Streptococcus pyogenes is a common human pathogen causing mild infections such as tonsillitis and pharyngitis, but is also the cause of life-threatening conditions. To be able to infect the human host, S. pyogenes express different virulence factors. The surface-expressed M protein is a major virulence factor of S. pyogenes, mediating resistance to killing by human neutrophils. Results presented i

Background: The selectin family of adhesion molecules (P-, E- and L-selectin) plays an important role in inflammatory reactions by mediating interactions between leukocytes and activated endothelial cells. However, a recent study using gene-targeted mice has suggested that adhesion molecules (P- and E-selectin and ICAM-1) may not be relevant targets in intestinal inflammation. The objective of the

Insertion of metals into various tetrapyrroles is catalysed by a group of enzymes called chelatases, e.g. nickel, cobalt, magnesium and ferrochelatase. It has been proposed that catalytic metallation includes distorting the porphyrin substrate by the enzyme towards a transition state-like geometry in which at least one of the pyrrole rings will be available for metal chelation. Here, we present a

An understanding of the distribution of water in wood pulp during drying is of fundamental importance to the paper industry. In this study nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging is used to measure quantitative water profiles during the drying of liquid packaging board with initial water ratio (water: dry mass) of approximately 1.5. The drying was carried out in situ within the magnet, under a ra

Self-monitoring of anti-vitamin K treatment by patients with heart valve prostheses is a good alternative to hospital control. Self-monitoring at home allows patients more freedom and opportunity to take greater responsibility for their treatment. Experience from over a years' complication-free treatment of 12 patients is reported in the article.

Purpose: Radiographic abnormalities in the pubic bone and symphysis are often seen in athletes with groin pain. The aim was to create a grading scale of such radiologic changes. Material and Methods: Plain radiography of the pelvic ring including the pubic bone and the symphysis was performed in 20 male athletes, age 19-35, with long-standing uni- or bilateral groin pain. We used two control grou

The fundamental question posed in this study is how to approach the construction sector in order to cover its wide scope of activities, its great variety of actors and the external influences on it from the market and institutional environment. Construction includes such diverse economic activities as new production and as repair/maintenance, itinerant production and stationary manufacture, the pr

The lifetimes of the 21/2(+) and 17/2(-) yrast states in Nb-89, Mo-89 and Tc-91 and of the 334 keV 5/2(-) state in Nb-87 were determined via the electronic timing method. The nuclei were populated by means of the VICKSI pulsed Ar-36 beam impinging on a Ni-58 target. The lifetimes measured for the first time are: Mo-89: 2271 keV 17/2(-) tau = 1.6(4) ns; 2584 keV 21/2(+) tau = 13.7(3) ns; Nb-87: 334

Secretagogin is a newly identified calcium-binding protein selectively expressed in neuroendocrine tissue and pancreatic beta-cells. The function of secretagogin is unknown, but it has been suggested in beta-cells to influence calcium-influx, insulin secretion and proliferation, and has been observed downregulated in diabetes-prone BB rat islets exposed to cytokines. In the present study, we ident

Neurons were obtained from the CA1 region of the hippocampus of newborn rats and maintained in culture. Channels were activated by pentobarbitone in cell-attached, inside-out or outside-out patches, normally by applying pentobarbitone in flowing bath solution. Currents were outwardly rectifying and blocked by bicuculline, properties of GABAA channels in these cells. Maximum channel conductance inc

I denna skrift visas ett antal beräkningsexempel på hur fuktinnehållet i en gotländsk sandsten kan variera med varierande randvillkor. Teorin och numerisk metod för beräkningarna beskrivs i detalj.

A prospective study was conducted to evaluate patient outcomes following trapezial excision and extensor carpi radialis longus tendon arthroplasty in primary trapeziometacarpal arthrosis. Seventeen patients were evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively at both 12 months and at final follow-up examination at a mean of 39 months (range, 20-56 months). Surgery resulted in complete or signifi

BACKGROUND: The atherothrombotic risk pattern of the nephrotic syndrome resembles that of hyperhomocysteinemia. However, the effect of nephrotic range proteinuria on homocysteine metabolism has never been studied. METHODS: The study included 11 male nephrotic patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy who underwent a treatment trial with adrenocorticotrophic hormone and 11 male non-nephrotic,