Host-pathogen interactions that allow Helicobacter pylori to survive and persist in the stomach of susceptible individuals remain unclear. Human beta-defensins ( hBDs), epithelial-derived antimicrobial peptides are critical components of host-defense at mucosal surfaces. The role of H. pylori-mediated NF-kappa B and epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) activation on beta-defensin expression wa

The binding site of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1-induced Fc receptor was investigated using human IgG Fc intermediate (Fc(i)) fragments, fragment D of staphylococcal protein A (SPA) and chemically modified human IgG. Human IgG Fc(i) fragment composed of one Cgamma2 and two Cgamma3 domains, bound strongly to HSV-1-infected cells. Fragment D, a monovalent subunit of SP

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex genetic disorders more frequently observed in males. Skewed X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is observed in heterozygous females carrying gene mutations involved in several X-linked syndromes. In this study, we aimed to estimate the role of X-linked genes in ASD susceptibility by ascertaining the XCI pattern in a sample of 543 informative mothers of child

In the Silurian, Baltica and Laurentia collided to form the Caledonian orogenic belt. During this process, nappes derived from the pre-collisional Baltic margin, from outboard terranes of Baltica, and from exotic terranes of probable Laurentian origin, respectively, were thrust upon the indenting Baltica. The Middle Allochthon is a tectonostratigraphic level inferred to represent the rifted Neopro

Volatile anaesthetics may modulate cerebrovascular resistance, but their direct actions on human cerebral arteries are unknown. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of halothane and isoflurane at different MAC (0.4, 1.0 and 2.0) on contractions induced by depolarization (potassium) or receptor stimulation (prostaglandin F2 alpha) in isolated ring segments of human pial arteries. Nei

Workers at a copper and lead smelter in northern Sweden have a multifactorial exposure to a number of heavy metals. The concentrations of cadmium, copper and zinc in Liver, Lung, kidney and brain tissues have been deters mined by atomic absorption spectrometry in 32 deceased tong-term exposed male lead smelter workers, and compared with those of 10 male controls. Furthermore, copper and zinc Level

Mathematical morphology with spatially variant structuring elements outperforms translation-invariant structuring elements in various applications and has been studied in the literature over the years. However, supporting a variable structuring element shape imposes an overwhelming computational complexity, dramatically increasing with the size of the structuring element. Limiting the supported cl

Adduct formation between cationic reagents and targets on DNA are facilitated by the ability of DNA to attract cations to its surface. The electrostatic interactions likely provide the basis for the documented preference exhibited by cisplatin and related compounds for nuclear DNA over other cellular constituents. As an extension of a previous communication, we here present an investigation illust

We examined the effect of a range of pentobarbital concentrations on 0.5 microM gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated channels (10 +/- 1 pS) in inside-out or outside-out patches from rat cultured hippocampal neurons. The conductance increased from 12 +/- 4 to 62 +/- 9 pS as the pentobarbital concentration was raised from 10 to 500 microM and the data could be fitted by a Hill-type equation. At

Acoustophoresis in microfluidic structures has primarily been reported in silicon microfabricated devices. This paper demonstrates, for the first time, acoustophoresis performed in isotropically etched glass chips providing a performance that matches that of the corresponding silicon microdevices. The resonance mode characteristics of the glass chip were equal to those of the silicon chip at its f

Relationships between 24-h urinary excretion and body burden of 137Cs obtained in a south-Swedish population, together with data from the literature, were applied to urine samples collected in 1994-95 from adult subjects living in Russia, in order to estimate their average body burden of 137Cs. Estimates obtained through creatinine normalisation of the 137Cs content in the Russian urine were a fac

An attempt has been made to study the reaction between a uranium atom and a nitrogen molecule theoretically using multiconfigurational wave functions. The C-2v part of the reaction surface has been computed for several electronic states of various spin multiplicities. The system proceeds from a neutral uranium atom in its (5f)(3)(6d)(7s)(2), 5 L ground state to the linear molecule NUN, which has a

Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility is diagnosed using an in vitro contracture test (IVCT). In families in which the mutation is known, genetic tests are also available. The inheritance pattern is regarded as autosomal dominant, which predicts equal proportions of men and women affected. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there were sex differences in the diagnostic outcome of the

Objective: In this study, our aim was to investigate how different immunohistochemical techniques may influence the result of BCL6 positivity and categorization in germinal center (GC) and non-GC derived diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), as it has been proposed that classification of DLBCL according to cell-of-origin by immunohistochemistry may be performed as a routine procedure in the diagn

The effect of temperature and enzyme concentration on the enzymatic hydrolysis of steam-pretreated willow was investigated to obtain the optimal hydrolysis conditions. The willow was pretreated at 220°C for 10 min according to the results of earlier optimization studies of the steam-pretreatment conditions for high glucose yields. The concentrations of two commercial enzymes, Celluclast 2L and Nov

Percutaneous implants have been associated with numerous problems. However, by using skin-penetrating, bone-anchored titanium implants, developed by Professor Branemark at the Department of Anatomy, University of Goteborg, good long-term results have been observed. These implants have been in clinical use for anchorage of bone-conducting hearing aids and facial prostheses since 1977 and 1979, resp

Since the 1960's, subcutaneous mastectomy (SCM) and reconstruction with an implant has been used to treat recurrent benign breast tumors and in situ breast carcinomas. It has also been used as a prophylactic operation in women with a high risk of developing breast carcinoma and to achieve symmetry following breast reconstruction. Reports on surgical complications have been discordant. Recent prosp