bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vasorelaxant effect of stilbenes from rhizome extract of rhubarb (Rheum undulatum) on the contractility of rat aorta
Authors: Yoo Mi Young , Oh Kwang‐Seok , Lee Jung Won , Seo Ho Won , Yon Gyu Hwan , Kwon Dae Young , Kim Young Sup , Ryu Shi Yong , Lee Byung Ho 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe vascular relaxant effect of the rhizome extract of Rheum undulatum was evaluated with isolated rat thoracic aorta preparations. The methanol extract of the rhizome induced a concentration‐dependent relaxation of aortic preparations precontracted with 0.3 µm phenylephrine (EC50 value: 5.8 µg/mL). The activity‐guided fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of seven hydroxystilbene components as active principles, i.e. piceatannol, resveratrol, desoxyrhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, piceid, rhaponticin and ε‐viniferin. Of these, piceatannol, a tetrahydroxystilbene, exhibited the most potent vascular relaxant effect in rat aortic preparations (EC50 value 2.4 µm). The vasorelaxant effect of piceatannol on endothelium‐intact aorta rings was diminished completely by the removal of functional endothelium or by pretreatment of the aortic tissues with NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester. These results suggest that piceatannol may be the major mediator responsible for the vasorelaxing properties of the rhizome extract of Rheum undulatum and the vasorelaxant effects of the piceatannol may be mediated via endothelium‐dependent nitric oxide signaling pathway. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antimicrobial activity of volatile components and various extracts of the red alga Jania rubens
Authors: Karabay‐Yavasoglu N. Ulku , Sukatar Atakan , Ozdemir Guven , Horzum Zerrin 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe methanol, dichloromethane, hexane, chloroform and volatile oil extracts of the red alga Jania rubens were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity (five Gram‐positive, four Gram‐negative bacteria and Candida albicans ATCC 10239). GC‐MS analysis of the volatile components of J. rubens identified 40 compounds which constituted 77.53% of the total. The volatile components of J. rubens consisted of n‐docosane (6.35%), n‐eicosane (5.77%) and n‐tetratriacontane (5.58%) as major components. The methanol and chloroform extracts (4 mg/disc) showed more potent antimicrobial activity than the hexane and dichloromethane extracts and the volatile oil of J. rubens. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Herbal modulation of drug bioavailability: enhancement of rifampicin levels in plasma by herbal products and a flavonoid glycoside derived fromCuminum cyminum
Authors: Sachin B. S. , Sharma S. C. , Sethi S. , Tasduq S. A. , Tikoo M. K. , Tikoo A. K. , Satti N. K. , Gupta B. D. , Suri K. A. , Johri R. K. , Qazi G. N. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe bioavailability of rifampicin (RIF) in a fixed dose combination (FDC) used for the treatment of tuberculosis remains an area of clinical concern and several pharmaceutical alternatives are being explored to overcome this problem. The present study presents a pharmacological approach in which the bioavailability of a drug may be modulated by utilizing the herb–drug synergism. The pharmacokinetic interaction of some herbal products and a pure molecule isolated fromCuminum cyminumwith RIF is shown in this paper. An aqueous extract derived from cumin seeds produced a significant enhancement of RIF levels in rat plasma. This activity was found to be due to a flavonoid glycoside, 3′,5–dihydroxyflavone 7‐O‐β‐d‐galacturonide4′‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (CC‐I). CC‐I enhanced theCmaxby 35% andAUCby 53% of RIF. The altered bioavailability profile of RIF could be attributed to a permeation enhancing effect of this glycoside. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In Vitro antimicrobial activity of Zingiber cassumunar (Plai) oil and a 5% Plai oil gel
Authors: Pithayanukul P. , Tubprasert J. , Wuthi‐Udomlert M. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe essential oil of Zingiber cassumunar (Plai oil) exhibits antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, dermatophytes and yeasts. Dermatophytes were found to be the most susceptible microorganisms followed by yeasts, whereas bacteria were the least susceptible. The mean diameter of the inhibition zone determined by the disc diffusion screening method increased with increasing Plai oil concentration between 6.25 and 50 vol %. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determined by the broth macrodilution method ranged from 0.62 to 2.5 vol % for Plai oil and from 52 to 79 mg/mL for the 5 wt % Plai oil gel, whereas the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranged from 0.31 to 1.25 vol % for Plai oil and from 13.8 to 39.5 mg/mL for the 5% Plai oil gel. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards Unified Compound Screening Strategies: A Critical Evaluation of Error Sources in Experimental and Virtual High‐Throughput Screening
Authors: Parker Christian N. , Bajorath Jürgen 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThis contribution focuses on an assessment of errors in experimental and virtual screening. Sources of errors in high‐throughput screening can be classified as logistic, measurement‐related, or strategic. Biological assays formatted for high throughput are generally susceptible to small but systematic errors arising from a variety of sources, and the correction of such errors often requires the application of advanced data analysis methods. For virtual screening, chemical space design and molecular similarity analysis play crucial roles and similarity‐based methods also have principal limitations, as discussed herein. In addition, the relative performance of computational screening methods, regardless of their specific features, generally displays strong compound class dependence. However, given their opportunities and limitations, experimental and computational screening can be carried out in a highly complementary manner and integrated screening strategies are thought to have significant potential in pharmaceutical research.
Integrating packet‐level FEC with data carousels for reliable content delivery in satellite broadcast/multicast systems
Authors: Chipeta M. , Karaliopoulos M. , Fan L. , Evans B. G. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractOne key aspect of digital multimedia broadcasting is the reliable point‐to‐multipoint distribution of content. Since the capacity and energy constraints in wireless environments do not favour the provision of a return channel for user feedback, the use of partial reliability techniques is often the only realistic option for the reliable transport layer design. In this paper, we focus on the two main reliable transport mechanisms in unidirectional, point‐to‐multipoint systems, namely packet‐level forward error correction (FEC) and data carousels. We approach them as building components of an integrated scheme and investigate its performanceviaanalytical means. Our analysis demonstrates that the network responsiveness, expressed by the average content access time, is optimized for certain packet‐level FEC redundancy values. This is clearly different from setting FEC without considering the data carousel dimension, where the FEC redundancy is determined from the probability of recovering the whole fileversusFEC overhead trade‐off curves. We describe design alternatives for both scheme components, such as different FEC code types, rules for assigning FEC redundancy per carousel item, and ways to retrieve items from the data carousel, and evaluate their impact on the performance of the scheme. Our results suggest that the superposition of FEC on data carousels mitigates the otherwise significant impact of the data item retrieval technique on performance, at least for close‐to‐optimal FEC settings. On the contrary, the careful selection of FEC code and FEC redundancy assignment rule for data carousel items results in performance gains of up to 11 and 18% for the average content access time and FEC overhead, respectively, depending on the item demand and length distributions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross‐layer control of adaptive coding and modulation for satellite Internet multimedia
Authors: Fairhurst Gorry , Berioli Matteo , Renker Gerrit 
Published: November 2006

AbstractCross‐layer engineering is an emerging research area, enabled by advances in software‐defined systems and the development of advanced physical‐layer waveforms. This paper describes how cross‐layer mechanisms can be effectively introduced in the design of next‐generation adaptive satellite systems to support Internet Protocol (IP)‐based multimedia. It describes a set of signalling methods that facilitate cross‐layer interaction and assesses key architectural issues in cross‐layer design. The paper includes analytical, simulation and evaluation data for a set of novel techniques based on the UDP‐Lite transport protocol and the Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) provided by DVB‐S2. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of P‐POSSUM and CR‐POSSUM Scores in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Resection
Authors: Tez Mesut , Yoldaş Ömer , Gocmen Erdal , Külah Bahadır , Koc Mahmut 
Published: November 2006

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive accuracy of P‐POSSUM and CR‐POSSUM models on patients undergoing colorectal resection.MethodsP‐POSSUM and CR‐POSSUM predictor equations for mortality were applied retrospectively to 321 patients who had undergone colorectal resection for cancer. P‐POSSUM and CR‐POSSUM scores were validated by assessing their calibration and discrimination. Calibration was assessed using the Hosmer‐Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit test and the corresponding calibration curves. Evaluation of the discriminative capability of both models was performed using receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.ResultsOverall, 22 deaths were observed. CR‐POSSUM predicted 25 deaths (χ2 = 12.20, P = 0.13), and P‐POSSUM predicted 29 deaths (χ2 =18.85, P = 0.002). ROC curves analysis revealed that CR‐POSSUM has reasonable discriminatory power for mortality.ConclusionsThese data suggest that CR‐POSSUM may provide a better estimate of the risk of mortality for patients who undergoing colorectal resection.
Usefulness of the Bilateral Anterior Rectus Abdominis Sheath Turnover Flap Method for Early Fascial Closure in Patients Requiring Open Abdominal Management
Authors: Kushimoto Shigeki , Yamamoto Yasuhiro , Aiboshi Junichi , Ogawa Futoshi , Koido Yuichi , Yoshida Ryusuke , Kawai Makato 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackgroundMany patients requiring conventional open abdominal management need a postoperative intermediate period with a large ventral hernia. This situation, in which the granulated abdominal contents are covered only with a skin graft, carry with it a high risk of enterocutaneous fistula, and the patients ultimately require late‐stage abdominal wall reconstruction. Early abdominal wall reconstruction in noncandidates for standard fascial closure has received little attention. In this study we used bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flaps for early fascial closure which, to date, has not been evaluated as a technique for early fascial closure.MethodsEleven trauma and 18 nontrauma cases requiring open abdominal management over a 7‐year period were reviewed. Bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flaps were created by longitudinal incisions along the lateral edge of the anterior rectus sheath, which were mobilized medially and approximated. The skin was closed primarily.ResultsTwelve nontrauma and eight trauma patients survived. No enteric fistula or abdominal abscess occurred. Anterior rectus sheath turnover flaps were used in nine of the 18 nontrauma and two of the 11 trauma patients, all of whom were unsuitable for standard fascial closure of prolonged visceral edema; the respective mean intervals from initial laparotomy to fascial closure were 9.4 and 18 days. Of the 11 patients with flaps, ten survived without fascial dehiscence or herniation (maximum follow‐up: 65 months).ConclusionsEarly fascial closure using the anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap may reduce the need for skin grafting and subsequent abdominal wall reconstruction. This approach can be considered as an alternative technique in the early management of patients with open abdomen.
In vivo measurement of the redox state
Authors: Praticò Domenico 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAs part of an aerobic life, we oxidize a large pool of biomolecules to obtain chemical energy. During this process, several intermediates are formed; some are chemically unstable and are referred to as free radicals (FR). FR tend to react quickly with their surrounding biological environment; depending on the nature of the molecule attacked, different reactions can occur, i.e., lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, or DNA oxidation products. As aerobic life has evolved, antioxidant defense systems against FR have developed. When an imbalance between production of FR (oxidants) and defese systems against them (antioxidants) happens, a situation of oxidative stress occurs. This can lead to irreversible biochemical changes, with subsequent tissue damage and disease. Establishing the involvement of FR in the pathogenesis of a disease has been difficult because of the lack of sensitie and specific methodology to detect them. No ideal biomarkers for in vivo FR‐induced damage are available as yet. However, some reliable indices of FR formation are now available, and in some pathologic conditions, evidence is accumulating to show that FR damage might play a functional role. The task for the near future will be to try to simplify the analytical methodology and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation, disposition, and kinetics of FR marker molecules.
n‐3 fatty acids: Antiatherosclerotic effects
Authors: De Caterina Raffaele , Zampolli Antonella 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe low incidence of cardiovascular disease associated epidemiologically with high consumption of food rich in n‐3 fatty acids suggests the possibility that part of the beneficial cardiovascular effects of these natural substances may be due to a reduction of atherosclerosis. This has been recently confirmed in autoptic data and in at least one prospective trial evaluating the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in humans. This paper reviews published literature on n‐3 fatty acids and atherosclerosis in animal models and in humans and in vitro experimental data yielding suport to the hypothesis of antiatherosclerotic effects of these substances.
The effect of n−3 fatty acids on coronary atherosclerosis: Results from SCIMO, an angiographic study, background and implications
Authors: von Schacky C. , Baumann K. , Angerer P. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAccording to the model of “response to injury”, the arterial endothelium is occasionally injured in hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and in other states known as risk factors. The ensuing inflammatory response is modulated by cytokines and growth factors, among them platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1). In two independent studies, we demonstrated that mRNA levels for PDGF‐A and‐B and for MCP‐1 are reduced after ingestion of n−3 fatty acids by human volunteers. This reduction persists after monocyte stimulation/differentiation by adherence. Moreover, the reduction is brought about only by dietary n−3 fatty acids and not by other calsses of unsaturated fatty acids (n−6 or n−9). This appears to be one major mechanism of action of reduced progression/increased regression of establihed coronary artery disease by ingestion of 1.5 g/d n−3 fatty acids, as assessed by coronary angiography in a randomized placebo‐controlled double‐blind intervention study in 223 patients. The study was conducted according to “Good Clinical Practice”, comprehensive rules regulating investigations with pharmaceutical compounds. Together, our investigations lend support to the importance of PDGF‐A, PDGF‐B, and MCP‐1 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and the beneficial role of n−3 fatty acids therein.
Efficacy of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after myocardial infarction: Results of GISSI‐prevenzione trial
Authors: Marchioli Roberto , Schweiger Carlo , Tavazzi Luigi , Valagussa Franco 
Published: November 2006

AbstractGruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardio (GISSI)‐Prevenzione was conceived as a population, pragmatic trial on patients with recent myocardial infarctions conducted in the framework of the Italian public health system. In GISSI‐Prevenzione, patients were invited to follow Mediterranean dietary habits, and were treated with up‐to‐date preventive pharmacological interventions. Long‐term n‐3 PUFA (1 g daily) but not vitamin E (300 mg daily), was beneficial for death and for combined death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke. All the benefit, however, was attributable to the decrease in risk for overall, cardiovascular, cardiac, coronary, and sudden death.At variance with the orientation of a scientific scenario largely dominated by the “cholesterol‐heart hypothesis”, GISSI‐Prevenzione results indicate n‐3 PUFA (virtually devoid of any cholesterol‐lowering effect) as a relevant pharmacological treatment for secondary prevention after myocardial infarction.As to the relevance and comparability of GISSI‐Prevenzione results, up to 5.7 lives could be saved every 1000 patients with previous myocardial infarction treated with n‐3 PUFA (1 g daily) per year. Such a result is comparable to that observed in the Long‐Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) trial, where 5.2 lives could be saved per 1000 hypercholesterolemic, coronary heart disease patients treated with pravastatin for 1 yr.The choice of a relatively low‐dose regimen (1‐g capsule daily) more acceptable for long‐term treatment in a population of patients following Mediterranean dietary habits, and the pattern of effects seen in GISSI‐Prevenzione (namely, reduction of overall mortality with no decrease in the rate of nonfatal myocardial infarction) all strongly suggest that n‐3 PUFA treatment should be considered a recommended new component of secondary prevention. The importance of this combined/additive effect is further suggested by the analyses of the interplay between diet and n‐3 PUFA: There is an interesting direct correlation between size of the effect and “correctness” of background diets. It can be anticipated that a conceptual barrier must be overcome: A “dietary drug” should be added to “dietary advice”, which remains fundamental to allow this statement to become true in clinical practice.
n−3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases: To whom, how much, preparations
Authors: Nordøy Arne , Marchioli Roberto , Arnesen Harald , Videbæk Jørgen 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAn expert round table discussion on the relationship between intake of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) mainly of marine sources and coronary heart disease at the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of European Society for Clinical Investigation came to the following conclusions:
Consumption of 1–2 fish meals/wk is associated with reduced coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality.
Patients who have experienced myocardial infarction have decreased risk of total, cardiovascular, coronary, and sudden death by drug treatment with 1 g/d of ethylesters of n−3 PUFA, mainly as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The effect is present irrespective of high or low traditional fish intake or simultaneous intake of other drugs for secondary CHD prevention, n−3 PUFA may also be given as fatty fish or triglyceride concentrates.
Patients who have experienced coronary artery bypass surgery with venous grafts may reduce graft occlusion rates by administration of 4 g/d of n−3 PUFA.
Patients with moderate hypertension may reduce blood pressure by administration of 4 g/d of n−3 PUFA.
After heart transplantation, 4 g/d of n−3 PUFA may protect against development of hypertension.
Patients with dyslipidemia and or postprandial hyperlipemia may reduce their coronary risk profile by administration of 1–4 g/d of marine n−3 PUFA. The combination with statins seems to be a potent alternative in these patients.
There is growing evidence that daily intake of up to 1 energy % of nutrients from plant n−3 PUFA (α‐linolenic acid) may decrease the risk for myocardial infarction and death in patients with CHD. This paper summarizes the conclusions of an expert panel on the relationship between n−3 PUFA and CHD. The objectives for the experts were to formulate scientifically sound conclusions on the effects of fish in the diet and the administration of marine n−3 PUFA, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20∶5n−3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22∶6n−3), and eventually of plant n−3 PUFA, α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18∶3n−3), on primary and secondary prevention of CHD. Fish in the diet should be considered as part of a healthy diet low in saturated fats for everybody, whereas additional administration of n−3 PUFA concentrates could be given to specific groups of patients. This workshop was organized on the basis of questions sent to the participants beforehand, on brief introductions by the participants, and finally on discussion and analysis by a group of ∼40 international scientists in the fields of nutrition, cardiology, epidemiology, lipidology, and thrombosis.
Tolerance and incorporation of a high‐dose eicosapentaenoic acid diester emulsion by patients with pancreatic cancer cachexia
Authors: Barber Matthew D. , Fearon Kenneth C. H. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractChemotherapy and radiotherapy offer little benefit to patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has anticancer effects both in vitro and in animal models. The dose of EPA that can be administered to cancer patients has previously been limited by the low purity of available preparations and the tolerability of large capsules. A high‐purity preparation of EPA as a 20% oil‐in‐water diester emulsion allowed a small study of the tolerance, incorporation, and effects of EPA in high doses in five patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Patients underwent assessment at baseline and every 4 wk thereafter. All patients managed to tolerate a dose providing 18 g EPA per day, with doses between 9 and 27 g daily being taken for at least a month. Dosage was limited by a sensation of fullness, cramping abdominal pain, steatorrhea, and nausea. All such symptoms were controlled by dose reduction or pancreatic enzyme supplements. No other adverse effects attributable to the trial agent were observed. Plasma phospholipid EPA content increased from around 1% at baseline to 10% at 4 wk and 20% at 8 wk. Incorporation of EPA into red blood cell phospholipids reached levels of around 10%. The present study has shown that a novel, high‐purity, EPA diester emulsion can be tolerated at a dose providing around 18 g EPA per day with side‐effects being easily controlled. The acceptibility of large doses of oral EPA should allow larger controlled clinical studies into potential anticancer effects of EPA.