bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Species differences in the gut stimulatory effects of radish seeds
Authors: Gilani Anwarul Hassan , Ghayur Muhammad Nabeel , Houghton Peter J 
Published: October 2005

Abstract
This study describes the gastrointestinal (GI) prokinetic effects of the aqueous extract of radish seeds (Rs.Cr). Rs.Cr, which tested positive for terpenes, flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids and saponins, showed a spasmogenic effect in isolated rabbit jejunum and ileum, rat stomach fundus and ileum, and guinea-pig ileum and jejunum. Rs.Cr was around 10 times more potent in the guinea-pig tissues and this effect was resistant to atropine, pyrilamine or SB203186 while the spasmogenic effect in the rat and rabbit tissues was atropine sensitive. The extract exhibited atropine-sensitive GI prokinetic and laxative effects in vivo in mice. In the atropinized rabbit jejunum, Rs.Cr produced a spasmolytic effect independent of Ca++ or K+ channels, adrenergic or opioid receptor involvement. Activity-directed fractionation of Rs.Cr yielded four fractions, all showing effects similar to that of the parent extract. Rs.Cr and its fractions were found to be non-lethal up to 10 g kg−1 in mice for 24 h, except for the petroleum fraction, which showed 50% mortality at high doses. Some known radish compounds (spermine, spermidine, putrescine and sinigrin) were also tested and found to be devoid of any activity. The study shows species-specific spasmogenic effects of radish in rabbit, rat and mouse via muscarinic receptors but through an uncharacterized pathway in guinea-pig tissues. Additionally, a dormant relaxant effect was also seen, while the three polyamines and one glucosinolate from radish were found to be inactive, indicating that the compound(s) responsible for the activities reported remains to be isolated.
Effect of water and methanol fractions on the performance of a CI engine using animal fat emulsions as fuel
Authors: Kumar Senthil M , Kerihuel A , Bellettre J , Tazerout M 
Published: October 2005

The influence of water and methanol (W/M) fractions on the performance of a compression ignition engine fuelled with animal fat (obtained from duck) emulsions is studied. A single cylinder air-cooled, direct injection diesel engine developing a rated brake power output of 2.8 kW at 1500 r/min is tested using diesel neat animal fat, and animal fat emulsions with different fractions of W/M. Results show reduced peak pressure with neat animal fat when compared with diesel. Animal fat emulsions result in increased peak pressure with increased W/M fractions. Ignition delay is quite high with neat animal fat. Increase in W/M amounts in the emulsions further increase the ignition delay. Heat release pattern shows improved combustion rates with animal fat emulsions at all W/M fractions when compared with neat animal fat. Drastic reduction in smoke emission from 3.6 m−1 with neat animal fat to a minimum of 0.5 m−1 is achieved with the animal fat emulsion at the maximum W/M fraction. NO emission is found to be lower with neat animal fat than with neat diesel. Animal fat emulsions further reduce NO emission at all W/M fractions. Hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions are also reduced significantly with animal fat emulsions at all W/M ratios when compared with neat animal fat. In general, animal fat emulsions with different W/M fractions show considerable reduction in all emissions and improvement in engine performance when compared with neat animal fat. Emulsion of 10W10M2S83 (i.e. 10 per cent of water, 10 per cent of methanol, and 2 per cent of span 83 by volume) is found to be the best among the three tested emulsions for optimum performance and emissions.
Automatic computational fluid dynamics-based procedure for the optimization of a centrifugal impeller
Authors: Martelli F , Pazzi S , Michelassi V 
Published: October 2005

A typical centrifugal impeller characterized by a low flow coefficient and cylindrical blades is redesigned by means of an intelligent automatic search program. The procedure consists of a feasible sequential quadratic programming algorithm (Fletcher, R. Practical Methods of optimization, 2000 (Wiley)) coupled to a lazy learning (LL) interpolator 1 to speed-up the process. The program is able to handle geometric constraints to reduce the computational effort devoted to the analysis of non-physical configurations. The objective function evaluator is an in-house developed structured computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The LL approx-imator is called each time the stored database can provide a sufficiently accurate performance estimate for a given geometry, thus reducing the effective CFD computations. The impeller is represented by 25 geometric parameters describing the vane in the meridional and s-0 planes, the blade thickness, and the leading edge shape. The optimization is carried out on the impeller design point maximizing the polytropic efficiency with nearly constant flow coefficient and polytropic head. The optimization is accomplished by maintaining unaltered those geometrical parameters which have to be kept fixed in order to make the impeller fit the original stage. The optimization, carried out on a cluster of 16 PCs, is self-learning and leads to a geometry presenting an increased design point efficiency. The program is completely general and can be applied to any component which can be described by a finite number of geometrical parameters and computed by any numerical instrument to provide performance indices. The work presented in this paper was done under the METHOD EC funded project for the implementation of new technologies for optimization of centrifugal compressors.
Open Trial of Pindolol in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Authors: Wood Patrick B , Kablinger Anita S , Caldito Gloria S 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that fibromyalgia is related to both chronic sympathetic hyperactivity and decreased levels of serotonin. OBJECTIVE To examine the efficacy of pindolol, a mixed serotonin (5-HT)1A presynaptic autoreceptor/β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, in the treatment of fibromyalgia. METHODS An open trial was conducted using 20 female patients who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia. Treatment was initiated with pindolol 7.5 mg/day and titrated to a maximum dose of 15 mg/day for a total of 90 days. Primary outcome measures were tender point analysis and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Anxiety and depression were measured with the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales and Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS There was significant improvement in primary outcome measures, including Tender Point Count (mean ± SD, 16.3 ± 2.2 vs 12.3 ± 5.0; F = 8.9; p < 0.001), Tender Point Score (24.4 ± 5.7 vs 17.5 ± 9.4; F = 7.8; p < 0.001), and FIQ (45.3 ± 10.8 vs 35.0 ± 15.0; F = 5.6; p < 0.005). The depression and anxiety scores did not change significantly among women who completed the study, while the impact on cardiovascular parameters was clinically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS While the current results are encouraging, further studies are needed to determine whether pindolol might be effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Limitations of this study include small group size and lack of placebo control.
Incremental Effects of Concurrent Pharmacotherapeutic Regimens for Heart Failure on Hospitalizations and Costs
Authors: Skrepnek Grant H , Abarca Jacob , Malone Daniel C , Armstrong Edward P , Shirazi Farshad M , Woosley Raymond L 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND Inappropriate medication use in patients with heart failure (HF) presents challenges in providing optimal, evidence-based care. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incremental differences of concurrent and persistent use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, β-blockers, loop diuretics, and digoxin on the one-year, all-cause risk of hospitalization and total healthcare costs associated with treatment of HF in patients enrolled in a managed care organization within the US. METHODS A retrospective database analysis was conducted spanning from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 1999. Multivariate regression methods were used to examine the association between treatment regimens and hospitalizations or costs after controlling for patient demographics and risk factors. RESULTS Of the 1903 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 32.3% (n = 615) received none of the 4 HF agents studied and were associated with a 2.5 times greater risk (p ≤ 0.001) of hospitalization and 43.6% higher (p ≤ 0.001) total costs compared with all other patients with HF. Comparatively, 13.9% (n = 264) utilized the HF medications investigated for at least 6 months. Of those with persistent use of ≥3 agents, approximate decreases in hospitalizations were noted of 80% (p ≤ 0.001) and total costs of 70% (p ≤ 0.001) relative to patients receiving no HF therapy. CONCLUSIONS A substantial portion of patients with HF may be receiving suboptimal pharmacotherapeutic care in real-world practice settings, potentially incurring large increases in hospitalizations and total costs. Quality improvement initiatives should seek to identify and manage those not being treated according to guideline recommendations.
Natalizumab for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn's Disease
Authors: Keeley Kendra A , Rivey Michael P , Allington Douglas R 
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVETo review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and pivotal clinical trials for natalizumab in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and inflammatory bowel disease.DATA SOURCESA PubMed/MEDLINE search was conducted (1966–June 2005), and information was obtained from Iowa Drug Information Services. Additional data sources included meeting abstracts, bibliographies from identified articles, and information from the manufacturer.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTIONStudies and review articles examining natalizumab were evaluated. All published, randomized clinical trials evaluating natalizumab in MS and IBD were included in this review.DATA SYNTHESISNatalizumab is the first drug in a new class of agents called selective adhesion molecule inhibitors. It has shown promising results in MS and inflammatory bowel disease and appears superior compared with current therapies in reducing relapse rates. However, 3 recent, confirmed case reports of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) create concern about natalizumab's use in combination with existing therapies or in undefined patient subgroups. Natalizumab was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in March 2005 while the drug's safety is further evaluated.CONCLUSIONSAlthough long-term efficacy and safety of natalizumab have not been established, available data indicate that it is a novel drug for patients with MS or inflammatory bowel disease. Analysis of its possible association with PML will determine the risk–benefit evaluation and eventual place in therapy for natalizumab.
Community Pharmacy–Based Pharmaceutical Care for Asthma Patients
Authors: Mangiapane Sandra , Schulz Martin , Mühlig Stephan , Ihle Peter , Schubert Ingrid , Waldmann Hans-Christian 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND Despite significant progress in asthma drug therapy in recent years, there has been no major change in asthma morbidity and mortality. It is still important to determine whether pharmaceutical care (PC) influences health outcomes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of PC with regard to clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes in adults with asthma. METHODS An intervention study was conducted over 12 months. At baseline, 39 community/retail pharmacies, 84 primary care physicians (general practitioners, internal specialists, chest physicians), and 183 patients (aged 18–65 y) diagnosed with asthma were included. To evaluate economic outcomes, 2 German statutory health insurance funds provided 2 years of claims data for their insured patients (n = 55). A 1:10 matching was carried out to compare the data of this intervention subgroup with those of a control group (n = 550). RESULTS Significant improvements were found for all humanistic outcomes (eg, asthma-specific quality of life, self-efficacy, knowledge, medication adherence). In addition, asthma severity, self-reported symptoms, peak expiratory flow, and patients’ inhalation technique improved. Increases in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and vital capacity were not significant over time. Evaluation of the insurance claims data revealed a shift toward better adherence to evidence-based therapy. CONCLUSIONS The study shows that PC for people with asthma has a positive impact on humanistic and, to some extent, on clinical outcomes. To determine potential economic benefits, future research should focus on patients with more severe asthma.
The Need for Routine Bleomycin Test Dosing in the 21st Century
Authors: Lam Masha SH 
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVE To review the clinical evidence for routine use of bleomycin test dosing. DATA SOURCES English-language review articles, references from retrieved articles, case reports, and clinical trials were identified from a MEDLINE literature search (1966–July 2005). Key search terms included bleomycin, test dose, anaphylactic reactions, and hypersensitivity. Information from an unpublished E-mail survey, the manufacturer, and the Internet was also used. DATA SYNTHESIS Early clinical trials and isolated case reports suggest that bleomycin-induced acute hypersensitivity reactions occur in 1% of patients with lymphoma and <0.5% of those with solid tumors. The reactions are mainly characterized by high-grade fever, chills, hypotension, and in a few cases, cardiovascular collapse, which can lead to death. The exact mechanism of these reactions is unclear, but is thought to be related to the release of endogenous pyrogens from the host cells. Evidence does not suggest any correlation between doses and the onset or severity of the reactions. Supportive care, including hydration, steroids, antipyretics, and antihistamines, may resolve the symptoms. However, it may not completely prevent recurrences. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of acute hypersensitivity or hyperpyrexic reactions associated with bleomycin is very low, but the reaction is potentially fatal. Clinicians should monitor their patients for any signs and symptoms of acute hyperpyrexic reactions during bleomycin administration. Since the onset of the reactions can occur with any dose of bleomycin and at any time, routine test dosing does not seem to predict when drug reactions may occur.
Radical-mediated dehydration reactions in anaerobic bacteria
Authors: Buckel Wolfgang , Martins Berta M. , Messerschmidt Albrecht , Golding Bernard T. 
Published: October 2005

AbstractMost dehydratases catalyse the elimination of water from β-hydroxy ketones, β-hydroxy carboxylic acids or β-hydroxyacyl-CoA. The electron-withdrawing carbonyl functionalities acidify the α-hydrogens to enable their removal by basic amino acid side chains. Anaerobic bacteria, however, ferment amino acids via α- or γ-hydroxyacyl-CoA, dehydrations of which involve the abstraction of a β-hydrogen, which is ostensibly non-acidic (pKca. 40). Evidence is accumulating that β-hydrogens are acidified via transient conversion of the CoA derivatives to enoxy radicals by one-electron transfers, which decrease the pKto 14. The dehydrations of (R)-2-hydroxyacyl-CoA to (E)-2-enoyl-CoA are catalysed by heterodimeric [4Fe-4S]-containing dehydratases, which require reductive activation by an ATP-dependent one-electron transfer mediated by a homodimeric protein with a [4Fe-4S] cluster between the two subunits. The electron is further transferred to the substrate, yielding a ketyl radical anion, which expels the hydroxyl group and forms an enoxy radical. The dehydration of 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to crotonyl-CoA involves a similar mechanism, in which the ketyl radical anion is generated by one-electron oxidation. The structure of the FAD- and [4Fe-4S]-containing homotetrameric dehydratase is related to that of acyl-CoA dehydrogenases, suggesting a radical-based mechanism for both flavoproteins.
Unusual reactions involved in anaerobic metabolism of phenolic compounds
Authors: Boll Matthias , Fuchs Georg 
Published: October 2005

AbstractAerobic bacteria use molecular oxygen as a common co-substrate for key enzymes of aromatic metabolism. In contrast, in anaerobes all oxygen-dependent reactions are replaced by a set of alternative enzymatic processes. The anaerobic degradation of phenol to a non-aromatic product involves enzymatic processes that are uniquely found in the aromatic metabolism of anaerobic bacteria: (i) ATP-dependent phenol carboxylation to 4-hydroxybenzoate via a phenylphosphate intermediate (biological Kolbe-Schmitt carboxylation); (ii) reductive dehydroxylation of 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA to benzoyl-CoA; and (iii) ATP-dependent reductive dearomatization of the key intermediate benzoyl-CoA in a ‘Birch-like’ reduction mechanism. This review summarizes the results of recent mechanistic studies of the enzymes involved in these three key reactions.
The CRAL/TRIO and GOLD Domain Protein CGR-1 Promotes Induction of Vulval Cell Fates in Caenorhabditis elegans and Interacts Genetically With the Ras Signaling Pathway
Authors: Goldstein Jessica L , Glossip Danielle , Nayak Sudhir , Kornfeld Kerry 
Published: October 2005

Abstract
Ras-mediated signaling is necessary for the induction of vulval cell fates during Caenorhabditis elegans development. We identified cgr-1 by screening for suppressors of the ectopic vulval cell fates caused by a gain-of-function mutation of the let-60 ras gene. Analysis of two cgr-1 loss-of-function mutations indicates that cgr-1 positively regulates induction of vulval cell fates. cgr-1 is likely to function at a step in the Ras signaling pathway that is downstream of let-60, which encodes Ras, and upstream of lin-1, which encodes a transcription factor, if these genes function in a linear signaling pathway. These genetic studies are also consistent with the model that cgr-1 functions in a parallel pathway that promotes vulval cell fates. Localized expression studies suggest that cgr-1 functions cell autonomously to affect vulval cell fates. cgr-1 also functions early in development, since cgr-1 is necessary for larval viability. CGR-1 contains a CRAL/TRIO domain likely to bind a small hydrophobic ligand and a GOLD domain that may mediate interactions with proteins. A bioinformatic analysis revealed that there is a conserved family of CRAL/TRIO and GOLD domain-containing proteins that includes members from vertebrates and Drosophila. The analysis of cgr-1 identifies a novel in vivo function for a member of this family and a potential new regulator of Ras-mediated signaling.
Genetic Evidence That Nonhomologous Disjunction and Meiotic Drive Are Properties of Wild-Type Drosophila melanogaster Male Meiosis
Authors: Boschi Manuela , Belloni Massimo , Robbins Leonard G 
Published: October 2005

Abstract
We have followed sex and second chromosome disjunction, and the effects of these chromosomes on sperm function, in four genotypes: wild-type males, males deficient for the Y-linked crystal locus, males with an X chromosome heterochromatic deficiency that deletes all X–Y pairing sites, and males with both deficiencies. Both mutant situations provoke chromosome misbehavior, but the disjunctional defects are quite different. Deficiency of the X heterochromatin, consonant with the lack of pairing sites, mostly disrupts X–Y disjunction with a decidedly second-level effect on major autosome behavior. Deleting crystal, consonant with the cytological picture of postpairing chromatin-condensation problems, disrupts sex and autosome disjunction equally. Even when the mutant-induced nondisjunction has very different mechanics, however, and even more importantly, even in the wild type, there is strong, and similar, meiotic drive. The presence of meiotic drive when disjunction is disrupted by distinctly different mechanisms supports the notion that drive is a normal cellular response to meiotic problems rather than a direct effect of particular mutants. Most surprisingly, in both wild-type and crystal-deficient males the Y chromosome moves to the opposite pole from a pair of nondisjoined second chromosomes nearly 100% of the time. This nonhomologous interaction is, however, absent when the X heterochromatin is deleted. The nonhomologous disjunction of the sex and second chromosomes may be the genetic consequence of the chromosomal compartmentalization seen by deconvolution microscopy, and the absence of Y–2 disjunction when the X heterochromatin is deleted suggests that XY pairing itself, or a previously unrecognized heterochromatic function, is prerequisite to this macrostructural organization of the chromosomes.
Lysis Timing and Bacteriophage Fitness
Authors: Wang Ing-Nang 
Published: October 2005

Abstract
The effect of lysis timing on bacteriophage (phage) fitness has received little theoretical or experimental attention. Previously, the impact of lysis timing on phage fitness was studied using a theoretical model based on the marginal value theorem from the optimal foraging theory. An implicit conclusion of the model is that, for any combination of host quantity and quality, an optimal time to lyse the host would exist so that the phage fitness would be the highest. To test the prediction, an array of isogenic λ-phages that differ only in their lysis times was constructed. For each phage strain, the lysis time, burst size, and fitness (growth rate) were determined. The result showed that there is a positive linear relationship between lysis time and burst size. Moreover, the strain with an intermediate lysis time has the highest fitness, indicating the existence of an optimal lysis time. A mathematical model is also constructed to describe the population dynamics of phage infection. Computer simulations using parameter values derived from phage λ-infection also showed an optimal lysis time. However, both the optimum and the fitness are different from the experimental result. The evolution of phage lysis timing is discussed from the perspectives of multiple infection and life-history trait evolution.