bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isoflurane Inhibits Transmitter Release and the Presynaptic Action Potential
Authors: Wu Xin-Sheng , Sun Jian-Yuan , Evers Alex S. , Crowder Michael , Wu Ling-Gang 
Published: February 2004

Background
Isoflurane inhibits the excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) at many synapses. Accumulated evidence suggests the involvement of a presynaptic mechanism. However, the extent of the presynaptic contribution has not been quantitatively studied. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the presynaptic contribution remains unclear.

Methods
To estimate the presynaptic contribution, the authors compared the effects of isoflurane on the presynaptic capacitance jump, which is proportional to vesicle release, and the postsynaptic glutamate receptor-mediated EPSC at a calyx-type synapse in rat brainstem. The authors determined whether isoflurane affects the waveform of the action potential recorded from nerve terminals. By studying the relation between the EPSC and the presynaptic action potential at the same synapse, the authors determined whether isoflurane inhibits the EPSC by decreasing the presynaptic action potential.

Results
Isoflurane at 0.35-1.05 mM reduced the EPSC and the presynaptic capacitance jump to a similar degree without affecting the miniature EPSC (an indicator of quantal size), suggesting that isoflurane inhibits the EPSC predominantly by reducing glutamate release. Isoflurane reduced the presynaptic action potential by approximately 3-8%. The EPSC was proportional to the presynaptic action potential amplitude raised to a power of 10.2. Based on this relation, inhibition of the presynaptic action potential contributed to 62-78% of isoflurane-induced inhibition of the EPSC.

Conclusions
Isoflurane inhibits the EPSC predominantly by inhibition of transmitter release. Isoflurane reduces the presynaptic action potential amplitude, which may contribute significantly to its inhibitory effect on the EPSC.
Peripheral Nerve Injury Sensitizes the Response to Visceral Distension but Not Its Inhibition by the Antidepressant Milnacipran
Authors: Shin Sang-Wook , Eisenach James C. 
Published: February 2004

Background
Manipulations that cause hypersensitivity to visceral stimuli have been shown to also result in hypersensitivity to somatic stimuli coming from convergent dermatomes, but the converse has not been examined. The authors tested whether lumbar spinal nerve ligation in rats, a common model of neuropathic pain that results in hypersensitivity to somatic stimuli, also leads to hypersensitivity to visceral stimuli coming from convergent dermatomes and whether pharmacology of inhibition differed between these two sensory modalities.

Methods
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, and the left L5 and L6 spinal nerves were ligated. Animals received either intrathecal saline or milnacipran (0.1-3 microg), and withdrawal thresholds to mechanical testing in the left hind paw, using von Frey filaments, and visceral testing, using balloon colorectal distension, were determined.

Results
Nerve ligation resulted in decreases in threshold to withdrawal to somatic mechanical stimulation (from 13 +/- 1.8 g to 2.7 +/- 0.7 g) and also in decreases in threshold to reflex response to visceral stimulation (from 60 mmHg to 40 mmHg). Intrathecal milnacipran increased withdrawal threshold to somatic stimulation in a dose-dependent manner but failed to alter the response to noxious visceral stimulation.

Conclusions
Injury of nerves innervating somatic structures enhances nociception from stimulation of viscera with convergent input from nearby dermatomes, suggesting that somatic neuropathic pain could be accompanied by an increased likelihood of visceral pain. Lack of efficacy of the antidepressant milnacipran against visceral stimuli suggests that visceral hypersensitivity may not share the same pharmacology of inhibition as somatic hypersensitivity after nerve injury.
Synergistic Antinociceptive Effect of Amitriptyline and Morphine in the Rat Orofacial Formalin Test
Authors: Luccarini Philippe , Perrier Laurent , Dégoulange Céline , Gaydier Anne-Marie , Dallel Radhouane 
Published: February 2004

Background
Combination therapy is often used to increase the clinical utility of analgesic agents. The coadministration of two compounds may achieve analgesia at doses lower than those required for either compound alone, leading to enhanced pain relief and reduction of adverse effects. Herein, the authors describe the effect of coadministration of morphine and amitriptyline on cutaneous orofacial inflammatory pain in rats.

Methods
Amitriptyline, morphine, or the combination of amitriptyline and morphine was administered systemically to rats, and antinociceptive effects were determined by means of the rat orofacial formalin test. Isobolographic analysis was used to define the nature of the interactions between morphine and amitriptyline.

Results
Amitriptyline as well as morphine produced a dose-related inhibition in the first phase and the second phase of rubbing activity. ED50 values against rubbing behavior were 14.6 mg/kg (95% confidence interval, 10.2-33.5 mg/kg) and 1.3 mg/kg (95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.7 mg/kg) for amitriptyline and morphine, respectively. Combinations of increasing fractional increments of amitriptyline and morphine ED50 doses produced a synergistic effect against rubbing behavior, as revealed by isobolographic analysis.

Conclusions
The current study suggests that systemic amitriptyline and morphine synergistically inhibit cutaneous orofacial inflammatory pain in rats.
Human β‐defensin‐2 functions as a chemotactic agent for tumour necrosis factor‐α‐treated human neutrophils
Authors: Niyonsaba François , Ogawa Hideoki , Nagaoka Isao 
Published: February 2004

SummaryNeutrophils are the effector cells in both innate and adaptive immunity, where they perform the functions of phagocytosis and killing of bacteria. They respond to a large number of chemoattractants, but their response to epithelial cell‐derived human β‐defensins (hBD) has not been investigated. Here we report that hBD‐2, but not hBD‐1, is a specific chemoattractant for tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α‐treated human neutrophils. The optimal concentration required for maximal chemotactic activity was 5 µg/ml. The effect of hBD‐2 on neutrophils was dependent on the G‐protein‐phospholipase C pathway, as demonstrated by inhibition by pertussis toxin and U‐73122. In addition, ligand‐receptor analysis indicated that the binding of hBD‐2 was markedly inhibited by macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐3α, a specific and unique ligand for CCR6. Furthermore, anti‐CCR6 antibody could almost completely suppress the cell migration induced by hBD‐2, suggesting that hBD‐2 mainly utilizes CCR6 as a functional receptor. Thus, our finding that hBD‐2 is a potent chemoattractant for human neutrophils through specific receptors provides a novel mechanism by which this peptide contributes to the host defence system by recruiting neutrophils to inflammation/infection sites. This also suggests an important link between epithelial cell‐derived antibacterial peptides and neutrophils during infection or inflammation.
Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors during the resorption of schistosome egg‐induced fibrosis in praziquantel‐treated mice
Authors: Singh Kameshwar P. , Gerard Herve C. , Hudson Alan P. , Boros Dov L. 
Published: February 2004

Summary Schistosomiasis mansoni is a tropical helminthic disease characterized by parasite egg‐induced granulomatous inflammation and cumulative fibrosis. Because fibrosis is influenced by the imbalance between degradative matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), we analysed the resorption of fibrous tissue and MMP/TIMP expression in the livers of S. mansoni‐infected and praziquantel‐cured mice. Worm elimination significantly enhanced survival rate, ameliorated the granulomatous pathology and reduced collagen I, III and IV gene expression at 6 and 12 months post‐treatment. Compared to 6 months infected, untreated controls, liver fibrous tissue was resorbed by 71·4% at 12 months after treatment. At 3 months post‐treatment, expression of the MMP‐2, ‐3, ‐8, ‐10, ‐13, ‐14 and ‐16 genes decreased compared with untreated controls. By 6 months, a highly significant increase in MMP‐10 gene expression was manifest. At 12 months, messages for all MMP genes decreased in relation to untreated controls. TIMP‐1, ‐2 and ‐3 gene expression drastically decreased between 3 and 6 months. At 1 year, only TIMP‐1 expression was significantly diminished. Overall, profibrogenic tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression decreased. Antigen‐stimulated splenocytes secreted significantly higher levels of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10 and IL‐13 cytokines between 3 and 12 months after treatment. Production of interferon (IFN)‐γ was higher than in untreated controls 3 and 6 months after treatment. In conclusion, praziquantel‐treated mice showed a slow resorption of liver fibrous tissue. Resorption is attributed to the precipitous drop in TIMP‐1 gene expression level, which shifted the balance in favour of MMP message expression and presumed enhanced collagenase activity.
Early delayed‐type hypersensitivity eosinophil infiltrates depend on T helper 2 cytokines and interferon‐γ via CXCR3 chemokines
Authors: Akahira‐Azuma Moe , Szczepanik Marian , Tsuji Ryohei F. , Campos Regis A. , Itakura Atsuko , Mobini Narciss , McNiff Jennifer , Kawikova Ivana , Lu Bao , Gerard Craig , Pober Jordan S. , Askenase Philip W. 
Published: February 2004

SummaryWe investigated the role of T helper (Th)1‐ and Th2‐type cytokines in delayed‐type hypersensitivity to soluble protein antigens elicited early postimmunization. Mice were sensitized by intradermal injection without adjuvants, or subcutaneously with complete Freund's adjuvant, and subsequently ear challenged intradermally. As soon as day 3, antigen‐specific eosinophil‐rich responses were elicited in wild‐type mice, but not in T‐cell receptor‐α–/– mice without adjuvant. Draining lymph node T cells stimulated with antigen secreted interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5 and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). IFN‐γ‐dependent specific immunoglobulin G (IgG)2a and IL‐4‐dependent IgG1 were also generated. Delayed‐type hypersensitivity ear swelling and local eosinophil recruitment were decreased in IL‐5–/–, IL‐4–/– and signal transducer and activator of transcription‐6 (STAT‐6)–/– mice, and with anti‐IL‐4 treatment of wild‐type mice, suggesting Th2 mechanisms. Interestingly, responses were also decreased in IFN‐γ–/– mice, and IFN‐γ protein and the IFN‐γ‐inducible CXC chemokine, IP‐10, were present in 24‐hr ear tissue extracts, suggesting Th1 effects. Finally, ear swelling, total histology and eosinophils were decreased in mice deficient in CXCR3, the chemokine receptor for IP‐10. These results suggest that both a Th2‐like (IL‐5, IL‐4 and STAT‐6) and a Th1‐like (IFN‐γ, IP‐10, CXCR3) pathway contribute to eosinophil recruitment in early delayed‐type hypersensitivity.
DEC‐205 expression on migrating dendritic cells in afferent lymph
Authors: Gliddon Daniel R. , Hope Jayne C. , Brooke Gareth P. , Howard Christopher J. 
Published: February 2004

SummaryPrevious studies have identified a 210 000‐molecular weight molecule expressed at a high level on the surface of dendritic cells (DCs) in afferent lymph of cattle and evident on cells with the morphology of DCs in lymphoid tissues. Expression is either absent from other immune cells or is present at a lower level. The molecular weight and cellular distribution suggested that the molecule, called bovine WC6 antigen (workshop cluster), might be an orthologue of human DEC‐205 (CD205). To establish whether this was the case, the open reading frame of bovine DEC‐205 was amplified, by polymerase chain reaction, from thymic cDNA (accession no. AY264845). The cDNA sequence of bovine DEC‐205 had 86% and 78% nucleic acid identity with human and mouse molecules, respectively. COS‐7 cells transfected with a plasmid containing the cattle DEC‐205 coding region expressed a molecule that stained with WC6‐specific monoclonal antibody, showing that ruminant WC6 is an orthologue of DEC‐205. Two‐colour flow cytometry of mononuclear cells from afferent lymph draining cattle skin, and from blood, confirmed the high level of expression on large cells in lymph that were uniformly DC‐LAMP positive and major histocompatibility complex class II positive. Within this DEC‐205+ DC‐LAMP+ population were subpopulations of cells that expressed the mannose receptor or SIRPα. The observations imply that DCs in afferent lymph are all DEC‐205high, but not a uniform population of homogeneous mature DCs.
National Minority, National Mentality, and Communal Ethnicity: Changes in Ethnic Identity of Former Soviet Union Jewish Emigrants on the Israeli Kibbutz
Authors: Mittelberg David , Borschevsky Nikolay 
Published: February 2004

AbstractIn this paper we examine and compare the ethnic identity of the Jews in the former Soviet Union (FSU) and the process of change in ethnic identity among the new immigrantsfromthe FSU. This analysis considers the role of the kibbutz as the first experience of Jewish community in their lives, as well as the location of the first phase of their process of absorption and resocialization into new and unfamiliar surroundings. The data are drawn through a longitudinal research design, with a pre‐ and post‐analysis of changes in the ethnicity of migrants studied from their arrival on the Israeli kibbutz until the completion of the five‐month kibbutz programme. We found that pre‐migration Soviet Jews defined their ethnicity as a discriminatednational minoritywith aweak symbolic ethnicitycontent. The ambivalent nature of the ethnicity of Jews while in the FSU was expressed in the fact that although a majority were deculturized from traditional dimensions of Jewish life, they nevertheless felt they belonged to a specific ethnic group.Post‐migration ethnicity was found to be remarkably altered; the former ambivalence was dissolved. On the macro‐level, membership in the economically and politically successful Russian‐speaking group of Israeli society is a source of self esteem, rather than a sign of shameful otherness. On the micro‐level of ethnicity, the encounter in the initial phase of absorption in Israel, within the kibbutz Jewish community, often demands a re‐examination of their private concept of Jewishness, serving as a first step in resolving their ambivalent ethnic identity. Consequently, their new ethnic identity may now well have weaker boundaries, but a more positive (non‐alienating) content than that left behind.
Nutrition pathways to the symphysis pubis
Authors: Gonçalves da Rocha Rodrigo Carvalho , Chopard Renato Paulo 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThe blood supply of the symphysis pubis is still the subject of some debate. Classic anatomy books state that this joint is avascular, whereas some published works have shown blood vessels in young specimens. As several articular discs such as the knee menisci are known to have blood vessels in their peripheries, we decided to investigate the possible nutrition pathways to the interpubic disc and ligaments. We used 60 Wistar rats, male and female, aged between 28 and 32 days, or between 90 and 100 days. Samples were processed using a variety of techniques: regular histology, immunohistochemestry, India ink injection and corrosion casting. The interpubic disc consisted of an inner bearing portion and an outer fibrous rim. The interpubic ligaments and the fibrous rim were well vascularized in all groups. Marrow contacts between the interpubic disc and the subchondral bone were also observed. Blood vessels formed an authentic arterial circle embracing the joint, from which blood vessels branched into capillary loops facing the avascular inner bearing portion of the disc. These results confirm the need for future studies on the human symphysis pubis, to provide more details on its structure, which would enable clinicians such as physiotherapists to improve prognosis and treatment design. Future studies may also explain the pathways down which the hormone relaxin reaches its targets within this joint.
Specific changes of somatostatin mRNA expression in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of diabetic rats
Authors: XiaoMing Zhang , Xi Zhu , Fang Shen , Jilin Zhou 
Published: February 2004

AbstractMost current studies of diabetic encephalopathy have focused on brain blood flow and metabolism, but there has been little research on the influence of diabetes on brain tissue and the causes of chronic diabetic encephalopathy. The technique of molecular biology makes it possible to explore the mechanism of chronic diabetic encephalopathy by testing the distribution of somatostatin in the brain. We have therefore analysed, by in situ hybridization histochemistry, the changes in somatostatin (SST) mRNA in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of rats made diabetic by the injection of streptozotocin. Ten Sprague–Dawley control rats were compared with ten streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats. The weight, blood glucose and urine glucose did not differ between the two groups before the injection of streptozotocin. Four weeks after the injection of streptozotocin the weight, blood glucose and urine glucose of the diabetic rats were, respectively, 199.1 ± 15.6 g, 23.7 ± 3.25 mmol L−1 and (++) to (+++) whereas those of the control group were 265.5 ± 30.3 g, 4.84 ± 0.63 mmol L−1 and (–). Somatostatin mRNA was reduced in the diabetic rats. The number of SST mRNA‐positive neurons and the optical density of positive cells in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of the diabetic rats were 80.6 ± 17.5 mm−2 and 76.5 ± 17.6 compared with 150.5 ± 21.1 mm−2 and 115.1 ± 18.5 in the control rats. The induction of diabetes is thus associated with a decreased expression of SST mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, which might be an important component of chronic diabetic encephalopathy.
Can Philosophy Help Legal Doctrine?
Authors: Peczenik Aleksander 
Published: February 2004

Abstract. Legal doctrine is a kind of legal research, occupying the central position in professional legal writing, e.g., handbooks, monographs, commentaries and legal textbooks etc. It consists of a description of the literal sense of legal statutes, precedents etc., intertwined with many moral and other substantive reasons. Legal doctrine has normative components, and produces coherence in the law in many aspects. It also produces some justice. However, legal doctrine has faced repeated criticism, not least from minimalist philosophers.The author proposes a “Copernican revolution” as regards the relation of legal theory to philosophy. Instead of attempting to make legal theory follow one of the notoriously controversial moral theories, he tries to adjust philosophy to legal theory. In the search for philosophy adjusted to legal doctrine, he prefers cautious (weak) philosophical positions to courageous (strong) ones. He also assumes a society‐centered theory of normativity, a coherentist theory of legal knowledge and a coherentist theory of justice.However, a law theorist has no chance to elaborate such theories in detail. Hence, the author poses the following questions to philosophers: How can a law theorist assume society‐centered normativity without being forced to enter the controversies around collectivism? How can a law theorist assume the common core of morality for society without being forced to enter technical controversies in political philosophy? How can the law theorist base his thinking on the coherence theory of law without being forced to enter technical controversies around the concept of coherence? How can the law theorist avoid hopeless ontological controversies?
The PCR amplification and characterization of entire Pseudomonas syringae hrp/hrc clusters
Authors: Gropp Susan J. , Guttman David S. 
Published: February 2004

SUMMARYWe describe the use of degenerate primers to amplify the core hrp/hrc region of P. syringae pv. phaseolicola NPS3121. 18 826 bp were amplified using long‐range PCR, digested and shotgun sequenced. Sequence analysis finds a hypervariable region between the hrpU and hrpC operons, and indications of positive selection on the hrpE locus. The primers were also shown to work on four other, widely divergent P. syringae strains. These primers should be of great utility for the characterization of hrp/hrc clusters from any P. syringae strain.
Down‐regulation of photosystem I by Erwinia carotovora‐derived elicitors correlates with H2O2 accumulation in chloroplasts of potato
Authors: Montesano Marcos , Scheller Henrik V. , Wettstein Rodolfo , Palva E. Tapio 
Published: February 2004

SUMMARYIdentification of Solanum tuberosum genes responsive to culture filtrates (CF) from Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora resulted in isolation of psaD, a nuclear gene encoding the PSI‐D subunit of photosystem I (PSI). This gene was rapidly and markedly down‐regulated in CF‐treated or wounded plants. Down‐regulation of psaD transcripts was also triggered by signal molecules involved in plant defence such as methyl jasmonate. The CF‐induced down‐regulation of psaD transcripts was correlated with an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in chloroplasts and a down‐regulation of the NADP+ photoreduction activity mediated by PSI. These results suggest that the CF‐induced down‐regulation of PSI may be related to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in chloroplasts of plant cells responding to E. c. carotovora.
Activation of a mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway in Arabidopsis by chitin
Authors: Wan Jinrong , Zhang Shuqun , Stacey Gary 
Published: February 2004

SUMMARYChitin, a polysaccharide composed of β‐1→4‐linked N‐acetyl‐d‐glucosamine, has been shown or implicated as a signal in plant defence and development. However, the key components of chitin perception and downstream signalling in non‐leguminous plants are largely unknown. In recent years, mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and their cascades were shown to transduce various extracellular stimuli into internal cellular responses. To investigate the possible involvement of MAPKs in chitin signalling in plants, the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana was treated with crab‐shell chitin and also with the purified chitin oligomers (degree of polymerization, d.p. = 2–8). Both mRNA levels and kinase activity of two MAPK genes, AtMPK6 and AtMPK3, were monitored after treatment. The mRNA of AtMPK3 was strongly up‐regulated by both chitin and its larger oligomers (d.p. = 6–8), but the mRNA of AtMPK6 did not appear to be regulated by these treatments. However, the kinase activity of both MAPKs was induced by chitin and the larger oligomers (d.p. = 6–8), with AtMPK6 much more strongly induced. In addition, WRKY22, WRKY29, WRKY33 and WRKY53, which encode four WRKY transcription factors that recognize TTGAC(C/T) W‐box elements in promoters of numerous plant defence‐related genes, were up‐regulated by these treatments. WRKY33 and WRKY53 expression was induced by the transgenic expression of the tobacco MAPKK NtMEK2 active mutant NtMEK2DD, suggesting a potential role for these WRKY transcription factors in relaying the signal generated from the MAPK cascade to downstream genes. These data suggest that AtMPK6/AtMPK3 and WRKY transcription factors (such as WRKY33 and WRKY53) may be important components of a pathway involved in chitin signalling in Arabidopsis plants.