Profile Consistent (profile + consistent)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Tonic regulation of satiety by 5-HT1B receptors in the mouse: converging evidence from behavioural and c- fos immunoreactivity studies?

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2004
Michelle D. Lee
Abstract Activation of 5-HT1B receptors is thought to play an important role in the inhibitory influence of serotonin on feeding behaviour and body weight in mammals. Earlier studies have shown that 5-HT1B -knockout (KO) mice eat more and are heavier than wild-type (WT) controls and that the selective 5-HT1B receptor agonist CP-94,253 reduces food intake in food-deprived mice. Here we characterize the behavioural effects of both CP-94,253 and the selective 5-HT1B receptor antagonist SB224289 on feeding and other behaviours within the behavioural satiety sequence, and also report a c- fos mapping study using CP-94,253. CP-94,253 produced a dose-dependent suppression of food intake with a profile consistent with a selective effect on feeding behaviour. These effects were absent or reduced in 5-HT1B -KO mice and in WT mice pretreated with SB224289. SB224289 administered alone enhanced food intake consistent with impaired satiation; a similar effect was apparent in 5-HT1B -KO mice compared to WT. CP-94,253 induced c- fos in a range of structures previously implicated in the expression of feeding behaviour. These results suggest that the activation of 5-HT1B receptors is an important component of endogenous satiation mechanisms in the mouse. [source]


Localization of a putative low-penetrance ependymoma susceptibility locus to 22q11 using a chromosome 22 tiling-path genomic microarray

GENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 4 2005
Anneke C. J. Ammerlaan
Ependymomas frequently display allelic loss of chromosome 22 in the absence of mutations in the known tumor-suppressor genes on chromosome 22, suggesting the role of an alternative predisposing gene or genes from this chromosome. In an effort to localize these genes, 37 ependymomas derived from 33 patients were analyzed for the presence of copy number changes by use of a high-resolution chromosome 22 genomic microarray. Eighteen ependymomas (49%) displayed an array-CGH profile consistent with monosomy of chromosome 22. However, in 10 of these tumors, the fluorescence ratios for 22q clones scored as deleted were different from those at the single gene copy level. This suggests either analysis of mixed populations of tumor and normal stromal cells or analysis of mixed tumor cell populations with different genetic profiles. Four ependymomas derived from two patients showed overlapping interstitial deletions of 2.2 Mb and ,510 kb. Further analyses revealed that these deletions were present in the constitutional DNA of these two patients as well as in some of their unaffected relatives. Detailed microsatellite analysis of these families refined the commonly deleted segment to a region of 320 kb between markers RH13801 and D22S419. Our results provide additional evidence for the involvement of genes on chromosome 22 in the development of ependymoma and suggest the presence of a low-penetrance ependymoma susceptibility locus at 22q11. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Large-scale plant light-use efficiency inferred from the seasonal cycle of atmospheric CO2

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2004
Christopher J. Still
Abstract We combined atmospheric CO2 measurements, satellite observations, and an atmospheric transport model in an inverse modeling framework to infer a key property of vegetation physiology, the light-use efficiency (LUE) of net primary production, for large geographic regions. We find the highest LUE in boreal regions and in the northern hemisphere tropics. Within boreal zones, Eurasian LUE is higher than North American LUE and has a distinctly different seasonal profile. This longitudinal asymmetry is consistent with ecological differences expected from the much greater cover of deciduous vegetation in boreal Eurasia caused by the vast Siberian forests of the deciduous conifer, Larch. Inferred LUE of the northern hemisphere tropics is also high and displays a seasonal profile consistent with variations of both cloud cover and C4 vegetation activity. [source]


Revisiting Intragastric Ethanol Intubation as a Dependence Induction Method for Studies of Ethanol Reward and Motivation in Rats

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2010
Simone Braconi
Background:, The purpose of this study was to re-examine intragastric ethanol intubation as a dependence induction method that effectively induces physical dependence upon ethanol over a short time period, is devoid of intrinsic stress artifacts, inexpensive, and easy to implement. Methods:, Male Wistar rats were subjected to ethanol dependence induction via intragastric ethanol intubation. Ethanol solution (final concentration 20%, made up in a dietary liquid vehicle consisting of powdered milk, sucrose, and water) was intubated 4 times per day, at 4-hour intervals, for 6 consecutive days (for a total of 10 g/kg/day). The utility of this procedure was evaluated for inducing physical dependence, determined by daily and final withdrawal ratings. Anxiety-like behavior associated with ethanol dependence history was examined using the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, conducted 5 days after ethanol withdrawal. To evaluate whether potential stress-like effects of intragastric intubation per se produce lasting effects on behavior, experimentally naive rats were compared with vehicle-intubated rats for anxiety-like behavior on the EPM. Results:, Blood alcohol levels reached stable levels between 200 and 250 mg%, measured 1 hour after the second and third ethanol intubation on days 2, 4, and 6. Ethanol-treated rats developed significant somatic withdrawal signs, recorded daily between 10 and 12 hours after the last ethanol administration. At 5 days postwithdrawal, ethanol-treated rats showed significant anxiety-like behavior, measured by decreased open arm time and open arm entries on the EPM, compared with vehicle controls. Additionally, ethanol postdependent rats showed decreased open arm time compared with experimentally naive rats. EPM performance did not differ between vehicle-intubated and naive rats. No withdrawal seizures were observed and mortality rate was near zero. Conclusions:, These findings suggest that intragastric ethanol administration produces a behavioral profile consistent with ethanol dependence (i.e., significant withdrawal signs after termination of ethanol exposure and elevated anxiety-like behavior persisting beyond completion of physical withdrawal), and that the intubation procedure itself does not produce lasting nonspecific anxiety-like effects. Thus, under the conditions employed here, this procedure provides an effective tool for inducing and evaluating the consequences of ethanol dependence in animal models of ethanol reward and motivation. [source]


Feeling, caring, knowing: different types of empathy deficit in boys with psychopathic tendencies and autism spectrum disorder

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 11 2010
Alice P. Jones
Background:, Empathy dysfunction is one of the hallmarks of psychopathy, but it is also sometimes thought to characterise autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Individuals with either condition can appear uncaring towards others. This study set out to compare and contrast directly boys with psychopathic tendencies and boys with ASD on tasks assessing aspects of affective empathy and cognitive perspective taking. The main aim of the study was to assess whether a distinct profile of empathy deficits would emerge for boys with psychopathic tendencies and ASD, and whether empathy deficits would be associated with conduct problems in general, rather than psychopathic tendencies or ASD specifically. Methods:, Four groups of boys aged between 9 and 16 years (N = 96) were compared: 1) psychopathic tendencies, 2) ASD, 3) conduct problems and 4) comparison. Tasks were included to probe attribution of emotions to self, empathy for victims of aggression and cognitive perspective-taking ability. Results:, Boys with psychopathic tendencies had a profile consistent with dysfunctional affective empathy. They reported experiencing less fear and less empathy for victims of aggression than comparison boys. Their cognitive perspective-taking abilities were not statistically significantly different from those of comparison boys. In contrast, boys with ASD had difficulties with tasks requiring cognitive perspective taking, but reported emotional experiences and victim empathy that were in line with comparison boys. Boys with conduct problems did not differ from comparison boys, suggesting that the affective empathy deficit seen in boys with psychopathic tendencies was specific to that group, rather than common to all boys with conduct problems. Conclusions:, Although both groups can appear uncaring, our findings suggest that the affective/information processing correlates of psychopathic tendencies and ASD are quite different. Psychopathic tendencies are associated with difficulties in resonating with other people's distress, whereas ASD is characterised by difficulties in knowing what other people think. [source]


A consistent vertical Bowen ratio profile in the planetary boundary layer

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 620 2006
M. Hantel
Abstract It has recently been suggested that the integrand b=,,,,, of the subgrid-scale conversion rate between available and kinetic energy has a measurable impact upon the Lorenz energy cycle. Here we discuss a technique to estimate this quantity within the lower part of an atmospheric column by relating b to the subgrid-scale fluxes of sensible and latent heat in form of their sum (the total convective heat flux, c, to be diagnosed from the pertinent energy law) and their ratio (a generalized Bowen ratio, ,, to be specified a priori). We focus on the frequently observed case that c vanishes at or above the top of the boundary layer, which implies that , must be minus unity at the same level (referred to as ,critical pressure'). , at the earth's surface is taken as measured. Observations suggest that the vertical curvature of the , profile is negative in the boundary layer. We specify an analytic vertical profile ,(,) that interpolates these pieces of information; , is a non-dimensional vertical coordinate. The pertinent thermodynamic energy law from which the column profile c(,) is gained (referred to here as convection equation) is driven by the (observed) grid-scale budget; the solution c is over most of the boundary layer quite insensitive to ,. It is only in the immediate vicinity of the critical pressure that c(,) becomes sensitively dependent upon ,(,); it actually turns infinite at this level (a ,pole' of the convection equation). We remove the pole through adjusting the critical pressure by a uniquely determined (and actually quite small) amount. This makes the , profile consistent with the convection equation and with the other convective flux profiles, across the entire boundary layer. The remaining open parameter that cannot be fixed by our method is the curvature of the Bowen ratio profile. This exercise has implications for about a third of all atmospheric columns over the globe and thus may be relevant for the quantification of the global energy cycle. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society [source]


Results of a two-year followup study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who received a combination of abatacept and methotrexate,

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 4 2008
Joel M. Kremer
Objective To evaluate the efficacy, radiographic changes, and safety of abatacept and methotrexate therapy through 2 years in a long-term extension of a previously published 1-year study. Methods Patients who received placebo during year 1 were switched to abatacept. Patients taking abatacept continued to take it. Efficacy and safety were assessed through 2 years. Results Of 539 patients enrolled in the initial 1-year study, 488 completed 1 year of the long-term extension (2% discontinued for lack of efficacy). At 2 years, patients taking abatacept had maintained their responses on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) improvement criteria and the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28; using the C-reactive protein [CRP] level), as well as their physical function (according to the Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ] disability index [DI]) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL; assessed with the Short Form 36 [SF-36] health survey), that were observed at the end of the double-blind period (year 1 versus year 2 values were 81.9% versus 80.3% for ACR 20% improvement, 25.4% versus 30.9% for a DAS28 [CRP] of <2.6, 71.8% versus 66.8% for the HAQ DI, and 9.7 versus 10.6 and 7.3 versus 7.2, respectively, for the mean change in the physical and mental components summary scores of the SF-36). In the abatacept group, post hoc analysis demonstrated further inhibition of radiographic progression during year 2 (57% reduction in mean change of total score in year 2 versus year 1; P < 0.0001), and minimal radiographic progression was observed (mean change in total score from baseline was 1.1 and 1.6 at year 1 and 2, respectively). Rates of adverse events (AEs) and severe AEs were consistent throughout the cumulative period. Conclusion The improvements in signs and symptoms, physical function, and HRQOL observed after 1 year of abatacept treatment were maintained through 2 years of treatment. This durability was accompanied by a safety profile consistent with that in the double-blind portion of the study. Radiographic progression was further inhibited in year 2 compared with year 1, suggesting an increasing effect of abatacept on the inhibition of structural damage in year 2. [source]


Safety Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacokinetic Assessment of Recombinant Human ,-Interferon Produced from CHO-SS Cells

BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Victor E. Buckwold
Here we provide an overview of our preclinical safety evaluation of the fully-glycosylated human IFN-, produced from CHO-SS cells that is currently being evaluated clinically. IFN-, was not associated with any biologically-relevant adverse effects in a series of 10 safety pharmacology experiments, in the Ames mutagenicity test, in the micronucleus test, or in intraarterial, intravenous, paravenous or subcutaneous local tolerance studies. Acute, subacute, subchronic and reproductive toxicity studies performed in cynomolgus monkeys and rats showed a toxicity profile similar to that of human , interferon (IFN-,). Except for the acute (single-dose) toxicology study, all of the other toxicity studies showed evidence for the formation of anti-IFN-, antibodies over time in the animals. These antibodies were found to neutralize IFN-, antiviral activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The average pharmacokinetic parameters following a single subcutaneous dose of IFN-, in rabbits, rats and monkeys were determined and found to be similar to that of human IFN-,. These findings demonstrate that IFN-, has a safety profile consistent with that required for its use in man. IFN-, might be beneficial for the treatment of patients infected with hepatitis C virus who fail to respond to IFN-, or as a first-line treatment option. [source]