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A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, crossover study was designed to investigate the effects of prednisone on allergic and irritant patch test reactions. 24 subjects with known allergy to nickel were recruited and patch tested with a nickel sulfate dilution series in aqueous solution, 5% nickel sulfate in petrolatum and 2 dilution series of the irritants nonanoic acid and sodium lauryl sulfate

In factor V (FV) Cambridge (Arg306Thr) and Hong Kong (Arg306Gly), a cleavage site for anticoagulant activated protein C (APC), which is crucial for the inactivation of FVa, is lost. Although patients carrying FV Hong Kong have a normal APC response, those with FV Cambridge were reported to be APC resistant. To elucidate the molecular characteristics of the 2 FV mutants, we recreated them in a reco

The hypothesis that chronic and long-term experience of 'social defeat' may increase the risk for schizophrenia is proposed. This increased risk may result from sensitisation of the mesolimbic dopamine system and/or increased baseline activity of this system. Data supporting the social defeat hypothesis are presented.

To minimize radiation damage, crystal structures of biological macromolecules are usually determined after rapid cooling to cryogenic temperatures, some 150-200 K below the normal physiological range, The biological relevance of such structures relies on the assumption that flash-cooling is sufficiently fast to kinetically trap the macromolecule and associated solvent in a room-temperature equilib

In experiments, the feasibility was demonstrated of generating multi-MeV electrons in a form of a collimated beam utilizing a table-top laser system delivering 200 fs pulses with P-L=1.2 TW and 10 Hz capability. The method uses the process of relativistic self-channeling in a high-density gas jet producing electron densities in the range of 3x10(19)-6x10(20) cm(-3). In a thorough investigation, an

The aim was to investigate how blueberry husks and/or mixtures of probiotic strains (Lactobacillus crispatus DSM16743, L. gasseri DSM16737 and L. plantarum DSM15313 (LABmix), or Bifidobacterium infantis DSM15159 and DSM15161 (BIFmix)) affect colonic fermentation, caecal counts of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, body weight gain, and blood concentrations of carboxylic acids (CA

The Forsmark area, in the western part of the Svecofennian orogen, central Sweden, is situated between two major Palaeoproterozoic tectonic domains that show contrasting histories with respect to timing of igneous activity, ductile deformation and metamorphism. Geological features common to both the adjacent domains are found at Forsmark, which, consequently, is a key area for understanding the te

Background: The Lundby Study is a prospective, longitudinal study on a total population consisting of 3563 subjects during 50 years. This study compares first incidence rates of depression and cumulative probabilities for developing a depression over the two time periods 1947-1972 and 1972-1997. Method: The Lundby Study started in 1947. Follow-ups were carried out in 1957 and in 1972. In 1997 the

The hydrolysis of sphingomyelin generates key molecules regulating cell growth and inducing apoptosis. Data from animal cancer models support an inhibitory role for this pathway in the malignant transformation of the colonic mucosa. In the intestinal tract, a sphingomyelinase with an optimum alkaline pH has been identified. We recently found that the activity of alkaline sphingomyelinase is signif

We have investigated calcium-induced secretion in human neutrophils, using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Mobilization of subcellular granules to the cell membrane was followed as the change in membrane capacitance (Delta C-m). Both the magnitude and the kinetics of the response differed between low and high concentrations of Ca2+. A sustained secretion following a short lag phase was induced

Serotonin (5-HT) receptors are widely distributed in the central nervous system, including several areas involved in the control of micturition reflex pathways. However, the roles of the different subtypes of 5-HT receptors are not well known. We studied in normal, conscious rats, the effects on the cystometrogram of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of 5-HT, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propyl

Bees of the genus Apis are important foragers of nectar and pollen resources. Although the European honeybee, Apis mellifera, has been well studied with respect to its sensory abilities, learning behaviour and role as pollinators, much less is known about the other Apis species. We studied the anatomical spatial resolution and absolute sensitivity of the eyes of three sympatric species of Asian ho

BACKGROUND: Mouse models are extensively used to study genetic and immunological mechanisms of potential importance to inflammatory airway diseases, e.g. asthma. However, the airway pathophysiology in allergic mice has received less attention. For example, plasma extravasation and the ensuing tissue-deposition of plasma proteins, which is a hallmark of inflammation, has not been examined in allerg

CTLA4Ig and anti-LFA-1 are members of a new generation of immunomodulatory drugs which inhibit important signaling pathways in T cell activation. Both substances target molecules which have pivitol functions in the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and have been theorized to have an interdependent relationship. These drugs have been used independently in various treatment regimens and have shown

J/psi production in p+p collisions at root s=200 GeV has been measured by the PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider over a rapidity range of -2.2 < y < 2.2 and a transverse momentum range of 0 < p(T)< 9 GeV/c. The size of the present data set allows a detailed measurement of both the p(T) and the rapidity distributions and is sufficient to constrain production models. The to

Sexual selection may take place before or after mating and may involve a large number of different mechanisms, for example, overt male aggression, mate choice, sperm competition and cryptic female choice. In most species, males show similar reproductive tactics and, hence, achieve their reproductive success in the same or a similar way. Sometimes, however, males evolve alternative reproductive tac