OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of statins to activate the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) in primary human monocytes in culture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human peripheral monocytes were incubated with atorvastatin (0.1-10 micromol/1) for up to 24 hours. PPAR-gamma expression was analysed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Pro-inflammatory c

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), a pancreatic islet protein of 37 amino acids, is the main component of islet amyloid, seen at autopsy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). To investigate the roles of hIAPP and islet amyloid in DM2, we generated transgenic mice expressing hIAPP in their islet beta cells. In this study, we found that after a long-term, high-fat diet challenge isl

Genetic fine mapping can be performed by exploiting the notion that haplotypes that are structurally similar in the neighbourhood of a disease predisposing locus are more likely to harbour the same susceptibility allele. Within the framework of Generalized Linear Mixed Models this can be formalized using spatial smoothing models, i.e. inducing a covariance structure for the haplotype risk paramete

The transport dynamics in gel electrolytes based on amphiphilic polymers was found to be faster than in gel electrolytes based on corresponding nonamphiphilic polymers. The amphiphilic polymer studied was a polymethacrylate grafted with fluorocarbon and (EO)(9) side chains, and the nonamphiphilic one was a polymethacrylate carrying only (EO)(9) side chains. Self-diffusion coefficients of gel elect

Fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate the conformational changes of individual T4 DNA molecules induced by different compacting agents, namely the cationic surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and chloride (CTAC), iron(III), lysozyme, and protamine sulfate. A protocol for establishing size estimates is suggested to obtain reproducible results. Observations show that in the

For local administration of drugs or enzyme inhibitors in the human gut, a small-bore, smooth tube was introduced through the nose, retrieved from the pharynx, equipped with a firm radio-opaque capsule, and swallowed. Peristalsis moves the capsule to the desired location in the gut where it is anchored before administration via the tube. Drug uptake is followed by plasma sampling. One capsule typ

Studies on the pathogenic process in type 1 diabetes are often performed in animal models. Low-dose administration of streptozotocin has been used to induce diabetes with pathological alterations similar to human type 1 diabetes in the animals. Rodent models are frequently used but there is a need of developing new models including larger animals. In this study we wanted to investigate to what ext

The interaction of light with metal nanoparticles leads to novel phenomena mediated by surface plasmon excitations. In this article we use single molecules to characterize the interaction of surface plasmons with light, and show that such interaction can strongly modulate the polarization of the emitted light. The simplest nanostructures that enable such polarization modulation are asymmetric silv

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM), as a part of Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome, in the neonate, is a rare hereditary vascular malformation. Large intrapulmonary right-to-left shunting, causing hypoxaemia and cyanosis, can be a life-threatening condition. Repeated transcatheter coil embolization procedures proved to be a favorable strategy to improve systemic arterial oxygen saturation, with

We present a novel method for estimating the depth of a fluorescent lesion in tissue based on measurements of the fluorescence signal in different wavelength bands. The measured fluorescence spectrum following irradiation by excitation light at the surface is a function of several parameters, because the fluorescence light has to pass through tissue with characteristic scattering and absorption pr

Purpose To assess the relationship between foveal microcirculation and central retinal function in diabetic patients having both an enlarged foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and a preserved visual acuity (0.6 or better). Methods Twenty-five patients with diabetes type 1 or 2 with an enlarged FAZ (largest diameter > 650 mum) measured in fluorescein angiograms were examined with multifocal ERG (mfERG). T

As the integrity of graft endothelium seems to be essential to successful long-term patency in coronary operations, its preservation demands the utmost care. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of currently used solutions on endothelium-dependent relaxation after short-term storage of vessels at room temperature or at 4 degrees C. The infrarenal rat aorta was selected for s

Certain derivatives and analogues of capsazepine are potent in vitro inhibitors of bronchoconstriction in human small airways. During an investigation of the dependency of the potency on the structural features of the capsazepinoids in the thiourea moiety (coupling region) and the 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl moiety (C-region), it was revealed that capsazepinoids with a thiourea or an amide link betwee

An assay has been established for quantitative evaluation of lentivirus coreceptor use with the help of GHOST(3) cells. GHOST(3) cells were derived from the human osteosarcoma cell line, HOS, and have been engineered to stably express CD4 and one or another of the chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, CXCR4, CXCR6/STRL33/Bonzo, or the orphan receptor GPR15/BOB. The indicator cell line carries the HIV-2

Well-rounded cobbles were encountered within a low-energy restricted marine organic-rich deposit of latest Cretaceous age in Chukotka, NE Asia. The clasts are hydrodynamically incompatible with the inferred quiet depositional environment of the host sediment. Driftwood capable of tree-rafting, glacial striations, gastrolith clast clustering, and disrupting clast impact impressions typical of volca