Isolated plasma membrane vesicles purified by aqueous polymer two-phase partitioning were used as a model system for studies on the membrane-associated (cortical) cytoskeleton in plants. Actin, as identified by immunoblotting, was found to be specifically attached to plasma membrane vesicles from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.). The actin was not washed off as the vesicles were turned inside-ou

Autoimmune T cell responses directed against insulin-producing β cells are central to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Detection of such responses is therefore critical to provide novel biomarkers for T1D 'immune staging' and to understand the mechanisms underlying the disease. While different T cell assays are being developed for these purposes, it is important to optimize and standardi

Collagen type VI is a subepithelial extracellular matrix component in airways and an adhesive substrate for oral pathogens [Bober et al.: J Innate Immun 2010;2:160-166]. Here, we report that collagen VI displays a dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against group A, C, and G streptococci by membrane disruption in physiological conditions. The data disclose previously unrecognized aspects of the

An experimental test facility was developed to perform thermo-mechanical fatigue crack growth experiments. The thermal cycles were generated using hot and cold air flows distributed by a nozzle onto the test specimen. With the equipment it was possible to obtain TMF cycles with cycle times of 120 s with less than 10 °C temperature variation over the measurement length of the sample, cycling betwee

ABSTRACT: Excessive neutrophil infiltration is a major component in septic lung injury, although the signaling mechanisms behind pulmonary recruitment of neutrophils in polymicrobial sepsis remain elusive. Herein, we hypothesized that Rho-kinase activity may play a significant role in pulmonary neutrophil recruitment and tissue damage in abdominal sepsis. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with the Rh

Abstract in UndeterminedBone consists of an organic and an inorganic matrix. During development, bone undergoes changes in its composition and structure. In this study we apply three different cluster analysis algorithms [K-means (KM), fuzzy C-means (FCM) and hierarchical clustering (HCA)], and discriminant analysis (DA) on infrared spectroscopic data from developing cortical bone with the aim of

Summary The haematopoietic growth factor receptor Flt3 has been implicated as major cause of transformation in acute myeloid leukaemia. Intracellular signals mediated by wild-type Flt3 are involved in cell differentiation and survival whereas signalling via the mutant Flt3 ITD (internal tandem duplication) promotes enhanced cell growth. In this study, we identified tyrosines 768, 955 and 969 of Fl

Previous studies in a fetal erythroid cell line demonstrated that the transcription factor, Kruppel-like factor 11 (KLF11), could specifically induce transcription from a gamma-globin gene promoter, and that this induction was mediated through a specific canonical CACCC cis-DNA binding motif. We report here that ectopic expression of KLF11 can also induce fetal gamma-globin gene expression in the

Habeb AM, Al-Magamsi MSF, Halabi S, Eid IM, Shalaby S, Bakoush O. High incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes in Al-Madinah, North West Saudi Arabia (2004-2009). Background: There is a geographical variation in the incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with a steady increase reported from some countries. However, data on the incidence of childhood T1DM in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a

Type 2 diabetes patients exhibit a reduction in oxidative muscle fibres and an increase in glycolytic muscle fibres. In this study, we investigated whether both genetic and non-genetic factors influence the mRNA expression levels of three myosin heavy chain (MHC) genes represented in different fibre types. Specifically, we examined the MHC7 (slow-twitch oxidative fibre), MHCIIa (fast-twitch oxidat

OBJECTIVE: Elevated levels of blood leukocytes have been associated with acute coronary events (CEs), but data on leukocyte subclasses are limited. This study aimed to explore whether blood lymphocyte and neutrophil counts are associated with incidence of CEs and with fatal outcome in subjects who subsequently experienced a first CE. METHODS AND RESULTS: Neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were measu

Several global measures to assess at-work productivity loss or presenteeism in patients with rheumatic diseases have been proposed, but the comparative validity is hampered by the lack of data on test-retest reliability and comparative concurrent and construct validity. Our objective was to test-retest 5 global measures of presenteeism and to compare the association between these scales and health

Alcohol intoxication is the cause of many falls requiring emergency care. The control of upright standing balance is complex and comprises contributions from several partly independent mechanisms like coordination, feedback and feedforward control and adaptation. Analysis of the segmental body movement coordination offers one option to detect the severity of balance problems. The study aims were (

Summary Background: Real-time perfusion (RTP) adenosine stress echocardiography (ASE) can be used to visually evaluate myocardial ischaemia. The RTP power modulation technique, provides images for off-line parametric perfusion quantification using Qontrast((R)) software. From replenishment curves, this generates parametric images of peak signal intensity (A), myocardial blood flow velocity (beta)

Purpose. To examine the effect of an interdisciplinary, out-patient rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis on aerobic capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Method. One hundred and seventy-four patients, 115 with peripheral arthritis (PA) (91 women, mean age 53 years, disease duration 16 years) and 59 with spondylarthropathies (SpA), (27 women, mean

Pain, fatigue and decreased joint mobility caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often decrease sexual health in RA patients. Regular physiotherapy interventions in patients with RA are often aimed at improving those factors. The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences and views of patients concerning the impact of RA on their sexual health, the possible impact of physiotherapy inter