Effects of monensin on the reproduction, health, and milk production of dairy cows.

A randomized clinical trial including 1109 cows from 12 Australian dairy herds was used to evaluate the effects of monensin on the health (n = > 686 cows), production (n = 915 cows), and reproduction (n = > 908 cows) of dairy cows. Cows were allocated to a treatment group receiving a slow-release intraruminal bolus containing 32 g of sodium monensin that was administered 40 d before and 50 d following the anticipated calving date or to a control group. Treatment did not significantly alter any reproductive outcome; 54.

An orphan nuclear receptor activated by pregnanes defines a novel steroid signaling pathway.

Steroid hormones exert profound effects on differentiation, development, and homeostasis in higher eukaryotes through interactions with nuclear receptors. We describe a novel orphan nuclear receptor, termed the pregnane X receptor (PXR), that is activated by naturally occurring steroids such as pregnenolone and progesterone, and synthetic glucocorticoids and antiglucocorticoids. PXR exists as two isoforms, PXR.

Identification of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligands from a biased chemical library.

Background: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) were cloned as orphan members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors. The identification of subtype-selective ligands for PPARalpha and PPARgamma has led to the discovery of their roles in the regulation of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. No subtype-selective PPARdelta ligands are available and the function of this subtype is currently unknown.

Changes in postural sway and performance of functional tasks during rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To investigate changes in postural sway while standing, walking parameters, and performance of functional tasks during rehabilitation in a group of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients.

Design: Descriptive.

Setting: Inpatient brain injury rehabilitation unit.

Immunochemical identification of mouse hepatic protein adducts derived from the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac, sulindac, and ibuprofen.

Reactive metabolite-modified hepatic protein adducts have been proposed to play important roles in the mechanism(s) of hepatotoxicity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In the present study, immunochemical techniques have been used to compare the patterns of drug-protein adducts expressed in livers of mice given single doses of one or other of three different NSAIDs. These were diclofenac and sulindac, which are widely used but potentially hepatotoxic drugs, and ibuprofen, which is considered to be nonhepatotoxic.

Feature extraction and modeling of the variability of performance in terms of biomechanical motion patterns during MMH tasks.

In investigating manual material handling (MMH) jobs, such as lifting, the quantification of the various kinematic and kinetic parameters of the lift is an important step towards functional assessment and evaluation. Experimental data collection generates a large quantity of data for the different kinetic, kinematic, and electromyographic parameters over the various lifting cycles. In order to efficiently manage and interpret the data, it is important to use appropriate tools which would reduce the dimension of the original data set without sacrificing any important features.

Changes in locomotor activity, core temperature, and heart rate in response to repeated cocaine administration.

The effects of daily single injections of 20 mg/kg cocaine on locomotor activity, core temperature, and heart rate were determined by radiotelemetry. There was a progressive increase in locomotor activity over the 30-day treatment period. Cocaine-induced activity was 9-12-fold greater than that of saline-treated animals.

Implementing a parent-present induction program.

One of the greatest fears of children undergoing surgery is separation from their parents. Children for whom preoperative sedation is contraindicated often endure the distress of this separation and the beginning of anesthesia surrounded by masked strangers. Those who receive sedation often experience the invasiveness of a medication administered rectally or intramuscularly or the insertion of an IV line.

The effect of low-dose bupivacaine on postoperative epidural fentanyl analgesia and thrombelastography.

We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to determine the effect of bupivacaine on postoperative epidural fentanyl analgesia and thrombelastography in 120 patients who underwent extensive gastrointestinal or genitourinary surgery. The patients were randomized into four groups, 30 patients per group: Group I = epidural fentanyl (EF), 10 micrograms/mL in saline; Group II = EF with 0.1% bupivacaine; Group III = EF with 0.

Class-specific immunoadsorption purification for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts.

An immunoenrichment procedure has been developed for applications in the detection and identification of a broad range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts at very low abundance. The procedures are based on a monoclonal antibody raised to r-7,trans-8,trans-9-trihydroxy-cis-10-(N2-deoxyguanosyl-5'-phospha te)- 7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (anti-BPDE-N2-dG) which has been tested for cross-reactivity towards DNA and proteins (bovine serum albumin, chicken gamma globulin and human globin) covalently modified with a range of PAH diol-epoxides. The antibody recognised DNA adducted with the diol-epoxides of benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene or picene.

Home nebulisers. Comparative study of lung deposition by different models.

Home nebulisers are extensively used in the ambulatory treatment of chronic chest conditions. This study compares the intrapulmonary deposition of aerosol generated by 6 different models of electrical home nebuliser in healthy male volunteers. Deposition was quantified by measurement of the radio-activity over the right lung during nebulisation of 3 ml normal saline containing 2 mCi of technetium-99m pertechnetate.

Coagulation tests, blood loss, and transfusion requirements in platelet-rich plasmapheresed versus nonpheresed cardiac surgery patients.

The results of several studies suggest that acute platelet-rich plasmapheresis decreases blood loss and allogeneic blood product transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery patients. We designed a randomized, prospective study to determine whether acute platelet-rich plasmapheresis decreases blood loss and allogeneic transfusion requirements in primary cardiac surgery patients. Forty patients were randomized to a control or pheresis group.

Effects of calcium channel entry blockers on cocaine and amphetamine-induced motor activities and toxicities.

The effects of calcium channel entry blockers on cocaine and amphetamine-induced behavioral responses were investigated. Cocaine and amphetamine produced dose-dependent increases in locomotor activity and stereotyped behavior with a maximum response at 40 and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively.

Effects of alpha-2-adrenoceptor agonists on induced diuresis in rats.

The alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists, clonidine, guanabenz, and guanfacine, injected subcutaneously produced a dose-related diuresis. The maximal effect occurred at 2h after administration of clonidine 192 micrograms/kg or 960 micrograms/kg of guanabenz and guanfacine. The alpha-2 antagonist, yohimbine, in doses of 1-8 mg/kg administered prior to the agonists caused a dose-dependent decrease in urine output.

Teaching social skills to students with autism to increase peer interactions in an integrated first-grade classroom.

We investigated the use of social skills groups to facilitate increased social interactions for students with autism and their nonhandicapped peers in an integrated first-grade classroom. Social skills groups consisted of training students and peers in initiating, responding, and keeping interactions going; greeting others and conversing on a variety of topics; giving and accepting compliments; taking turns and sharing; asking for help and helping others; and including others in activities. Training occurred during the first 10 min of 20-min play groups, four times per week.

Carbon isotope discrimination varies genetically in c(4) species.

Carbon-isotope discrimination (Delta) is used to distinguish between different photosynthetic pathways. It has also been shown that variation in Delta occurs among varieties of C(3) species, but not as yet, in C(4) species. We now report that Delta also varies among genotypes of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench), a C(4) species.

Vitamin E in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia: the possible involvement of free radical mechanisms.

One of the major problems associated with long-term neuroleptic treatment is persistent tardive dyskinesia (TD), for which there is no satisfactory treatment. We have recently proposed that some cases of TD are associated with neuronal dysfunction resulting from excess free radical production occurring during catecholamine metabolism. We therefore decided to assess the efficacy of a powerful free radical scavenging agent, alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), on the clinical signs of TD.

The effect of ketanserin on blood pressure and platelets during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Ketanserin, a serotonin antagonist, was used to control blood pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass in 12 patients having cardiac surgery. The drug was administered as a 10 mg bolus followed by a continuous infusion of either 40, 80, or 120 mg/hr to maintain mean arterial blood pressure below 70 mm Hg. There were 16 hypertensive episodes of which 15 (93.

Increased fibrinolytic activity in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass operation.

The influence of cardiopulmonary bypass on fibrinolytic activity was assessed by a sensitive clot lysis assay in eight patients undergoing coronary artery bypass operations. Fibrinolytic activity increased immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass was begun and remained elevated throughout the period of extracorporeal circulation. At the conclusion of the operative procedure, fibrinolytic activity returned to the normal range in all patients, and no subject had postoperative bleeding.

Changes of body temperature and heat in cardiac surgical patients.

Changes in body temperature were assessed in ten adult patients undergoing surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and induced hypothermia. Intraoperatively, in comparable time intervals before CPB and after rewarming, the patients lost body heat. Between the time of induction of anaesthesia and CPB, the temperature of blood in the pulmonary artery fell 1.