A cDNA coding for cystatin D, a human member of the cystatin protein family, has been cloned after specific amplification of reverse- transcribed parotid gland RNA. After replacing the segment encoding the putative 20-residue signal peptide with one encoding the Escherichia coli OmpA leader sequence, the cDNA was expressed in E. coli. The isolated recombinant protein exhibited Ki values of 1.2 nM

Background Fewer electrodes on more easily located places would facilitate electrocardiogram (ECG) recording. To investigate the possibility of simplifying ECG recording in children, we compared the diagnostic conclusions when interpreting standard versus EASI-derived 12-lead ECGs. Our hypothesis was that the variation of the interpretation of standard versus EASI-derived 12-lead ECGs was not grea

The pre-industrial natural carrying capacity is believed to have limited the human population in Iceland to a maximum of fifty to sixty thousand inhabitants. Since AD 1800 the Icelandic population has gradually grown up to nearly 300 thousand in 2005. In this paper a simple approach is used to evaluate the potential population size that the pre-industrial Icelandic environment could possibly susta

The DNA ploidy level of 673 accessions belonging to 238 species of Hieracium have been analyzed by flow cytometry. 222 of the species were of Scandinavian origin as members of the exclusively apomictic H. sectt. Bifida, Hieracium, Oreadea, Tridentata and Vulgata. For the overwhelming majority of the species, the ploidy level (or chromosme number) has never been investigated before. Approximately 5

AIM: Dysmotility in the upper gastro intestinal (GI) tract are common problems in diabetics. Many peptides are involved in the regulation of the motility. The aim of this study was to examine whether plasma levels of motilin were related to dysfunction in the oesophagus and stomach in a well-defined diabetic patient group. METHODS: Nineteen patients with symptoms from the GI tract who had been exa

We propose a conceptual model to explain the variation in species richness in local communities and in build-up of regional species pools over time. The idea is that the opportunity for new species to enter a community (its invasibility) determines the present richness of that community as well as the long-term build-up of a species pool by speciation and migration. We propose that a community's i

A series of synthetic [2Fe-2S] complexes with terminal thiophenolate ligands and tethered ether or thioether moieties has been prepared and investigated in order to provide models for the potential interaction of additional donor atoms with the Fe atoms in biological [2Fe-2S] clusters. X-ray crystal structures have been determined for six new complexes that feature appended Et (1(C)), OMe (1(O)),

Interactions between poly(styrenesu1fonate) (PSS) and poly(acry1ic acid) (PA) in aqueous solution have been studied, with and without added salt, and at various degrees of neutralization (a) of PA. Equilibrium phase diagrams have been determined, and the viscosities of monophasic mixtures have been measured. Both types of experiments reveal striking effects of a on the PA-PSS interactions. Salt-fr

We have seen that protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) is transiently translocated to the plasma membrane by carbachol stimulation of neuroblastoma cells. This is induced by the Ca2+ increase, and PKCalpha does not respond to diacylglycerol (DAG). The unresponsiveness is dependent on structures in the catalytic domain of PKCalpha. This study was designed to investigate if and how the kinase activity a

The Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Registry (SKAR) has recorded knee arthroplasties prospectively in Sweden since 1975. The only outcome measure available to date has been revision status. While questionnaires on health outcome may function as more comprehensive endpoints, it is unclear which are the most appropriate. We tested various outcome questionnaires in order to determine which is the best for

First-principles phase diagrams of bismuth-stabilized GaAs- and InP(100) surfaces demonstrate for the first time the presence of anomalous (2 x 1) reconstructions, which disobey the common electron counting principle. Combining these theoretical results with our scanning-tunneling-microscopy and photoemission measurements, we identify novel (2 x 1) surface structures, which are composed of symmetr

Background and Aims: In a retrospective study using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in medically inoperable patients with stage I NSCLC we previously reported a local control rate of 88% utilizing a median dose of 15 Gy x 3. This report records the toxicity encountered in a prospective phase II trial, and its relation to coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascu

Magnesium chelatase is the first unique enzyme of the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway. It is composed of three gene products of which the largest is 150 kD. This protein was recently identified as an abscisic acid receptor in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We have evaluated whether the barley (Hordeum vulgare) magnesium chelatase large subunit, XanF, could be a receptor for the phytohormone.

Purpose: To compare the ability of Fast Swedish interactive threshold algorithm (SITA) short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP), lengthier full-threshold SWAP, and standard automated perimetry (SAP) using the SITA Fast program to detect early glaucomatous visual field loss. Design: Cross-sectional prospective study of perimetric diagnostic sensitivity as defined by reference limits determined i

Background Female circumcision (FC) has remained a common practice in the countries where it has traditionally been performed. Following increased global mobility, it has also become a common medical issue in the predominantly non-Islamic countries where an increasing number of immigrants from regions where FC is still traditional, have settled. Objectives To investigate types of FC found in a gro

Eighteen Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs and 50 NMRI mice were inoculated with Helicobacter pylori and the infection followed by culture, histopathology, antibody response, and plasma levels of the acute-phase proteins albumin, C3, and transferrin for up to 7 weeks. The immune response to H. pylori surface proteins was studied by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Western immunoblot and the plasma levels

The degree of arthritis of the cervical spine was retrospectively studied in cervical spine radiographs from 400 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the same cervical radiographs the arthritic destruction of the temporomandibular joints was measured as diminished ramal height from the mandibular angle to the palato-occipital line. Reduced ramal height was found in 76 patients, 69 women and 7 me

This paper develops a statistical model for daily gross primary production (GPP) in boreal and temperate coniferous forests. The model applies the light use efficiency (LUE) approach, which estimates the conversion efficiency of daily absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) into daily GPP as a product of potential LUE and modifying factors. The latter were derived from daily total APAR