ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2008
Makoto MIYAJI
ABSTRACT Six Thoroughbred horses were used to determine the mean retention time (MRT) of digesta in the different segments of the hindgut. The horses were fed timothy hay or silage in equal amounts (1.6% bodyweight [BW]/day) every 3 h/day. Hay or silage labeled with the rare earth elements cerium, dysprosium, neodymium, ytterbium, lanthanum, samarium and praseodymium, were fed to the horses 36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 6 and 3 h before slaughter, respectively. Just after slaughter, digesta samples in the different segments were collected and determined for the contents of the rare earth elements. Using these data, a method to calculate the MRT in the different segments was proposed. There were no significant differences between diets in the MRT of each segment. The averaged MRT of hay and silage in the cecum, right ventral colon, left ventral colon, left dorsal colon, right dorsal colon and small colon was 2.9, 3.1, 5.9, 1.0, 4.0, and 4.0 h, respectively. The dry matter weight of the digesta was related to the MRT in the right ventral colon (r = 0.94, P = 0.005), left ventral colon (r = 0.87, P = 0.03), left dorsal colon (r = 0.98, P < 0.001) and right dorsal colon (r = 0.95, P = 0.004), but it was not related to the MRT in the cecum and small colon. [source]

Oxidative Stress Alters Creatine Kinase System in Serum and Brain Regions of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (Aroclor 1254)-Exposed Rats: Protective Role of Melatonin

BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Prabhu Venkataraman
Creatine kinase plays a key role in energy metabolism of nervous tissue and might be one of the targets for reactive oxygen species. Melatonin, an indoleamine, plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases as an antioxidant and neuroprotector. The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective role of melatonin on polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1254)-induced oxidative stress and the changes in creatine kinase activity in brain regions of adult rats. Group I: rats were intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered with corn oil (vehicle) for 30 days. Group II: rats injected i.p. with Aroclor 1254 at 2 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day for 30 days. Groups III and IV: rats i.p. received melatonin (5 or 10 mg/kg bw/day) simultaneously with Aroclor 1254 for 30 days. After 30 days, rats were killed and the brain regions were dissected to cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. Lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were determined. The activity of creatine kinase was assayed in serum and brain regions, and its isoenzymes in serum were separated electrophoretically. Activity of creatine kinase was decreased while an increase in H2O2, hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxidation was observed in brain regions of polychlorinated biphenyl-treated rats. Also polychlorinated biphenyl exposure showed a significant increase in serum creatine kinase level and its isoforms such as BB-creatine kinase, MB-creatine kinase, and MM-creatine kinase. Administration of melatonin prevented these alterations induced by polychlorinated biphenyl by its free radical scavenging mechanism. Thus, polychlorinated biphenyl alters creatine kinase activity by inducing oxidative stress in brain regions, which can be protected by melatonin. [source]

Treatment of incontinence after prostatectomy using a new minimally invasive device: adjustable continence therapy

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2005
Wilhelm A. Hübner
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new minimally invasive urological implant for incontinence after prostatectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS The adjustable continence therapy device (ProACTTM, Uromedica, Plymouth, MN, USA) consists of two balloons placed via a perineal approach bilaterally at the bladder neck in patients after prostatectomy. Titanium ports, attached via discrete tubing to each balloon, are placed in the scrotum, allowing for separate volume adjustments of the balloons at any time during and after surgery. Changes in a quality-of-life questionnaire (I-QoL), pad usage and a subjective continence grading score were assessed in 117 consecutive men after implanting the Pro-ACT, at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. RESULTS After a mean (range) follow-up of 13 (3,54) months and with a mean of 3 (0,15) adjustments, 67% of men were dry, using at most one ,security' pad daily; 92% were significantly improved, and 8% showed no improvement. The I-QoL score improved from a median of 34.7 to 66.3 after 2 years (42 men; P <,0.001), the daily pad count decreased from a mean of 6 (1,24)/day to 1 (0,6)/day at 2 years (P < 0.001). Continence achieved at ,,6 months after implantation through incremental adjustment remained durable at ,,2 years in most patients. There were complications during and after surgery in 54 patients, mostly minor and decreasing with increasing expertise, primarily reflecting the development and refinement of the new surgical technique and its instrumentation. Re-implantation for complications was required in 32 patients, with a 75% success rate. CONCLUSIONS The ProACT peri-urethral prosthesis produces durable outcomes equivalent or better than other minimally invasive treatments for incontinence after prostatectomy. Its unique design allows for easy adjustment after surgery to achieve the desired urethral resistance, with no further surgical intervention, thus allowing for an optimum balance between voiding pressures and continence. The promising results reported here suggest that this may be an appropriate, effective and durable first-line treatment to offer men with stress urinary incontinence after prostatectomy. [source]

Total fluoride intake in children aged 22,35 months in four Colombian cities

COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
Ángela M. Franco
Abstract , Objective: To obtain information on the level of total fluoride intake from food, beverages and toothpaste by children at the age of 22,25 months of low and high socioeconomic status (SES) in major Colombian cities. Methods:, Daily fluoride intake was assessed by the duplicate plate method and by recovered toothpaste solution during a 3-day period and afterwards analysed by the microdiffusion method. Results:, Mean daily fluoride intake was 0.11 (±0.10), 0.14 (±0.12), 0.10 (±0.07) and 0.07 (±0.06) mg/kg body weight (bw)/day in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Cartagena, respectively. The total fluoride intake was higher in low-SES subjects in the cities of Medellín and Bogotá. In the high-SES children of the four cities, the average intakes ranged from 0.06 to 0.09 mg F/kg bw, whereas, the low-SES children in three cities had intakes between 0.11 and 0.21 mg F/kg bw (Cartagena, 0.07). Toothpaste (containing 1000,1500 ppm F, with 1500 ppm F being more common) accounted for approximately 70% of total fluoride intake, followed by food (24%) and beverages (<6%). More than half the children had their teeth brushed by an adult, on average twice a day, using 0.22,0.65 g of toothpaste. Conclusion:, Children from three Colombian cities have a mean total daily fluoride intake above the ,optimal range'. Health authorities should promote an appropriate use of fluoridated dentifrices discouraging the use of dentifrices containing 1500 ppm F in children younger than 6 years of age and promoting a campaign of education of parents and oral health professionals on adequate toothbrushing practices. [source]

Effect of Snow Cover Conditions on the Hydrologic Regime: Case Study in a Pluvial-Nival Watershed, Japan,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 4 2008
Andrew C. Whitaker
Abstract:, Hydrologic monitoring in a small forested and mountainous headwater basin in Niigata Prefecture has been undertaken since 2000. An important characteristic of the basin is that the hydrologic regime contains pluvial elements year-round, including rain-on-snow, in addition to spring snowmelt. We evaluated the effect of different snow cover conditions on the hydrologic regime by analyzing observed data in conjunction with model simulations of the snowpack. A degree-day snow model is presented and applied to the study basin to enable estimation of the basin average snow water equivalent using air temperature at three representative elevations. Analysis of hydrological time series data and master recession curves showed that flow during the snowmelt season was generated by a combination of ground water flow having a recession constant of 0.018/day and diurnal melt water flow having a recession constant of 0.015/hour. Daily flows during the winter/snowmelt season showed greater persistence than daily flows during the warm season. The seasonal water balance indicated that the ratio of runoff to precipitation during the cold season (December to May) was about 90% every year. Seasonal snowpack plays an important role in defining the hydrologic regime, with winter precipitation and snowmelt runoff contributing about 65% of the annual runoff. The timing of the snowmelt season, indicated by the date of occurrence of the first significant snowmelt event, was correlated with the occurrence of low flow events. Model simulations showed that basin average snow water equivalent reached a peak around mid-February to mid-March, although further validation of the model is required at high elevation sites. [source]

The use of high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of the chest in evaluating the effect of tobramycin solution for inhalation in cystic fibrosis lung disease,

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
Samya Z. Nasr MD
Abstract Objectives To compare the usefulness of HRCT of the chest versus spirometric measures (PFTs) in evaluating the effect of tobramycin solution for inhalation (TSI) in cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods Thirty-two CF patients with mostly mild lung disease age ,6 years, were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Patients were chronically colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa for at least 6 months prior to and at enrollment. If patients were on TSI, they were taken off for at least 3 months prior to enrollment. Duration was 6 months; 31 subjects completed the study. HRCT and PFTs were evaluated at baseline, after 28 days of treatment and at the end of the study. Study medication was administered as 5,ml nebulized treatment twice a day for 28 days followed by 28 days off (one cycle). Study consisted of three cycles. Two radiologists scored all films using a validated system. A total HRCT score consists of the sum of subscores: linear opacities, hyperinflation, nodular opacities, peribronchial thickening, mucous plugging, and bronchiectasis; each subscore could range from 0 to 80, with potential total scores varying from 0 to 480. The percent of the maximum possible HRCT score was then calculated and used for all comparisons. Results Using two tailed paired t -test, the percent maximum HRCT score decreased by 1.4,±,2.6% (mean,±,SD) (P,=,0.049) and 0.3,±,2.8% (P,=,0.63) for the TSI group and decreased by 0.1,±,1.5% (P,=,0.74) and increased by 0.6,±,1.8% (P,=,0.23) for the placebo group between visits 1 and 2, and visits 1 and 3, respectively. The data were then analyzed using a mixed model utilizing changes in scores over the durations of the study for each group. The change of HRCT score for the TSI group was ,0.24/day (P,=,0.02) and ,0.03/day (P,=,0.22), and for the control group the change was ,0.01 (P,=,0.93) and 0.02 (P,=,0.29) between visits 1 and 2, and visits 1 and 3 respectively. FEF25,75% and FEV1% changes were not statistically significant using both analyses. Conclusion HRCT seems to be more sensitive in detecting treatment effect than PFT in CF patients with mild lung disease, especially following the first treatment period (visit 2). Total HRCT score showed some improvement at the end of the study, though not statistically significant. This is probably due to obtaining the HRCT an average of 30 days after completion of the TSI treatment, and selection of study population with mostly mild lung disease. This could indicate that the most significant improvement in the total HRCT score in this patient population occurs after the first treatment period with TSI. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:440,449. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

A high-rate perfusion bioreactor for plant cells

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 6 2006
C. De Dobbeleer
Abstract A perfusion bioreactor allowing continuous extraction of secondary metabolites was designed and challenged for Eschscholtzia californica plant cell suspensions. Four sedimentation columns mounted inside a 2.5-L bioreactor separated single cells and cell aggregates from the culture medium. Cells were elicited with chitin at day 4 and the liquid medium free of cells and debris was then continuously pumped to the extraction columns containing fluidized XAD-7 resins, and then recirculated back to the cell suspension. A medium upward velocity corresponding to cell sedimentation velocity maintained a stable cell/medium separation front in the columns for sedimented cell volume (SCV) of 90% (70% packed cell volume, PCV). Two perfusion bioreactor cultures of 10 and 14 days were performed. A maximum dilution rate of 20.4/day was reached from day 4 to day 6, and was then reduced to 5/day at day 9 for 55% SCV. Control cultures were performed without and with free extraction resins into the cell suspension. Perfusion cultures showed similar specific growth rates of 0.24,±,0.04/day before and after elicitation. However, production level in the perfusion cultures was similar to that from the culture without resins with a maximum of 2.06 µmole/gDW total alkaloids, with 1.54 µmole/gDW in the resins. Cultures with free resins resulted in 30.94 µmole/gDW with 28.4,±,8.8 µmole/gDW in the resins. Difference in the cells nutritional state from elicitation was identified as a major cause in the production reduction. However, pathway to chelilutine was favored in the continuous extraction culture. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Validity of methyl mercury hair analysis: mercury monitoring in human scalp/nude mouse model

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
Grazyna Zareba
Abstract Objective. The grafting of human scalp hair was used as a new application of this method to explore methyl mercury incorporation into human hair and to validate this model for mercury monitoring in hair. Methods. Human scalp grafts were transplanted to athymic BALB/c nude mice. The animals were exposed to methyl mercury either as a single dose i.p. or continuously for 4 months, using ALZET osmotic pumps. The mercury concentration in hair was determined using x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry by segmental (2 mm) analysis of a single strand, and tissue concentrations were measured by cold vapor atomic absorption analysis. Results. Human scalp hair grown in nude mice showed long-term persistence of human features including the expression of histocompatibility antigens (KAB 3, W 6/32, SF 1-1.1.1) and normal hair morphometry. The disposition of methyl mercury in nude mice followed a one-compartment model with a whole body elimination half-life of 6.7 days (elimination constant, k = 0.1/day). Autoradiographic studies revealed that methyl mercury was rapidly incorporated into areas of the hair follicle undergoing active keratinization. Methyl mercury concentrations in human hair transplanted onto nude mice were two orders of magnitude higher than in blood and attained a mean hair: blood ratio of 217 : 1, similar to ratios reported only in human studies. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that human hair grown on nude mice can record the level of exposure to methyl mercury and can serve as a valuable research tool to study mercury incorporation into human hair. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Life table and heat tolerance of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in subtropical Taiwan

ENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008
Wei-Nung LU
Abstract The effect of temperature on the life table of Acyrthosiphon pisum reared on Pisum sativum was evaluated under laboratory conditions using temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C. The development time of juvenile A. pisum decreased with increasing temperature (from 21.3 days at 10°C to 4.7 days at 35°C). Adult longevity also decreased with increasing temperature (from 53.2 days at 10°C to 2.3 days at 35°C). Interestingly, 70% and 25% of A. pisum nymphs reared at 30°C and 35°C, respectively, successfully developed into adults. These temperatures have previously been considered unsuitable for A. pisum development. However, adult aphids reared at 30°C and 35°C failed to reproduce. Linear regression analysis revealed that the lower development threshold of A. pisum was 153.1 degree-days above 1.9°C. Maximal average reproductive capability was observed at 10°C for A. pisum adults, with each adult producing more than 120 nymphs. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of A. pisum increased from 0.124/day at 10°C to 0.337/day at 25°C, whereas opposite trends were observed for the net reproductive rate (R0) and the mean generation time (GT). At 20°C and 25°C, the intrinsic rate of increase of A. pisum was significantly higher than at 10°C and 15°C (P < 0.0001), indicating that 20°C and 25°C are within the optimal range for the growth of A. pisum, and that 30°C is beyond the upper threshold limit for reproduction, which involves a temperature range that is narrower than that of the survival range (upper limit is unknown, but above 35°C). [source]

Feeding by the Pfiesteria -Like Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate Luciella masanensis

THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
HAE JIN JEONG
ABSTRACT. To explore the feeding ecology of the Pfiesteria -like dinoflagellate (PLD) Luciella masanensis (GenBank Accession no. AM050344, previously Lucy), we investigated the feeding behavior and the kinds of prey species that L. masanensis fed on and determined its growth and ingestion rates of L. masanensis when it fed on the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae and an unidentified cryptophyte species (equivalent spherical diam., ESD=5.6 ,m), which were the dominant phototrophic species when L. masanensis and similar small heterotrophic dinoflagellates were abundant in Masan Bay, Korea in 2005. Additionally, these parameters were also measured for L. masanensis fed on blood cells of the perch Lateolabrax japonicus and the raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo in the laboratory. Luciella masanensis fed on prey cells by using a peduncle after anchoring the prey with tow filament, and was able to feed on diverse prey such as cryptophytes, raphidophytes, diatoms, mixotrophic dinoflagellates, and the blood cells of fish and humans. Among the prey species tested in the present study, perch blood cells were observed to be the optimal prey for L. masanensis. Specific growth rates of L. masanensis feeding on perch blood cells, A. carterae, H. akashiwo, and the cryptophyte, either increased continuously or became saturated with increasing the mean prey concentration. The maximum specific growth rate of L. masanensis feeding on perch blood cells (1.46/day) was much greater than that of A. carterae (0.59/day), the cryptophyte (0.24/day), or H. akashiwo (0.20/day). The maximum ingestion rate of L. masanensis on perch blood cells (2.6 ng C/grazer/day) was also much higher than that of A. carterae (0.32 ng C/grazer/day), the cryptophyte (0.44 ng C/grazer/day), or H. akashiwo (0.16 ng C/grazer/day). The kinds of prey species which L. masanensis is able to feed on were the same as those of Pfiesteria piscicida, but very different from those of another PLD Stoeckeria algicida. However, the maximum growth and ingestion rates of L. masanensis on perch blood cells, A. carterae, H. akashiwo, and the cryptophyte were considerably lower than those of P. piscicida. Therefore, these three dinoflagellates may occupy different ecological niches in marine planktonic communities, even though they have a similar size and shape and the same feeding mechanisms. [source]

The use of high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of the chest in evaluating the effect of tobramycin solution for inhalation in cystic fibrosis lung disease,

Feeding by the Pfiesteria -Like Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate Luciella masanensis

The rate of apoptosis in post mitotic neutrophil precursors of normal and neutropenic humans

CELL PROLIFERATION, Issue 1 2003
M. C. Mackey
Using data on the fraction of post-mitotic neutrophil precursors (CD15+ cells) displaying positive markers for apoptosis in 12 normal humans, and a simple mathematical model, we have estimated the apoptotic rate to be about 0.28/day in this compartment. This implies that the influx of myelocytes into the post-mitotic compartment exceeds twice the granulocyte turnover rate (GTR), and that about 55% of the cells entering this compartment die before being released into the blood. The normal half life of apoptotic post-mitotic neutrophil precursors is calculated to be 10.4 h. Comparable calculations for patients indicate apoptosis rates in the post-mitotic compartment of about 17 times normal for one myelokathexis patient and rates of about 13 times normal for the one cyclical neutropenic patient and two severe congenital neutropenic patients. The estimated half life for apoptotic post-mitotic neutrophil precursors in the myelokathexis patient was about 0.4 h, 1.4 h in the cyclical neutropenia patient, and about 0.6 h in the severe congenital neutropenic patients. [source]

Life table and heat tolerance of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in subtropical Taiwan

Feeding by the Pfiesteria -Like Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate Luciella masanensis

Increased patient co-payments and changes in PBS-subsidised prescription medicines dispensed in Western Australia

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 3 2009
Anna Hynd
Abstract Objective: To determine whether a 24% increase in patient co-payments in January 2005 and two related co-payment changes for medicines subsidised under the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) were associated with changes in dispensings in Western Australia (WA). Method: We analysed aggregate monthly prescription counts and defined daily dose per 1,000 population per day (DDD/1,000/day) for atypical antipsychotics, combination asthma medicines, HmgCoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). Trends pre and post the co-payment increase in January 2005 were compared. Results: In three of the four categories examined, prescription counts were significantly lower following the increase in co-payment thresholds. Compared with dispensings prior to the co-payment increase, prescriptions fell by 8% for combination asthma medicines (p<0.001), 9% for PPIs (p<0.001) and 5% for statins (p<0.001). Following the rise in co-payments, DDD/1,000/day decreased for all four categories. Decreases in dispensings to concessional beneficiaries were between 4% and 5% larger than for general beneficiary patients. Conclusions and Implications: The reduction in the both prescription counts and DDD/1,000/day observed for combination asthma medicines, PPIs and statins, which all remained above co-payment thresholds, suggests the increase in PBS co-payments has affected utilisation of these subsidised medicines. The results indicate that increases in patient contributions particularly impact on concessional patients' ability to afford prescription medicines. [source]

Feeding by the Pfiesteria -Like Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate Luciella masanensis

Maternal Self-Report of Oral Health in 4-Year-Old Pacific Children from South Auckland, New Zealand: Findings from the Pacific Islands Families Study

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2007
Philip J. Schluter PhD
Abstract Objectives: To report on the oral health risk in a disadvantaged group of 4-year-old Pacific children and their mothers living in South Auckland, New Zealand. Methods: The Pacific Islands Families study follows a cohort of Pacific infants born in 2000. Maternal self-report of mother and child's oral health practices and child's filling and extraction experience was undertaken at interview approximately 4 years postpartum. Results: Overall, 1,048 mothers of children were interviewed. Children's reported oral health practices were generally poor, with 47 percent brushing ,1/day, 47 percent having no adult assistance with brushing, 57 percent routinely snacking or drinking immediately prior to bed, and 26 percent yet to receive their first dental checkup. Maternal practices were also poor, with 34 percent brushing ,1/day and 50 percent having never seen or last visiting a dentist over 5 years ago. Significant differences were seen in many practices between the major ethnic subgroups. Of children attending the school dental service, 22 percent were reported having at least one filling and/or extraction. In multivariable analyses, variables corresponding to mother's toothbrushing frequency, child snacking or drinking prior to bed, and duration of breastfeeding were significantly associated with reported filling and/or extraction experience; but no difference was seen between the three major maternal ethnic subgroups. Conclusions: Many mothers and their Pacific children have poor basic oral hygiene and dietary practices that increase the oral health risk in these children. Culturally appropriate and targeted strategies aimed at these modifiable practices need to be widely promoted so that the oral health burden carried by Pacific children can be reduced. [source]

Prospective study of 5-year caries increment among children receiving comprehensive dental care in the New England children's amalgam trial

COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
Nancy Nairi Maserejian
Abstract,,, Objective:, To measure the 5-year caries increment among high-risk children during their participation in the New England Children's Amalgam Trial (NECAT), and to evaluate sociodemographic factors that may account for any observed disparities. Methods:, NECAT recruited 534 children aged 6,10 with at least two decayed posterior occlusal surfaces from urban Boston and rural Maine. After restoration of baseline caries and application of sealants to sound surfaces, NECAT continued to provide free comprehensive semiannual dental care to participants. The net caries increment of children who completed the 5-year follow-up (n = 429) was calculated and predictors of caries increment were investigated using multivariate negative binomial models. Results:, The majority of children (89%) experienced new caries by the end of the 5-year follow-up. Almost half (45%) had at least one newly decayed surface by the first annual visit. At year 5, the mean number of new decayed teeth was 4.5 ± 3.6 (range 0,25) and surfaces was 6.9 ± 6.5 (range 0,48). Time trends showed a noticeably higher increment rate among older children and young teenagers. Multivariate models showed that age (P < 0.001), number of baseline carious surfaces (P < 0.001), and toothbrushing frequency (<1/day versus ,2/day, P = 0.04) were associated with caries increment. Only 48 children (11%) did not develop new caries. Conclusions:, Despite the receipt of comprehensive semiannual dental care, the vast majority of these high-risk children continued to develop new caries within 5 years. While disparities were observed by age, extent of prior decay, and toothbrushing frequency, no other sociodemographic factors were associated with caries increment, suggesting that the dental care provided during the trial reduced sociodemographic disparities in prior caries experience that were observed at baseline. [source]

Measurement of pulmonary surfactant disaturated-phosphatidylcholine synthesis in human infants using deuterium incorporation from body water

JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 7 2005
Paola E. Cogo
Abstract The aim of the study was to determine surfactant palmitate disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC-PA) synthesis in vivo in humans by the incorporation of deuterium from total body water into DSPC-PA under steady state condition. We studied three newborns and one infant (body weight (BW) 4.6 ± 2.9 kg, gestational age 37.5 ± 2 weeks, age 9 ± 9 days) and four preterm newborns (BW 1.3 ± 0.6 kg, gestational age 30.3 ± 2.5 weeks, postnatal age 8.8 ± 9.2 h). All infants were mechanically ventilated during the study and the four preterm infants received exogenous surfactant at the start of the study. We administered 0.44 g 2H2O/kg BW as a bolus intravenously, followed by 0.0125 g 2H2O/kg BW every 6 h to maintain deuterium enrichment at plateau over 2 days. Urine samples and tracheal aspirates (TA) were obtained prior to dosing and every 6 h thereafter. Isotopic enrichment curves of DSPC-PA from sequential TA and urine deuterium enrichments were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Isotope Ratio,Mass Spectrometry (GC-IRMS) and normalized for Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water. Enrichment data were used to measure DSPC-PA fractional synthesis rate (FSR) from the linear portion of the DSPC-PA enrichment rise over time, relative to plateau enrichment of urine deuterium. Secretion time (ST) was defined as the time lag between the start of the study and the appearance of DSPC-PA deuterium enrichment in TA. Data were given as mean ± SD. All study infants reached deuterium-steady state in urine. DSPC-PA FSR was 6.5 ± 2.8%/day (range 2.6,10.2). FSR for infants who did not receive exogenous surfactant was 5.7 ± 3.5%/day (range 2.6,9.9%/day) and 7.3 ± 2.1%/day (range 5.1,10.2%/day) in the preterms, whereas DSPC-PA ST was 10 ± 10 h and 31 ± 10 h respectively. Surfactant DSPC-PA synthesis can be measured in humans by the incorporation of deuterium from body water. This study is a simpler and less invasive method compared to previously published methods on surfactant kinetics by means of stable isotopes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Frequency and perception of cough severity

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 2 2001
AB Chang
Objective: The frequency of the common symptom of cough in children is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare cough frequency and perception of cough severity in children with and without recurrent cough. Methodology: Eighty-four children with (C) and without (NC) recurrent cough were recruited in the same season. Cough frequency (measured with cough-meter) and subjective cough severity (measured on parent-completed and child-completed diary cards on two subjective systems), were compared between the two groups. Results: Cough frequency in C (median 65/day) was significantly higher than in NC (10/day). The correlation between daytime and night-time cough was higher in NC (rs = 0.51, P < 0.00001) than in C (rs = 0.3, P = 0.05). The C group had significantly higher coughs per score than NC, for both subjective methods. Conclusion: Children with recurrent cough have a higher frequency and different pattern of cough than controls enrolled in the same season. Subjective perception of cough severity is dependent on the population studied. [source]

Duloxetine compared with placebo for treating women with symptoms of overactive bladder

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2007
William D. Steers
OBJECTIVE To evaluate duloxetine (a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor) in women with symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB), as it has been shown to increase the bladder capacity in an animal model. PATIENTS AND METHODS In all, 306 women (aged 21,84 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to placebo (153) or duloxetine (80-mg/day for 4 weeks increased to 120-mg/day for 8 weeks; 153). Symptoms of OAB were defined as bothersome urinary urgency and/or urge urinary incontinence (UI) for ,3 months. Participants were also required to have a mean daytime voiding interval (VI) of ,2 h and urodynamic observations of either detrusor overactivity (DOA) or urgency which limited bladder capacity to <400 mL, both with no stress UI (SUI). The primary efficacy analysis compared the treatment effects on mean change from baseline to endpoint in the mean number of voiding episodes (VE)/24 h. The secondary efficacy analyses compared the treatment effects on the number of UI episodes (IE)/24 h, in the Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire (I-QOL) score, and on the mean daytime VI. Safety was assessed with vital signs, adverse event reporting, routine laboratory testing, electrocardiogram, and the measurement of postvoid residual urine volumes (PVR). RESULTS Patients randomized to duloxetine had significant improvements over those randomized to placebo for decreases in VE and IE, for increases in the daytime VI, and for improvements in I-QOL scores at both doses of duloxetine. Urodynamic studies showed no significant increases in maximum cystometric capacity or in the volume threshold for DOA. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events with duloxetine (nausea, 31%; dry mouth, 16%; dizziness, 14%; constipation, 14%; insomnia, 13%; and fatigue, 11%) were the same as those reported by women with SUI and were significantly more common with duloxetine than placebo. Laboratory assessments, vital signs and electrocardiograms were stable relative to baseline, with no relevant differences detected between groups. There was a significant difference in the change in PVR with duloxetine (<5 mL mean increase) but no patient reported hesitancy or retention. CONCLUSION In this trial, duloxetine was better than placebo for treating women with ,wet' and ,dry' symptoms of OAB associated with DOA or a bladder capacity of <400 mL. [source]

A Two-Part Joint Model for the Analysis of Survival and Longitudinal Binary Data with Excess Zeros

BIOMETRICS, Issue 2 2008
Dimitris Rizopoulos
Summary Many longitudinal studies generate both the time to some event of interest and repeated measures data. This article is motivated by a study on patients with a renal allograft, in which interest lies in the association between longitudinal proteinuria (a dichotomous variable) measurements and the time to renal graft failure. An interesting feature of the sample at hand is that nearly half of the patients were never tested positive for proteinuria (,1g/day) during follow-up, which introduces a degenerate part in the random-effects density for the longitudinal process. In this article we propose a two-part shared parameter model framework that effectively takes this feature into account, and we investigate sensitivity to the various dependence structures used to describe the association between the longitudinal measurements of proteinuria and the time to renal graft failure. [source]

Measurement of pulmonary surfactant disaturated-phosphatidylcholine synthesis in human infants using deuterium incorporation from body water

Effect of formula thickened with reduced concentration of locust bean gum on gastroesophageal reflux

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 6 2007
R Miyazawa
Abstract Aim: Previous studies showed that HL-350, a formula thickened with a reduced concentration of locust bean gum, decreased frequent regurgitation in 4-month old infants with reflux. In this study, we investigated the effect of HL-350 in younger infants. Methods: We studied 20 infants less than 2 months old who had three or more episodes of regurgitation or vomiting per day. Ten infants (group A) were fed with HL-350 for the first week, and with control milk, HL-00, for the following week. The other 10 infants (group B) were fed in reverse order. Mothers recorded number of regurgitation episodes, feeding volume and time and number of bowel movements. To evaluate gastric emptying we measured antral cross sectional areas ultrasonographically at various time points after feeding. Results: The median number of regurgitation episodes decreased significantly with feeding of HL-350 (2.3/day) compared to feeding with control milk (5.2/day) (p = 0.00048). No significant difference was evident in feeding volume and time, body weight gain, or gastric emptying rate between HL-350 and control milk. Conclusion: HL-350 decreased the number of regurgitation episodes without affecting gastric emptying delay in very young infants with recurrent vomiting. [source]

Measurement of pulmonary surfactant disaturated-phosphatidylcholine synthesis in human infants using deuterium incorporation from body water

Binge-like ethanol exposure during the early postnatal period impairs eyeblink conditioning at short and long CS,US intervals in rats

DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Tuan D. Tran
Abstract Binge-like ethanol exposure on postnatal days (PD) 4,9 in rodents causes cerebellar cell loss and impaired acquisition of conditioned responses (CRs) during "short-delay" eyeblink classical conditioning (ECC), using optimal (280,350 ms) interstimulus intervals (ISIs). We extended those earlier findings by comparing acquisition of delay ECC under two different ISIs. From PD 4 to 9, rats were intubated with either 5.25 g/kg of ethanol (2/day), sham intubated, or were not intubated. They were then trained either as periadolescents (about PD 35) or as adults (>PD 90) with either the optimal short-delay (280-ms) ISI, a long-delay (880-ms) ISI, or explicitly unpaired CS and US presentations. Neonatal binge ethanol treatment significantly impaired acquisition of conditioning at both ages regardless of ISI, and deficits in the acquisition and expression of CRs were comparable across ISIs. These deficits are consistent with the previously documented ethanol-induced damage to the cerebellar,brainstem circuit essential for Pavlovian ECC. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 589-605, 2007. [source]

A Calibrated, High-Resolution GOES Satellite Solar Insolation Product for a Climatology of Florida Evapotranspiration,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2009
Simon J. Paech
Paech, Simon J., John R. Mecikalski, David M. Sumner, Chandra S. Pathak, Quinlong Wu, Shafiqul Islam, and Taiye Sangoyomi, 2009. A Calibrated, High-Resolution GOES Satellite Solar Insolation Product for a Climatology of Florida Evapotranspiration. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 45(6):1328-1342. Abstract:, Estimates of incoming solar radiation (insolation) from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite observations have been produced for the state of Florida over a 10-year period (1995-2004). These insolation estimates were developed into well-calibrated half-hourly and daily integrated solar insolation fields over the state at 2 km resolution, in addition to a 2-week running minimum surface albedo product. Model results of the daily integrated insolation were compared with ground-based pyranometers, and as a result, the entire dataset was calibrated. This calibration was accomplished through a three-step process: (1) comparison with ground-based pyranometer measurements on clear (noncloudy) reference days, (2) correcting for a bias related to cloudiness, and (3) deriving a monthly bias correction factor. Precalibration results indicated good model performance, with a station-averaged model error of 2.2 MJ m,2/day (13%). Calibration reduced errors to 1.7 MJ m,2/day (10%), and also removed temporal-related, seasonal-related, and satellite sensor-related biases. The calibrated insolation dataset will subsequently be used by state of Florida Water Management Districts to produce statewide, 2-km resolution maps of estimated daily reference and potential evapotranspiration for water management-related activities. [source]