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Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1alpha and IL-6 production by human monocytes in response to a clinical strain of the Gram-negative encapsulated bacteria Neisseria meningitidis and an isogenic lpxA- strain deficient in LPS was investigated. Wild-type N. meningitidis at concentrations between 105 and 108 organisms/ml and purified LPS induced proinflammatory cytokine production. High le

BACKGROUND: The discriminative power of 48-h wireless esophageal pH monitoring in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease has not been clearly demonstrated, and the cutoff level for esophageal acid exposure generating the optimal sensitivity and specificity is unknown. SUBJECTS AND Patients with typical reflux symptoms and a distinct response to acid suppressive medication METHODS: underw

We review our recent low-temperature absorption, circular dichroism ( CD), magnetic CD (MCD), fluorescence and laser-selective measurements of oxygen-evolving Photosystem II ( PSII) core complexes and their constituent CP43, CP47 and D1/D2/cytb(559) sub-assemblies. Quantitative comparisons reveal that neither absorption nor fluorescence spectra of core complexes are simple additive combinations of

For structural timber systems such as trusses, system effects related to strength variation within timber members has a significant effect on reliability. The system effect originates from the reduced probability that weak sections of timber coincide with the most stressed sections in the truss. In this paper, the strength variation within and between timber members is described with a statistical

The presence of introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) on the distribution of native crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons), native galaxiid fishes (Galaxias spp.) and invertebrate fauna was investigated in 18 West Coast New Zealand streams (8 with trout and 10 without trout) differing in chemical characteristics. Gut contents of trout, crayfish and eels were also examined to evaluate whether competiti

The decomposition of organic matter in a forest ecosystem is simulated by DECOMP, a process-based, semi-mechanistic model built on system dynamic principles. The model divides a litter into four different substrate quality classes with different decomposition rates which are differently influenced by temperature, soil moisture content, pH and aluminum concentration in the soil solution. The model

A variety of contractile agonists trigger activation of the small GTPase RhoA. An important target of activated RhoA in smooth muscle is Rho-associated kinase (ROK), one of the downstream targets that is the myosin binding subunit (MYPT1) of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP). Phosphorylation of MYPT1 at T695 by activated ROK results in a decrease in phosphatase activity of MLCP and an increase

Ethanolic extracts from dried leaves of sage (Salvia officinalis) showed inhibition of [35S]tertiary-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) binding to rat brain membranes in vitro. This ligand is considered to bind to the chloride channel of the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex in brain tissue. Substances having inhibitory activity were purified and their chemical structure identified as th

The neuropeptide galanin is considered to be an endogenous antiepileptic agent, presumably acting via inhibition of glutamate release. Previously, we have demonstrated that in mice ectopically overexpressing galanin in cortical and hippocampal neurons, particularly in granule cells and their axons, the mossy fibers, hippocampal kindling epileptogenesis is suppressed and is associated with attenuat

Solid pieces of fetal locus coeruleus (LC) or superior cervical ganglion (SCG) were placed into a fimbria-fornix lesion cavity in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated, noradrenaline (NA)-denervated rats. Six to 8 months later, all animals were subjected to electrical kindling stimulations in the hippocampus until they had reached the fully kindled state. Nongrafted lesioned animals showed markedly increased

Transforaminal injections are sometimes used for the diagnosis and treatment of painful conditions in the lumbar and to a lesser degree in the cervical spine. The technique is most often used when investigating/treating radiculopathy caused by degenerative disease. But how selective are the nerve root blocks? What possible structures other than the intended nerve root are affected from such inject

Background Systemic inflammation has been suggested to underlie in part the elevated risk of arrhythmias and myocardial dysfunction during the first weeks after cardiac surgery. Recent transthoracic Doppler studies from our centre indicated increased basal coronary arterial flow in children 5 days after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. In these children, we investigated whether the inflammatory med

Recent studies show that several Hox transcription factors are important for regulation of proliferation and differentiation in hematopoiesis. Among these is HOXA10, which is selectively expressed at high levels in the most primitive subpopulation of human CD34(+) bone marrow cells. When overexpressed, HOXA10 increases the proliferation of early progenitor cells and can lead to the development of

Observations of the ultra-sharp-lined, chemically peculiar star chi Lupi taken by the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph in echelle mode are presented. Thirty-six intervals of the spectral region between 1249 and 2688 Angstrom are covered with resolving powers in the range 75,000-93,000. Line identifications are provided, and the observed spectra are compared with synthetic spectra calculated us

Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease often manifesting as a circular skin lesion. This cutaneous form of the disease is known as erythema migrans. In a 5-year follow-up study in southern Sweden, 31 of 708 individuals initially diagnosed with erythema migrans and treated with antibiotics were found to be reinfected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Although men and women were tick-bitten to the same e

Purpose To analyse the consequences of using different radiographic measurements and different threshold values for hip screening in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods In a total sample of children with CP a standardised radiological follow-up of the hips was carried out as a part of a hip prevention programme. Acetabular index (AI) and migration percentage (MP) were measured on all radiog

Cathelicidins are a family of antimicrobial proteins found in the peroxidase-negative granules of neutrophils. The known biologic functions reside in the C-terminus, which must be cleaved from the holoprotein to become active. Bovine and porcine cathelicidins are cleaved by elastase from the azurophil granules to yield the active antimicrobial peptides. The aim of this study was to identify the ph