We have investigated possible signaling pathways coupled to injury-induced ERK1/2 activation and the subsequent initiation of vascular rat smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. Aortic smooth muscle cells were cultured to confluency and subjected to in vitro injury under serum-free conditions. In fluo-4-loaded cells, injury induced a rapid wave of intracellular Ca(2+) release that propaga

The interference between vascular plants and peat mosses with respect to nitrogen and phosphorus was studied in a fertilization experiment and with respect to competition for light in a removal experiment in poor fens with either soligenous or topogenous hydrology using Narthecium ossifragum (L.) Huds. and three species of Sphagnum sect. Sphagnum as targets. Adding fertilizer either on the moss su

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical microscopy and turbidity measurements were used to define experimental conditions (time, temperature and shearing) for dissolving high amylopectin potato starch (HAPP) granules. A simple, less time consuming and non-chemical method for preparing starch samples was established. Small-amplitude oscillation measurements were used to characterise the be

Activated fibroblasts are suggested to be involved in the deposition of extracellular matrix in the formation of peribronchial fibrosis in asthma. We report the novel finding of activated elongated fibroblasts accompanied by elevated numbers of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 5 out of 12 patients with mild asthma (= 42%), whereas no fibroblasts were observed in the control subject

Coordinated transcription factor networks have emerged as the master regulatory mechanisms of stem cell pluripotency and differentiation. Many stem cell-specific transcription factors, including the pluripotency transcription factors, OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2 function in combinatorial complexes to regulate the expression of loci, which are involved in embryonic stem (ES) cell pluripotency and cellula

This paper presents a simple argument against definitions of the death of a human being in terms of death, or the cessation of functioning, of its brain: a human being is alive, and is capable of dying, before it acquires a brain. Although a more accurate definition is sketched, it is stressed that it should not be taken for granted that it is ethically urgent to work out such a definition. What m

Authentication codes that permit arbitration are codes that unconditionally protect against deceptions from the outsiders and additionally also protect against some forms of deceptions from the insiders. Simmons introduced this authentication model and he also showed a way of constructing such codes, called the Cartesian product construction. We present a general way of constructing such codes and

BACKGROUND: Most cardioplegic solutions have been developed using the classic Langendorf heart perfusion model, which only allows a short experimental follow-up. Our aim was to investigate hearts after prolonged storage by using a physiologic model including prolonged perfusion with normal, fresh blood. METHODS: Sixteen hearts from 60-kg pigs were preserved with dextran-enriched (dextran-40, 35 g/

The Tyrone Central Inlier is a metamorphic terrane of uncertain affinity situated outboard of the main Dalradian outcrop (south of the Fair Head-Clew Bay Line) and could represent sub-arc basement to part of the enigmatic Midland Valley Terrane. Using a combination of isotopic, structural and petrographic evidence, the tectonothermal evolution of the Tyrone Central Inlier was investigated. Sillima

Comparative analysis of expressed sequence tags is becoming an important tool in molecular ecology for comparing gene expression in organisms grown in certain environments. Additionally, expressed sequence tag database information can be used for the construction of DNA microarrays and for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms. For such applications, we present PHOREST, a web-based tool

For a stationary two-dimensional random field evolving in time, we derive statistical distributions of appropriately defined velocities. The results are based on a generalization of the Rice formula. We discuss importance of identifying the correct form of the distribution which accounts for the sampling bias. The theory can be applied to practical problems where evolving random fields are conside

Differences between the recombinant xylose-utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain TMB 3399 and the mutant strain TMB 3400, derived from TMB 3399 and displaying improved ability to utilize xylose, were investigated by using genome-wide expression analysis, physiological characterization, and biochemical assays. Samples for analysis were withdrawn from chemostat cultures. The characteristics of S

The concept of COPD as a systemic disease has been widely accepted in the past several years. In parallel, it has been emphasised that COPD morbidity and mortality is strongly related to co-morbid conditions. This review summarises some recent studies showing that in patients with COPID, the prevalence of cardiac failure is manifested in 10%-46% of the patients, and that up to 40% of patients with

Lung carcinomas were studied immunohistochemically and the results were related to type of tissue sample (bronchoscopic biopsies, surgical specimens, autopsies). All cytokeratins (CAM 5.2, PKK-1, AE1/AE3) reacted with virtually all adenocarcinomas, most squamous, and 65% of the large cell carcinomas, while CAM 5.2 was most efficient with the small cell carcinomas. CEA stained 33% and 60% of the sm

Liver plays a vital role in the production and catabolism of plasma lipoproteins. It depends on the integrity of cellular function of liver, which ensures homeostasis of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. When liver cancer occurs these processes are impaired and high-density lipoproteins are changed. (C) 2007 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.