Controlled trial on the effects of radionic healing and anthelmintics on faecal egg counts in horses.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
S A Martin
Publications and source records attributed to S A Martin.
A longitudinal household study of Streptococcus pneumoniae nasopharyngeal carriage in a UK setting.
A 10-month longitudinal household study of pre-school children and their families was undertaken with monthly visits collecting epidemiological data and nasopharyngeal swabs in Hertfordshire, England from 2001 to 2002. Pneumococcal culture was with standard methods. In total, 121 families (489 individuals) took part. Mean prevalence of carriage ranged from 52% for age groups 0-2 years, 45% for 3-4 years, 21% for 5-17 years and 8% for >or=18 years. Carriage occurred more than once in 86% of children aged 0-2 years compared to 36% of those aged >or=18 years. The most prevalent serotypes in the 0-2 years age group were 6B followed by 19F, 23F, 6A and 14. Young children were responsible for the majority of introductions of new serotypes into a household. Erythromycin resistance (alone or in combination) occurred in 10% of samples and penicillin non-susceptibility in 3.7%. Overall the recently licensed 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV) would protect against 64% of serotypes with no intra-serogroup cross protection and 82% with such protection. Nasopharyngeal carriage of S. pneumoniae is common in a UK setting in the pre-conjugate vaccine era. PCV would protect against a large proportion of carriage isolates. However, the impact of vaccination on non-vaccine serotypes will need to be monitored.
Adolescent↗
Suppression of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid matrix clusters and reduction of chemical noise in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
Progress in high-throughput MALDI-TOFMS analysis, especially in proteome applications, requires development of practical and efficient procedures for the preparation of proteins and peptides in a form suitable for high acquisition rates. These methods should improve successful identification of peptides, which depends on the signal intensity and the absence of interfering signals. Contamination of MALDI samples with alkali salts results in reduced MALDI peptide sensitivity and causes matrix cluster formation (widely reported for CHCA matrix) observed as signals dominating in the range below m/z 1200 in MALDI spectra. One way to remove these background signals, especially for concentrations of peptides lower than 10 fmol/microL, is to wash matrix/sample spots after peptide cocrystallization on the MALDI plate with deionized water prior to analysis. This method takes advantage of the low water solubility of the CHCA compared to its alkali salts. We report here that the application of some ammonium salt solutions, such as citrates and phosphates, instead of deionized water greatly improves the efficiency of this washing approach. Another way to reduce matrix cluster formation is to add ammonium salts as a part of the MALDI matrix. The best results were obtained with monoammonium phosphate, which successfully suppressed matrix clusters and improved sensitivity. Combining both of these approaches-the addition of ammonium salts in the CHCA matrix followed by one postcrystallization washing step with ammonium buffer-provided a substantial ( approximately 3-5-fold) improvement in the sensitivity of MALDI-MS detection compared to unwashed sample spots. This sample preparation method resulted in improved spectral quality and was essential for successful database searching for subnanomolar concentrations of protein digests.
Journal Article↗
Factors affecting conjugated linoleic acid and trans-C18:1 fatty acid production by mixed ruminal bacteria.
The objective of this study was to identify environmental factors that influence conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and trans-C18:1 fatty acid production by mixed ruminal bacteria. Ruminal contents were collected from a 600-kg ruminally fistulated Hereford steer maintained on pasture. Mixed ruminal bacteria were obtained by differential centrifugation under anaerobic conditions and added to a basal medium that contained a commercial emulsified preparation of soybean oil and a mixture of soluble carbohydrates (cellobiose, glucose, maltose, and xylose). Culture samples were collected from batch culture incubations at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, and 48 h. Continuous culture incubations were conducted at dilution rates of 0.05 and 0.10 h(-1) with extracellular pH values of 5.5 and 6.5, and 0.5 and 1.0 g/L of mixed soluble carbohydrates. Culture samples were obtained from the culture vessel once steady-state conditions had been achieved. In batch culture, trans-C18:1 concentrations increased over time and reached a maximum at 48 h. Little CLA was produced during the first 8 h, but cis-9, trans-11 CLA concentrations remained high between 24 and 30 h. When mixed ruminal bacteria were maintained in continuous culture on 0.5 g/L of mixed soluble carbohydrates, concentrations of trans-C18:1 and cis-9, trans-11 CLA were reduced (P < 0.05) at a dilution rate of 0.05 h(-1) and an extracellular pH of 5.5. Similar effects were also observed when 1.0 g/L of mixed soluble carbohydrates was used. When extracellular pH was lowered to 5.0, neither trans-C18:1 or CLA isomers were detected. In conclusion, our results suggest that culture pH appears to have the most influence on the production of trans-C18:1 and CLA isomers by mixed ruminal bacteria.
Animals↗
Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture and Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cells on in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation.
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cell product and a S. cerevisiae culture product on the in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation of ground corn, soluble starch, alfalfa hay, and Coastal bermudagrass hay. In the presence of ground corn, neither concentration (0.35 or 0.73 g/L) of S. cerevisiae culture nor live cells had any effect on final pH, H2, CH4, propionate, or butyrate. The S. cerevisiae culture had no effect on acetate, but both concentrations of S. cerevisiae live cells decreased acetate and the acetate:propionate ratio. When soluble starch was the substrate, both concentrations of S. cerevisiae live cells and 0.73 g/L of S. cerevisiae culture decreased the acetate:propionate ratio. Although the treatment effects were not statistically significant, both concentrations of live cells and 0.73 g/L of the culture decreased lactate concentrations compared with the control incubations. When alfalfa hay served as the substrate, neither the S. cerevisiae culture nor the live cells had an effect on propionate, butyrate, or the acetate:propionate ratio. Both concentrations of S. cerevisiae culture decreased the final pH and in vitro dry matter disappearance, and the 0.73 g/L treatment decreased the amount of acetate. However, both treatments of S. cerevisiae live cells increased final pH and decreased acetate and in vitro dry matter disappearance. Neither yeast treatment had much effect on the Coastal bermudagrass hay fermentations. In general, both S. cerevisiae supplements seemed to have similar effects on the mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation.
Acetates↗
A survey of genes in the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as identified by expressed sequence tags.
We describe the construction and quality analysis of six cDNA libraries from the liver, ovary, testis, brain, spleen and muscle tissues of adult Atlantic salmon. The cDNA libraries were then screened with total cDNA probes to catalogue clones representing the abundant and rare mRNA populations in each tissue. Subsequently, the 5'-terminal DNA sequences of 1152 cDNA clones, composed of 96 clones from each of the abundant and rare mRNA populations in the six tissues, were determined. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that 510 (50%) of the salmon expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of sufficient length showed significant homology to previously identified genes from salmonid and other species, while 517 (50%) of salmon ESTs were unidentified or novel. After accounting for multi-EST redundancy, the 510 identified ESTs provided DNA sequence markers for 178 salmon genes which are listed in terms of tissue of origin and mRNA abundance class.
Animals↗
The physiological effects and metabolic alterations caused by the expression of Rhizobium etli pyruvate carboxylase in Escherichia coli.
Oxaloacetate (OAA) plays an important role in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and for the biosynthesis of a variety of cellular compounds. Some microorganisms, such as Rhizobium etli and Corynebacterium glutamicum, are able to synthesize OAA during growth on glucose via either of the enzymes pyruvate carboxylase (PYC) or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PPC). Other microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, synthesize OAA during growth on glucose only via PPC because they lack PYC. In this study we have examined the effect that the R. etli PYC has on the physiology of E. coli. The expressed R. etli PYC was biotinylated by the native biotin holoenzyme synthase of E. coli and displayed kinetic properties similar to those reported for alpha4 PYC enzymes from other sources. R. etli PYC was able to restore the growth of an E. coli ppc null mutant in minimal glucose medium, and PYC expression caused increased carbon flow towards OAA in wild-type E. coli cells without affecting the glucose uptake rate or the growth rate. During aerobic glucose metabolism, expression of PYC resulted in a 56% increase in biomass yield and a 43% decrease in acetate yield. During anaerobic glucose metabolism, expression of PYC caused a 2.7-fold increase in succinate concentration, making it the major product by mass. The increase in succinate came mainly at the expense of lactate formation. However, in a mutant lacking lactate dehydrogenase activity, expression of PYC resulted in only a 1.7-fold increase in succinate concentration. The decreased enhancement of succinate formation in the /dh mutant was hypothesized to be due to accumulation of pyruvate and NADH, metabolites that affect the interconversion of the active and inactive form of the enzyme pyruvate formate-lyase.
Acetates↗
A "medical team" format for tutorial groups and cases.
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Attitude of Health Personnel↗
Juxtaglomerular cell tumor: a clinicopathologic study of four cases and review of the literature.
We studied 4 new cases of juxtaglomerular cell tumor and compared their morphologic and immunohistochemicalfeatures with 2 renal hemangiopericytomas and 5 cutaneous glomus tumors. The juxtaglomerular tumors were resectedfrom 2 males and 2 females (mean age at diagnosis, 23 years). Three patients manifested with severe hypertension. Tumors ranged from 2.2 to 8.0 cm and were well circumscribed. The tumors consisted of solid sheets and nodules of variably sized tumor cells with round, oval, and spindled nuclei alternating with edematous microcystic foci. Nuclear atypia, present in all tumors, was a prominent feature in 2. Mitotic activity was not identified. All cases showed hemorrhage, numerous mast cells, and thick-walled blood vessels. Unusual features included coagulative tumor necrosis, a hemangiopericytoma-like vascular pattern, and hyalinized stroma. All tumors were immunoreactive for CD34 and actin. Ultrastructural analysis revealed the presence of rhomboid-shaped renin protogranules. Patients were treated by partial or radical nephrectomy and followed up for 14 to 48 months. There were no recurrences or metastases. The characteristic clinical and morphologic features of juxtaglomerular cell tumor permit distinction from renal hemangiopericytoma and other renal tumors.
Adenocarcinoma↗
In vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation of whole cottonseed coated with gelatinized corn starch and urea.
We conducted an in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation study to determine the effect of coating whole cottonseed with gelatinized corn starch and feed grade urea. Treatments were arranged as a 3 x 4 factorial to provide three concentrations of starch (0.0, 2.5, and 5.0%) and four concentrations of urea (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0%). All treatments were prepared from one lot of whole cottonseed. Batch culture fermentations were conducted using anaerobic medium that contained 20% (vol/vol) ruminal fluid in 160-ml serum bottles. Whole cottonseed was ground to pass through a 6-mm screen and weighed amounts (0, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 g) were added to the serum bottles. As starch increased, H2, CH4, total volatile fatty acids, and molar proportions of propionate increased linearly, whereas pH, molar proportions of acetate, and the acetate to propionate ratio decreased linearly. L-Lactate concentrations were highest with 2.5% starch compared with 0 or 5.0%. As the amount of urea in the coating increased, pH and CH4 increased linearly, whereas H2 concentrations decreased linearly. Ammonia concentrations exhibited a quadratic response due to moderate increases with the addition of 0.25 and 0.5% urea, and a greater increase was observed with 1.0% urea. Interactions between starch and urea were observed for H2, CH4, NH3, and L-lactate. Concentrations of H2 decreased and CH4 was relatively constant as urea increased in the presence of 0 and 2.5% starch, but increased with 5% starch. L-Lactate concentrations were unchanged (0% starch), higher (2.5% starch), or lower (5.0% starch) as urea increased. Ammonia concentrations increased after urea exceeded 10% of the starch concentration. The addition of urea did not prevent the decline in pH, but did reduce H2 and CH4 accumulation with 2.5% starch.
Animals↗
Factors affecting glucose and maltose phosphorylation by the ruminal bacterium Megasphaera elsdenii.
The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of growth substrate and extracellular pH on phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent glucose phosphorylation as well as to examine how maltose is phosphorylated by the ruminal bacterium Megasphaera elsdenii B159. Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent glucose phosphorylation by toluene-treated cells was constitutive, and glucose phosphorylation was reduced by 69% at pH 5.0. When toluene-treated cells were incubated in histidine buffer, little maltose phosphorylation occurred in the absence of inorganic phosphate. However, the addition of increasing concentrations of either potassium or sodium phosphate increased maltose phosphorylation. Maximal phosphorylation activity was observed at between 25 and 50 mM of either inorganic phosphate source. Compared with the control incubations, maltose phosphorylation was increased over threefold with 25 mM of either potassium or sodium phosphate. Phosphoglucomutase activity was detected in cell extracts of M. elsdenii B159, and this enzyme had a K(m) of 3.2 mM for glucose-1-P and a V(max) of 1836 nmol of NADP(+) reduced/mg of protein per min. Maltose was also hydrolyzed by an inducible maltase (K(m), 1.19 mM). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a maltose phosphorylase and a maltase in M. elsdenii.
Animals↗
Deoxyribonuclease activity in Selenomonas ruminantium, Streptococcus bovis, and Bacteroides ovatus.
Six Selenomonas ruminantium strains (132c, JW13, SRK1, 179f, 5521c1, and 5934e), Streptococcus bovis JB1, and Bacteroides ovatus V975 were examined for nuclease activity as well as the ability to utilize nucleic acids, ribose, and 2-deoxyribose. Nuclease activity was detected in sonicated cells and culture supernatants for all bacteria except S. ruminantium JW13 and 179f sonicated cells. S. ruminantium strains were able to utilize several deoxyribonucleosides, while S. bovis JB1 and B. ovatus V975 showed little or no growth on all deoxyribonucleosides. When S. ruminantium strains 5934e, 132c, JW13, and SRK1 were incubated in medium that contained 15 mm ribose, the major end products were acetate, propionate, and lactate. S. ruminantium 5521c1 and S. bovis JB1 did not grow on ribose, and none of the S. ruminantium strains or S. bovis JB1 grew on 15 mm 2-deoxyribose. In contrast, B. ovatus V975 was able to grow on ribose and 2-deoxyribose. In conclusion, all S. ruminantium strains, S. bovis JB1, and B. ovatus V975 had nuclease activity. However, not all bacteria were able to utilize deoxyribonucleosides, ribose, or 2-deoxyribose.
Animals↗
Effects of thymol on ruminal microorganisms.
Thymol (5-methyl-2-isopropylphenol) is a phenolic compound that is used to inhibit oral bacteria. Because little is known regarding the effects of this compound on ruminal microorganisms, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of thymol on growth and lactate production by the ruminal bacteria Streptococcus bovis JB1 and Selenomonas ruminantium HD4. In addition, the effect of thymol on the in vitro fermentation of glucose by mixed ruminal microorganisms was investigated. Neither 45 nor 90 microg/ml of thymol had any significant effect on growth or lactate production by S. bovis JB1, but 180 microg/ml of thymol completely inhibited growth and lactate production. In the case of S. ruminantium HD4, 45 microg/ml of thymol had little effect on growth and lactate production; however, 90 microg/ml of thymol completely inhibited growth of S. ruminantium HD4. Thymol also decreased glucose uptake by whole cells of both bacteria. When mixed ruminal microorganisms were incubated in medium that contained glucose, 400 microg/ml of thymol increased final pH and the acetate to propionate ratio and decreased concentrations of methane, acetate, propionate, and lactate. In conclusion, thymol was a potent inhibitor of glucose fermentation by S. bovis JB1 and S. ruminantium HD4. Even though thymol treatment decreased methane and lactate concentrations and increased final pH in mixed ruminal microorganism fermentations of glucose, concentrations of acetate and propionate were also reduced.
Animals↗
Effect of vasovasostomy on contralateral testicular damage associated with unilateral vasectomy in mature and immature Lewis rats.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if laser-assisted vasovasostomy could reverse the contralateral histologic testicular changes associated with unilateral vasectomy. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled study. SETTING: Animal microsurgical laboratory, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri. PATIENT(S): Twenty mature and 20 immature male Lewis rats. INTERVENTION(S): Ten mature and 10 immature male Lewis rats underwent unilateral vasectomy. At 5 months, testicular biopsy and laser-assisted vasovasostomies were performed followed 2 months later by evaluation of vas patency and repeat testicular biopsy. Control animals consisted of 10 rats in each group, 5 that underwent sham operations and 5 that had halothane anesthesia alone. RESULT(S): In the immature and mature groups unilateral vasectomy resulted in marked contralateral testicular damage in 30% (3 of 10) and 50% (5 of 10), respectively. Vas patency determined 2 months after vasovasostomy was 80% (8 of 10) in the mature group and 89% (8 of 9) in the immature group. No animal that had contralateral testicular changes after vasectomy and a patent vas after vasovasostomy showed improvement in testicular histology. CONCLUSION(S): It appears that contralateral testicular damage associated with unilateral vasectomy is not improved 2 months after successful vasovasostomy in mature or immature Lewis rats.
Animals↗
Effect of student ethnicity on interpersonal skills and objective standardized clinical examination scores.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether standardized patients' perceptions of medical students' ethnicity influenced ratings on the interpersonal skills subsection of the objective standardized clinical examination (OSCE) and performance overall on the OSCE. METHODS: The OSCE is used to evaluate medical students' performances in the obstetrics and gynecology basic clerkship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. It is based on a series of standardized patient interviews conducted by medical students and incorporates ratings by standardized patients on each student's interpersonal skills. Medical students (n = 353) enrolled in the obstetrics and gynecology basic clerkship from 1995-1998 were classified according to ethnicity. Overall OSCE scores according to ethnicity were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Total interpersonal skills scores and scores on the individual components of the interpersonal skills section of the OSCE were analyzed according to students' ethnicity using the Kruskal-Wallis test for nonparametric analysis of variance. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences among ethnic groups in overall OSCE scores, total interpersonal skills scores, or scores on the individual components of the interpersonal skills section of the OSCE. CONCLUSION: No bias attributable to perceived medical student ethnicity that affects performance on the OSCE exists.
Baltimore↗
Prediction of birth weight by ultrasound in the third trimester.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of predicted birth weight by the gestation-adjusted projection method using ultrasonographic measurements obtained just before and at term. METHODS: The study group comprised patients with singleton pregnancies who underwent sonograms between 34.0 and 36.9 weeks' gestation (period 1) and at 37 weeks and beyond (period 2). The mean error in birth weight prediction, absolute birth weight error, and signed and absolute percent errors were compared with paired t tests. Thus, each patient served as her own control. RESULTS: The study included 138 patients undergoing 276 sonograms. The mean absolute error of the predicted birth weight was smaller for period 1 than for period 2 (197 +/- 167 g compared with 235 +/- 209 g, P =.019). The mean absolute percent error was 6.2 +/- 5.2% for period 1 compared with 7.4 +/- 6.3% for period 2 (P =.019). These same trends were observed when fetuses with suspected growth abnormalities were examined separately. Averaging data from both gestational periods did not improve the prediction of birth weight. CONCLUSION: Sonograms between 34.0 and 36. 9 weeks' gestation allow for more accurate prediction of birth weight than sonograms later in gestation. Though these differences are small and not clinically significant, this study indicates that serial sonograms in the late third trimester do not improve the ability to predict birth weight, even in abnormally grown fetuses. A single sonogram between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation is recommended for prediction of birth weight.
Adolescent↗
Anticoagulation clinics and patient self-testing for patients on chronic warfarin therapy: A cost-effectiveness analysis.
This study was intended to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of anticoagulation clinic care and self-testing for the management of patients on chronic warfarin therapy. Using a 5-year Markov model, we evaluated the health and economic outcomes associated with each of three different anticoagulation management approaches: (1) usual care, (2) anticoagulation clinic testing with a capillary monitor, and (3) patient self-testing with a capillary monitor. Data available in the published literature and data from a large health system were used to develop model assumptions. Model results indicate that over a 5-year period, compared with usual care, anticoagulation clinic testing results in a total of 1.7 fewer thromboembolic events and 2.0 less hemorrhagic events per 100 patients. Another 4.0 thromboembolic events and 0.8 hemorrhagic events are avoided with patient self-testing compared with anticoagulation clinic testing. In addition to the health advantages of these strategies, both also have cost advantages. When the costs incurred by provider organizations and patients are considered, patient self-testing is the most cost-effective alternative, resulting in an overall cost saving.
Anticoagulants↗
Cloning and characterization of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) type II interleukin-1 receptor cDNA.
A homologue of mammalian type II interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1RII) was isolated from a rainbow trout cDNA library by differential hybridization using a suppression subtractive hybridization generated probe enriched for sequences upregulated after immune stimulation. The trout cDNA has an ORF encoding 441 amino acids, and represents the first piscine IL-1 receptor described. The predicted amino-acid sequence has 29 and 26% identity with human and mouse IL-1RII, respectively. The trout IL-1 receptor has a domain organization similar to that of mammalian type II receptor, with a short cytoplasmic tail of 24 amino acids. These results suggest that type II receptor is also present in lower vertebrates, and therefore the duplication of an ancestral gene that generated type I and type II IL-1 receptors occurred prior to the time mammals emerged.
Amino Acid Sequence↗