Direct neuronal reprogramming can be achieved using different approaches: by expressing neuronal transcription factors or microRNAs; and by knocking down neuronal repressive elements. However, there still exists a high variability in terms of the quality and maturity of the induced neurons obtained, depending on the reprogramming strategy employed. Here, we evaluate different long-term culture con

A dominating set of a graph G is a set D⊆ VG such that every vertex in VG- D is adjacent to at least one vertex in D, and the domination number γ(G) of G is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set of G. A set C⊆ VG is a covering set of G if every edge of G has at least one vertex in C. The covering number β(G) of G is the minimum cardinality of a covering set of G. The set of connected graphs

The scientific debate following the initial formulation of the “bad luck” hypothesis in cancer development highlighted how measures based on analysis of variance are inappropriately used for risk communication. The notion of “explained” variance is not only used to quantify randomness, but also to quantify genetic and environmental contribution to disease in heritability coefficients. In this pape

There is a growing interest in organized self-help housing (OSHH) from both authoriti es and Non Governmental Organizati ons (NGOs) working in the housing sector due to the magnitude of housing problems in developing countries and the challenge of achieving sustainable humansett lements. This paper focuses on the experiences of two NGOs, FUPROVI in Costa Rica and SADEL in Sweden, in facilitati ng

Introduction: Differential patterns of brain atrophy on structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed four reproducible subtypes of Alzheimer's disease (AD): (1) “typical”, (2) “limbic-predominant”, (3) “hippocampal-sparing”, and (4) “mild atrophy”. We examined the neurobiological characteristics and clinical progression of these atrophy-defined subtypes. Methods: The four subtypes were rep

The global anti-doping effort in sport is based upon perceptions of the system as desirable, proper and appropriate and thus considered legitimate. The legitimacy of the anti-doping system has earlier been studied bottom-up, based on the views of athletes. In order to gain greater understanding of legitimation processes, it is also important to study legitimation strategies top-down, used by decis

Objective: To describe the incidence of incorrect computerized ECG interpretations of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in a Swedish primary care population, the rate of correction of computer misinterpretations, and the consequences of misdiagnosis. Design: Retrospective expert re-analysis of ECGs with a computer-suggested diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Setting: Primary h

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the bone mineral density (BMD) in a group of Swedish patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) with or without asthma, as well as to evaluate whether the treatment of this patient group is in accordance with the EPOS recommendations. Design, settings and participants: Adult patients with a diagnosis of CRSwNP, and a history of at least t

Objectives: A substantial proportion of individuals with stroke are of working age. After stroke, it is important to return to work (RTW), both for the individual's satisfaction with life and economically for society. The current comprehensive, long-term study aimed at investigating in what time period the RTW continues after stroke and what factors could predict RTW. Materials and methods: All in

Erlotinib (Tarceva) targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is commonly overexpressed in human cancers, including lung cancer. We show that erlotinib can be labeled with [(11)C] by reacting the normethyl precursor with [(11)C]-methyl iodide. By using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide proliferation assay, two lung cancer cell lines (A549 and NCI358)

Bladder cancer tumors expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 4 (HER4) demonstrate improved patient survival. HER4 isoforms and estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) can form chaperone complexes causing cell-proliferation. We wanted to explore if HER4 isoforms and ER-α could correlate to poor prognosis in bladder cancers. We developed mRNA assays for HER4 isoforms (JM-a, JM-b, CYT1, and CYT2) a

BACKGROUND: The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors HER2 and HER4 and the ligands HB-EGF and NRG1 are crucial for heart development. The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of the complete EGF system in relation to hypoxia of the heart.METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We examined the mRNA expression by real time PCR of the 4 receptors and 12 ligands from the EGF-system in paired no

BACKGROUND: We have previously developed (11)C-erlotinib as a new positron emission tomography (PET) tracer and shown that it accumulates in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive lung cancer xenografts in mice. Here, we present a study in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) investigating the feasibility of (11)C-erlotinib PET as a potential method for the identification of

The level of extracellular calcium has been demonstrated to regulate important physiological processes like cell growth and apoptosis. We demonstrate that in the bladder cancer cell line RT4, an increased extracellular calcium level induces apoptosis and that the HER1 receptor functions as a cell survival factor and delays apoptosis. After 12 h of calcium treatment (10 mM) apoptosis was detected i

The RAI gene is also known as iASPP and PPP1R13L. Recent investigations have shown that the region encompassing RAI is important for the development of cancer in young and middle-aged persons. It has been speculated that the RAI product induces apoptosis by blocking NF-kappaB or inhibits apoptosis by blocking p53. Either way the gene could influence the survival of precancerous lesions. Here we re

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the induction of apoptosis by the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide (VP16), and to examine the effect of combining VP16 with gefitinib to see if the cell-survival mechanism can be prevented.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bladder cancer cell lines RT4 and T24, representing low- and high-malignancy grades respectively,

Increased expression of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, HER1 and HER2 are related to poor prognosis in most cancers studied. Recently, a high expression of the two remaining receptors of the EGF system, HER3 and HER4 has been related to a favourable prognosis. However, prognostic significance of HER1 and HER2 receptors in bladder cancer is controversial and the effect of the expressio

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to identify proteins down-regulated during bladder cancer progression.EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: By using comparative proteome analysis and measurement of mRNA, we found a significant down-regulation of S100C, a member of the S100 family of proteins, in T24 (grade 3) as compared with RT4 (grade 1) bladder cancer cell lines. Moreover, quantification of the mRNA level r

The epidermal growth factor system has been associated to prognosis in patients with bladder cancer based mainly on the expression of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor 1 (EGFR) and HER2 and their activating ligands. Since limited information exists concerning the expression of other parts of the EGF system, we examined the expression of the receptors HER3 and HER4 and their activating lig

Comparative proteome analysis was performed between RT4 (grade-1) and T24 (grade-3) bladder cancer cell lines, in an attempt to identify differentially expressed proteins during bladder cancer progression. Among those relatively abundant proteins, seven spots changed more than two-fold reproducibly and identified by peptide mass fingerprinting using mass spectrometry and database search. We found