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This study describes a novel isolation procedure for major glycolipids from Bifidobacterium adolescentis 94 BIM. The procedure consists of the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) with hydro-methanolic solution as co-solvent. The major Glycolipids were isolated using the following operating conditions: pressure, 30 MPa, co-solvent concentration, 10% (9:1, methanol/water, v/v), CO2 flow ra

Cationic vesicles and DNA form complexes that are promising gene delivery systems. Despite the increasing number of publications on their morphology and structure, the mechanism leading to their formation is not yet understood due to a lack of kinetic data. In the present study the kinetics of the interaction between DNA and cationic vesicles were followed using stopped-flow turbidity and small-an

Novel proton conducting ionomers have been prepared by attaching pendant sulfonated aromatic side chains to polysulfone. Lithiated polysulfone was first reacted with 4-fluorobenzoic acid chloride to introduce 4-fluorobenzoyl side chains to the polymer main chain. Next, the activated fluoro groups were replaced by 4-sulfophenoxy or 7-sulfo-2-naphthoxy in a potassium carbonate-mediated nucleophilic

Exposure to hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) has consistently been associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer, particularly of small tumours. Other tumour characteristics in relation to HRT have received less scientific attention. Our aim in this population-based prospective cohort study was to assess whether HRT is associated with an increased incidence of breast-cancer subgroups de

SJL mice colonized with RcsX lymphoma cells undergo a rapid inflammatory response associated with biological and physiological effects including increased nitric oxide production and mutations in spleen DNA. By 2 weeks postcolonization, these changes were accompanied by both up- and down-regulation of a number of plasma proteins. In the experiments reported here, plasma from individual SJL mice wa

In the context of an European collaborative research project (EURELD), a study on attitudes towards medical end-of-life decisions was conducted among physicians in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Australia also joined the consortium. A written questionnaire with structured questions was sent to practising physicians from specialties frequently involved in the care

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive pediatric cancer of striated muscle characterized in 60% of cases by a t(2;13)(q35;q14). This results in the fusion of PAX3, a developmental transcription factor required for limb myogenesis, with FKHR, a member of the forkhead family of transcription factors. The resultant PAX3-FKHR gene possesses transforming properties; however, the effects of this chi

The serum concentrations of calcium, albumin and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the plasma levels of ionized calcium were determined in 124 healthy subjects, 89 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT), 23 of whom had the syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) and 43 patients who had hypercalcaemia of other causes than HPT (non-HPT), in most cases due to widespread malignanc

Critical load calculations in the Czech part of 'the Black Triangle' show exceedance of critical load in 75% of the forest area. A comparison with forest damage data shows an insignificant tendency toward more forest damage in areas with high exceedance. We conclude that high exceedance of critical load is a probable contributing factor to forest damage in the area.

The vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant protein S binds with high affinity to C4b-binding protein (C4BP), a regulator of complement. Despite the physiological importance of the complex, we have only a patchy view of the C4BP-binding site in protein S. Based on phage display experiments, protein S residues 447-460 were suggested to form part of the binding site. Several experimental approaches were n

Efficient screening for ligands of seven-transmembrane, G-protein-coupled receptors, whether transfected or endogenously expressed, often involves cell-based reporter assays. Here we describe the development of reporter gene assays in HeLa cells. The reporter construct includes a synthetic multifunctional promoter with several different response motifs (NF-kappaB, STAT, and AP-1) and hence efficie

The cysteine protease cathepsin S is highly expressed in malignant tissues. By using a mouse model of multistage murine pancreatic islet cell carcinogenesis in which cysteine cathepsin activity has been functionally implicated, we demonstrated that selective cathepsin S deficiency impaired angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation, thereby impairing angiogenic islet formation and the growth of sol

A successor of the present MAX facility is currently being studied. This proposed MAX IV facility will then have two new storage rings operated at 1.5 and 3 GeV respectively. The magnet lattices of the two storage rings are almost identical and the rings are placed coaxially, one on top of the other. A third ring, the MAX III ring, now under construction, should be transferred to the new facility.

Amphibians are declining worldwide, but lack of long-term regional data makes identifying possible causes difficult, hindering conservation efforts. We evaluated whether habitat destruction, terrestrial habitat adjacent to ponds and the physico-chemical characteristics of ponds could explain the regional and local decline of the spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) in Sweden. Analyses of aerial photo

The aim of the present study was to validate a Swedish translation of the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) questionnaire in patients with gallstone disease. Sensitivity to change, internal consistency, and test-retest stability were tested in 187 consecutive patients who underwent planned cholecystectomy. Construct validity was assessed by comparing the GIQLI score with the bodily pa

Hamburgers and chicken fillets were cooked in convection ovens, deep-fried or contact fried and analysed for mutagenic activity using the Ames test. For the three different convection ovens, the cooking parameters studied included the presence of steam, air velocity, air temperature and holding time. For deep-frying and contact frying, the cooking parameters included cooking temperature and cookin