Chemicals and Drugs Commons^™

Antibiotics For Acute Otitis Media In Children (Review), Sharon Sanders, Paul P. Glasziou, Chris Del Mar, Maroeska Rovers

Paul Glasziou

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common diseases in early infancy and childhood. Antibiotic use for AOM varies from 56% in the Netherlands to 95% in the USA and Australia. Objectives: To assess the effects of antibiotics for children with AOM. Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, 2008, issue 2) which contains the Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) Group's Specialized Register; MEDLINE (1966 to June week 4 2008); OLDMEDLINE (1958 to 1965); EMBASE (January 1990 to July 2008); and Current Contents (1966 to July 2008). Selection criteria: Randomised …

Antibiotics For Acute Otitis Media In Children (Review), Sharon Sanders, Paul P. Glasziou, Chris Del Mar, Maroeska Rovers

Christopher Del Mar

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common diseases in early infancy and childhood. Antibiotic use for AOM varies from 56% in the Netherlands to 95% in the USA and Australia. Objectives: To assess the effects of antibiotics for children with AOM. Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, 2008, issue 2) which contains the Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) Group's Specialized Register; MEDLINE (1966 to June week 4 2008); OLDMEDLINE (1958 to 1965); EMBASE (January 1990 to July 2008); and Current Contents (1966 to July 2008). Selection criteria: Randomised …

Identification Of 2-Aminothiazole-4-Carboxylate Derivatives Active Against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis H37rv And The B-Ketoacyl-Acp Synthase Mtfabh, Philadelphia University

Philadelphia University, Jordan

No abstract provided.

Paraoxonase 1 Activity As A Predictor Of Cardiovascular Disease In Type 2 Diabetes, Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

The role of paraoxonase 1 in cardiovascular disease complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus is not fully understood. We studied paraoxonase activity towards paraoxon in 188 non-diabetic and 140 diabetic subjects using general linear models and univariate analysis. Adjusting for age revealed a reduction in activity towards paraoxon was associated with a significant increase in risk (p=0.023) for cardiovascular disease complications in diabetic patients. Multivariate analysis of two plasma measures of paraoxonase activity using paraoxon and diazoxon also showed reduced paraoxonase activity towards paraoxon was associated with a significant increase in risk (p=0.045) for cardiovascular disease complications in diabetic patients. …

Mercury And Autism: A Review, Jie Zhang, John J. Wheeler

John J. Wheeler

Ppar Agonists Down-Regulate The Expression Of Atp10c Mrna During Adipogenesis, A Peretich, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, S Hurst, Sj Baek, Madhu Dahr

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Polymorphism At Codon 192 Of Paraoxonase 1 On Its Kinetic Behavior, Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

Human paraoxonase 1 (PON1), a High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)-associated esterase has been implicated in slowing down the development of atherosclerosis. In the present study, kinetic and inhibition studies on PON1 were conducted to assess three parameters: the Michaelis constant (KM) and maximal rate of metabolisme (Vmax) of paraoxonase and inhibition constant (Ki) of phenylacetate. Human paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity was measured spectrophotometrically at 405 nm, using plasma samples in basal (without added NaCl) and salt-stimulated assays with 1 M NaCl. Inhibition studies were performed using phenylacetate as an inhibitor of PON1 in basal assays, pH 8.0. Estimates of KM and Vmax …

"Publicidad E Información Sobre Los Medicamentos: Dos Conceptos Difíciles De Delimitar En El Ámbito Del Derecho Comunitario", Luis González Vaqué

Luis González Vaqué

La interpretación del artículo 86 de la Directiva 2001/83/CE en el sentido de que el criterio crucial para separar la publicidad de la simple información radica en el propósito perseguido, nos parece acertada: «si se quiere fomentar ‘la prescripción, la dispensación, la venta o el consumo’ de fármacos, habrá publicidad según la Directiva [2001/83/CE]; por el contrario, si se transmite un dato informativo ‘puro’, sin afán promocional, quedará exento de las reglas comunitarias sobre publicidad de medicamentos». Confirma esta orientación lo dispuesto en el artículo 86.2, que excluye de la aplicación de las reglas relativas a la publicidad ciertos tipos …

Measuring The Dynamic Surface Accessibility Of Rna With The Small Paramagnetic Molecule Tempol, Vincenzo Venditti, Neri Niccolai, Samuel E. Butcher

Vincenzo Venditti

The surface accessibility of macromolecules plays a key role in modulating molecular recognition events. RNA is a complex and dynamic molecule involved in many aspects of gene expression. However, there are few experimental methods available to measure the accessible surface of RNA. Here, we investigate the accessible surface of RNA using NMR and the small paramagnetic molecule TEMPOL. We investigated two RNAs with known structures, one that is extremely stable and one that is dynamic. For helical regions, the TEMPOL probing data correlate well with the predicted RNA surface, and the method is able to distinguish subtle variations in atom …

Discordance In The Paraoxonase (Pon1)-192qr Polymorphism, Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

Paraoxonase (PON1) has been implicated to have a cardioprotective role, due to its physical attachment with high-density lipoprotein. PON1192QR is a variation of the PON1 gene, the R allele being a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Kinetic studies resulting in a plot of paraoxon versus diazoxon hydrolysis rates may be used to accurately predict PON1192 geno-type. In this study, paraoxonase and diazoxonase activities in plasma were measured spec-trophotometrically using plasma while PCR-based PON1192 genotyping was performed us-ing polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction digestion. The two-substrate assay-derived genotypes were cross-referred with those determined by PCR-based genotyping. When results did not …

Anopheles Gambiae Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase: Catalysis, Structure And Inhibition, Erika Taylor, Agnes Rinaldo-Matthis, Lei Li, Mahmoud Ghanem, Keith Hazleton, M. Belen Cassera, Steven Almo, Vern Schramm

Erika A. Taylor, Ph.D.

The purine salvage pathway of Anopheles gambiae, a mosquito that transmits malaria, has been identified in genome searches on the basis of sequence homology with characterized enzymes. Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a target for the development of therapeutic agents in humans and purine auxotrophs, including malarial parasites. The PNP from Anopheles gambiae (AgPNP) was expressed in Escherichia coli and compared to the PNPs from Homo sapiens (HsPNP) and Plasmodium falciparum (PfPNP). AgPNP has kcat values of 54 and 41 s-1 for 2'-deoxyinosine and inosine, its preferred substrates, and 1.0 s-1 for guanosine. However, the chemical step is fast for …

Effects Of Angiotensin 1-7 On The Actions Of Angiotensin Ii In The Renal And Mesenteric Vasculature Of Hypertensive And Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Murugan Dharmani, Francis I. Achike, Meng-Kwoon Sim

Mohd Rais Mustafa

Angiotensin 1-7, a heptapeptide derived from metabolism of either angiotensin I or angiotensin II, is a biologically active peptide of the renin–angiotensin system. The present study investigated the effect of angiotensin 1-7 on the vasopressor action of angiotensin II in the renal and mesenteric vasculature of Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Angiotensin II-induced dose-dependent vasoconstrictions in the renal vasculature. The pressor response was enhanced in the SHR and reduced in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat compared to WKY rats. Angiotensin 1-7 attenuated the angiotensin II pressor responses in the renal vasculature of WKY and SHR rats. …

Ethnic Variations In Paraoxonase1 Polymorphism In The Malaysian Population, Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

The role of high-density lipoprotein associated paraoxonase (PON) 1 in protection against oxidative stress associated with the development of complications in diabetes mellitus has been reported. Variations in the PON1 gene, 55LM and 192QR have been described in different populations. These variations are known to be risk factors for heart disease, especially the L and R alleles. We have investigated the prevalence of both polymorphisms in the Malaysian population comprising the three major ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese and Indian, using polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction endonuclease digestion. The results show the pooled frequencies of L and R alleles were …

Modulation Of Vascular Reactivity In Normal, Hypertensive And Diabetic Rat Aortae By A Non-Antioxidant Flavonoid, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Macha Ajay, Fracis I. Achike

Mohd Rais Mustafa

In this study, we report the effects of a non-antioxidant flavonoid flavone on vascular reactivity in Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rat isolated aortae. Whether flavone directly modulates vascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic-WKY rat isolated aortae was also determined. Thoracic aortic rings were mounted in organ chambers and exposed to various drug treatments in the presence of flavone or its vehicle (DMSO), which served as control. Pretreatment with flavone enhanced relaxant effects to endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh) and attenuated contractile effects to 1-receptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) in WKY aortae compared to those observed in control aortic rings. Flavone …

Structure And Thermodynamics Of A Conserved U2 Snrna Domain From Yeast And Human, Dipali G. Sashital, Vincenzo Venditti, Courtney G. Angers, Gabriel Cornilescu, Samuel E. Butcher

Vincenzo Venditti

The spliceosome is a dynamic ribonucleoprotein complex responsible for the removal of intron sequences from pre-messenger RNA. The highly conserved 5′ end of the U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) makes key base-pairing interactions with the intron branch point sequence and U6 snRNA. U2 stem I, a stem–loop located in the 5′ region of U2, has been implicated in spliceosome assembly and may modulate the folding of the U2 and U6 snRNAs in the spliceosome active site. Here we present the NMR structures of U2 stem I from human and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These sequences represent the two major classes of U2 …

Effects Of Ascorbic Acid On Impaired Vascular Reactivity In Aortas Isolated From Age-Matched Hypertensive And Diabetic Rats, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Macha Ajay

Mohd Rais Mustafa

Impaired vascular reactivity is a hallmark of several cardiovascular diseases that include hypertension and diabetes. This study compared the changes in vascular reactivity in age-matched experimental hypertension and diabetes, and, subsequently, tested whether these changes could be affected directly by ascorbic acid (10 microM). Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) modulation of ascorbic acid effects was also investigated. All the experiments were performed in the presence of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10 microM). Results showed that the endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations induced by acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively, were blunted to a similar extent in isolated aortic rings from age-matched …

Bioassay-Guided Isolation Of A Vasorelaxant Active Compound From Kaempferia Galanga L, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Khalijah Awang, Mustafa Ali Mohd, Rozana Othman, Halijah Ibrahim

Mohd Rais Mustafa

Bioassay-guided fractionation was performed on a crude dichloromethane extract of Kaempferia galanga L. using chromatography techniques. Screening of the extract for biological activity started with the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, followed by the study of its antihypertensive activity on anaesthetized rats, which involved monitoring of the extract's effect on mean arterial blood pressure. The components of the fractions obtained from the separation procedures were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC). The yield of the CH2Cl2 extract was 0.29% of the crude plant extract. Analysis of the data for brine shrimp lethality test using the Finney computer program showed that this extract …

Expression Of G-Protein Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels (Girks) In Lung Cancer Cell Lines, Howard Plummer 3rd, Madhu Dhar, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Hildegard Schuller

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

BACKGROUND: Previous data from our laboratory has indicated that there is a functional link between the beta-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway and the G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK1) in human breast cancer cell lines. We wanted to determine if GIRK channels were expressed in lung cancers and if a similar link exists in lung cancer. METHODS: GIRK1-4 expression and levels were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. GIRK protein levels were determined by western blots and cell proliferation was determined by a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. RESULTS: GIRK1 mRNA was expressed in three of six small …

Effects Of Des-Aspartate-Angiotensin I On The Actions Of Angiotensin Iii In The Renal And Mesenteric Vasculature Of Normo-And Hypertensive Rats, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Murugan Dharmani, Kunheen N.K, Meng-Kwoon Sim

Mohd Rais Mustafa

An earlier study showed that des-aspartate-angiotensin I (DAA-I) attenuated the pressor action of angiotensin III in aortic rings of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) but not the normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat. The present study investigated similar properties of DAA-I in isolated perfused kidneys and mesenteric beds of WKY and SHR. In the renal vasculature, angiotensin III induced a dosedependent pressor response, which was more marked in the SHR than WKY in terms of significant greater magnitude of response and lower threshold. DAA-I attenuated the pressor action of angiotensin III in both the WKY and SHR. The attenuation in SHR …

Multiple Luteinizing Hormone Receptor (Lhr) Protein Variants, Interspecies Reactivity Of Anti-Lhr Mab Clone 3b5, Subcellular Localization Of Lhr In Human Placenta, Pelvic Floor And Brain, And Possible Role For Lhr In The Development Of Abnormal Pregnancy, Pelvic Floor Disorders And Alzheimer's Disease, A Bukovsky, K Indrapichate, H Fujiwara, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Me Ayala, R Dominguez, Mr Caudle, J Wimalsena, Rf Elder, P Copas, Jf Foster, Ri Fernando, Dc Henley, Nb Upadhyaya

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

Distinct luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) protein variants exist due to the posttranslational modifications. Besides ovaries, LHR immunoreactivity (LHRI) was also found in other tissues, such as the brain, fallopian tube, endometrium, trophoblast and resident tissue macrophages. The 3B5 mouse monoclonal antibody was raised against purified rat LHR. In rat, porcine and human ovaries, the 3B5 identified six distinct LHR bands migrating at approximately 92, 80, 68, 59, 52 and 48 kDa. Characteristic LHRI was detected in rat, human and porcine corpora lutea. During cellular differentiation, subcellular LHR distribution changed from none to granular cytoplasmic, perinuclear, surface, nuclear and no staining. …

Expression And Localization Of Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Protein In Normal And Abnormal Term Placentae And Stimulation Of Trophoblast Differentiation By Estradiol, A Bukovsky, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Mr Caudle, J Wimalasena, Js Foster, Dc Henley, Rf Elder

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

Estrogens play an important role in the regulation of placental function, and 17-beta-estradiol (E2) production rises eighty fold during human pregnancy. Although term placenta has been found to specifically bind estrogens, cellular localization of estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) in trophoblast remains unclear. We used western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry with h-151 and ID5 monoclonal antibodies to determine the expression and cellular localization of ER-alpha protein in human placentae and cultured trophoblast cells. Western blot analysis revealed a ~65 kDa ER-alpha band in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells (positive control). A similar band was detected in five normal term placentae exhibiting strong …

Placental Expression Of Estrogen Receptor Beta And Its Hormone Binding Variant – Comparison With Estrogen Receptor Alpha And A Role For Estrogen Receptors In Asymmetric Division And Differentiation Of Estrogen-Dependent Cells, Antonin Bukovsky, Michael R. Caudle, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Romaine I. Fernando, Jay Wimalasena, James S. Foster, Donald C. Henley, Robert F. Elder

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

During human pregnancy, the production of 17-beta-estradiol (E2) rises steadily to eighty fold at term, and placenta has been found to specifically bind estrogens. We have recently demonstrated the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) protein in human placenta and its localization in villous cytotrophoblast (CT), vascular pericytes, and amniotic fibroblasts. In vitro, E2 stimulated development of large syncytiotrophoblast (ST) aggregates. In the present study we utilized ER-beta affinity purified polyclonal (N19:sc6820) and ER-alpha monoclonal (clone h-151) antibodies. Western blot analysis revealed a single ~52 kDa ER-beta band in chorionic villi (CV) protein extracts. In CV, strong cytoplasmic ER-beta immunoreactivity …

Variability Of Placental Expression Of Cyclin E Low Molecular Weight Variants, A Bukovsky, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Mr Caudle, J Wimalasena, Js Foster, Ja Keenan, Rf Elder

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

No abstract provided.

Vasorelaxant Effects Of Ethyl Cinnamate Isolated From Kaempferia Galanga On Smooth Muscles Of The Rat Aorta, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Rozana Othman, Halijah Ibrahim, Mustafa Ali Mohd, Khalijah Awang, Anwar-Ul Hassan Gilani

Mohd Rais Mustafa

From the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga, ethyl cinnamate (EC) was isolated and its vasorelaxant effect was examined on the rat aorta. EC inhibited the tonic contractions induced by high K+ and phenylephrine (PE) in a concentration-dependent manner, with respective IC50 values of 0.30 ± 0.05 mM and 0.38 ± 0.04 mM. The relaxant effect against PE-induced contractions was greater in the presence of endothelium. Pre-treatment of the aorta with methylene blue and indomethacin significantly reduced the relaxant effect. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of EC may involve inhibition of Ca2+ influx into vascular cells and release of nitric …

Abnormal Expression Of P27kip1 Protein In Levator Ani Muscle Of Aging Women With Pelvic Floor Disorders – A Relationship To The Cellular Differentiation And Degeneration, Antonin Bukovsky, Pleas Copas, Michael R. Caudle, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Tamara Dassanayake, Bridgett Asbury, Stuart E. Van Meter, Robert F. Elder, Jeffrey B. Brown, Stephanie B. Cross

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

Background Pelvic floor disorders affect almost 50% of aging women. An important role in the pelvic floor support belongs to the levator ani muscle. The p27/kip1 (p27) protein, multifunctional cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, shows changing expression in differentiating skeletal muscle cells during development, and relatively high levels of p27 RNA were detected in the normal human skeletal muscles.

Methods Biopsy samples of levator ani muscle were obtained from 22 symptomatic patients with stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and overlaps (age range 38–74), and nine asymptomatic women (age 31–49). Cryostat sections were investigated for p27 protein expression and type I (slow …

Iron Regulatory Protein 1 Is Not Required For The Modulation Of Ferritin And Transferrin Receptor Expression By Iron In A Murine Pro-B Lymphocyte Cell Line, Kevin Schalinske, Kenneth P. Blemings, Daniel W. Steffen, Opal S. Chen, Richard S. Eisenstein

Kevin Schalinske

Iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) are cytoplasmic RNA binding proteins that are central components of a sensory and regulatory network that modulates vertebrate iron homeostasis. IRPs regulate iron metabolism by binding to iron responsive element(s) (IREs) in the 5* or 3* untranslated region of ferritin or transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNAs. Two IRPs, IRP1 and IRP2, have been identified previously. IRP1 exhibits two mutually exclusive functions as an RNA binding protein or as the cytosolic isoform of aconitase. We demonstrate that the BayF3 family of murine pro-B lymphocytes represents the first example of a mammalian cell line that fails to express IRP1 …

Oscillations And Waves Of Intracellular [Ca2+] In Cardiac-Muscle-Cells, Mohd Rais Mustafa

Mohd Rais Mustafa

When cardiac muscle cells become overloaded with Ca2+, spontaneous releases of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum can occur. Such spontaneous releases normally originate within a localized region of the cell and propagate as a wave throughout the cell. The amplitude and frequency of these Ca2+ releases increase with the degree of Ca2+ loading of the cell, and are abolished by interventions which inhibit sarcoplasmic reticulum function. It is still not clear whether these releases are triggered by a rise in the [Ca2+] in the lumen of the sarcoplasmic reticulum or by a rise in cytoplasmic [Ca2+]. Such releases may, however, …

New Antibiotics In Clinical Trials For Clostridium Difficile, Eric Slayton, Abigail Hay Pharmd, Charles K. Babcock, Timothy E. Long Phd

Timothy Long

New Antibiotics In Clinical Trials For Clostridium Difficile, Eric Slayton, Abigail Hay Pharmd, Charles K. Babcock, Timothy E. Long Phd

Charles Babcock