bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Axillary brachial plexus block for treatment of severe forearm ischemia after arterial cannulation in an extremely low birth‐weight infant
Authors: Breschan Christian , Kraschl Raimund , Jost Robert , Marhofer Peter , Likar Rudolf 
Published: July 2004

SummarySevere limb ischemia after arterial catheterization in neonates and premature infants is a well‐recognized problem. The usual treatment of ischemic injuries includes removal of the catheter and elevation of the effected limb. If unsuccessful, tissue necrosis and loss may follow. We report the case of a 700 g infant with severe distal forearm ischemia after right radial and ulnar artery catheterization. Immediate removal of the arterial line did not improve ischemia. Thirty‐six hours later a brachial plexus block via the axillary approach with 0.5 ml bupivacaine 0.125% was performed resulting in rapid improvement, restricting ischemia eventually to fingers II–V as well as the distal part of the thumb. Brachial plexus blockade and active vasodilatation in tiny neonates after severe local ischemia are discussed.
A review of the literature on how important water is to the world's elderly population
Authors: Davidhizar R. , Dunn C. L. , Hart A. N. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractAim:  This article reviews the literature on how important water is to the world's elderly population.Background:  Water is a finite resource, so we must preserve the water that we have. Physiological aspects and what water requirements our bodies maintain sum up this essential nutrient for life. Dehydration is a concern in the elderly.Conclusions:  Five strategies related to water intake can promote health: (1) assess for symptoms which may indicate dehydration, (2) encourage ingestion of fluids and foods to maintain an optimal fluid level, (3) be alert to physical and clinical conditions affecting hydration in the elderly, (4) consider environmental factors which may affect body fluids, electrolytes and acid‐base balance, and (5) encourage methods to increase fluid consumption.
Nursing the dying: essential elements in the care of terminally ill patients
Authors: De Araújo M. M. T. , Da Silva M. J. P. , Francisco M. C. P. B. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractAim:  To verify those aspects of care that nurses view as important when assisting patients beyond therapeutic possibilities and who are not under intensive care.Objectives:  (1) To find out how nurses cope with daily confrontation with the death and suffering of dying patients, (2) To identify whether nurses feel it is important to have communication skills in order to assist the terminally ill patient, (3) To estimate nurses’ degree of work satisfaction, and (4) To explore the humane aspects of nursing assistance to the dying.Method:  Data were collected in January and February of 2002 by means of individual semistructured interviews with 14 nurses from the unit of haematology at a general hospital in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and further analysed according to the qualitative method proposed by Bardin (1977).Results:  We found that Brazilian nurses caring for dying patients should be receiving psychological and emotional support. Results also highlighted different individual approaches in the endeavour to communicate with terminally ill patients, as well as the avoidance patterns developed by some nurses. The latter appeared to be as a result of personal difficulties in coping with the reality of human suffering and death. Finally, there is a need for better preparation in communication skills for nurses caring for terminally ill patients.Conclusion:  Although the number of interviewed nurses in our study was small, the results corroborated the findings of other studies on the subject.
Evaluation of training of trainers courses for Oromia (Ethiopia) health professional schools’ tutors*
Authors: Beier‐Holgersen R. , Van Diest R. , Resti C. V. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractBackground:  In Ethiopia training tutors in the health system are part of a major health programme. A previous study disclosed that tutors felt they lacked sufficient teaching skills.Aim:  The Teaching Methodology Course (TMC) described here was designed to correct these deficiencies. The aim of the study was firstly to evaluate the usefulness of questionnaires in terms of TMC quality control and secondly to evaluate whether the subcourses differed in terms of self‐progress evaluation and course evaluation.Content:  The TMC consists of eight subcourses and is evaluated according to a quality circle described previously.Methods:  Two questionnaires were used as part of the TMC quality control, one to assess tutors’ self‐progress and the other to examine tutors’ opinion about the course instructors’ pre‐defined teaching skills.Results:  In the questionnaires a distinction was made between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ subcourses. Moreover, the quantitative evaluation of subcourses was in accord with the tutors’ written qualitative comments.Conclusion:  The questionnaires can be used for TMC quality control in order to improve at least some subcourses.
Regionalism and Multilateral Trade Liberalization with Asymmetric Countries
Authors: Hadjiyiannis Costas 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe paper examines the impact of regionalism on the process of multilateral trade liberalization when countries are asymmetric. The author uses a three‐country, three‐good, competing exporters model, with countries being symmetric in everything but their discount factors. The equilibrium regional agreement is found to be a customs union between a patient and an impatient country and that the impact of regionalism depends on the discount factors. The impact of regionalism on multilateral trade liberalization depends critically on which countries engage in regionalism.
Interannual Climate Variation, Climate Prediction, and Agricultural Trade: the Costs of Surprise versus Variability
Authors: Hallstrom Daniel G. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractAgriculture remains sensitive to variation in rainfall and temperature. Fortunately, our ability to predict the lower frequency variation in the earth's atmosphere is increasing rapidly. While information cannot affect the underlying source of variability, it allows unexpected shocks to be anticipated and acted upon. This paper develops and analyzes an intertemporal Ricardian trade model with Bayesian beliefs. Results in this paper show that improved climate prediction reduces expected prices, but increases price variability. In addition, trade is crucial to realizing the potential benefits of climate prediction. The value of climate prediction is highest with both storage and trade, and falls by over 300% when a country is in autarky.
Why Do More Open Chinese Provinces Have Bigger Governments?
Authors: Jeanneney Sylviane Guillaumont , Hua Ping 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe transition of China towards a market economy was accompanied by a vast fiscal decentralization movement. Econometric analysis of the determinants of public expenditure of the Chinese provinces does not permit rejection of the hypotheses that (i) the behavior of provinces is similar to that of governments in developing economies significantly affected by external shocks, and (ii) in order to alleviate external risk, they take control of a more significant share of the revenues of the economy.
Investigating Probabilistic Intuitions
Authors: Quinn Robert J. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryThis article explores the intuitions of secondary education majors regarding probability. This is accomplished by administering a two‐question instrument to 113 participants. Their responses to these questions, and more importantly the explanations they provide for these answers, are analysed. The conclusions drawn may be informative to teachers of probability and statistics as they attempt to remediate common probabilistic misconceptions and devise more effective teaching strategies.
Docosahexaenoic acid promotes neurite growth in hippocampal neurons
Authors: Calderon Frances , Kim Hee‐Yong 
Published: July 2004

AbstractDocosahexanoic acid (22:6n‐3; DHA) deficiency during development is associated with impairment in learning and memory, suggesting an important role of DHA in neuronal development. Here we provide evidence that DHA promotes neuronal differentiation in rat embryonic hippocampal primary cultures. DHA deficiency in vitro was spontaneously induced by culturing hippocampal cells in chemically defined medium. DHA supplementation improved DHA levels to values observed in freshly isolated hippocampus. We found that DHA supplementation in culture increased the population of neurons with longer neurite length per neuron and with higher number of branches. However, supplementation with arachidonic, oleic or docosapentaenoic acid did not have any effect, indicating specificity of the DHA action on neurite growth. Furthermore, hippocampal cultures obtained from n‐3 fatty acid deficient animals contained a lower DHA level and a neuronal population with shorter neurite length per neuron in comparison to those obtained from animals with adequate n‐3 fatty acids. DHA supplementation to the deficient group recovered the neurite length to the level similar to n‐3 fatty acid adequate cultures. Our data demonstrates that DHA uniquely promotes neurite growth in hippocampal neurons. Inadequate neurite development due to DHA deficiency may contribute to the cognitive impairment associated with n‐3 fatty acid deficiency.
Effects of repeated cocaine on medial prefrontal cortical GABAB receptor modulation of neurotransmission in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system
Authors: Jayaram Prathiba , Steketee Jeffery D. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractIncreased excitatory output from medial prefrontal cortex is an important component in the development of cocaine sensitization. Activation of GABAergic systems in the prefrontal cortex can decrease glutamatergic activity. A recent study suggested that sensitization might be associated with a decrease in GABAB receptor responsiveness in the medial prefrontal cortex. Therefore, the present study examined whether repeated exposure to cocaine‐modified neurochemical changes in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system induced by infusion of baclofen into the medial prefrontal cortex. In vivo microdialysis studies were conducted to monitor dopamine, glutamate and GABA levels in the medial prefrontal cortex and glutamate levels in the ipsilateral nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area during the infusion of baclofen into medial prefrontal cortex. Baclofen minimally affected glutamate levels in the medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens or ventral tegmental area of control animals, but dose‐dependently increased glutamate levels in each of these regions in animals sensitized to cocaine. This effect was not the result of changes in GABAB receptor‐mediated modulation of dopamine or GABA in the medial prefrontal cortex. The data suggest that alterations in GABAB receptor modulation of medial prefrontal cortical excitatory output may play an important role in the development of sensitization to cocaine.
Aging, gender and APOE isotype modulate metabolism of Alzheimer's Aβ peptides and F2‐isoprostanes in the absence of detectable amyloid deposits
Authors: Yao Jun , Petanceska Suzana S. , Montine Thomas J. , Holtzman David M. , Schmidt Stephen D. , Parker Carolyn A. , Callahan Michael J. , Lipinski William J. , Bisgaier Charles L. , Turner Brian A. , Nixon Ralph A. , Martins Ralph N. , Ouimet Charles , Smith Jonathan D. , Davies Peter , Laska Eugene , Ehrlich Michelle E. , Walker Lary C. , Mathews Paul M. , Gandy Sam 
Published: July 2004

AbstractAging and apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoform are among the most consistent risks for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Metabolic factors that modulate risk have been elusive, though oxidative reactions and their by‐products have been implicated in human AD and in transgenic mice with overt histological amyloidosis. We investigated the relationship between the levels of endogenous murine amyloid β (Aβ) peptides and the levels of a marker of oxidation in mice that never develop histological amyloidosis [i.e. APOE knockout (KO) mice with or without transgenic human APOEɛ3 or human APOEɛ4 alleles]. Aging‐, gender‐, and APOE‐genotype‐dependent changes were observed for endogenous mouse brain Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides. Levels of the oxidized lipid F2‐isoprostane (F2‐isoPs) in the brains of the same animals as those used for the Aβ analyses revealed aging‐ and gender‐dependent changes in APOE KO and in human APOEɛ4 transgenic KO mice. Human APOEɛ3 transgenic KO mice did not exhibit aging‐ or gender‐dependent increases in F2‐isoPs. In general, the changes in the levels of brain F2‐isoPs in mice according to age, gender, and APOE genotype mirrored the changes in brain Aβ levels, which, in turn, paralleled known trends in the risk for human AD. These data indicate that there exists an aging‐dependent, APOE‐genotype‐sensitive rise in murine brain Aβ levels despite the apparent inability of the peptide to form histologically detectable amyloid. Human APOEɛ3, but not human APOEɛ4, can apparently prevent the aging‐dependent rise in murine brain Aβ levels, consistent with the relative risk for AD associated with these genotypes. The fidelity of the brain Aβ/F2‐isoP relationship across multiple relevant variables supports the hypothesis that oxidized lipids play a role in AD pathogenesis, as has been suggested by recent evidence that F2‐isoPs can stimulate Aβ generation and aggregation.
Distribution of CNT2 and ENT1 transcripts in rat brain: selective decrease of CNT2 mRNA in the cerebral cortex of sleep‐deprived rats
Authors: Guillén‐Gómez Elena , Calbet Marta , Casado Javier , De Lecea Luís , Soriano Eduardo , Pastor‐Anglada Marçal , Burgaya Ferran 
Published: July 2004

AbstractNucleoside transport processes regulate the levels of adenosine available to modulate neurotransmission, vascular tone and other physiological events. However, although equilibrative transporter transcripts or proteins have been mapped in the central nervous system of rats and humans, little is known about the presence and distribution of the complete family of nucleoside transporters in brain. In this study, we analysed the distribution of the transcript encoding the high affinity adenosine‐preferring concentrative transporter CNT2 in the rat central nervous system and compared it with that of the equilibrative transporter ENT1. Furthermore, we evaluated the changes in expression of these two transporters in a situation of increased extracellular levels of adenosine, such as sleep deprivation. CNT2 mRNA was widespread in rat brain, although most prevalent in the amygdala, the hippocampus, specific neocortical regions and the cerebellum. The distribution of CNT2 mRNA only partially overlapped that of ENT1. Most of the cells labelled were neurones. Total sleep deprivation dramatically diminished the amounts of CNT2 mRNA, whereas ENT1 mRNA remained unchanged. This specific decrease in CNT2 transcript suggests a new physiological role for the transporter in the modulation of extracellular adenosine levels and the sleep/wakefulness cycle.
Phosphorylation of Ser19 increases both Ser40 phosphorylation and enzyme activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in intact cells
Authors: Bobrovskaya Larisa , Dunkley Peter R. , Dickson Phillip W. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractWe have previously shown that the phosphorylation of Ser19 in tyrosine hydroxylase can increase the rate of phosphorylation of Ser40 in tyrosine hydroxylase threefold in vitro. In this report we investigated the role of Ser19 on Ser40 phosphorylation in intact cells. Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with anisomycin produced a twofold increase in Ser19 phosphorylation with no increase in Ser31 phosphorylation and only a small increase in Ser40 phosphorylation. Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with forskolin produced a fourfold increase in Ser40 phosphorylation but no significant increase in either Ser19 or Ser31 phosphorylation. When chromaffin cells were first treated with anisomycin, the level of Ser40 phosphorylation after treatment by forskolin was 76% greater than the level of Ser40 phosphorylation in cells treated with forskolin alone. This potentiation of Ser40 phosphorylation by anisomycin could be completely blocked by the p38 MAP (mitogen‐activated protein) kinase inhibitor SB 203580. The potentiation of Ser40 phosphorylation by anisomycin was not due to an increase in Ser40 kinase activity. Anisomycin treatment of chromaffin cells potentiated the forskolin‐induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity by 50%. This potentiation of activity was also blocked by SB 203580. These data provide the first evidence that the phosphorylation of Ser19 can potentiate the phosphorylation of Ser40 and subsequent activation of tyrosine hydroxylase in intact cells.
Lack of mitochondrial nitric oxide production in the mouse brain
Authors: Lacza Zsombor , Horn Thomas F. W. , Snipes James A. , Zhang Jie , Roychowdhury Sanjoy , Horváth Eszter M. , Figueroa Jorge P. , Kollai Márk , Szabó Csaba , Busija David W. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractBased on our initial finding that the nitric oxide (NO) sensitive fluorochrome diaminofluorescein (DAF) was localized to mitochondria in cultured primary neurons, we investigated whether brain mitochondria produce NO through a mitochondrial NO synthase (mtNOS) enzyme. Isolated brain mitochondria were loaded with DAF and subjected to flow cytometry analysis. Neither the application of NOS inhibitors nor the genetic disruption of either NOS gene diminished the DAF‐fluorescence. However, peroxynitrite scavengers reduced the mitochondrial DAF fluorescence, indicating that the DAF signal is not specific to NO. Chemiluminescence detection in the head space gas and a Clark‐type NO‐sensitive electrode in the solution failed to detect NO release in brain mitochondria. NOS activity in mitochondria was only 1% of the whole brain NOS activity level, which may be attributed to extramitochondrial contamination. Extensive immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation experiments failed to show the presence of endothelial, neuronal, or inducible NOS in mouse brain mitochondria using a variety of primary antibodies. Arginine, calmodulin or 2,5‐ADP affinity purification protocols successfully concentrated eNOS and nNOS from full brain tissue but failed to show any signal in mitochondria. We conclude that mouse brain mitochondria do not contain NOS isoforms, nor do they produce NO through a NOS‐dependent mechanism.
Cross‐linking of glycine receptor transmembrane segments two and three alters coupling of ligand binding with channel opening
Authors: Lobo Ingrid A. , Trudell James R. , Harris R. Adron 
Published: July 2004

AbstractContact points between transmembrane segments (TMs) two and three of the glycine receptor are undefined and may play an important role in channel gating. We tested whether two amino acids in TM2 (S267) and TM3 (A288), known to be critical for alcohol and volatile anesthetic action, could cross‐link by mutating both to cysteines and expressing the receptors in Xenopus laevis oocytes. In contrast with the wild‐type receptor and single cysteine mutants, the S267C/A288C double mutant displayed unusual responses, including a tonic leak activity that was closed by strychnine and a run‐down of the response upon repeated applications of glycine. We hypothesized that these characteristics were due to cross‐linking of the two cysteines on opposing faces of these adjacent, alpha helical TMs. This would alter the movement of these two regions required for normal gating. To test this hypothesis, we used dithiothreitol to reduce the putative S267C–A288C disulfide bond. Reduction abolished the leak current and provided normal responses to glycine. Subsequent application of the cross‐linking agent mercuric chloride caused the initial characteristics to return. These data demonstrate that S267 and A288 are near‐neighbors and provide insight towards the location and role of the TM2–TM3 interface in ligand‐gated ion channels.
Effects of post‐injury hypothermia and nerve growth factor infusion on antioxidant enzyme activity in the rat: implications for clinical therapies
Authors: DeKosky Steven T. , Abrahamson Eric E. , Taffe Kevin M. , Dixon C. Edward , Kochanek Patrick M. , Ikonomovic Milos D. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe pathological sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) include increased oxidative stress due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Regulation of ROS levels following TBI is determined primarily by antioxidant enzyme activity that in turn can be influenced by nerve growth factor (NGF). Hypothermia is one of the current therapies designed to combat the deleterious effects of TBI. However, it has been shown to suppress post‐trauma increases in NGF levels in rat brain. The present study sought to determine whether post‐injury hypothermia also impairs the antioxidant response to injury, and if such an effect could be reversed by infusion of exogenous NGF. We employed a lateral controlled cortical impact injury model in rat, followed by moderate hypothermia treatment with supplemental intracerebroventricular infusion of NGF or vehicle. The time course of changes in post‐injury/intervention levels of NGF and activity of three major enzymes responsible for ROS scavenging, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), was determined in the hippocampus. Relative to levels in injured, normothermic animals, hypothermia treatment not only suppressed NGF levels, but also attenuated CAT and GPx activity, and increased SOD activity. Infusion of NGF in injured, hypothermia‐treated animals was ineffective in restoring hippocampal antioxidant enzymes activity to levels produced after injury under normothermic conditions, although it was able to increase septal cholinergic (choline acetyltransferase) enzyme activity. These results have implications for clinical treatment of TBI, demonstrating that moderate hypothermia suppresses NGF and the antioxidant response after TBI; the latter cannot be countered by exogenous NGF administration.
Hierarchies of evidence and hierarchies of education: reflections on a multiprofessional education initiative
Authors: Page Susie , Meerabeau Liz 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe concept of a hierarchy of evidence is an established part of the discourse of evidence‐based health care. In the drive to incorporate research findings into all aspects of health and social care practice, value judgements about the quality of the evidence available are commonplace, with research findings obtained via particular research approaches often being given more scientific credence than those obtained by using alternative methods. This hierarchy of evidence mirrors the existence of a well‐documented professional hierarchy within the healthcare workplace, with medicine as the dominant occupational group. Academic arguments for a broader appreciation of research evidence have been made in the literature for a number of years and have achieved considerable success. Equally, medical dominance in the workplace has been addressed on various levels, one approach being the rise in multiprofessional education initiatives. This article draws on the experience of facilitating multiprofessional groups undertaking a research appraisal skills programme within National Health Service‐based ‘classroom’ settings. The continuing existence of both medical dominance in the healthcare arena and a belief in a hierarchy of evidence was apparent from the courses. In addition, what might be called a hierarchy of educational backgrounds, presented some complex dynamics within the teaching situation and raised a number of hitherto seemingly unaddressed questions for the group facilitator.