Accuracy and Completeness of Drug Information in Wikipedia: A Comparison with Standard Textbooks of Pharmacology
The online resource Wikipedia is increasingly used by students for knowledge acquisition and learning. However, the lack of a formal editorial review and the heterogeneous expertise of contributors often results in skepticism by educators whether Wikipedia should be recommended to students as an information source. In this study we systematically analyzed the accuracy and completeness of drug information in the German and English language versions of Wikipedia in comparison to standard textbooks of pharmacology. In addition, references, revision history and readability were evaluated. Analysis of readability was performed using the Amstad readability index and the Erste Wiener Sachtextforme…
Extensive characterization of the human DDAH1 transgenic mice
Abstract Purpose of the research Overexpression of the human dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase type 1 (hDDAH1) gene was reported to have beneficial cardiovascular effects in mice. To date, it is unclear whether these effects are related to enhanced metabolic clearance of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and l - N G -mono-methyl- l -arginine ( l -NMMA) or increased DDAH1 expression and activity in cardiovascular tissues of hDDAH1 transgenic mice. Principal results DDAH activity (DDAH1 + DDAH2) was found to be markedly increased in aortic and heart tissues but unaltered in liver and kidney tissues of hDDAH1 transgenic as compared to wild-type (WT) mice. In WT mice, DDAH activity was m…
Simultaneous assessment of endothelial function, nitric oxide synthase activity, nitric oxide-mediated signaling, and oxidative stress in individuals with and without hypercholesterolemia.
Abstract Background: Endothelial function is impaired in hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Based on mostly indirect evidence, this impairment is attributed to reduced synthesis or impaired biological activity of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO). It was the aim of this study to directly estimate and compare whole-body NO production in normo- and hypercholesterolemia by applying a nonradioactive stable isotope dilution technique in vivo. Methods: We enrolled 12 normocholesterolemic and 24 hypercholesterolemic volunteers who were all clinically healthy. To assess whole-body NO synthesis, we intravenously administered l-[guanidino-(15N2)]-arginine and determined the urinary excreti…