bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reducing effect of dietary anacardic acid on body fat pads in rats
Authors: TOYOMIZU Masaaki , OKAMOTO Katsuyuki , ISHIBASHI Teru , NAKATSU Tetsuo , AKIBA Yukio 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTWe have previously shown that anacardic acid has an uncoupling effect on oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria using succinate as a substrate (Toyomizu et al. 2000). In the present study, in order to clarify whether or not anacardic acid could be used advantageously as a special feed/food supplement to reduce fat deposition through the uncoupling action, two sets of experiments were conducted to determine quantitatively the effect of dietary anacardic acid (0.1% w/w) supplementation. More specifically, effects on growth, feed efficiency, fattening, and levels of several constituents of blood serum in rats fed normal and low protein–high carbohydrate (CHO) diets were examined. There were no significant differences in bodyweight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency among the experimental groups. For the total fat pad content, including inguinal and epididymal fat, significant interaction was shown between both treatments: dietary anacardic acid at 0.1% w/w significantly decreased the total fat pad content in rats fed the CHO diet, but not in rats fed the normal diet. Weights of heart, spleen and brown adipose tissue were not affected by either the dietary treatment or anacardic acid, while both liver and kidney weights decreased with feeding of anacardic acid at 0.1% w/w, but were not affected by the CHO diet. Anacardic acid supplementation in the diet had no effect on serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase or lactate dehydrogenase levels, suggesting that the dysfunction of liver or kidney may not be induced by dietary anacardic acid. The results of the present study reveal a unique function of anacardic acid in that, for dietary conditions enhancing body fat deposition, that is consumption of a diet high in carbohydrates, dietary anacardic acid has the potential to decrease body fat deposition. A possible mechanism for differences observed in anacardic acid‐induced regulation of body fat pad content between rats fed the normal and CHO diets, based on uncoupling action of anacardic acid on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, is discussed.
Systolic time intervals assessed by 2‐D echocardiography and spectral Doppler in the horse
Authors: LIGHTOWLER Carlos , PICCIONE Giuseppe , FAZIO Francesco , PIDAL Gabriela , CATTÁNEO Marìa Laura 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTIn the present study, the ‘acoustic windows’ for the measurement of the left ventricular systolic time intervals is studied by means of 2‐D echocardiography and cardiac Doppler ultrasonography, and the normal values in the horse (n = 112) are determined. The left ventricular isovolumetric contraction time, the pre‐ejection period (PEP), as well as the left ventricular ejection time (LVET) have been measured, and the values of the left ventricular total electromechanical systole (LVTES) and the PEP‐to‐LVET ratio have been calculated. It has been established that the most suitable window for the measurement of the aforementioned indices in 2‐D echocardiography is the right parasternal window in a view in short axis at the level of the cardiac base to measure the aortogram. In Doppler ultrasonography, the preferred window is the left parasternal using the five chambers apical view. The following values have been acquired: PEP = 0.071 ± 0.01 s; LVET = 0.532 ± 0.097 s; LVTES = 0.6 ± 0.1 s and PEP‐to‐LVET = 0.138 ± 0.025 measured by 2‐D echocardiography and PEP = 0.068 ± 0.009 s; LVET = 0.527 ± 0.076 s; LVTES = 0.598 ± 0.098 s and PEP‐to‐LVET = 0.131 ± 0.01 measured by Doppler ultrasonography.
Sex differences in stress responses to transportation in goats: Effects of gonadal hormones
Authors: AOYAMA Masato , NEGISHI Akihito , ABE Akiko , MAEJIMA Yuko , SUGITA Shoei 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTThe present study examined sex differences and the involvement of gonadal hormones in stress responses caused by road transportation in Shiba goats. In experiment 1, we investigated the stress responses of males and females to transportation. Plasma levels of cortisol (Cor) significantly increased during 1 h of transportation, and those in females were significantly higher than those in males. Plasma glucose (Glu) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels also increased similarly in both females and males by transportation, and there were no sex differences. Food intake following transportation decreased only in males compared with that in the basal session, in which the animals were not transported. Experiment 2 examined the involvement of gonadal hormones in stress responses to transportation using castrated males. Goats were given cholesterol (Cho), 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 17β‐estradiol (Es). The plasma Cor levels increased during transportation regardless of hormone treatment, and those in DHT treated goats were significantly lower than those in Cho or Es treated animals. Plasma Glu and FFA levels also increased during transportation, regardless of hormone treatment, and there were no differences between treatments. Food intake following transportation was significantly lower than that in the basal session only in goats given DHT. In conclusion, gender affects Cor secretion that is increased by transportation and the decrease of food intake following transportation in Shiba goats, and the major cause of these differences is androgen.
Isolation of vancomycin‐resistant enterococci from pigs in Japan
Authors: SAKAI Yuri , TSUKAHARA Takamitsu , USHIDA Kazunari 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTForty vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE) were isolated from feces of pigs in one pig farm. Two strains were further elucidated and these were biochemically identified as Enterococcus faecium possessing the vanB gene. These isolates showed high resistance to vancomycin and nine other antibiotics. This is the first report of VRE contamination in pigs in Japan.
Prolactin receptor gene expression in rat splenocytes and thymocytes during oestrous cycle, pregnancy and lactation
Authors: Güneş H. , Mastro A. M. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractMuch evidence suggests that prolactin (PRL) has an immunoregulatory function. Part of this evidence is that the receptors for PRL are present on lymphocytes. Probably the effects of PRL on cells of the immune system depend on the level and specific forms of PRL‐R present on the target cells. Therefore, PRL‐R expression at both protein and mRNA levels was examined during oestrous cycle, pregnancy and lactation using Western blotting and PCR analysis. Antibody to the long form of PRL‐R detected 84 and 42 kDa protein bands in the spleen but only 84 kDa band in the thymus. The expression pattern of these two protein bands was different in the spleen, suggesting that these two isoforms of PRL‐R long form are differentially regulated by the hormones of oestrous cycle. In addition, depending on the tissue, the level of mRNA for the short and long forms of PRL‐R showed a significant change at different stages of oestrous cycle. Moreover, 42 and 84 kDa PRL‐R bands were detected in both spleen and thymus throughout the pregnancy and lactation; however, the expression pattern of 84 kDa protein band was different between tissues. This finding suggests that each tissue exhibits differential response to hormones which affect PRL‐R content.
Evidence for the Bauman variant in Kallmann’s syndrome
Authors: Kadva Aban , Li Di Wei , Djahanbakhch Ovrang , Monson John , Silman Robert 
Published: November 2003

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH) is a condition of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency. IHH associated with anosmia is Kallmann’s syndrome. A variant has been described by Bauman where a patient with Kallmann's syndrome apparently regained normal hypothalamo‐pituitary function 2 years after the initial diagnosis. GnRH secretory activity can be assesed by measuring LH pulsatility. Our objective was to define the pattern of LH pulsatility in men with IHH and Kallmann’s syndrome compared with those of normal controls, and to determine whether there is evidence for a Bauman variant of Kallmann's syndrome.DESIGN Patients with IHH and Kallmann’s syndrome were recruited from the endocrine clinic. Long‐term hormone replacement therapy was discontinued. LH pulsatility was determined.PATIENTS Three men with IHH, 3 men with classical Kallmann’s syndrome and 5 normal male volunteers.MEASUREMENTS Baseline serum FSH, LH and testosterone. Intensive blood sampling every 10 minutes for serum LH from 1000 to 1600 h during the day and 2200 to 0400 h during the night to measure LH pulsatility.RESULTS The volunteer group showed normal LH pulsatility. In the patient group, LH secretion was apulsatile in one, showed significantly diminished amplitude in four, and there was normal pulsatility in one patient which remained normal 5 months later.CONCLUSION Three patients with idiopathic hypo‐gonadotrophic hypogonadism and 2 with Kallmann's syndrome had variable degrees of GnRH deficiency. One patient with Kallmann's syndrome had apparently normal GnRH activity, which remained normal 5 months later. This patient appears to have the Bauman variant of Kallmann's syndrome.
Second trimester screening for Down's syndrome using maternal serum dimeric inhibin A
Authors: Wallace Euan M. , Swanston Ian A. , McNeilly Alan S. , Ashby J. Peter , Blundell Gillian , Calder Andrew A. , Groome Nigel P. 
Published: November 2003

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Prenatal maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome has become an important and established part of modern antenatal care. Previously it has been reported that non‐specific immunoreactive inhibin may be useful in this context. Using a novel assay we have evaluated dimeric inhibin A as a possible second trimester marker of Down's syndrome.METHODS From 1992–1993 records, stored sera from women with Down's affected pregnancies and chromosomally normal control pregnancies were identified and retrieved for analysis. These sera had been prospectively collected at 15, 16 and 17 weeks gestation.SUBJECTS Records revealed 21 women who had had a Down's syndrome pregnancy and who also had serum available for analysis. Sera from 150 chromosomally normal controls, matched for gestation and duration of storage, were also retrievedMEASUREMENTS Dimeric inhibin A was measured using a recently developed two‐site enzyme‐linked immunoassay. This employs a capture anti inhibin βA‐subunit monoclonal antibody, covalently bound to a microtitre plate and a second anti inhibin α‐subunit antibody conjugated to alkaline phosphatase, allowing detection.RESULTS The mean (95% CI) maternal serum dimeric inhibin A in the samples from control pregnancies was 237 (201.5–273.4) ng/l, 266.9 (235.4–298.5) ng/l and 207.2 (178.5–235.9) ng/l at 15, 16 and 17 weeks gestation respectively. Expressing the results from the Down's samples as multiples of the normal median (MoM), the median (95% CI) MoM was 2.6 (2.25–3.57), significantly higher than the controls (P < 0.0001, Mann–Whitney U‐test). In the sample set tested, for a given false positive rate of 5.3% inhibin A alone afforded a detection rate of 62%, detecting cases previously undetected by routine screening.CONCLUSIONS Dimeric inhibin A appears to be a promising new marker for the prenatal detection of Down's syndrome. Further prospective evaluation and assessment with other established markers would now be merited.
The relation between thyroid function and nutritional status in HIV‐infected patients
Authors: Ricart‐Engel Wilfredo , Fernández‐Real José Manuel , González‐Huix Ferran , Del Pozo Milagros , Mascaró Jaume , García‐Bragado Fernando 
Published: November 2003

OBJECTIVE The effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on thyroid function have been reported in only a few studies with discrepant results. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between nutritional status and thyroid function in HIV infected patients.DESIGN Prospective, cross‐sectional study.SETTING A 500‐bed teaching and referral hospital serving a population of 450 000.PATIENTS Seventy‐five consecutive HIV infected patients between 21 and 40 years of age (mean 31.8 ± 0.9 years).MEASUREMENTS Nutritional status was evaluated using the body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), mid‐arm muscle circumference (MAMC), and serum albumin concentration (SA). Hormone assays for serum T4, free thyroxine index (FTI), T3, reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), thyroxine‐binding globulin (TBG), TSH and simultaneous CD4 lymphocyte counts were determined in all patients.RESULTS Clinical stage was significantly related to nutritional status (P = 0.0001 for BMI, P = 0.0002 MAMC). The more poorly nourished groups had low mean serum T3 and rT3 levels, particularly for muscular (P = 0.0001 for T3 and P = 0.0076 for rT3) and visceral (P = 0.00001 for T3 and P = 0.0021 for rT3) protein compartments. Multivariate analysis showed that two factors, SA and MAMC, correlated significantly and independently with serum T3 and rT3.CONCLUSIONS A close relation exists between serum thyroid hormone levels and nutritional status in HIV infected patients. These patients are probably euthyroid and the abnormal findings in the thyroid function tests are thus a reflection of the severity of illness.
A novel mutation in the coding region for neurophysin‐II is associated with autosomal dominant neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus
Authors: Rauch Frank , Lenzner Claudia , Nürnberg Peter , Frömmel Cornelius , Vetter Ulrich 
Published: November 2003

OBJECTIVE Autosomal dominant neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (ADNDI) is a rare cause of diabetes insipidus, in which AVP serum levels are insufficient. AVP is synthesized along with neurophysin‐II (NPII) as an AVP‐NPII precursor polypeptide in the hypothalamus. After proteolytic cleavage during axonal transport, AVP and NPII are reassembled and stored loosely bound to each other in the posterior pituitary until both are released into the circulation. In this study, we investigated the genetic basis of ADNDI in a German kindred with 10 affected members spanning three generations.DESIGN Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes. The entire coding region of the AVP‐NPII gene of one of the affected persons was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subjected to nucleotide sequence analysis. Sequencing results were confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis of PCR products.PATIENTS Six affected and two unaffected members of a family with ADNDI and 54 unrelated healthy control subjects were studied.RESULTS The index patient was found by direct sequencing to be heterozygous for a G to T transversion at nucleotide position 1884 (exon 2) of the AVP‐NPII gene. This mutation introduced a new recognition site for the restriction enzyme Ava II, which was used to test for the presence of the mutation in other family members and in control subjects. The mutation was detected in all family members with ADNDI, but was not found in unaffected family members or in control subjects. The mutation encodes a valine in place of the normal glycine at amino acid 65 of NPII, which is known to be highly conserved during evolution.CONCLUSIONS In this family, the autosomal dominant neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus phenotype cosegregates with a point mutation in a region of the AVP‐neurophysin‐II gene which codes for the carboxy‐terminal domain of neurophysin‐II. Although the altered amino acid is not directly involved in AVP binding, the mutation might lead to conformational changes that impair the dimerization of neurophysin‐II molecules. This could in turn affect the AVP binding affinity of neurophysin‐II or might interfere with the transport of the AVP‐neurophysin‐II precursor in the AVP‐producing cells of the hypothalamus.
The effect of β‐endorphin on basal and insulin‐hypoglycaemia stimulated levels of hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis hormones in normal human subjects
Authors: Inder W.J. , Livesey J.H. , Ellis M.J. , Evans M.J. , Donald R.A. 
Published: November 2003

OBJECTIVE It has been demonstrated that β‐endorphin reduces CRH production and hypoglycaemia‐induced ACTH secretion in the rat. We aimed to determine whether supraphysiological levels of β‐endorphin inhibit the ACTH and CRH response to insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia in human subjects.DESIGN Plasma glucose, prolactin, cortisol, ACTH, CRH and AVP were measured at intervals over a 3‐hour period. Intravenous β‐endorphin 5 mg/50 ml or an equal volume of normal saline was infused between 30 and 90 minutes, with soluble insulin 0.15 units/kg administered i.v. at 60 minutes in a cross‐over design.SUBJECTS Six healthy male volunteers aged 20–35 years.MEASUREMENTS Prolactin was measured by a fluoroimmunometric assay, ACTH, CRH and AVP by radioimmunoassay, and cortisol was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Haemodynamic measurements were recorded prior to each blood sample. Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean.RESULTS β‐Endorphin resulted in a significant decrease in baseline cortisol (P < 0.05) but not ACTH. Plasma glucose (P < 0.001) and CRH (P < 0.05) and PRL (P < 0.05) increased significantly during β‐endorphin compared to normal saline. After insulin administration, glucose reached a similar nadir during β‐endorphin and normal saline (2.1 ± 0.1  and 1.9 ± 0.15 mmol/l, respectively) but the fall in plasma glucose was delayed during β‐endorphin (P < 0.01 by ANOVA). This resulted in a significantly altered time‐course for the ACTH and cortisol responses (P < 0.05 for each), but no difference overall in the magnitude of the response. In contrast, neither the timing nor the magnitude of the CRH and AVP responses were affected. Prolactin also reached a similar peak value after the administration of insulin, while the haemodynamic responses to hypoglycaemia were not significantly altered during β‐endorphin.CONCLUSIONS While β‐endorphin has been shown to be inhibitory to basal ACTH and cortisol secretion in humans, we note a significant increase in plasma CRH in response to β‐endorphin, which may be arising from a peripheral source. Intravenous β‐endorphin increases plasma glucose and delays the onset of hypoglycaemia following insulin but does not result in significant inhibition of the ACTH and cortisol response. This may reflect the poor penetration of β‐endorphin into the central nervous system, although a hypothalamic effect of β‐endorphin is implied by the increased PRL. The significantly delayed time course in ACTH and cortisol secretion noted during β‐endorphin is not explained by a later response of either CRH or AVP. Although peripheral levels of these hormones may be a relatively insensitive measure of hypothalamic function, an additional factor may influence ACTH release during hypoglycaemia.
The effect of oophorectomy and hormone replacement on neurohypophyseal hormone secretion in women
Authors: Forsling Mary L. , Harriet C. , Anderson M. , Wheeler M.J. , Shanti Raju K. 
Published: November 2003

OBJECTIVE There is evidence to suggest that the release of neurohypophyseal hormones may be influenced by the circulating concentrations of gonadal steroids.We therefore monitored this relationship in women undergoing prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy with subsequent hormone replacement therapy and compared it with that in women undergoing hysterectomy with conservation of ovariesDESIGN Patients were randomly allocated to receive either transdermal oestradiol patches, 0.05 mg/day, or subdermal implants containing either 50 mg oestradiol or 50 mg oestradiol with 100 mg testosterone. Blood samples for determination of plasma hormone concentrations, electrolytes and osmolality were obtained immediately before and after surgery and then at two‐monthly intervals for 8 months and finally at 12 months.MEASUREMENTS Free oestradiol, vasopressin and oxytocin were measured by radioimmunoassay.RESULTS Vasopressin concentrations were found to fall after surgery in oophorectomized women, but not in those with ovaries. There were no changes in fluid balance to account for the reduced plasma vasopressin concentrations. During treatment oestradiol appeared to enhance and testosterone to suppress vasopressin release. Oophorectomy had no significant effect on plasma oxytocin concentrations, but in the groups receiving oestradiol implants concentrations fell significantly at 8 and 12 months compared with the value at 6 days.CONCLUSION The observed changes in plasma vasopressin concentrations were consistent with the observations in experimental animals and provide evidence that vasopressin release in the human is influenced by gonadal steroids.
Continuous subcutaneous infusion of low dose growth hormone decreases serum sex‐hormone binding globulin and testosterone concentrations in moderately obese middle‐aged men
Authors: Oscarsson Jan , Lindstedt Göran , Lundberg Per‐Arne , Edén Staffan 
Published: November 2003

OBJECTIVE  Sex‐hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a liver derived protein whose concentration has been shown to be affected by a number of factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible effect of increased basal GH concentrations on serum concentrations of SHBG, testosterone and thyroid hormones.DESIGNS Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) was given as a continuous subcutaneous infusion in a low dose (0.02 U/kg/day) over a period of 14 days in an open study.PATIENTS Eight middle‐aged (42–59 years) overweight (body mass index 26.1–33.8 kg/m2) but otherwise healthy men were studied.MEASUREMENTS Blood samples were obtained after an over‐night fast before and after 2, 7 and 14 days of treatment. Serum was separated and stored at −20°C until assay.RESULTS Serum GH concentrations increased to a steady level of 2–4 mU/l. Serum SHBG concentration decreased between 2 and 7 days of treatment and serum testosterone concentration changed in parallel. There was no change in the ratio between serum SHBG and serum testosterone. Serum T4 and free T4 concentrations decreased, and that of T3 increased as a result of continuous GH infusion. Simple correlations between changes in SHBG concentrations and other hormonal changes showed positive significant correlations between changes of SHBG and of testosterone.CONCLUSIONS Low dose continuously infused GH resulted in a parallel decrease in serum SHBG and testosterone concentrations. Thyroid hormone concentrations were affected in a similar way to that previously demonstrated following daily injections of GH.