bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacodynamic interaction of warfarin with cranberry but not with garlic in healthy subjects
Authors: Mohammed Abdul M I , Jiang X , Williams K M , Day R O , Roufogalis B D , Liauw W S , Xu H , McLachlan A J 
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:Patients commonly take complementary medicines in conjunction with warfarin yet evidence supporting the safety or the risk of a herb–drug interaction is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible impact of two commonly used herbal medicines, garlic and cranberry, on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy male subjects.Experimental approach:An open‐label, three‐treatment, randomized crossover clinical trial was undertaken and involved 12 healthy male subjects of known CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotype. A single dose of 25 mg warfarin was administered alone or after 2 weeks of pretreatment with either garlic or cranberry. Warfarin enantiomer concentrations, INR, platelet aggregation and clotting factor activity were measured to assess pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between warfarin and herbal medicines.Key results:Cranberry significantly increased the area under the INR–time curve by 30% when administered with warfarin compared with treatment with warfarin alone. Cranberry did not alter S‐ or R‐warfarin pharmacokinetics or plasma protein binding. Co‐administration of garlic did not significantly alter warfarin pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics. Both herbal medicines showed some evidence of VKORC1 (not CYP2C9) genotype‐dependent interactions with warfarin, which is worthy of further investigation.Conclusions and implications:Cranberry alters the pharmacodynamics of warfarin with the potential to increase its effects significantly. Co‐administration of warfarin and cranberry requires careful monitoring.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 1691–1700; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.210; published online 2 June 2008
Characterization of the α1‐adrenoceptor subtype mediating contractions of the pig internal anal sphincter
Authors: Mills K A , Hausman N , Chess‐Williams R 
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:The internal anal sphincter has been shown to contract in response to α1‐adrenoceptor stimulation and therefore α1‐adrenoceptor agonists may be useful in treating faecal incontinence. This study characterizes the α1‐adrenoceptor subtype responsible for mediating contraction of the internal anal sphincter of the pig.Experimental approach:The potency of agonists and the affinities of several receptor subtype selective antagonists were determined on smooth muscle strips for the pig internal anal sphincter. Cumulative concentration–response curves were performed using phenylephrine and noradrenaline.Key results:The potency of the α1A‐adrenoceptor selective agonist A61603 (pEC50=7.79±0.04) was 158‐fold greater than that for noradrenaline (pEC50=5.59±0.02). Phenylephrine (pEC50=5.99±0.05) was 2.5‐fold more potent than noradrenaline. The α1D‐adrenoceptor selective antagonist BMY7378 caused rightward shifts of the concentration–response curves to phenylephrine and noradrenaline, yielding low affinity estimates of 6.59±0.15 and 6.33±0.13, respectively. Relatively high affinity estimates were obtained for the α1A‐adrenoceptor selective antagonists, RS100329 (9.01±0.14 and 9.06±0.22 with phenylephrine and noradrenaline, respectively) and 5‐methylurapidil (8.51±0.10 and 8.31±0.10, respectively). Prazosin antagonized responses of the sphincter to phenylephrine and noradrenaline, yielding mean affinity estimates of 8.58±0.10 and 8.15±0.08, respectively. The Schild slope for prazosin with phenylephrine was equal to unity (1.01±0.24), however the Schild slope using noradrenaline was significantly less than unity (0.50±0.11,P<0.05).Conclusion and implications:The results suggest that contraction of circular smooth muscle from the pig internal anal sphincter is mediated via a population of adrenoceptors with the pharmacological characteristics of the α1A/L‐adrenoceptor, most probably the α1L‐adrenoceptor form of this receptor.British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)155, 110–117; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.217; published online 2 June 2008
An Electroacoustic Analysis of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
Authors: Callaway Susanna Løve , Punch Jerry L. 
Published: June 2008

Purpose
To determine whether 11 over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices have the flexibility to provide adequate gain and output for 3 common hearing loss configurations.

Method
The 11 OTC hearing devices were separated into 2 price groups: a low-range group (<$100) consisting of 8 hearing devices and a midrange group ($100–$500) consisting of 3 hearing devices. Gain and output were prescribed for 3 hearing loss configurations using National Acoustic Laboratories prescriptive procedures. Low-range hearing devices were measured electroacoustically, and technical specifications were used as the source of electroacoustic information for the midrange hearing devices.

Results
Overall, midrange hearing devices met gain and output targets to a greater extent than did low-range devices. All low-range devices could be classified as special-purpose hearing aids with low-frequency emphasis. The low-range group had high equivalent input noise levels and potentially posed a residual hearing safety hazard.

Conclusions
The low-range OTC devices were found to be electroacoustically inadequate to meet the needs of the hearing impaired. Midrange OTC hearing devices are arguably a good solution for the cost-conscious consumer who cannot afford professional audiologic rehabilitation, especially if considered an interim step in the rehabilitation process.
Measures of Follow-Up in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs: A Need for Standardization
Authors: Mason Craig A. , Gaffney Marcus , Green Denise R. , Grosse Scott D. 
Published: June 2008

Purpose
To demonstrate the need for standardized data definitions and reporting for early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) programs collecting information on newborn hearing screening and follow-up, and types of information best collected in a standardized manner.

Method
A hypothetical birth cohort was used to show the potential effects of nonstandardized definitions and data classifications on rates of hearing screening, audiologic follow-up, and hearing loss.

Results
The true screening rate in this cohort was 92.4%. The calculated rate was between 90.0% and 96.5%, depending on the measure used. Among children documented as screened and referred for follow-up, 61.0% received this testing. Only 49.0% were documented to have been tested. Despite a true prevalence of 3.7 per 1,000 births, only 1.5 per 1,000 children were documented with a hearing loss.

Conclusion
Ensuring that children receive recommended follow-up is challenging. Without complete reporting by audiologists to EHDI programs, accurate calculation of performance measures is impossible. Lack of documentation can lead to the overstatement of “loss to follow-up.” Also, standardization of measures is essential for programs to evaluate how many children receive recommended services and assess progress toward national goals. A new survey has been implemented to collect more detailed and standardized information about recommended services.
Word Recognition Materials for Native Speakers of Taiwan Mandarin
Authors: Nissen Shawn L. , Harris Richard W. , Dukes Alycia 
Published: June 2008

Purpose
To select, digitally record, evaluate, and psychometrically equate word recognition materials that can be used to measure the speech perception abilities of native speakers of Taiwan Mandarin in quiet.

Method
Frequently used bisyllabic words produced by male and female talkers of Taiwan Mandarin were digitally recorded and subsequently evaluated using 20 native listeners with normal hearing at 10 intensity levels (−5 to 40 dB HL) in increments of 5 dB.

Results
Using logistic regression, 200 words with the steepest psychometric slopes were divided into 4 lists and 8 half-lists that were relatively equivalent in psychometric function slope. To increase auditory homogeneity of the lists, the intensity of words in each list was digitally adjusted so that the threshold of each list was equal to the midpoint between the mean thresholds of the male and female half-lists.

Conclusions
Digital recordings of the word recognition lists and the associated clinical instructions are available on CD upon request.
Can Auditory and Visual Speech Perception Be Trained Within a Group Setting?
Authors: Preminger Jill E. , Ziegler Craig H. 
Published: June 2008

Purpose
This study attempted to determine whether auditory-only and auditory-visual speech perception could be trained in a group format.

Method
A randomized controlled trial with at least 16 participants per group was completed. A training-only group completed at least 5 hr of group speech perception training; a training plus psychosocial group completed at least 5 hr of group speech perception training and psychosocial exercises; and a control group did not receive training. Evaluations were conducted before and after training and included analytic and synthetic measures of speech perception, hearing loss–related and generic quality of life scales, and a class evaluation form.

Results
No significant group changes were measured on any of the analytic auditory-only or auditory-visual measures of speech perception, yet the majority of training participants (regardless of training group) reported improvement in auditory and auditory-visual speech perception. The training participants demonstrated a significant reduction on the emotional subscale of the hearing loss–related quality of life scale, while the control participants did not demonstrate a change on this subscale.

Conclusions
Benefits of group audiologic rehabilitation classes may not result from an actual improvement in auditory or visual speech perception abilities, but participants still perceive training in these areas as useful.
Differential Correlation Between Rates of Antimicrobial Drug Consumption and Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Greece
Authors: Iosifidis Elias , Antachopoulos Charalampos , Tsivitanidou Maria , Katragkou Aspasia , Farmaki Evagelia , Tsiakou Maria , Kyriazi Theano , Sofianou Danai , Roilides Emmanuel 
Published: June 2008

Objective.To investigate whether there is a correlation between the rates of antimicrobial drug consumption in hospital departments and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among clinically important bacteria recovered in the hospital.Design.Retrospective study.Setting.Tertiary care hospital in Greece.Methods.Data on antimicrobial consumption (from January 2001 through December 2004) were expressed as defined daily doses per 100 bed-days. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Enterococcusfaecium recovered during the same time period were calculated by the microbiology department. We then performed the following analyses: (1) a comparison of the consumption rates for different antimicrobial groups in individual hospital departments, (2) a comparison of the prevalence of resistance to different antimicrobials, and (3) a correlation analysis of antimicrobial consumption rates and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance.Results.The rates of antimicrobial consumption and the prevalence of resistance varied substantially among the hospital's departments. The annual rate of consumption for carbapenems correlated with the rate of consumption for glycopeptides and third-generation cephalosporins (P < .05). Among P. aeruginosa isolates, the prevalence of imipenem resistance correlated with the prevalence of resistance to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime (P < .05). The rate of carbapenem consumption correlated with the prevalence of imipenem resistance among P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii isolates (P < .05). The rate of aminoglycoside consumption correlated with the prevalence of amikacin resistance among P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli isolates (P < .05). However, the rate of consumption for fluoroquinolones and glycopeptides had no correlation with the prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistance among gram-negative bacteria or vancomycin resistance among E. faecium isolates.Conclusions.These data are suggestive of a differential relationship between antimicrobial consumption and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among various species and for various antimicrobial agents. These findings may help to optimize antimicrobial prescription policies in the hospital, especially in departments that have both high rates of antimicrobial consumption and a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance.
A Test of the Markov Model of Evolution in Proteins
Authors: Mount David W. 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONThe percent accepted mutation (PAM) scoring matrix is based on the Dayhoff model of protein evolution, which is a Markov process. In the Markov model of amino acid change, the probability of mutation at each site is independent of the previous history of mutations. Use of this model makes it possible to extrapolate amino acid substitutions observed over a relatively short period of evolutionary time to longer periods of evolutionary time. One criticism of the PAM scoring matrix is that the frequency of amino acid changes that require two nucleotide changes is higher than would be expected by chance. This article describes a test of the Markov model of protein evolution, which shows that the model can be valid if certain changes are made in the way that PAM matrices are calculated.
Comparison of the PAM and BLOSUM Amino Acid Substitution Matrices
Authors: Mount David W. 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONThe choice of a scoring system including scores for matches, mismatches, substitutions, insertions, and deletions influences the alignment of both DNA and protein sequences. To score matches and mismatches in alignments of proteins, it is necessary to know how often one amino acid is substituted for another in related proteins. Percent accepted mutation (PAM) matrices list the likelihood of change from one amino acid to another in homologous protein sequences during evolution and thus are focused on tracking the evolutionary origins of proteins. In contrast, the blocks amino acid substitution matrices (BLOSUM) are based on scoring substitutions found over a range of evolutionary periods. There are important differences in the ways that the PAM and BLOSUM scoring matrices were derived. These differences, which are discussed in this article, should be appreciated when interpreting the results of protein sequence alignments obtained with these matrices.
In-Gel S-Pyridylethylation of Gel-Resolved Proteins: Individual Spot Method
Authors: Simpson Richard J. 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONThis protocol describes a method for performing reduction and S-alkylation of Coomassie-blue-stained proteins within individually excised, stained protein spots or bands. Reduction is performed with dithiothreitol, and alkylation with 4-vinylpyridine. (Treatment of free cysteines with 4-vinylpyridine yields the S-β-(4-pyridylethyl) cysteinyl derivative.) S-β-(4-pyridylethyl) cysteine-containing peptides can be readily identified during RP-HPLC by their characteristic absorbance at 254 nm and during electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry by the appearance of a characteristic pyridylethyl fragment ion of 106 Da. The position of cysteine residues in a polypeptide sequence can be determined either by mass spectrometry or as phenylthiohydantoin S-β-(4-pyridylethyl) cysteine during Edman degradation.
Isolation and Whole-Cell Patch Clamping of Arabidopsis Guard Cell Protoplasts
Authors: Zhang Wei , Nilson Sarah E. , Assmann Sarah M. 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONThe flux of ions across membranes via ion channels is vital to cellular responses to internal and external stimuli, and therefore to cellular survival in changing circumstances. Patch clamping is a powerful technique for ion channel investigation, because it enables measurement of both net ion fluxes across the entire surface area of a cell and ion currents flowing through a single open channel. However, unlike animal cells, plant cells are surrounded by cell walls that prevent the physical contact between the patch pipette and the plasma membrane necessary for the patch clamp technique. To demonstrate how patch clamping can be applied to plant physiology research, we describe a protocol used to record potassium ion (K+) channel currents in Arabidopsis guard cell protoplasts (a widely studied model cell type in plant biology). The protocol requires a two-step cellulase and pectinase digestion to isolate high quality Arabidopsis guard cell protoplasts (i.e., plant cells lacking their cell walls), preparation of suitable glass capillary microelectrodes, and formation of the whole-cell configuration with a gigaohm (GΩ) seal. We also describe the history of the protocol and list other types of plant cells from which successful patch clamp recordings have been obtained.
Immunogold Staining Following Freeze Substitution and Low Temperature Embedding after Chemical Fixation or after Cryoimmobilization for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM): Figure 1.
Authors: Skepper Jeremy N. , Powell Janet M. 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONIn this method for freeze substitution and low-temperature embedding in resin prior to immunogold staining, lightly fixed tissue pieces are cryoprotected by immersion in polypropylene glycol. The cryoprotected tissues are quench frozen and transferred under liquid nitrogen to vials containing frozen methanol or methanol containing uranyl acetate. The vials are transferred to a substitution vessel where the temperature can be controlled and a nitrogen atmosphere maintained. The temperature is raised (typically at 5°C/h to -90°C) and maintained for 24 h. This temperature is cold enough to prevent recrystallization of water and thus tissue disruption, but high enough for movement of water to occur and allow substitution with the liquid methanol. After 24 h, ~90% of the water has been substituted. The substitution medium is replaced and the temperature is raised to -70°C for 24 h. The substitution medium is changed again and the temperature is raised to -50°C. The tissue is impregnated with Lowicryl HM20 over a period of 1-5 d and the resin is polymerized by UV irradiation. Tissue is then sectioned and stained immunochemically with primary antibodies raised against antigens exposed on the surface of the sections, and primary antibodies are visualized by staining with secondary antibodies conjugated to colloidal gold particles. The immunochemically stained sections are contrast stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate to reveal the ultrastructure of the cells, and are finally viewed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This is the simplest and most versatile of the post-embedding procedures.
Immunogold Staining of Ultrathin Thawed Cryosections for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM): Figure 1.
Authors: Skepper Jeremy N. , Powell Janet M. 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONA pre-embedding method of immunochemical staining is used if antigens are damaged by resin embedding, or if the best preservation of membranes is required. Applying immunogold reagents to sections of lightly fixed tissue, free of embedding medium, can be a very sensitive method of immunochemical staining. Cells or tissues are fixed as strongly as possible and then treated with a cryoprotectant, which is usually a mixture of sucrose and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). They are frozen onto pins in liquid nitrogen and sectioned at approximately -100°C. The frozen sections are thaw-mounted on to Formvar/nickel film grids and the cryoprotectant is removed by floating the grids on drops of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The immunogold staining is performed on the unembedded sections, which are subsequently contrast counterstained and infiltrated with a mixture of methylcellulose and uranyl acetate. In this protocol, samples are sectioned at low temperature, thaw-mounted onto film grids, immunochemically stained, contrast counterstained, and embedded/encapsulated in situ on the grid before viewing by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
High-Resolution Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization of Drosophila Embryos and Tissues: Figure 1.
Authors: Lécuyer Eric , Nećakov Aleksandar S. , Cáceres Lucía , Krause Henry M. 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONFluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is commonly used to analyze the three-dimensional distribution of RNAs in intact embryos and tissues. Tyramide signal amplification (TSA) significantly increases the sensitivity and resolution of FISH probe signals. This protocol includes optimized TSA-FISH procedures for Drosophila embryos, ovaries, and larval tissues. Instructions are given for the preparation of RNA probes, the collection and fixation of tissues, and the hybridization and TSA-mediated detection of probes, including options for high-throughput processing in 96-well plates. Variations of the procedure for RNA-RNA and RNA-protein costaining are also described.
Using PAM Matrices in Sequence Alignments
Authors: Mount David W. 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONCertain amino acid substitutions commonly occur in related proteins from different species. Because a protein still functions with these substitutions, the substituted amino acids are compatible with protein structure and function. Knowing the types of changes that are most and least common in a large number of proteins can assist with predicting alignments for any set of protein sequences. If related protein sequences are quite similar, they are easy to align, and one can readily determine the single-step amino acid changes. If ancestor relationships among a group of proteins are assessed, the most likely amino acid changes that occurred during evolution can be predicted. This type of analysis was pioneered by Margaret Dayhoff and used by her to produce a type of scoring matrix called a percent accepted mutation (PAM) matrix. This article introduces Dayhoff PAM matrices, explains how they are constructed and how they can be used for sequence alignments, and highlights their strengths and limitations.
Copy Number Variation Detection via High-Density SNP Genotyping
Authors: Wang Kai , Bucan Maja 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTIONHigh-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays recently have been used for copy number variation (CNV) detection and analysis, because the arrays can serve a dual role for SNP- and CNV-based association studies. They also can provide considerably higher precision and resolution than traditional techniques. Here we describe PennCNV, a computational protocol designed for CNV detection from high-density SNP genotyping data. This protocol extracts allele-specific signal intensities from genotyping arrays, and then integrates information on SNP spacing and SNP allele frequencies to generate CNV calls by a hidden Markov model (HMM) algorithm. Analyses of CNVs from SNP genotyping arrays will provide a more comprehensive view of genome variation, and complement current genome-wide association studies in identifying disease susceptibility loci.
Concurrent Graves disease thyrotoxicosis and myasthenia gravis: the treatment of the former may dangerously reveal the latter
Authors: Lakhal K. , Blel Y. , Fysekidis M. , Mohammedi K. , Bouadma L. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryAutoimmune thyroxicosis and myasthenia gravis are often associated. In both diseases, clinical features may include neuromuscular weakness, making their distinction challenging. We report a patient with known Graves disease who presented with generalised fatigue, initially attributed solely to thyrotoxicosis, and who experienced severe respiratory failure linked to associated myasthenia gravis that was unmasked by medication used in the perioperative management of his thyroxicosis. Anaesthetists should always consider myasthenia gravis in cases of hyperthyroidism presenting with neuromuscular features.