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Identification of N-acetyl-alpha-aminoadipic acid in the urine of a patient with alpha-aminoadipic and alpha-ketoadipic aciduria.

A 3.5-year-old Japanese boy with a mild speech disturbance excreted a large amount of alpha-aminoadipic acid into the urine. The amino acid analysis using an amino acid analyser confirmed the presence of alpha-aminoadipic acid in both urine and plasma. We detected alpha-aminoadipic acid in the hydrolysate of the effluent and washwater fraction through cation exchange resin. This suggested the presence of acetylated derivatives and we identified N-acetyl-alpha-aminoadipic acid using liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (LC-API-MS). The concentrations of alpha-aminoadipic acid and N-acetyl-alpha-aminoadipic acid in the urine of a patient with alpha-aminoadipic aciduria were 376.9 nmol/mg creatinine and 18.1 nmol/mg creatinine, respectively. We also detected alpha-ketoadipic acid in the urine of this patient using LC-API-MS.

2-Aminoadipic Acid↗

Systematic decalcification prophylaxis during treatment with fixed appliances.

In a practical setting, 4 different prophylactic methods were compared with regard to their effects on the incidence of decalcification during orthodontic fixed appliance therapy and on the frequency of premature debonding resulting from imminent or already manifest decalcification. This study showed that the use of a system in which selection and care were oriented solely along the clinical impression was associated with the highest rate of decalcification and premature debonding. The findings were significantly better (p < 0.05), when a prophylactic regimen of oral hygiene was implemented which was based on patient selection (API < 30%) and regular oral hygiene check-ups during the treatment. When the DMFT index was considered in addition to the API value, and the number of the initial lesions at the beginning of treatment were included for selecting patients, the incidence of decalcification was significantly reduced even further (p < 0.05). A more comprehensive or "optimized prophylaxis" utilizing saliva test parameters and active prophylactic interventions implemented by a dental hygienist during the treatment phase also had a favorable impact on the main outcome parameters. The present findings indicate that decalcification can be markedly reduced by using a treatment regimen that targets the decalcification risk and a systematic, individualized prophylaxis during active treatment with fixed appliances.

Dental Debonding↗

Evaluation of six commercial systems for identification of medically important yeasts.

Six commercially available systems for the identification of yeasts were evaluated using 133 clinical isolates and four reference strains that had been previously identified by conventional methods and 19 recent clinical isolates that had been identified by the ID32C system (bioMérieux, France). The total identification rates (TIR) established for the total number of strains tested and the database identification rates (DBIR) established for the strains included in the respective manufacturer databases were both determined. After incubation for 4 h, the TIR and DBIR were 78% and 84%, respectively, for the RapID Yeast Plus system (Innovative Diagnostic Systems, USA). After incubation for 24 h, the TIR and DBIR were 32% and 32%, respectively, for the ID32C, 65% and 67% for the Auxacolor system (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, France), 62% and 65% for the Fungichrom I system (International Microbio, France), 52% and 65% for the Fungifast I twin system (International Microbio), and 62% and 68% for the API Candida system (bioMérieux). The maximum TIR and DBIR (+/- 1%) obtained after incubation for 48 h were 86% and 88% for the Auxacolor, 85% and 89% for the Fungichrom I, 78% and 98% for the Fungifast I twin, and 82% and 91% for the API Candida. For the ID32C, the maximum TIR and DBIR were 98% and 98%, respectively, but these values were obtained only after 72 h of incubation. In addition, the six systems varied in their ease of use and readings. In conclusion, based on results obtained with 156 strains, the Auxacolor and Fungichrom systems seem the most appropriate for use in a clinical microbiology laboratory, due to their ease of use and reading, their rapidity, their cost per test, and their relatively high TIR results, which indicated acceptable performance with strains frequently isolated in our hospital. For a reference identification, the ID32C remains the sole system usable.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in serum of rats during cholestasis.

Alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes (API) in serum of rats during cholestasis are investigated. For comparison different membrane systems in liver are damaged. Proliferation of bile canaliculi, sinusoidal area, and endoplasmic reticulum, respectively, is induced by different toxic conditions. It is found that in cholestasis an API5 in serum arises which is not present in serum of normal rats, but can be detected in normal rat liver. Thus, it is not a de novo synthesis of this API. Under the condition connected with a proliferation of bile canaliculi we find this API5 in serum. Under different conditions without proliferation of bile canaliculi we do not find an increase of this API5. We assume, therefore, that API5 in cholestasis is produced by cells of the bile canaliculi rather than by liver parenchymal cells in the sinusoidal area. No difference is found in intra- or extrahepatic cholestasis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Muscle filament lattices and stretch-activation: the match-mismatch model reassessed.

A mechanism for the observed enhanced stretch-activation phenomenon in insect asynchronous flight muscles has been postulated and developed in terms of the matched helical structures of the actin and myosin filaments in the asynchronous flight muscles of Lethocerus. It was suggested that at different sarcomere lengths with different filament overlaps there would be a changing probability of myosin crossbridge attachment to actin according to whether there was match or mismatch between the myosin and actin arrays. Evidence is provided here that, when Lethocerus structure is considered in detail, the explanation appears to fail. Results on other insect asynchronous flight muscles of different structure (e.g. Apis) also seem to contradict the match-mismatch model. All striated muscle types considered here (fish, frog, Lethocerus, Apis, blowfly) appear to be designed to give constant probability of crossbridge attachment to actin as the filaments move axially, apart from the well-known effects of changing total filament overlap. Alternative stretch-activation mechanisms are considered, especially in terms of the unusual thin filament regulatory system in some insect asynchronous flight muscles.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Evaluation of commercial test systems for the identification of nonfermenters.

Three commercially available test systems for the identification of nonfermentative gram-negative rods were compared: API 20NE, flow N/F and Minitek Nonfermenter System. Two hundred strains were identified by conventional means and by each test system. The rate of correct identification of Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium and Moraxella strains to genus level and of the other genera to species level was 92% with API 20NE, 84% with flow N/F and 75% with Minitek Nonfermenter System. The need for these kits in the diagnostic hospital laboratory is also discussed.

Bacterial Infections↗

Comparison of two systems for identification of anaerobic bacteria.

The RapID Ana and the API 20A systems for identification of anaerobic bacteria were compared for accuracy on 108 recent isolates of gram-negative and gram-positive anaerobic bacteria. No additional tests or gas-liquid chromatography were used. RapID Ana identified 91.7% of the isolated strains to species level and 6.5% to genus level but failed to identify 1.8% of the total strains. API 20A identified 85.2% of strains to species level, 3.7% to genus level but failed to identify 11.1% of the total strains. Although the difference between the identification rates of the two systems was not significant, it was concluded that RapID Ana was easier to perform and interpret.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

The cultivation and rapid enzyme identification of DF-2.

The investigation of two clinical isolates and two reference strains of DF-2 showed that supplementary cysteine and incubation in a humid atmosphere were important growth-promoting factors for these fastidious, gram-negative bacteria. Broth-base media with phenol red indicator were proven to be satisfactory for carbohydrate fermentation tests. Two four-hour enzyme assays (API ZYM and Rosco Diagnostic Tablets) were used to compare the enzymatic activity of DF-2 with that of 27 species of other non-enterobacterial organisms. The Rosco assay revealed that only the DF-2 strains had a positive alpha-fucosidase reaction, suggesting that this character may provide the means for rapid characterization and identification of these bacteria and also be of value for taxonomic classification. The incongruent results of the API ZYM assay seem to be due to the different substrates of the two assay systems.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Performance of two four-hour identification systems with atypical strains of Enterobacteriaceae.

Two four-hour systems (Rapid 20E and Micro-ID) for identification of Enterobacteriaceae were evaluated using 66 strains isolated from clinical specimens which could not be identified by conventional methods. API 20E was used as reference method. Both systems had an acceptable identification rate (84.8% for Rapid 20E and 74.2% for Micro-ID). After referral to API's computer facilities the identification rate of Rapid 20E rose to 92.4%. Micro-ID incorrectly identified 16.7% of the strains and Rapid 20E only 1.5%. On the other hand, no identification was achieved in 13.6% of the strains using Rapid 20E versus 6% using Micro-ID. On the basis of these findings Rapid 20E is considered the more suitable system for the rapid identification of Enterobacteriaceae strains which cannot be identified by conventional methods.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Evaluation of four commercial biochemical test systems for identification of yeasts.

The performance of four miniaturized biochemical test systems (API 20C Auxanogram, Mycotube, Oricult, and Uni-Yeast-Tek) for the identification of yeasts was evaluated using standard biochemical tests as reference. One hundred and twenty-six strains were used for the study. Mycotube identified 93% of the strains correctly, and Uni-Yeast-Tek 89%. API 20C Auxanogram and Oricult identified 77% and 82% of the strains respectively if the germ tube test was also included. Mycotube and Uni-Yeast-Tek in particular facilitate identification of yeasts in the routine clinical laboratory but recourse to microscopic examination of morphology and other supplementary tests may also be necessary.

Candida↗

ABAC identibiogramme: prototype of an automated system for identification of enterobacteria.

The ABAC Identibiogramme, an automated, computerized system for the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the Enterobacteriaceae has been developed recently. The biological basis of the system resides in lyophilized, highly discriminating media enclosed in wells of an automatically inoculated disposable cartridge. The introduction of a suitable specimen rehydrates and inoculates the media in the wells. After incubation for 16 to 18 h at 37 degrees C and the addition of only one reagent (Kovacs reagent), the media changes and the results obtained are interpreted by an automated optical system and a computer. The antibiogram is also used by the computer to confirm the biochemical identification of the organism. The identification accuracy of a prototype of the ABAC Identibiogramme system was compared with that of API 20 E and conventional methods using a total of 1,290 clinical isolates. The ABAC Identibiogramme correctly identified 96.8% of the organisms tested, misidentified 2.4% and failed to identify 0.8%. The results demonstrate the high reliability and good identification performance of the ABAC Identibiogramme in comparison to API 20 E and conventional methods.

Enterobacteriaceae↗

Enzymatic profile of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.

The enzymatic profiles of 109 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp. anitratus and lwoffi were determined with conventional plate tests and the rapid API ZYM system (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.). The majority of strains tested lacked DNase, hemolysin, protease, elastase and gelatinase. Strong enzymatic activities of butyrate esterase (C4), caprylate esterase (C8) and leucine arylamidase were detected in all isolates. No trypsin, chymotrypsin, alkaline phosphatase or glucosidase activities were present. This profile was characteristic of all isolates examined by the API ZYM system and could serve as a useful diagnostic feature of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp. anitratus and subsp. lwoffi.

Acinetobacter↗

The mental health of Asian and Pacific Island elders: implications for research and mental health administration.

According to the 1990 census, the highly diverse Asian and Pacific Islander (API) American population has doubled in size from 1980 to 1990, and is now the nation's fastest growing minority group. Several studies have documented this population's comparative underuse of mental health services. A review of recent studies on the mental health of Asian and Pacific Island elders identifies a number of risk factors and protectors. Elder APIs appear to have poorer mental health compared to white counterparts, but not the poorest mental health within their own ethnic group. Within-group differences emerge, with recent immigrant groups and colonized populations appearing as most at-risk for mental health problems. A critical variable on this population's mental health status appears to be socioeconomic status,and yet an analysis of other demographic variables, notably nativity and gender, remain contradictory. A research agenda is proposed and implications for mental health administrators are suggested.

Age Factors↗

Enzyme activities of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

Activities of 19 enzymes were tested by the API ZYM system in 13 strains of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. lusitaniae, B. valaisiana) grown in liquid BSK-H medium supplemented with rabbit serum. All strains produced acid phosphatase, esterase (C4), esterase-lipase (C8), leucine arylamidase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase. Nine strains also produced alkaline phosphatase, and three strains produced alpha-glucosidase. The API ZYM system probably cannot be used for differentiation between B. burgdorferi sensu lato genomospecies.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Fever in honeybee colonies.

Honeybees, Apis spp., maintain elevated temperatures inside their nests to accelerate brood development and to facilitate defense against predators. We present an additional defensive function of elevating nest temperature: honeybees generate a brood-comb fever in response to colonial infection by the heat-sensitive pathogen Ascosphaera apis. This response occurs before larvae are killed, suggesting that either honeybee workers detect the infection before symptoms are visible, or that larvae communicate the ingestion of the pathogen. This response is a striking example of convergent evolution between this "superorganism" and other fever-producing animals.

Animal Communication↗

Electronic tongue for pharmaceutical analytics: quantification of tastes and masking effects.

The organoleptic aspects of pharmaceutical formulations affect their acceptability to the patient and hence can have an important effect on concordance with treatment. Objective evaluation of these aspects, particularly the taste of the formulation and the drug substance it contains, is difficult. Whilst volunteer taste panels can be used to good effect their utility is limited, particularly during very early stage development when the toxicological profile of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is yet to be established in detail. A potentiometric "electronic tongue" has been applied to analyse a variety of 41 individual substances and mixtures of particular interest for pharmaceutical research and development. The electronic tongue (ET) was capable of discriminating between substances with different taste modalities and could also distinguish different substances eliciting the same basic taste; the ET is promising in terms of quantifying the content of each substance and has an ability to detect nuances of the basic taste (e.g. lingering or short-lived). After calibration the electronic tongue was successfully applied to predicting bitterness strength of binary mixtures with a sweetener in terms of "apparent" or "perceived" quinine content. In order to render a formulation palatable it is often necessary to mask the (usually bitter) taste of the API by the addition of masking agents such as sweeteners and flavours. The ET proved capable of distinguishing between formulations with different levels of sweetener and/or flavour in a manner that was consistent with their masking efficiency as perceived by a small human taste panel. A suitably calibrated ET could have the benefit of providing the pharmaceutical formulator with reliable data concerning the taste of the product quickly and with a reduced need to ask volunteers to taste active pharmaceutical samples. Early development activities could be facilitated when human tasting is usually not possible in the absence of the required toxicological data.

Biosensing Techniques↗

A sensitive method for the determination of iodine containing diagnostic agents in aqueous matrices using LC-electrospray-tandem-MS detection.

Iodinated contrast media belong to the most frequently applied compounds in medicine. They exhibit a high polarity and are very persistent against metabolism by the organism and environmental degradation. A sensitive method for the determination of five iodinated contrast media in aqueous matrices is described. Solid phase extraction utilizing Isolute ENV+ material was used for sample enrichment. The contrast media were partially separated on a RP-C18 column, and detection was achieved using electrospray-tandem MS (API III plus and API 365) allowing the sensitive quantitation of these compounds down to the lower ng/L range. The recovery rates generally exceeded 70%, for spiked surface water as well as tap water. The analytes were detected in native samples such as municipal sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent, the river Rhine and even in tap water.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Diversification and independent evolution of troponin C genes in insects.

Troponin C (TpnC), the calcium-binding subunit of the troponin regulatory complex in the muscle thin filament, is encoded by multiple genes in insects. To understand how TpnC genes have evolved, we characterized the gene number and structure in a number of insect species. The TpnC gene complement is five genes in Drosophilidae as previously reported for D. melanogaster. Gene structures are almost identical in D. pseudoobscura, D. suboboscura, and D. virilis. Developmental patterns of expression are also conserved in Drosophila subobscura and D. virilis. Similar, but not completely equivalent, TpnC gene repertoires have been identified in the Anopheles gambiae and Apis mellifera genomes. Insect TpnC sequences can be divided into three groups, allowing a systematic classification of newly identified genes. The pattern of expression of the Apis mellifera genes essentially agrees with the pattern in Drosophilidae, providing further functional support to the classification. A model for the evolution of the TpnC genes is proposed including the most likely pathway of insect TpnC diversification. Our results suggest that the rapid increase in number and sequence specialization of the adult Type III isoforms can be correlated with the evolution of the holometabolous mode of development and the acquisition of asynchronous indirect flight muscle function in insects. This evolutionarily specialization has probably been achieved independently in different insect orders.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

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