bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The corticotrophin‐releasing hormone test in preterm infants
Authors: Bolt Roel J. , Van Weissenbruch Mirjam M. , Cranendonk Anneke , Lafeber Harry N. , Delemarre‐van de Waal Henriette A. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryobjectiveThe developing hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPAA) may be immature and not yet fully functional in preterm infants. This may result in an inappropriate adrenal response to stress. Little is known about the pituitary–adrenal response to corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation during the early neonatal period in preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation. Therefore, in a first study we investigated the pituitary–adrenal response to 1 µg/kg CRH i.v. in 13 preterm infants born ≤ 32 weeks of gestation. In addition, in a randomized placebo‐controlled study we compared the pituitary–adrenal response of 1 µg/kg CRH to placebo and stimulation with 2 µg/kg CRH.resultsIn the first study, the level of ACTH increased from 6·9 ± 2·1 to 11·6 ± 5·1 pmol/l (P < 0·01) and cortisol increased from 350 ± 115 to 582 ± 201 nmol/l (P < 0·05). Thirty‐eight percent of the studied infants showed a maximal level of ACTH < 9 pmol/l, and 15% showed a maximal level of cortisol < 360 nmol/l. In the randomized study, infants in the 1 µg/kg and in the 2 µg/kg CRH group, but not in the placebo group, showed a significant increase in cortisol and ACTH after stimulation (P < 0·01). Stimulated levels of ACTH and cortisol were significantly higher in the 2 µg/kg group compared with the placebo and the 1 µg/kg group. No differences were found for plasma ACTH and cortisol levels in the 1 µg/kg group compared with the placebo group. Basal levels of cortisol and ACTH obtained from the first and from the randomized study correlated significantly (n = 29; r = 0·42, P < 0·03). In addition, in infants stimulated with 1 µg/kg CRH a lower cortisol response correlated with a longer stay in hospital (n = 13; r = –0·57, P < 0·05).conclusions In this study we show that a 1 µg/kg CRH stimulation test in preterm infants results more often in an inappropriate adrenal response while stimulation with 2 µg/kg CRH gives rise to an appropriate response in all studied infants. Furthermore, stimulation with 2 µg/kg CRH results in higher levels of ACTH and cortisol compared to placebo and 1 µg/kg CRH. We conclude that in preterm infants the ability of the pituitary to respond adequately to CRH stimulation depends on the dose of CRH used and may also be dependent on the maturity of the pituitary–adrenal axis.
Electroencephalographic effects and serum concentrations after intranasal and intravenous administration of diazepam to healthy volunteers
Authors: Lindhardt Karsten , Gizurarson Sveinbjörn , Stefánsson Sigurjón B. , Òlafsson David R. , Bechgaard Erik 
Published: March 2003

Aims  To evaluate the electroencephalographic (EEG) effects, blood concentrations, vehicle irritation and dose‐effect relationships for diazepam administered nasally.Methods  The study had a cross‐over design with eight healthy volunteers (one drop out). It consisted of four legs with four different administrations: intranasal (i.n.) placebo, 4 mg diazepam i.n., 7 mg diazepam i.n. and 5 mg intravenous (i.v.) diazepam. Polyethylene glycol 300 (PEG300) was used as a vehicle in the nasal formulations to solubilize a clinically relevant dose of diazepam. Changes in N100, P200 and P300 brain event‐related potentials (ERP) elicited by auditory stimulation and electroencephalographic β‐activity were used to assess effects on neurological activity.Results  The mean [95% confidence intervals] differences between before and after drug administration values of P300‐N100 amplitude differences were −0.9 [−6.5, 4.7], −6.4 [−10.1, −2,7], −8.6 [−11.4, −5.8] and −9.6 [−12.1, −7.1] for placebo, 4 mg i.n., 7 mg i.n. and 5 mg i.v. diazepam, respectively, indicating statistically significant drug induced effects. The bioavailabilities of 4 and 7 mg i.n. formulations, were found to be similar, 45% [32, 58] and 42% [22, 62], respectively.Conclusion  The present study indicates that it is possible to deliver a clinically effective nasal dose of diazepam for the acute treatment of epilepsy, using PEG300 as a solubilizer.
Use of an α‐glucosidase inhibitor to maintain glucose homoeostasis during postprandial exercise in intensively treated Type 1 diabetic subjects
Authors: Rabasa‐Lhoret R. , Burelle Y. , Ducros F. , Bourque J. , Lavoie C. , Massicotte D. , Péronnet F. , Chiasson J.‐L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAim  We evaluated the effects of an α‐glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose, on glucose homoeostasis during postprandial exercise in Type 1 diabetic subjects.Methods  Seven Type 1 diabetic subjects with good glycaemic control on ultralente‐regular insulin were randomized in a single blind cross‐over study to acarbose 100 mg or placebo taken with a mixed meal (600 kcal, 75 g carbohydrates), followed 90 min later by 30 min of exercise at 50% maximum aerobic capacity. Glucose turnover was measured by tracer (d‐[6,6,2H2]glucose) methodology, and intestinal glucose absorption was quantified using carbohydrate polymers labelled with [13C]glucose.Results  Acarbose resulted in a significant decrease in the postprandial glycaemic rise (mean ± SEM 2.9 ± 0.6 vs. 5.0 ± 0.7 mmol/l; P < 0.005) and in the glycaemic nadir during exercise (− 0.8 ± 0.6 vs. 0.9 ± 1.3 mmol/l below baseline; P < 0.05). Total glucose appearance increased similarly under the two treatments during the postprandial (27.0 vs. 27.9 µmol per kg per min) and exercise (33.9 vs. 33.5 µmol per kg per min) periods. Mean glucose absorption was significantly delayed by acarbose (7.8 vs. 10.2 µmol per kg per min; P < 0.02), but was compensated by the lack of postprandial suppression of hepatic glucose production (106% of basal hepatic glucose production vs. 81%; P < 0.006). Episodes of hypoglycaemia were no different (three vs. six).Conclusion  These results indicate that, in Type 1 diabetic subjects, acarbose results in a better glycaemic profile during postprandial exercise and suggest that it could lead to a lower risk of exercise‐induced hypoglycaemia due to delayed glucose absorption and less suppression of hepatic glucose production.Diabet. Med. 18, 739–744 (2001)
Assessment of cross‐reactivity between Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen and tomato fruit extracts by RAST inhibition and immunoblot inhibition
Authors: Kondo Y. , Tokuda R. , Urisu A. , Matsuda T. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryBackground An association between pollinosis and sensitivity to fruits and vegetables has been reported. Although Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis is one of the most widespread diseases in Japan, there have been no reports demonstrating cross‐reactivity between Japanese cedar pollen and other plant food.Objective The aim of this study was to demonstrate cross‐reactivity between Japanese cedar pollen and tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum) using RAST inhibition and immunoblot inhibition.Methods The RAST and immunoblot inhibition were performed using sera from patients with oral allergy syndrome (OAS) after ingesting fresh tomatoes. We identified some proteins that took part in cross‐reactive IgE by the determination of N‐terminal amino acid sequences and a homology search through the SWISS‐PROT database.Results In the RAST inhibition, the bindings of IgE from the sera from four out of five (4/5) subjects to Japanese cedar pollen discs were inhibited by more than 50% by preincubation of the serum with tomato fruit extracts. Likewise, the IgE bindings to tomato fruit discs were inhibited more than 50% by Japanese cedar pollen extracts in 3/5 sera. In immunoblot inhibition, IgE binding activities of some protein bands on both membranes were decreased by heterologous inhibitors. However, the combinations of these protein bands involved in cross‐reactivity were different between patients.Conclusion We have demonstrated cross‐reactivity between Japanese cedar pollen and tomato fruit using RAST inhibition and immunoblot inhibition.
Quiescence, cell viability, apoptosis and necrosis of smooth muscle cells using different growth inhibitors
Authors: Pelisek J. , Armeanu S. , Nikol S. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract.Smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells play an important role in cardiovascular diseases and may therefore be a potential target for gene therapy. Most in vitro experiments are performed using proliferating cell cultures. Nevertheless, non‐dividing cells would represent more realistic in vivo conditions for gene therapy. Therefore, a simple method to achieve physiologically quiescence in cell cultures is needed for experiments. Growth to confluence is sufficient for endothelial cells to reach quiescence, in contrast to smooth muscle cells. Alternative techniques were investigated to achieve quiescence for smooth muscle cells. N‐acetyl‐cysteine, heparin, aphidicolin and serum‐free medium are known inhibitors of smooth muscle cell proliferation and were tested for cell viability, necrosis and apoptosis. The inhibition status was evaluated counting cells in a cell counter. Toxicity, necrosis and apoptosis were determined using FACS analysis. Then, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells were transfected with plasmid containing the β‐galactosidase gene using liposomes. Analysis of gene expression in transfected cells included a quantitative β‐galactosidase assay and X‐gal staining. Growth inhibition was achieved with all agents tested. Using N‐acetyl‐cysteine, only slightly reduced growth rates were observed. Aphidicolin stopped cell growth almost immediately, but demonstrated enhanced toxicity. The amount of apoptotic and necrotic cells was lowest using heparin in the presence of foetal calf serum. Transfection experiments using stationary cultures of smooth muscle cells using heparin or aphidicolin demonstrated 5–10‐fold lower transfection rates compared to transfected proliferating cell cultures serving as controls. Transfection experiments using stationary cultures of endothelial cells using growth inhibition through confluence demonstrated 40‐fold lower transfection rates than transfected proliferating cell cultures. Transfer efficiency was much lower in endothelial cells compared to smooth muscle cells. In conclusion, quiescent cells simulate more realistically the in vivo situation and may therefore represent a better model for future in vivo experiments based on in vitro findings.
Basilar artery thrombosis
Authors: Richardson Philip G 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBasilar artery thrombosis is an infrequent but important neurological emergency requiring early diagnosis and treatment. Of particular relevance to emergency medicine is the recognition and consideration of the unusual signs that may be present in an often previously well patient. It is therefore crucial to expedite investigations, confirm the diagnosis and commence life‐saving treatment through the early involvement of a number of disciplines including neurology, radiology and intensive care. This paper confirms the use of magnetic resonance imaging and angiography as the preferred investigative mode and microcatheter directed intra‐arterial thrombolysis as the treatment strategy of choice.
THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH CAREERS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE NEW ENGLAND HEALTH AREA: THE VIEWS OF HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS ADVISERS
Authors: Alexander Christian , Fraser John 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT:One way to impact positively on the shortage of health professionals in rural areas is to effectively promote health careers to rural high school students. Rural high school careers advisers play a pivotal role in this. In order to assess how rural health careers advisers working in the north‐west of New South Wales currently promote health careers to their students, the New England Area Rural Training Unit carried out a survey of the area’s high school careers advisers. Of the 47 high school careers advisers, 38 returned completed questionnaires, yielding a response rate of 81%. While only about one‐third of careers advisers use visits by undergraduate students enrolled in tertiary health courses (42%), visits by locally practising health professionals (39%) and/or health careers site visits (27%), all careers advisers consider such promotional activities to be most effective. Improved exposure to such effective health career promotional activities for the area’s high school, increasing collaboration between careers advisers and health professionals, as well as renewed efforts to identify and to foster interested students prior to Year 10, should lead to an increasing number of rural high school students enrolling in tertiary health courses.
A synthesis of the life history and ecology of juvenile Pacific herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Authors: Norcross Brenda L. , Brown Evelyn D. , Foy Robert J. , Frandsen Michele , Gay Shelton M. , Kline Thomas C. , Mason Doran M. , Patrick E. Vincent , Paul A. J. , Stokesbury Kevin D. E. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractPhysical and biological variables affecting juvenile Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) in Prince William Sound (PWS) from 1995 to 1998 were investigated as part of a multifaceted study of recruitment, the Sound Ecosystem Assessment (SEA) program. Though more herring larvae were retained in eastern PWS bays, ages‐0 and ‐1 herring used bays throughout PWS as nursery areas. Water transported into PWS from the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) contributed oceanic prey species to neritic habitats. Consequently, variations in local food availability resulted in different diets and growth rates of herring among bays. Summer food availability and possible interspecific competition for food in nursery areas affected the autumn nutritional status and juvenile whole body energy content (WBEC), which differed among bays. The WBEC of age‐0 herring in autumn was related to over‐winter survival. The limited amount of food consumption in winter was not sufficient to meet metabolic needs. The smallest age‐0 fish were most at risk of starvation in winter. Autumn WBEC of herring and winter water temperature were used to model over‐winter mortality of age‐0 herring. Differences in feeding and energetics among nursery areas indicated that habitat quality and age‐0 survival were varied among areas and years. These conditions were measured by temperature, zooplankton abundance, size of juvenile herring, diet energy, energy source (GOA vs. neritic zooplankton), WBEC, and within‐bay competition.
Up‐Regulation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Nitric Oxide in Helicobacter pylori‐Infected Human Gastric Epithelial Cells: Possible Role of Interferon‐γ in Polarized Nitric Oxide Secretion
Authors: Kim Jung Mogg , Kim Joo Sung , Jung Hyun Chae , Song In Sung , Kim Chung Yong 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground. Nitric oxide (NO) generated by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is known to be an important modulator of the mucosal inflammatory response. In this study, we questioned whether Helicobacter pylori infection could up‐regulate the epithelial cell inducible NOS (iNOS) gene expression and whether NO production could show polarity that can be regulated by immune mediators.Materials and Methods. Human gastric epithelial cell lines were infected with H. pylori, and the iNOS mRNA expression was assessed by quantitative RT‐PCR. NO production was assayed by determining nitrite/nitrate levels in culture supernatants. To determine the polarity of NO secretion by the H. pylori‐infected epithelial cells, Caco‐2 cells were cultured as polarized monolayers in transwell chambers, and NO production was measured.Results. iNOS mRNA levels were significantly up‐regulated in the cells infected with H. pylori, and expression of iNOS protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Increased NO production in the gastric epithelial cells was seen as early as 18 hours postinfection, and reached maximal levels by 24 hours postinfection. The specific MAP kinase inhibitors decreased H. pylori‐induced iNOS and NO up‐regulation. After H. pylori infection of polarized epithelial cells, NO was released predominantly into the apical compartment, and IL‐8 was released predominantly into basolateral compartment. The addition of IFN‐γ to H. pylori‐infected polarized epithelial cells showed a synergistically higher apical and basolateral NO release.Conclusion. These results suggest that apical NO production mediated by MAP kinase in H. pylori‐infected gastric epithelial cells may influence the bacteria and basolateral production of NO and IL‐8 may play a role in the tissue inflammation.
Effect of ruminal dosing of mechanical stimulating brush on rumination time, ruminal passage rate and rumen fermentation status in Holstein steers fed a concentrate diet
Authors: HORIGUCHI Ken‐ichi , TAKAHASHI Toshiyoshi 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThis experiment was conducted to determine the effect of ruminal dosing of a mechanical stimulating brush on rumination time, ruminal passage rate and rumen fermentation status in steers fed a concentrate diet at maintenance level. Animals were dosed three Rumen Faibu (RF) per head through the rumen fistulae (RF treatment) and not dosed (control) in a change‐over design. The organic cell wall content of the concentrate diet was 12.7% of dry matter. Daily time spent on rumination was very short in both treatments with 24 min in RF treatment and 15 min in control. The turnover rate of ruminal fluid in RF treatment was higher than that in control. There were no differences in ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentration between RF treatment and control. Acetic and butyric acid concentrations were not different between the treatments. Propionic acid concentration tended to be higher in the animals on RF treatment than in control animals. The RF dosing in Holstein steers fed a low fiber diet did not affect the rumination time, but increased rumen digesta passage rate and ruminal propionic acid production.
Numbers of nitrate‐reducing bacteria in the rumen as estimated by competitive polymerase chain reaction
Authors: ASANUMA Narito , IWAMOTO Miwa , KAWATO Masaru , HINO Tsuneo 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTCell numbers of known species of nitrate‐ and nitrite‐reducing bacteria, Selenomonas ruminantium, Veillonella parvula and Wollinella succinogenes, in the rumen of goats (25–30 kg) were estimated by competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The number of S. ruminantium was the largest of the three species examined, and tended to be greater in goats fed a high‐concentrate diet (5.6 × 107 cells/mL rumen fluid) than in goats fed a high‐roughage diet (1.3 × 107 cells/mL). The number of V. parvula tended to be greater when goats were fed a high‐roughage diet (6.7 × 103/mL) than when fed a high‐concentrate diet (3.2 × 103/mL). The number of W. succinogenes was below the detectable level (< 1.0 × 102/mL) when a high‐concentrate diet was fed, but was significantly increased by feeding a high‐roughage diet (1.6 × 103/mL). Addition of potassium nitrate (6 g/day) to the high‐concentrate diet tended to increase V. parvula, and significantly increased W. succinogenes, indicating that these two bacteria can be increased by feeding a diet containing nitrate.
Immunolocalization of sex steroid receptors in the epididymis and ductus deferens of immature and mature Japanese Quail, Coturnix Japonica
Authors: NISHIZAWA Hanako , OKAMOTO Toshikazu , YOSHIMURA Yukinori 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study was to determine whether in the Japanese quail the male genital tract contains receptors for progesterone, androgen and estrogen (PR, AR and ER, respectively), which have significant roles in reproductive functions, and whether their localization changes during sexual maturation. The epididymis and ductus deferens (middle and ampulla regions) of immature (approximately 30‐day‐old) and mature male Japanese quail were collected and frozen sections of them were immunostained for PR, AR and ER. The immunoreaction products for AR and PR were found in the nuclei of epithelial cells in the efferent ductules, epididymal duct, and the middle and ampulla regions of the ductus deferens of mature and immature birds. In the mature birds, the epithelial cells of the efferent ductules, epididymal duct, and the middle and ampulla regions of the ductus deferens were positive for ER, although some of the cells in the ductus deferens were negative. The epithelial cells of the ductules in the epididymis stained positive for ER, but the immunoreactions were negligible in the ductus deferens of immature birds. These results suggest that the epididymis and ductus deferens in quail possesses PR, AR and ER receptors. Each receptor is expressed before sexual maturation, although enhancement of ER expression may occur during maturation.
Comparative study of milk compositions of cattle, sheep and goats in Nigeria
Authors: MALAU‐ADULI Aduli Enoch Othniel , ANLADE Yakubu Rade 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTVariations in the milk composition of Nigerian cattle, sheep and goats (Bunaji, Yankasa and Red Sokoto breeds, respectively), as well as residual phenotypic correlations between the milk constituents, were investigated. Results indicated that sheep and goats differed significantly (P < 0.05) from cattle in all constituents except protein percentage, which averaged 5.43%, 5.43% and 5.49%, respectively. Caprine milk contained the highest percentages of fat (5.80%), total solids (15.37%) and ash (0.77%), and bovine milk contained the least percentages of fat (0.68%) and lactose (1.84%). Overall, the milk compositions of sheep and goats were very similar as they were not statistically different from each other (P > 0.05). Residual phenotypic correlations between the milk constituents revealed highly significant (P < 0.01) and positive relationships between total solids and solids‐not‐fat (0.97 and 0.98 in cattle and sheep, respectively). All other correlations were positive in cattle (ranging from 0.12 to 0.77), except between protein and total solids (−0.44) and protein and solids‐not‐fat (−0.64). Multiple linear regression equations were fitted to predict the percentages of protein and fat. It was demonstrated that the protein percentage could be predicted from total solids and solids‐not‐fat with the highest accuracy of 94%, 86% and 82% in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively. On the other hand, the accuracy of prediction of fat percentage was very low in all the species (R2 = 0.01, 0.3 and 0.37 in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively).
Ammonia volatilization from Vertisols
Authors: Sigunga D. O. , Janssen B. H. , Oenema O. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryFarmers want to minimize losses of nitrogen (N) by volatilization of ammonia when adding fertilizers and improve fertilizer recovery of N by plants. We aimed to quantify the losses of N through NH3 volatilization as affected by soil moisture content, type of fertilizer, and placement method in Vertisols in Kenya, and conducted three experiments for the purpose under controlled conditions in the laboratory. We found that NH3‐N losses were greatest at 80% water holding capacity, which we ascribed to the ready availability of water to dissolve the fertilizer at that water content. The soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC) did not influence volatilization, whereas the soil's pH indicated the potential of the soil to volatilize ammonia. Ammonia losses from the fertilizers were in the order urea > ammonium sulphate > ammonium nitrate applied. Incorporating fertilizer within the 0–5 cm soil layer more than halved NH3 volatilization but did not prevent it completely. These results indicate that soil pH, rather than CEC, is the main inherent characteristic influencing ammonia volatilization from Vertisols. Ammonium‐based fertilizers should be incorporated within the 0–5 cm soil layer, or preferably somewhat deeper, to avoid losses via NH3 volatilization, particularly in alkaline soils. Nitrate fertilizers are preferable to urea where the risks of NH3 volatilization are large, provided due consideration is given to denitrification risks.