Recent work from several laboratories has demonstrated that proteolytic mechanisms significantly contribute to the molecular interplay between Streptococcus pyogenes, an important human pathogen, and its host. Here we describe the identification, purification and characterization of a novel extracellular cysteine proteinase produced by S.pyogenes. This enzyme, designated IdeS for Immunoglobulin G-

All accounts of communicative behaviour in general, and communicative strategies in particular, mention gesture1 in relation to language acquisition (cf. Faerch & Kasper 1983 for an overview). However, few attempts have been made to investigate how spoken language and spontaneous gesture combine to determine discourse referents. Referential gesture and referential discourse will be of particul

The aim of this study was to determine the threshold of fracture probability at which interventions became cost-effective in men and women, based on data from Sweden. We modeled the effects of a treatment costing $500 per year given for 5 years that decreased the risk of all osteoporotic fractures by 35% followed by a waning of effect for a further 5 years. Sensitivity analyses included a range of

With recent findings of substantial amounts of B in rock-forming minerals, it has become evident a need exists for microprobe techniques allowing quantitative B determinations in minerals. A microprobe method based on the nuclear reaction B-11(p,alpha)2alpha has the potential to become a powerful tool for analyses of minerals with B contents spanning a wide concentration range. In this paper, we p

The type of chemical reaction between hapten and carrier protein in the formation of a complete antigen in vivo giving rise to an allergic contact dermatitis (ACD, type IV allergy) is essentially unknown. About 4,000 low-molecular organic compounds are known to have allergenic properties. ,-Unsaturated carbonyl structures are frequently present among these compounds. Haptens giving rise to antibod

Progesterone in saliva was monitored using a new method called magnetic particle-based immuno supported liquid membrane assay (m-ISLMA) in a sequential injection (SI) setup, allowing automatic sample cleanup, analyte enrichment, and detection in a single analysis unit. Progesterone (Ag) diffuses from a continuous flowing sample - the donor - into a supported organic liquid membrane (SLM), based on

Non-targeted effect of BCG: Several recent studies suggest that BCG has beneficial non-targeted effects on general child survival in low-income countries. Studies of the effect of BCG on morbidity in humans are scarce; some found a positive effect of BCG and others show no effect. Non-targeted effects of vaccines-possible bias and confounding: The major argument against comparing vaccinated and un

The present doctoral thesis is a study of the problem of "variation" in relation to word-stress in Russian adjectives, in both their short and long forms. The stress variation in adjectival forms is investigated from various viewpoints, the main of which is the revelation of the basic processes of stress reorganisation in these groups of words and the establishment of main tendencies of adjectival

Young vertebrates have limited capacity to synthesize antibodies and are dependent on the protection of maternally transmitted antibodies for humoral disease resistance early in life. However, mothers may enhance fitness by priming their offspring's immune systems to elevate disease resistance. Transgenerational induced defences have been documented in plants and invertebrates, but maternal primin

A previously healthy 3-month-old girl presented with symptoms of meningitis, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. Green monkey kidney (GMK) cells inoculated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed reovirus-like particles by electron microscopy. RNA-gel electrophoresis, immunofluorescence and virus neutralization identified the pathogen isolated from CSF as reovirus type 1. Antibody determination by immu

The effect of low molecular weight (LMW) heparin given once daily as prophylaxis against venous thrombosis was compared with that of dextran 70 in an open randomised trial of 100 patients undergoing elective total hip replacement. Four patients were withdrawn after randomisation and thus 96 were included in the final analysis. The development of thrombus was surveilled by the 125I fibrinogen test,