Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “DEFECATION”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,765 records · Page 98Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Ontogeny of behavior in two inbred lines of selected mice.

The development over 11 ages of 14 reflex responses, 26 behavioral components, jumpiness, and left-right discrimination learning was studied in 2 strains of mice genetically selected for high (SRH) and low (SRL) rearing response frequency. Significant age-dependent differences between the strains were found mainly, but not exclusively, in the behavioral components, e.g., rearing, jumping, scratching, defecating. Two-week-old pups of both strains showed good acquisition and retention in learning tests without shock, but the "jumpy" behavior disturbed performance to a certain degree in the SRH strain. Although less active initially, SRH mice were ahead at later developmental stages. Whether these differences are determined by the gene controlling rearing frequency or by other genes remains undecided.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

Developmental and genotypic effects on pituitary-adrenal function and alcohol tolerance in mice.

Lactating females of 2 lines of mice selectively bred for long (LS) and short (SS) ethanol-induced sleep time (a measure of alcohol tolerance) consumed either tap water or 10% ethanol in tap water on Days 2-14 postpartum. Effects of genotype and neonatal treatment on offspring open-field behavior, alcohol-induced sleep time, and adrenocortical responsiveness to alcohol or saline injection were studied. The LS mice had higher ethanol-induced sleep times than SS mice, and also higher plasma corticosterone levels following alcohol challenge. The LS mice also responded more to saline injection and to novelty stress, suggesting that they were generally more responsive to stressors than SS mice. Significant genotype-dependent effects of neonatal treatment on (1) adrenocortical responsiveness to injection stess and (2) alcohol tolerance were noted. However, these 2 effects did not appear to be causally related. Neonatal treatment had no effect on open-field activity or defecation in either genetic line.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1979

Failure of severe maternal stress or ACTH during pregnancy to affect emotionality of male rat offspring: implications of litter effects for prenatal studies.

Daily maternal neck restraint, whole body restraint, hyperthermia, and ACTH treatment during the last 3rd of gestation had no reliable effect on open-field and cage-emergence behavior in male Sprague-Dawley offspring. Many of these treatments, however, produced considerable maternal pathology and evidence for maternal adrenocorticoid release. Significant litter effects were found for almost every morphological and behavioral measure. Failure to control for the litter variable may account for many previously reported effects of prenatal stress on emotionality in rats. Female rats showed greater activity and less defecation than males on postpubertal open-field and cage emergence tests.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1981

Behavioral and adrenocortical reactivity in female mice following individual or group housing.

Female "TO" strain mice were individually or group-housed for different durations (7-196 days). Behavioral reactivity was assessed for 3 days in an open field and an emergence test. Plasma samples were later collected after 5 min exposure to ethyl ether vapor; these generated "stress" corticosterone values. "Basal" corticosterone titers were obtained from similar untested and unanesthetized categories of mice. "Ether-stress" values were obtained from a limited number of mice subjected to ether anesthesia but no behavioral testing. Neither the basal nor the stress adrenocortical activities of the 2 housing categories differed. Open-field ambulation increased with longer durations of isolation, whereas for grouped mice it remained approximately constant. Individually housed mice had significantly lower defecation scores and longer emergence times than group-housed mice. In sum, little support was provided for the view that isolation is stressful.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Variation in maternal care and individual differences in play, exploration, and grooming of juvenile Norway rat offspring.

Individual differences in two different forms of maternal licking, time in nest and nursing, were measured during the first 2 weeks after birth. Two treatments were imposed to reduce maternal anogenital licking (AGL): peripheral zinc sulfate to interfere with reception of pup chemosignals, and dietary saline to reduce appetite for pup urine. Both treatments reduced AGL but did not affect other maternal licking. Zinc sulfate was more effective than saline during the first week, but was somewhat less selective as it also increased time in nest. Selected behavioral patterns were measured in male and female juveniles and related by multiple regression to the behavior of their mothers. Independent of the method of manipulation, maternal AGL was a significant predictor of play and open-field defecation males and of some forms of activity in the open field in both sexes. The relationships between other maternal variables and juvenile behavior were more modest. These data demonstrate that intervening in the sensory regulation of maternal behavior can produce predictable changes in stimulation provided by the dam, thereby providing a useful means for investigating the effects of protracted differences in early stimulation in otherwise normal developmental contexts.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Hippocampal morphology and spatially related behavior in Long-Evans and CFY rats.

Behavioral responses to novelty in an open field and spatial learning in a radial maze with four arms out of eight reinforced were tested in male and female CFY and Long-Evans rats. Subsequently, the sizes of the total hippocampi and of various hippocampal cell layers and terminal fields at the midseptotemporal level were measured in Timm-stained sections. No strain differences were found in the open field (except for defecation). In the radial maze, Long-Evans rats showed better spatial reference memory capabilities than rats of the CFY strain. The relative sizes of the intra- and infrapyramidal mossy fiber (IIP-MF) projections did not differ between the strains. Within the more variable CFY strain, a positive correlation between the size of the IIP-MF projection and radial maze performance was found. The absolute sizes of the entire hippocampi and all hippocampal layers at the midseptotemporal level were larger in the CFY strain. The size of the suprapyramidal mossy fiber projection was related to the number of granule cells and to the ratio between granule and CA3 pyramidal cells. In contrast, the size of the IIP-MF projection did not correlate with either of these variables. The results indicate that the size of the mossy fiber projection may be determined mainly by the available postsynaptic surface on the dendrites of CA3 pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, an increased number of granule cells and their larger projection to the apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons does not appear to result in physiological changes with behavioral consequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2005

New stool tests for colorectal cancer screening: a systematic review focusing on performance characteristics and practicalness.

New stool tests may be promising tools for future colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The aim of this review was to summarize current evidence of performance characteristics and practicalness in a population-based screening setting of recently developed stool tests. The MEDLINE database was searched for relevant articles published until July 2004. Studies were included if they comprised more than 10 cases and more than 10 controls. Details on study population, performance characteristics and stool collection procedure were taken into account. Overall, 29 studies, mostly retrospective, were included, investigating 17 different stool markers or marker combinations. Underlying study populations were very heterogeneous and mostly very small. Half of the studies reported sensitivity for adenomas in addition to sensitivity for CRC, and fewer than half reported sensitivity by tumor stage or location. Performance characteristics of stool tests varied to a large extent. For most DNA-based markers, specificity was about 95% or higher, but sensitivity was mostly low even for invasive CRC. More studies with larger sample sizes were done for protein-based markers, which typically had lower specificity. In most studies, stool samples were frozen within a rather short time period after defecation. While promising performance characteristics have been reported for some tests, more pervasive evidence from larger, prospectively designed studies, which also consider aspects of practicalness, e.g., the possibility of mailing the samples, is needed.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1997

Tolerance and efficacy of polyethylene glycol 3350/electrolyte solution versus lactulose in relieving opiate induced constipation: a double-blinded placebo-controlled trial.

Chronicity and high therapeutic cost prompted this study to determine a cost-effective and efficacious regimen in treating narcotic-induced constipation. The efficacy of lactulose was compared with polyethylene glycol 3350/electrolyte solution for relief of methadone-induced constipation. This was a randomized, triple cross-over after control run-in (no treatment) study conducted at a methadone maintenance program in Baltimore, Maryland in 57 patients who are affected by opiate-induced constipation. The study was measured by self-reported frequencies, consistency, and ease of defecation during a 1 week run-in control period, followed by 3 treatment phases of 2 weeks each. Polyethylene glycol 3350/electrolyte solution and lactulose produced more "nonhard" stools than the placebo (P < 0.01) and control (P < 0.003). Polyethylene glycol 3350/electrolyte solution produced the loosest stool (P < 0.0001) compared with the control, whereas lactulose had the most adverse effects. There were no significant differences in reducing hard stool formation in either experimental group, but both were better than having nothing or just the placebo. Polyethylene glycol/electrolyte solution resulted in the loosest (diarrheal) stool. It is also likely that polyethylene glycol/electrolyte solution is the most cost effective.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Dynamic imaging of the pelvic floor using an open-configuration magnetic resonance scanner.

The aims of this study were to develop a noninvasive, erect, gravity-dependent method for assessing movements of the female pelvic floor, to describe the range of movements in pelvic floor ascent and descent in asymptomatic and symptomatic women, and to quantify any differences. A total of 102 women, 28-86 years of age, 35 symptomatic and 67 asymptomatic, were included in the study. They were scanned in a sitting position in an open scanner with good vertical access using fast-gradient echo sequences fast spoiled grass (FSPGR). Measurements of the bladder base, uterocervical junction, and anorectal junction were taken in the sagittal plane. The levator ani (LA) muscle insertion was assessed in the coronal plane with the patients at rest, during maximal strain, and during maximum contraction of the pelvic floor. Premenopausal multiparous women have a significantly lower bladder base (8/0 mm above the baseline; P value = 0.009) and uterocervical junction (15.5/3.5 mm; P value = 0.03) at rest than nulliparous women, and this becomes more apparent on straining. Parity confers a more significant effect on the position and function of the pelvic floor than menopausal status. All pelvic organs are lower at rest and on straining in women with defecation difficulties (0/-24 mm; P value = 0.001). These differences are also seen when comparing women with and without urinary incontinence. Dynamic seated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows that all the pelvic organs are lower at rest and on straining in multiparous women and in those with urinary incontinence than in a group of asymptomatic nulliparous volunteers. This difference is also seen in the position of the bladder base and anorectal junction during pelvic floor contraction. These findings suggest general pelvic floor weakness in women who present with symptoms in one compartment and indicate the need for evaluation of the entire pelvic floor particularly prior to surgery. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:923-929.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

GI pharmacology of polyethyleneimine II: motor activity in anesthetized dogs.

The effects of orally and intravenously administered doses of polyethyleneimine were observed in 18 chloralose-urethan-anesthetized dogs. Polyethyleneimine produced an initial augmentation of rhythmic segmenting gastric antral contractions, a copious flow of gastric mucus, increased segmenting and propulsive activities of the small and large intestines, and occasional micturition and defecation. The gastric corpus and fundic regions became relaxed and enlarged. These events were associated with the prompt appearance of retching. The retching response to oral administration could only be abolished by bilateral vagotomy or bilateral sympathectomy. The skeletal muscle component of retching was blocked by tubocurarine. Intravenous administration of chlorpromazine blocked the retching response and gastric corporal atonia to either intravenous or oral doses of polyethyleneimine. Either oral or intravenous administration of polyethyleneimine produced no detectable changes in the lead II ECG but was associated with marked transient reductions in both mean and pulsatile arterial blood pressures. These depressor effects showed clear tachyphylaxis. In all cases where GI effects were noted, respiration was augmented and erratic in a manner associated with the retching responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

New in vivo evidence for narcotic agonistic property of leucine-enkephalin.

Administration of leucine-enkephalin or morphine to mice rendered dependent on morphine by pellet implantation inhibited the naloxone-precipitated abstinence syndrome. The withdrawal jumping response was inhibited by morphine or leucine-enkephalin; however, both failed to inhibit withdrawal defecation and rearing behavior. On a molar basis, leucine-enkephalin was half as potent as morphine in inhibiting the abstinence syndrome. New in vivo pharmacological evidence for narcotic agonist-like activity of leucine-enkephalin is provided.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Severity of fecal incontinence in community-living elderly in a health maintenance organization.

An anonymous survey containing questions about the severity of fecal incontinence (FI)--frequency, amount, and type--and its correlates was distributed to community-living elderly at four managed-care clinics. Completed surveys were received from 1,352 respondents whose mean (+/-standard deviation) age was 75 +/- 6 years and 60% of whom were female. Approximately 19% reported having FI one or more times within the past year. Incontinence that soiled underwear or was of loose or liquid consistency was most common. More frequent FI and a greater amount of FI were significantly associated with loose or liquid stool consistency, defecation urgency, bowel surgery, and chronic health conditions. Therapies aimed at normalizing stool consistency or reducing urgency may be beneficial in lessening FI severity.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Mouse coq7/clk-1 orthologue rescued slowed rhythmic behavior and extended life span of clk-1 longevity mutant in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The coq7/clk-1 gene was isolated from the long-lived mutant of Caenorhabditis elegans and was suggested to play a regulatory role in biological rhythm and longevity. The mouse COQ7 is homologous to Saccharomyces cerevisiae COQ7/CAT5 that is required for the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q (ubiquinone), an essential messenger in mitochondrial respiration. In the present study, we characterized the expression and processing of mouse COQ7. We found that COQ7 is highly expressed in tissues with high energy demand such as heart, muscle, liver, and kidney in mice. Biochemical analysis revealed that COQ7 is targeted to mitochondria where it is processed to mature form. Transgenic expression of mouse coq7 completely rescued the slowed rhythmic behaviors of clk-1 such as defecation. In life-span analysis, transgenic expression reverted the extended life span of clk-1 to the comparable level with wild-type control. These data strongly suggested that coq7 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of biological rhythms and the determination of life span in mammalian species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

The effects of central administration of neuropeptide Y on behavior, neurotransmitter, and immune functions in the olfactory bulbectomized rat model of depression.

The effects of subchronicly administered neuropeptide Y (NPY) intracerebroventricularly on behavioral, neurochemical, and immunological parameters were examined in sham operated and olfactory bulbectomized (OB) rats. In the untreated OB rats, an increase in ambulation, rearing, grooming, and defecation scores was found in the novel stressful environment of an "open field." Following 7 days of NPY administration, these behaviors were largely attenuated. In the elevated plus-maze apparatus, OB rats showed an increase in the number of entries into the open arms and time spent on the open arms compared with sham operated animals; NPY had no significant effect on the behavior of either sham operated or OB animals in this test. A decrease in the NA concentration was found in the amygdloid cortex of OB rats. NPY infusion significantly increased the NA concentration in amygdala, reduced 5-HIAA but increased 5-HT concentrations in the hypothalamus, and increased the dopamine level in the hippocampus. NPY administration also reversed the suppression of lymphocyte proliferation in the OB rat. However, the changes in the differential white blood cell count and the elevated phytohemagglutinin-induced chemiluminescence of mononuclear cells in the OB were not altered by NPY. These results suggest that NPY may have a modulatory effect on some behavioral, neurotransmitter, and immune aspects of the OB rat model of depression.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The influence of a targeted deletion of the IFNgamma gene on emotional behaviors.

Evidence suggests that interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) plays an important role in CNS function and development. While the paucity of agents that selectively modify IFNgamma production or interaction with its receptors makes analyses of its potential behavioral relevance difficult, mice with null mutations of the IFNgamma gene have been used to investigate the potential role of IFNgamma in emotional behaviors. C57Bl/6 (B6) mice with null mutations of the IFNgamma gene (IFNgamma (-/-)) showed significantly increased emotionality compared to the wild-type (IFNgamma (+/+)) B6 mice. This was manifested in performance in the elevated plus maze as well as increased defecation scores and decreased locomotor activity both in novel environments and following a sonic stimulus. In contrast, the general level of emotionality of both IFNgamma (+/+) and (-/-) BALB/c (C) mice was substantially greater than that of either of the B6 mouse groups. While C IFNgamma (-/-) showed increased immobility in response to novelty, other indices of emotionality of C IFNgamma (-/-) mice were not significantly different from those of the C IFNgamma (+/+) mice. In summary, the lack of IFNgamma appears to contribute to increased emotionality, but the basal behaviors of the parental strain (e.g., BALBc) may overshadow the expression of this emotionality. While mice with null mutations of the IFNgamma gene may be useful tools for investigating the role of IFNgamma in brain function and behavior, the influence of the parent strain genome(s) on the behaviors in question must be taken into account.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Acute health effects associated with nonoccupational pesticide exposure in rural El Salvador.

Little is known about the health effects of nonoccupational pesticide exposure in agricultural communities of poor countries. Therefore, this study investigated acute symptoms associated with nonoccupational exposure to organophosphate insecticides (OPs) in rural El Salvador, a region known for intensive pesticide use. In the five communities studied, 2-week prevalences of several acute symptoms were associated with living with a farmer who had recently applied methyl parathion. These included cramps in limbs (odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.7), chest pressure (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-4.0), change in defecation (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-4.1), feeling dazed (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.4), and eyes tearing (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1. 4-4.5). Associations were found regardless of whether the individuals reporting the symptoms had themselves performed field labor. These results suggest that living in areas where pesticides are used on crops may represent an environmental health concern, especially for children.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Primary ovarian carcinoid tumors.

Primary ovarian carcinoid tumors were reviewed from Mayo Clinic and Colorado Tumor Registry data. A total of 17 patients with this diagnosis were identified. Histologic analysis of these carcinoid tumors revealed 9 (53%) were insular, 5 (29%) were trabecular, and 4 (26%) were strumal carcinoid with or without a mature dermoid component. There were 11 patients with stage I and 6 patients with stage III or IV disease at diagnosis. Carcinoid syndrome was found in 29% of patients. Pressure or pain with defecation was noted in 41% of cases. Recurrence of tumor occurred in 1 of 11 patients with suspected stage I disease 13 years after initial diagnosis. Overall survival was excellent in the 11 patients whose disease was confined to one ovary (100% 5-year survival), but only 1 of 6 patients survived (33% 5-year survival) if advanced stage at diagnosis. Systemic chemotherapy for advanced disease achieved a complete response in 1 patient and stable disease in another. Although rare, primary ovarian carcinoid tumors treated with surgery alone and found to be confined to the ovary can be expected to have an excellent overall outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Alternative Routes for the Horizontal Transmission of a Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Two alternative routes for nucleopolyhedrovirus transmission were investigated using Mamestra brassicae larvae: cannibalism of infected larvae and the release of virus prior to the death of the diseased host. The low frequency of cannibalism observed suggests that this is not a relevant transmission route in this species. However, larvae were shown to transfer viable virus to the environment before death through either defecation or regurgitation. Over 40% mortality was observed in larvae reared in diet containers where infected hosts had previously fed. Virus transfer to cabbages also occurred before death of the infected host, as revealed by plant bioassay. Virus was not detected in the feces or regurgitate of diseased larvae until the late stages of infection.

Journal Article↗