rose from 40 ± 0.4 mmHg before to 42 ± 0.5 mmHg after the hypoxic exposures.
We conclude that the enhancement of the initial ventilatory response to hypoxia induced by repeated hypoxic exposure is produced by a decrease in chemoreflex threshold. However, the decline in the ventilatory response during a single exposure is produced by an increase in the chemoreflex threshold. Since threshold changes were only found for hypoxic (iso‐oxic) modified rebreathing tests, we conclude that only the peripheral chemoreflex changed.
Evidence for metaboreceptor stimulation of sweating in normothermic and heat‐stressed humans
Authors: Shibasaki M. , Kondo N. , Crandall C. G. 
Published: August 2004

Isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise increases sweat rate and arterial blood pressure, and both remain elevated during post‐exercise ischaemia. The purpose of this study was to identify whether the elevation in arterial blood pressure during post‐exercise ischaemia contributes to the increase in sweating.
In normothermia and during whole‐body heating, 2 min IHG exercise at 40 % maximal voluntary contraction, followed by 2 min post‐exercise ischaemia, was performed with and without bolus intravenous administration of sodium nitroprusside during the ischaemic period. Sodium nitroprusside was administered to reduce blood pressure during post‐exercise ischaemia to pre‐exercise levels. Sweat rate was monitored over two microdialysis membranes placed in the dermal space of forearm skin. One membrane was perfused with the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine, while the other was perfused with the vehicle.
In normothermia, IHG exercise increased sweat rate at the neostigmine‐treated site but not at the control site. Sweat rate remained elevated during post‐exercise ischaemia even after mean arterial blood pressure returned to the pre‐IHG exercise baseline. Subsequent removal of the ischaemia stimulus returned sweat rate to pre‐IHG exercise levels. Sweat rate during post‐exercise ischaemia without sodium nitroprusside administration followed a similar pattern.
During whole‐body heating, IHG exercise increased sweat rate at both neostigmine‐treated and untreated sites. Similarly, regardless of whether mean arterial blood pressure remained elevated or was reduced during post‐exercise ischaemia, sweat rate remained elevated during the ischaemic period.
These results suggest that sweating in non‐glabrous skin during post‐IHG exercise ischaemia is activated by metaboreflex stimulation and not via baroreceptor loading.
The dynamic characteristics of the feedback signal from horizontal cells to cones in the goldfish retina
Authors: Kamermans Maarten , Kraaij Dick , Spekreijse Henk 
Published: August 2004

The dynamic properties of the microcircuitry formed by cones and horizontal cells in the isolated goldfish retina were studied. Cones project to horizontal cells and horizontal cells feed back to cones via a relatively slow negative feedback pathway.The time constant of the feedback signal in cones and of the effect this feedback signal had on the responses of second‐order neurons was determined using whole‐cell patch clamp and intracellular recording techniques.It was found that the feedback signal in cones had a time constant of around 80 ms, whereas the time constant of the effect this feedback signal had on the second‐order neurons ranged from 36 to 116 ms. This range of time constants can be accounted for by the non‐linearity of the Ca2+current in the cones. In depolarized cones, the feedback‐mediated response in second‐order neurons had a similar time constant to that of the direct light response of the cone, whereas in hyperpolarized cones, the time constant of the feedback‐mediated response in second‐order neurons was considerably larger.Further, it was shown that there was no delay in the feedback pathway. This is in contrast to what has been deduced from the response properties of second‐order neurons. In one type of horizontal cell, the responses to red light were delayed relative to the responses to green light. This delay in the second‐order neurons can be accounted for by the interaction of the direct light response of the medium‐wavelength‐sensitive cones (M‐cones) with the feedback response of the M‐cones received from the horizontal cells.
Influence of additional acid etch treatment on resin cement dentin infiltration
Authors: Walker Mary P. , Wang Yong , Swafford James , Evans Adrian , Spencer Paulette 
Published: August 2004

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the penetration of a resin cement into dentin surfaces pretreated with self‐etching primer with or without conventional acid etch.Materials and Methods Dentin surfaces of 8 unerupted human third molars were treated with self‐etch primer (Panavia 21; Kuraray Co, Ltd, Osaka, Japan) with or without conventional acid etch treatment. A resin cement (Panavia 21) was applied according to manufacturer's instructions. Dentin/resin cement interface sections from each tooth were examined with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In the light microscopy sections, exposed protein at the dentin/cement interface was stained a distinct red with Goldner's trichrome.Results The resin cement did not penetrate the depth of the zone of demineralized dentin when the self‐etch primer was used in combination with conventional acid etch treatment. Inadequate resin cement penetration leaves a substantial area of exposed protein at the dentin/cement interface. In contrast, there was complete resin cement diffusion throughout the demineralized dentin when the self‐etch primer was used without acid etching.Conclusions Combining conventional acid etch treatment with a self‐etching primer/resin cement system resulted in incomplete resin cement penetration and exposed protein at the dentin/cement interface.
Irrigation rates and handpieces used in prosthodontic and operative dentistry: Results of a survey of North American dental school teaching
Authors: Siegel Sharon Crane , von Fraunhofer J. Anthony 
Published: August 2004

Purpose A data baseline on dental cutting methodologies was established by means of a survey of North American dental school teaching.Materials and Methods Sixty‐four North American dental schools were surveyed regarding their recommendations on handpiece usage and coolant flow rates in fixed prosthodontics and operative dentistry.Results High‐speed handpieces were the instruments of choice for tooth preparation in fixed prosthodontics. In operative procedures, recommendations for sole use of the high‐speed, the low‐speed, or both handpiece types were more uniform.Conclusions North American dental schools advocate greater use of high‐speed than low‐speed handpieces. Although the use of high‐speed handpieces predominate in schools in Canada and Puerto Rico, there is a proportionately higher use of low‐speed handpieces than in US dental schools. Few (approximately 1 in 5) schools made recommendations on coolant flow rates during cutting procedures.
Centric relation definitions taught in 7 dental schools: Results of faculty and student surveys
Authors: Jasinevicius T. Roma , Yellowitz Janet A. , Vaughan Gloria G. , Brooks Ernie S. , Baughan Linda W. , Cline Nancy , Theiss Lynn B. 
Published: August 2004

Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to assess the level of consensus regarding the definition of centric relation and its clinical use in 7 US dental schools.Materials and Methods The preclinical and clinical faculty in the departments of prosthodontics, operative, and general dentistry (n = 137) at 7 dental schools and a convenience sample of fourth year students (n = 150) at the same schools were invited to complete 2‐page surveys regarding the definitions and use of centric relation at their institutions. The faculty and student survey included 6 commonly used centric relation definitions from the 1994 Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms, and provided space for writing in definitions not listed on the form. The participants were asked to identify which definition was used at their school.Results Return rate was 85% for faculty and 75% for students. Both faculty and students identified a low level of consensus regarding the definition and clinical use of centric relation at their dental school. Numerous definitions are in use at each institution. Extramural practice participation and the number of years since dental school graduation were variables associated with the faculty's choice of definition. The faculty who did not participate in an extramural practice chose older definitions. Dental educators graduating before 1975 selected either the oldest or the most recent centric relation definition, whereas the more recent graduates frequently selected the newer definitions. There were no statistical differences between prosthodontic specialists and nonspecialists in choice of definitions. Three courses identified by the students as having the most influence on their understanding of centric relation were preclinical removable prosthodontics, preclinical occlusion, and clinical removable prosthodontics.Conclusions The results of this survey suggest that the controversy will continue, because to date there is no consensus regarding the definition of centric relation within the 7 dental schools surveyed.
With Onions and Tears: A Multidimensional Analysis of a Counter‐Ritual
Authors: LEVICK STEPHEN E. , JALALI BEHNAZ , STRAUSS JOHN S. 
Published: August 2004

“Family rituals” and “family myths” are useful concepts for understanding some of the behavior of disturbed families and hence for planning therapeutic interventions. A case of a family of a schizophrenic patient is described in which a “counter‐ritual” involving onion‐peeling to induce tearing was invented. The intervention addressed the family's inappropriate laughter and denial of sadness and seemed to lead to therapeutic gains for the identified patient and the family.This counter‐ritual, as an indirect affect‐inducing experience, is analyzed from a variety of perspectives and a partial parallel is drawn to an Iranian cultural ritual.A suggestion is made that more light may be shed on the mechanisms and structures of myths and rituals in families by drawing on studies of myths and rituals in ethnography.“Counter‐ritual” is offered as a general concept for a type of active family intervention that involves inventing and employing rituals antithetical to pathological ones engaged in by some families.
Family Therapy Training: The Institutional Base
Authors: Bloch Donald A. 
Published: August 2004

The papers that follow present the findings of three surveys of the institutional base for training in family therapy.1 The surveys were initiated and conducted independently. To some extent they overlap. This is particularly true of the Bloch and Weiss effort in that it does not limit itself to a sector of the training process bounded by a single discipline, as do the other two papers. Despite some overlap, each paper stands independently; of particular interest are the varied analyses and special emphases each provides.We hope that their publication will stimulate similar studies in the years to come, so that family therapy can take advantage of the observation of its own growth and development. We are accustomed to including ourselves in the field of observation, so far as the family system is concerned; it seems reasonable to extend these perspectives to the more macroscopic field of the institutional development of family therapy. Of particular importance to us, and I believe to science generally, is the opportunity to observe a paradigmatic shift taking place with the development of this new field and the adoption of its associated epistemology by the senior professions of social work, psychology, and psychiatry. Family systems theory and practice have implications that extend beyond their own borders; they can make a significant contribution to the systems revolution that is taking place in science generally. These studies should be of use to practitioners, teachers, and students alike. It seems to me that their implications are clear: that training in family therapy at a sophisticated level is now to be a regular part of the future training of psychiatrists (possibly all physicians), psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric nurses and that, in addition, as a second distinctive career line, there is the new profession of family therapist, with its own entry point and academic pathway. My view is that society will support both lines of career development as far into the future as one can reasonably hope to see. The only logical ending to this will be a shift in the medical model from its present linear definitions of illness and treatment to an ecosystemic, biopsychosocial definition. These describe a historical crosssection through that process.
Family Therapy Training in Selected General Psychiatry Residency Programs
Authors: SUGARMAN STUART 
Published: August 2004

This paper describes the current state of family therapy training in general psychiatry residency programs (GPRP) in the United States. Based on a national survey of 80 GPRP training directors, current practices and attitudes toward family therapy training are assessed. The principal finding is that there has been a significant increase in the amount of required family therapy training in GPRP over previous years and many of the programs would like to expand their current curriculum.Issues concerning course content, definition of family therapy employed, and the meshing of different theoretical paradigms are considered. Recommendations for further research and for the initiation of intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary dialogue are presented.
Client, Treatment, and Therapist Variables Related To Outcome in Brief, Systems‐Oriented Family Therapy
Authors: WOODWARD CHRISTEL A. , SANTA‐BARBARA JACK , STREINER DAVID L. , GOODMAN JOHN T. , LEVIN SOLOMON , EPSTEIN NATHAN B. 
Published: August 2004

Client, therapist, and treatment characteristics were examined with respect to how much of the variance they could account for in a variety of outcome measures.Multiple regression analyses were used to examine relationships among each of the client, therapist, and treatment characteristics studied and the various outcome measures. For the 219 families that were treated with brief family therapy, only a relatively low amount of variance in any of the outcome measures could be accounted for. The amount of explained variance, however, varied considerably from one outcome measure to the other. When the more homogeneous groups of clients (single parents or adolescent identified patients) were considered, the amount of explained variance generally showed an increase. Different sets of client, therapist, and treatment variables accounted for the variance in these outcome measures across client groups, demonstrating both the complexities of the relationships and the relative independence of various outcome measures.New variables are suggested for future research.
Circular Questioning
Authors: PENN PEGGY 
Published: August 2004

The plan of this paper is to explore the question: Does a model that includes the principles of double description, circularity, and coevolutionary change, all accounting for shifts in family coalitions over time and the emergence of problems in connection with these shifts, allow the family therapist to design better methods for the understanding and practice of family therapy?Concepts of double description, coevolution, and circularity from Gregory Bateson's writing and the research of other scientists describe the translation of these ideas from pure epistemology to the pragmatics of family therapy. Circular questioning developed by the Milan Associates is presented as a practice method exemplifying how these notions of circularity and coevolutionary change — especially changes in family patterns — are used during actual family sessions.
Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Infections Caused byFusariumSpecies: a Collaborative Study from Israel
Authors: Nir-Paz Ran , Strahilevitz Jacob , Shapiro Mervyn , Keller Nathan , Goldschmied-Reouven Anna , Yarden Oded , Block Colin , Polacheck Itzhack 
Published: August 2004

ABSTRACTFusariuminfections are an important problem worldwide, commonly affecting immunocompromised individuals. We conducted a retrospective study in two Israeli tertiary medical centers of factors predisposing to infection byFusariumspp. and their influence on the epidemiology and clinical outcome of this infection.Fusariumspp. were isolated from 89 patients with a median age of 57 years. Sixty-eight patients were considered immunocompetent. Seven patients had disseminated disease, 34 had locally invasive disease, and 48 had superficial infection. Most infections were limited and occurred mainly in lower limbs. Factors associated with in-hospital mortality were chronic renal failure, hematological malignancy, immunosuppression, disseminated infection, and positive blood culture. Multivariate analysis showed that chronic renal failure, hematological malignancy, burns, and disseminated infection were independently associated with mortality. A surge in the frequency of infections was noticed during the summer for patients from rural areas, involving mainly the eyes and lungs. At one of the hospitals (in a mountainous area), there was an increase in the isolation rate over time.
Bartonella koehlerae
, a New Cat-Associated Agent of Culture-Negative Human Endocarditis
Authors: Avidor Boaz , Graidy Merav , Efrat Gabi , Leibowitz Cecilia , Shapira Gregory , Schattner Ami , Zimhony Oren , Giladi Michael 
Published: August 2004

ABSTRACT

Bartonella koehlerae
is reported for the first time to be a human pathogen that causes culture-negative endocarditis. It is also shown that this species, isolated twice before from domestic cats, can be recovered as well from a stray cat population in Israel. This work follows a recent report of the same case in which the causative agent was misidentified as
B. henselae
, based on serology and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis (A. Schattner, O. Zimhony, B. Avidor, and M. Gilad, Lancet 361:1786, 2003).
B. koehlerae
was identified in the valvular tissue of an endocarditis patient by DNA sequencing of the PCR products of two
Bartonella
genes: the genes for citrate synthase (
gltA
) and riboflavin synthase (
ribC
). The commonly used PCR-RFLP analysis of the TaqI-digested
gltA
PCR product did not distinguish between
B. koehlerae
and
B. quintana
or between
B. elizabethae
and
B. clarridgeiae
. PmlI digestion of the
gltA
amplification product failed to differentiate between
B. quintana
,
B. clarridgeiae
, and
B. elizabethae
. RFLP analysis of the heat shock protein (
htrA
) gene by TaqI digestion misidentified
B. koehlerae
as
B. henselae
. However, RFLP analysis of the
ribC
PCR product, digested with TaqI, was able to distinguish between the human endocarditis-associated
Bartonella
species tested,
B. henselae
,
B. quintana
,
B. elizabethae
, and
B. koehlerae
, as well as between the cat-associated
Bartonella
species,
B. henselae
and
B. clarridgeiae
. Given the expanding number of
Bartonella
species emerging as human pathogens, it is suggested that PCR-RFLP analysis for the diagnosis of
Bartonella
infections target several genes and be coupled with DNA sequencing to avoid species identification.