Cell replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD) has so far been based on the use of primary dopaminergic (DA) neuroblasts obtained from the brain of aborted human fetuses. Clinical trials show that intrastriatal DA neuron transplants can give substantial symptomatic relief in advanced PD patients. Two recent NIH-sponsored placebo-controlled trials, however, have given disappointing results an

Previous studies on the occurrence of catecholamines and serotonin in pancreatic islets using various histochemical and chemical methods have given widely different results. We therefore performed a comparative analysis of these amines in whole pancreas and islet tissue from hamster, guinea pig, rat, and mouse by the use of high performance liquid chromatography. Whole pancreas of guinea pig, hams

Study of the reception of Ingmar Bergman's film The Silence, famous for its sexual explicitness. The film triggered some debate in Sweden but was passed by the Board of Censorship, mostly because of Bergman's international fame.

Positional cloning of the underlying genes for the rare syndrome autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidadiasis extrodermal dystrophy (APECED) opened a new venue of research on the role of central tolerance in autoimmunity. The associated autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE), was found to be expressed in medullary thymus epithelial cells (mTEC) in both man and mice, and to control promiscuous expression

The overall aim of the present study was to assess in greater detail the sustained effects of a broad-based cognitive training programme on the neuropsychological performance of children with acquired brain injury. In particular, the long term (6 months) effects on cognitive functions, as well as how various moderators (gender, age at the time of injury/diagnosis, time since injury/diagnosis, age

The human L3MBTL gene is located in 20q12, a region that is commonly deleted in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). L3MBTL is highly homologous to the D-lethal(3) malignant brain tumor [D-l(3)mbt] gene, which is a putative tumor-suppressor gene (TSG) identified in Drosophila and which is closely related to the Drosophila sex combs

The antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects of recombinant wild type (WT) and mutated human activated protein C (hAPC) were investigated using a rat model of arterial thrombosis. Recent in vitro studies using human plasma have shown enhanced anticoagulant effects of hAPC by mutagenesis of either loop 148 in the serine protease domain or of the Gla domain. The Gla-domain mutant QGNSEDY-hAPC (=H10Q

We investigated the importance of changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) for amiloride-sensitive alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) in late-gestational guinea pigs. Fetal guinea pigs of 61, 68, and 69 days (term) gestation were investigated under normal conditions and after oxytocin-induced preterm labor. AFC or alveolar fluid secretion was measured using an impermeable tracer tec

The aim of the study was to analyze effects of various plasma concentrations of the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 on microvascular fluid permeability and on transcapillary fluid exchange. We also analyzed whether the permeability-reducing substance prostacyclin is involved in the permeability effects of endothelin-1, as prostacylin is suggested to be released via ET(B) receptor stimulation. The stu

Background A major goal in mental health research and policy is to identify ways to reduce stigma among persons with mental illness. Aims The aims of the present study were to (1) investigate the prevalence of rejection and devaluation/discrimination in a cross-sectional sample of 200 individuals with experiences of mental illness and (2) investigate the relationship between sociodemographic and c

Platelet deposition onto double velour Dacron (n = 14) and double velour Dacron with internal collagen (n = 14) interposition grafts were examined experimentally. The accumulation was assessed by reinfusion of 111In labelled platelets and imaging with a scintillation camera. One group received Dextran-40 intravenously (n = 14) and one group received Dazmegrel (n = 14) intravenously. No graft occlu

Pancreatitis-associated lung injury (PALI) is one of the earliest organ dysfunctions occurring in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. In this review we explore potential mechanisms of endothelial barrier dysfunction, neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage activation, adhesion molecule expression, initial factors, mast cell involvement and intracellular signaling in PALI. Different regulatory mech

It has been questioned recently whether populated intermediates are important for the protein folding process or are artefacts trapped in nonproductive pathways. We report here that the rapidly formed intermediate of the spliceosomal protein U1A is an off-pathway artefact caused by transient aggregation of denatured protein under native conditions. Transient aggregates are easily mistaken for stru

The development of new drugs against cancer requires established cell lines. They are needed for in vitro studies to identify candidate drugs and in xenograft models to measure drug efficacy in vivo. Specific criteria need to be fulfilled by cell lines used in the evaluation of potential novel therapeutic agents. It is imperative that they display the features of the particular cancer under invest

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain related gene-A (MIC-A) is associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in other populations. We tested the association of MIC-A gene polymorphism with T1DM in Swedish Caucasians; if it has an age-dependent association; and if the association has an effect on gender. We studied 635 T1DM patients and 503 matched controls in the age group of 0-3

This paper reports on a cross-national study of the activity patterns of 50-90 year old adults in six European countries, namely Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It analyses patterns of activity involvement and the resulting expression of satisfaction. Involvement and satisfaction levels are in turn measured against a number of personal characteristics. T

During the latest several decades, there has been considerable interest in revealing the relationship between El Nino-southern oscillation (ENSO) and hydro-meteorological variables. The oscillation is characterized by a simple index, the southern oscillation index (SOI). However, thus far, there is little evidence for the influence of ENSO in Korea and Japan. The influence of ENSO has also been st

A sediment core from a lake in the Kap Farvel area on South Greenland was analysed with respect to pollen and microfossil content, loss-on-ignition, magnetic susceptibility and radiocarbon age. The aim was to reconstruct the limnic arid terrestrial changes taking place at the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary. Organic sedimentation started between 12 200 and 12 800 cal yr B.P. Break-up of sea-ice arou