bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sevoflurane: Approaching the Ideal Inhalational Anesthetic A Pharmacologic, Pharmacoeconomic, and Clinical Review
Authors: Delgado‐Herrera Leticia , Ostroff Randall D. , Rogers Sharon A. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTSevoflurane is a safe and versatile inhalational anesthetic compared with currently available agents. Sevoflurane is useful in adults and children for both induction and maintenance of anesthesia in inpatient and outpatient surgery. Of all currently used anesthetics, the physical, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacokinetic properties of sevoflurane come closest to that of the ideal anesthetic (200). These characteristics include inherent stability, low flammability, non‐pungent odor, lack of irritation to airway passages, low blood:gas solubility allowing rapid induction of and emergence from anesthesia, minimal cardiovascular and respiratory side effects, minimal end‐organ effects, minimal effect on cerebral blood flow, low reactivity with other drugs, and a vapor pressure and boiling point that enables delivery using standard vaporization techniques. As a result, sevoflurane has become one of the most widely used agents in its class.
Neuroprotective Profile of Enoxaparin, a Low Molecular Weight Heparin, in In Vivo Models of Cerebral Ischemia or Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats: a Review
Authors: Stutzmann Jean‐Marie , Mary Veronique , Wahl Florence , Grosjean‐Piot Odile , Uzan André , Pratt Jeremy 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTThe development of treatments for acute neurodegenerative diseases (stroke and brain trauma) has focused on (i) re‐establishing blood flow to ischemic areas as quickly as possible (i.e. mainly antithrombotics or thrombolytics for stroke therapy) and (ii) on protecting neurons from cytotoxic events (i.e. neuroprotective therapies such as anti‐excitotoxic or anti‐inflammatory agents for stroke and neurotrauma therapies). This paper reviews the preclinical data for enoxaparin in in vivo models of ischemia and brain trauma in rats. Following a photothrombotic lesion in the rat, enoxaparin significantly reduced edema at 24 h after lesion when the treatment was started up to 18 h after insult. Enoxaparin was also tested after an ischemic insult using the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model in the rat. Enoxaparin, 2 × 1.5 mg/kg i.v., significantly reduced the lesion size and improved the neuroscore when the treatment was started up to 5 h after ischemia. Enoxaparin, administered at 5h after insult, reduced cortical lesion size in a dose‐dependent manner. In permanent MCAO, enoxaparin (5 and 24 h after insult) significantly reduced lesion size and improved neuroscore. A slight and reversible elevation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) suggests that enoxaparin is neuroprotective at a non‐hemorrhagic dose. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often accompanied by secondary ischemia due in part to edema‐induced compression of blood vessels. When enoxaparin, at 0.5 mg/kg i.v. + 4 × 1 mg/kg s.c., was administered later than 30h after TBI, it significantly reduced edema in hippocampus and parietal cortex. At one week after TBI the lesion size was significantly reduced and the neurological deficit significantly improved in enoxaparin treated animals. Finally, the cognitive impairment was significantly improved by enoxaparin at 48 h to 2 weeks after TBI. The anticoagulant properties of unfractionated heparin and specifically enoxaparin can explain their anti‐ischemic effects in experimental models. Furthermore, unfractionated heparin and specifically enoxaparin, have, in addition to anticoagulant, many other pharmacological effects (i.e. reduction of intracellular Ca2+ release; antioxidant effect; anti‐inflammatory or neurotrophic effects) that could act in synergy to explain the neuroprotective activity of enoxaparin in acute neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we demonstrated, that in different in vivo models of acute neurodegenerative diseases, enoxaparin reduces brain edema and lesion size and improves motor and cognitive functional recovery with a large therapeutic window of opportunity (compatible with a clinical application). Taking into account these experimental data in models of ischemia and brain trauma, the clinical use of enoxaparin in acute neurodegenerative diseases warrants serious consideration.
Development of the Nitrone‐Based Spin Trap Agent NXY‐059 to Treat Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Lapchak Paul A. , Araujo Dalia M. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTThe only current FDA‐approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke is thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). However, there are numerous shortcomings to tPA treatment including an increased incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and a short therapeutic window (3–6 h). In recent years, studies have attempted to identify new therapeutics that might be neuroprotective following ischemic strokes. Free radical scavenging spin trap agents have been proposed as potential candidates for stroke therapy because of the hypothesized role of free radicals in the progression of stroke and ischemia‐induced neurodegeneration. Novel spin trap agents like (disodium‐[(tert‐butylimino) methy1] benzene‐1,3‐disulfonate N‐oxide (NXY‐059) are of particular interest, not only because they are broad‐spectrum nitrone‐based free radical scavengers, but also because of their safety profile in humans. Moreover, the rationale for developing NXY‐059 for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke is further supported by the drug's reported neuroprotective effects. In addition, NXY‐059 may represent a useful adjunct stroke therapy to tPA, since preclinical studies have demonstrated that NXY‐059 increases the therapeutic window for tPA and lowers the occurrence of tPA‐induced ICH.
Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology of Cyamemazine: Anxiolytic Effects and Prevention of Alcohol and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome
Authors: Bourin Michel , Dailly Eric , Hascöet Martine 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTSeveral studies have suggested that the antipsychotic compound, cyamemazine, possesses anxiolytic properties in humans. The original pharmacological profile of cyamemazine (D2, 5‐HT2A, 5‐HT2C, and 5‐HT3 receptor antagonist), which was established by binding, microdialysis and behavioral studies, is consistent with these observations. In the light/dark exploration test, cyamemazine demonstrated anxiolytic‐like activity by acute, but not chronic administration. By chronic administration, however, cyamemazine increased the time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM) test demonstrating anxiolytic‐like activity. The discrepancy between the results obtained in these tests by acute and chronic administration, could be due to a combination of dopamine D2 receptor antagonism with antagonism of the 5‐HT2C and 5‐HT3 receptors. The action of cyamemazine on both the dopaminergic system and 5‐HT3 receptors could also explain the activity of cyamemazine in the management of alcohol withdrawal demonstrated in preclinical studies. This potential indication for cyamemazine and its activity in benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome have recently been investigated in clinical trials and the results of these studies are presented in this review.
Comparing a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA: Theory Versus Practice
Authors: Adelman Saul W. , Cross Mark L. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractFinancial planners often advise their clients to first take advantage of employer‐sponsored 401(k) plans, especially those with matching employer contributions. They often recommend next that clients consider a traditional or Roth IRA, depending on their current eligibility and tax bracket. Generally, the traditional IRA tends to be preferable to the Roth IRA if one expects to be in a lower tax bracket during the retirement versus the contribution years. This preference could be impacted by the theoretical or the practical assumptions one could make as to the tax bracket effect, minimum distribution requirements, and the impact of withdrawals on the amount of Social Security benefits taxed. This research compares the traditional and the Roth IRA, examining both the theoretical and practical assumptions of client behavior. The results indicate that the best choice between the types of IRAs depends on whether the investor's actual behavior is consistent with theory or practice.
Oral ivermectin for head lice: a comparison with 0.5 % topical malathion lotion
Authors: Nofal Ahmad 
Published: August 2010

Summary Background: Reports of treatment failure of head lice have become increasingly common. Oral ivermectin has been proposed as a potential alternative for the treatment of head lice infestation. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of oral ivermectin with topical malathion lotion in the treatment of head lice. Patients and methods: Eighty apparently healthy children with head lice infestation were randomly assigned to 2 groups, with 40 patients in each. The first group received oral ivermectin as a single dose of 200 μg/kg and the second group received single topical application of malathion lotion 0.5 %. Follow up visits were done at days 8, 15 and 29. A second dose of either drug was given at day 8 in case of treatment failure. Results: After a single dose, complete cure was achieved in 77.5 % and 87.5 % of ivermectin and malathion groups respectively. After the second dose for nonresponders, the cure rate increased to 92.5 % in the ivermectin group and 95 % in the malathion group. No major adverse effects were observed in either group. Conclusions: Oral ivermectin is a promising effective approach for the treatment of head lice and could be an ideal substitute for conventional pediculicides.
Specific cleavage of the DNase‐I binding loop dramatically decreases the thermal stability of actin
Authors: Pivovarova Anastasia V. , Khaitlina Sofia Yu. , Levitsky Dmitrii I. 
Published: August 2010

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the thermal unfolding of actin specifically cleaved within the DNaseI‐binding loop between residues Met47‐Gly48 or Gly42‐Val43 by two bacterial proteases, subtilisin or ECP32/grimelysin (ECP), respectively. The results obtained show that both cleavages strongly decreased the thermal stability of monomeric actin with either ATP or ADP as a bound nucleotide. An even more pronounced difference in the thermal stability between the cleaved and intact actin was observed when both actins were polymerized into filaments. Similar to intact F‐actin, both cleaved F‐actins were significantly stabilized by phalloidin and aluminum fluoride; however, in all cases, the thermal stability of the cleaved F‐actins was much lower than that of intact F‐actin, and the stability of ECP‐cleaved F‐actin was lower than that of subtilisin‐cleaved F‐actin. These results confirm that the DNaseI‐binding loop is involved in the stabilization of the actin structure, both in monomers and in the filament subunits, and suggest that the thermal stability of actin depends, at least partially, on the conformation of the nucleotide‐binding cleft. Moreover, an additional destabilization of the unstable cleaved actin upon ATP/ADP replacement provides experimental evidence for the highly dynamic actin structure that cannot be simply open or closed, but rather should be considered as being able to adopt multiple conformations.Structured digital abstract
MINT‐7980274: Actin (uniprotkb:P68135) and Actin (uniprotkb:P68135) bind (MI:0407) by biophysical (MI:0013)
Refugees: Challenges to Protection
Authors: Goodwin-Gill Guy S. 
Published: August 2010

By the end of the year 2000, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will have been in existence for 50 years –which is probably some sort of record for an organization originally set up with just a three-year mandate. There were many reasons for so limiting the successor agency to the International Refugee Organization, but it is doubtful whether anyone seriously thought that refugee problems would be resolved so quickly, or indeed that UNHCR would develop into the highly operational, visible and extensively funded entity that we see today. Fifty years of experience nevertheless suggests that it is high time for an audit, for an evaluation of strengths, weaknesses and achievements, and a little strategic thinking about the future.
Characterization of a Cellobiohydrolase (MoCel6A) Produced by
Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Takahashi Machiko , Takahashi Hideyuki , Nakano Yuki , Konishi Teruko , Terauchi Ryohei , Takeda Takumi 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

Three GH-6 family cellobiohydrolases are expected in the genome of
Magnaporthe grisea
based on the complete genome sequence. Here, we demonstrate the properties, kinetics, and substrate specificities of a
Magnaporthe oryzae
GH-6 family cellobiohydrolase (MoCel6A). In addition, the effect of cellobiose on MoCel6A activity was also investigated. MoCel6A contiguously fused to a histidine tag was overexpressed in
M. oryzae
and purified by affinity chromatography. MoCel6A showed higher hydrolytic activities on phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose (PSC), β-glucan, and cellooligosaccharide derivatives than on cellulose, of which the best substrates were cellooligosaccharides. A tandemly aligned cellulose binding domain (CBD) at the N terminus caused increased activity on cellulose and PSC, whereas deletion of the CBD (catalytic domain only) showed decreased activity on cellulose. MoCel6A hydrolysis of cellooligosaccharides and sulforhodamine-conjugated cellooligosaccharides was not inhibited by exogenously adding cellobiose up to 438 mM, which, rather, enhanced activity, whereas a GH-7 family cellobiohydrolase from
M. oryzae
(MoCel7A) was severely inhibited by more than 29 mM cellobiose. Furthermore, we assessed the effects of cellobiose on hydrolytic activities using MoCel6A and
Trichoderma reesei
cellobiohydrolase (TrCel6A), which were prepared in
Aspergillus oryzae
. MoCel6A showed increased hydrolysis of cellopentaose used as a substrate in the presence of 292 mM cellobiose at pH 4.5 and pH 6.0, and enhanced activity disappeared at pH 9.0. In contrast, TrCel6A exhibited slightly increased hydrolysis at pH 4.5, and hydrolysis was severely inhibited at pH 9.0. These results suggest that enhancement or inhibition of hydrolytic activities by cellobiose is dependent on the reaction mixture pH.
Mycobacterium avium
Infections of
Acanthamoeba
Strains: Host Strain Variability, Grazing-Acquired Infections, and Altered Dynamics of Inactivation with Monochloramine
Authors: Berry David , Horn Matthias , Xi Chuanwu , Raskin Lutgarde 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

Stable
Mycobacterium avium
infections of several
Acanthamoeba
strains were characterized by increased infection resistance of recent environmental isolates and reduced infectivity in the presence of other bacteria. Exposure of
M. avium
in coculture with
Acanthamoeba castellanii
to monochloramine yielded inactivation kinetics markedly similar to those observed for
A. castellanii
alone.
Polyphasic Characterization of a Thermotolerant Siderophilic Filamentous Cyanobacterium That Produces Intracellular Iron Deposits
Authors: Brown Igor I. , Bryant Donald A. , Casamatta Dale , Thomas-Keprta Kathie L. , Sarkisova Svetlana A. , Shen Gaozhong , Graham Joel E. , Boyd Eric S. , Peters John W. , Garrison Daniel H. , McKay David S. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

Despite the high potential for oxidative stress stimulated by reduced iron, contemporary iron-depositing hot springs with circum-neutral pH are intensively populated with cyanobacteria. Therefore, studies of the physiology, diversity, and phylogeny of cyanobacteria inhabiting iron-depositing hot springs may provide insights into the contribution of cyanobacteria to iron redox cycling in these environments and new mechanisms of oxidative stress mitigation. In this study the morphology, ultrastructure, physiology, and phylogeny of a novel cyanobacterial taxon, JSC-1, isolated from an iron-depositing hot spring, were determined. The JSC-1 strain has been deposited in ATCC under the name
Marsacia ferruginose
, accession number BAA-2121. Strain JSC-1 represents a new operational taxonomical unit (OTU) within
Leptolyngbya
sensu lato. Strain JSC-1 exhibited an unusually high ratio between photosystem (PS) I and PS II, was capable of complementary chromatic adaptation, and is apparently capable of nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, it synthesized a unique set of carotenoids, but only chlorophyll
a
. Strain JSC-1 not only required high levels of Fe for growth (≥40 μM), but it also accumulated large amounts of extracellular iron in the form of ferrihydrite and intracellular iron in the form of ferric phosphates. Collectively, these observations provide insights into the physiological strategies that might have allowed cyanobacteria to develop and proliferate in Fe-rich, circum-neutral environments.
Improving Biocatalyst Performance by Integrating Statistical Methods into Protein Engineering
Authors: Brouk Moran , Nov Yuval , Fishman Ayelet 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT
Directed evolution and rational design were used to generate active variants of toluene-4-monooxygenase (T4MO) on 2-phenylethanol (PEA), with the aim of producing hydroxytyrosol, a potent antioxidant. Due to the complexity of the enzymatic system—four proteins encoded by six genes—mutagenesis is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, the statistical model of Nov and Wein (J. Comput. Biol. 12:247-282) was used to reduce the number of variants produced and evaluated in a lab. From an initial data set of 24 variants, with mutations at nine positions, seven double or triple mutants were identified through statistical analysis. The average activity of these mutants was 4.6-fold higher than the average activity of the initial data set. In an attempt to further improve the enzyme activity to obtain PEA hydroxylation, a second round of statistical analysis was performed. Nine variants were considered, with 3, 4, and 5 point mutations. The average activity of the variants obtained in the second statistical round was 1.6-fold higher than in the first round and 7.3-fold higher than that of the initial data set. The best variant discovered, TmoA I100A E214G D285Q, exhibited an initial oxidation rate of 4.4 ± 0.3 nmol/min/mg protein, which is 190-fold higher than the rate obtained by the wild type. This rate was also 2.6-fold higher than the activity of the wild type on the natural substrate toluene. By considering only 16 preselected mutants (out of ∼13,000 possible combinations), a highly active variant was discovered with minimum time and effort.
A Targeted Multilocus Genotyping Assay for Lineage, Serogroup, and Epidemic Clone Typing of
Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Ward Todd J. , Usgaard Thomas , Evans Peter 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

A 30-probe assay was developed for simultaneous classification of
Listeria monocytogenes
isolates by lineage (I to IV), major serogroup (4b, 1/2b, 1/2a, and 1/2c), and epidemic clone (EC) type (ECI, ECIa, ECII, and ECIII). The assay was designed to facilitate rapid strain characterization and the integration of subtype data into risk-based inspection programs.
High Stability and Fast Recovery of Expression of the TOL Plasmid-Carried Toluene Catabolism Genes of
Pseudomonas putida
mt-2 under Conditions of Oxygen Limitation and Oscillation
Authors: Martínez-Lavanchy Paula M. , Müller Christina , Nijenhuis Ivonne , Kappelmeyer Uwe , Buffing Marieke , McPherson Kyle , Heipieper Hermann J. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas putida
mt-2 harbors the TOL plasmid (pWWO), which contains the genes encoding the enzymes necessary to degrade toluene aerobically. The
xyl
genes are clustered in the upper operon and encode the enzymes of the upper pathway that degrade toluene to benzoate, while the genes encoding the enzymes of the lower pathway (
meta
-cleavage pathway) that are necessary for the conversion of benzoate to tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, are encoded in a separate operon. In this study, the effects of oxygen availability and oscillation on the expression of catabolic genes for enzymes involved in toluene degradation were studied by using
P. putida
mt-2 as model bacterium. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR was used to detect and quantify the expression of the catabolic genes
xylM
(a key gene of the upper pathway) and
xylE
(a key gene of the lower pathway) in cultures of
P. putida
mt-2 that were grown with toluene as a carbon source. Toluene degradation was shown to have a direct dependency on oxygen concentration, where gene expression of
xylM
and
xylE
decreased due to oxygen depletion during degradation. Under oscillating oxygen concentrations,
P. putida
mt-2 induced or downregulated
xylM
and
xylE
genes according to the O
2
availability in the media. During anoxic periods,
P. putida
mt-2 decreased the expression of
xylM
and
xylE
genes, while the expression of both
xylM
and
xylE
genes was immediately increased after oxygen became available again in the medium. These results suggest that oxygen is not only necessary as a cosubstrate for enzyme activity during the degradation of toluene but also that oxygen modulates the expression of the catabolic genes encoded by the TOL plasmid.
Decontamination Options for
Bacillus anthracis
-Contaminated Drinking Water Determined from Spore Surrogate Studies
Authors: Raber Ellen , Burklund Alison 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

Five parameters were evaluated with surrogates of
Bacillus anthracis
spores to determine effective decontamination alternatives for use in a contaminated drinking water supply. The parameters were as follows: (i) type of
Bacillus
spore surrogate (
B. thuringiensis
or
B. atrophaeus
), (ii) spore concentration in suspension (10
2
and 10
6
spores/ml), (iii) chemical characteristics of the decontaminant (sodium dichloro-
S
-triazinetrione dihydrate [Dichlor], hydrogen peroxide, potassium peroxymonosulfate [Oxone], sodium hypochlorite, and VirkonS), (iv) decontaminant concentration (0.01% to 5%), and (v) exposure time to decontaminant (10 min to 1 h). Results from 138 suspension tests with appropriate controls are reported. Hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 5% and Dichlor or sodium hypochlorite at a concentration of 2% were highly effective at spore inactivation regardless of spore type tested, spore exposure time, or spore concentration evaluated. This is the first reported study of Dichlor as an effective decontaminant for
B. anthracis
spore surrogates. Dichlor's desirable characteristics of high oxidation potential, high level of free chlorine, and a more neutral pH than that of other oxidizers evaluated appear to make it an excellent alternative. All three oxidizers were effective against
B. atrophaeus
spores in meeting the EPA biocide standard of greater than a 6-log kill after a 10-min exposure time and at lower concentrations than typically reported for biocide use. Solutions of 5% VirkonS and Oxone were less effective as decontaminants than other options evaluated in this study and did not meet the EPA's efficacy standard for a biocide, although they were found to be as effective for concentrations of 10
2
spores/ml. Differences in methods and procedures reported by other investigators make quantitative comparisons among studies difficult.