Evolution of lignocellulose decomposition was one of the most ecologically important innovations in fungi. White rot fungi in the Agaricomycetes (mushrooms and relatives) are the most effective microorganisms in degrading both cellulose and lignin components of woody plant cell walls (PCW). However, the precise evolutionary origins of lignocellulose decomposition are poorly understood, largely bec

Objective To study the influence of antiinflammatory treatments, including methotrexate (MTX) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, on antibody response following vaccination using a 7-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine in adult patients with established arthritis. Methods. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondylarthropathy (SpA) (including psoriatic arthritis) were vaccinated

Because of the complicated running condition and many unpredicted factors such as unmodelled dynamics and external disturbances, the fault analysis of the high-speed motorized spindle is proved difficult. In this paper, a novel experimental method is proposed to research the vibration characteristics of the running high-speed motorized spindle. The method consists of four steps. Firstly, the vibra

Nogo-A is a transmembrane protein originally discovered in myelin, produced by postnatal central nervous system (CNS) oligodendrocytes. Nogo-A induces growth cone collapse and inhibition of axonal growth in the injured adult CNS. In the intact CNS, Nogo-A functions as a negative regulator of growth and plasticity. Nogo-A is also expressed by certain neurons. Neuronal Nogo-A depresses long-term pot

Despite 3 decades of basic and clinical studies, there is still no dopaminergic cell therapy for Parkinson's disease. Several arguments have been put forward why this approach, so far tested with transplantation of human fetal mesencephalic dopamine-rich tissue, will never be of clinical use and should be abandoned: (1) Lack of efficacy in 2 sham surgery-controlled trials; (2) occurrence of troubl

Novel glycosides of piceid (3,4'-5-trihydroxy stilbene 3-O-beta-D-glucoside) were produced by the transglycosylation reactions of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) from Bacillus macerans, with piceid (PicG(1)) and maltodextrin as the acceptor and donor substrates, respectively. The reactions were performed at 40 degrees C with 2.56 mM piceid (0.1% w/v) and maltodextrin (5% w/v) in 0.02 M ci

To evaluate the presence of multilayered epithelium (ME) and to compare the distribution, size and morphology of the oesophageal submucosal glands (SMG) beneath reflux exposed metaplastic columnar mucosa with those of normal squamous epithelium in patients with columnar lined oesophagus (CLO).

This study estimates health utilities (HU) in Sweden for a range of type 2 diabetes-related complications using EQ-5D and two alternative tariffs (UK and Swedish) from 1757 patients with type 2 diabetes from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). Ordinary least squares were used for statistical analysis. Lower HU was found for female gender, younger age at diagnosis, higher BMI, and history

The epigenetic regulator Bmi1 controls proliferation in many organs. Reexpression of cell cycle proteins such as cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) is a hallmark of neuronal apoptosis in neurodegenerative diseases. Here we address the potential role of Bmi1 as a key regulator of cell cycle proteins during neuronal apoptosis. We show that several cell cycle proteins are expressed in different models o

A modified heat-moisture exchanger that incorporates a reflecting filter for use with partial rebreathing of exhaled volatile anaesthetics has been commercially available since the 1990s. The main advantages of the device are efficient delivery of inhaled sedation to intensive care patients and reduced anaesthetic consumption during anaesthesia. However, elevated arterial CO2 values have been obse

We present a comprehensive characterization of the optical quality of InP nanopillars (NPs) fabricated by a top down approach using micro-photoluminescence (mu-PL), time-resolved PL, and cathodoluminescence (CL). A lattice matched InGaAs layer provided beneath the 1 mu m tall NPs functions as a "detector" in CL for monitoring carrier diffusion in InP NP. Carrier feeding to the InGaAs layer indicat

The use of ground-source heat pumps for heating and domestic hot water in dwellings is common in Sweden. The combination with solar collectors has been introduced to reduce the electricity demand in the system. In order to analyze different systems with combinations of solar collectors and ground-source heat pumps, computer simulations have been carried out with the simulation program TRNSYS. Larg

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by the progressive loss of nigral dopamine neurons and the presence of synucleinopathy. Overexpression of α-synuclein in vivo using viral vectors has opened interesting possibilities to model PD-like pathology in rodents. However, the attempts made so far have failed to show a consistent behavioural phenotype and pronounced dopamine neurodegeneration. Usin

Background: IgE-mediated allergy is associated with immunoglobulin heavy constant G chain (Fcγ) (GM) genes (IGHG) on chromosome 14q32.3. Investigation of the alternative GM allotypes of γ3, γ1 and γ2 chains has disclosed new structural and functional IgG subclasses and B-cell variants, with possible effects on childhood asthma. Objective: To investigate different IGHG (GM) gene complexes in a

Preeclampsia, one of the leading causes of pregnancy complications, affects 3-7% of pregnant women. This review summarizes the present knowledge of a new potential cause of the disease and suggests a method for its prediction/diagnosis and a possible treatment, both based on the recent findings on the involvement of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and the heme and radical scavenging protein A1M (alpha-1-mi

In the field of tumor biology, increasing attention is now focused on the complex interactions between various constituent cell types within the tumor microenvironment as being functionally important for the etiology of the disease. The detailed description of tumor-promoting properties of cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes, and immune cells, introduces novel potential dru

The diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma in serosal effusions continues to he a major challenge because some of its cytomorphological features closely resemble adenocarcinomas. Immunohistochemistry is a valuable tool in the differentiation of epithelioid mesothelioma from metastatic adenocarcinomas. However, no single antibody has demonstrated absolute sensitivity or specificity. In this study, we