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We studied the effect of pilocarpine hydrochloride, a parasympathicomimewtic agent, on major salivary gland output and subjective responses in 40 patients with salivary hypofunction. Pilocarpine increased salivary output or gave significant symptomatic relief in 21 of the 40 patients. The women fared better than the men. Side effects were uncommon, were generally mild, and caused no treatment inte
The Ncf1 gene was recently identified as a strong regulator of severe arthritis in rat. This finding was surprising, because the disease-promoting allele mediated a lower level of reactive oxygen species in NADPH oxidase-expressing cells. We have now investigated a splice mutation of the Ncf1 gene in B10.Q mice, causing a truncated and nonfunctional Ncf1 protein. We found that the mutated Ncf1 led
Ferrochelatase, the terminal enzyme in heme biosynthesis, catalyses metal insertion into protoporphyrin IX. The location of the metal binding site with respect to the bound porphyrin substrate and the mode of metal binding are of central importance for understanding the mechanism of porphyrin metallation. In this work we demonstrate that Zn2+, which is commonly used as substrate in assays of the f
Our purpose was to report about technical success, problems and solutions, as experienced in a first multicentre study on MR-guided localisation or vacuum biopsy of breast lesions. The study was carried out at four European sites using a dedicated prototype breast biopsy device. Experiences with 49 scheduled localisation procedures and 188 vacuum biopsies are reported. Apart from 35 dropped indica
Along-strike geological segmentation in the Andean chain has been recognized at various scales and is Usually attributed to changes in plate motion vectors, as well as the upper-plate expression of differing subducted slab age, strength and composition. We present new multi-phase Ar-40/Ar-39, apatite fission-track and zircon and apatite (U-Th)/He data from a north-south-oriented traverse between 3
Synthetic gibbsite was prepared and thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared techniques. The protonation and charging of the particle surface(s) in 20 and 100 mM (Na)Cl ionic media were investigated using potentiometric titrations and zeta potential measurements. These measurements in
Background: It has been shown that the non-opioid effects of Met-enkephalin, which is derived from proenkephalin-A, are mediated through a specific opioid growth factor (OGF) receptor which is assumed to be involved in the control of cell growth. The expression and tissue location of proenkephalin-A mRNA in the gastrointestinal tract remains largely unknown. Methods: In this study we have analyzed
Extra-tropical cyclone frequency and intensity are Currently under intense scrutiny because of the destruction recent windstorms have brought to Europe, and because they are a major meridional heat transport mechanism that may respond to differential latitudinal warming trends. Several studies using reanalysis data covering the second half of the 20th century Suggest increasing storm intensity in
The response of tundra plants to enhanced UV-B radiation simulating 15 and 30% ozone depletion was studied at two high arctic sites (Isdammen and Adventdalen, 78 degrees N, Svalbard).The set-up of the UV-B supplementation systems is described, consisting of large and small UV lamp arrays, installed in 1996 and 2002. After 7 years of exposure to enhanced UV-B radiation, plant cover, density, morpho
The present paper reviews existing knowledge with regard to Organic Aerosol ( OA) of importance for global climate modelling and defines critical gaps needed to reduce the involved uncertainties. All pieces required for the representation of OA in a global climate model are sketched out with special attention to Secondary Organic Aerosol ( SOA): The emission estimates of primary carbonaceous parti
The properties of jets produced in p+p collisions at root s=200 GeV are measured using the method of two-particle correlations. The trigger particle is a leading particle from a large transverse momentum jet while the associated particle comes from either the same jet or the away-side jet. Analysis of the angular width of the near-side peak in the correlation function determines the jet-fragmentat
The pathogenetic mechanisms causing esophageal dysmotility is not well understood. We examined 13 patients with solid bolus dysphagia in a radiologic barium study including the swallowing of a 14-mm tablet. In all 13 patients the tablet was caught in the proximal or midesophagus. In 8 patients, the entrapment was associated with symptoms (Group 1) whereas in 5 patients (Group 2), no symptoms were
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that all aquatic ecosystems in their member states should reach ‘good’ ecological quality by 2015. To assess ecological quality, the WFD requires the definition of reference conditions using biological, physical and chemical indicators and the assignment of each water body to one of five quality classes using these indicators. Elaborate assessm
Background Ulcerative colitis is characterized by relapsing mucosal inflammation where the lesions include tissue-damaging granulocytes. In addition, T cells and natural killer (NK) cells play important pathophysiologic roles. Chemokines are a large family of peptides that play key roles in the regulation of inflammation. The CXC-chemokines, growth-related oncogene (GRO)-alpha/CXCL1 and interleuki
The surface speciation of orthophosphate ions on goethite has been studied as a function of pH, time, total phosphate concentration, and ionic medium by means of diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy. The samples were prepared in accordance with a distribution diagram of surface species as calculated from thermodynamic data. In agreement with the thermodynamic model three dominating surface comple
Five prompt proton decay lines have been identified between deformed states in Cu-59 and three spherical states in Ni-58 by means of high-resolution in-beam particle-gammagamma coincidence spectroscopy. The GAMMASPHERE array coupled to dedicated ancillary detectors including four DeltaE-E silicon strip detectors was used to study high-spin states in Cu-59. The multiple discrete proton lines are fo
Rheumatoid factors (RF), autoantibodies that bind the Fc region of IgG, are one of the major diagnostic marker in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but occur with lower frequency also in other infectious and inflammatory conditions. Through positional cloning of the previously described quantitative trait locus (QTL) Rf1 in congenic and advanced intercrossed rats, we identified the Ig lambda light chain l
This article describes 35 individuals who have expressed an interest in taking university courses after retirement. Longitudinal data and individuals' own accounts are presented, in an effort to clarify the role that symbolic resources play in individuals' lives, for their capacity to construct their own identity, to function as social actors, and "to learn to learn". It is argued that their lives
Objective. In systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma), T cells infiltrate organs undergoing fibrotic changes and may participate in dysregulated production of collagen by fibroblasts. The objective of this study was to functionally characterize T cells infiltrating skin lesions in early SSc and investigate their capacity to affect production of type I collagen and interstitial collagenase (matrix me
