Calling on a million minds for community annotation in WikiProteins.

WikiProteins enables community annotation in a Wiki-based system. Extracts of major data sources have been fused into an editable environment that links out to the original sources. Data from community edits create automatic copies of the original data. Semantic technology captures concepts co-occurring in one sentence and thus potential factual statements. In addition, indirect associations between concepts have been calculated. We call on a 'million minds' to annotate a 'million concepts' and to collect facts from the literature with the reward of collaborative knowledge discovery. The system is available for beta testing at http://www.wikiprofessional.org.

Use of a 13C-aminopyrine blood test: first clinical impressions.

The purpose of this study was to collect initial data to determine the potential clinical usefulness of a 13C-aminopyrine demethylation blood test, and whether additional clinical investigation is warranted. Six dogs, initially suspected of having hepatic disease based on their history, physical examination, imaging studies, general laboratory parameters, or any combination of the above, were enrolled in the study. A baseline blood sample was collected, 2 mg/kg 13C-aminopyrine was administered intravenously, and another blood sample was collected 45 min afterwards. Carbon dioxide was extracted from the blood samples and analyzed using fractional mass spectrometry. Results from the 13C-aminopyrine demethylation blood test were compared to clinical data and histologic findings. Intravenous administration of 13C-aminopyrine leads to a decrease in the percent dose of 13C recovered from dogs with histologically confirmed liver disease. Based on our results, a full-scale investigation of the potential clinical usefulness of a 13C-aminopyrine demethylation blood test for assessment of hepatic function in dogs is warranted.

Kinetics of urinary recovery of five sugars after orogastric administration in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the kinetics of urinary recovery (UR) of 5 sugars used for gastrointestinal permeability and mucosal function testing following orogastric administration of lactose, rhamnose, xylose, methylglucose, and sucrose. ANIMALS: 7 healthy male Beagles. PROCEDURES: A sugar solution containing lactulose, rhamnose, xylose, methylglucose, and sucrose was administered by orogastric intubation to healthy dogs. Urine samples were collected immediately before sugar solution administration (baseline) and at 2-hour intervals thereafter. The UR of the 5 sugars was determined from urine concentrations measured by high pressure liquid chromatography and pulsed amperometric detection. Percent urinary recovery (%UR) of the total UR up to 12 hours after sugar solution administration was calculated for each sugar at 2-hour intervals. RESULTS: Mean %UR exceeded 85% for all 5 sugars at 6 hours after orogastric administration of the sugar solution and exceeded 90% after 8 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In healthy dogs, a urine collection period of 6 hours is sufficient for gastrointestinal permeability and mucosal function testing following orogastric administration of lactulose, rhamnose, xylose, methylglucose, and sucrose.