Cause Loss (cause + loss)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences50%

Selected Abstracts

Diabetes mellitus and alcohol

DIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 4 2004
Albert van de Wiel
Abstract Alcohol influences glucose metabolism in several ways in diabetic patients as well as in non-diabetic patients. Since alcohol inhibits both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, its acute intake without food may provoke hypoglycaemia, especially in cases of depleted glycogen stores and in combination with sulphonylurea. Consumed with a meal including carbohydrates, it is the preferred fuel, which may initially lead to somewhat higher blood glucose levels and hence an insulin response in type 2 diabetic patients. Depending on the nature of the carbohydrates in the meal, this may be followed by reactive hypoglycaemia. Moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with a reduced risk of atherosclerotic disorders. Diabetic patients benefit from this favourable effect as much as non-diabetic patients. Apart from effects on lipid metabolism, haemostatic balance and blood pressure, alcohol improves insulin sensitivity. This improvement of insulin sensitivity may also be responsible for the lower incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus reported to be associated with light-to-moderate drinking. In case of moderate and sensible use, risks of disturbances in glycaemic control, weight and blood pressure are limited. Excessive intake of alcohol, however, may not only cause loss of metabolic control, but also annihilate the favourable effects on the cardiovascular system. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Inflammatory processes of prostate tissue microenvironment drive rat prostate carcinogenesis: Preventive effects of celecoxib

THE PROSTATE, Issue 2 2009
Narayanan K. Narayanan
Abstract BACKGROUND Prostate tissue microenvironment is susceptible to several risk factors including carcinogens, dietary factors, hormones, cytokines and growth factors that could induce chronic inflammation. Because of the difference in the serum levels and the intrinsic ability of monocytes/macrophages to cause harm, the transcriptional responses triggered by inflammatory stimuli must be controlled. Unfortunately, an in-depth association between prostate cancer and potential mediators of inflammation has not been completely investigated. METHODS To determine whether activated macrophage (infiltrating monocytes), iNOS and NF-,B are primary mediators of inflammation, besides COX-2, in prostate carcinogenesis, we examined tissue sections of rat prostate tumor induced by N -methyl- N -nitrosourea (MNU) plus testosterone in a follow-up study. We performed H&E and immunohsitochemical staining of the prostate tissue to detect specific markers of inflammation. RESULTS We report an increase in infiltrating monocyte, iNOS, NF-,Bp65, VEGF and TNF-, at the early and advanced stages of tumor growth in MNU plus testosterone treated rats. Monocyte infiltration was often found in the stromal and perivascular regions of the DL prostate. We conclude for the first time that prostate cancer induced by MNU plus testosterone partly involves mediators of inflammation which could trigger the process of carcinogenesis and cause loss of apoptosis. Selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib at a dose of 500 mg/kg/bw administered for 52 weeks reduced infiltrating monocytes, inhibited iNOS, NF-,B p65 expression, induced apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition. CONCLUSION Carcinogen plus testosterone induced prostate carcinogenesis showing activation of macrophage, iNOS and NF-,Bp65 could be prevented by celecoxib or related anti-inflammatory agents. Prostate 69: 133,141, 2009. © 2008 Wiley,Liss, Inc. [source]

Concrete canal lining cracking in low to medium plastic soils,

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 2 2002
H. Rahimi
sol plastique; gonflement; revêtement bétonique; Iran Abstract Failure of concrete irrigation canal linings in the form of cracking, rupture, uplifting and opening of joints, causes loss of water and money in many countries. Following the appearance of extensive cracking of concrete linings in one of the Shoeybieh sugar cane industry farms in the Khoozestan province of Iran, extensive research work was conducted to identify the main causes. In this paper, the final results of the research are presented. The testing program consisted of laboratory as well as field tests, including identification, chemical and mechanical tests of soil samples taken from the borrow pits and canal embankments. Dispersivity tests were performed using pin-hole and chemical methods. Swelling tests were conducted using the ASTM standard and ISSMFE method. The field test includes measurement of deformations of the concrete lining and embankment of an actual lined canal resulting from the filling of the canal with water. The canal was 60 m in length. The deformations were recorded by surveying the elevations of steel bars driven to different depths under the canal lining and at different points in the canal and its embankment sections. The results of laboratory tests showed the soil to have low to medium plasticity with a classification of CL-ML, having less than 1% soluble content, and being nondispersive. Swelling tests conducted by the ASTM and ISSMFE methods showed completely different results. The ISSMFE method resulted in a high free swell potential, while the ASTM method indicated a low to medium potential. The results of full-scale field tests were all in favor of the ISSMFE method. The greatest difference between the results of the two methods was found to be due to the different compaction methods used during construction of the canal, as well as the moisture content of the soil sample being prepared for the swell tests. The flocculent structure and lower compaction water content of soil samples in the ISSMFE method resulted in much higher free swell. The similarity between compaction methods used in the field and the static effort used in the ISSMFE method, as well as very low soil water content of the canal embankments during lining operations, were found to be the main reasons for swelling of the soil and the eventual cracking of the concrete linings. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. RÉSUMÉ L'écroulement du revêtement bétonique des canaux d'irrigation en forme de fissure, de la rupture, de la sous-pression et de l'ouverture des joints, est la cause de la perte d' eau et par conséquence des fonds publics de plusieurs pays dans le monde entier. Après avoir observé ce phénomène dans des canaux d'irrigation d'un grand projet de canne à sucre à Shoeybieh dans la région de Khozestan, située au sud de l'Iran, une équipe de recherche a été engagée pour trouver les causes principales de cetécroulement. Cet article présente les résultats finaux de cette recherche. Le programme consiste de deux types d'essai, en laboratoire et sur le terrain. Les échantillons du sol pour l'essai mécanique et chimique ont été pris dans des emprunts de terre et la digue du canal. Les essais de dispersivité ont été faits par les méthodes de pin-hole et de chimique. La méthode del ISSMFE et la standard del ASTM ont été utilisés pour les essais de gonflement du sol. Le mesurage de la déformation d'un canal revêté en béton et aussi de digue du canal a été fait par rempliz le canal avee de l'eau. Le canal avait une longueur de 60 m. La déformation a été observée en examinant les élévations à plusieurs points sur la profondeur du canal en dessous de la partie revêtée et aussi la digue du canal par un instrument spécifique. Les résultats des essais de laboratoire montrent que les sols qui ont une plasticité entre petite et moyenne situés dans la classification de CL-ML ayant moins d'un pour cent de contenude soluble sont non-dispersifes. Les essais de gonflement par les méthodes de l'ASTM et l'ISSME montrent des résultats tout à fait différents. La méthode ISSMFE montre un potentiel de gonflement assez élevé, tandis que la méthode ASTM montre un potentiel entre petit et moyen. Les résultats des essais en champs d'étude confirme la méthode ISSMFE. La plus grande différence entre le résultat de deux méthodes est à cause d'usage de plusieurs méthodes de compaction dans la période de la construction du canal. La structure floculée du sol ayant une humidité moins compactée dans la méthode ISSMFE montre un gonflement plus élevée du sol. Les méthodes similaires de compaction utilisées dans le champs d'étude et énergie statique utilisée par la méthode ISSFE, et aussi une petite humidité de digue du canal en période de revêtement sont les causes principales de gonflement et éventuellement de fissure. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Postinjury estrogen treatment of chronic spinal cord injury improves locomotor function in rats

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 8 2010
Eric A. Sribnick
Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes loss of neurological function and, depending on serverity, may cause paralysis. The only recommended pharmacotherapy for the treatment of SCI is high-dose methylprednisolone, and its use is controversial. We have previously shown that estrogen treatment attenuated cell death, axonal and myelin damage, calpain and caspase activities, and inflammation in acute SCI. The aim of this study was to examine whether posttreatment of SCI with estrogen would improve locomotor function by protecting cells and axons and reducing inflammation during the chronic phase following injury. Moderately severe injury (40 g · cm force) was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats following laminectomy at T10. Three groups of animals were used: sham (laminectomy only), vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide; DMSO)-treated injury group, and estrogen-treated injury group. Animals were treated with 4 mg/kg estrogen at 15 min and 24 hr postnjury, followed by 2 mg/kg estrogen daily for the next 5 days. After treatment, animals were sacrificed at the end of 6 weeks following injury, and 1-cm segments of spinal cord (lesion, rostral to lesion, and caudal to lesion) were removed for biochemical analyses. Estrogen treatment reduced COX-2 activity, blocked nuclear factor-,B translocation, prevented glial reactivity, attenuated neuron death, inhibited activation and activity of calpain and caspase-3, decreased axonal damage, reduced myelin loss in the lesion and penumbra, and improved locomotor function compared with vehicle-treated animals. These findings suggest that estrogen may be useful as a promising therapeutic agent for prevention of damage and improvement of locomotor function in chronic SCI. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]