A major limitation to clinical stem cell-mediated gene therapy protocols is the low levels of engraftment by transduced progenitors. We report that CXCR4 overexpression on human CD34(+) progenitors using a lentiviral gene transfer technique helped navigate these cells to the murine bone marrow and spleen in response to stromal-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) signaling. Cells overexpressing CXCR4 exhibite

Screening of 29 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae revealed that 16/21 serum resistant strains and 0/8 serum sensitive strains bound C4bp. suggesting that C4bp binding to gonococci could contribute to serum resistance. C4bp bound to gonococci retained cofactor (C4b-degrading) function. Using allelic exchange to construct strains with hybrid Por1A/B molecules, we demonstrate that the N-terminal loop

It is important that the properties of a Virtual Reality (VR) model support its purpose in the specific context in which it is used. This study investigated how employees of a company experienced a VR model of their yet-to-be-built office building. We also compared the VR experience with the employees' experience of the completed building. The results showed that the employees felt that the VR mod

The pre-Talpha (pTalpha[?]) gene encodes a protein that forms the pre-TCR together with the newly expressed TCR beta chain during a defined stage of early T cell development. The restricted expression of this gene has been suggested to depend on a promoter and an enhancer element containing E boxes, which are potential binding sites for basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins. We here report that i

Selective supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) at 40 °C, 120 bar and 60 min was utilised as a means to estimate the bioavailable fraction of PCBs to chironomid larvae in a naturally contaminated limnic sediment. This extraction methodology removed about 50% of the PCBs from the sediment. According to the equilibrium partitioning theory, organisms in that sediment should decrease their uptake from

This investigation describes the discovery of novel possible cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for frontotemporal dementia (FTD) using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Sixteen clinically diagnosed FTD patients and 12 non-demented controls were included in the study. CSF was collected and analyzed for protein expression by SELDI-TOF

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was examined in relation to state and trait anxiety in healthy individuals. Time-frequency analyses of HR-power spectrum in the high frequency region (0.12-0.40 Hz), related to RSA, were examined in 43 women and 39 men. Based on median split, the participants were divided into high and low state and trait anxiety groups. The main result showed that high state anx

Allergic contact dermatitis is recognized as a public health problem and some major allergens have been subject to intervention aiming at lowering skin exposure. There is an obvious interest in evaluating the effect of such interventions. Population studies are difficult to perform and epidemiological studies based on clinical data from testing patients with contact dermatitis are common surrogate

We studied the effects of 5 mA bilateral or unilateral, bipolar or monopolar, galvanic stimulation on the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (hVOR) in six normal subjects during 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 Hz yaw rotations and in two subjects during high-acceleration, low-amplitude yaw head rotations (head impulses). Bipolar galvanic stimulation induced horizontal nystagmus in all subjects and an a

This study analyses the associations between sense of coherence and health and between stress and health in adolescents. In addition, this study tests whether a high sense of coherence could modify the health effects of stress. The study was a Danish cross-sectional analysis of 3258 adolescents from school classes in a national representative sample. The child, the main teacher and the school doct

Activated Lactococcus lactis beta-phosphoglucomutase (beta PGM) catalyzes the conversion of beta-D-glucose 1-phosphate (beta G1P) derived from maltose to beta-D-glucose 6-phosphate (G6P). Activation requires Mg2+ binding and phosphorylation of the active site residue Asp8. Initial velocity techniques were used to define the steady-state kinetic constants k(cat) = 177 +/- 9 s(-1), K-m = 49 +/- 4 mu

We report a kindred in which two siblings suffered spontaneous venous thromboses in the second decade of life. Further investigation showed reduced coagulation factor V (FV) activity and activated protein C resistance (APCR) ratio but no other thrombophilic abnormalities. The reduction in APCR ratio persisted in a modified APCR assay in which FV activity was normalized between test and control pla

Dendritic cells (DCs) protect the respiratory epithelium via induction of innate immune responses and priming of naive T cells during the initiation of adaptive immunity. Streptococcus pneumoniae, a commonly carried asymptomatic member of the human nasopharyngeal microflora, can cause invasive and inflammatory diseases and the cholesterol-dependent cytotoxin pneumolysin is a major pneumococcal vir

BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a widely used and efficient treatment modality in psychiatry, although the basis for its therapeutic effect is still unknown. Past research has shown seizure activity to be a regulator of neurogenesis in the adult brain. This study examines the effect of a single and multiple electroconvulsive seizures on neurogenesis in the rat dentate gyrus. METHODS

Objective Bile reflux is thought to be responsible for reflux gastritis and stump carcinoma occurring after partial gastrectomy for peptic ulcer. Gastritis and gastric carcinoma are also correlated with Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to investigate whether diversion of enteric reflux and the presence of H. pylori infection alter long-term histological developments in the gastric re

Background. Subjects with absolute central visual field loss use. eccentric fixation and magnifying devices to utilize their residual vision. This preliminary study investigated the importance of an accurate eccentric correction of off-axis refractive errors to optimize the residual visual function for these subjects. Methods. Photorefraction using the PowerRefractor instrument was used to evaluat

It is assumed that the Id helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins act by associating with ubiquitously expressed basic HLH (bHLH) transcription factors, such as E47 and E2-2, which prevents these factors from forming functional hetero- or homodimeric DNA binding complexes. Several tissue-specific bHLH proteins, including HASH-1, dHAND, and HES-1, are important for development of the nervous system. Neurob