BACKGROUND: The red blood cells (RBCs) of a patient, known to have the probable DC(W)(e)/D-- phenotype, typed as D(W)- and Rh32- but were unexpectedly agglutinated by an anti-D(W)/Rh32 serum. The reactivity suggested that the RBCs carried a novel antigen and that the molecular background of this DC(W)(e)/D-- phenotype might be different from those reported. The purpose of this study was to determi

Mouse beta-cells cultured at 15 mmol/l glucose for 72 h had reduced ATP-sensitive K+ (K-ATP) channel activity (-30%), increased voltage-gated Ca2+ currents, higher intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca-i(2+]) +160%), more exocytosis (monitored by capacitance measurements, +100%), and greater insulin content (+230%) than those cultured at 4.5 mmol/l glucose. However, they released 20% less ins

The aim of this study was to investigate possible changes in quality of life (QoL) in elderly persons diagnosed with cancer (65 years and above), in relation to age, contact with the health-care system, activities of daily living, hope, social network and support. The investigation points were at time of diagnosis (baseline), and again 3 and 6 months after the diagnosis. The study also aimed to in

We calculate the one-loop effective action of the SU(2) Yang-Mills theory for center-vortex configurations, both in 3D and 4D. We find that in both cases there are minima of the effective action, corresponding to vortices of the transverse size approximately 4/g(3)(2) and 1.7/Lambda((MS) over bar), respectively. The values of the effective actions at the minima are negative, suggesting that the Eu

C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is an important plasma inhibitor of the classical pathway of complement activation. Several bacterial pathogens bind C4BP, which may contribute to their virulence. In the present report we demonstrate that isolated type IV pili from Neisseria gonorrhoeae bind human C4BP in a dose-dependent and saturable manner. C4BP consists of seven identical alpha-chains and one beta-c

Leaders make decisions every day of their lives, but how they do it changes dramatically over the course of their careers. At lower levels, the job is to get widgets out the door; action is at a premium. At higher levels, the job involves decisions about which widgets to offer and how to develop them. To climb the corporate ladder and be effective in new roles, managers need to change the way they

Glycoprotein B (gB) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the dominating protein in the envelope of this virus and gives rise to virus-neutralizing antibodies in most infected individuals. We have previously isolated a neutralizing human antibody specific for antigenic domain 2 (AD-2) on gB, a poorly immunogenic epitope, which nevertheless is capable of eliciting potent neutralizing antibodies. In or

Detrusor smooth muscle contains muscarinic receptors of the M-2 (approximate to2/3) and M-3 (approximate to1/3) subtypes. M-3 receptors are mainly responsible for normal micturition contraction, whereas, the role Of M-2 receptors has not yet been clarified. In certain disease states, M-2 receptors may also contribute to bladder contraction. Different muscarinic receptor subtypes can contribute to

The medicinal plant Eupatorium arnottianum can be found in the Northeast and center of Argentina and the South of Bolivia. From plant material collected in Argentina an endophytic Phomopsis was isolated. The fungus was identified by microscopic features and analysis of its ITS sequence. Cultures yielded, besides mellein and nectriapyrone, a novel depsidone derivative for which we propose the name

The design and some properties of a new general-purpose isothermal microcalorimeter are reported. The instrument is a twin thermopile heat conduction calorimeter, which is designed for use up to 200 degreesC. The calorimetric units and surrounding heat sink are suspended inside a hollow aluminium construction, which is thermostated. Above that unit a second thermostated block is positioned and the

This study investigated the chronic effect of enterostatin on body weight and some of the associated changes in postprandial metabolism. Rats were adapted to 6 h of food access/day and a choice of low-fat and high-fat (HF) food and then given enterostatin or vehicle by an intraperitoneally implanted minipump delivering 160 nmol enterostatin/h continuously over a 5-day infusion period. Enterostatin

In this thesis we characterize the effect of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) on tumour growth, and show that MPCs can have inhibitory effects on tumour development. We developed a method to subcutaneously transplant tumour cells, cultured in vitro in a pre-formed gelatin matrix, that made it possible to study the early phases of tumour development. Using this method we inoculated rats with gel

Among flowering plants, animals commonly act as pollinators. We showed that fertile moss shoots attract springtails and mites, which in turn carry moss sperm, thereby enhancing the fertilization process. Previously, fertilization of mosses was thought to depend on the capacity of individual sperm to swim through a continuous water layer. The role of microarthropods in moss fertilization resembles

Fifty knees scheduled for a total knee prosthesis were randomized in two groups. Both groups had a noncemented fixation of the porous-coated implants but one group received a prosthesis with ceramic coating on the porous surface of the implant. The knees were evaluated with RSA technique regarding micromotion the first two years. There were less micromotion in the coated group. The results indicat

The melanocyte activity was studied by analysis of the urinary excretion of indolic and cysteinyldopa compounds. One eumelanin marker, 5,6-dihydroxy-indole-2-carboxylic acid was identified and quantified in normal urine. However, its low concentration and sensitivity to oxidation made it less suitable for clinical studies. A methylated derivative of this substance, 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carb

Fibronectin performs essential roles in embryonic development and is prominently expressed during tissue repair. Two forms of fibronectin have been Identified: plasma fibronectin (pFn), which Is expressed by hepatocytes and secreted In soluble form into plasma; and cellular fibronectin (cFn), an insoluble form expressed locally by fibroblasts and other cell types and deposited and assembled into t