Chronic venous ulcers are characterized by chronic inflammation. Heme and iron, originating from blood cell hemolysis as well as extravascular necrosis, have been implicated as important pathogenic factors due to their promotion of oxidative stress. It was recently reported that the plasma and tissue protein alpha1-microglobulin is involved in heme metabolism. The protein binds heme, and a carboxy

A resonator system has been fabricated directly on a pre-processed CMOS chip. The system is to be used for high sensitivity mass sensing applications in air and vacuum. The resonator system, corresponding of a cantilever and structures for electrostatic actuation and capacitive read-out, have been defined by electron beam lithography on top of a charge and radiation sensitive CMOS layer in predefi

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the role of cholesterol-rich membrane regions, including caveolae, in the regulation of arterial contractility. Methods and Results- Rat tail artery devoid of endothelium was treated with the cholesterol acceptor methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, and the effects on force and Ca2+ handling were evaluated. In cholesterol-depleted preparations, the force responses to alpha1-adr

While prior research has often used psychological characteristics to identify entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial behaviour, little has been done to predict venture performance. This study examines the impact of four entrepreneurial characteristics on venture performance. The findings are mixed with previous research but provide a new insight by exploring the characteristics of entrepreneurs in gene

The morphology of acute immune complex (IC) elicited synovitis in rabbit knee joints was studied, as well as IC-induced leukocyte activation in vivo and in vitro. Acute synovitis was induced by intra-articular injection of in vitro preformed, complement activating bovine serum albumin (BSA)-anti-BSA IC. Within 30 min, migration of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNGs) was observed. Scanning elect

Background: Type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a congenital bleeding disorder characterized by a partial quantitative deficiency of plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) in the absence of structural and/or functional VWF defects. Accurate assessment of the quantity and quality of plasma VWF is difficult but is a prerequisite for correct classification. Objective: To evaluate the proportion of mis

We investigated whether phytoplankton communities in two lakes in SW Greenland were phosphorus or nitrogen limited. The study lakes have contrasting water chemistry (mean conductivities differ ten fold) and are located near Kangerlussuaq, SW Greenland (similar to 67 degrees N, 51 degrees W). A microcosm nutrient enrichment experiment was performed in June 2003 to determine whether nitrate or phosp

Clusterin is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Clusterin expression is increased in brain tissue in affected regions of Alzheimer patients, and intense clusterin staining is found in both senile plaques and in neuronal and glia cells. In contrast, the cerebrospinal fluid level of clusterin in Alzheimer patients has, thus far, been found unchanged. Clusterin is a

The substituent patterns of some chemically modified celluloses were characterized as a function of their size distribution, using size-exclusion chromatography coupled to both nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and cloud-point measurements. Intact and enzymatically hydrolyzed methyl cellulose (MC) was fractionated according to size, and the level of substitution of the fractions was me

A total of 10-40% of patients with Hodgkin's disease relapse following initial curative therapy. Intensive follow-up is resource intensive and may identify false relapses. We performed a retrospective review of all patients with Hodgkin's disease treated at our centre between 1990 and 1999 to evaluate the utility of the components of follow-up. A total of 107 patients met the inclusion and exclusi

Tapasin (Tpn) is an ER chaperone that is uniquely dedicated to MHC-I biosynthesis. It binds MHC-I molecules, integrates them into peptide-loading complexes, and exerts quality control of the bound peptides; only when an "optimal peptide" is bound will the MHC-I be released and exported to the cell surface for presentation to T cells. The exact mechanisms of Tpn quality control and the criteria for

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disorder in which genetics and environmental factors play a role. Among the environmental factors, viruses (especially Coxsackie virus B [CBV]), and among genetic markers, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1*04-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (DR4-DQ8) and DRB1*03-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (DR3-DQ2), and major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene-A (M

A total of 123 balanced rearrangements, including 26 occurring as a sole anomaly, not known to be recurrent in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myelold leukemia (AML) prior to the Workshop, were ascertained retrospectively from 104 patients with treatment-related MDS/AML (t-MDS/t-AML). Thirteen of the aberrations were reported previously in single cases and hence may be classified as recur

Previous research has been inconclusive as regards the effect of outward foreign direct investment (FDI) on domestic investments. In this article, we show that this inconclusiveness can be explained at a disaggregated level as a function of the way industries are organized. Based on a simple theoretical framework including monitoring and trade costs, we argue that a complementary relationship can

Triacylglycerol (TAG) is known to be synthesized in a reaction that uses acyl-CoA as acyl donor and diacylglycerol (DAG) as acceptor, and which is catalyzed by the enzyme acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase. We have found that some plants and yeast also have an acyl-CoA-independent mechanism for TAG synthesis, which uses phospholipids as acyl donors and DAG as acceptor. This reaction is cataly

Objective. To evaluate if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to conventional radiography for detection of erosions in the fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP5) joint. Methods. Within one year from the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (baseline), one and three years thereafter MRI and conventional radiographs of the MTP5 joint were performed in 23 patients. Results. MRI revealed erosions in