bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of free fatty acids and acipimox, a lipolysis inhibitor, on the somatotroph responsiveness to GHRH in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Gianotti Laura , Fassino Secondo , Daga Giovanni Abbate , Lanfranco Fabio , De Bacco Carlotta , Ramunni Josefina , Arvat Emanuela , Maccario Mauro , Ghigo Ezio 
Published: July 2002

SummaryOBJECTIVEAnorexia nervosa is characterized by low IGF‐1 and high GH and free fatty acid (FFA) levels. As FFA exerts an inhibitory feedback action on GH secretion in physiological conditions, we hypothesized that somatotroph cells could be less sensitive to the negative feedback action of FFA in anorexia nervosa.PATIENTSFifteen patients with anorexia nervosa (AN, age: mean ± SEM: 20·8 ± 1·2 years, BMI: 15·9 ± 0·3 kg/m2) and 12 normal female controls (NW, age 27·2 ± 2·1 years, BMI 21·2 ± 2·2 kg/m2).MEASUREMENTSWe studied the effects of lipid‐heparin emulsion (Li‐He, Intralipid 10% 250 ml + heparin 2500 U iv from −60 to +90 minutes in seven AN and six NW) or acipimox (ACI, 250 mg p.o. at −60 minutes in eight AN and six NW), a lipolysis inhibitor, on the GH response to GHRH (1 µg/kg iv as a bolus at 0 minutes).RESULTSBasal IGF‐1 levels were lower (P<0·05) while GH levels were higher (P<0·05) in AN than in NW. On the other hand, basal FFA levels in the two groups were not significantly different. In both groups Li‐He increased FFA levels (P<0·05), which became higher (P<0·02) in AN than in NW. Li‐He infusion inhibited (P<0·05) basal GH levels in AN to levels overlapping those in NW. The GH response to GHRH in the whole AN group was higher than in NW (P<0·03). Li‐He inhibited the somatotroph responsiveness to GHRH in AN (P<0·03) as well as in NW (P<0·03) and during Li‐He the GH response to GHRH in AN became similar to that in NW. Whilst ACI pretreatment enhanced the GH response to GHRH in AN (P<0·02), it did not significantly increase that in NW. Interestingly, after ACI administration, FFA levels were inhibited in both groups (P<0·05) persisting higher in AN than in NW (P<0·05).CONCLUSIONThough GH hypersecretion in anorexia nervosa occurs in presence of enhanced lipolysis, our present findings indicate that the sensitivity of somatotroph cells to the inhibitory feedback action of free fatty acid is preserved.
Effects of genotype and genotype—environment interaction on deoxynivalenol accumulation and resistance to Fusarium head blight in rye, triticale, and wheat
Authors: Miedaner T. , Reinbrecht C. , Lauber U. , Schollenberger M. , Geiger H. H. 
Published: July 2002

Abstract Fusarium culmorum is one of the most important Fusarium species causing head blight infections in wheat, rye, and triticale. It is known as a potent mycotoxin producer with deoxynivalenol (DON), 3‐acetyl deoxynivalenol (3‐ADON), and nivalenol (NIV) being the most prevalent toxins. In this study, the effect of winter cereal species, host genotype, and environment on DON accumulation and Fusarium head blight (FHB) was analysed by inoculating 12 rye, eight wheat, and six triticale genotypes of different resistance levels with a DON‐producing isolate at three locations in 2 years (six environments). Seven resistance traits were assessed, including head blight rating and relative plot yield. In addition, ergosterol, DON and 3‐ADON contents in the grain were determined. A growth‐chamber experiment with an artificially synchronized flowering date was also conducted with a subset of two rye, wheat and triticale genotypes. Although rye genotypes were, on average, affected by Fusarium infections much the same as wheat genotypes, wheat accumulated twice as much DON as rye. Triticale was least affected and the grain contained slightly more DON than rye. In the growth‐chamber experiment, wheat and rye again showed similar head blight ratings, but rye had a somewhat lower relative head weight and a DON content nine times lower than wheat (3.9 vs. 35.3 mg/kg). Triticale was least susceptible with a five times lower DON content than wheat. Significant (P = 0.01) genotypic variation for DON accumulation existed in wheat and rye. The differences between and within cereal species in the field experiments were highly influenced by environment for resistance traits and mycotoxin contents. Nevertheless, mean mycotoxin content of the grain could not be associated with general weather conditions in the individual environments. Strong genotype‐environment interactions were found for all cereal species. This was mainly due to three wheat varieties and one rye genotype being environmentally extremely unstable. The more resistant entries, however, showed a higher environmental stability of FHB resistance and tolerance to DON accumulation. Correlations between resistance traits and DON content were high in wheat (P = 0.01), with the most resistant varieties also accumulating less DON, but with variability in rye. In conclusion, the medium to large genotypic variation in wheat and rye offers good possibilities for reducing DON content in the grains by resistance selection. Large confounding effects caused by the environment will require multiple locations and/or years to evaluate FHB resistance and mycotoxin accumulation.
A rapid method of estimating catches of abundant fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in modified Steiner traps
Authors: Raghu S , Hulsman K , Clarke AR , Drew Rai 
Published: July 2002

AbstractMales of many fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) are responsive to lures and these are used in modified Steiner traps for the regular monitoring of populations of fruit flies. Unfortunately, male lures are so attractive to many species of fruit fly that even weekly collections can produce catches of many hundreds of flies from a single trap. To help facilitate the assessment of trap catches in cases such as this, we compared total fly counts from real trap catches with various manual and computer‐simulated subsamples of those catches. Based on computer simulations, subsamples of 75, 100 and 200 flies accurately reflected the frequency of different fruit fly species in the original trap catch (mean trap catch size = 617.42 ± 53.72 SD flies, n = 26 weekly trap catches). However, based on the Chi‐squared analysis, subsample sizes of less than 200 individuals run the risk of being statistically unreliable. Subsamples based on weight were found to be just as accurate as subsamples where flies were drawn individually from the parent sample and thus offer a rapid method of producing accurate subsamples. Rare species were not well represented at any of the three subsample sizes and if the object of a program is to record rare species, then subsampling is not recommended. Where abundant species are the focus of a trapping program, subsampling offers a statistically reliable and time saving approach for assessing trap‐catch.
Change in the ratio of free‐to‐total prostate‐specific antigen during progression of advanced prostate cancer
Authors: TANAKA MASASHI , MURAKAMI SHINO , SUZUKI NORIYUKI , SHIMAZAKI JUN 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Background
: The ratio of free‐to‐total prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) is different in benign prostatic hyperplasia and in the early stage of prostate cancer. The present study was undertaken to examine the ratio of free‐to‐total PSA in the advanced stage of this cancer and its subsequent change during course of the disease.
Methods
: Free and total PSA were measured in sera collected from the following patients with benign and cancerous prostatic diseases: 47 cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy, nine in T1C with less than 10 ng/mL of total PSA, 11 in stage C, 16 in D2, 22 in remission under endocrine therapy, and 12 in relapse. In addition, PSA was measured sequentially in four other patients who were also in relapse.
Results
: The ratio of free‐to‐total PSA was similar in early and advanced stages of untreated prostate cancer and was lower than that in benign prostatic hyperplasia. The ratio increased to the level of benign prostatic hyperplasia during remission from stages C and D2 under endocrine therapy. There was no correlation with the intervals from the start of the therapy to examination. Following relapse, the ratio came down gradually to the level obtained in untreated prostate cancer.
Conclusion
: The ratio of free‐to‐total PSA was similar in all stages of untreated prostate cancer. Response and relapse to endocrine therapy were associated with increase and decrease in ratio, respectively.
Lipid lowering explains the insulin sensitivity enhancing effects of a thiazolidinedione, 5‐(4‐(2‐(2‐phenyl‐4‐oxazolyl)ethoxy)benzyl)‐2,4 thiazolidinedione*
Authors: Yakubu‐Madus F. E. , Stephens T. W. , Johnson W. T. 
Published: July 2002

Summary Aim: Insulin resistance is a characteristic feature of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The present study examined the effects of TZD300512, a thiazolidinedione, on glucose and lipid metabolism in the fatty Zucker rat (fa/fa), a rat model of insulin resistance. Methods: TZD300512 was administered (2.0 mg/kg/day) in the diet for 1 week to chronically catheterized Zucker fa/fa rats. We measured triglyceride clearance rate and hepatic triglyceride output. We assessed baseline glucose metabolism, and insulin‐mediated glucose uptake. We also determined whether the insulin sensitivity enhancing effects of TZD300512 could be reversed by infusion of Intralipid. Results: TZD300512 treatment markedly reduced fasting plasma triglyceride by 72% and non‐esterified free fatty acids by 46%. Moreover, treatment significantly enhanced plasma triglyceride clearance (AUC; 60.36 ± 11.50 v 131.44 ± 18.45 m
m/min), but hepatic triglyceride output was not altered. Drug treatment significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose by 25%, plasma insulin by 73%, and had no effect on glucagon levels. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) needed to maintain euglycemia during hyperinsulinemic clamp was significantly increased from 34.96 ± 3.94 μmol/kg/min to 123.80 ± 4.80 μmol/kg/min, while whole body glucose uptake was more than doubled (58.49 ± 2.86 control vs. 126.97 ± 3.8 treated μmol/kg/min). Insulin‐induced suppression of hepatic glucose production was nearly complete with treatment. Intralipid infusion reversed drug‐induced improvement in insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: These results suggest that TZD300512‐favourable alterations in lipid metabolism have a significant impact on its effectiveness in enhancing insulin sensitivity in a severely insulin resistant rodent model of type 2 diabetes.
Acarbose treatment does not change the habitual diet of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Lindström J. , Tuomilehto J. , Spengler M. , Group For The Finnish Acarbose Study 
Published: July 2002

Summary Aims It has been speculated that acarbose treatment in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus might induce changes in diet as a result of its adverse gastrointestinal effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether poor metabolic control can be improved by acarbose, and whether this might be because the acarbose supplementation provokes changes in diet. Methods Poorly controlled Type 2 diabetic patients treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) were randomized into either acarbose (100 mg t.d.s.) or placebo treatment. The double‐blind treatment lasted for 24 weeks. Four‐day food diaries and blood samples for efficacy analysis were collected at 0, 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Thirty‐six acarbose and 39 placebo‐treated patients completed the trial and were included in the final analyses. Results At 24 weeks the baseline adjusted means of fasting, 1 and 2‐h postprandial blood glucose values were 9.3 vs. 10.5 (P = 0.02), 11.6 vs. 14.5 (P < 0.001) and 11.0 vs. 13.7 mmol/l (P < 0.001) and HbA1 9.3% vs. 10.2% (P = 0.002) in the acarbose and placebo groups, respectively. No significant differences in nutrient intakes between groups were observed. The energy intake and energy proportion of fat and carbohydrates remained unchanged in both groups. Conclusions Acarbose significantly improves metabolic control in Type 2 diabetic patients poorly controlled with oral hypoglycaemic agents. This effect seems not to be a result of concomitant involuntary dietary changes, since acarbose did not induce modifications in diet during the study.
Women with a history of gestational diabetes of European and South Asian origin are shorter than women with normal glucose tolerance in pregnancy
Authors: Kousta E. , Lawrence N. J. , Penny A. , Millauer B. A. , Robinson S. , Johnston D. G. , McCarthy M. I. 
Published: July 2002

SUMMARY Aims  It has been reported that short individuals are more likely to have abnormalities of glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between adult height and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), taking into account possible artefactual or confounding explanations.Methods  Three hundred and forty‐six women with previous GDM (169 European, 102 South Asian, 75 Afro‐Caribbean) and 470 control women with no previous history of GDM (282 European, 94 South Asian and 94 Afro‐Caribbean) were studied. Post‐partum glucose status and height were measured.Results  European and South Asian women with previous GDM were shorter than control women from the same ethnic groups (European: (mean ± sd) 162.9 ± 6.1 vs. 165.3 ± 6.8 cm, P < 0.0001; South Asian: 155.2 ± 5.4 vs. 158.2 ± 6.3 cm, P = 0.003, adjusted for age). A similar, but non‐significant trend was observed among Afro‐Caribbean women (162.2 ± 6.2 vs. 163.7 ± 6.1 cm, P = 0.1). Similar, significant height differences were observed in Europeans and South Asians when analysis was restricted to those GDM women who had received insulin during pregnancy. There was no association between height and glucose tolerance post‐partum within the GDM group.Conclusions  European and South Asian women with previous GDM are shorter than control women from the same ethnic groups. The data demonstrate that this is unlikely to be an artefact resulting from the use of an fixed 75 g load in women of differing sizes, and suggest that there are likely to be common pathophysiological mechanisms underlying GDM and the determination of final adult height.
Prenatal diagnosis of the two‐vessel cord: implications for patient counselling and obstetric management
Authors: Catanzarite V. A. , Hendricks S. K. , Maida C. , Westbrook C. , Cousins L. , Schrimmer D. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe study was designed to investigate the implications of the sonographic diagnosis of the two‐vessel umbilical cord for patient counselling and pregnancy management. Retrospective analysis was carried out of prenatal findings and pregnancy outcomes when a two‐vessel cord was diagnosed in utero. Eighty‐two fetuses each with a single umbilical artery were diagnosed by ultrasound. Ten were aneuploid, including nine with visible structural defects and one with early onset intrauterine growth retardation. Of the remaining 72, 31 had other anomalies diagnosed postnatally; 27 of these had structural defects detected on ultrasound examination. However, in nine of these 27 sonographically abnormal fetuses, one or more major structural defects were missed by ultrasound examination. Among the 45 chromosomally normal fetuses with no visible defects on scan, four had anomalies diagnosed after birth.Among the chromosomally normal singletons, six of 22 with other anomalies seen on scan and seven of 38 with no other visible defects on scan had intrauterine growth retardation. Among chromosomally normal twins, one of two with other anomalies seen and two of five appearing otherwise normal had intrauterine growth retardation; one twin set was delivered at 23 weeks after the demise of both twins.Karyo typing is recommended whenever a two‐ vessel cord is seen in association with symmetric intrauterine growth retardation or any other defect. The fetus diagnosed with a two‐vessel cord and any other anomaly by ultrasound often has additional structural defects not seen on scan. The fetus with an isolated two‐vessel cord on scan seldom has unrecognized major anomalies, but is at risk for intrauterine growth retardation. Copyright © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Anion binding in bovine corneal stroma
Authors: Kerswell Douglas H. , Hodson Stuart A. 
Published: July 2002

Purpose: The corneal stroma strives to take up water because of the osmotic gradient created by fixed negative charges within the stroma. This fixed negative charge is known to be partly due to glycosaminoglycans and thought to be partly due to bound Cl− ions in the stroma. This study investigates the presence of anion binding within bovine stroma.Methods: Bovine corneas were isolated, de‐epithelialized and de‐endothelialized. The stromal uptake of NaCl, NaAcetate, NaThiocyanate and NaHCO3 solutions at various concentrations was observed using a digital balance. The dry weight of each cornea was noted. Stromal hydrations were calculated and analysed.Results: As the bathing solution concentration increased, for all solutions there was a significant increase in the calculated fixed negative charge values obtained. At physiological concentration of NaCl (150 mM), the fixed negative charge was calculated to be 39.98 ± 1.05 mEq 1−1. For NaAcetate, NaThiocyanate and NaHCO3 at 150 mM the fixed negative charge was calculated to be 38.64 ± 0.51, 43.62 ± 0.51 and 41.98 ± 0.65 mEq 1−1 respectively (n = 10, ± SEM).Conclusions: The degree of anion binding in bovine corneal stroma varies from anion to anion and is dependent on the external bathing solution concentration. At 150 mM, the binding series from this study is NaThiocyanate > NaHCO3 > NaCl > NaAcetate.
The low vision distance telescope‐‐how useful an aid?
Authors: Rubinstein Martin P. , Lowe John B. 
Published: July 2002

It is axiomatic that success in the use of any low vision aid depends largely upon the user's qualities of adaptability and skill. Distance telescopic aids, in particular, produce images with characteristics that are especially demanding of these qualities. Although patients appear largely content to accept their distance telescopes, a survey of individual successes and failures has not been reported.In the low vision service at University Hospital, Nottingham, 2695 patients were examined over a nine year period (January 1987–December 1995). Of these, 142 patients (5.3%) were supplied with distance telescopes. This sample consisted of 83 males and 59 females. The age range was between 9–91 years. A total of 9 patients had returned their telescopes because they no longer needed them.The remaining 133 patients were mailed a pilot questionnaire, aimed at evaluating their use of the telescope. Respondents to this were mailed a second, more detailed questionnaire, designed to examine in greater detail the individual's use of the appliance, their satisfaction with its performance etc.A total of 74/133 patients (56%) returned detailed questionnaires completed with quantifiable information.Statistical analysis showed:1. Patients who found the telescopes easiest to use tended to use them most frequently2. Monocularity tended to become commoner with ageBut, adaptability and skill did not appear significantly compromised by:3. Increasing age4. Monocularity/binocularity status.Fuller details of the results of this survey will be given in the poster.
Far-ultraviolet absolute reflectometer for optical constant determination of ultrahigh vacuum prepared thin films
Authors: Aznárez J. A. , Larruquert J. I. , Méndez J. A. 
Published: July 2002

An absolute reflectometer is described, which can determine the optical constants of thin films prepared and maintained in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) in the 30–200 nm far-ultraviolet (FUV) region. The optical constants are calculated with Fresnel equations from reflectance measurements as a function of the incidence angle, which can be continuously varied from near-normal to grazing incidence. Corrections for the surface roughness effects of both the deposited film and the substrate on the reflectance in the calculation of optical constants were incorporated. The surface roughness was determined by atomic force microscopy. An innovative feature of the instrument is an oxidation chamber containing an atomic oxygen source attached to the reflectometer. Inside this chamber the FUV reflectance degradation of materials, caused by oxidation processes in low earth orbits, can be simulated on freshly prepared UHV samples. Another improvement of the reflectometer is the capability of performing the reflectance measurements in two perpendicular incidence planes. The average of these measurements obviates the unknown of the polarization state of the light beam emerging from the monochromator. However, this averaging may become inexact in the presence of a lateral inversion error in the reflected beam caused by the lack of uniformity of the beam and the detector.
A modification in the calculation algorithm was introduced to reduce the influence of this error. The implementation of a differential pressure system in four stages and a specifically designed device for modulation and monitoring of the light beam has allowed the use of weak spectral lines and the continuum of helium from the emission of a windowless capillary discharge lamp. Some results of reflectance measurements on freshly prepared aluminum films and after exposure to controlled doses of atomic oxygen are presented.
Interplay of Jahn–Teller and pseudo-Jahn–Teller vibronic dynamics in the benzene cation
Authors: Köppel H. , Cederbaum L. S. , Domcke W. 
Published: July 2002

The static and dynamic aspects of the vibronic interaction of the B̃ 2E2g and C̃ 2A2u electronic states of C6H+6 are analyzed. In the approximation of linear vibrational and vibronic coupling, the model Hamiltonian for this system comprises eight nonseparable vibrational modes, six of which are degenerate (two of A1g symmetry, four of E2g symmetry, and two of E2u symmetry). The coupling constants are estimated from existing ab initio SCF and semiempirical (CNDO/S) calculations. The topology of the adiabatic potential-energy surfaces of this class of model Hamiltonians is investigated. It is shown that the model exhibits a variety of conical intersections which dominate the vibronic dynamics. The dynamical problem is solved with simultanteous inclusion of six vibrational modes, four of which are degenerate (the Jahn–Teller coupling of two of the E2g modes is negligible). Hamiltonian matrices with dimensions up to 6×106 are diagonalized using the Lanczos algorithm. After some adjustments of coupling constants, the calculation reproduces well the complex structure of the overlapping B̃ 2E2g–C̃ 2A2u bands in the photoelectron spectrum of benzene. The vibronic structure of the lower-energy E2g band is dominated by a two-mode Jahn–Teller effect in the B̃ state. At higher energy, the marked diffuseness of the ‘‘C̃ 2A2u band’’ is shown to be a consequence of complete vibronic mixing with the lower-lying B̃ state. Based on the
numerical solution of the full problem, the reliability of approximations (neglect of nonseparability of modes, introduction of a single effective pseudo-Jahn–Teller mode) is assessed. A time-dependent analysis reveals an ultrafast decay of the population of the C̃ state on a time scale of about 20 fs, followed by quasiperiodic recurrences which are damped on a time scale of a few hundred femtoseconds. These findings underline the importance of conical intersections and strong nonadiabatic effects also for larger molecules such as aromatic hydrocarbons. They demonstrate that nowadays a full quantum treatment is feasible also for these larger systems.