The aim of the present investigation was to elucidate the elastic properties of the myofilaments during tetanic activity in striated muscle. The study was carried out on intact single muscle fibres from the anterior tibialis muscle of Rana temporaria (2.0-2.5 degrees C). The instantaneous stiffness was measured as the change in force that occurred in response to a high-frequency (2-4 kHz) length o

BACKGROUND:: This study aimed to assess mid-term outcome after endovascular revascularization of chronic occlusive mesenteric ischaemia (CMI) and to identify possible predictors of mortality. METHODS:: Consecutive patients undergoing primary elective stenting for CMI between 1995 and 2007 were registered prospectively in a database. Patients with acute ischaemia were excluded. Retrospective case-n

Abstract. Purpose: To compare the performance of two machine learning classifiers (MLCs), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and support vector machines (SVMs), with input based on retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements by optical coherence tomography (OCT), on the diagnosis of glaucoma, and to assess the effects of different input parameters. Methods: We analysed Stratus OCT data

BACKGROUND: The P-value approach has been employed to prioritizing genome-wide association (GWA) scan signals, with a genome-wide significance defined by a prior P-value threshold, although this is not ideal. A rationale put forward is that the association signals rather should be expected to give less support for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are rare (with associated low-power test

The unique ability of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) to fold upon binding to partner molecules makes them functionally well-suited for cellular communication networks. For example, the folding-binding of different IDP sequences onto the same surface of an ordered protein provides a mechanism for signaling in a many-to-one manner. Here, we study the molecular details of this signaling mec

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between the length of time-to-ejaculation and semen parameters. METHODS: Ejaculates from 142 men under infertility assessment were analyzed according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Seminal neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), zinc, and fructose were also measured. Three groups according to the length of the time-

Molecular imprinting technology has been successfully applied to small molecular templates but a slow progress has been made in macromolecular imprinting owing to the challenges in natural properties of macromolecules, especially proteins. In this review, the macromolecular imprinting approaches are discussed with examples from recent publications. A new molecular imprinting strategy, microcontact

OBJECTIVES: To describe and interpret the family adaptation during the ICU hospitalisation and up to 18 months after discharge. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY/DESIGN: A qualitative design was chosen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Individual and family interviews with eight families including 31 family members. A hermeneutical analysis was performed and paradigm cases were constructed. RESULTS: The result is presen

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders are associated with immune system alterations that can be detected in the blood. Cytokine concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and their relationship to aspects of suicidality have previously not been investigated. METHODS: We measured interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in CSF and plasma of sui

The c-KIT receptor tyrosine kinase mediates the cellular response to stem cell factor (SCF). Whereas c-KIT activity is important for the proliferation of hematopoietic cells, melanocytes and germ cells, uncontrolled c-KIT activity contributes to the growth of diverse human tumors. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS6) is a member of the SOCS family of E3 ubiquitin ligases that can interact wi

BACKGROUND/AIMS:: Administration of hypertonic saline (HS) solution to rats with acute pancreatitis (AP) decreases mortality and systemic inflammation. We hypothesized that these effects are relates not only to systemic inflammatory reduction but also to reduction of the pancreatic lesion. METHODS:: AP was induced in Wistar rats by injection of 2.5% sodium taurocholate. Animals were divided in gro

Climate change and anthropogenic disturbances may affect marine populations and ecosystems through multiple pathways. In this study we present a framework in which we integrate existing models and knowledge on basic regulatory processes to investigate the potential impact of future scenarios of fisheries exploitation and climate change on the temporal dynamics of the central Baltic herring stock.

Digital telecommunication technology has expanded the potential of the mobile phone to be used increasingly as a weapon against authoritarian rule and censorship. Since the content of mobile communication is unpredictable and unregulated, mobile phones have the capability to breach state-sponsored blockage of information. This in turn helps the Chinese people to maintain contact with each other, r

Tumour cell migration plays a central role in the process of cancer metastasis. We recently identified dopamine and cAMP regulated phospho-protein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32) as an anti-migratory phospho-protein in breast cancer cells. Here we link this effect of DARPP-32 to Wnt-5a signalling by demonstrating that recombinant Wnt-5a triggers cAMP elevation at the plasma membrane and Thr34-DARPP-32 phosph

The levels of care in the Swedish healthcare system comprise self-care, primary care as well as accident and emergency care. The Swedish system of specialist ambulance nurses enables referral by prehospital triage. However, little is known about patients' experiences of not being triaged to the emergency department.

Established tumour cell lines are ubiquitous tools in research, but their representativity is often debated. One possible caveat is that many cell lines are derived from cells with genomic instability, potentially leading to genotype changes in vitro. We applied SNP-array analysis to an established tumour cell line (WiT49). Even though WiT49 exhibited chromosome segregation errors in 30% of cell d

The semiconductor technology development makes it possible to fabricate increasingly advanced integrated circuits (ICs). However, because of imperfections at manufacturing, each individual IC must be tested. A major problem at IC manufacturing test is the increasing test data volume as it leads to high automatic test equipment (ATE) memory requirement, long test application time and low throughput

A problem commonly encountered in programs for prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa is low rates of HIV test acceptance among pregnant women. In this study, we examined risk factors and reasons for HIV test refusal among 432 women attending three antenatal care clinics offering PMTCT in urban and semi-urban parts of the Mbarara district, Uganda. Structure