bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of metformin and rosiglitazone on postprandial lipid metabolism in obese insulin‐resistant subjects
Authors: James A. P. , Watts G. F. , Mamo J. C. L. 
Published: July 2005

Introduction:  Obese insulin‐resistant individuals exhibit a dyslipidaemia due to raised levels of both hepatically and intestinally derived lipoproteins. However, little is known about the related dysregulation of intestinally derived lipoproteins. We examined whether the insulin‐sensitizing agents, metformin and rosiglitazone, improve intestinal lipoprotein metabolism in obese insulin‐resistant individuals.Methods:  Thirty male obese (body mass index > 26; waist circumference > 100 cm) insulin‐resistant [homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) score > 2.0] subjects were randomized to either a metformin (1 g bd), rosiglitazone (4 mg bd) or control treatment group for a period of 8 weeks. Fasting and postprandial lipid metabolism was studied before and after the intervention period.Results:  Metformin and rosiglitazone both significantly improved insulin sensitivity, but this was not paralleled by improvement in dyslipidaemia. With rosiglitazone relative to control there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the area under the apolipoprotein (apo) B48 curve following the oral fat load and a decrease in the ratio of triglyceride to apo B48 levels postprandially following rosiglitazone treatment.Conclusion:  In obese insulin‐resistant subjects metformin and rosiglitazone both improve insulin sensitivity, as measured by HOMA, without improvement in lipid metabolism. Rosiglitazone may have a detrimental effect on chylomicron metabolism by an increase in postprandial apo B48 levels, and this requires further investigation.
The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Greece: The MetS‐Greece Multicentre Study
Authors: Athyros V. G. , Bouloukos V. I. , Pehlivanidis A. N. , Papageorgiou A. A. , Dionysopoulou S. G. , Symeonidis A. N. , Petridis D. I. , Kapousouzi M. I. , Satsoglou E. A. , Mikhailidis D. P. ,   for The MetS‐Greece Collaborative Group
Published: July 2005

Background:  The Third Report (ATP III) of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel (NCEP) highlighted the importance of identifying and treating patients with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and progression to diabetes mellitus. Limited information is available about the prevalence of MetS, as defined by the NCEP ATP III, in Europe, especially in Greece.Objective:  To estimate the prevalence of the MetS in Greece, The MetS‐Greece Study.Design and participants:  A cross‐sectional analysis of a representative sample of Greek adults (4153 participants older than 18 years). One group consisting of military personnel (n = 300) and another one from a Greek Muslim Community (n = 300) were used for comparison. In all, 4753 subjects were included in the final analysis.Results:  All subjects from the general population were Caucasian men (49%) and women (51%), living in urban (n = 2243, 54%), semi‐urban (n = 1038, 25%) and rural (n = 872, 21%) areas. The age‐standardized prevalence of the MetS was 23.6%[95% confidence interval (CI): 22.4–25.1%]. This was similar in men (24.2%, 95% CI: 22.3–25.2%) and women (22.8%, 95% CI: 21.4–25.0%) (p = 0.3). The prevalence increased with age in both sexes, 4.8% among participants aged 19–29 years and 43% for participants over 70 years old (p for trend < 0.0001). There was a 14.7‐fold increase in odds ratio for having MetS in the age group > 70 years old compared with that of 19–29 years old (p < 0.0001) Most of those with MetS had three components of the syndrome (61%), 29% had four and 10% had all five components. Abdominal obesity (82%) and arterial hypertension (78%) were the most common abnormalities in both sexes. The Greek Muslim Community, on a high‐saturated fat diet, had the highest prevalence of the MetS (35.2%, 95% CI: 30.4–40.3%), and the military group, with a high physical activity level and a diet ‘close’ to Mediterranean, had the lowest (9.4%, 95% CI: 6.2–13.1%). According to the 2001 Census, about 2.3 million Greeks may have the MetS.Conclusions:  These results show that the MetS is highly prevalent in the Greek adult population. This may have major implications for the incidence of CVD. Promoting healthy diets, low caloric intake and physical activity must be urgently undertaken.
No association of the 94T/G polymorphism in the adiponectin gene with diabetic complications
Authors: Rudofsky G. , Schlimme M. , Schlotterer A. , Von Eynatten M. , Reismann P. , Tafel J. , Grafe I. , Morcos M. , Nawroth P. , Bierhaus A. , Hamann A. 
Published: July 2005

Aim:  This study examined a possible association of the T/G polymorphism at nucleotide 94 in the adiponectin gene with the prevalence of diabetic complications.Methods:  The study was performed in 696 patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Genotyping was performed by means of polymerase chain reaction and subsequent cleavage by using SmaI restriction endonuclease.Results:  The 94G/G genotype was significantly more prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes (2.2%) than in type 1 diabetics (0.0%) (p = 0.02), whereas no differences were found for frequencies of the 94T/T and the 94G/T genotypes, respectively. In patients with type 1 diabetes, 45 of 239 patients were heterozygous for the 94T/G polymorphism (carrier rate (CR): 18.8%; allele frequency (AF): 0.094). In type 2 diabetics, 71 of 457 patients were heterozygous and 10 patients were homozygous for the 94G/G genotype (CR: 17.7%; AF: 0.10). No association with diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy or diabetic retinopathy was found for either genotype in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.Conclusions:  The 94T/G polymorphism in the adiponectin gene is not associated with diabetic complications. The significance of a higher prevalence of the G allele in type 2, compared to type 1 diabetes remains to be clarified.
Leucine‐nitrogen metabolism in the brain of conscious rats: its role as a nitrogen carrier in glutamate synthesis in glial and neuronal metabolic compartments
Authors: Sakai Ryosei , Cohen David M. , Henry Joseph F. , Burrin Douglas G. , Reeds Peter J. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractThe source of nitrogen (N) for the de novo synthesis of brain glutamate, glutamine and GABA remains controversial. Because leucine is readily transported into the brain and the brain contains high activities of branched‐chain aminotransferase (BCAT), we hypothesized that leucine is the predominant N‐precursor for brain glutamate synthesis. Conscious and unstressed rats administered with [U‐13C] and/or [15N]leucine as additions to the diet were killed at 0–9 h of continuous feeding. Plasma and brain leucine equilibrated rapidly and the brain leucine‐N turnover was more than 100%/min. The isotopic dilution of [U‐13C]leucine (brain/plasma ratio 0.61 ± 0.06) and [15N]leucine (0.23 ± 0.06) differed markedly, suggesting that 15% of cerebral leucine‐N turnover derived from proteolysis and 62% from leucine synthesis via reverse transamination. The rate of glutamate synthesis from leucine was 5 µmol/g/h and at least 50% of glutamate‐N originally derived from leucine. The enrichment of [5‐15N]glutamine was higher than [15N]ammonia in the brain, indicating glial ammonia generation from leucine via glutamate. The enrichment of [15N]GABA, [15N]aspartate, [15N]glutamate greater than [2‐15N]glutamine suggests direct incorporation of leucine‐N into both glial and neuronal glutamate. These findings provide a new insight for the role of leucine as N‐carrier from the plasma pool and within the cerebral compartments.
A liver X receptor and retinoid X receptor heterodimer mediates apolipoprotein E expression, secretion and cholesterol homeostasis in astrocytes
Authors: Liang Yu , Lin Suizhen , Beyer Thomas P. , Zhang Youyan , Wu Xin , Bales Kelly R. , DeMattos Ronald B. , May Patrick C. , Li Shuyu Dan , Jiang Xian‐Cheng , Eacho Patrick I. , Cao Guoqing , Paul Steven M. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractApolipoprotein E (apoE) is an important protein involved in lipoprotein clearance and cholesterol redistribution. ApoE is abundantly expressed in astrocytes in the brain and is closely linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We report here that small molecule ligands that activate either liver X receptors (LXR) or retinoid X receptor (RXR) lead to a dramatic increase in apoE mRNA and protein expression as well as secretion of apoE in a human astrocytoma cell line (CCF‐STTG1 cells). Examination of primary mouse astrocytes also revealed significant induction of apoE mRNA, and protein expression and secretion following incubation with LXR/RXR agonists. Moreover, treatment of mice with a specific synthetic LXR agonist T0901317 resulted in up‐regulation of apoE mRNA and protein in both hippocampus and cerebral cortex, indicating that apoE expression in brain can be up‐regulated by LXR agonists in vivo. Along with a dramatic induction of ABCA1 cholesterol transporter expression, these ligands effectively mediate cholesterol efflux in both CCF‐STTG1 cells and mouse astrocytes in the presence or absence of apolipoprotein AI (apoAI). Our studies provide strong evidence that small molecule LXR/RXR agonists can effectively mediate apoE synthesis and secretion as well as cholesterol homeostasis in astrocytes. LXR/RXR agonists may have significant impact on the pathogenesis of multiple neurological diseases, including AD.
EXACT FORMULAS FOR PRICING BONDS AND OPTIONS WHEN INTEREST RATE DIFFUSIONS CONTAIN JUMPS
Authors: Finnerty John D. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractI develop Heath‐Jarrow‐Morton extensions of the Vasicek and Jamshidian pure‐diffusion models, extend these models to incorporate Poisson‐Gaussian interest rate jumps, and obtain closed‐form models for valuing default‐free, zero‐coupon bonds and European call and put options on default‐free, zero‐coupon bonds in a market where interest rates can experience discontinuous information shocks. The jump‐diffusion pricing models value the instrument as the probability‐weighted average of the pure‐diffusion model prices, each conditional on a specific number of jumps occurring during the life of the instrument. I extend the models to coupon‐bearing instruments by applying Jamshidian's serial‐decomposition technique.
EXPONENTIAL DURATION: A MORE ACCURATE ESTIMATION OF INTEREST RATE RISK
Authors: Livingston Miles , Zhou Lei 
Published: July 2005

AbstractWe develop a new method to estimate the interest rate risk of an asset. This method is based on modified duration and is always more accurate than traditional estimation with modified duration. The estimates by this method are close to estimates using traditional duration plus convexity when interest rates decrease. If interest rates rise, investors will suffer larger value declines than predicted by traditional duration plus convexity estimate. The new method avoids this undesirable value overestimation and provides an estimate slightly below the true value. For risk‐averse investors, overestimation of value declines is more desirable and conservative.
THE IMPACT OF MARKET MAKER CONCENTRATION ON ADVERSE‐SELECTION COSTS FOR NASDAQ STOCKS
Authors: Van Ness Bonnie F. , Van Ness Robert A. , Warr Richard S. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractWe examine the impact of market maker concentration on adverse‐selection costs for NASDAQ stocks and find that more market makers results in lower costs. Furthermore, this reduction in adverse selection exceeds the overall reduction in spreads that is attributable to market maker competition. We hypothesize that order flow internalization is increasing in market makers and allows for greater information production, and is an explanation for our findings. Our results provide an explanation for the puzzle documented by previous work that finds that adverse‐selection costs for NASDAQ tend to be lower than for the New York Stock Exchange, whereas spreads tend to be higher.
Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing in Elderly Veterans: Are We Using the Wrong Drug, Wrong Dose, or Wrong Duration?
Authors: Pugh Mary Jo V. , Fincke B. Graeme , Bierman Arlene S. , Chang Bei‐Hung , Rosen Amy K. , Cunningham Francesca E. , Amuan Megan E. , Burk Muriel L. , Berlowitz Dan R. 
Published: July 2005

Objectives: To identify the extent of inappropriate prescribing using criteria for proper use developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and dose‐limitation criteria defined by Beers, as well as to describe duration of use and patient characteristics associated with inappropriate prescribing for older people.Design: Retrospective national Veterans Health Administration (VA) administrative database analysis.Setting: VA outpatient facilities during fiscal year 2000 (FY00).Participants: Veterans aged 65 and older having at least one VA outpatient visit in FY00 (N=1,265,434).Measurements: Operational definitions of appropriate use were developed based on recommendations of an expert panel convened by the AHRQ (Zhan criteria). Inappropriate use was identified based on these criteria and inappropriate use of drugs per Beers criteria for dose‐limitations in older people. Furthermore, duration of use and patient characteristics associated with inappropriate use were described.Results: After adjusting for diagnoses, dose, and duration, inappropriate prescribing decreased from 33% to 23%. Exposure to inappropriate drugs was prolonged. Pain relievers, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and musculoskeletal agents constituted 61% of inappropriate prescribing. Whites, patients with psychiatric comorbidities, and patients receiving more medications were most likely to receive inappropriate drugs. Women were more likely to receive Zhan criteria drugs; men were more likely to receive dose‐limited drugsConclusion: For the most part, the Zhan criteria did not explain inappropriate prescribing, which includes problems related to dose and duration of prescriptions. Interventions targeted at prescriptions for pain relievers, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and musculoskeletal agents may dramatically decrease inappropriate prescribing and improve patient outcomes.
Atypical Antipsychotic Medications and Risk of Falls in Residents of Aged Care Facilities
Authors: Hien Le T. T. , Cumming Robert G. , Cameron Ian D. , Chen Jian S. , Lord Stephen R. , March Lyn M. , Schwarz Jennifer , Le Couteur David G. , Sambrook Philip N. 
Published: July 2005

Objectives: To determine whether use of atypical antipsychotics (olanzapine and risperidone) is associated with lower risk of falls than use of typical antipsychotics.Design: Prospective cohort study with 1‐month follow‐up.Setting: Residential aged care facilities in Sydney, Australia.Participants: Two thousand five people aged 65 to 104 (mean age 86).Measurements: Medication use at baseline was collected from medical records. Data on potential confounders were collected at interview and physical examination and from medical records. The outcome was accidental falls (one or more).Results: One thousand one hundred seven subjects (55%) used at least one type of psychotropic medication, with 289 (14%) using an antipsychotic. There were 82 olanzapine users, 38 risperidone users, and 181 users of typical antipsychotics. Eleven percent of subjects (n=226) had at least one fall during follow‐up. After adjusting for a comprehensive range of falls risk factors, hazard ratios (HRs) for falls were 1.35 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.87–2.09) for typical antipsychotics, 1.32 (95% CI=0.57–3.06) for risperidone, and 1.74 (95% CI=1.04–2.90) for olanzapine. Antidepressants were also associated with falls (adjusted HR=1.45, 95% CI=1.09–1.93).Conclusion: Despite fewer extrapyramidal side effects, atypical antipsychotic medications are not associated with fewer falls than the older, more‐established antipsychotics.
Frailty: Emergence and Consequences in Women Aged 65 and Older in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study
Authors: Fugate Woods Nancy , LaCroix Andrea Z. , Gray Shelly L. , Aragaki Aaron , Cochrane Barbara B. , Brunner Robert L. , Masaki Kamal , Murray Anne , Newman Anne B. 
Published: July 2005

Objectives: To define frailty using simple indicators; to identify risk factors for frailty as targets for prevention; and to investigate the predictive validity of this frailty classification for death, hospitalization, hip fracture, and activity of daily living (ADL) disability.Design: Prospective study, the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.Setting: Forty U.S. clinical centers.Participants: Forty thousand six hundred fifty‐seven women aged 65 to 79 at baseline.Measurements: Components of frailty included self‐reported muscle weakness/impaired walking, exhaustion, low physical activity, and unintended weight loss between baseline and 3 years of follow‐up. Death, hip fractures, ADL disability, and hospitalizations were ascertained during an average of 5.9 years of follow‐up.Results: Baseline frailty was classified in 16.3% of participants, and incident frailty at 3‐years was 14.8%. Older age, chronic conditions, smoking, and depressive symptom score were positively associated with incident frailty, whereas income, moderate alcohol use, living alone, and self‐reported health were inversely associated. Being underweight, overweight, or obese all carried significantly higher risk of frailty than normal weight. Baseline frailty independently predicted risk of death (hazard ratio (HR)=1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.48–1.97), hip fracture (HR=1.57, 95% CI=1.11–2.20), ADL disability (odds ratio (OR)=3.15, 95% CI=2.47–4.02), and hospitalizations (OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.72–2.22) after adjustment for demographic characteristics, health behaviors, disability, and comorbid conditions.Conclusion: These results support the robustness of the concept of frailty as a geriatric syndrome that predicts several poor outcomes in older women. Underweight, obesity, smoking, and depressive symptoms are strongly associated with the development of frailty and represent important targets for prevention.
The Life Cycle of Bruises in Older Adults
Authors: Mosqueda Laura , Burnight Kerry , Liao Solomon 
Published: July 2005

Objectives: To summarize the occurrence, progression, and resolution of accidentally acquired bruises in a sample of adults aged 65 and older. The systematic documentation of accidentally occurring bruises in older adults could provide a foundation for comparison when considering suspicious bruising in older adults.Design: Between April 2002 and August 2003, a convenience sample of 101 seniors was examined daily at home (up to 6 weeks) to document the occurrence, progression, and resolution of accidental bruises that occurred during the observation period.Setting: Three community‐based settings and two skilled nursing facilities in Orange County, California.Participants: One hundred one adults aged 65 and older (mean age=83).Measurements: Age, sex, ethnicity, functional status, handedness, medical conditions, medications, cognitive status, depression, history of falls, bruise size, bruise location, initial bruise color, color change over time.Results: Nearly 90% of the bruises were on the extremities. There were no bruises on the neck, ears, genitalia, buttocks, or soles of the feet. Subjects were more likely to know the cause of the bruise if the bruise was on the trunk. Contrary to the common perception that yellow coloration indicates an older bruise, 16 bruises were predominately yellow within the first 24 hours after onset. People on medications known to affect coagulation pathways and those with compromised function were more likely to have multiple bruises.Conclusion: Accidental bruises occur in a predictable location pattern in older adults. One cannot reliably predict the age of a bruise by its color.
Improving Physical Function and Blood Pressure in Older Adults Through Cobblestone Mat Walking: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Li Fuzhong , Fisher K. John , Harmer Peter 
Published: July 2005

Objectives: To determine the relative effects of cobblestone mat walking, in comparison with regular walking, on physical function and blood pressure in older adults.Design: Randomized trial with allocation to cobblestone mat walking or conventional walking.Setting: General community in Eugene, Oregon.Participants: One hundred eight physically inactive community‐dwelling adults aged 60 to 92 (mean age±standard deviation=77.5±5.0) free of neurological and mobility‐limiting orthopedic conditions.Intervention: Participants were randomized to a cobblestone mat walking condition (n=54) or regular walking comparison condition (n=54) and participated in 60‐minute group exercise sessions three times per week for 16 consecutive weeks.Measurements: Primary endpoint measures were balance (functional reach, static standing), physical performance (chair stands, 50‐foot walk, Up and Go), and blood pressure (systolic, diastolic). Secondary endpoint measures were Short Form‐12 physical and mental health scores and perceptions of health‐related benefits from exercise.Results: At the 16‐week posttest, differences between the two exercise groups were found for balance measures (P=.01), chair stands (P<.001), 50‐foot walk (P=.01), and blood pressure (P=.01) but not for the Up and Go test (P=.14). Although significant within‐group changes were observed in both groups for the secondary outcome measures, there were no differences between intervention groups.Conclusion: Cobblestone mat walking improved physical function and reduced blood pressure to a greater extent than conventional walking in older adults. Additional benefits of this walking program included improved health‐related quality of life. This new physical activity may provide a therapeutic and health‐enhancing exercise alternative for older adults.