Search results

Objective: The complement system is activated in human atherosclerotic lesions and may hence aggravate local inflammation. We studied the presence and localization of C4b-binding protein (C4bp), the major inhibitor of the classical complement pathway, in human atherosclerotic lesions in relation to complement activation products and protein S, which circulates in complex with C4bp. Methods and res

Based on theories of mire development and responses to a changing climate, the current role of mires as a net carbon sink has been questioned. A rigorous evaluation of the current net C-exchange in mires requires measurements of all relevant fluxes. Estimates of annual total carbon budgets in mires are still very limited. Here, we present a full carbon budget over 2 years for a boreal minerogenic

Due to decreased functional capacity as well as high environmental demands there is a risk of diminishing activity outside home in very old age (age 80+). In order to explore differences according to functional limitations (FL) among very old people with respect to frequency of activity, perceived health, overall perception of neighbourhood environment, and perceived problems in the pedestrian env

Histamine-producing ECL cells and ghrelin-producing A-like cells are endocrine/paracrine cell populations in the acid-producing part of the rat stomach. While the A-like cells operate independently of gastrin, the ECL cells respond to gastrin with mobilization of histamine and chromogranin A (CGA)-derived peptides, such as pancreastatin. Gastrin is often assumed to be the driving force behind the

A cysteine proteinase of 30 kDa (CP30) of Trichomonas vaginalis, is known to play a role in cytoadherence of the parasite to host cells. However, the CP30 activity in clinical isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients has not been analyzed. In the present study, CP30 was detected in 20 fresh and long-term culture maintained T. vaginalis isolates each from symptomatic and asymptomatic wom

Large-scale studies are essential to assess the emission patterns and spatial distribution of organohalogenated pollutants (OHPs) in the environment. Bird eggs have several advantages compared to other environmental media which have previously been used to map the distribution of OHPs. In this study, large-scale geographical variation in the occurrence of OHPs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (P

Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK) catalyze the first step in the intracellular cascade of fludarabine (2-fluoroadenine-beta-D-arabinofuranoside) and cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) phosphorylation, which leads to activation of these prodrugs, commonly used for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Thus, resistance to nucleoside analogues may primarily be due

We show that certain right-invariant metrics endow the infinite-dimensional Lie group of all smooth orientation-preserving diffeomorphisms of the circle with a Riemannian structure. The study of the Riemannian exponential map allows us to prove infinite-dimensional counterparts of results from classical Riemannian geometry: the Riemannian exponential map is a smooth local diffeomorphism and the le

Recently, several articles have been published dealing with the anabolic effects on bone by statins. Mundy and associates discovered that several statins were able to activate the promotor of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2. Additionally, oral simvastatin and lovastatin increased the cancellous bone volume in rats, presumably an effect of the increase of BMP-2. Other studies have followed, with

BACKGROUND/AIM: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is probably still underdiagnosed in the clinical setting. Previous studies have suggested a relationship between fluctuations in attention and electroencephalogram (EEG) measures. Since fluctuation in attention is a core symptom of DLB, we sought to further explore whether EEG measures could help differentiate DLB from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and he

The potency of nucleotide antagonists at P2Y(1) receptors was enhanced by replacing the ribose moiety with a constrained carbocyclic ring (Nandanan, et al. J. Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 829842). We have now synthesized ring-constrained methanocarba analogues (in which a fused cyclopropane moiety constrains the pseudosugar ring) of adenine and uracil nucleotides, the endogenous activators of P2Y receptor

PURPOSE. To investigate the origin of corneal epithelial keratitis occurring without accompanying herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) cutaneous rash. METHODS. Corneal epithelial lesions in seven patients (four with a history of classical HZO with cutaneous rash, one of herpes zoster oticus, and two with no history of herpes zoster, were examined with the slit lamp and photographed by non-contact in v

Within-population gene diversity (H-S) was estimated (using allozyme markers) for 16 populations of the perennial, outcrossing plant, Gypsophila fastigiata, on the Baltic island of Oland. The populations were characterized by data on extent, density, life-stages, and habitat diversity. Populations were classed as central or peripheral in relation to the distribution of ''alvar" (habitats with shal

The paper investigates the potential for a packet switching network for real-time image processing by a Cellular Neural Network (CNN) implemented on a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA). The implementation of a CNN requires several parameter restrictions with respect to the universal concept. For instance, the number representation and the cloning template are often confined to respectively 8 bi

The desulphurization of synthesis gas with zinc ferrite was studied in a laboratory-scale fixed-bed reactor. Desulphurization efficiency of 97-99% was obtained. The inlet hydrogen sulphide concentration was about-2600 ppm. A flat breakthrough curve showed that diffusion through the sulphide layer controlled the rate of sulphidization. The degrees of utilization varied between 5 and 11%. Experiment

We compute strain distributions in core-shell nanowires of zinc blende structure. We use both continuum elasticity theory and an atomistic model, and consider both finite and infinite wires. The atomistic valence force-field (VFF) model has only few assumptions. But it is less computationally efficient than the finite-element (FE) continuum elasticity model. The generic properties of the strain di

A long-term cost-effectiveness model for early decision-making and estimation of outcomes of novel therapeutic procedures for Parkinson's disease (PD) was developed based on the Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stages of PD. Results provided support for model validity. Model application to a future dopamine cell replacement therapy indicated long-term cost offsets and gains in quality-adjusted life years (QALY

High-resolution x-ray photoelectron emission (XPS) and near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra of naphthalene are analyzed in terms of the initial state chemical shifts and the vibrational fine structure of the excitations. Carbon atoms located at peripheral sites experience only a small chemical shift and exhibit rather similar charge-vibrational coupling, while the atoms in th