OBJECTIVE: To understand aggrecan degradation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the pattern and abundance of aggrecan fragments in synovial fluid aspirates from JIA patients were analysed and compared with aggrecan fragments in synovial fluids from patients with other arthritides, juvenile knee injury and a knee-healthy reference group. METHODS: The concentration of sulphated glycosamino

A nonintrusive three-dimensional trap for microscopic particles in a Liquid is described. The trap is based on acoustic radiation forces in an ultrasonic confocal standing-wave cavity. Experiments at 11 MHz demonstrate the concept and verify the theoretically calculated forces. Theoretical calculations for higher-frequency systems indicate a significant potential for low-rms-displacement trapping

We have explored the potential of cell factory-derived bioactive molecules, isolated from conditioned media of primary goat chondrocytes, for the repair of subchondral cartilage defects. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirms the presence of transforming growth factor-β1 in an isolated protein fraction (12.56 ± 1.15 ng/mg protein fraction). These bioactive molecules were used alone or

Here we investigated whether there is evidence of local adaptation in strains of an ancestrallymarine dinoflagellate to the lacustrine environment they now inhabit(optimal genotypes) and/orif they have evolved phenotypic plasticity (a range of phenotypes). Eleven strains of Polarella glacialis were isolated and cultured from three different environments: the polar seas, ahyposaline,and a hypersali

To describe specific causes of death and evaluate whether bleeding events and infection contributed to mortality in all ticagrelor-treated and clopidogrel-treated patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: The palliative care approach was originally developed for hospice care and for persons with cancer diseases, but has gradually expanded to embrace other contexts and people of all ages, with various life-threatening diseases. The palliative care concept thus also applies to older people and the context of municipal care, where Registered Nurses (RNs) hold key care provision positions.

OBJECTIVES: The Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) is widely used in several neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis (MS), but its psychometric properties have not been documented in Scandinavia. Therefore, the aim of the study was to translate RMI from UK English into Danish and conduct an initial psychometric testing of the Danish RMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Danish translation condu

The vascular hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has brought the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into focus. The genomic region including the VEGF gene has been linked to AD and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the VEGF have in previous studies been associated with AD risk. To further evaluate these findings, we genotyped two SNPs in the VEGF gene (rs699947 [-2578]) and rs157

In two consecutive equilibria the compound (Cp*)(2)Zr(OMe)(2) undergoes insertion of CO2 to form the mono- and bis-hemicarbonates. Both equilibria are exothermic but entropically disfavoured. Magnetisation transfer experiments gave kinetic data for the first equilibrium showing that the rate of insertion is overall second order with a rate constant of 3.20 +/- 0.12 M-1 s(-1), which is substantiall

Pancreatic cancer, as a highly malignant cancer and the fourth cause of cancer-related death in world, is characterized by dismal prognosis, due to rapid disease progression, highly invasive tumour phenotype, and resistance to chemotherapy. Despite significant advances in treatment of the disease during the past decade, the survival rate is little improved. A contributory factor to the poor outcom

BACKGROUND: Social epidemiology investigates both individuals and their collectives. While the limits that define the individual bodies are very apparent, the collective body's geographical or cultural limits (e.g., "neighbourhood") are more difficult to discern. Also, epidemiologists normally investigate causation as changes in group means. However, many variables of interest in epidemiology may

Activated coagulation factor V functions as a cofactor to factor Xa in the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. Based on introduction of extra carbohydrate side chains in recombinant factor V, we recently proposed several regions in factor Va to be important for factor Xa binding. To further define which residues are important for factor Xa binding, we prepared fifteen recombinant factor V varia

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) affects coronary flow after the operation. Surgical as compared to device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) serves as a good model to clarify the effects of surgery with CPB on coronary flow. METHODS: Coronary flow parameters were determined by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography before and after ASD closure. Thirteen children underwent surgery on CP

A second dermatan sulfate epimerase (DS-epi2) was identified as a homolog of the first epimerase (DS-epi1), which was previously described by our group. DS-epi2 is 1,222 a.a. long and has a ~700-a.a. N-terminal epimerase domain that is highly conserved between the two enzymes. In addition, the C-terminal portion is predicted to be an O-sulfotransferase domain. In this study we found that DS-epi2 h

Dermatan sulfate is a highly sulfated polysaccharide and has a variety of biological functions in development and disease. Iduronic acid domains in dermatan sulfate, which are formed by the action of two DS-epimerases, have a key role in mediating these functions. We have identified the catalytic site and three putative catalytic residues in DS-epimerase 1, His205, Tyr261 and His450, by tertiary s

Formaldehyde is a well-known contact sensitizer. Formaldehyde releasers are widely used preservatives in cosmetics.