Due to their small size, nanoparticles have distinct properties compared with the bulk form of the same materials. These properties are rapidly revolutionizing many areas of medicine and technology. Despite the remarkable speed of development of nanoscience, relatively little is known about the interaction of nanoscale objects with living systems. In a biological fluid, proteins associate with nan

A gated tunnel diode has been introduced into a wave-guide oscillator circuit and the gate is used to tune the oscillation frequency and to turn the oscillator on and off. Oscillators with oscillation frequencies in the range of 9-22 GHz with a typical oscillator output power about -20 dBm have been fabricated. We found that the output power remains essentially constant over a gate bias range (abo

A convenient experimental method for thermodynamical studies based on partial-filling affinity CE is presented. The advantages of this approach are the possibility to determine binding energies from relatively weak interactions as well as the small amounts of samples consumed. In order to explore the affinity and selectivity of the cellobiolrydrolase Cel7A, a number of propranolol analogues were r

The concentration of soluble HLA class I (sHLA-I) was measured by ELISA in serum samples from 30 well-characterised SLE patients at high and low disease activity states and from 100 healthy controls. HLA-A allotypes in the patients were analysed by a PCR-based typing technique. A higher level of sHLA-I was found in SLE patient sera both at high and low disease activity than in controls (P< 0.001).

Cartilage and tendon extracellular matrices are composed of collagens, proteoglycans, and a number of noncollagenous proteins. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a prominent such protein, structurally related to the thrombospondins. We found that native COMP binds to collagen I/II and procollagen I/II and that the interaction is dependent on the divalent cations Zn2+ or Ni2+, whereas Ca

In a previous Swedish longitudinal study of mortality among 723,948 foreign born and native-born Swedes, 1970-1999, increased mortality was found among foreign-born persons. This study describes and analyses the differences in mortality between 361,974 foreign-born persons and 361,974 native Swedes during the period 1970-1999, based on data from Statistics Sweden and the National Board of Health a

A new species of Ametallon Ashmead, A. carinatum sp. n. and five new species of Chrysonotomyia Ashmead, C. dussiae sp. n., C. longicaudata sp. n., C. machaeriae sp. n., C. unimaculata sp. n. and C. claviger sp. n. (Eulophidae: Entedoninae) are described from Panama. New host associations are recorded for Ametallon gorgonaense Hansson, Chrysonotomyia auripunctata (Ashmead), Chrysonotomyia galbina H

The identification, prevention, and prompt treatment of exacerbations are major objectives of asthma management. We looked at change in PEF, symptoms, and use of rescue beta-agonists during the 425 severe exacerbations that occurred during a 12-mo parallel group study (FACET) in which low and high doses of budesonide with and without formoterol were compared in patients with asthma. Oral corticost

We evaluated clinical significance of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-IgM immune complexes, in comparison with free AFP, on the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum levels of AFP-IgM immune complexes and free AFP were determined by the ELISA method and electrochemiluminescence, respectively, in 103 healthy controls, 74 patients suffering from primary HCC, 27 patients suffering

The composition of the microbial community in the rhizosphere was investigated using three different techniques: direct soil-phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), cfu-PLFA (using culturable, bacteria only) and community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) using Biolog GN microtitre plates. All three techniques showed that the rhizosphere bacterial community differed from the bulk soil community, when pe

The hypothesis that up-regulation of bronchial constrictor endothelin receptors in airway smooth muscle cells may contribute to hyperreactivity during airway inflammation was tested in the present study by quantitative endothelin receptor mRNA analysis and functional responses in ring segments of rat trachea and bronchi. Real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to quantif

Earlier studies have shown different effects on cell proliferation and weight characteristics by sulfated cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8S) in the rat pancreas when the peptide has been administered continuously rather than intermittently. The aim of this study was as follows: (i) to compare the effect of continuous infusion and of intermittent injections of CCK-8S on cell proliferation, weight gain, and

Cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase (CGTase) from Bacillus macerans was used to catalyse the coupling of alpha-cyclodextrin to alkyl beta-glycosides. The acceptor substrate dodecyl beta-maltoside was thus converted to dodecyl beta-D-maltooctaoside. Further coupling steps and disproportionation reactions occurred, but by optimisation of the reaction time, a yield of 50% of the primary coupling produc

Age-adjusted incidence rates of breast cancer vary more than 10-fold worldwide, with the highest rates reported in North America and Europe. The highest breast cancer incidence rates in Southeast Asia have been reported for the Manila Cancer Registry in the Philippines, with an age-standardized rate of 47.7 per 100,000 per year. The possible contribution of hereditary factors to these elevated rat