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The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of STAT4 gene in the genetic predisposition to systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility or clinical phenotype. A total of 1317 SSc patients [896 with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) and 421 with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc)] and 3113 healthy controls, from an initial case-control set of Spanish Caucasian ancestry and five independent cohorts
The human cathelicidin, hCAP-18, is expressed both in neutrophils and in epithelial cells. hCAP-18 is processed to the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 by proteinase 3 in neutrophils. hCAP-18 is highly expressed in the epididymis with a subsequent high concentration in seminal plasma where the protein is present in its unprocessed and antimicrobially inactive form. We report here that hCAP-18 in semina
Chemiluminescent (CL) enzyme-based flow-through microchip biosensors (mu-biosensors) for detection of glucose and ethanol were developed for the purpose of monitoring real-time production and release of glucose and ethanol from microchip immobilised yeast cells. Part I of this study focuses on the development and optimisation of the mu-biosensors in a microfluidic sequential injection analysis (mu
Introduction Aggrecanase cleavage at the (392)Glu-(393)Ala bond in the interglobular domain (IGD) of aggrecan, releasing N-terminal (393)ARGS fragments, is an early key event in arthritis and joint injuries. Here, we use a quantitative immunoassay of aggrecan ARGS neoepitope fragments in human synovial fluid to determine if this cleavage-site specific method better identifies joint pathology than
Purpose. To examine whether the Sollerman hand function test is reliable in a test-retest situation in patients with chronic stroke. Method. Three independent examiners observed each patient at three experimental sessions; two days in week I (short-term test-retest) and one day in week 4 (long-term test-retest). A total of 24 patients with chronic stroke (mean age; 59.7 years, mean time since stro
Fat reserves influence the orientation of migrating songbirds at ecological barriers, such as expansive water crossings. Upon encountering a body of water, fat migrants usually cross the barrier exhibiting 'forward' migration in a seasonally appropriate direction. In contrast, lean birds often exhibit temporary 'reverse' orientation away from the water, possibly to lead them to suitable habitats f
Objective To compare the genetic regulation of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) with that of pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) in rats. Methods A genome-wide linkage analysis of an (E3 × DA)DA backcross of rats with CIA (n = 364 male rats; the same strain combinations as previously used to determine the genetic control of PIA) was performed. The strongest loci in both CIA and PIA (i.e., Cia12/Pia4
Objective: To investigate differences in different aspects of social participation and social capital among baseline daily smokers that had remained daily smokers, become intermittent smokers, or stopped smoking at one year follow up. Design/setting/participants/measurements: 12 507 individuals, aged 45–69 years, interviewed at baseline between 1992 and 1994 and at a one year follow up were inve
Since the sympathetic nervous system has been shown to exert a trophic influence on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC), we studied the growth regulating effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in cooperation with the sympathetic co-transmitters noradrenaline and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in human vascular SMC. NPY stimulated DNA synthesis in human SMC grown from subcutaneous arteries and veins (diamete
Cartographic generalization aims at simplifying the representation of data to suit the scale and purpose of the map. This paper deals with a method that implements the whole graphic generalization process (roughly defined as the operators simplification, smoothing, exaggeration and displacement) called simultaneous graphic generalization. This method is based on constraints, i.e. requirements that
Aiming for a better understanding of the interactions between water suspended cellulose fibres and metal ions, this study was focused on characterising the interactions between Ca2+. Cu2+ and two different fibre materials-a fully bleached softwood Kraft pulp, and a chemically modified fully bleached softwood Kraft fibre material. The study was conducted as a function of pH (2-7), and both in the a
The Swedish Navy has operated submarines equipped with air independent propulsion for two decades. This type of submarine can stay submerged for periods far longer than other nonnuclear submarines are capable of. The air quality during longer periods of submersion has so far not been thoroughly investigated. This study presents results for a number of air quality parameters obtained during more th
In this work we report the coating of a biological template with a polar, but uncharged,luminescent conjugated polymer, soluble in organic solvents but not in water, to produce a nanowire. Amyloid fibrils from bovine insulin were decorated with an alternating polyfluorene derivative. Decorated fibrils were partially aligned on hydrophobic surfaces as separate and bundled fibrils, by means of molec
Background: Circulating monocytes may be subdivided according to the presence or absence of the Fc gamma receptor CD16 and the neural cell adhesion molecule CD56. Monocytes classified into these subpopulations Lire characterized by distinct phenotypic and functional features. We hypothesized that patients with active Crohn's disease differ in their peripheral monocyte subpopulations. Methods: Usin
