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Latency Period (latency + period)
Selected AbstractsArtificial spawning of African catfish Heterobranchus longifilis: differences between the effects on reproduction in females treated with carp pituitary homogenate or OvopelAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2008bieta Brzuska Abstract The effects of the controlled reproduction of African catfish Heterobranchus longifilis after ovulation stimulation with carp pituitary homogenate (CPH; 4 mg kg,1; group I) or Ovopel (1/5+1 pellet kg,1; group II) were investigated. After the application of Ovopel, eggs were obtained from a higher percentage of females than after a CPH treatment (87.5% and 75.0% respectively). The statistically significant (P,0.05) effect of ovulation stimulator was specified only in the case of the weight of eggs (expressed in grams and in percentage of female body weight), being higher in fish treated with Ovopel compared with CPH-treated fish (176.02 g, 8.43% and 109.51 g, 5.48%). The quality of eggs expressed in percentage of live embryos after 24 h incubation was higher by 7.5% in fish treated with Ovopel. Latency period did not significantly affect the weight of eggs, fertilization percentage or percentage of living embryos after 24 h of egg incubation. However, the weight of eggs and percentage of living embryos after 24 h incubation were higher in fish spawning after 12 h latency (159.38 g and 85.30%) compared with the weight and quality of eggs obtained from females spawning after 14 h latency (126.15 g and 76.04%). [source] Dose per unit area , a study of elicitation of nickel allergyCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 5 2007Louise Arup Fischer Background:, Experimental sensitization depends upon the amount of allergen per unit skin area and is largely independent of the area size. Objectives:, This study aimed at testing if this also applies for elicitation of nickel allergy. Patients/methods:, 20 nickel allergic individuals were tested with a patch test and a repeated open application test (ROAT). Nickel was applied on small and large areas. The varying parameters were area, total dose and dose per unit area. Results:, In the patch test, at a low concentration [15 ,g nickel (,gNi)/cm2], there were significantly higher scores on the large area with the same dose per area as the small area. At higher concentrations of nickel, no significant differences were found. In the ROAT at low concentration (6.64 ,gNi/cm2), it was found that the latency period until a reaction appeared was significantly shorter on the large area compared to the small area. It was also found that the ROAT threshold (per application) was lower than the patch test threshold. Conclusion:, For elicitation of nickel allergy, the size of the exposed area and therefore the total amount of applied nickel, influence the elicitation reaction at some concentrations, even though the same dose per unit area is applied. [source] Molecular Neuropathology of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Complementary Approaches in Animal Models and Human Disease TissueEPILEPSIA, Issue 2007Michael Majores Summary:, Patients with temporal lobe epilepsies (TLE) frequently develop pharmacoresistance to antiepileptic treatment. In individuals with drug-refractory TLE, neurosurgical removal of the epileptogenic focus provides a therapy option with high potential for seizure control. Biopsy specimens from TLE patients constitute unique tissue resources to gain insights in neuropathological and molecular alterations involved in human TLE. Compared to human tissue specimens in most neurological diseases, where only autopsy material is available, the bioptic tissue samples from pharmacoresistant TLE patients open rather exceptional preconditions for molecular biological, electrophysiological as well as biochemical experimental approaches in human brain tissue, which cannot be carried out in postmortem material. Pathological changes in human TLE tissue are multiple and relate to structural and cellular reorganization of the hippocampal formation, selective neurodegeneration, and acquired changes of expression and distribution of neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels, underlying modified neuronal excitability. Nevertheless, human TLE tissue specimens have some limitations. For obvious reasons, human TLE tissue samples are only available from advanced, drug-resistant stages of the disease. However, in many patients, a transient episode of status epilepticus (SE) or febrile seizures in childhood can induce multiple structural and functional alterations that after a latency period result in a chronic epileptic condition. This latency period, also referred to as epileptogenesis, cannot be studied in human TLE specimens. TLE animal models may be particularly helpful in order to shed characterize new molecular pathomechanisms related to epileptogenesis and open novel therapeutic strategies for TLE. Here, we will discuss experimental approaches to unravel molecular,neuropathological aspects of TLE and highlight characteristics and potential of molecular studies in human and/or experimental TLE. [source] Morphine-like substance in leech gangliaFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 8 2000Evidence, immune modulation Binding experiments followed by measurement of nitric oxide release revealed an opiate alkaloid high affinity receptor with no affinity to opioids, representing a new µ-subtype receptor in the brain of the leech Theromyzon tessulatum. In addition, evidence of morphine-like substances was found in immunocytochemical studies and HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection (500 mV and 0.02 Hz). Based on previous evidence of the involvement of morphine as an immune response inhibitor, we demonstrate that in leech ganglia injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; a potent immunostimulatory agent derived from bacteria) provoked an increase in the level of ganglionic morphine-like substances after a prolonged latency period of 24 h (from 2.4 ± 1.1 pmol per ganglion to 78 ± 12.3 pmol per ganglion; P < 0.005; LPS injected 1 µg·mL,1); this effect is both concentration- and time-dependent. Finally, we have demonstrated that morphine, after binding to its own receptor, inhibits leech immunocyte activation through adenylate cyclase inhibition and nitric oxide release. This report confirms that morphine is an evolutionarily stable potent immunomodulator. [source] Gene and immune therapy for renal cell carcinomaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 7 2001Allan J Pantuck Abstract Conventional therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma is associated with a poor response rate and few patients are long-term survivors. The occurrence of spontaneous regression and the prolonged latency period between primary tumor removal and the appearance of metastases in some patients suggest the existence of important host immune responses to autologous tumor cells. With the advent of molecular gene transfer techniques and increased knowledge of the basic pathways of immune activation, the field of cancer immunotherapy has finally begun to develop novel and effective approaches for harnessing the immune system as a therapeutic agent. Current immunotherapy and gene therapy strategies, including methods of cytokine delivery and tumor-cell-based vaccines, are presented. [source] Effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields on maturation of regenerate bone in a rabbit limb lengthening model,JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Kenneth F. Taylor Abstract To study the effect of applying pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) during the consolidation phase of limb lengthening, a mid-tibial osteotomy was performed in 18 adult New Zealand White rabbits and an external fixator was applied anteromedially. Animals were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. After a 7-day latency period, the tibiae were distracted 0.5 mm every 12 h for 10 days. The treatment group received a 20-day course of PEMF for 60 min daily, coinciding with initiation of the consolidation phase. The control group received sham PEMF. Radiographs were performed weekly after distraction. Animals were euthanized 3 weeks after the end of distraction. Radiographic analysis revealed no significant difference in regenerate callus area between treatment and control tibiae immediately after distraction, at 1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks after distraction (,p,=,0.71, 0.22, 0.44, and 0.50, respectively). There was also no significant difference in percent callus mineralization (,p,=,0.96, 0.69, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively). There was no significant difference between groups with respect to structural stiffness (,p,=,0.80) or maximal torque to failure (,p,=,0.62). However, there was a significant positive difference in mineral apposition rate between groups during the interval 1,2 weeks post-distraction (,p,<,0.05). This difference was no longer evident by the interval 2,3 weeks post-distraction. While PEMF applied during the consolidation phase of limb lengthening did not appear to have a positive effect on bone regenerate, it increased osteoblastic activity in the cortical bone adjacent to the distraction site. Since the same PEMF signal was reported to be beneficial in the rabbit distraction osteogenesis when applied during distraction phase and consolidation phase, application of PEMF in the early phase may be more effective. Further work is necessary to determine optimal timing of the PEMF stimulation during distraction osteogenesis. © 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res [source] Cellular and molecular characterization of a murine non-union modelJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 5 2004P. Choi Abstract Purpose. We have developed a method to study the molecular and cellular events underlying delayed skeletal repair in a model that utilizes distraction osteogenesis. Methods. The clinical states of delayed union and non-union were reproduced in this murine model by altering distraction parameters such as the inclusion and exclusion of a latency phase and variations in the rate and rhythm of distraction. Radiographic, cellular, and molecular analyses were performed on the distraction tissues. Results. Eliminating the latency period delayed bony union, but did not appreciably alter the extent of platelet endothelial cell adhesion marker (PECAM) immunostaining. Following elimination of a latency phase and a threefold increase in the rate of distraction, there was a further delay in bone regeneration and a higher rate of non-union (60%). Instead of bone, the distraction gap was comprised of adipose or fibrous tissue. Once again, despite the rigorous distraction protocol, we detected equivalent PECAM staining within the distraction gap. In a minority of cases, cartilage and osseous tissues occupied the distraction gap likely by a prolonged process of endochondral ossification. Conclusions. Here, we have altered the mechanical environment in such a way to reproducibly create delays in skeletal regeneration. These delays in skeletal tissue regeneration appear to develop even in the presence of endothelial cells, which suggests that mechanisms other than a disruption to the vascular network can account for some cases of non-union. © 2004 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [source] Clinical and inflammatory features of occupational asthma caused by persulphate salts in comparison with asthma associated with occupational rhinitisALLERGY, Issue 6 2010G. Moscato To cite this article: Moscato G, Pala G, Perfetti L, Frascaroli M, Pignatti P. Clinical and inflammatory features of occupational asthma caused by persulphate salts in comparison with asthma associated with occupational rhinitis. Allergy 2010; 65: 784,790. Abstract Background:, The relationships between asthma and rhinitis are still a crucial point in respiratory allergy and have scarcely been analysed in occupational setting. We aimed to compare the clinical and inflammatory features of subjects with occupational asthma only (OA) to subjects with OA associated to occupational rhinitis (OAR) caused by persulphate salts. Methods:, The clinical charts of 26 subjects diagnosed in our Unit as respiratory allergy caused by ammonium persulphate (AP), confirmed by specific inhalation challenge (SIC), were reviewed. Twenty-two out of twenty-six patients underwent pre-SIC-induced sputum challenge test (IS) and 24/26 underwent nasal secretion collection and processing. Results:, Twelve out of twenty-six patients received a diagnosis of OA-only and 14/26 of OAR. Duration of exposure before diagnosis, latency period between the beginning of exposure and asthma symptom onset, basal FEV1, airway reactivity to methacholine and asthma severity did not differ in the two groups. Eosinophilic inflammation of upper and lower airways characterized both groups. Eosinophil percentage in IS tended to be higher in OAR [11.9 (5.575,13.925)%] than in OA-only [2.95 (0.225,12.5)%] (P = 0.31). Eosinophilia in nasal secretions was present both in subjects with OAR [55 (46,71)%] and in subjects with OA-only [38 (15,73.5)%], without any significant difference. Discussion:, Our results indicate that OA because of ammonium persulphate coexists with occupational rhinitis in half of the patients. Unexpectedly, rhinitis did not seem to have an impact on the natural history of asthma. The finding of nasal inflammation in subjects with OA-only without clinical manifestations of rhinitis supports the united airway disease concept in occupational respiratory allergy as a result of persulphates. [source] Effect of otilonium bromide on contractile patterns in the human sigmoid colonNEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 6 2010D. Gallego Abstract Background, The mechanism of action of the spasmolytic compound otilonium bromide (OB) on human colonic motility is not understood. The aim of our study was to characterize the pharmacological effects of OB on contractile patterns in the human sigmoid colon. Methods, Circular sigmoid strips were studied in organ baths. Isolated smooth muscle cells from human sigmoid colon were examined using the calcium imaging technique. Key Results, Otilonium bromide inhibited by 85% spontaneous non-neural rhythmic phasic contractions (RPCs), (IC50 = 49.9 nmol L,1) and stretch-induced tone (IC50 = 10.7 nmol L,1) with maximum effects at micromolar range. OB also inhibited by 50% both on- (IC50 = 38.0 nmol L,1) and off- contractions induced by electrical stimulation of excitatory motor neurons. In contrast, the inhibitory latency period prior to off -contractions was unaffected by OB. OB inhibited acetylcholine-, substance P-, and neurokinin A-induced contractions. The L-type Ca2+ channel agonist BayK8644 reversed the effects of OB on RPCs, on- and off -contractions. Hexamethonium, atropine, the NK2 antagonist, or depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by thapsigargin did not prevent the inhibitory effect of OB on RPCs and electrical contractions. KCl-induced calcium transients in isolated smooth muscle cells were also inhibited by OB (IC50 = 0.2 ,mol L,1). Conclusions & Inferences, Otilonium bromide strongly inhibited the main patterns of human sigmoid motility in vitro by blocking calcium influx through L-type calcium channels on smooth muscle cells. This pharmacological profile may mediate the clinically observed effects of the drug in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. [source] Mesothelioma in a worker who spun chrysotile asbestos at home during childhoodAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009Eiji Yano MD Abstract Background Malignant mesothelioma has a long latency period and more commonly found in those exposed to amphibole than chrysotile asbestos. Method A 35 years old asbestos worker in an asbestos textile plant in Chongqing, China, developed mesothelioma after only 4 years of employment. He was born and bred in a company residence of an asbestos plant and manually spun asbestos thread during school age. In the plant, not amphibole but only chrysotile has been used. Results Diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma was confirmed by comprehensive approaches including gross appearance, histology, histochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. In the lung and tumor tissues, huge number of tremolite with exceptional chrysotile was observed despite the reverse proportion in the work environment. Discussion Residential exposure and home spinning of asbestos seemed contributed to the early development of mesothelioma in this subject. Although only chrysotile was used and contamination of tremolite was low in the work environment, chrysotile seemed to be cleared leaving tremolite remain in the tissue. Conclusion Chrysotile with little contamination of tremolite can lead to early development of malignant mesothelioma when heavily exposed from childhood at a company residence with household exposure. There can be several mechanisms for tremolite to remain in the lung tissue, far exceeding chrysotile in number. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:282,287, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Nitric oxide-induced biphasic mechanism of vascular relaxation via dephosphorylation of CPI-17 and MYPT1THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 14 2009Toshio Kitazawa Nitric oxide (NO) from endothelium is a major mediator of vasodilatation through cGMP/PKG signals that lead to a decrease in Ca2+ concentration. In addition, NO-mediated signals trigger an increase in myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) activity. To evaluate the mechanism of NO-induced relaxation through MLCP deinhibition, we compared time-dependent changes in Ca2+, myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and contraction to changes in phosphorylation levels of CPI-17 at Thr38, RhoA at Ser188, and MYPT1 at Ser695, Thr696 and Thr853 in response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced relaxation in denuded rabbit femoral artery. During phenylephrine (PE)-induced contraction, SNP reduced CPI-17 phosphorylation to a minimal value within 15 s, in parallel with decreases in Ca2+ and MLC phosphorylation, followed by a reduction of contractile force having a latency period of about 15 s. MYPT1 phosphorylation at Ser695, the PKG-target site, increased concurrently with relaxation. Phosphorylation of RhoA, MYPT1 Thr696 and Thr853 differed significantly at 5 min but not within 1 min of SNP exposure. Inhibition of Ca2+ release delayed SNP-induced relaxation while inhibition of Ca2+ channel, BKCa channel or phosphodiesterase-5 did not. Pretreatment of resting artery with SNP suppressed an increase in Ca2+, contractile force and phosphorylation of MLC, CPI-17, MYPT1 Thr696 and Thr853 at 10 s after PE stimulation, but had no effect on phorbol ester-induced CPI-17 phosphorylation. Together, these results suggest that NO production suppresses Ca2+ release, which causes an inactivation of PKC and rapid CPI-17 dephosphorylation as well as MLCK inactivation, resulting in rapid MLC dephosphorylation and relaxation. [source] Secondary effects induced by the colon carcinogen azoxymethane in BDIX rats,APMIS, Issue 6 2004MORTEN KOBĘK-LARSEN Azoxymethane (AOM) is claimed to be a colon-specific carcinogen. In our studies, AOM was administered to adult BDIX/OrlIco rats by four weekly subcutaneous injections of 15 mg/kg body weight each , two periods of 2 weeks of AOM treatment separated by a one-week break. This treatment schedule resulted in colon carcinomas with a high frequency (75,100%) and with a high reproducibility. However, some serious side effects are associated with this carcinogen treatment. In addition to the colorectal tumours, we found small intestinal tumours, hepatic lesions and a high frequency of mesenchymal renal tumours which increased with longer latency periods. The renal tumours were only found in female rats, and this indicates a possible relation to sex hormones. We therefore analyzed both male and female kidneys for the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors by immunohistochemical methods. A positive nuclear reaction for estrogen receptor was present in most tumour cells in all tumours and occasionally in nuclei of entrapped tubular cells, but never in glomeruli. Normal appearing renal tissue from female rats showed no positive reaction, but in male rats a slight nuclear reaction was seen in tubuli in the peripheral part of the medulla. A similar pattern was seen for progesterone receptors, but less pronounced. No rats developed tumours in the external ear canal, which is in contrast to studies performed in other rat strains. This may therefore be strain related. In order to reduce the secondary effects of the induction of colon cancer by AOM, it is advisable to use male rats only and a maximum latency period of 32 weeks. [source] Induced ovulation of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) using a combination of a gonadotrop-releasing hormone analogue and domperidoneAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 8 2010Youji Wang Abstract The effects of an intraperitoneal hormone injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (D-Ala6, Pro9 -NEt GnRHa) alone or in combination with a dopamine antagonist, domperidone (DOM), on ovulation induction in yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco were tested. The hormone treatments were as follows: 6 mg kg,1 body weight (BW) of carp pituitary extract as a positive control, GnRHa 10, 20, 40 and 80 ,g kg,1 BW and a combination of GnRHa and DOM as follows: 10 ,g+5 mg, 20 ,g+10 mg, 40 ,g+20 mg and 80 ,g+40 mg kg,1 BW. Physiological saline (0.7% NaCl) was used as a negative control. Significant differences in the ovulation ratio, latency period and ovulation index (OI) were observed among treatments (P<0.05). The combination of GnRHa and DOM at doses of 40 ,g+20 mg kg,1 BW had higher values of the ovulation ratio and OI, and a shorter latency period compared with other treatments. The highest OI in GnRHa treatments was only 56.67%, suggesting a dopaminergic tone on gonadotropin secretion in this fish at the pre-ovulatory stage. Therefore, ovulation can be successfully induced in yellow catfish with 40 ,g kg,1 GnRHa+20 mg kg,1 DOM without affecting the egg quality. [source] Effects of dietary highly unsaturated fatty acids and astaxanthin on the fecundity and lipid content of pond-reared Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) broodstockAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 3 2008Jian-Hua Huang Abstract Five diets that contained fresh squid meat as the basic constituent and were supplemented with different amounts of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) and astaxanthin were fed to pond-reared Penaeus monodon broodstock. Diet A was sole squid meat. Diets B and C were supplemented with astaxanthin 50 and 100 mg kg,1 respectively. Diets D and E were supplemented with HUFA 5 and 10 g kg,1 and astaxanthin 50 mg kg,1 respectively. The result showed that the group fed diet E had the best reproductive performance in all experimental groups. It had a higher proportion of spawns (71.5%), spawning rate (0.047), a shorter latency period (7.7±0.3 d), higher absolute fecundity (× 103) (361.6±5.5) and egg production/female (× 103) (597.0±18.0) than all the other experimental groups. The fatty acid composition in broodstock diets strongly affected the tissue and fecundity of broodstock. Good correlations between the content of 20:4n-6 in eggs and the fecundity (r2=0.6109) and egg production (r2=0.9876) of broodstock were found. On the other hand, 22:6n-3 and DHA/EPA ratio was negatively correlated with the fecundity of broodstock (r2=0.5362, 0.8702 respectively). The result also showed that the balance between n-3 and n-6 fatty acid families, total polyunsaturated fatty acids and total saturated fatty acid and 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (DHA) may play vital roles in maturation and reproductive performance of P. monodon broodstock. [source] Progesterone for maintenance tocolytic therapy after threatened preterm labour: A randomised controlled trialAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Sedigheh BORNA Background: Women with preterm labour that is arrested with tocolytic therapy are at increased risk of recurrent preterm labour. The efficacy of maintenance tocolytic therapy after successful arrest of preterm labour remains controversial. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplementation of vaginal progesterone after inhibition of preterm labour is associated with an increased latency period and a decreased recurrent of preterm labour. Methods: This trial was conducted in 70 women who presented with symptoms of threatened preterm labour, who after arrest of uterine activity were then randomised to progesterone therapy or no treatment. Treatment group received progesterone suppository (400 mg) daily until delivery and control group received no treatment. Results: Longer mean latency until delivery (36/11 ± 17/9 vs 24/52 ± 27/2) (mean + standard deviation) days; respiratory distress syndrome 4 (10.8%) vs 12 (36.4%) P = 0.021; low birthweight 10 (27%) vs 17 (51.5%) P = 0.04; and birthweight (3101.54 ± 587.9 g vs r 2609.39 ± 662.9 g, P = 0.002), were significantly different between the two groups. No significant differences were found between recurrent preterm labour 13 (35.1%) vs 19 (57.6%), P = 0.092; admission to intensive care unit 9 (24.3%) vs 13 (39.4%), P= 0.205 ; and neonatal sepsis 2 (5.4%) vs 6 (18.2%) P = 0.136, for the progesterone and control groups, respectively. Conclusion: The use of vaginal progesterone suppository after successful parenteral tocolysis associated with a longer latency preceding delivery but failed to reduce the incidence of readmission for preterm labour. [source] Assessment of Acute Respiratory and Cardiovascular Toxicity of Casiopeinas in Anaesthetized DogsBASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Marco Leal-Garcķa Considering therapeutic dose ranges from 3.6 to 18 mg/m2 for the former and 1.2 to 3 mg/m2 for the latter, true therapeutic margin of safety varies from 4.7 to 23.6 mg/m2 and from 20 to 50 mg/m2, respectively. For both casiopeinas intravenous administration of the corresponding lethal dose in 100 ml of 5% dextrose solution in a time period of 30 min. induced death after an almost uneventful latency time period of 30,50 min. Then, after an apparently sudden onset, changes in blood gases indicated respiratory distress (PO2 from 82.5% to 26.5% for casiopeina III-ia and from 88.6% to 37.5% for casiopeina IIgly; end-tidal CO2 from 38 to 8.1 mmHg for the first and from 35.1 to 11.2 mmHg for the second, this was almost simultaneously confirmed by the onset of tachypnoea (from 16 to almost 60 breaths/min. for both casiopeinas) and by a drop in arterial blood pressure (from 117 to 51 mmHg for casiopeina III-ia and from 108 to 49 mmHg for casiopeina IIgly). Reflex tachycardia occurs at the beginning of intravenous administration followed by bradycardia a few minutes later (from 158 to 63 beats/min. for casiopeina III-ia and from 148 to 56 beats/min. for casiopeina IIgly). Finally, cardiac arrest occurred no later than 25 min. towards the end of these events lung oedema appeared as fluid dripping from the endotracheal tube. Death occurred in a mean of 15 ± 5 min. S.D. from the beginning of the end of the latency period. For both casiopeina's data allow the speculation that lung oedema is caused by a joined toxicity to the lung capillary bed, and particularly to the heart. Carvedilol premedication for 8 days delayed the outcome of lung oedema by approximately 8 hr but could not prevent it. [source] Global Expression Profiling in Epileptogenesis: Does It Add to the Confusion?BRAIN PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Yi Yuen Wang MBBS Abstract Since the inception of global gene expression profiling platforms in the mid-1990s, there has been a significant increase in publications of differentially expressed genes in the process of epileptogenesis. In particular for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, the presence of a latency period between the first manifestation of seizures to chronic epilepsy provides the opportunity for therapeutic interventions at the molecular biology level. Using global expression profiling techniques, approximately 2000 genes have been published demonstrating differential expression in mesial temporal epilepsy. The majority of these changes, however, are specific to laboratory or experimental conditions with only 53 genes demonstrating changes in more than two publications. To this end, we review the current status of gene expression profiling in epileptogenesis and suggest standard guidelines to be followed for greater accuracy and reproducibility of results. [source] Metastatic pathways and time courses in the orderly progression of cutaneous melanomaBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2002F. Meier SummaryBackground,,It is known that two-thirds of patients who develop clinical metastases following treatment of a primary cutaneous melanoma initially present with locoregional metastases and one-third initially present with distant metastases. However, few reports in the literature give detailed figures on different metastatic pathways in cutaneous melanoma. Objectives,,The aim of the present study was to perform a detailed analysis of the different metastatic pathways, the time course of the development of metastases and the factors influencing them. Methods,,In a series of 3001 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma at first presentation, 466 subsequently developed metastasis and were followed-up over the long term at the University of Tuebingen, Germany between 1976 and 1996. Different pathways of metastatic spread were traced. Associated risk factors for the different pathways were assessed. Differences in survival probabilities were calculated by the Kaplan,Meier method and evaluated by the log-rank test. Results,,In 50·2% of the patients the first metastasis after treatment of the primary tumour developed in the regional lymph nodes. In the remaining half of the patient sample the first metastasis developed in the lymphatic drainage area in front of the regional lymph nodes, as satellite or in-transit metastases (21·7%) or as direct distant metastases (28·1%). Anatomical location, sex and tumour thickness were significant risk factors for the development of metastasis by different pathways. The most important risk factor appeared to be the location of the primary tumour. The median intervals elapsing before the first metastasis differed significantly between the different metastatic pathways. The direct distant metastases became manifest after a median period of 25 months, thus later than the direct regional lymph node metastases (median latency period, 16 months) and the direct satellite and in-transit metastases (median latency period, 17 months). In patients who developed distant metastases the period of development was independent of the metastatic route. The time at which the distant metastases developed was roughly the same (between 24 and 30 months after the detection of the primary tumour), irrespective of whether satellite or in-transit metastases, lymph node metastases or distant metastases were the first to occur. Conclusions,,The time course of the development of distant metastasis was more or less the same irrespective of the metastatic pathway; this suggests that in patients with in-transit or satellite metastasis or regional lymph node metastasis, haematogenic metastatic spread had already taken place. Thus, the diagnostic value of sentinel lymph node biopsy and the therapeutic benefit of elective lymph node dissection may be limited, as satellite and in-transit metastases or direct distant metastases will not be detected and haematogenous spread may already have taken place when the intervention is performed. [source] Deregulation of Stat5 expression and activation causes mammary tumors in transgenic miceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2004Elena Iavnilovitch Abstract Members of the signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat) family regulate essential cellular growth and survival functions in normal cells and have also been implicated in tumorigenesis. We have studied the potential role of Stat5 in mammary tumorigenesis by targeting Stat5 variants to the mammary gland of transgenic mice using regulatory sequences of the ,-lactoglobulin gene. Mammary-directed expression of the wild-type Stat5, constitutively activated Stat5 and carboxyl-terminally truncated dominant negative Stat5 forms resulted in mammary tumors with incidence rates of up to 22% and latency periods of 8,12 months. Undifferentiated carcinomas most frequently occurred in mice expressing the carboxyl-terminally truncated Stat5. The more differentiated papillary and micropapillary adenocarcinomas were primarily found in mice overexpressing the native and constitutively active transgenes. Higher levels of translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and cyclin D1 expression but lower levels of activated Stat3 were found in tumors of mice expressing the constitutively active Stat5 when compared to mice expressing the wild-type or truncated forms. A higher expression of the estrogen receptor (ER,) was observed in carcinomas compared to other phenotypes. The ability of both forms of Stat5, the transactivating form and the dominant negative form, to participate in oncogenesis indicates that there is more than one mechanism by which Stat5 contributes to this process. The transactivation function of Stat5 is involved in the determination of tumors with a more differentiated phenotype. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Influence of gum-chewing on the haemodynamics in female masseter muscleJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 4 2009N. ABE Summary, Blood flow in active skeletal muscles provides energy substrate, oxygen and reduction of excessive heat and metabolic by-products. Although cyclic jaw motions such as those during mastication and speech articulation are the primitive oro-facial functions, possible effects of the cyclic muscle contractions on the intramuscular haemodynamics of the jaw muscles remains scarcely known. We investigated the masseteric haemodynamics during and after gum-chewing. Ten healthy female adults participated in the study. Electromyography, kinetics of masseter muscle oxygenation, electrocardiogram and blood pressure were recorded simultaneously. The subjects were asked to perform gum-chewing and cyclic jaw motion without gum bolus (empty-chewing task). The haemodynamics parameters were compared between the two experimental conditions. During gum-chewing task, deoxygenated haemoglobin and sympathetic nerve activity increased, while tissue blood oxygen saturation decreased. Blood pressure and parasympathetic nerve activity did not change. The overall behaviour of haemodynamic parameters during empty-chewing task was similar to that observed during gum-chewing task. However, the latency periods from the end of chewing until significant changes in the haemodynamic parameters were notably shorter (P < 0·05) in gum-chewing task as compared with those associated with empty-chewing task. The duration of the changes was shorter with empty-chewing than with gum-chewing. Fluctuations in masseter muscle haemodynamics associated with chewing jaw movement differed depending on the level of muscle contraction during movement. The differences became statistically significant immediately after the commencement of chewing and after the cessation movement. During the chewing movement, automatic nerve activities increased in response to the level of muscle contraction during movement. [source] Secondary effects induced by the colon carcinogen azoxymethane in BDIX rats,APMIS, Issue 6 2004MORTEN KOBĘK-LARSEN Azoxymethane (AOM) is claimed to be a colon-specific carcinogen. In our studies, AOM was administered to adult BDIX/OrlIco rats by four weekly subcutaneous injections of 15 mg/kg body weight each , two periods of 2 weeks of AOM treatment separated by a one-week break. This treatment schedule resulted in colon carcinomas with a high frequency (75,100%) and with a high reproducibility. However, some serious side effects are associated with this carcinogen treatment. In addition to the colorectal tumours, we found small intestinal tumours, hepatic lesions and a high frequency of mesenchymal renal tumours which increased with longer latency periods. The renal tumours were only found in female rats, and this indicates a possible relation to sex hormones. We therefore analyzed both male and female kidneys for the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors by immunohistochemical methods. A positive nuclear reaction for estrogen receptor was present in most tumour cells in all tumours and occasionally in nuclei of entrapped tubular cells, but never in glomeruli. Normal appearing renal tissue from female rats showed no positive reaction, but in male rats a slight nuclear reaction was seen in tubuli in the peripheral part of the medulla. A similar pattern was seen for progesterone receptors, but less pronounced. No rats developed tumours in the external ear canal, which is in contrast to studies performed in other rat strains. This may therefore be strain related. In order to reduce the secondary effects of the induction of colon cancer by AOM, it is advisable to use male rats only and a maximum latency period of 32 weeks. [source] Induced spawning of Asian catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.): effect of various latency periods and SgnRHa and domperidone doses on spawning performance and egg qualityAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 15 2005Article first published online: 2 NOV 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] |