bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accelerated postoperative recovery programme after colonic resection improves physical performance, pulmonary function and body composition
Authors: Basse L , Raskov H H , Hjort Jakobsen D , Sonne E , Billesbølle P , Hendel H W , Rosenberg J , Kehlet H 
Published: March 2003

Abstract

Background
Postoperative organ dysfunction contributes to morbidity, hospital stay and convalescence. Multimodal rehabilitation with epidural analgesia, early oral feeding, mobilization and laxative use after colonic resection has reduced ileus and hospital stay.

Methods
Fourteen patients receiving conventional care (group 1) and 14 patients who had multimodal rehabilitation (group 2) were studied before and 8 days after colonic resection. Outcome measures included postoperative mobilization, body composition by whole-body dual X-ray absorptiometry, cardiovascular response to treadmill exercise, pulmonary function and nocturnal oxygen saturation.

Results
Defaecation occurred earlier (median day 1 versus day 4) and hospital stay was shorter (median 2 versus 12 days) in patients who had multimodal treatment. Lean body and fat mass decreased in group 1 but not in group 2. Exercise performance decreased by 44 per cent in group 1 but was unchanged in group 2. A postoperative increase in heart rate (HR) response to exercise was avoided in group 2. Pulmonary function decreased in group 1 but not in group 2. There was less nocturnal postoperative hypoxaemia in group 2. Cardiac demand–supply (HR/oxygen saturation ratio) increased in group 1 but not in group 2.

Conclusion
Multimodal rehabilitation prevents reduction in lean body mass, pulmonary function, oxygenation and cardiovascular response to exercise after colonic surgery.
Structural and serological relatedness of the O‐antigensof Proteus penneri 1 and 4 from a novel Proteus serogroup O72
Authors: Sidorczyk Zygmunt , Toukach Filip V. , Zych Krystyna , Drzewiecka Dominika , Arbatsky Nikolay P. , Shashkov Alexander S. , Knirel Yuriy A. 
Published: March 2003

O‐specific polysaccharides (O‐antigens) of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Proteus penneri strains 1 and 4 were studied using sugar analysis, 1H and 13C NMR␣spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, H‐detected 1H,13C␣HMQC, and rotating‐frame NOE spectroscopy (ROESY). The following structures of the tetrasaccharide (strain 1) and pentasaccharide (strain 4) repeating units of the polysaccharides were established:In the polysaccharide of P. penneri strain 4, glycosylation with the lateral Glc residue (75%) and O‐acetylation of the lateral GalNAc residue (55%) are nonstoichiometric. This polysaccharide contains also other, minor O‐acetyl groups, whose positions were not determined.The structural similarity of the O‐specific polysaccharides was consistent with the close serological relatedness of the LPS, which was demonstrated by immunochemical studies with O‐antisera against P. penneri 1 and 4. Based on these data, it was proposed to classify P. penneri strains 1 and 4 into a new Proteus serogroup, O72, as two subgroups, O72a and O72a,b, respectively. Serological cross‐reactivity of P. penneri 1 O‐antiserum with the LPS of P. penneri 40 and 41 was substantiated by the presence of an epitope(s) on the LPS core region shared by all P. penneri strains studied.
New polymorphisms of haematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase and human prostanoid DP receptor genes
Authors: Noguchi E. , Shibasaki M. , Kamioka M. , Yokouchi Y. , Yamakawa‐Kobayashi K. , Hamaguchi H. , Matsui A. , Arinami T. 
Published: March 2003

Background Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), a major cyclo‐oxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid in mast cells, induces bronchoconstriction in the human lung. It has been reported that mice lacking PGD receptor fail to develop the bronchial hyper‐responsiveness upon ovalbumin challenge, suggesting that PGD2 functions as a mediator of allergic asthma.Objective To determine if there are any mutations associated with the development of asthma in the haematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H‐PGDS) gene and the human prostanoid DP receptor (PTGDR) gene.Methods and results We screened the 5′flanking and coding regions of the H‐PGDS gene and the PTGDR gene by direct sequence. We identified one variant in intron 2 (IVS2 + 11 A > C) and one variant in intron 3 (IVS3 + 13T > C) of the H‐PGDS gene, and two variants in the 5′flanking region of the PTGDR gene (−197T > C and −2C > T). The IVS3 + 13T > C and −197T > C variants were rare, appearing only once in 48 subjects. transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) analysis of 144 asthmatic families revealed that the IVS2 + 11 A allele of the H‐PGDS gene was significantly transmitted preferentially to asthma‐affected children (P = 0.0056), but no association was observed between −2C/T polymorphism of the PTGDR gene and asthma (P > 0.05).Conclusion Our results suggest that the IVS2 + 11 A/C allele may be involved in the development of asthma in the Japanese population.
Low survival rate and high predation in the African hingeback tortoiseKinixys spekii
Authors: Coulson (deceased) Ian M. , Hailey Adrian 
Published: March 2003

AbstractLive and deadKinixys spekiiwere collected in the Sengwa Wildlife Research Area, Zimbabwe over a 12‐year period. Live tortoises were sexable at a midline plastron length of 100 mm; females were considered sexually mature at 140 mm (reached by age 9 years) and males at 120 mm (at age 7 years). Adult females were significantly larger than males, on average by 14 mm in length and by 1.43 times in mass. Mark–recapture analysis in a 2 km2area showed a population density of sexable tortoises of 0.16 ha−1. The survival rate was estimated by recaptures, by the frequency distribution of age at death, and by the mean age of live tortoises, and averaged 0.74 year−1. Seventy‐seven to 89% of dead tortoises showed evidence of predation, depending on the criteria used. Damage occurred in characteristic forms, loss of the front or rear of the plastron, or holes in the carapace and plastron, which were attributed to predation by mammals and ground hornbills, respectively.K. spekiihad similar body size and sexual size dimorphism to Mediterranean tortoises (Testudo), but population density was much lower and the mortality rate was twice as high, probably due to the abundant African predators. High mortality was offset by a rate of juvenile growth twice that ofTestudo.
Fire frequency and species associations in perennial grasslands of south‐west Ethiopia
Authors: Jacobs Michael J. , Schloeder Catherine A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractFires play an important role in shaping species composition and associations in East African grasslands. Grassland plains of Omo National Park (ONP), Ethiopia, which are dominated by perennial grass species, exist in a fire‐prone environment. Our objective was to determine if the current pattern of plant species composition in ONP's grassland plains was correlated with the historical pattern of fire frequency. Species composition was determined at 160 plots along 30 west‐trending transects, approximately 2 km apart. Fire frequency for each plot was estimated using eleven Landsat satellite images that spanned a 23‐year period. The Mantel and partial Mantel tests were used to test for correlation between species composition and fire frequency.Plots in the northern grassland plain appear to burn every other year, while plots in the southern grassland plain burn once every 4–5 years. However, no significant correlation was found between patterns in species composition and fire frequency. Likewise, a selective analysis by functional group (i.e. grass, shrubs) revealed no relationship with fire frequency. It appears that fire does play a role in dictating species composition in ONP, but only in the sense that species that can tolerate the current fire regime persist. Species distribution, however, appears to be under the influence of other factors.
Linking above‐ and below‐ground biodiversity: abundance and trophic complexity in soil as a response to experimental plant communities on abandoned arable land
Authors: Korthals G. W. , Smilauer P. , Van Dijk C. , Van Der Putten W. H. 
Published: March 2003

Summary

This study investigates the effects of experimental plant communities on different trophic levels in the soil food web of abandoned arable land.
In April 1996, a biodiversity experiment commenced using a continuation of agricultural crop rotation (CCR), spontaneous succession with naturally colonizing plant species (NC) and late‐successional plant species sown in low‐diversity (LD, four plant species) and high‐diversity (HD, 15 plant species) communities. The nematode community was used as an indicator of the influence of the experimental plant communities on different trophic levels in the soil food web.
The nematode abundance in the experimental plant communities differed from that of the continued crop rotation, but there were hardly any differences between the natural, the low‐diversity and the high‐diversity plant communities.
The abundant plant‐feeding nematodes and the somewhat less abundant bacterivorous nematodes were stimulated most by the sowing treatments. Fungivorous nematodes were stimulated less, while the numbers of omnivorous and carnivorous nematodes did not change significantly.
The diversity of the nematode community did not change over 2 years.
It is concluded that experimental plant communities have either small short‐term effects or a delayed impact on the soil food web compared with the effect they have on above‐ground invertebrate community development.
Thermal performance of juvenile Atlantic Salmon,Salmo salarL.
Authors: JONSSON B. , FORSETH T. , JENSEN A. J. , NÆSJE T. F. 
Published: March 2003

Summary Experimental data for maximum growth and food consumption of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salarL.) parr from five Norwegian rivers situated between 59 and 70°N were analysed and modelled. The growth and feeding models were also applied to groups of Atlantic Salmon growing and feeding at rates below the maximum. The data were fitted to the Ratkowsky model, originally developed for bacterial growth. The rates of growth and food consumption varied significantly among populations but the variation appeared unrelated to thermal conditions in the river of population origins. No correlation was found between the thermal conditions and limits for growth, thermal growth optima or maximum growth, and hypotheses of population‐specific thermal adaptation were not supported. Estimated optimum temperatures for growth were between 16 and 20 °C.  Model parameter estimates differed among growth‐groups in that maximum growth and the performance breadth decreased from fast to slow growing individuals. The optimum temperature for growth did not change with growth rate.  The model for food consumption (expressed in energy terms) peaked at 19–21 °C, which is only slightly higher than the optimal temperature for growth. Growth appeared directly related to food consumption. Consumption was initiated ≈2 °C below the lower temperature for growth and terminated ≈1·5 °C above the upper critical temperature for growth. Model parameter estimates for consumption differed among growth‐groups in a manner similar to the growth models. By combining the growth and consumption models, growth efficiencies were estimated. The maximum efficiencies were high, 42–58%, and higher in rivers offering hostile than benign feeding and growth opportunities.
Interactions of body shape, body size and stroke‐acceleration patterns in costs of underwater swimming by birds
Authors: Lovvorn J. R. , Liggins G. A. 
Published: March 2003

Summary

For birds, mammals and turtles, costs of swimming by foot propulsion are usually much higher than for propulsion by wings or foreflippers. The propulsive efficiency with which limbs impart thrust to the water is greater for lift‐based wings than for drag‐based feet, but different acceleration patterns during oscillatory strokes may also alter total drag on the body fuselage (head and trunk).
Because wing propulsion allows thrust on both upstroke and downstroke, whereas foot propulsion in many species (perhaps excepting grebes) has little or no thrust on the upstroke, foot propulsion requires higher speeds during a smaller fraction of the stroke to maintain the same mean speed. Because drag increases non‐linearly with increasing speed, higher instantaneous speeds in drag‐based foot propulsion may cause greater total drag on the body fuselage.
Tow‐tank measurements have shown that foot‐propelled birds that swim with long necks extended have lower fuselage drag at high speeds than do wing‐propelled birds that swim with necks retracted. This difference might reduce the higher costs of drag‐based foot propulsion, but such effects must be evaluated in the context of drag at a range of speeds throughout oscillatory strokes.
In quasi‐steady models of horizontal swimming underwater, stroke‐acceleration curves for both foot and wing propulsion were applied to a range of bird shapes and sizes. Higher fuselage drag during foot propulsion increased mechanical costs of transport (MCOT, J kg−1 m−1) by 26–40% in various species. Thus, a large fraction of the different costs of wing and foot propulsion might be explained in terms of drag on the body fuselage, independently of the propulsive efficiency of stroking limbs.
When drag curves for different body shapes were combined with different oscillatory stroking patterns, swimming with a long neck extended did not reduce the higher total drag associated with drag‐based foot propulsion. Thus, although size and shape can affect drag measured at different constant speeds, effects of drag on locomotor costs depend much more on stroke‐acceleration patterns of different swimming modes.
Levormeloxifene: safety, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics in healthy postmenopausal women following single and multiple doses of a new selective oestrogen receptor modulator
Authors: Skrumsager Birte K. , Kiehr Benedicte , Pedersen Poul Christian , Gerrits Mireille , Watson Norma , Bjarnason Ketil 
Published: March 2003

Aims  The safety, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of levormeloxifene, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM), were investigated in postmenopausal women following single doses and multiple dosing once daily up to 56 days.Methods  The two randomized, double‐blind, placebo controlled studies of six single ascending doses and at four multiple dose levels, respectively, included a total of 104 healthy postmenopausal women. Safety assessments comprised vital signs, ECG, haematology, clinical chemistry and reporting of adverse events. The pharmacodynamic properties were investigated after multiple dosing by assessment of the short‐term effects on bone and lipid metabolism and on the hypothalamic‐pituitary axis. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected at intervals until 648 h (27 days) after single and multiple dosing.Results Levormeloxifene was tolerated well after single doses in the range of 2.5–320 mg and multiple once daily dosing in the range of 20–160 mg. Adverse events reported were generally mild or moderate. The most frequent adverse events after multiple dosing were headache, abdominal pain and leukorrhea with the highest frequency reported after the highest daily dose of 160 mg levormeloxifene. Five weeks of treatment with 20–160 mg levormeloxifene and 8 weeks of treatment with 40 or 80 mg levormeloxifene reduced the biochemical marker of bone turnover, the collagen I C‐terminal telopeptide (CrossLapsTM) by 44.4% [95% CI: 11.3, 65.1] and 35.5% [95% CI: 14.0, 51.6], respectively, without any dose‐dependent decrease in the studied dose range. The total cholesterol and LDL‐cholesterol concentrations were significantly reduced by 19–25% and 28–35%, respectively, when compared with placebo. HDL‐cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were not affected. An oestrogen‐like effect on the hypothalamic‐pituitary axis was observed with approximately 50% reductions of FSH and LH after 8 weeks of treatment. No clinically significant changes of other safety variables were observed. The pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated a rapid absorption (mean tmax: 2–3 h), a slow elimination (mean t½: 4.8–8.4 days) and dose linearity of Cmax and AUC for doses up to 160 mg. As expected for a drug with slow elimination given frequently, the relative fluctuation around the steady state plasma concentration was small and the drug accumulation considerable (RA: 3–5).Conclusions Short‐term administration of levormeloxifene in postmenopausal women was well‐tolerated at doses that elicited a favourable pharmacodynamic response suggesting oestrogen‐like bone preserving and antiatherogenic effects. Little variation of peak‐trough plasma concentrations was observed during daily administration due to a plasma half‐life of approximately 1 week.
A double masked placebo controlled study on the effect of nifedipine on optic nerve blood flow and visual field function in patients with open angle glaucoma
Authors: Rainer Georg , Kiss Barbara , Dallinger Susanne , Findl Oliver , Georgopoulos Michael , Vass Clemens , Menapace Rupert , Polak Kaija , Eichler Hans‐Georg , Wolzt Michael , Schmetterer Leopold 
Published: March 2003

Aims  To investigate whether nifedipine affects ocular perfusion or visual fields in open angle glaucoma patients.Methods  In a parallel group study nifedipine or placebo was administered for 3 months (n = 30). Ocular fundus pulsation amplitude (FPA), cup blood flow (Flowcup) and visual field mean deviation (MD) were measured.Results  Five patients receiving nifedipine discontinued due to adverse events. Nifedipine did not affect FPA [difference: 0.3 µm (95% CI −0.3,0.9); P = 0.70], Flowcup: [difference: −9 rel.units (95% CI −133,114); P = 0.99], or MD [difference: 0.2dB (95% CI −2.2,2.7); P = 0.51]vs placebo.Conclusions  Systemic nifedipine is not well tolerated in glaucoma patients and exerts no effect on visual fields or ocular perfusion.
Use of lipid‐lowering drugs during 1991–98 in Northern Jutland, Denmark
Authors: Riahi Sam , Fonager Kirsten , Toft Egon , Hvilsted‐Rasmussen Lars , Bendsen Jørgen , Paaske Johnsen Søren , Toft Sørensen Henrik 
Published: March 2003

Aims  To examine a) the use of lipid‐lowering drugs in North Jutland County in Denmark from 1991 to 1998 and b) the pattern of usage according to sex and age.Methods and results We used the Pharmaco‐Epidemiological Prescription Database in the county to identify all reimbursed prescriptions for lipid‐lowering therapy from 1991 to 1998. One‐year incidence rates (IR) and prevalence (P) of the use of lipid‐lowering drugs were calculated. Both IR and P of patients in lipid‐lowering therapy were stable until 1994, with the IR below 100 per 100 000 for both sexes. The IR then increased from 59.9 to 236.5 per 100 000 person‐years in 1998 for women, and from 88.6 to 322.8 per 100 000 person‐years for men. The utilization patterns were identical between the sexes. Thus, in both women and men the highest prevalence and incidence rates of lipid‐lowering drug therapy were seen in the 60–69‐year‐olds. Furthermore, the marked increase in both prevalence and incidence of persons on lipid‐lowering drug therapy between 1994 and 1998 was the result of an increased number of prescriptions in the 50–59, 60–69 and 70 + years olds, in both women and men. There was a remarkable 4–5 fold increase in the numbers of new patients who received statins during the same period.Conclusions  The overall use of lipid‐lowering drugs has increased markedly over the last few years in Northern Jutland, Denmark. The increase began following publication of the first major trial documenting the benefit of therapy with statins.
Effect of alosetron on theophylline pharmacokinetics
Authors: Koch K. M. , Ricci B. M. , Hedayetullah N. S. , Jewell D. , Kersey K. E. 
Published: March 2003

Aims  To examine the potential for alosetron to alter the pharmacokinetics of theophylline by inhibiting its metabolism, as suggested by in vitro and in vivo effects on CYP1A2 activity.Methods  Ten healthy female volunteers received theophylline 200 mg twice daily alone for 8 days and with alosetron 1 mg twice daily for 15 days in this randomized, placebo‐controlled, two‐way‐crossover study.Results  Alosetron had no significant effect on theophylline plasma concentrations (Cmax≈9 µg ml−1, AUC≈90 µg ml−1 h) or oral formation clearance of three major metabolites produced via CYP1A2: 3‐methylxanthine, 1‐methylurate and 1,3‐dimethylurate (5, 7 and 16 ml min−1, respectively). Concomitant administration of alosetron and theophylline was well tolerated.Conclusions  The absence of a clinical drug interaction involving inhibition of theophylline metabolism by alosetron was not predicted by in vitro and in vivo metabolic probe data.
Pharmacokinetics of finrozole (MPV‐2213ad), a novel selective aromatase inhibitor, in healthy men
Authors: Ahokoski Outi , Irjala Kerttu , Taalikka Mikko , Manninen Pekka , Halonen Kaija , Kangas Lauri , Salminen Eeva , Huupponen Risto , Scheinin Harry 
Published: March 2003

Aims  To investigate the pharmacokinetics of finrozole (MPV‐2213ad), a novel competitive aromatase enzyme inhibitor, in healthy male volunteers.Methods  The study was an open, partly randomized cross‐over study including 23 volunteers receiving single doses of 3, 9 mg or 30 mg of finrozole as tablets or solution with 14 days between the administrations. The highest dose was given as tablets only. Serum concentrations of finrozole were determined using high performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry.Results  The mean time to peak serum concentration ranged from 2.5 to 3.1, and 0.6–0.7 h after tablets and solution, respectively. The Cmax values increased as the dose increased. The calculated apparent mean elimination half‐life (t1/2,z) was approximately 3 h after the solution, and approximately 8 h after the tablet. The AUC(0,∞) after finrozole tablets increased proportionally from 3 mg to 9 mg and from 3 to 30 mg. The calculated relative mean bioavailabilities (AUC(0,∞)−ratio) for the 3 mg and 9 mg doses of finrozole as tablets were 89% and 78%, respectively.Conclusions  The absorption of finrozole from the tablet formulation was relatively rapid, and the apparent elimination half‐life was longer after the tablet than after the solution, probably reflecting overlap of the absorption with the elimination phase.
Statins and the risk of idiopathic venous thromboembolism
Authors: Yang Chen‐Chang , Jick Susan S. , Jick Hershel 
Published: March 2003

Aims  To evaluate the association between current statin use and the risk of idiopathic venous thromboembolism (VTE).Methods  A population‐based retrospective follow‐up with a nested case‐control analysis using the General Practice Research Database.Results  There were 72 cases of idiopathic VTE. Using normolipidaemic nonuse as the reference group, the adjusted relative risks for idiopathic VTE for current/recent statin use, past statin use, past other lipid‐lowering drug use, and hyperlipidaemic nonuse were 0.8 (0.3, 2.7), 2.4 (0.6, 10.0), 1.8 (0.4, 7.4), and 0.9 (0.4, 2.0) in the follow‐up analysis, and were 1.1 (0.3, 4.3), 3.7 (0.6, 24.1), 2.0 (0.3, 11.6), and 0.4 (0.2, 1.2) in the case‐control analysis.Conclusions  Current statin use was not associated with a reduced risk of idiopathic VTE.