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Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is a member of a large family of polypeptide growth factors. TGFβ signals mainly through the intracellular proteins Smad2 and Smad3, which are highly similar in amino acid sequence identity. A number of studies have shown that these proteins, dependent on context, have distinct roles in the TGFβ signaling pathway. TGFβ is one of the most potent inhibitors of hem
Background: Galectin 3 and ST2 are mediators and biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis and remodeling that have recently entered the clinical practice guidelines as prognostic factors in heart failure patients. Elevated galectin 3 and ST2 levels in acute myocardial infarction patients have also been associated with increased incidence of adverse events during follow-up. Purpose: We aimed to assess the
Apolipoprotein ( apo) M is a novel apolipoprotein belonging to the lipocalin protein superfamily, i.e. proteins binding small lipophilic compounds. Like other apolipoproteins, it is expressed in hepatocytes and secreted into plasma where it associates with high-density lipoprotein particles. In addition, apoM is expressed at high levels in the kidney tubule cells. In this study, we show that the m
OBJECTIVE: This study investigates sulphated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) content changes in early osteoarthritis (OA), and whether contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cartilage in vitro may identify early event of OA pathology. METHOD: Osteochondral plugs from patients with hip OA or femoral neck fracture (reference group) were collected and analysed by 1.5 T MRI with ΔR1 as a me
Summary. The optimal mode of delivery of a haemophilia carrier expecting a child is still a matter of uncertainty and debate. The aim of this commentary/review is to suggest that normal vaginal delivery should be the recommended mode of delivery for the majority of carriers, based on review of studies on obstetric aspects of haemophilia. About 2.0-4.0% of all haemophilia boys born in countries wit
AIM: The aim of this paper was to define the incidence of disease progression of the contralateral internal carotid artery (CICA) in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and to identify factors influencing disease progression. METHODS: Patients from our primary catchment area that had undergone CEA between 2002 and 2005 were included. The study cohort was divided in four groups based
The remarkable advancements in basic stem cell research with implications for several central nervous system disorders have so far not been translated into clinically effective therapies. Here I discuss some of the underlying problems and how they could be overcome.
Human cystatin C is considered the physiologically most important inhibitor of endogenous papain-like cysteine proteases. We present here an unexpected function of cystatin C. Instead of acting as an inhibitor, cystatin C acts as a facultative, endogenous cofactor for the papain-like IgG-cleaving enzyme IdeS of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. IdeS activity is not dependent on cystatin C
The biochemical mechanisms underlying glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells are not completely understood. To identify metabolic disturbances in beta-cells that impair glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, we compared two INS-1-derived clonal beta-cell lines, which are glucose-responsive (832/13) or glucose-unresponsive (832/2). We found that despite a marked impairment o
Recent data shows that fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) binds to and controls the function of the voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channel with phenotypic outcomes on neuronal excitability. Mutations in the FGF14 gene in humans have been associated with brain disorders that are partially recapitulated in Fgf14(-/-) mice. Thus, signaling pathways that modulate the FGF14:Nav channel interaction may be
Succinate:quinone reductases are membrane-bound enzymes that catalyze electron transfer from succinate to quinone. Some enzymes in vivo reduce ubiquinone (exergonic reaction) whereas others reduce menaquinone (endergonic reaction). The succinate:menaquinone reductases all contain two heme groups in the membrane anchor of the enzyme: a proximal heme (heme b(P)) located close to the negative side of
The aecA and aecB loci map at 250 and 290 degrees, respectively, on the Bacillus subtilis chromosomal genetic map. The aecB locus has been proposed as the structural gene for aspartokinase II. From DNA sequence analyses and comparisons to the sequence of the aspartokinase II gene, it can be concluded that the structural gene for aspartokinase II is located close to sdh at 250 degrees and cannot be
Protein kinase B is known to mediate a number of biological responses to insulin and growth factors, its role in glucose uptake being one of the most extensively studied. In this paper, we have employed a recently described allosteric inhibitor of PKB, Akti, to clarify the role of PKB in lipid metabolism in adipocytes - a subject that has received less attention. Pretreatment of primary rat and 3T
Genetic risk scores (GRSs) have been associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in large studies. We asked whether expanding an established 27-variant GRS (GRS27) to a 50-variant GRS (GRS50) improved CHD prediction and whether GRSs are independent of self-reported family history of CHD.
Aims: Familial risks for coronary heart disease (CHD) in families with multiple affected siblings have not been thoroughly studied. This nationwide cohort study aimed to determine familial risks for hospitalization or death due to CHD in families with multiple affected siblings. Methods and results: The study is a nationwide follow-up study. The Swedish Multigeneration Register data on 0-76-year-
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Environmental and genetic factors, as well as microbial products from yeasts and bacteria, play a role in triggering the disease. A cohort of 619 adult patients with AD was screened for severity of AD, sensitization to Malassezia sympodialis, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Serum
This paper estimates labor supply effects for informal caregivers in Sweden using four waves of the SHARE data panel. To give daily or weekly care to a parent, step parent or parent in law is found to be more common among women than among men and is associated with lower employment probability for daily caregivers although the causal direction of the relationship is unclear. No negative effect of
Today, we live in an age that is continually witnessing tension, strife and terrorism as a direct product of unequal distribution of wealth and opportunities for a good life. In Uganda for over two and half decades, war, insurgency and deprivation have been the realities of the people living in Northern Uganda. This evidently has lead to an imbalance in the Ugandan society with the North standing
The type III receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 is frequently mutated in acute myeloid leukemia. Oncogenic FLT3 mutants display constitutive activity leading to aberrant cell proliferation and survival. Phosphorylation on several critical tyrosine residues is known to be essential for FLT3 signaling. Among these tyrosine residues, Y842 is located in the so-called activation loop. The position of this t
