Morarella catarrhalis immunoglobulin D-binding protein (MID) is a complex antigen with unique immunoglobulin D (IgD)-binding, adhesion, and hernagglutination properties. Previous studies have shown that antibodies raised against MID764-111 in rabbits inhibited M. catarrhalis adhesion to human alveolar epithelial cells, and immunization with MID764-913 resulted in an increased pulmonary clearance i

BACKGROUND: Because hemodilution decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, it was hypothesized that severe hemodilution would decrease the tolerance to alveolar hypoxia. METHODS: Hemodynamics, oxygen transport, and blood lactate concentrations were compared in ten pigs with normal hematocrit (33 +/- 4%), and ten hemodiluted pigs (hematocrit 11 +/- 1%; mean +/- SD) anesthetized with ketamine

We consider approximations of real numbers by rational numbers with denominator 2^n. We will exploit results on hitting times for the underlying dynamical system on the full shift. In the second part we transfer the results to the beta-shifts. This will give us an estimate on the approximation speed of arbitrary beta-shifts by finite type beta-shifts. This is a particular case of Katok's horseshoe

Resonant photoemission involving dissociative core excited states has been the subject of a great number of experimental and theoretical investigations in recent time. The resonant decay of such dissociating systems has been shown to lead to semiatomic Auger electron emission spectra, with particular angular behavior. In the present paper a detailed theoretical analysis of dissociative resonant ph

Aims Experimental studies suggest that the autonomic nervous system modulates atrial refractoriness and conduction velocity in atrial. fibrillation (AF). These modulatory effects are, however, difficult to assess in the clinical setting. This study sought to non-invasively characterize in patients with persistent AF, the influence of autonomic modulation induced by exercise on atrial fibrillatory

The extreme polymorphism found at some major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci is believed to be maintained by balancing selection caused by infectious pathogens. Experimental support for this is inconclusive. We have studied the interaction between certain MHC alleles and the bacterium Aeromonas salmonicida, which causes the severe disease furunculosis, in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). We

Biological receptors play an important role in affinity-based drug assays, biosensors, and at different stages during the modern drug discovery process. The molecular imprinting technology that has recently emerged has shown great potential for producing biomimetic receptors that challenge their natural counterparts. In this paper, we will overview recent progress in the use of molecularly imprint

The ability of some animal taxa (e.g., nematodes, rotifers, and tardigrades) to enter an ametabolic (cryptobiotic) state is well known. Nevertheless, the phenotypic factors affecting successful anhydrobiosis have rarely been investigated. We report a laboratory study on the effects of body size, reproductive condition, and energetic condition on anhydrobiotic survival in a population of the eutard

The primary structure of mouse SVS I was determined by peptide sequencing and nucleotide sequencing of cloned cDNA. The precursor molecule consists of 820 amino acid residues, including a signal peptide of 24 residues, and the mature polypeptide chain of 91 kDa has one site for potential N-linked glycosylation. The SVS I is homologous with amiloride-binding protein 1 (ABP1), a diamine oxidase. How

Background Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to nickel (Ni2+) in humans are associated with increased production of both T helper (Th) 1- and Th2-like cytokines. Cytokine responses to the major group of contact allergens, i.e. organic compounds, have been less extensively studied. We have investigated here the cytokine production induced by a mixture of methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and

Background The Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay may underestimate endotoxins because only soluble endotoxins are determined. The solubility of endotoxins was, therefore, studied in two species of Gram-negative bacteria. Methods Cultures were grown in serum broth, cells were harvested by centrifugation and washed in physiological saline. Bacterial suspensions were either filtered through PTFE f

Purpose: To assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and clinical activity of HuMax-EGFr in patients with SCCHN. Patients and methods: Twenty-eight patients with SCCHN were enrolled. The study comprised a single-dose escalation part for assessment of safety issues followed by a repeat dose extension including 4 weekly infusions at the same doses. Efficacy and metabolic response were evaluated

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a direct metabolite of ethanol and has been used as a marker of alcohol abuse in both urine and hair. This study investigated the value of EtG testing in post-mortem hair for diagnostic improvement of alcohol abuse in forensic medicine. Material from 70 consecutive medico-legal autopsies was collected in accordance with the recommendations on ethics by the Swedish Nation

The novel properties of nanoparticulate materials (NPM) and the rapid development of NPM based products have raised many unanswered questions and concerns by different stakeholders over its consequences for the environment and human health. These concerns have led to an increasing discussion in both the US and Europe about possible regulatory policies for NPM. In this article a comparative study o

Tapasin (Tpn) is an ER chaperone that is uniquely dedicated to MHC-I biosynthesis. It binds MHC-I molecules, integrates them into peptide-loading complexes, and exerts quality control of the bound peptides; only when an "optimal peptide" is bound will the MHC-I be released and exported to the cell surface for presentation to T cells. The exact mechanisms of Tpn quality control and the criteria for